Steve Dunn is FishHawk's Own Marathon Man

For Steve Dunn, running is as natural as breathing . 

Dunn, owner of the specialty running shop, Hit the Trails, 13433 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia, was inspired many years ago by his older brother, Jimmy. 

Raised in Canada, the brothers planned to run the 4,000-person Montreal Marathon together until Jimmy injured himself. Not one to give up, Dunn maintained his commitment and ran all 26.2 miles by himself, completing his very first marathon in a mere three hours and 26 minutes.  

It would be the first of many milestones for this former ice hockey player, who has completed 17 marathons and more than 100 races of various distances.

Post-Montreal, Dunn took a hiatus from running. While living in Michigan as a systems engineer, he often traveled up to three to four months at a time. Exercise fell to the wayside and dining out become a ritual. 

Then the then-35-year-old hurt his back while walking his two dogs and realized how out of shape he was. A year later, he ran the Detroit Free Press Marathon, followed by a host of others including: Vegas (twice), Columbus, Cincinnati, Richmond, Philadelphia, Scranton, San Antonio, Chicago (three times), Tampa’s own Gasparilla and the esteemed Boston Marathon.

“I’ve had some really challenging marathons where I really had to push through the end. Qualifying for Boston was extra-special for me. Held on Patriots Day, there’s a real holiday atmosphere on race day. Chicago might be my favorite, though. The fan support is unbelievable and it’s fast, flat and well-organized,” said Dunn.

The 50-year-old, whose best time is three hours and 10 minutes, will be returning to Boston for the world’s oldest annual marathon April 15.  In preparation, Dunn logs up to 60 miles a week when in training, no matter what the forecast. 

 “Seventy percent of running is mental, the other 30 percent is physical.  There may be a lot of other runners out there who are more genetically sound than I am, but I have a lot of mental determination and a high threshold for pain," said Dunn.

The certified running coach also offers private one-on-one coaching sessions, group training programs, running clinics and free seminars with his friend, former Riverview High School football coach Larry Bass. 

“I need to stay in shape for my clients. I train a lot of high school students and I need to practice what I preach,” stated Dunn.

Dunn offered up some quick tips for runners of all experience levels:

• Incorporate strength training into your regimen to build a strong core, which supports the rest of your body.  A strong upper body equals endurance. 
• Eat lots of the good stuff, including a great mixture of healthy carbs and protein, but don’t deprive yourself of sweets and treats.  And don’t harp on the word “diet." Think of it as a lifestyle change. 
• First-time runners should begin gradually by walking, then jogging, then running.  Some people want to get right off the couch and rush into those three miles, which  only leads to discouragement when they can’t finish.  We live in an instant-gratification society, but rushing could result in injury.
• Stretching is crucial before and after you run. Yoga is wonderful for runners. A couple of poses before running will quickly limber you up.
• Pinch your thumb and index finger to keep your shoulder loose. Chin up – you should feel as though there are imaginary strings pulling you up (toward the sky) by the crown of your hair. Your arms/hands should be moving as if you’re beating a drum. And finally, don’t hunch over.  Remember your form and open up your lungs and chest.

Dunn is also president/founder of the 5-year-old FishHawk Road Runners Club, a running club comprised of 100-plus members that meet three times weekly (Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 a.m. and Saturday at 7 a.m.). 

On Feb. 5, Dunn and the club will hosted the 14^th annual FishHawk Road Race.  The event raises money toward a scholarship fund for a high school athlete who plans on continuing the sport into his or her college years. Four scholarships have been awarded to date, and student candidates are from one of the five area high schools – Riverview, Newsome, Brandon, Bloomingdale or Durant. 

In addition, Dunn hosts several other races throughout the year -- including a cross-country classic race in the summer and a Jingle Bell Run every December – that benefit local nonprofit organizations and schools.

“It feels really good to give back to the community," said Dunn. "I know so many people here and it just becomes a part of who you are. My kids (12-year-old Emilie and 10-year-old Katie) will say, ‘Dad, you’re famous,’ because we always see somebody we know wherever we go. Because of this store, I have had the pleasure of getting to know so many of my neighbors.”

“We’ve touched a lot of lives through coaching,” said Bass, a 1970 graduate of Brandon High School, who has known Dunn for almost a decade.  “Steve and I share a lot of philosophies, ideas and theories on living a healthy lifestyle and giving back to the community.”

 “Steve Dunn is a valuable resource when seeking running and triathlon gear. He is very informed and educated about his products, and he is always willing to share training advice,” said 40-year-old Valrico resident Megan Rog, who has been a loyal customer for five years.

Brandon resident June Wilson, 41, agrees. 

“Steve fitted me for my first pair of running shoes just by eyeballing my feet...  and he was right. He always has a kind word and is very encouraging. I’m not the fastest runner, but he’ll tell me, "But you got out there and you’re doing it!”  His clinics also offer lots of great information," said Wilson

Call (813) 681-6141 or log onto www.hitthetrails.com/.