Alberto "All that is Man" Salazar...did you know about this crazy story?!

I think basically anyone who knows anything about competitive running has heard that story many many times. Yes Salazar was a great competitor, he was tough as nails, but many still suspect him of steroid usage and he is seen by many as a manipulator of runners and programs.

I guess I'm too young (and new to running)-thanks for the info.

Al was a ferocious competitor. Perhaps a bit arrogant, but he backed up his words with all-out, near-death performances. When I saw Al instructing Rupp to ease up on the pace in that 10,000 a couple of weeks ago (not the more recent 27:33(?), but the one in which Rupp ran 28:30 or so), it seemed ironic to me, because Al never would have tanked a race when he was competing.

it seemed ironic to me, because Al never would have tanked a race when he was competing.

well i think he learned from his mistakes and has used that experience to keep his athletes from burning out prematurely

gatorxc wrote:

it seemed ironic to me, because Al never would have tanked a race when he was competing.

well i think he learned from his mistakes and has used that experience to keep his athletes from burning out prematurely

I agree...The goal was to qualy for nats. That allowed him to go all out in this race and not worry about Dnf'ing if he couldnt handle it. Get your qualy out of the way, then chase after history.

Dick Beardsley is one of the world's nicest people. And for whatever it's worth, he speaks very well of Salazar. They have become good friends in the 25 years since that epic "Duel in the Sun." I've heard so many of Beards's talks, and I'd love to hear him and Alberto speak together.

AZ Coach wrote:

Dick Beardsley is one of the world's nicest people. And for whatever it's worth, he speaks very well of Salazar. They have become good friends in the 25 years since that epic "Duel in the Sun." I've heard so many of Beards's talks, and I'd love to hear him and Alberto speak together.

Had the honour & opportunity to attend a pre marathon talk given by D. Beardsley, (2004 Royal Victoria Marathon). Was riveted by his description of all the adversities he has battled through. Had the opportunity later on to actually speak to Dick. Of course I mentioned I was in that same race, Boston, 1982 and a hot day that was. Purchased his book & read it all that evening!

Salazar is a jackass in the way he deals and treats people. I know firsthand how rude he is.

Yeah, supposedly after Boston his body temp dropped to like 88 degrees. So once up to 107, and once down to 88 after races. Almost died twice. One thing you can't say about Al is: he didn't push himself hard enough.

(and oh, since this guy is new to the Salazar-maniac stories, here is a couple of other anecdotes:

- supposedly when he had already battered his body too far, he was in training and he said some days he could literally barely get out of bed, his legs were so beat up and stiff. He said he would just about crawl out of bed, and would say to himself there was no way he was running that day, it would be impossible. But after limping around a bit, loosening up a tad, he would start to think: 'maybe I can get in a few miles. ' Finally, he would be out there, and before the day was done, he had probably got in a minimum of 15. This after starting the day almost unable to walk!

- this next story makes sense after reading the others. I will always remember, back in, I guess around '84/'85, a little before or after the Olympics, I flipped on the tv and there was a shot of guy running around the track, but only from the legs down, so I couldn't see the face, and therefore didn't know who it was. From just seeing the stride, I SWEAR TO GOD, I thought it was someone with a disability, that's how screwed up this guy's stride was. ( I thought it was a feel good story on a disable runner or something) . One leg facing out in one direction, the other trailing behind in a different direction. I mean, truly that bad. I about shit my pants when the camera panned up and it was Alberto. Couldn't believe it. He always had an awkward stride, but c'mon, I swear he looked like a cripple. He had battered his body that hard, and was favoring so many various tight muscles or strains, he was running like a person with a severe disability. And he was probably still pumping out 5:30 pace "jogging" around that track.

The guy was an animal, plain and simple, and none of his detractors can take that away from him. But yet, his animal-like tenacity, is what did him in in the end. He could have been a gold medalist if he had a little patience, or knew when to back off. But he didn't. And he destroyed his body. )

Al had a bizzare stride, right foot & the lower leg flipping in on each stride. Check him out as a HS'er in 75:

Common Knowledge wrote:

I think basically anyone who knows anything about competitive running has heard that story many many times. Yes Salazar was a great competitor, he was tough as nails, but many still suspect him of steroid usage and he is seen by many as a manipulator of runners and programs.

Yea his amazing muscular build was a dead give away...

It is simple jealousy. Some people on this board begrudge the successful their success because they will never achieve anything themselves.

I think we have to ignore them.

It's like being outside on a summer night: The gnats and mosquitos are a pain. You can give in and go inside or ignore them and enjoy what is good about a summer night.

Of course, there is always bug spray- I guess that would be the equivalent of deleting individual posts.

when I look at his legs, in that position, it looks as if they are going to break and fall off.

lol, and then a dog will pick it up thinking its a stick and run off with it, super fast, with alberto screaming at it to no avail.

-c'est la vie-

My sister runs like Salazar... happens to a lot of runners with feet too big for their frame.

Common Knowledge wrote:

I think basically anyone who knows anything about competitive running has heard that story many many times. Yes Salazar was a great competitor, he was tough as nails, but many still suspect him of steroid usage and he is seen by many as a manipulator of runners and programs.

boogy boogy wrote:

Yea his amazing muscular build was a dead give away...

You're incredibly dumb if you really think that's the only possible outcome of steroid usage.

He has been connected to Balco, he manipulates young runners, he's a tool for Nike, he claim's Rupps parents live in poverty.Why is not drinking any water during a marathon cool? sounds stupid. Wouldn't take advice from some one like that.

Common Knowledge wrote:

I think basically anyone who knows anything about competitive running has heard that story many many times. Yes Salazar was a great competitor, he was tough as nails, but many still suspect him of steroid usage and he is seen by many as a manipulator of runners and programs.

Steroids don't necessarily make you 'jacked'. It's not his musculature, but rather his connections to Nike funded Athletics West - one of the hot beds of drug controversy during that era that raises these questions.

I for one am ambivalent, I never saw a positive test from Alberto (even if testing was poor back then), so I will not decry him as a cheater. At the same time though, it is hard to ignore the fact of those connections.

However either way, druggie or not, Alberto was and remains one of the fiercest competitors I have ever seen in a race.

Seguru wrote:

My sister runs like Salazar... happens to a lot of runners with feet too big for their frame.

It's very common with many FEMALE runners, but I rarely see it with MALE runners.

Salazar's 1982 season remains one of the best ever, if not the best ever, by an American distance runner.

That year he set an American record at 5,000 meters in 13:11 (amazing for a guy with so little speed), at 10,000 meters in 27:25 and won the Boston with a sub 2:09 on a hot day and won the NYC marathon for the 3rd year in a row.

Now that is a year to be proud of.