Meet Fred

Meet Legacy Runner: Fred Ulman

Persistence, Family, and the Finish Line: A Legacy Runner’s Journey

For Fred Umland, the Fox Cities Marathon isn’t just a race; it’s a living history of his life over the last 35 years. It’s a short list of those who have participated in every single Fox Cities Marathon since its inception in 1991. As one of only ten remaining legacy runners, Fred’s story is one of quiet perseverance and deep community roots.

From “Two and Done” to Three Decades of Running

Fred didn’t set out to become a marathon legend. In 1991, he was coaxed into the inaugural race by a friend. After his second year, he actually told his wife, Nancy, “That’s it”. But the challenge of the summer training and the internal drive to improve kept drawing him back to the starting line.

Today, at 77 years old, Fred admits he is no longer a “speed demon”. His pace has shifted from a personal best of sub-4 hours in his early years to over five hours today. He describes his current style as “shuffling along,” but his goal remains the same: the simple accomplishment of reaching the finish line.

A Family Affair

While Fred is the one logging the miles, the marathon is a family tradition.

• Nancy Umland: His wife has been his primary support system since day one, often meeting him at multiple spots along the course, once with fresh shoes, but always with words of encouragement.
• The Next Generation: His son, Craig, a fellow runner in the early years once ran the full marathon in New Orleans alongside Fred.
• The Grandkids: Fred’s passion for staying active has clearly rubbed off. His granddaughter is in track, and his grandson recently ran cross country. Last year, his youngest grandson even joined him on the course for a short stretch, running about a quarter-mile alongside his Grandpa.

Overcoming the “Hamburger” Calf

Fred’s streak nearly ended about 20 years ago. While playing basketball, he suffered a devastating injury, tearing the muscle that attaches to the Achilles. He described the sensation as being hit with a baseball bat, leaving the muscle with “no structure to it at all,” resembling hamburger meat.

Despite being laid up until July, Fred worked tirelessly with physical therapists to progress from walking a single block to completing the marathon that September. That experience taught him the vital importance of stretching, a ritual he now performs religiously both before and after his runs.

Why Fox Cities?

A retired social worker who spent 35 years serving Winnebago County, Fred remains loyal to this specific race because of its local heart. He loves the course’s evolution through local neighborhoods and the simple joy of hearing spectators yell his name from their driveways.

“It’s hard to give that up and say, ‘I’m going to stop.’ You start thinking, well, maybe I can do another year.”

As Fred prepares for this year’s race, he takes it one mile at a time. For him, the marathon is a way to stay ahead of his family’s history of heart issues and a testament to the power of never giving up. When he crosses that finish line, the thought is always the same: “Another year is done. I made it.”

Legacy Runner Club

It began in 1991 with the very first Fox Cities Marathon. No one was thinking about legacies—they were simply showing up, lacing up, and having fun.

But year after year, mile after mile, something remarkable happened.

A small group of dedicated runners never missed the start line. Through changing seasons, life milestones, and decades of memories, they kept coming back. Today, they are known as Legacy Runners—a living connection to the heart and history of the race.

Meet:

• Mike
• Jeff
• Stuart
• Dr. Anne