Winsted runner is active in community
HEIDI MIRTH
Staff Writer
When 68-year-old Tom Burkman of Winsted pre-
pared to retire in early 2016, he had a goal.
“I told my wife, I don’t want to go into retirement
unhealthy,” Burkman said.
The Michigan native, who moved to Minnesota in
2002, began to run regularly in mid-2016, starting
slowly and building up to longer distances. By the end
of 2016, he was running races, with the goal of run-
ning one race per month for a year.
He met that goal, and said that now he’s run, “in
three years, about 30 races.”
Those 30 races include the world’s highest half-
marathon in Breckenridge, CO, multiple marathons
and ultramarathons, two 12-hour endurance races,
and, this past August, a 100 kilometer (62-mile) ul-
tramarathon.
Burkman said that he’s not a stranger to running,
but he’s much more serious about it now than he used
to be.
“I’ve run quite a bit in my life,” said Burkman. “But
I was just an off-and-on runner.”
Now, Burkman runs anywhere from 35 to 55 miles
every week, depending on when his next race is.
He prefers to run longer distances, though the train-
ing can be challenging at times.
Distance runners face a unique challenge that some-
times goes unnoticed. Their physical accomplish-
ments seem so impressive that many who haven’t been
there fail to appreciate the mental toughness required
for the sport. When a runner is training or racing for
more than an hour or two, “It’s a mental game. It’s
Need Help With Your
Social Security Disability Claim?
We've Helped Thousands Get the Benefits They Deserve
Start The Process Today!
Applications • Hearings • Appeals
You Could Be Eligible To Receive:
Steady monthly income
depending on your
paid in amount
A lump sum
payment of benefits
owed from back-pay
Annual cost
of living
adjustments
Call for a free consultation
(877) 912-6125
Bill Gordon & Associates, a nationwide practice, represents clients before the Social Security
Administration. Member of the TX & NM Bar Associations. Mail: 1420 NW St Washington D.C. Office:
Broward County Florida. Services may be provided by associated attorneys licensed in other states.
4
Senior
tough, mentally,” Burkman said.
To combat this, sometimes Burk-
man said he “thinks a lot,” listens to
music, and, “Funny enough, some-
times I sing.”
Tactics like this are especially im-
portant during longer races, like the
ultramarathons Burkman has com-
pleted.
During what he considers his big-
gest race accomplishment to date, the
100K trail race in August, Burkman
ran for 15 hours to reach the fi nish
line, the last three of those in the dark
on muddy paths in a driving rain-
storm.
“It was quite an accomplishment,”
Burkman said understatedly, adding
that the 100K was also his favorite
race to date.
He liked it so much, in fact, that he
hopes to run it again in 2020.
He’s also planning on revisiting the
FANS 12-hour endurance race for the
third time this spring. FANS, which
stands for “Furthering Achievment Tom Burkman crossing the fi nish line at the Breckenridge half-marathon
through a Network of Support,” is a 6-, in Colorado.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM BURKMAN
12-, or 24-hour long race that raises
scholarship funds for inner-city youth.
Lake Association, and helps with its lakeshore cleanup
“I enjoy supporting that,” said Burkman, who is go- days and annual plant and fl ower sale. He and his wife
ing to run several races for charities in 2020. Besides also volunteer at their church.
FANS, he’ll be raising pledges for the Twin Cities
In explaining how running has impacted the rest of
Marathon as part of the “Venture” team, a Christian his life, he noted the time commitment involved, but
organization that helps vulnerable children world- emphasized all the benefi ts.
wide.
“I’m healthier be-
Burkman didn’t get into running with specifi c plans cause of it,” said Burk-
of using it to help people. He wasn’t sure he could keep man.
it up long enough.
His experience as
But, “now that I have a strong base and history, I’m a runner has also in-
going to do more of my running for others,” Burkman spired him to reach out
stated.
to others in a new way.
This is in character, because Burkmain is a volun-
“I want to be an en-
teer chaplain for the McLeod County Sheriff’s Offi ce, couragement to the
as well as AZZ Galvanizing Company, in Winsted.
older people. Maybe
As a chaplain, he builds relationships and assists not everybody can run,
people in times of struggle and, sometimes, tragedy. but most people can
In that area of his life, Burkman said, “Running has do something to stay
opened up some doors.”
active. For me, I’m
He still preaches once a month, and uses running blessed that I’m physi-
as a metaphor for the Christian life in many of his cally capable to [run],
sermons.
but for others, there are
Running is also a way to connect with others, a lot of things they can
and Burkman mentioned that he would love to “see do to stay active and
Winsted people get together to form a running club, stay at least mentally
something like that.”
young. I want to be an Tom Burkman was smiling at
Burkman said that he’s too busy to start a running encouragement to peo- the fi nish of a 12-hour endur-
club on his own, but that’d he’d love to connect with ple, and an inspiration to ance race.
other runners in the area. “I’d be thrilled for that,” he people as much as I can,”
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM BURKMAN
said.
Burkman said.
Besides his duties as a chaplain and the hours he
spends training, Burkman is a member of the Winsted
Connections Jan/Feb 2020
Senior Connections HJ.COM