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Mike Just
Hometown: Hazen, ND
High School: Hazen High School
College: Dickinson State University
Best Times
800: 2:00.8
1600: 4:20.1
3200: 9:14.7
5000: 14.55
8000: 24:12
10000: 30:42
15000: 46:30
10 Mile: 50:24
1/2 Marathon: 1:08:44
Marathon: 2:19:58
Honors and Achievements
1968 Class B Mile State Champion 4:34.4
1968-1971 Dickinson State College 2 time NAIA District 12 Cross Country Champion.
2 time NAIA District 12 Steeplechase Champion
NDCAC 3 Mile Champion.
1981 Boston Marathon placed 81st with a time of 2:21:31. Highest finish ever for a ND Runner.
1982 Grandma's Marathon placed 5th with a time of 2:19:58. Became the first ND runner to run a sub 2:20 marathon.
Current Running Activities
I still run roadraces between 5 and 10K.
Most Memorable Running Event
Boston Marathon in 1981. Before I ran Boston, my best marathon time was 2:29:24. My goal at Boston was to run a sub 2:25 and place in the top 100. This was the first race where I can say I experienced a runner's high. In the first few miles of the race, I was feeling tired and had a sideache. I got to the 10K mark and looked at my time and it was 31:44, so I knew why I felt bad. I slowed my pace and by the time I got to the 10 mile mark, I felt great. It was from that point to about the 21 mile mark that I experienced a runner's high. All I remember of that part of the race is running and passing a lot of other runners. It seemed like I went from Mile 10 to Mile 21 in no time. Anyway, I achieved both of my goals by placing 81st with a time of 2:21:31.
Favorite Place to Run
On the gravel and section line roads north of Hazen. There are a lot of hills and not much traffic.
Favorite Workout
400 meter repeats on the track.
Why did you start running?
I started running when I was 13. My Freshman year, our coach would drop us off 3-5 miles out in the country and we would run back. I was always the first one back, so they made me a distance runner. As the years went by, I learned to love running more and more. I could see myself getting better each year and made a lot of good friends. To this day, there is nothing I enjoy more than going out North of Hazen and running miles.
Favorite Race.
"I Made the Hill" in Bismarck in the first part of May. This is one of my favorite races in ND. I have run this race 15 times and have won it 3 times.
Other Activities
I have coached Boy's and Girl's cross country in Hazen since 1995.
Other on Running
Running has allowed me to go places and meet people I otherwise wouldn't have. I have run races in 14 different States adn 2 Canadian Provinces. Running has been a part of my life for more than 38 years and as long as my body lets me, I will keep on running and keep on racing.
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