Today, Coffman, 64, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MSU in 1969 and 1976 respectively, has run in 73 marathons and is preparing for his 74th in April, this year’s Boston Marathon. It will be Coffman’s 35th consecutive Boston Marathon.

While at MSU, Coffman was not a part of the track or cross country teams, but he did run casually.
When he started training for his first marathon in 1973, he said training wasn’t quite the correct word for what he was doing.

“I was pretty much flying on my own,” Coffman said. “By the seat of my pants.”

Since he’s left East Lansing, Coffman’s training has become more sophisticated. Since moving to Alexandria, Va., he runs the Boston Marathon in April and the Marine Corps Marathon in October each year.

He said the approximately six-month separation between the events allows him to basically “be running all the time.” He starts his intense training about 12 weeks prior to each marathon, building up from the more relaxed routine he holds for about two months after each race.

Jim Pivarnik, a professor of kinesiology and epidemiology at MSU, who himself has run six marathons, said he was impressed with Coffman’s continued marathon prowess.

“The fact that he can do it tells me it hasn’t taken much of a toll on him,” Pivarnik said. “It could just be the way he’s built.”

Although Pivarnik doesn’t advise people to go out and try to run 70 marathons, as Coffman has, he said it isn’t too hard to prepare for one.

“You can get ready in a few months easily if you’ve been running,” Pivarnik said. “But if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can push yourself too far. Peak condition is, almost by definition, one step from falling off the cliff.”

Animal science and agribusiness management sophomore and MSU Running Club member Rebecca Dow said she also was impressed with Coffman’s achievements, adding the most she has ever run at one time was 14-15 miles.

“I think (running all those marathons) shows his determination and how much hard work he’s put in,” Dow said. “I look up to him.”

Coffman said it is his drive to compete that has led him to continue running.

“It’s the challenge of it,” he said. “It’s the same reason I chose the Marines over the other branches. I wanted to push myself. And at the time, marathons were the ultimate challenge.”

Coffman currently lives in Virginia and has been teaching adaptive physical education for the last 36 years.

Despite being far from campus, Coffman said he still loves MSU.

“The five years I spent (at MSU) were five of the greatest years of my life,” he said. “I can’t thank the people at MSU (enough) for all that I have. They’ve given me so much.”

He might be getting older, but Coffman said he’s not slowing down yet and has no plans to give up running.

“My age does mean I have to give myself more of a rest,” he said ruefully. “But I’m not stopping.”