The Story You Didn't Hear
Make that stories..... see update below.
There was an amazing, come from behind win at the Chicago Marathon. The 2nd place winner got smoked in the last 50 yards.
The link above will give you better video than the embedded player below but they are both the same, totally buried story. I'm so sorry for the family of the young officer who died but I don't think that is the story that completely overshadowed this remarkable victory. It would appear that we as a culture would rather wring our hands and point fingers and complain about the race directors than celebrate the triumph and effort of a female athlete. For me that is the second tragedy of the Chicago marathon. I wonder if a male finish of this stripe would have gone unnoticed.
***UPDATE**** The men had a photo finish and a tie for the win (2:11:11) with 3rd place less than a second behind them. So this marathon should have been the story of fantastic efforts and nose to nose finishes and yet it all got lost. I want to clarify something, too. It didn't get lost to a single death. Sadly, there are deaths at a lot of marathons these days. It got lost in the heat/closure/not enough water story. Too bad for those athletes who did their best to ignore the heat and try to win.
Congratulations Berhane Adere - you are an amazing athlete!
Comments
Omigosh - that was a--mazing. She was hiding behind the other two runners! Smart!
Posted by: IronJenny | October 9, 2007 11:21 AM
Thanks 21st! I hadn't heard this...and yes...we are a "blame game" society anymore. The guy had a heart condition and would have perished soon anyway. Crass statement, but running in the heat/lack of fluids wasn't the "cause"...altho some will probably not let this go...
Posted by: fe-lady | October 9, 2007 11:27 AM
i've been in such a tunnel the past few days, i just realized chicago was this past weekend too.
i kind of agree with fe-lady, we do these things and we have to live (or not) with the effects of them. perhaps he died doing something he loved? i'd like to think so.
Posted by: momo | October 9, 2007 12:16 PM
"It would appear that we as a culture would rather wring our hands and point fingers and complain about the race directors than celebrate the triumph and effort of a female athlete. For me that is the second tragedy of the Chicago marathon."
Here here I watched that clip this morning as well, what an amazing finish. I think the one woman thought she had it won.
Posted by: Bob | October 9, 2007 01:35 PM