Benji Durden

michigan runner wrote:

benji what was it like to compete against guys like bill rodgers and greg meyer and alberto salazar etc in the old days? i remember you as a really gutsy runner that grinded out some fantastic marathon times despite not having fast 5d/10k times. thanks for your time and good luck!!

Billy was a good friend off the road and an animal in the race. I beat him a few times and it was wonderful when it happened (once was th 2:11:11 at Houston in 1982 that was mentioned earlier in this thread). Greg and I were more adversarial. I didn't race him as often, but it wasn't till we were both near the end of our careers that we got over ourselves. Salazar's career was rising as mine was ending. We knew each other but never really raced each other.

As for my 5K/10K times, I could have run better times if had been in New England or Eugene and focused more on the track. Being from Atlanta made it hard to find track meets that were conducive to fast times. my 10K PR was in Peachtree in 1981; not a fast course and never great conditions. 5k's were not the norm for road races back then like they are now. I only ran a fe and trained through them all. Taht was my general approach to non-marathons; I trained though them. In fact the were part of my preperation for my marathons. If you weren't a marathoner in the late 70's early 80's you weren't really considered a good distance runner. Craig Virgin did a lot to change that attitude, but it was why most of us during those years ran marathons.

In defense of my speed, I ran 50.2 for the 440 in high school and broke 50 for the 400 a couple times in college. But I liked the long races more.

I never developed my short racing ability (800-3000) due a poor coaching in college (at least that is how I see it). We ran intervals 4-5 days per week and I was always burned out by the time the racing came around. We also over raced. I remember one weekend running the 800 on the 2 mile relay, the distance medley and the sprint medley both in the heats and the finals. I was just under 2:00 in the heats and struggled to hit 2:00 in the finals. I grew to hate the track and probably never ran the kind of times later in life that my body was capable of as a result.

I never thought of myself as gutsy or hard working. I trained hard looking back, but it didn't seem like it was hard at the time. I took many years getting to the training level where I prospered the most. And in races, I tried to run smart and not be afraid to chances when I saw openings. It may have looked gutsy, but I just ran thinking I could beat anyone and perhaps didn't know enough to doubt myself.

>As for my 5K/10K times, I could have run better times if had been in New England or Eugene and focused more on the track.<

Benji,

I remember a 5K track race @ the BC Relays in 1981 where you ran 14:05, I was 2nd in 14:10.

We had a re-match the following week at Penn Relays in the 10k where I ran 28:58, second to Wysocki. I thought that you were ready for a good 10K there, but you must have had an off day.

I believe you ran 29:30's?

It would be great if you could send me your logs for 82/83 in particular. I would love to post that on my website, alongside my own and Greg Meyer & malmo.

We had a close race at Jacksonville RR in 1980 as well.

http://www.bunnhill.com/BobHodge/Default.htm

benji do you talk or see much of your running rivals from the old days? what do you see for the immediate future for our marathon runners? i think one runner in particular dathan ritzenhein could be an awesome marathoner with his gutsiness and aerobic capacity, hopefully he can get and stay healthy. he really could be awesome at the marathon. what are your thoughts? thanks for your time.

[buncha old guys rememebering]

The Furman Relays (are they still continuing?) was a great race. 5 guys by 5 mile around a loop course. The start line was also the picnic site. Not sure who did the food, but I think it was Greenville Track Club.

Atlanta TC was the powerhouse then I think, also Greenville TC was decent, Columbia TC, Asheville TC. Also, some collegiate teams showed.

Atlanta would field Durden, Fidler, a Hispanic guy whose name I don't recall. Columbia's Russ Pate ran, maybe Dave Geer of Greenville. Nice day. I talked to Jeff Galloway recently; I could swear he raced it, but he said no.

It would be a good race format to start up, assuming that you could get the Club participation/motivation I think.

I was in Athens for grad school from June 1993 to Aug 94, and also spent Aug 1995-Mar 1996 there. Lived on a side street off Milledge Ave, 2 blocks south of Five Points.

Great place to run.

And "ATL's Finest," knew you'd be back at it. BTW, I went to the Empire State Bldg observation deck the other day to get a photo for my nephew's school project...it's much easier when you take the elevator...

Benji...do you remember running the marathon on Sacramento in 1987...I believe Hodgie ran in it and I think you did as well...I was in the best marathon shape of my life for that race and was completely knocked out of the water because of the weather...I also loved your shoes when you made the Olympic team...if I remember right you had a name for them...I would love to hear that story...

Hodgie-san wrote:

Benji,

I remember a 5K track race @ the BC Relays in 1981 where you ran 14:05, I was 2nd in 14:10.

We had a re-match the following week at Penn Relays in the 10k where I ran 28:58, second to Wysocki. I thought that you were ready for a good 10K there, but you must have had an off day.

I believe you ran 29:30's?

It would be great if you could send me your logs for 82/83 in particular. I would love to post that on my website, alongside my own and Greg Meyer & malmo.

We had a close race at Jacksonville RR in 1980 as well.

My meory of the BC was that I ran 14:10 and you were just behind me. At Penn it rained cats and dogs and my hamstrings tightened up. I ran 29:10 I think.

I'm still trying to turn up where the log books got off to. I had to keep them in that time frame because I was running for AW and they needed reports on what I was doing. I will get some to you eventually. I have been looking since you asked before.

At River run you out kicked me I 80. I was trying not to puke as we ran by the coffee mill there by the river and you took off (the odor of coffee is not my favorite).

I remember seeing this weird looking guy dressed in circa 1976 bri-nylon warm-ups that I swear to God had flared pant bottoms running at Potts Field in Colorado back in 1996.

"Who the Hell is that?" I asked.

"That's Benji..." was the reply.

Sacramento in 1987 was awful. Head winds and rain the whole way (rain was always a problem for me in races). I dropped around 30K when a transformer blew out and a tree came down beside me. I decided that was enough. I was struggling to hold 5:30's though I was in 5:10-5:15 shape (I though). My wife on the other hand ran a PR. She always seems to run harder into head winds. Mark Conover had a great race and I decided then he had a shot at the Olympic team.

My shoes in the trials were black nylon Eagles with red foxing. I called them my "black widows". I loved those shoes (Eagles). I wish Nike still made them. They were my only shoe. I trained and raced in them. The Nike Free is working for me now. The first shoe I've worn in years that I can run in without needing orthotics.

I missed Billy when he was in town this spring, but I emailed him after and we said lets get together etc... Maybe it will happen. I don't see that many of the old guys because they live all over and we used to just talk at the races anyway. I see Kirk Pfeffer occasionally. I talk to Don Kardong more than most of the old warriors. We have kept in touch. But for the most part, we have all gone our own ways. I would love a reunion type race/run. I think we are all getting to the age where we would enjoy one.

I think the marathon is beginning to be the race again. A lot more runners are trying it which is wait it takes. Culpepper is running well (though he is now rebuild) and Meb is Meb. Brad thinks Dathan can be great and that could be the case; time will tell.

I ran with you for a big portion of that race...I remember the transformer and also the tree...although I thought it was just a branch...I also remember a gust about knocking me over as I step on the side of the road in a deep hole...I also remember seeing some of the barricades blow over during the race...I thought the same thing when the trials came around...if Conover could run sub 2:20 on that day he had a shot at the team...that is right...Eagles...they were great shoes...

The old RW article on the 80 Trials is one of the very good ones. Nice pictures of the pack led by Terry Heath. Good pictures of the medalists, including you, looking suitably shaggy and wan. Kevin mcCarey, Sandoval, etc. Well-written article.

You are right, it was a branch, but it was a big branch (:-) I still can't understand how Amie PRed.

Thank you for sharing all this information Benji Durden.

Your comments on past races and training as well as your take on the current situation in long-distance running are very interesting to read.

Additionally, your remarks on training and how you approached running and your general attitude towards things when you were at the top of the game are invaluable to us.

On behalf of everybody who reads this board looking for solid information and comments from the best runners and coaches, thank you again Benji.

Agreed with previous poster.

My bias, but reading this thread is far more interesting than the juvenile crap in numerous threads. (Hence my reason for asking for some controls on these boards.)

It's hard to sift through the dross to get to the good stuff like this thread. Where else could you exchange comments with a guy like Benji? Great that Benji shares his views and knowledge here.

Agreed and very well said Glenn...

Ditto. This is enjoyable and inspiring stuff.

Benji--I just started a new thread to ask you about your coaching of Kim Jones. If you have time to answer please do have a look there. If I am mistaken and you never did coach her, please excuse my mistake. If you don't want to discuss it, I'll understand.

Thanks.

Good on you Benji!

I have know Benji For a few years, not to say that we're best buds, and he is a real stand up guy. He is always willing to share with those who really want to talk abut the lovely inner-workings of running. We should all thank him for sharing.

Benji,

I'm the shaved head guy that worked for Jack and Carol for a few years before Chuck took over at Runners Choice. Glad to see that you and amie are doing well.

I moved back to Boulder (Lyons) so I hope to see you around again.

Thanks to Benji for giving me a reason to come back and read this message board.

Vive la Registration!

LaWoof