Like so many other athletics fans world-wide, I note with sadness the passing of Australian great Ron Clarke, who died earlier today of kidney failure at a private hospital on the Gold Coast, where Clarke had served as mayor from 2004 — 2012. He was 78.
In memoriam I re-post a column from November 2013 that featured Mr. Clarke.
“DON’T TRAIN TOO HARD, DON’T MAKE IT TOO EASY”
END
San Diego, CA — I recently watched a documentary about 1960s Australian running great Ron Clarke, a true phenomenon in his day now known primarily for breaking records while never winning an Olympic gold medal. Especially intriguing in the film was a quote from his countryman John Landy — second man ever under 4:00 in the mile — who sent young Ron a letter just as Clarke was gaining national recognition.
“Not giving you sessions,” Clarke read from the five-page missive, “but describing the way you cope with training, really, the essence of simplicity. ‘Don’t train too hard, don’t make it too easy’. Just in that balance.” (more…)
WANDERING IN A RUNNING WORLD
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