08/27/2026
From the Finish Line to the Cross-Country Course
By Mike Heidke
As a kid, athletics weren’t really on my radar, but that started to change one summer night in the early ‘90s. I was sitting in my living room, glued to the TV as Michael Jordan lifted his first NBA trophy. Watching him celebrate, I realized sports had a way of bringing people together and inspiring greatness. I wanted to be part of that world. My name is Mike Heidke, and I went from a non-athlete to a three-time marathon winner in the Fox Cities.
The next year, I decided to try out for middle school basketball. With no background in organized sports, I was out of my league and cut from the team. Not long after, a friend convinced me to join track and field — the one sport that didn’t cut anyone. That was the first time I ran for something other than the bus. The first practices were tough; my legs burned and I struggled to keep pace with the experienced runners. But for the first time, I stuck with a sport. I enjoyed the feeling of improvement each week, measuring progress in seconds shaved off a time or one more lap completed without stopping. That’s really where my running journey began.
I grew up in Neenah, Wisconsin, ran through high school and ended up running for the UW-Stevens Point college team. I am currently a physics teacher and girls’ cross-country coach at Neenah High School. For a few years after college, I worked as an engineer, but my job demanded long hours and didn't leave much time for the things that truly mattered to me. Coaching had always been a passion, whether I was helping with cross country or track and field. After several seasons of trying to fit it all into my schedule, I realized I had to make a choice.
Making the leap from engineering to teaching meant going back to school as an adult, juggling classes at night while still working and navigating the uncertainty of changing careers. However, my desire to work directly with young people as both a teacher in the classroom and a coach on the course outweighed these difficulties. I earned my teaching degree, completed student teaching right here in Neenah and landed my position at the high school. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
After college, I decided to run my first marathon, selecting the race that has wound through my hometown for decades: the Community First Fox Cities Marathon. I spent years watching that race, cheering on coaches and friends from the sidelines, always a little bit in awe of the runners who took it on.
That first marathon was humbling. I thought my years of running would carry me, but around the infamous mile 20, it became a mental test, as much as a physical one. My legs gave out, and I had to walk for a stretch.
A handful of years and thousands of training miles later, a group of running friends and I set an ambitious goal: break 2 hours and 30 minutes in the full marathon. For months, we developed training plans, waking up before sunrise to log long runs. Race day in 2009 was unusually cool and perfect for fast times. As the miles slipped by, I found myself pulling ahead. By the time I entered Neenah, the crowd noise started to swell, and I could spot familiar faces at almost every block. Pushing through fatigue, I crossed the finish line close to the 2:30 mark, short of my goal, but fast enough to win the Community First Fox Cities Marathon for the first time. I was fortunate to repeat that victory over the next two years, completing the trifecta in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
As I hit those final miles in Neenah, it felt like a reunion at every corner — a former runner cheering, students with posters and cowbells, neighbors and my family. Those last three miles reminded me that this isn’t just a race, but a community event that everyone can play a part in. This is what separates the events that make up the Community First Fox Cities Marathon Presented by Miron Construction from other races, and a big reason why so many of us keep coming back.
That local support is what makes the Fox Cities Marathon so special. I’ve had the chance to run in some of the world’s biggest marathons — Chicago, New York and Boston. Those races are impressive, packed with world-class talent and roaring crowds. Despite all that energy, it’s easy to feel like just another bib number in a sea of tens of thousands. No one knows your story or your name, and the finish line, while grand, can feel anonymous.
Here at home, everything is different. In the Fox Cities, the cross-country runners I coach are the ones handing me water or are the students holding the signs, and I share high-fives with past cross-country runners as they run their very first half or full marathons. I hear, “Go Coach!” or “Nice job, Mr. Heidke!” every few blocks, which means the world after twenty-some miles on tired legs. More than anywhere else, running the Fox Cities Marathon feels like coming home, like the whole town is rooting for me, and for every runner out there. That’s the difference: here, you’re not lost in the crowd, you’re lifted by it.
Now, most of my energy goes into coaching high school runners. I make it a point to run with them during practices — not just to model pacing or form, but to show them I’m right there in the grind too. I believe coaching isn’t about shouting from the sidelines; it’s about being side-by-side, experiencing the same hills and headwinds they do. My philosophy centers on consistency, patience and trust in the process. I emphasize effort over results, teamwork over medals and finding pride in small improvements.
I started coaching cross country in 2005, and the runners have volunteered on the course every year since. We split duties with the boys' team, including a fruit station and covering all the intersections for the last three miles of the race. The kids see firsthand how their energy affects exhausted athletes and how just showing up for others can make a real difference. Watching them cheer for teachers, parents, former teammates and even total strangers, I see their confidence and empathy grow. They’re not just developing as athletes, but learning how to support others, celebrate effort and find meaning in giving back.
Running isn’t just about covering miles or chasing personal records; it’s about the shared journey and the connections built along the way. If you’re new to the sport or even thinking about giving it a try, my best advice is to start small and give yourself grace. There’s nothing wrong with beginning with something like the Ascension 5K or Fleet Feet 10K and alternating running and walking. Progress comes with time, and every finish line is worth celebrating.
It helps to have a plan, but what matters more is having people in your corner. Don’t be afraid to ask more experienced runners for advice, join a local club or drag a friend out for those first uncertain miles. Running groups exist for a reason. On the tough days, they’ll keep you laughing and moving forward.
Sometimes, a familiar face or a shout of encouragement can be all it takes to get you through those last few grueling miles. So, lean on the folks beside you, trust their support and remember: every runner out there once started right where you are.
