IF OVETT HADN'T WHACKED HIS KNEE ON THOSE RAILINGS ?

UK Boy wrote:

It was Christmas time 1981. Ovett was out with a marathon runner called Sam Lambourne. Steve lived two minutes round the corner from the church; whilst running past he looked up at the notice board for the church and caught the edge of some pretty solid railings - they're still standing!

He had to take 3 months off then got himself in pretty good nick after training hard down in Cardiff on the sand dunes.

He then tore a hamstring whilst doing a time trial in June.

He got over this and then did a 3km against Moorcroft at Crystal Palace. I think Steve ran in the 7.40's whilst Moorcroft out kicked Sydney Maree to run 7.37???

Steve was suffering from a virus so went back into some more training and then suffered a relapse with his hamstring I think. Season was over.

There was a TV program on late 1982 that documented the Ovett year, i've still got it but its really poor VHS quality - it was quite funny seeing struggle along at 8 minute mile pace was trying to conduct an interview.

This was Ovett's first real injury and he was never the same after. He was a lazy shite in the WC's in 1983 - by his own admission but all those that trained with him through that year knew he only cared about the Olympics in 1984. He was in frightening shape that year and all that ran with him knew he could have done something very special in Los Angeles. Unfortunately being a Brighton boy and living by the coast, the first sign of any pollution caused him immense problems.

After 1984 he didn't train with the full intensity he had late 70's / early 80's when training for the 5km. A little come back against Coe in 1989 was a disaster and forced him into retirement.

Covert Ovett wrote:

Skuj wrote:

Very interesting reads.

In 84 I read Coe's book and went nuts. I wanted to be just like Coe. I loved the training methods. He was my hero. And Ovett was a bad bad man. It said so in the book, really.

Years later I read Ovett's book, and the one by Harry Wilson, and spoke to someone who knew them both.....and then I watched and heard them on tv doing various things.

Now I think Ovett is the man, and Coe can sure be an asswipe at times.

Ovett in his book made a famous line: "It wat the WAY that he said it"...referring to Coe's "good" remark when Ovett told him he was third in the Moscow 1500. He mentioned that this told him everything he needed to know about Coe. A rare outburst for Ovett, and he never picked up on it again publicly.....but it is there in the book! And I believe it. And I trust Ovett, and want to be like him in my old age.

Also, Coe realises that he was an asswipe sometimes....read between lines of various reminiscenses, and he is almost apologetic - because he knows what is on the record.

Still - that was the 80s. We all move forward, right?

As a young club runner from the 80s, Ovett was an immense inspiration. He always turned up to events and gave a fantastic show. Coe was often listed for those same races but would always pull out with some excuse or another. Nevertheless, both were genuine sportsmen and as a youth of the time, I looked up to them as men.