Jay Jacob Wind is a nut. Simply on the basis of having run 85 marathons, Wind would qualify. Hoo, boy, but there's more.

"I love to run, and I run with a passion," says Wind. If you count short races, I may have run more races than anyone else in the world, including Ted [Poulos, but more about him later]. But he's got a much better database."

Fortunately, like many of his extroverted running colleagues, Wind is motivated to share his odd calling with running clubs and youth groups through online and in-person coaching advice. Moreover, he puts his substantial organizational skills to good use by directing the DC Road Runners/Potomac Valley Track Club winter indoor meets at Arlington's Thomas Jefferson High School.

There's more: Wind conducts the DCRR's Tidal Basin 3K runs on the third Wednesday of every month at the Jefferson Memorial. Although that's perhaps not as altruistic as it sounds, since he frequently wins that race.

"Running is a big part of my life," Wind says. "I want to be the known as the guy who got all of Arlington running."

The County Board appointed Wind chairman of its Parks Commission in 1996-97, and named him an Arlington Community Hero in 1997.

Wind turned 50 earlier this year. It should surprise no one that he celebrated that milestone by staging a small DCRR indoor track meet at Georgetown University. Wind ran 11:01 for 3,000 meters, an excellent time for a grandmaster, and then capped his big day with a 5:17 mile.

A few weeks later, at the adidas D.C. Invitational "Age vs. Beauty Mile" (50 and over men vs. 40 and over women), held indoors at the George Mason Fieldhouse, Wind ran 5:20.

"I used to run much faster," he said. "But I've never been this old before."

Wind didn't win, but he nonetheless draped himself in an American flag and took a victory lap--two, actually--before the 2,200 spectators. Some might call it chutzpah; some might call it a case of carpe diem; by any name, it was classic Wind.

It's easy to meet Jay. Wherever there's a track meet or track workout in the DC/Northern Virginia area, he is likely to be found. Wind will be the one in the 1980s vintage running gear, always with a smile and a ready handshake. Do say hello.

Ted Poulos

Although no one on The Washington Post sports desk has ever met Poulos, there he's like Norm from Cheers--everyone knows his name.

Poulos's name has shown up in agate type more often than any other Washington area athlete, Sonny Jurgenson and Joe Gibbs included. But then those guys worked but once a week.

Poulos has found a niche, and boy, has he run with it. Last May, Poulos completed his 2,000th race, from distances of 400 meters to the marathon. But he doesn't just finish the races--often, Poulos wins. Of the 2,000, Poulos has won 450 times, and finished in the top three 900 times.

Of course, we've got to rely on Ted for that information, but his record keeping appears to be impeccable. From a low of six races in 1984 (one every two months--Ted, get with the program!), Poulos logged over 100 in 1989 to a high of 222 (two every three days--Ted, get a life!) in 1997. He claims to have set the world record for number of races in 1992 with 187, and then to have broken it in 1995 with 215 and again in 1997.

Poulos did not run in college. But as a novice runner afterward, he began to train seriously, and became a successful area road racer. He recovered quickly from races, and, like a junkie with a habit, began to focus his efforts on getting higher and higher through racing.

"I know that if I cut back on racing and trained 'correctly' to peak properly, my times would improve," he admits. "But I'm having so much fun racing every weekend and being with other runners, that it's an easy choice for me."

Poulos's achievements were chronicled in an extensive 1997 article in Runner's World, in which he ran the usual plethora of area races over the Labor Day weekend with 1976 Olympic marathoner Don Kardong. The photographer from that article, who now works at the Post, still complains about his overtime duties that weekend.

But not Ted. "My main motivation is keeping in shape year round. It's such a great feeling, along with the ability to challenge myself and test my limits," Poulos says. "The friendships I've built with so many people has also been extremely gratifying. All the success I've had in the sport is merely icing on the cake."

Poulos turns 40 next year, which will likely result in a new spasm of masters racing. "If I am able to maintain my current level of enthusiasm--and the body holds out--I'm looking forward to continued success," he says.

We can only wish him well.

Editor's Note: These guys are mere almonds and pistachios. If you really want to talk about nuts, our correspondent, Jim Hage, just celebrated his 18th year of running without missing a day.