Michael Dove did not start running until he was 38.  At age 49 he set a world age group record in the 5k with a time of 15:36.  He has finished first or second in his age-group over the last 27 years in almost every race he has run.  He has run a 2:48 marathon in Boston and holds the age division records at the Big Sur Marathon, his favorite race.

He developed the Just Run youth program which is already reaching thousands of kids.  He is very involved in the promotion and development of running nationally. He is a columnist for the Monerey Herlad on running, health and fitness and has published a book called The Running Life.

I have known and have run against Michael for years.  I think I have only beaten him once in all these years.  He is a great guy, a tough competitor, and a friend.  Thanks Mike for doing this interview. (Interview by Bob Anderson)

Photo Above: At the finish of the 2011 Mission Ten held in San Juan Bautista, California.  photo by Catherine Cross Ujena Fit Club

1. You are going to be 65 in a few months. How has running changed for you over the years?
It really hasn’t changed very much. I started running regularly at age 38. If I don’t start my day with a run I feel out of sorts. I’m kind of a traditionalist and pretty much have the same running habits and workouts now as I did 20 years ago. I’m maybe a little wiser about training than I was then – but not too much. The biggest change is that I have been deeply involved in the race organization side for 15 years or so, as well as developing the JUST RUN youth program. I’ve become more of a running advocate over the years.

2. When and why did you get into running?
I ran one year of cross country in high school as a sophomore because the coach was the English teacher and it was known he gave better grades to cross country runners. I got injured about half way through the season so only ran about 6 weeks. My best time was 11:47 for 2 miles and I still can come pretty close to that now, 50 years later. I started running again at age 38 in preparation for a once in a lifetime golf vacation to Scotland. I knew I would be playing at least once a day for three weeks and wanted to be in shape. I started running about two months before to get in shape and enjoyed the running so much that I continued.

3. I know you used to play a lot of golf. Do the two mix? 
They do mix and I did both until about five years ago.  I think all the years I played golf strengthened my legs for running. I was pretty good as a junior golfer and played on the golf team at U.C. Berkeley. I played in a lot of amateur golf tournaments until I was 38, including the California State Amateur several times.  I held a few course records and shot 66 a few times.  The past few years I have played about 10 rounds a year and can still break 80. I find if I play golf the day before a hard run I struggle with the workout.

Photo: Boston Marathon finish

4. When did you start winning most races in your age group? What kind of times where you running?
I didn’t run my first race until I turned 40 and it was a local 8K in Salinas. I never did any “real” workouts for the first year and a half that I ran other than just go out and run with friends. Typically about 8 minutes a mile pace.  When I ran the 8K I was surprised that I ran 6:15 minute pace for the first four miles then faded a bit.  The adrenaline apparently helped. Apparently I was a “racer”.  I think my time was 32 even and I was second in my age group. For the last 27 years I’ve pretty much been first or second in my age group in every race.

5. What did you do different in your training?
Over time, I started adding track work once a week, longer distances on weekends, and tempo runs; plyometrics and sit ups at night.  I improved my 10K time each year for the first 8 years I ran about a minute a year.  My first 10K was 40:30 I think at age 40 and I was running under 33 pretty consistently by the time I was 47.  My first marathon was at age 44 and I ran 2:56 at Big Sur. The next year I ran 2:45 at Cal Intl and Boston both.  I ran 2:47 into a big wind at Big Sur when I was 47. At 49 I ran a 15:36 5K and at age 51 ran 16:10 at the Carlsbad 5000. I’vie slowed each year since then about 30 seconds in 10k’s. I’m running in the 41’s now. I used to age-grade around 90%, but now it’s in the lower 80’s, which bothers me. I think it’s due to the fact I’vie done 38 marathons and I’m just slower than I was.

6. Did you train alone or with a group?
I have always run with a great group of people. Anywhere from three to 10 other runners on most runs. Both men and women. It’s not the same group I started with 27 years ago, people have come and gone. I love the social aspect and running with others definitely makes it easier to improve and run faster as well as have fun.

7. How would you approach a race? What do you do in the last 24 hours to get ready?
I treat each race the same, whether it’s a mile on the track or a marathon. I rest and cut down my mileage anywhere from two weeks to three days before depending on the length of a race. I’l typically take a day off two days before - do an easy three mile run with some pick ups the day before. I’ll carbo load starting 48 hours before and won’t havie any salad. I like to get to a race about an hour early.  Walk around a bit – start running about 30 minutes before – run for 15 minutes, walk a bit more, then do some pickups about 5 minutes before the start. 

Photo: Michael and Bob Anderson checking splits after the 2011 Mission Ten photo by Catherine Cross Ujena Fit Club

8. What is your strategy during the race?
I’m laughing at this question as you [Bob] and I havie the same race strategy. Go out very fast and try to come back faster.  We’ve had some great races where we both have gone out very fast and half way through looked at each other and said, “do you think we’ve gone out too fast?”   Anything less than a marathon my first mile is typically my fastest mile in the race. In marathons I try to be a bit more conservative.

9. Do you do anything special with your diet?
I generally eat too much on a daily basis and get mad at myself for not being able to lose “that last 10 pounds”. I used to have more discipline when I was younger but now I have too much candy and a glass or two of wine each night. I have to cut that out in order to run faster – and I will “tomorrow”. We don’t eat much meat. Dinner is typically fish or a casserole of some kind. My wife is a great cook and baker and we always have a lot of homemade cookies around.  I love peanut butter sandwiches. I also take a pretty good variety of vitamins each day.

A very informative interview. I did not realize how involved you are in the sport of running. You are certainly making a difference and your Just Run program was much needed in this country. Just love the way you end this, "Everyone deserves to be happy." Thanks Mike!!!
Bob Anderson 1/24/12 11:40 pm

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10. Any weight training?
I am pretty good about doing plyometrics, sit ups, push ups while watching TV at night. Occasionally I’ll do light weights with a lot of repetition but I’m not that consistent about it.

Photo: Mike with his wife Julie at the National Jefferson Awards reception in Washington DC

11. You are very involved in promoting running.
All of it is volunteer time. Short answer is that I’m on the Board of Directors of the Big Sur Marathon/Half Marathon, Salinas Valley Half Marathon, and six other shorter races locally. I also developed and volunteer about 25 hours a week with the JUST RUN youth program sponsored by the Big Sur Marathon.

We started seven years ago with eight schools and 400 kids, this year we should be in 120 schools, 15 states have programs, and 10,000 kids. Its very rewarding that the program is nationally recognized and is growing. I also do a column on running with my friend Donald Buraglio in the Monterey Herald that appears every other Thursday.  We had a book published last year called The Running Life that is available at Amazon.com.  I also taught training classes for several years for the Big Sur Marathon and the Salinas Valley Half Marathon.  I’m also President of our local running club – The Monterey Bay Wednesday Night Laundry Runners.  

12. What's been going on with you the last year?
I had some hamstring issues that lasted almost 18 months and I didn’t do much racing the last year. I’m ok now – just not as fast as I would like.  I have five grandkids and I love spending time with them.

13. Do you have any special plans for the coming year?
I’ll race more this year after I turn 65. Maybe go do some USATF National Championship races, but they are all back East in Virginia, New York, Minnesota, and Michigan. I haven’t decided yet. I’ll do Carlsbad 5000 on April 1^st and the Big Sur Marathon on April 29^th for sure.

14. What distance do you like to race the best and why?
I love racing at every distance. I’m probably best in 5k’s and 10k’s, but I love road miles and doing marathons. I typically have done 2 marathons a year – either Boston or Big Sur in the Spring and one in the Fall.

15. Does your family run?
Everyone runs. My wife doesn’t like to race anymore, but she ran a 3:11 marathon, and a 3:18 marathon over age 40. She still runs 4 times a week.  My kids – not really kids anymore – 38, 36, and 34 – all run. They were competitive swimmers growing up and in college. Two run for fun and to keep in shape,. My middle son Bryan is a pretty good runner and triathlete and beats me regularly now.  All of their spouses run as well and have done marathons.   The grandkids have all done kid’s races and seem to enjoy it.

16. Besides running what do you like to do?
Family is very important to me and we enjoy being with the grandkids as much as possible. My wife and I like movies and theater. We eat out more than we should and enjoy trying new restaurants. We probably watch too much TV – and enjoy reality shows.  I still play golf.  My wife is an avid reader and I enjoy a good book as well – typically non fiction more than fiction. Running related volunteer work takes up most of my time.

Photo: After finishing the Salinas Valley Half Marathon in 2011

17. Is running as important to you now than ever?
For sure. Probably more important as I strive to be healthy as much as for the competitive side.

18. What is your number one favorite race and why?
Easy one.  The Big Sur Marathon is the most incredible experience. It’s a challenge. It’s beautiful. There is a spiritual nature to being out on Highway 1 and seeing the ocean and the hills. It is truly wonderful.

19. Do you think running is going to become even more popular?
Absolutely.  There are 36 million runners in the United States and the number of race finishers has gone up about a million a year for the past several years. It was 13 million last year.  Most races have more women than men.  More and more people will realize all the benefits you get from running and the sport will continue to grow.

20. What if anything needs to change in the running world?
We need to reach out to people “of color”.  There are not a lot of Blacks and Hispanics that run races or in race management. Also races have become too expensive because runners expect too much in the way of finisher’s medals, technical shirts, lots of food at the end.  I think we’ll see a backlash and see more inexpensive no-frills races coming back.

21. Is the million of dollars of prize money bringing down the times?
The big prize money is only going to marathon runners so we don’t see the same runners doing 10Ks and 5Ks. There is no “real” money for professional runners in shorter races. There needs to be a sponsored race series so sports and running fans can “connect” with runners that run shorter distances than the marathon. Its interesting that even avid runners don’t know the best in the sport. In some ways that’s good in that running is first and foremost a participant sport rather than a spectator sport. Its something you “do” and not just watch. Times are coming down because runners compete more for pride and winning than money. The money is an afterthought.

22. Is a sub two hour marathon ever going to happen?
Yes. It will happen.   April 17^th, 2019 is the exact date or whenever the Boston Marathon date is in that year.

23. What if you had not found running?
A friend of mine says “Running finds you- you don’t find running”.  I think that’s right and it would have eventually found me at some point in my life.  I enjoy the act of running and moving.  It’s part of me.

24. Do you keep track of your workouts and races? and why or why not?
I’ve always kept a log book where I record the miles and type of workout and how long I ran. Not much else in terms of details. I’ve always been statistics and math oriented.  I’ll go back and see what I did before fast races to try to duplicate the workouts.  I think it’s a good idea for everyone to do; even if you are not a competitive runner. I think it aids in motivation to keep track of your daily and weekly miles.

25. What is a typical day for you now?
Even though I’m retired, I still get up at 4AM each morning. I’ll do some stretching, catch up on the news and paper, and meet my running group at 5:30.  When I get home I’ll eat breakfast, then catch up on e-mail.  I typically spend a few hours on e-mail each day involved in either race planning, answering people’s questions about running, grant writing, etc.  I usually have a few meetings at different places or do school visits each day involving the JUST RUN program or one of the races I’m involved in. I meet friends for lunch occasionally. I help my wife at her volunteer job as well once in a while.  I stay busy.

Photo: Michael and Bob warming down after the 2010 Monterey 10k Love Run photo by Catherine Cross Ujena Fit Club

26. Do you pay attention to the running scene?
Absolutely. I follow track and field, cross country, road racing, local high school runners. I’ll go to local high school cross country and track meets to see friend’s kids that are running. I’m kind of a running “groupie” when it comes to national running stars and have met most of them.

27. Are the Olympic Games what they used to be?
I think they are great for international cooperation. From a personal standpoint I think there is now too much media and internet coverage. I liked the days you could watch a 2 hour summary show each night where someone on the networks showed me just the highlights. Now I have to search around and stay up late at night to find preliminary running events or whatever.  Its become too difficult as a viewer because of too many possibilities. Like everything else – it should be simplified.  Also I don’t like professionals competing in major sports.

28. If I gave you one wish that would come true. What would it be?
I’ve always been a romantic and a Pollyanna and an optimist.  I hate it when people suffer and are in pain from war or sickness or any tragedy.  I would definitely wish for a world where people understood each other and were nice to those around them.  Everyone deserves to be happy.