Regular Reader wrote:
My senior year we had the city championship in Washington Park near the lagoon right after a flood. They'd already marked the course and didn't want to change. It was a blast running on really an uneven course in what was warm water. And just 8 blocks from school.
And even more fun to watch novices fall.
I think our furthest meet was around Niles
Edit: this post(s) may just be for my remembrance. It happens as one approaches senility. apologies in advance for length/context.
I may have this wrong, but didn't you run track in college? I may be jumbling shit together because it sounds good so bear with me. You may have been in school at the same time and ran against him.
In 84, Stanley Whitaker finished third in the 800 to qualify for the Olympics. He ran at Kansas in college, 200, 400, relays etc. After the crushing defeat of falling at trials, he came home and coached his high track team for 1 year when starting law school (now is I believe a state judge). Most upbeat person I have ever been around. Made living fun. Had a little yellow VW bug he unfurled himself out of each day for practice. At the end of the season, Coach Whitaker agrees to the kid's challenge, a 300 gut buster, and the kids get a head start. We had 1 guy that ran 49.2 400m. He wanted to see what he could do against a bonafide stud. I think coach gave them 15-20 meter head start. I honestly have never seen anything as amazing as watching coach cruise around a crappy high school track at top speed and just beat these kids. He was not losing, and ohh they wanted to beat him. He floated man. He floated on that track. Effortless. It literally took all he had, and it was a most impressive feat. Greatest thing I ever witnessed live.
3 years later I was running a half marathon. After 6 miles I spot coach and some guy 100 yards ahead, and I bust it to catch up. He and this dude are having a great conversation and on pace to run 1:15. Killed my mojo. I was sucking wind. I finished at 1:21. I bring this up because fast twitch/slow twitch...whatever. Coach Whitaker was an absolute stud. He told stories of running 100M races in Europe and nobody believed him. He was 'Middle Distance'. That man could have done just about anything in his prime. He is/was a God fearing man and sang at a friend's funeral. Hard to steal a show at a funeral, but he came close. The good lord could use a few more coaches like him.