Without a doubt my favorite runner off all-time. Arguably the greatest middle distance runner ever, especially considering his mastery of tactics, as well as world records...run without pacing on a grass track 1:44 and 3:54. Incredible.
Without a doubt my favorite runner off all-time. Arguably the greatest middle distance runner ever, especially considering his mastery of tactics, as well as world records...run without pacing on a grass track 1:44 and 3:54. Incredible.
One of the true great. FRom 1962 - 1964 it is hard to imagine anyone, from any era, beating him.
A recent related thread:
https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=9708467&thread=9708467#9708467
Apparently he read letsrun. I saw a picture he had signed for someone and he had inserted MF between their first and last name.
douglas burke wrote:
Sad, I remember reading a book on great Olympians about him in 3rd Grade around 1972, He still hold the New Zealand Record he set when he ran the World Record at the time 1:44.3
I doubt that any other 3rd grader has run anywhere close to that time.
Had the great pleasure and honor to meet Peter, and chat.
I was completely in awe, and embarrassingly tongue tied.
What a great man
Sad, I really didn't know he was still alive ;(
Wet Coast wrote:
I exchanged emails with him two weeks ago.
Sad.
RIP.
One of the all-time greats. His 1:44 on non-rubber track was worth 1:42 according to Lydiard.
He was back-to-back Olympic champion and world record holder in the late 50s, early 60s.
He, and John Hadd both independently discovered that after you deplete glycogen stores on a long, done at at least 7-min/mile you activate the fast twitch.....
Apparently excellent cricketer and table tennis player.
Snell was a nationally ranked tennis player and I also recall that he played some Rugby.
Forget the 1:42 conversion. This man would have been the best of all times had he
the things of the 2000s (skipping the drugs of course). He was running on clay, dirt, grass, and cinder tracks!
Herb Elliot was also great but had no one to run against in comparison. Jim Ryun arrived too late, Snell was past
his prime. (Ryun, was trained wrong even for the time he ran, so could have been better than Snell.)
Hoser, eh wrote:
One of the all-time greats has passed:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/118196968/new-zealand-athletics-legend-peter-snell-dies-aged-80
Amazing to me, the man on the left, Roger Moens, is still going at 89
Heart problems. Too many miles.
Sad. Sir Peter Snell was only 81 years old young.
heart problems wrote:
Heart problems. Too many miles.
I call BS, but even if it's true he lived a long quality life to 81.
Smokers smoke, drinkers drink, eaters eat.
We can either sit like sedentary dogs or become legends in our own times and for eternity, and 1:44.3 on a grass track is legend.
Who beat him in the mile? Auckland school mile 1956 where Snell was second.
Peter Snell's passing is not just a great loss for track and field, but for all of the sports world. He was one of the purest runners our sport has ever seen. No arrogance, no grandstanding, no distractions or sideshows. Just pure clean dominant hard running and racing for its own sake. He epitomized the beauty of middle distance running. At the same time, he was a gentleman and a total class act. He also made great contributions to the scientific advancement of our sport long beyond his days as the greatest middle distance runner.
All of us who remember him and/or his incredible career are thinking of him tonight, and holding his family in our prayers.
hippisces wrote:
Sad. Sir Peter Snell was only 81 years old young.
Well Peter was 5 days short of 81. Now that would technically make him 80. His calves were bigger than yours if I had to guess.
heart problems wrote:
Heart problems. Too many miles.
His lifetime miles were probably incredibly low.
heart problems wrote:
Heart problems. Too many miles.
You're an ideiot
Rest in peace to Mr. Snell - a man of such tremendous power that even LetsRun's reply function fell to shambles.
I can recommend a fine drama-doco called "The Golden Hour", which dealt with the Snell-Halberg triumph in Rome '60. Snell (among others) is interviewed on the programme. Should be available on NZ television-on-demand if it hasn't already been downloaded to YouTube. Well worth watching.
Wow. I'm shocked. Peter was one of the first runners I was ever aware of. Strangely, I was thinking of Peter the past few days, including today. I'm sitting and looking at his book "No Bugles No Drums" on my bookshelf now as I type this. Going to read it tomorrow.
Arguably the greatest middle distance runner ever, an accomplished exercise physiologist, and a gentleman. He had such a powerful stride. His legs were huge! So strong. I really can't believe it. This is a sad day.
RIP Peter Snell.
That's amazing wrote:
douglas burke wrote:
Sad, I remember reading a book on great Olympians about him in 3rd Grade around 1972, He still hold the New Zealand Record he set when he ran the World Record at the time 1:44.3
I doubt that any other 3rd grader has run anywhere close to that time.
I Read a book on him, When I Was in 3rd Grade.
He ran the then World Record (And still New Zealand Record) in 1962, Which was before I was born.