marathondan Wrote:In a time frame of just 81 days, he broke four world records: the 10,000 metres, the 5,000 metres, the 3,000 metres steeplechase, and the 3,000 metres an achievement unparalleled in the history of distance running. In the same year he also won the 5000 m and the 3000 m steeplechase gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.
Thats right....unparalleled. And if hed trained for a marathon hed have broken that record too. Amazing. Unrepeatable?
Rono is also one of the first athletes I remember watching on TV
just before Coe and Ovett. And the first Olympics I remember were Moscow 1980, which on being boycotted by Kenya denied Henry Rono the world stage he deserved. But in 1978 he was the greatest athlete in the world. Then he sort of
disappeared.
The full story youll find elsewhere
http://mysite.verizon.net/jim2wr/id81.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Rono
Lets just say he had his ups and downs, but anybody who saw him in his prime would find it hard to imagine the skinny Kenyan carrying over 16 stone on his 5 feet 8 frame as he did not long ago.
Anyway, the reason for the post. Anybody who loves a good running story should check out this thread for some truly inspirational stuff.
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.p...899&page=0
Ive been following it for a while. At first I wasnt sure if it was a hoax or not, but it really is the real Henry Rono religiously keeping his training diary. And he seems genuinely pleased with any words of encouragement
(just like the rest of us!) which hammers home the whole idea of a running community. Were all in the same boat. As the great Australian mid-life crisis guru said the other day.. "if more people ran, they'd realise that personal endeavour is much more important than bashing the snot out of your neighbour, no matter who or what they are. Running doesn't just repress anger, it totally negates it.If only we could bottle it". mmmmm, I liked that.
Mr Rono does get a bit irate now and again though, especially when people insist on the same old how many beers/hot dogs before x world record? questions but he is massively enthusiastic about getting back into his running and also in the development of young athletes. Hes still at least 4 stone overweight but managed to run a 5k last weekend in 21 minutes. His training sessions are real eye openers
just zap through to the most recent ones if you cant be bothered to wade through it all (were now at day 94 of training phase II
)
And he has a very special way of getting his message across. I particularly like feeling burning fires which is Rono-ism for post-run cramps.
Just thought that some of you might find it interesting and even inspirational as I certainly have.
