Who was/is Craig Virgin?

Grinnerlinner wrote:

He nearly died in a horrible auto accident. He basically had to learn walking all over again, let alone running. But he is now running again, though not at the level he would be had he not suffered the crash.

Wow, I had no idea. What a shame. I'm glad he's OK again. When did this happen?

From a Runner's World interview a few years ago:

Runner's World Daily: What's the status of your recovery from the auto accident?

Craig Virgin: We found out in 1999 I had torn the rotator cuffs in both of my shoulders, so I had them operated on. Then my knees started hurting, and they found I had cartilage damage in both, so last December I had both of those fixed. I've finished up my eighth surgery and three and a half years of physical therapy to try and regain as much of my function as possible. On the nights I feel sorry for myself, I say "You're not in a casket and not in a wheelchair." On the night of the accident, I was scared to go to sleep because I thought I was never going to wake up. But I knew I'd dodged a big bullet because I wasn't in the spinal care unit.

I'd like to get back to 90 percent or more of what I was. Last week was six months since the knee surgery. I want to get back where I can run 30 to 40 miles a week relatively pain-free. I'd like to just keep my muscles alive, keep my cardiovascular fitness, keep my weight down, and go to these races for promotional reasons and still kind of resemble an Olympic runner. I'm doing the Tommy 3-K in St. Louis. I'm going to try and do it aggressively.

quote]Wow, I had no idea. What a shame. I'm glad he's OK again. When did this happen?[/quote]

The accident was about four or five years ago. A women with severe psychiatric problems and who was off her meds was delusional and was driving the wrong way on the highway. She hit Craig head on. He impacted the steering wheel so hard it bruised his heart, and doctors credit his running with saving his life by strengthening his heart. He also suffered a number broken bones in his legs ankles, and some other internal injuries. He has been under the knife several times. The last time I spoke to him was about a year ago, and he was still going through some physical therapy then or had just completed it, if I recall correctly.

Craig went back to school and got a Masters in Broadcasting but has had tough time breaking into profession outside of some occasional local work in the St. Louis area. He has also made a couple of runs at public office and been very narrowly defeated both times despite late starts and not much of a war chest. He does camps and speaking. The guy has had sort of a tough time since he hung up the spikes.

Maybe if you Americans weren't so crazy about Steve Prefontaine you would know who Craig Virgin is. Sure Pre was good but he would never have gotten the fame he has today if he hadn't died or hadn't been so cocky! there are far better runners that Pre in American history that don't get noticed

Craig Virgin is one of the great ones! I first saw him run as a high schooler in the Illinois Top Ten Meet at Thornridge in Dolton, IL. Craig ran the mile in 4:05.5 with a 58 second last 440.

His duals with Nick Rose were legendary. His first and only attempt at Boston was fantastic. The 1980 Olympic boycott took away his best opportunity to medal in the Olympics.

Is Craig a little cocky??? Yes! I still think he is very personable and approachable however. Craig was a guest at my home in the mid-90s for a 4-miler in the Chicago area, and the athletes loved him. Criag later that weekend took the time to get together with some former Illinois teammates.

Throughout his running career, Craig also had all sorts of health problems (genetic). He was born with a urological disease that was supposed to kill him, he had heart problems during college, and post college he had kidney problems which resulted in kidney removal. He had something that our runners nowadays lack- balls. He NEVER used any of his health problems as excuses, or weather, or lack of competition, etc. There could have been a foot of snow on the track, but if he set out to run fast, he WOULD run fast, no matter what. Had there not been a boycott in 1980 he would have been a legitimate gold medal contender, and was almost a shoe in for a medal. His 2:10 marathon also came less than 2 weeks after winning the world cross country championships. It's a shame more people don't know about him, he's probably the most underrated runner in American history. Had there not been a boycott and he had medaled he'd be mentioned with greats like Ryun and Shorter.

Pre: Cocky, arrogant...dies tragically....hero

Virgin: Cocky, arrogant....lives.....asshole

Honestly what runners are not cocky...whether it is introveted or extrovertd. The cockyness is what helps give a runner his desire/confidence to ever improve.

I've bitten my tongue for 57 posts and I just can't hold it any longer. I have to say it.

Alan Culpepper could learn a lot from Craig Virgin's mentality about competition.

There. I said it. I feel better now.

Zat0pek wrote:

Alan Culpepper could learn a lot from Craig Virgin's mentality about competition.

What could he learn? What is wrong with Culpepper's mentality? I thought he was a pretty tough runner.

Mills:

I still don't think he would have been able to handle Yifter, but who the hell could in 1980? I'd have given him the silver medal for sure.

While I've never met the man, he more than sparked my imagination as a 15 year old when he first broke the American record for 10,000m. I recall a photo in Runner's World from this race and he was foaming at the mouth. Talk about effort. Sure hope he's getting himself back on track.

Monty

Whats wrong with alan Culpeppers mentality? What ISN'T wrong with his mentality? Too afraid to race in Europe, or world cross, or basically anywhere a few hundred miles out of boulder. I'm sorry, but he is never going to be world class if he doens't step out of his comfort zone a little bit. Look at Virgin. The guy would race anyone, anywhere, anytime, no matter what. Culpepper takes an entire summer to prep for the Chicago marathon (not that that was really a bad thing), whereas Virgin goes 2 weeks after winning World Cross. Culpepper needs to grow some balls and get out there and race the best in the world, or hes never going to get to the level he desires.

What level does HE desire?

Mills wrote:What ISN'T wrong with his mentality? Too afraid to race in Europe, or world cross, or basically anywhere a few hundred miles out of boulder. I'm sorry, but he is never going to be world class if he doens't step out of his comfort zone a little bit. Look at Virgin. The guy would race anyone, anywhere, anytime, no matter what.

Can I get an "amen?"

AMEN!

Say it like you mean it this time!

A-MEN!

Mills wrote:

He had something that our runners nowadays lack- balls. He NEVER used any of his health problems as excuses, or weather, or lack of competition, etc. There could have been a foot of snow on the track, but if he set out to run fast, he WOULD run fast, no matter what.

Could you imagine Virgin running the 2000 Marathon Trials? What are the odds he'd complain about the weather or the course or the selection process or the sunglasses contract or the...?

If life deals you lemons then make lemonade. Craig Virgin made a lot of lemonade.

malmo wrote:Could you imagine Virgin running the 2000 Marathon Trials? What are the odds he'd complain about the weather or the course or the selection process or the sunglasses contract or the...?

If life deals you lemons then make lemonade. Craig Virgin made a lot of lemonade.

Can I get ANOTHER "amen?" And this time with some soul!

A-FREAKIN'-MEN!

I won't say anything about torres and Ritz because they are still young, but I find it pathetic that Culpepper has not run faster than Virgin in the 10,000. I really hope this is the year Culpepper turns things around, because I honestly believe this is the best shape he's been in. He ran a stellar marathon, and absolutely destroyed Meb in the last 2k of the cross championships, and Culpepper doesn't even consider himself a cross runner! If he went to Europe, I think he would suprise himself. The fastest 10k last year was 26:49, and I think if he got in a race like that, stopped telling himself that the kenyans are too good for him, he would be no more than 15 seconds off the leader.

I really like Culpepper, but guys like him are the reason we suck at distance running. Nowadays guys will find anything as an excuse- slow track, bad weather, no competition, ANYTHING. When guys like Craig stepped on the track at a big race, NOTHING was going to stop them from running fast. There could have been a hurricaine or a tornado on the track and he still would have given it his all.

Oh, and I garuntee that if Virgin went to world cross this year, he would be the top American at the event. He was one of the best cross country runners in the world, not just America.

Question?: What is the difference between Pre & Vigin?

Answer!: Virgin was never give the chance to express himself @ the O-Games-80!! Thanks Jimmy Carter, bastard.

Virgin was faster in HS & post college. Also those two WXC Golds are a bit more then Pre ever was involved in.

Virgin had as much as the late great Pre. When you are as accomplished as a Virgin, Prefontaine or Shorter maybe you have a right to swagger a bit.

Could you guys quit copying Rojo and Wejo with "Epic Duals?" An Epic Dual would be a meet between two Countrys or teams. When two guys go head to head it is a "Duel". Surely Virgin would have medaled in Moscow. Kedir I think won the bronze and took the WCC in'82. Virgin I think beat him in his victories of 80-81. Oh and it's a "shoo-in". A "Shoe in" is when you kick someone's ass too hard.

I think Craig might have made some wine from those lemons, what do you think over by there? How tough was Craig in the NCAA XC Meets in 75 & 76? What's wrong with these young Bucks, no respect, you know? Just look at the 1976 XC Champs for the strength of Craig Virgin, Rono & Co., JFingTracey!, whatever people don't get it do they? Time for my meds, lol. malmo what was/are thoughts or your contemporaries on CV? He must have been a guy of target, no? Fill us in on what it was like if there was a attitude then about him. Thanks again malmo, the dragon.