Still Running (weakly). Issue 75

PAST – inspiration – The New York City Marathon, first held in 1970 with its 53rdedition last Sunday (2012 was cancelled because of a hurricane; 2020 by Covid), is the grandparent of all big city marathons. Chris Brasher and John Disley ran it in 1979 and were inspired to launch the London Marathon in 1981. It was important to the careers of people like Bill Rodgers (US, winning 4 times – 1976-79, though better known as “Boston Billy” for his 4 wins in his hometown – 1975, 1978-80) and especially Grete Waitz (Norway, winning 9 times – 1978-80, 1982-86, 1988.) She also ran NYC in 1992, accompanying her friend and long-time race director, Fred Lebow, who had been diagnosed with brain cancer in 1990. Their crossing the finish line together is an emotional watch.

He died in 1994, at the age of 62. Waitz herself died of cancer in 2011, at the age of 57.

PRESENT – perspiration – The times at New York this year were not that fast, with the women’s winner clocking 2:24:35, not much faster than Grete’s 2:25:42 in 1980, and the men’s 2:07:39, only a handful of seconds quicker than the 2:08:01 by Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania from 1989, when I ran it. It was hot this year, as New York is always on a knife-edge in early November and can change from tropical to wintry overnight!

Ikangaa is famous for his duel with Rob de Castella at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games (Mike Gratton of GB was third) and for his motto, “The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare.”

FUTURE – suggestion – Grete Waitz used a trick to get herself out of the door for her evening runs. (She worked as a teacher during the early years of her running career.) She would only do 9 miles on her morning run before school. She knew that she would not be content with a single-digit day, so doing 9 would mean that she would have to get out for a second run – even in the darkness, ice and snow of a Norwegian winter’s evening.

I also like the story about Steve Davis, the 6 times world snooker champion. Early in his career, he would go to a snooker hall to practise, and he would buy himself a pint of lemonade and a cheese roll. And he would not allow himself a sip of drink until he had made a break of 50, nor a bite of his roll until he had made a break of 100.

Tricks!