Iron River's Fred Jacobs, newest inductee to the UP Road Runners Club Hall of Fame, is known for wearing fishing attire at the Bass Run in Crystal Falls. (Burt Angeli/The Daily News)

IRON RIVER — Fred Jacobs has been known as “Fast Freddy, Steady Freddy and Joggin’ Jake” over the course of his 35-year distance running career.

You can add UP Road Runners Club Hall of Famer to the list. The organization made Jacobs the lone inductee for the 2018 enshrinement class.

The UPRRC does not hold a formal hall of fame induction ceremony, according to organization president Bill Sved, but a plaque will be presented at one of the 2019 events.

A UPRRC member since 1986, Jacobs was the group’s president from 2008 to 2010. He earned UPRRC Male Runner of the Year in 2008.

Jacobs told Running Amuck in the UPRRC newsletter “that it wasn’t so much the miles but the memories, both highs and lows,” that stood out.

He ran a personal best 2 hours, 47 minutes, in the 1998 Fox Cities Marathon. Two years later at the Appleton race, Jacobs finished second in the Masters Division.

The marathon highlight was meeting John Elway and getting the Denver Broncos great’s autograph.

“That was a bigger thrill than the $75 prize money from the race,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs regards the Paavo Nurmi Marathon in Hurley, Wisconsin, as his favorite race.

“Not because of the heat, humidity or Highway 51, just the barricades you have to conquer throughout the race,” Jacobs said. “I do love the mojakka (Finnish-American soup) at the end of the race.”

Jacobs prefers half-marathons “because of my older legs and the growing popularity of it.”

“When I was younger I loved the 10Ks and my PR of 35 something in Escanaba would be a testament,”?he said.

He’s a mainstay at the Bass Run in Crystal Falls, running with a fish hat and fishing pole which led to his caricature being on the race T-shirt in 2008.

A retired math teacher and cross country coach at West Iron County Public Schools, the 60-year-old keeps busy these days tending to a 60-acre farm and still doing a few distance runs each year.

He said his philosophy is “still get out everyday for at least an hour for some type of physical activity.”

“Whether it’s running, cross country skiing or snowshoeing, it’s critical that I get out and get some fresh air,” Jacobs said. “If my life comes to a point where it gets so busy that I can’t even find an hour during the day to exercise, then it’s time I take a look at my life and make some adjustments. Of course, being single with no kids grants me this freedom.”

Jacobs, described on social media as a “living legend” and “best teacher ever” by two of his WIC students, may receive the UPRRC Hall of Fame plaque at the Norway Spring Classic.

“If I could give advice to those debating running or racing, the hardest part is taking the first step out the door,” Jacobs said. “Running doesn’t build character, it reveals it.”