Six Olympic Trials?

Gary Morgan, 44, of Clarkston, reached that plateau Feb. 15, vying in the U.S. 50K Race Walk Trials in Chula Vista, Cal.

"My first Trials were in 1984," Morgan said. "I've qualified for and competed in each one since."

His 1988 finish earned him a berth at the U.S. Olympic team in Seoul. Morgan was a Games alternate in 1992 and '96, but, "only because of a rule change that limited the number of team members," he said.

In Chula Vista, he took ninth place. "I was happy, considering the winter we had to train in this winter," Morgan said.

He recovered from more than just lousy weather. "There was a period where my body was cooked," he said.

"I did about five or six 50K races in 1999. I worked hard at it, but all the twisting and turning probably wore me out. My body went haywire during 2000," Morgan said.

He backed off on walking, "but "I'm competitive," he admitted. "I still enjoy sports, and there was weight-management to think of."

He tried cross-country skiing, posting a 50K best of 2 hours, 28 minutes; and mountain biking ("I broke my collarbone in a 2000 spill at Boyne Mountain," he noted wryly).

"Race walking is so much work. It's hard. But that's how I stay in shape, and that's why I can do other sports," he said.

Morgan also started doing corrective exercises. "They helped me put my body back together. I had great workouts. I thought I'd try walking again," he said.

Before anyone scoffs at race walking, consider Morgan's best times. At the 1991 National Indoor 5K Championships, he posted a 19:55 - a sub-6:30-mile pace. "I do 22-minute 5Ks now," he conceded.

Morgan's 10K best is 41:38, a 6:43 pace. At 20K he has race-walked 1:26. In 1996 he completed a 50K race (31 miles) in 4:13, a hair over an eight-minute pace.

For uninitiates (such as me), Morgan explains race-walking in simple terms. "There are two rules: You have to keep a straight leg every step, and you have to keep one foot on the ground at all times. There are judges on the course to make sure you do."

Most courses are loops, Morgan said, so it's easier for fewer judges to keep watch. "If you get three cards from the judges during the race, you are disqualified," he explained.

Morgan first tried the sport at the 1975 AAU Junior Olympics: a one-mile walk. "I did a couple more race-walks that summer, and went to the national meet in Tennessee," he remembered. "Then I gave it up several years."

He ran in the interlude, completing a marathon in 2:44 - a PR he lowered to 2:35 years later. But he started thinking again about race walking. "I thought I would give it another try," Morgan said.

It was more than "a try." In addition to making six Trials and the '88 Olympics, Morgan has competed in the Goodwill and the Pan-American Games.

The New York Athletic Club named Morgan its 1997 Athlete of the Year, and later elected him to its Hall of Fame. (It's worth noting the NYAC has produced more Olympic medal-winners than all but seven entire nations.) He has gathered 16 national walking titles along the way.

"It's been fun and a good career," he said. "I had a wonderful time at the Games in Seoul. But after my two-week trip, it was back to reality." Morgan returned to his day job as electrician for General Motors, where he has worked for more than 25 years. No million-dollar endorsements here.

He has strong views regarding professional and amateur sports, but adds that, "You have to keep it all in perspective. It can chew you up."

Morgan still trains after work and on weekends, often on his favorite course at Indian Springs Metropark. Plus, he runs "a little bit, just for fun."

Fun? The day before I talked to him, Morgan completed a 5K road race in 19:30 - after an eight-mile walk earlier that morning.

"I'm a competition nut," he conceded. "I like the thrill. I was running for fun (in the 5K) yesterday. Then I found out how close I came to winning ...

"I should have run harder, put the hammer down," Morgan laughed.

"As I've gotten older, I've learned that too many athletes -- including runners and walkers -- don't rest enough, don't taper enough," he said.

Last summer, Morgan enjoyed working as a liaison for the USA Track and Field team in Europe. He thinks doing something like that for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City might be fun, too.

"But I've had some great workouts lately. I'm doing a 20K in Kansas City, hoping to qualify for the Olympic Trials at that distance. Maybe I'll try to qualify for the 50K World Championships ..."

Chances are, we have not heard the last from Olympian Gary Morgan as a competitor. We will see.

Ron Marinucci can be reached by e-mail at RMarin6424@aol.com. MR