Being a competitive swimmer most of his life, Dr. Charles van der Horst never thought about running in a marathon. "I would run but not that distance," he said. "I normally do relays."
But since January, van der Horst, a professor in UNC's School of Medicine, has been training for the world's oldest annual marathon, the Boston Marathon.
Before van der Horst, 56, could participate in the April 21 Boston Marathon, he had to meet a qualifying time of 3 hours and 45 minutes.
He began training for the October Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon during the summer. The marathon takes place in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
"It was beautiful," he said. "But it was below freezing when the marathon started."
The weather proved not to be an obstacle, as van der Horst finished first in the 55 to 59 age group and 31st overall with a time of 3 hours, 26 minutes and 44 seconds in his first marathon.
"I was shocked about how well I did in the marathon," he said. "It went a lot easier than I thought."
Van der Horst said his training sessions are between one and three hours.
"For my scheduled training I run with a group on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings," van der Horst said. "And I'm running 20 miles on (Saturdays)."
Claudio Battaglini, professor in UNC's Department of Exercise and Sport Science, has trained marathon runners for many years and said he thinks van der Horst is training correctly.
"Marathon training varies from person to person," he said. "Someone who is in good physical condition and has experience should be doing a rigourous training regiment."
Battaglini said four or five training sessions a week is recommended. Workouts should include short runs and cross training during the week and a long run on the weekend.
Van der Horst, who specializes in HIV/AIDS treatment and research, is recognized as one of America's best in the field. He has worked at UNC for more than 20 years.
"The increased exposure of what's happening in Africa is one of the best things that have happened to HIV," he said. "It has allowed African countries to focus on the issues that surround the disease, such as the retaining of capable physicians."
School of Public Health graduate student Lillian Brown said she met van der Horst in 2005 in Malawi through a UNC program and was inspired by his work ethic.
"I noticed that he was enthusiastic and passionate about what he does," said Brown, who has gone running and swimming with van der Horst. "Everything he does he does fully."
His dedication is not limited to HIV treatment and research. While in Malawi, van der Horst continued to work out.
"He makes exercising a priority wherever he is in the world," Brown said.
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