Columbus East High School - Altis Yearbook (Columbus, IN)

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Bundling up in running attire, even the snow didn't stop Olympic hopeful Steve Heidenreich from his conditioning. Stretching is as important to a runner's routine as a proper diet. Steve prefers to exercise after his five-mile run. Steve Heidenreich prefers to stretch with his wife Connie when possible. Due to Steve's coaching, Connie has also be- come a running enthusiast. Occasionally Connie and Steve run together in local road races. Running two five-mile heats each day, one of Steve Heidenreich's favorite courses is through the hills and terrain in Cascades Park, located right outside of Indiana University's campus in Bloo- mington. Conducting the interview for this Up Close and Personal, Steve Heidenreich shows Senior Lori Clapp were the cover of his book. Running Back, was taken. 18 Up Close and Personal of Steve Heidenreich

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Diminishes Awayjv Newton Summer

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 All eight of us finished within one second of each other—Whoosh—and the race was over. Who cares? The first place and gold medal isn't everything. You have to keep improving. Up wte 7 As Long As You're Improving, You're Winning The drive over to Bloomington from Columbus went quickly. As I pulled into the driveway of a sur- prisingly large range-style home, my heartbeat quickened. Stand- ing on the porch, I tried to reas- sure myself, He's just a person; forget about all the previous inter- views he's done with profes- sionals. I rang the bell. The door opened and I was greeted with a large smile and sharp blue eyes. Sitting in front of a crackling fire in the living room, I began to get a first-hand impression of all the trials which the Olympic track and field hopeful, Steve Heidenreich had come through. Early at Watertown High School in South Dakota, Steve possessed the qualities which separated a competitor from a winner; determination, desire and the undying spirit to succeed. Af- ter winning his first state meet, a record which still remains un- touched in South Dakota today, Steve separated himself from other competitors. As a college freshman, Steve became a varsity athlete and world class miler at Indiana Uni- versity. Breaking record after record in the midwest, Steve compiled one of the most amaz- ing winning streaks in the running world. Over a time period of just five weeks, Steve placed first in six conference meets, setting five new course records. Gazing at the full trophy case in the living room, the realization of what the tragic accident Steve en- countered must have meant to him became evident to me. Here he was, one of the top ten runners in the nation, an obvious favorite for the 1976 Olympic team, who one night was selfishly ripped from his lifetime dream. On March 17,1976, Steve was the vic- tim of a hit and run accident while training on Kinser Park. Doctors said Steve would not survive from the massive impact which crushed one side of his skull. But, after extensive surgery and weeks of flirting with death, Steve re- turned home that summer. When I left the hospital I've been told that I was mentally the equivalent to a two year old. I had to learn everything again, just like an infant. I drew a blank on the memory of trivial things. I didn't know what a desk was. I didn't know what curtains were. That summer at home in South Da- kota, I progressed up to my teens again. It was like I was reliving my life. Baffling the doctors and medi- cal books, Steve progressed rap- idly. That fall, Steve returned to I.U. to finish college. I was liter- ally a high school kid trying to complete the senior level of col- lege. I had to mature all over again. I learned and recalled ma- terial quickly-it was like review- ing for a test; the knowledge was there but it had to be jarred from my memory. Returning to his career, Steve also returned to running. Slowly at first, Steve completed ten minute Up Close miles, as he again devoted himself to the sport. I spent all my time either in class, studying, or run- ning. Yuck! (Laughter rises from us as Steve allows me to become as much a part of his remember- ing as his trophies.) Since his accident, Steve has ran his lifetime best 1500 meter time, once again ranking with the world class. Steve is still pushing forward, still striving for what he feels is capable. First place isn't everything. The race I ran in Czechoslovakia before my acci- dent was a great experience and a large turning point for me as an athlete. In one race I improved five seconds. All eight of us fin- ished within one second of each other—Whoosh!—and the race was over. Who cares? The first place and gold medal isn't every- thing. You have to keep improv- ing, as long as you're improving, you're winning. Fittingly, Steve is now em- ployed at Bloomington's YMCA where he teaches running and cross-country skiing to people who realize the importance of their body and their health. Steve emphasized, One should never stop running, because deteriora- tion is so quick. In two weeks one can ruin months of training by not running or exercising. Don't ever quit. Suddenly, as his eyes caught mine, I smiled. Steve didn't quit; he's still running. by Kim Russell and Personal of Steve Heidenreich 19