This week has been tremendous in marathoning. Most important, the queen of the road, Grete Waitz from Norway died of cancer at age 57. Anyone who followed running in the 1980s knows she owned the New York Marathon.
No, no, she has no stake in the race's property. Rather, she dominated it the way Michael Jordan owned the NBA in the 1990s. Except, in her case, there was no Larry Bird, Magic Johnson or Charles Barkley. American Joan Benoit came along at the end of her career, but until then, it was all Grete.
In 1978, she ran her first marathon. And won. And dropped over two minutes off the world record. Overall, she won the NYC Marathon nine times, breaking the world record three more times.
Sorry, Mr. Jordan, you never did that.
1500 meters – 4:00.55 – Prague – September 3, 1978
One mile – 4:26.90 – Gateshead – July 9, 1978
3000 meters – 8:31.75 – Oslo (Bislett Games) – July 17, 1979
15 kilometers – 47:52 – Tampa, FL – February 11, 1984
Marathon – 2:24:54 – London – April 20, 1986
Grete Waitz — October 1, 1953 – April 19, 2011
Meanwhile, the 2011 Boston Marathon was won in a blistering fast 2:03:02 by Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya. It might be a world record. After all, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia record is 2:03:59.
Or it may not be a world record. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that decides these kinds of things say, the race was "more than three times the elevation drop permitted for record-setting, and the start and finish have too great a separation."
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a world record in my book.
Not quite world record speed was Kenya's Caroline Cheptonui Kilel clipping out a very quick 2:22:36 to win the women's division. (Paula Radcliffe of the United Kingdom owns the record in 2:15:25.)
MEN
1. Geoffrey Mutai, KEN, 2:03:02
2. Moses Mosop, KEN, 2:03:06
3. Gebre Gebremariam, ETH, 2:04:53
4. Ryan Hall, USA, 2:04:58
5. Abreham Cherkos, ETH, 2:06:13
6. Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, KEN, 2:06:43
7. Philip Kimutai Sanga, KEN, 2:07:10
8. Deressa Chimsa, ETH, 2:07:39
WOMEN
1. Caroline Cheptonui Kilel, KEN, 2:22:36
2. Desiree Davila, USA, 2:22:38
3. Sharon Cherop, KEN, 2:22:42
4. Caroline Rotich, KEN, 2:24:26
5. Kara Goucher, USA, 2:24:52
6. Dire Tune, ETH, 2:25:08
7. Werknesh Kidane, ETH, 2:26:15
8. Yolanda Caballero, COL, 2:26:17
Moving forward, one of my favorite organizations is DuPage PADS (http://www.dupagepads.org/) which offers our homeless interim overnight housing. One man is running like crazy to help these men and women around DuPage County.
Mike DeMeritt of West Chicago is going to run 100 continuous miles at the Kettle Moraine 100 Endurance Run (http://kettle100.com) in early June. Last year he raised $15,000. This year, he hopes to reach this and beyond. Every dollar will go to PADS.
The 2010 run was difficult, Demeritt said, but "The generosity and faith of my donors carried me through to the rain-soaked finish last year."
Whether you can give $10 a mile or ten cents, it all helps.
You can make your pledge by following the below link:
https://sna.etapestry.com/fundraiser/DuPagePublicActiontoDelive/mikeruns100/
If you prefer, you can also pay by check before or after the event. Checks can be made payable to: DuPage PADS, in memo please indicate: "Mike Runs 100 2011."
PADS DuPage
705 West Liberty
Wheaton, IL 60187
630-682-3846
Running Playlist Song of the Week
Daryl Hall and John Oates, "Rich Girl" 1977
No, it isn't about Patty Hearst, as was rumored back then. According to Hall, as quoted in "Rolling Stone," it is about a guy the singers knew whose father was very wealthy. The guy was "acting sort of strange," but could rely on his father to resolve whatever trouble he landed in.
"You're a rich girl,
and you've gone too far
'Cause you know
it don't matter anyway
You can rely
on the old man's money
You can rely
on the old man's money…"
———————
Writer Anthony Trendl counts Grete Waitz among his running heroes, will never be fast enough to run Boston, and thinks we individuals can personally give more time and money to end homelessness. Contact me to send your favorite tips, songs, recipes, or to promote a road race. See http://anthonytrendl.com or e-mail me at anthonytrendl@gmail.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/anthonytrendl
Blog: http://anthonytrendl.blogspot.com
Running blog: http://runnersdilemma.blogspot.com
