Patti

[Ruth Wysocki]

Originally Posted by patti

Ruth, how's Mark? I drove with him and Tom Dederian to the Penn Relays. Mark was not only a fast runner but a faster driver!

Still very handsome! He's doing well. Got to meet his wife and hear about his kids.

[Ruth Wysocki]

Woke up to pool overflowing and it's still raining -- a lot! Won't be stopping for awhile. Michael has a tempo run to do this morning, so I'll go keep him company on the bike.

[jaygray]

Hi Patti et al,

Just want to say the book "Unbroken" by Laura Hildenbrand about Louis Zamperini is just amazing and inspiring. Couldn't put it down. If you don't know his story, you should. Running is certainly one of his talents, but the rest of the story just blew me away, especially the parts about survival and forgiveness.

Blessings,
- J

[MoMoNoMo]

Hey, jaygray, thanks for the tip. I needed to buy one more book for Xmas for one of the running sons, and that sounds perfect! (Hope he doesn't see this. )

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...3773-0,00.html

[wineturtle]

Originally Posted by MoMoNoMo

Hey, jaygray, thanks for the tip. I needed to buy one more book for Xmas for one of the running sons, and that sounds perfect! (Hope he doesn't see this. )

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...3773-0,00.html

8th place 1936 OGs 5000m-from OlyMADMen(research site)-Olympedia

Lou Zamperini

Biographical information

Louis Silvie "Lou"·Zamperini
Used nameLou·Zamperini
Born26 January 1917 in Olean, New York (USA)
Measurements180 cm / 60 kgCountry
United States
Biography

Lou Zamperini was a high school star distance runner in Southern California in the 1930s, and competed in the 1936 Olympics shortly after graduating from high school. He was a solid distance runner but his life after athletics is far more interesting.
Zamperini enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in 1941, and was deployed to Hawaii as a bombardier. On 27 May 1943, his aircraft went down due to mechanical problems. Only Zamperini and the pilot, Russ Philips, survived. At home, all crew members were presumed dead, and Zamperini's obituary appeared in US newspapers. However, Zamperini and his two crewmen managed to get out of the wreck of their B-24 and climbed into lifeboats. After 47 days, eating sharks and albatrosses, they were rescued by a Japanese fisherman near the Marshall Islands. By that time, one of them had died.
They were arrested when brought to shore, and were moved from island to island, eventually landing in a prisoner-of-war camp in Japan in September 1943. For two years, Zamperini barely survived the reign of terror of Matsuhiro "The Bird" Watanabe, one of the most notorious Japanese guards during World War II. When released in 1945, he met a New York Times reporter. Telling him his name, the reporter failed to believe Zamperini, as he had read about his death. Zamperini managed to convince him with a university card, one of the few possessions he had after two years of imprisonment. The remarkable story made headlines at home, where he received a hero's welcome.
After the war, Zamperini began a new career as a Christian motivational speaker. One of his favorite themes is "forgiveness", and he has spoken several times in Japan to former war criminals, several of whom had tortured him as a prisoner-of-war. Zamperini was given the honour of carrying the Olympic Flame three times: in 1984, 1996 and 1998. At the latter occasion, the Nagano Winter Olympics, he returned to Japan for the first time since 1945. Briefly before the Olympics, it was discovered that Watanabe was still alive as well, but a meeting with him was blocked by the Watanabe family. Zamperini wrote (with David Rensin) a book about his life and experiences, entitled Devil at My Heels. In 2010, well-known author Laura Hillebrand wrote his biography, Unbroken, in far more detail.
Personal Bests: 880y – 1:53.2 (1938); 1500 – 3:52.6 (1939); Mile – 4:08.3 (1938); 2 miles – 9:12.8 (1939); 5000 – 14:46.8 (1936).

earlier book
http://books.google.com/books?id=MmJ...page&q&f=false

[MoMoNoMo]

WiT, you forgot to flag that with SPOILER ALERT!! I actually picked up the book on the way home (for my son), then started reading it in the Metro and got pretty intensely into the story (and if my son is lucky, he WILL eventually get it)...

One of the surprising things was that the high school mile record in California in that era -- which Zamperini broke -- was something like 4:50. How many Californians are faster than that now? (The national record, which he also broke, was 4:23).

Btw, the book is written by the same woman who wrote "Seabiscuit," a story I seem to remember Patti being fond of...

[Ruth Wysocki]

Last vist to the orthopedist this morning and got the "all clear." Still some stiffness/pain in the shoulder, although collarbone break completely healed. He gave me some anti-inflammatories to help that out. I'd like to say it's full speed ahead, but my left calf keeps knotting up. So, some walking, some running, some riding - just glad to be moving and doing whatever I want.

Went on the bike while Michael did a tempo run yesterday. Raining and cold. By the time we were done, I was really miserable. Feet were numb and I was soaked through and really cold. Went straight into the shower and couldn't even turn the hot all the way up at first because it hurt. Crazy stuff, but I got many thank you's from Michael for keeping him company. Pretty studly effort on his part toget in 13 miles with 30 minutes of tempo. Not sure when it will stop raining. Rained all night and the wind was really howling. Woke me up a few times. Should finally start clearing up tomorrow.

[wayne b]

Patti,
I know you tend to be a bit over the top in how you do things, but I don't for one second think you're that over the top with lights. CPL may love you but you wouldn't work that hard to make them love you.

Ruth,
I'm hearing that today's the day that the rain stops. Are you warm yet?

To all,
(at least those of you who celebrate it) Have a very Merry Christmas! (I suspect with most schools ending today, some of you will be out of touch afterwards)

Wayne

[MoMoNoMo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZrf0PbAGSk

[Ruth Wysocki]

Woke up to a beautiful morning! After watching the news last night, I'm realizing how very fortunate we are. No damage (other than the leaky roof). I'm seeing a lot of devastation. Hotel Circle in San Diego, downtown Laguna Beach, the patio of our favorite winery(!), etc., etc. There are areas not that far away where people have been evacuated and are surrounded by mud -- not what you'd want for Christmas. So all is well in the Wysocki house.