Hi Peter,
Someone forwarded to me your article as above. I didn't realize
I was notorious. At the same time, I'm flattered I was singled
out as a running model. The truth and the reality is that you
do slow down with age – the rest is determination and the
set of genes that are given to you. Good luck with your own running.
See you at the races.
Regards,
Robert Glazier
Hello Peter,
I enjoyed your column. I'm a 59-year-old marathoner, just did
the Calgary Marathon on Sunday. It's a nice marathon if you're
looking for one out of town, although the higher altitude affected
me toward the last five miles, and spoiled my qualifying time
for Boston. I'll try again in Minneapolis on 2 October, my 60th
birthday.
About mile 20 or so, when the fun has pretty well gone out of
the marathon, and it's a matter of hanging in there, I slip into
what I call my George Chuvalo mode. George was never
knocked down, not even by Muhammad Ali, so I have George on my
shoulder telling me to just 'stay on my feet and keep moving',
and he's always helped me across the finish line. I always say
'thanks George' after making it, one of my little idiosyncrasies
eh? If you ever see George, tell him thanks for me.
Another thing, although I was disappointed at not making it in
less than four hours (4 h 12 minutes), I like to recall a quote, I think it was
by Theodore Roosevelt, but could be wrong, that goes:
"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how
the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have
done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in
the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who
knows great enthusiasm, great devotion and the triumph of achievement
and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while doing
greatly – so that his place shall never be with those cold
and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
Gotta run,
Ross Hamilton, Brandon Manitoba.
Peter, that was a great piece on Glazier!
Some of the irony that you missed but have likely heard already…I've
run with Bob for some seven odd years off and on at Marathon Dynamics
every Wednesday evening. Bob is notorious for wearing very little
clothing on cool days – he'll often be in shorts and a t-shirt
in weather where other runners are wearing tights and a jacket.
As I read the first part of your article that referenced Celsius,
Fahrenheit, and Kelvin, I immediately thought that this was where
you were going!
My Glazier index compares both his speed AND the amount
of clothing he's wearing which tells me whether I'm both fit as
well as over-dressed!
Quite simply though, I use Bob as my inspiration and my example
when people say to me (I'm a 41 year old runner/triathlete) "I'm
too old to run."
Once again, a great piece referencing a super guy!
All the best,
Tim Hum
