Bruce Eisenman will tell you he is 70 years old. But nothing about him matches his age.
Enthusiastic at all times, Eisenman’s favorite chore is simply to go run. And for most of his life – since he was in middle school in Bakersfield – Eisenman has run at least once every three days. And when he runs, it’s for 6 or more miles.
At 70, Eisenman knows his days of running so far are coming to an end – he still plans to run long distance – but that doesn’t stop him from doing at least one more Mission Ten 10-mile run in San Juan Bautista. With the race celebrating its 30th anniversary on Saturday, Eisenman, who ran in the very first race in 1983, wants to run it at least one more time.
“This might be my last 10-mile run,” he said. “I’m finding that being 70 years old, it’s hard to keep in shape. I run 10 miles and I’m sore. We will see how I am next year. I’m sure I will keep on training and see how it goes. I’m always trying to keep my time down, but my times have increased.”
Despite more than 100 races over the years – ranging from the Big Sur marathon to the San Jose Turkey Trot – Eisenman is simply a fun runner.
“It was a way to just get out and kind of relax,” he said. “I’m not pushing myself. I wasn’t training hard to be good. It’s kind of a habit and it’s something that I enjoy. I have no specific reason. I think it’s good for my health. But with all the running I do, I probably over-run for my health. I still run a few times a week.”
His connection with the Mission Ten race almost came by accident and simple geography. After he moved to Hollister in 1975 whiling working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Eisenman always looked for local races.
Leading up to the creation of the Mission Ten, Eisenman participated in the Earthquake Run and other recreational department gatherings, which included treks to Bolado Park.
Eventually, the challenge of the Mission Ten race grabbed his attention, and he has returned nearly every year in the past 30 runs, including the debut race where times were recorded with popsicle sticks.
“I’ve been to at least 25 of them,” he said. “It’s a very good run.”
With a giant hill at the beginning and a long 10-mile distance, the race is Eisenman’s biggest challenge, not his age, he said.
“It’s the longest race that I run,” he said. “I run a number of 10K races. It’s a good area to run races. There have always been a few good races in the Gilroy area. It’s unique for me. It’s 10 miles, it’s a longer distance and it is a challenge for me.”
But at his age, he enjoys that challenge. Eisenman keeps himself in shape by walking with his wife Pam nearly every day, while running at least 6 miles every three days. It’s a routine that dates back to high school with his brother.
“I had an older brother who was a good runner,” he said. “He went to a four-year college. He was an All-American runner. I wasn’t that good. I ran with two left feet, so to speak. But I ran in college and I’ve kept it up ever since.”
Eisenman graduated from both Oklahoma State and California with degrees in forestry during the 1960s. He spent years in the Army afterward. And during that time, he never stopped running.
“When we went on dates in college, he would always want to eat a second dinner after he ran,” Pam Eisenman said.
And that love for running transferred over to their 39-year-old son Jeff, who joins his father on runs throughout the Central Coast. The younger Jeff, though, has never surpassed his father’s times.
“He hasn’t done it yet,” Eisenman said. “I want to keep that.”
But he wishes there were more runs to do just that, he said.
“I’ve liked to wish there were a couple more races in the area,” he said. “At one time the Hollister recreation department tried to put on a race and other groups were organizing fundraising races. Sometimes there were three or four races here in the Hollister area. It would be nice to have a couple more.”
He continued: “I think the area could support another race or two.”
MISSION 10 RACE
The 30th Mission Ten 10-mile race is sponsored by the Hollister Rotary Club, and all the proceeds go to local scholarships and charities. The Saturday event includes a 5K race at 10 a.m. and a 10-mile race at 10:15 a.m.
Participants can register at the event or call (831) 637-0071.
“I’ve also seen the crowd grow larger and larger year by year and the level of enthusiasm stayed the same year after year,” Hollister Rotary Club president Tom Vivian said. “There are repeat runners, and a lot of them talk about how this is one of their favorite races. The enthusiasm has always seemed the same.”
And the race helps highlight San Juan Bautista, Vivian said.
“It brings a lot of visibility to San Juan Bautista,” Vivian said. “The Hollister Rotary Club gets its name around. San Juan Bautista people come and after the race they are welcome to stay and eat and discover the town. Come join us for race day and have fun. Enjoy yourself.”
