Chasing the Wind: Dexter Senior Runner Garners Records Across the Country

Though his stride might be a little slower and his hair a little thinner, when Dexter resident Harlan VanBlaricum talks about his love of running, the 74-year-old athlete’s eyes light up with the excitement of a teenager.

VanBlaricum, who has been running in various marathons and triathlons for more than 30 years, continues to set records and shatter opponents across the country.

In June, VanBlaricum took first place in the 70- to 74-year-old category in the National Senior Games Association triathlon in Houston. He clocked in at 1:15:19.6 to claim the gold.

“I won by less than a minute. It was a classic come-from-behind race,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.”

VanBlaricum said he has always enjoyed the thrill of competition and began running as a student on first track and field team in 1955.

“I am a farm kid,” he said. “We weren’t the richest people, so I ran a lot to entertain myself.

"In high school, I was what’s considered a garbage runner — participating in whatever event the coach needed me in.”

VanBlaricum said that throughout his high school career, he landed records in the quarter-mile run, half-mile, hurdles, pole vault and high jump. After he graduated, however, his running days were put on hold in favor of pursuing a career.

“I didn’t do a whole lot of running after high school,” he said.

Decades later, at the age of 39, VanBlaricum decided to dust off the track shoes while he was working on a job for IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local 252 in Canada.

“It took me 11 minutes to run a mile that normally I could do in 4:48, so I decided it was time to get in shape,” he said.

Since then, he’s been competing throughout the U.S. in races including the Michigan Senior Olympics, Huntsman World Senior Games, Somerset Stampede, Flirt with Dirt 5K and the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, among others.

“I like the competition,” he said.

VanBlaricum holds the record for the Michigan Senior Olympics (MSO) triathlon in his age bracket, clocking in a 400-yard swim, a 12.4-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run in 55 minutes in 2005.

“I was in peak shape back then,” he said.

This year at the MSO, VanBlaricum medaled in 11 of 15 events.

When he’s not running, VanBlaricum said he likes to give back to the racing community by coaching younger athletes or donating his time to volunteer at a local race, such as the popular Run Thru Hell event at Hell Creek Ranch in Pinckney.

Last year, proceeds from Run Thru Hell helped Dolores Hensley of Pinckney — a local longtime race supporter — purchase a wheelchair van. This year, race participants are attempting to raise $3,500 to purchase a hand-crank wheelchair for a wounded American veteran to use in a mainstream marathon.

In the fall, VanBlaricum will return to the Huntsman World Senior Games in Utah to defend his records in the half-meter run and the 1,500-meter race/walk.

“The Huntsman World Senior Games are a lot of fun to go to because it's one of the only places in the world where runners are competing against other athletes from all over the world,” he said.

VanBlaricum said he has no plans of slowing down any time soon.

“The grandkids get a big kick out of the trophies,” he said. “I feel great running most of the time, and I plan on continuing as long as I feel up to it.”