Donald Franklin KARDONG

Competing for Stanford and Club Northwest, Don Kardong finished third in the AAU meet in the 5K in 1974, and was fourth in the 1970 NCAA 5K. In addition to the 1976 Olympics he competed in the 1976 International Cross-Country, finishing 37th. Kardong raced the marathon at the 1976 Olympics and became a popular runner on the marathon circuits during the running boom of the 1970s. His biggest win was the 1978 Honolulu Marathon.

Kardong graduated from Stanford in 1971 and taught elementary school in Spokane, Washington from 1974-77. From 1977-86 he owned a running store in Spokane, and in 1977 he founded the Lilac Bloomsday Run. Kardong became a writer and author, serving as a writer and editor for both Runner’s World and The Runner. He became president of the Road Runners Club of America from 1996-2000, later served as executive director of the Children’s Museum of Spokane from 2002-04, and also continued to direct the Lilac Bloomsday Run.

Personal Bests: Mile – 4:01.9 (1974); 2 miles – 8:32.8i (1972); 5000 – 13:35.0 (1976); 10000 – 28:56.2 (1975); Mar – 2-11:16 (1976).