Henry Rono’s true stories

Very special. He was a one-of-a-kind blend of human frailty and super-human performance. At times impulsive and undisciplined, and at other times sharply focused and diligent.

Did he really break 18:00 for 5K as a 180-pound 55-year-old? 😶

He did. Just as impressive, he ran 5:45 for that indoor mile at 240 pounds, at 49 years of age.

Great story. Thanks. I think maybe his most impressive "overweight" race was that 10,000 in Eugene against Salazar. He was reportedly in nothing resembling racing shape when he got the invite but when it came he decided he was having no part of finishing second. I think it took him six weeks to get into form. I know it wasn't long.

I think that was myth.

I have to disagree. I got the story from a friend who ran with him fairly frequently while Henry got ready for that race.

Over the years I've heard the same story, and I believed it. The picture shows that he wasn't overweight.

He probably invented barrel season. What a legend.

He does not look that much bigger than he usual.

Henry said he weighed 151 that day. I think he raced at 138.

I remember the 151, as he referred to Bacardi 151

hi paul,

i remember that san diego race fairly well, but not perfectly (i'm sure i was bitching about a lack of fitness like others). i remember how they gave rono and some of the triathletes a head start over the milers (pretty sure you didn't take the headstart, and i think i remember tinley not taking it). i was definitely happy to meet rono--right up there with meeting jim ryun and don bowden for me. very cool to hear how you connected with him after...

sorry for the loss of an icon, an idol and a friend of yours,

cush

by the way, your bike story reminded me of this story from one of my calcoast teammates--hopefully you'll find it humorous and not disrespectful:

"I almost had the chance to run a training run with Henry several years ago when he came out to run Carlsbad. The day before the race we were to meet. I asked him where he was staying and he didn't know and I said is it Carlsbad or Oceanside and he said yes it is Oceanside and gave me the address. I went to Oceanside on Friday and the address wasn't coming up so I called him and said are you sure it's Oceanside and he said yes. About an hour went by with back-and-forth calls and searching with no luck. I finally spoke to the race promoter and he said that Henry was staying in Chula Vista. When I told Henry about this, he was confused because when he looked out his hotel window, he saw the ocean and figured it was Ocean "side". At that point it was too late to run unfortunately."

Do you mean the part about him being overweight is a myth when he was in the actual race? That could well be. I can't recall what the pictures from that race showed him looking. Part of the story I heard was that when he started training for that race was that he ate nothing but chicken and rice for six weeks. So maybe he was not really overweight when he got to the starting line.

What terrible and sad and shocking news. He was one of the main runners of my generation. He was and always will remain as one of my running heroes. I remember so well that in 1983, he came to compete at a cross country race in New York City at Belmont racetrack. At that time the USATF (at that time it was the AAU) was bidding to have the world's cross-country championships right here in the United States (for the 12st time) and the world governing track decided that yes, the next world cross country championship will be held in the United States.

At that time the AAU was working closely with the New York Road Runners club (and since the NYRR had the money and organization) they decided to work together on this where it should be held. So, Fred Lebow and other NYRR officials working with AAU the officials AAU began to scout for a place to have the World Cross Country Championships.

So they checked Van Cortland Park (the mecca of cross-country racing) in the Bronx and it was a possibility as a course, but it was not "spectator friendly course"(once the runners would go into the woods and hills you could not see the race) plus there were no parking space, nor any sports facilities etc. So they were having a problem.

But then, they thought about some of the cross-country events held in Europe, they would have some of these events in the horse racing tracks (1980-Paris France). So Fred Lebow thought about having it at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. So, they began their bidding process and applied, and they had an approval.

But they wanted to prepare and do a test trial of the event at the site and see how they would handle it. But the Meadowlands arena, would not allow them to do anything till next year (1984). So they kept checking other venues to prepare and hold a trial test event. So they kept on investigating and found the Belmont racetrack which is located at the border between Queens New York and Long Island. They received permission to hold a cross country event, so they brought in horse hay for the runners to jump on and placed artificial "hills" along the course (inside the track and outside the track).

So, they invited many top American quality runners came to race, (Virgin decline as well as Pat Porter, they were racing in Europe) but there were others including Eamonn Coghlan the Irish (miler) runner and they landed HENRY RONO. These were the years that Henry was beginning to erode physically (as a result of his drinking issues) and many promoters were not inviting to their events as a result of his alcoholism issues. Sometimes Henry would show up for a race, overweight and drunk!

Nevertheless, Henry showed up! They had 4 races, the top men and women event and the other two for the open sections. Just before my race, I went for a warmup outside the racetrack and who do I see warming up as well, Henry! I went up to him, but I did not want to bother him and left him alone. Nevertheless, so I tried to follow him, and he was warming up quite fast. I followed him for about 3 to 4 miles, and I thought that I was racing already, and he was just warming up!

I ran in the open section. But after finishing the race, I went over to see the main event where Rono was competing. Nevertheless, back to the race, the race (his race) was incredible, although he was overweight (pump belly) he was so powerful and smooth, he made it look so easy the whole way. The race was a 10k, he and Eamonn dropped the rest of the field around the 7 kilometers mark. Henry led from the front all the way till the end.

But Eamonn did not let him go (which I was surprised since Eamon was a miler and maximum 5.000 meters runner-(world champion in the 5000 in 1983) Nevertheless, Rono would surge but Eamonn would not let him go and then with 300 meters to go Eamon pulled a surprise and beat Henry!

I could not believe my eyes! Henry left the track quickly and did not want to talk to any nor have any interviews with the media (who wanted to interview him) Eamonn stayed for the interview with ABC sports. The success of this event solidified for the AAU (USATF) and the New York Road Runners Club that this event could be held at the Meadowlands next year (in 1984). I left for home bewildered. I had just witnessed one of my heroes and one of the greatest athletes in distance running. Henry was just phenomenal.

Rest in Peace Henry, we will always admire and love you man.

Cush! That was a great event we all did! I hadn’t run a track race since Sunkist in 93 and my calves were sore for a week or so. glad you also have fond memories of that event and Henry!

These stories about Henry Rono are amazing; they’ve got me laughing and in awe. Thank you for sharing!!!

At a 10k race in Phoenix, he missed the start. That night I found him staggering in the hotel parking lot with only one shoe on. I helped him get back into the hotel lobby where he passed out drunk.