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Running

Treichel keeps rolling with Disney win

The 76-year-old wins his age group - nothing new for the Spring Hill resident.

By LARRY BUGG
Published May 31, 2005

Most people would have to win on some television game show to get a free trip to Disney World.

Al Treichel just had to run a little more than 26 miles in the Disney Marathon to receive four tickets. The 76-year-old standout distance runner posted an age-group victory (4 hours, 7 minutes) in the January event.

"It was great," Treichel said of his family's Disney visit. "They treated us like royalty."

Treichel practically is royalty among runners in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties, and the Spring Hill resident gets invited to numerous races around the country.

The Milwaukee native is nationally ranked in Running Times and was fourth in the nation among runners 75-79.

Treichel has been selected an All-American the past four years for duathlons.

Despite all his success, he didn't think he was worthy of the Disney trip.

"Last year wasn't a good year," Treichel said. "I pulled a muscle.

"I am normally (No.) 1 or 2 in my age group. Because of that injury, I hadn't been training really well," he said. "I felt if I couldn't do real well, I didn't want to go to Disney."

Many of his fellow runners are in awe of Treichel.

"He was in Runner's World," said Judy Hensley, a Red Mule Runners Club officer. "I have seen him at races. He is running some respectable times.

"He is golfing. He swims and bikes and is very active. He doesn't look his age. He looks about 55 years old."

The veteran, who said he was a football player at Georgetown University in Washington, ran 39:46 to win his division in the May 13 Whispering Pines 5-Miler in Inverness.

Treichel started in the sport at 48 and set the national marathon record for a 74-year-old (Masters division) in the 2003 Twin Cities event in Minneapolis.

"In the last 10 or 15 years, I have lost maybe one race in my age group," he said. "My neighbors are kind of funny. They all say, "Call me if you lose.' "

The duathlons and marathons give Treichel extra pleasure. He has been in 28 marathons, including Boston many times and Hawaii.

"When I was on the U.S. (Duathlon) team, I went to Ferrara, Italy, for the world championship in 1996," he said. "You meet people from all over the world."

A year later, Treichel went to Cancun, Mexico, for the world triathlon and duathlon championships. He competed against athletes from 40 nations, finishing second in the duathlon and third in the triathlon.

"That was fun too," Treichel said. "I still enjoy it. Going and meeting the people and keeping in some decent shape are reasons I run."

- Announcements, information, story ideas or comments can be sent to larrybugg@msn.com

[Last modified May 31, 2005, 00:44:11]