A race a month of any distance is more than most people can handle,
but Dick Collins has been averaging an ultra a month for the past 12 years, 
plus a lot of shorter stuff too.  When he sent us the information for his 
profile last summer, his goal was to complete the Grand Slam.  It was a
successful effort - WS in 27:20, Vermont in 22:42, Leadville in 28:15,
and Wasatch in 31:03.  Not one to rest on his laurels, Collins went out
two weeks after Wasatch and ran the Angeles Crest 100 in 28:24.

Name: Dick Collins
Date of birth: September 8, 1933 
Place of birth: Klamath, Oregon
Current address: Oakland, California
Job(s): Mechanical contractor
Marital status: Married
Children: Five, all grown and on their own
Height: 5'1 1
Weight: 180
Shoe size: 11
Best feature (physical): Strong legs (what, else?)
Worst feature: Chronic back problem 
Religion: Protestant
Educational background: High school, trade school
Favorite author: Tom Clancy
Favorite book: Hunt For Red October
Favorite non-running magazine: Money
Favorite movie: Casablanca, Shane
Favorite television show: "Hill Street Blues"
Favorite actor/actress: Robin Williams, Jane Fonda
Favorite music: Country/westem, 50s oldies
Favorite musical performer: Frank Sinatra 
Book you are currently reading: Summer of '49
Favorite artist: None
Hobbles: Running, spectator sports, computers, race directing
Collections: Running results, photos, plaques
Make of car you drive: 1990 Subaru wagon
Make of car you would like to drive: See above 
Favorite spectator sport: NBA basketball baseball 
Favorite game: Pinochle
Favorite vacation destination: Reno, area - Barbara likes to gamble.
Favorite time of day: Early morning
Favorite Item of clothing you own: Running sweatshirt
Most prized possession: Western States Silver Buckle
Political affiliation: Democrat 
Personal hero: Don Choi
Favorite famous quote: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"
Personal philosophy: Try not to be too serious about anything. 
My current goal is to simplify my life.
Short-term goal: Going to try for "Grand Slam" this year again. 
Long-term goal: Keep running ultras as long as I'm able to, 
and continue to run or walk after that. 
Achievement of which you are most proud: Starting my own business and supporting my family.
Favorite subject in school: Math, History
Least-liked subject: Chemistry
Least-liked household chore: Cleaning the fireplace
Pets: None
Pet peeve: The way some people drive.
Favorite nonrunning leisure activity: Reading, spectator sports 
Greatest fear: Chronic back problems
Happiest memory: Finishing Western States in 1979.
Secret ambition/fantasy: No secret - the "Grand Slam."
Personal strengths: Hard working, persistent. 
Personal weaknesses: Barbara says that I have no sense of humor.
Running-
Years running: 12 
PRs:	mile - ?, 10 km - 44:00, marathon - 3:29, 5O miles - 7:57, 100 miles- 20:18

Years running ultras: 12
Number of ultras finished: 151 (as of May, 1990).
Best ultra performance: New Astley Belt 6-day race in 1985 - 393.5 miles.
Most memorable ultra performance, and why: (1) Bay Area Ultrarunners 24 Hour Run in 1984, 
116 miles - only race where I finished first. 
(2) Angeles Crest 100 Mile in 1989, 28:21 - felt great for whole race 
and was done about three hours sooner than expected. 
Typical training week a month or two before major race: Mon: rest, Nautilus; Tue: 9 miles, 
trail; Wed: 5 miles, road, Nautilus; Thurs:- rest; Fri: 5 miles, road; Sat: 20-25 miles, 
trail, Sum 5-6 miles, road.
Injuries: No major injuries.  
Favorite ultra: Western States the tradition behind it, the gathering of the ultrarunning 
world each year.
Favorite running shoes: Nike Air Pegasus
Favorite food/drinks during an ultra: Turkey sandwiches, Exceed, Coke, Power Bars.
Favorite handler: Wife Barbara 
Favorite place to run: Highway 49 to No Hands Bridge on the Western States course.
Favorite type of running surface: Trails 
Ultrarunning ldol(s): Ruth Anderson, Don Choi, Helen Klein.
Any advice: I think we try to make our sport too complicated.  We plan and theorize and 
organize, and still problems come up that we don't expect.  I'm trying to keep it simple.  
Pay attention to drinking, eating, and the proper clothes, and go out and have fun.
Other comments?  Ultrarunning is the glue that holds the sport together for seeing the need
and filling it.