Renato say:
>But, believe me, the Spanish culture about running changed deeply during the last 13 years. This fact means more possibilities of recruiting, more interest, more knowledge. This fact means that spanish runners are ACTORS of this world, not SPECTATORS like the most part of American runners, that compete among them (not always) and normally are not able (may be that they have no money enough, may be that they don't want) to meet the top runners of the world. How is possible to grow and to improve, when your movement is isolated and you don't have any model among your runners ? Your models are form the past : you talk about Shorter, Rodgers, Salazar, Ryun and many other big champions that were the best in the world. But you cannot take your models from the history, because the world is changing continuously. You must take your models from the present, and you have to live the top activity like something regarding your life, not something to see like an "affair" of other people. So, the only solution is to be more joined with top activity, knowing top athletes and thinking to them like a part of your normal world, not like something of unattainable that demoralize every runner creating alibis with other people's doping for justifying their weakness. You must better know athletics and its values, and must believe more in yourselves.<
I agree with this Renato, and many of your observations.But though the world may be continuously changing the human body remains largely the same. What we believe we can accomplish, in our wildest dreams can change.
When I began running at age 13 my models quickly became the greatest American runners that you mentioned but as I became more knowledgeable my models became also the greatest legends in running. Zatopek, Bikila, Clarke, Snell & Halberg Hill & Clayton etc. Lydiard.
Any of these can & will provide good models.
As a young runner I read their biographies over & over for motivation and inspiration as well as methodology. I believe every serious runner should know the history and development of athletics, for context.
I hope you will continue to give us your perspective. It is a great asset that the American running community needs to hear.