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Honorary Race Director
Only Dam to Dam 20km winner (1989) and
5km winner (2003 &
2007).
Mike Carney started running in high school to
stay fit for basketball and baseball. It wasn't until his senior
year that he realized he should focus on running and continue to
do so in college. He ended his career with a third place finish
at state in the mile (4:22) and the male athlete of the year award
at Dubuque Senior High School.
His real love for running started while participating
in cross country and track & field at Luther College. "My
coaches, teammates, and the running experience in Decorah had a
lasting influence on my running desire and habits. I couldn't have
had two better coaches in Kent Finanger and Kirk Neubauer. They
both taught me and everyone else they coached so much
about life and about the lifelong benefits of running."
Finanger retired in the late 90s, but is considered
a legend at Luther College with the major workout facility named
in his honor. While Carney was at Luther, the Norse won 7 of 8 conference
titles in track & cross country. The team's fifth place finish
in cross country at nationals Carney's senior year was a highlight.
The following year Luther won the Division III cross country national
championship.
The fire that was lit under Carney during his
college running days was just the beginning of a long career in
distance running that peaked in the late 80s and early 90s. The
first place finish in the Dam to Dam 20K in 1989 was one of the
most memorable races for Carney.
"I remember being so excited about the race
and really felt prepared to run sub 1:03 as my training had been
going real well. The weather was good by Dam to Dam standards and
through 10 1/2 miles I was able to build a pretty good lead and
I was well on target to finish in sub 1:03."
However, Carney had to run the last 2 miles with
an excruciating stomach cramp. He held on to win the race in 1:03.25,
and also finished second, fourth and third the following three years.
There were other memorable career moments for
Carney including major Iowa road race victories in the Midnight
Madness 10K, the Drake Relays 10K, Capital Pursuit 10M, and the
Governor's Cup 10K (four years in a row). But it was a certain race
in Texas that spearheaded other strong performances in future years.
Austin Texas was a spring break location for Carney and his Luther
friends in '87 and '88.
"So why not combine it with a race?"
thought Carney. Carney's 30:05 second place finish in the nation's
largest 10K — behind 3-time silver medalist Patrick Sang from
Kenya — was a great accomplishment given it was the coldest
day of the year in Austin.
Carney gained notoriety from the race after Texas
newspapers highlighted the spring break activities for Carney and
friends. The article labeled "Sleepy Iowan Runs on Empty"
highlighted the Luther grads late night socializing and little sleep
— even the night before the race. Carney returned the next
year better rested and finished first out of more than 22,000 runners.
Another race that was quite significant to Carney's
career was on the track. Carney had been trying to break the 30-minute
barrier and was within seconds on many occasions. So in March of
1989 after a great winter of training, Carney headed south to the
Florida Relays.
"The time of the race was perfect for me."
The 10,000 meters started at 11:30pm to avoid the Florida heat.
According to Carney, "The race was on to finish before midnight."
Carney was in sixth with twolaps to go, but ran a 2:12 last 800
meters to finish first in 29:49. Carney lowered his 10K PR to 29:09
in 2000
at the Drake Relays 10K, which is the fastest 10K ever run by an
Iowan on Iowa soil.
For 10 years, Carney was a part of Principal's
corporate track team, which was coached by his wife Susanne. "After
college, the corporate relay events were the most fun and memorable
because of the team aspect that is often not a part of running after
college." Carney ran for Reebok from 1987-94 and has been on
the Fitness Sports racing team the past 15 years.
The Principal track team finished first in the
1997 Corporate Track
Championships in San Diego. Individually, Carney was a corporate
national champion in several events including the mile, 5K, 10K,
and as a member of the Pyramid Relay team.
"To be the honorary race director for such
a great event — especially on the 30th year — is quite
an honor. I have so many good memories from Dam to Dam — the
races themselves, post-race fun, the kids races with my three children,
and all the hard spring training sessions in preparation for one
of the top road races in the midwest.
Even though I won't be racing in the 2009 Dam
to Dam due to injuries, I'm hoping to participate in the future.
Central Iowa has always been a great place to be a runner and I'm
quite proud of the high quality running events held each year."
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