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Pizzolato donates 1984 New York City Marathon winning shoes to MOWA

At the end of ABC television’s coverage of the 1984 New York City Marathon, there’s a shot of Orlando Pizzolato sitting on a bench in Central Park, retying his well-worn footwear. “Those shoes may have had it,” remarked anchorman Jim McKay.

Not quite. Some 39 years on, the shoes that took the unheralded Italian to the biggest upset victory in the history of the Big Apple’s big race have been generously donated to the ever-expanding Heritage Collection in the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA).

Whatever unfolds in the 2023 edition of the New York City Marathon this weekend, there’s unlikely to be anything as dramatic as the battle of attrition from which the plucky Pizzolato emerged as the unlikely hero in 1984.

As the Italian and the rest of the 18,000 field assembled for the start, it was difficult to pick out the contours of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Such was the heat haze that had descended upon the Big Apple on the last Sunday in October that year.

“The weather is going to be a huge factor,” proclaimed Marty Liquori, the great US miler, working as the expert summarizer on the men’s race for ABC Sports. “We’re looking at the hottest and most humid New York Marathon ever.”

The mercury was already pushing 70°F and the humidity was close to maximum.

“That causes two things to happen at the front of the pack,” continued Liquori, runner up to Miruts Yifter in the 5000m at the inaugural World Cup in Dusseldorf in 1977. “The natural front runners get conservative, so the pack stays tighter. The second thing is the hotter it gets, the greater chance there is for an upset.”

“Yes, look out for the man you do not know in this marathon,” predicted McKay, the distinguished Voice of ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

“This man could be for real”

Not a lot of people were looking out for the runner bearing race number 100, clad in the colors of his homeland – blue and white singlet, red shorts.

Pizzolato, a 26-year-old representing the University of Ferrara sports club from the north of Italy, was no Ferrari of a marathoner.

In seven attempts at the classic 26.2-mile distance, he boasted a best of 2:15:28 - more than seven minutes slower than the world record figures of 2:08:05 set by Welshman Steve Jones in Chicago a week before the 1984 New York race.

Pizzolato’s PB came in New York in 1983, the year Rod Dixon made up a half-mile deficit to overhaul Briton Geoff Smith virtually on the finish line in Central Park. The New Zealander’s winning time was 2:08:59. He finished 6min 29sec and 26 places ahead of Pizzolato.

Twelve months later, Dixon, the Olympic 1500m bronze medalist behind Finn Pekka Vasala and the trailblazing Kenyan Kip Keino in Munich in 1972, returned to New York as favorite for the men’s title – and the $25,000 prize and Mercedes Benz that went with it in that first year of open professional running.

“I’m a lot more confident in my own mind, having run successfully in ’83,” he told Liquori in a pre-race interview. “I think I’m rightly the favorite. I’ve trained well and I’ve got confidence in my own ability. I’ll go out and if I strike it right, they won’t catch me.”

Five miles in, given the exceptional conditions, Liquori and four-time winner Bill Rodgers, following the men’s race from ABC’s on-course buggy, felt Dixon was striking it right – 18 seconds down on home runners Pat Petersen and Terry Baker in a pack that included two-time Commonwealth gold medallist Gidamis Shahanga of Tanzania.

Pizzolato was also among the chasing group, seemingly unknown to any of the experts. His first name check came as he overtook Jose Gomez of Mexico to claim pole position, shortly before reaching halfway in 65:03.

“Could this, Marty, be the man they did not know?” McKay enquired.

“This man could be for real,” Liquori replied. “In the hotel I saw Franco Fava, a great steeplechaser from Italy, and he mentioned that it has been so hot in Italy this summer and fall. So, this is one person who is accustomed to the heat.”

Rodgers was not quite so sure. “I think it’s still anybody’s race,” he said. “The guy from Italy looks good. But we’ll have to see later in the race.”

“The Pope, Reagan and then it was me”

The guy from northern Italy was certainly looking good.

While Dixon seemed ill at ease, struggling to cope with the pace and the conditions some 1:15 behind, Pizzolato appeared to be feeling groovy as he crossed the Queensboro Bridge, the subject of Simon and Garfunkel’s 59th Street Bridge Song.

“Orlando looks very good,” Liquori observed. “He looks to have a style that’s fitting for a marathoner. When you’re looking around, taking in the scenery, you know that the running is coming easy.

“One thing should be pointed out. Steve Jones, who set the world record last week, was a very well-established track runner. He was eighth in the 10,000m at the Olympic Games.

“But Orlando has run a minute slower for 10,000m: 28:22. Were he to win this, it would be just about the biggest upset in a major marathon that I’ve seen.”

By the 20th mile mark, it was clear that Pizzolato himself was somewhat upset. The temperature had risen to 74 degrees and the humidity to 96%. His pace slowed to a 5:26 mile.

Briton Dave Murphy was gathering momentum, moving up into second, and Dixon into third.

“Well, I think we’re entering the last chapter of Orlando,” ventured Liquori. “I think I might have got too excited at 18 miles. Maybe it was the Italian in me.”

Soon after, Pizzolato grabbed his chest and slowed to a temporary halt. Three times he stopped, then started up again. “This man is in trouble,” said McKay.

Entering Central Park, with less than three miles to go, Pizzolato stopped for a fourth time. He clutched his chest, glugged half a cup of water and poured the other half over his head.

Dixon was out of the equation at this point, having stepped off the course suffering from cramps. But Murphy had closed to within 15 seconds.

“It’s like the tortoise and the hare,” said Liquori. “Pizzolato’s running-stopping, running-stopping. Murphy is just taking a steady course. It looks like it’s his race.

“For Pizzolato now, the drama now is how much of his soul he’s going to lay down.”

Thrice more, Pizzolato stopped and started, each time taking on fluid and calmly checking out the gap behind him. Somehow, he managed to lay down enough of his soul to bridge over his troubled water.

The finished line approached with Murphy not yet in sight.

“He has pulled it off,” Liquori pronounced. “He has mentally been able to fight through his form having gone to pieces, through having had so many problems.”

“It was very hot,” said Pizzolato, who crossed the line in 2:14:53, 43 sec ahead of Murphy. “I had cramp in my stomach. It was very terrible, but I am very happy.”

The New York Times the next day concentrated on Grete Waitz’s sixth success in the women’s section, praising Pizzolato in passing for having overcome the heat and the late challenge of Murphy in “a men’s competition that the stifling heat and humidity reduced to a battle of attrition.”

Back home in Italy, the reaction was different. “The first story in the news was the Pope,” Pizzolato reported, “then Ronald Reagan’s election. Then it was me.”

Retained title

Twelve months later, the guy from Italy returned to New York and proved he was no flash in the marathon pan.

This time he was the tortoise, running his steady race while Geoff Smith burned himself out at world record pace, then overtaking Djibouti’s World Cup Marathon winner Ahmad Saleh two miles from home to become the Big Apple’s first overseas two-time winner, clocking 2:11:34.

“Last year I won by mistake, probably,” Pizzolato told The New York Times. “This year was more exciting. I was not in confusion in the last 365 yards.

“All the people seemed to know my name and my number. It was like everyone was a friend of mine. It was a great source of power.”

In an era when the fast men of the track came to dominate the men’s marathon – with the likes of Jones, Dixon and Carlos Lopes, the Portuguese runner who won the Olympic title in Los Angeles in 1984 and succeeded Jones as world record-holder in 1985 – Pizzolato was a great source of power and inspiration to the traditional specialists of the event.

He never broke 2:10. His fastest time was 2:10:23, which he recorded while placing sixth in the World Cup Marathon in Hiroshima in 1985. The following year Pizzolato was third in Boston (2:11:43), then overtook a shattered Jones to claim the European Championships silver in Stuttgart (2:10:57) behind his compatriot Gelindo Bordin, and returned to New York taking third place (2:12:13) behind another Italian, Gianni Poli.

These days the two-time Italian king of New York operates a company bearing his name which offers running camps and a consultation service, and which provides scholarships to athletes aged from 16 to 22.

(11/06/2023) Views: 561 ⚡AMP
by Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage

Eluid Kipchoge will lose $200,000 with the Abbott World Marathon Majors drastic reduction of prize money but this is not right says MBR publisher

Two days after Eliud Kipchoge clocked a 2:01:09 world record in Berlin, the Abbott World Marathon Majors announced on Tuesday a drastic reduction in the series’ prize money for runners.

Abbott, currently a $45 billion dollar global healthcare company based in Illinois, was the first title sponsor of the World Marathon Majors.

Let's Run posted this: "The change will take effect immediately, applying to the current series, which began at the Tokyo Marathon in March (starting this year, the WMM seasons are based on calendar years rather than the multi-year format of years past). As a result, Kipchoge, who has all but locked up the 2022 WWM Series title, will receive $200,000 less for his efforts.

When the World Marathon Majors — which consists of Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York — launched in 2006, one of its signature elements was the $500,000 prize awarded each year to the men’s and women’s series champions. In 2017, WMM altered its prize structure, reducing the grand prize to $250,000 (but adding $50,000 for second and $25,000 for third) while increasing prize money for wheelchair athletes and adding a charitable donation component of $280,000.

WMM announced that moving forward series champions will receive $50,000 each — just one-fifth of what was awarded last year and the same amount the wheelchair series champions receive. The prizes for second and third were also halved to $25,000 and $12,500, respectively, while WMM added prize money for fourth ($7,500) and fifth ($5,000). There was no mention of a charitable donation component (though the amateur runners at the World Marathon Major races raise significant money for charity each year)."

"This is not good news," says Bob Anderson, My Best Runs publisher, "but millions of dollars have been awarded over the years and maybe we should not have taken it for granted?"

"However, how can they make a change like this when it was already announced?  A major change like this should not go into effect until the next season.  Kipchoge should not be pentalized because Abbott decided after the fact to reduce marketing expenses or something in my opinion," says Bob.  

"I do remember when my friend Derek Clayton set the world record clocking 2:08:32 May 30, 1969.  He did not win any prize money.  That record stood for 12 years.  Or another friend Geoff Smith won the 1984 and 1985 Boston Marathon and won no prize money. Running was not a pro sport back in those days and no one was paid above the table until 1986 or so.

"Racing and for sure the Marathon offer sponsors a lot of exposure," Bob continues.  "Hopefully new sponsors will come to the table.  However, the economy right now is not good and expenses like this can be the first to be cut but lets think positive."

Abbott Laboratories is an American multinational medical devices and health care company with headquarters in Abbott Park, Illinois, United States. The company was founded by Chicago physician Wallace Calvin Abbott in 1888 to formulate known drugs; today, it sells medical devices, diagnostics, branded generic medicines and nutritional products. 

"In 2021 Abbott (ABT) revenues were 43 billion and their income was 7 billion.  However in the last six months their stock price has decreased 18.2%. Off but better than many companies," says Bob Anderson.  "I wonder if this has anything to do with this decision to cut prize money but regardless Eluid Kipchoge should not lose $200,000 in the process."

Let us know your opinion.    

(09/29/2022) Views: 1,609 ⚡AMP

What does a two time Boston Marathon winner and the Boston Marathon Race Director have in common? They are both doing the Run The World Challenge again

Geoff Smith won the Boston Marathon twice.  He was leading the 1983 New York City Marathon at 26 miles until Rod Dixon caught him and Geoff finished just seconds behind. After taking a break from running due to some injuries, Geoff has now run every day recently passing 700.  While doing the first Run The World Challenge he nearly doubled his regular mileage. That team logged in 24,901 miles in 36 days 23 Hours 13 Minutes.  That’s enough miles to circle the globe.  “We are putting together our second team now and we hope to finish in 30 days,” Bob Anderson Run The World team Caption says.  Miles on the first team were run in 30 countries.  Youngest on the team was age 11 and the oldest was 82.  Team members logged in as many as 798 miles to as few as 3.  “I increased my average weekly miles from 20 to 35,” says 70-year-old Bob Anderson.  “The Run The World Challenge just gives more purpose to run a few more miles everyday,” he says.   There are a few more spots available.  You can continue with your regular routine and just take another minute or so to log in your miles on your My Best Runs account.    “I am looking forward to doing this challenge again,” says Geoff Smith.  Runners of all ages and abilities and throughout the world have already signed up.  How about you?  Use this link to sign up: https://mybestruns.com/goal.php  Join Geoff, Dave, Bob, Lize, Aaron, Owen, Lisa, Becca... (08/24/2018) Views: 1,965 ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

Run The World Global Run Challenge 1 July 4 Start Special Awards Announced

The Run The World Global Run Challenge 1 presented by My Best Runs started July 4, 2018.  The goal was to run and log 24,901 Miles in the shortest posible time.  "The mission was to celebrate running, motivate our team, inspire others and complete the challenge," says team caption Bob Anderson. 

The team of 175 active runners finished in 36 Days 23 Hours and 13 Minutes on Thursday night August 9th at 11:13pm (PDT).  "It was an amazing event and I can not wait until the next one starting August 29," says Geoff Smith (team member and two time Boston Marathon winner). 

"Everyone on our team was a winner and deserve an award," says Bob Anderson.  "Here are our special awards just announced today.  Congrats to these winners and our entire team." 

Outstanding achievement - Frank Bozanich age 74 logged 475 miles. 

Most Inspiring - Aaron L. Salvador from the little country of Palau logged 296.4 miles and posted a comment and photo everyday. Shared with Geoff Smith who also posted a comment and photo everyday logged 240.5 miles (which is almost double what he was doing prior to the Challenge)  

Most Motivating - Grace Padilla (US) logged 327.11 miles posted a comment and creative photo everyday. Grace who is 47 placed 11th overall and was first female.  

Best Performance - Willie Korir from Kenya not only did he log the most miles (797.37) he also ran one of his workouts at 4:37/mile pace for 9.13 miles.  

Five Most Inspiring stories - based on their story posted on My Best Runs: (this award goes to the five who received the most views on My Best Runs) Michael Wardian (1,677 views), Benn Griffin (1,461 views), Swetha Amit (1,431 views), Roy Pirrung (1,241 views) and Kiranpal Singh Dhody (1,088 views)  

Most Inspiring Photo - Grace Padilla´s July 5th photo training on the track in Mammoth Lakes, California (featured photo).  

Best Youngest performance - Owen Wall age 11 who logged 34.2 miles including running 8.1 miles in one day at 9:59 pace during his longest ever run. Shared with Elliot Daniels age 14 who ran and logged 184.45 miles and ran 5:47/mile pace for six miles in the Wharf to Wharf race in Santa Cruz, California.  

Best Oldest performance - Libby James age 82 who logged 81.81 miles (rounds up to 82). Shared with 74-year-old Frank Bozanich who ran and logged in 475 miles. 

Top Fifteen Spirit awards (based on coment and photo posted regularly that appeared on the Run The World Feed): Aaron L Salvador, Grace Padilla, Shawn Whalen, Michael Anderson, Brent Weigner, Danilo Purlia, Larry Allen, Rosaura Tennant, Asya Cabral, Kati Toivanen, Lize Dumon, Roger Wright, Abbey Cannon, Geoffrey Smith, and Pulkit Singh.  

Best Single Run - Michael Wardian when we ran 100.5 miles in 30 hours 23 minutes to place 11th on July 21 at Hardrock 100.  

Notable Mentions - Dave Mcgillivray logged 164.52 miles (Boston Marathon Director), Becca Pizzi logged 226.17 miles (Holds the record for running seven Marathons. Seven days on seven Continents), Liz Dumon had never run 150 Miles in 30 days before this challenge, Boaz Kipqego from Kenya logged 588.52 miles and placed second, JR Mintz (age 52) logged the most miles by an American with 480.86 miles, Paul Shimon (age 71) logged 390.71 miles placed 6th overall and was third American, Harpal Singh Gill was first runner from India logging 331.66 miles placing 10th overall, Sam Tada was first runner from Japan logging 237.30 miles placing 29th overall. Malin Andersson co-owner of World´s Marathons logged in 77.67 miles and Will Adams who logged 51.58 miles mostly all plogging (picking up trash while running).  

Our next Run The World Global Run Challenge starts August 29.  There is a $25 entry fee to help cover expenses unless you can not afford it and then it will be waived.  

(08/16/2018) Views: 2,534 ⚡AMP

Global Run Challenge Profile: Mike Fanelli (62) has been running nearly every day since he was 14

RUN THE WORLD: Mike Fanelli caught the running bug after watching the 1968 Olympic Games on TV.  "I began competing as a high school cross country runner at age 14. I have run/trained practically every single day since and have a lifetime tally of 109,339 miles," Mike says. 

Over his nearly five decade career there have been many highlights.  A 2:25 marathon PR, a 16:40 100 miler (on the track) and one mile in 4:57 at age 50.  He is originally from Philadelphia and currently lives in the Sonoma Country Wine Country. 

The 62-year-old is a real estate broker representing luxury residential and vineyard properties.  As far as his running these days?  "These days my running tallies 35 to 40 miles a week...at least one of which is done on the track." he says.  He plans on logging in an average of 37 miles per week for the challenge.   

"I found out about the Run The World Global Run Challenge from my pal and 'streak mate' Geoff Smith and figured it'd be fun to be part of a mileage counting team effort," Mike says.

If you follow Mike on FB you know he has an amazing collection of running related material.  "My running archives began with one meet program which I got on March 1st, 1969 at the AAU Indoor National Track & Field Championships...as a 12 year old track nerd at that time, I chased down every single name athlete at that meet and got them to autograph my program...including George Young who only minutes before had set a new world indoors record that night for 3 miles," says Mike proudly. 

The library is now over 4000 pieces in all.  "I hope to donate my collection to an entity that will use it to educate people on the history of running and track & field." 

(07/01/2018) Views: 2,652 ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

Global Run Challenge Profile: Two Time Boston Marathon Winner Geoff Smith is excited to be running again

RUN THE WORLD: 64-year-old Geoff Smith was born in Liverpool, England and now lives and works in Mattapoisett, Mass.  He ran a 2:09:08 marathon when he finished second to Rod Dixon at the 1983 New York City Marathon. 

He has won the Boston Marathon twice and he has run a 3:55 mle.  I asked him about our challenge.  "The Run The World challenge is a great idea. I think it was designed for me. It provides a goal that is tailored to commitment and for me that feels better than actually training for a race. There is on pressure on how fast or slow I go," Geoff wrote. 

One of the most exciting marathon finishes happened in New York.  "The 1983 NYC Marathon was my first marathon. It was a new experience. 26.2 miles of racing. I was confident that my training had gone well and I knew what I could do. My plan was to follow the seasoned marathon-runners at the start and learn on the run. At around 10 miles my own running instinct took over and I began chasing the leader, Gidimus Shahanga. I liked to lead and once I took the lead at around 13 miles I just started to run without fear. The noise of the crowd was pushing me forward. And the next 10 miles it was just me running and feeling like there was no one else.

"Once I entered Central Park, i was alone but I knew I was slowing down." he worte.  He had no idea what was happening behind him. 

"I was leading and following the blue line through the park. The noise was incredible and I didn’t know Rod (Dixon) was there. It wasn’t till he passed me at 26 miles. So my battle was not with Rod but with the Marathon and I came up 385 yards short." 

How did this all start?  "I played soccer in Liverpool.  I never ran at school but I did run about two miles to school and home again almost every day."

After school he became a firefigther working 56 hours a week.  "I got my first taste of running working as a firefigher.  I joined the fire brigade running team and ran races around the country against other fire departments. I was pretty good amd it became a full time passion. I just wanted to see how far and fast I could go.  Winning races motivated me to train harder." 

Tell us about Boston.  "Boston 1984 was my redemption race. It was also my Olympic trial. I had to win with a fast time to make the team.  As is always the case the Boston weather is unpredictable. It was a cold wet day with a head wind. I pushed the pace from the gun and won going away in 2:10:34. My time and victory proved enough for my British Olympic Selection." 

How did this win change your life?  "A difficult question as running has changed drastically over the years. I was the last of the Amateurs. There was no prize money. The victory was more about pride, love, recognition and glory. The win did mean I got recognized at every race I attended and it gave me a celebrity status that I never had. It didn’t change the way I trained and ran. If anything it made me train harder."

How about your running now?  "Running today is a gift. My last competitive race was Boston 1991 not long after the race I fell and hurt my hip. The injury resulted in me having both hips replaced. Today after 20 years of no running I find myself drawn back to the sport I love. There is no better feeling than the sun on your face and the wind at your back. Starting from zero I have got to experience the joy of running again.

"It’s not about winning anymore it’s all about the love and the feelings of joy I experience on every run."  Geoff (photo) in his Liverpool yellow jersey crossing the finish line of the Narragansett Bay Half Marathon/5K.

(06/24/2018) Views: 2,431 ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

This group that became 80 runners accepted my 500 mile June 6 Challenge

Yesterday, June 6, was Global Running Day.  A day celebrating running.  It is exciting to have our own day, celebrating what many of us do daily or at least regularly. 

Among other things the day is about inspiring people.  At noon the day before I had just finished doing my daily run-to-lunch few miles. 

I was enjoying an avocado toast and the best ice tea in town before heading back to the office.  Knowing that Global Running Day was the next day, I was thinking that My Best Runs needed to do something.  

I knew there were already a lot of well thought out programs taking place June 6.  I decided, on the spot, that we would do something just for the fun of running.  We would run our challenge like a road race back in the 1970's.  

Since we needed to get the word out quickly, we would use my Facebook account to reach people.  I would record everything by hand.  Making things more interesting,  I was flying down to our MBR/Ujena office in Mexico in the middle of the day Wednesday.  (I would be out of touch for nearly five hours.) 

There would be no entry fee and no prizes.  There would be no official results.  It was all about running.  We would not be raising money for a cause.  Each of us would run on June 6 and log in miles on my FB account. 

Just to see if we could do it, my goal was for our group to run at least 500 miles June 6 and hopefully have 100 participants   Everyone had to post their miles by midnight. 

In the end, 80 people posted 560.12 miles for our My Best Runs Global Running Day 500 Mile Challenge.  We did it.  We showed the world that a group of people can come together (with no notice) from all over the world and run the equivalent distance from San Francisco to San Diego. 

All types of runners from slow to fast joined our challenge.  I am very proud of each and every participant but I would like to mention some of our gang here. 

We had two time Boston Marathon winner (Geoff Smith) post 10.5 miles, Co-owner of Worlds Marathons Malin Andersson from Sweden posted 6.2 miles, Bertrand Newson who heads up a popular bay area running group (2L2Q) posted 8.45 miles and Willie Korir from Kenya posted the most miles with 22.5.  Verity Breen posted the most miles for a female hitting 19 miles and Boston Marathon historian Tom Derderian ran 5 miles.  The youngest female to win Bay To Breakers (age 11) who ran her first marathon at age 5 Mary Etta Britano now 55  posted 10 miles.

Julie who we met at the front desk of our hotel in Paris ran 5 miles, Ram VenKatraman who heads up a major running group in Mumbai, India ran 4.69 miles and super ultra-marathon star Michael Wardian ran 12.5 miles.  Phil Camp who among other things won the 4th annual Marine marathon (1979) posted 8.3 miles.

Roger Wright used to weigh 278 pounds a few years back before he started running marathons logged 13.5 miles and ultra runner since the early 1970's superstar Frank Bozanich ran 9 miles. Joshua Holmes Ultra runner and Run It Fast founder posted 2 miles.

Brent Weigner who has run more marathons in more countries than anyone posted 1.5 miles, and the list goes on and on. 

One common thing about our group of 80 runners is that everyone loves running.  Until our next challenge! Run on...  I ran 6.6 miles which I thought was only fitting.  This was our first Run The World Challenge. 

(06/07/2018) Views: 2,713 ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

Geoff Smith, Two Time Boston Marathon Winner Attending Running USA 2018

British Olympian Geoff Smith, who won the Boston Marathon in 1984 and 1985, will be among the conference attendees at Running USA in Austin next week. He'll be representing exhibitor Stride Awards. In 1983 his race at the New York City Marathon will never be forgotten. He started at a torrid pace and built a lead of more than a half-mile over 1972 Olympic 1,500m bronze medalist Rod Dixon of New Zealand. But Smith faltered and Dixon slowly reeled him in, catching and passing the exhausted Brit a mere 400 meters from the finish line. (02/07/2018) Views: 2,375 ⚡AMP
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