CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The rolling hills along the New York-Pennsylvania border offer opportunity for a young man like Bryan Morseman.

When he steps out of his home in Addison, N.Y., and begins his daily running regimen, Morseman immediately finds the same kind of lung-searing terrain that will greet him Saturday morning in the 15-mile Charleston Distance Run and will prepare him in his long-term goal.

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Bryan Morseman

And though the six-mile stretch that moves up and down through South Hills may be a nightmare to others, Morseman, at least for now, welcomes it. For him, hills are a way of life.

"I walk out my door and I don't have any flats,'' Morseman said recently. "The hills should slow down all the speedsters, and that might benefit me.''

He's run a half-marathon (13.1 miles) in one hour, nine minutes, 12 seconds and, as he sized up his chances in Saturday's race, believes a 5:05 mile pace is realistic for him, in which case he would be competitive.

"I'm gunning for 5:05 to 5:10 per mile,'' he said.

The Charleston race is part of his preparation for the Wine Glass Marathon in Corning, N.Y., on Oct. 5. Surprisingly enough, it will be his first attempt at a 26.2-mile race, even though his long-standing goal is to compete in the Olympic marathon.

The 5-foot-8, 123-pound Morseman has excelled at other distances, including the New York state cross country meet in which he placed fifth in 15:52, a speed that easily would have won last year's West Virginia high school cross country championship.

Since then, he's run a 5K in 14:53 and a 10K in 31:46.

His best distance, he believes, is the marathon.

"I'm looking toward the [Olympic] trials in 2012,'' he said. "I would need a 2:19 or better to qualify. And if I don't make it, I may try again in 2016. I think it would be cool to do. With the success I've had - and I've had some failures, too - I think I can do it. Having a goal keeps me focused.''

Reach Mike Whiteford at 348-7948 or mikewhitef...@wvgazette.com

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The rolling hills along the New York-Pennsylvania border offer opportunity for a young man like Bryan Morseman.

When he steps out of his home in Addison, N.Y., and begins his daily running regimen, Morseman immediately finds the same kind of lung-searing terrain that will greet him Saturday morning in the 15-mile Charleston Distance Run and will prepare him in his long-term goal.

At age 22, Morseman is discovering that he has both the gift and desire to maybe qualify as an Olympic marathoner, preferably in 2012, and he's adjusted his lifestyle accordingly. He runs an average of 110 miles a week and entered the Distance Run knowing that the difficult course and international competition will do him some good.

And though the six-mile stretch that moves up and down through South Hills may be a nightmare to others, Morseman, at least for now, welcomes it. For him, hills are a way of life.

"I walk out my door and I don't have any flats,'' Morseman said recently. "The hills should slow down all the speedsters, and that might benefit me.''

He's run a half-marathon (13.1 miles) in one hour, nine minutes, 12 seconds and, as he sized up his chances in Saturday's race, believes a 5:05 mile pace is realistic for him, in which case he would be competitive.

"I'm gunning for 5:05 to 5:10 per mile,'' he said.

The Charleston race is part of his preparation for the Wine Glass Marathon in Corning, N.Y., on Oct. 5. Surprisingly enough, it will be his first attempt at a 26.2-mile race, even though his long-standing goal is to compete in the Olympic marathon.

The 5-foot-8, 123-pound Morseman has excelled at other distances, including the New York state cross country meet in which he placed fifth in 15:52, a speed that easily would have won last year's West Virginia high school cross country championship.

Since then, he's run a 5K in 14:53 and a 10K in 31:46.

His best distance, he believes, is the marathon.

"I'm looking toward the [Olympic] trials in 2012,'' he said. "I would need a 2:19 or better to qualify. And if I don't make it, I may try again in 2016. I think it would be cool to do. With the success I've had - and I've had some failures, too - I think I can do it. Having a goal keeps me focused.''

Reach Mike Whiteford at 348-7948 or mikewhitef...@wvgazette.com