Originally from CA, Jerry joined the U.S. Air Force in 1961 a month out of high school, resigning in March of 1969
and moving to Delaware. He started work for Powell Electronics in Philadelphia in May of 1969 and joined the
Delaware Air National Guard in 1976. He retired from the Air Guard December of 2003 and from
Powell Electronics in July of 2006. Jerry has a daughter, Laura, a married son, Gregg, a
daughter-in-law Debby and five year-old twin grand-daughters, Emma and Hannah.
Jerry started running in 1984 as a Delaware Air National Guard member after being advised of a new
fitness test in 1985 that would include a 1.5 mile run. There would be age group times to meet to
pass the test. A few months before this announcement some of the guys in his Guard shop kept
telling him about races they had run during the previous month and the fun they had.
Jerry did not run distance in high school other than in gym class. He was on the track team doing
the long and triple jump, and actually threw the shot put and discus. He also could go from first
to third playing softball quicker than most, well in to his mid-thirties. He thought running would
be easy, until he went to the track and found that he couldn't run a < mile. He immediately started
a run, walk, run training routine until he could run as long as three miles. He passed the military
fitness test without any trouble.
In his first race Jerry was a bandit of sorts. A friend of his, who had entered Brian's Run, 1984,
had hurt his ankle, and couldn't run. Jerry was asked to race with his friends wife, and was told
"She wont hurt you, she isnt so fast that you can't stick with her." He ran the race and was hooked.
Jerry ran his first Caesar Rodney in 1985. To date, he has only missed running CR once, including
running it once in Saudi Arabia while his Guard unit was deployed for Desert Storm. He has started
12 marathons and finished ten, Marine Corps being his first Marathon in 1987. Since then he has
run the Marine Corps, Lincoln and Delaware Marathons. When he was fast (???) a 22:XX was a usual
5K time, with 5K PR of 21:25. His marathon PR was 3:50:xx at Lincoln.
Jerry joined Pike Creek Valley Running Club as a way to associate himself with other runners with
the hope of learning more about running. Since joining the club he has made a lot of friends and
learned a great deal about running from various club members. He has run races from one milers,
5K, 5 mile, 8K, 10K, 10 mile, 15K, to half and full Marathons. He has also done the old vertical
challenge, competed in a few "run - bike - run" events, cross country, and some trail races.
If asked what is his favorite racing distance, he would say it would probably be a five miler.
However, there is nothing quite like the satisfaction of finishing a Marathon. He has also tried
to run in each state and country whenever his travels permitted. Currently running in the 60-69 age
group, Jerry's goal is to run and finish another marathon.
Jerry in California
|
|
Jerry Herman running 5K in Las Vegas
Jerry at Craters of the Moon Natl. Monument, ID
Jerry at Yellowstone Park
Jerry runs Philly Distance Run
|
Run, Race, Enjoy!