Record miler Jim Ryun
'The only running I do is between classes'
Photo by Rich Clarkson
One year ago this month, Jim Ryun and fiancee, Anne, viewed Olympic events in Mexico City after the famous miler had competed in the 1500-meters. Today it is doubtful Ryun will run again.
Kansan Staff Writer
By JULIE THATCHER
Kenyon Staff Writer
A race Jim Ryun never finished had more impact on his life than every record he ever set.
As a result of the AAU meet in Miami last June, Jim has stopped running, changed his major and found time for new activities.
"At the end of June I quit running, abruptly," Jim says. "Studying and running became an exhausting combination. I had too much to do."
For the present, the famous miler has given up running. "Now I want to concentrate on graduation. If I decide to run again, it will be after graduation."
After four years at KU, Jim is still 34 hours away from graduation.
At first, the cessation caused mental as well as physical problems. "I used to go out every afternoon from 2:30 to 5 p.m. and run 100 miles a week. It's very different to go home and study. It required quite a difficult mental adjustment before I accepted the routine.
"Sure I miss running," he admits. "The lack of exercise caused minor aches and headaches, but now I've adjusted to it. Anne and I play tennis and paddle ball instead. The only running I do is between classes."
12 KANSAN Oct. 24 1969
Jim changed his major from business administration to photo-journalism this fall. "As a result of the AAU meet, I received a lot of criticism. After that I re-evaluated my life and decided I wanted to do something fun and interesting, something I enjoyed."
As a high school senior, Jim began taking pictures for the Topeka Capital-Journal. Since then he has worked for the newspaper weekends and summers and has been offered a full-time position after graduation.
Now that he's taken time off from running, he and his wife, Anne, have discovered many ways to fill the extra hours.
Last summer one major project was refinishing furniture to be used in their west Lawrence apartment.
been painted bright yellow and fitted with a white and black interior.
A refinished desk sits in one corner and unfinished chairs are scattered around the room. A cheery red, white and blue flowered print makes a floor length cover for a small table. In another area, an old trunk has
The distinctive quality of the apartment results from momentos of Jim's accomplishments. In one corner there is a colorful three-by-four foot oil painting done by Gene McClaire, a former track companion, showing Jim after a race. There is also a small case with an urn and the impressive Athlete-of-the-Year label, Newspaper clippings about Jim form a collage on a wastebasket.
Anne first talked to Jim summer of 1967. After a race in California, she requested his autograph and he refused.
"Someone had stolen my specially-made track shoes," Jim recalls, "and I left the field without talking to anyone. I vaguely remember seeing Anne."
The following Thanksgiving a mutual friend introduced them. "From that time we started writing and seeing each other as
much as possible," Anne said.
When she started dating Jim Ryun, Anne wrote home to tell her sports-minded family. They had followed Jim's career before the couple met.
Her father had just one comment. "Anne, Jim's name is spelled R-y-u-n, not R-y-a-n."
Because Anne was a senior at
KANSAN features
Kansas State University, she lived in Manhattan during the week and commuted to Lawrence weekends.
Anne teaches second grade at Schwegler School in Lawrence. Even these youngsters are aware of Jim's reputation, she says.
One day at lunch several third grade boys were talking about football and sports. One turned
to Anne and said, "Did you know Mrs. Ryun is working right here in this school?"
"Do you know what?" Anne said, "I'm Mrs. Ryun."
The little boy sat in stunned silence, she says, and then uttered a meek "oh." He turned to his friend, "That's Mrs. Ryun." The news went all around the table as each child repeated the statement.
A year ago this month, Jim and Anne were in Mexico City for the Olympics. At that time sports writers reported optimism about Jim's future. Today it is questionable if he will run again. Jim will face the alternatives after graduation. Whatever choice he makes, his decision will not alter one fact: the feats of Jim Ryun are already legendary.
New antler development in buck deer begins within 10 days after the old antlers have been shed.
The LIBERATED LOOK!
417
VAN HEUSEN'
You've emancipated your id and you're doing your own thing! Now you can wear the shirt that isn't up tight in drab conventionality. Van Heusen "417." The shirt with turned-on stripes and mind-bending solid hues. The one with handsome new Brooke collar. And with permanently pressed Vanopress to liberate you from the irohing grind. Unbind your mind, man! Don a "417" shirt from Van Heusen!
811. MASS.
VI 3-3160