The following conversation you are about to read is true. It may be hard to believe, but I can bear witness Colonel (Ret) Fred Schumacher is a regular guy who has accomplished an amazing feat. To fully appreciate this, do a search before you start to read on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Boonsboro, Maryland. The landscape will set the stage for you. 

On January 28, 2023, Fred was inducted into the Alvin G. Quinn Sports Hall of Fame in Frederick, Maryland. Fred’s running philosophy is as follows:

 “I do not agonize what place I come in or who is in front me a race. I try to do my best in every race. If it happens, I win first in an age group, that is fine. If I follow a 10-year-old child across the finish line, that is fine too. You can prepare yourself for the event with all sorts of training, but you never know what the day will bring either weather wise or injury wise.”

In retrospect, Fred stated, “the JFK was more difficult than Ranger and Airborne Schools.”

Colonel Fred Schumacher with his 37 Medals

It was both physical and mental toughness for Fred. As you read the interview below, a sense of commitment to completing a task will rise to the surface.

A lesson to take away from this post is not to attempt the JFK (unless it is on your list to do so), but just pursue your fitness goals.

I always like to believe that if you want something bad enough, you will do what it takes. The time for action is now and not later.

Relax and immerse yourself in the journey I took with Fred and his commitment to perseverance.

What is your response to “What is the JFK?”

 First, it is a race that has to be foremost, challenging, rewarding, but well worth the time and effort to train. Second, it is an icon of American Road Racing; it doesn’t have the longevity of the Comrades in South Africa, but has a storied tradition, through a section of American History. Third, truer in years past, a gathering of dedicated ultra-runners, where everybody knew each other.

Finally, a significant source for authors, The Longest Race by Ed Ayres, goes section by section describing not only the geography but also his emotions. The book Unfinished by Brian Burk uses the JFK as the backdrop for a runner’s tale.

What was your motivation for entering your first JFK?

I enjoyed running, but this was in the early years (1973 -1974) of the running boom, and there were very few races, and even those were not publicized very well. I scanned the finishers for the marathons in New Jersey and was discouraged, as the times showed under 3 hours. I did not realize this was just the top five. I did not realize there were people taking four or five hours.

But, in 1973, friends in Maryland sent me information about the JFK 50 miler, which had a 14-hour time limit, and they listed it as the JFK Hike Run. I had completed the 12-mile course for the Expert Infantry Badge in three hours, carrying a ruck and weapon, and figured I could hold 15 minutes a mile for 50 miles. 

That event, in1974, was something to behold. I believe it was the largest race in the US. My parents, living in Gettysburg, agreed to be my support and with the very simple course map and a map of Western Maryland, we were off.

It was a brutal day, rain in Boonsboro, sleet on the AT, rained just about the entire day. But my father could meet me at a few locations, to change clothes and shoes. PS at the time most everyone wore boots on the AT, then switched to Keds (For the younger readers, this was a brand of shoes) on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Well, 12 hours 30 minutes later, I crossed the finish line, one of only 235 who finished that day. 

JFK Overview: 

 In March 1974, I entered, ran and completed my first JFK 50 miler. It was my first race and quite an adventure. After receiving the finishers plaque, which showed I finished 135th out of 1355 starters, I knew I had to go back in 1975. With that I went back in 1975, finished 30 minutes faster, but in the lower third of the pack. For the next 46 years, the JFK 50 miler was my training focus.

Coming from nine  different locations, from a variety of situations, weather, I was at the starting line in Boonsboro the Saturday before Thanksgiving. 

The first five races went well, then in 1979, I had my first DNF, as I got dehydrated, did not realize it and dropped out at mile 38, after it took me 30 minutes to go one mile. From 1980 through 2001, had an unbroken streak of finishes.

Then in 2002, when the race went to a dual start,5 AM and 7 AM. I opted for the 7AM start and missed the time cut off at mile 42, as Guy Whidden, WWII veteran of the 101st ABN Division, informed me I was 15 minutes past the cutoff for the 7AM start. 

In future years I went with the 5 AM start. Finally, in 2020, year of COVID, I trained like never, running 200 miles a month, ran hills, sprints, long runs, all the right stuff. I missed the time cut off at mile 18 by five minutes. With the best training, the best weather, full daylight, and I could not make the cutoff, I realized it was time to say goodbye to the JFK.  

I thought I was making good time on the AT but kept thinking I do not want to see the ER of Meritus Hospital again.   

How did you manage family, work, and training?

I could get by with minimalist training. There were a lot of years when my long run was 10 miles. I think preparing for the Army PT test really helped with overall fitness. Also, with all the different locations, joined a health/fitness club or used the one on post.

Knowing that I could finish with 10-mile training runs took a lot of stress out of the workout. BUT, having said that my slowest times always followed a Permanent Change of station. My best time was in 1984, living in Atlanta GA, finishing in 9 hours 57 minutes. The key to that was there were a LOT of 10K races, and I would run one on Saturday and another on Sunday.  

Describe your years of service with the military?

Commissioned in 1969 from Gettysburg ROTC, served in Germany till 1972. I resigned my RA commission, maintaining membership in the Army Reserve. In 1982, went on a two-week Reserve assignment at Fort Benning, Georgia, then in 1983 with the 82nd Airborne Division.

In 1984, was assigned to Forces Command, Atlanta Georgia. Selected for Command and General Staff College 1985-1986, In 1986 accepted into the Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) Program, assignments were Penn State, Army ROTC, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, assigned as the Inspector General, to the 98th Training Division, Rochester NY. Then to the Full Time Support Manpower Center in St Louis, Missouri. 

I was selected for promotion to colonel, assigned to the US Army Physical Disability Agency, Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I retired but accepted a Retiree Recall for three years working for the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency. Upon my final military retirement, served as Department of Army Civilian for 10 years with the same organization. I had another FINAL retirement in January 2015.

What is your advice to the novice runner who will do the JFK for the first time?

• For the runner doing the JFK for the first time, a few words of advice. One, know the course, study the YouTube videos, know the three sections, and, if possible, drive the last eight miles so you know what to expect.
• You will train your legs, but do not neglect core and upper body workouts. The JFK will challenge every part of your body. Don’t neglect over all fitness trying to build running endurance.
• Train in all kinds of weather. On a training run, ask yourself if the JFK was today would I run it? If the answer is yes, then start the training run. This will give you confidence in your gear and your ability to overcome the elements. Don’t worry about running on the perfect day, train for the worst weather. 

What are your closing thoughts?

The JFK gave my training a focus for 40+ years. Changing jobs, locations, family situations, I knew that on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, I would be at the starting line in Boonsboro. 

I made a lot of friends at the JFK and am grateful for all the experiences this race has given me. The richness of the event, the challenge of the race, the significant support from family and friends are to be cherished.  

*You can listen to Fred’s account of the experience and the honor of his induction into the Hall of Fame. The link : 2023 Alvin G. Quinn Sports Hall of Fame: Fred Schumacher – YouTube

For more inspiring interviews, Visit Expert George Banker on the M:M website.