TR's Fastest Man: On the Run

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - One Sailor aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) has put the Navy's culture of fitness on the fast track.

Whether he's finishing the Physical Fitness Assessment 1.5 mile run in less than eight minutes, placing fifteenth out of more than 1,500 people in a worldwide competition, or riding his bike 60 miles after work, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Samuel Dannenbring shows no sign of slowing down.

"It's fun, it's something to do," said Dannenbring.
"Some people like to work on their cars or relax in their free time; I spend my time racing."

Dannenbring has been competing in races since he was in the seventh grade. It helped having his dad as his high school's cross-country coach.

"I was an average kid, I never won an overall race in cross country back then," said Dannenbring. "I never really started getting good until after high school."

Dannenbring graduated high school and left to join the Navy, training for and competing in triathlons and other events whenever he got the chance.

Since arriving aboard Roosevelt, Dannenbring has been juggling his duties working in the galley with being a member of the ship's search and rescue team, the Master's Swim Team at the Tidewater Aquatics Club in Norfolk, and the All-Navy Triathlon Team, which competes all over the country.

Earlier this year Dannenbring went to California to compete in the Armed Forces National Championship with the All-Navy Triathlon Team, where the team won for its fifth year in a row.

"There are some professionals in that race, but the Navy has a pretty strong team," said Dannenbring.

Dannenbring also went to Kansas earlier in the year to qualify for the Half Ironman World Championships. The Half Ironman consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 13.1-mile run, and a 56-mile bike race. Dannenbring qualified and plans to compete in the event in November.

"The world championship is going to be my big shebang for the season," said Dannenbring. "It's been a good but long season."

Dannenbring's training is in many ways more rigorous than the events he competes in. Dannenbring usually gets an average of about 12 miles of running and 30 miles of biking done in a day's training, which is about four hours.

Among Dannenbring's friends is Jim Golden, Final Kick Sports store owner.

"He is one of our most frequent guests and one of our better athletes," said Golden.

Dannenbring plans to get out of the Navy next year and join the Coast Guard as a rescue swimmer. He also plans to go on to be a professional runner and compete in more events in the future.

"He is just going to keep getting better and better," Golden said of Dannenbring. "He always [has] a smile on his face, he's positive and humble - those qualities help make him the superior runner that he is."