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Petaluma's Stern has a gift, and he's running with it Thursday, September 18, 2008 By Bob Padecky They got to Ben Stern’s appendix in time, removing it before it burst. Thank goodness for that one. But the doctors couldn’t prevent Ben’s twisted right ankle turning into a stress fracture. The doctors weren’t there, either, when Ben suffered a stress fracture in his right shin. Of course, there was the time the docs were a big help when Ben came to them. Ben was exhausted all the time, especially after running, and it made him nuts. Ben ate so healthy, he was a grain silo. Lo and behold, tests revealed Ben was anemic. Was he ever frustrated at his body not cooperating? Nah, frustration doesn’t quite describe it. “It made me want to punch a brick wall,” said the Petaluma senior. His hand, now that’s one body part that hasn’t failed him. Still, his anger is understandable. Think of Ben Stern this way: A stallion forced to stay in his stall and not allowed to gallop. That’s Ben Stern. “I have a gift,” Stern said. It’s the simple yet complicated gift of running. As a freshman, Stern was able most times to match Sterling Lockert stride-for-stride, the same Sterling Lockert who is now the best cross-country runner in the state. When he has been in the groove, when he has been able to run without a cane or pain, Stern describes the sensation: “Every step feels like power. I could go forever.” Right now Stern is feeling the power. Having missed his entire junior year because he was anemic, Stern is back, back to the point that his coach, Jim Lynch, said, “It’s the difference between night and day.” In his very first race in more than a year, Stern finished eighth last Saturday in Martinez at the Ed Sias Invitational. It was a premier event, involving 25 schools and 125 runners from throughout the Bay Area. “For us to return to state and accomplish what we want to accomplish, Ben has to play a part,” Lynch said. Meaning Petaluma, which finished second in the state in 2007 in cross country, wants the top prize this time and there’s no runner more suited to the challenge than Stern. “He’s the most dedicated kid I’ve coached,” Lynch said. To that end, Lynch plans to keep Stern out of many league meets, saving him for high- profile invitationals. Stern also will not run as many miles in the week as his teammates, biking instead, all of this done to mitigate the physical impact running has on his body. Lynch and Stern both want to be cautious. Cautiously optimistic, they are. Wildly joyous, they want to be if he remains healthy. Stern is that good. “Sterling is running insane right now,” Lynch said, “and Ben is challenging to be the No.2 runner.” On this talented cross country team, That’s like saying a baseball player is good enough to hit behind Alex Rodriguez. “Running is what I was meant to do,” Stern said. “I can’t waste my talent. I read Steve Prefontaine’s book and like Pre said, ‘If you don’t try your hardest, you are sacrificing a gift.’ I can inspire people with my running. I feel like I can keep up with the best runner in the state (Lockert).” One day Stern said he wants to make the U.S. Olympic team as a triathlete. And if he does, Stern knows what he’ll say. He’ll say he’s from Petaluma, California, and from Petaluma High School. “I’ll say this is where I found my gift,” he said. First things first. Two weeks ago, Stern was playing soccer, made a kick, and heard a pop in his right hip. He thinks he may have pulled a muscle. He’s not sure. Can’t hurt that much, though. When I saw Stern Wednesday, his right hand wasn’t broken. That meant he hadn’t punched a brick wall. That’s always a good sign. For more on North Bay high school sports go to Bob Padecky’s blog at padecky@pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Bob Padecky at 521-5490 or bob.padecky@pressdemocrat.com.
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