The Essential Encyclopedia of Marathoning
For the digest-oriented, a manual of essential marathon listings, each held to 25 words or less
By
Richard Benyo
of
Marathon & Beyond
Although
marathoners like to trace their avocation and lifestyle back to the often
misrepresented legend of Pheidippides, for all intents and purposes the marathon
as we know it is barely into its second century. For newcomers and hoary vets
alike, here's a pocket guide to the basic names and concepts that form the
foundation of modern marathoning:A
A
adidas. Major German sport shoe manufacturer well
known throughout the world but able to get only tentative toehold in the U.S.
market.
AIMS (Association of International Marathons and
Road Races). Group of concerned marathon directors banded together to promote,
market, and standardize marathons throughout the known universe.
air sole. Late 1970s Nike solution to providing
ultimate impact protection for distance runners while buoying Nike sales through
the 1980s, especially in basketball via "Air Jordan."
AAU (Amateur Athletic Union). Governing body of
amateur U.S. sports in 1970s, a.k.a. "Antiquated Attitudes Updated" as it
struggled through women. s rights to compete in distance events.
Anderson, John Robert "Bob" (see Distance Running News,
Runner's World). Eccentric, prickly Kansan boy who pioneered many of today's
taken-for-granted institutions, including Runner's World (originally
DRN, 1966-69), expos, Corporate Cup, and more.
Asics (see Tiger shoes). Modern name of Japanese
Tiger running shoe, a brand made popular from the car trunks of Nike creators
Phil Knight and Jeff Johnson.
Athens, 1896. Modern Olympic Games added a novelty
event called "Marathon" to commemorate a fabled run from the Plains of Marathon
to Athens; event may outlive Games.
Averoff, Georgios. Shipping magnate patron saint of
first Modern Olympics went so far as to offer daughter's hand in marriage to
Marathon winner (if a Greek). B
Barron, Gayle. Winner of 1978 Boston Marathon, author of Beauty
of Running, coach of
Atlanta-based Team Spirit marathon training group.
Beames, Adrienne. Before any woman had broken three
hours in the marathon, this Australian ran a dubious 2:46 in 1971.
Beardsley, Richard "Dick." Accident-prone Minnesotan
half of classic "Duel in the Sun" (with Alberto Salazar) at Boston 1982; still
holds third best U.S. marathon time.
Belokas, Spiridon (see Ruiz, Rosa). Third-place
finisher of first Modern Olympics Marathon in 1896 later dumped for taking a car
ride through middle miles.
Benoit (Samuelson), Joan. Tough competitor and
pioneer, once described by her coach as "a bowling ball with legs"; won
first-ever Women. s Olympic Marathon in 1984.
Berlin Marathon. After a 10-year stall, men's
marathon best time fell here in 1998 with Ronaldo DaCosta's 2:06:05.
Bikila, Abebe. Consistently voted best male
marathoner in history, the Ethiopian palace guard won Olympic gold in 1960 and
1964, setting new world's best both times.
blood doping. Controversial performance aid where
blood is extracted and stored for reinfusion before race in order to elevate red
blood cell count and hence oxygen transport.
Blue Ribbon Sports (see air sole; Bowerman, William
"Bill"; Johnson, Jeff; Knight, Phil; Nike shoes; Tiger shoes). Company formed in
1970s to sell Japanese Tiger running shoes in U.S.; eventually evolved into
Nike.
Bonner, Beth. Generally acknowledged as the first
female to break 3:00 in the marathon, Bonner was killed in a biking accident in
1998.
Bordin, Gelindo. The only male Olympic gold-medal
winner (1988) to also win Boston (1990), the well-respected Italian serves as
race director of Prague International Marathon.
"Boston." Cradle of American marathoning; begun in
1897 after a group of BAA members returned from the first Modern Olympic Games
impressed by the "marathon" event.
BAA (Boston Athletic Association). The group
designated to oversee the famed Boston Marathon; met in official "Jock" Semple's
massage room before moving to better quarters in the 1970s.
Bowerman, William "Bill." Famed University of Oregon
track coach also famed for using his wife's waffle iron to create the
revolutionary soles for Nike's "Waffle Trainer" running shoes.
Brasher, Christopher "Chris." Accomplished British
steeplechaser, Brasher saw the future of marathoning at New York and transported
the concept to England by founding the London Marathon.
Breal, Michel. Frenchman who offered a special cup
for the winner of the novelty "marathon" event at the first Modern Olympic Games
in Athens in 1896.
Bridges, Cheryl. First woman to dip into the 2:40s
in the marathon, with her 2:49 several months after Beth Bonner's initial
smashing of the 3:00 barrier.
Brown, Barry. Long-running U.S. masters marathon
record holder (2:15:15, St. Paul, 1984); ultimately committed suicide in the
wake of business deals gone sour.
Brown, Ellison Myers "Tarzan." Brilliant but erratic
Indian runner who would either win Boston or stop along the course to take a
swim in a convenient lake.
Brown, Julie. Prominent American marathoner
of the late 1970s and early 1980s was blessed with consistency but always just
off the world's best level.
Buniak, Peter (see Drayton, Jerome). Immigrant to
Canada changed his name and, with trademark sunglasses and sinister mustache,
became Canada's greatest marathoner; won 1977 Boston.
Burfoot, Amby. Only American to win Boston in the 1960s (1968), "The
Ambulator" (low-to-ground style) became well-respected editor of Runner's
World magazine in 1986. C
Cabrera, Delfo. Second Argentinian in three Olympics
(1932, 1936, 1948) to win (see Zabala, Juan Carlos); no Latin American has won
since 1948.
Campbell, John. Broke fellow New Zealander Jack
Foster. s 16-year-old world masters record with 2:11:05.
carbohydrate loading. The process of superloading
the body with carbohydrates (fuel) in anticipation of a marathon or long
run.
ChampionChip. One giant step for moving running
farther into the Brave New World by allowing fully computerized scoring.
Chicago Marathon. During the late 1970s and early
1980s dueled with NYC to be biggest and best; after decline, the race is back
strong as ever.
Cierpinski, Waldemir. Didn. t take to steeplechase
so changed to marathon and won 1976 and 1980 Olympic gold; now felt to have been
object of drug experimentations.
Clayton, Derek. Fierce Australian competitor who
twice in the 1960s set world. s best marathon time, the latter of which
(2:08:34, 1969) lasted 12 years.
Commonwealth Games. In preprofessional era, one of
the world. s great races, with winners including Ron Hill and Rob de
Castella.
Cooper, Dr. Kenneth. Former Air Force doctor, his book Aerobics in 1968 started a generation of
Americans jogging for health; founder of Cooper Institute in Dallas.
Corbitt, Ted. Likeable African-American masseur and
distance runner was the father of American ultrarunning and cofounder of the
RRCA.
Costill, Dr. David. Ball State University professor
was pioneer at using distance runners as guinea pigs for experiments in human
physiology.
course certification. Gives meaning to records by
assuring distances are as advertised; pioneered in U.S. by Ted
Corbitt. | 
