ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 17, 1992                   TAG: 9203170118
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JOE TENNIS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JOHN F. HOSNER

The March issue of Running Times ranked him the No. 1 runner in the country in his group: men 65-69. He has been among the nation's top five runners for more than 10 years. He clinched the title in the 1991 U.S. Runner's Association National Master's Circuit for men 65-69 on Feb. 1 in Orlando. He has established five U.S. records and one world record in his age group.

He can run an 8-kilometer race - 5 miles - in 31 minutes, 13 seconds. He runs about 45 miles a week.

\ NAME: John F. Hosner.

\ AGE: 67.

\ RESIDENCE: Blacksburg.

\ BIRTHPLACE: Gillespie, Ill.

\ MARITAL STATUS: Married for 15 years to Tenna K. Hosner, who also is a runner.

\ EDUCATION: Ph.D. in forest ecology from Syracuse University; master's in forestry from Duke University; bachelor's in forestry from Michigan State University.

\ OCCUPATION: Professor of forestry at Virginia Tech. Was director of the university's School of Forestry and Wildlife for 30 years. He'll retire July 1 and spend time running.

\ PETS: Two dogs, Smecken and Teddy.

\ HOBBIES: "Running, of course." Also softball, racquetball, reading and gardening.

\ WHAT'S YOUR SECRET TO SUCCESS IN RUNNING? "Well, I guess you have to have the right genes. You have to have the right body build. And you've got to be willing to put the time and energy into it to be really competitive at the national level."

\ WHAT KIND OF SPECIAL DIET DO YOU HAVE? "I'm not on a diet. I eat everything, but I do limit fats and red meats. I eat heavy on complex carbohydrates."

\ WHAT'S YOUR SECRET TO STAYING IN SHAPE? "Consistency. I've been running since 1967, and I've never really taken any large blocks of time off."

\ WHY DID YOU START RUNNING? "I really started running to stay in shape to play other sports, particularly softball at that time."

\ WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE NEW RIVER VALLEY? Landed job as head of Tech's forestry and wildlife program in 1961.

\ WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER BE? "I like it right here. And I intend to stay here when I retire."

\ WHAT'S BEST ABOUT THE VALLEY? "I guess I like the mountains and the climate, although we haven't had typical climate here in the past year or so.

\ WHAT'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE VALLEY? "I guess I'm a little concerned about the development, particularly the traffic congestion near the New River Valley Mall."

\ WHAT'S THE SMARTEST THING YOU EVER DID? "Married my wife. She also runs with me and supports my running. The second was coming to Virginia."

\ WHAT'S THE DUMBEST THING YOU EVER DID? "I ran a 10-mile race in Lynchburg and insisted on finishing when I had dysentery and became terribly dehydrated. I ended up with a temperature of 108."

\ WHAT WAS YOUR WORST JOB? "I used to work on farms at an hourly wage when I was growing up. It was hard work. We used to stack wheat by hand."

\ IF YOU COULD IMPROVE YOUR LIFE, HOW WOULD YOU DO IT? "I guess I would spend a little more time doing leisurely things. I've always been kind of a type-A person. I never have taken full vacations. . . . Incidentally, I've never taken a day of sick leave since I've been at Tech."

\ HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THE WORLD? "I'm really concerned about the overpopulation and the deterioration of our environment. . . . I'd put more emphasis on environmental education at all levels, elementary through university." 


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