Jim Sorensen on Portland mile: Wasn’t sure of his shape
Jim Sorensen was my pick to win the Portland masters mile last Saturday. But Jim wasnât as sure. Having run only once in January and once in April, Jim said he had butterflies before the evening race at Lewis & Clark College. But the video of his last lap, which I timed in 57.8, showed he was plenty fit. Jim graciously responded to my quickie Q&A (basically the same interrogation I did of Tony Young). He still has plenty in the tank this year, which will include Oshkosh nationals in July. Best of luck to both mile superstars.
Hereâs my Q&A with Jim:
Masterstrack.com: I suspected Tony would go out hard and Jim storm back. What were your race plans, and did the mile go as expected?
Jim Sorensen: Thatâs basically what happened. Tony wanted an honest pace and was probably thinking sub-4:16 to break his M45-49 mile world record. I didnât know what to expect since I have raced once in January and April. I thought I was in decent shape, but not sure of where I was at. I decided to be conservative and then see what I had at the end. No surprise, because thatâs how I often race.
Youâve both been pointing for this race after running great early spring times. Can you peak again later in the summer?
I think I can. I really havenât had a chance to show my fitness or to sharpen myself for a peak performance. That requires a few races and some faster intervals. I have had many setbacks this year, but nothing devastating to my overall fitness.
Any chance youâll race each other again this year?
Who knows? I think we will both plan out our races independently and if we happen to toe the line, then we will. I would imagine if some other masters race such as the Fountain of Youth Mile were to be held, then we may see one another again.
Did your prize money cover your expenses for the Portland trip? Whereâd you stay in Portland?
I stayed at Dave Clinganâs place in Portland. He was a great host and made my trip easy. I won $200, but my flight was a bit more than that. But I had a good time attending this event, so any money spent (and it wasnât much) was worth it.
How was the after-race party? What did you do, and where did you go? How did you get along with the other milers?
Well, since the race was at 8:20 p.m., and then there was a long warm-down, some chit-chat at the track, and the drive back into Portland, it got late fairly quickly. I had a burger and beer with Dave C, Kevin Paulk and a few other non-runners. Nothing major, I think others went elsewhere, not sure. Kevin didnât run, just a spectator this year. Sometimes us âoldâ guys need to eat, go home, shower, and go to sleep. Afterall, I wanted to do a 12-miler the next morning.
Did either if you have any aches, pains or other physical issues to deal with Saturday?
We both felt a bit sluggish in the warm-ups. I felt so slow warming up, but my strides were good. I had no aches and pains. My hamstrings have been a little tight recently, but I was fine.
Youâve both been to Olympic Trials (either as open or masters entrants). How did your butterflies then compare with Saturdayâs?
My butterflies were for an entirely different reason. You can imagine why I was nervous at the Trials, but Saturday I was nervous just because I havenât been racing but still wanted to show well at a masters race.
For Jim: What are your chances of beating Tonyâs M45 mile WR in three years?
I like to take one year at a time because predicting the future is impossible. Last year I didnât run at all because of an Achilles injury, two years ago, I set world records. So you never know.
All I know is that Tony continues to make things a bit harder for me. When I first started eyeballing the 1500m 40+ record in my late thirties, the American mark was 3:52. Then John Hinton (3:48) and Tony (3:46-though not ratified) made things harder.
Jim Sorensen on Pre: ‘Not running may have been good’
Jim Sorensen is at peace. He didnât get an invite to run the Bowerman Mile at the Pre Classic on Sunday, but he was touched by the grass-roots campaign to make it happen. (His quest to be the first M40 to run a sub-4 outdoor mile was even detailed across the country in the Washington Times.) As it turns out, the Pre Classic mile was run in crappy weather. Sub-4 would have been an outrageous challenge. Jim wrote me: âIt turns out that the ânoâ answer (from meet director Tom Jordan) was probably best.â In a quickie interview, Jim talked about the week that wasnât.
3 Responses
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Francis A Schiro - June 12, 2007
All the very best to Jim Sorenson an incredible athlete and what i gather from his comments a very kind and gracious person as well. What a true credit to Masters athletics and for that matter athletics in general. Jordans CHOICE to not give Tony Young (a few years ago) and Jim a chance is just that his choice. Its quite ironic that a man who made MONEY from his relationship to Masters athletes now snubs our very best athletes and when in the position to help them achieve goals never before met he refuses them. Tony and Jim DO NOT have unlimited time..they are not in high school or college….if they do not get the chance when the “time is right” its not something they may get a chance at again. We masters athletes are racing against the stopwatch AND the “aging clock”. When we peak at a certain age and are ready to go for it..thats the time to do it. We do not have an unlimited time factor like younger athletes. Ill speak for ME only… i feel what Jordan did to these men is a shame and a disgrace especially with his past history of making MONEY from Masters. Thats MY opinion and ill sleep just OK tonight with it. The proof is ALWAYS in a persons BEHAVIOR..they will show you how they really feel by the actions they take. Jordans message to ME was loud and clear. All this being said Tony Young and Jim have a LOT of damm fast running to do…please know your fellow athletes support you 100%.
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don brown - June 12, 2007
Tom Jordan made a rational , logical decision with an emotional response of thinking Jim will come in last because of the other runners expected times.
Why would Tom Jordan say Jim finishing last would not be a good show?
Is Jim Sorensen’s 1500 meter M40 outdoor WORLD RECORD any less significant because he did not finish first in the race?
I don’t know Tom Jordan but wonder if he would apply the same rationale to runners breaking a world record …. the records would not be broken.
As far as Jim’s running ability … this decision reminds me of the time Jim ran in the Atlanta Olympic trials ?¢â菜 and his last lap was around 50 seconds.
All the announcer said is look at those shoes go. Why the buildup before the race focused on a runner who did not run well and the guys around Jim were sponsored by NIKE. Nope Jim wasn?¢âèâĂ¢t sponsored by NIKE but they sure were concerned when he came in second.
Watching Jim at the track and watching dozens of people come up and shake his hand before and after his run is a good thing. It is good for the runners, good for the sport, good for the USA and good for the human race!
Ah, the politics of track and field, lets all look at those shoes and see who is wearing them. Maybe clean out the closet and go buy some ?¢âè?ĂŹother?¢âèÚ brand shoe and apparel.
What is this about Tom Jordan suggesting Jim put together his own track event?
How many runners do you know able to create their own official track event?
Would Jim be able to schedule an event ?¢â菜 on a grade school teacher?¢âèâĂ¢s salary?
I think Tom Jordan made a rational decision for himself. Unfortunately Tom Jordan made a decision with the thought of a runner coming in last instead of the attitude of winner. Who knows what kind of political pressure he has go thru with NIKE.
I think these are the results of the mile race at NIKE
Mile Mile 1500
Athlete Affiliation Time Time
1 Daniel K. Komen Kenya 3:48.28 * 3:32.81 *
2 Bernard Lagat USA 3:50.56 3:33.85
3 Alex Kipchirchir Kenya 3:52.10 3:36.07
4 Shadrack Korir Kenya 3:52.78 3:36.39
5 Kevin Sullivan Canada 3:56.21 3:39.65
6 Eliud Kipchoge Kenya 3:57.19 3:39.98
7 Rob Myers USA 3:58.01 3:40.57
8 Nicholas Kemboi Kenya 3:58.12 3:41.74
9 Said Ahmed USA 3:58.46 3:42.65
10 Ryan McKenzie Canada 4:00.07 3:43.36
Ross Krempley USA DNF DNF
Geoffrey Rono Kenya DNF DNF
* New Hayward Field & Pre Classic Record
I understand the weather was not very good for a run. When Jim ran the Olympic trials in Atlanta the track temperature was over 120 degrees.
Where would you rank Tom Jordan in a category of how event sponsors treat the atheletes?
I wonder who history is going to remember? Jim for trying or Tom for denying?
Jim is a great guy and world record holder.
I pray God lets Jim maintain his running abilities and shows the world he is a great runner ! -
saladin allah - June 13, 2007
Right on, Don ! The politics in track & field really smells….I’m so glad I adore running as I do. I do it just for me ! And at our ages, it’s a testament of the love we have for it. Me against the clock…..that’s all that count….then the memories as we run till we can’t anymore….
Hey Jim, “keep doin’ what you’re doin”.
Sal Allah
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