Buerkle, Dick (12/99) - 1976 & 1980 US Olympian in 5000 meters.
Former world record holder indoors - 1 mile
Reprinted from:
Trackcoach.com
Name: Dick Buerkle (berkeley)
Event(s): 5000
Brief Bio: Graduated Villanova, 1970, multi-time all-american.
School records in 2-mile 8:39 and 5K, 13:48, member 1976, 80 olympic
teams, ranked 3rd in world 5K in 1974. world record indoor mile
3:54.9 1978. National AAU Champion 5,000, 1974, 1976
Questions:
1. What are some of your goals for the upcoming year?
I'm not doing much with my running right now. It's my stage in
life. My work is more important to me. I'm working on improving my
speaking skills in Spanish and on getting a group of high schoolers
at an inner city school to commit to spending $2,000 each to go to
Spain in the summer of 2001. I hope to run faster. But it's
difficult to devote the time to it that I would like.
2. What are some of your plans for the upcoming year to reach
those goals?
I'll begin holding meetings soon with the students. I'm
conducting latin dance classes with them now to raise their
interest. It's working out well.
3. What is your favorite workout(s)?
My favorite is 4x800 in 1:59. Only problem is I can't do it
anymore. People get excited now when I do 400s in 67 with a
one-minute jog. Only problem is when you've done them in :58, :67
doesn't seem very sexy. I do run to Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport
once in a while (17 miles) and take the subway home. And I run to
school where I teach. (4.5 miles each way.)
4. What factors do you attribute to your success?
Good genes, a burning hunger, and hard work on a daily basis for
years.
5. What is your training philosophy?
I like doing lots of speedwork. That's why I did the fast 800s
and 1200s 20 years ago. If I could gut it through those, the races
didn't seem so bad.
6. Do you have any advice that may help other runners reach their
potential?
Put all your possessions in a box and move someplace, like
Gainesville Florida, or Auckland New Zealand, or Nairobi and work
your butt off. If you are possessed and work hard, your star will
shine. It's almost biblical. What did Jesus say, "Sell all
that you have and follow me." If you want it bad enough, you'll do
that.
