To commemorate the 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon, New York Road Runners honored the Marathoners of the Decades. The eight athletes honored were: Miki Gorman and Bill Rodgers (1970s); Grete Waitz and Alberto Salazar (1980s); Tegla Loroupe and German Silva (1990s); Paula Radcliffe and Marilson Gomes dos Santos (2000s).
Below is a transcript of the press conference with Bill Rodgers, Grete Waitz, Tegla Loroupe, German Silva, and Marilson Gomes dos Santos:
THE MODERATOR: Thank you. I, again, apologize for the video. We're going to ask each of on our five marathoners of the decade as to say a couple of words to begin with, and then we'll open it up for questions. Grete?
GRETE WAITZ: Okay. I don't know if I need this one, but I probably do. Well, of course it's a great honor and a pleasure to be awarded the Marathoner of the Decade. And looking back to 1980s, which one of them would I remember the most? Probably the one in 1984 where it was a very warm he day. You saw the two, of course, everybody suffered from the heat and humidity. But never in the race have you seen the two first men walking crossing the finish line and end up winning the New York City Marathon and coming in second. That was Pizzolato and Murphy. Whenever I see a video of that race, it's just amazing that it was a tremendous unexpected weather. For me it was another great race, and another victory. I was just looking forward to the next New York City Marathon.
THE MODERATOR: We welcome Bill. Bill got here a few minutes late because of the weather. Welcome.
BILL RODGERS: Thanks, great to be here. And to celebrate marathoners of the decade. I'm glad to be one of those with fellow champions here and everyone who has been involved building the New York City Marathon over so many years, 40 years, it's just incredible. But I think it's tough for Grete. She won nine times. That's really insane, you know. But for me I actually I don't know. Picking one race, I guess it would be the five borough the first time. But I remember my first time I swung around the New York City Marathon, it was four laps through Central Park. It was very tough. That was the old days of the marathon. But '76 became the new days and the marathon was reborn. All the great runners and all the runners, so many over so many years. I don't know, I'm sure someone has a tally of how many have done the New York City Marathon. But it's always exciting to me. I think that's why we all do this race. You know, it's the intensity of it. And we all love it, I think, with the same passion. But I'm looking forward to maybe going part of the race. Little older these days, but great to be back.
THE MODERATOR: When Bill says he's going to go part of the race, he's going to be running part of it with George Hirsch who will be running the entire race once again. To answer your question, we probably have close to 800,000 finishers by Sunday in the 40 years of the marathon. Tegla?
TEGLA LOROUPE: It's always nice to be in New York. For me when I met Mary last month in the UK, and she said you're coming to New York. I said, Mary, I'm not running. But she did not want to tell me there was something special that I would be among the winners. And someone then called me, well, you are honored. For me, it was a challenge because there were so many good runners that they should be here. But thank you so much for this special honor that you have given all of us. And for me to sit close to Grete Waitz, someone who ran and won nine times, so she was my hero. I remember 1994 when I came here, I was not expecting to win the marathon. The day before I was doing shopping while other people are sleeping. I didn't have any pressure. But I was thinking that, oh, I'll try to be 8 or number 10, I would be happy to be among the runners in New York. It's always nice, because New York people give opportunities to the newcomers. And here is the place I met my win, and open the doors for African women. I just want to say the organizers thank you so much. And always it's nice to be here. Thank you.
GERMAN SILVA: Well, before anything, thank you very, very much Mary for this. About my winning in 1994. I just have to thank my wrong way. And, you know, it's just so exciting and fantastic to be a member of this group of athletes. It's not a group. It's the legends, Bill, Miki, which is not here, Grete of course, now in the 2000s, it's not here yet, but it's coming later, the world record holder. Well, it's just great to be a member of this selective group of athletes that is not ‑‑ they just not have given something to the world in running, but more than that. And that makes me feel honored because running is something that give back to people. And my experience is so much more than just doing sports, and the New York Marathon is more than a marathon for me. I consider the marathon is not just for what you I get back from running since I start in my village and all that. But just to be a member and to make so many friends since the first time I was here, that I'm sure I still have to run many, many, many kilometers and I would not payback what I get. But thanks God, and I have it was also a very nice and exciting day because the Abebe Bikila Award to Allan. Congratulations, Allan. I remember you coming that one time couple of years ago, five years ago, to Mexico. And we visit together the volcano which made me win here. It was a nice time. Well, so many moments, but thank you very much, and I am so glad.
THE MODERATOR: German, you are running, too, this Sunday? You are running with George?
GERMAN SILVA: Yes, I am running with George. We already did our long run in Chicago. It was only a long run. So hopefully on Sunday we will only run 26.2. No more than 26.2; okay.
THE MODERATOR: If anybody else wants to run with George, just talk to George. He'll welcome everybody. Marilson?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: It's a pleasure to be here with you today. I'm very happy to return to this competition. I want to thank the organization committee for that. Some things that happen in our lives are really funny. A few years ago when I didn't even think about participating in the marathon, I had the opportunity to see on TV then me winning two marathons in New York. And I imagined I saw myself winning marathons in New York, and that came to happen in New York and the right to be here at the most charming marathon of all. And when people ask me, I always answer that if you haven't run a marathon in New York yet, you don't know what running a marathon is. Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: Questions for the athletes.
Q. Bill, about '76, it was kind of a great social experiment to have an urban marathon rather than a rural one at that time. And it wasn't the best epic for New York City. Frank made some famous comment like I only came to see how many people got mugged on or whatever that comment was. Do you remember what it was like as a social experiment? What did you expect as you took off? What did you see down the road in front of you? Did you come close to getting mugged?
BILL RODGERS: No. I didn't have any feelings like that at all. I think Frank was just commenting about the big change that was happening in the sport in a way and to run through the city streets and everything. But for me it was more just a comeback, because I had run terribly in the Olympic games. It was a chance, no one really knew. I don't know, maybe some people did, could look at it how the race he involved. But just for me as an athlete, it was just going out there and trying to go for the win. That's what we all try to do. This is in our minds always. This is how we think. If we had to run over a city bus, then we had to run over a city bus. We ran up some stairs, right, George? But that's marathoning and road racing, and, German, you took a little detour. I remember that. So we had had these strange experiences, all of us did up here. But I think maybe it was a grand experiment though. So there was some nervousness, I think. Everyone thought it was a huge race. 76, 2000 runners. And now it's a pretty small run. You know. But it was a great thrill. I still remember every single part of the race. Everything about the day, and every time I run the New York City Marathon.
Q. Do you remember anything about the spectators, the neighborhoods, the ethnic groups all of that stuff was new then?
BILL RODGERS: Yeah, I do. I remember coming over the bridge and talking, my friend Tom Fleming who is a two‑time winner in the park and everything, about what a spectacular experience this is just to run the bridge, what set it up for me. And I was very wired from that moment on. But I could see there were some people taking it out, and I just tried to watch my pace. It was a beautiful day to run. But running through the city was a unique experience, because I really didn't know New York City really well. But I loved running through the city. I think we all feel that way up here ‑‑ oh, you haven't heard anything I've said. It was a great feeling (laughing). Words of wisdom, right? He probably heard me. But it was a thrill that day. I do remember coming into the park and coming over the queens borough bridge, powerful, powerful feeling. For me that was always the epical part of the race when you really started to think about racing and going forward and that sort of thing. We've all done that. But a dangerous thing, too. But I loved coming into Central Park. I like those rolling hills, you know, where you can really ‑‑ on there is a lot of strategy there. We all used it to our advantage or we wouldn't be here. So we were very lucky, too. You know, I second what German says about how we were all lucky, us runners here, because the chances the way that we came here. We all had a different path here. Definitely a thrill, and I'm looking forward to this Sunday running with George. I'm very excited to do even, you know, 5 miles of the race. I'm not really a marathoner anymore. I'm a retired marathoner, but it's always fun to run in New York, and to run through Central Park. And it will be an honor to run with George, because I admire what he's done over all the years.
Q. The finish line situation in that first one you won was a little unusual, wasn't it? The crowd really sort of almost like reached out and touched you and more than that, didn't they?
BILL RODGERS: It was very exciting going through the park because I really wasn't quite sure where I was going though. And there was a fellow next to me on the bike, and I was saying how much further, how much further? But you know, I knew I was on a pretty good pace because I think we had gone through the half in just under 1:04. Then I think I saw the clock up ahead. I had the American record at the time, I wasn't too far off it. But I just wanted to win. I just wanted to go for the win. It was exciting. It was exciting to cross that line, you know, and go up there and the mayor of New York was there. It's priceless. It is a priceless feeling. Yeah, I remember it like it was yesterday. I think we all do. It's a momentous race, and it leaves a mark on you. There is no question about it. Even the ones where we got beaten. I don't think Grete hardly ever got beaten.
Q. After while, people really did start to come to challenge you and figure maybe they could knock you off. And I know that I don't know whether it was the 7th or 8th or 9th on or whatever. But people like Lisa Martin, and Laura came in and thought they had a shot at beating you. Were you always confident even the 7th, 8th, and 9th times that you were going to be able to handle these people?
GRETE WAITZ: No, I was never confident. Not the first time, not even the second or the third. I always expected somebody who I never heard of would come up and beat me like I had surprised everybody in 1978. I was always expecting another Grete later in the years of the a runner that nobody had heard of to come and run very fast. Of course in the late '80s, there were more and more women running, and the competition got tougher and tougher. But I was always very insecure, but I really wanted to win, and was determined to win. But listening to Bill here, I'll have to say I ran the marathon two years after in 1978. For me it was the first road race ever. The spectators, you know, I couldn't believe this race. First of all, I never knew about the five boroughs, I never knew where I was on the course. So when we ran through where all the Orthodox Jews are, yeah, I remember after the race I said, you know, "Is it a holiday? Why are people dressed up? They were wearing costumes." I'd never seen people like that before. And I was asking myself, well, that's strange. But, you know, I saw a lot of strange things the first time. I saw people in clogs at the starting line who were running in clogs. I saw people that I would never think could run 26 miles, all shapes and sizes. So for me it was an eye opener of what this race can offer people of all nationalities and, of course I was determined never to come back, but we all know that Greg talked me into coming back in 1979. But in '78 I also have to say running that race and seeing the race today it's unbelievable how this race has grown. But also how professional it is run. It's unbelievable how smoothly everything goes with the 40,000 plus people. So my hat's off to everybody that is participating in pulling this race off. It's fantastic. I thought it was great in 1978, but, of course, it was less people. I think 13,000. 9,000 oh, okay. But I was impressed by the organization already then. But now they have come a long way.
Q. You and Bill again, obviously with Marilson, and even German and Tegla, the crowds were large but they're behind barriers now. Back in the old days it was more Tour de France. People were right there. Did you prefer it when it's a little bit more wild out on the streets when the crowd was right up on you?
GRETE WAITZ: I kind of liked it coming off the Queensboro Bridge running on off first avenue. For me that was, as a runner, it was a feeling of running downhill with tail wind all those people, you know, cheering you on. They were close to you. But I never had had the problem to stay focused. I was always focused. But it was a nice feeling, you know, coming, and especially being the first woman. But then, of course, First Avenue doesn't go on forever. And then you are kind of entering what I call no‑man's land where it's kind of quiet. That is the tough part of the race until you hit the park and you know that you're almost home.
BILL RODGERS: You know, I think that's a really good question. Because I think the fans, the spectators, whatever we call them, play such a huge role in our sport. And I think some people respond to that more than some others, you know. But I really, I love that feeling myself. I think it's one ‑‑ the spectators here are fairly unique, you know. That drive, I love that feeling of coming on off the bridge and people being right on you and cheering for you. That's huge. You can't beat that feeling. That's a secret weapon (laughing). So there is something powerful. And sometimes I watch the race now and I see it on TV and I see these guys coming down the straightaway, and it looks kind of like a crueler place a little bit because fans are back a little farther. It seems almost like it's harder for the runners today. I watch that and I think whew, these guys are really tough today. I don't know.
THE MODERATOR: German or Tegla, would you like to talk about the crowds and what it's like out there running?
TEGLA LOROUPE: For me I think I like the crowd because you don't run alone. Sometimes a marathon is a long way. You tend to sleep when you get tired so your brain comes down. In 1994 the last 7 kilometers I was very close, and because of the crowd, I was able to overtake the other ladies. The crowd gave me a lot of strength. And I can say without the crowd our races cannot be a race. You can see the value of New York at the marathons. The crowds want the race to be very special. And many people don't run alone, there are people supporting them. Congratulations for having second.
GERMAN SILVA: Just like Bill says. I just think that a race without crowds is ‑‑ especially a marathon without is also like the new marathon, you know, just First Avenue I think it's the spectators. But the marathon without crowds is a minutes of difference, either minutes faster or minutes longer because you block yourself. It doesn't matter because at the end it's so great. I remember one of my biggest races I ran back in my hometown Costa Rica, it was a lot of crowds. No fence like now in the big marathons. But it's also exciting. I'm sure it's the same way like in New York before, you know, there was no fence and the crowds are there just as closer as exciting as it is and it makes it faster. Just from the start to the finish in my experience I just wanted to say I have run almost every marathon here, and the crowds and the excitement from all the runners from the start and all the way, it's only one mile, a lonely mile before First Avenue. But still it's enjoyable. I mean, the crowds make the difference.
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: To me the marathon in New York differentiates from all the other ones because of the public, the spectators. They really are there with us. That's what is important for us, because when you get tired and you're fading away, you get so stimulated by everyone that you get encouraged and go on.
Q. I'd just like to ask Bill what chance do you give of an American victory maybe on Sunday? And if not this time, how much would it mean to you one day soon to see a U.S. home runner win the New York City Marathon?
BILL RODGERS: You know, the Americans are knocking on the door very clearly. You know, when you take a look at the sport internationally and all the countries in the world, and you take a look at the competitions and everything here and there and around the world. And the up and coming Americans and some of them are very experienced. But you see the new talent coming up, too. So that's very exciting, I think for the American runners. I think globally many, many top races are in the United States, so I think it adds a tremendous amount of excitement to the sport. I think it does for runners from all countries, you know. So he I think that's going to ‑‑ the ante has been upped, I think, a little bit this year. George, calm down. George is a tough competitor though. But it makes me excited. I'm only running five miles, but even it makes me excited. I take my hat off to all these young runners today, because I think the marathon world today is so much more challenging. It was hard in our era, it was challenging a little bit. But the younger runners here and people like George, we've been around a long time. We've seen this change. But I think the new young runners are very unique, you know. They're aiming high. The great runners of the world, that's our sport though. That's what I love about our sport is that it is international. We're like soccer, the two international sports. I just wish that it was more recognized in the United States, you know, by the sports media. And how hard it is to excel under those circumstances, I think. It's a very challenging sport. But it's going to be fun to watch the race, and the champions will be the champions whatever country they come from.
Q. What chance a U.S. winner on Sunday in your opinion?
BILL RODGERS: What chance? Oh, yeah, yeah, there is pretty good depth. I would add one more runner to the mix though, if I was a coach. But I think it will be very exciting. But it's such a strong field, and the New York Runners Club has put together a strong field on the men's side and the women's. So it always is a great challenge, I think. It's gotten much more severe to win these days. I don't know. Hard to answer that question. I will be watching though. We all will. Grete?
GRETE WAITZ: I think it means a lot for the American runners to see elite Americans be competitive in big marathons. On the women's side I think Kara Goucher is very inspiring for other upcoming young runners to see that it is possible to compete, you know, with Africans, Japanese, the Koreans. The fact that she placed third here last year, if I'm not mistaken. Wasn't it third, yeah? And also ran well in Boston, you know. She participated in the World Championships, didn't have a specifically good race there. But her races and the fact that she came in third here in New York last year has meant a lot. Of course, we all cross our fingers for Ryan Hall on Sunday.
THE MODERATOR: We're going to have each of our five marathoners of the decade available in the back. First we'd like to as we close we want to present them with a little award. A token of our appreciation. Also as we close I'd like to make sure that we recognize two other people of our present, our future, and our past. That's Ian Brooks, the voice of New York Road Runners for so many years. And the voice on Sunday who will be calling the race on WNBC from 9:00 to 5:00 along with Al Trautwig, our good friend from the West coast, Toni Reavis. We'll keep these five for a moment up here. Again, we thank everybody for joining us. We're back here tomorrow at 10:30 on for the formal part of the press conference tomorrow.
