Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2013

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at 20-something, in a swimsuit contest.
Bob Schlau, a vice president at Merrill Lynch, carries
an aura of success everywhere he goes – endless trophies,
multiple medals and two Olympic trial appearances are
a byproduct of his dedication to running. But he has not
always been a great runner. I asked him how, as his com-
petition aged and began to slow, he maintained his speed.
Benita interjected in a sure Southern accent, “Well, his
mom always said he was a late bloomer.”
That’s how much of the conversation went: Bob reclin-
ing comfortably while his wife articulated great tales of his
running success. Bob had surpassed world-class runners
Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter and, at 40, became the
oldest runner to make the Olympic trials in 1988 – out-
running professionals half his age. A year later, runners’
magazines ranked Bob the number one masters – over 40
– runner in the world.
In 1990, Bob was voted runner of the decade by Run-
ning Journal Magazine, and eight years later he was elected
into the South Carolina Runners Hall of Fame. Over the
years, he has claimed more than 100 road race victories,
with a best marathon time of 2:17:16 and a best 10-kilo-
meter time of 30:26.
Bob’s greatest success came at the
thon in Philadelphia in 1984, where
planned to compete. Bob and Benita
divorced, and Bob was serving as his future wife’s trainer.
Benita had asked him to pace her in the marathon, a
qualifying race for the Olympics. When the race day
came around, Benita changed her mind, realizing that the
Olympics were something Bob wanted a shot at as well.
Bob reluctantly agreed to run the race. He qualified for
the 1984 Olympic trials, but that wasn’t the real trophy he
won that day.
“When we got back to town, Charleston was buzzing
with the excitement of Bob’s making the Olympic trials –
his face was on the cover of the newspaper,” Benita boasted.
“So did you fall for Bob right then and there?” I asked
jokingly.
With a Southern grin and a slight blush, Benita re-
sponded, “I was very happy for him.” Their eyes met and
even Bob couldn’t keep from smiling.
Rives Poe
I was sitting at Fuel Cantina downtown when she
pulled up on a 10-speed bike, dressed like a teacher. The
clothes made sense because Ashley Hall had just let out.
Rives Poe, a teacher by day and a runner pretty much any
other time, was just getting off work.
me one of the biggest names to
er River Bridge Run. In 2011, she
long distance runners of the year by
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