Written Spring, 2001
by Andrew Mason

AGE:  32

HEIGHT:  5'11"

WEIGHT:  170

EDUCATION:  B.S. Education, Shippensburg University 1992; Master's Education,
Shippensburg University 1999

OCCUPATION:  Second-grade teacher at King Street Elementary School

TYPICAL CURRENT TRAINING WEEK:  60 miles of running, including one long run and one speed workout; three weight-lifting sessions

FAVORITE TRAINING PARTNER:  Tim Schuler

FAVORITE RUNNING SHOE:  Nike Pegasus

FAVORITE RACES:  Penn Relays; Elby's 20K in Wheeling, W.Va.; Columbus Marathon; Detroit Free-Press Marathon; Ausherman Summer Series 2-Milers

PERSONAL BESTS:  1 Mile - 4:20; 2 Miles - 9:12; 5K - 15:07; 8K - 24:44; 10K - 31:00;
Half Marathon - 1:15; Marathon - 2:34

HOBBIES:  Mountain biking, golf, and working as a volunteer assistant coach for the Chambersburg boys cross country team

BEGINNINGS:  Monheim was born and raised in Pittsburgh. Influenced by their father, Richard, also an accomplished runner, he and his identical twin brother, John, began running when they were 12.  "We'd run like once a week and we hated it," he said.  "But we liked to race.  And my dad would take us to a race almost every weekend.  In junior high I finally started really training and taking it seriously."  Monheim's running took off from there, and by the time he was in high school he was among the state's elite, placing fifth in the state in both cross country and the 3200.

RUNNING WITH THE RAIDERS:  Monheim's high school prowess earned him a scholarship to run at Shippensburg University.  For four years he was a top gun on the powerful Red Raider cross country team, earning All-American honors his junior season (1990) and helping his squad place second at the 1991 NCAA Division II National Championships.

FUTURE GOALS:  "I'd like to run a PR in the marathon, hopefully sub-2:30 some day.  That's the only PR I'll ever be able to attain," said Monheim, who also added he'd like to be faster at 45 than "rival" Tim Sponseller was at that age.  Monheim has currently completed 11 marathons, all under 3 hours, including five under 2:40.

ANDREW'S COMMENTS:  Monheim is definitely one of the better runners to have ever pounded the local roads.  He said he just doesn't feel good if he's not training hard, and it's this kind of work ethic and commitment that has led to his blazing success -- from the scholastic to collegiate ranks to the local and regional road races.  Monheim's name will surely be found atop race results for many years to come.

CONGRATULATIONS:  Chris and Rachel  Monheim recently welcomed their first addition to the family -- daughter Elise.