50 Great Moments in NYRR History: Alberto Salazar, 1981 NYC Marathon

[brainsareus]

it's so wonderful, to have an honest, proficient,and capable, cuban runner, in alberto, to counter the memory, of the idiotic stunt that was perpetrated by a cuban of lesser repute;some demented fool, by the name of rosie ruiz,who, tried to let the subway, do her "running" for her. gracias,berto,por borrar la imagen de la pobre tonta,rosie ruiz.

[coveranonimo]

The reason why Americans and most northern Europeans suck in marathon running nowadays is purely genetic. In the past there were some great runners.

50 years of Coca-cola and steroid laden burgers and meets have changed the Americans genetically. Just look at the height and weight growth charts, it's un-natural. Poor countries where people still eat genetically genuine foods have remained about the same height and weight, with frail bone structures etc.

Loot at Ethiopians, light and short.

[dodge70chargerrt]

@coveranonimo If knew anything about genetics you would know what you said is completely wrong. Environmental influences on human development is not the same as genetic. You are correct in a sense that it is sociological in respect to what is going on around us in our society. People from Africa cheer on their famous runners like gods; everyone in the city is out in streets for them. In America people dont know who the best runners are.

[happytobeproud]

@coveranonimo

LOL this is pure rubish.. Id rather say its mostly enviromentally affect, The africans begin running at a very young age, not for sport but rather as a form of transportation. They train in very harsh conditions which Americans/Europeans being running at a later age.

[yaknbo]

3:11:11 in this race, thank you very much.

[toby099]

Why do American marathoners suck so much these days

[jlemm95]

@toby099 we aren't bad, east africans just own face.

[hwyfan]

How was it that the course came up short of the required 26 miles, 385 yard distance that year? Was it a mistake for the starting or finish line placement?

[knightsxc06]

What a bummer: not only was this world record reveled to be invalid due to the short course, but Deek never got the credit he deserved for his genuine world record since Salazar's time wasn't discredited until after Deek's race.

[yaknbo]

I ran a 3:11 in this race.

[chachris08]

just beautiful!!! Alberto was my hero. still is.

[mamowolde]

PLEASE!!!let us enjoy this classic video, nobody post gay times!! If you cant run a sub 2:15 marathon, nobody cares!

[yaknbo]

@mamowolde Fuck you and you are NOT Mamo Wolde.

[MargaritasAntesPorco]

Salazar predicted a sub 2:10 for his first marathon which was the 1980 NYC marathon. 1980 he was an "Oregon collegian".

This video shows the next year when Salazar went for the WR, which in fact he just missed because the course was found to be short. His adjusted time was 2:08:52 or something.

In many ways his first NYC marathon was greater because he stated beforehand exactly what he could do and then went out and did it to the tee! Great great victory in 1980 for a first time effort.

[tare2222]

That didn't end up counting as it was revealed that the course was a little short.

[Roscoe1538]

My dad placed 175th in this race

[CB9YT]

Salazar was a great runner. However, like many long distance runners, he overtrained his body and the last several years of his career was a complete failure.

[yaknbo]

I was 3:11:11 in this marathon.

[martynhanson]

I started running marathons in mid 81 and to me Salazar was a beacon. For a while I thought he was unbeatable. That photo of him crossing line is burned into my memory. What a brave, gutsy front runner he was.