Netters: Just thought this might counter the bad taste left by the latest version of Rosie Ruiz and also give another angle on what makes a good marathon runner.
There was once in NJ a runner named Cliff Whitehead. In HS--and he went to one of the top CC schools in the nation, Christian brothers Academy---he was last in every race and a decided last. It wasn't much better in college. Most runners would have thankfully retired at this point, but Coiff was made of sterner stuff. Not built at all for a marathon runner, by modern standards, he neverheless turned to that event and, by sheer persistance, turned himself into a fine runner of what could be called the "second rank." never challenging for national honors, but winning and placing regularly in many racesa and eventually getting his time down to the 2:20 level. It reallty seemed at times that he was running at full speed for the entire 26 miles plus. Certainly, if Cliff could accomplishg this with what obviously were meager natural talents, runners more gifted can accomplish more than we are seeing on the roads today,. Ed Grant