Meet Joe Whelan - the guy who was working 30-70 hours a week as a Texas ranch hand - but still managed to run 2:13 at Grandma's

I just want to underscore what is in many ways the most interesting part of this story: Whelan is coached by John Aris, son of Bill, coach of Fayetteville-Manlius High School. Percy Cerutty is smiling from the beyond.

Please correct the thread title. He ran 2:13 at GRANDMAS Marathon in MINNESOTA, NOT at the CALIFORNIA International Marathon

Drainthefecesswamp wrote:

Doing hard work in difficult conditions, then going out for serious training is definitely a handicap, because you're going to have a lot of days where you really just want to take it easy. However, it also makes you awfully tough, mentally, if you get through it.

Big difference between 30 hours and 70 hours a week, though. I suspect he had a lot more 30 hour weeks than 70 hour weeks.

You act like physical fitness is a scientific achievement.

Read about Cerutty and Lydiard.

Fitness is fitness. Distance running is the simplest of events. You don't even need to drive to the track.

Pants and foot coverings are all you need.

Soon as more people realize that, there'll be greater achievement.

Drainthefecesswamp wrote:

Doing hard work in difficult conditions, then going out for serious training is definitely a handicap, because you're going to have a lot of days where you really just want to take it easy. However, it also makes you awfully tough, mentally, if you get through it.

I don’t understand why it’s so surprising when blue collar guys show up. They work all day while still running which is basically double the training. I’ve always had my best seasons coming off of summers where I’ve had harder work schedules outside. Sure that also makes you tougher mentally but physically it’s a boost not a handicap.

WNY Runner wrote:

Working hard outside AND training? Big deal said every Kenyan and Ethiopian.

They are just herding goats.

We got the name of where he ran his 2:13 wrong. It was Grandma's. The interesting thing is he's run 4 marathons this year.

Here are his 2019 marathons.

Marathon

2:17:04 SB 1 Austin TX 17 Feb

2:25:47 1 Waco TX 28 Apr

2:22:04 1 Buffalo NY 26 May

2:13:39 PB (354) 4 Duluth MN 21 Jun

Determined people do it if they have to. John walker had a full time job at a quarry in the prime of his career.

"I'd either run to work at six in the morning or I'd run from 11 to 12," Walker says. "Half of that was my lunch hour, and half of it was unpaid time. I used to run as hard as I possibly could within that hour. I'd run 10 miles religiously every day, in 53 or 54 minutes. Then I still had six minutes left to shower and get a bite to eat."

https://www.si.com/vault/1991/12/23/125701/sub-four-at-40-john-walker-runs-toward-his-goal-to-become-the-first-40-year-old-to-break-the-four-minute-mile

strava link?

rojo wrote:

We got the name of where he ran his 2:13 wrong. It was Grandma's. The interesting thing is he's run 4 marathons this year.

Here are his 2019 marathons.

Marathon

2:17:04 SB 1 Austin TX 17 Feb

2:25:47 1 Waco TX 28 Apr

2:22:04 1 Buffalo NY 26 May

2:13:39 PB (354) 4 Duluth MN 21 Jun

He accepted a can of beer at the infamous Mile 24 of the Buffalo Marathon and chugged it without breaking stride.

NJ Scofflaw wrote:

Determined people do it if they have to. John walker had a full time job at a quarry in the prime of his career.

"I still had six minutes left to shower"

I have a feeling his quarry job was not labor as he felt the need to shower before returning to work

rojo wrote:

We got the name of where he ran his 2:13 wrong. It was Grandma's. The interesting thing is he's run 4 marathons this year.

Here are his 2019 marathons.

Marathon

2:17:04 SB 1 Austin TX 17 Feb

2:25:47 1 Waco TX 28 Apr

2:22:04 1 Buffalo NY 26 May

2:13:39 PB (354) 4 Duluth MN 21 Jun

For anyone interested, here's the prize money he won for each effort:

2:17:04 SB 1 Austin TX 17 Feb ---------------- $3000 + $200 Bonuses

2:25:47 1 Waco TX 28 Apr ---------------- $15000 (per

)

2:22:04 1 Buffalo NY 26 May------------$1000

2:13:39 PB (354) 4 Duluth MN 21 Jun----$4000

Gnarshralper wrote:

I’ve always had my best seasons coming off of summers where I’ve had harder work schedules outside. Sure that also makes you tougher mentally but physically it’s a boost not a handicap.

That was my experience, working commercial construction as a laborer and carpenter during college summers. I was running 80mpw on singles at 5-6pm after putting in 8-9 hours per day of difficult labor. I remember the first 2 weeks back at school where all I had to do was run before classes started, and it felt too easy. My worst track season was the one where I didn't work construction during the winter time. I really think that I didn't get strong enough physically in December and January and lo and behold, ended up with bad injuries.

Didn't Matt Withrow work bailing hay during the summers? I've never done it, but it sure sounds difficult.

Not sure about Withrow but I’m almost certain that Solinsky spent summers hauling lumber.

Met JW before and can also vouch for toughness. His father is also tough as nails. Ironically, the guy grew up outside buffalo and has probably seen more extreme snow/cold weather than anybody on this message board. His running career underscores the importance of loving what you do vs. top tier/AA collegiate success. ‘Cuse is loading up marathon OTs with quite a stable of runners.

He was 9th at Footlocker XC championships in high school in 2008... So it's more like he's a very talented runner, one of the best in the country, then under performed in college, and has now had some consistent training and back to showing some of his original potential.

Runner's World needs to hire an editor based on the number of typos in that story

derek from marathon investigation wrote:

Runner's World needs to hire an editor based on the number of typos in that story

It's a requirement if you write about running.

Where can you order that outfit he is wearing online? Anyone know? Thanks