LOCAL RUNNING

As training coordinator for Valparaiso's Opportunity Enterprises Marathon team, George Nietert helps hundreds of local runners attempt to realize their dream of finishing the Chicago Marathon.

But Nietert, 55, hasn't stopped helping others since the hot Chicago race last Oct. 7.

Nietert is building a national reputation as a Pace Group Leader at various marathons. His job is to complete 26.2-mile races in certain set times, helping others meet their goal which usually involves running a Boston Marathon qualifying time.

He has run four marathons since Chicago, two as a pacer and one with the intention of helping his son reach a time goal.

Nietert paces groups in the 3:40 to 3:50 range, and has been very consistent in nailing the right time.

"It's a slower pace than I usually run," Nietert said. "You don't have to worry about yourself, you're worried about the other people because I'm at a pace that I'm comfortable achieving. So you can concentrate your efforts on them."

Nietert just paced a 3:50 group in the St. Louis Marathon on April 6, and finished in 3:49:50.

On Monday, he's one of several local runners scheduled to compete in the 112th Boston Marathon.

Although he's not an official pacer, he's going to Boston with the intention of helping four local women - Betty Funkhouser (Portage), Jen Addison (Crown Point), Misty Chandos (Cedar Lake) and Tracy Nemtuda (Porter) - attempt to break 3:30.

Nietert, an eighth grade math teacher and former football coach, ran his first marathon with the OE team at Chicago in 1999. He's run Boston one other time (2002) and has a personal-best of 3:15:50 - remarkably a time he ran twice in back-to-back years (2000-01) at Chicago.

Boston will be his 19th marathon.

"To be out there knowing you had to qualify, and not everybody can run Boston, it's a neat feeling," Nietert said.

Nietert started pacing along with another local runner, Clark Gloyeske of Chesterton. Pacers receive some perks - no entry fee, clothing, travel expenses and sometimes shoes. He's paced at Chicago six times, and also in Detroit and St. Louis.

He's only missed the goal time once, last year's Chicago race when the heat index soared past 90 degrees.

Following Boston, Nietert plans to pace at the Cleveland Marathon on May 16 before OE's training program for Chicago begins in early June.

"Running has allowed me to meet so many people," Nietert said. "And as the OE running coordinator, it has given me rewards back in a lot of different ways."