The great unknown Mike Slack.

FYI. Steve Hoag ran 2:11 at Boston in 75 and placed second behind Bill Rodgers American record 2:09:55.

Looking at the picture at the start, Alberto is wearing Converse flats and a Perrier singlet. He was still in college at that time. I wonder if he got any cash to wear those?

Mike sold me two pairs of Onitsuka Ohbori's in the 70's at the Dinkeytown store. I also remember Steve Hoag's store that he had over by Southdale Mall in Edina. I remember running at the U of MN indoor track(clay surface) in a 2-mile run and I think it was the year the train went through at the Hopkins Raspberry Festival 5-miler( I can't remember much as I'm old). I lived in another state and would sometimes come up to Minneapolis to race. MN has a great history of fine distance runners, even today with Team MN and the rest at the Oly Trails in the marathon. I can say I had a blast running and racing back then and was fortunate to look from the outside how great these guys were. I always wondered where Mike went. I also can't beleive that old Steve stated that Tom Byers lived in the cities and no one knew....whoa!

some photos of Mike Slack, 2 racing, where he is out front.

I believe this is the Hopkins MN raspberry festival run, and another one. I threw in a couple where he is with the highschool crosscountry team too.

suepalm wrote:

http://s1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj518/suepalm/

some photos of Mike Slack, 2 racing, where he is out front.

I believe this is the Hopkins MN raspberry festival run, and another one. I threw in a couple where he is with the highschool crosscountry team too.

In the Hopkins Raspberry 5 Mile, Mike is just ahead of Dick Beardsley, early in the race. Mike went on to beat a good field When Beardsley started beating Mike on the roads, we knew he was going to be a great one, as not too many could beat him. Hopkins was always so HOT!, but still one of the best Minnesota races ever. Great photos ( I forgot that Mike coached at Bloomington Lincoln)

We were really lucky to have Mike, we all loved him.

I hope he is still alive as your quote makes him dead !

yikes, he is still around.

lucky that when he coached at the high school level, he was our coach, until he stopped coaching.

is he still in colorado ? he has a place up in leadville as I recall , still buying shoes ?

I know this is off topic, but the 1971 video has a brief shot of Bob Wheeler with Coach Al Buehler. RIP Bob. What a great video.