Landers biathlon winner

His physical fitness streak started after he quit smoking.
& lt;a href=mailto:kovach@vindy.com & gt;By JOHN KOVACH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Michael Landers quit smoking cigarettes 22 years ago when he still was a Youngstown policeman.
That's also when he replaced smoking with running and bicycle riding, to launch his new avocation of physical fitness.
Now retired as a captain with the YPD's "B" turn, Landers has become an avid runner and bicyclist and successful biathlon performer.
In fact, he won a gold medal in the biathlon in the 55-59 age division June 17 at Mosquito Lake Park at the Ohio Police and Fire Olympics.
Personal achievement
Landers completed the 5-k run, 18-mile bike ride and another 5-k run that composed the biathlon in about 1 hour, 58 minutes, which he considered a personal achievement.
Then later in the games, he took the runner-up silver medal in a 10-k run in his age class in 51:44.
He also had completed a 5-k run in Warren that preceded the games in about 25 minutes.
"This [physical fitness] started after I quit smoking," said Landers, who was competing in his fourth Ohio Police and Fire Olympics. "I didn't do much before that."
He said the reason he turned to physical fitness was because "a police job is stressful and you got to do something [to help]."
Then, "The interest just grew as you got into [running and biking] and you meet different people, and we always run in [Mill Creek Park]. Thank God for Mill Creek Park. People [who provided for the park] had vision," said Landers, who runs and walks the paths and frequents bike trails. "Whoever had that vision did our country a great service."
Pedal to the Point
Now, Landers is preparing for another 150-mile round-trip bike ride from the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds to Cedar Point on Aug. 16-17, called the Pedal to the Point ride which is part of the MS (multiple sclerosis) 150 Nike Tour.
"I've done [the Pedal to the Point] with my son [James] for several years. My son moved to New York and won't be going this year," said Landers.
James, who was captain of the Canfield High swim team, is a CPA and got a job in Manhattan and will live near his younger brother, Marc, in Queens.
Marc, who was on the diving team at Canfield High and also was in the school's drama club, attends Marymount College and is an actor who has had several bit parts in movies. He also has taken an examination to become a New York City fireman.
Canoeing and kayaking
Landers also likes to go canoeing and kayaking on the Allegheny River in Emlenton, Pa., "just to escape from everything. It's out [in the wilderness and quiet. My son [James] and I went up three days ago, and we saw an eagle and caught a lot of fish."
Landers' wife, Itala is a health teacher at Glenwood Middle school, and they have a beagle dog "Jake."
"I don't really consider myself an athlete," said Landers of his running and biking. "I just do it to keep in shape."
He also is a long-time member of the Youngstown Roadruners Club, and participates in many of the club's races. He also works out twice a week at Creekside.
"I just came back from a spinning class at Creekside," said Landers, who is looking forward to next year's Ohio Police and Fire Olympics in Cleveland, and perhaps another gold medal.
& lt;a href=mailto:kovach@vindy.com & gt;kovach@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;