What’s good for ex-GMer Alan Smith is good for masters track
Alan Smith
Here’s the story, in case the link goes South:
INDIALANTIC — Alan Smith doesn’t like to trumpet his achievements.
In the course of conversation, he admits affection for Florida Institute of Technology but says nothing about his place on its Board of Trustees.
It takes some prompting to get him to mention what he did before he retired and moved to the Space Coast, which was — not in his words — to have been a titan in American business. He is, among other things, the former executive vice president and chief financial officer of General Motors, famed equally for his candor and his acumen.
Instead, he puts things in simple perspective: “I’m a runner.”
Indeed he is, an 80-year-old latecomer to the track who takes it seriously enough to work out with FIT Assistant Athletic Director and track and cross country coach Pete Mazzone, as well as to have joined Space Coast Runners. And who is good enough to have won the 400-meter dash at the 2011 Florida International Senior Games and State Championships in Polk County in December.
He also placed third in the 200- and fourth in the 100-meter dashes at the games, all in the 80-84-year-old division.
“I only started road running when I moved to Florida after I retired,” he says. “From 1997 to 2000, I ran road races (such as marathons) … I ran my first marathon when I was 70 years old. It was my first and my last.”
He explains that a friend “convinced me to get off the road and on to the track. It was a wise move. The track is much kinder to the legs. … I’m still a member of Space Coast Runners, but I don’t run many of their things because I run much shorter races now.”Those shorter races are United States Track and Field masters’ events, such as the USA Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships, in which Smith has participated for several years. At that meet last March in Albuquerque, N.M., he placed first in the 3,000 meters, second in the mile, third in the 800 meters, seventh in the 400 meters and helped his team to victory in the 4×800-meter relay, all in the 75-to-80 division.
At this year’s USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships, in July at Berea, Ohio, he was even better: second in the 400, 800 and 1,500 meters.
“That was my most recent (meet) before the Senior Games,” he says. “I had a really good meet there.”
He will compete in the national masters’ meets again, this time in March at Indiana University (indoor) in Bloomington; and in August at Benedictine University in Illinois.
As for the Senior Games, Smith is modest once more: “My time was a little better than the field.” He finished in 1 minute, 43.22 seconds, more than four seconds faster than his nearest competitor.
Smith, who basically divided his years at GM between Detroit and New York, chuckles at the memory of being among the first employees to have moved into the company’s famed 50-story, city-block-sized headquarters on Fifth Avenue when it opened in 1968. He says he still “loves seeing a Chevy bouncing around,” though he has been retired from the company since 1992.
His affection for Indialantic and the Florida lifestyle is patent as well. “After I retired, we (he and wife Sharon) moved down here and built a house,” he says. “I love it. I was at the track this morning and the weather was perfect. Everything is perfect for me her
But living in paradise hasn’t dulled a passion for improvement within Smith and his mentor, Mazzone.
“I work with Pete three times a week at Melbourne Central Catholic High School’s track, and what a great track that is,” he says, adding that the sessions make him “faster and stronger, including a new start.
“I used to start as if I were standing around and Pete’s helping me there,” he says. “I haven’t done blocks yet, but Pete says he can find me one block for my back foot, so that should help. That’s fine, because I like training. I like to sweat.”
He laughs when asked what he would tell a non-runner of a certain age who might be interested in stepping up the pace.
“I’d say what I say to anyone who doesn’t run: ‘Do you walk?’ One day when you feel a little spry, break into a run. Be a kid again for half a minute.
“The rest will all come to you.”
5 Responses
Alan fooled me as well. I thought he was just a “regular guy,” not a former titan with General Motors. Always very friendly, and I have enjoyed announcing him over the years.
When I announce him I say Alan Smith of Indialantic, Florida, because it sounds so much like “In the Atlantic” (well, I find it amusing).
He and his wife have been very cordial to me over the many years that I have announced Alan, but now I know that he used to be a bigshot in the corporate world. You would never guess it.
Unfortunately a man with his experience could never work with the pettiness and self serving agendas that breeds in the inner workings of USATF. It would sure be great if he could get past that though!
I’ve had the pleasure to run with and against Alan
Smith in the USATF Nationals, 800 M and the 1500 M, a few years ago. He is a nice guy and a “runner”.
Give the man a break, leave him alone. Most of us use this sport as an outlet. If you abuse his right to his own joy you may yet push another good athlete out of this passion…
Bubba–
Because there were no self-serving agendas or pettiness in the inner workings of the former incarnation of GM.
I agree with Chip that he should be left alone. He should be left to freely determine his level of involvement, without interference or influence.
And if among your achievements were those typical of such a corporate officer, you wouldn’t want to trumpet them, either; you would want to bury them sufficiently deeply that nobody can get a really good look.
Do Alan a favor and leave him alone.
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