Grete Waitz is dead

Oh my God... Very very sad. I didn't realize she was sick. The world of running lost one of its most historically important figures.

She was the god mother to Joanie Samuelson's children, I think. A fierce competitor and a great human. I remember when she ran the NYC Marathon with Fred Lebow while he was dealing with cancer.

Facing juiced soviets in the 70s. Still has the

Norwegian records over 1500m (4.00.55) and 3000m (8.31.75).

Both are elite times today 30 yrs after.

Very, very sad news.

This is sad news. A great champion. I remember staying at the same hotel as she in 1979 in Lynchburg Va. She, Lasse Viren, Bill Rogers and Frank Shorter were all there for the Virginia 10 miler. I got her autograph in the elevator of all places. She IS inspiring and always will be.

I am very sad to hear this. My condolences to her family and friends.

That's horrible. She almost single-handedly dragged women's marathoning into the 20th century. an icon.

Grete was one of my first heroes in the sport. Her strength, legacy and legend will live on for decades to come. One of the greatest distance runners of all time.

Today I will sit down and tell my daughter, Alana, all about Grete and just how marvelous she was as a runner and person. I only regret not having done so before now.

RIP Grete and thank you for all you did for the sport I love.

So sad. My condolences to her family.

A very sad day for all distance runners. She dominated womens' running for quite a few years and had a certain grace about her. I was privileged to meet Ms. Waitz several years ago when she made a visit to our running store in Minneapolis. She was humble and had a great sense of humor. We have lost a great one today.

Wow. I was just reading the Toronto Star and saw this. I knew she'd been fighting cancer, but never expected this. A very sad day.

So sad. She was a great person. RIP Grete

i am shocked. it is a very sad morning.

She was the first woman athlete I was ever awed by, and quite frankly there haven't been too many since. I was shocked to hear this news today. Always sad when someone is taken while still so young. 57 is far too young.

A very sad day... she was only 57.

Definite sad day, she was both competitive and compassionate. Seeing her running with Fred Lebow still gets me a bit choked up. A truly remarkable woman.

God speed Grete.

[quote]chinoix wrote:

It looks like the news broke at 5am. Waitz was a legend, give it some time.

True. I heard it on CBS radio news @ 6:00 am CDT. It should filter into the headlines here before the end of the day. If not, then you have a legit complaint.

RIP Gerta (what affectionate but not so worldly New Yorkers used to call her during NYC marathons). You were the best!

It's on the front page of cnnsi.com right now.

Sad news to hear Greta has passed.

My condolences to her family and her husband Jack.

She was supportive and generous and funny.

After the Montreal Marathon in 1980(?), she asked if I would like to do some XC running..."Sure!" I said. She and Jack put together about 4 races for me and made all of the arrangement for me to stay in Norway. I stayed with Ingrid's Coach...Johan.

The very first race...a 10 miler...mixed XC with road...XC was through cow pasture after cow pasture...I shot out like a bullet...trying to put a gap between me the rest of field...meaning Greta. Around 2 miles she caught up to me and asked "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to beat you!" I answered breathlessly.

"Oh"...and off she went!

We had a good chuckle aferwards at the a award ceremony. She was truly a marvelous woman. And always an encourager.

A few weeks after I came home from Norway I met up again with Greta at the New York City Marathon. I can up to her at the 16 mile mark and we ran together for about 30 seconds....and off she went.

My guess is that she knew what I wanted to do ...beat her.

I never did beat her, but I had fun trying.

RIP...Greta

Thank you.