It didnt take long for runner Nick Rose to realize hes still remembered in Bowling Green for his past accomplishments in the Bowling Green 10K Classic.

Fresh off a transcontinental flight the night before from their home in England, Rose and wife Christine decided to hit the shopping spots at Greenwood Mall on Thursday. While strolling past the stores, the Roses were approached by a fan who had childhood memories of watching Nick Rose compete.

Theres so many people we know here, we feel at home and at ease, said Nick Rose, who moved back to Bristol, England, in 1984. So many places you go you dont have that. It was such a shock this morning when we realized were three and a half thousand miles from home.

Rose still considers Bowling Green his second home, a place where many of his friends still live and the site of some of his greatest accomplishments as a runner. In the Bowling Green (formerly the Wendys-Daily News) 10K Classic, Nick Rose is unmatched in success. He captured the first four mens 10K championships (1980-83) took two years off and returned to win again in 1986. Five years ago, he returned alone to win the masters division and finish fifth overall.

Not bad at age 43.

The Roses are back in Bowling Green again for todays 20th annual Classic, invited as past race winners to come back once more. Christine Rose, who won the inaugural womens race in 1980, wont run.

But nothing will stop Nick Rose from competing.

I love to run around here, Nick Rose said. Ive got fond memories of the race and I like to support it. Ill run, unless I fall over and break my leg between now and then.

Nick Rose has different priorities in his life now. He and Christine have two children — 14-year-old Edward and 12-year-old Alice. In 1994, he finished his professional running career and became an elementary schoolteacher.

I enjoy it, Rose said of teaching. I have 30 kids to be with for six hours a day to control and teach and help them to learn. Its full of its ups and downs. Never a dull moment.

Rose had plenty of high moments in his days of full-time racing. An eight-time All-American during his days at Western Kentucky University (1972-76), Rose was among the inaugural group inducted into the schools athletic hall of fame in 1991.

As a Hilltopper, Rose won the NCAA individual championship in cross country in 1974. As a team, Western finished second in the nation. Rose was the first athlete to ever run a four-minute mile in the state of Kentucky, which he did at L.T. Smith Stadium. Rose later went on to become a two-time Olympian and a silver medalist in the Commonwealth Games.

In the first Classic run on Nov. 15, 1980, Rose won a memorable duel with then-American 10,000-meter record holder Craig Virgin.

Its a great feeling now, Rose said. Back then it was a lot of pressure. People would say Nicks here, hell win. That cant go on forever. People expected me to win, which is nice. In a way it helped me. Even though Im English and Craig Virgin was American, they supported me.

Rose has in turn lent his support to the Classic through the years. In 1988, with the race struggling to stay in existence after founder Dave Mason left town, 10K Classic board of directors member Steve Thornton said the return of Rose might have saved the event.

The person I credit with helping us continue the race (in 1988) is Nick Rose, Thornton said. He had never been beaten by anybody on Bowling Green soil. … But he came back that year, knowing he wouldnt win and that he would have this personal record broken.

But with just having his name back in the race, I think that helped ensure that the race would continue.