Vic Flemming was quite a runner at Moniteau High School nearly 10 years ago.

In fact, he hasn't quit running yet.

Now 26 years old and employed as an industrial engineer in Smithfield, Va., Flemming finished 99th out of more than 33,000 entries in the Chicago Matrathon last October and has been training to compete in the National Marathon set for March 25 in Washington D.C.

"Marathons really aren't my thing,"Flemming said. "I'm better suited for half-marathons and I have more success in those races.

"But former teammates I've run into tell me they're running those marathons and are looking for someone to run with, so I join in."

The former teammates are from the Penn State University cross country team. Flemming walked on that squad during his third year in college and was the 20th — and final — runner to make the team.

By the time he graduated, Flemming was among the Nittany Lions' top seven runners.

"I learned what working hard can produce,"Flemming said. "I was a runner in high school and did OK, but I didn't train like I should have.

"I didn't realize that until college.

Flemming ran the Pittsburgh Marathon in 1997 and finished 107th with a time of approximately three hours and 30 minutes. He ran the Boston Marathon the following year.

Flemming has competed in numerous races since, but no marathons until last October in Chicago.

"I bumped into a former teammate from State College and he talked me into running it,"Flemming said of the Chicago Marathon. "We trasined hard for eight months in preparation.

"I ran maybe 300 miles a month leading up to that race. I've only been doing about 200 miles a month for the Washington race."

He's running the National Marathon with another former Penn State teammate, Scott Munro.

"I won't be as competitive in this one, but the self-discipline of running is good for me,"Flemming said. "When you're in high school or college and you're part of a team, you settle into a practice routine.

"It's tougher when you're on your own. I run during lunch breaks and after work. Sometimes it's hard to convince yourself to go do it."

Current Knoch track and cross country coach Wess Brahler was Flemming's high schiool coach at Moniteau.

"Back when Vic was in high school, only four runners from District 9 qualified for the state meet,"Brahler said. "He always seemed to be the last guy eliminated.

"Runners always peak when they're adults. They find the motivation and discipline to stay with it."

Flemming ran the Chicago Marathon in 2:36.21 — nearly an hour faster than his Pittsburgh Marathon time eight years earlier.

Flemming won the Butler Road Race in 2001 and won the Queens Lake 5K, Pomoco Group Running Crab 5K and Buckroe Beach Dash 8K, all in Virginia, in more recent times.

"I've never gotten (running) outof my system,"Flemming said. "I still get up to Penn State every now and them to check out the current team. That's where I bump into my former teammates."

"To walk on and become one of Penn State's best runners shows the determination and character Vic has,"Brahler said.

Flemming decided to walk on Penn State's crioss country team three years into his college education because he missed the competition.

That's the same reason he continues to enter road races today.

"I like keeping active and I like being able to compete in athletics,"Flemming said. "I feel like I can do this as long as I want.

"Running is forever."