Category Archives: Pro Runners

Always Run Through the Line

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Jon Waldron

  With all that’s happened at the World Championships in the last two days, writing about the women’s 10,000 is like writing about ancient history. It was so long ago — do you remember? It was the race when three … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaching, Pro Runners | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Race that Saved Track and Field (For Now)

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Jon Waldron

(Photo: IAAF) The men’s 100m final at the 2015 World Championships was considered by many to be a battle for the soul of track and field, with Usain Bolt cast as the good guy, and Justin Gatlin (among others) cast … Continue reading →

Posted in Pro Runners | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Four Minutes of Ugly

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Jon Waldron

As a spectator, fan, coach, or athlete, races don’t always go as planned, and when that happens, you do your best to accept the outcome and move on. But I have a vivid memory of watching the TV broadcast of … Continue reading →

Posted in Olympics, PEDs and Drug Cheating, Pro Runners | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Your Move, USATF

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Jon Waldron

“…you are required to wear the Nike Team USA apparel …. at all team functions throughout the trip, including at the athlete hotel, during training, press conferences, competition, and award ceremonies. Accordingly, please pack ONLY Team USA, Nike or non-branded … Continue reading →

Posted in Pro Runners | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Eight Years Ago Alan Webb Ran 3:46.91

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Jon Waldron

Whoa, has it been eight years already? On July 21, 2007, Alan Webb showed up at a small meet in Brasschaat, Belgium, and broke Steve Scott’s American record for the mile, running 3:46.91. I remember that when I first heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Pro Runners | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Happy to See Them Go: Dibaba, Rowbury Topple World, American 1500m Records

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Jon Waldron

“Those cheering for the removal of the Chinese records are idiots.” – On the LetsRun message boards (where else?)

Posted in PEDs and Drug Cheating, Pro Runners, Records & Statistics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Summoning the Spirit of John Ngugi

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Jon Waldron

“It won’t matter unless he [Kamworor] decides to fulfill his destiny as the second coming of John Ngugi. If he won’t gap Farah, nobody ever will.” – LetsRun poster, responding to the news that Geoffrey Kamworor ran 13:13 in his … Continue reading →

Posted in Olympics, Pro Runners, Racing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Frightened Rabbits – How to Avoid Pacing Disasters

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Jon Waldron

Imagine for a moment that you have been hired as a pace-setter, or rabbit, for a professional track meet. Unless you are one of the very few runners who have made a career of rabbiting (thank you, Matt Scherer), or … Continue reading →

Posted in Pro Runners | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Evan Jager AR in the Steeplechase

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Jon Waldron

After a long day celebrating the Fourth of July followed by an excruciatingly slow drive through post-fireworks traffic, we finally got back the motel and prepared to collapse into bed. But then something made me pull out my iPad and … Continue reading →

Posted in Pro Runners | Tagged , | 2 Comments

From the Archives: The Strange Case of Fernando Mamede

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Jon Waldron

[On July 2, 1984, Portugal’s Fernando Mamede ran 27:13 for 10,000m to break his own world record. Many considered Mamede to be more talented than his famous countryman, two-time World XC champion and Olympic marathon champion Carlos Lopes, but Mamede … Continue reading →

Posted in Pro Runners | Leave a comment