For forty years, Herm Atkins has held the distinction of being the fastest native-born black American at the marathon distance. 2:11:52.

But that’s not why he is an Original Gangster. We were at Bloomsday, visiting our friend OG Don Kardong. The field was scary loaded. I asked Herm how he felt he’d do. Have to paraphrase ’cause I am old now, but he said something like – without hesitation – well, Jack, I’m gonna win.

Must admit I expressed surprise. Say what you will, but I was something of an astute observer of the sport. After all, these guys had been beating me like a two-assed mule for years. Have you seen the entry list? I asked him.

He didn’t miss a beat. “If you don’t think you are good enough to win, why bother showing up?”

Herm Atkins always showed up. And I always admired that about him.

When did you start running and why?

I tried out for football in 10^th grade in Seattle as a 113-pound running back, and I didn’t last very long. I was then directed into running by the high school gym teacher where I discovered I had some talent, and I blossomed into a very good distance runner in my senior year. I enjoyed it, and it gave me a great deal of confidence.

Toughest opponent and why?

As I got into elite running, all the opponents were tough. I found that the late Steve Prefontaine was the most intimidating. But I sought out the competition because I knew it would bring out the best in me.

Most memorable run and why?

I think the most memorable race was when I won the state cross-country championships race in high school and continued to improve. I say that because it opened the door for me to continue my education after high school and improve my running skills at the collegiate level.

Biggest disappointment and why?

Missing the 1980 Olympic Marathon trials due to a stress fracture. I had trained very hard and prepared for that race and I was looking forward to winning a position on the marathon team. The stress fracture was due to increasing my training to 140 miles a week. As I look back on it, my best performances were when I maintained 75 quality miles a week.

What would you do differently if you could do it again?  Why?

After college I basically coached myself. I think if I had to do it again I would get input from someone else who could evaluate my progress. I also probably would have started running marathons at a lot younger age. My first marathon was at age 27. I think I would also have remained a track athlete. After the 1976 trials, I dropped track & field and got into road racing.

What was your highest weekly mileage?  Why? 

In early 1980 I got up to 140 miles a week, thinking it would improve my performance.  I was wrong. I ended up with a stress fracture and missed the marathon trials later that year.

What about the occasion(s) when you had to run down a perp??  

On one that was a shoplift, I ran after the guy. I got up behind him and said, “You want to keep running? I could do this all day.”  He just stopped. The goal was not to catch the bad guy too soon.  Let him or her tire out, so you would not have to fight them. Most bad guys are not in great shape. A short run would take the fight right out of them.

Favorite philosopher?  Quote?

If we go by quotes, I guess I would say President Teddy Roosevelt.

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure … than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

You can probably guess who holds the Everett, Washington, Police Department’s record for the 1.5 mile fitness test. 7:07. The fastest native-born black American cop.What about the occasion(s) when you may have had to run down a perp??

On one that was a shoplift, I ran after the guy. I got up behind him and said, “You want to keep running? I could do this all day.”  He just stopped. The goal was not to catch the bad guy too soon.  Let him or her tire out, so you would not have to fight them. Most bad guys are not in great shape, so a short run would take the fight out of them.

Special song of the era?

“On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson.

Favorite comedian?

Redd Foxx.

What was your ‘best stretch of running’?

I think between 1975 to 1979. In 1979 I placed 2^nd in San Blas Half Marathon behind Miruts Yifter of Ethiopia. I later ran Boston and placed 9^th, and I ran a very good marathon at Nike OTC at 2:11:52.

And so why do you think you hit that level at that time?

I was training with a group of guys at University of Washington who complimented each other.

Of course, just living in the northwest where many great distance runners come from … Gerry Lindgren, Steve Prefontaine, Doris Brown Heritage, Don Kardong … to name a few.

Original Gangsters Of Running all.

2019 National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame Honoree

Herman Atkins (Everett, WA)

• Placed 5^th at Nike/Oregon Track Club Marathon in a time of 2:11:52 on September 9, 1979. The fastest marathon by a native-born Black American.
• One mile best of 4:04.
• my PR for a 2-mile was 8:40 and a 400-meter best of 49 seconds.
• 1973 – 5,000 meters 13:43.
• 1977 – First marathon 2:18.
• 1977 – Second place Honolulu Marathon 2:20:54.
• 1979 – Ninth place Boston Marathon 2:14:27.
• 1980 – Nike/OTC Marathon 2:15:09.
• 1981 – Houston Marathon 2:17:22.
• 1984 – Men’s Olympic Marathon Trials 2:19;45.
• 1993 – Led Snohomish Track Club to a National Masters Cross-Country 10K Championship. Herm clocked 32:28.

Personal bests

Type	Distance	Time	Flags	Site	Date	Actions
RD	10 km	29:29.8	Everett WA/USA	23 Sep 1979
RD	15 km	45:40	Portland OR/USA	24 Jun 1979
RD	20 km	1:06:19	Snohomish WA/USA	19 Mar 1972
RD	Half Mara	1:05:51	Coamo PUR	04 Feb 1979
RD	Marathon	2:11:52	Eugene OR/USA	09 Sep 1979

Performances

Date	Finished	Time	Flags	Type	Distance	Site	Race	Prize money	Actions
03 May 1992	18	38:14	RD	12 km	Spokane WA/USA	Lilac Bloomsday Run	$600
17 Mar 1985	5	18:22	x	RD	4 mi	Seattle WA/USA	St Patrick’s Day
04 Jul 1984	2	24:48	RD	8.32 km	Sedro Woolley WA/USA	Great Sedro Woolley
26 May 1984	34	2:19:45	a	RD	Marathon	Buffalo NY/USA	US Olympic Trials
02 Oct 1983	3	2:17:16	RD	Marathon	Saint Paul MN/USA	Twin Cities	$6,250
18 Sep 1983	2	31:39	RD	10 km	Seattle WA/USA	Terry Fox
04 Jul 1983	1	24:32	RD	8.53 km	Woolley WA/USA	Great Sedro Woolley
13 Dec 1981	23	2:28:36	RD	Marathon	Honolulu HI/USA	Honolulu
11 Oct 1981	21	2:24:37	RD	Marathon	Columbus OH/USA	Columbus
23 May 1981	4	2:16:25	RD	Marathon	Rotterdam NED	Rotterdam
08 Mar 1981	17	29:27	RD	9.656 km	Long Beach CA/USA	Long Beach Grand Prix
01 Mar 1981	8	2:15:13	RD	Marathon	Tokyo JPN	Tokyo
10 Jan 1981	6	2:17:22	RD	Marathon	Houston TX/USA	Houston
16 Nov 1980	35	2:32:59	RD	Marathon	Columbus OH/USA	Columbus
12 Oct 1980	1	29:37	RD	10 km	Seattle WA/USA	Saucony Share the Road
07 Sep 1980	9	2:15:09	RD	Marathon	Eugene OR/USA	Nike-OTC
29 Jun 1980	2	30:03	RD	10 km	Bellevue WA/USA	Summer Times
09 Mar 1980	1	30:17	RD	10 km	Sammamish WA/USA	Sammamish Valley
23 Sep 1979	1	29:29.8	RD	10 km	Everett WA/USA	Everett Mall
15 Sep 1979	8	32:22	RD	10 km	Hagerstown MD/USA	Catoctin Mountain
09 Sep 1979	5	2:11:52	RD	Marathon	Eugene OR/USA	Nike-OTC
26 Aug 1979	1	29:49	RD	10 km	Seattle WA/USA	Diet Pepsi
24 Jun 1979	8	45:40	RD	15 km	Portland OR/USA	Cascade Run-Off
02 Jun 1979	1	37:25	a	RD	12 km	Tacoma WA/USA	Sound to Narrows
12 May 1979	19	35:06	RD	11.265 km	Boulder CO/USA	Nike High Altitude Challenge
16 Apr 1979	9	2:14:28	a	RD	Marathon	Boston MA/USA	Boston
04 Feb 1979	2	1:05:51	RD	Half Mara	Coamo PUR	San Blas
27 Jan 1979	11	30:35	RD	10 km	Hamilton BER	Bermuda
10 Dec 1978	25	2:29:13	RD	Marathon	Honolulu HI/USA	Honolulu
11 Nov 1978	1	29:44	XC	10 km	Seattle WA/USA	PNA-AAU Crosscountry Championships
10 Sep 1978	6	2:15:23	RD	Marathon	Eugene OR/USA	Nike
11 Dec 1977	2	2:20:54.2	RD	Marathon	Honolulu HI/USA	Honolulu
11 Sep 1977	11	2:18:18	RD	Marathon	Eugene OR/USA	AAU Championships
19 Mar 1972	2	1:06:19	RD	20 km	Snohomish WA/USA	n/a
22 May 1971	1	27:37	XC	8.8 km	Bellingham WA/USA	n/a

First Day Of Black Running History Month