Jeff Benjamin and Roger Robinson, photo by Jeff Benjamin
Roger Robinson is a life long competitive runner who has used his athletic experience, and his command of the English language, and literature, to provide his readers with amazing insights into his writing focus. I loved his book, Heroes and Sparrows. An international class athlete, Roger took masters titles in his 40s and 50s. Now, a runner at 80, Roger has a life full of experience in our amazing sport.
Thanks to Roger Robinson, who is isolating in New Zealand (with his wife, Katherine Switzer, who was recently interviewed in this column) and who gave Jeff Benjamin some fine suggestions on how to train in this modern plague.
Awaiting The Baton In The Relay Exchange Zone – Profiles Of Athletes, Coaches & Legends During The War Against Corona
Profile # 45
Runner, Author Writer Extraordinaire Roger Robinson
By Jeff Benjamin
How is your daily training/coaching/work regimen going and how challenging has it been for you in this environment?
“When all races were canceled, it was time to review. Why do I do it? What are my true reasons for still training seriously, at age 80, with two knee replacements? My conclusion was that I still want to run as well as I can. Races, age PR’s etc, are useful measures, but not the true motivation. So I have kept in full training, almost every day, including long runs and some faster work. I’m lucky in being “isolated” in Wellington, New Zealand, with bush trails and big grass sports fields nearby where I can run for an hour or more with no risk of breaking social distance rules. I’m adding structure and incentive by entering a “virtual race,” the Martinsville, Virginia, 5K, to help my friend Joe Philpott, whose race had to be canceled. So soon I will be racing 5K on the Wellington Waterfront, at the exact same time that Dennis Moore and Norman Goluskin, two friends in New Paltz, NY, are doing it on our local rail-trail. They are also registered for Martinsville. So it’s a real race for the podium, 8,000 miles apart. Don’t tell me old runners aren’t inventive and don’t know how to have fun in difficult times.”
What advice can you give to runners, -especially youth, high school, collegiate- who are challenged during this time as well.
“As above, I decided to keep on climbing my personal peak of potential. You can do the same, luckily a lot faster than an 80-year-old. With no races or (probably) coaching, create a structure for your running, with hard and easy days, and sometimes a “virtual race” or maybe track work that lets you check progress. Absolutely observe restrictions on social distance – this virus has to be taken very seriously – but also remember that EXERCISE IS HEALTH, and outdoor running will give you the best immunity possible. Also use this time to read some good books on running, like my “When Running Made History,” which tells great eye-witness stories, and also has wonderful stuff for your history, literature, environmental studies, and other courses. Write an online term paper on the importance of the 1948 Post-war Olympic Games, my first chapter. Our next Olympics might be similar!”
