Kieran Tuntivate, a Thai-American runner, became a household name among the Thais when he won two gold medals in the 2019 SEA Games.
But winning gold medals are not Kieran's ultimate goal, as he ensures he makes more enormous leaps in his career.
Although he failed to clinch medals in the 2021 SEA Games, his 10km racing record affirmed that he made the right decision in his career: to participate in Bowerman Track Club, the best running club in the US.
Main Stand presents the club's techniques for cultivating top-flight runners over the past two decades.
What is Bowerman Track Club
The Bowerman Track Club is an outstanding running group in the United States of America (USA). As the USA is home to incalculable Olympic gold-winning sprinters and long-distance runners, the running club has become highly successful, reaching the pinnacle within barely 20 years old.
On top of that, its sponsor, American sportswear brand Nike, is credited for paving the way for its success.
Sure enough, as a No.1 running shoes brand, Nike's sponsorships aim towards profit, but the brand also aims to promote Americans' health as their eating behavior has impacted their health and body weight since the 1960s.
Fast food brand McDonald's, for example, has seen rapid growth. Apart from the sales figures, more significant portions or sizes of consumption are testaments to Americans' consumption trends; it is three times as large as those in the 1950s. For example, while the size of burgers was 3.9 oz in 1950, it has increased to 12 oz today.
Likewise, today's size of sodas is 42 oz, a massive increase from 7 oz. The above is, irrefutably, a contributor to American people's obesity.
Therefore, Nike's aim to penetrate the running shoe market originates from an idea to urge Americans to be concerned about their physical health, probably through running as a way to stay fit.
As a result, Nike asked for assistance from Bill Bowerman, a retired track and field athlete and Nike's co-founder Phil Knight, to collaborate with the company to manufacture running shoes that urge people to get off the couch.
To achieve the abovementioned purpose, Nike established a running club named Bowerman Track Club to influence people to work out or run more. Also, the club acts as a coach to provide people with practical running methods.
"The Bowerman Track Club, supported by Nike, is one of the premier running clubs in America. It is composed of a world class professional team, a national level elite team and large and competitive youth and master's divisions. The club supports a diverse and inclusive community of runners as they pursue their dreams in track, cross-country and road racing. The club also aims to grow the sport of running through its events, camps and community outreach," according to the Bowerman Track Club site.
As the Bowerman Track Club supports all types of running, Americans have well-received it. To them, the club is pivotal in urging people to run faster or further, and the success mentioned earlier is a stepping stone for Bowerman Track Club to go further.
The organization hopes to offer a unique program to develop elite runners further to succeed internationally. It is like a training ground for them to compete in the Olympics or even set new global records.
Running as fast as you can
Experienced coaches must equip runners with skill sets that enable them to run faster. Therefore, this is where the veteran coaches come in.
The Bowerman Track Club subsequently established its headquarters in Oregon, with facilities and a crew of coaches spearheaded by Jerry Schumacher from Wisconsin University, who is a head coach to accomplish the objective.
Here is compared to a university which recruits only a cream of students to attend to hone their skills. Yet, after the headquarters were open, myriads of runners par excellence across the state filed application forms and realized the quote: Here is a new dimension of running.
"We all chose the Bowerman Track Club. We did not get recruited," said Colleen Quigley, a club member.
"The appeal seems to have come from a growing awareness that BTC was a place to evolve as a runner, even if it occasionally broke you. When you can't finish a Jerry workout, you're still doing way better than any workout you've ever done before joining the group."
The participants or those under BTC must conform to professional runners' routines. They have to undergo drills at Nike World Headquarters daily, and the club is in charge of monitoring the participants on how to stay in shape with a customized diet for different stages. They will be best monitored and provided with equipment on the condition that they are determined to deserve it.
"Here I am. I've done what I've done, and I want to take that next step and find out if I can be even better," Colleen clarified what BTC means to her. "I believe that means training with you and your group… Let me know if you want me, too.
"Jerry responded with something along the lines of, 'Sure, come on over."
Potential BTC (Bowerman Track Club) runners must dedicate themselves to vigorous training sessions. It is required that they run in the mornings, do weight training regularly, do extra running before mealtimes, and go to bed early. It is not a mandatory toll, indeed. If a runner can't stand the strenuous regimen, they are allowed to leave the program. Even so, many BTC runners are willing to comply with the regime and never give up. As a result, their stamina is more unbelievable than they expected.
"Trying to nail Jerry's seemingly impossible sessions is a daily struggle," Colleen wrapped up her experience at BTC. "Jerry isn't one to hold your hand or give you much reassurance after your embarrassment on the track either, but your teammates definitely will."
If you think you are fast enough, don't consider joining BTC. But if you believe you have hidden talent, Jerry Schumacher will unveil it.
BTC has gained global recognition thanks to Jerry Schumacher's elite and professional runners' supervision. This is evidenced by Mohammed Ahmed kicking his way to gold medal glory in a 10,000 meter title in the 2015 Pan American Games and his bronze medal in 5,000 meters in the 2019 World Athletics Championships.
There is also Matthew Centrowitz's gold-winning in 1,500-m in the 2016 Olympic Games, Emily Infeld finishing third in 10,000 meters in the 2015 World Athletics Championships.
All mentioned above are runners who have their skills cultivated most effectively during their time at BTC.
The icing on the cake is Kieran Tuntivate, the latest BTC member, who made great strides in his career, setting a new national record, finishing with a lap of 29 minutes and 47 seconds in a 10-km road racing event in the 2022 BANGSAEN10.
The record was only a second faster than the former champion, Nattawut Innum. But it doesn't matter. What matters is Kieran managed to break a record.
Surrounded by competitive runners and highly experienced coaches, he might earn Thailand the first gold medal in track and field sport over time.
Sources:
https://www.outsideonline.com/2389371/bowerman-track-club-nations-best-running-team
https://www.bowermantc.com/pro/
https://tempojournal.com/article/get-to-know-the-bowerman-babes/index.html
https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2019/07/another-chapter-in-the-amazing-life-story-of-the-bowerman-track-clubs-lopez-lomong-oregon-track-field-rundown.html
https://www.fastrunning.com/opinion/comment/not-all-miles-were-created-equal/29722
https://www.supersports.co.th/beliefs-nike/
