Running

Penn State grad student hits stride in first marathon

Tara Murray

When Luke Watson toed the starting line at the Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 4, the Penn State grad student wasn't sure what to expect.

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He’d already qualified for the U.S. Olympic marathon trials race by running the Houston Half Marathon in 1 hour, 3 minutes, 51 seconds in January, and he’d already competed in two Olympic track and field trials, in 2004 and 2008.

But, he’d never run a 26.2-mile race before.

“Coming from a shorter distance background, there were a lot of unknowns for me,” Watson said on a recent afternoon in his shared office in Penn State’s Business Building.

As it turned out, he didn’t have anything to worry about. Watson cruised to a 2:15:19 finish, good for seventh overall and he was the second American across the line.

He didn’t even hit the infamous “wall” that so many marathoners find around mile 20. “The hardest part was around miles 15 to 19, when we were going into a headwind,” Watson recalled. “It went uphill at the end, but after mile 20 you know you’re almost there.”

The Minnesota native found plenty of hometown support along the course, which he said helped keep him focused.

After an impressive high school career in Stillwater, Minn.., Watson ran for Notre Dame and then coached there. He also trained with Team USA Minnesota for a while, which familiarized him with the roads covered in the marathon.

Now he is working on a doctorate degree in accounting at Penn State, preparing for the Olympic trials and coaching his wife Georgann, also a professional runner. It’s a busy life, but Watson said it suits him, and he’s found State College to be an ideal place to train. Long runs on the mountain roads of Rothrock State Forest helped him build the strength needed for the marathon.

With two qualifying times under his belt, Watson will now focus on preparing for the Olympic trials. He hasn’t committed to another marathon, but admitted that he wondered what he could do on “a really fast course” after his marathon debut.

National spotlight

Olympic track and field trials veteran Rebecca Donaghue is also keeping busy coaching the State College Lady Little Lion cross country team, but hasn’t let that stop her from competing at the national level.

Donaghue finished second in the USA 5K Championship (15:30) in September. She was second the USA 10K Championship (32:28) on Oct. 12, which was held in conjunction with the Tufts 10K for Women in Boston. She finished third overall in the Tufts 10K. Both races were personal best times for Donaghue.

Local race results

State College was well represented at the inaugural Spirit of Pittsburgh Half Marathon on Sunday. Penn State grad student Beth Herndon was first among women in 1 hour, 19 minutes, 20 seconds. Elijah Shekinah of State College was ninth overall in 1:13:52.

In Centre County races, Ann Skulas-Ray of State College continued to dominate, winning the Knights of Columbus 5K on Oct. 11 in 19:27 and the Race Judicata 5K on Oct. 31 in 19:58.

In the men’s races, masters runner Patrick Singletary of State College won the Knights of Columbus race in 17:31. David Moore was first in the Race Judicata in 16:50, with race director David Rasmussen not far behind in 17:06.

A trio of Penns Valley cross country runners finished within three seconds of each other to place first, second, and third at the Aaronsburg Dutch Fall Festival HOPE Fund 5K on Oct. 3. Matthew Fuller, 15, of Centre Hall was first across the finish line in 18:34, followed closely by Michael Decker, 14, of Woodward in 18:35 and Will Lush, 17, of Spring Mills in 18:37. Anna Kobb of Woodward was the first woman in 21:08.

At the Melissa Heydenreich 5K/10K Moxie-thon on Oct. 4, Bob Radzwich won the 10K in 37:16. Molly Ritter was the first woman in 40:08. Edward Bouchier won the 5K in 17:45 and Katie Martin was the first woman in 18:55.

Upcoming races

The local race calendar is quiet for November, but the Nittany Valley Half Marathon is coming up on Dec. 6. The half marathon, being run for the 26th time, will be headquartered at Penn State’s Ag Arena on Park Ave. Registration is $17 before Dec. 4. For details, go to nvrun.com and click on “racing.”

Murray writes a monthly running column for the Centre Daily Times.