Run-Down Forums

Paul · Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2002 9:25 pm Post subject:

Wasn't Pac-10 Track incredible back then?? You had all those sprint people down south, though OSU had Willie Turner. Remember the Pac-10 Championships between Lennox Miller And Turner?? Up north here we had the Prefontaine - Rono era. I managed to make it to a lot of great meets during that time. I was in Provo in 1967. Univ of Cal in 1968. UCLA, I forget how many meets. Olympic Trials all 9 days, 1972, 1976, 1980. Do you remember the big Decathlete, Pentathlete meet in Eugene in 1975 I believe?? What an incredible 2 day affair.
Conway, pick up a copy of "Speed Trap" by Charlie Francis, if you have an opportunity, recommended by Dan. I am assuming you are the Sprint Guru at this site, and I think you would get more out of this book than most, plus he actually competed at Stanford.
Paul

training2run · Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2002 6:23 am Post subject: Intrigued with the 30s

1936, the final Olympics before the 2nd World War: Jesse Owens; "Tarzan Deerfoot" Brown winning the Boston Marathon.

If it weren't the 30s, I'd probably go for the teens, because of Jim Thorpe (who some consider the greatest athlete of all time). Mad Dog Mike www.training2run.com

Conway · Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2002 5:22 pm Post subject:

Yeah Mike that WAS a primo time period ... Was great to be a track fan ...
times may be improving but no fun if you can't go watch it !!! Wanna take my family on a tour in Europe one summer so they can see the real deal ... Although they did get to go to the Olympic trials and we are going to nationals this next weekend ... But that is only a once a year thing ...

Gotta be hard on the athletes too, having to go to Europe to run against each other all the time ... I would think they would appreciate some "local" competitions ...

Have read parts of Speed Trap ... Not a big fan of his but interesting to read how their drug system worked ... I feel for Ben as he was a pawn in my opinion ... Others were looking to gain more than he was ...

training2run · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2002 5:59 am Post subject: Meets in the US vs Europe

I guess it would have been fun to race in the US, but Bill Collins and group used to have a heck of a time going overseas.

The promoters flew them to Europe and Russia first class, put them up in the top hotels, fed them like royalty and paid them a bunch of money. I never heard them complain once (though the left-behind-wives complained plenty).

Strangely enough, when they raced in the USSR, they brought their own food, and left the country for sleeping.

An added advantage of going to Europe (expenses paid), was they got to visit a bunch of great places and see new people.

Many, many, man years ago, a friend of mine used to tour Europe as a swimmer with Buster Crabbe. Mad Dog Mike training2run.com

Conway · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2002 10:41 am Post subject:

Oh I have heard many a tale of the trips to Europe ... But I think it would be nice to have soem quality meets here in the states from say April to June to prepare for the European season and get adequate rest .... And I know a lot of guys I've known have felt "bad" abouotnot being able to compete in front of family and freinds here at home ....

training2run · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2002 10:57 am Post subject: Fun to Have Friends!!!!!

I'm with you. Running marathons where no one knows me is not as much fun as when there are friends and family along the way to cheer me on.

One way I get around that, is to wear interesting t-shirts, or a t-shirt with the website address on it (www.training2run.com[url]). That way lots of people feel a "personal" connection, and usually have something nice to say.

When I've done a local tv show, it's even better, and the babes are all over me during and after the race. Mad Dog Mike www.training2run.com[url][/url]

Distance_Guru · Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2002 4:09 pm Post subject:

Getting back to the subject of the 60's and 70's in track and field. It was a great era. How much better would it have been if the AAU hadn't been dictating to the athletes which events to run in. Pre for one but I also know Dave Woddle (sp?) didn't like a lot of the meets that they were forced to run in because of the curoption of AAU officials. I get most of my info on the time period from the movies and documenteries about Pre, so if I'm off base here chalk it up to being part of the MTV generation.
_________________
Time is the fire in which we burn

training2run · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 2:20 am Post subject: Running Movies

Hey, where can we find some of those running films? It would be great to use them for learning purposes...and we could play them on Dan's (The Chief's) Home Movie Theater. Mad Dog Mike www.training2run.com

Paul · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 5:04 am Post subject:

Running With the Buffaloes would make a great movie, unfortunately it wouldn't do justice to the book. In a really good running movie who would play those roles??

training2run · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 7:19 am Post subject: Who would play the parts?

If it were thirty years ago, the parts would be played by Bruce Dern or Kirk Douglas.

Bruce Dern, by the way, was an accomplished ultra-distance athlete. I don't know if he still runs. Mad Dog Mike www.training2run.com

Dan · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 8:05 am Post subject:

http://run-down.com/Publications/Movies/

Dan

training2run · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 9:46 am Post subject: FANTASTIC LINK!

That is a GREAT link/web page. A real saver! What a wonderful, valuable and entertaining site this is. Mad Dog Mike www.training2run.com

Dan · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2002 9:53 am Post subject:

That was the goal. Smile

Dan

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