Joe Falcon

I heard he could bench 400 pounds.

I think he went to Belton High School in Missouri. That is a pretty good story.

I Heard he could bench more like 600 pounds

I remember that in order to learn patience...he went out and fished in an empty lake.

And for strength exercises, he waxed on and waxed off his beat up Datsun every saturday morning before his run. The car could barely run, but it was so shiny and he could bench 300 lbs 5 times.

Also the year after he retired from running, he was the hot dog eating national champion. He ate 30 hotdogs in

10 minutes while bulky Hulk Hogan-lookalike was 2nd runner up who could barely finish 20. Unfortunately, he lost to some skinny Japanese guy at the World Hot Dog Eating Championships a few months later.

ask consiglio. he's always got some smokin' joe tales to share

Joe fell down alot.

Actually he was known for falling down whenever a race was not going well for him.

NCAA x-c he "tripped over a sprinkler head" in the last 800, to lose to Ramirez. Upon further review, there were no sprinklers on that section of the course.

Then there is the NCAA 1500 when he was getting spanked by Rono and Cheruioyot and "got pushed" off the track.

Then there is the Olympic Trials 1500 in 92, when he fell in the first 500m, though on the tape it appears he simply dove to the track.

He fell numerous times in Europe that werent reported as much over here.

However when the pressure didnt get to him, and his head was in it, Joe was the most impressive American runner I have ever seen. I think he was the last runner we have had that had the tools to win or at least medal in a world or Olympic 5k. He "only" ran 13:20, but he closed in 55 that day and that was just the tip of his abilities.

If you ever get the chance, watch a tape of the 1987 NCAA Indoor Championships 3000. Unreal.

Strange tales. I met him, ran a bit with him in the Fayetteville area.

I remember him seeing my wife and I at one of the indoor meets and coming over to say hello and "Thanks for coming to watch us run."

Few competitors at any level do that.

......and the guy spent every available minute he had (besides running) fishing and hunting. Bigtime outdoorsman!

back in 1990 when Joe was hitting his stride post collegiately, I was at the Jack in the Box meet in LA, I was a training partner of Maurice Smith who was also running well that year. Well being new to the Albuquerque scene, where Mo trained and not having all that great of PR's befor getting there, was an unknown. Mo and I went to the lobby of the Hotel to get some dinner after the race, and Joe was there and eating alone, Mo goes up to Joes table and says good race( Mo got second to Joe in the 1500) I am tagging along and Mo and starts to introduce Joe and I, and before Mo can say my name he shakes my hand and says hey Donny, how you been? Mo asks Joe how he knows me and Joe just says, we go way back...this made me feel good, even when I later admitted to Mo, that I knew Joe, because I ran for Oklahoma State and got my ass kicked on a consistant basis by Joe just by being in proximity to Arkansas.... Joe was also supposed to be my roommate at the 1992 Oly trails, but he opted to stay away from where the other Athletes were being put up(Hilton)so I had my own room...

Joe Falcon was on fire at times. If he would have been healthy at Worlds in 1991 then he was as good as anyone. If 1990 had been an Olympic year, Joe could have won the gold. That was the end of the pre-EPO era and look at what he did on the circuit that year. He beat EVERYONE in the world. In 1992 Joe got tripped and knocked down in the 1500m at the trials and it was only 220 meters into the race (not 500m as earlier posted). I can't speak of the other events referred to, but if Joe had run the 5000m in 1992 then forget it, he would have won it easily at the trials and had a shot at a medal at the games. It (1992 Oly 5k) was a kickers race that Bauman won in 13:12. No one else had 3:49 speed in the USA besides Spivey and Joe had already run 13:20 at the Pre Classic that year. Give the man some props. In the indoor 3k he was a machine. Try this workout by yourself 4x800m @ 1:52-53. That's no joke.

The bench press story goes like this: some Arkansas football player makes some smartass comment about all the little runners and to stay out of the way of the football team. Joe replys by betting he can bench more than this guy (who probably outweighs him 2:1). He did so (and I think he might have done 2 reps at what the football player maxed out at).

Another note, when Joe fell at NCAA XC against Aaron Ramirez, it's true that the sprinkler head was not found, but to insinuate that Joe took a dive is very unfair. He had close to 100 YARDS on Ramirez! It's not like they were neck and neck. He had the race won, and it was only like 500-600 meters from the finish when he fell. Even so, he got back up, finished and his first words to Coach McDonnell were "Did the team win?" Classy guy.

Workouts wise, this guy was a true animal, and ran worldclass times (close to 4:00) in workouts on various occassions. He also had good company, with O'Mara, Donovan and his right hand man, Reuben Reina.

I was standing literally five feet away from Joe when he fell in Arizona...he looked back and stumbled...as soon as he did Ramirez took off like he was shot out of a cannon and by the time Joe got back up he couldn't catch him...he may have had a 100 yds on him at one time in the race but not at this point...but Joe definitely had the race in hand as there was only about 100 meters to 150 meters to the finish...great competitor and truely a nice guy...I was happy for him to reach what he did in track and I have always wondered what he could have done in the 5K if he would have had more time...

Trained, hunted, and fished with Joe on a consistent basis in the early 90's. Once ran 2x 4.00 on the college track ( 20 min rest). Once ran 8x 300 in 37 sec with 100m walk. Would be running at 5 min pace and constantly be talking. Loved to do long runs on the trails- always surged the hills without even thinking about it. Animal in the weightroom- once saw him bench 315 without a problem. Off the charts physiological tests- the guy just didn't produce lactate. Loaned money to countless folks in trouble. Gave away all but 1 Nat'l Champ ring (that's 10 rings out the door). Hero to about a million high school kids. Constantly knew people's names and always very cordial to fans. Used to give away truckloads of Asics gear everytime he got a new shipment in. Was staying with Joe and his wife in New Orleans in '92- believe me- he didn't take a dive- watch the videotape. Totally devastated him. Wanted more than anything to win Oly gold. Couold have been the American version of Gebreselassie. Built almost the same to a "t"...

Great post Super Swede, I hope he reads it as he is well deserving of praise and compliments......tough as nails yet very humble.

Where is he now and what is he doing?

Joe is in Bentonville, Ark area working for the FCA!!!

His only serious 5K on the track in his life, he ran 13:20 with a 53+ last lap. I have it on tape!!!! It was amazing!!!!!!!!!! He would have definitely run sub 13 if his body could have held up. What a great guy and super talent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What kind of injuries did hte guy endure and why did he decide to hang it up?

word on here is that he got spiked in europe and it sliced his achilles pretty good.

8 x 300 in 37? I believe it. Falcon had real wheels.

Hey jama, is there any way I could get a copy of that? 53 is almost my top speed warmed up.