Sad story from the 1988 Men's Olympic Trials 1500m

J. Spivey - 1.15 seconds wrote:

What about Gwen and the their child? Is anyone on this thread in the loop on how Gwen and child are doing, and if they need help? Maybe this group could bond together, and help another part of RM.

1.15 seconds ahead, and a few steps out.

js

Hey, Jim. They are both doing fine, or were as of very recently, although a lot has happened since 2006. If you want, shoot me an e-mail and I'll put you in touch with Richie directly.

Kevin

I have a problem with your statement " Richie Martinez is a drunk because every time he decides to start drinking he decides to be a drunk". There is a very good chance he believes that this time, it will be different in that he will be able to control his drinking. Doing the same behavior that has not worked over and over again, expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

life in the US is hard for evrybody. Anyboby can become homeless tomorow. This country is f***ed up. THANKS TO BUCH AND NOW OBAMA BACKING UP BANKS!!!!

Blowing Chunks Masshole wrote:

Think of it like this. Say a diabetic is having a shitty, hungry day and decides to eat a whole chocolate cake, and doesn't take insulin. She winds up in the ER with keto-acidosis. Yea, she brought it on herself with a decision but does that negate the fact that her body is different from people with normal pnacreas function?

Is that our fault? and should we as a society pay the high cost of medical care because of it?

I'm sorry but this patient who chooses to be non-compliant with her diet because her body is abnormal from people with normal pancreas function does not excuse her. If you choose to harm yourself or do something that you are clearly aware of the consequences (ie; as a diabetic patient, you know what you CAN or CANNOT eat/when to take your insulin, etc.) then you should know better.

I read this article and I have to say, at first I felt bad for the guy but after reading it further, I felt bad for his wife/son and the people who he has hurt. I'm sorry but I did not see where his life was SO BAD to the point he had to give it up for alcohol. Sure maybe genetics play some part but I have to believe if you TRULY want to change your life that you can. Just read other people's lives or their stories, I am sure they had it worse or overcame it.

I do commend the folks who overcame alcoholism or drug addiction--very similar behavior.

My man J. Spivey. You were much more than just 1.15 sec ahead. Light years in fact. I like what you're doing here though - help those who can use the help. Very well done sir.

Great effort but his body was well adapted having been born and living at altitude, no? Unlike Jim Ryun going from sea-level to Mexico City, that's where altitude is a shock to the system--far greater then it was to Kip Keino's system...Nonetheless still a 410 miler by a 12th grader..

Rbyrne wrote:

Great effort but his body was well adapted having been born and living at altitude, no? Unlike Jim Ryun going from sea-level to Mexico City, that's where altitude is a shock to the system--far greater then it was to Kip Keino's system...Nonetheless still a 410 miler by a 12th grader..

Kind of a tough call. Living at altitude your whole life can't hurt but doesn't guarantee being a "responder." In the case of East Africans like Keino, you're talking about many, many generations of people living and running at high altitude (significantly higher than Colorado Springs), which would seem to assure a greater average degree of adaptation than U.S. residents enjoy.

Regardless, it doesn't matter how well-adjusted a runner is; there's just no way to run within a few seconds of your fastest mile at altitude. In this respect it's similar to training and racing in high heat and humidity; everyone can adapt to some degree and (leaving out genetic differences) hot-weather natives to a greater extent than others, but no one capable of a 13:30 5K in ideal weather is going to get even close to that in, say, Miami in June.

The fact that 4:10.98 remains the Colorado prep record after being set 30 years ago in a state that now has around five million people has to say something by itself.

What does "alcoholism is a disetake a drinkase" mean?

i think different people have different experience's with alcohol. I mean more in the physiological sense. I lived in Europe and had to become a social drinker for business, I usually didnt drink much. did not like the taste. I also dont like drugs and rarely taken them even when ordered by a doctor. I do not like the feeling of losing control or being buzzed. ANYWAY i became quite proficient in fooling people, taking my beer into the bathroom and pouring out 3/4 of it then finishing it off at the bar and ordering another round etc etc. I can actually drink people under the table with hard liquor but rarely do. I figured in the last twenty years i average less than 1 drink a year. Just do not care for it.

So i guess there is somethin in my body that doent work like most people. I have been drunk twice in my life, once so bad i passed out. It was after losing my job in London, friends took me out and said i should get drunk, so i drank something like 12 carlsberg special brews in 40 minutes.I passed out and woke up hours latere with people shoving wet bread down my throat to get me to throw up the alcohol.

Anyway i went home, slept for 12 hours and went for a 10 mile run. I was thirsty as hell but no hangover.I have drank a half dozen long island ice teas after dinner with no effects. When i tell people i have never had a hangover the think it is BS. but it is true.

I have a friend who is a bartender and she is amazed that i hardly drink. It just doesnt interest me, i only do it if people feel uncomfortable. I found a good trick though, order a drink like club soda and cranberry juice and people assume you are an ex alcoholic so they don't mind.

Anyway i realize this post is really rambling but my whole point is i think there must be something in the DNA. I have drank in the past, mostly lightly, a couple times heavily never cared for it either way and have no desire to drink.

I have presents people have given me, a bottle of Capt Morgan, various bottles of Champagne & whiskey & wine, they all go bad because i never open them.

the only time i desire to drink at all is when i get strep throat. I was in Germany and got sick and someone told me to drinkWeiss beer, it seemed to help. So i do drink a weiss beer when i get a really bad sore or strep throat maybe once every couple years, but only drink a few ounces, after that the taste starts being counterproductive.

I am sure i can't be the only person that doesn't enjoy alcohol and has never had a hangover

Very valid points! You are right, the fact that the record has stood for 30 years says a ton....

someone new wrote:

gee wiz wrote:

I would love to hear that this guy has pulled himself out of the gutter since this was written?

Unfortunately, he hasn't. Here's an article from last month...

http://www.gazette.com/articles/police-99954-morning-arrested.html

That's a bunch of crap... I've never seen that shit before. I never called 911 didn't have a phone. No felony arrest...I got a mistemeaner tress pass for being taking a short cut through a salvage yard....That's mind boggling....

I got a arrested for misdemeanor tress pass....As God as my witness. I never called 911 for God's sake I did not even have a cell phone.....I can't believe that...

Rich

That's a down right fricken lie... I had no cell phone and got arrested for misdeameaner tresspassing in a salvage yard and spend one I repeat one night in Jail. Contraband, in someones house, calling 911 20 some odd times...I don't get it. If anyone researched what happened as God as my witness that is the truth. Mind boggling

You're going to have to say that one more time if I'm going to believe you.

KB is right when I got arrested for tress passing It was August of 2009.. So there.... Damn it..

One more time

Sorry I repeated myself so much...Never used this before and thought my post would be on the post that I replied too. And and for a dead beat dad...Ask my son...I see him all the time. Yes I was not always there for him. However, you have no clue what our lives were like together... Never ever judge a book by a cover or a man by an article.

latently homosexual teenager wrote:

Yah, bigger factors.....like sniffing an A standard quailifer.

1988 was the last year you didn't need an A standard. Top 3 made the team and you went to the Olymics. Martinez was right there in front coming off the final curve.