It was eight years ago when Steve Swanlund made a major lifestyle change. Inspired by his son Zac’s deployment to Iraq, Swanlund and each of his family members started a new positive activity. Steve took on running, his wife Carrie ran a half marathon, their daughter started a charity and the family’s second son learned to play the drums.
But it was Steve’s goal that changed his life the most. He dropped 60 pounds.
“The year was going to go by no matter what,” Steve said. “Why not, when Zac got home, be better people for it. Why not accomplish something you think is hard. That’s the way our family is.”
Steve finished the Eugene Marathon on Sunday in 3 hours, 15 minutes, 23 seconds, a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon next spring in the 45-49 age group. During the 26.2-mile race, he kept his mile pace between 7:25 and 7:36.
“This was my best prepared race I’ve done in a long time,” Steve said.
Steve’s passion for running didn’t come instantly. At first, he worked hard to lose the extra weight. In doing so, he lowered his cholesterol levels and eliminated high blood pressure concerns.
“It probably saved my life,” Steve said.
He’s since run 28 marathons and completed five Ironman Triathlons. Steve wakes up at 4:30 a.m. daily to swim and run in his home of Puyallup, Washington, before heading off to work at 8 a.m.
“We became morning people,” Carrie said with a laugh. “We’re not night people anymore. We’re in bed by 8:30.”
While Steve was busy training his body for triathlons and extended runs, the family received upsetting news about their son in Iraq. While on a routine operation, Zac and two others had their truck hit by an IED. It opened “like a tulip” and the 21-year-old Zac got the worst of it. He still deals with the injuries today and received a Purple Heart when he returned home.
Zac’s doing great now, and Steve admits his son is probably in better shape than he is.
It’ll be Steve’s second time running in the famed Boston Marathon, but when he first started eight years ago, Steve scraped his way to 11-minute miles. Carrie describes Steve as a “spreadsheet guy,” so she wasn’t surprised when he gathered a collection of training books to get started. He once trained on his own, starting with a 5K. He now trains regularly with a team.
“I made a pact with myself that I would improve myself while he was gone,” Steve said.
He said while Zac’s deployment was first the primary motivating factor, marathon running and triathlons have taken on a life of their own. He’s competed in the Ironman in places like Hawaii and Canada.
“It’s a logistics nightmare,” Steve said. “With the swim, bike, run … it’s very expensive. It’s more of an accomplishment when you’re done.
“Marathons are super easy. You pack your shoes, your watch and you go.”
Steve’s promise to his son turned into a daily routine. He’s constantly training now, something even his wife admits seemed far-fetched 15 years ago.
“That’s how he does everything in his life,” Carrie said. “He’s so positive.”
