This week’s question:

“Who is your running hero (and I use that term lightly), i.e. who do you admire, look up to, strive to emulate?”

I don’t think I have an actual running hero, but I am really inspired by new runners. I love encouraging them, and it’s not purely selfless — through them I get to continually rediscover the joy of running.  After 15+ years, running can get old, so I love to feed off the energy of the new ones. They inspire me as much as they say I inspire them. I’m leaving out those that named me becuase I’m chalking it up to all of them being my friends. And I’m terribly uncomfortable on a pedestal — that’s a long way to fall.

Here are the people inspiring other local runners:

Louis Zamperini, of course! — Kim

Editor’s Note: Louis is the subject of the book “Unbroken,” which I read and would highly recommend.

Fran at the K of C 10K – July 4, 2012

I have always admired Fran Albaugh. Even when I first started running in the Erie Runners Club, he was about 77, and now he is 90.  He runs or walks most of the races in Erie, and is usually one of the first to sign-up.  Not only do I think that it is great that he is still running at 90, I admire the fact that he truly seems to run for the fun of it, which is something I have never been able to do. — Kevin Slagle

Steve Prefontaine!— Michael Morris

Sebastian Coe when I was growing up. And, ever since I met him and went on a run with him a couple years ago, Galen Rupp. He is a dedicated, hard working young man. — Greg Cooper

Barb Filutze. — Ginny Sackett

I don’t know his name, but I was out at PI and saw a guy running — and he was just FLYING — and I thought – “I wanna run like THAT!!” — Theresa K.

Sandie Sweet! — Amy Morrow

Katie Fleming-Schwartz convinced me to do my first 5k— two days before the race with no training (for me). I may have finished last, but I did it and I got the running bug. Since then, Tracy Jenks has encouraged me to go further then I thought I could and

Lauree Sundberg Schloss/ Michael Schloss have also inspired me because I know I can accomplish anything because of their success with Ironman and Marathons. — Kristen Gehrlein

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Amy Calhoun Morrow pushes me farther than I think I can go. And faster. Every time. And Lauren Piera got me started running back in 2010 after she started crushing it. — Tracy Jenks

Back when I was running in Erie, I was very impressed by Margaret Walker, who I believe was in her 80′s. She never gave up—didn’t matter if she was among the last to finish. Loved talking with her husband John, too. Haven’t heard anything about them lately and I know John wasn’t doing well back then. — Sarah Rose

Since I did not start to run until I was in my 50′s the person I admire is John Bingham and was great to meet him last year when we went on his Alaska cruise.  Last year at the endurance run it was Fran Albaugh, he walked 28 miles and had a smile on his face and it was nice to chat with  him on some of the loops.  The other person that I admire is Barb Filutze- her step by step program helped me to get off the couch and continue to run and through her and her program was able to meet a group of running friends that make me look forward to the weekend long runs. — Suze Carstater