Dave Backlund opens his briefcase – each item in its place, not a stray paper in sight. Two energy bars guard the front. "For later in the day," he says, speaking quickly and not wasting a moment. "That's when I fit in a run."
He pulls out a manila file folder – an inch thick, with paper-clipped and stapled documents neatly stacked. You notice several Post-it notes with rows and rows of numbers. They look computer-generated, then you realize this is the handwriting of a man who keeps meticulous records. "My running folder," he explains. "This is where I keep everything – running articles, race results, running times, my running plan."
You glance at the numbers as he pages through the file. While training for the marathon, he logs up to 60 miles a week –20-mile runs on weekends, 12-mile runs during the week. He's been in 20 races including two marathons. Dave ran last year's Fargo Marathon in 3:50 and aims for 3:30 in this year's – a time that would qualify him for the Boston Marathon, but he denies interest. "One race at a time," he says. "And right now my focus is the Fargo Marathon."
Mr. Modest
Dave dislikes the limelight, including being the subject of this article. "Why me? Certainly I'm not the only one," he says. "There are so many runners out there who are a lot better than me, better than I'll ever be. There are lots of us putting in the miles in every kind of weather." When he pierces you with dark brown eyes that don't blink, you know he wants an answer.
You explain that a 51-year-old marathon runner who just took up running three years ago is unique.
You point out that he's a person others can relate to. He's a family man, with wife, Lisa, and two daughters, Alex and Sophie. And he's a very hard worker. A commercial real estate broker, he owns three successful Fargo businesses – Leisure Laundry and Tanning Centre, Progressive Real Estate Investment Company and Progressive Property Management Company.
You tell him his determination and hard work may inspire others, even those whose only goal is to improve their physical fitness. You want to know what motivates him.
Meet the Motivator
Dave looks to Kendall Railing, exercise specialist at MeritCare Lifelong Fitness. "Kendall's a runner himself and he got me started," says Dave. "Now he's a teacher, mentor and friend."
Lean and fit, Kendall shares some of Dave's intensity. A runner since high school, the 39-year-old Kendall has five marathons under his belt, including the Boston Marathon.
Kendall spends his days at the MeritCare Southpointe gym where he coaches athletes and exercisers of all levels, many of them members of MeritCare's Lifelong Fitness Program. He sets up individualized training programs, answers questions, checks in periodically and inspires progress.
Kendall met Dave in 2003 when he oriented him to the Lifelong Fitness Program.
Dave became a devoted strength trainer and rower, but after two years he was ready for something new. Dave had already proven himself as a college baseball player, an amateur boxer and a state-ranked racquetball player for many years.
"Dave started asking me about running and it just snowballed from there," recalls Kendall. "He wanted to learn all he could, train the right way and do whatever was needed to be the best he could be. His determination and persistence was incredible."
Emphasizing gradual progress to avoid injury, Kendall provided Dave with monthly training schedules including twice-a-week speed work on the treadmill. "He was really faithful in following the plan and still is," says Kendall. "There's nothing magic about what he does – he puts in the time and does the hard work. It pays off."
How about you?
You may not have the drive, persistence or organizational skills of Marathon Man Dave. "No one has what I have," he says laughing at himself. "I'm just nuts."
But you might have a goal. Maybe you want to hike with your family, better your golf game or simply improve your fitness to make your life easier. Whatever your goal, Dave says, "Feel good about what you can do – even if it's just walking a few blocks. When you accomplish something, you feel better."
MeritCare Lifelong Fitness Program can take you where you want to go. Call (701) 234-8750 today to set up an appointment. More information is also available at fitness.meritcare.com.