Would Henry Rono be a contender today?

I agree with you, only I would shift some words around and consider some aspects.

First, Henry, in my opinion, was a tribal individual, an innocent, a naif, of you will, whom Chaplin imported for Chaplin's success above all else.

So I would say first Henry was taken advantage of and exploited, and then he fell victim to alcoholism. Alcohol was medication for Henry, to kill the pain of his "bad spirit" as he says. We would commonly call it "anxiety" and/or "depression." (One usually exists where the other is present).

First, exploitation, disconnection with new environs, then alcohol to kill the anxiety, nerves, depression.

As to Salazar and Nike and dealing with an alcoholic at the level Henry was likely at...

Here is the thing, at that time in our societal and cultural evolution and history, "interventions," were not common knowledge. People often helped alcoholics and drug addicts until they could no longer take the abuse of the addict or alcoholic, and they just gave up -- do not think for a minute that Alberto or Geoff Hollister did not feel a gut full of pain, grief and sorry showing Henry the door.

Henry has shown you, in some of what he has shared here, how extreme his behavior was, his addiction. And you bet that Henry doesn't remember all of his extreme behavior in teh quest for alcohol, or behavior when he was in wild drunken spells, or possibly drunken black outs.

So, to sides to this. Alberto, who let Henry into his marital and family home (and please remember that Alberto was in his early 20's at this time, when Henry was 30 or close to it, and at that age in life, that is a huge age difference), gave a huge gracious act of giving. Unfortunately Henry was already "deep in the bottle" at that point...and very likely qualified as a mental patient*(* In our society we call it "mental illness," or use terms like "mental patient," when in fact most of the time the illness is not mental, it is emotional, i.e. it is not thought based, it is emotional, or energetic based, felt in the body, filtered through the brain into behavior.)

To understand this, understand that a baby is emotional before it has thoughts and is "mental," or "mind" based. Most adults can not understand the emotional behavior of addicts, because they are trying to understand it through thoughts, logic and reason, as opposed to thoughts, feelings and empathy. Many studies have shown that therapist that lead with emotion, with empathy, gain more healing in their patients that those that lead with thoughts and logic and reason.

So, Albert, and Hollister, I am sure gave their level best to Henry at the time. I personally knew, and know both of those men, and am confident they did there best.

And here is the deal, Henry needed a doctor, a therapist, maybe a team of therapists at the time, to help him. Henry needed to be institutionalize for his own good in those days.

And here is the thing about that, alcoholism is a disease that is a symptom of a disease. Treat the symptom alone, and the disease will persist, or lay dormant, put the patient back on the streets without treating the underlying disease (usually emotional, anxiety, secondary depression) and the patient...even if years removed from access to alcohol...will go right back to medicating their pain with alcohol.

So, Henry could have been sent to an institution, let out 25 years later, and picked up with alcohol or drugs, right where he left off. Or, he could have stayed on the street and gotten it out of his system.

The medical research literature of substance addiction is replete with cases where nothing worked but the addict getting it old and getting tired of being a victim of the substances they abuse. This is legendary in addiction psych.

So, one can hope that if Al and Geoff, and the society had been educated enough to take extreme measures and have Henry committed to rehab, that that would have have had a positive outcome.

BUT, Henry's history shows that he had been in and out of rehab and it did not work. That in itself is a whole other story...what modalities were used? Was anything used that might have work with a person of tribal origin?

I don't know that we have all the facts, and know for certain that Salazer and Hollister did not offer or try and get Henry into rehab. --Do not forget that addicts have massive denial systems, and those systems often include dramatic, angry emotional behavior and threats of violence...when the addict is faced with having their "drug of choice" removed as a pain killing option.

I have not read Henry's biography yet, so I do not know what inspired Henry to "get clean." I do not know if he is working a "program of rigorous honesty," and living a life path guided by a "searching and fearless moral inventory."

If Henry just decided one day he was done; then he may still be blame shifting others' reactions to his bad addict behavior, onto the others.

You know, Salazer, and Hollister, and none of the people at Nike were educated, trained, credentialed in handling or counseling addicts. No one had a degree in addiction psychology.

I would like to know that Nike went the extra mile and brought out the best experts in Portland and did everything including having Henry taken away in a straight jacket for his own good...but that doesn't seem to be the case. I would rather they tried that, Henry got back on his own, and ended where he did...rather than know that everyone just got exhausted and felt helpless to help an alcoholic that was out of control, probably angry and lashing out at those who tried to help him (totally common alcoholic behavior).

Anyway here who has had a friend, or a relative, with that kind of alcoholism problem, knows how absolutely horrible it is to try and help or save them.

And, back in that time period... Everyday people knew very little about helping addicts, and the concept of interventions, and even effective rehab options...were not known.

Henry was let down by a lot of people, but the largest responsibility for that, was the man who brought him here, his steward, John Chaplin.

Hi Henry!

Had a quick look at your blog site. Will explore more later when not at work.

Do you know where one can watch some of your old races? (especially the WRs). A dvd or website?

Tried looking for them on Google search and Youtube, but to no avail!

Any suggestions, please?

Many thanks.

Henry Rono wrote:

Are you guys having fun?

I wrote a book for you guys to read about coach Chaplin and I.It is a good read enjoy it.

Ask Bill Rodgers,he read the book and he is recommanding the book for the movie industry.

Henry

Greetings Henry,

I recently passed your book along to Bill along with a DVD malmo made of many of your races.

Shalom,

Hodgie

You are right on Malmo!

Yep Peter came to WSU in the fall of 1981.In the summer of 1982,I ran with him in Stockhom 5,000m 13:08 and 13:09 both finish 1st and 2nd and that was my last good run in Europe.

I'm heading out for 80 minutes run.

Henry

Henry Rono wrote:

You are right on Malmo!

Yep Peter came to WSU in the fall of 1981.In the summer of 1982,I ran with him in Stockhom 5,000m 13:08 and 13:09 both finish 1st and 2nd and that was my last good run in Europe.

Henry

That's the race I was talking about. Time was right but no WR.

Yeah,One Who was there,

Read my book Olympic Dream by Henry Rono.You will get it through Team-Rono or Henry Rono's Blog.

My inspiration are people who help me to stay sober and guide me to get the right education.Being around them gave me the second chance in this world so that I can speak up and accomplished the things I want in my life and help others.

Unlike WSU and the coach,who is mouth going 150mph leaving me high dry with a wonder.I dont need to be around people,who are demanding and pushing to apoint of no return.

Drinking alcohol is to left up the spirit and that is how much I knew something was missing, you are being helpless and annoyed.Who cares in the environment,I was in, if you are annoyed.

I had to wonder allover the world until get out of there.So I found the right people,who gave me the second chance to live good life.I am happy nowadays.I just finish 90 minutes for nine mile run.

please edit

Henry

I will be running half-marathon in Cincinnati,Ohio on Sunday September 27.

To Justice

In 2007 when I was invited to LilacBloomsday me in Spokane Washington.The two people,who invited me to the meet,they ask me if I would like to meet Chaplin.

Guest what happened? My reaction was, I first felt the chills running through my spine,my entire nervious system, straight into the spirit and my emotions was upsetdown,but I didnt drink.From there I felt as if I am going to be tortured again by Chaplin I had nightmares that night.

All I say was."I know the people who invited me to this meet,I dont know anybody else."

It is like running, then all over a sudden the snake runs across in front of the road.Do you how far up, I jump? ha! be care full what you say to people about that coach.

Please edit.

Thanks

Henry

.....need to 'let it go' regarding Chaplin and the wrongs he did to you; not for his sake, for for your peace of mind and mental well being. You want good, calm and peaceful thoughts in your head; not negative ones. Forgive Chaplin, (in your mind and heart) and move on away from the negative energy. When you are at peace with everything I think you will find your weight dropping down to 150 lbs where you need to be, as you won't overeat to try to forget the negative things still in your mind. Ngeno, Kimeto, Kimoamba, Murphy, etc...they don't waste time thinking of Chaplin and you shouldn't either. Good luck my friend! I hope to see you as a serious contender in your age group soon!

To for good mental health you..

I am talking about the past because people keep on bring it up.

It is like being in rehab program with couselors asking me questions about my mental health,the history of my coach and running,so I let you guys have it and you have them now,I have already forget about them.

You are right,I can see my weight coming down and you hit the nail right on!

Thanks

Henry

OK...that is good. Perhaps, when people want to bring up Chaplin, the past and those problems, you can just say, "I am at peace with my past, Chaplin and those problems and prefer to look ahead now with a positive outlook and not dwell on that anymore". That will let people know that you are tired of that conversation and topic.

Henry, I remember once we were down at George Mason Univ. for an indoor 3000m. Chaplin was there and we sat with him in the hotel lobby for a while after the race. After I left, you had one of your worst breakdowns. It was the time when Paul Ereng helped you out. Since you mention getting bad vibes just from the mention of Chaplin, maybe it was being with him that set you off that weekend.

Drew

I tell you what, like I say before,Chaplin set my alarm off that day,but I was save after I dial 911.He scares me off, I hate that. Cheeee!!!

Everytime I am around him premedics has to be around,the only way I will be safe.I have no muscles to run fast anymore, thank God I am life.

Henry

Keep on running Henry

Henry Rono wrote:

To for good mental health you..

I am talking about the past because people keep on bring it up.

It is like being in rehab program with couselors asking me questions about my mental health,the history of my coach and running,so I let you guys have it and you have them now,I have already forget about them.

You are right,I can see my weight coming down and you hit the nail right on!

Thanks

Henry

Henry,

Thanks again for you courage and honesty. I bet most people here are not as in touch with themselves as you are.

I truly admire your courage.

I don't really agree with the "recovery" people who say "don't talk about the past," or "you need to get over it (Chaplin) for your own good" type stuff etc. Those are old techniques that have been shown not to work. I am interested in what has been shown to work, evidence based behaviors, therapies or modalities. While it is easy for people to say those kind of words (attempts at "word medicines") it has been shown they do not work.

For all: when a person talks about something, it is usually because they still have some unfinished business in that area. Hearing them, giving empathy, has been shown to be the most effective thing for them to release those memories and move on to the next thing.

What Henry shared about the race in 2007 and the offer to meet Chaplin again, is transcendent, most people in their lives never get that in touch with their own internal warning systems, let alone able to speak honestly and eloquently about it.

Takes tuning into one's instincts, and having the courage to live transparently.

Henry's courage in sharing this honestly and freely is really big courage, and awe inspiring.

Thanks again Henry.

Is there more on your recovery from alcoholism in your book, in-so-far as what helped you make the shift? (A type of rehab, counseling, AA, etc?)

Continued good luck with the running, you continue to be an inspiration with your honesty and courage.

I don't know If I said it already but ...Hey good stuff...keep up the good work! :) I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I'm glad I found your blog. Thanks,)

A definite great read..Tony Brown