Running Is Fun for Jim Ryun Now : Former Record-Holder, Now 38, Enjoys Lack of Pressure

Between 1966 and 1975, Jim Ryun was the world’s best middle-distance runner.

He set world records for the half-mile, the 1,500 meters and the mile. He was the first high school runner to break four minutes in the mile. He was a three-time Olympian, winning a silver medal.

He was one of the most respected athletes in the world.

But there was tremendous pressure on him, the pressure to win, the pressure to set world records.

Fear eventually became his biggest opponent, and bitter disappointments were woven into his career. His records were broken, his times became erratic, and in the 1972 Olympics, he fell during the qualifying trials of the 1,500 and finished last.

Finally, in 1976, Ryun, a born-again Christian, retired, saying, “God spoke to me, saying, ‘You fought a good fight, you ran a good race, but now you’re finished.’ ”

Ryun, 38, is running again these days. But the pressures are gone. He doesn’t have to run fast or set records. He doesn’t even have to win.

He’s running for fun.

“I’m enjoying it now, probably more than I ever have, or as much as when I first started running,” he said here the other day.

“I’m doing a lot of road racing, but it’s low key. There’s not as much pressure.

“Pressure was my biggest fear. Sometimes, it was generated by the media. Sometimes, by the competition. Sometimes, it was internal.

“It was hard to explain. It almost became self-destructive. Every runner has to learn to adjust to it. I guess the success I had as a young boy helped build up that pressure.”

Ryun said said that his new book, “In Quest of Glory,” has given him “the chance to explain why I was totally motivated.”

Now, Ryun is running primarily on the roads, and his next race will be the 10-mile Trevira Twosome through Central Park April 26.

Why that race?

“Because of the uniqueness of having a partner and running in Central Park,” he said. “The first time I was in Central Park was in 1964, and I fell in love with it. But I’ve never raced in the park.

“This is my 23rd season of racing. That’s a long time. But I have good knees, good ankles, a good back. Thank God, I have no injuries.”

Ryun said that although his records got a lot of attention and were gratifying, there were other highlights that didn’t get much attention but were just as satisfying.

One was his first mile race, as a high school sophomore, he recalled.

“I asked a senior how to run the race,” Ryun said. “He said to just try and stay with the leaders for three laps, then kick the last lap. That’s what I did and finished second, just one second behind the winner. The next week, I beat the state champion.”

Another memorable race for Ryun was the 1,500 meters in the 1972 Olympic trials, after he had failed to make the U.S. team in the 800, placing fourth.

“I don’t usually show much emotion,” Ryun said. “With about 300 meters to go, I positioned myself for the finish. I didn’t want to go too fast. I started a slow acceleration. But that acceleration put me well in front.

“With about 100 yards left, I knew I had it. With about 50 yards to go, I had such a good feeling, I threw my hands up in the air. But then I realized it wasn’t the finish line. When I got to the finish line, I threw my hands into the air again. It was a great feeling . . . pure joy.”

Besides running now, Ryun travels, giving talks to youngsters.

“It’s most rewarding,” he said.

There are no pressures in doing that, either.