JOHN GREGOREK TRACKS ROAD WINS
John Gregorek’s a big guy, one who often seems to be lurking at the back of the lead pack, waiting to kick, waiting to blow by more diminutive competitors. At 6-1/160, he casts a big shadow on the road racing circuit. It’s a shadow he himself sometimes seems to run in.
Past success as an Olympic steepler and as a 3:51 miler hangs on John Gregorek, road runner, like some oversized warmup suit. He just seems a bit out of place, as if he should be on a track somewhere – leaping over a water barrier perhaps. Who is John Gregorek and what’s a nice guy like him doing on the roads?
“All this road running is geared toward the track,” admits the 8:18:45 steepler. “Road races are just a test of my shape.”
He seems to be passing the examinations. His 27:56 at the American Continental Homes 10k earned him second, just 5 seconds behind Arturo Barrios. Six weeks later, Gregorek won England’s 10k road championships in 28:14, 2 seconds ahead of Senor Barrios. If he continues at this rate, John will certainly rank higher than last year’s No.7 among U.S. roadies.
Just turned 27, Gregorek is looking to the roads for answers. Running just hasn’t been the same for him since his efforts at the ’84 Games, where he was a non-qualifying 11th in his heat.
“I haven’t run the steeple since L.A.”, says the Georgetown grad, now residing in Barrington, Rhode Island, a boating town 15 miles from Providence. “I didn’t run the finals. That was very frustrating. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.”
Gregorek’s success on the roads – and the passing of time – has given him a fresher look at his sport. He explains, “A year ago I couldn’t see running in ’88. Now I feel like I could go another ten years. I feel good about my running.”
He also knows how the change was made. “I’m finally learning to listen to myself. After years of looking for the magic system, the magic coach, the magic training partner… the secret potion,” he reveals. “I’m finding my own answers. If running by myself is what it takes, then that’s what I’m going to do. Basically, I’ve just been digging in, putting my head down.”
Gregorek’s labors are directed towards the Olympics, but they’re focused on improvement, simply that. He overemphasized that quadrennial extravaganza once before; he won’t do it again.
“My goal right now is top three at Nationals. Then get into the finals at World Champs,” Gregorek says. “I need to get that experience.”
John’s only problem at the moment seems to be deciding in which event to gain that big meet exposure. He’s a steepler, sure, but he’s done that already.
“I still haven’t decided. It’s 50-50 between the steeple and 5k,” he admits. “I would like to run the 5, but if I don’t feel comfortable with my abilities at that, I’ll go to the steeple.”
Face it. The 5k presents a greater challenge. Gregorek’s PR is a 13:29.3 run indoors in 1985 and that’s probably not good enough. Gregorek knows it, too.
“I’m feeling a little more confident now after running a 13:43 for the final 5k at Continental Homes,” Gregorek notes. “Running against Buckner, Barrios, Treacy, Bickford… well, I’ve proven I can run with guys like them.”
And so he did.
