One of the best threads ever on LR. Rick was a great inspriation to a bunch of puny skinny American kids who thought they were fast. Appreciate you chiming in Rick.
One of the best threads ever on LR. Rick was a great inspriation to a bunch of puny skinny American kids who thought they were fast. Appreciate you chiming in Rick.
Thanks, Rick...what a great post! The combination of the Oly Trials in Eugene and the Games in Montreal hooked me on track and field for life. Your description of the 800 final really brings that race to life and also reminds me of how amazed I was at all of those performances. I remain amazed to this day.
...'son, we live in a world that walls and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns...'
Truly an honor to be on the same thread with Olympian Rick Wohluter. As a former UCTC club member it was always a treat to see Rick race in Chicago.
For the youngsters here, Rick was also a high school standout in Illinois.
As ease men and as you were!
Col. N. J.
Great post Rick. You'll have to excuse the confusion over this 4x400 workout. On this message board people believe anything that's posted. This is Letsrun, "where your dreams become reality".
I had the pleasure of watching you run your 3:53 mile in Wichita in 1975. Your reality became my dreams!
Not sure if you are aware, but Bob Wheeler passed away last Friday.
Rick, thanks very much for posting. The running community appreciates it enormously. This site is the Wild West and it's often hard to move past the baying of the jackass trolls. But even they know greatness when they see and read it, like here.
Those of us with marginal sub-2 PRs can identify only with your plans, not with the times and quality of competition.
It heartens me to read that a classy Olympic competitor feels that he can run his very best race, one to be proud of, and still not win the race.
Also, it's fun for me to see that my speculative interpretation of the unfolding of the race from your viewpoint wasn't that wrong. It's not easy to keep a cool head on the backstretch of the 800 during a WR run.
I would love to hear Juantorena's view on this race. I've read Ovett's - it's in his book. He knew that if it went out hard, like 50 point, at that early stage in his career, he would not be figuring in the medals. But, he'd probably have won the 15 if he'd reached the final.
I remember images of Rick flying off the curve of some indoor track always suspended mid-stride like a swooping falcon. Like someone else mentioned, "Coe-before-Coe". I always was astounded that someone so lightly built, like marathoner (with the 'stache, a resemblance to Frank @Munich)could fire off 50.x through the bell. Then, of course, came Coe.
Such a pleasure to hear from the Greats firsthand!
Rick,Thanks a Million for that Rare Gem of a Post.
The goose bumps won't go away.
Oldest record is the 220 hurdles I think.
April 2nd- 1960 21.9 OK it is really not an active event, but is occasionally run as a historic event from time to time.
Some day there will be a 1:40 800 runner and 2:10 1000 meter runner just not sure that is Rudisha, he may get close to 1:40 but he probably doesn't care much about the 1K.
Man, you were my favorite runner from the 70's! Great read! Thanks a lot!
I used to run with Rick in the 70's with the University of Chicago Track Club, and it is great to see him get the recognition he deserves. I especially remember trying to keep with him on his Monday 20 x 220 workouts! He held four world records (including the indoor and outdoor two mile relays), and he was someone who had supreme confidence in his abilities. While I have seen other runners do incredible workouts, Rick always seemed to be in control. He knew he would be the world record holder before he ever was.l As our great coach Ted Haydon used to say, "Rick has no false sense of modesty". But at the same time he was really down to earth and a great guy. Still is. I think a lot of middle distance runners would benefit from studying his training.
Great great fun to read Rick's post. I watched that race in a Traverse City, MI bar--'Union Station' maybe? Fantastic. I flipped through the thread to see if anyone had posted a link to the video. Here it is. Not the best quality...but, it was 1976 after all. Sorry if it's already been posted...
collector wrote:
AAU 1974 1:43:9
http://dlproj.library.ucla.edu/derivatives/latimes/WOI_8_1_1926/clusc_8_1_00328105a_j.jpg
Nice.
Great photo. 1974 Nationals.
1. Rick Wohlhuter 1:43.9 MRm,ARm
2. John Walker (NZL) 1:45.3
3. James Robinson 1:45.7
4. Mark Robinson 1:46.0
5. Keith Francis 1:46.2
6. Byron Dyce (JAM) 1:46.2
(Actually, Byron Dyce is an American.)
Just about the time I'm convinced that this message board has no redeeming value, I come across something like this.
Rick, your performances were an inspiration to me as a kid and I still rank you as the most under appreciated runner in U.S. history. I really mean that.
I'd love to hear more about your training and approach to the sport and I'm sure the young 'uns on here would benefit greatly as well. I'd encourage you to share whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
Rick -- thanks for sharing, that made my day!
HZeus or Rick W:
What kind of pace and rest on the 20 x 200 workout?
Thanks!
RIck Wolhuter was the greatest american 800 runner of his generation and for an almost 3 year span the top half miler in the world. I was 3rd american in the race where he ran the American record in LA. Not sure why he is not more well known. He still has American 1000 meter record, which I saw him run live in Oslo then of course it was also the WR. . Thankfully I was running 800 that day and not the 1000.
mark Robinson wrote:
RIck Wolhuter was the greatest american 800 runner of his generation and for an almost 3 year span the top half miler in the world. I was 3rd american in the race where he ran the American record in LA. Not sure why he is not more well known. He still has American 1000 meter record, which I saw him run live in Oslo then of course it was also the WR. . Thankfully I was running 800 that day and not the 1000.
Thanks Mark! I definitely think Rick is underrated. Better than Wottle but Dave hit his peak during an Olympic year. It is what it is. Last year I tried to get the Brojos to do a piece on the 40th anniversary of his 1000m AR (then WR) but they ignored me.
Also, you were pretty badass yourself.
mark Robinson wrote:and for an almost 3 year span the top half miler in the world
more like 2y
kipkurgat ran a solo 1'43.91 after rounds on a windy day to win '74 commonwealth
he wouda probably run 1'43-low if not for wind & ~ 1'42-mid/high if fully rested
( he ran a 1'44.3 semi just 2/7 before !!! )
& had some pacing to bell