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Brevard College .Brevard N.C.
Vol. 56 Number 12
Tuesday, April 25,1989
tONNFr
^ I
BC Super Sophs, L-R, Moore. Hawk. Dvorak. Pajak, Dodson, Gaines, Fort and Reid training before dawn.
RUNNING TIME
by Heather Conrad
Assistanl Editor
For the Brevard College runner, what’s
the hardest obstacle to overcome?
Just that.
“When someone says ‘Runner’, I wish
they could understand all that it encom
passes,” sophomore Ted Fort says.
In reflecting on the past two years at BC,
sophomore runners Brad Dodson, Scott
Dvorak, Ted Fort, Alice Gaines, Marjorie
Hawk, Geoff Moore, Jeff Pajak, and Chet
Reid agree that one of the largest
obstacles is others understanding why run
ning is so important.
Unlike other sports, where the victories
and scores are concrete, where the wins
are made within a two and a half hour
period, the gains and victories of the runn
ing team occur within the runner. The
eight believe that their way of thought,
their pursuit of goals, and their determina
tion are by-products of running. Each truly
believes running has given perspective
and insight into themselves. “There’s not
alot of glory in the sport, but it gives me
displine and self worth,” Ted says.
"Yeah,” Geoff agrees,” I wouldn’t be in
school if it weren’t for running. I’d be jack
ed up in some South Georgia condo, going
nowhere!”
Jeff furthers the thought.” When we rilri,
it helps us to discipline overselves in other
areas, to try harder and push ourselves in
school and work, the same way we do with
running.”
“Running has taught me that I can do
things I thought I couldn’t do”, informs.
Says Scott, “It’s so much more than
running to keep in shape.
“It’s a choice of lifestyle we’ve made,
and we must stick to it. It’s always with us
whether we’re running or not,” Alice com
ments. „
“We do have to give up thmgs socially.
Marge says, “And sometimes, I get caught
up in running, and forget to take care of
myself
“But
• Bui, Alice points out,“ If running
didn’t pay off, we wouldn’t be doing it.
Eight heads nod in accordance.
And each finds other, more visible
benefits to exist with running. ^
“We all run for other cerUin aspects,
^“I run for self-confidence,” Alice ad-
"”^ff says, “I run to improve. I never
actually trained before Brevard. I just rac
ed ” He laughs.” I remember racing the
first few practices. Now, I run to keep me
going until my race.” He gnns.
“Running’s what you do after you Uke a
long trip, to loosen up your legs,” Brads
^%*t’s a stress-reliever,” Ted says. “It’ll
be what makes me live to be 115.
T^n there’s each other. "I think we ve
learned a heck of alot from each other
Alice says.
Chet begins, “We didn’t always get
along, but everybody helped and sup
ported each other.”
“And there were so many different per
sonalities,” Jeff says, "That we learned
from that.”
Marge, adds a matter of factly, “Our
friendships are strong...Its the first real
team I’ve been a part of. We’ve been there,
through good and k>ad, for each other.”
Ted faces the others, arms open,“I’d like
to spend two more years together, in a dif
ferent place!”
“But,” Geoff says, “I have to say that if
it weren’t for Rinker, I wouldn’t be here.
He cares for the first runner as much as he
does for the last. If it weren’t that way and
he hadn’t given me a chance, I wouldn’t be
here, or anywhere.”
He’s a coach, a friend, a father figure,”
Jeff says.
At most colleges, Ted informs, “You
have to expect the coach not to care about
anything except times, and running.
Rinker’s not like that. He’ll talk with me
about other things in my life. He really
cares atKHit us as people.” “It’ll be so
hard,” admits Alice, “Not to compare
other coaches with him,”
“But it is time to move on,” Scott says.
Again, the eight agree.
“It’ll feel weird, running against each
other,” says Geoff,“Or against Brevard! ”
“But the change will add flavor to runn
ing,” Ted says. “We'll keep in touch.
definiiAely,” Scott says.
And eventually ...
Scott sits straight up and says, "I’d like
to go to the Olympics.”
“The Marathon, in the year 2000,” Ted
adds.
“I’ll be a business man,” Onion states.
Brad looks up. “I’ll be a goat herder, and
I’ll live in the woods and camp for the rest
of my life.” The others burst, and Brad
grins a little.
“I’d like to be a photojoumalist even
tually.” Jeff says. "And I’ll just run until I
stop enjoying it.”
Alice says “I’d like to write children’s
books.”
“And I’ll have kids,” Ted begins, "To
read Alice’s children’s books!”
Everybody laughs.
“They’re Iwisically a good group of peo
ple,” Rinker concludes. “I’ve learned
most of all with them is not to take things
for granted.” Rinker says that in being
through the last two years he’s been
through a lot of good and bad things with
them. “And at times, “Rinker says, “I see
and think of them as my own children. But
its time for them to move on.”
“When I think of our team” Jeff con
cludes,“ 1 think of it more as a family who
cares, and helps each other out when we
need it. It’s more than just a group of in
dividual runn«‘r«:”
“Yeah, sure we run,” Alice says. “But
its only a part of our lives, it's not life.'