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80-year-old runner goes the distance
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Updated: January 16, 2013 8:40AM
Dave Au Buchon, a 45-year Wilmette resident, celebrates his 80th birthday Feb. 4.
The retired patent attorney is a sculptor and runner. In July he’ll compete again in the 2013 National Senior Games, running in Cleveland, Ohio. Au Buchon hopes to bring home some medals to his wife Peggy and four children, Susan, Michael, Shelley and Stephen. The senior Olympian earned a red, white and blue ribbon for coming in seventh place two years ago in his age group. With the snow falling softly on a gentle Dec. 29 morning, Au Buchon finished with a 32:04 time at the Northbrook Blue Life Coaching Fresh Start 5K Race on Dundee Road.
Q. Was the Dec. 29 Blue Life Coaching Fresh Start 5K Race a fresh start?
A. Well, it is for the New Year, yeah. As a runner, you move into a new age group. It (running) keeps me healthy and, you know, I’m in the Evanston Running Club and when you’re in a club like that, you feel an obligation to get out there. And in running, getting out there and starting is the hardest part. Once you start, it’s easy to do whatever you want to do that day, five miles, three miles, whatever it is.
Q. What is your typical running schedule?
A. Well, usually, I run on a Monday night and a Wednesday night with the club. And then during the winter, we’ll start in January running inside on a Sunday morning. But most of my running is done outside, and I run about six miles on a Monday night and six miles on Wednesday night. And then in the summer, I take another little run, maybe five miles, so I do about 12 miles a week.
Q. You’re a retired intellectual property attorney. Can we patent your feet then?
A. No, but they do patent shoes and they got lots of copyrights on the designs of shoes.
Q. Is Wilmette a great place to raise a family?
A. Well, it certainly is. It’s got good school systems, it’s got one of the best libraries on the North Shore, and it’s a nice place to live. I think Wilmette’s a good place to run and Evanston’s a good place to run, it’s got some good asphalt streets. My street I live on is a cobblestone street, so it’s a little tough for running. And (Wilmette) has the lakefront. That’s one thing that’s nice here, you can run along the lakefront. It’s a pretty place to run.
Q. What’s your New Year’s resolution?
A. Well, just to keep up my running. In 2013, I’ll be running in the Senior Olympics, so I’m looking forward to that. And I got to keep in shape so I can get some medals in the Senior Olympics this year. Senior Olympics are every two years. I was in the top of my age group and I got one ribbon (two years ago). I hope to get some medals this year.
Q. Are you an inspiration to others?
A. I think I am. I’m feeling good about this year. I’m hopeful.
