| Scharenbrock takes time to enjoy all the marathons he runs, including the Grizzly Marathon in Choteau, Montana, on August 20, 2005.
Photo by Scott Hartman |
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A case study: The marathon man
After running more than 500 marathons, 73-year-old Ray Scharenbrock of Milwaukee
is in excellent shape to complete many more, a doctor confirms
by Dr. Gary N. Guten
| Ray Scharenbrock runs the Quad Cities Half Marathonin in Moline, Illinois, on September 25, 2005, while sporting his "50
States and D.C." shirt.
Photo by marathonfoto.com | Read:
'Time is not a factor,' Scharenbrock says |
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Ray Scharenbrock, a 73-year-old Wisconsin man who had run 510
marathons and ultramarathons, is remarkably pain free and continues to run regularly. His physical findings and x-rays were reviewed and seven factors for his success at running will be presented.
On October 8, 2005, an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel featured Scharenbrock. Even though he was not a patient of my office, he was called and asked to come in for an evaluation.At the age of 40, after being a bicyclist for some time, Scharenbrock
started five-mile local runs and progressed to his first marathon in 1982. In 1996, he retired and started increasing the number of marathons and ultramarathons. He denied experiencing any muscutoskeletal problems other than slight Achilles tendon discomfort about 10 years ago. He developed an asymptomatic bunion on his right foot, which he relates to wearing tight running shoes. This has been alleviated by switching to
extra-wide New Balance shoes. He absolutely denies any back, knee or hip discomfort.
He is being treated for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia by his family physician. Three of his brothers died in their 70s from cardiovascular disease. This is one of his strong motivations for Scharenbrock's commitment to running. The physical exam
Scharenbrock demonstrated a normal gait and was able to run, hop,
squat and jump with no difficulty and no crepitation. A back exam revealed a full range of motion with no tenderness. Leg alignment was excellent with no bow-legged or knock-kneed alignment. His knees also showed no crepitation, effusion or tenderness. A bilateral bunion formation was present – right greater than on the left – which are asymptomatic as long as he wears wide shoes. He said he gets new shoes six times a year. A lumbosacral x-ray showed degenerative changes at L4-L5 with large spur formations which transcend the joint space and give the appearance of a fusion. This is probably related to the "microtrauma" of years of running. Nevertheless, he remained asymptomatic. Hip x-rays were within normal limits. Knee x-rays were remarkably normal with trace osteoarthritic changes compatible with the age of a 30 to 40 year old.
Since musculoskeletal problems are very common in long-distance runners, it is very unique to find a runner who had completed more than 500 marathons yet was essentially asymptomatic.
Secrets to his success
It is my opinion and analysis that there are seven reasons for his success:
1) Motivation: Because of his strong family history of cardiovascular disease and his own personal hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, Scharenbrock is strongly motivated to continue running.
2) Alignment: Scharenbrock's legs and knees are perfectly straight with no bowing deformity. Malalignment is one of the common causes of injuries to the knee of runners.
3) Shoes: Scharenbrock wears wide New Balance shoes which reduce stress on his forefoot. As soon as there are any signs of heel wear, he changes shoes. This occurs approximately six times a year.
4) Surface: He trains primarily on blacktop bicycle paths and avoids cement. If a marathon run is on a
paved cement road, Scharenbrock said he can feel the difference and his legs start to ache.
5) Time: This marathoner is not obsessed with his race times or performance. His goal is always just to finish and not in a predetermined time.
6) Let's the pain guide: Scharenbrock listens to his body. If he feels any discomfort, he slows his running pace. He avoids Vince Lombardi's philosophy of "No pain, no gain."
7) Hills: He avoids training on hills to minimize the stress on his knees, legs and back.
Pain free running should be the goal of any health exercise prescription. The seven factors for this marathon runner's success should be adopted for all runners who are interested in maintaining a life-long interest in running pain free.
Gary N. Guten, M.D., M.A., is a member at the Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, and a senior medical advisor for the Performance Centers of Covenant Hospital. He earned a master's degree in bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2005.
Time is not a factor,' Scharenbrock says
At 73, Ray Scharenbrock of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is and isn't slowing down. His marathon
finishing times have increased by half an hour over the past five years. But he shows no sign of capping his collection of finishers' medals from marathons, ultramarathons and half marathons.
As of early August, Scharenbrock had run 524 marathons and ultras and was just a few races away from having run a marathon in every state and the District of Columbia nine times over.
By this November, he also expected to bag a half marathon in every state and D.C.
Even though he didn't run his first marathon until 1982 – the Lakefront Marathon in Milwaukee at age 49 – no one appears likely to top Scharenbrock's ongoing record soon. According to 50 States & D.C. Marathon Group USA, the closest runner has gone the distance in 50 states and D.C. only five times.
Still, Scharenbrock insists there are is a lot of competition within his sub-group of runners trying to chalk up the most marathons and "a number of them are sneaking up on me."
Scharenbrock retired 15 years ago from teaching and working as a counselor at South Milwaukee Middle School. "I was lucky and got a good retirement. You set your priorities," he said, explaining how he's willing and able to travel the country (and internationally) to run one or two races every weekend. On most weekdays he reportedly gets in 12 to 20 miles on black-topped paths near his home.
"Time is not a factor," Scharenbrock said of his approach, taking about six hours to finish each 26.2-mile event. "I recognize where I'm at and it just takes me time."
While Scharenbrock has completed marathons on all seven contentents, he has run regional races, too, including Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota (three times), Lakefront (three times) and the Twin Cities Marathon (once). He also has a belt buckle for each of the seven times he's conquered the Ice Age
50 Mile on trails through the South Kettles.
"I especially enjoy trail runs," Scharenbrock said. He admitted 50K is his favorite distance but half marathons "still offer a lot of spice."
Scharenbrock's accomplishments drew the attention of a Milwaukee physician. A subsequent examination, detailed in the accompanying story, showed Scharenbrock to be in remarkable shape for all the running he's
done. Although the exam revealed a couple fused vertebrae, Scharenbrock's knees looked like those of a man less than half his age.
Dr. Gary Guten counted several factors that accounted for Scharenbrock's longevity as a runner and details them here.
(Note, Guten refers to Scharenbrock as having completed 510 marathons at the time of their meeting. When Scharenbrock spoke to Silent Sports, he said his tally had reached 524, including both marathons and races exceeding 26.2 miles).
– Joel Patenaude
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