Special Guests
26.2 with Donna welcomes Olympian Joan Benoit Samuelson, Chief Running Officer of Rodale’s Runner’s World Bart Yasso and Marathoner Bill Rodgers. Look for these special guests as a part of the 26.2 with Donna Speaker’s Bureau at the Health & Fitness Expo presented by Eisai Friday and Saturday, as well as a part of the Legends of Running Panel at the Pasta Party on Saturday.
Joan Benoit Samuelson
An Olympian well known in the running world, Samuelson won the Boston Marathon in 1979 and again in 1983. She won gold at the Olympics’ first women’s marathon in 1984 and won the Chicago Marathon in 1985. She has written books including “Running Tide” and “Running for Women.” A participant in the 26.2 with Donna since the Inaugural Year, Joanie is a 26.2 with Donna Streaker and will be running the Marathon event in 2012. Join Joan Benoit Samuelson for a special screening of her documentary “There is No Finish Line,” presented by Key Buick/GMC, on Friday evening.
Bart Yasso
Bart Yasso is the Chief Running Officer for Rodale’s Runner’s World, launching the magazine’s sponsorship program which now works with 6,500 races representing 3.5 million runners each year. Inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions, Yasso is the creator of the “Yasso 800s”, a workout that predicts marathon race pace by running 800 meters 10 times. Yasso is the author of “My Life on the Run,” and has run marathons spanning the globe from Boston and New York to Antarctica and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Bill Rodgers
Bill Rodgers was born to run. As a child he chased butterflies; as a high school senior he won the Connecticut cross country championship. At Wesleyan, he met Amby Burfoot, who motivated him to run farther and faster, but after college Bill quit running. Inspired by Frank Shorter’s 1972 Olympic victory, and watching his old roommate, Amby Burfoot, run Boston, Bill vowed to take to the road. In 1973, Bill Rodgers entered his first Boston Marathon, but dropped out after 21 miles. The next year he came in 14th in 2:19:34. In 1975 Bill Rodgers set a course record (2:09:55), even stopping on Heartbreak Hill to tie his shoe! He won Boston in 1978, 1979 (breaking his own record with a PR 2:09:27) and 1980. Bill also won the New York City Marathon four times, in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979. Bill has set world masters records for 5K, 8K, 10K and 10 miles. Bill Rodgers is currently a spokesperson for his own sportswear company and running center, as well as the author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Running 2nd Edition.” He runs about 25 races a year, and also makes about 25 speaking engagements per year.
Hal Higdon
Hal Higdon has contributed to Runner's World for longer than any other writer, an article by him having appeared in that publication's second issue in 1966. Author of 36 books, including a novel, Marathon, and the best-selling Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, now in its 4th edition, Higdon also has written books on many subjects and for different age groups. His children's book, The Horse That Played Center Field, was made into an animated feature by ABC-TV. He ran eight times in the Olympic Trials and won four world masters championships. One of the founders of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), Higdon also was a finalist in NASA's Journalist-in-Space program to ride the space shuttle. He has served as training consultant for the Chicago Marathon and Chicago Area Runners Association and also answers questions on his Virtual Training Bulletin Board, offering interactive training programs through TrainingPeaks and apps through Bluefin. At the American Society of Journalist and Author's annual meeting in 2003, the Society gave Higdon its Career Achievement Award, the highest honor given to writer members. An art major at Carleton College, he sells and exhibits his paintings in a Pop Art style. Hal Higdon's wife, Rose, hikes, bikes, skis and supports him in his running and writing. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Jeff Galloway
Jeff Galloway is the author of the top selling running books in North America, Galloway's Book on Running and Marathon You Can Do It and a Runner's World columnist. He is also an inspirational speaker at over 200 running and fitness sessions each year. Jeff's quest for the injury-free marathon training program led him to develop group training programs in 1978, and to author Runner's World articles which have been used by hundreds of thousands of runners of all abilities. His training schedules have inspired the second wave of marathoners who follow the Galloway run-walk, low mileage, three-day, suggestions to an over 98% success rate. He has worked with over 150,000 average people in training for specific goals and is the inventor of the Galloway RUN-WALK method. Jeff qualified for the 1972 Olympics in the 10,000 meters and as an alternate for the marathon. Jeff's first business experience, in 1973, was a store for runners called Phidippides. He still owns two Phidippides stores in Atlanta. Jeff now supervises Galloway Productions, which conducts dozens of fitness seminars throughout North America, fitness vacations to Greece and Lake Tahoe, and training groups in 40-50 cities a year. Read Jeff’s full bio here.
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