Why 1983 boston marathon was so fast???

It obvious that the course was not Rupp certified

dude go away, why are you hating on Kyle O'Brien the guy came from no where to run 2:15. Most people who ran in 1983 marathon also probably didn't run 26 miles 385 yards.

I have no idea who Kyle O'Brien is, but I did find this amusing comment by him following the 2006 Chicago marathon:

"The Chicago Marathon did a great job this year trying to promote the Olympic Trials qualifiers and offering the extra bonus money to anybody that ran under the qualifier, and offering American money 25 places deep. Carey Pinkowski and LaSalle Banks just did an amazing job just trying to get all the qualifiers out there, and they did. I mean, 44 guys running under the standard is just unheard of."

44 Americans under 2:22 -- not bad, but hardly "unheard of."

Without singling out anyone, I agree that the sense of entitlement that comes out in the comments of some runners (and those laughably self-aggrandizing personal web pages of "Elite Runner John Jones" and "Professional Runner Sally Smith") can be hard to swallow. If you can actually get races and sponsors to fund your pursuit of marathon times that are ten minutes slower than what the world's best are running, then count your lucky stars, but don't imagine that you're doing anything special.

I never received a penny for my sub-2:20 marathons (although I did receive a medal from Chicago saying that I won my age group). That was fine with me. I have a number of ambivalent feelings and probably even regrets about my own choices in running over the years, but I have no real regrets about failing to make a few dollars from the sport. There are perfectly good and thoroughly ignoble reasons for running lots of miles, but running for pocket change just seems stupid to me.

"dude go away", no you should shut off your computer and not read his comments.

You said Kyle O'Brien came from nowhere to run 2:15, really? What are you smoking? Kyle went from 2:19 plus and then ran almost 5 minutes faster on his best day. He didn't run 2:15 and then drop to 2:10. There's a big difference but if I have to explain that to you, well, you're not much of a runner.

As far as the Boston course being short, you're nuts, honestly. The course was absolutely certified and you can ask Greg Meyer himself. Do you actually believe they changed the finish and didn't re-measure it? Do you know what pace they were on at 20 miles (look it up), which by the way was the same 20 mile section that Alberto and Dick had run the year before? It's amazing how 27 years have passed and suddenly the course was short.

I personally know many 2:15 marathoners, so what? It's a great accomplishment and definitely worth doing, but as far as making money, Kyle IS lucky to have been accepted on a team for that length of time at his level. If Mark had the same opportunities, he would have done a lot more with it than Kyle did seeing that Mark ran 2:15 by himself, no team or sponsorship. When your pr for a true "all out" half is a sub 1:05 by 16 seconds, you're not going to run 2:11 and if you do, you are an extreme exception to the rule. Based off of his 1/2 pr, Kyle ran pretty much what would be expected and I say good for him. Haile's marathon pr is 2 1:02's in a row and his open 1/2 pr is 58:55, 3 minutes faster than his splits. Kyle was a 2:15 marathoner and it fits.

No one was hating on Kyle, but instead using him as an example to explain for the incompetent, aka oldschoolass. You are either a troll or just plain stupid. Regardless, I don't care, but you have my pity.

A loose collection of post collegiate runners with a few jumpers and throwers here and there, keeping the dream alive.

In competition they proudly wore GREATER TC on the front of their singlets and on the back, “we’re better than you” and beneath that, “tee hee hee” as Henry Rono, who epitomized the dream might cackle.

Throughout the mid to late 1970’s they trained and competed together in the unrestrained and even reckless manner of those who have nothing to lose and tons of great life experiences to gain.

Millrose Games, Penn Relays, National Championships, Boston Marathon or your local turkey trot or all-comers track meet. They ran and they played and then went on to the next event in the next town, barnstorming the country.

What makes Dill Ho and his compadres, brothers in sweat, run? Most of all a shot at the Olympic Games, above all that is the top of the pops.

Young men, Teachers, mailmen, grocery store clerks, bank tellers and accountants, secondly, athletes firstly. Following their bliss and feeling their kung fu.

This loose collection of rag tag athletes met at the local college track once or twice a week for an interval session that was loosely planned and loosely observed by their advisor coach “the Waq”. After which most would repair to their clubhouse the local pub with the runner friendly bartender who admired and respected them and hung their photos alongside running and sports legends on the walls.

Following this activity which could not be considered a profession some of these athletes became very good, some received monetary support from race directors and athletic shoe companies.

All & all they lived large.

malmo wrote:

1980 -- 13 under 2:13, 20 under 2:14, 27 under 2:15, 2:15:55 (34)

1981 -- 14 under 2:13, 26 under 2:14, 38 under 2:15, 143 under 2:20

1982 -- 11 under 2:13, 21 under 2:14 29 under 2:15,

1983 -- 23 under 2:13, 32 under 2:14, 44 under 2:15, 193 under 2:20

1984 -- 11 under 2:13, 15 under 2:14, 25 under 2:15, 123 under 2:20

1985 -- 11 under 2:13, 13 under 2:14, 26 under 2:15, 70 under 2:20

The favorable wind would be enough to explain the very slight differences between 1983 and its surrounding years. Just add a minute to its times and they are comparable with all the others.

That is an honest post and more importantly, true!

Kyle and many runners like him are lucky that we even know who they are, and they can thank the information highway for that, as was already said.

Ryan Hall ran 2:06 plus and a guy running 2:15 is getting more kudos than Lodwick did in 82'....because of the internet.

Back in the 80's who ran 2:06? No one did, but a 2:15 marathoner was closer to Bill Rodgers back then than these guys are today compared to Ryan Hall, and that's a fact. But who was more well-known during their time? Kyle O'Brien of course, with some sort of town sign photo put up for him, not Mark Mesler?

The 1983 Boston Marathon had good weather with a lot of guys trying to qualify for the trials (among other races) and they ran to run, "maybe" getting a shoe sponsorship, if that. Most paid their own way. Kyle and the other Hanson runners, from what I know, are/were taken care of. Good for them, but they are no better than a lot of the guys that people have been talking about in this thread. That's my take!

It's really what's between the Start & Finish that count !

JJE wrote:

'83 Boston was also the Trials for the first World Championships in T&F in Helsinki that summer, hence the heavy American presence that year.

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THIS.

Computer Guru wrote:

The race also served as the U.S. trials for the very first T&F World Championships in Helsinki later that year. Considering the fact that we had boycotted Moscow in 1980, Helsinki would be the first major championship marathon that American athletes had run in seven years. That definitely contributed towards a large turnout of the top U.S. runners.

THIS! And not for a second do I believe the course was short.

From the top participants.

Aside from the fast field, weather was a big factor. 45 at start with low humidity (~40%), and tailwind.

as a slight aside...

Number of UK guys under 2:20

1983 - 103

2013 - 6

Spot on!

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot wrote:

So there are people today who would be capable of sub-2:30 yet wound up obese, instead?

Lindgren Runner wrote:

Back then obesity was not a problem. Today its a major issue with most Americans and most of them would rather finish a marathon then run it fast.

A team mate of mine used to be obese. turned it around and is not a marathon/ultra guy.

Obesity doesn't only take out born losers.

That said, obesity is mainly a problem of price inflation and limited availability of quality foods as were the norm in the early 80's and prior. The changes a current new born grows up with old fashioned quality nutricion are minute.

In the past, you didn't need to be a runner or freak of nature to be slender. Just an average diet and body sufficed. Now, that will simply lead to obesity.

Ran 2:35:11 check results blue book with Meyer and Joann cover

The greatest Boston ever everything you said I agree that's the answer . I was 933 and finished 488th .ran 2:38 nyc to BQ and was a cloudy cool day and just amazing .my first Boston and the wc and pan am qualifier.only question as where was the 300 yards added as I remember same start in front of church and ring road pru was a good quarter mile before .winder if we ran 26.2 all those years as ran this year gos said 26.49 as expected . Maybe can clear it up as Salazar 2;08 year before . A lot of ring road good times