Deeks still inspires people. I spent an afternoon with Bruce Fordyce(The Comrades King), a year or 2 back, and we sat drinking beer and watching the full 1982 race, which BF had never seen. BF sat there with his stop watch running, timing Deeks km splits and couldn't believe the pace he ran in the chase down. Deeks still inspires people, and if you ever get a chance to see him talk(Mainly at the Gold Coast or Melbourne Marathons nowadays), make time as he is still great.
@mattetho Paul Arthur. 1994 City-to-Surf Champ, 1,02 half marathoner, and multiple national champion. Good over cross country, road and track, with track pbs of 13.49 5km and 28.30 10km.
Deek was awesome, considering he was 70kg, which was about 10kg heavier than his rivals. He was also considerably slower - in some cases 30seconds slower - than the other top guys over the 10,000m. He managed 3 top 10 performances over the toughest race in the world: The World Cross Country Championships.
What a marathon runner Deek was. I recall watching that 82 Commonwealth marathon late at night in England. He had total self belief. I think they had dropped Shahanga (defending champ) and he was left with Ikanga. I read an interview with Deek where he said with a couple of miles to go 'come on, Deek, you can drop this little fella' And he did!!!
His then course record winning time of 2:07:51 in the '86 Boston Marathon could still place him first in most major marathons today. Incredibly he ran on his own virtually unchallenged from 10 miles to the finish. Easily ranks as one of the greatest Boston performances of all time..!
Ahh, what memories from my childhood hero!! I know all those finishes except the 4th one: 1. Brisbane Commonwealth Games 1982 (1st), 2. Rotterdam Marathon 1983 (1st), 3. Helsinki World Athletics Championships 1983 (1st), 4. ? (3rd), 5. Los Angeles Olympics 1984 (5th), 6. Edinburgh Commonwealth Games 1986 (1st), 7. Boston Marathon 1986 (1st). He also came 3rd at New York in 86, and 10th at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. So does anyone know where no. 4 was?
@lijman Chicago '84. Steve Jones (Wales) 1st in a new world best of 2.08.05. Lopes second in 2.09.06 and Deek 3rd in 2.09.09. He broke 2.10 on 8 occasions and was the dominant marathon running of the 1980s.
Rob was one of my favorites of all time. But he should'nt won 84 olympics because Carlos Lopes was better runner than him from 5,000 to the marathon and cross country. Lopes was complete. One of the greatest of all time.
wow he was my inspiration to run a marathon which i did few months after his brisbane win, he should have won 84 olympics, but what a great runner, that brisbane race was live in england at 10pm at night and it was best race ive ever seen, the crowds were going nuts. then he beat salazar in rotterdam, that was huge. what a guy, thanks for posting.
o i see. i was wondering if you have any idea where i can find those marathon videos.i wanna show it to him even give it to him as a gift he would be happy.o by the way he is my father.and thx a lot for the info
did not look like a runner did he? but he influenced me when I first took up road running, and his times speak for themselves.
WELLBRAN 5 months ago
@WELLBRAN
Deeks still inspires people. I spent an afternoon with Bruce Fordyce(The Comrades King), a year or 2 back, and we sat drinking beer and watching the full 1982 race, which BF had never seen. BF sat there with his stop watch running, timing Deeks km splits and couldn't believe the pace he ran in the chase down. Deeks still inspires people, and if you ever get a chance to see him talk(Mainly at the Gold Coast or Melbourne Marathons nowadays), make time as he is still great.
Grave22digger 5 months ago
dead-set legend!
andrewdabbo 8 months ago
Well shit, I was expecting penis.
rikan1pwnz 9 months ago
Wow, has times Monagetti cant match.
mottlecah 11 months ago
GOOOOO DEEEEEKS GOOOOOO
kirilldub 1 year ago
@mattetho Paul Arthur. 1994 City-to-Surf Champ, 1,02 half marathoner, and multiple national champion. Good over cross country, road and track, with track pbs of 13.49 5km and 28.30 10km.
bootymanager 1 year ago
Deek was awesome, considering he was 70kg, which was about 10kg heavier than his rivals. He was also considerably slower - in some cases 30seconds slower - than the other top guys over the 10,000m. He managed 3 top 10 performances over the toughest race in the world: The World Cross Country Championships.
bootymanager 1 year ago
Deeks had horrible form, and was pale and gangly, but it didn't stop him, a true aussie legend.
toby099 1 year ago
What a marathon runner Deek was. I recall watching that 82 Commonwealth marathon late at night in England. He had total self belief. I think they had dropped Shahanga (defending champ) and he was left with Ikanga. I read an interview with Deek where he said with a couple of miles to go 'come on, Deek, you can drop this little fella' And he did!!!
martynhanson 1 year ago
@martynhanson
We have found a complete tape of Deek's 1982 Brisbane run, and after we digitalize it, we will load it up in full.
Grave22digger 1 year ago
@Grave22digger ait can remember watching that race from where Bretts Wharf ferry is. Can't wait to watch it.
kieranjb76 1 year ago
No, still haven't found the time to load it, but I will sometime soon.
Grave22digger 1 year ago
His then course record winning time of 2:07:51 in the '86 Boston Marathon could still place him first in most major marathons today. Incredibly he ran on his own virtually unchallenged from 10 miles to the finish. Easily ranks as one of the greatest Boston performances of all time..!
Saw it live on TV..and have run it 7 times..
leanrunnerboy 1 year ago
Ahh, what memories from my childhood hero!! I know all those finishes except the 4th one: 1. Brisbane Commonwealth Games 1982 (1st), 2. Rotterdam Marathon 1983 (1st), 3. Helsinki World Athletics Championships 1983 (1st), 4. ? (3rd), 5. Los Angeles Olympics 1984 (5th), 6. Edinburgh Commonwealth Games 1986 (1st), 7. Boston Marathon 1986 (1st). He also came 3rd at New York in 86, and 10th at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. So does anyone know where no. 4 was?
lijman 2 years ago
@lijman Chicago '84. Steve Jones (Wales) 1st in a new world best of 2.08.05. Lopes second in 2.09.06 and Deek 3rd in 2.09.09. He broke 2.10 on 8 occasions and was the dominant marathon running of the 1980s.
bootymanager 1 year ago
thanks for the memories of an inspiring runner
dxb1986 2 years ago
He is still alive9hehe0.
If you can get to Melbourne for the Marathon in October, he is always there(Friday Night, all Day Saturday and Sunday), talking to everybody etc.
Grave22digger 2 years ago
Deeks! What a CHAMPION. Man I miss watching him run.
zarehp666 2 years ago
Paul, the '94 City ot Surf champion and 1.02 half marathoner.
bootymanager 2 years ago
Have you got Mona? What about City to Surf '91? One of Australia's grat races. Mona, Carroll, Lloydie, Deek, Arthur and Higgins.
bootymanager 3 years ago
He breaks Carlos Lopes...not many did. The guy was just a total animal.
joeydelight 3 years ago
I saw him finish a road 10K and the intensity on his face was unforgetable. He was like a madman possessed. What a finishing kick!!!
medliberty 3 years ago
Rob was one of my favorites of all time. But he should'nt won 84 olympics because Carlos Lopes was better runner than him from 5,000 to the marathon and cross country. Lopes was complete. One of the greatest of all time.
gabicesa 3 years ago
he didnt win the 84 olympics
mrcatohead 2 years ago
wow he was my inspiration to run a marathon which i did few months after his brisbane win, he should have won 84 olympics, but what a great runner, that brisbane race was live in england at 10pm at night and it was best race ive ever seen, the crowds were going nuts. then he beat salazar in rotterdam, that was huge. what a guy, thanks for posting.
markgregamy 3 years ago
Mark,
Glad you enjoyed it.
If you visit my video's you will find other running stuff loaded up.
How fast did you run your Marathon?
Which part of the world are you in?
Bruce
Grave22digger 3 years ago
Comment removed
markgregamy 3 years ago
hey do u know kebede balcha ? IAAF World Championships in Helsinki in 1983 he finished second to Rob de Castella.
tdotmostwanted 3 years ago
Sorry dont know him.
markgregamy 3 years ago
Balcha (ETH) won the 1979 Montreal Marathon World Cup Games that I ran in as a teen entrant from the USA. I believe he won Montreal several times.
TheProphetsAbode 2 years ago
o i see. i was wondering if you have any idea where i can find those marathon videos.i wanna show it to him even give it to him as a gift he would be happy.o by the way he is my father.and thx a lot for the info
tdotmostwanted 2 years ago
I'm in Brisbane.
It great to see Deeks inspires people everywhere.
Maybe our paths will cross one day.
Are you still running?
Bruce
Grave22digger 3 years ago
Mark,
You just reminded me, I have some of the 1982 footage. When I get a chance, I'll load it up.
Bruce
Grave22digger 2 years ago
cant wait absolute classic race 10 mins please .
markgregamy 2 years ago
@Grave22digger - did you end up loading any of the 1982 footage?
audaxaudax1 1 year ago