Grete Waitz died today at the age of 57 after a 6 year battle with cancer. For those of you who haven't heard of her, she was a teacher from Oslo, Norway who became a champion runner. She won the NY Marathon 9 times, more than any runner in history. She also won marathons in London and Stockholm. She was a promoter of marathon and long distance running for women. Her last marathon was in 1992 when she ran the NY Marathon with her friend, NY Marathon Race Director Fred Lebow, after his diagnosis with brain cancer...the only time he was able to run in his own marathon.
In the mid nineteen-nineties she spoke in Denver to a group of women-runners. I was considering learning to run and decided to attend. Unfortunately, there was a huge blizzard the night before and the temperatures were dismal. The attendence was sparce, maybe 2 dozen of us. I was able to meet her and get her autograph. She was gracious, quiet, funny, and a big inspiration to me.
"Really great people make you feel that you too, can become great." Mark Twain
Looking together in the same direction.
Sea otters hold hands while they sleep so they don't drift apart.
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