Good run ends at Park Center

Dave Bauer wasn't allowing shortcuts at practice last week.

The long-time Park Center cross-country coach divided his runners, boys and girls, into four lines and stood at the opposite end of the hallway above the school's South Gym as they completed shuttle runs.

Though sapped by a meet the previous day, the kids were not allowed to leave Bauer's end of the hall until they swallowed the entire spoonful of ice cream they scooped out of half-gallon containers on the floor.

There are no state champion teams or runners on Bauer's coaching résumé, which dates to 1963 and includes basketball, cross country, football and track and field. His legacy is much richer. He will be remembered for giving of himself equally to the greatest and the least of his athletes.

Bauer helped open Park Center in 1971. When cross-country season ends, so will his era. Bauer, who retired at age 59, met his goal of coaching until age 70.

Between 250 and 300 people attended an open house in his honor earlier this month, praising the coach who made sure learning fundamentals was fun.

"You think about it but you don't really realize how many people have appreciated having him here," said junior runner Kate Simonet, who attended the open house and saw Bauer's large and lasting impact on athletes. "He coaches us just like he coached them. It makes you feel really lucky to know you were here when he was here."

He moved on to coach basketball -- his first love -- in 1967-68 in Clark, S.D. He also developed an approach to running a program he would use the rest of his career.

"If it's not fun, it's maybe not worth it," Bauer said. "It's not just winning and losing. It's not just working hard. It has to have an element of fun in there to be worth anything."

Bauer headed to Osseo High School next and moved to Park Center three years later in 1971-72. He found a new coaching niche directing distance runners in track and cross country.

Bauer has seen many changes in distance running. But as high-mileage training gave way to a philosophy of more intervals and recovery, the kids remained mostly the same.

"With distance runners you have some of your brightest kids, kids that are highly motivated and involved in a lot of stuff," Bauer said. "Those good kids spread their talents around."

Senior co-captain Drew Heimark is a great example of an athlete who cannot be judged by a stopwatch. His six years in Bauer's program helped him grow as a young man.

"In seventh grade, I would not talk to a single person that I did not know and I was probably more pessimistic than I am right now," Heimark said. "But Bauer has helped me through that. I'm a lot more outgoing. I definitely take a more positive attitude. I think people think I'm more fun to be with than I was back then."

Susan Johnson, booster club treasurer whose three sons either ran or are currently running for Bauer, said his influence is felt well beyond cross country. Her oldest son, Anders, who graduated last year after six seasons with Bauer, took his coach's positive reinforcement and summoned the courage to try Nordic skiing.

"Whether the kids go to state or barely finish a 5K, they are important to Bauer," Susan Johnson said. "You don't get a ribbon for every race, but you know you're appreciated."

Each Monday, Park Center runners are asked to evaluate the previous week and highlight the "Pirate Moments." Bauer said 15 kids mentioned his open house, where former runners slapped his back, shook his hand and shared memories.