Alumnus runs short-track marathon in Rec Center

When UCCS alumnus, Robert Billard, decided to run a marathon on the Campus Recreation Center's 13 laps per mile track last summer, his friends shook their heads in disbelief. Billard, who served in the Marine Corp, was both familiar with and comfortable running mid distance courses, but after a friend completed the milestone 26.2 miles on a short track in Castle Rock, Billard felt compelled to do the same. 

"Marines love running," Billard explained; however, running and preparing for a marathon are two completely different things, especially if you do not adequately prepare, as in Billard's case. "I decided a day or two before that I was going to do it," he confessed.

Before stepping on the track, Billard had run no more than 10 consecutive miles. A death wish to most, this young man was unexpectedly willing and able to complete approximately 341 laps without passing out, crying or listening to his IPod.

The countless laps were difficult to track, and as Billard shared, "After passing 100 laps it was hard to keep my mind sharp and a couple times I got confused what lap I was on so I started making the longer numbers into rhymes." Billard stopped but a few times for water and packets of jelled electrolytes during the run.

Like in his friend's case, Billard wanted to practice maintaining a focused mental mindset with little or no additional stimulation. Roughly five quiet hours after his first lap, a handful of onlookers applauded his admirable finish.

Billard, who admittedly hit "the wall" at mile 22, explained the painful aftermath of his experience. "I could drive home, but it was very hard to walk for a couple of days because my knees and feet hurt so badly."

Since then, Billard has understandably cut back on his routine runs. When asked about the prospect of a future marathon, Billard explained, "I now have time to train, so it's possible, but [I have] no real plans for the future."