Dan Lantvit is in his fourth year coaching marathon runners, and his first in the high-profile Saturday morning slot for the Team To End AIDS ( T2 ) , the endurance-training program operated by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) , originating from close to Foster Avenue and the lakefront.
Lantvit, 44, an openly gay research specialist at the University of Illinois-Chicago who lives in Chicago's North Center neighborhood, replaces Katie Schmid, who has been promoted to T2's Head Coach. Schmid also is coaching T2's runners who will participate this December in the annual Honolulu Marathon.
Ironically, Lantvit and Schmid ran the 2008 Nashville Marathon together, each wearing small, tight-fitting white tank-tops. Lantvit's shirt said 'Pretty' on the front, while Schmid's shirt said, 'Sexy.' Both still laugh at the memory of the 'Pretty Sexy' combo jogging 26.2 miles through the streets of Nashville.
"Coaching has become a big part of my life. I take pride in helping others reach their goal of running a marathon," Lantvit said. "I was not a big runner throughout my school years and it wasn't until a co-worker start talking to me about her marathon training that I even considered running a marathon. I had been a long-distance cyclist for many years and decided to go and try to watch her run the Chicago Marathon. Watching it, I was just amazed at the diversity of the people doing it. At that point, I told myself that, if some of these people could do it, so could I.
"I ran my first [ marathon in 2001 ] and will always remember it. From then on, I felt that I could help other people achieve their goal, their dream by helping them through a training program and to share my experience."
Lantvit said his greatest coaching joy is just watching his runners meet, and often times, surpass a major goal in their life.
"I knew I would have big shoes to fill taking over this [ Saturday morning run ] site from Katie. I really appreciate the honor, faith and trust that T2 has in me," said Lantvit, originally from suburban Lyons. He moved to the North Side of Chicago in 1992.
Lantvit, who is dating P.J. White, has run eight marathons—five of them as fundraisers for AFC. He recorded his best time during the 2005 Chicago Marathon—3:41:50.
He also has participated in the Heartland AIDS Ride, the Twin Cities AIDS Ride, the AIDS Vaccine Ride ( 500 miles in 6 days ) , the Mrs. T's Triathlon ( Olympic distance ) , Steelhead and Racine Half Ironman, as well as the Louisville and Madison Ironman.
Over the years, Lantvit has coached several hundred marathoners, including some friends and family members on the side.
"T2 has become like a family to me. I can count on them to support me in all that I do," Lantvit said. "I have been raising money for AFC for many years now and, through the various events that I participated in, I met Mike Dilbeck. When he told me he was bringing this marathon program to Chicago [ in 2003 ] , he asked if I would be a participant to help make the initial year successful. Once I was in, I was hooked. Not to mention my first marathon coach, Captain Kirk, was such an inspiration. I wanted to be an inspiration and smiling face just like he was for me. I also believe in the cause—of helping to give back to people in need 100 percent."
So what's the best part of your alliance with T2 and AFC?
"The lifelong friends that I have made," Lantvit said without hesitation.
"This is only the second year for T2, [ so memorable T2 stories are limited ] , but showing up at the Honolulu Marathon in 2004, where I was met by two of my favorite people [ who were wearing ] coconut bras and grass skirts, that's a running memory I will always remember."
Also in 2004, Lantvit recalls a post-race photo with some friends—and he had to yell warnings to the photographer not to step to far back as there was a marathon finisher who was having [ stomach issues ] , he said.
"As a coach, I would have to say every time one of our runners crosses the finish line for the first time, and I get to see the emotion on their face, that always gets me."
