HAVING competed in XC for two years while at high school it was nearly 20 years before CJ Hitz started running again.
Some inspiration from a book by Dean Karnazes got him back into the sport and it wasn’t long before he had caught the ‘running bug’. He soon lost 50 pounds in weight and currently competes in 20 to 25 races a year.
A published author CJ took the time to talk to us about his books, successes and some of the biggest influences in his life.
CJ continues to get faster each year and for anyone with a passion for running his story is sure to inspire.
What inspired you to get back into running after not taking the sport seriously for 20 years?
In March 2008, I picked up a book by Dean Karnazes titled Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner and was really inspired by his own story of coming back to running after 15 years away. His stories of running these ultra trail events awakened a sense of adventure in me. As a result, I thought I wanted to qualify for and eventually run the Western States 100-mile race! After failing miserably with two trail 50k races, I realised I needed to mature as a runner and re-evaluate which events I could realistically train for.
Since I began running, I’ve lost over 50 pounds which has allowed me to feel better and run more injury free since there’s less stress on muscles, joints and tendons.
I ran two years of high school XC and hated every step of it. I only did it because I thought it would help improve my fitness for basketball season. Little did I know that running would become such a passion later.
CJ before he took up running.
What kind of running do you enjoy the most and what opportunity does the area you live in Colorado give you for a variety of runs?
I really enjoy trail, road and mountain races between 5k and 25k in distance. In terms of training, I find that a 12 to 16 mile long run each week along with two hard workouts prepares me to run races within these distances at any time (I typically run 60 to 65 miles per week).
I enjoy the variety of going from roads to trails/mountains. We have an incredible running community here in Colorado Springs that caters to both great road races and trail/mountain races. A couple examples of marquee races here would be the Garden of the Gods 10 miler (road) and the famed Pikes Peak Ascent (trail/mountain).
How often do you compete and what have been some of your biggest successes?
I like to race 20 to 25 times each year. Recent successes include…
2015: Carlsbad 5,000, 12th overall in the Masters race with a lifetime best of 16:32 at age 41
2015: Double Bridge 15k in Pensacola, FL, seventh overall, first Master in 53:32
2013: Pikes Peak Ascent, 19th overall, third Master in 2:47:38
2014: Mt. Washington Road Race in New Hampshire, 25th overall, third Master
2014: Vail HillClimb, fifth overall, first Master
2014: Glass City half-marathon in Toledo, OH, sixth overall, first Master in a lifetime best of 1:16:03 at age 40
2014: Beer Bottle Open four-miler in Columbus Grove, OH, fifth overall, first Master in a lifetime best of 21:37 at age 40
2014: USATF Masters 5k XC Championship in Carmel, IN, 15th overall
2014: USA Masters XC Championships in Boulder, CO, part of the Masters team champion
Who do you look up to most in the world of running and are there any particular runners who have influenced you?
I do have to give Dean Karnazes the credit for the influence to get back into running at almost 35 years old. In terms of who I look up to in the world of running, Simon Gutierrez comes to mind. He’s a good friend here in our local community but he’s also a legend in the mountain running community at large. Simon is 49 years old and is still cranking out incredible performances on the roads and mountains. He’s a very experienced and wise runner who many of us look up to. His most popular advice is “train don’t strain” if you want to run injury free on a consistent basis.
Could you tell us more about your books and in particular Starting Off On The Right Foot. What can readers expect from that book and how does it set out to encourage and help people in their pursuit of achieving something in running?
Starting Off On The Right Foot is just a simple little book geared toward beginning runners. It’s a mixture of nutrition and training advice that I’ve learned since taking up running seven years ago. I also have some runner spotlights in the book where elite or notable runners contribute some tips and advice for beginners. A couple of these include Dean Karnazes and Sage Canaday.
Smoothies For Runners is a book with 32 different smoothie recipes and a description for each that includes the benefits of the ingredients for runners. I’ve broken the book into the following four categories of eight smoothies each: 1) Pre-run fuel smoothies; 2) Post-run recovery smoothies; 3) Green smoothies; 4) Dessert smoothies. I have a genuine interest in nutrition and smoothies have been a fantastic means of giving my body what it needs.
Do you have a strong support group of family and friends who encourage you in your passion and how important is this to you?
Absolutely! My wife Shelley has been very supportive over these last seven years and is my biggest fan and encouragement. I also have several great running friends who support one another and the goals we set for ourselves. Within that group of friends are friendly rivalries that help push each of us to be better runners. Those rivalries also help keep me accountable to stay consistent in training. There are so many great running groups in the Colorado Springs area that runners of all levels become part of.
Do you have any other passions in life?
My wife and I are followers of Jesus which is our greatest passion in life. As an athlete, I strive to be a good ambassador for Christ and a good role model for others. One of my favourite verses in the Bible is 1 Timothy 4:8 which says, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
That helps me keep things in the right order. I believe the Lord has given me a gift to run and stay active in this life but I also have hope in another life to come. The way I live my life here could impact others for eternity. I’m blessed to have opportunities to speak to middle and high school students across the country with Christian messages which is one way I can live out this passion.
Another passion I have is just spending time in the outdoors, whether it’s camping and hiking in the mountains or walking along the beach. God has given us an absolute masterpiece of creation to enjoy each day.
You’re involved with coaching. What’s the message you try to give to people who come to you for help?
Yes I am – www.TrainWellRaceWell.com is where folks can contact me for coaching. I really have a desire to help people train well and put into practice some of the lessons I’ve learned since taking up running again. This includes mixing up various ingredients like workouts, nutrition, recovery and rest in order to achieve goals. We all want to be faster as runners but consistent, injury-free training is probably the most important ingredient to improving. I want to help runners of all levels reach their full potential and enjoy this sport for years to come.
Do you have any exciting plans or races coming up in the next year and beyond?
My immediate racing goals include competing in all seven races in the La Sportiva Vail Trail Running series from May 16 to September 13. I may also compete in the US Mountain Running Championship to be held in Bend, Oregon July 25. If so, my goal would be to win the Masters award there. After that, a few of my running buddies and I are leaning toward running the Grand Rapids (MI) Marathon in mid-October. I haven’t actually run a road marathon since running (and suffering) the Akron (OH) Marathon back in 2008. I’ve definitely learned a thing or two since then.
