A recurrent theme on this message board seems to why American distance runners are not as good as runners from other countries. The frequent discussion involves hard work, attitudes, cultural differences, and group training, among many other things. A solution hinted by some is the need for some type of radical training innovation for Americans.
I for buy into the attitude explanation. Enthusiasm by the mainstream in track & field is lacking and I think that is simply the biggest reason we do not have better distance runners.
Does anyone remember this short-lived professional International Track Association circuit? I only recall a few indoor meets put on by this organization, but there may have been other outdoor meets I'm unaware of.
I had tennis shoes emblazoned with the ITA logo (kind of a silouette of the famous photo of Jesse Owens emerging from the blocks, mouth open, eyes wide open). Jim Ryun ran in the league. I guess it was called International in nature because non-American athletes were involved (Kip Keino? Ben Jipcho?).
It failed because, it was said at the time, of financial problems.
3 Questions:
1. With the internet and some perhaps more modern, more effective marketing techniques, could this succeed if tried again?
2. Does anyone know who organized the ITA and if they are still alive (and willing to advise)?
3. How badly did the ITA fail? Is this post just misplaced, misguided, hopeless nostalgia?
We all know times have changed since the 1970's. I mean, geez and pardon me if this sounds sexist or politically incorrect, but women's boxing and women's football are surviving. It seems like there could be more support for some type of track circuit than these two other sports, if marketed properly.
It seems also worth noting that in contrast to the less well educated elite athletes of the 1970's, today there are alot of Olympic caliber runners out there with MBA's and Fortune 500 marketing experience that presumably would have some interest in such a venture.
Maybe Masback could consider this history and learn from it, what - didn't Santa Ana (spelling probably butchered) say something about those who refuse to learn from the past will repeat it.