Elite runner helps others
Joe Sarver
Joe Sarver ran marathons in less than three hours during four different decades.
After a long winter, the sight of spring is welcoming. People are walking dogs, children are playing in the yard and others are shaking off winter with some exercise.
Among those enjoying the bright sun, clear skies and dry pavement are runners.
Joe Sarver, 57, of Washington, is among the first to hit the ground running – literally.
Sarver started his fifth decade of running, adding to his staggering 150,000-plus miles logged. For four consecutive decades, in under three hours, Sarver completed 26.2-mile marathons. When training competitively in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he ran 100 miles a week.
Now, he runs 40 miles each week. He believes there are many benefits of running, including fitness, mental sharpness, self-satisfaction and helping others. Over the years, Sarver changed his focus from competitive goals to helping others achieve theirs.
He coached runners, on and off, since high school. He learned to coach from Olympic coaches and trained several athletes on the streets of Washington. Some went on to the Olympic Marathon Trials. He is presently training athletes to compete in the 2016 Olympic Trials.
Jeff Weiss, a former PIAA champion in cross country and track at McGuffey High School, qualified for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston and Los Angeles, respectively. Anna Beck, also of Washington, qualified for the trials in 2012.
One of the athletes Sarver coached and paced during workouts in the late 1990s, Cheryl Collins Gatons, ran in two Olympic Marathon Trials and the 1997 World Games in Athens. “Every competitive runner has a goal, whether competing at an elite level or someone running their personal best, and my goal is to get you there,” Sarver said.
After college, he recognized the fine line between passion and profession. He said he had to “choose between becoming a professional runner or pursuing a normal (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. profession).”
Though passionate about running, he instead chose to become a full-time chemist. He worked at Bayer, Ciba and other chemical companies and currently works at Ferro. He has several patents, including functional pigments used in laser absorbers, infrared reflective pigments and conductive materials. Crediting his brother, Craig, and high school coach Bob Annasenz with inspiring him to run at age 15, Sarver now enjoys mentoring other runners.
One of his goals is to get aspiring athletes to the next level.
When asked for advice for young runners, he offers several suggestions:
• Whether running for fitness or companionship, you don’t have to run mega miles, but, instead, run consistently.
• Those wanting to compete should surround themselves with the right people and the right coaches.
• Another important factor is the shoes a runner wears. “Your shoes are your first line of defense,” said Sarver.
• Additionally, it is important to run on soft surfaces, like grass, dirt trails or rubber tracks, instead of concrete and blacktop all the time, as it can reduce the stress on joints.
• Finally, he said one of the most important things is to enjoy it and enjoy it with the right people.
Joe Sarver has successfully accomplished his goals and can be seen on the streets of Washington sharing not only his knowledge, but his passion with other young runners.