Why Chris Solinsky is my hero

On May 1st, in his first attempt at the distance, 25 year old Chris Solinsky broke the American record in the 10,000 meter, running a whopping 26:59. In doing so, he became the first non-African to break the 27 minute barrier and is only 1 of 31 men to ever accomplish this feat. While all of this is undoubtably impressive, I am most in awe of how fast he is in spite of his size.

At 185 cm and 73 kilos, Chris is substantially larger than the other members of the sub-27 club, who average 169 cm and 55.6 kilos. To watch him run, however, you realize that he manages, through perfect mechanics and a massive engine, Chris is able to run as fast as he does. His large frame is durable, allowing him to pursue years of hard running without breaking down with injury, and he trains with relentless tenacity.

So why is Chris Solinksky my hero? This phenomenal runner is an inspiration to me because he proves how someone without a conventional runner’s build can still run quickly. Naysayers may say that a taller, stronger athlete (like me!) can never run as quickly as the little runner-types, but Chris proves that with hard work, a perfect run form and tenacity, anything can be possible.