Three Stories

A Story That Should Not Happen

Salwa Naser seemed so special.
Her 400's were 50 second masterpieces, each one faster than the last.
In just a brief time, she became a feared, and fearless runner.
Her finest--or so we thought--was her 48.14 win over Shaunae Miller-Uibo in Doha a year ago.
Until.....!
Until about 9 months later, when she was "provisionally" banned for 2 years because of three missed drug tests!
I've been searching for any "final" resolution of her case, but haven't found any!
It's been over 15 weeks, and nothing!
If she is indeed banned, or even if she isn't, it seems her 48.14 will not be accepted, and the Gold goes to SMU.
I became a fan of Naser's, and am saddened that such a talent would so stomp on her future for a reason such as this.
Moral?
If you have real talent, use it!
If your talent is limited, do NOT use drugs, or avoid being tested!
The truth will out, and in the case of Ms Naser, it sadly has.

Peter (Excuse me, SIR Peter!!) Snell died just 5 days before turning 81 last December!
What memories I have of this man.
A reported last 220 of 24.5 in a Coliseum Relays Mile against my then-fave American Miler, Dyrol Burleson, leaving that also great kicker far behind.
Narrowly losing to then-High Schooler Jim Ryun in the 1965 AAU in San Diego, where Ryun set a HSR that wouldn't be broken for 36 years!
Seeing his double Gold in Tokyo 1964.
Reading his fantastic memoir "No Bugles No drums", and loving every word.
Just after getting my first issue of Track and Field News in early 1962, reading of his first World Record, run on a 385 yard (!!) grass track in his native New Zealand.
Seeing his massively muscular  valves, thinking he doesn't LOOK like a middle distance runner!
Amazed by stories of 22 mile training runs in NZ--under the guidance of famed coach Arthur Lydiard--over hills and sand dunes--with mates Murray Halberg, Bill Baillie, and other NZ stars.
His being a member of the WR-breaking 4 X Mile Relay team.
His string of great INdoor races--and Records broken in them!
His awkward form which never revealed his secret--a finish better than anyone else on Earth in the first 5 years of the 1960's!
After a life of great contributions--to T&F, to medical research, tp the World--Peter Snell IS missed!
Rest in Peace, Sir Peter!

Many others have died in the past many months since my blog stopped.
I'd like to take a moment to list them here--
Tom O'Hara, a Miler
Blaine Lindgren, a High Hurdler
Paul Geis, former Oregon Distance runner
Harrison Dillard, a true legend
Janis Lusis, Javelin Thrower
Bobby Morrow, another legend of the sport
Ron Larrieu, Fran's older brother, whom I ran in the same 6 mile race with at Pierce College in LA in August 1964--He ran sub 28:00 (racing Billy Mills!!), while I ran 37:11
Dick Buerkle, a fast Miler with a bald scalp
Ben Jipcho, one of the early Kenyan greats
and Steve Smith, the first INdoor 18 foot Pole Vaulter
They are all remembered!

Mary Cain broke--no, DESTROYED!--eleven High School Records between July of 2012 and June of 2013--with TEN of those coming in the six month period of Ja nuary to June of 2013.
She was then just 16 and 17 years old--and considered the future of US Women's distance running--an inspiration to many even then!
(I'll never forget the picture of this confident yet child-woman standing right next to the great Tirunesh Dibaba--considered perhaps the greatest female distance runner of All Time--prior to their Two Mile race in Boston!

We know the rest of the story--prior to last November 15th--or do we?
She ran wonderfully most of 2014, after going Pro and joining the Nike Oregon Project, coached by Alberto Salazar.
But toward season's end, she didn't show at a couple of "scheduled" DL meets.
Why?
In 2015, she never really got going, her best times much slower than  her Senior year of HS in Bronxville NY!
What was wrong with her?
Let's Run people speculated on weight gain, pregnancy, drug use!
I felt it had a LOT to do with her association with Salazar.
This was based on his awful behavior toward cancer victim Gabe Grunewald at the 2014 INdoor USATF.
She'd been so fantastic BEFORE signing on with NOP and Salazar!
And it got much worse in 2016.
For all intents, it seemed her talent, her love of running, had vanished--or had been killed!
Then, nothing in 2017 and 2018.
We waited--and hoped--that SOME word would come from her, or her agent, or Salazar!
(I believe her agent wrote something about injuries, and her being back in training.)
In the fall of 2018 (?), she won a small 4 mile road race through Central Park, her time of 21:50 nothing special, but maybe a hopeful sign!

In September or October of 2019, the 4 year investigation of suspected Performance Enhancement Drug use by Salazar's star athletes came to a conclusion--
Alberto was banned for four years from coaching and the sport!
Good riddance to bad rubbish, IMO!

But that was NOT the end!

On November 15th, the entire world of Track and Field was shocked by what Mary Cain said in an emotionally wrenching 6:59 long video op-ed in the New York Times online!

She revealed that Salazar had been body shaming her--while still a teenager!!--for YEARS!
She told of a time at a meet on a rainy day--many athletes gathered under a tent on the infield--when Salazar yelled at her she needed to LOSE weight--that he wanted her at 114 pounds--that she needed to get thinner, thinner, THINNER!!
She grimly spoke of being given a drug--supposedly legal--that would help her lose weight while staying strong, able to withstand the monstrous workouts Salazar was INfamous for!
This drug, she said, caused her to lose her periods for three years!!
And weakened her body to such an extent that she broke FIVE bones--in 5 separate times!
Because she wanted to be great, to run fast--and please this old coach who she said she loved and respected--but wasn't performing up to her own, and to his standards--she began cutting herself!
Where?
Her legs!!
And then  the ultimate--she considered suicide!!

This EVIL demonic being had completely destroyed Mary's talent, her body, her mind, her passion and enthusiasm, her bubbly charming spirit--her SOUL!!

She has emerged from this in a wonderful way.
Many people--including former NOP whistleblower Kara Goucher--said she was so inspirational, so strong, so brave ("BraveLikeGabe"?!)--and rallied to her side.
Millions of people made that video viral!
Middle School and HS girls, in particular, said how they looked up to her, and loved her, for what she had done!

I'll report more on her 2020 season later, but suffice to say, she was coming back prior to the Covid lockdown!

We love you, Mary, and wish you only the best and happiest life from here on!

Excuse me, while I wipe tears from my eyes.