Running and Racing Sure Have Changed in 48 Years

Orville, please remember to post what you see tomorrow on the race course. You are our eyes and ears. Details..details!! Gotta love those details.

BTW - It looks like we have a good day on Universal Sports tomorrow, NYC Half followed by LA Marathon - starts 7:30 EDT.

Hey there Orville, Patti, Walt, Tom D et al,

MAN we've been running buddies for a long dang time, no?

How'd all that happen?

Yes, Orville, 'twas an entirely different set up than today...the shared "experience" of making it all happen with nothing but a song in our heart is where the bond of commonality is derived.

My own personal mentor whether he knew it or not (but likely he did) was Browning Ross...as a kid who started running in the Philly area in the late 60s and really running the road races in 1970ish, Browning was the driving force...he made a point of reaching out and encouraging me and offering his deep experiental knowledge...heck, at 15 I knew not of his legacy but was always thankful for his kind support.

HERE is a really special treat for those of us from that era...one that was only made possible by our dear friend Browning Ross..HERE is a link that Tom "the turtle" Osler put together...the (almost) complete volumes of the revered "Long Distance Log" ...hoping that you'll enjoy these as much as I.

http://www.rrcahistory.org/longdistancelog.html

warmest regards,

MF

Thanks for your post MikeF. I was in the Northland but The Log hooked me up with the Road Racing World in the late 50s. I am very thankful to Mr Ross. Yep, Browning made two Olympic Teams in the steeplechase. He placed 7th in the final in 1948. In 1952 the Steeple was all Ashenfelter!

Well it is tomorrow, so I'm off to see what a marathon is like in this era. Actually, those of you who have the Universal Sports Channel will see a lot more than I will. Enjoy!

Hi Mike! How are you? Yes, it's been way too long...where did the time go?

Good Morning Orville! Someday when I win the lottery (I have to play first) I'm going to surprise you at one of your Sunday Brunches after my "walk".

Looking forward to your details Orville.

Good Morning Patti,

Two of the wives still run when we walk/jog/run. One is about 78+ and the other a good deal younger. The group has been together since the late 1960s. There were about 22 of us last Sunday. The host is 84+. I met him on a plane going to the Boston Marathon in 1971.

They'er off!

In addition to Universal Sports, the race is being shown on Channel 5-KTLA in the Los Angeles. My sister in Ontario, Canada is getting channel 5-KTLA.

Mike: Thank you so much for supplying the Long Distance Log link. I just spent a couple of hours looking for old race results.

Just one problem. The results listed under 1973 are all a repeat of the 1972 issues. The site says the '74 and 75 issues will be up soon. I hope they can also supply/correct the 1973 issues.

Mike,

This stuff is absolutely priceless!! How is Gary? Thanks for posting.

Derderian and Fleming

http://www.rrcahistory.org/images/0372.pdf

Thanks, I had forgotten that. Never forget Flemming.

Jaco wrote:

Mike,

This stuff is absolutely priceless!! How is Gary? Thanks for posting.

I know, the LDL's are really really fun to look at...Gary is healthy and fit and turns 60 in October (and he'll still kick my butt)...thanks for asking.

best,

MF

Derderian wrote:

Thanks, I had forgotten that. Never forget Flemming.

How about another book. Your Boston book is one of the best of the over 100 running books I have.

Maybe a history of New England running -- GBTC, Falmouth, Milk run, Litchfield, etc.

Tom, I keep two copies of your Boston Book beside my computer.

A book about John A. and John J. would be a challenge.

It sure has changed. Most of my early road races were in the Washington, DC area. Nearly all of them were organized by the DC Road Runner's Club and NONE of them were "for" charity. The entry fees were 25 cents if you belonged to the DCRRC and 50 cents if you didn't. The Washington's Birthday Marathon was the big race and I think it cost $2.00.

A typical field was 20-60 runners except for the marathon which might get something a bit short of 200. I recall what might have been the very beginnings of the Running Boom when one of the local races had a field of 110 or so and afterward a lot of us were wondering how the sport would survive if race fields were going to get so big.

The first woman I can recall seeing in a marathon was Jackie Hansen at Boston in 1973 when she ran a world best time for the marathon. We kept passing and re-passing each other until I fell apart around 20 miles and she went on to a 3:05.

I don't know if it was better or not but it was a lot more intimate and I really wish I could buy a pair of Tiger Marathons or Bostons.

HRE wrote:

I don't know if it was better or not but it was a lot more intimate and I really wish I could buy a pair of Tiger Marathons or Bostons.

Can't seem to get any decent sizing in Onitsuka Tiger Marathons these days but may have a secret resource for a couple of pairs of adidas Gazelles...whaddaya think?

MF

I've seen some Gazelles recently. They're a lot heavier than I remember.

Lorenzo the Magnificent wrote:

Derderian and Fleming

http://www.rrcahistory.org/images/0372.pdf

Looks to be the lower loop of Central Park. I'd say the east side in the high 60s.

Also, over the week-end, a couple of trips into the City, passing the Macombs Dam exit on the Deegan Expressway.

Who remembers Harry Murphy and the hand printed banners and signs he made for those early NYRRC races?