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Environmental Progress - Fall 1997

Illinois EPA Staffers -- Up Close and Personal

Illinois EPA Paralegal Hits His Stride in Biathalons

Joel Johnson excels both in running and cycling.

July 26, 1997, was the the hottest day of the year, with a heat index well over 100 degrees, as 15,000 runners from all over the world began the seven-mile professional "Bix 7" race in Davenport, Ia. Among them was Joel Johnson, a paralegal with the Illinois EPA's Division of Legal Counsel. To the constant background noise of sirens from ambulances picking up runners who had collapsed, Joel finished the race in 465th position overall.

Joel Johnson

Two weeks later, Joel won first in his division in the two-mile race that helps open the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

At 42, he excels in two sports: running and cycling. So far this season he has run in 10 races (5 or 10 kilometers) and has had five first-place and three second-place finishes in his age category, as well as a second, a fourth, and a sixth place overall. He also participated in 10 bicycle races of distances from 15 to 50 miles this season as a member of Team Mack out of Rockford. He finished eleventh out of 30 in the 66-mile Illinois/Wisconsin Regional championship road race where, with the help of his teammate, he was able to ride in the winning break.

With his strong interest in the dual regimens, it was a natural progression that Joel became interested in biathlons, typically a 5K or a five mile run followed by a 20 mile bicycle race. So far this season Joel's career as a biathlete has been very successful; he finished the Hillsboro biathlon in first place in his age category and in fifth place overall. On Sept. 7, at the Millstadt biathalon, Joel won fourth overall and was first in his age category. On Sept. 20, at Morris, he and Team Mack partner, Gary Doering, achieved their goal; with Joel running and Gary handling the bike riding, they not only won, they set a course record.