by Larry EderThe 1981 USA Cross Country was in Burbank, California. It was held at the De Bell Golf course on a rainy, muddy day. This was the men’s senior championship race, and there had been nine junior and youth races before the Men’s championships. Mud was everywhere, slipping and sliding was de rigeur. This was real, hard ass cross country. Only the toughest would do well today.
It was two weeks after the NCAA District 8 meeting, held at Stanford University, just a six hour drive from Burbank. I had taken most of the week off, as my hamstring was pretty tight. The course was crazy fast and all of the stars of the day were in the race: Alberto Salazar, just off the world record in the marathon, Henry Rono, Herb Lindsay, Steve Scott, and a host of others. We flew around the course, but soon, the lead pack, with included Brit Adrian Royle ( the word North, on his singlet, Royle was a Junior college XC Champ, and then, at Nevada Reno), Alberto Salazar, Nick Rose, Henry Rono and a fast, but dwindling pack of stars were tearing the golf course apart with their long track spikes. The sod exploded with the impact of long spikes and strong legs, grasping for some desparate footing.
Somehow, the entire field missed a couple of cones and flags, and missed about 250 meters of the course, near the end of the race. Adrian Royle upset Alberto Salazar, in 27:20 as they battled from mile 2 to mile six. It came down to the final 160 meters, with Royle taking the nod by two seconds. At it first proclaimed a new WR, but then, recognized as a short course. I ran 32:20 that day, and had a fantastic view of Royle and Salazar duking it out five minutes ahead of me. It was, well, exhilerating for all 300 runners in the men’s race.
Read the story by Kenny Moore: https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/12/07/the-battle-went-to-royle-unheralded-adrian-royle-beat-alberto-salazar-for-the-tac-championship
Nov. 1981, USA XC Champs, Burbank, CA, Adrian Royle shadows Alberto Salazar, that day, Adrian defeated one of the finest fields in US cross country history, photo courtesy of Germanroadraces.de.
Saturday: warm-up, Race 5k, 30 minutes, plus 4 x 150 meter stride outs, cooldown
If not racing, 2 miles on track sprint straights, jog turns, plus 4 x 300m cut downs, cool down
2021 RunBlogRun, week # 11, Fall Cross Country Racing Season, Day 6
Monday: AM for advanced: 30-minute run
Main workout: light run, 45 minutes easy pace, stretch, 4 x 150 m stride-outs, light cooldown.
Tuesday: warm-up, 8 x 400m, 200m jog between, 2k race pace, 30 minutes, moderate pace, 8 x 200m, 1600m race pace, 100m jog, cooldown
Wednesday: AM for advanced: 30-minute run.
Main workout: light run, 45 minutes easy pace, stretch, 4 x 150 m light cooldown.
Thursday: warm-up, 6 x800m, 3k pace, 400m jog in between, 30 minutes easy, 6 x 150m, stride outs, 10 minute cooldown,
Friday: Advanced athletes, take light AM 30 minute run.
Main workout: light run, 45 minutes easy pace, stretch, 4 x 150 m stride-outs, light cooldown.
Saturday: warm-up, Race 5k, 30 minutes, plus 4 x 150 meter stride outs, cooldown
If not racing, 2 miles on track sprint straights, jog turns, plus 4 x 300m cut downs, cool down
Sunday: Long run, 75-90 minutes, at a conversational pace
