Run Run Away

Question:

Mark Plaatjes gave up his citizenship to escape apartheid in South Africa. He became a United States citizen this year. He runs and trains here in Boulder, Colorado. I’ve had the pleasure of running with him on many occasions. Running in his first race representing the United States of America, my fellow countryman won the marathon at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. He finished in just over 2 hours and 13 minutes. He ran down a Namibian runner over the last few kilometers and finished alone on the track. That’s all ABC showed on their coverage. Mark will raise the level of excellence of distance running in this country. He has more desire than anyone I’ve known and has the courage to run fast at any point in the race. GO USA!!! See you on the track in Atlanta ‘96, Anthony M. Jivoin National Center for Atmospheric Research RSF/ATD – FL1 P.O. Box 3000 Boulder, CO 80307

Response:

Running in his first race representing the United States of America, my fellow countryman won the marathon at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. He finished in just over 2 hours and 13 minutes. He ran down a Namibian runner over the last few kilometers and finished alone on the track. That’s all ABC showed on their coverage.

How much of the Championships do you get to see over there in the States? With several TV channels in Europe broadcasting live 6-7 hours a day (not inluding Eurosport) from Stuttgart it would be interesting to compare. I know T&F isn’t a very big sport in America.

Response:

And he won….well done in a nice race. He took over in the last kilometer! The Dutch went for the third place!! Dick Hissink  PA3DSP

Response:

| | Running in his first race representing the United States of | America, my fellow countryman won the marathon at the World | Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. He finished in just over | 2 hours and 13 minutes. He ran down a Namibian runner over | the last few kilometers and finished alone on the track. That’s | all ABC showed on their coverage. | | How much of the Championships do you get to see over there in the States? | With several TV channels in Europe broadcasting live 6-7 hours a day (not | inluding Eurosport) from Stuttgart it would be interesting to compare. | I know T&F isn’t a very big sport in America. | Christian, We get a "huge" one hour of coverage on Saturday and Sunday, although today’s coverage is pre-empted by the papal mass here in Colorado for World Youth Day. I like Pope John Paul, but I’d rather see the 100 meter final even though all coverage here is tape delayed. It was the same for the Tour de France. Because Greg Lemond wasn’t in the race we got only one hour of coverage on the final day of the race. Enjoy your 6 to 7 hours of daily coverage. If we could only be so lucky. Maybe the Olympic Games in Atlanta will change this country’s indifference to real athletics. I can’t wait to see Mark Plaatjes when he returns here to Boulder. Now we have Arturo Barrios, Loraine Moller, Uta Pippig, Frank Shorter and another world famous champion, all training in our "backyard". Going for the gold in Atlanta ‘96, Anthony M. Jivoin National Center for Atmospheric Research RSF/ATD – FL1 P.O. Box 3000 Boulder, CO 80307

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – | | Running in his first race representing the United States of | America, my fellow countryman won the marathon at the World | Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. He finished in just over | 2 hours and 13 minutes. He ran down a Namibian runner over | the last few kilometers and finished alone on the track. That’s | all ABC showed on their coverage. | | How much of the Championships do you get to see over there in the States? | With several TV channels in Europe broadcasting live 6-7 hours a day (not | inluding Eurosport) from Stuttgart it would be interesting to compare. | I know T&F isn’t a very big sport in America. | Christian, We get a "huge" one hour of coverage on Saturday and Sunday, although today’s coverage is pre-empted by the papal mass here in Colorado for World Youth Day.

The Canadian CBC network has carried two hours of coverage both Saturday and Sunday and will carry one hour each weeknight. I watched all of the American ABC network’s coverage on Sunday and then watched most of the Canadian coverage. The ABC coverage was badly edited, and focussed so much on the American competitors it was difficult to tell who won a race when it wasn’t an American. A message to any Americans living near the border: watch the CBC coverage, it’s *much* better (except perhaps for that somewhat pompous colour commentator with the Britich accent — Dept. of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6

Response:

  I can’t wait to see Mark Plaatjes when he returns here to Boulder. Now   we have Arturo Barrios, Loraine Moller, Uta Pippig, Frank Shorter and   another world famous champion, all training in our "backyard".

Yet, another area where the US has to rely on imports — Oystein Groevlen Division of Computer Systems and Telematics The Norwegian Institute of Technology The University of Trondheim

Response:

|   I can’t wait to see Mark Plaatjes when he returns here to Boulder. Now |   we have Arturo Barrios, Loraine Moller, Uta Pippig, Frank Shorter and |   another world famous champion, all training in our "backyard". | | Yet, another area where the US has to rely on imports | Oystein, That is why America is so great and a pioneer in many areas, both in sport and intellectually. We are from everywhere and most of us are very proud to be a melting pot. One of our top cross-country skiers is a Norwegian native, but now a fellow United States citizen and we are very proud of him and he may take a gold or two in Lilehammer in ‘94. Going for the gold in Atlanta ‘96, Anthony M. Jivoin National Center for Atmospheric Research RSF/ATD – FL1 P.O. Box 3000 Boulder, CO 80307 |   | — | Oystein Groevlen | Division of Computer Systems and Telematics | The Norwegian Institute of Technology | The University of Trondheim

Response:

| Mark Plaatjes gave up his citizenship to escape apartheid in | South Africa. He became a United States citizen this year. He | runs and trains here in Boulder, Colorado. I’ve had the pleasure | of running with him on many occasions. | | Running in his first race representing the United States of | America, my fellow countryman won the marathon at the World | Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. He finished in just over | 2 hours and 13 minutes. He ran down a Namibian runner over | the last few kilometers and finished alone on the track. That’s | all ABC showed on their coverage. | For those with satellite receivers, or if you live in Canada, the CBC covered much of the race as well as the track events. 2 hours and few commercials. CBC also has coverage every day this week. | Mark will raise the level of excellence of distance running in | this country. He has more desire than anyone I’ve known and has | the courage to run fast at any point in the race. | | GO USA!!! | | See you on the track in Atlanta ‘96, | | Anthony M. Jivoin | National Center for Atmospheric Research | RSF/ATD – FL1 | P.O. Box 3000 | Boulder, CO 80307 |  Looks like Mark ran an intelligent race. Easy the first half then caught up with the leader at approx. 25 miles. Looked like his only problem was finding the finish line. This was another hot (weather) championship. Ray Mascia

Response:

That is why America is so great and a pioneer in many areas, both in sport and intellectually. We are from everywhere and most of us are very proud to be a melting pot…..

Over this past weekend in Denver, 180,000 young people were in town for the Pope’s visit and World Youth Day.  I was walking in downtown Denver and the languages and variety of people were amazing.  A friend that I was with remarked that unlike Europe, where foreigners stick out like sore thumbs, you really didn’t notice it as much in America ’cause we’re such a diverse country to begin with. [What the preceeding has to do with running I'm not sure, except for perhaps the fact that 20,000 of the 375,000 people at the Pope's mass had to be treated for medical emergencies, mostly due to heat and dehydration.  They were told over and over again to drink water, but many ignored the advice and drank Coke instead, which of course did no good.  At an elevation near 5300 feet and 90F in the sun, you need a *lot* of water.] Oh, by the way, American is in danger of losing its soul.  John Paul 2 said so.  Whenever I’m in danger of losing my sole, I buy a new pair of running shoes.  Many . Andy — / ParcPlace Boulder          / (303) 440 9991 x4212               /

Response:

For those of you that missed it, Plaatjes ran a brilliant race, not covering the break at 75min when a group got clear. Even watching the race live here we didn’t see him until he caught the 3/5 group at about 20 miles, looking strong.  Our commentators missed him closing in on the lead announcing the gap as 2 mins when we could see on the road in was less. I think he led for about three minutes total.  Likewise, the Dutch runner appeared from nowhere to take third.  It was quite hot (though not as hot as the ladies race).  A fine triumph for pace judgement. Of course, in the 5k it was a different story!  

Response:

us are very proud to be a melting pot. One of our top cross-country skiers is a Norwegian native, but now a fellow United States citizen and we are very proud of him and he may take a gold or two in Lilehammer in ‘94.

Who is that??

Response:

us are very proud to be a melting pot. One of our top cross-country skiers is a Norwegian native, but now a fellow United States citizen and we are very proud of him and he may take a gold or two in Lilehammer in ‘94. Who is that??

He’s probably referring to Audun Endestad, who got naturalized shortly before one of the recent winter Olympics. Audun is a great skier (and a real nice guy), but he’ll be 41 or 42 by the time the next WO come around, and it’s hard to compete with the young guys (although I’d love to see him beat them). — Wind Research Program (formerly SERI)   VOICE: 303-231-7667 National Renewable Energy Laboratory    1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO  80401-3393

Response:

: Yet, another area where the US has to rely on imports Two points: (1) Basically 99.9% of all of us in the states are ‘imported’. (2) *A few* of the native born Americans have/will win gold! — Steven Cochran           Business before pleasure unless pleasure is your business.

Response:

: Yet, another area where the US has to rely on imports Two points: (1) Basically 99.9% of all of us in the states are ‘imported’.

Well, any logical, self-consistent definition of imported would have to either say that (1) exactly 100% of us are imported, or (2) only those not born here are imported.

Response:

                              !

Response: