Catching up with 1984 Olympian Ruth Wysocki...

Today we chat with '84 Olympian, Ruth Wysocki (pictured here courtesy of runningtimes.com). Many of us remember her thrilling victory at the Olympic Trials (1500m) in that same year over Mary Decker, who had swept the 1500 and 3000 in the inaugural World Championships in '83. Ruth was quite a pioneer in our sport considering girl's high school sports were quite sparse in the 70's. Her career also extended to a time when most of her peers had long retired. She still holds the American Record in the 1500 in the 35-39 age division where she ran 4:07.08 as a 38 year old. So without further ado, one of the all time running greats...

1) What sports did you compete in before and during high school?
During high school, I only ran. However, I was very involved in musical activities. I had private lessons in piano and violin, played in the school orchestra and sang in choir for school & church.

2) What was the cross country and track and field scene like during your time in high school?
Things were quite different. I graduated from high school in 1974. There were virtually no high school sports for girls. My running was for a club. For my first 2 years, my dad was my coach and I ran for the So. Cal. Roadrunners. My junior year, I trained with Vince Reel and worked out at the Claremont Colleges. Lots of intervals as he was basically a sprint coach. Ran for the LA Track Club. Then, in my senior year, I ran for my school, but on the boy's team. Lots of stories there. 1973 (Junior year) was the first year for CIF track for girls. This consisted of a CIF meet (what is now the Masters Meet for Southern Section), but no state meet. You could not double in 2 distance events (Boys couldn't, either). So I ran 440 and 880 and won them both with only 15-20 minutes rest in between events. Also won the Arcadia Invitational 880 twice. My senior year was the first year for a state meet for girls, but I wasn't allowed to run because I ran on the boy's team. More stories there as well!

I think probably the biggest difference in high school running then was that only people serious about wanting to compete bothered to go out for the team. Teams were smaller, but there was more intensity. We lived to compete and gave our all and then some. Now, like life in general, it seems to be about participation and making sure everybody feels good. By the way, in those days cross country was 2 miles, not 3.

3) Where did you compete in college and what was your experience like then?
Again, back in the "dark ages" there were few, if any, opportunities for the gals. There was no NCAA for women. They had the AIAW, which was kind of a joke. I went to the University of Redlands for 1 year to run for Vince Reel again, but it proved to be a bad choice of schools for me. I did improve my 880 from 2:10 to 2:07, but then didn't go back after that first year. I got married in 1976 (& divorced in 1982) and went to work full-time for the school district in their purchasing department. I started working with Vince O'Boyle (now at UC Irvine, but then at Citrus Jr. College) and he remained my coach until I quite racing. I ended up running for Citrus for 2 years (1977-1979) because Vince had 4 good gals who wanted to run cross country & track and they needed a 5th runner. So, I worked out at 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and worked for the school district from 8:00-5:00. In 1978, I won AAU Championships for 800 (beating Mary Decker).

4) When did you first realize that you had an opportunity to participate in the Olympics? Besides the '84 Olympic Trials 1500 race, any other races stand out for you?
In 1976 (my first year working with Vince O'Boyle), we set a goal of making it to the Olympic Trials at 800 meters. I improved to 2:03.87 and made it to the finals, where I got dead last. However, I realized at that point that I was among the top 800 meter runners in the US and I was only 19 years old. That's when I realized I had the real potential for something big to happen.

There are a lot of memorable races for me, and for many reasons. Perhaps the best memory was breaking 2:00 for 800 meters for the first time. I come from a family of 800 meter runners (my dad was 4th in the California State Meet in 1946). I have 3 brothers who also competed. I ran the 800 for many years and always had that goal of dipping under 2:00.

5) Reflecting back, what kind of training do you feel worked best for you (high mileage? etc.)? What were some of your key workouts for you?
I was definitely not high mileage. I trained 50-60 miles per week and did 2-a-days to get that. I did one "long" run a week of 1 hour. Most runs were 6 miles, and my morning run (4-5 days a week) was 3 miles. But, I did it year after year after year. Not missing days was key for my psyche as well as my physical fitness and strength. I think some of the key workouts included changing pace. For example, we would run 800's where we would be at 1500 pace for the first 500 and then "go." I loved running 500 meter repeats. When we did shorter stuff, we often started with a hard 1000 meter. We did a lot of cutdowns, where each repeat, or each set got faster.

Each year started with mile repeats, then 1200, 1000, 800, 600, 400. Each of these workouts started with 3 miles of intervals (12 laps). After a number of years, Vince let me skip the miles because I hated doing them and let me start with 1200s. Those weeks would be 1 workout on the track and the other a fartlek on the roads. I think consistency was a real key for me. Staying with the same coach (bless you, Vince!), having familiar checkpoints, not trying to re-invent or jump on the latest craze, but trusting what Vince had me do and doing it again and again.

6) How important was mental preparation for you before races?
Like many other runners, it became more and more important over the years. I did a lot of visualization. I must have broken 2:00 in my head thousands of times before it actually happened!

7) Who was the toughest competitor(s) you faced as a pro?
There were many. In the early season it was just about everybody. I seemed to need to race myself into competitive shape and would often get beat in the early races, like Mt Sac. I wasn't like some gals who would race very sparingly. When I was in top form, I didn't fear many competitors. I knew what I was ready to run and I would set out to do it. If someone could do it better or faster, then that's the way it went. Most of the toughest competitors were the ones in the European races.

8) What is your take on the resurgence of female mid-distance runners? Do you have any favorite current pro runners?
It has been great to see the breakthroughs that have happened of late. I was always quite surprised to see my times hold up so well for so many years. I didn't have a lot of the technical help or training groups. There were many years where I needed to work, sometimes full-time and balance my running. Knowing the way I trained and that I didn't have a whole "team" of people helping (not that I didn't have supporters), I always wondered why people who seemed to put more into it than I did weren't running faster times than they were.

Of the current crop, I think my favorites are Shannon Rowbury and Anna Willard. I know Shannon is in very good hands with Coach Cook. Anna is just so tough and exciting to watch race - and what versatility! She seems to have no fear.

9) What have been some of the changes in the world of professional races?
Much more money!

10) What are your thoughts on PEDs and how can their use be controlled and/or diminished?
I wish I had the magic answer for this one! It has been really discouraging to see some people seemingly get away with cheating. It's difficult, though, to separate the rumors from the truth. Any time someone runs fast or has a big breakthrough, they're immediately accused. I'm glad the internet wasn't so prevalant when I was competing. I've seen articles now about what apparently went on in 1984. We as athletes had very strong suspicions and had heard things. But, even now, HGH isn't tested for. You see some people really physically change and it seems so obvious sometimes. Personally, I don't know how they live with themselves. Especially as a female. You have to live many, many years with what you do to your body, and it just isn't worth it if you ask me. The biggest surprise to me is the Americans who have been caught that didn't even run as fast as I did. Why cheat to run 2:00 and 4:00? It can be done without that.

11) Cross-training and other alternative methods (alter-g, etc.) are more prevalent now; if you were a pro today, how would you incorporate these methods?
In my competitive days, swimming and biking were what you did when you were hurt. It was hard to find pleasure in either activity. Knowing what I know now, I think I would have incorporated more swimming and working out in the water. However, I built my confidence by running, and I know I would have second-guessed whether the other workouts were accomplishing what I needed. I'm very "old school."

12) What would your advice be for high school female runners?
Be consistent. Run every day. Quality is much more important than quantity. I personally don't think any high school girl needs to run more than 40-50 miles per week, but they do need the quality. You can't jog those miles and be successful. You don't want to use it all up in high school, but you want to be ready to step it up to the next level. Remember, your physical peak is not going to come in high school. If you want a future in the sport, it will come in college and beyond. Also, take care of yourself! You need to eat right, get enough sleep and keep your life in balance. Ask yourself, "if the running were taken away tomorrow, what would be left?" If the answer is nothing, you've got a problem. High school is a time to explore, learn and try things. Challenge yourself to watch and learn. Read, watch races, follow someone's career, ask questions.

13) Anything else you would like to add.
I don't know. If I got started, I could probably write a book's worth of stuff! I started running at age 10 (by the way, I didn't even train every day then). I was still competing in my 40's, and that's a long time. Bottom line, I really love to run! It's interesting now to look back and realize I was sort of a pioneer in women's running. I was a part of a lot of different "phases."

Thank you very much for your time Ruth! AJC

Tom Hale, Campolindo Class of '71

The picture to the left is thanks to Hank Lawson and Plato Yanicks. It's circa 1970. Hale was a star runner for the Cougars with Track and Field PRs of 4:15.94 and 8:54.24. 

You can read more about Tom Hale at this LINK and this LINK.

Former Pacific Grove runner, Ann Trason

Arguably the greatest American ultrarunner of all time, Ann Trason won an unprecedented 14 times at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run while winning and setting course records at many other ultra races. But instead of embracing her incredible feats, particularly in the 80-90's, a naturally introverted and modest Ann prefers to discuss the joy she feels on the trails and "competing with herself" versus those that toed the line with her.

In this 3rd edition of "15 Hours" we follow the great Ann Trason on a day spent camping in the mountains of Bishop hiking in the High Sierras along with her dog. She opens up and shares her thoughts about her competitive years, why she shies away from the spotlight, her love of Western States and her thoughts on her portrayal in the best selling book "Born to Run".

In their words: The race that stopped a nation

FORTY YEARS AGO ON SUNDAY AT THE 1974 COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN CHRISTCHURCH

The world witnessed one of the greatest middle distance races of all time.

Some say it was the greatest-contested by one of the best fields for a major competition. This is their story.

In their words: The race that stopped a nation

The Spokane Sparrow: an Unlikely Hero of Distance Running by Ruth Seabrook

An interview with Gerry Lindgren

By Ruth Seabrook, Northgate High School assistant cross country coach (above on right)

Ask any person to name a world famous runner and you might get a handful of contemporary names: Mo Farrah, Galen Rupp and Usain Bolt.  If you asked about historic runners, you might hear a couple more: Jesse Owens, winning four gold medals in front of Hitler at the1936 Olympics, Roger Bannister the first man to break the four minute mile in 1954, or maybe even the 1970’s hero of track, Steve Prefontaine who held seven American track distance records when he upturned his convertible at the tender age of 24 and was so publicly lauded and mourned by his fans.

Gerry Lindgren is not a name you would hear if you asked this question.  However, the most cursory research reveals that he was an incredible runner with many sources praising him as “the greatest high school distance runner ever.”  In high school he set records in the mile, 3,000m, 2 mile, 5k and 10k races and further qualified for the Olympics as a senior in high school. He went on to win 11 NCAA championships as a collegiate runner at Washington State, and was one of the few who could beat the better-known Steve Prefontaine.  When the popularity of running rose during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s only Gerry could wear the “STOP Pre” tee shirt with any air of authenticity.

So why hadn’t I or any one else I knew heard of him?  Was it because he lacked the long haired flamboyancy of Pre, who had then been further immortalized by his tragic rock n roll death?  Was it because he faded away rather than burning out?  Or was it because he eschewed publicity, had little or no ego and referred to himself as “a little wimpy guy with a high voice?”

Living a quiet life in Hawaii, Gerry Lindgren had surprised us when contacted and readily agreed to come and speak to our small team of high school runners and talk to them about his own running career and philosophy while we were in Honolulu for the Iolani Invitational this past September.

A tidy bespectacled smaller man in his late 60’s walked over with a certain intensity and sense of purpose to our small group of runners warming up in Kapiolani  Park by the Honolulu Zoo.  After some low key introductions Gerry started to tell his story, and what a story it was – not many people could hold a group of high schoolers still bleary from the long plane ride, about to start their work out in a steamy humid park in Hawaii and keep them standing for an hour standing in rapt attention.

Maybe it resonated so much because Gerry started his story at about the age of most of our runners, the sophomore year in high school.  He had gone out for track, and was probably the slowest kid on the team.  Skinny, short with a high pitched voice, he hadn’t even been strong enough to open the heavy set doors of the school on the first day of freshman year, needing a young girl to open it for him.  The humiliations of freshman year followed him onto the track. While running 440 yards in training sessions he was miserable, in pain and was consistently last.  Punched and derided by his peers who had no time for the skinny slow kid, he finally ran one of the quarters with a rocket start, out of both fear and rage, before dying 150 yards into the lap and again finishing in his usual last place.

In all our lives there are major turning points.  This was probably one of the biggest for Gerry as that 440 proved pivotal.  His coach pulled him to one side and explained that the entire team had run faster through that last quarter because they did not want the skinny slow kid to beat them, and though he hadn’t done well himself, he had inspired his team.  At that moment he gave Gerry a purpose and mission in life for the first time, and one that has created the man he is today.

Emerging from an abusive and alcoholic home it appeared that all Gerry needed was someone to give him that purpose and direction and he took to running with a mission:

When I think back, because I wasn’t as good as other people when I started out, I knew that I had to do more to help lead the pace. So I started getting up early in the morning and running five or six miles of easy running that wasn’t even taxing. Then I would run with the team after school. Then in the middle of the night I started getting up at one or two o’clock and running a 10-mile run so that would give me extra mileage. I did this so I could run as well as the other runners but it turned out a lot better I guess. I think the people who are slower and not as athletic have the chance to do better than those who are athletic and have ability because if you have the ability you don’t have to do a lot of extra work to “get there.”  If you have to do extra work you develop an ability to do more so that you can get where you want to go. So in some ways it is much better to be slow than to be naturally fast. In running it is always the person who does the most work who gets to where he wants to be.

Gerry’s running philosophy didn’t need sophisticated visuals or overheads, as he simply described it with one hand.  Each finger of the hand describes one of the components of running.  The strong opposable thumb was the running base, that extensive aerobic base he built running uncountable miles each summer up and down Mount Spokane or to the lake to fish, often running 50 miles or more each day with no thought of speed or pace.

The next finger, the important forefinger, signifies direction. For Gerry that was curiously never about winning, or beating others, but was instead based on that first idea of his track coach, to be that wimpy kid who could inspire other runners to be better.  He mentioned those tactical passionless distance races you see at major events that sees runners today often staying steady and unchallenged until the final sprint 400m.  Gerry believed you dishonored the race to run that way and I am pretty certain if he had been in the 10k he would have been running a killer all out sprint quarter or 800m much earlier than the bell lap.  In Gerry’s world it seemed an overwhelming desire to win could crush and sink your ability to run fast; he was instead known for some signature risky moves during his races that would scare other runners to death.

The next finger was of course the middle finger – one that Gerry said had been firmly pointed in his direction much of his life.  Running at midnight was clearly a risky business and he had been arrested, shot at and screamed at countless times due to his unconventional training hours and methods.  Still, back in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s there were no recreational runners and seeing a kid running fiercely at midnight clearly was an unusual sight and one that the local cops couldn’t help but respond to in their inimitable fashion.  His broader point was that many will deride the distance runner and tell you either your knees will give out at age 30, or you are just plain crazy, but if you have belief in your own direction that should not deter you.  The criticism of others was often based on fear of the unknown and their own insecurities rather than any substantiated fact or belief.

The ring finger was there to signify commitment – the commitment to hard work and training.  The pain in your legs, the cold weather, the difficulty or misery in running, the injuries, were all part of that commitment.

Finally he held up his little finger.  Gerry reminded us of the need for humility.  Being small and insignificant that finger was to remind us that seeking greatness as a runner was not a good idea.  Gerry had never sought greatness in that way – he left as a legacy countless records and amazing races, but his real legacy was his part in the running revolution where American distance runners finally believed they could be the best in the world.  An illustration of this was his famous race against the soviets in the dual US/USSR meet in 1964 in Los Angeles.  With the cold war at its height the Russians actively used sport to promote the notion that the “lazy Americans” would never beat them.  That had been proved true on many an occasion. His training for the US/USSR meet saw him running 250 miles a week with workouts three times a day.  A 15/18 mile run to work up appetite for breakfast, speed 440’s at lunch time to get some intensity in, then an easy 7 – 10 miler just before bed.  With the eyes of the world on him, Gerry defied the odds and managed to beat two world class Russians, Ivanov and Dutov by a huge 150m lead.  Instead of describing every detail of this heroic feat, he recounted being scared to death as he had expected not only to lose, but probably to get lapped by the Russians in the race.  Only on his cool down did he realize that the ominous tap of spikes on cinder that haunted his every effort had been the echo of his own spikes, not the Russians closing in on him.

Gerry had crazy anecdotes such as nearly missing the USSR meet as he had got lost on a training run in LA just before the race.  Wearing jean shorts, sweating profusely and miles from the meet point with his coach,he had doors slammed in his face every time he tried to borrow a phone, as he no doubt looked like a feverish addict rather than the accomplished athlete he had become.  Despite being an Olympic athlete and NCAA champion he had been shot at by police who thought he was fleeing crime scenes and been arrested countless times in different towns for running at night.  Here he was a guy in a leafy park in Hawaii park telling his stories to a group of kids.

I was curious as to what they would make of him?  The kids seemed to be fascinated by his intensity, passion and astounding stories of his running past.  His unusual training methods clearly had an effect.  Several started to talk about a “Gerry move” in a race, which was doing an all-out sprint at an unlikely moment – perhaps running the entire first mile of a race much harder than was advisable, or getting to 2.5 m in a 5k and sprinting way before any one else saw the end in sight.  The idea was crazy – but crazy good.  The only difference was Gerry didn’t just pull a move like that in the race, he trained that way. He did it in races because he knew it and practiced it every day. If he wanted to learn to go out hard in races he would run a 10 miler every day and try to hit a 4 minute mile for the first mile (he never quite got there, but did hit 4:08).  He said the body would fight you for weeks, then finally it would relent and allow you to do the impossible.  His self belief and disregard for the boundaries of his own physicality were inspiring.

Gerry’s faith was in his will, desire and imagination would allow him to achieve it.  He knew that it was the mind that set limitations on our efforts and that the body was capable of so much more.  One of the boys started eye-rolling as soon as Gerry remarked that the pain he felt in his legs at the start of the season was terrible, but that he realized it was making him a better stronger runner, so next season he tried to hold on to the pain by working harder, and counted it as a huge success as he had managed to stay in agony for eight weeks instead of six.  It clearly put some of our harder workouts into a more positive context – the runs that don’t feel good are often those that do you the most good in terms of transforming you as a runner.

The messages that hard work, dedication and the embracing of pain were part of what had created this legendary runner were not so surprising.  The vivid accounts of how he had achieved those feats and the use of his alternative reality where he described imaginary saber toothed tigers chasing him whenever he wanted an injection of adrenaline induced speed were riveting -- like the time he imagined all his competitors as knife-wielding lunatics ready to stab and kill him if he let them get anywhere near him -- were dramatic and intriguing.

What the high schoolers got to witness in meeting the Sparrow of Spokane was that any one of them could be an incredible runner.  Gerry had taken the worst of circumstances, an unstable hostile home, an unathletic physique and through sheer will and the powers of his imagination had transformed himself into a world class Olympic athlete with the humility and philosophical wisdom of the Dalai Lama.

Gerry’s five-finger philosophy had reached out and touched five new runners that day.

September 19, 2013

On this day in 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man to break the 4 minute mile...

I believe I read somewhere that 1600 men have broken the barrier since with 400 being American runners. The last American to break the 4:00 barrier was Robbie Andrews.

Ok, I found the source.  Runblogrun.com and Larry Eder:
"On May 6, 1954, at the Iffley Road Track at Oxford University, Roger Bannister, paced by Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, became the first man to break four minutes for the mile, with his time of 3:59.4.

In 2013, 59 years later, there are 400 Americans who have now broken 4 minutes (Robbie Andrews as 400th, Don Bowden was first American, in 1957), and approximately 1600 men who have broken the four minute mile. Sir Roger Bannister was the first man to do the feat, and in his mid-80s, remains one of athletics great ones. #subfourmile, #bringbackthemile"

1969 - Gerry Lindgren vs Steve Prefontaine, Marty Liquori, Frank Shorter - 2 miles - Hawaii

Steve Cram Races...12 Of The Best!!

NorCal Running Legend: Don Bowden

Yesterday, Hank Lawson posted the  picture to the left of former Lincoln HS (San Jose) runner Don Bowden on the front page of his website, www.lynbrooksports.com.  I consider myself a sports historian so I was familiar with the name.  After some quick research, I was reminded that Mr. Bowden was the first American to break the 4 minute mile as a 20 year old Cal Berkeley student in a solo effort in a race in Stockton on June 1, 1957.  His best event in HS was the 880yd. in which he ran 1:52.3 in 1954.  His converted 800m. time of 1:51.79 still stands as the 11th fastest time in CCS history.

If you would like to read more about Mr. Bowden, check out the following articles.
1997 Sports Illustrated Article:
Four Minutes of Fame

2005 Stockton Record Article:
Bowden passed test with first U.S. sub-4:00 mile

Interestingly enough, his Cal record for the mile lasted close to 50 years until David Torrence finally broke it on April 28, 2007.  You can watch the video of that race here:

Redwood Empires Greatest High School Male Track and Cross Country Athletes

More great work from Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Jim Crowhurst:

Redwood Empires Greatest High School Male Track and Cross Country Athletes

Anybody recognize the runner to the left without looking at the link first?

Peter Snell Documentary

Found the following link on LetsRun.com featuring legendary New Zealand runner, Peter Snell. Among all his accolades which include multiple victories in the same Olympics (800 and 1500), Snell was also an exercise physiologist at UC Davis at one point. Here is the link to the documentary:
Peter Snell-Athlete (Short Film)

Also, here is an article I wrote about Snell 2 years ago in my legendary runner series:
Peter Snell: Legendary Runner #6

The Greatest Races: 5000 Meters

From the magazine Running Times, check out this great link to the author's (Roger Robinson) favorite 5000 Meter Olympic races at the following link:

The Greatest Races: 5,000 Meters

Looking back over a lifetime of watching Olympic distance races

Sebastian Coe Video - Born to Run

Before we are in full NCS mode this Saturday, here is a video of the Sebastian Coe, one of the greatest distance runners ever. It's from your friend and mine, YouTube, and it's in 6 parts.

•Sebastian Coe - Born to Run - Part 1
•Sebastian Coe - Born to Run - Part 2
•Sebastian Coe - Born to Run - Part 3
•Sebastian Coe - Born to Run - Part 4
•Sebastian Coe - Born to Run - Part 5
•Sebastian Coe - Born to Run - Part 6


The footage of his races on the video are worth a look.

For a biography of Coe, check out this link.

Emil Zatopek, Legendary Runner #1

As you can see by the subject heading, Emil Zatopek is my #1 runner on my list of most influential runners. I will confess that during high school, Zatopek was my favorite runner. I loved reading about him and all his accomplishments. In the midst of races, I would try to duplicate the same toughness he displayed throughout his career. There are numerous pictures, like the one to the left (courtesy of http://www.omundodacorrida.com), displaying his unmistakable form. To the dismay of my coach, I tried to emulate his form.

"The Czech Locomotive", as he was known, competed in three Olympics ('48-'56) garnering 4 gold and 1 silver medals. In his career, Zatopek broke 18 world records in the distances ranging from 5000m. to 30000m. He was the first to break 29 minutes in the 10000m. and to run 20000m. in under an hour. Between 1948 and 1954, Zatopek won 38 straight 10000m. races. In the 1952 Olympics, Zatopek accomplished the feat of being the only runner in history to win the three longest running distances (5K, 10K and the marathon) in the same games.

Zatopek is the answer to another trivia question as he and his wife, Dana Zatopkova, are the only married couple to win gold medals. Dana won her gold medal in the javelin as Emil was finishing up his marathon in '52. She also won a silver in '60 to bring their total family total to 7 Olympic medals.

He was a giant in the sport of Track and Field but will also be remembered for his giant heart, generosity and camaraderie. He spoke seven languages and was friendly with many of his foes, speaking to them in their native language. His most memorable gesture was giving Ron Clarke his very own gold medal that he had won in the 1952 10000m. race. Clarke was a great runner in his own right who was never able to win an Olympic gold medal. I just can't conceive of another person giving up his medal to another athlete in the same manner Zatopek (seen here in the '52, 5000m. final courtesy of http://virtual.finland.fi) did with Clarke.

Frenchman, Alain Mimoun, finished 2nd. to Zatopek in three separate Olympic races. In the 1956 Olympics, Mimoun and Zatopek were competing against each other, this time in the marathon. Not running at his best, Zatopek encouraged Mimoun during the race by telling him "You go, this is your day". Mimoun went on to win but in respect to his great competitor, waited for him at the finish line as Zatopek came in, finishing 6th. Zatopek, showing grace in defeat, took his painter's hat off and saluted the victor.

Zatopek studied the training of Paavo Nurmi and being without a coach, devised many original training ideas. During Zatopek's era, distance runners trained by running long distances each day. Zatopek trained by running intervals such as 20-40 times 400m. repeats several times a week. He ran in snow with heavy boots. When asked about his interval training, Zatopek replied "Why should I practice running slow? I already know how to run slow. I want to learn to run fast. Everyone said, 'Emil, you are a fool!' But when I first won the European Championship, they said: 'Emil, you are a genius!" Many of his training methods are utilized to this day. Picture to the left is of Zatopek and his wife Dana courtesy of http://www.vitejte.cz.

His legend will live on even after his death in 2000 due to a virus. Ron Clarke, perhaps the man most affected by Zatopek, said it best, "His enthusiasm, his friendliness, his love of life, shone through every movement. There is not and never was a greater man than Emil Zatopek."

Don't forget to vote for the greatest distance runner ever in the poll to the right. Five days to go before it closes.

Roger Bannister, Legendary Runner #2

Runner #2 will come as a shock to many but I will hopefully be able to dispatch most of the doubters. Roger Bannister will go down in history as the first man to break the four minute mile on May 6th, 1954 on the Iffley Road Track in Oxford. More than 50 years have past since Bannister's breakthrough, but the four minute mile is still quite an accomplishment for most distance runners.

The race to the first sub four minute mile started with Englishman Walter George. On August 23rd, 1886, in front of 30,000 spectators, George defeated William Cummings in a match race, setting a new world record of 4:12 3/4, which would stand for almost 30 years. Since, at the time, George was considered a professional, his record is not listed in the IAAF's mile world record list.

It wasn't until Paavo Nurmi ran 4:10.4 that George's record was officially surpassed. The record would go through an array of runners which included Jules Ladoumegue (4:09.2), Jack Lovelock (4:07.6), Glenn Cunningham (4:06.7) and Sydney Wooderson (4:06.4). The great Swedish duo of Arne Anndersson and Gundar Haegg lowered the record six more times with Haegg's time of 4:01.3 on July 17, 1945 being the last mark to set the stage for Bannister.

The book, The Perfect Mile (check out link below), depicts three men, Australia's John Landy, American Wes Santee and the young British doctor to be (Bannister) chasing history, to be the first under the magical mark. At the time, it was deemed physiologically damaging to any athlete that attempted to reach the goal. Many men had tried and failed as the goal became not just physiological but psychological as well.

Bannister stumbled along the way as he finished 4th in the 1952 Olympics 1500m. final(pictured to the right, courtesy of http://www.achievement.org). Being a medical student, Bannister had a minimum amount of time to train and to his dismay, they added a semifinal heat. With the added effort of an extra race, Bannister finished lower than predicted by the British press. Bannister's original plan was to win the 1500m. gold medal in 1952 and retire to concentrate on his medical career.

After much thought, Bannister decided to chase a new goal, a sub 4 minute mile. Coached by Franz Stampfl, Bannister picked up his training and set forth with his plan. Bannister has credited Haegg's training ideas as well as a more structured training plan for his improved running. With the news that Landy was on his way to Europe to make a record attempt, Bannister, at the urging of his coach, changed the timetable to break the record. In a meet between British AAA and Oxford University (picture of the start is pictured to the left courtesy of http://faculty.rmwc.edu/tmichalik), Bannister was paced by teammates Chris Chataway and Chris Basher during the first three laps before he took over with 300 yards to go. He strained forward, driving hard the rest of the way, until he collapsed in the arms of fans past the finish line.

With the crowd anxiously awaiting the time, the announcer brilliantly stated the following "Ladies and gentlemen, here is the result of event 9, the one-mile: 1st, No. 41, R.G. Bannister, Amateur Athletic Association and formerly of Exeter and Merton Colleges, Oxford, with a time which is a new meeting and track record, and which - subject to ratification - will be a new English Native, British National, All-Comers, European, British Empire, and World Record. The time was 3..." The crowd cheered, drowning the rest of the announcement.

Bannister's place in history will always be secure. What he should also be remembered for is the scientific way he approached his record attempt. The use of rabbits, to the dismay of many, changed the way our sport is today. No world record attempt in this day is done without the use of rabbits. To his credit, when asked if breaking the 4 minute mile was his biggest achievement, Bannister replied "“No, I rather saw the subsequent forty years of practicing as a neurologist and some of the new procedures I introduced as being more significant.”

Photo courtesy of http://www.theage.com.au

To read more about Sir Roger Bannister (Knighted in 1975), you can check out his autobiography (still in print after 50 years) as well as The Perfect Mile. Both are a fantastic reads.



Please vote in the poll to the right before it closes in six days.

Kip Keino, Legendary Runner #3

Kip Keino's most famous victory took place in the high altitude of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. The image to the left is of Keino approaching the finish line as world record holder Jim Ryan labors in 2nd place, left in the wake of the great Kenyan runner. While that victory may have sealed his place in history, Keino's impact to the running scene is far greater.

Kipchoge ("Kip") Keino was born in Kipsamo, Nandi District, Kenya. At a young age, Keino herded goats and ran on the hills of Kenya, which prepared him well for his future competitions. When he made his international debut in the early 60s in Perth, Australia, Keino was still a policeman in his home country. He would eventually be the first Kenyan to break the four-minute mile.

The 1964 Olympic 5000m. is best remembered for Bob Schul's victory but right in the mix was the young Keino who is shown in the picture to the right (courtesy of www.bobschul.net), finishing 5th. In 1965, Keino broke two world records, running 7:39.6 on August 27th. in the 3000m. and then 13:24.2 in the 5000m. on November 30th. Leading up to the 1968 Olympics, Keino ran impressively at two Commonwealth games claiming two victories in 1966 (1st in the mile and 3 mile races) and a 1st. in the 1500m. and 3rd. in the 5000m., both in 1967.

Keino's 1968 1500m. victory was an impressive piece of racing on it's own. What made it even more remarkable was the events that lead to the race. Keino is not listed in the '68 10000m. results due to the fact that he collapsed to the infield, with two laps to go in the race, in pain from a gall bladder infection. Although, he did finish the race, Keino was disqualified for leaving the track. He also ran two 5000m. races, finishing 2nd. behind Mohammed Gammoudi of Tunisia in the final.

The 1500m. final pitted Keino against America's gold medal hopeful and 1500m./mile world record holder, Jim Ryan, who was famed for a devastating kick. To combat Ryan's last lap surge, the Kenyans utilized a team tactic consisting of Keino's teammate, Ben Jipcho, setting a blistering pace for the first two laps. Keino took over, just before the 800m. mark, leaving Ryan with an insurmountable lead to overcome. His time of 3:34.9 remained the Olympic record until 1984, when Sebastian Coe finally broke it with a 3:32.53.

Keino's last Olympics took place in the '72 games in Munich. To the surprise of many, he qualified at the Kenyan trials in a new event for him, the 3000m. steeplechase. He defeated his '68 1500m. pacesetter, Ben Jipcho, in a new Olympic record of 8:23.6. He narrowly missed repeating as 1500m. champion with his 2nd. place finish to Finland's Pekka Vasala by a .5 margin.

Keino (picture to the left courtesy of http://www.iolani.org) retired in 1975 but his legacy will be felt for many generations to come. In 1996, he was elected into the World Humanitarian Hall of Fame. The following is from www.tolovechildren.org, "Kip Keino Children's Home Organisation that enables about 100 children in Kenya to have a happy childhood and to receive a good education." Keino is also the president of the Kenyan Olympic Committee. Mike Boit said it best when it comes to Keino's impact. "He not only is the father of Kenya distance running, he put this country on the map. He's our national treasure."

To read more about Kip Keino, check out the picture link below.

Runner #2 will be posted tomorrow...

Abebe Bikila, Legendary Runner #4

Running barefoot on the cobblestones of Rome in the 1960 Olympics, Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila became the first black African to win an Olympic medal (Bikila pictured to the left winning, courtesy of http://www.repubblica.it). His winning time of 2hr.15mins 16.2secs. was a new world record as he narrowly defeated Morocco's Rhadi Ben Abdesselem. When asked why he had run the race barefoot, Bikila replied "I wanted the world to know that my country Ethiopia has always won with determination and heroism."

Bikila was born in Jato, Ethiopia in 1932. The son of a shepherd, Bikila would eventually join the Imperial Guards to support his family. He became a private in the army as well as the bodyguard of Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia. During his training for the army, Bikila's talents were noticed by Swedish coach, Omni Niskanen, who was hired by the Ethiopian government to coach their athletes.

Bikila is reported to have started running at the age of 24 which would make sense considering that he was 28 when he competed in Rome. He was an unknown when he arrived at the '60 games, running both his previous marathons in the high altitude of Ethiopia. Bikila's 1st marathon was timed in 2hr. 21mins. 23secs. No report of his 2nd marathon time could be found but it has been noted to be faster than his first effort.

The plan for Rome, devised by Bikila and his coach, was to run with the leaders and then move with a kilometer to go. The race started in the evening to combat the sweltering heat and to showcase Rome. Bikila and Abdesselem were the last two runners left competing for the victory before Bikila made his planned surge. The picture on the right shows the two men battling in the last few miles as they headed toward the Olympic stadium.

With his victory, Bikila became an instant national hero. His gold medal, along with Abdesselem's silver medal, marked the arrival of the African runners who have come to dominate the world running scene. Bikila ran several marathons in 1961 winning races in Greece, Japan and Czechoslovakia. He didn't race internationally again until he finished 5th in the Boston Marathon in 1963, which was his first defeat. In 1964, Bikila won the Ethiopian Olympic trials marathon and was set to defend his gold medal.

40 days before the '64 games' marathon, Bikila had a major setback with surgery for appendicitis. Miraculously, Bikila toed the line in Tokyo, this time with shoes. He found himself all alone in the lead at the halfway point in the race and went on to set another world record, 2hrs. 12mins. 11.2secs. The crowd of 70,000 fans were treated with Bikila's array of stretching exercises following his victory. The two consecutive marathon titles marked the first time in history that an athlete had accomplished that feat in the Olympics. Waldemar Cierpinski tied Bikila's record of consecutive marathon victories with his wins in '76 and '80.

Bikila continued to compete following the '64 games winning 3 marathons in '65 and '66. Following several injuries, Bikila arrived at the '68 Olympics with the remnants of a stress fracture in his foot. The pain was too much for him as he withdrew from the race at the 17km. mark. Winner and fellow country man, Mamo Wolde, insisted that Bikila would have won yet again had he not been injured.

Bikila's life took a turn for the worse when he was paralyzed in an automobile accident in 1969. He would never walk again. Not ready to give up his competitive days, Bikila took part in paraplegic games, most notably archery. He sadly died in 1973 at the age 41 as a result of a brain hemorrhage. 65,000 people attended his funeral.

Bikila is still the hero of many of the Ethiopian stars of today as well as '96 Olympic Marathon champion, Fatima Roba. The New York Road Runners hand out the Abebe Bikila award annually to "an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to distance running, particularly through a spirit of deep commitment to the sport."

2nd photo courtesy of http://www.contrasto.it

3rd photo courtesy of http://sports.sohu.com

Lasse Viren, Legendary Runner #5

Lasse Viren is best remembered as the runner that won the Steve Prefontaine 5000m. race in the '72 Olympics (pictured to the right courtesy of http://johistoire.ifrance.com). With his 10000m. victory, seven days earlier, Viren joined Hannes Kolehmainen in '12, Emil Zatopek in '52, Vladimir Kuts in '56 in the exclusive club of runners who won the 5000m./10000m. double in the same Olympics. Miruts Yifter became the fifth runner to accomplish that feat by turning the double in the '80 Olympics.

In his '72 10000m. final, Viren got tangled up with Emiel Puttemans, which resulted in Viren and Mohammed Gammoudi falling to the track. While Gammoudi remained motionless at the side of the track, Viren quickly sprang to his feet as the pack gained 30 meters on him. Within 100m., Viren was back in the midst of the lead pack and went on to capture the race in a new world record (WR) time of 27:38.40. He credits the slow early pace for his ability to get back into the race so quickly but the furious finish lead by David Bedford's surges resulted in the new WR.

Viren returned back to Finland to continue his duties as a policeman. He was well renowned for rather ordinary results in non-Olympic years. Perhaps those results can be attributed to the leg problems he dealt with for several years following the '72 Olympics. Viren, along with his coach, Rolf Haikkola, planned his training plan meticulously for a tremendous peak every four years. Linking Viren to past greats, Haikkola was well known for being heavily influenced by Arthur Lydiard. Viren's critics have long claimed that his success in each Olympics was due to blood boosting (practice of freezing one's own blood and returning it back to the body which results in an increase aerobic capacity). He has always denied this claim, giving credit to the value of drinking reindeer milk. Viren's resting heart rate of 28 might have been more of an indication of his talent.

In the '76 Olympics, Viren nearly duplicated Zatopek's incredible distance triple (5000m., 10000m. and marathon) by finishing 5th in the marathon along with his two victories. First, he dispatched, future Olympic marathon champion, Carlos Lopes, in a 10000m. duel that resulted in an easy victory. The 5000m. race was in the opinion of many, one of the greatest races in Olympic history. The photo to the right (courtesy of www.britannica.com) shows the mass finish of runners, including the sprawling Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand edging Rod Dixon for the bronze medal. Viren entered the marathon just 21 hours after his 5000m. final and by his own account, "It was a race too far" and "I had nothing left".

Viren's final tally in three Olympics ('72, '76 and '80) was 4 gold medals and 2 fifth place finishes ('76 marathon and '80 10000m.). He will always be a controversial figure in the sport due to the allegations of the blood boosting but there is no denying his part in the history of distance running. To this day, he is still the only runner to record the distance double (5k./10k.) victory in two consecutive Olympics.

Picture courtesy of www.olympic.org

We get closer to #1 in my next post.

Peter Snell, Legendary Runner #6

Next on my list is the runner that strode in to the running scene with a powerfully built body, decked in the famous black singlet with the silver fern emblazoned on the chest. He was remarkably similar to Herb Elliott in many ways which will be pointed out shortly. His name was Peter Snell and he hailed from New Zealand.

Snell, like Elliott, was a remarkable athlete who participated in many sports including Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Badminton and Golf. Snell at the age of 19 would meet the man that would coach him throughout his career, Arthur Lydiard. As told by Snell, Lydiard told the young runner, "Peter, with the sort of speed you've got, if you do endurance training, you could be one of our best middle-distance runners." Motivated by the sage coach as Elliott was with Cerutty, Snell (pictured to the left courtesy of www.runningworks.com) turned his complete attention to running.

During the 1960 Olympics, Elliott dominated his race in the 1500 while Snell had to scrape and claw past world record holder, Roger Moens in the 800 to set a new Olympic record. Less than an hour later, Snell's teammate, Murray Halberg, won the 5000m. gold medal to add credence to Lydiard's marathon based training. Although Lydiard was not considered the New Zealand Olympic Track and Field coach for those athletes, there was no question of his impact with the talented distance runners.

In 1962, Snell established new world standards in the 800m. (1:44.3) and the mile (3:54.4). The 800 time is a still standing New Zealand record and the reputed as the fastest recorded 800m. time on grass. Snell became one of the most feared racer in his time with tremendous endurance and a devastating kick. He was also reported to have run a mid 2:20 Marathon in practice.

In the '64 Olympics, Snell repeated as the 800m. Olympic champion becoming the third Olympian to repeat as 800m. champion following Britain's Douglas Love in '24 and '28 and American Mal Whitfield in '48 and '52. He also doubled back to win the 1500m. (pictured to the right), becoming the last Olympian to win the 800m. and 1500m. in the same Olympics. Snell recorded his last two world records following the Olympics breaking the 1000m. record (still standing NZ record) and lowering his own world record in the mile to 3:54.1 five days later.

Just as Elliott had retired in his prime, Snell shockingly retired in 1965. Even with his short yet brilliant career, Snell was voted as "New Zealand's Sports Champion of the (20th) Century". Other New Zealand runners followed the Halberg/Snell duo with Olympic medals including John Davies (3rd. in '64 800m.), Rod Dixon (3rd. in the '72 1500m.) and finally John Walker (1st in the '76 1500m.). Lydiard's training regimen remains just as effective with today's runners. Coaches like Mark Wetmore of Colorado still use Lydiard's principals in their training program with a very high level of success.

Snell is still active in the exercise world as an associate professor in the division of Cardiology at the Southwestern Medical Center. Along with co-author Garth Gilmore, Snell wrote "Use It or Lose It" which according to the book's website is "the outcome of 30 years of study and practice of preventiono of premature degenerative diseases. The book provides the rationale for and strategies to maintain physical and mental independence throughout one's life span. In other words we offer keys to successful ageing for men and women." Both authors wrote were also responsible for Snell's autobiography, No Bugles, No Drums, which was written in 1965. You can find a copy of this classic book at this link.

Next runner will be posted on Friday.

Herb Elliott, Legendary Runner #7

I have to say, it's been very enjoyable researching the accomplishments of these runners. While I do remember reading about them in my younger days, I have found lots of new facts, which only reaffirmed my respect for all the all time greats.

Runner #7 was part of the international scene a very brief time. He finished his career undefeated in over 40 races as a senior runner. He retired at the age of 22 after running one of the most dominating 1500 meter races in Olympic history (pictured to the left courtesy of www.britannica.com). He ran 17 sub 4 minute miles, which at the time (late 50s/early 60s), was quite an accomplishment. His name was Herb Elliott. He will go down in history as one of the greatest milers (middle distance runners) of all time.

In his youth, Elliott participated in Hockey, Australian Rules Football, Rowing, Rifle Shooting, Cross Country and Athletics (Track and Field). He continued to participate in many sports, even during his college years. During that time, he met his soon to be legendary coach, Percy Cerutty, who promised Elliott that "within two years, you will run a mile in four minutes." While supremely talented in running, Elliott didn't turn his total focus to the sport until he watched the 1956 Olympics in his homeland. Elliott claims that watching Vladimir Kuts dominating efforts over Gordon Pirie in the 5000 and 10000 meter races inspired him to become Cerutty's protege.

Cerutty followed a philosophy that he termed "stotanism" which was due to his admiration for the Spartans. Elliott trained with him during the weekends in Portsea were he followed this philosophy. There, Elliott entrenched himself completely with the beautiful natural surroundings by the sea. He ran with Cerutty up and down sand dunes (seen to the right courtesy of www.menziesera) as well as learn about the values of eating healthy and weight lifting.

Elliott lowered Derek Ibbotson's mile record of 3:57.2 to 3:54.5 in 1958. Elliott also set two 1500 records, 3:36.0 in 1958 and 3:35.6 in his 1960 Olympic victory. His margin of victory in the race was 20 meters, which was then, the largest in Olympic history. Elliott's time in the '60 Olympics would have also won the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic 1500 meter finals. Considering the surface of the race and his age at the time of the effort only adds to the impressive effort by the great Aussie.

Just as quickly that he emerged as a world-class runner, Elliott retired from Track. It would be unheard of now for a runner of his caliber to call it a career at 22. One has to wonder what he could have accomplished with just a few more years of competition.

To learn more about the great runner and his coach, try one of the following books.

Runner #6 will be posted next..