Chapter 291: At her prime she was the best sprinter in the world.

 

The sprinters bend down. Statuesque and waiting. My mind drifts to Raelene Boyle.

Raelene Boyle was the most beautiful graceful sprinter ever. She floated and glided effortlessly around the track. Smooth and lovely to behold. Her feet didn’t touch the track.

But she was also effective. At her prime she was the best sprinter in the world. She often won. But not always. Not when a gold medal was the prize.

 

1968 Mexico Olympics

 

17 years old. Silver in the 200m.  

 

Gold medal to Poland’s Irena Swezinska: A legitimate champion. A woman who won in total seven Olympic medals.   

 

Jesse Owens, winner of four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics said: I have not seen a girl so beautifully balanced.  

 
1972 Munich Olympics

 

Two silver medals. 100m and 200m. Gold medal to Renate Stecher of East Germany.

Raelene: It’s a strange feeling to look back. That girl with tears in her eyes standing with a silver medal around her neck is a completely different person … If I could, I would love to reach back through time, put my arm around her shoulders and tell her not to worry about it. Look at you, I would say. You’re 21 years old and you are the fastest non drug-taking athlete in the world. You are still Australia’s only track and field medallist at these Olympics. In fact, you will be the country’s only medallist on the track between 1968 and 1980.

Raelene: You go to the museum in Berlin and you can pull out drawers and see what those women were taking to make them run so fast.

 

1976 Montreal Olympics

 

In her preferred event the 200m she was disqualified for two false starts. Video footage shows her first start was legitimate. Her second start was false because she was questioning the officials about the first start. 

 

Raelene: I wasn’t starting. I was coming off the mark to discuss the matter with him. I didn’t realise until just before I got on the mark that it was I who’d been given the break. I wanted to say to him, ‘Hang on, I didn’t break then.’ I just rolled off the mark, and the gun went. Then it all sank in, that it really was a start, and I should have had my mind on the job.

 

1976. Her brother Ron in the team as sprint cyclist.

 

1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games

 

Gold medal in the 400 metres.

 

In four Commonwealth Games she won seven gold medals.

In three Olympic Games she achieved three Olympic silver medals in three very competitive events.

 

Post Running

 

It became public knowledge that the East German grunt and power that beat her was drug fueled.

 

I have heard Raelene Boyle speak about Renate Stecher. She does not have any ill will towards her. She feels sorry for her. Renate Stecher was forced to damage her long term health in order to promote a country which was doomed.

 

The media portrays Raelene Boyle as the fastest drug free athlete in the world. Robbed of a gold medal. Robbed, defeated and not achieving the ultimate.  Always portrayed as a failure. Someone unsuccessful because of drug cheats.

It is true that East Germany made doping an integral part of athletic training. An estimated 10,000 athletes were involved.

But Raelene Boyle is a lot more than that. She ran close to perfection. Every time she ran she achieved something. She showed people what was possible. She people showed elegance, grace and beauty. She showed people beautiful running. That is her special subject. Not drugs in sport.

 

What can I learn from her to help me?

 

Her grace and style was instinctive. Natural. As a child she was active and participated in many different activities and played every day with everybody. Her brother proved how important her upbringing was. My grandkids need to run and play everything they can. Enjoy themselves with no thought of the future.

 

She saw the best and worst of people and countries. She was lucky where she was born.  She lived in a country which had a well-run organised athletic system and the money to pay for her trips around the world. A country which didn’t need drugs.

 

Today she lives in a country which doesn’t discriminate. Which has a good health system and people happy willing and able to donate to the charities she supports. She has had a good life including a time when she was the best sprinter in the world. 

Chapter 290: Just like me.

 

I line up for one lap of the DAC. 400m. 400m is a distance sprint. Run as fast as possible for as long as possible.

There is one person who has run 400m races on this track many times. Cathy Freeman. Perhaps she can help me.

 

In 2000 she became an international superhero. This super hero had a not so secret duel identity as a runner. 

What can I learn from Cathy Freeman the runner?

 

How did she train?

 

An example of her training prior to a big event.

Monday: 6 x 150 hill sprints.

Tuesday:  Reps (4 x 150m).  3 minutes recovery between reps.

3 sets with 6 minutes recovery between sets.

Wednesday: Speed session. Reps. 6 x 60m, 6 x 200m.

Thursday: Track session. 4 x 300m, 4 x 250m, 4 x 200m, 4 x 250m, 4 x 300m.  6 minutes recovery between reps.

Friday: 6 x 150m hill sprints.

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: 6 x 150m hill sprints.

She trained hard.  She always monitored the changes in her body. She monitored the speed she ran and the speed her pulse recovered. I need to do less junk miles and more quality interval training.

 

What can she tell me about racing?

 

When she raced she needed competition. In 2000 her main competitor was Marie-Jose Perec. She knew Marie-Jose Perec would get a faster time out of her.

CF: I knew that she was the only person who could unlock my own potential. She gave me permission to get really bold in my goals.

She was told Marie-Jose Perec wouldn’t race.

CF: My heart dropped. My heart drops still, now. I knew that I was up for it. She knew it and I knew it but we'll never know because it didn't happen.

Cathy Freeman needed competitors. Ideally I need someone who pushes me simultaneous to me pushing them. I know a couple of people (they remain nameless) who I aim to beat.

 

Do I run as fast as possible whenever I feel like it?

 

CF had a race plan: Sprint out of the blocks fast for 30m.

Run from very fast to fast relaxed to 200m mark. Run easily not run hard. Relax arms maintain leg speed.

Increase speed on the bend check position.

120m to go hard. Hold form. Drive hard with arms and legs.

My race plan should have some basis in science. A race plan should give me something to think about. Stop me getting distracted. Give me confidence.

 

CF: I looked straight across to the clock and I was disappointed with the time. I should have run under 49 (seconds) and I didn't. And I knew I had a lot more in me.

Sydney 2000 her time was 49:11. Gold medal.

Atlanta 1996 her time was 48.63. Silver medal.

For me my time is more important than position. I can’t control how well or badly others run. Ideally I can run fast enough to push them to new PBs.

 

Cathy Freeman knew that running excellence is linked to other factors.

CF: I had a regular strength and conditioning program that involved weight training. Yoga was not so much a formal part of the training program; however, comprehensive stretching and massage kept me fresh.

CF: I always tried to eat healthy and still do. When I was training I would eat a lot of steamed fish and vegetables at meals. I would snack on fruit.

 

In 2013 I came across the mild mannered runner inside the superhero. She plodded, trudged and sweated her way around the Cadbury marathon.  She ground her way, towards her chocolate bar, one step at a time. Testing herself. Challenging herself. Curious about what she could do. 66 women can now say they can beat her. But I feel that she had her own personal victory.

 

The Cadbury Marathon told me she was a runner. She was just like me. Post race she proved it when she said:  42 kilometres hurt. All I wanted to do was finish it, to be able to live to tell the tale. 

 

 

Chapter 289: eight times

Cornelian Bay is one of the best places in the world. I have seen some famous places. Places that have been in songs or films and on T shirts.

 

Cornelian Bay is better than any of these other places. Except for one thing. And at the moment we don’t have it. No ignoring, breezy, gusty wind.  You only think of the wind when it blows. We have a complete absence of wind. It is calm. The trees hang languidly. The sky is cloudless. There is no wind.

 

Bruce and Kay hold hands and move around in a circle.

They sing: Ring a ring a rosie we all fall down.

 

Then they fall down and laugh.

Bruce is up. He grabs some rocks and throws them in to the water. He then scours the bank looking for stones to skim.

 

A good throw. I count the stone bouncing five times before sinking.

Bruce: Eight times.

Grandfather: That was a good throw.

 

He grabs another pebble.

Bruce: Look at me. Look at me. I can beat you.

Grandfather: I don’t know how to skim stones. Show me which stone I should use.

Bruce finds a pebble and proudly gives it to me.

Bruce: You throw like this.

Grandfather: Thank you.

 

 

After this burst of activity Bruce lies down on the beach. He stretches and makes himself comfortable.

Bruce: If I were me I would take off my clothes and lie in the sun. 

Chapter 288: Cornelian Bay

 

Chapter 287: The 800m

 

1968: I watch a grainy TV. A moment that still inspires me occurs.

 

The final of the Olympic Games 800m. Ralph Doubell enters the final straight. He sits behind the pace maker; runs past him and wins the race. That moment when he kicks and rounded the leading runner has remained with me.

Since then I have tried to recreate that moment. I imagine myself passing runners in the straight and pulling away to victory.

 

1975: Between lectures at Melbourne Uni I run around the athletic track at Melbourne Uni. One day I stare at another guy running around the track. It is Ralph Doubell. I am awe struck.

 

2020: I run on the spot. Lift my legs high. Must get my muscles warm and loose and ready to run. I wait for the starter to say: Everybody on your marks. He then fires the gun and releases us. 

 

The pack of runners disappearing ahead of me includes many who couldn’t possible remember 1968. For them:

 

Ralph Doubell was born in Melbourne in 1945. Post school he attended Melbourne Uni and gained a science degree.

 

His running career was short.  But his timing was impeccable.  He found himself at his peak at the Mexico City Olympic Games. He found himself in perfect position at the top of the straight ready to kick for victory. He became one of three Australian men to win Olympic track gold medals: Flack, Elliot and Doubell.

 

Doubell ran 1m 44.3 sec: Equal world record with Peter Snell. The Australian record from 1968 to 2018.

 

After winning his gold medal Doubell didn’t use his name to sell breakfast cereal or clothing or himself.

 

His international running career was short. He retired due to persistent injuries and went to Harvard Business School. Graduated in 1974 with an MBA.

After Harvard he worked in banking in Australia and served athletics in administrative roles: Telstra Stadium.  

 

Ralph Doubell is forever linked with his coach: Franz Stampfl.  They develop a very close relationship.

Ralph Doubell has spoken publicly about his famous race. 

 

Ralph Doubell: Franz always said it's 90 per cent mental and it's 10 per cent physical in winning an Olympic final and I think that's right.

Kiprugut was really tough to get past, it took 50 yards.

In the first 50 yards of the straight I was still yelling to myself 'push, push, go harder' and then I felt the break come, and you feel it.

There's this contact, it might only be a foot or two feet, but I knew I was past … and I didn't think I could lose it then and I was yelling to myself, 'I've won it, I've won it.'

I crossed the line, thinking, that's nice, I've won it, and you sort of stand around wondering what to do next.

I saw the time, it was 1.44.3 and I asked Tom Farrell (USA), who finished third, what the world record was and he said, 'that's it,' and I said, 'well, that's nice.'

 

2020: I cross the finish line and grab mouthfuls of air. My goal was to run my fastest. My goal is to learn more about myself. To find my physical limits. What I am capable of? Is that a new PB?

 

To reach my physical limits many factors are involved. Physical, mental, social and emotional factors.

 

Ralph Doubell’s story tells me he might agree.

 

In Mexico City he reached the pinnacle physically. He knew that physical peak was linked to other factors. He knew that mental attitude was an important part of running. He knew that emotional health involving a close friendship with Franz Stampfl was important. After the race he moved on and studied at Harvard which proves he knew that physical prowess was only one part of life.

 

He knew he needed that in order to run fast he needed Kiprugut to be a fast front runner. 

 

Running is not about beating the guy in the next lane. It is not about coming first. It is about using the guy in the next lane to run fast. I need the guy in the next lane to challenge me; to push me. I need to think of ways to beat him.  How can I improve my health and fitness in all areas?

 

I hope I did the same to all the guys in the race. I hope I caused them all to think about how to run faster. I hope they learnt more about themselves. I hope in trying to run faster and win they all improved their physical, mental, social and emotional health. 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 286: I can do it by myself

My grandkids are magnetically attracted and pulled towards a playground. They run towards the child safe gate then stand and peer anxiously at me as I saunter towards them. I open the gate and they rush in and immediately, without carefully and logically considering all the options, run towards some vacant equipment.

 

The playground is their playground. I can’t tell them anything. I can’t say go on this swing; be careful; play on the slide; you can’t suddenly and randomly go from one thing to another.

 

I follow them to a large rope climbing structure. 

Grandfather: I’ll help you.

Bruce: I don’t need your help. I can do it by myself.

 

Our thinking coalesces. We both think. Take a risk. Enjoy yourself. Don’t think about health and safety guidelines. Consider other people but just go for it. 

 

They gravitate to a row of swings.  Why do kids love swinging? Perhaps if I swing, I can find out why.

Kay: You can’t do that because your brain is damaged.

Grandfather: How’s your brain?

Kay: Amazing.

Kay: You can push me.

 

Bruce appears to be playing with another guy. I can never tell if this is the first time they have met or not.

 

Bruce: He’s my best friend.

Grandfather: How many best friends do you have?

Bruce thinks and then says: Three.

 

Kay looks at the slide and says to me: When I go down, I’ll say, hip, hip hoorah.”

She slides down and grandfather says: You forgot to say anything.

Kay says: Your right. 

She runs back to the slide. She must correct her mistake. She must slide properly.

 

As we walk back to our house Bruce says: Can I wash my hands on you?

Grandfather: No.

Bruce: Well my hands are dirty. How can I clean them?

 

Kay: I picked up a stitch.

Grandfather: Where abouts?

Kay points back at the playground.

Chapter 285: Look at me