Norwegian Grete Waitz, one of if not the greatest female marathoner of all-time, has lost a long term battle with cancer at the age of 57-years old on Tuesday (April 19, 2011) in Oslo, Norway. She had been battling the disease since 2005.
Waitz won the New York City Marathon 9 times. A feat that will never be matched again. She won every NYC Marathon from 1978 to 1988 with the exceptions of 1981 when Allison Roe won and 1987 when Priscilla Welch won.
She broke the world record three years in a row at the NYC Marathon. Grete won the London Marathon twice (1983 and 1986) as well. She had just as much success at the smaller road races she participated in.
Waitz also won a silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
American track & field legend Carl Lewis claims to have never run longer than 4 miles at one time. Lewis, as quirky and eccentric now as he was during his multi-medal winning Olympic prime, is publicly stating that he plans to complete a full marathon (26.2 miles).
I say ‘complete’ because Lewis makes it clear in the interview, with Rodale’s David L’Heureux, that he only plans to complete the race. Carl even jokes he will give the city his credit card to keep the lights on for him to finish.
So look for Lewis to do walk/run/walk his way to the finish line. Carl makes it clear this will be the only marathon he will ever do.
Lewis has been making this claim to run a marathon for a couple of years now. He wants to do it this year because he is turning 50 years old.
Carl seems to indicate that he doesn’t even really play to train for 26.2 miles. But boasts that he will find someone near the end of the race, challenge them to the finish, and beat them.
Lewis has not stated what marathon he plans to run yet, but Bank of America Chicago Marathon Race Director Carey Pinkowski has already printed up Carl a bib number with his name on it and invited him to the ‘Windy City’ for his marathon cherry.
The last time Carl mentioned running a marathon, about a year ago, he stated he would run the Houston Marathon.
He has always believed that his track & field success could be parlayed into other walks of life. Lewis has provided us with the one of the worst National Anthem renditions (at an NBA game) and ‘First Pitch’ at a Major League Baseball game….ever!
“When I run – as you see from my record – I run to win,” Carl boastfully told reporters at the kickoff for his political career.
His awkwardness with the media and gold medal ego to match always kept Carl from cashing in on his Olympic success as much others with his success would have.
Carl Lewis won 9 Olympic Gold Medals and 1 Bronze Medal over the course of four Olympics. He is considered the greatest track and field star of all-time.
Norwegian Grete Waitz, one of if not the greatest female marathoner of all-time, has lost a long term battle with cancer at the age of 57-years old on Tuesday (April 19, 2011) in Oslo, Norway. She had been battling the disease since 2005.
