Run For You Leadership

Joe Schlereth

Many years ago, a good friend gave Joe a running shirt with the saying on the front: “Joe lives for running”.  While that may be stretching it a bit, there is no question Joe loves running! He loves running itself, talking about running, and most of all helping others catch the passion for running – that passion that provided him with so many benefits over the past 40 years.

His adult running career started innocently enough with a United Way Corporate Cup 5K here in Charlotte in 1982.  Like many beginner runners, that first 5K was hard and was not the best of runs.  Yet, the spirit, camaraderie, and competition of that race triggered a passion that would drive Joe to cover over 240,000 logged miles of training and racing since that first 5K.  He has raced just about every distance from 1 mile to 5Ks to marathons to ultramarathons (50Ks, 50 miles, 100 miles, 24 hour, and multiday races).  The longer the distance, the better! Yes, Joe loves running.

Over the years, Joe has informally coached many runners. Fifteen years ago, Joe was asked to coach distance running at Piper Glen, an opportunity that was just what he was looking for. Joe is an RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) Certified Distance Running Coach.  The joy of seeing runners achieve their running dreams is what now keeps Joe’s passion for running alive and burning.  This year, Joe is a driving force behind the Run For You running programs.  He certainly knows how to Run Far, but more importantly to pass on that knowledge and passion to others.  Joe loves running…just ask him!