An average 23-year-old man presumably would be content to go to parties on weekends, date women and hang around with the guys from time to time.
But Paul Derensmeier is not an average 23-year-old; he's one of two decathletes at SF State.
"You have to be dedicated to be a good decathlete," said Berensmeier.
"The training demands a lot of my time so I've decided to put any serious relationships on hold -- at least for a few years.
,The decathlon comprises 10 events involving sprinting, jumping and throwing, which require short, explosive bursts of energy.
Five events are held each day of the two-day meets.
"The hardest part of being a decathlete is training," said SF State coach Harry Marra, a former decathlete himself.
"Paul's heart and soul goes into training.
He works hard. He is dedicated.
"I've known Paul for two years now" said Herbert Martinez, Berensmeier's counterpart on SF State's two-man decathlete team.
"He is very dedicated. Every night he is in bed by 10:30," said Martinez.
Under Marra's direction, Berensmeier trains five days a week, from September through the end of May, and competes almost every week.
He placed eighth out of 29 decathletes in open competition in his latest meet at Sacramento State on April 12 and 13.
Enduring 100 degree temperatures, he finished the meet with 6,404 points.
Scoring is based on points the decathlete earns in each event.
For example, if a decathlete runs the 100 meter dash in 12 seconds, he earns 600 points.
If he high jumps 6 feet 6 inches, he earns 800 points.
The maximum number of points a decathlete can accumulate for each event is 10O.
In high school Berensmeier was on the track team and played baseball.
At the College of Marin he started competing in the discus, long jump, javelin and the 110 meter high hurdles.
"After that I wanted to know how high I could jump and how fast I could go, so becoming a decathlete seemed like the next natural step," Berensmeier said.
He broke the College of Marin decathlon record by 50 points, a record that still stands today.
"'Paul is peaking for the Northern California Athletic Conference Championships," said Marra.
The championships will be in Turlock on May 7 and 8.
Berensneier will face his toughest competition against Don Lawson of Hayward State.
Berensmeier is averaging 6,400 points this year while Lawson is averaging 6,500, according to Marra.
"Paul won't be trying to break the school record the SF State's record holder, John Pauley, set at 7,190, but he will be fighting to win the championship," said Marra.
Pauley set the record in the NCAC Championship meet last year.
Berensmeier's strongest supporters are his family.
"Paul's parents never miss a meet," said Rory Crain, an SF State hurdler and Berensmeier's roommate.
"They are always out there cheering him on," he said.
Berensmeier's father, Fred, an art instructor at San Francisco City College, is a former decathlete who trained at SF State in 1954 and competed in many events with singer Johnny Mathis.
Berensmeier's mother, Barbara Jean, is a physical education instructor at the College of San Mateo.
Bernsmeier's parents live in Lagunitas, a small town in the San Geronimo Valley in Marin County.
When visiting home, he said he likes to walk through the forest near his parent's house, he said.
His hobbies include tracking animals and reading about decathlete and American Indians.
"I like to track animals. I know the difference between a male and a female deer."
Berensmeier's love for animals started when he was 4 years old, he said. A raven, a barn owl and a dog were his childhood pets. He also treasures solitude.
At least twice a year he tries to get away on five-day solo backpacking trips.
Berensmeier plans to graduate in a year with a bachelor's degree in physical education but will continue training at SF State while he pursues a master's degree.
"My long-term plan is to go to the 1988 Olympic Trials," said Berensmeier. "But ultimately I want to qualify for the 1992 Olympic Games. After that I'll be ready to coach decathletes."
Berensmeier's strongest events are the high jump, shot put, discus throw and the 1500 meter run.
His weakest are the 100 meter dash, 110 meter high hurdles and the 400 meter dash. "The toughest obstacle I've overcome is the pole vault," said Berensmeier. "At the last meet I didn't have any fears at all. But my first year I was scared because 1 hadn't learned how to plant the pole in the ground and keep it away from my body."
What I love the most about being a decathlete is the feeling 1 get when I'm running and jumping," he said.
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