Jack Picciolo Hall of Fame Member Lockport

My running career began in 1978, when I weighed in at 195 pounds and decided to lose weight by running and not dieting. I began to trot around at Argonne Laboratory during my lunch break. My first race was the Lockport 10K in 1978 and that hooked me on running. I was never a good runner but ran for the "runners high" and not the times.

As in what year I became a member of Prairie State probably in the early ′80′s. I have seen Gary Moss, Janet Velemir (Brown), Laurie and Dan Keenan, Keith Theisen, Jeff Lindstrom, Mary Jones and Dave Cyplick lead the club at various times. I volunteered at most of the races run by the club, served on the board, worked on the Newsletter for years, served as Secretary, and then Treasurer. I followed Lance Bovard as Race Director of the Armed Forces 10 Miler, which now exists as the Pilcher Park 5K. I also followed Jim Hubbell as director of the Camp Shaw- Wa-Na-See 8K Cross Country Race. My volunteering included most of the Pilcher Park Turkey Trots, and almost every National Heritage Corridor 25k. I also helped measure various local race courses for certification.

In 1991, I broke the tibia and fibula in my right leg at the Siberian Express in Danville, which resulted in having a plate installed in my leg. I was advised to end my running career or I would be revisiting my surgeon in around 10 years for a new hip. I disregarded his advice and returned to running. In 2001 I had my right hip replaced as predicted. I am now a walker but still have hopes of returning to running in the near future.

I always preferred off road and trail running to road races and ran in most trail runs in the area or nearby states. One of the highlights of my year would be the River to River in April. I do miss the Canal Cats.

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