That Didn't Take Long: The 2014 Boston Marathon Conspiracy Thread (Read 682 times)

All-time always bothers me because people only remember the last couple of decades.

 

Mens

 

Number 1 - Clarence De Mar, Olympic bronze medalist, 6  times Boston Marathon winner (the last one aged 41). He also won 5 successive marathons 12 months

 

Number 2 - Khalid Khannouchi - one of only 5 men to break the world record twice and only 4 to have broken their own world record. Current official American record holder (Ryan Hall ran faster in Boston, which doesn't officially count)

 

Number 3 - Meb

 

Number 4 - Alberto Salazar

 

Number 5 - Frank Shorter

 

Number 6 - Bill Rodgers

 

Honorable mentions

 

Johnny Hayes - first person to win the 26 mile 385 yard marathon, winning Olympic Gold in the process. He came 2nd and 3rd in Boston. Winner of the inaugural Yonkers marathon.

 

Albert Michelson - first man to go under 2:30

 

Leonard Elison - first man to go under 2:15

 

How about Joan Benoit Samuelson?  She has an Olympic gold and a win at Chicago and two wins in Boston.  And she was the world record holder for a couple years back in the 80s.  Still pretty impressive now with a 2:52:10 yesterday at age 56.  She should be in the top 5 or 6.

Women's rankings

1. Samuelson is the clear leader for the reasons you mention

2. Deena Kastor - Olympic Medal and 2:19

After that a little less clear but here's the short list in no particular order: Flanagan and Linden for their 2:22s,Catalano, and, Kim Jones.

I used a sharpie in '12 to write my name on my arm for "cheering" purposes. Yeah that tattoo lasted over a year.

From 2008. A week later at the Country Music Marathon, everyone was asking how I got that cool white tattoo. This lasted two years. Norm, you go to Robin's parties; didn't you learn your lesson from me??

"All-time always bothers me because people only remember the last couple of decades."

That can be a tough one, especially with marathoning and distance running because the times got so much faster and fields deeper in the 1960s. In the late 50s a a 2:20 was still a world class time. A decade Derek Clayton had run 2:08. Likewise, comparing the 1970s-80s with today has its limitations.

It would be interesting to see how those runners would fare with the scientific knowledge of physiology and the training methods honed over the last 50 years. The Lore of Running outlines early training methods and longs walks were part of training right up to the late 1920s.

Len Hurst, who won the first (40km) Paris Marathon in 1896 "consisted of 6 to 7 hours walking and running 10–30 km, spread over two sessions each day. In 1896 he was coached by Mr Boon.

In 1908 Hurst gave details of his training in a book written by Alf Downer. His training was devised for events from 15 to 50 miles (80 km), and he advised all long distance runners to include any amount of walking exercise. His suggested daily programme was: Rise at six followed by a steady walk till 8.30. Breakfast. Rest till 9.45 then walk till 11 am followed by a three mile (5 km) run. Dinner at 12.45 followed by a rest on a bed until 3 o’clock. An hour’s walk followed by a three mile (5 km) run. Tea at 5.30 followed by a walk from 6.30 to 8.30. Finally relaxation until bed at ten o’clock.

According to Tim Noakes, Hurst, like Charles Rowell, Arthur Newton, and Clarence DeMar, achieved greatness without much attention to speedwork.".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Hurst

Good thing it's only LR that's talking about this conspiracy.

Good thing we're above that here at RA.

Before you compare and contrast and defend, realize that I haven't read any posts here other than the OP.

But, I chuckle every time I see this rise to the top of the forum.

Cheers,
Brian

Good thing it's only LR that's talking about this conspiracy.

Good thing we're above that here at RA.

 

Before you compare and contrast and defend, realize that I haven't read any posts here other than the OP.

But, I chuckle every time I see this rise to the top of the forum.

Cheers,
Brian

Eh, the conspiracy thing was discarded pretty quickly.  Then it was Ryan Hall bashing (I think - might have been another thread), and now we've moved on to lists of the greatest marathoners of all time.

So...nothing controversial here!

MTA: Nope, the Ryan Hall discussion was in another thread.  Brief discussion of weather in its place here.

Ryan Hall says his 2:17 was all part of a strategy to help Meb win. I think it's just an excuse for a terrible race.

Ryan Hall says his 2:17 was all part of a strategy to help Meb win. I think it's just an excuse for a terrible race.

He didn't exactly say his time was "all part of a strategy." He and other Americans all said they communicated on the course and worked together to help Meb. I thought it was pretty cool.