agip wrote:
Joan Benoit Samuelson, by a lot.
a pioneer, a gold medalist, tough as freaking nails, and best of all, never quit. Still races at a world class level in the age groups.
And kind and generous.
And a media whore who feeds off the spotlight and has no problem drawing attention away from up and comers. Plus she was cozy with lance.
Second only to Billy Mills for me: Ed Eyestone. I saw him run many times and once ran in a high school race he won (I think I was 7th or so). We were in high school at the same time, although he was a grade ahead of me.
Oh, I also wanted to mention that no one has yet mentioned Henry Rono. Back in 1978, no one had ever seen a runner to compare with Rono.
Probably Webb #1. Lagat, Solinsky, Wanjiru & Rupp too. For a bit there I had Robby Andrews up there.
344455523 wrote:
komen
+1000000000000000
Peter Snell
Alenka Bikar
Kenenisa Bekele.
He epitomizes everything a runner strives to be.
1) world record holder, greatest 5000m/10000m talent ever
2) best biomechanics by anyone except maybe El Guerrouj
3) shows no signs of suffering except for last 100m and never falters in a race mentally
Love Peter Snell. Rod Dixon too. And of course John Walker. Even Dick Quax.
Are there any unlikable New Zealand runners? I don't think there are. Ziwis for the win.
KOMEN FTW
Bekele is definitely in my top 5 as well. Most beautiful, effortless running form in the world.
Shalane has great form. She always looks like a runner: head up, torso erect/engaged, smooth and controlled arm swing, and everything working to propel her forward. Love watching her run.
Berty wrote:
Love Peter Snell. Rod Dixon too. And of course John Walker. Even Dick Quax.
Are there any unlikable New Zealand runners? I don't think there are. Ziwis for the win.
Dick Quax - lol
Joanie would rather be in her garden or on the roads than do media. Media goes to her...she is a Gold Medalist. She and Lance were both under contract with NIKE at the time.
And at that time nobody knew about Lance.
Jason Rexing.
13:55
In trainers.
Agree with "patti" -- Joan Samuelson is the diametric opposite of an attention-seeker.
In 2001 she drove 10 hours through a a Nor'easter to New Jersey to run a 5k memorializing a friend of hers who had suddenly died. No appearance fee, no prerace announcement, just communicated with her late friend's family. She stayed throughout the rainy awards ceremony to present all the age-group awards and chat with well-wishers, and then went home.
ginea wrote:
I love Joan Benoit-Samuelson too. I even met her once at a 5K race. She ran about 18 minutes and won the masters division.
For all time though, my fav would be Kara Goucher. She's really done a lot recently to empower women and that is an issue near and dear to my heart. And don't forget she is a mother!
Correct, Kara Goucher has done a lot more for the empowerment of women than Joan Benoit Samuelson. *eyes roll
Wow, I really hope you are a troll. If not, you must be a HS kid. Or younger.
Bill Rodgers.
1. He was fast.
2. He won, so he wasn't just a time trialer.
3. He was humble. dude just has the personality like he was a really good local road runner, only he was winning Boston and NYC instead of the local turkey trot.
coach...... wrote:
Grand Master Flash Jr wrote:I'm surprised at all the Haile love here.
And also surprised that no one has mentioned Lasse Viren. the dude was a cop! Blue colla' balls, fellas.
Not to mention the 5000/10000 gold back-to-back olympics, hey? That's better than Geb, Tergat, Kenny B, and Mo (unless Mo double repeats in Rio)
To repeat - Very surprised no one has mentioned Lasse Viren.
You do realise he used blood bags to get those 4 medals
He should be in jail
And Viren should be in jail for something that was not illegal because...?
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