So I recently read a blog post by Maleah Cole about her favorite professional runners. After reading it I decided it would be fun to do my own list of faves. Yes, officially confirming that I am a nerd as well. Her list of faves definitely listed some great professional runners and I also include them in my list of faves; Ryan Hall, Shalane Flanagan and Lisa Koll. Shalane Flanagan and Lisa Koll are definitely my two favorite female distance runners. As for Ryan Hall, super-stoked to see him at the Boston Marathon in April. Now for my list though.
I will just give a short list of my favorite runners (since I definitely have more than 3):
Emil Zatopek was a Czech long-distance runner, who is best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. Not just any three gold medals either, this triple was unbelievable. He won gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 on the track, but his third gold came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life. He had never done a marathon before, but chose to try it out for the first time at the Olympic Games and won. Not only did he win gold in each event, he broke the existing Olympic Record in all three events. His strategy for the marathon was simple; stay along side the world record holder. After a fast first 15k he asked the world record hold what he thought of the race so far. The guy was dumbfounded and told Emil that the pace was "too slow" to try and mess him up, but Emil just accelerated and never looked back. He held several world records in his prime: 5,000; 10,000; One hour run world record; 20k world record; 25k world record; and 30k world record.
Anthony Famiglietti is a not-so-well known distance runner for the USA, but is definitely one of my faves. He runs with complete disregard to his body. He runs all out and does great or he dies trying. I have watched several of his races and one of the best was his preliminary steeplechase round in Beijing, where he destroyed the field for most of the race. He took off and just left everyone behind, making sure that he made the final. He has competed in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games for the U.S. in the 3000 meter steeplechase. He competes in pretty much any event throughout the year from 1500 to 10,000. In college he ran for two years for Appalachian State University and then transferred to Tennessee for the rest of his college career. Anthony has the following prs: 1500 - 3:35; Mile - 3:55; 3000 meter steeplechase - 8:17; 5000 - 13:11; 10,000 - 27:37. Anthony happens to be the only professional distance runner that has ever taken a course record that I owned from me. I had set a 5k record in Mt. Mourne, NC at around 17:00 and a few years later he stopped in Mt. Mourne on a trip and lowered the record to 14:40 or so. He also happens to be the original designer of my tattoo.
Samuel Chelanga. All you can really say about this guy is.....amazing! Just watching him race you can see what it means to have talent. He is still currently running in college, but I will be a fan of his for as long as he runs. He is currently trying to get his US citizenship, which could mean some trouble for American Records in the future. He basically runs away from everyone in the college ranks right now and is only able to find a challenge by racing against the professionals. I can't imagine how good he will be when he doesn't have to worry about taking tests and homework. He currently holds the NCAA record for the 10,000 meters in a time of 27:08, just 9 seconds from the American record. In 2008 he was runner-up at the NCAA XC championship and in 2009 and 2010 he won. Only the 11th man in NCAA history to win at least two XC titles. I look forward to every race that I'm able to watch that Sam is entered in. Especially when he gets to beat Galen Rupp (which he does so often).
Josphat Kiprono Menjo is my next fave and yes I did choose a Kenyan as a favorite of mine. I had to do it. He just recently became a favorite of mine though, but that could be because he just recently stormed onto the professional scene. He actually didn't even start racing until 2002, when he was 23 and he is just now starting to set PRs. 2010 was a breakthrough year for Menjo. What he did in 2010 was probably one of the most unbelievable seasons I have ever seen. Every race that he set a PR in that year was a race that he won by pretty much running by himself the whole race. He set a PR in the mile by destroying the field by 10 seconds or more. He set a PR in the 5k by sprinting away from everyone in the last two laps. He set a PR in the 10k and won the race by not only seconds, but by minutes (several to be exact). The most amazing part of all of the PRs was not just that he did them by running alone, but he set his 5k PR on August 18, 2010; set his mile PR on August 22, 2010; and set his 10k PR on August 29, 2010. He set all three PRs within 11 days of each other (a week and a half span). Completely unbelievable. Look forward to see if he gets any faster even though he's one of the older professionals out there.
Well there is my list for now. It is always changing, but that should show off some of my nerdiness when it comes to the sport of running. I just can't get enough of it. Makes me want to go run right now! haha.
