A parent, coach, role model, book, magazine article, gym owner, personal trainer, grandchild or friend are just some of the many influencers that have been cited. This month’s athlete is no exception, however, his passion for running emerged from an act of kindness.

“I was teaching school at Northern Potter High School in Potter County. Some of the students came to me in February and asked if I could stay late with them while they ran the halls to get ready for track season. They needed a teacher to monitor them while they ran. The track coach was also the basketball coach, so he couldn’t supervise them. I said, ‘Sure, I’ll stay with you.’ I started running the halls with them, and before long, I was running miles. The following year, I became the cross-country coach and assistant track coach, and I have been running every year since,” said Tim Hallinan.

Hallinan grew up in Altoona and graduated from Altoona Area High School and Penn State University. His degree was in math with a teaching degree in secondary education. The avid runner did not participate in sports.

“I had part-time jobs in the evening to help fund my college education, so I really was never interested in playing sports,” Hallinan said.

Races run in the Hallinan family, led by patriarch Tim (rear center). Multiple generations participate in marathons, 5Ks and 15Ks. Courtesy photo

After two years of teaching, Hallinan moved back to Altoona to work for the F. L. Smithe Machine Co. in Duncansville as an engineer. One of his first competitions was the Fourth of July race.

“I got into the racing scene through the Altoona YMCA. I was a member of the Fourth of July race committee, in the early 1980s, and helped organize the race. The money went to the Altoona YMCA. When it closed, the donations went to the Blair Regional YMCA. I spent about 25 years on the race committee,” Hallinan said.

Running as well as walking can often be a solo excursion. Many choose to be alone during these exercise jaunts, however, since those first jogs with his students, Hallinan has chosen to run with groups. When he returned to Altoona, he joined the Altoona Track Club.

“We would meet about once a month or once every couple of weeks to participate in a group run. That has since morphed into a Facebook group called the Altoona Pa Runners. We get together usually on a weekly basis. Somebody posts a group run, and we try to satisfy all different ages and paces. Of course, these days, I’m one of the older members of that group,” said

Hallinan, age 69.

Hallinan runs five miles a day, four days a week and on the fifth day goes for a 10-mile excursion. This protocol prepares him for half marathons and shorter competitive distances. Most recently, he ran in the July Fourth race organized by the Blair Regional YMCA. He placed third in the 65-69 age group in the 15K

(9.3-mile) run with a time of one hour, 31 minutes. This was the second fastest time he logged during the last eight years for this distance.

“It’s been about 25 years since I ran a marathon. I ran a total of twelve marathons until 2002, but realized at that time, my body did not hold up to the required training do marathons. I still run half marathons, and I’m signed up to run two half marathons before the end of the year, one in October and one in November,” Hallinan said.

Hallinan’s math background and 38 years in the engineering department of F.L. Smithe provided the foundation for his explicit charting of runs.

“I have run for 47 years and participated in 200 races. I have charted every single mile that I’ve run since 1978. I buy a book every year, and log the distance that I run, the date, and time it took to complete the course. I usually mark the temperature down, and if I ran with anybody, or by myself. I have that stack of information for all

47 years of my running,” Hallinan said.

Medical issues have not dissuaded him from his athletic focus. Two knee replacements, back surgery and cancer surgery have only sidelined Hallinan for a brief period.

“None of my injuries were from running too many miles. When I had the first knee replacement, the doctor said my running days might be over. I hurt it hauling firewood. Within two months of the knee replacement, I was back running. A few years later, I had the other knee replaced. I was told two artificial knees might prevent me from running,” said Hallinan.

During these setbacks, Hallinan gives credit to local surgeons, outstanding rehabilitation services, and some good old Irish luck for his successful return to the pavement.

Hallinan’s family is devoted to running and on one special day, they get together for a run.

“Twenty-four years ago, my children asked me what I wanted for Father’s Day. I said, ‘What I’d really like is for us all to get together and go for a run. And just spend some time together.’ We get together on Father’s Day, go for a run and then we have a cookout. They call it the annual Father’s Day 5k Run. My wife doesn’t run, so she usually takes a photograph,” Hallinan said.

Hallinan offers a great deal of praise to the Blair Regional YMCA Race Series and the committee organizers.

“I have run a few races in Pittsburgh and get to see what other people are doing in their races. People at Blair Regional are top notch. They do things as good or better than some of the big races in the big cities,” said Hallinan, noting the contributions from Frank Kopriva, executive program director, and Phyllis Baker, community engagement/fund development director.

In 2022, Hallinan was awarded the Mark Sherlock Award by the Blair Regional YMCA for his contributions to the running community.

“I was shocked and didn’t know it was me until they got halfway through the bio that they were reading. It was exciting to receive that award and very humbling,” Hallinan said.

Though Hallinan is very health-oriented, he acknowledged that he likes a little taste of Irish whiskey after his runs.

George Thomas Kattouf of Altoona is the developer of the website AgelessTimeless.com. He has been instructing martial arts for over four decades in the Altoona Area at the Academy of Martial Arts and encourages seniors to stay fit through martial arts training. If you or someone you know in Blair County is age 50 or older and would be a good candidate for the Fitness Track, email Kattouf at george@agelesstimeless.com. Tune in to the YouTube channel AgelessTimeless to learn more.