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…)
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