People see the helmet with horns and think this guy is a character.
He is and it’s a conversation starter, and Cowman will enjoy your company if you throw him a shaka and extend some aloha.
Cowman, Marie Kuramoto (6:38:56), DJ Blinn (5:50:35), and David Hammes (5:06:30) — last year’s times from slowest to not-the-slowest — are known as the Big Island International Marathon’s Final Four.
They’ve run all 26.2-mile Hilo marathons with the original course that started in Pepeekeo and the new one that has the starting and finishing line at Hilo Bayfront, changed in 2014.
Cowman doesn’t have an official time in the last three years at the new course. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t completed the marathon. He just finished after the seven-hour time limit.
“The reason I’m still going is I enjoy being competitive,” he said. “My body and spirit will tell me when to back off or how long to go.”
For those who’ve known him for over 20 years or anyone who recently met him, it’s easy to draw a conclusion about Cowman: He’s Mr. Aloha.
That’s Blinn’s description of Cowman, who celebrated his 73rd birthday on Thursday listening to Henry Kapono at the Royal Kona Resort and watching the sunset recharge his eternal battery.
“He’s a big guy (6 foot 3, 250 pounds), always nice to people and real friendly,” Blinn said. “I’ve never seen him mad except one time when somebody stole his horns. He’s Mr. Aloha. He has a magnetic personality.
“I met him in 1982 and have seen him in over 50 races. He’s a Clydesdale. He’s 200 pounds plus and done all kinds of races all over the world. We’re all still going strong.”
Cowman has completed over 100 marathons, including all 26 Kilauea Wildness Runs, which started in 1983 at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and more than 35 Honolulu Marathons.
“He’s generally a really nice guy, which most of the runners are anyway,” Hilo marathon race director Bob Wedeman said. “He says he’s the running ambassador for the Big Island. He talks up the Big Island and seems to get along with everyone. He definitely fits the bill.
“He’s always got a crowd of people around him talking to him, which is a good thing. He draws crowds for the right reasons.”
His popularity has led to running appearances in Japan, Brazil, and other places around the world.
Role model
Cowman is the fourth son of Homer and Esther Shirk. Their sons are Gary, Don, Richard, Ken, David, and Dennis.
The family grew up on an 89-acre property near Salinas, Calif., where there was a lake and forest. Fishing and hunting were daily adventures.
But what Cowman remembers most is how he was raised by his parents. They instilled discipline but also emphasized virtues such as independence and thoughtfulness.
“I had a good upbringing. My mother was a caring person. She was down to earth,” he said. “We used to go caroling for families that didn’t have any kids. That becomes part of your spirit, and I share my spirit and love through my sports.”
His dad passed away at 91. His mom died when Cowman was in his late 20s. She caught an infection and never recovered.
“I realized that she gave me her love and knowledge freely and unconditionally, and it was time to carry her torch,” Cowman said. “I was an art major in college at San Jose, which was a state college at the time. My mom and dad gave me the freedom to adventure, go on a horse or skiing to have that spirit. It’s like a horse never being broken.”
Streaking horns
Cowman remembers July 4, 1976 very well. It was the U.S. Bicentennial, and he was living near Lake Tahoe.
He borrowed his first pair of horns from a friend, painted himself red, white, and blue and ran naked during the Tahoe City’s parade.
“I ran through as fast as I could,” he said. “I didn’t know if I would be arrested, but I knew I could outrun any policeman.
“The nickname ‘Cowman’ came before that. I was a cowboy growing up and became a mountain man when I moved to Lake Tahoe. That’s how Cowman started.
“In the Aloha state since cows go ‘moo,’ I’ve used my last name as A-Moo-Ha when I sign up for races.”
Mr. Aloha
Long ago, Cowman worked in construction and visited a friend in Honolulu in 1979, the second year of the Ironman World Championships.
Without any training or preparation, he finished eighth out of the 15 competitors. In 1981, the Ironman moved to Kona and so did Cowman.
He went to a restaurant and saw an old picture of paniolo cowboys hauling steers into the water aboard boats.
That gave him the idea to wear his horns at the Ironman, which eventually led to a collision course with the race director and got him banned.
Still, he ran unofficially for years and produced his own T-shirts and gave them away to participants, spreading aloha in his own way.
He’s organizing all his notepads and pictures to write his memoir.
Until then, he’s living his life as Cowman A-Moo-Ha, a free spirit best described as the Big Island’s running ambassador or Mr. Aloha.
“I enjoy the course at the Hilo marathon and the people. For me, it’s the Big Island, not just Kona,” Cowman said. “It’s like a lei that represents Hawaii. You have to tie it together to make one big circle.
“That’s the Big Island, that circle from Hawi, Hamakua coast, Hilo, Puna, Pahoa, Ka’u, South Point, Kona, and Waikoloa.
“My mom said that your body and mind are your temple, and you have to do everything to make it pure and strong. My ohana is everyone. That’s the job my mother passed on to me, to have that ripple effect, go out and be yourself and keep peace, love, and happiness and aloha alive.”
Marathon
What: 20th Big Island International Marathon
When: 6 a.m. Sunday
Where: Hilo Bayfront
Defending champs: Sam Settelmeyer, 2:37:11; Amanda Phillips, 2:53:20 (also record holders)
Info: hilomarathon.org