Caroline Walker
Encyclopedia
Caroline Walker is a former American
long-distance runner from Oregon
who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations
as having set a world best in the marathon
on February 28, 1970 with a time of 3:02:53 at the inaugural Trail's End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon
.
Walker's performance was made while she was a junior at Grant High School in Portland. Although the school did not have official track or cross country
teams, Walker began running competitively as a freshman. She ran for the Oregon Track Club
. In 1970, Walker was the Oregon high school state champion in the mile and runner-up in the 3,000 meters at the AAU national championships held at UCLA. She also won the Junior AAU Cross-Country Championship held in Portland on November 13, 1971 (15:58).
In the early 1970s, Walker attended the University of Oregon
where she received instruction from the legendary Steve Prefontaine
. After Prefontaine's death, she lived in his house with his girlfriend and sister. Walker represented the United States in the 1972 International Cross Country Championships
, where she placed 9th winning silver with the US team, and the 1973 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, winning team bronze with an individual 30th place, and was an All-American in cross country in 1973. From 1972 to 1978, she won Oregon Road Runners Club women’s aquathlon
, a biathlon
consisting of running and swimming, six consecutive times. In 1981, Walker returned to college at Oregon State University
where she was briefly coached by Joe Fulton. There she would set a school records in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. Walker was also the Oregon state triathlon
champion in 1984, 1986, and 1987. Injuries and the nature of her cross country training schedule prevented her from running another marathon. For her achievements, Walker was inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League
's Hall of Fame in 2005.
Walker claims that mercury in the dental fillings
she received during her last year at Oregon negatively affected her health and her running performance, and that a lower back injury
sustained at a chiropractor
's office ended her running career. From 1995 to 1997, she worked for a physician specializing in the alternative medicine
treatments of neural therapy
and prolotherapy
.
As of 2009, Walker is a colorpuncturist
living in Santa Fe, New Mexico
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
long-distance runner from Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
as having set a world best in the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
on February 28, 1970 with a time of 3:02:53 at the inaugural Trail's End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon
Seaside, Oregon
Seaside is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. The name Seaside is derived from Seaside House, a historic summer resort built in the 1870s by railroad magnate Ben Holladay. The city's population was 6,457 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
Walker's performance was made while she was a junior at Grant High School in Portland. Although the school did not have official track or cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
teams, Walker began running competitively as a freshman. She ran for the Oregon Track Club
Oregon Track Club
The Oregon Track Club is a running organization based in Eugene, Oregon. Shortened to OTC, the Oregon Track Club has a long history at the pinnacle of American track and field...
. In 1970, Walker was the Oregon high school state champion in the mile and runner-up in the 3,000 meters at the AAU national championships held at UCLA. She also won the Junior AAU Cross-Country Championship held in Portland on November 13, 1971 (15:58).
In the early 1970s, Walker attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
where she received instruction from the legendary Steve Prefontaine
Steve Prefontaine
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
. After Prefontaine's death, she lived in his house with his girlfriend and sister. Walker represented the United States in the 1972 International Cross Country Championships
International Cross Country Championships
The International Cross Country Championships was an annual international competition in cross country running. It was created in 1903 by the International Cross Country Union and it marked the first time that an annual international championships had been held for the sport.It began its life as...
, where she placed 9th winning silver with the US team, and the 1973 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1973 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 1st IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on 17 March 1973 in Waregem, Belgium.-Individual:-Team:- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :...
, winning team bronze with an individual 30th place, and was an All-American in cross country in 1973. From 1972 to 1978, she won Oregon Road Runners Club women’s aquathlon
Aquathlon
The sport of aquathlon consists of a continuous, two-stage race involving swimming followed by running. The International Triathlon Union and its member federation organizations sanction competitions and govern the sport...
, a biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
consisting of running and swimming, six consecutive times. In 1981, Walker returned to college at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
where she was briefly coached by Joe Fulton. There she would set a school records in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. Walker was also the Oregon state triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
champion in 1984, 1986, and 1987. Injuries and the nature of her cross country training schedule prevented her from running another marathon. For her achievements, Walker was inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League
Portland Interscholastic League
The Portland Interscholastic League is a high school athletic conference in Portland, Oregon that is a member of the Oregon School Activities Association . It consists of high schools in the Portland Public Schools district...
's Hall of Fame in 2005.
Walker claims that mercury in the dental fillings
Dental amalgam controversy
The dental amalgam controversy refers to the conflicting views over the use of amalgam as a filling material mainly because it contains the element mercury...
she received during her last year at Oregon negatively affected her health and her running performance, and that a lower back injury
Spinal disc herniation
A spinal disc herniation , informally and misleadingly called a "slipped disc", is a medical condition affecting the spine due to trauma, lifting injuries, or idiopathic, in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion A spinal disc herniation...
sustained at a chiropractor
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
's office ended her running career. From 1995 to 1997, she worked for a physician specializing in the alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
treatments of neural therapy
Neural therapy
Neural Therapy is a system to diagnose and treat medical problems of patients which are otherwise difficult to treat or resistant to treatment. Neural therapy can be traced back to the German physicians Ferdinand and Walter Huneke, who at first called it "Heilanästhesie" , then "Segmenttherapie" ...
and prolotherapy
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is also known as "proliferation therapy" or "regenerative injection therapy." involves injecting an otherwise non-pharmacological and non-active irritant solution into the body, generally in the region of tendons or ligaments for the purpose of strengthening weakened connective tissue...
.
As of 2009, Walker is a colorpuncturist
Colorpuncture
Colorpuncture, or color light acupuncture, is an alternative medicine practice asserting that colored lights can be used to stimulate acupuncture points to promote healing and better health. It is a form of color therapy. There is no known anatomical or histological basis for the existence of...
living in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
.