Michigan Runner of the Year 2008: Hank Risley

By Charles Douglas McEwen - Hank Risley, who began running just three years ago at age 37, considers himself a late bloomer when it comes to competitive sports.

“I never really played any sports in high school,” Risley said. “Back then, I never would have imagined that I would be running marathons and 50Ks.” (He has run about a dozen marathons and three 50Ks.)

While many men dread the big 40, Risley of Cedar Springs took full advantage of that birthday this year. He finished first among masters runners in four of the six Michigan Runner Series races, and was second master in the other two. He piled up 130 Series points, which placed him ahead of fellow masters Paul Aufdemberge (95), Eric Green (55) and David Homann (45).

“Aufdemberge, Homann ... either of them could have won if they’d run all the races,” Risley said. “It was the year of $4-a-gallon gas, but I tried to run as many Series races as I could.”

He was master champion at the Striders Saturday Classic 10 Mile, timing 58:10, the Running Fit Trail Half Marathon (1:31:03) and Silver Valley 7K Trail Run (26:33), where he was also first overall.

In July, Risley finished second master in two large races: the Volkslaufe 20K (1:13:01) and Cherry Festival 15K (55:20).

He finished the month taking second overall in the Grand Island Trail 10K in 36:54. Risley ran well there and enjoyed the challenging course, but aggravated a calf injury.

“Because of that, I couldn’t run the last half of the year,” he said.

Risley missed the Crim 10-Mile and the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon.

“I don’t know how well I would have done at Crim,” he said. “But I think I stood a chance of winning the masters in Detroit.”

Though he missed the marathon in Detroit, Risley did have a strong performance in May at the Bayshore Marathon.

“I had a great race there,” he said. “I ran with Marybeth Reader and some other masters guys. At about 13 miles, Marybeth started to do 6:05 miles and the other guys dropped off. I stayed with her. And than at 21 miles, I edged ahead of her.”

Reader set a course record in winning women’s race, even though she finished behind Risley.

“I didn’t know Hank all that well coming into the race,” she said. “But I really got to know him, because he talked the whole way. He was very funny.”

Risley finished that marathon with a PR of 2:44:51.

“My coach, Kevin Deyo (a former Masters Runner of the Year) really wanted me to get under 2:45 at that race,” Risley said. “So I dug down and sprinted as hard as I could to the finish line.”

Risley draws inspiration from not only Deyo, but his North Kent Running Club and family. His significant other, Pam Nauta, also competes in races, while their daughters, ages 6 and 7, do kids runs.

What does he like most about running?

“The feeling of the wind in your face,” Risley said. “And it also allows me to eat whatever I want.” MR