After winning the Leesburg 10K (below) in August, he ran a year's best 8K at Fairlakes in 25:46 on 9/11 and a record 15:49 at the PVI Runfest 5K on 9/18.

"He has always been known as a very tough competitor. In his early 20's he was one of the best road racers around. I know he has done a lot for the running community in Winchester and with high school kids there," stated Chris Fox, Cross Country and Distance Coach, Auburn University.

Engineers apply science to provide for the needs of humanity. They apply practical experience, mathematics, and knowledge to the design of a useful product or service. It takes years to bring a product to market, which includes market research and, sometimes more importantly, location.

Mark Stickley has played many roles: an agricultural engineer, the owner/manager of the Runners' Retreat in Winchester, VA, long-time runner and boys cross country coach at John Handley High School, part-time writer for the Northern Virginia Daily newspaper. When all of these elements are connected you have a person who says the following about running, "I absolutely love it! I have a tremendous passion for the sport, for challenging myself in races, and for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Having the store and coaching the team allows me to share my passion (and years of knowledge) with many other people," states 43 year- old Stickley of Winchester, VA, a 1985 graduate of Virginia Tech (Agriculture Engineer), and a graduate of Strasburg High School.

To achieve athletic excellence requires a time commitment and dedication which takes years to perfect. Stickley sits at the crossroads of his running career and on a given day he can snap a masters title and cause havoc in the open division by taking advantage of a particular situation. In the process of maturing in the sport, he has learned how to take advantage of what is placed at his feet.

A human machine has been perfected with all of the right ingredients, which have been in the makings since 8th grade, in 1976, when he was inspired by his older cousins to get involved in the sport. At the collegiate level, as a walk-on at Virginia Tech, he was able to perfect his talent with a series of excellent races, which include a record of 28:45.97 for 10,000 meters. His 1983 school record at 5000 meters, 14:03.4, stood until lowered by Steve Taylor to 13:52.0 in 1987. Additional performances include: Metro Conference Champion, 10,000 meters, 1982 and 1983; NCAA Division I All-American Outdoor Track & Field, 10,000 meters, 1985; All-Metro Conference, 8 times in XC, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.

His personal records: marathon, 2:17:13; half-marathon, 1:02:19; 15,000 meters 43:19; 10,000 meters (track), 28:45.97. National level recognition includes the following: Qualified for U.S. Worlds XC men's senior team, 1984, 1985, 1988, and 1989; U.S. National Champion, Half Marathon 1988 (1:02:42, 2nd Overall); Citrus Bowl Half-Marathon, Orlando, FL; U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier, Marathon, 1984 (19th place finish), and 1988 (DNF); U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier, 10,000 meters, 1984.

There are memorable races for any athlete. Stickley also made four World Cross Country teams. In the first one, he beat Alberto Salazar. In 1984, at the U.S. National Championship at 10,000 meters, he beat Frank Shorter and qualified for the Olympic Trials. There are many races that he looks back upon fondly.

The Jacksonville River Run 15K is his favorite race, but it has been a number of years since he last ran there. He finished fourth in 1984 (43:19). He ran the eighth fastest time ever by an American in 1984. He turned down $3,000 to stay eligible for college competition. His time still ranks as the U.S. record for 21 year olds. In 1985, he finished fifth.

When he approaches a race, his goal is to win or run a personal best masters time, depending on the level of competition and the course. The worst-case scenario is to finish and beat someone. In doing this, he can find something positive to take away from any performance.

Stickley looks for good competition and prize money when he travels to a race. Other factors include a fast or unique course or to run with friends. He tries to win the masters division and to finish as high in the open competition as possible.

While in college he ran 110 to 120 miles per week and 80 to 90 miles per week when he lived in Boulder, CO. He has cut back the miles in recent years. His wife, Beth (a Spanish teacher at Handley High School), gave birth to their son Ryan 16 months ago. The two-a-day workouts are a thing of the past and his weekly mileage is now in the range of 60 to 70. This change in priorities has an impact on his training schedule along with the operation of the Runners' Retreat. It is a delicate juggling act for the multi-talented Stickley.

Customers, from the novice to advanced, who walk into the Runners' Retreat in downtown Winchester do not know they are in for a treat to a wealth of knowledge and experience. It is easy for them to get infected by Stickley who can share running stories while ensuring they are fitted with the correct shoes or answer their running related questions. His main competition is the on-line services, but they cannot compete against the human interaction, the friendly conversation. The on-line service does not provide any benefits to the local community. The Runners' Retreat sponsors the Loudoun Street Mile along with other local businesses, and Stickley serves as the race director. To further reach out to the community, he is the boys cross-country coach at John Handley High School.

Stickley is living his dream by putting his passion into running, giving back to the community in Winchester, all the while continuing to make his mark on the masters ranks in the area. As he ages, the true athlete demonstrates an ability to move up and down the scale, proving that with experience he can make better racing choices to continue to excel. These days, recovery after a race may take up to two to three days. Changes in his diet and eating habits have helped reduce recovery time.

In the fall of 2001, after the Vanguard 5K in Washington, DC where he placed seventh (15:05) at age 39, his excitement mounted. The prospect of turning 40 was around the corner, the following July.

"The next spring, the wheels fell off. I ran terribly, fading to 55:31 (2nd 35-39, 42nd place) at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom (2002) and I felt very bad. Soon after I opened the store, I was diagnosed with Graves' disease. I thought my competitive days were over completely. That is one reason I agreed to get into coaching. Medication and dietary changes have brought my symptoms under control," said Stickley.

Graves' disease is a type of autoimmune disease (the body's immune system becomes misdirected and attacks the very organs, cells, or tissues that it was designed to protect) in which the immune system over stimulates the thyroid gland, causing hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland helps set the rate of metabolism (the rate at which the body uses energy), and when it is over-stimulated it produces more thyroid hormones than the body needs. High levels of thyroid hormones can cause difficult side effects. Graves' disease is rarely life threatening.

It takes a wake up call to make changes in your lifestyle. All was not lost. Stickley continued, "My running was rejuvenated in 2003 and since that time I have enjoyed it even more. I have greater appreciation for being able to get out and run and certainly to compete. That is another reason I do not let a poor performance get to me too much."

Running is his hobby and his life. He also enjoys backpacking but there is little time for that now. "Now, I enjoy playing with my little boy, Ryan," he says.

"Mark is a good man. He's doing a great job of coaching at the high school level and competing on the masters scene. He is being inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame later this fall. I never really raced him during his prime. He graduated from Tech the year before I enrolled. A couple of my good friends were on the team with him and they have a lot of stories. I can say that Mark is a fierce competitor. Back in the early-to-mid 1980's (1983 or 1984) he ran incredibly fast at the Jacksonville River Run 15K in Florida. I believe he set or nearly set the American Record in the race. He wasn't afraid to compete against anyone and when he stepped to the line, he was there to compete," stated Steve Taylor, Head Track and Field Coach, University of Richmond.

Mark Stickley is in his element and his passion has turned his dream into reality. Masters on the road, look out, "The Stickman" is coming after you. When in Winchester, stop at the Runners' Retreat, say "Hello" to Mark, and relax with some good running conversation.

Editor's Note: Mark Stickley won the Leesburg 10K on August 14 and set a new record for the Men's 40-44 division of 33:08. Mark can be found most days at the Runners' Retreat, 165 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA.