Running competitively takes commitment. It is one of the only sports where the athletes are competing directly against themselves, trying to best previous times.
Former Bobcat cross-country runner Craig Leon has made the commitment to better himself. He currently resides in Eugene, Ore., where the climate is more conducive to running than his hometown of Van Wert, Ohio.
Ohio cross-country coach Clay Calkins said that Leon has made the necessary changes to stay with his devotion to running.
“(He’s made the) lifestyle change, making the commitment to move out to Oregon, to be around elite athletes on a daily basis,” Calkins said. “The weather is more temperate for runners on an annual basis. He’s made that commitment, and I think it’s paying off for him.”
Last January, Leon ran in the marathon at the United States Olympic Trials in Houston.
The trials included the top 110 American marathoners, and just to qualify, Leon said runners needed a time less than 2 hours, 19 minutes.
“The biggest goal for track and cross athletes is the Olympics. He’s sat that out there and he’s done everything within his power to achieve the goals that he’s put forth for himself,” Calkins said.
He finished 26th overall with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes and 42 seconds, besting a previous personal record by three minutes.
The U.S. Track and Field team takes the top three runners, and Leon was about five minutes off the third-place time.
“It was exciting. It was something that I had aspired to do for several years and it was worth a lot of work over several years,” Leon said. “It was fun; hopefully I can do it again in another four years.”
In addition to running, Leon splits his time working in the University of Oregon law school and the Eugene Running Company, a pro shop for runners.
In the law school, Leon works with a sports conflict resolution program which looks at labor disputes and altercations between team personnel.
The director of the program, Joshua Gordon, sat in on the negotiations for the National Football League and National Basketball Association lockouts.
“It’s a unique program, the only one in the country that is specific to conflict resolution as it pertains to sports,” Leon said.
Leon is unsure of what he wants to do after he decides to hang up his competitive running shoes. He will re-evaluate his goals after 2016, but for now running remains his primary focus.
Running is about setting big goals and then pushing to achieve them. Leon uses his goals as motivation to run even when it is not the best conditions.
“For me, it’s about setting some sort of goal and putting it out there and just trying to go chase it down,” Leon said. “The tougher the challenge, the better for me. It gives me an edge and that’s what motivates me on a daily basis.”
Calkins said that Leon is right where he needs to be in order to continue his success.
“With him in the trials and the marathon, that’s a huge achievement, and it’s a huge lifelong commitment toward running,” Calkins said. “He’s committed himself, and it’s paying off for him.”
nr225008@ohiou.edu
