RunBlogRun into: Bob Hodge ran the 1980 NIKE OTC Marathon, in an epic battle with Dick Quax.
The NIKE OTC Marathon was an excellent marathon which was short-lived, from 1973 to 1984. In 1988, NIKE OTC Marathon grew to become a 25k for one 12 months, when NIKE ended it sponsorship.
Bob Hodge wrote this piece concerning the 1980 model of the NIKE OTC Marathon, the place he battled Dick Quax.
The NIKE OTC Marathon was held within the first week of September annually. It was from an epic time in our sport.
Take pleasure in this piece from Bob Hodge. You could find Bob’s writing at http://bobhodge.us/project-eagle/
Finest Efforts
The NIKE OTC Marathon 1980
It’s early within the race which began early and I really feel as if I’m on a coaching run again residence with a bunch of mates. This race has not one of the large metropolis vibe of a Boston or NYC only a small press crew someplace out entrance and a motorcyclist main the runners.
After just a few miles by the neighborhoods outdoors Hayward Area– the place the race would end on the monitor –we crossed the Willamette River over a pedestrian bridge with a terrific view. I used to be content material to race the race and I didn’t assume a lot about cut up instances simply ran by really feel.
(Reportedly 31:57 10K —floating for now)
My solely different marathon racing makes an attempt had been at Boston the place there aren’t any significant splits solely conventional checkpoints at odd distances the place there was by no means anybody giving splits no means no how.
They did present a report within the subsequent days Globe displaying who have been the highest ten runners at every checkpoint and the leaders instances relative to the report instances.
I usually marvel why nobody went out even on their very own volition and marked off the miles—in all probability would have been arrested by the BAA police for vandalism.
So, you discovered a beneficial lesson in pacing letting your physique and thoughts in coordination—simply because it had in all these miles of trials—dictate whereas reacting to what was taking place with the opposite contenders your brothers in sweat. Right this moment each athlete wears a elaborate watch and begins to cry if they’re off just a few seconds on some mile cut up.
Kevin McCarey, one other of the Nike gang, seemed to be setting the tempo—maybe as requested.
So, my thoughts wandered or part of my thoughts whereas the tempo appeared satisfying sufficient and the lead group right down to a dozen or so on the half.
Going into the race I had a terrific summer season after getting over the truth that my dream of operating within the Olympic Trials Marathon in Could and all the effort I had put in by the winter of 79/80 in preparation had gone up in smoke with the boycott and my subsequent choice to run Boston solely and skip the trials which have been a sham that I didn’t need to be complicit with.
After flaming out and dropping out at Boston I mopped about and slowly regrouped.
Between Could 1st and August thirty first, I had run 11 races successful 8 of them together with a 4th at Falmouth, the place I battled Rod Dixon and a Nationwide 20k Highway Championship win. I used to be unusually drained after the 20K run on a very popular day over a hilly course and I used to be frightened I may not get better for this marathon.
I used to be additionally operating in a pair of Reebok Racers that my new sponsor had offered almost a 12 months earlier than they usually have been falling aside on the seams. Simply earlier than flying to Oregon, I acquired two pairs of sneakers despatched over from the UK and I used to be advised they have been made by firm founder Joe Foster.
As I ripped open the bins on returning to my cabin within the woods of Norwell MA on the North River with my GBTC Teammate Dickie wanting on after our run— “Hodgie, they appear like clown sneakers.”
Not eager to put on barely examined sneakers in my marathon and in addition not eager to appear like a clown—I went with the quite worn and torn pair.
Nike Eagle sneakers have been all the trend at this affair, a “gathering of eagles” together with just a few shoe malfunctions. Might need been operator error.
Dick Quax -Benji—Mike Buhmann —John Graham—Jeff Foster—Jon Anderson —Dave Smith, and so forth. a terrific group of rivals however irrespective of —it was me towards the world or on this case additionally towards Nike whose athletes dominated this competitors. I appreciated to think about it this fashion in any case —my fellow rivals and I labored collectively simply till it was time to crush one another-last man standing.
The pack whittled itself down and I suppose I contributed by upping the ante. 30k was handed in 1:32 however I didn’t take a lot discover—I had DIck Quax on my shoulder and the lead bike simply forward.
Within the late phases we handed some runners nonetheless on their means out as we have been returning nearing the ending stretch.
As I keep in mind it Dick surged just a few instances and opened a small lead however I pulled him again every time. A kind of instances race co-director Peter Thompson was saying one thing to Dick which I assumed to be urging him on. (Peter reported that he was protecting Dick on target as he had made a improper flip)
Closing in on the end Dick made the decisive break and as we entered Hayward and the clock got here into view I composed a haiku:
Lifted my legs excessive,
Run two ten and be a part of the lads,
Solely life and destiny
I might see 2:10….ticking away. My official time 2:10:59.
My pal Jack Welch, then editor of street racing column for Observe & Area Information described Dick’s race as “winging a two ten marathon.” Nicely- my whole life I had winged and was simply twelve seconds again. Cinderella boy, tears in my eyes.
I had a sense of resignation—in any case these New Zealanders, stars of the European monitor circuit wouldn’t even possible be right here if the Olympics hadn’t been boycotted they might be in Europe racing on the monitor.
I shook fingers with Dick simply as he was shooing away reporters making an attempt to get photos of his bloodied ft. After that I walked to my resort and hopped within the tub full of chilly water ice and beer.
I skipped the awards ceremony, actually by no means gave it a thought. Petulant little one, me towards the world like my comedian e book hero Alf Tupper-“Powerful of the Observe.”
I used to be feeling this occasion and the individuals behind it have been cultish with all their “gathering of eagles” and a brand new racing flat simply occurred to be known as the Eagle.
A part of me was disenchanted that I used to be by no means recruited. One other half was joyful to not be aside of any group that wished me.
A lone wolf.
As I lay in mattress in my resort room after my tub watching US Open Tennis—sipping beer and turning into more and more famished— my pal Tom Fleming who had dropped out of the race at some stage knocked on my door.
“ Hodgie, what are you doing mendacity in mattress man, persons are on the lookout for you. “TF have a beer, let’s order some meals.”
“Man, we bought a celebration—dress.” We went to somebody home sat bare in scorching tub with faculty co Ed’s—signed Mary Decker’s forged— her newest damage.
TF, God bless him and I ran many miles collectively in Florida in January/February 1980. Tom was all in with skilled operating obsessed and satisfied me to go to Boulder CO to satisfy with Jim Lillestrom a person with a plan.
And so we did but additionally made the rounds—Boulder and its altitude some type of Mecca. We went to the Coors brewery.
Boston was my Mecca not that I doubted the advantages of altitude. I’m extra moms of invention and thoughts over matter and oxygen blood values come as they might.
I returned residence to my cabin within the woods to no fanfare and a letter from my sponsor Reebok that they have been dropping my present contract with circumstances.
I bought injured earlier than Fukuoka Marathon my award for my second place—nearly a profession ending damage—would have been if I did the calculation—however I continued to bang my head towards the wall till my honey introduced me to my senses.
What I name snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
I lately returned to Eugene for the Olympic Observe & Area Trials and have become reacquainted with Benji Durden who I had not seen since December 1992 on the Rocket Metropolis Marathon in Huntsville AL.
We went for a run and yipped and yapped —Benji remarked that my race in 1980 Nike OTC should have been my finest marathon.
My reckoning:
Beppu Japan 1982 1st 2:15 Profitable issues.
Nike OTC 1980 2nd 2:10:59
Boston 1979 2nd 2:12 obscurity to close obscure.
Fukuoka 1982 fifth 2:11 after main successful slipped away.
Boston 1986 2:14 sixth reclaimed some dignity.
Olympic Trials 1988 2:16 seventh The Finish
Extra Than a Feeling
Wintertime 1979 and I’m feeling free and locked in to my operating life—residing on the South Shore of Boston in Hanover MA working within the operating retail shoe biz on the Runnery with homeowners and mates Sharpy and Stevie.
The Boston Marathon is looming simply weeks away and I’m starting to seek out my groove—I really feel nearly too good each run my ft barely contact the bottom –I’m floating alongside like my heroes—Ron Hill—Abebe Bikila—Frank Shorter and my teammate with the Larger Boston Observe Membership, Invoice Rodgers.
My aim is to beat my different teammate, Randy Thomas—Ha. We’re good mates—me from Lowell MA and Randy from Fitchburg MA. We push one another laborious in coaching and particularly within the races main as much as the massive one—Boston.
Our different teammates together with Dickie Mahoney from Weymouth and Vinnie Fleming from Jamaica Plain Boston make for a really dynamic fun-loving group—however lifeless severe when the gun goes off.
One other fairly respectable runner from Michigan, Greg Meyer, joins our group as properly.
In different phrases—wanting again I can see it was an ideal storm of serendipitous happenings orchestrated by our beloved eccentric coach Billy Squires additionally a university coach and professor at Boston State School.
I had run Boston in 1977 and didn’t impress ending in forty sixth place in 2:28. My teammate Vinnie completed fifth in 2:18.
My third place end in 1979 arrange all the sequence of occasions resulting in Nike OTC 1980.
For good or unwell and that’s the best way it was.
Our legislators phonily espouse…
Let’s Work Collectively—A dance tune with a message:
Pump up the amount
