Benji Durden

I was Billy's roommate at Crim in 1981. I think I ran Crim in 1980 as well.

Billy is a great guy. Despite being one of the top celebrities in our sport and for a time the top marathoner in the world, he always had time for the fans.

One of my favorite Bill Rodgers stories was the 1979 NY marathon. Kirk Pfeffer and I had gone out too fats and were leading the race just after 10K. Kirk took off and ran pretty much alone till we got off the Queensboro bridge onto 1st Ave. Billy was in the pack right behind me, but I didn't know they were there since the crowd noise kept me form hearing them. A block or 2 up 1st Ave Billy came up on my shoulder and surged, I surged back and we continued surging every 3-5 minutes on each other all until we got to about 20 miles. Then Billy looks over at me a says "we are leading?" I replied that Kirk was up ahead and bam, Billy was gone. He caught Kirk just a little before the finish in 2:11 something. I struggled on to 5th in 2:13:47.

Benji you were 5th in 2:13:49 in 1979.

Benji, how did you do in the 80 and 81 Crim?

That's right, I was 2:13:47 at Nike OTC (6th I think) that September. I reverse those two race times (since they were only 2 seconds apart).

As for Crim, I never ran that well there. I don't remember my times, but they weren't very good.

Hi, Benji. It's good to see you here, fielding questions and sharing memories.

Your story about the '79 NYC marathon ("Are we leading?") reminded me of a quite different situation some years later, at the 1992 Olympic trials in Columbus. I had qualified for the race, but had a stress fracture, and hadn't run in months. You had been an automatic qualifier for the race by virtue of your status as a past member of the U.S. Olympic team in the marathon, but were already in the masters ranks. (I don't think they allow such automatic qualifiers anymore, although you would know better than I.) Both of us had decided to run the race for our own reasons, but obviously had no realistic chance of being competitive. I ran the first mile in about 5:20. The pack was already pulling away. I was starting to feel a little lonely out there, until I spotted you. I pulled up alongside you and asked, "Benji, are we in LAST PLACE?" You replied that you thought that you had seen someone even further back, although I had my doubts about that. Of course, both of us were among the first passengers on the bus to the finish line.

If I remember right, the course went past the race hotel about half way I stopped there, so I didn't need the bus. The joys of aging. I haven't been asked to show up to the trails since then, so I guess the reconsidered that all old guys can run policy.

As I recall, you and Kyle Heffner were on the bus as it approached the halfway point. You spotted Tony Sandoval, who had been dropped by the the pack. You had the bus driver stop, and you and Kyle ran with Tony to the race hotel at the halfway point. It was pretty funny. All three members of the 1980 team together for one last mile.

Thinking about it, that sounds right, I think I had planned to get to half way but my calf stopped me (I think) early. I tend to forget the bad races when I can.

RE: SF Marathon, was 1984, one week after LA Games race, Simeon Kigen 2:10:17 that day...Massimo Magnani, Don Norman and and the marathon debut of Martyn Brewer...Schilly ran 2:35 and I believe that it was the gal from NH (Karen Dunn?) who she beat

Glenn Latimer wrote:

It was 1984 - Martyn Brewer was 4th in 2:14:07 - don't remember what Katy ran. I used to represent all of them back then.

mike fanelli wrote:

RE: SF Marathon, was 1984, one week after LA Games race, Simeon Kigen 2:10:17 that day...Massimo Magnani, Don Norman and and the marathon debut of Martyn Brewer...Schilly ran 2:35 and I believe that it was the gal from NH (Karen Dunn?) who she beat

Glenn Latimer wrote:

It was 1984 - Martyn Brewer was 4th in 2:14:07 - don't remember what Katy ran. I used to represent all of them back then.

oooops...brain fart (it was over 20 years ago after all)...Dave Gordon from Eugene ran 2:12 for second and come to think of it, Don Norman was 5th...the other woman in top 3 was Laura Dewald/Albers

MF

Benji probably has no recollection of me, but I remember attempting to train with him in the late 70's. He and a bunch of other ATC elites would meet on Wednesday mornings for distance runs. Anyone who was interested could tag along.

I remember one workout in particular was a 10 miler. I got sucked along and before I knew it I had just run a 10 mile "workout" that was only 10 minutes off my PR for a race! Benji and the others dropped us off at the starting point, said a quick good workout and promply put in another 5 mile loop. His workouts (including the infamous full sweats in July) were legendary and despite his obvious elite status, he always had an encouraging word for everyone, no matter their skill level. Between him, Jeff Galloway and the other people I met through Phidippides (sp?) that was a special time for me. Thanks for the memories everyone!

10 minutes off a 10-mile PR in a workout is commonplace. You might be mixing something up.

Good catch! I meant to type in 1 minute, but my bi-focals and poor typing did me in. Of course my 10 mile PR wasn't that fast anyway. I was a average runner at best. I think the best 10k I ran during the time frame was a 33:18 at the '78 Peachtree. Benji on the otherhand was something else.

Benji, many thanks for joining in here and contributing to this forum. To hear first hand the training and thinking of someone who took performance to the level you did is much needed and very appreciated by everyone, I am sure. Here is my random question (forgive me if it was answered before). Do you recall what your best 400m sprint speed would have been at the peak of your fitness? Just curious and thanks again...

Benji, I once read an article written by you about the use of long slow runs (3 hours I think) that you started doing after some bad injury in Europe. I recall you said that you had to slow down because of the injury and hence you learned the value of longer slow runs. Can you tell us more about it. I read that 20 years ago, I think. What was the situation and what lessons did you learn that helped you perform better? Thank you very much. Tinman

Benji:

was this workout one of your staples for mara training:

3 hr run 1st hr easy 2nd hr race pace 3rd hr recovery.

also what are your recollections about racing against Kevin Moats

I am a Masters runner now but cut my teeth on racing in the South (Benji remember Racing South and Mike and Laura Caldwell, she was Ledbetter before the married)... So my Benji story is where I ran my first ever Avon 10km in Atlanta GA, and you were there even though it was a womens race. Anyway, I asked you to please autograph my paper Avon cup, and you willingly did so scribing the words ALWAYS ENJOY YOUR RUNNING! That was in 81, and I still have the cup, a reminder to keep my love of the sport first and foremost. I began my career in England as an 11yr old and then raced in the US for the first time at 21.... now at 45 I am still chasing my feet to my dreams and thanks to those that have been an inspiration along the way. I believe you coach a friend of mine to this day, she is also a Masters runner Mary-Level-Menton. Anyway, I just popped on here to say Thanks Benji. I live in upstate NY now and hoping to go for some fast 1500m and mile times indoors, perhaps I will see you at a cross country meet down the road.... All the Best!

Tinman wrote:

Benji, I once read an article written by you about the use of long slow runs (3 hours I think) that you started doing after some bad injury in Europe. I recall you said that you had to slow down because of the injury and hence you learned the value of longer slow runs. Can you tell us more about it. I read that 20 years ago, I think. What was the situation and what lessons did you learn that helped you perform better? Thank you very much. Tinman

I'd be very interested in hearing about this as well. I think I remember the article and Benji mentioned only being able to train every other day due to a knee injury and then eventually ran a then-PR at Boston that year.

lactic applications wrote:

...Here is my random question (forgive me if it was answered before). Do you recall what your best 400m sprint speed would have been at the peak of your fitness? Just curious and thanks again...

When I was in High School I anchored the mile relay (it was an English dirt track back then) and normally ran 52 or better. I would then puke. I ran 50 point once in HS in an open 440. I college I ran 49 high for 400 meters once in a time trail where I rabbited for a team mate running a 600 time trial. so 49 high-50 low was my best. I never really ran 400 all out while in my prime marathon years, but I could usually run 55 or better in a workout if I was motivated enough.

Looking back, the sad thing is I never trained properly for the mile because with that 400 speed and the strength I later developed as a marathoner, I should have been able to run sub-4 or a lot closer to 4 than my 4:13.2 PR.