by Dave Friant
They met in early 2021. Two houseboat owners on the shores of Lake Texoma’s Flowing Wells Resort near Pottsboro, Texas. The acquaintanceship was rather immediate based on their proximity to one another as neighbors and upon realizing their common interest of long-distance running. Who would have thunk it? A pair of pavement pounders whose commonalities has served as the basis for an enduring friendship.
Scott Keenen is a 65-year-old retiree who off and on for most of his post-college adult life has been a running enthusiast/keep in shape guy. The efforts had included mostly shorter distance scurries; undertakings exercised (yes, pun intended) primarily as a weight-controlling mechanism where health and assorted additional plusses overrode the accompanying grind of the activity.
A variety of competition lengths had been completed over the years before he was challenged by his middle son, Daniel, to compete in a marathon. That’s correct. 26.2 miles of sheer gut-wrenching determination taking as much time as half a workday for newbies.
Seeing it as a test physically and mentally, he checked enough “Let’s do this” boxes and agreed to compete. Keenen choose the December 2014 Hawaii Marathon as the jog on steroids. It was his first and he did so at the age of 55 with four other participating family members. Keenen recalled the weather as being cold, rainy, and windy. His finishing time was approximately 5 & ½ hours.
The “I made it” sense of accomplishment was blemished somewhat as a result of hip damage sustained from the marathon and prior runnings. Keenen sought medical opinions from four orthopedic surgeons before going under the knife for a replaced right hip. The successful surgery took place in April 2017.
He has competed in several running events of endurance since that time with the last being the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2024. He qualified for it in June 2023 at the Cascades Super Marathon near Seattle. His time of 3:57:07 was eight minutes within the allowable limit for 65-year-olds. Keenen was given the nickname of “Magnum Force” by his houseboat neighbor and friend based on pistol-toting Dirty Harry in the movie by the same name. The Boston Marathon was the last extended run in which Keenen intends to run. He cites “too much training and too much wear on his body” as the principal reasons to discontinue marathoning. He plans to in some shorter competitions, travel more, and experience other aspects of life with his family.
Alan Lierz is the other half of this running buddy duo. He resides for the majority of times these days in the houseboat he owns four doors away from Keenen. Lierz is 63 years of age, has been married 41 years, and is the proud father of 3 children and grandfather of 10 grandchildren. He is employed as a bank CEO in Kansas, but plans to retire in late 2026.
Lierz has been a moderate and long-distance runner for several years. He tipped the scales at 300 prior to meeting Keenen, but proceeded to lose approximately 100 pounds in conjunction with becoming a carnivore. His diet consists of meat and eggs consumption with an abundance of water thrown in. Being strict with what he eats while combining his efforts with prayer remain as the essential ingredients for his sustained fitness. Lierz views the weight loss as a “God-provided freedom and privilege” he was given. “It’s a matter of what I’m going to do with that freedom. I want to be an inspiration to my family,” says Lierz.
Marathons have been Lierz’s primary tests of running endurance. The 2024 Boston Marathon was his 13th and will be his last lengthy competitive run. In addition to enjoying the activities of his grandchildren, Lierz plans on pursuing his interests in sprinting, weight-lifting, and catching stripers while sitting on his front porch.
Preparation for long-distance running is crucial. Upwards of 35-50 miles per week, primarily in the mornings, are undertaken to fine-tune fitness and durability. Lierz estimates that he has worn out 15 pairs of shoes after jogging with a purpose in mind during his career. He states that in addition to the painfulness physically, “runners must train their minds to get thru it.” Defeating the foes of doubt and exhaustion is a major part of the task.
The 128th running of the Boston Marathon was held in optimal conditions. Low 70’s and sunny with a slight breeze. Close to 30,000 qualified entrants from 118 countries began the race at various times throughout the morning. The number who were initially deemed eligible to compete had to be trimmed by over 10,000 to make this year’s running manageable. The qualifying times were reduced by over 5 minutes to satisfy the concern. Keenen and Lierz both still made the cut.
Included were male and female entrants of all ages in varied levels of fitness; most determined to make good on goals set related to time and some content to carve out a legacy for themselves and/or loved ones by simply finishing. Wheelchair competitors (49) and professional marathoners (approximately 25) began the race at the front due to their advanced pace. Over $1M was available to winners in various categories within the pro ranks. The top finisher this year was awarded $150,000. Entry fee for competitors was $350.
Lierz and Keenen began their lengthy test of endurance at 10:50 am; side-by-side in one of four groups (waves) consisting of several thousand runners who had similar qualifying times. They ran together for all but the last mile or so, finishing within 90 or so seconds of one another in the neighborhood of 4 hours and 39 minutes. In addition to the sense of accomplishment of completing the event, both received a t-shirt and a medal.
The race began at Hopkinton and continued for the day through seven communities of on-lookers who made their cheering presence known. Family and friends were present and also provided vocal support for both Keenen and Lierz at various locations. The two ran without headphones or other listening devices. “We simply supported one another,” says Keenen. Lierz indicates that he “prayed and thanked the Lord during the race for good health and the ability to run long distances.”
Keenen references a mental toughness necessary to continue at some portion(s) of the race. He notes, “You’ve got to continue. There comes a time when a choice has to be made. It’s easiest to stop.” Lierz continues the thought of “hitting the wall” as very real; a time when heat, doubt, and dehydration settle in on competitors. He continues, “You have to hydrate, slow down, and regain in your mind the commitment to carry on.” Lierz drank 18 bottles of water during the race. Keenen consumed a variety of energy gels, electrolytes, and supplements for energy and sustainability.
Two men on the tail-end of middle-age brought together as neighbors and having a common interest of long-distance running. Establishment of a friendship that goes beyond lacing up the shoes and enjoying a good run. Shared values and a commitment to encourage one another during trials on the trails in their lives.
Sounds like a course of action we can all use as we “hit the wall” during some portions of our lifetimes.
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