REFLECTIONS: August 1990 - Bob Glover Training Class

1990 was my second attempt at a comeback to running and the New York City Marathon.


And in addition to training, and racing, one of the things that I did was to attend the now legendary NYRR Running Class programs held by Bob Glover, author of the Runner’s Handbook, the Competitive Runner’s Handbook, and the Injured Runner’s Training Handbook. He still teaches these classes today, with the help of Shelly Glover. However, back in the day, it was none other than Fred Lebow himself who stood side by side with the instructor. but with the help of his It was near the Road Runner’s Club in an auditorium of a school.
Classes were held at P.S. 6, located on East 81st Street between Park and Madison Avenues. The instruction was informative, but for me it was no eye opener. Having read all of his books took away much of his lesson plan. Still, it was a good reinforcement to hear him preach what he had written. And that was only second fiddle, to seeing Fred Lebow go there from time to time.

I only went to one class, but it was extremely memorable but heartbreaking as well.
Fred approached the microphone, and started talking about something that none of us had any idea about. He had mentioned about this “annoying thing” he had been diagnosed with, but was confident that he would beat it. As it later turned out, that annoying thing was lymphoma of the brain, for lack of better words, brain cancer. Fred Lebow always spoke with a lot of hope. He was probably the type of guy who could lie to you over and over again, and you would never pick it up, because he was so genuine, and so full of positivity that you would believe every word. Something had compelled me to thank him for knowing what the NYC Marathon had done for my life. Not knowing whether or not, I would ever see Fred Lebow, totally cemented the need to at least shake his hand.

When the class had ended, and as most people where walking out through the exit doors in the back, I went in the other direction and walked up to Fred. He seemed tall to me, and was definitely a very lanky fellow, with sharp discerning eyes.

“Fred!”

I spoke up as I walked towards him and got his attention,

“I just wanted to thank you for everything that you have done for me. Giving me the opportunity to run my first ever marathon, the New York City Marathon 6 years ago in 1984, had turned my life around. It’s still the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, and I just wanted to share my gratefulness to you.”

I kinda felt guilty about saying this, because my daughter had been born just the previous summer (1989). However, running came to me while in the midst of one of the lowest points in my life (like it did again in 2004…wow). The problems I was having at home were nothing compared to my situation at school. And the school problems, paled in comparison, to what was really the overarching problem in my life. And that was a massive heartbreak. It was over a girl, named Patr.icia Lang. I had met her the first day I started working in McDonald’s. I’ll save the details to prevent derailing this story, but in short, I fell in complete love with her. In retrospect, I always think how different life would have been for both of us, had she taken took full advantage of it instead of opting instead to do nothing about it. Even to this day, she would have been the happiest woman in the planet. Oh well, that’s both our loss.

Fred extended his hand, grasped mine, and firmly shook it.

“Thank you,” he said, then added,

“It’s people like you that make me want to do this every year.”

Then he beamed a great smile, and waited for me to stop shaking his hand.

This was actually the fourth time I ever knowingly came in contact with Lebow. The other three times was when I crossed the New York City Marathon. I’m not sure about 1986, but I do remember seeing him there for my first and second finishes in 84’ and 85’. I guess just like we believed in Fred., he completely believed in us. That unusually cool night in August was the only time that we spoke face to face however. And even for that short period of time that I connected, he felt…fatherly.

Leaving that moment of nostalgia for a second, I now look upon Mary Wittenberg, the current President of the NYRRs club. Mary has been doing a terrific job thus far in running the “empire”, but it was Fred who built that empire. He did so from the ground up. He was a modern-day architect in marketing the sport. A legend in his time, for all time.

And now for a completely senseless picture:

This is of my father in 1990. I was not with him at the time. Apparently he did not look to happy. After all this running talk, I figured this would knock the readers off their feet.

Well? Did it?

I eagerly await all your solicited and unsolicited, sweet, salty and or salacious replies....

MOVIE REVIEW: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE (2008)

Run To This Movie.

Going into tonight, I knew I was going to have a positive bias towards this film. After all, as a native New York runner, what would there be to not like? So, I tried hard to keep an objective mind about it, a clean slate of what to expect, if you will, and I entered into the theatre acting, well, acting stupid.

It didn’t work. Within the first five minutes of this documentary, I was hooked. Everything about this film was extremely well done. The director has a great way of being able to describe a lot of detail in less than 2 hours, and does so in such a moving way, that you leave feeling like you were a part of this wonderful man’s life. This wonderful man was none other than Fred Lebow, long time President of the New York Road Runner's Club, and founder of the present day 5 -borough New York City Marathon, which started in 1976.

I could go on forever giving you every wonderful detail about this documentary, but why do something that the director has already done so well, and so much better than I could ever do? The reflections by the people interviewed were top notch. The people selected for the interviews were top notch. This wonderful archival footages of New York City, The New York City Marathon, and of the man, Fred Lebow, are incredible.

Halfway through the movie, I began to realize that I had a smile on my face that lasted since the movie began. I decided to peel my eyes away from the screen for a quick couple of seconds. Sure enough, there were many other people like me with the same silly expression. We were all somehow transported back in time, to Lebow’s world, when running was considered rebellious, fun, and fad. There were tons of funny moments and the movie also had its touching moments throughout, with the final few minutes that I bet left not a dry eye in the house.

Tonight's (Sunday 4/27) 9pm was not the first showing of this film at the Tribeca Film Festival. That took place on Friday 3:30pm. However, it was the first in which George Hirsch, and Bob Glover were in attendance. From 1978 to 1987, George Hirsch was the founding publisher and president of The Runner magazine at which time it was merged into Runner's World. He retired in 2004 and is now the Chairman of the Board of the New York City Marathon. Bob Glover, has been with the NYRR for over 30 years. He has written several best selling books to include the Runner’s Handbook, an incredible compendum on how to run. It’s a great read whether you are a beginner all the way to include the elite competitor. Bob also holds free classes to teach about running. In fact, I remember having the opportunity to attend one of those classes. I remember it well too, because, Fred Lebow was there, and it was there where he made it public that he had brain cancer. Of course, Fred said it in his own way, and was so upbeat about it, that it almost seemed like an easily defeatable foe. That was the one thing about Fred. No matter how much (or little) things worried him you would never know, because he was always a pillar of positivity to all his fans and runners.

The movie ended to a rousing and long applause. When the credits ended, we applauded again. When Judd Erlich, the producer & director of the movie took the stage, we applauded again. It was a heartwarming documentary, and one that touched all aspects of the pulse of New York City, especially during the hey-days of the seventies.

The music, all original I believe, was great. The editing was even better than that. With all the transitionary and special effects you can tell that this was no ordinary documentary. Bob (Glover) and George (Hirsch) both got up on stage with the film crew, and did a little Q & A. There were several heartwarming stories from both, including the one where Bob made a promise to Fred who was in his last days that he would train Moshe, Fred’s nephew to run a marathon. Fred’s wish was that someone else in his family would run a marathon. As Bob told the story, he was choking with emotion. And as he passionately finished his story, we were choking back our tears right along with him.

So two marathon movies have come out this year. Spirit of the Marathon was a great film, but Run For Your Life was beyond a great film. It was great filmmaking too. I will definitely plan on Running For The Video Store should this gem ever come out on DVD.
I’ve seen thousands of films. This might have been perhaps the greatest biographical documentary I have ever seen. Even if you could care less about running, or about New York, you will highly, highly enjoy this film. I guarantee it!

Rating: 10 out of 10 Gonzos. A Perfect Score.

Below again is a preview to this film. Fore more, I would suggest visiting the website directly at

http://www.fredlebowmovie.com/

Today was not just limited to the Tribeca Film Festival or even the premiere party at Reboot on Avenue A that preceeded it. There was actually a race today! The Alley Pond 5 Mile Challenge, to be exact. There were incredible highs with a little bitter pill at the end. There’s too much to write about it now (it’s 1:11am), but I will follow up tomorrow and give the full blow-by-blow.
There is a lot to tell!