September 26, 2025 • 40 mins
A delightful conversation with Deb Tornedon, whose running career accomplishments almost defy description. She recently added to her litany of honors with selection to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. The native of tiny Falun, Kansas, she was a four-time All American at K-State and has kept on running ever since, holding a staggering 23 Kansas age group records, and continuing to set world records to this day.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Danny Clinkscale Reasonably irreverent podcast, insightful and
witty commentary, probing interviews and detours from the beaten path.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to Kansas City Profiles, presented by Easton Roofing. In
an absolutely delightful conversation with Deb Tornadin, a four time
All American, an eight time Big Eight champion for the
Kansas State Track and Field team, that only scratches the
surface of what she has done as a runner. She
married a runner. He's an accomplished runner as Deb Peel,
(00:36):
that was her maiden name. She was a multi year
champion at Big Eight. She was the nineteen eighty four
Outstanding Performer for the Big Eight Indoor Championships. But unlike
other sports, you can just keep on running. She transitioned
to the marathon. She performed for multiple US national teams,
has set world records, and every time she's gotten to
(00:58):
a new age group is started to set records and
win races and be accomplished. She's won the Kansas Runner
of the Year award seven different times over the span
of more than three decades, and now in her mid
sixties and looking forward to milestone sixty five for another
(01:18):
age group. She has really been an unbelievable story. And
she holds twenty three Kansas Road Road Race age group
records and just runs and run. She's been blessed with
good success as far as her health is concerned. She's
raised two boys, neither one of them pursued running, but
(01:39):
they're swimmers. They all work in the k State Athletics Department.
Now Fred and herve coach through the years. And it's
just a remarkable story and it'll be great for you
to hear and for her to tell. She's a delightful,
bubbly person. You can imagine that for somebody who has
run and run and run from her small days in
tiny fallen Kansas and on to Kansas State and beyond
(02:03):
all around the world and still doing it. Are Kansas
City profile Deb Peel now Tornaden a accomplished runner to
say the least. Maybe she and her husband are most
accomplished running couple in the world. And that is not hyperbole.
Listen to her story. Next, it's great Deb Tornadan, Our
Kansas City Profile presented by Eastern Roofing more.
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all the time. There's exciting things going on, new water feature,
(04:14):
new beers, and this fall football is back in Lawrence
and that's cool.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Football back in Lawrence. Can you imagine that we actually
had to endure a year without it. Well, it is back.
It's back on campus. We're so happy that they're here,
just like years past. We offer a free shuttle coming
from the twenty third Stree Brewery an hour and a
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(04:40):
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We love to have you out here, excited to have
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Speaker 2 (04:46):
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the twenty third Street Brewery twenty third and Castle in Lawrence.
If you'd like to join these and other fine sponsors
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Speaker 6 (05:05):
Deb.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You grew up in Fallen, Kansas and it's a very
tiny town north of Lindsborg and guests way north of McPherson,
so kind of out there, and you're on a farm.
Tell me about little deb Peel.
Speaker 7 (05:19):
Well, yeah, I grew up on a farm. We had
lots of cattle and wheat and everything, and I just
was always outside and doing chores, and I just started
running and I rode my bike all the time. I
just thought exercise was great. And I went to a
(05:41):
little school there and Fallen my elementary only had three
in my first grade class, and then yeah, and it
was three girls. And then the time we kind of
joined with another school, and my second grade I had
twelve and only one of them was a boy. So
(06:02):
that's kind of the way it was back then. Then
I did junior high in Smollen, which is not any
bigger than Fallen, maybe one hundred people in the town.
And still continue to run. And there's where I started,
you know, really enjoying beating all the boys. I could
(06:26):
just run really fast. I was a sprinter. You didn't
go too far back then, but I kind of was
kind of maybe running a little bit more because I
enjoyed it. Just continue to ride my bike and just
really like being outside and exercising. So that was my
(06:46):
you know, beginning into you know running perfect high school.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It's kind of a perfect endeavor. It's obviously a solo
sport and if there's nobody around, if you're in a
town of one hundred, it's kind of perfect.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
Yeah, you could just run up any street, and you know,
out in the country you had the mile sections, so
you were kind of that. He started out, you would
keep going because you'd want to go all the way around,
so you know, four miles you pretty much did just
to get around, right.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
That sounds perfect. So obviously this is in your blood
and you enjoyed it very much. Tell me a little
bit about your parents, the farmers.
Speaker 7 (07:32):
Okay, Yeah, my dad is where I got all my
athletic ability. He was he did professional just area professional
back then. It was at baseball and also basketball, and
then in track. He was a sprinter and did the
pole vault, so you know, he was the athletic one.
(07:55):
My sister, she is two years older, she enjoyed running sprints,
but that was all the farther she would want to go.
My brother, the farmer, he would play some tennis. So
I did come, you know, have the athletic ability within
my family.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Right, So and it's time to go to high school.
I guess Linzburg which is now Smokey Valley High School.
That must have been like the big city.
Speaker 7 (08:24):
Yeah, yeah it is. It was only seven miles, you know,
down the road, so it wasn't too far. If I
rode with my brother, we'd get there really fast. So
but anyway, yeah, I did volleyball in the fall, and
then basketball my sophomore year. Because they didn't even have
(08:47):
basketball my first year until you know, we changed you know,
Title nine. They were able to add basketball.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
And then.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
Basketball was okay. So I'd run maybe five six miles
before basketball practice because I'd rather do that, and then track.
We didn't have cross country, so volleyball was the fall sport.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Now you eventually would morph into more of a distance
runner and found success in high school doing that.
Speaker 7 (09:26):
Yes, yeah, first year is sprinting. I even did long
jump and some high jump, and it was just kind
of funny how I was just running so much more
distance than it kind of evolved and like maybe you
should race farther, and so I started doing the half
mile and that was it. I really enjoyed doing the
(09:49):
half mile. And then my senior year is when I
moved up to the mile. It took me a while
just to you know, I think that wasn't too far.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Now, as a senior, you set state records in the
eight hundred and sixteen hundred, which is about a mile obviously,
And yeah, but I guess there's not that many scholarships
out there because you would eventually walk on to Kansas
State as a state record holder, wouldn't you get some interest?
You would think in track.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
Yeah, I got a lot of I got a lot
of interest from KU. They would call me like twice
to day, Oklahoma and several junior colleges. Now, the coach
at k State said he didn't know that I was
a senior and he didn't recruit me. So the time,
I guess they didn't have anything, or you know, it
(10:45):
was AIAW. Back then, they didn't have a lot of
scholarships to give, and my sister was already at k State,
so I preferred. I went on a couple of is
it's they just they were just too far, and being
(11:06):
able to come and be with my sister, I felt
a lot better. It was a big, big change to
come to the city.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
So that's really cool.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
That's why I just walked off.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
There you go, You walked on at Kansas State and
the first cross country race you ever saw you ran in.
Is that correct?
Speaker 7 (11:27):
Yes? Because don't you just say, okay, just follow somebody,
just like you do in practice, just follow somebody. And
I guess I followed the right person because I ended
up second. So yeah, it was just kind of a
different experience for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And then if you're second and you're getting close to
the finish line. You can just pass the person.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
You won't get lost, right, Yeah, that's right. It was
just a whole different thing.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
You know.
Speaker 7 (11:55):
You think being living out of the country, I would
have been used to running and grasp it. I didn't
even know what it was. I mean, that's kind of
like sheltered out there. I guess.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Well, you obviously had success all the years there. What
was your college experience like besides the running.
Speaker 7 (12:14):
Oh, I wasn't. Actually, I was in a sorority. My
sister was Alpha zy Delta, so I joined that, and
so I had that other activities, you know, and I
was a secondary education major and also exercise science, so
(12:35):
I spent a lot of time, you know, in the
labs and things doing that, and then I did my
student teaching actually my senior year at Manhattan High. So yeah,
so I kept busy doing all those things and then
just being able to go home and be on the farm.
But you know, most of the time I was running.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
So well, you were a four time NCAA All American,
eight time conference champion, and you really seem to be
someone who was attuned to running indoors too, which is
again kind of ironic for somebody who grew up on
a farm and the great outdoors and all that, and
you were the Big eight most outstanding performer at the
eighty four Big Eight Indoor and basically just a couple
(13:22):
of years ago you set an indoor world record in
a relay. So what is it about running indoors that
you seem to like?
Speaker 7 (13:29):
Well, you know, I guess there's no wind inside, so
that's helpful. But I don't know. I guess I get
in a rhythm and I just like going in circles
and knowing where you're at all the time. I just,
you know, it's just easier to focus. I think, you know,
(13:51):
back then we even had tight turns. We didn't run
too many bank tracks, so unless it was on boards
and then you're doing a one sixty five, you know,
smaller circle. But in doors, it was just the weather
was perfect. You know, you step on and you kind
of get your splits, and I'm such a rhythm person.
(14:13):
It just seemed to be the best, you know, racing
situation for me.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Well, you have been a multi time Olympic trials athlete
and eventually would have some success in relays and the like.
With your first try at it was the three thousand
meters in the eighty four Olympic trials and what was
it like to give that a shot but not make it.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Well, it was interesting back then. I guess they didn't
think women could run five thousand or ten thousand on
the track, so three thousand was just added that Olympic year.
And it's funny because all the fifteen hundred meter runners
moved up, and anybody that was a longer distance runner
(14:59):
they did a exhibition five thousand, they moved down. So
we had this very crowded three thousand meters and we
had to end up running pre limbs and well we
did heats and then prelimbs and then finals. So you're
running three, like almost two miles within a week's time.
(15:21):
That's a lot of racing, especially after your collegiate season.
So by then I was pretty worn out. A great experience.
It was in la which you know, the Olympics was
and we'll be here soon. But it was an incredible
experience and it helped me. You know, I ran with
(15:44):
Nike then after that for a while and was able
to go on the USA trip, so it really helped
me exposed to you know, the USA Track and Field
so yeah, it was a great springboard into you know,
the professional realm.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
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third Street Brewery with Matt Llewellen all the time. There's
exciting things going on, New Water feature, new Beers, and
this fall football is back in Lawrence and that's cool.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Football back in Lawrence. Can you imagine that we actually
had to endure a year without it. Well, it is back.
It's back on campus. We're so happy that they're here,
just like years past. We offer a free shuttle coming
from the twenty third three Brewery an hour and a
half before game time. We partner with the Boys and
Girls Club to do that, so it's helping a good
cause also, so come in to the brewery early before
(18:16):
the game. Free shuttle to and from the football game.
We love to have you out here, excited to have
the Jayhawks back in town where they belong.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Great food, great beers, great fun during football season at
the twenty third Street Brewery twenty third and Castle in Lawrence.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
If you'd like to join these and other great sponsors
and market your business to a growing and engaged audience,
contact us at Danny Clinkscale dot com. Look forward to
hearing from you.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Our guest is Deb Tornadan. She's a four time All American,
eight time Big A champion, and Olympian and world record holder.
And as we'll get into she is run her entire
life and keeps on being accomplished. And of course you
are Deb Tornadan now and not Peel And that was
because you came acquainted right towards the end of your
(19:02):
college years with Fred Tornaden.
Speaker 7 (19:05):
Yes, he came up here. Actually he's a marathoner to
train for the Olympic Trials marathon and he ended up
being in the apartments right across from where I was,
and we just you know, had a good time just
talking and talking. And he'll tell you it took me
(19:26):
a lot longer to see the light than he did. So, yeah,
but he would wait and watch in the morning, because
I'd go out for a four or five mile run
and he'd watch, and then he said he wasn't stocking me,
so that's good. But he would wait and then he
would try to catch and you know, run with me
(19:47):
in the morning and take him a while. But yeah,
then by you know, nineteen eighty four, you know pretty much,
you know a thing I guess and got buried, you know,
in March of eighty five. So and it's great having
a runner, you know, being married to runners, so they
(20:10):
get it. They understand what it takes. And we're able
to train now together a lot. So it's been a
fun journey.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
It certainly has. And we'll detail some of the unbelievable
accomplishments you've had through the years. What was it like
transitioning in the rest of your life from college to
the professional world, all the time, of course, spending a
lot of time with your running.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
Yeah, it was, well, we moved to Wichita and we
got with the training program there and got some you know,
just jobs just so we could you know, pay your
rent and hine your food and everything. So that was good.
Then we transitioned into going to Dallas. We had a
(21:00):
training with the Olympic coaches down there, so we trained
there with Francy LaRue Smith, who's you know, she's a
four time Olympian. So it was good to be able
to train with somebody that was on that level. Learned
a lot of things from that. But it ended up
(21:21):
we wanted to come back to Kansas, so we ended
up coming back here because Fred he went to University
of Texas to get his masters in teaching. So we
came back to Coffeeville actually to coach. So we were
(21:43):
track coaches at Coffeeville and at Butler Community College. Great experience.
We were able to help the athletes a lot because
you know, we lived it, we did it. I was
able to train a lot. I didn't so much run
with the athletes too much, but there were some the
(22:05):
guys I would train with more so than the women.
But it was a good training environment just because we
were able to you know, go to meets and travel
or I would travel alone, you know sometimes when we
you know had track, you know advanced, but so we
(22:26):
were just surrounded by you know, track and field most
in education. So it was just a good environment to
you know, keep going. So I never never even thought
about not running, so that it was just part of me.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
So well, Fred is a marathoner, as you mentioned, and
you eventually started being a marathoner yourself around the age
of thirty.
Speaker 7 (22:54):
Yes, that was a funny transition. And I guess I
liked going on those two hour runs and then eventually
three hour runs. It was just it was just so
much I don't know, fun. You know, people don't think
that's fun. But I just really enjoyed running. And I
(23:15):
get up, like in the summer at four in the
morning just I could get my run in for it's
too hot. And I think it just evolved is like
why not run a marathon? And so I ran my
first one at Twin Cities where Fred had won back
in eighty four. So it was a beautiful marathon. I
(23:35):
just went. I started way too slow, but they got
into a rhythm and it was pretty good. I ran
to forty the first marathon and qualified for the Olympic Trials,
which was in like four months. It was in Janet
way out about three months, three four months, and so
(23:56):
I qualified. So it's like, well, yeah, I can run
this again, and so yeah, And it was just fun training.
I really enjoyed the training for a marathon. Sometimes a
race comes up and I'm like, I don't want to rest.
I just want to keep running. So sometimes a race,
I don't know, but get in the way because the
(24:18):
training part was just as much fun to me.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
But I know exactly what you mean. When I was
running all the time, I always you know, first of all,
races are very early in the morning. That wasn't right
in my company. And secondly, I was like, well, I'm
going to run today. I'm going to run today anyway
and run enough races to know I'm pretty fast.
Speaker 6 (24:38):
So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
I guess I'm kind of like you in that regard. Well,
your list of accomplishments is ridiculous, so I can't talk
about all the different things you've done. But you represented
the United States in a couple of distance relays in
South Korea and China. What's the aspect of team aspect?
How do you enjoy that?
Speaker 7 (25:00):
So yeah. I mean it was people that you you know,
they picked a team and it was girls that you
didn't even know, and so you joined up on that
team when you got to like China or Korea, and
you just became like best friends because you get up early,
you'd train, you'd go you know, several days before, and
(25:21):
then the race format, you'd have this sash and we
each have a distance, either it's a five k or
a ten k or eight k in there to equal
a marathon distance, and so we'd run our part and
then we'd take the sash off and hand it to
the next person. But it was such a culture thing too.
(25:46):
The event you would get to go see, you know,
the Great Wall of China or tim and Square. They
took all the athletes together, so you were able to
be with you know, other people that were from you know,
Thailand or Australia or you know, different countries. So it
was a great learning experience. And then representing the USA
(26:11):
like I did in Greece. I ran the marathon for
the World Cup Marathon, and that was just an amazing
experience running through the streets of another country and they
love athletics. Running over there, the streets were just lined
(26:33):
like the whole way and they were cheering for USA.
So me and this other USA runner were pretty much
running together the whole way and it was just it
was amazing to have somebody just cheering you on the
whole time. So that was They're just great experiences in
the different culture with you know, new teammates, and it
(26:56):
was just a really fun experience.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
So well, most athletes as they grow older, they're going
to have to transition out of whatever they're doing. I
would say golf and maybe running or two of the things.
Maybe tennis too, where there's a lot of age group
and every time a new age came up or a
new milestone age, all you did was go out and
start kicking people's butts who are the same age.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Again, it does I mean runners are kind of like,
oh it's a birthday, yay. You know, most people are like, okay,
another year. But yeah, it's been fun because you you know,
kind of like get excited and then you kind of
attack those first years that you make it into the
(27:37):
next one. It just makes it a challenge along the way.
You know, I'm gonna run anyway, but then it just
kind of makes it fun because you can break barriers,
you know, and doing the stay records, we kind of
look at that and just you know, see what we
can do, and it's worked out pretty.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Good, pretty good. I would say you've been ra named
Kansas Runner of the Year seven times, and they're like
over thirty yards of thirty years apart. I meant one,
ninety seven, ninety eight, six, thirteen, twenty one just recently.
I mean, it's amazing.
Speaker 7 (28:14):
Yeah, I hope to keep going on that so well.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Yeah, and recent a couple of years ago, as I
mentioned you, we set a world record with again a
group of other three other ladies that you don't even know,
and went to uh the Master's Indoor Championships in Louisville
and set a world record.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (28:37):
That was kind of a funny thing because I never
thought I would run back on the track again. And
Fred was like, one day it was like, you know,
you're you're in really good shape to run a fast mile.
Let's just you know, let's just see what happens. And
and so we trained in Hayharn that winter before they
(29:00):
shut it down, and it was just you know, brings
back a lot of memories when you hadn't run indoors
for like thirty nine forty years, right, so and then
you're training back to where you were in college. So
that was just my friend said he could get the
smile off my face when I just go around in
(29:23):
circles in there. And then when we got to the
National med you know, I ran the relay first the
first night, and yeah, it was it was four of us,
didn't know, you know, three of them. So when we
got together, they saw my name on my entry in
(29:46):
the fifteen hundred and thought, huh, she's probably pretty good
at the eight hundred, you know. And so they called
me like a week before and asked me if i'd
want to and we'd have a good shot at you know,
making a world record. So I was like, well why not,
you know, so I joined up with them. That was
(30:10):
the first race indoor for thirty nine years, and to
be on a world record just like that, it was
so exciting. I mean I could hardly you know, sleep,
you know, and then you think, okay, the next day
I was going to run the fifteen hundred, and I
(30:31):
just took off and did not let anybody pass me.
And that's not usually the way I race. I usually
kind of stay behind and then kick. Well I'm just
like nope, I'm just going to go, and I went
and then I just kicked in and won, you know,
my first national championship as an individual. So it was
(30:55):
super fun. I yeah, I was like, told Fred, I said,
I'm going to do this. This is this is where
it sat now. So I left the marathon behind and
went back to the track.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Yeah, that's really cool. Now you two have been in
coaching also, and started to coach together at Butler County
Community College in the nineties, so you're combining coaching and
running and starting a family.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
Yes.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
Yeah, yeah. We had our Kyle in nineteen ninety nine
and it was it was kind of Yeah, he came
three months early. He was born twenty five and a
half weeks, so he only weighed a pound and seven
ounces when he was born. Yeah, my neighbor didn't even
(31:43):
know we were. You know, I was pregnant, so that
was and I had been running, you know, the doctor
said you can run, you know, and then one day
I wasn't feeling so good and they had I had preclamsia,
so they rushed me to the hospital at all and
then he was born and he's doing great, you know.
(32:06):
So now he's twenty six. And then our youngest son,
he was three years later, and he's doing great. He's
a swimmer. Trying to keep up with those two now
and you know, family, this is a lot of fun.
(32:28):
And you know, we thought maybe they would be runners,
but no interests, no interest in running.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
They didn't pursue endurance sport like swimming.
Speaker 7 (32:38):
So yeah, yeah, Miles is a very good swimmer and
now he's a swim coach. So yeah, so our coaching
has you know, inspired them to do things like that too.
So pour into the next generation.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Right, and now you all work for Case State Athletics,
or at least have in one form or another.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Yes we have. I came back when we moved back here.
It's been a little over ten years ago. I started
helping with the hospitality and then moved over to the
administrative offices here. So I'm over where the football guys
are and help with the athletic department, the AD and
(33:23):
the system here.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
And they all have a pretty good idea of how
fantastic your accomplishments have been within the office, don't they.
Speaker 7 (33:34):
Yeah, yeah, everybody kind of knows me around here. Is
the runner. So it's great to come back here. I
bleed purple. I like being around athletics because that gives
you that energy that you can use to train with. Yeah,
(33:54):
it's just a really good environment, and Manhattan's a great
place to live. It's very you know, tase day purple.
So it's fun. It's fun to be in a college town.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Well, you're creeping up on yet another milestone birthday and
time to set some new records. I mean, you've been
doing so great, and I mean you should have been
aged out in the sixties right now because you're you're
not like sixty one and you're still winning.
Speaker 7 (34:23):
Yeah. No, I'm waiting for that sixty sixty five. I
guess it's out there. Yeah, I was pretty excited. The
indoor is usually right after my birthday the USA Track
and Field, Well this year they decided to put it
in February, so I was a little bummed. It's about
(34:43):
three weeks before my birthday. But I'm still going to
get out there and race. And then the outdoor meet
is in the Masters is in Ohio this year, so
it shouldn't be as hot, so we'll go do that.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Well, it sounds to me in your descriptions and everything
that you also have been somebody who has been able
to avoid injury. Has that been the case or if
you fought, You're fought through some injuries at times?
Speaker 7 (35:13):
Oh, once in a while, Uh, I did. Last year,
I had some hankle problems. My foot was not It
took me a while. I was supposed to go to Sweden,
the race in the world, and it just would not go.
(35:33):
But working with you know, the people around here, the
chiropractor and everything you know, and the athletic trainers here
help me. So I was back up running. But IT'SOK.
A little while, but pretty much I've been injury free.
I do a lot of you know, mobility exercises, strength exercises.
(35:55):
It's just not running anymore. You have to do a
lot of extra train Cross training is a big part
of my schedule now. But yeah, everything you know is
pretty good, so we just keep going.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
It's a fantastic husband and wife team. Your Your husband
was ANNAIA national champion, he's a Fort Hay State Hall
of Famer, and you as a couple have done all
kinds of fantastic things too, not just in your personal
life and raising your family, but as maybe the pre
eminent running couple in the world.
Speaker 7 (36:30):
Maybe that's what Print did it, because actually he did
set a world record relay on the same day, just
hours after I said, you know, the relay record, so
we could say that, you know, I don't know too
many couples have set world records in the same.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Day, so I would say that's probably that was a.
Speaker 7 (36:54):
Pretty exciting Yeah, that was an exciting day for us.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Well, it doesn't seem like you too, are slowing down
or or are going to ever stop running? Are you
ever going to retire and just run?
Speaker 7 (37:10):
Yeah? Well, you know, I like training hard. I don't
like just going out for a run. I want to
have purpose. So I do a lot of speed work
and such, and you just get in such great shape
and you feel so good. It's like friends like, you
gotta race, you got you just gotta go, you know,
see what you can do. And so I don't. I
(37:33):
just really think racing is is is good, Not as
much as I used to be, but you know, I
think individually, I think I got some world records in
there as I get older, because you know, the field
kind of thins out a little bit, and so you know,
my grandma lived to be one hundred and five. So
(37:53):
I've got a long ways to go, and so you know,
I'm just gonna keep at it and uh, you know,
get a few more world records in there.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Not too many people talk about world records when they're
going into their mid sixties.
Speaker 6 (38:09):
That's that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
But you said, you've got a long way to go,
and you have good, good genetics as far as your
family is concerned. But in looking back, you you must
be proud. How the hell do you decide where to
put all these awards?
Speaker 6 (38:23):
You must have?
Speaker 7 (38:26):
Well, we we do have a room that you know,
it's our kind of exercise room. We put up a
few things, but we're not ones that you know, they're
kind of like in a box or something. But you know,
I have my Hall of Fame plaques or whatever, and
and my big trophy. But you know, it's a lot
(38:50):
of memories and we have pictures, but you know, we
don't I don't know, Yes, we don't display too much.
But yeah, it's just been great memories and experiences and
you know, it's just a great journey, right.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
And the latest part of your journey was being named
to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. The latest in
a slew of accomplishments. Tell me how you found out
and what that was like.
Speaker 7 (39:18):
Yeah, Richard called me. We were just going to my
parents' house and fallen and he gave me a call,
and I knew that, you know, they had put my
name in and everything, and so when he called, I
was just about, you know, to be back with my
(39:39):
parents so that I could tell them right then. And I,
you know, I told them, Okay, it's a secret. You
can't let it out.
Speaker 3 (39:47):
Yet, you know.
Speaker 7 (39:48):
But it was great, you know, you just you know,
like I say, it's just been such a great journey,
and to be recognized is great too. And then to
meet the people that we're also inducted, and just knowing
that you put in the hard work to get there.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
We hope you enjoyed the latest Danny Klinkscale Reasonably Irreverent podcast.
Come back soon for something fresh and new. This podcast
was made possible by our great sponsors like Eastern Roofing,
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Welcome to the Danny Clinkscale Reasonably irreverent podcast, insightful and
witty commentary, probing interviews and detours from the beaten path.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to Kansas City Profiles, presented by Easton Roofing. In
an absolutely delightful conversation with Deb Tornadin, a four time
All American, an eight time Big Eight champion for the
Kansas State Track and Field team, that only scratches the
surface of what she has done as a runner. She
married a runner. He's an accomplished runner as Deb Peel,
(00:36):
that was her maiden name. She was a multi year
champion at Big Eight. She was the nineteen eighty four
Outstanding Performer for the Big Eight Indoor Championships. But unlike
other sports, you can just keep on running. She transitioned
to the marathon. She performed for multiple US national teams,
has set world records, and every time she's gotten to
(00:58):
a new age group is started to set records and
win races and be accomplished. She's won the Kansas Runner
of the Year award seven different times over the span
of more than three decades, and now in her mid
sixties and looking forward to milestone sixty five for another
(01:18):
age group. She has really been an unbelievable story. And
she holds twenty three Kansas Road Road Race age group
records and just runs and run. She's been blessed with
good success as far as her health is concerned. She's
raised two boys, neither one of them pursued running, but
(01:39):
they're swimmers. They all work in the k State Athletics Department.
Now Fred and herve coach through the years. And it's
just a remarkable story and it'll be great for you
to hear and for her to tell. She's a delightful,
bubbly person. You can imagine that for somebody who has
run and run and run from her small days in
tiny fallen Kansas and on to Kansas State and beyond
(02:03):
all around the world and still doing it. Are Kansas
City profile Deb Peel now Tornaden a accomplished runner to
say the least. Maybe she and her husband are most
accomplished running couple in the world. And that is not hyperbole.
Listen to her story. Next, it's great Deb Tornadan, Our
Kansas City Profile presented by Eastern Roofing more.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Of Danny's Reasonably Irreverend podcast.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
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Speaker 2 (03:00):
We're here with doctor Brad Woodell from Advanced Sports and
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part of a healthy lifestyle and something to make you happy,
but also maintaining the level of fitness so that you
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Speaker 4 (03:15):
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here at the twenty third Street Brewery with Matt Llewellen
all the time. There's exciting things going on, new water feature,
(04:14):
new beers, and this fall football is back in Lawrence
and that's cool.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Football back in Lawrence. Can you imagine that we actually
had to endure a year without it. Well, it is back.
It's back on campus. We're so happy that they're here,
just like years past. We offer a free shuttle coming
from the twenty third Stree Brewery an hour and a
half before game time. We partner with the Boys and
Girls Club to do that, so it's helping a good
cause also, So come in to the brewery early before
(04:40):
the game. Free shuttle to and from the football game.
We love to have you out here, excited to have
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Speaker 2 (04:46):
Great food, great beers, great fun during football season at
the twenty third Street Brewery twenty third and Castle in Lawrence.
If you'd like to join these and other fine sponsors
and market your business to Kansas City's number one variety podcast, asked,
contact us at Danny at Danny clinkscale dot com. Look
forward to working with you.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
Deb.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You grew up in Fallen, Kansas and it's a very
tiny town north of Lindsborg and guests way north of McPherson,
so kind of out there, and you're on a farm.
Tell me about little deb Peel.
Speaker 7 (05:19):
Well, yeah, I grew up on a farm. We had
lots of cattle and wheat and everything, and I just
was always outside and doing chores, and I just started
running and I rode my bike all the time. I
just thought exercise was great. And I went to a
(05:41):
little school there and Fallen my elementary only had three
in my first grade class, and then yeah, and it
was three girls. And then the time we kind of
joined with another school, and my second grade I had
twelve and only one of them was a boy. So
(06:02):
that's kind of the way it was back then. Then
I did junior high in Smollen, which is not any
bigger than Fallen, maybe one hundred people in the town.
And still continue to run. And there's where I started,
you know, really enjoying beating all the boys. I could
(06:26):
just run really fast. I was a sprinter. You didn't
go too far back then, but I kind of was
kind of maybe running a little bit more because I
enjoyed it. Just continue to ride my bike and just
really like being outside and exercising. So that was my
(06:46):
you know, beginning into you know running perfect high school.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It's kind of a perfect endeavor. It's obviously a solo
sport and if there's nobody around, if you're in a
town of one hundred, it's kind of perfect.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
Yeah, you could just run up any street, and you know,
out in the country you had the mile sections, so
you were kind of that. He started out, you would
keep going because you'd want to go all the way around,
so you know, four miles you pretty much did just
to get around, right.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
That sounds perfect. So obviously this is in your blood
and you enjoyed it very much. Tell me a little
bit about your parents, the farmers.
Speaker 7 (07:32):
Okay, Yeah, my dad is where I got all my
athletic ability. He was he did professional just area professional
back then. It was at baseball and also basketball, and
then in track. He was a sprinter and did the
pole vault, so you know, he was the athletic one.
(07:55):
My sister, she is two years older, she enjoyed running sprints,
but that was all the farther she would want to go.
My brother, the farmer, he would play some tennis. So
I did come, you know, have the athletic ability within
my family.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Right, So and it's time to go to high school.
I guess Linzburg which is now Smokey Valley High School.
That must have been like the big city.
Speaker 7 (08:24):
Yeah, yeah it is. It was only seven miles, you know,
down the road, so it wasn't too far. If I
rode with my brother, we'd get there really fast. So
but anyway, yeah, I did volleyball in the fall, and
then basketball my sophomore year. Because they didn't even have
(08:47):
basketball my first year until you know, we changed you know,
Title nine. They were able to add basketball.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
And then.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
Basketball was okay. So I'd run maybe five six miles
before basketball practice because I'd rather do that, and then track.
We didn't have cross country, so volleyball was the fall sport.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Now you eventually would morph into more of a distance
runner and found success in high school doing that.
Speaker 7 (09:26):
Yes, yeah, first year is sprinting. I even did long
jump and some high jump, and it was just kind
of funny how I was just running so much more
distance than it kind of evolved and like maybe you
should race farther, and so I started doing the half
mile and that was it. I really enjoyed doing the
(09:49):
half mile. And then my senior year is when I
moved up to the mile. It took me a while
just to you know, I think that wasn't too far.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Now, as a senior, you set state records in the
eight hundred and sixteen hundred, which is about a mile obviously,
And yeah, but I guess there's not that many scholarships
out there because you would eventually walk on to Kansas
State as a state record holder, wouldn't you get some interest?
You would think in track.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
Yeah, I got a lot of I got a lot
of interest from KU. They would call me like twice
to day, Oklahoma and several junior colleges. Now, the coach
at k State said he didn't know that I was
a senior and he didn't recruit me. So the time,
I guess they didn't have anything, or you know, it
(10:45):
was AIAW. Back then, they didn't have a lot of
scholarships to give, and my sister was already at k State,
so I preferred. I went on a couple of is
it's they just they were just too far, and being
(11:06):
able to come and be with my sister, I felt
a lot better. It was a big, big change to
come to the city.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
So that's really cool.
Speaker 7 (11:16):
That's why I just walked off.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
There you go, You walked on at Kansas State and
the first cross country race you ever saw you ran in.
Is that correct?
Speaker 7 (11:27):
Yes? Because don't you just say, okay, just follow somebody,
just like you do in practice, just follow somebody. And
I guess I followed the right person because I ended
up second. So yeah, it was just kind of a
different experience for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And then if you're second and you're getting close to
the finish line. You can just pass the person.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
You won't get lost, right, Yeah, that's right. It was
just a whole different thing.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
You know.
Speaker 7 (11:55):
You think being living out of the country, I would
have been used to running and grasp it. I didn't
even know what it was. I mean, that's kind of
like sheltered out there. I guess.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Well, you obviously had success all the years there. What
was your college experience like besides the running.
Speaker 7 (12:14):
Oh, I wasn't. Actually, I was in a sorority. My
sister was Alpha zy Delta, so I joined that, and
so I had that other activities, you know, and I
was a secondary education major and also exercise science, so
(12:35):
I spent a lot of time, you know, in the
labs and things doing that, and then I did my
student teaching actually my senior year at Manhattan High. So yeah,
so I kept busy doing all those things and then
just being able to go home and be on the farm.
But you know, most of the time I was running.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
So well, you were a four time NCAA All American,
eight time conference champion, and you really seem to be
someone who was attuned to running indoors too, which is
again kind of ironic for somebody who grew up on
a farm and the great outdoors and all that, and
you were the Big eight most outstanding performer at the
eighty four Big Eight Indoor and basically just a couple
(13:22):
of years ago you set an indoor world record in
a relay. So what is it about running indoors that
you seem to like?
Speaker 7 (13:29):
Well, you know, I guess there's no wind inside, so
that's helpful. But I don't know. I guess I get
in a rhythm and I just like going in circles
and knowing where you're at all the time. I just,
you know, it's just easier to focus. I think, you know,
(13:51):
back then we even had tight turns. We didn't run
too many bank tracks, so unless it was on boards
and then you're doing a one sixty five, you know,
smaller circle. But in doors, it was just the weather
was perfect. You know, you step on and you kind
of get your splits, and I'm such a rhythm person.
(14:13):
It just seemed to be the best, you know, racing
situation for me.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Well, you have been a multi time Olympic trials athlete
and eventually would have some success in relays and the like.
With your first try at it was the three thousand
meters in the eighty four Olympic trials and what was
it like to give that a shot but not make it.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Well, it was interesting back then. I guess they didn't
think women could run five thousand or ten thousand on
the track, so three thousand was just added that Olympic year.
And it's funny because all the fifteen hundred meter runners
moved up, and anybody that was a longer distance runner
(14:59):
they did a exhibition five thousand, they moved down. So
we had this very crowded three thousand meters and we
had to end up running pre limbs and well we
did heats and then prelimbs and then finals. So you're
running three, like almost two miles within a week's time.
(15:21):
That's a lot of racing, especially after your collegiate season.
So by then I was pretty worn out. A great experience.
It was in la which you know, the Olympics was
and we'll be here soon. But it was an incredible
experience and it helped me. You know, I ran with
(15:44):
Nike then after that for a while and was able
to go on the USA trip, so it really helped
me exposed to you know, the USA Track and Field
so yeah, it was a great springboard into you know,
the professional realm.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
More of Danny's Reasonably Irreverend podcast after this.
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Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered
Investment Advisor member FINRA SIPC. We're here at the twenty
third Street Brewery with Matt Llewellen all the time. There's
exciting things going on, New Water feature, new Beers, and
this fall football is back in Lawrence and that's cool.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Football back in Lawrence. Can you imagine that we actually
had to endure a year without it. Well, it is back.
It's back on campus. We're so happy that they're here,
just like years past. We offer a free shuttle coming
from the twenty third three Brewery an hour and a
half before game time. We partner with the Boys and
Girls Club to do that, so it's helping a good
cause also, so come in to the brewery early before
(18:16):
the game. Free shuttle to and from the football game.
We love to have you out here, excited to have
the Jayhawks back in town where they belong.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Great food, great beers, great fun during football season at
the twenty third Street Brewery twenty third and Castle in Lawrence.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
If you'd like to join these and other great sponsors
and market your business to a growing and engaged audience,
contact us at Danny Clinkscale dot com. Look forward to
hearing from you.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Our guest is Deb Tornadan. She's a four time All American,
eight time Big A champion, and Olympian and world record holder.
And as we'll get into she is run her entire
life and keeps on being accomplished. And of course you
are Deb Tornadan now and not Peel And that was
because you came acquainted right towards the end of your
(19:02):
college years with Fred Tornaden.
Speaker 7 (19:05):
Yes, he came up here. Actually he's a marathoner to
train for the Olympic Trials marathon and he ended up
being in the apartments right across from where I was,
and we just you know, had a good time just
talking and talking. And he'll tell you it took me
(19:26):
a lot longer to see the light than he did. So, yeah,
but he would wait and watch in the morning, because
I'd go out for a four or five mile run
and he'd watch, and then he said he wasn't stocking me,
so that's good. But he would wait and then he
would try to catch and you know, run with me
(19:47):
in the morning and take him a while. But yeah,
then by you know, nineteen eighty four, you know pretty much,
you know a thing I guess and got buried, you know,
in March of eighty five. So and it's great having
a runner, you know, being married to runners, so they
(20:10):
get it. They understand what it takes. And we're able
to train now together a lot. So it's been a
fun journey.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
It certainly has. And we'll detail some of the unbelievable
accomplishments you've had through the years. What was it like
transitioning in the rest of your life from college to
the professional world, all the time, of course, spending a
lot of time with your running.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
Yeah, it was, well, we moved to Wichita and we
got with the training program there and got some you know,
just jobs just so we could you know, pay your
rent and hine your food and everything. So that was good.
Then we transitioned into going to Dallas. We had a
(21:00):
training with the Olympic coaches down there, so we trained
there with Francy LaRue Smith, who's you know, she's a
four time Olympian. So it was good to be able
to train with somebody that was on that level. Learned
a lot of things from that. But it ended up
(21:21):
we wanted to come back to Kansas, so we ended
up coming back here because Fred he went to University
of Texas to get his masters in teaching. So we
came back to Coffeeville actually to coach. So we were
(21:43):
track coaches at Coffeeville and at Butler Community College. Great experience.
We were able to help the athletes a lot because
you know, we lived it, we did it. I was
able to train a lot. I didn't so much run
with the athletes too much, but there were some the
(22:05):
guys I would train with more so than the women.
But it was a good training environment just because we
were able to you know, go to meets and travel
or I would travel alone, you know sometimes when we
you know had track, you know advanced, but so we
(22:26):
were just surrounded by you know, track and field most
in education. So it was just a good environment to
you know, keep going. So I never never even thought
about not running, so that it was just part of me.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
So well, Fred is a marathoner, as you mentioned, and
you eventually started being a marathoner yourself around the age
of thirty.
Speaker 7 (22:54):
Yes, that was a funny transition. And I guess I
liked going on those two hour runs and then eventually
three hour runs. It was just it was just so
much I don't know, fun. You know, people don't think
that's fun. But I just really enjoyed running. And I
(23:15):
get up, like in the summer at four in the
morning just I could get my run in for it's
too hot. And I think it just evolved is like
why not run a marathon? And so I ran my
first one at Twin Cities where Fred had won back
in eighty four. So it was a beautiful marathon. I
(23:35):
just went. I started way too slow, but they got
into a rhythm and it was pretty good. I ran
to forty the first marathon and qualified for the Olympic Trials,
which was in like four months. It was in Janet
way out about three months, three four months, and so
(23:56):
I qualified. So it's like, well, yeah, I can run
this again, and so yeah, And it was just fun training.
I really enjoyed the training for a marathon. Sometimes a
race comes up and I'm like, I don't want to rest.
I just want to keep running. So sometimes a race,
I don't know, but get in the way because the
(24:18):
training part was just as much fun to me.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
But I know exactly what you mean. When I was
running all the time, I always you know, first of all,
races are very early in the morning. That wasn't right
in my company. And secondly, I was like, well, I'm
going to run today. I'm going to run today anyway
and run enough races to know I'm pretty fast.
Speaker 6 (24:38):
So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
I guess I'm kind of like you in that regard. Well,
your list of accomplishments is ridiculous, so I can't talk
about all the different things you've done. But you represented
the United States in a couple of distance relays in
South Korea and China. What's the aspect of team aspect?
How do you enjoy that?
Speaker 7 (25:00):
So yeah. I mean it was people that you you know,
they picked a team and it was girls that you
didn't even know, and so you joined up on that
team when you got to like China or Korea, and
you just became like best friends because you get up early,
you'd train, you'd go you know, several days before, and
(25:21):
then the race format, you'd have this sash and we
each have a distance, either it's a five k or
a ten k or eight k in there to equal
a marathon distance, and so we'd run our part and
then we'd take the sash off and hand it to
the next person. But it was such a culture thing too.
(25:46):
The event you would get to go see, you know,
the Great Wall of China or tim and Square. They
took all the athletes together, so you were able to
be with you know, other people that were from you know,
Thailand or Australia or you know, different countries. So it
was a great learning experience. And then representing the USA
(26:11):
like I did in Greece. I ran the marathon for
the World Cup Marathon, and that was just an amazing
experience running through the streets of another country and they
love athletics. Running over there, the streets were just lined
(26:33):
like the whole way and they were cheering for USA.
So me and this other USA runner were pretty much
running together the whole way and it was just it
was amazing to have somebody just cheering you on the
whole time. So that was They're just great experiences in
the different culture with you know, new teammates, and it
(26:56):
was just a really fun experience.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
So well, most athletes as they grow older, they're going
to have to transition out of whatever they're doing. I
would say golf and maybe running or two of the things.
Maybe tennis too, where there's a lot of age group
and every time a new age came up or a
new milestone age, all you did was go out and
start kicking people's butts who are the same age.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Again, it does I mean runners are kind of like,
oh it's a birthday, yay. You know, most people are like, okay,
another year. But yeah, it's been fun because you you know,
kind of like get excited and then you kind of
attack those first years that you make it into the
(27:37):
next one. It just makes it a challenge along the way.
You know, I'm gonna run anyway, but then it just
kind of makes it fun because you can break barriers,
you know, and doing the stay records, we kind of
look at that and just you know, see what we
can do, and it's worked out pretty.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Good, pretty good. I would say you've been ra named
Kansas Runner of the Year seven times, and they're like
over thirty yards of thirty years apart. I meant one,
ninety seven, ninety eight, six, thirteen, twenty one just recently.
I mean, it's amazing.
Speaker 7 (28:14):
Yeah, I hope to keep going on that so well.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Yeah, and recent a couple of years ago, as I
mentioned you, we set a world record with again a
group of other three other ladies that you don't even know,
and went to uh the Master's Indoor Championships in Louisville
and set a world record.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (28:37):
That was kind of a funny thing because I never
thought I would run back on the track again. And
Fred was like, one day it was like, you know,
you're you're in really good shape to run a fast mile.
Let's just you know, let's just see what happens. And
and so we trained in Hayharn that winter before they
(29:00):
shut it down, and it was just you know, brings
back a lot of memories when you hadn't run indoors
for like thirty nine forty years, right, so and then
you're training back to where you were in college. So
that was just my friend said he could get the
smile off my face when I just go around in
(29:23):
circles in there. And then when we got to the
National med you know, I ran the relay first the
first night, and yeah, it was it was four of us,
didn't know, you know, three of them. So when we
got together, they saw my name on my entry in
(29:46):
the fifteen hundred and thought, huh, she's probably pretty good
at the eight hundred, you know. And so they called
me like a week before and asked me if i'd
want to and we'd have a good shot at you know,
making a world record. So I was like, well why not,
you know, so I joined up with them. That was
(30:10):
the first race indoor for thirty nine years, and to
be on a world record just like that, it was
so exciting. I mean I could hardly you know, sleep,
you know, and then you think, okay, the next day
I was going to run the fifteen hundred, and I
(30:31):
just took off and did not let anybody pass me.
And that's not usually the way I race. I usually
kind of stay behind and then kick. Well I'm just
like nope, I'm just going to go, and I went
and then I just kicked in and won, you know,
my first national championship as an individual. So it was
(30:55):
super fun. I yeah, I was like, told Fred, I said,
I'm going to do this. This is this is where
it sat now. So I left the marathon behind and
went back to the track.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Yeah, that's really cool. Now you two have been in
coaching also, and started to coach together at Butler County
Community College in the nineties, so you're combining coaching and
running and starting a family.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
Yes.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
Yeah, yeah. We had our Kyle in nineteen ninety nine
and it was it was kind of Yeah, he came
three months early. He was born twenty five and a
half weeks, so he only weighed a pound and seven
ounces when he was born. Yeah, my neighbor didn't even
(31:43):
know we were. You know, I was pregnant, so that
was and I had been running, you know, the doctor
said you can run, you know, and then one day
I wasn't feeling so good and they had I had preclamsia,
so they rushed me to the hospital at all and
then he was born and he's doing great, you know.
(32:06):
So now he's twenty six. And then our youngest son,
he was three years later, and he's doing great. He's
a swimmer. Trying to keep up with those two now
and you know, family, this is a lot of fun.
(32:28):
And you know, we thought maybe they would be runners,
but no interests, no interest in running.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
They didn't pursue endurance sport like swimming.
Speaker 7 (32:38):
So yeah, yeah, Miles is a very good swimmer and
now he's a swim coach. So yeah, so our coaching
has you know, inspired them to do things like that too.
So pour into the next generation.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Right, and now you all work for Case State Athletics,
or at least have in one form or another.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Yes we have. I came back when we moved back here.
It's been a little over ten years ago. I started
helping with the hospitality and then moved over to the
administrative offices here. So I'm over where the football guys
are and help with the athletic department, the AD and
(33:23):
the system here.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
And they all have a pretty good idea of how
fantastic your accomplishments have been within the office, don't they.
Speaker 7 (33:34):
Yeah, yeah, everybody kind of knows me around here. Is
the runner. So it's great to come back here. I
bleed purple. I like being around athletics because that gives
you that energy that you can use to train with. Yeah,
(33:54):
it's just a really good environment, and Manhattan's a great
place to live. It's very you know, tase day purple.
So it's fun. It's fun to be in a college town.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Well, you're creeping up on yet another milestone birthday and
time to set some new records. I mean, you've been
doing so great, and I mean you should have been
aged out in the sixties right now because you're you're
not like sixty one and you're still winning.
Speaker 7 (34:23):
Yeah. No, I'm waiting for that sixty sixty five. I
guess it's out there. Yeah, I was pretty excited. The
indoor is usually right after my birthday the USA Track
and Field, Well this year they decided to put it
in February, so I was a little bummed. It's about
(34:43):
three weeks before my birthday. But I'm still going to
get out there and race. And then the outdoor meet
is in the Masters is in Ohio this year, so
it shouldn't be as hot, so we'll go do that.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Well, it sounds to me in your descriptions and everything
that you also have been somebody who has been able
to avoid injury. Has that been the case or if
you fought, You're fought through some injuries at times?
Speaker 7 (35:13):
Oh, once in a while, Uh, I did. Last year,
I had some hankle problems. My foot was not It
took me a while. I was supposed to go to Sweden,
the race in the world, and it just would not go.
(35:33):
But working with you know, the people around here, the
chiropractor and everything you know, and the athletic trainers here
help me. So I was back up running. But IT'SOK.
A little while, but pretty much I've been injury free.
I do a lot of you know, mobility exercises, strength exercises.
(35:55):
It's just not running anymore. You have to do a
lot of extra train Cross training is a big part
of my schedule now. But yeah, everything you know is
pretty good, so we just keep going.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
It's a fantastic husband and wife team. Your Your husband
was ANNAIA national champion, he's a Fort Hay State Hall
of Famer, and you as a couple have done all
kinds of fantastic things too, not just in your personal
life and raising your family, but as maybe the pre
eminent running couple in the world.
Speaker 7 (36:30):
Maybe that's what Print did it, because actually he did
set a world record relay on the same day, just
hours after I said, you know, the relay record, so
we could say that, you know, I don't know too
many couples have set world records in the same.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Day, so I would say that's probably that was a.
Speaker 7 (36:54):
Pretty exciting Yeah, that was an exciting day for us.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Well, it doesn't seem like you too, are slowing down
or or are going to ever stop running? Are you
ever going to retire and just run?
Speaker 7 (37:10):
Yeah? Well, you know, I like training hard. I don't
like just going out for a run. I want to
have purpose. So I do a lot of speed work
and such, and you just get in such great shape
and you feel so good. It's like friends like, you
gotta race, you got you just gotta go, you know,
see what you can do. And so I don't. I
(37:33):
just really think racing is is is good, Not as
much as I used to be, but you know, I
think individually, I think I got some world records in
there as I get older, because you know, the field
kind of thins out a little bit, and so you know,
my grandma lived to be one hundred and five. So
(37:53):
I've got a long ways to go, and so you know,
I'm just gonna keep at it and uh, you know,
get a few more world records in there.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Not too many people talk about world records when they're
going into their mid sixties.
Speaker 6 (38:09):
That's that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
But you said, you've got a long way to go,
and you have good, good genetics as far as your
family is concerned. But in looking back, you you must
be proud. How the hell do you decide where to
put all these awards?
Speaker 6 (38:23):
You must have?
Speaker 7 (38:26):
Well, we we do have a room that you know,
it's our kind of exercise room. We put up a
few things, but we're not ones that you know, they're
kind of like in a box or something. But you know,
I have my Hall of Fame plaques or whatever, and
and my big trophy. But you know, it's a lot
(38:50):
of memories and we have pictures, but you know, we
don't I don't know, Yes, we don't display too much.
But yeah, it's just been great memories and experiences and
you know, it's just a great journey, right.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
And the latest part of your journey was being named
to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. The latest in
a slew of accomplishments. Tell me how you found out
and what that was like.
Speaker 7 (39:18):
Yeah, Richard called me. We were just going to my
parents' house and fallen and he gave me a call,
and I knew that, you know, they had put my
name in and everything, and so when he called, I
was just about, you know, to be back with my
(39:39):
parents so that I could tell them right then. And I,
you know, I told them, Okay, it's a secret. You
can't let it out.
Speaker 3 (39:47):
Yet, you know.
Speaker 7 (39:48):
But it was great, you know, you just you know,
like I say, it's just been such a great journey,
and to be recognized is great too. And then to
meet the people that we're also inducted, and just knowing
that you put in the hard work to get there.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
We hope you enjoyed the latest Danny Klinkscale Reasonably Irreverent podcast.
Come back soon for something fresh and new. This podcast
was made possible by our great sponsors like Eastern Roofing,
where integrity matters. Joe Spiker and his team are the
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(40:28):
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