Runner who competed in first Orlando half marathon helping others find their stride 50 years later
By Meaghan Mackey
Click here for updates on this story
ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — For 50 years, the OUC Orlando Half Marathon has brought runners together in Central Florida. One runner has been part of that history since the very beginning.
Donald “Donnie” Cook ran in the inaugural race in 1977. While he no longer competes, he continues to share his love of running with the next generation through his work at Orlando’s Track Shack.
Cook still has the shoes, sweatshirts and memories to show for a lifetime in the sport.
“These are probably like 1980s Nikes,” Cook said while showing off a pair of his old running shoes.
He also keeps his high school cross-country sweatshirt, a reminder of where it all began.
Cook said he discovered his talent for running while attending Glenridge Junior High School.
“I went out for the football team, and I was kind of scrawny,” Cook said. “During PE class, I figured out I was the fastest kid in the school. It’s like, yeah, this is probably a better sport for me.”
That discovery took him from Winter Park High School to Florida State University and eventually to the starting line of Orlando’s first half marathon.
The race, then known as the Tangerine Bowl Road Race, was held in 1977. Cook said he decided to participate during his junior year of college after a season of cross-country running.
“I just read about it, heard about it. It’s like, yeah, I’m going to pop in there and do this,” Cook said. “And I had buddies. We all came, you know.”
Cook finished fifth in that inaugural race. Over the years, he continued running in races across the country.
He said the sport has changed significantly since the 1970s, when runners did not always receive the recognition they do today.
“In the ’70s and early ’80s, we were kind of the outcast sport,” Cook said. “And then over the years, it’s transpired into like now there’s run clubs, and there’s a lot more people doing it.”
His running career eventually led him to coaching at Rollins College, where he could pass his knowledge on to other athletes.
He also inspired his son, Kevin Cook, who earned a running scholarship to Florida State University. Kevin went on to win the Orlando OUC Half Marathon in 2008.
Today, Donnie Cook continues to make an impact at Track Shack, a longtime fixture in Orlando’s running community. He works part time at the store, helping customers find the right shoes and gear for their own running journeys.
For Cook, it’s another way to stay connected to the sport that has shaped his life.
50 years after running in Orlando’s first half marathon, he is still helping others find their stride, one pair of shoes at a time.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.