Joseph Goetz has never run a marathon and has no intentions on doing so, but he’s still one of the best runners in the Chattanooga area.
The 32-year-old energy analyst for TVA actually prefers the shorter distances and will one of the favorites to post the fastest time on Saturday in the Market Street Mile.
But for a personable fellow who graduated from Chattanooga Christian School in 2001 before earning a degree in Accounting from UT-Knoxville six years later, his talent for running was spotted in the seventh grade when he won the PE Mile.
“Coach Fingerle then recruited me to run track,” Goetz said earlier this week while relaxing in the lobby of the downtown YMCA after a long day at the office.
His first road race was also in the seventh grade when he posted a time of 32:10 for the Strawberry Chase 8K in Dayton. That was just another strong indicator that he had better-than-average speed.
“I don’t remember much about that race other than it was fun and I got a nice award for running pretty well,” he recalled.
Joseph was a tennis player in the ninth and tenth grade before deciding to concentrate on track and cross country.
He earned All-State honors in cross country his senior year when he finished eighth in the state meet with a time of 16:19.
His running career didn’t really take off until he went to school in Knoxville. He worked at a running store for a time and that’s when he really started doing some serious training.
“The longer the race gets, the worse I get. That’s why I like middle distances. I don’t have the desire to ever run a marathon, but I did do a half at Kiawah Island back in 2008,” he said, admitting that his time of 1:15 was good enough to finish in the top 10.
While Goetz still has better than average speed – he won the one-mile race at the Chattanooga Chase a few weeks back with a 4:45 – he spends more time with another hobby than running.
He’s now into rock climbing in a big way. Chattanooga has an abundance of good places to climb and he’s currently on the board for the Southeastern Climbers Coalition.
“That’s one of my main activities now. People think it’s a dangerous sport, but running in downtown Chattanooga is probably more dangerous.
“I started climbing when I was in the ninth grade, but Chattanooga is a great place for it. I prefer the shorter, harder climbs kind of like running, but we never take unnecessary risks.
“Climbing is a fun adventure and extremely challenging. You’ve got to use your head and keep your composure, but it’s a great exercise and a fun way to spend a weekend with friends,” he suggested with a smile.
Another thing Joseph enjoys doing is traveling.
He spent a year in Korea as an English teacher in 2009 and he spent two weeks in Thailand last year on a climbing trip. He’s also been climbing in Greece and he hopes to return there in the near future.
But right now his plate’s full as he puts on the finishing touches on his MBA, which he’ll earn in December at UTC.
“It’s been a tough year with all the school work and I’ve only been running about 20 miles a week. I focus on quality more than quantity. I did three road mile races last year and I enjoy track workouts with Tim Ensign. I pace him occasionally as he does time trials.
“Joe Johnson is another great training partner. He’s the fastest runner in Chattanooga who won’t race, but he and Tim are two of the toughest guys I know,” Goetz praised.
“The mile is a great distance as it combines endurance, speed and strategy. You also have to have a little talent, but it’s a great combination of what makes the sport of running great,” he admitted.
While he’s become one of the toughest milers in the city, there are two other local races he’s been doing for a number of years.
The first is the annual Turkey Trot 8K on Thanksgiving at the Sports Barn East while the other is the Wauhatchie Trail Run, a grueling 6.7-mile run at the Chattanooga Nature Center in December that covers the side of Lookout Mountain.
“I’ve done the Turkey Trot every year since 1997 except 2009 when I was in Korea. I’ve finished second two or three times, but I’ve never won it. I should have won in 2007, but I made my move too soon and Tim beat me. I should have waited and outkicked him at the end,” he laughed.
“And now I’m getting too old and the kids are getting too fast, but it’s one of the best races in Chattanooga as far as competitive times go. It’s always well organized and it starts on time and a really nice Thanksgiving Day tradition. I can still finish in the top 10,” he said proudly.
The Wauhatchie race is another unique event where starting times are handicapped by age and gender. While Ensign has dominated that race in recent years with nine straight overall wins, Joseph and his younger brother Daniel have been equally as dominant in the family competition.
But for someone who is always on the move, life is pretty good for this guy these days.
“I think I’m home about an hour every day as I have a fast-paced life. I still love to run as it gives me a chance to battle with myself as it can create a little suffering. But I love the camaraderie with the guys on the track.
“There’s no better feeling than crossing the finish line and seeing a good time on the clock. That creates a pretty good buzz. But I hope to run and climb as long as I can. Running keeps you light for climbing,” he concluded.
(This is the 55th feature on runners in Chattanooga. If you know someone who would make an interesting story, email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)