University Daily Kansan
Friday, October 22,1976
13
Teri's energy flows for kids and coaching
Teri's energy She sets her sights on helping others
The sun wouldn't rise for another 30 minutes. And even then the rain clouds would hide it from view. The streetlights' reflections glistened on the slick pavement.
While most of Lawrence was still asleep, unaware of the grey day ahead, Tert Anderson was not only awake, but outside and running.
She moved effortlessly down the sidewalk
along Iowa street. As she splashed through puddles, she seemed unaffected by the 46 degree weather and oblivious to the silent stains from passing cars.
ANDERSON STARTS every day with a four or five mile run. It's a pattern that's hard to break—a pattern formed during the Olympics—but it also marks America's top female distance runners.
During that span she went on European AUu tour. She competed in the USA-USSR dual track meet. And she was a non-commissioned member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic team.
She runs more than 70 miles a week, but not because she's training for any races.
"I guess its become so much a part of my life that I enjoy being physically fit," she said.
FOR THAT REASON, and that reason alone, Anderson still runs. At the ripe age of 23—about five years before most distance racing she has retired from competitive racing.
"The competitive drive isn't gone," she explained. "It revives every day. I've just kind of redirected that into helping other people find out what they can attain."
Anderson is carrying out her plan as a graduate student by working toward a masters degree in adaptive physical education and by serving as an assistant coach for the women's cross country and track teams.
A large part of her graduate work deals with children who have perceptual motor
d dysfunctions. The kids aren't handicapped per se, but their development is behind that of others.
SHE HAS THREE students who meet with the surgeon to unnausea in the Percentile Club Clin.
"We work on certain reflex type activities, such as balance and hand-to-eye coordination," she said. "Some of the kids have special muscles like protecting yourself or falling."
The 30-minute sessions might seem more like recess to the kids, considering that the clinic resembles a playground with jungle ropes and high walls. The walk apparatus and even a traniline.
"they don't consider it work," Anderson said, "because we devise games that we play with them. And I love jumping on the tramoline as much as they do."
"JUST FOR THEM to be able to learn how to skip or do something like that is really a neat accomplishment," she said. "I think it does give them a great deal of self-confidence."
She indicated that she's received the same results by coaching the women's track and cross country teams, whether it is long-distance runners or dozing weight training.
The athletes agreed.
"They find out what they can do and that improves their self-confidence in the track realm, which carries over into all other parts of their lives."
"SHE MAKEES every person seem really
like themselves," said "like
everyone is a winner in her profession."
There were recurring remarks about Anderson's dedication and willingness to do "that little bit extra" that separates great from good.
Jerome Howe, Kansas State's cross
member of the 1972
Olympic team, gladiator
"She's the most dedicated, hardest working individual I know," said Howe, who ran with Anderson when the two were married. He stated, "And I'm including men and wives."
Anderson admits that she worked hard to
that she had some help, and she emphasizes
that she had some help.
"She has an incredible capacity to push herself."
"This probably sounds freaky if you don't understand what I'm talking about," she explained, "but I really turned my life over to God this summer.
The ability to push herself—she's run up to 140 miles in a week—paid off last spring. She placed second in the 3,000 meter trial for the USA-USSR dual meet in College Park, Md, the week following the Olympics.
HER FINISH also gained her a spot, although a non-competing one, on the U.S.
"I was ready to fail if that's what was planned for me, and if not, I was just open." She didn't fail. In a race that saw the world record in the 3,000 meters shattered by Michael Phelan and the American record betrayed by France Larsen Lutz, Anderson was fourth.
BUT SHE SEEMS most proud of her work while in Montreal with the Olympiad team.
"Not so much about running, because God's really given me a peace about quitting. But that He can give us so much more. I want to help to help as many people as I can find out."
Her retirement means that the American track scene has lost an outstanding competitor, but it also means that the children she tutors and the women she coaches have gained a compassionate friend and an enthusiastic teacher.
"It was a Christian outreach program and I got to talk with people from different nations and share with others what my life has become because of God.
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On the left, Anderson supervises some weightlifting by the KU women's track team. She is an assistant coach. On the right, a pillow fight is used as an exercise for DiCapo to develop strength and coordination.
Story by Steve Clark
Photos by Dave Regier