In 1972, Mark Spitz wowed America by returning home form Munich with seven gold medals. Young women (and men!) everywhere wanted to run their fingers through his wild mane of black curls. Front Runner Marty McElhiney decided to one-up the Olympic legend, lugging home an unimaginable eight golds from the Chicago Gay Games this July. Needless to say, scores of Front Runners dream of combing their fingers through McElhiney's equally Samson-like locks. (Sorry, you'll have to get past boyfriend Adam first.)

For the record, McElhiney stood atop the podium for his individual performances in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter sprints and in four relay events at the Chicago Games. Not to engender medal envy, but McElhiney captured four in individual events in Sydney (two golds, two silvers) in 2002 and another four in Amsterdam (two golds, two silvers) in 1998. He even picked up a nemesis along the way -- the surest sign that you've truly arrived. McElhiney describes 800-meter foe Eric Saborin as Salieri to his Mozart (okay, I'm editorializing), but the French Canadian, who beat McElhiney in the 800-meter in the 1994 New York Games, has watched McElhiney sprint past him for gold in Amsterdam, Sydney, and now Chicago. "Not this time," Saborin sorely swears before each defeat. Alas, their next face-off will have to wait eight years as they will be in different age groups at the next Gay Games.

McElhiney's fleet-footed future was foreshadowed early when he shocked classmates at an elementary school field day by taking home the blue ribbon in the dash. "No one could believe that 'Marty Mouse' won the race," McElhiney says, explaining in jest that he was "three feet tall and weighed about 20 ounces." Clearly speed was in his genes. He found his calling as a gay runner many years later when he met former FRNY presidents Patrick Barker and Gary Apruzzese at one of Bob Glover's speed workouts in 1987. They inspired McElhiney, who was only just poking his head out of the closet at this time, to run in his first Pride Run. McElhiney recalls crouching in amongst the tank-topped masses, hoping not to be seen at the start of that race, only to hear everyone shouting his name in encouragement midway though the five-miler. "I felt like the jig was up," says McElhiney, "that the whole world knew I was gay -- and there were numerous cameras documenting this fact." In a now-humorous coincidence of pacing, McElhiney had been striding alongside former FRNY president Marty King during that race.

McElhiney may have entered the club in timid fashion, but he became a regular quickly and hsa remained a dedicated member for the last 19 years. A fixture at speed training sessions, McElhiney helped organize the first FRNY indoor track meet and served as race director for most of the eight meets. His athleticism and service to the club were recognized at the inaugural club awards night in 2003 where McElhiney received the evening's top honor: Front Runner of the Year.

So how does McElhiney do it year after year after year? "Having an event in the future is what really keeps me going," he says. "I always like to have some race on the horizon." For September, that race is the Reach the Beach relay from the mountains to the shoreline of New Hampshire. He is also considering racing down museum mile in the Fifth Avenue Mile, as well as tearing up the hills of Van Cortlandt Park in some quality cross-country races this fall. Admittedly "all over the map," McElhiney also has his sights set on a marathon sometime soon. (His last was more than six years ago.)

He'll have to get that distance running out of his system well before the 2010 Cologne Games. "I will definitely be there to defend my medals!" he says. Note to the Gay Games organizers: add a sprinting event or two so that McElhiney can best his 2006 medal count.

Random Data:

Proudest Running Achievement: Front Runner of the Year 2003

Favorite Non-Running Exercise: Snowboarding

Recent Movie: Carnal Knowledge

Fashion Faux Pas: Wearing a unitard as part of a "dream team" relay in the 1994 New York Gay Games

The Digs: Recently moved to the Upper West Side after 17 years on the Lower East Side

Fun Fact: Architect husband Adam just started his own practice alongside Front Runner Gabe Benroth

Word to the Wise: Stretch, stretch, have some fun mixing up your running, and then stretch some more.