Top 5 Running Achievements
1978 Constellation Classic 10K (first race after knee surgery)
5 Marathons
- 3 “Mean” Maryland marathons (Satyr Hill): PR 3:40.09 (1980)
- Marine Corp
- Shamrock
2011 Marathon Relay NCR Trail: 5:00:53 (11:29 min/mile, Age 79)
2015 Baltimore Running Festival 5K: 51:45.
Athletic Performance
Dave was a late bloomer to the running scene. Although knee surgery and injuries preempted his goals for an active running career, he dabbled in “toeing” the line across a variety of distances: 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathons. Among his top accomplishments was his PR in the “Satyr Hill” Mean Maryland Marathon: 3:40:09.
Longevity
- BRRC active member for 46 years
- Running career of 22 years
- Over 30 years in race management: The Finished Product (est. 1986), successfully created, directed, timed, and scored races.
- BRRC race director: 1980’s Zoo Zoom’s, 1990-2014 NCR Trail Marathon
- BRRC Lifetime Distinguished Service Award 2011
- A respected, tireless ambassador remembered for his many selfless contributions.
Service to the Club
- Executive Board delegate, Treasurer (3 yrs) 1981-1984, President (2 yrs) 2008, 2009
- Race Director: Zoo Zoom, NCR Trail Marathon
- Catalyst in launching the NCR Trail Marathon in 1990 when the original Maryland Marathon closed.
- Influential in bringing the BRRC sponsored Avon Women’s Race to Baltimore and for four years oversaw accompanying training program for to promote women’s running. Event grew to over 1200 participants.
- Provided race management services at no cost to many club events.
- Maryland State Representative to the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA)
- Paragon of leadership; mentor to BRRC race directing and race management
Stewardship
- Trusted advisor and consultant for race management in Baltimore Metro area.
- 1985 Baltimore Bud Light Triathlon: Race Assistant for the Running leg of the event
- Organized and assistant Race Director for the inaugural Susquehanna River Running Festival coordinating the simultaneous Marathon, ½ Marathon, ½ Marathon Relay, 5K events. Tasked with tracking runners for each event working with the joint police command post involving multiple local county jurisdictions.
- Directed Baltimore’s St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock 5K increasing participation from 500-5,500.
- Tapped by Corrigan Sports Enterprise to design and direct the first ever Baltimore Running Festival (now celebrating its 25th anniversary). Responsible for coordinating logistics for the simultaneous Marathon, Marathon relay, ½ Marathon and 5K. Race director for 8 years. In 2013 the “Cooley Cup” became the award for the top 5K finishers.
- Co-race director for the 2002 inaugural National Marathon in Washington, DC.
- Founded and organized non-profit fund-raising events: In 2005 the Baltimore Sun estimated that Cooley-organized races garnered over $25 million in donations for respective charities. By 2015 the significant increase in that number earned Dave the nickname “The Dean of the Charity Races”.
- Co-founder of the Baltimore [911] Run to Remember. Race Director: 2002-2021. Raised over $350,000 for its cause.
- Working with local survivors, organized Baltimore’s Komen Race for the Cure–1993. Race Director: 8 years. Grew the race from 500-25,000 under his tenure.
- Pivotal role in establishing the GBMC Father’s Day Race in 1988, a local event which remains popular today.
- Founded and organized the Reach out and Run for Hopewell Cancer. Race Director 1997-2005.
- Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Runs
- Nominated for RRCA’s Road Race Management 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award
for his more than 30 years of elevating the standards of race management in the
greater Baltimore Metro area.
– 2025, Christy St. Clair
