3:35 old guy here to your answer any question. Don’t overly expect a serious reply.

Bad Wigins wrote:

As long as you're still here posting,

1) how fast are you RIGHT NOW at 1500 or mile? Most recent PB

2) isn't it true that 47 year old Bernard Lagat could still run a sub 4 mile if he got the notion and trained a bit?

1) “ Right Now”? Well, actually this thread was inspired because I was laid up after a surgical procedure from a complication that a few of us old runners have to deal with involving scar tissue on our heart. So, you may need a calendar and not a watch to time me on that 1500m.

2) I am 98% certain Bernard broke 4 minutes last fall. It was at the PAC 12 cross country meet. First his woman’s team got dead last, being beaten by everyone including USC, whose team is composed of sorority girls and walk on’s they bribe to run with free shoes.

Then the mens team failed to even finish 5 runners BUT if they only scored 4 they still get last by 40 points.

After that performance I saw Bernard running away as fast as he could. Handily Doug Clark ( being Doug Clark ) had measured off a true, full mile for Bernard. From my angle I couldn’t quite see the finish but I had him at 3:59 low. ( editors note that Hobbs Kessler claimed to have paced Lagat to the finish line but I can’t confirm or deny this ).

[quote]1991premilechamp wrote:

1) “ Right Now”? Well, actually this thread was inspired because I was laid up after a surgical procedure from a complication that a few of us old runners have to deal with involving scar tissue on our heart. So, you may need a calendar and not a watch to time me on that 1500m.

Did you already explain this earlier in the post ? Curious what old runners have to deal with as far as scar tissue on the heart.

Consiglio owes me beer wrote:

What are your thoughts on Claymaximus Herron?

Or the French brothers, Jacques & Chien Strappe?

First off I owe a lot of people beer.

Claymaximus Herron is not only the king of Atlanta, pretty much all of South America too. Never had a bad beer with that man.

Due to the outstanding court order I am not allowed to discuss the French Brothers. But see above comment.

oneringtorule wrote:

1991premilechamp wrote:

Ask my anything. Running, life, money, cars, women, training, just don’t expect a serious reply.

Fire away.

Do you ever tire of living in the past?

I love this guy. If…, like him and ten guys exactly like him came over, MAN, what a party that would be. Of course if we got crazy and paraded around, and it was raining, then our parade would get rained on …. But…

So, one day when I was traveling with Stanford Track Team, and we were at Arkansas for nationals, I was chatting with John McDonnel. Now some snot nosed ARK freshman comes by so John introduces me. The kid says you guys talking about old, boring stuff that happened in the past like has beens?

Now John looks the kid dead in the eye and says, “ Yes we are kid. But let’s get one thing straight. Better to be a ‘has been’ like Doug here than a ‘never have been’ like you !”

So, I break out laughing, point at the track and say, “ there it is, go make a name for yourself kid “. He had to sheepishly retreat right back to Noobville.

Did you happen to see him there when he went back ?

I don’t find humor in someone saying he’s going to knock me out. Period. My English may not be very good but any one who says they will knock me out because I ask for an autograph needs to back themselves up. Done deal…. I thought the thread was great until I read I was getting knocked out. I didn’t tell a great hog, better than me, who ran 3:35 in his day that I would knock him out…. But now that’s it’s on the table…. Prove it….

Shiznit…. Just read you had surgery…. Hope all is good. Ending my stupid messages now. Honestly, hope all is ok. Did like the stupid messages although I can’t answer every day, but I’m done. You won!!! Not an alpha male here and hopefully you are all good!

Truthslayerz wrote:

Shiznit…. Just read you had surgery…. Hope all is good. Ending my stupid messages now. Honestly, hope all is ok. Did like the stupid messages although I can’t answer every day, but I’m done. You won!!! Not an alpha male here and hopefully you are all good!

All good dude. It’s not a contest. But seriously I was just joking ( as most of my replies are, I even said don’t expect serious answers in this thread ). I didn’t mean seriously that I would clock someone. Stay safe.

Ooh I guess I touched a nerve. I didn't mean to offend.

I was genuinely curious because as an older person with only modest athletic accomplishments, though still competing (and apparently residing in "Noobville"!), I don't know what it is like to reflect on a 30-year old achievement -- versus still being in the game, still striving to get better (with help from age grading). I gather you don't tire of it a bit. And that's great!

So can you rank the top 10 partiers from your heyday?

pretzel man wrote:

[quote]1991premilechamp wrote:

1) “ Right Now”? Well, actually this thread was inspired because I was laid up after a surgical procedure from a complication that a few of us old runners have to deal with involving scar tissue on our heart. So, you may need a calendar and not a watch to time me on that 1500m.

Did you already explain this earlier in the post ? Curious what old runners have to deal with as far as scar tissue on the heart.

There is a good book called ‘The Haywire Heart’ that explains all the heart complications that come up from endurance athletes. It is actually fairly common. Fortunately I caught mine early before I even had symptoms ( one advantage of having a doctor as a wife).

The scar tissue typically ends up causing a confused signal to the heart. I had a cryo ablation to fix it.

Look it up if interested. I think it worked. I will know in a few weeks.

Like I said dude, just having fun while I am laid up. Don’t take it personally. I have moved on from trying to run faster, my goals lay elsewhere now. No need for me to keep striving :)

Little sandbox wrote:

So can you rank the top 10 partiers from your heyday?

How about this.

I rank them by their nicknames and people figure it out.

No particular order.

1. The Titanic

2. Close (but no Cigar)

3. The Ho

4. The Rat

5. “ John Walker “

6. T. Will

8. Coop

9. Frunk

10. The Donk

Only from my personal experience

This thread was seriously awesome. Love the stories about competing and training and the camaraderie with those doing the same. So many of us remember those days fondly too.

People asked about a lot of your favorites, Here’s another: what was you favorite training shoe? Racing shoe?

1. Jamey Harris

3. Jimmy Ho

4. Jeff Atkinson

6. Todd Williams

9. Dave Frank

Can't figure out the know the rest.

anotheroldrunner wrote:

This thread was seriously awesome. Love the stories about competing and training and the camaraderie with those doing the same. So many of us remember those days fondly too.

People asked about a lot of your favorites, Here’s another: what was you favorite training shoe? Racing shoe?

Thanks. I am glad you enjoy it. I try and make it a little entertaining.

Favorite spike was the 1984 Olympic edition zoom. It had a plastic base with tiny plastic pieces on the bottom almost like extra spikes. I loved that shoe!

Training shoes I had no real preference. Maybe Nike air max.

Little sandbox wrote:

1. Jamey Harris

3. Jimmy Ho

4. Jeff Atkinson

6. Todd Williams

9. Dave Frank

Can't figure out the know the rest.

2) Steve ( Close…but no) Agar

7) Richard Cooper

10) Bob Donker.

Not so much guys who drank, just guys that were fun to hang out with

Tell us about your 3.35. Did you know you would run that quick? Where did you do it? How did it go down?

1991premilechamp wrote:

actually this thread was inspired because I was laid up after a surgical procedure from a complication that a few of us old runners have to deal with involving scar tissue on our heart.

Well why didn't you say so in the first place? What does your expert heart doctor say caused it? We would all like to know what to avoid doing.

Was it too many reps, too short recovery, too much slow volume, too much time close to max HR, too many/too few hills, racing marathons, blacking out at the end of an 800, dehydration, going home devastated, racing cross country, racing indoors, low body weight, fat body weight, high cholesterol, altitude training, bad air?

John Landy is still alive and over 90. Bannister died at 88. Milers aren't known for prematurely dropping dead, except for Snell who keeled over at only 80.

Bad Wigins wrote:

1991premilechamp wrote:

actually this thread was inspired because I was laid up after a surgical procedure from a complication that a few of us old runners have to deal with involving scar tissue on our heart.

Well why didn't you say so in the first place? What does your expert heart doctor say caused it? We would all like to know what to avoid doing.

Was it too many reps, too short recovery, too much slow volume, too much time close to max HR, too many/too few hills, racing marathons, blacking out at the end of an 800, dehydration, going home devastated, racing cross country, racing indoors, low body weight, fat body weight, high cholesterol, altitude training, bad air?

John Landy is still alive and over 90. Bannister died at 88. Milers aren't known for prematurely dropping dead, except for Snell who keeled over at only 80.

I have a confused electrical signal going to my heart. It was causing Afib and accelerated heart rate. They did a cryo ablation to fix it. This is typically not life threatening and I should be fine but it will probably reoccurs at some time down the road.

It is primarily caused by putting your heart at or near the max for extended periods of time. You actually develop scar tissue on the top of your heart.

It is more prevalent in tall males. I biked a lot for 10 years after I quit running, doing aggressive group rides where I would push myself to the max 6 days a week for “ fun”. Probably not smart.

A fair number of elite runners I know have had similar issues ( I won’t name them to protect privacy but o know of 6).

There is a great book called, “ The Haywire Heart” that talks about the relationship between endurance athletes and heart electrical issues. But my hearts plumbing is fine. Big and strong and no plaque build up. Just bad electrical signal.