by Alfonz JuckRunBlogRun opines: Joan Benoit Samuelson is fearless. 1983 Boston winner Greg Meyer told me once that he could not train daily with Joan, because she trained so hard. Her win in Los Angeles Marathon in 1984 cemented her as the first woman Olympic marathon gold medalist and an icon for Nike. I recall Joan at the Nike Half Marathon in SFO one year, speaking with media on women’s running. It was, well, epic.
I will never forget her epic battle with Ingrid Kristinsen and Rosa Mota at the 1985 Chicago Marathon. Joan won and ran 2:21:21, an American record that was not broken for 18 years! Joan Benoit Samuelson speaks eloquently, but she speaks best with her feet, and her marathons have been works of art, as well as ways to showcase women’s running.
Joan Benoit Samuelson, photo by PhotoRun.net
CHICAGO (USA): Joan Benoit-Samuelson, who had been hoping to become the first woman over 60 to run a marathon in less than three hours, has withdrawn from Chicago this Sunday after suffering injury in the build-up. “October 8 has been on my calendar for some time, but I need to put my goals and my story on hold for now,” the 1984 Olympic champion said in a statement. “Chicago holds a special place in my career, and while I cannot compete this year, I am looking forward to cheering on thousands of runners as they chase their goals and tell their stories on race day.”
Scott and Joan Samuelson, photo by PhotoRun.net
