¶2012 OG: m10,000–Mo Farah (GB) 27:30.42

[dj]

Me too. First I've ever heard of that.

The comment above about that track supports what I'd heard before: it was pretty poor for an all-weather surface.

Again, when did the Balboa track get that reputation? Tartan was very resilient--even "bouncy"--in its first two years or so, but then got quite hard. It's hard to imagine the Balboa track was poured much more than two years before the '65 AAU.

[Marlow]

It's hard to imagine the Balboa track was poured much more than two years before the '65 AAU.

I learned sumpin this year. Mondo tracks are rolled out like carpet, not poured (or sprayed).
(Ok, probably everyone else knew that already, but It was cool to me!)

[kuha]

Me too. First I've ever heard of that.

The comment above about that track supports what I'd heard before: it was pretty poor for an all-weather surface.

Again, when did the Balboa track get that reputation? Tartan was very resilient--even "bouncy"--in its first two years or so, but then got quite hard. It's hard to imagine the Balboa track was poured much more than two years before the '65 AAU.

I could well be wrong, but I understood that this was NOT a Tartan track--but rather a rubberized asphalt thing. Were there ANY actual Tartan tracks in 1965??

[no one]

dj - good point - I ran on it in '68 - a 880 and mile (r) - It was pretty chewed up in lane one, and in places lane 2 - fairly large (foot x foot) areas completely removed. I got a bruise on my heel as did others who ran - and I was a fairly 'smooth' runner - not a plodder or pounder, which would lend itself to foot problems.

Not sure how sprinters did with it. It was a surprise because we were all excited about running on it. What it was like between 65-68 - I have no first hand experience. and, as you know, it was at the forefront of 'synthetic' surfaces.

I think I have pictures somewhere of the track surface, I'll have to dig around. I think more advanced 'tartan' surfaces began to emerge by '68-69-70? I may have run on it in 70 and/or 71 but I really can't remember. The black surface was replaced in ???? and even that one had problems I heard. Maybe some kind of curse.

found this comment on a message board about tracks: "The surface was one of the few track surfaces in the city that was not dirt. It was a very hard black asphalt- almost like running on the street. Had to use 1/4 inch spikes. Great for racing and fast times , but terrible for training- very hard on the legs. I guess from RW

[lovetorun]

Another Pierce College trivia from me...my Jr. College team, the Fullerton Hornets won the So. California cross-country championship on that tough Pierce course in 1964. We even had a Kenyan runner, Jim Wambua...And Tom Tellez was our coach...one of the best ever.

[Randy Treadway]

I remember ...Bob Seagren RUNNING an 800 (!!!) in 2:00 or 2:01!! (At the time, I believe he was WR holder in the PV....or at least AR holder!!)

Are you sure it wasn't Bob Seaman, who was also in the L.A. Track Club about that time, I think, and went sub-4 mile about that time? He was a former HS-record holder at the mile distance.
Of course if Seaman was in sub-4 mile shape about that time (he did that twice in about '62-63), he probably wouldn't have been clocking a 2:00 800, unless it was en route.

It's been about 12 years since I've seen Seaman, but he was doing well, still in the L.A. area.

[no one]

I too saw SEAGREN run a 2:00 880 @ Pierce summer meets. He also ran the 440 IH while @ SC. Quite the athlete. Surprised me as well, although Igloi's boys frequented those meets as well. Don't Remember Seaman running there - but that was a few days ago! I do remember shadowing their warm-ups. It was not unusual to see quite a few national and international level athletes there.

[odelltrclan]

I remember ...Bob Seagren RUNNING an 800 (!!!) in 2:00 or 2:01!! (At the time, I believe he was WR holder in the PV....or at least AR holder!!)

Are you sure it wasn't Bob Seaman, who was also in the L.A. Track Club about that time, I think, and went sub-4 mile about that time? He was a former HS-record holder at the mile distance.
Of course if Seaman was in sub-4 mile shape about that time (he did that twice in about '62-63), he probably wouldn't have been clocking a 2:00 800, unless it was en route.

It's been about 12 years since I've seen Seaman, but he was doing well, still in the L.A. area.

I think it was Seagren. Didn't he compete in Superstars where they ran the 800 and did very well?

[aaronk]

It was definitely Bob Seagren!!!

I probably wouldn't have remembered a 2:00 880 by a 4-minute miler!!
I remember being VERY surprised to see a PV'er run that distance....in that time!!
And yes, there were NUMEROUS "big names" that ran there!!
I ran almost every meet there for 5 years ('62 through '66).

Those were VERY different days in T&F!!
Where All-Comers meets and DUAL meets ruled!!!
(Same with Eugene in the 70's!! I ran some All-Comers meets there too!!
Mike Manley TIMED some races, as a volunteer!!
Big names RAN in those meets!!
Nothing like today!! Heck, didn't Mary Slaney set that WR in the 10,000 (31:35.3) in an All-Comers meet at Hayward?? Or was that the Twilight meet??)

[Conor Dary]

It was definitely Bob Seagren!!!

I probably wouldn't have remembered a 2:00 880 by a 4-minute miler!!
I remember being VERY surprised to see a PV'er run that distance....in that time!!
And yes, there were NUMEROUS "big names" that ran there!!
I ran almost every meet there for 5 years ('62 through '66).

Those were VERY different days in T&F!!
Where All-Comers meets and DUAL meets ruled!!!
(Same with Eugene in the 70's!! I ran some All-Comers meets there too!!
Mike Manley TIMED some races, as a volunteer!!
Big names RAN in those meets!!
Nothing like today!! Heck, didn't Mary Slaney set that WR in the 10,000 (31:35.3) in an All-Comers meet at Hayward?? Or was that the Twilight meet??)

Decker's 31:35 was July 16, 1982, so it wasn't the Twilight. Other than an all comer I can't think what else was going on then.

I ran quite a few of those all comer meets. I remember it was in one of them that Henry Marsh broke 4 minutes for the first time and got a ribbon.

Mike Manley was the guy I called back in 1975 about joining OTC after moving to town.

[guru]

Just a heads-up - it looks like NBC is planning to telecast the mens 10K LIVE - 4:15 ET

[jeremyp]

Just a heads-up - it looks like NBC is planning to telecast the mens 10K LIVE - 4:15 ET

With 5 or 6 commercial breaks???

[guru]

Al Michaels, describing Mo Farah as "6 1/2 miles away from a gold medal"

D'OH!

[guru]

Considering that Rupp is a legitimate contender, I'm a little annoyed NBC is spending virtually all of their pre-race hype on Farah, including a profile piece, and have said nothing about Rupp. Disappointing

[ATK]

Just a heads-up - it looks like NBC is planning to telecast the mens 10K LIVE - 4:15 ET

Looks like they are. the stream is a bit delayed, by about 2 minutes(for me at least) but you will probably get better commentary there.

[wamego relays champ]

Just a heads-up - it looks like NBC is planning to telecast the mens 10K LIVE - 4:15 ET

With 5 or 6 commercial breaks???

Of course. First break taken after 1000m.

.

[guru]

A lot of contact. Farah making no Eritrean friends lol

[guru]

Rupp has run a super-smart race up to this point. Comfortable 4th with 6 to go...

[ATK]

I think Bekele is going to drop the hammer soon.

[guru]

I suspect there's a plan between Farah and Rupp

[EZSum]

I feel young as when the world was new.

[guru]

WOW!!!!!

[j-a-m]

53.48 for the last lap.

[no one]

Farah .... Rupp!!!!

[Daisy]

Farah Unreal. Even more unreal RUPP!! Congrats US and Salazar.

[j-a-m]

Guess I underestimated Rupp, he really delivered.

[tm71]

Rupp almost pulled out a billy mills

[Dave]

Farah Unreal. Even more unreal RUPP!! Congrats US and Salazar.

Just fantastic

And look at the joy on Rupps's face

[guru]

lol Salazar denied trying to get down to the track

[odelltrclan]

Farah & Rupp. Not surprising. I just for once wish Rupp would get the jump at the beginning of the last 400. He always starts at a deficit to Farah and can not make it up. He was closing the best in the last 150, but gave up too much ground.

[shivfan]

I suspect there's a plan between Farah and Rupp

Thats a salazar 1-2....

[Daisy]

I can't imagine how much of a fairy tale night this was for any brit lucky enough to get a ticket!

Love that the officials let Farah's wife and daughter on to the track. That's exactly how it should be.

[j-a-m]

Guess I underestimated Rupp, he really delivered.

Of course Farah delivered as well, but that I expected.

[guru]

Rupp will get a chance to return the favor next Saturday

[Dutra5]

That might have been the best 10,000m I've ever seen. Pushing, shoving, changes in pace, storming finish.