Trivia: What is the U.S. high school girls record in the marathon?
PROLONG PLAN. "You're onto something," I said and pointed at friend Matt Assenmacher for emphasis. Matt is a longtime owner of a couple of bicycle stores in the Flint area, and, like so many specialty-store owners, sponsors and promotes his sport in the community.

I'd described my transition into biking and he'd replied, "More runners could prolong their careers if they started sports such as cycling when they were younger. They wouldn't run into the overuse problems that end or reduce the running they've done so long."

Matt, who did a fair amount of running in high school and college, has finished a marathon, so he's not talking out of school. Uncooperative feet -- a result of his running -- could have caused him to be a cynic, or, my take, smarter for the experience.

He's seen his share of runners turn to cycling for their aerobic fix. He's also seen the attrition of aging runners and figures they'd do themselves a favor by mixing up their exercise program to include activities, such as cycling, that use and won't overuse body parts that running regularly strains.

"I'd never suggest a runner stop running. It wouldn't work anyway," Matt continued, noting a key benefit of cycling -- especially to runners -- is it's non-weight-bearing.

My experience after about a half-dozen years backs Matt up. Nearly the only self-inflicted injury a cyclist can get is from a crash. Of course, it's possible to overdo it on a bike and grow achy or ill as a result. But the worst I've felt after 20,000 bike miles the past four years is the rare hamstring or calf cramp due to dehydration. That's in marked contrast to any stretch of 20,000 miles I've run.

Using the past four years as a point of reference, I've also run 3,500 miles.

I started to cycle more seriously due to foot arthritis, which curtailed my running, in the late 1990s. With each passing year I've run as much as my foot allows, while shifting the focus of my aerobic training to include more and faster bike miles.

It's been a balancing act that yielded a 4:03 101-mile bike race last July, the most-satisfying endurance experience I've had in 25 years. But as a more-famous cyclist from Texas has said, it's not (entirely) about the bike. My running and cycling are better off for each other.

Most runners have heard plenty about alternative exercises can help them, so what I'm saying here is hardly new. Prior to "specializing" in running for 30 years, I had grown up in San Diego playing many sports. This prepared me nicely for the physical and mental demands of high school cross country (my first organized running).

Kids don't cross-train on purpose; being active in many ways is just what kids do. Those who participate in two or more sports equip themselves to be more well-rounded athletes later. The same holds for adults, whether they do yoga, cross-country ski, lift weights, kayak or any other sport of their choice: all complement running.

What appeals to me most about cycling is it's extending my running career. I'm 53, the years of high mileage have taken their toll and the arthritis isn't going away, I appreciate the refreshing break, strengthening and stretching another exercise provides. The uncertainty of my running is one thing, winter cycling another, so I'll keep my eyes open to add a new exercise to the mix.

Let's close with some cycling tips from Matt:

o Get a bike that's the right size and have it properly fitted.

o Develop saddle (seat) conditioning over time.

o Ride with more-experienced riders.

o Wear a helmet. Always. BEHIND THE NUMBERS. I'm sure there are some, if not many, out there who know exactly how many races they've run and their career mileage total, but I'm not one of them. I can rattle off a number of major and minor personal stats, but a few remain beyond my grasp.

For example, I wonder sometimes how many names I announce at races such as the Volkslaufe, Crim and Free Press Marathon, or how many columns I've written for Michigan Runner. I'm mildly curious about the answers, but define myself less with numbers and more with the experiences they represent.

I'd been blissfully unaware of how many courses I've measured for certification since starting in 1981, until I received a Road Running Technical Council set of lists recently. I've also been in charge of certification in Michigan since, umm, I couldn't remember until I looked at the list.

Seems I sit 11th overall among U.S. measurers since 1979 with 352 courses certified. Ah, that total explains why I've grown weary of the task and welcome new measurers. I've been Michigan certification chair since '86 and have put my "stamp" on 643 courses.

Retired Grand Rapids police officer Ralph Dewey holds the 24th-best total of certified courses with 226. My friend has handled the measuring needs of races in western Michigan with care and expertise since 1985.

As I said about numbers, the best part isn't how many or how long, but what we've experienced on the job. Both of us have worked with scores of hard-working race directors and had many odd, funny, humbling, frustrating and rewarding things occur.

Since it's not done on race day, measuring is a behind-the-scenes activity charged with the not-unimportant task of getting the distance accurate. I think I can speak for Ralph and say we've been motivated at each of hundreds of measurements by the simple goal of getting the distance right. We feel pride for enhancing the quality of races, not for how many times we've been called on to lend a hand.

We need more good people to measure courses. If you're interested, please contact me at runningshorts@aol.com. You can check out measuring info on the web at rrtc.net.

Answer: Cathy O'Brien was only 16 when she ran 2:34:24 in the 1984 Olympic Trials Marathon in Olympia, Wash. O'Brien made the '88 and '92 Olympic teams in the marathon.