CASCADE, Iowa -- Phil Kauder began competitive running as a grade schooler in 1972. And, as most avid road racers will tell you, he still hasn't slowed down.
The 46-year-old with the endless supply of energy and enthusiasm for the sport will pause to reflect on his career on Saturday evening. The Iowa Association of Track Coaches will induct Kauder into its Hall of Fame during its annual banquet at the Gateway Hotel in Ames.
"He's a very unique individual," said his high school coach, Bob Davidshofer, who nominated Kauder for the Hall of Fame. "Most people I've worked with, when they reach a certain level, they feel the need to take a break. But he always wanted to keep going and going.
"I've never coached a runner as excited and energized by the sport as he was. Look at him now. He's in his 40s, and he hasn't lost any of his desire to compete. He's certainly deserving of this honor."
Kauder will be recognized for an impressive body of work that has spanned four decades.
As a freshman at Cascade Aquin, Kauder ran No. 3 on a state championship
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After a brief stint at Westmar College, Kauder landed at Loras College in Dubuque. He blossomed into a two-time All-American and still holds the school marathon record of 2:35.46. Loras inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2004.
In the years since he ran for the Duhawks, Kauder remained active in running and became one of the state's top road racers. He has also served as a respected coach and meet official.
"I've been so blessed, because I had so many great coaches when I was still in school, and I had a lot of great role models in running when I started in road racing," Kauder said. "I've always enjoyed competing, I've been fortunate enough to stay healthy, and my family has been very, very understanding.
"The road racing community is like family. It's a really neat social thing. It's been really neat, because I've made so many good friends through running."
Kauder learned a valuable lesson early in his career from Davidshofer, who recently completed his 43rd season as a cross country coach.
"Stopwatch don't lie," Kauder said. "There are a lot of talented runners out there who don't always push themselves. Maybe during a high school workout, they'll stop and hide and join their teammates on the way back. But they're only cheating themselves. Hard work pays off.
"In a lot of other sports, you can debate whether a kid should be in the starting lineup. Stats can be misleading. But running is a very objective sport, because it's all timed. It's a great individual sport, but there is a team aspect to it, too, and I always enjoyed that side of it."
Kauder showed his toughness -- both mentally and physically -- shortly after his father passed away in 1987. He won the Drake Relays Marathon and the Kansas City Prime Health Marathon that year.
Kauder remains highly competitive on the local Mississippi Valley Running Association circuit, even though the group has attracted several young college-trained athletes.
"Running really is a brutal sport," said Jim Braig, one of Kauder's mentors who stopped running after hip-replacement surgery. "It's a contact sport. Every time your foot hits the pavement, you're landing with a great amount of force, and that takes a toll on your body.
"Phil is a phenomenal athlete, because he's still so competitive after running for all these years. Every year at the Turkey Trot, I'm amazed that he is running right with these college kids who are still in great shape from their cross country seasons."
Braig marveled at Kauder's attention to detail and goal-setting ability. Early in his road racing career, Kauder logged the times of the area's strongest veteran runners and set a goal to beat their times when he reached their ages.
"I just really enjoy competing," Kauder said. "When I don't, well, that's when you'll see me retired. I guess I've just always set realistic goals, and I've been careful. I think I've been pretty smart about my training, too, and that's helped me stay relatively healthy throughout my career. Knock on wood."
That has led Kauder down the path to road racing fame in Iowa. But he still doesn't consider himself a Hall of Famer.
"It's such a select group, and it's so difficult to get in," Kauder said. "And, when you look at the list of great runners who aren't in there, it really humbles you. I think there are a ton of runners out there more deserving than me, and I sure hope they get in at some point in time."
Kauder has spent this week working on his acceptance speech. Davidshofer told him to keep it between 5 and 10 minutes.
"That's going to be tough, but I'll give it a shot," Kauder said. "There are so many people to thank, and I don't want to leave anybody out."
The evening will be even more special for the Kauder family. Phil's younger brother, Andy, coached Cedar Rapids Xavier to the Class 3A state cross country championship this fall and will receive his Coach of the Year plaque.
