By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
What started as a New Year’s resolution in 2015 has become a labor of love for Dave Woessner. The Bowling Green runner set a goal of competing in one race every month for the year – and 98 months later, he is still going.
Woessner, the Wood County Juvenile Court and Probate Court judge, is preparing to hang up his racing shoes after his 100th monthly race in April.
“The streak will stop at 100,” with Woessner, 63, in need of hip surgery. “I’ll do it even if I have to walk.”
The judge doesn’t do it for the glory.
“I have no illusion that I’m fast,” he said with his typical self-deprecating manner.
Running has long been a big part of Woessner’s life – even if winning races has not. He began running while in high school in Fostoria.
“I was not a good cross country runner. I was slow then, and I’m slow now,” though he recalled in high school he’d sped up a bit when dogs chased after him on country roads, he said with a grin.
After putting on the traditional “freshman 15” pounds while attending Bowling Green State University, he took up running again.
He would run eight to 12 miles a day, five or six days a week while at BGSU then at law school at the University of Toledo.
His running waned a bit after he was hired by then Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Betty Montgomery, and then married his love, Joan.
“I just continued to run as often as I could,” he said. “Running has always been a respite for me – a time to clear my head.”
In January 2015, Woessner decided to commit to a monthly race, “with the idea it was going to be one year.”
He started with the “Hangover Classic” on New Year’s Day in Waterville. Then once a month he would sign up for a race that fit his schedule – whether a 5K, 10K or relay member on a half marathon team.
Woessner has run the “Get Lucky in Luckey” race many times, the “Hot Cocoa 5K” in Sylvania, the “Couch Potato 5K in Bowling Green” and several turkey trots in the region.
There have been times when logistics required him to run while on vacation – in New York City or Florida.
“God forbid if there is a hill,” the judge said of his races beyond flat Northwest Ohio. Though he has been known to check out the course elevation so he can blame his slow time on any inclines.
In addition to the monthly races, he usually runs four days a week, outside or at the Bowling Green Community Center.
After getting to a certain age – with the corresponding injuries like a pulled hamstring, shin splints and sprains – Woessner feels no shame bringing the end of the pack.
“You just work through them,” he said of the customary ailments. But just to be safe, he claims that he is extra friendly to the first responders along the route as he “lumbers along at the back.”
Woessner even scheduled races last year around surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. He ran a race on Dec. 3, and had the surgery on Dec. 7.
“I then started looking for a race at the end of January,” giving his knee the greatest time to heal. That led to the “Tiger Trot” he ran with his niece in Florida.
Woessner said he actually prefers the wintery weather races – with the coldest on his record dipping down to a wind chill of minus 9 degrees.
“Winter runners are a hardy group of people,” with whom Woessner has enjoyed great camaraderie with over the years.
He has braved the elements for the “North Pole 5K” and bundled up for the Valentine’s “Get Lucky” run. “It’s always a dicey one.”
The heaviest rain he encountered was a race near Owens Community College for first responders. “It was torrential,” with sheets of rain from remnants of a hurricane.
For his efforts and aches, Woessner has a huge collection of race bibs, “participation” medals and tons of T-shirts. “Enough to last me for the rest of my life,” he said.
His wife, Joan, is also an avid runner and sometimes joins him in races. Lately, she’s been finishing ahead of her husband.
“The running joke is that she’s my scout – running ahead to spot danger,” Woessner said.
He has also run races with their children, Sarah and Chris, both who live in the Washington, D.C., region. In April, Sarah and Chris will run the “Cherry Blossom 10 Miler,” and their parents will be there to cheer them on – from the sidelines.
