Can you imagine being the chief running officer of Runner's World magazine? There is probably only about a million runners who would love to have such a title.  But that title belongs to one man, Bart Yasso and he has held it since 1987.

How does Bart feel about it?  "Many runners tell me quite simply I have the greatest job in the world.  I get to travel to races around the world and meet runners of all abilities many with amazing stories.  For me running has also been a vehicle of introduction to people, places, cultures, and animals. I have run on all seven continents, but it's not the details of the races I recall it's the people I meet," Bart says.

He is coaching thousands of marathon runners enrolled in the Runner's World Challenge.  He has written a book "My Life on the Run."  Bart was inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions.  He has run marathons worldwide – from Boston and New York to Antarctica and Mount Kilimanjaro, and at least one on all seven continents. He completed the Badwater in 1989 – at 146-miles running race considered the toughest run in the US. 

He also enjoy cycling and in fact he has completed two solo, unsupported bicycle rides across the US in 20 days, averaging 155 miles per day. 

I have only met Bart once, very breifly at the San Francisco Marathon.  He was talking about running the Comrades marathon.  I look forward in spending some time with him in Kauai in September.  We are both going to be running the half marathon there.  I am looking forward to it.  (Interview by Bob Anderson)

1. What was your life like before joining Runner's World in 1987?
I had a pretty good life prior to Runner’s World. I was enjoying lots of running, bike riding and traveling to races. Competing in lots triathlons, duathlons and running races. I was very active in the local running club and race director of several successful regional races.

2. Did you love running from the start? Did you run in High School?
I did. When I started running I started dreaming about what I wanted most out of life. The mind works as hard as the body does during exercise. I knew I wanted to travel around the world, experience exotic locations and different cultures.

I didn’t run in high school but I did participate in other sports in my younger years including wrestling, basketball and football. However, I made a critical error and chose the path of alcohol and drugs, mostly marijuana. I was very lucky to gravitate towards running in 1977. It may have saved my life.

3. You also do a lot of cycling.  In fact you have crossed the country twice unsupported.  Do you get the same charge from cycling as you do from running?
I love cycling. I’ve been commuting to work by bike for the past 32 years. Riding across the United States was by far my most memorable athletic accomplishment of my life. As a kid I loved reading maps so it was amazing to have our country’s topography come to life. I also enjoyed meeting the people along the way. I learned our great nation is made up of thousands of tiny communities spread out from Seattle to New York City. I was treated very well by total strangers always offering to help but I didn’t need any help.

I get an adrenaline charge out of cycling. I love going fast on my bicycle. You can’t dive-bomb a hill at 40 plus mph in running shoes.

4. Are you just as excited about running now as before 1987?
Yes, running is so exciting these day with the amount of races and the sheer number of runners. The biggest change since 1987 is the percentage of women in races, mostly the half marathon distance. Some half marathons have a 65 % women majority. Personally, because of the effects of Lyme disease on my body -mostly my joints - I can’t run as far or nearly as fast but I never lost the passion. The few miles I run I cherish every step. I hope to be a runner for life.

5. How did you land the job with Runner's World?
I was very lucky when Rodale purchased Runner’s World from you I might add. Rodale is located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley. I was living in Bethlehem, PA about 9 miles from the new Runner’s World headquarters. I met many of the Runner’s World staffers at the events I would direct and I think they liked me. Vern Walther, the consumer marketing manager, offered me the job as race and event coordinator.

6. How has your job with Runner's World changed over the years?
My job was morphed in many ways over the past 25 years. I work with the ad department, circulation department, marketing folks, website, video team and editorial team. Working on all facets of the magazine is fascinating, never a dull moment. I do a fair amount of media requests. My favorite is TV I love doing on-air color commentary live broadcasts at races.

7. You have run on all seven continents.  That was expensive?
I’ve run races on all seven continents. I’m very fortunate. Some of my travel is work related and my expenses are paid for but not all. I’ve always traveled before I worked for Runner’s World and now, if I have a curiosity about some place, whether or not it’s for a run, I will try to make it happen but due to my constant time on the road I don’t get to go to as many places as I would like.

Photo: Racing in the Arctics.

8. What was it like running in Antarctica? Did you run a race there?
The hardest part of running in Antarctica is getting to the continent. Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent. It was quite a journey, three days on a Russian freighter thru the Drake Passage, before we spotted land, my seventh continent. The wildlife in Antarctica is amazing I love penguins.

I did the half marathon in Antarctica. The race course is a combination of snow, mud, rocks, ice and glacier. I was planning on running the marathon but told the race director that if there were any problems I’d drop down to the half as I had helped layout the course in the days leading up to the race. I ran the half so I could keep track of everyone in the full and make sure nobody went off course. We had a few runners go slightly off course. I headed out on a four wheeler to wrangle them back on course

9. Are you treated like a celebrity when you attend a race?
I get treated pretty well when I attend races around the world. I don’t consider myself a celebrity but I pose for tons of pictures and autograph lots of bib numbers, books and magazines. When I go to a race everyone that pins on a bib number and gives it 100 % is a celebrity to me.

10. You travel a lot, how many races do you attend annually? Do you run all of them?
I attend about 60 races per year mostly domestic. About 2 or 3 of my yearly trips are international. I end up flying about 150,000 miles per year. In the old days I ran every single race I attended. These days, due to the Lyme, I only do a handful of races per year. On the road, I do a lot of race announcing, conduct lots of award ceremonies, speaking at tons of pre-race pasta dinners and plenty of media requests. Of the races I do run each year, I lean heavily to the events I’ve never run before. When I’m home, I volunteer at a lot of local events and run an occasional trail race to catch up with old and new running friends.

11. Is time important to you anymore, or do you just run for the enjoyment of it?
I don’t run competitively anymore. Of the few races I do I’m just happy to be part of the sport. I never wear a watch in a race. I go out and enjoy being part of the festivities. With the Lyme this past decade, I’ve had a few relatively pain-free patches where I could train and race. It was fun still being competitive for some overall wins and age group titles until I was about 51. Those fun days are gone but not forgotten.

Photo: finishing medal from the Comrades Marathon

12. What kind of training are you doing between races?
I try to train a bit every day. If I’m having a good week I’m happy if I get in two runs per-week. My weekly mileage is around 10 miles. The other days I go to the gym or ride my bike when the weather permits.

13. Do you do anything special with your diet?
I’ve been a vegetarian for many years. I follow a vegetarian regiment for ethical and environmental reasons.

14. Is there anything you have not done in the running world?
I have lots of running goals to accomplish over the next few years. I hope to accomplish more in our sport as a brand ambassador and running industry leader. I would love to see running on TV on daily basis. I hope to part of that process.

15. I see a lot of race numbers with Runner's World name on it.  Was that your idea? How many runners are you reaching? Does the program pay for itself by increased subscription sales? Or do you really care about that?
The bib number program was in the works when I started. I took it to a whole new level reaching over 7,000 events per-year. My number one goal from the beginning was to help event directors and grow our sport thru race participation.

I do care about that! It’s helped a lot of events. I was in charge of the race sponsorship program for about 15 years. I’ve been told by a few people I’m responsible for more Runner’s World subscriptions than anyone. I even heard that from a Runner’s World South African employee on my twitter account recently.

16. What impact have you had personally in the development of running since 1987?
I’ve helped race directors across the country improve and enhance their events through our sponsorship programs and sharing best practices at various conferences and workshops so I’ve helped develop the sport that way, and also through coaching runners in the Runner’s World Challenge program. I have coached thousands of beginning runners from the 5K up thru the marathon. I’ve also made an impact through our RW Pace Teams which have really taken off and expanded since our first one in 1995 at the St. George Marathon. Now most major races have pace teams. It’s certainly changed the landscape in marathons. I receive emails every week from runners that find my running journey inspirational. I encourage them to take their running to next level and find a fun job in the running industry.

17. Are you given a lot of freedom at Runner's World or do you need to sell your ideas to people who are not runners?
I have a lot of freedom at Runner’s World. I’m out there non-stop as an ambassador for the sport and Runner’s World/Rodale. The Rodale family is well aware of my passion to enable runners to improve their lives and become mentors to others.

Photo: Runner's World editor-in-chief David Willey with Bart lighting the torch for the RW Half and Festival being held in Bethlehem, Pa Oct 19-21.

Photo: 18. What is it like working for a billion dollar company?
Rodale is the largest independent publisher in the United States. I love working for the Rodale family. I share the same values as Rodale which is what keeps me going. Rodale is a very philanthropic company. When I arrive at desk every morning I remind myself I have greatest running job on the planet. Rodale has a strong comment to making the world a better place for everyone. The global impact of Rodale fuels my passion.

19. How much of the staff at Runner’s World run regularly?
The majority of the Runner’s World staff are dedicated runners. At lunch time we have big running groups that go out every day for 5 to 7 miles. I miss being able to run with the gang. The banter that goes on during a Runner’s World lunchtime run is priceless.

20. Has this changed any since George Hirsch left?
It hasn’t changed one bit. That’s a good thing!

21. You mentioned that some people know you as the "Mayor of Running."  How did this come about?
I have no idea where that started and who first made that statement. I’m called that quite often. I take it as badge of honor. Personally I look at myself as an ambassador but I have fun with the Mayor title.

22. What is the craziest race you have ever run?
The Badwater 146 in Death Valley is still craziest race I’ve ever done. Running 146 miles in extreme temperatures is just plain insane. I did it as a work assignment back in 1989.

23. Do you have a personal life outside of running?
Yes. Because of my crazy travel schedule, when I have a weekend free, I love to spend time at home feeding the squirrels in our yard, watching the wildlife, serious birding, puttering around yard and working in our garden. When I’m not watching the wildlife you can find me, golfing, cycling, and watching the Phillies on TV.

24. You are an alcoholic.  Is running your AA meeting? How long have you been sober?
I had very serious drinking and smoking (marijuana) problem in my younger days. I started abusing alcohol at a very young age and it was detrimental to every aspect of my life. I stopped drinking in 1977 and didn’t drink any alcohol for 23+ years. For the last 12 years, I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner and I enjoy wine tasting with Laura.

Photo: Bart finishing the 52-mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa

25. Outside of running, cycling, travelling and writing what do you like to do?
I like reading biographies and anything about Africa. I love Africa every time I visit the continent I feel a sense of acceptance, I feel at home. I enjoy animals. Laura and I share our property with lots of critters. We made our backyard in to our own little Serengeti.

26. Why has the half marathon become so popular?
Women own and control the half marathon distance. Most of the halves I attend have over 50 % women. I remember the days when races only had 10% women. I love doing half marathons because you can still challenge yourself by running a long distance but it does not consume your whole weekend.

27. What do you think about the big races? Entry fees are higher than ever.
The three US majors Boston, NYC and Chicago are fueling our sport. I love these events the whole weekend revolves around running.

Entry fees are higher than ever. The sport was under priced for many years. The entry fees needed to reach a level where we can be successful and grow the sport. I’m hoping we hit a leveling period with entry fees. I don’t want us to lose a demographic that can’t afford the high price entry fees.

28. Do you think a sub two hour marathon is possible?
Wow. I don’t think in my lifetime a runner will go sub 2 hours. Records are made to be broken but that is awfully fast. That comes out to 4:34 per mile I just don’t see it happening. Someone would have to get their half marathon time down to 55 minutes which I can’t fathom.

29. What are runners doing today that runners like Derek Clayton didn’t do? He held the world record for 12 years (2:08:32).
That’s an easy one. Elite marathoners today don’t race as much at the shorter distances as they did in the 70s and 80s.

30. Tell us about the Yasso 800s. How would this apply to a half marathoner?
The time it takes you to run 800-meter repeats in minutes and seconds works out to be your marathon finish time in hours and minutes. It worked for me for many years. Amby Burfoot named the workout after me like an astronomers that locates a new star.  Amby admired the 800s for their simplicity and wrote about the exercise in the October 1994 issue of Runner’s World.

31. I read that you have Lyme Disease and running helped?
I contracted Lyme disease twice, in 1990 and again in 1997. Running never helped my Lyme disease. Living with chronic Lyme is very painful. Doctors compare the symptoms to rheumatoid arthritis. My legs swell I limp around the office most days. I am still trying to figure out how to be a runner dealing with Lyme disease.

32. Tell us about your book “My Life on the Run.”
My book is a running memoir and tells my life story as it pertains to running. I start out with some failures before I get to some successes. It tells the story from rock bottom to being inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions. Lots of fun chapters on the crazy races I’ve run all over the world.

33. Is running your religion?
No I never looked at running as a religion.

34. What if you had not found running?
I don’t want to know that answer but I don’t look back. I’m always moving forward looking for the next challenge. I look at life the way I look at running. Running isn’t about how far you go but how far you’ve come.

35. Do you still set running goals for yourself?
I have tons of running goals but none of them are related to racing. My goals are to motivate and engage people that never thought they would be a runner.

36. Has running been good to you?
Beyond good for me it truly saved my life. You can’t put a price tag on that.

37. What's ahead?
I look forward to being very active in our sport as an ambassador. I tell runners every day, never limit where running can take you. I better be doing the same.

38. What do you think about my challenge? I am racing 350 miles in 2012 averaging under 7 minute pace in no more than 50 races.  
This a tough Challenge for any runner. Doing it at the tender age of 64 is very impressive.

39. What do you think is going to be the toughest part of my challenge?
Staying healthy thru all of the speed work training. You can't run at this fast pace without doing some form of speed work on a weekly basis.

40. Am I going to achieve my goal? How many others 60 plus athletes do you think could do this?  Running across the US takes two months. My challenge takes 12 months.
I would venture to say you will reach your goal. Hard to say how many other runners 60 plus runners could attempt and complete this challenge. It would be a select few that could handle the fast pace.