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Runners on the Way Up
Chris Chattin: Mastering the Masters
By George BankerSeptember/October 2004
For the Washington Running Report
Photo by Brightroom.com
Some sit back and watch the clock and others watch the clock as they continue to run. You can't beat Father Time but you can try to outsmart him. You take what you have learned from experience, the wins and the losses, and you capitalize on them.
When you cross the ranks into the masters division (age 40 & up), the running and racing does not get any easier. You are the new kid on the block and the others are ready to show you what you are in for; the thrill of competition. There is a mental adjustment which has to be made as the realization settles in that you are slowing down. Chris Chattin of Team Falls Road Running of Baltimore, MD, is making the transition in the racing ranks. During the day he is a salesperson for Motorola's U.S. Federal Government Markets Division.
"It's great being a part of Falls Road Running Team. Jim Adams has been great to us and has helped us out a lot. We help him with a few of his races by working the water stops," stated Chattin.
Chattin makes the choice of the open or masters competition and will take it out hard and make a few quick calculations to decide whether the pace is right and weigh it against the bottom line objective, place or time? It's easy to get over- extended running with the lead pack and the experienced runner will back down. He has learned through the years the value of knowing his limitations and only pushes when he is physically and mentally ready to strike. Once he executes, the results will be accepted and the satisfaction comes from knowing that he did his best.
Running has been a part of Chattin's routine for 25 years and he enjoys it. The last 15 years his running has been balanced around his family, wife Carina, and more recently the two children, Anders (age 4) and Mats (age 1). It takes a lot of support and sacrifices along the way. "My wife has always been very supportive of my running." Training was shifted to the morning hours to accommodate his busy schedule. He has learned to make adjustments. "I train with Mark Gilmore (who has four kids) every morning and if I don't show up I hear about it!"
When he is not pounding the roads his attention changes to spending time with his wife and sons, golf, fishing, sampling microbrews, listening to alternative music, reading modern literature, and watching film noir and cult classic movies.
"I try to think back on key races and workouts. I try not to get real worked up about bad races but it does bother me some. I have a lot of things going on in my life though, my wife and two children, a demanding job. I don't over analyze too much before a race. It's good to be a little nervous beforehand, though."
Chattin's running career started at Franklin High School (1979- 1982) where he posted a best mile time of 4:38 and two miles 9:59. At University of Maryland (1982-1986) he earned four cross country letters and consistently placed fifth to seventh place on the team. Post-collegiate running found him in top contention at a number of the local running events and some on the international scene.
It has taken passion and desire over the years to exploit his talent and to use it to his abilities. Chattin never knows what he is capable of doing unless he puts it on the line. An early highlight occurred in 1983; at the 8th Marine Corps Marathon he placed 31st with a time of 2:28:35 and set a junior course record. His toughest race came in 1992, the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Columbus, Ohio. It was a warm day and a loaded field and his goal was to place in the top 20. He was disappointed with his 21st place finish, just one place out of the money and the awards ceremony. It took a period of adjustment to let it go.
Chattin's training regime has changed over the years. During the period considered his prime (1988-1996), he was running 100 miles plus a week, which included two track workouts during the marathon build-up phase. The bread and butter are the long runs. His hard work was justified, resulting in three sub-2:20 marathons. His mileage now is 70 to 80 miles per week and speed work on the track is done once a week, three to four miles, if he is not racing. In having covered the scale of distances, he knows what amount of effort is required to achieve a set goal. Quantity does not make up for the quality and intensity of the runs.
Chattin states, "I analyze my races afterwards and if I'm not satisfied with a race, I always look for something to improve upon. Every once in awhile I'll run fast and actually achieve the high standards I've set but it's rare. I usually have to take things back to the drawing board. You can't do anything about what the other guy does. All you can control is you."
At the races, his competitors are his friends and he explains, "It's strange how you can warm up with someone, have a friendly conversation, but when the gun goes off you try to destroy them. We all have respect for each other for the most part. Even though we want to beat each other."
"I've slowed down since my mid-30s and it has been a tough time. At age 39, my running was rejuvenated with the thought of turning master. It's been a fun year with more races for place rather than time," he said.
"He's a very tenacious, strong runner with a "bull dog" type attitude, and he has shown that trait since 1988. There isn't that raw foot speed but he can hold a pace and get much more out of himself. He likes to pound out the miles and has mental strength--he does not give up," states longtime friend and competitor David Berardi.
"At the Gettysburg 5K on July 10th I was the second master in 16:16. I learned that I can't race every weekend. I need to rebuild for my fall racing and refocus. I don't like to race longer than 16 minutes," Chattin stated.
His short term goal is to be nationally ranked in the masters division and later, to be ranked nationally as a grand master (60 years old & over).
Chattin runs with the big dogs--if they should slip, the race will belong to him. He approaches a race with determination to perform his best on a given day. There is no luck in racing; it's talent and hard work.
The list below shows his depth across a range of distances. There is a new masters runner in town so move over.
Road PR's: 5K 14:42, 8K 24:16, 10K 30:34, 10 mile 50:24, HM 1:06:57, Marathon 2:17:01.
Race Results for Chris Chattin
Marathons
1st American & 7th (2:39:11) Under Armour Baltimore Marathon, MD (10/03).
1st American & 5th (2:29:15) Baltimore Marathon (10/01).
2nd (2:23:56) Philadelphia Marathon, PA (11/96).
11th (2:21:34) Pittsburgh Marathon, PA (5/96).
21st (2:21:36) US Olympic Marathon Trials, Columbus, OH (Qualified) (4/92).
10th (2:18:42) US National Championship, Columbus, OH (11/91).
1st (2:21:48) Memphis Marathon, TN (12/90).
10th (2:19:50) Stockholm Marathon, Sweden (6/91).
22nd (2:22:40) Twin Cities Marathon, MN (10/89).
6th (2:20:56) Helsinki Marathon, Finland (8/88).
(2:17:01-PR) Shamrock Marathon, Virginia Beach, Qualified for Olympic Trials,(3/88).
Half Marathons
3rd 35-39 (1:09:50) Parkersburg H-Mara, WV (8/99).
(1:06:57-PR) Stockholmsloppet H-Mara, Sweden (8/91).
1st 35-39 (1:10:49) 8th Pomoco Group Hampton Coliseum H-Mar, Hampton, VA (2/99).
10 Milers
2nd 40-44 (54:42) 25th Blue Cross Broad Street 10 Mile, Philadelphia, PA (5/04).
1st Master & 4th (54:00) George Washington Parkway Classic 10 Miler, VA (4/04).
1st (54:55) Annapolis 10 Mile Run, MD (8/01).
21st (52:22) Nortel Networks Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, Washington (4/99).
19th (50:24-PR) Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, Washington (4/96).
10 Kilometers
3rd (34:48) Arbutus 10K (7/04).
1st Master (33:14) Lawyers Have Heart 10K, Washington (6/04).
4th Master (33:59) Cotton Row 10K, Huntsville, AL (5/04).
17th & 2nd Master (33:29) 21st Sallie Mae 10K, Washington (5/04).
4th Master & 30th (33:43) 27th Cooper River Bridge Run 10K, Charleston, SC (4/04).
1st Master & 11th (33:28) George Washington Birthday Classic 10K, VA (2/04).
1st (34:39) Arbutus 10K (7/03).
2nd 35-39 (35:11) 13th Lawyers Have Heart 10K (6/03).
2nd 35-39 (34:01) 20th Sallie Mae 10K (5/03).
4th (33:17) MCVets 10K (5/03).
10th (32:52) Pike's Peek 10K (4/03).
6th (33:23) Clyde's 10K, Columbia, MD (4/03).
6th (32:35) St. Patrick's Day 10K, Washington (3/03).
5th (34:57) Clyde's American 10K, Columbia, MD (4/02).
2nd (34:16) 6th Make-A-Wish UAW GM 10K & 2nd (17:33) 5K (11/01)
5th (34:57) Clyde's American 10K, Columbia, MD (4/02).
2nd 35-39 (32:25-9th) Georgetown Classic 10K (10/01).
5th (31:24) Pike's Peek 10K, Rockville, MD (4/01).
3rd 30-39 & 20th (32:12) Sallie Mae 10K, Washington (4/00).
6th (31:05) Pike's Peek 10K, Rockville, MD (4/99).
7th (31:33) Pike's Peek 10K, Rockville, MD (4/98).
2nd (15:50) Lawyers Have Heart 5K, Washington (6/97).
5th (31:34) Pike's Peek 10K, Rockville, MD (4/97).
14th (30:40) Sallie Mae 10K, Washington, DC (5/96)
(30:34-PR) Brian's Run 10K, West Chester, PA (12/88).
8 Kilometers
3rd Master &30th (26:47) Rockville Rotary Twilight 8K, MD (7/04).
3rd Master (25:25) Shamrock Festival 8K, Virginia Beach, VA (3/04).
1st 35-39 (26:50) Outback Steakhouse Corridor Classic 8K (11/02).
5th (28:09) Jones Falls 8K Express, Baltimore (9/02).
6th (27:22) Frederick Memorial Hospital Leukemia 8K, MD (6/02).
2nd (25:22) Jones Falls 8K Express (10/01).
18th (27:37) adidas Route 1 Corridor Classic 8K (11/01).
1st (26:51) Frederick Memorial Hospital Leukemia 8K, MD (6/01).
2nd (26:00) adidas Route 1 Corridor Classic 8K (11/00).
2nd (25:59) Jones Falls 8K Express (10/00).
2nd (24:25) Jones Falls 8K Express (10/99).
11th (25:39) Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest 8K, MD (7/99).
1st (25:30) adidas Route 1 Corridor Classic, 8 K (11/98)
(24:16-PR) Chilly Dog 8K, Baltimore, MD (1/88).
5 Kilometers
2nd (15:48) 180's 5K, Baltimore, MD (3/04).
13th (16:31) Kentlands/Lakelands 5K (8/02).
5th (16:49) 7th Laurel 5K, MD (6/02).
7th (16:03) GBMC Father's Day 5K (6/01).
4th (15:43) Damien's Run For Recovery 5K (6/01).
1st 15:43) Races for the Ages 5K, New Oxford, PA (5/01).
2nd 30-39 (15:48) Damien Run For Recovery 5K, Columbia, MD (6/00).
(14:42-PR) Midnight Run 5K, Westminster, MD (6/87).