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Don’t count Richard Larsen among those saying “it’s all downhill from here.”
He’s dedicated his 60s to running in the opposite direction, in fact.
The Shelburne Falls resident has turned himself into one of the best mountain runners in New England for his age group. Why the transition to uphill races?
“There’s something about getting to the top of a mountain,” Larsen said with a laugh.
The 68-year-old has spent the past few years honing his craft, training to handle the physical demands of mountain running. His work has certainly paid off, particularly at the prestigious Mount Washington Road Race in New Hampshire. The grueling 7.6-mile uphill climb follows the auto road going from the base of mountain nearly to the summit (located at 6,288 feet above sea level). The race was first held in 1936, and has been run annually since 1966.
Larsen holds the 65-70 year old age group record in the event, posting a time of 1 hour, 25 minutes and 29 seconds in 2018.
“You don’t really race it, you just kind of survive it,” said Larsen of Mount Washington. “Mountain running, it’s sort of a different sport, actually. I don’t think a lot of runners realize that. Mount Washington is so steep that unless you’ve trained and gotten that muscle strength, just being fast and having a good engine won’t get you through entirely. You need to have that muscle strength because it’s really an endurance event.”
Believe it or not, Larsen said he transitioned to mountain running in his 60s because it’s actually easier on his body. He said there’s no pounding compared to regular running, and while it is physically grueling, he doesn’t wake up as sore the next day.
“I really get into the science of the training for mountain running,” he said. “It’s a great workout.”
Larsen’s journey into the running world began around the time he turned 38. A good athlete in his youth, he struggled with back problems before a friend convinced him to give running a shot. It didn’t take long for that interest to become serious.
“Running became kind of everything,” he admitted. “I always liked competition so it wasn’t long until I got into the competitive aspect of it.”
Larsen’s neighbor, Al Ladd, was a big early influence in his running regime, as was fellow West County stalwart Mike McCusker. They’ve been running together for about 30 years now.
“I like the social part of the running a lot, sharing the training,” Larsen said. “Gradually our group expanded to other people. What I really like about it now is that I run with 40 year olds, 50 year olds… a wide range of ages.”
As he got a bit older, Larsen thought he could really make his mark in several races within his age group. That competitive spirit stayed with him, and when he turned 50, he competed in his first national event — the Saratoga Cross Country Classic. He took second place in his age group, and five years later, returned to claim the top spot.
“This was the era where age group running was really kind of just starting,” Larsen explained. “I wasn’t a national class runner before that but I thought in the back of my mind, maybe it’s time to put more effort in and see where I could go with it.”
He pushed the limit on the three-hour mark in several marathons as well, missing it by just one minute in the New York City Marathon when he turned 60. He does boast a 2:48 finish at the Vermont City Marathon.
“He is the kind of guy you cheer for, even when he beats you,” fellow harrier Garry Krinsky said of Larsen. “He’s run with so many people over the years, and they will all testify as to his modesty and greatness.”
Larsen was diagnosed with bladder cancer not long after, and after he got through it, decided it was time to really bear down.
“That kind of woke me up,” he recalled. “It was, ‘OK, now I’m pissed off.’ Time to get more serious.”
He trained heavily for the 2013 National Masters 5K championship in Syracuse, N.Y., and won his age group in the national event with a time of 17 minutes, 47 seconds. The win was arguably the most impressive of his career.
“That was fun, and unexpected,” he said.
Larsen has his sights set on another prize this fall. He signed up for the 98th edition of the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, set for Aug. 30. The 12.42-mile climb finishes 14,115 feet above sea level.
“I’m really excited about that,” said Larsen, who plans to travel for the race with running pal Mark Staples.
Training for that race, and running in general, remains an important part of Larsen’s life. A contracted painter, he said the outlet is something he looks forward to each week.
“Running just offers me a lot of mental stability,” he said. “When you train for something, it takes part of your brain and it becomes kind of a happy place to go and concentrate on.”
This year’s Mount Washington Road Race was scheduled for June 20, but a contingency date of Aug. 24 has been added if the June date is postponed.