Couple still living the running life

Army Pair that met in college now runs a combined 200 miles a week

By Somer Breeze-Hanson/Northwest Guardian

Dallas and Asher Henry live the running life.

The married couple stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord — dubbed “Dasher” — combine for nearly 200 miles of running a week.

Dallas, a captain with the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at JBLM, and Asher, a physical therapy doctoral student, met in college on the cross-country team. Their relationship took off running and eventually landed them at JBLM where the elite running couple is immersed in the running and coaching scene.

“There’s no way I could run 110 miles a week through the summer and race 20 times a year if my wife didn’t,” Dallas said. “Running and our success there has been enabled because of the other person’s success. Since we met running has been what’s really bonded us.”

Dallas was accepted to MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas on a running scholarship and attended while Asher was there on a basketball scholarship. The small school’s under developed cross-country team recruited Asher to boost their numbers and on Aug. 28, 2004 she met Dallas, who was injured that season.

“When my good looks weren’t working I played all the charm of the kid in the cast with a cane,” Dallas said. “Somehow I convinced Asher I was worth dating.”

And the couple has been in stride together ever since.

Asher finished second in her first cross-country race and then won her second race. At the end of the year she missed All-American status by only a single spot, but earned that distinction the following year.

After two years of playing basketball and running, Asher decided to transfer to Missouri State University to run during her junior year. Dallas joined her a year later to pursue his masters degree and was the graduate assistant for the cross country team.

The couple married exactly six years after their first meeting, packed up their lives and moved to JBLM in 2010. It didn’t take long for the Henrys to make their running mark at JBLM and in the surrounding community. Dallas represented the JBLM Ten-Miler team and last year was the team captain.

Together the couple runs road races and track and field competitions and picked up sponsorships from multiple companies wanting to support “Dasher” as runners and coaches. Asher coaches cross-country and distance runners at Bellarmine Prep High School in Tacoma, where Dallas also volunteers as coach.

The couple ran for Mizuno right out of college, and eventually signed with Brooks Running as coaches. They are also supported by Honey Stinger and 110 Play Harder.

As part of the Tacoma City Running Club Elite team, the Henrys are prime candidates for even more sponsorships.

“It’s really great to have them and know that somebody else is supporting us,” Asher said. “It’s great to have somebody there that’s cheering you on and giving you exterior motivation, because so much of it comes from interior, but it’s nice to have that balance.”

The couple spends nearly 13 hours a week logging their miles, but it’s time they are able to spend together. Weekends in the Henry house involve going to bed on a typical Friday night at 9:30 p.m., waking up Saturday for a 30 minute run, drinking coffee, walking the dog, maybe take a nap, then meet their training group for a 12 to 13 mile workout. They return home exhausted and are already thinking about Sunday’s run, usually between 15 to 21 miles.

“Being able to train at an elite level and being a talented runner is a wonderful curse,” Dallas said. “We’ll start and stop together and then complain how sore our legs are after together.”

Their lives revolve around their sport. Running is even considered when planning vacations. The couple went on an Alaskan vacation and strategically chose a cruise that harbored enough times for them to be able to get their mileage in. But if the couple could choose to do anything, they would choose to enjoy a run in picturesque scenery.

“It’s different but we get to spend our time together so it’s still fun,” Asher said.

The Henrys are able to let loose every now and then, on rest days of course. Dallas takes a day off once every three weeks and Asher takes a day every eight days, while still recording 80 to 90 miles a week — her optimum mileage.

In May Asher will leave for her doctoral program in Savannah and Dallas will chase her across the country, hoping to catch her at Fort Stewart.