Bart Yasso is a legend in the running community. And as the “Mayor of Running” and Chief Running Officer at Runner’s World, he’s one of the most recognizable faces in the sport.

If you don’t yet know Bart, here’s a short list of what he’s been up to over the last 30 years:

• Competed in more than 1,000 races during his 30+ career at Runner’s World
• Successfully finished the 56-mile Comrades Marathon, the Mt. Kilimanjaro Marathon, and the Badwater Ultramarathon
• Has run races on all 7 continents (yes, even Antarctica)
• Inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions
• Inventor of the “Yasso 800’s” marathon predictor workout
• Winner of the 1987 U.S. National Biathlon Long Course Championship
• 1998 winner of the Smoky Mountain Marathon
• 2:39 marathon PR (like me!)
• Has cycled twice across the country by himself with no support

He’s also the author of My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon.

In 2014, I had the pleasure of meeting Bart at the Runner’s World Half Marathon and Festival (recap here) where he shared the running stories that have shaped his life.

In particular, how the Comrades Marathon brought South Africa, a country weighed down by the horror of Apartheid, closer together.

And how his favorite running memory is drinking coffee by the Trevi Fountain with his mom during the Rome Marathon.

More importantly, Bart spoke about the people that make the sport of running so incredible. Meeting other runners is what keeps him going – and he meets a lot of people flying to 45 races every year!