Tokyo Olympics - October 18, 1964 - 5000 meters

MiamiOhio75 wrote:

Bob Schul has too often been overlooked as one of the great American distance runners.

I agree. Whenever there's a discussion of greatest American distance runners somehow Billy Mills makes the top 5 and Bob Schul doesn't even get mentioned.

"Look at Schul!!...Look at Schul!!"

Area Man wrote:

I agree. Whenever there's a discussion of greatest American distance runners somehow Billy Mills makes the top 5 and Bob Schul doesn't even get mentioned.

Ethnicity > merits.

KCbbqisbest wrote:

"Look at Schul!!...Look at Schul!!"

ha! =D

I was sitting next to Bob Schul's Mother and Father for that race. It was a cold, wet, miserable day. The track was a mess from previous races. Bob ran a fine race.

Oh, and don't forget that Bill Dellinger won a bronze medal in that race.

Bob's last 300 on a soaking wet cinder track was as fast as Mo's last 300 in London on a pristine, dry mondo track.

Dellinger was indeed great in that race too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1zYmckCaO8

Watch the video of the race with three laps to go. Schul is noticeable as running as least stressful compared to the others and easier at that slow pace than the rest of the field. Hanging back on the inside.

Dellinger breaks it open and then Jazy makes the big move and Schul is in 5th at the start of the last lap.

This was a field with Ron Clarke, Jazy, Kip Keino, and Harold Norpoth and Schul was so confident he waited.

He let Jazy get away and looked like he blew it but started his kick and when Jazy's head started rolling with 100 to go it was over.

No American distance runner in the 5000 or 10,000 has ever came close to that level in the Olympics. Solid favorite, got gapped, and won (albeit not too easily) with his speed and drive at the end.

modern society wrote:

Area Man wrote:

I agree. Whenever there's a discussion of greatest American distance runners somehow Billy Mills makes the top 5 and Bob Schul doesn't even get mentioned.

Ethnicity > merits.

Yeah not gets mentioned about Mills or Katherine Jogger anymore .

reader of the forums wrote:

Bob's last 300 on a soaking wet cinder track was as fast as Mo's last 300 in London on a pristine, dry mondo track.

Are you saying Bob Schull could have beat Mo Farah. That is a joke.

Mobot hahaha wrote:

reader of the forums wrote:

Bob's last 300 on a soaking wet cinder track was as fast as Mo's last 300 in London on a pristine, dry mondo track.

Are you saying Bob Schull could have beat Mo Farah. That is a joke.

He didn't say that.

Mobot hahaha wrote:

reader of the forums wrote:

Bob's last 300 on a soaking wet cinder track was as fast as Mo's last 300 in London on a pristine, dry mondo track.

Are you saying Bob Schull could have beat Mo Farah. That is a joke.

I'm saying Bob's last 300 on a soaking wet cinder track was as fast as Mo's last 300 in London on a pristine, dry mondo track.

You're right. He's been overlooked way too often. And the lack of movie about his life is a national disgrace.

It is amazing how consistently overlooked he is. I think it is a Pre-type thing -- Mills is a more captivating personality (I gather Schul is at best reclusive).

If they did make a movie about him, I want to see the scenes (as disclosed in his book) where he has to train in the winter doing intervals under the stadium bleachers. LOL! Can't see Rupp doing that!

[quote]MiamiOhio75 wrote:

Thanks for posting. After seeing the headlines about the 50th anniversary of the Mills win, I wondered if we would see the same for Schul. His win was equally if not more impressive, but he didn't have as dramatic a story to play up in the media. His accomplishment has been largely ignored for half a century. The same way that a number of other terrific runners from the 1960s get ignored in all the Prefontaine hype.

I hope he has great day. He deserves it.

Here is a RW article on Schul:

http://www.runnersworld.com/olympics/fifty-years-ago-bob-schul-became-only-us-5000-meter-olympic-champ

It notes he was the favorite in 1964 and still America's only 5000 gold medallist. Despite all that he's not famous like Mills or even bronze medallist Bill Dellinger.

Here is a much better article on Schul. Very in depth with workouts from Schul in 1964.

From ESPN:

http://espn.go.com/sports/endurance/story/_/id/11707261/endurance-sports-gold-medal-capped-bob-schul-amazing-1964-track-season

Peter Snell dominated the 800m and 1500m at the same games

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0woLEtQQA

Got his autograph at the 2008 Olympic Trials! America!