Alberto Salazar Options

[roscoep]

I followed the career of the great man back in the 1980s when Deeks aroused my interest in marathoning. Here's a bit about him:

Alberto Salazar is known throughout the world as the runner who won three consecutive New York City Marathons in the early 80's.

Born in Havana, Cuba in 1958, his parents and siblings left the island for Miami and eventually moved north to Manchester, Connecticut and then to Wayland, Massachusetts where he competed in track and field in high school.

Salazar was recruited to the University of Oregon. He became a rising star on the track. In 1978, he was a college sophomore when he ran against legendary marathoner Bill Rodgers in the Falmouth 7.1 Miler in Massachusetts and won.

In 1980, Salazar ran and won his first New York City Marathon. At the time it was the fastest marathon debut in history. In 1981, Salazar broke a 12-year old world marathon record at New York with a time of 2:08:13. He went on to win New York a third consecutive time in 1982, the last time an American would rein victorious over the New York City Marathon.

Salazar's victory over Dick Beardsley at the 1982 Boston Marathon is hailed as the most memorable battle in the history of the Boston Marathon. From the beginning Salazar and Beardsley ran together, each leading at different points throughout the course. The last mile was an out and out battle for the finish with Salazar outkicking Beardsley for the victory.

Throughout his career, he set six U.S. records and one world record. After a long absence from the sport to focus on his health, Salazar returned in 1994 to compete as an ultra-marathoner. He won the world famous Comrades Marathon, a 53-mile race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Today, Salazar travels the world representing running for Nike. He conducts running clinics for children and young adults throughout the country. Salazar and his wife, Molly, have three children and reside in Oregon.

[Mister G]

Historical point for those not in the know- Salazar's "world record" 2.08.13 was run on a course that was later found to be short. I believe his time was eventually entered in the books as 2.08.40 (and therefore falling short of the record).

De Castella broke Clayton's record later in 1981 with a 2.08.18 at Fukuoka, but didn't know it at the time- he thought he had fallen short of Salazar's "record" until the short course measurement at New York was revealed later on.

[leaping tiger]

Mister G., sounds a bit scandalous of New York not to measure the course properly. Is there anything on the web that explains or details this? Thanks.

[Phantom Strider,...]

To add a bit to the outcome of the Salazar Beardsley Boston battle in 1982. Both broke the course record by about half a minute. (But this was not to remain the closest finish, in 2000 Lagat and Abera finished in that order on equal time with Tanui only 3 seconds adrift in third place; the same year Abera went on to win Sydney 2000 with Lagat nowhere to be seen).

Both Salazar and Beardsley pointed to that duel as the beginning of their physical demise. They tried to come back to world class marathoning but Salazar only managed 16th at the 1984 LA Olympics. He opened a restaurant and tanning salon and later joined Nike.

[philk]

roscoe - i ran comrades the year he won & he was awesome. he went out fast and held on. the 'experienced' (ultra) runners miscalculated. if i'm not mistaken, second place Nic Bester ran a storming last 10kms but could not catch Salazar. i think i have this on tape if you're interested.

[Spareribs]

Loved this chain. In 1980 I ran the Martha's Vineyard run. You get beer, corn on the cob and hot dogs at the end, and as you know from previous posts the course is a strange 7.1 miles. Salazar was such an animal that he won the race beating the next contender by hundreds of yards on a steaming hot day. Somebody had a "transistor" radio at about five miles and yelled "Salazar just won" as I went by about the five mile mark. That made me feel real fast I can assure you! Probably the only runner in Sydney I met down there as good is Andrew Adams.

[Highway man]

Spareribs & Philk, thanks for adding the personal touch to these threads. I enjoy hearing stories such as yours that help to put the performances of the greats into perspective.

I am always blown away by how far ahead of the crowd the elite runners are!! :)

Highway Man

[Spareribs]

Thank you. I forgot to add that after the race, Salazar had to be hospitalized for dehydration. The point is, who tries to run all out when you're ahead by that far and no record is at stake, only to have to go to the hospital? Salazar.