Following in the family footsteps
 Danny Docherty (Undecided '12). Photo by Steve Woltmann |
But he also learned by example. Each day, he watched as his parents dragged themselves from bed for their pre-dawn run.
His parents, Jim and Bev Docherty, share a lifelong love of running that stems from their days on the track teams at the University of Iowa, where they met. Jim, an account executive with Nike, ran cross country and track, and came within a fraction of breaking the 4-minute mile barrier his senior year, running a 4:00.8 mile.
Bev, a teacher and high school track coach, ran long-distance events at Iowa, and continued a competitive career as an adult as a marathon runner. Her personal best time was 2:38, and she qualified six times for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. She never placed in the top three to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, but being one of 80–300 runners to make the trails every four years
from 1984–2004 is a distinction in itself.
“I credit my parents for setting a good example for me, leading healthy lifestyles and showing me how discipline and hard work can lead to success,” Danny Docherty says.
Success for Docherty so far has been placing 4th in the two mile and 5th in the mile in the state his senior year at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minn. As a freshman, he won his first two cross county races at Loyola before being sidelined with shin splints. He recently resumed running for the track team.
As he looks forward to a promising career, Docherty is depending on the advice and support of his parents.
“Danny has a lot of upside, as he is just learning to be a runner,” his father says. “The biggest thing he needs to learn is to listen to your body. You’ve got to push yourself hard but not too hard that you hurt yourself.”
His mother has similar advice.
“Danny is such a competitor. He does not like to lose,” Bev Docherty says. “I think Danny is learning about patience and preparation. His best years are ahead of him.”