Name that race!

[jaygray]

A new game -- posting a picture from a famous running event. Without looking it up, name the race, year and the participant(s) in the picture. If you don't know, you should.

Bonus points for telling the story of said event.

Here's an easy one:

[Zat0pek]

Originally Posted by jaygray

A new game -- posting a picture from a famous running event. Without looking it up, name the race, year and the participant(s) in the picture. If you don't know, you should.

Bonus points for telling the story of said event.

Here's an easy one:

'84 Oly 800 final, Cruz wins over Coe and Earl Jones of the U.S. snags bronze. Don't recall the times.

[Leftfielder]

Not running but Uber famous

[wineturtle]

Bob Beamon NYC PSAL Long Jumper in HS.
did not know metrics- he knew it was long he just did not know how far he lept into history.
1968 OGs Mexico City

[Ruth Wysocki]

Hmm.....something about this picture looks familiar.

[wineturtle]

Ruth that cover is one of my all time fave images- as ABC famously said

The trill of victory...the agony of defeat

[jbf]

Finally one I'm old enough to remember!

'09 Boston!

[herr]

Originally Posted by jbf

Finally one I'm old enough to remember!

'09 Boston!

2000 10K Olympic Games, Sydney. I watched this entire race on a giant screen TV in the Cologne Germany Main train station. There was a crowd of probably 1000 people doing the same thing. Everybody cheered like crazy on the last lap. Very exciting. It might have been the most exciting race I ever saw

[Ruth Wysocki]

Originally Posted by wineturtle

Ruth that cover is one of my all time fave images- as ABC famously said

The trill of victory...the agony of defeat

An amazing moment, for sure! Things were different in 1984, and many changes have been positive. In 1984, there was no out of competition drug testing, for one thing. Although there was money to be made, it was nothing like now. After the Olympics, I was racing in Europe for $500 per race. In 1997, I made much more than that just for rabbiting. Now? Who knows how much I could make if I could run 4:00 and sub-2:00 today. But, I have to admit, I'm not sure how it would have all turned out if there had been more money. Some of my choices may have been affected by chasing the $$.

It's hard to describe what it feels like to make an Olympic team, much less beat an "unbeatable" icon. You get 1 chance every 4 years and then it's gone. Being sick/hurt, etc., on the wrong day can be devasting. I experienced the flip side -- everything going right for a short time.

Going into 1984, I had basically quit competing. Tom talked me into trying to race again. The goal in 1984 was to run the 3000, but I missed the qualifier by .4. Until April, I was working full-time in an electronics firm (one that allowed smoking in the office, no less!). Tom had left Tiger in frustration and Brooks had given him a contract (although small) that allowed him to run. They gave me free shoes because I was with Tom (that changed in 4 minutes). When I quit my job, we were barely making enough money to pay the bills, with nothing extra left over. Tom encouraged this because I was so miserable at work and he just wanted me to be happy. I also had a long-time coach in Vince O'Boyle, who was always there for me. About mid-April, things started to click. At the ripe old age of 27 (that was considered "old" then), I PR'd at 800 and qualified for the Trials at both 800 & 1500. The rest, as they say, is history.

I ran 6 races in 9 days. Broke 2:00 for the first time in the semis and then again in the finals, making the team in 2nd place. Considered skipping the 1500, but Tom & Vince wouldn't think of it. Came up with a game plan to run for the 3rd and final spot in the 1500 and failed in that quest for 3rd place (lol).

By the way, there were no awards or money given away for the Trials in '84. Not even a medal. Also, very little "swag" as Uberroth saw to it that the Olympics came off without going into major debt. But, all in all, wouldn't change the whole experience for anything.

And, after all this time, Tom is still by my side -- 30th anniversary coming up on December 10. Vince coached me from 1975-1998, and would be there for me today if I needed a coach.

[geds]

that is one fascinating story and hearing directly from you rather than retold by a talking sports head is even better! Great thread! Keep um commin'!