Should have guessed his best 5K was run on the Mt. Sac track. Curious what was his second best 5k?
Should have guessed his best 5K was run on the Mt. Sac track. Curious what was his second best 5k?
Sergio wrote:
Don't get me wrong, 3:50 is blazing but he never realized his potential because he would peak too early in the season. Sort of like he does with his team at Baylor.
So Baylor's 5th place finish in Big 12s XC last season (a great improvement from previous years behind 2001's 4th place finish) and Kyle King's 5th place finish in the NCAAs 5000 qualifies as peaking too early?
Does anyone know how often he raced overseas? Also, I still don't understand why a 3:50 miler with such an 800 time as well, would attempt to move up to the 5k at a comparably early age.
Did he typically run his races at even splits and thus felt he did not quite have the same chance in a championship type mile race, hence leading him to the 5k where his speed would usually be superior?
Or, was he just tired of running behind the several other great American milers of his time?
He was ranked 8th in the world in the 5k, while not being ranked as high in the 1500m. I'm guessing he felt as if he was strong enough to move up. He definitely had the speed, and looking at his accomplishments in cross country, he was pretty strong as well.
I guess it just comes down to him feeling he had the best shot at an Olympic medal in the 5000m. It's pretty courageous to give up a sure spot on the team in order to give yourself a better shot at winning a Oly medal. But his plan backfired and he got a freak injury weeks before the trials, and his plan never came to fruition. It's too bad, but he has no reason to have any regrets, and no reason to worry about people on here calling him a choke artist.
maybe historian wrote:
Does anyone know how often he raced overseas? Also, I still don't understand why a 3:50 miler with such an 800 time as well, would attempt to move up to the 5k at a comparably early age.
I don't get what you're asking. A 1:47 800 isn't all that great for a 3:50 miler. I mean you pretty much have to be that fast at a minimum to run a 3:50.
I've never met Todd but hold him in high regards as he was a teammate of JK and find it hard to believe that people are coming on here bashing him 20 years later. More Americans need to try to move up - have the guts to try to be the best in the world instead of mediocre here.
More often than not comments on these message boards include a high percentage of uninformed rantings. I usually get a good laugh and move on, but this time I feel compelled to say a few words about Todd Harbour. I had the good fortune to compete against Todd for several years in college. He was a tremendous talent who brought as much excitement to the Texas/SWC college scene as did a young Carl Lewis, whose tenure at the University of Houston overlapped with Todd's years at Baylor in the early '80's. His devastating kick made him a threat at distances from 800m - 5000m, and he frequently brought crowds to their feet with his last lap sprints. At that time the college season was the primary focus of most athletes, especially in that part of the country; for a middle-distance runner to successfully extend his season beyond the NCAA's was almost unheard of, yet Todd competed well in Europe several summers while still in college.
One thing to remember is that after the 1984 LA Olympics much of the shoe money dried up and disappeared. What funding was available often got allocated to fewer people - high visibility track athletes and road racers. So, despite Todd's tremendous talent and him being in his prime, it was undoubtedly difficult to make a living from running on the track, especially with a young family to support.
It's interesting to see how similar Todd's PR's are to Alan Webb's. Todd was one of the best American milers ever, and it's nice to see his talent remembered.
Todd Harbour is and was one of the kindest, most generous, most sincere guys you would ever hope to meet. He's a solid, Godly man that really has a heart for others. Without question one of the best guys I have ever met.
Background info:
-wore over the knee high striped socks in H.S when he raced (James Robinson style)
-never ran over 4miles in H.S.
-sub 1:50 800 in H.S.
-many time SWC champion at Baylor.
-rumor has it that he was recruited by coach Hart as a quarter miler
-47.5 400 speed
-Santa Monica Track Club
-Carl Lewis went to bat for him to get into the Oslo Dream Mile where he ran his 3:50.34. (4th)
-1500m PR of 3:33.99 (2nd at Weltklasse meet behind Cram if Im not mistaken)
-1984 Mt. SAC 5000 1st. 13:30 over Paul Cummings
-If my memory serves me correctly, I think he injured his calf in the Olympic Trials during rounds of the 5K
-Teammate of the legendary JK (check me on my stats Kellons)
-As another Waco Kid spelled out, so incredibly smooth.
The above times were in and around 1982 when U.S. milers were amoung the best in the world. Back in the day, he gave me a pair of these really sweet tricked up Nike Air Mariah's that didn't fit his wife Cindy. For a 5th grader (or 33 year old for that matter) that is as cool as it gets. A few times (around that same time period) he would drive out to my house and we would go for runs together. I can't say enough good things about Todd. I feel certain that those who know him feel the same way.
Todd and ironically Bill Adams, mentioned before are the only two runners to leave Baylor not frustrated with Clyde Hart. Todd was coached in his post-college days by Santa Monica TC agent Joe Douglas. Never quite understood that one either...
Yes, Sydney Maree was world ranked # 5 in 1981 and Don Paige was ranked # 7 in 1979 so the word "choke" does not apply.
Todd was one of the most fluid runners but was a weak tactician trailing the pack until the final turn then going from 12th to 4th or 5th in the homestretch. He did place 2nd to Steve Cram in 1982 in Zurich. Running 3:33.99 to Cram's 3:33.66. He ended up ranked 9th ranked that year. In 1984, he ran 13:30.57 at Mt. SAC beating Paul Koech by a chest hair. It was a world leading time at the time and probably influenced his move up to the 5000. In LA in the 2nd round of the semis the heat affected him and he dropped out.
He ran 29:09 in his first road 10K just sitting with the leaders then kicking. He later ran 28:48 but at 25 his career was over. Todd once said "How am I helping the world by running 4 laps around a track?" He's pretty much a dedicated Christian and family man and the travel was not something he enjoyed. Today as a coach he does have a pretty good relation and influence on high school and college athletes.
Had he gone to Arkansas, Indiana, etc. (not a 400m school) he would still own the American record.
I live in Waco. Didn't know another Wacoan was on the boards.
Mark
In his prime, what did Harbour weigh and what was his height? Not that it matters, just curious.
I do remember Harbour's great times and, amazingly, they were sort of treated as an afterthought (if memory serves) by T&F News and the media in general ... but one has to remember, in the days of Scott, Maree, Coe, Ovett, etc., even a 3:50 miler could get lost, if he didn't win.
What's hard for me to believe/remember is his ranking globally in the 5k. With a 13:30 in one race on U.S. soil and no international meets??? I know times were slower back then and there was no a GP circuit per se, but geez, the 84 Games had at least 6-8 faster than that — how did they not rank ahead of him? Or was the 13:30 in 83? Even then, I can't believe the trio that made the WC team wouldn't be ahead of him.
Ok, just checked ... the 5000 ranking in 84 was 8th in the US ... that makes more sense.
Wow, this thread is very informative. I'll be running under Coach Harbour this year as a freshman and found it interesting to hear a few old stories about him. He seems like an awesome guy.
Where does his 3:50.xx on the all time American list?
A great guy and a great human being. Get off his ass you losers......................
Too many Arm chair coaches on this site don you think.
czar wrote:
Wow, this thread is very informative. I'll be running under Coach Harbour this year as a freshman and found it interesting to hear a few old stories about him. He seems like an awesome guy.
Where does his 3:50.xx on the all time American list?
Are you going to be rooming with Luis? Luis is my chum....P.
-friend of Luis G.
Swamprunner wrote:
There is alot to be said for doing it because you love it - it is in your blood - that is what makes us runners
Running is simple and yet it is a profound influence on my life especially my values.
To friend of Luis G.:
I am the roommate of Luis G.
-The roommate of Luis G.
To anyone who knows:
Was his decision to quit running more due to religious/spirital reasons or the fact that his family needed him to provide for them?
His family. He had a couple little rugrats by the time he ultimately stopped running competitively. Also as someone stated above, all of the shoe money ran out. Since he couldn't make enough money to support his family and train without a contract, he took a great opportunity to coach at a local high school and the rest is history.
from the Texas all-time HS 800 list.
#8 1:49.5c Todd Harbour, Port Isabel, 6/11/77 (Sr). Was Golden West 880y win in 1:50.1.
Jr, ‘76 state 2A 880y champ in 1:53.8.
Sr, also ‘77 state 2A 880y win in 1:51.7.