RIP Ron Clarke

Flo'da boy wrote:

Passed away this morning at the age of 78.

http://youtu.be/p8rC2Xeiz5k

Sadly, the sport, or any sport for that matter, is likely to see an athlete and person of his character again.

Steve Lafler wrote:

A hero and an inspiration. What a tough man on the track.

He was free of the idea that there were limitations; unfettered by received notions of the possible, he did the impossible time and time again.

Um, he knew altitude was a limitation and thought Sea level athletes should be allowed to use EPO.

Great runner but let's keep it real.

The Times obit closes with the these two quotes:

The celebrated Australian coach Percy Cerutty said: “He was gifted physically. His records prove it, but he had no real mental drive. When he came up against men with spirit, he let them beat him.”

And Derek Clayton, a friend and once the world’s best marathoner, said: “I know Clarkey better than he does himself. No emotions. The man couldn’t lift himself in the important competitions. A machine. The Olympics or a club race, it was all the same to him.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/sports/ron-clarke-australian-runner-known-for-world-records-dies-at-78.html?

Wow. Very curious.

keepin it real wrote:

Steve Lafler wrote:

A hero and an inspiration. What a tough man on the track.

He was free of the idea that there were limitations; unfettered by received notions of the possible, he did the impossible time and time again.

Um, he knew altitude was a limitation and thought Sea level athletes should be allowed to use EPO.

Great runner but let's keep it real.

Cite the reliable source for that.

ScaryStuff wrote:

keepin it real wrote:

Um, he knew altitude was a limitation and thought Sea level athletes should be allowed to use EPO.

Great runner but let's keep it real.

Cite the reliable source for that.

Clarke himself.

MarathonMind wrote:

The Times obit closes with the these two quotes:

The celebrated Australian coach Percy Cerutty said: “He was gifted physically. His records prove it, but he had no real mental drive. When he came up against men with spirit, he let them beat him.”

And Derek Clayton, a friend and once the world’s best marathoner, said: “I know Clarkey better than he does himself. No emotions. The man couldn’t lift himself in the important competitions. A machine. The Olympics or a club race, it was all the same to him.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/sports/ron-clarke-australian-runner-known-for-world-records-dies-at-78.html?

Wow. Very curious.

I knew both Derek and Ron. We were in the same club. You couldn't have found two different personalities. So I doubt Derek really understood Ron. More that he saw the differences in themselves and favored his own. Derek is also a great guy.

Clark was not boastful. He was a fantastic family man and great team mate and captain. Derek ran in the days when 2 marathons a year were huge. Ron attempted WRs every 'race". That's how he set himself up in retirement. There was always the comment that he had nothing left when he got to the Olympics.

He did have a heart valve problem, likely throughout his career. At least it manifested itself later needing surgery.

There is no bad stuff about Ron Clarke. I was fortunate to have been a runner in that era. My brother was in the same teams as him, and died recently. Ron called him before he died, despite not having spoken for years.

There is no bad stuff to say about RC he worked his ass off, he raced his ass off. In an era where money was low and big races came around every 2 years.

Bump. This should be on page one for a while.

Clarke was the MAN.

Noooooooooooooooooo!

Damn, another good one gone!!

: (

This year has been so bad on so many levels for so many...