Lonnie Adkins

Year Inducted: 2003

Personal Records:
5K ... 14:47

10K ... 30:12

Marathon ... 2:30:43

 

 

 

 

Lonnie began running in 1977 as a junior on the Tecumseh High School track team in New Carlisle, Ohio. He ran two years of track and one year of cross country. His high school PR's included a 4:41 mile and 10:34 2 mile.

 

He ran cross country at Wright State University under coach Bob Schul. In 1981 he left the WSU team to become the track coach for Vandalia-Bulter High School. NCCA rules prohibited him from doing both coaching and competing at the college level. 

 

He was the Vandalia-Butler Track distance coach from 1981-1995; with 10 years as a cross country coach (five as the head coach). From 1996-2002 Lonnie was the track coach at St. Christopher school (k-8th grade) giving him a 22 year coaching career in Vandalia.

 

Lonnie not only coached, but made his presence known on the racing circuit too. With over 300 races on his shoes at the time of his induction into the DDRHF.

 

Memorable performances include: 

 

1988 1st place tie at Miamisburg Turkey Trot in course record time 25:00 

 

1988 Top 50 finish out of 12,000 in Pittsburgh Great Race in a 10K PR of 30:12 (15:06 5K spits) 

 

1990 1st place in the Stroh's Night Run of Dayton, OH with time of 15:12

 

1990 2nd place in 30-34 age group at the National half-marathon championship in Parkersburg, WV in 1:09:49

 

Lonnie averaged 50-70 miles per week during this time period. He said his best training run ever was when he ran 30 miles at 6:13 pace on his 30th birthday, along with no stops or water in July. 

 

His best workout sessions ever: 5 x mile in 4:35 average and 3 x 2 mile repeats in 9:30 average