At home in Timnath: Phil Goldstein primed for day outdoor amenities arrive

Phil and Amy Goldstein hunted for several years before they found the perfect house in a spot that met their most important requirements: privacy, open space and a mountain view. For the last four years they’ve been happily ensconced in their home at Harmony in Timnath, enjoying a stunning view of the foothills, a wide green open space extending from their backyard and the privacy they missed as the area where they lived in Fort Collins became overcrowded.

“In addition we found a community filled with interesting people and a place where I found opportunities to give back,” Phil said.

He is currently chair of the Planning Commission for Timnath and president of his homeowners’ association. He also writes a quarterly newsletter for his neighborhood.

Amy, who teaches special education at Cache La Poudre Middle School, has a bit of a commute, but unless his job as a consultant for intercollegiate athletics takes him on the road, Phil is able to work at home.

A native of Morgantown, W.Va., Phil, a slight fellow, tried most every traditional sport when he was growing up.

“I was never big enough,” he said. “When I discovered distance running in the 1970s, I was hooked. It’s the only sport I’ve ever been good at.”

Always an avid sports fan, Phil earned a degree in broadcast journalism at the University of West Virginia, then another in accounting in order to work as controller in his father’s business. When his dad decided to close up shop, Phil was out of work.

“I’m one of the few people who have been laid off by their dad,” he said.

In need of work, Phil agreed to become a graduate student in sports management because that was the only way he could get paid to work in the athletic department at the University of West Virginia. The degree he earned led him to a career in intercollegiate athletic administration that took him to Bowling Green University in Ohio, Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti and in 1998, to Colorado State University where he spent nine years as associate athletic director for business operations.

His retirement in 2007 lasted for two weeks. “I promised myself a whole year off,” he said, “but when the University of Northern Colorado approached me, I worked part-time as a special assistant to the president for three months.”

When that job ended, Phil was asked to join Alden Associates, a firm specializing in executive search and consulting for intercollegiate athletics. Phil’s specialty is in the area of financial management. His job allows him flexibility and time to pursue what he describes as his “obsession.”

After many years — and probably too many training miles as a top-notch distance runner — Phil reluctantly gave up the sport following hip replacement surgery in 2005. At the time he was 22 years into an exercise “streak.” He had worked out doing something for at least 45 minutes every single day since 1983. That was the year when he ran the Boston Marathon for the third and last time on a bum knee and was forced end his 80-to-100-mile running weeks.

“I was famous for overtraining and I picked poor parents,” Phil says referring to the joint deterioration that has resulted in five major surgeries — two knees, two feet, one hip.

“At that point I realized that while I could not run every day, I could work out every day, so that’s what I did.”

Phil loved the competitive aspects of running and racing and found that cycling, swimming, lifting weights, hiking and walking went a long way toward filling that void for him.

He continued to run and compete until his hip surgery in 2005, but he reduced his mileage and got serious about cross-training. In 2001 he won his age group at the CSU Homecoming 5K Race and the following year got the news that he would eventually need a hip replacement. He put it off for as long as possible. The day following his replacement surgery in 2005 he managed some sit-ups in bed and a walk around the surgery center. The next day he went home and began a six-week routine working out on an upper body ergometer in order to keep his “streak” alive.

His daily workout, a sacred commitment for more than 31 years now, gets priority planning. Phil usually likes to exercise in the morning and varies his routine, doing a gym workout that includes lifting weights every other day and cardio on the in-between days.

A workout room in his basement has a treadmill and stationary bike for bad weather. When it’s nice outside, he walks or takes his mountain or road bike for a spin. He and Amy enjoy hiking and have done several fourteeners.

While on the road for business, he makes sure to stay in hotels with a gym. When his schedule gets crowded, he’s been known to get up at 2 a.m. in order to get his workout in.

Every year he does something special to celebrate the anniversary of his “streak.” At year 25 he did a five-hour gym workout. At year 27 he did seven hours of spinning spaced throughout a day. At 29 he spent nine hours in the weight room and at year 30 he alternated 45 minutes of walking and biking for 10 hours straight followed by a neighborhood party to celebrate.

The Goldsteins like living in a small town. At the same time, they are well aware of the potential for growth that is sure to come. Phil is a member of a town committee on growth and is committed to making sure things are done right. He is especially interested in addressing parks, recreation, open space and trails as a committee member. Aside from donating his service to the community, Phil will be one of the first people making use of any and all outdoor amenities that will one day be available in Timnath.