Health Nut of the Month: Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page

Alan Page, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice

We know that Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page is busy hearing cases, but we hoped we could get his attention . . . without having to file a lawsuit. Fortunately, no legal action had to be taken—Justice Page agreed to be mspmag.com’s March Health Nut!

Read how Page went from training for the season (he played for the Vikings from 1967 to 1978) to being fit year-round.

Q: How far do you run?
A: These days, now that we’ve joined the old-n-slows, we do anywhere from three to four miles per day. On the weekends, though, it can be between six and seven miles. But trust me, this is down dramatically from what it used to be. Up until three years ago, I ran a minimum of fifty miles a week. That was the minimum, and usually it was more than the minimum. I developed a back problem, however, which made me rethink what I was doing.

Q: Do you all like running alone or with a group?
A: We have a floating group of people. Most days, it is Diane and I, but some days six or seven of us go out to run. We are fortunate to have two of our children in town, and they get out with us on a fairly regular basis.

Q: What is your favorite race?
A: We don’t do much racing anymore, but before, I did everything from 55 meters to 100k. Back then, my favorite distance was between 400 meters and a mile—the pain goes away quicker. I have done somewhere between eight and eleven marathons, I don't recall exactly, but it is hard to say marathons are fun. I tend to remember the ones that were more painful than fun. My favorite race was the Syttende Mai in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, honoring Norwegian Independence Day.

Q: When you train, what are your favorite trails to hit?
A: We run the lakes. Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, Harriet, or Cedar Lake. Back in the old days, we literally ran everywhere from our house—to Theodore Wirth Parkway, from Minnehaha Falls to downtown St. Paul and back. One day we took a run from our house out to Wayzata. We kind of go any place.

Q: How do you train in off-season?
A: Of course it gets cold, but you dress for it. Back in when we first started running, we’d be out there in either some cotton or wool sweats, and once it got wet, you would freeze. Now the equipment and clothing is so much better that you don’t have to be so bundled up that you couldn’t move if your life depended on it. We pretty much go out every day, rain or shine. About the only thing that stops us is lightning. Short of that, we’re out there.  The wind can be unpleasant and the ice can be difficult and challenging, but that doesn’t tend to stop us. So far, we haven’t found a temperature that has stopped us.

Q: What do you wish you had known when you first started getting in shape?
A: I wish I had known how much I would enjoy getting out and running and being fit. Back before I started trying to be fit (when I was doing the minimum because it felt like punishment), it just, it’s almost difficult to describe the difference. I can actually feel things now. When I first started running, I lost weight, and I actually felt like I could feel places where I didn’t know I had places. That was a good and freeing feeling. I lost about twenty-five pounds, but over the years, I have put some of that back on . . . something about getting old.

Q: In terms of local notables who are also healthy, whom do you admire?
A: Ann Bancroft and Judge Lloyd Zimmerman (Hennepin County District Court)

Q: What advice do you have for people looking to get in shape?
A: The one piece of advice I would give to anybody just starting out is to not try to do it all in one day. All that’s going to do is hurt you and discourage you. Be persistent, and build on small steps. Nobody in their right mind goes out and the first thing they do is try to run a marathon. It’s about the training. When you go out, just let the experience be your guide. It is pretty basic stuff, but I think it is the key to success.