Ben Richter

Q: When did you begin running and why?
In the winter of 1971-72. My high school’s winter phys ed program included two weeks of wrestling classes. I’d endured them the previous year but loathed them. There had to be a way out, and there was: be a member of a team. But what team would take an uncoordinated kid with little upper-body strength? Not the basketball team. Not the swim team. But the winter track team was accepting applications from anyone who dared to run outside through New York City’s Decembers, Januarys and Februarys. The rest, of course, is history. And while running saved me from wrestling in high school, it didn’t get me out of wrestling or boxing at the U.S. Naval Academy. Can you imagine me boxing?

Q: How did you find out about DCRR and when did you join?
I came to DC from Honolulu in autumn 1999. On Oahu, I was a member of the Honolulu Marathon Clinic, which met every Sunday morning at Kapiolani Park for a long training run on the Marathon course. I needed something similar when I got to DC, and the Saturday Long Run was a perfect fit.

Q: What are you training for right now?
The Cherry Blossom 10-Miler

Q: What is the toughest run or race in which you have participated?
The Run to the Sun on Maui, from sea level in Kahului to the summit of Haleakala, 36 miles horizontal and 1.9 miles vertical. I ran it in 1988 and again in 2003. Kind of like that saying about climbing Mt. Fuji more than once.

Q: What is the most important lesson running has taught you?
The importance of setting goals and working consistently toward them

Ben Richter, Marathon Runner and Very Brave Man

Q: What is your favorite route in the area?
The Loops of Potomac Overlook Park is a SLR route we haven’t done in a while, but one I found particularly scenic. I remember running it right around the December solstice. The sun was especially low in the sky and you could see it change position with each of the four laps around the park.

Q: What is your proudest running moment?
It had to have been my first Boston-qualifying marathon, which was the 2000 Marine Corps Marathon. I’d been steadily working toward a BQ time since beginning my association with the Honolulu Marathon Clinic. Now, three years later and with the help of my friends at Saturday Long Run, I’d finally done it! I’ll add that there was a great feeling of accomplishment and teamwork each year I directed the George Washington’s Birthday Marathon. That required a lot of help from throughout the Club. It felt terrific to know the team had successfully pulled it off one more time.

Q: What is your favorite running book and/or movie?
I watched Chariots of Fire before nearly every marathon.

Q: What is your life like outside of running?
I didn’t realize I had one.