Bob Schul

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Medal record
Men's Athletics
Competitor for  United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1964 Tokyo	5.000 meters
Pan American Games
Bronze	1963 Sao Paulo	5.000 metres

Robert Schul (born September 28, 1937) is a former American long distance runner. As of 2008^[update], he is the only American to have won the Olympic gold medal in the 5000 m, at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Schul, born and raised on a farm in West Milton, Ohio, was born with asthma, which bothered him throughout his career. He started running in the seventh grade and continued through high school (4:34.4 mile). He continued his collegiate career in 1956, at Miami University in Ohio, where he broke the school record in the mile as a sophomore running 4:12.1. He joined the Air Force and for a year had limited training because of Air Force schooling. In May 1960, he was assigned to Oxnard AFB in California and Max Truex (placed sixth at Rome in the 10K) became his commanding officer. In June, after one month of good training, Schul ran the USA championships; he placed fifth in his trial race, running 3:55 for 1500 meters. In 1961, Max Truex introduced Schul to Hungarian coach Mihaly Igloi. Under Igloi's training, Schul finished third at the national championships in the 3000 m steeplechase. Making the US team, he became the fourth fastest steeplechaser ever, running against the Germans; his time was 8:47.8. In 1962, he ran well indoors at two miles (3 km) with only one American, Jim Beatty, running faster. Then with several poor races in the Spring, he was diagnosed with mononucleosis and spent three months in an Air Force hospital. In 1963 indoors, Schul was the American Champion in the US Indoor Championships running 13:39.3 for three miles (5 km). A few weeks later, he ran the third fastest two miles (3 km) ever (8:37.5) behind Jim Beatty's world record of 8:30.7. With a partially torn soleus muscle, Schul placed third in the Pan Am Games at 5K, but the injury kept him from competing in the U.S. Championships. Later in August, he ran the fastest time for the year at two miles (3 km) for an American, posting 8:44.6.

Returning to Miami of Ohio in the fall of 1963, Schul continued using Igloi training, with some innovations. In the first Boston Knights of Columbus indoor meet, he broke the American record for three miles (5 km), running 13:31.4, which was the second fastest time ever run. After a four win and four loss record to Bruce Kidd of Canada, each placing to the other, and a second place finish to Alby Thomas of Australia when he set a new World record of 13:26.4, Schul did not lose a race. He beat Ron Clarke twice, first in Los Angeles and then in New York. Outdoors, he did not lose a race through the Olympic Games in October, beating Kidd, Lindgren, Mills, Baillie, and Dellinger, among the top names. Schul first broke the American record in the 5000m at Compton, running 13:38 for 5K, and the following week won a mile race in San Diego beating Cary Weisiger in 3:59.1. He did not run the NCAA Championships, as he thought it was not fair as he was twenty six years old running against younger opponents. He won the US Championship 5K at Rutgers in New Jersey and four days later, the first Olympic Trials at Randalls Island in New York (his allergies bothered him in those two races more than normal since they took place in high pollen area). In June, Schul won the 5K against the Russians. In August, he won a mile against Jim Grelle, running 3:58.9 on a dirt track at Pierce Junior College. Two weeks later, on August 29, 1964, he set a new World record for two miles (3 km), covering the distance in 8:26.4 on the same track. In September, he easily qualified for the Olympic team with a win at the U.S. Olympic Trials. For the first time Track and Field News and Sports Illustrated picked an American to win a distance race. Schul went to the Games having the best time in the World in the 5K and the World record at 2 miles (3.2 km). In Japan, the final was held in heavy rain. In the last lap, the Frenchman, Michel Jazy appeared poised to take the gold, as he had opened up a ten meter lead on the back stretch, but Schul would run a 37.8 for the last 300 meters on a muddy track. He caught Jazy 50 meters before the finish line, and pulled away for a ten meter victory to take the gold medal. After returning home, Schul's knee was hurting and he could not run for four months. Using a YMCA pool and stationary bicycle throughout the winter, he resumed running in March 1965.

With only three months of training, Schul won the national title in 1965, in the 3-mile (4.8 km), setting a new American record, running 13:10.4. He stated afterward, "it was the toughest race I ran and won." Shul never managed to regain his 1964 level, but in Europe he did run personal bests at 1500 meters (3:40.7) and 3K (7:59.9). All were on cinder tracks.

In August 1965, Schul's knee began hurting again and he decided to retire. He resumed training in 1967 for fitness purpsoes and this led him to the Olympic trials at South Lake Tahoe. With numerous injuries and limited training, he still managed to place fifth in the final. In that final, he had an asthma attack after a few laps and struggled throughout, fainting as he crossed the finish line.

In 1971, for one year, Schul served as the national coach for Malaysia and then moved back to the U.S., re-settling in Ohio. In his spare time he continued to train club athletes. In 1978, the Air Force sent all their top distance runners to Wright Patterson Air Force Base to train under Schul. After a year of training, many of the athletes reduced their times enough to compete in National events. (More can be read about Schul's club athletes on his web site, www.bobschul.net). Schul participated in road races along with his club athletes until the age of sixty, when his right leg and back problems prevented further racing. Along the way, Schul became a top master runner (33.55 10K at age fifty;76:00 for 1/2 marathon age fifty; 17:56 for 5K at age 60). In October 2007, Schul had his right hip replaced. He is hopeful that he can run for fitness in the future.

BEST TIMES;

440 yards 50.00 (relay 48.8) 880 yards 1:52 1500 meters 3:40.7 1-mile (1.6 km) 3:58.9 2000 meters 5:10.2 3000 meters 7:59.9 3K Steeplechase 8:47.6 2-mile (3.2 km) 8:26.4 3-mile (4.8 km) 13:10.4 (asphalt) 5000 meters 13:38

Held 5 American and 1 World record

National Championships

1963 Indoor 3-mile (4.8 km) 1964 Outdoor 5K 1965 Outdoor 3-mile (4.8 km)

At present, Schul is still involved in track and field as a coach. He retired as a collegiate coach. Schul speaks at running events across the U.S. and internationally.

Further reading

• Schul, Bob with Laura Rentz Krause (2000). In the Long Run. Landfall Press. ISBN 0-913428-82-5. 

See also

• Olympic medalists in athletics