I might have a very different reaction to it now, as a much more experienced (and perhaps somewhat jaded) runner, but John Stephen Akhwari's performance in the 1968 Olympic marathon, as captured in this clip from Bud Greenspan's epic series "The Olympiad" broadcaost on PBS in the mid-1970s, was tremendously inspirational to me as a high-school runner:
Pre in the '72 Munich Olympics 5000m final where he took on the entire field by himself in a gutsy attempt to steal the race. Didn't win, but it was definitely an awe inspiring show.
Avocado's Number wrote:
I might have a very different reaction to it now, as a much more experienced (and perhaps somewhat jaded) runner
Similarly for me, I was 16 during the 1983 Helsinki WC and Mary Decker's teeth-gritting last 100 of the 1500m was a huge inspiration; even now, knowing her subsequent doping ban and my lessened opinion of her as a person and athlete, that race continues to resonate with me.
Chesapeake wrote:
Back in 2008 our #4 guy had run 17:00-17:05 something like 5 meets in a row. So the day of the state meet, I told him essentially that today was his day, that he was finally going to get 16's. The gun goes off and he hits the first mile in 4:58 and I'm thinking "Oh man, he's done" but he hangs on to run 15:56 and set a school record. One of the most unbelievable moments of my coaching career.
This brought a tear to my eye for some reason. Every coach dreams of stuff like this.
Go Pre Go wrote:
Pre in the '72 Munich Olympics 5000m final where he took on the entire field by himself in a gutsy attempt to steal the race. Didn't win, but it was definitely an awe inspiring show.
He sat back for over half the race and got his ass handed to him is what happened. Not awe inspiring at all.
That whole Terry Fox run was pretty inspiring, even if he did DNF.
Mr. Obvious wrote:
That whole Terry Fox run was pretty inspiring, even if he did DNF.
DNF? Wtf?
El Guerrouj's 1500m race in 2004 in the Olympics. If there has ever been a race that I saw a person put all his/her heart and emotion into, it was this race- he really, really wanted it. He went faster and faster and faster... and it all nearly ended in another disappointment. Very inspirational.
agreed wrote:
Ghost in the Round Barn wrote:Heather Dorniden from the University of Minnesota races the 600m at the Big 10 Indoor Track Championships.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM5A1K6TxxM&feature=channel_video_titleSecond this. Her win also got them the team Championship at their home track.
One of my all time favorites as well. She didn't end up winning the race however, the person in the other heat ran faster I believe and Heather ended up second. Had she not fallen she would definitely have run faster than the other heat.
He wasn't supposed to win.
Great job, coach - this is pretty spectacular. Did you have any idea this kid had it in him? Was he a speed guy in the mile or less?Inspiring run - Mills/Kawauchi (Honorable mention to Nate Jenkins in this local 5k I ran at - it was an out and back and I'm never going to forget the look on his face).
Chesapeake wrote:
Back in 2008 our #4 guy had run 17:00-17:05 something like 5 meets in a row. So the day of the state meet, I told him essentially that today was his day, that he was finally going to get 16's. The gun goes off and he hits the first mile in 4:58 and I'm thinking "Oh man, he's done" but he hangs on to run 15:56 and set a school record. One of the most unbelievable moments of my coaching career.
What was memorable about Jenkins' look that day? All out? Joyous? Pained?
As much hate as Webb gets on this board, his 3:53 at the 2001 Pre Classic was truly inspirational. It had been hyped up so much, so when he actually surpassed expectations, I was blown away. I had just graduated high school and couldn't believe someone my age could run that fast. Even though I had already run that morning, I went out for another run immediately after watching the race and went through the first mile, which was mostly uphill, in about 5:20. My adrenaline was pumping.
Chesapeake wrote:
Back in 2008 our #4 guy had run 17:00-17:05 something like 5 meets in a row. So the day of the state meet, I told him essentially that today was his day, that he was finally going to get 16's. The gun goes off and he hits the first mile in 4:58 and I'm thinking "Oh man, he's done" but he hangs on to run 15:56 and set a school record. One of the most unbelievable moments of my coaching career.
kanny wrote:
Great job, coach - this is pretty spectacular. Did you have any idea this kid had it in him? Was he a speed guy in the mile or less?
That was my first year coaching him (transfer from out of state), so I definitely didn't see a breakthrough like that coming. He did the same thing in track too: ran 2:00-2:02 all season then one day just popped a 1:56 out of nowhere.
So you lied to him? - he ran 15's instead of 16's. That is pretty freaking amazing.
F--king love NC
NC Memories wrote:
North Carolina Indoor State Championships mile, 2003. One guy (Matt Debole) had dominated NC distance running the year before. He had won states in XC in the fall and been second at Footlocker South, and I think sixth at Nationals. Another guy (Bobby Mack) had started to become good the year before, culminating in winning the 3200 outdoors and making Footlocker Nationals in the fall. Mack took the lead from the gun and went balls to the wall the entire way, winning in ~4:10 by a few steps.
The track was packed to capacity and everyone was going nuts - we all thought Debole was going to win and wondering when he would overtake Mack - the longer Mack held on the more exciting it got, until the last lap when it was almost unbearable. It was absolutely fantastic.
NC Memories wrote:
North Carolina Indoor State Championships mile, 2003. One guy (Matt Debole) had dominated NC distance running the year before. He had won states in XC in the fall and been second at Footlocker South, and I think sixth at Nationals. Another guy (Bobby Mack) had started to become good the year before, culminating in winning the 3200 outdoors and making Footlocker Nationals in the fall. Mack took the lead from the gun and went balls to the wall the entire way, winning in ~4:10 by a few steps.
The track was packed to capacity and everyone was going nuts - we all thought Debole was going to win and wondering when he would overtake Mack - the longer Mack held on the more exciting it got, until the last lap when it was almost unbearable. It was absolutely fantastic.
Anybody know what Debole is up to these days?
Kind of a different vein, but gotta mention the 2001 New York City Marathon as An unbelievably inspiring event. It was the first time in two months that the City was allowed to think about living again.