Hall of Fame induction: 2001
Owen Owen, who first joined PCVRC at the initial club meeting in 1982, becomes the 25th inductee into our own Hall of Fame. Owen, 67, is originally from Wales, Great Britain. He was stationed at the New Castle (Delaware) Air Base in the early fifties. He married Peg in 1955 and they have two children and five grandchildren. Owen was last employed with the DuPont Company as an electrician and retired in 1992.
Owen took up running in the mid-seventies, motivated by his desire to lose weight and get into some semblance of shape as he would become winded climbing a flight of stairs. His first race was the 1979 Caesar Rodney Half-Marathon that he completed in two hours, 36 minutes. He has completed a total of eight CR’s, his best Caesar Rodney coming in 1985 when he ran the hilly half-marathon course in one hour, 46 minutes.
Owen has completed eight marathons and qualified for the 1984 Boston Marathon as a fifty-year old when he crossed the finish line of the Philadelphia Independence Marathon in 3 hours, 20 minutes. Unfortunately, he never made it to the starting line in Hopkinton. He was seriously injured on Linden Hill Road in January, 1984 while on a training run after being struck by an automobile that had lost control after skidding on ice.
Owen sustained a dislocated ankle, fractured leg, seven fractured ribs, and his lung was punctured in four places, as well as collapsing. He also suffered a broken collarbone and a fractured vertebra in his neck. Owen was hospitalized for ten days, five of which were spent in the intensive care unit. However, it’s difficult to keep a good man down as he was back running by July.
After his mishap, Owen returned to the starting line that fall when he ran the Run for the Fund 10K. His return to running earned him the inaugural “Comeback Runner of the Year” award at the 1985 Awards Banquet. An article in the May, 1987 issue of Runner’s World also appeared, describing his ordeal. Owen has also been awarded the Runner of the Month for August, 1987.
His personal records include a 1:38:43 for the half-marathon which he ran in 1983 Philadelphia Distance Run; a time of 1:16:28 at the Broad Street Ten Miler in 1986; and a 43:27 at the Turkey trot 10K in Newark. Owen’s best time at the five mile distance was posted in the Cherry Blossom Run in 1987 with a 37:09; he also set a personal best in the 5K that same year in the un for Bruce with a 22:20.
Owen feels that PCVRC has supplied a support network for him and he has net most of his closest friends through running and the running club. He has enjoyed the social outings over the years, including the picnics, bowling nights at Pike Creek, club meetings, fun runs and that famous 1987 trip to Tampa for the Gasparilla Distance Classic. He had always proudly displayed his club colors and cam always be counted on to volunteer for club activities and our 15K race.
Owen gas completed in the Senior Olympics sine 1992 in the 1500 meter run, as well as the 5K and 10K runs and cycling events. He qualified this year for the Nationals to be held in Baton Rouge, LA in the 20K and cycling events.
His most difficult medical diagnosis to face was that of Crohn’s disease which ultimately resulted in an Ileostomy in 1995. That disease left him fatigued, and he tires easily, having difficultly developing enough nutrition from the food he eats. More recently, he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in May of last year because of a torn meniscus. He hasn’t run since the surgery but is able to cycle, walk, bowl, and golf with his buddy Jay Oster. He is continuing to undergo physical therapy but hope to be running soon.
Owen’s efforts over the years certainly exemplify what it means to be dedicated to a sport one truly loves and enjoys. Owen is certainly integral part of the PCVRC family and a truly worthy inductee into the PCVRC Hall of Fame. His dedication and support are certainly to be commended! Congratulations Owen.
Owen’s efforts over the years certainly exemplify what it means to be dedicated to a sport one truly
