Pete Magill takes fourth overall in L.A. Halloween Half-Marathon
First place went to a 30-year-old. Second was an 18-year-old. Then came as 30-year-old. And then WHAT?????? — 51-year-old Pete Magill. Pete was scary fast at the Los Angeles Halloween Half-Marathon on Sunday, running 13.1 miles in 1 hour, 10 minutes and 19 seconds. That’s only 5 1/2 minutes behind the winner. And in the women’s race, 42-year-old Joanna Zieger was fifth in 1:18:22. The race was won by 36-year-old Mary Akor in 1:14:19, upsetting 39-year-old Olympian Deena Kastor. And yes, I don’t generally blog about roadies. But look who was on the winner’s stand next to Pete: My old Kansas pal Jim Ryun. Used to run a mean mile.
Jim Ryun’s presence was a treat for Pete Magill, who Facebooked this photo. Frank Shorter, who did better at Munich than Jim, is the gent on the right.
8 Responses
Meanwhile, there’s a lot of chatter at letsrun.com about M40 Kevin Castille winning a New Orleans half-marathon over the weekend in a PR 64 minutes, 6 seconds:
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4874610
Someone on the message board even honored me with:
“Masters athletics is dirty as hell. There have probably been more masters positives than elites in recent years, at least for USA athletes. You even have a dbag named Ken Stone saying things like ‘drug testing goes against the ethic of masters track.’ ”
Quote is accurate, but a little out of context:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/21/AR2010062103639.html
Read more: http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4874610#ixzz2AflxpnIg
Story on Castille race is here:
http://www.nola.com/running/index.ssf/2012/10/kevin_castille_sets_personal_b.html
dbag huh – a bit harsh – and Masters track, field, and road running is still dirty as hell. I think the big problem is with road races where there are substantial money prizes for younger masters. That is my opinion – not based upon scientific evidence – just what I think. Yes there is drug use by some in track and field where there is no money but just glory (such as that is) headlines in the hometown newspaper and pats on the back from people who think that all races are marathons. Yup got to get those folks taking blood pressure medication – but on rare occasions is one who is caught is really using PEDS. Those are the cheaters – not the ones using menopause or blood pressure medication. Sorry those of you who think that if you need such medication – you should just stop competing and sign into the nearest nursing home. You need to get a life.
There will always be those who cheat. I think the drug testing focus for masters should be in the races with substantial money prizes. And yes – a bit in track and field at major championships. Along the way most of those “caught” will be older athletes taking prescription medications in meets where the “prize” is a medal and championship patch and not the scumbags cheating for prize money.
Great photo! But who is the gentleman between Messrs. Shorter and Magill?
Stephen – That’s Rod Dixon, the New Zealand great!
Rod is living out in Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village. Had offered to be the starter at one of my beer miles!
Great run Pete and great photo!
3-4 seconds faster per mile and he would have broke Norm Green’s 1:09:30 AR and likley the WR. Not sure if anyone in the world 50-54 has run faster than that time.
Pete Magill? That old guy? Oh wait, I’m older than him. Nice racing, Pete. You’re an honorary sprinter.
Wow! 1:10:19 is insane. I hope I can be in that kinda shape when I’m his age.
Leave a Reply