Henry Rono Watch returns! Will he run at 2011 Sacramento worlds?
I recently heard that Henry Rono was making noises about entering 2011 Sacramento worlds. So I wrote him about his plans. He replied: “I will start off by running a 5K on Nov 25, 2010, Thursday Turkey race here in Alb, NM, and from then on my eyes and yours will come to conclutions.These races are to test my fitness level. I will pick two to three races; however, at this point in time don’t know yet! Please bear in mind that I have not yet developed speed endurances in the track yet, so it’s too early to tell until I start racing across the country in all these events: One mile, 5K, 10K, half-marathons and marathons. The weight I have not checked yet, but I feel as light as a feather; however,strong though no wind can swear my body surely! Thank God I feel I am in good shape!” He’s OK. His time at the 10th annual Albuquerque Turkey Trek was 21:53 at age 58.
11 Responses
I’d love to see him run, but fear he’ll just dick us about again. Wonder how light his feathers really are?
Thousands of former elites are missing the boat. Those of us who are ‘afloat’ are having a ball. We’re trim, not grim, quality of life is super, compared to most humans, and we still work in time for some telly.(^_^). Hey, former elites, and anyone sedentary, the sludge is forming on the inside. Get outside and begin blowing out the soot. It’ll hurt like a sonofabitch at first but you’ll be having a blast like the rest of us. Signed, Still Crazy After All These Years
That’s a pretty good time, 21:53 for 5000 meters at age 58. However, our 2010 outdoor M55 winner, Rick Becker, ran 16:14.55. I think Henry might be better served by running the 3000 in our indoors. After all, the meet will be in Albuquerque, and thus the travel time will be minimal, maybe even under 15 minutes.
As many will recall, Henry had his way paid to compete in Landover in our 2009 indoors. If he could compete there he can run in Albuquerque. I am afraid that at Sacramento he would not get that much attention.
Maybe the announcer will recognize him, but the meet will be so large, and the list of outstanding competitors so long, that he may end up being simply another back-in-the pack runner who finishes to little acclaim.
Don’t forget this time was at altitude, he would have been faster at sea level!!
Peter … with all due respect, if Henry does indeed compete in Sacramento, he will NOT go unnoticed.
I am sure you are right, Duncan. I guess my point was that with the quality of competition in Sacramento, the heat, the lack of an overhang for the spectators, and, most important, the overwhelming number of races spread over 9 days of competition (I think), the “Henry Rono story” may well be missed by many. He will be a miniscule percentage of the action.
In Albuquerque, the meet will be much smaller, and there, as in Landover (2009), people would likely say some variant of: “My God, I heard that Henry Rono is here. When is he running?” They may say that in Sacramento as well, but his story will be just one of many.
May the great one remind us all what he said when he came to PDX to run that Clingan Mile… “my mind remembers but my body has forgotten” … and then get those winter road miles in starting now.
It is really a double edged sword. On one hand a guy like Rono can bring publicity to our sport, which we need desperately, but if he shows up out of shape it is almost worst for the sport. That’s why I think we should have qualifiying times (not super fast one’s but decent one’s)
Peter, I sure don’t disagree. Henry will be, if he comes, a very small part of a tremendous gathering. I know I will be in awe of the many fine athletes. Still, as a fan of the sport and someone who has followed Henry from his early days, I will find it a thrill to see him running among “us”. Unfortunately, I’m M60 so I won’t be running against him.
I would prefer to see the mystery woman sprinter from the Target commercial sprinting in high heels.
Mary, IMO you’re more likely to be able to do so, too!
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