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"Running Abe"

"Fastest Abe in the West"

Most of the time when I am portraying Abraham Lincoln, I strive to be as much like the real Mr. Lincoln as possible.  My "Running Abe" appearances are obviously an exception!  (Another exception is when I do programs in Spanish, French, or German.)

My first time to run dressed as Abe was the 2002 edition of the Capital Challenge in Washington, DC, an invitation-only three-mile race for Federal employees, members of Congress, etc.  At the time I was working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional office in Philadelphia, and so I ran on an EPA team.  I finished in 17:04, which isn't too bad considering the stovepipe hat.  Two years before I had run 16:33 dressed in more typical running gear, so perhaps the hat slows me down by about 10 seconds per mile.

In the fall of 2015, I decided to bring "Running Abe" back to life, and since that time I have participated in several 5K races.  In some cases I was just a "Running Abe", while in others I was both a regular Mr. Lincoln (interacting with the runners, handing out awards, etc.) as well as a "Running Abe".  In some of these races I have placed among the top three overall, and in every case I have finished first in Abe's age group (200+), so I think I can lay claim to the title of "Fastest Abe in the West" (that would be the "West" of Abe's day: everything west of the Appalachian Mountains).

My "Running Abe" outfit varies depending on the weather, as can be seen in the photos.  In warm weather, I wear a tuxedo-style t-shirt and black shorts; in cooler weather, my outfit more closely resembles Mr. Lincoln's traditional clothing, except for the modern running shoes.

I have mostly done 5K races, but also one 10K and one triathlon!

If you would be interested in having "Running Abe" at your own event, please contact me!  Remember that in addition to participating, I can also be a "regular" Mr. Lincoln, interacting with the runners, starting the runners, handing out awards, etc.

Fees:

• A "regular" Mr. Lincoln: See fee schedule on main Programs page.

• "Running Abe": If it's a race which I plan to run in anyway, I'll pay my own way.  Otherwise, my fee is negotiable.

Next race:

July 29: Iron Abe Olympic Triathlon (Springfield, IL)