Ron Baers

Steve Virgen

The day before his 62nd birthday, Ron Baers discovered some bad news,

but decided to carry on with his original plans.

That’s what his father, Harry, would have wanted.

Baers’ father died Thursday of heart failure. Baers, gathering

inspiration from his father, has been running or race walking for the

past 26 years. Baers’ father, who was 89, stayed active well into his

80s.

Baers, a Newport Beach resident, plans to be the same way. His

passion to compete and his hunger for a challenge has kept him on

course for his quest. Over the past 18 months, Baers and his wife,

Sandy, spent their days in France and Italy, where Baers also

competed in marathons.

He completed the Florence, Paris, Monaco and Medoc marathons. Then

he went to Hawaii and won his age division in the Honolulu marathon

in December. Baers went there mainly to visit his father, who lived

in Hawaii.

Baers’ experiences over the past two years have resulted in his

plans to write two books. Baers, an architect, had no regrets

whatsoever in packing up and leaving for Paris 18 months ago.

“I wanted to experience a whole different way of living,” he said.

Baers did just that and met many friends along the way, including

Benoit Manuel, who became his running partner as they went out along

the countryside settings of France.

Also, in each marathon, he took enough pictures to fill a photo

album of each race.

“The one marathon that will always stick in my mind is the Medoc

marathon,” Baers said. “It’s the world’s longest marathon because

there are 26 wineries along the course and you stop at each one and

taste the wine. Some people taste so much wine that they forget about

the run.”

But Baers continued to run. He has been running marathons since

1978. But in 1981, he sustained a herniated disk and turned his

attention to race walking, the Olympic sport that requires your heel

or toe to be on the ground at all times, prompting quick, walking

strides.

When race walking, Baers won the Honolulu marathon 10 years ago,

when he also earned first place in the men’s 50 age-group division in

the L.A. marathon, as well as the open race walking division in the

San Diego marathon.

“I only like to do marathons,” Baers said. “I don’t like

sprinting. I just like the endurance part of marathons. I like the

challenge of it and the strategy of it.”

Baers decided to go back into running because he said he had done

all he wanted to do in race walking.

Baers said he does not see himself slowing down or quitting any

time soon. He also competes in the masters swim program that trains

at the Corona del Mar High pool. He has done ocean swims of more than

four miles.

When Baers is not running or swimming, he also enjoys hiking

and/or trekking. He has done six trekking trips in the Himalayas.

Baers and his wife are now living in Long Beach. They rented their

home in Newport Beach when they went to Paris. They plan to move back

later this year.