Bob Hammond
Triathlon and Run Coach
“Thanks Coach Bob for a fun summer at track this year. You’re work outs kept us engaged and your constant encouragement kept us motivated. Not to mention that we improved as runners. Looking forward to your indoor track sessions.” – Jim R.
Bob began distance running in 1972 as a freshman at Hinsdale Central High School. He was a member of the cross-country team with a personal best of 16:50 in the three-mile cross-country distance and a jumper (high, long and triple jump) on the track team. He also completed two marathons while attending high school.
After high school, Bob continued his running career on the cross-country team at Valparaiso University. As a freshman he finished with a personal best of 28:45 for the five mile race event. He was also a four-year letter winner on the Valpo track team as a long and triple jumper.
Bob took some time away from distance running after college to start his career as an Air Traffic Controller and start his family. He started running consistently again in June 1996 and completed his third marathon in Chicago in 1998. Since then, Bob has completed at least one marathon each year. He has finished 34 marathons in 17 states including a personal best of 3:27:34 in 2010.
Bob has run many of the great marathons including Boston, Chicago, New York, Marine Corps, Disney, and Phoenix. He has raced in the Boston Marathon five times and has done Grand Rapids six times.
Like many life-long runners, Bob found the world of triathlon and was immediately hooked. He has competed at every level of the sport, from Sprint to Ironman 140.6 distances.
Bob has extensive run coaching experience along with 10 years of youth soccer and baseball coaching. He is a USAT Level 1 Certified Coach with Experience Triathlon.
Bob’s coaching and teaching experience goes beyond sports. He is a certified flight instructor and has 30 years experience training new air traffic controllers.
