It was the highlight of my day. Fancy waking up to find yourself dead. I knew I was invisible, got that mastered long ago, but dead, never tried that before.
Still a bum, lots of walking, birdwatching, exploring rain forests, even a bit of body surfing earlier this year in Mexico. Unfortunately I have to work to pay for it, but no more than I really have to.
No running at all, legs packed up on me in 1988. Knees started aching badly. As my achilles were a total mess already, decided to call it a day. Big shame as I truly loved running. I wanted to run until I really did drop.
Two operations on achilles and calves kept me mobile but no help for running.
I met the real Zatopek in Budapest in 1982. I thought he was dead also, ooops.
The TAC XC in 1981 really was a fab field. The starter was Wilt Chamberlain, BIG guy. The field went off like a rocket, never experienced a start like it. I always preferred a slow start then work my way through. But for once I went with the leaders from the gun. A BIG BIG gamble but it worked. I had already gambled a lot on going to LA for the race. Not a lot of $$ in the kitty back then. But as I had done well in 1980 at Pocatello, I had to go back to win. Sounds arrogant but that was the plan. Having Alberto there was icing on the cake. The atrocious weather, rain all night and day was ideal for me, lovely cool conditions, fabulous running surface, I loved racing on US golf courses. The muddy UK XC courses at the time were totally unsuitable to me.
Finishing the race my excitement got the better of me. Any negative comments were aimed at the media not Alberto. I was sick to death of them making him out to be so incredible. He certainly was a great marathoner, no problems there. My comments were totally lost on the gentlemen of the press. The same thing happened with Ovett/Coe/Cram/Thompson, all incredible athletes but the media really do overdo it.
Anybody can be beaten! A lot of western athletes seem not to know this and the Africans kick their butts everytime. My attitude was a long term learning curve. I'd lose, learn from my weaknesses, analyse the opposition, then come back and win. Worked for years. Total belief in ones abilities is needed, just needs time, experience.
Well, I hope that answers a few questions, poses a few more? This is what I love about the internet, cuts out the middleman (media) and their version of the truth.