About the Hansons

About the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project

“Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible.”

Spoken by artist and mathematician M.C. Escher, the quote above is one Keith and Kevin Hanson often repeat for inspiration. In 1999, the Hanson brothers founded the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project (ODP) with the goal of reviving American distance running – a mission many thought both absurd and impossible. Now with 13 men and four women competing in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials, they’re clearly achieving their dream.

Once powerful players in long distance running, American athletes grew noticeably scarce at the finish line by the close of the 20th century. When only one American qualified to compete in the men’s marathon at the 2000 Olympics, Keith and Kevin knew the time was ripe to restore U.S. running to its former glory. In 1999 they began to recruit post-collegiate runners nationwide, giving them the rare opportunity to live and run together in a supportive, training-focused environment founded on team principals – an unusual approach in the often solitary sport of running.

The peer pressure worked. Challenging each other on a daily basis, the Hansons runners have far exceeded expectations, hitting the national running scene with high-profile successes, including Brian Sell’s fourth-place finish at the 2006 Boston Marathon. With sights now set on the Olympics, the group is gearing up for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials where they’ll compete for a chance to represent their country in Beijing, and prove to the world that American distance running is truly making a comeback.

Athletes, Hometowns, and Marathon Personal Bests

Nick Arciniaga, Fountain View, CA* (PB 2:16:58)
Trent Briney, Colorado Springs, CO* (PB 2:12:34)
Bob Busquaert, Romeo, MI (PB 2:20:20)
Desiree Davila, San Diego, CA** (PB 2:44:56)
Yolanda Flamino, Ellington, CT** (PB 2:43:41)
Luke Humphrey, Sidney, MI* (PB 2:15:22)
Chad Johnson, Chetek, WI* (PB 2:15:03)
Dot McMahan, Hilbert, WI** (PB 2:43:27)
Mike Morgan, Lincoln, NE* (PB 2:15:11)
Patrick Moulton, Pelham, NH * (PB 2:15:35)

Michael Reneau, Hudson, WI* (PB 2:17:46)
Kyle O’Brien, Danville, IL* (PB 2:15:13)
Pat Rizzo, Schaumburg, IL* (PB 2:20:12)
Marty Rosendahl, Fridley, MN* (PB 2:17:05)
Brian Sell, Woodbury, PA* (PB 2:10:47)
Ryan Sheehan, Pittsburgh, PA (PB 1:04:25 half)
Todd Snyder, Ann Arbor, MI* (PB 2:21:00)
Clint Verran, Lake Orion, MI* (PB 2:14:12)
Melissa White, Naples, NY** (PB 2:39:21)

*Qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Men’s Marathon Trials set for November 3, 2007 in New York City.
**Qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Women’s Marathon Trials set for April 20, 2008 in Boston.

It Takes a Village

Kevin and Keith provide the runners—who live and train together in Rochester, Mich.—coaching, employment, housing, health care, and running gear. Support from Brooks Sports, Inc., the Bothell, Washington-based performance running company, enabled the Hansons-Brooks ODP to fulfill its goal of adding a competitive women’s program in 2003.

Making the Team

Athletes must meet stringent standards to qualify for the Hansons-Brooks ODP; requirements are 29:00/33:45 (m/w) for the 10k, 14:00/16:15 for the 5k, and 2:20/2:42 for the marathon. Although these standards serve as the basis for the selection process, other factors—such as which meets the athletes ran their qualifying times, the size of the college they attended, and their willingness to relocate to Rochester—are taken into consideration during the selection process.

For more on the Brooks-Hansons Olympic Distance Project, please visit http://hansons-running.com.