V 13 N. 95 Two Diverse Efforts of Endurance That To Me Show a Surprising Link to Our Existence

The Prefontaine/Diamond League meet is history, and what history with wonderful races and field events hotly contested.  World records, none more incredible than the 14:00.21 5000 by Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia and getting almost no mention during my viewing of NBC.   But there were just so many other great events with Mondo Duplantis setting a new pole vault record (6.23) 20' 5  1/4" , that 100 meter hurdles with Tobi Amusan proving her Olympic win was no fluke.  Karsten Warholm getting a backseat to Rai Benjamin  , and Jakob Ingebrigtsen showing that he is still an incredible finisher if there is no Scotsman in the race.  What a two day double.   Emmanuel Wanyonyi (19 years old) coming on in the 800 to edge Marco Arop, 1:42.80 to 1:42.85.  Joe Kovacs beating Ryan Crouser in the shot (22.93) 75' 2  3/4"  to (22.91)  75' 2".   Andre De Grasse's comeback in the 200.  Too bad there was no hammer throw, or Canadians would have been lifting their Molson's again.  

Whatever I mention, someone can legitimately say,  "And what about __________(fill in the blank)?  Every event was a barnburner.  And I regret not being there.  I'm heading down to Ohio tomorrow, and putting those two trips back to back would have been more than this old body could endure.   You all saw the event so I will go no further but instead will relate to you what came across my screen this morning from other sources about other events that may be as important or inspirational in their own way as any of these briefly noted events above.

Okay sports fans, here is a conundrum.  To move on to the next plateau of existence in the universe, you have to complete a feat of endurance that few people have ever done.   You have two choices, either of which will get you to where you wish to go. Here are your choices.  

Choice Number One:   Run 3100 miles in 52 Days.   That averages out to 59.61 miles per day. Spiritual awareness is the prize. 

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the course you will run is a 0.54 mile loop in Jamaica, Queens, NYC.  Sound exciting?

Choice Number Two:  Dig a 15x20 meter  fish breeding pond  (4000 cubic feet of dirt) using only yourself and a shovel.  This will be done on a very limited diet of corn starch and beans, and of course water.  No sports nutritionists or psychologists, or massage therapists will be available to support you.  To complete the task is to assure survival of your family and your village.

Former Peace Corps Volunteer  Mike Tidwell's description of this clam dig is like reading about a muscle destroying marathon. Oh yes, I forgot to mention, this future pond is located somewhere in Zaire (Dem. Republic of the Congo), in the hot sun, with malaria carrying mosquitos, the occasional puff adder to contend with, and you will not have a pair of work gloves to wear.

Feet, hands, blisters?  But of course.  I do concede that on the run you will have shoes. 

Here are the links to the two stories; they are worth the read:

Why Have a 3100 Mile Race? by Gary Corbitt

I Had a Hero by Mike Tidwell   from Peace Corps World Wide

Although both stories were great, I preferred the digging because that seems much harder to a runner.  Enjoy your long trip home.  Bill Schnier

This note came in from Steve Smith a few minutes ago adding more clarity to what the Eugene event meant.

as Tom Jordan always says

BEST MEET EVER 

This appeared in World Athletics today Sept. 20, 2023

World records from Gudaf Tsegay and Mondo Duplantis contributed to the Wanda Diamond League Final – held in Eugene on Saturday (16) and Sunday (17) – being the highest quality non-championship meeting in history based on competition performance ranking scores.

Along with the two senior world records* set in Eugene, there were also five Diamond League records, a world U20 record, nine area records, 14 meeting records and 14 world-leading marks, making the 2023 series final a highly memorable one.

All-time competition performance ranking

99,156 - 2023 Prefontaine Classic, Eugene (DL Final)
96,927 - 2022 Weltklasse, Zurich (DL Final)
96,763 - 2021 Weltklasse, Zurich (DL Final)
96,001 - 2019 Weltklasse, Zurich (DL Final)
95,985 - 2018 Herculis, Monaco
95,949 - 2015 Herculis, Monaco
95,753 - 2015 Prefontaine Classic, Eugene
95,715 - 2001 Weltklasse, Zurich
95,562 - 2015 Meeting de Paris, Paris
95,523 - 2017 Prefontaine Classic, Eugene

In Eugene on Sunday, Duplantis returned to the scene of his 2022 world title and added a centimetre to the world record he set earlier this year. In what was just his fourth jump of the competition, and in a series without any failures, he cleared 6.23m at the first time of asking.

Perhaps the biggest shock of the meeting, though, came from Tsegay, who took almost five seconds off Faith Kipyegon’s world record to win the 5000m in 14:00.21.

They were the latest standout performances in a 2023 track and field season where eight senior world records were set in individual track and field disciplines.

Kipyegon tore apart the record books in the middle of the season, setting world records for 1500m, 5000m and the mile. Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, meanwhile, set a 3000m steeplechase world record in Paris, while Ryan Crouser broke his own shot put world record in Los Angeles back in May. Little more than a week before winning the mile and 3000m double in Eugene, Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a world 2000m record in Brussels.

Individual senior world records set in outdoor track and field disciplines in 2023

Women’s 1500m: 3:49.11 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) Florence, 2 June
Women’s 5000m: 14:05.20 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) Paris, 9 June
Women’s mile: 4:07.64 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) Monaco, 21 July*
Women’s 5000m: 14:00.21 Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) Eugene, 17 September*
Men’s shot put: 23.56m Ryan Crouser (USA) Los Angeles, 27 May*
Men’s 3000m steeplechase: 7:52.11 Lamecha Girma (ETH) Paris, 9 June
Men’s 2000m: 4:43.13 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) Brussels, 8 September*
Men’s pole vault: 6.23m Mondo Duplantis (SWE) Eugene, 17 September*
*pending ratification

Including indoor, U20, road, and relay marks, there have been 29 world records in total set throughout 2023, 13 of which have already been ratified.

In the Diamond League alone, there were 18 Diamond League records set this year, 15 of which were in standard scoring disciplines.

As was the case in Eugene, where most of the record-breaking marks came about from enthralling duels among the world’s best athletes, there will be more excitement in store on 1 October when the Latvian capital hosts the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 – the final global event of the year.