Over many years here I just can't believe that LR goatheads in any way deny the greatness of PETER SNELL. But some - a few - still do.
Here's another recently-posted vid, this time Western Springs at night, mile, 3:54.1. WR.
Over many years here I just can't believe that LR goatheads in any way deny the greatness of PETER SNELL. But some - a few - still do.
Here's another recently-posted vid, this time Western Springs at night, mile, 3:54.1. WR.
Hadn't seen this before -- thanks!
With more pacing help, certainly worth low 3:50's.
I agree.
Great video! Thanks!
Watching this reminds me of just how much of a monster he was. So much power but also so smooth. He's such a good reminder that there is more than one model for what can make a world-beating runner; It's OK to be 78kg if you can also be a beast.
ObserverofTrends wrote:
Over many years here I just can't believe that LR goatheads in any way deny the greatness of PETER SNELL. But some - a few - still do.
Here's another recently-posted vid, this time Western Springs at night, mile, 3:54.1. WR.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpthes1isfE
GREAT POST - THANKS MUCH!
Amazing the difference in the announcing and no break away to a commercial or interview with his 3rd grade teacher or some real life story factoid
Many thanks for posting! In Snell's book he basically said this was his hardest race ever--he was absolutely knackered afterward.
Never seen footage of this race before, thanks!!
The announcer is calling it just like a horse race!
Holy sh!t that looked impressive and painful
Thanks OP
1955 wrote:
Hadn't seen this before -- thanks!
With more pacing help, certainly worth low 3:50's.
And on grass too, I believe.
Of all the greats, Snell above all of them looked able to run right through a brick wall.
Coevett wrote:
1955 wrote:
Hadn't seen this before -- thanks!
With more pacing help, certainly worth low 3:50's.
And on grass too, I believe.
The Western Springs race was on cinders, I believe. I actually don't think it was his best mile, even though it was his fastest. He was coming down from his peak at the Tokyo Olympics and was basically capitalizing on his build-up earlier in the year for the Games.
He was in better form in early '62, when he broke the mile record for the first time and then the 800/880 records a week later. Both efforts were on grass.
He said of his mile record in '62 that he was basically hoping only to break 4 minutes for the first time - and was annoyed when his coach Arthur Lydiard forecast to the media that he could go 3.55. But Arthur knew what he was talking about.
In the Whanganui race Snell began fairly slowly, running around 61secs for the first lap, and went through the 3/4 in around 3 min - on target for sub-4. The Englishman, Bruce Tulloh, then jumped into the lead. But with 220y to go all hell broke loose. Snell absolutely exploded. He said he never felt such a glorious effortless explosion of power. It took him to the finish line in 3.54.4 - just under Elliot's magnificent world mark, and 5secs ahead of Tulloh. And it was all done in the last half-lap.
There was never film of that race but it would have brilliantly shown the Snell who had the capacity to destroy fields with his unparalleled kick, as we saw again over the 800m and then the 1500m at Tokyo in '64. A week after his Whanganui world record Snell absolutely crushed the world 800 mark with a 1.44.3 (and the 880 in 1.45.1) - again on grass - and finished 40m ahead of the next runner. Lydiard has subsequently said that run was worth 1.42x on a modern track. And this was an amateur.
As a track buff footnote to the Snell mile, I won my first half running on the Whanganui track as a schoolboy, when it was still grass. I could feel his presence in the Cooks Garden stadium that he owned. Many years later, as a journalist, I had the privilege of interviewing him. A very gracious man.
Is it just me or does that low arm carriage of that era looks so much more fluid and efficient
malmo wrote:
The announcer is calling it just like a horse race!
I came here to post the same thing.
I was also impressed with the quality, very clear all things considered.
black caviar wrote:
Is it just me or does that low arm carriage of that era looks so much more fluid and efficient
I think just the opposite.
It looks funny and unnatural to me. Clarke ran pretty much the same way.
I think the higher arm carriage of Kipchoge, for example, looks much more natural and elegant.
It's my recollection that DeCastella - also from that part of the world - had a low arm carry, too.
Can't help sharing this factoid: I edged Snell at 800 in an all-comers meet in Dallas, TX, in the early 80s. He was 44; I was 31. Didn't catch him until the final turn. Post-race, he introduced himself, and we ran a cooldown together.
Sure am glad I hadn't asked him, "what's your PR?" before the race.
1955 wrote:
Hadn't seen this before -- thanks!
With more pacing help, certainly worth low 3:50's.
The track was all chewed up when they started. Today's runners would lose several seconds running on such a track. Also, NO SIT AND KICK!
The announcer was pretty good
Even on films of his 22 mile runs he had a loping, bounding stride with low turnover. Surprised he wasnt injured motr
sky wrote:
black caviar wrote:
Is it just me or does that low arm carriage of that era looks so much more fluid and efficient
I think just the opposite.
It looks funny and unnatural to me. Clarke ran pretty much the same way.
I think the higher arm carriage of Kipchoge, for example, looks much more natural and elegant.
I think a lot of that lower carriage has to do with track surfaces. You didn't get a lot of assistance on grass, dirt, or cinders. You generally had to carry your own way through the stride. Today's tracks allow a little leeway.
It was interesting to see that his technique changed around 900 m, when he was 'forced' to go alone. He became more efficient, and picked up the cadence.
He was so powerful, I suspect he would be a dominant racer today. There isn't anyone today as powerful as he was. Such a great man.