4.34 John Herdman

Running in the '70s – Episode Summary: John Herdman

Host: Matthew Kleinosky

Guest: John Herdman (Westmont High School Class of '73, Johnson & Wales College)

In this episode, host Matthew Kleinosky reconnects with southwestern Pennsylvania running history by interviewing John Herdman. Growing up in the Johnstown area, John and his identical twin brother, Jim, were standout distance runners for Westmont High School in the early 1970s - athletes Matthew first read about as an aspiring junior high runner. John reflects on his journey from a rocky start in junior high track to dominating cross country courses, competing in collegiate distance running in New England, and how the mental grit forged in the 1970s running boom continues to sustain him in his fight against stage 4 cancer today.

• Origins & High School at Westmont:

  • John began running in ninth grade, initially struggling in the track two-mile before discovering his love for cross country.

  • Under coach Paul Claycomb, John and his twin brother Jim helped build Westmont’s cross country team from a handful of athletes begging classmates to join (including lifelong runner Kerry Green) into a thriving squad of 25 runners.

  • Summer training at John Hardwick’s Gold Medal Camp—hitting 100-mile weeks and interacting with collegiate standouts like Carl Hatfield and Mike Mosser—transformed the Herdman twins into top-tier frontrunners who regularly broke local course records.

  • At the PIAA State Championships at Penn State, both brothers frequently qualified; during their senior year, Jim finished 9th with his trademark finishing kick, while John placed 28th after battling a side stitch.

• Collegiate Running at Johnson & Wales:

  • After Hurricane Agnes disrupted their initial recruitment plans in the South, the brothers secured scholarships to Johnson & Wales College in Providence, Rhode Island.

  • John describes the shock of transitioning to New England's year-round running culture, tackling brutal 6:00 AM 6-mile morning runs followed by grueling 15-to-20-mile afternoon sessions or speed work at Brown University.

  • John earned All-New England honors twice in cross country, competed in the National Junior College Marathon Championships, and ran the Boston Marathon twice. Along the way, he shared workouts and moments with legends like Bill Rodgers, Bob Hodge, and John A. Kelley.

• Life After College & Family:

  • Returning to Johnstown after college, John worked in office administration for the coal mining industry for 24 years, followed by construction work in Washington, D.C., and a career in the electrical trade before retiring.

  • While raising his two sons, John kept his running accolades and trophies hidden so they wouldn't feel pressured to live up to his past accomplishments. Both sons eventually became accomplished runners at Blairsville High School under coach Dan "Jungle" Cunkleman.

• Perspective, Resilience, and Health:

  • John candidly discusses being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer just one week after retiring, having undergone surgery to remove a lung along with ongoing chemotherapy.

  • He shares how distance running taught him focus, humility, and patience, comparing his cancer fight to preparing for a marathon: "It's not a sprint... it's a marathon," and drawing inspiration from the endurance and camaraderie he learned in the sport.

  • The conversation closes with warm memories of regional running figures, upcoming reunions with IUP and local runners like Kerry Green and Dan Cunkleman, and the lasting bond shared by athletes of the 1970s running era.