The Monster Runner Award

The Monster Runner Award is designed to celebrate the runners in our community who excel in race finishes, overcome personal challenges, run personal bests, contribute to a better life for those around them, and go far beyond their comfort zone to find something special within.

This month, we celebrate one of the running icons of the past few decades.  Bill McChesney at a youthful age of 79, recently ran his 31st Butte To Butte 10K in Eugene on the 4th of July - winning his age group in the process.  Bill's run in easily over a thousand events in his lifetime, capturing some lofty honors along the way.  Bill was born in Montana and came to Eugene in 1965, where he started his own dental practice.  With his wife Marcia, also a highly decorated runner, he raised four sons (Tom, Steve, BIll and Ken) who all became world-class competitors.  In high school, Bill was a state champion in the mile and then went on to a successful college career.  After a 22 year hiatus from running following college, Bill started again at age 47, weighing in at 204 lbs, and soon began stamping his name onto the record books.  In 1981, at the Twilight Meet, Bill set an American and World record for 53 year old men in the mile with a blistering 4:51.5.  In the same meet, his son, Bill Jr. broke the four-minute barrier in the mile event.  A year later, Bill captured the 3,000 meter American Record for men ages 50-54 and set a world record for 54 year-olds in the 2 mile with a 10:28 clocking. 

Enjoying races of all lengths, Bill has also completed 17 marathons - all of them in under four hours, the last of which coming at age 72.  While Bill has some incredible memories that help make him the local running archive, like remembering when Roger Bannister became the first man to break the four-minute mile, his fondest recollections are of his family and the countless friends he's met along the way.  Like the time in 1984 when his wife, Marcia kicked down the final stretch to win the master's 1500 meters.  Marcia and Bill are always somewhere to be found at races, including officiating at track meets for the past 27 years.  Beyond all of the personal achievements and accolades, at the end of the day, says Bill, that which matters most is the camaraderie of the running community.  Whenever you see Bill, it's always clear that's he's making the most of each day.  "There's no guarantees in life," he says.  "You have to take advantage of your time and opportunities," and most importantly, "quit griping."  Look for Bill out running as he approaches the next age group, say hello and share your favorite story, and be sure to ask for his, he's got a lifetime of them.