Baker and Verran Excel in Chicago

By Doug Kurtis

10/19/02

Last Sunday, three of Michigan's best runners turned in outstanding performances in Chicago's Marathon. Kyle Baker, 26 of East Lansing, running his first marathon led a pack of six to the finish line in 2:14:13. Barely a few strides back was Clint Verran, 27 of Rochester Hills and first timer Ryan Shay, 23 of Central Lake. Verran ran a personal best of 2:14:17 and Shay's first 26.2 was a knock out 2:14:30. I had a chance to speak with Baker and Verran this week.

The two competed against each other in college, Baker for Ball State and MSU, Verran for EMU. They became good friends after spending a year rooming together through Hanson's Olympic Distance Project. At one point they talked about forming their own rock group except that they both play the drums. Before Chicago, they spoke on a number of occasions to discuss race strategy and thought they could help each other run a solid performance. Both were happy with their performances yet expect a better marathon ahead and hope to make the Olympic standard of 2:12.

Baker has been burning up the roads for more than a year now. He was the Michigan Runner of the year and first American to finish at the Crim 10 miler back in August. At MSU, where he trains with runners he also helps coach, he was an All American and Big Ten Champion twice. Baker is unusual in that he excels at everything from the mile and now the marathon. Last year he won the Traverse City Golden Mile in 3:55 and set an indoor 5km best of 13:51. He describes his approach to training as high intensity. He charts more than 100 miles a week and gears it toward making 5 minute pace feel comfortable including crisp paced long runs.

Verran works part time in his hometown of Lake Orion as a licensed physical therapist. He continues to be coached by the Hanson brothers and averaged almost 125 miles a week leading up to the Marathon. He does all his training with a group of about 10 guys from across the country that come to Rochester Hills to train for the Olympics. Running with the group has really helped him develop and he believes it gives him a huge advantage over many other competitors.

"I think my greatest success up this point is not one race, but rather the fact that I'm still running competitively" said Verran.. "Most people don't understand the commitment it takes to train 140 miles a week and guys my age aren't in bed by 9:30 on a Friday night and waking up at 6am to meet their teammates on the track for a workout. I'm not complaining because I'm living out my dream right now." Clint hopes to qualify for the 2003 World Championships in France.

Verran and Baker told me they chose Chicago over other fall marathons because of its reputation for fast times. Verran said he enjoyed Chicago because the race is run in a first-class manner and the organizers go out of their way to take care of the top Americans. "The athletes know they're expected to be at the pre and post-race press conferences. Before the start of the race they are escorted from their hotel rooms to a warm staging area with plenty of restrooms. After the race you're taken back to the media room with plenty of fluids and food. I truthfully don't think there's anything that special about their course. The event's professionalism and incentives to run fast is what attracts world-class runners."