Steve Monaghetti is still running and racing seriously at age 55. In July he ran 15 km in 49:27 to set a WR in the 55-59 age group. I interviewed Steve nine years ago after his age group WR at 10 km. The interview appeared on Pete Magill's now defunct website. We decided it was time for an update. Here it is
IT HAS BEEN ABOUT NINE YEARS SINCE WE DID THE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW AND THE OCCASION WAS YOUR AGE GROUP RECORD FOR THE ROAD 10 KM IN THE 45-49 AGE GROUP. ONE THING I RECALL FROM THAT INTERVIEW WAS THAT YOU SAID YOU'D HOPED TO KEEP RUNNING AND RACING FOR AS LONG AS YOU COULD. THIS IS THE FIRST RESULT I'VE SEEN FROM YOU SINCE THEN. HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING AND RACING CONTINUOUSLY SINCE THEN OR DRIFTED AWAY AND NOW COME BACK? IF THE FORMER, THAT YOU'VE BEEN RUNNING, HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER RACE RESULTS? IF NOT, WHAT BROUGHT YOU BACK?
Have been continually running and achieving some good results but just hasn’t been publicised that much. I don’t actually run Masters events rather I do State events or Fun Runs around Australia in the open section and just accept the age group awards when I win them. I love running, always have so I am enjoying continuing to do it at a high level but I am not going to put pressure on my body after it has been running for 42 years.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY SORTS OF PHYSICAL PROBLEMS IN THESE NINE YEARS?
I have had some calf tears over the last couple of years so that has sat me on my bum a bit. I actually managed sore Achilles for over 10 years and finally had procedures on both which slowed me down a bit in 2012 & 2015 and may contribute to my calf issues. Not complaining though!!
THE ONLY MENTION OF THIS LAST RACE I'VE SEEN HAS BEEN THE TIME. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS TRACK RACE BUT I CAN'T TELL FOR SURE. HOW DID IT COME ABOUT AND DID YOU GO INTO IT PLANNING TO GET THE RECORD?
It was the Athletics Victoria 15km Road Race here in my hometown of Ballarat and I think I was 41st overall in the event. I actually broke the record a couple of years ago but the organisers got the distance wrong (it was almost 16km) and I couldn’t claim it then I had a niggle last year and didn’t run. I often check the single age road records as they provide a nice challenge for me to aim at. I haven’t raced on the track except for a few local club events in a number of years (a bit boring & serious for me nowadays).
HAS YOUR TRAINING CHANGED SINCE OUR LAST INTERVIEW? AT THE TIME IT WAS ABOUT 100 KPW, MOSTLY ONCE A DAY, ONE SESSION PER WEEK AND A LONG RUN OF USUALLY 90 MINUTES BUT SOMETIMES UP TO TWO HOURS.
My training is similar but less just due to other commitments and my body’s ability to handle the workload. I average about 80km a week (I have done a couple of 100s & a 90 in the last couple of months), once a day, usually at least one session a week and I still do the 90min Sunday long run but I struggle to get beyond the 20km now (I did 25 three weeks ago and it felt like a marathon!). There is still a really strong training group here in Ballarat that I run with most days but I struggle to keep up with them in sessions & long runs (they just patronise such an old man). They are international/national/state & club level athletes ranging from 25 – 35 so it is challenging for me but it keeps me young. I remember when I was just beginning I was running with really old people who where in their late 30s so I look at myself and wonder what they are thinking. I am actually the age of their parents predominantly.
YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T THINK IN TERMS OF AGE GROUP RUNNING IN THE LAST INTERVIEW BECAUSE IT REMINDED YOU OF YOUR AGE. IS THAT STILL THE CASE? DO YOU STILL WORK OUT WITH YOUNGER GUYS?
No difference except I used to still be up front of the group on long runs and mid pack in sessions but now I am off the back or dropped and limited in how many reps I might do with them if at all. It is about managing my body now. I have also incorporated some weight work & glute activation just to try to get my calves & hamstrings stronger & more resilient.
YOU WERE COACHING OR MENTORING SOME YOUNGER RUNNERS . ARE YOU STILL DOING THAT AND IF SO ARE ANY OF THEM DOING ANYTHING NOTEWORTHY?
I talk to a lot of distance athletes, some I coach, some I advise, some I just run with and listen; as I travel a lot it is difficult to be consistent enough to really coach anyone so I do a lot via email now. Most of my athletes are older now and I have had some success with age titles, trail & ultra-results but I would like to think I am still influencing a lot of people esp here in Ballarat like Julian Spence who is running the Marathon at the Worlds in Doha in October.
YOU'D BEEN DOING PR WORK LAST TIME. ARE YOU STILL DOING THAT? ANY OTHER CHANGES IN WHAT YOU DO OUTSIDE OF RUNNING? DO YOU STILL HAVE ANY SORT OF ARRANGEMENT WITH NIKE?
Still associated with Nike being in my 33rd year with them & it is a match made in heaven – I wore the Next % in the Race last week and I just laced them up & they did the rest!
I am Deputy Chair of Sport Australia, Board Member of Commonwealth Games Australia and Vice President of the Victorian Olympic Council so I am very involved in Australian Sport especially at the high performance level.
HOW CLOSELY DO YOU FOLLOW THE SPORT NOW? ARE THERE ANY AUSSIES YOU'RE REALLY HIGH ON? AND DO ALL THE DRUG BUSTS COMING FROM KENYA SURPRISE YOU?
Follow it very closely, social media is great!! Our female distance runners are exceptional Sinead Diver, Lisa Weightman, Ellie Pashley, Jess Trengove, Jessica Hull & our men are emerging again with Stewie McSweyn (who went to secondary school here in Ballarat), Jack Rayner, Brett Robinson, Harry Summers, Pat Tiernan, Morgan McDonald making for exciting times ahead…bring on Tokyo but certainly bring on Birmingham in 2022 (and World XC in Bathurst in 2021).
Kenya has surprised me as they are so naturally talented but where there is money & fame there is temptation.
ARE YOU STILL DRIVING THE SAME MERCEDES YOU'D JUST GOTTEN LAST TIME?
Don’t need a car as I run so much! No, I have had a couple of cars since as I am travelling so much that I am changing them over quicker than I used to.
WHAT'S COME OF YOUR FAMILY IN THE INTERVENING YEARS?
Tanya & myself are still living in Ballarat in the same house and we have 2 children in Melbourne (one working, one at Uni studying) and two here at home with us (one working & one studying, it’s her 16th birthday today in fact) so life is pretty busy still. Our 18 yo son is running a bit and ran just over 10mins for 3km and just under 35mins for 10km and I run with him occasionally which is an absolute delight.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON?
I have been retired for 19 years now so it is terrific to have stayed involved in running and sport more generally and to have the little surprises like the race result a couple of weeks ago is just a bonus. Sport is such a powerful medium and I love using it for the betterment of the people and communities I come in contact with.