• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Cross Country

Celebrating Grete, by Toni Reavis, note by Larry Eder (From the Archives, 2011)

Larry EderbyLarry Eder
October 2, 2018
0
0 0
0
SHARES
11
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Updated October 2, 2018

Yesterday was October 1, 2018. It would have been the 65th birthday of Grete Waitz. Grete died April 19, 2011 after a long and epic fight with cancer. She lives on through AKTIV against Cancer. She also lives on in our memories. For me, besides the 9 time NYC Marathon champ, we was one of the finest women’s cross country runners and European athletic runners ever.

I am reminded of her finish with Fred Lebow, at the NYC Marathon. There is a picture of Grete and Fred after the finish. Grete is teared up and Fred is happy that he finished. It is how I remember the 1984 Olympic silver medalist at the marathon. This piece that follows is a wonderful piece by Toni Reavis on the Queen of The Five Boroughs Marathon. We miss her.

Original post was May 12, 2011

Toni Reavis, TV commentator and keen observer of our sport, sent this to me yesterday. I wanted to post it for you to read. There are many reasons for doing this: to recognize Grete Waitz, and notice through the elegant style of Mr. Reavis, the observations he noted about Grete & Jack, Grete’s brothers, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Grete’s many friends. A life well lived, a life well loved, and a life with few compromises. Please keep Jack, Grete’s brothers and her many friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Please consider her on your next run or walk….

Benoit-Waitz-NYC05.JPGJoan Benoit Samuelson & Grete Waitz, 2005 ING NYCM,
photo by PhotoRun.net

CELEBRATING GRETE

Posted: May 11, 2011 by Toni Reavis in Uncategorized
Tags: Adidas, Adrian Leek, George Hirsch, Joan Samuelson, Markus Ryffel, Mary Wittenberg, Mike McManus, NYRR, Oslo, Rosa Mota, Todd Klein, Wendy Sly

Oslo, Norway- Next Tuesday May 17th Norway will celebrate National Day, commemorating the signing of its constitution in 1814 which declared the country to be an independent nation free from Swedish rule. All over Norway children’s parades will be the central expression of the celebration, with the longest parade here in Oslo where over 100,000 people will gather in the city center to participate in the festivities. Accordingly, Norwegian flags can be seen hanging prominently throughout the capital in preparation for the national holiday.

I arrived in Oslo yesterday to join in another national memorial service, this one to celebrate the life of Norway’s legendary runner Grete Waitz who died April 19th at age 57 after a long battle with cancer. The nine-time ING New York City Marathon champion and four-time world record holder in the marathon was buried in a private ceremony with government honor at state expense, only the sixth woman in Norwegian history to be accorded that distinction.

Tonight at 6 p.m. at Bislett Stadium leading Norwegian politicians, members of the Royal family, and thousands more touched by Grete’s short, but extraordinarily well-lived life will bid a public farewell to one of Norway’s most beloved international ambassadors. A delegation from the New York Road Runners also arrived for today’s service, led by its chairman George Hirsch, president and CEO Mary Wittenberg, Olympic Marathon champion Joan Samuelson – Grete’s great friend and athletic rival, NYRR marketing chief Ann Wells Crandall, and NYRR media director Richard Finn.

Yesterday, after checking in at our hotels, we drove out to Grete and husband Jack’s lovely two-bedroom condo overlooking OsloFjorden in the east Oslo neighborhood where the couple lived for over a quarter century. As we drove Jack pointed out the routes Grete had trained on throughout all the years.

After arriving Jack explained how he and Grete had lived in the elegantly appointed condo for four years after selling their nearby house as Grete downsized, typically thinking of Jack as she prepared him for life in her absence. Next we watched a half-hour documentary produced by Norwegian TV tracing Grete’s life and exploits. Afterwards Jack pulled out a felt bag from a dining room cabinet containing a jumble of Grete’s prized race medals, including her five world cross country golds, the 1983 World Championships Marathon gold, and 1984 Olympic Marathon silver.

The mood was both fun loving and respectful as we handed around the medals and sorted through a collection of pictures portraying the life of one of the 20thcentury’s greatest female athletes. We shared personal memories, and it was particularly poignant when Joanie picked up and cradled Grete’s 1984 Olympic Marathon silver medal, knowing that back home in Maine lay the matching gold.

Joanie with Grete’s Olympic silver medal

“It’s amazing how much alike we are,” Joanie mused turning the medal over in her hands. “We both live on the water, both keep our medals hidden away in a drawer. But Grete’s Olympic medal box isn’t all tattered like mine is, and her home is a lot less cluttered, too.”

Last night we all walked down along the bustling Oslo harbor on an unusually warm spring night where we were joined by Mike McManus, Adrian Leek, and Todd Klein from Adidas, Grete’s lifelong athletic shoe sponsor, for dinner at Café Sorgenfri. Many toasts were made, laughs and memories exchanged, and New York City celebrations of Grete planned.

Since her passing condolences to Jack and Grete’s two brothers, Jan and Arild, have poured in from all over the world. Joining Joanie tonight at Bislett Stadium will be the third member of the 1984 Olympic Marathon podium, bronze medalist and 1988 gold medal winner Rosa Mota of Portugal. Also on hand will be 1984 Olympic 3000m silver medalist Wendy Sly of England, and `84 men’s 5000m silver winner, Markus Ryffel of Switzerland.

I’ll send along some thoughts from the memorial service in tomorrow’s post.

Related articles
  • Marathon great Waitz honored at Oslo tribute (sports.espn.go.com)
  • Grete Waitz, pioneer of women’s distance running, has died, IAAF tribute, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
  • Grete Waitz, RIP, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder (runblogrun.com)
  • Marathon great Grete Waitz dies of cancer at 57 (theglobeandmail.com)
  • On the Run: Tell Us Your Grete Waitz Memories (marathon.blogs.nytimes.com)
  • Marathon great Grete Waitz dies (cnn.com)
  • Greta Waitz dies: Marathon queen loses battle with cancer aged 57 (dailymail.co.uk)
  • Grete Waitz, Norwegian Marathon Runner, Dies (nytimes.com)
  • Marathon queen Greta Waitz dies after battle with cancer aged 57 (dailymail.co.uk)
  • Grete Waitz, nine-time New York City Marathon winner, dies of cancer at 57 (sports.espn.go.com)
  • Grete Waitz running with Fred Lebow: 1992 NYC Marathon (chennairavi.wordpress.com)

Runblogrun heartily suggests that all of our dear readers subscribe to Toni Reavis blog, Wandering in a Running World (http://tonireavis.com/)

Here is a picture of Mr. Reavis, in deep contemplation, doing what he does much of the time, taking copious notes, and waxing elegantly, with the humor only a person who intimately knows his subject can do, writing about running.

RelatedPosts

Florence Diamond League, Golden Gala Preview! (for June 2, 2023)

Coffee With Larry, June Begins, Florence DL on June 2, FBK Hengelo on June 3-4, Paris DL on June 9, Oslo DL on June 15!

2023 Doha Diamond League: Five Conclusions about the opening elite meeting of the Diamond League season

270cb286f17fd7c8efaa441d17bb4bb4.jpegAll pictures in the extended story were supplied by Toni Reavis (well, except for the Joan and Grete picture, from Victah of PhotoRun.net).

Author

  • Larry Eder
    Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

    View all posts

Previous Post

2018 Chicago Marathon Diary: Gwen Jorgensen racing at Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Next Post

2019 Millrose Diary: Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs to compete in Millrose (February 9)

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

Similar Post

2022 RunBlogRun, Recovery Week 2, Day 6 (June 25, 2022)
News

Florence Diamond League, Golden Gala Preview! (for June 2, 2023)

June 1, 2023
Coffee With Larry, June Begins, Florence DL on June 2, FBK Hengelo on June 3-4, Paris DL  on June 9, Oslo DL on June 15!

Coffee With Larry, June Begins, Florence DL on June 2, FBK Hengelo on June 3-4, Paris DL on June 9, Oslo DL on June 15!

June 1, 2023
2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training, Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000 meters, Week Twelve, Day 4, a day on the Track

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training, Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000 meters, Week Twelve, Day 4, a day on the Track

June 1, 2023
Coffee With Larry, European Athletics Indoors, 2-5 March 2023, The TEN happens March 4, 2023,
European Athletics

European Athletics to offer extensive streaming of World Athletics Continental Tour events in 2023

May 31, 2023
Reports of SAFP’s demise have been exaggerated!
2023 World Athletics Championships

Witness the Wonder, World Outdoor Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Day 44: Five Athletes from the Caribbean who should be on the Podium in Budapest.

June 1, 2023
Šutej, Little Runner-Up, Morris Third In First Diamond League
News

2023 Doha Diamond League: Five Conclusions about the opening elite meeting of the Diamond League season

May 31, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

July 5, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

July 17, 2022
2022 USATF Outdoor Champs: Melissa Jefferson takes the Women’s 100m title in windy 10.69!

The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

February 8, 2023

(RBR Archives) Coaching 101: Warm Up & Cool Down for the Jumps, by Roy Stevenson, note by Larry Eder

April 1, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

6
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
2022 Munich Diary, Day Five, a Great Friday Night

2023 European Athletics Indoor Champs, The Women’s 60m, who will win the final tonight?

5
TCS New York City Marathon Broadcast to be Available in More Than 530 Million Homes Around the World on Sunday, November 6

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
2022 RunBlogRun, Recovery Week 2, Day 6 (June 25, 2022)

Florence Diamond League, Golden Gala Preview! (for June 2, 2023)

June 1, 2023
Coffee With Larry, June Begins, Florence DL on June 2, FBK Hengelo on June 3-4, Paris DL  on June 9, Oslo DL on June 15!

Coffee With Larry, June Begins, Florence DL on June 2, FBK Hengelo on June 3-4, Paris DL on June 9, Oslo DL on June 15!

June 1, 2023
2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training, Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000 meters, Week Twelve, Day 4, a day on the Track

2023 RunBlogRun Spring Training, Middle Distances, 800m to 5,000 meters, Week Twelve, Day 4, a day on the Track

June 1, 2023
Coffee With Larry, European Athletics Indoors, 2-5 March 2023, The TEN happens March 4, 2023,

European Athletics to offer extensive streaming of World Athletics Continental Tour events in 2023

May 31, 2023

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The curious case of Sha’Carri Richardson: How can the sprinter turn around her career?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • (RBR Archives) Coaching 101: Warm Up & Cool Down for the Jumps, by Roy Stevenson, note by Larry Eder

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent Tweets

Next Post

2019 Millrose Diary: Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs to compete in Millrose (February 9)

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist