Walt Stack

Walt Stack (b. 1908 - d. 1995) was a hod carrier by trade and a dearly beloved icon of the San Francisco, California, running community by popular acclaim. In 1965, at age 57, Stack decided eight hours daily of hard labor ferrying sacks of cement for masons was not enough, so he set forth traversing what eventually amounted to 62,000 miles as a runner. Walt was a lovable and industrious man --and the life of the party-- whose magnetic personality and brilliant blue eyes belied his briny wit and a licentious spirit. Even in his 70s and 80s, Stack ran many more marathons and 50 mile ultramarathons than all but a few of his running peers.

"Start slow... and taper off"

In 1966, before becoming the world's most famous senior citizen distance runner, Stack and a couple of other runners hatched plans for San Francisco's first running club, which started as the South End Running Club, but later merged with the running contingent of the Dolphin Club, eventually coming to be known as the Dophin South End Running Club (DSE). In his role as club sage, Stack exhorted his flock to "Start slow... and taper off." The message conveyed both his unimpeachable wisdom and a sense of enthusiasm for middle and back of the pack fun runners, and the slogan has been emblazoned on all the club's jerseys ever since.

At the DSE races, which have taken place nearly every weekend in and around San Francisco since the 1970s, Walt was usually the master of ceremonies and presenter of ribbons to the top finishers, and this meant no one ever knew quite what to expect.

"I'm going to do this 'til I get planted"

For 27 years, from 1966 until 1993, Stack persisted in covering a set training route. His highly visible training routine made him a San Francisco institution. "I'm going to do this 'til I get planted," Stack decreed. Starting on his bike, he would ride six hilly miles from his Potrero Hill home to Fisherman's Wharf. Once there, he'd strip off his shirt, displaying tattoos of peacocks, wild horses, and bathing beauties across his broad chest, and thence proceed to run a 17 mile route over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and back, after which he would take a one-mile swim in the treacherous currents of the San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island. It is probably noteworthy that Stack could claim that he was the only actual 'prisoner' of Alcatraz Island to have made a successful swim from Alcatraz to the shores of Fisherman's Wharf - Stack was a prisoner on Alcatraz for a six month period sentenced to hard labor while a youth, for having left his post AWOL in the Philippines. He had in fact swum the distance many times in his later years, as a participant in sanctioned Alcatraz swims which have become quite popular. Needless to say, for Stack, there never was a wet suit, and he often swam year round in those cold, dark and gray Bay waters, water temps at times dipping below 52 degrees.

When asked if he was not afraid of the danger of such swims, sharks, etc, Stack would say "Sure at times I'm afraid of sharks......but then I think 'Oh what the hell!' and just swim on.

It is interesting to note that on weekends Stack usually ran in excess of twenty miles on a Saturday or Sunday, whether it be a marathon or training run. Seventeen miles on a non-work day evidently was not long enough.

"Sports Illustrated" once sent a writer to do a story on Stack. The writer followed him around for a week, getting to know his habits and training routine. The writer, so impressed at how Walt almost invariably ran eight and a half minute miles - regardless of the distance - came to the conclusion that "Walt Stack's pace is so steady, if he fell out of an airplane he probably would fall at the speed of 8.5 minutes per mile."

Stack is the "cause célèbre" of many fascinating anecdotes during the course of his life and running career. In 1982 he participated in the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, and he holds the event record for most time taken to finish, in dead last place. Surviving the ocean swim rather effortlessly, Stack commenced the 112 mile long bike ride on his single speed granny-basket bike, and finished the 26.2 mile marathon run early the next morning, but not before stopping in for a full waffle breakfast prior to finishing. Stack finished in the record-breaking time of just over 26 hours. Officials implemented a cut-off time in subsequent years.

In the summer of 1977, Richard Thalheimer (of The Sharper Image fame), chose Stack to be the poster boy for the Realtime Watch, which Thalheimer promoted as the first affordable, waterproof, and shock-resistant chronograph that could be reliably used by joggers. Thalheimer took out an ad in "Runner's World" featuring his friend Walt Stack, and sold thousands of the watches at $69 apiece, earning $1.5 million using Stack's image.

Stack also was an unofficial finisher of the hundred mile long Western States Endurance Run, not making the cut-off time, but fashionably downing several alcoholic beverages in the last few miles before strolling into the finish area. Though his finish is not officially recognized by run officials he was certainly there, and he certainly finished, under his own power, and as usual, under his own rules.

A notorious drinker, Stack was known to be seen at marathons running with a six pack some generous spectator would hand to him, and he'd invariably finish the six pack well into the race. One runner who had the privilege of meeting Stack before a marathon remembered saying to himself "Jeez, I didn't realize that a person with that large of a gut could run a marathon." Stack passed him early on in the race and finished substantially faster.

Master of ceremonies

Whether as a master of award ceremonies or whilst holding court after a local fun run, Stack's jokes and stories were generally off color. Yet he never offended those who might be sensitive if he knew there would be a problem, and was always a real gentleman when apropos. After Dolphin South End Running Club events, Stack invariably invited the winning females to a congratulatory kiss.

Len Wallach, another prominent member of the San Francisco Bay Area running community, was among the first to ask Stack to officiate his own marriage, doing so after hearing Stack mention he was licensed to marry people and had done so often --though the truth was somewhat short of the claim. Stack maintained his sense of propriety for the ceremony, though Wallach later said Stack "spit out old salty brine like a retired drill sergeant, and when he was at a loss for appropriate words he was inappropriate.... There will never be another Walt." Stack went on to conduct marriages for a number of other runners and was proud to be a part of so many happy occasions.

"Remembering Walt"

Blue of eye with cheek of tan,Blessings on the DSE's First Man

With inspiration for all who dared(The grubby jokes were never spared)

Len and Buck and Ruth and Stu,And Sister Marion, they all knew

Walt, with several minor flaws,Unique-a rebel with a cause

Those who didn't run or soar,With Walt beside the Bay missed more

Than just a legend in our time,But also lost the chance to climb

With winged feet the heights of charm,With Walt, whose character so warm

Is with us still throughout the land,On mountain trail, along the sand

I clearly remember the 1979 Runner's World New Year's Eve Run in Palo Alto. There was a dinner event during the weekend and I had the "experience" of sitting next to Walt at dinner. Other than remembering that the evening was very entertaining, two things stick out in my mind - there was a very pregnant, soon to be Mom, present. Unabashedly, Walt walked over, asked permission and then rubbed her belly because "it brings good luck." The second memory is offering to pour water in his glass at the dinner table. He looked me straight in the eye with his ice blue eyes and said, "Are you kidding, fish (****) in that stuff," and immediately took a pull on his beer. They are right - there will never be another Walt Stack. I still have the paperback, "The Running Saga of Walt Stack." It is not long but is interesting!!

External links

* [http://www.dserunners.com/ DSERunners.com] - 'The DSE is a club that encourages runners/walkers of all levels to compete, socialize, have fun, and improve ourselves'
* [http://www.runpunxsyrun.org/walterstack RunpunxsyRun.org] - 'Remembering Walt: "Start Slow and Taper off." Walt Stack's advice on running a marathon'
* [http://www.south-end.org/running.shtml South-End.org] - 'Dipsea, DSE and More', South End Rowing Club