It’s the most audacious thing I’ve seen in the sport since Frank Shorter made a break at 15K in the ’72 Olympics.
Original Title: Couch Potato Coverage of 1986 Chicago Marathon
October 26. I missed the start of America’s Marathon, the one every runner calls Chicago. In fact, I missed the first nine miles.
You see, I live on the West Coast and the marathon was being televised “same-day tape coverage.” And I thought I’d cover the race from the comfort of my living room. But America’s sport – football – just wouldn’t quit. These guys play for 60 minutes and it takes 3 1/2 hours to do it. Besides, how important could that game have really been? Not only had I never heard of the teams… I’d never heard of the cities.
The first words I heard of the marathon broadcast were, “The Americans are conspicuous by their absence.” The tone was set.
Tanzania’s John Bura leads a pack of Toshihiko Seko, Rodolfo y Jose Gomez, Ahmed Saleh, Gerardo Alcala – and somebody I forgot to write down past 9M. I missed the time. Guess I should’ve warmed up. Ingrid Kristiansen has already set herself apart for her competitors. She reaches 8M in 43:08.
Time for the first commercial interruption, and, boy, is it ever. “Now you’re talkin’ after work. Now you’re talkin’ good times. Now you’re talkin’ beer.”. The next ad was for insurance and the third was selling financial advice. Makes sense. First prize is $40,000.
We return to find Jose Gomez in front as the leaders hit 10M in 48:32. There is no wind in The Windy City.
Since television’s powers-that-be are convinced foot racing is boring, we switch our attention to one of those ubiquitous video sidebars. We learn about the Whistle Lady of Little Italy; we hear three dudes do a rap song about the race; we are introduced to Amy Chan, age 12, who created the marathon poster. We are bored.
Back at the race, the leaders have covered the 11th mile in 4:53. Ingrid arrives at 10M in 53:58. She is tiring.
The pack reaches halfway in 1:03:41. Time for Toni Reavis to do a talking-head about the decline of America’s marathoners. Toni knows the sport and notes that 80% of the prize money at New York City, Boston and last year’s Chicago went to foreigners.
Fred Lebow, NYC’s impresario, is asked for his opinion. Straight-faced, Freddy says, “Prize money is the culprit.”. It’s the most audacious thing I’ve seen in the sport since Frank Shorter made a break at 15K in the ’72 Olympics. I thought Mr. Lebow invented prize money.
Joan Benoit Samuelson, covering the women’s race, suggests the problem lies with the collegiate system. No surprises, no solutions.
Ingrid makes it halfway home in 1:11:04. Jose can’t see the leaders who cover 14M in 1:08:08.
John Makanya makes a little move just past 15M (1:13:04). He’s “breaking the molecule of the pack,” Reavis tells us. Then Seko moves, checks his watch as he will do throughout the race, and takes Saleh with him,
Ingrid gets to 14M in 1:15:58. JBS points out, at every opportunity, the Norwegian’s reliance on sports psychology.
Seko, still escorted by Saleh, reaches 16M in 1:17:54. Checking my notes, well, I must have grabbed a Pepsi. There’s no entry until “18M 1:27:43. Seko & Saleh. Alone together, together alone.” Ingrid’s already laboring at 16M (1:27:16). The camera shows her taking pills from a man identified as her physician. “She looks frustrated,” Joanie notes, and moments later, “I don’t think she’s having fun right now.”
Seko and Saleh reach 30K (1:30:43). The contrast in physique is stunning. Those legs of Seko… in a word, the man is sturdy. At 5-7 and 132 pounds, he powers along a stride ahead of the deer-like Djiboutian’s 5-11/119 frame.
Another commercial break. While we hear about “The Smart Move” credit card, Ahmed Saleh surges. As he goes by 21M in 1:42:24, he looks anxious. He should be. Seko is a stride behind, still checking his watch.
Reavis: “As long as Seko is there, Seko’s your winner.” Just what Toshihiko was thinking. The 30-year-old Japanese made his move, a smart one at that, at 21 1/2 miles. By 22M (1:47:22), Saleh was falling back. Those of us in TV land missed this crucial point, of course. We were watching more commercial interruptions.
Seko has only been beaten once since 1979, that when he placed a disappointing 14th in the ’84 Games. This striding samurai was never in trouble this day. The 23rd mile was a 4:45 and Saleh said sayonara.
Seko had run the first 5M in 24:01. At least I think he did. His slowest 5M split of 24:32 came between 10-15 miles. And you tell me, maybe marriage has slowed down this guy?
Seko is in the last mile, and we’re forced to listen to Craig Masback telling us about scientific efforts to eliminate “THE WALL.” I’d much rather watch Seko battle this legendary barrier than listen to Craig talk about it.
We return to the actual race at 2:06:35. Forty seconds later, Seko reaches 26M. He doesn’t run a World Record. He has let down the audience, not to mention race director Bob Bright. Gary Bender is clearly disappointed as Seko can only manage a personal record 2:08:27. The 12th fastest time ever.
“Now you’re talkin’ good times. Now you’re talkin’ beer.”
Ingrid is talkin’ pain as she passes 25M in 2:19:49. We watch Kristiansen and we get the feeling – we are given the feeling by so much of the coverage – that she has somehow failed. Toni Reavis asks, “Is there defeat in victory?” Ingrid is victorious in 2:27:08.
Another ad. “Now you’re talkin’ good times.”
There’s an interview with Kristiansen. She’s bummed because she couldn’t see her split times because of all the television cameras in her way. (Oh, the irony.). I have some trouble being empathetic. In addition to the win at one of the world’s most prestigious marathons, and the $40,000 first prize, Ingrid also received a $40,000 appearance fee and “travel and accommodations for an entourage of seven.”. (Of course, television didn’t tell me that. Wouldn’t want to shock the viewers.) TV does pay some of the bills. Must be all those ads.
The news comes on. The World Series is delayed by rain. I slip on my shoes and go out for a run. It’s raining here, too. Now you are really talkin’ a good time.
