Catch him if you can

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Max Springer just wanted to keep running until he was 70.

He passed that goal 20 years ago. Even after his 90th birthday, Springer is still competing in 5-kilometer road races and national track meets.

He set world records for men ages 90-94 in the 3,000 meters, 800, long jump and triple jump in March at the USA Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston, returning home to Knoxville with more medals to add to his already large collection.

Of course, winning wasn't too difficult this year. There was only one other competitor in his age group.

"That's the embarrassing thing," he said. "They thin out a good bit (at my age)."

His longevity has made Springer a celebrity among other Knoxville runners.

"It's phenomenal. He's fortunate to have a body to be able to do it," said Allan Morgan, executive director of the Knoxville Track Club.

Springer recorded 10 feet, 4 inches in the long jump and 16-8 1/2 in the triple jump, which are both shorter than half the distances for world-class athletes.

To avoid injuries, he never practices the long jump and triple jump, saving everything for competitive meets.

Springer clocked 23 minutes, 21.12 seconds in the 3,000 and 5:01.44 in the 800 at the Masters meet. Olympic athletes usually run the 3,000 in close to eight minutes and the 800 in under two minutes.

He's sometimes self-conscious about not being as fast as he used to be, but Springer knows he's more active than most people his age.

"I'm just lucky," he said.

It's more than just luck. Springer has a model lifestyle for longevity.

He took up running in 1978, a year before he retired from the University of Tennessee as a professor of soil science. He's been running three miles every other day since then, only missing an outing if it's icy.

"You have to have discipline," he said.

Springer and his wife, Jean, 80, celebrated their 50th anniversary in December. Their home is a few blocks from a paved path weaving through the woods where he enjoys running.

A slender man with a full head of white hair and short white mustache, Springer doesn't diet and stays healthy by eating three meals a day, drinking milk, avoiding soft drinks and not smoking.

He grew up on his family's dairy farm in Sullivan, Mo., and often went hunting and fishing. He also walked about 12 to 15 miles a day as a soil surveyor.

"It's certainly a surprise. He's always done lots of outdoor things, but he hadn't done any running until 30 years ago or something," said Jean Springer, who prefers walking for exercise.

"I couldn't possibly keep up with him even though he's 10 years older than I am!" she said.

Springer started running when he and some colleagues at the university began taking an exercise class after work.

The instructor suggested they sign up for the upcoming Knoxville Expo, a 10K run. Springer has only missed one Expo race since and now competes in the 5K.

Eventually, he began competing in the Tennessee Senior Games, a track and field meet for people 50 and older.

Springer turned 70, but didn't stop running as he had planned.

"Then I started winning," he said.

In 1995, Springer entered his first USA Masters meet, which is open to athletes 40 and older and sanctioned by USA Track and Field. He brought home his first medal in 1996 for the triple jump. He placed first in the 800 at the 1999 World Games in England.

Springer plans to run in this year's 5K in Knoxville and compete in the USA Masters outdoor meet this summer.

He's not ready to stop running anytime soon.

"I think my husband has a stubborn streak," Jean Springer said, laughing. "He's not willing to quit."

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