Thursday, October 30, 2008


The Take and run Thursday topic today at the Runner's Lounge is to image what super power we would have if we could.

Super twins power activate…Make as a time traveler and a super runner!
Wouldn't it be cool to be able to go back in time to run anywhere and with anybody regardless of your running ability. Image going back to 490 BC to run with the Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens.
Maybe I would suggest that he slow down a little so he could deliver the news of victory without dying. I would check out the first Boston Marathon in 1897 then first Olympic marathon in 1908. I would do the Chariot’s of Fire thing in the 1924 Olympics with Harold Abraham. I would run with my grandfather and suggest that he stick to 100 and avoid the hurdles. He injured his knee cap on a hurdle and wasn't able to participate in 1924 games in Paris. Then I would run with Clarence Demar during his 7th Boston win, with John A Kelly while winning his first Boston in 1935. It goes without saying I would be in Berlin just to see the look on Hitler's face when Jesse did his thing. I would be there in 1954 on that cold blustery day in Oxford, when Sir Roger Bannister ran 3:59.4. How about checking out the 1964 Olympics for the greatest upset EVER when Billy Mills came from nowhere beat the world’s best in the 10,000 meters (watch the video). I would run with Frank Shorter in 1972 Olympic marathon as he wins gold. I would run with any of Steve Prefontaine's races and I would definitely call him a cab on May 30, 1975. Billy Rodgers, Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Grete Waitz would be fun to run with. I would like to be there when Joan Benoit won the first gold medal for an Olympic woman's marathon in 1984. I would run with Haile Gebreselassi as he runs the world's best marathon 2:03:50 in Berlin last month.

Finally, I may go back run some of my races again to correct some tactical errors. It would be interesting to see what kind of results I would have if I made those post race what ifs during the race.

3 comments:

Maggs said...

I would use time traveling to go back and uneat that candy bar I ate that sits in my stomach all day and doesn't really fuel me for the run.

Marie said...

Great post. Running with the Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens would be pretty awesome.

Anonymous said...

What a cool idea. I think I'd go to Boston and run with Katherine Switzer