Coffee with Larry, Some thoughts on some of my mentors, Mason Fackert III, Derek Clayton, (December 26, 2023)

This is my daily chat with #RunBlogRun viewers and track fans on all things track & field!

This is #CoffeeWithLarry for Tuesday, December 26, 2023.

Our topics:

1. The Dubai Marathon is just 11 days away; check out #DubaiMarathon at www.dubaimarathon.org, which will be held on January 7, 2024, at Dubai, U.A.E. (sponsored)

2. The First meet of the #WorldIndoorTourGold is on January 27, 2024 is in #AstanaIndoorMeeting, the first stop in Asia! #visitkazakhstan,

3. New Balance Indoor Grand Prix will be held on February 4, 2024. For no more information, www.nbindoorgrandprix.com, #NBindoorgrandprix, (sponsored)

4. The 2024 World Indoor Tour is posted here: https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour

5. We hope that everyone had a wonderful Merry Christmas!

6. The US Indoor Championships for 2024 will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 16-17, 2024, www.usatf.org.

7. The RAK Half Marathon is now managed by #PACEEvents, founders and managers of #DubaiMarathon. The #RAKHalfMarathon is being held February 27, 2024, https://www.therakhalfmarathon.com/, #AreYouReadyToRun

8. Brian Igoe, former NIKE EKIN, former Reebok executive, sports business executive, 2:20.20 Marathoner (Boston, 1983), died December 16, 2023. Brian was 70 and had been fighting a tough battle with Alzheimer’s, he was 70. Brian was at Reebok during the glory years of the 1984-1990. Brian Igoe was the first NIKE EKIN! https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/brian-igoe-obituary?id=53877164#obituary.

9. Mason Fackert, Concord Ventures, lifelong publishing executive, 1939-2023 (August 27, 2023). Mason was incredibly influential in my publishing career. I worked with his son, Scott, for several years. Mason was a wonderful mentor. I am thinking of his wife, Lou, Scott, and his brothers and sisters. Watch for a column on Mason, https://obits.concordfuneral.com/harry-fackert-iii

10. Thinking of the fine people we have lost this year and also thinking of those who have taken the time to mentor me during my career.

11. Thinking of Derek Clayton, the first man under 2:12, 2:11, 2:10, and 2:09 in the marathon. Derek was the VP of Marketing at Runners’ World from the late 1970s to 1985. Derek was my boss at Runners World from 1981-1987, and he was a true character, a man who helped me figure out that I loved publishing. I miss his opening comment, “Eder, Bloody Hell!” of the day. Derek is about 75 now and one of those people one never forgets.

12. After the holidays, I take the time to reconsider my year and am thankful to be alive and sharing my life with those I care about and love.

See you tomorrow for #CoffeewithLarry.