Podcast 35: Interview with running pioneer Grete Waitz
Posted April 6th, 2007 at 1:27 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
Today’s podcast features a very special interview with Grete Waitz; the legendary Norwegian runner who, among her plethora of accomplishments, won a record nine New York City Marathons between 1978 and 1988, a silver medal in the first Olympic women’s marathon, five World XC titles and broke the world marathon record nine times.
Grete, a woman of incredible talent, passion, modesty and grace, has also been instrumental, through both her athletic achievements and tireless advocacy, in promoting equality for female athletes. In the interview Grete speaks about how things have changed since she first began running; describing the lack of opportunities in the 1970’s, the first Olympic women’s marathon in 1984, and the vast array of athletic opportunities available to women in today’s society.
Grete talks about her transformation into a marathon runner; the story behind her historic, debut victory at the 1978 NY Marathon and her special bond with Fred Lebow, the NYRR and people of NYC.
She also explains that running alongside Fred - her dear friend and the race’s legendary co-founder – as he completed the 1992 NY Marathon while undergoing treatment for the cancer that would ultimately take his life – was a very special experience; one that makes up for the 10th victory that Fred always wanted her to win.
Download the podcast to hear Grete discuss these topics, her own battle with cancer, being inspired by Lance Armstrong, and how Fred’s legacy continues to thrive through the NYRR’s efforts in America, around the world and via the NYRR Foundation.
Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to youHost: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Grete Waitz
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 12.6 MB
Length: 00:18:26
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PHOTOS: Norway’s “Grete Waitz” stamp; Grete Waitz and Fred Lebow crossing the finish line at the 1992 New York Marathon (Courtesy of the NYRR).
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Tags: Avon Running Global Womens Circuit, cancer, CARE International, female athletes, first womens marathon, Fred Lebow, grandma, Grete Waitz, ING New York City Marathon, International Special Olympics, interview, jack waitz, Kathrine Switzer, lance armstrong, London Marathon, marathoner, Mary Wittenberg, New York City, new york marathon, new york road runners, new york road runners foundation, norway, norwegian, NYC Marathon, nyrr, olympics, Oslo, pioneer, podcast, running icon, Wilma Rudolph, womens marathon
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The Final Sprint
Great interview … and Grete - you, Mary and the rest of you guys over at NYRR are certainly making Fred smile from up above
April 6th, 2007 at 2:07 pmGrete,
I have always admired and been in awe of your marathoning dominance … however, and I must admit, I never knew the extent of your other running successes.
You are a true role model - as both a runner - and as a courageous leader.
Thanks for everything,
April 6th, 2007 at 5:02 pmJeff
[…] You might not realize what a wealth of interviews The Final Sprint’s own Adam Jacobs has conducted over the course of 2007. He has been extremely busy throughout the year interviewing current running legends, future legends, coaches, inspirational athletes who have overcome adversity to succeed, track & field publishers, inventors, the list goes on and on. Here is an alphabetized list of all the podcasts that have been published so far by The Final Sprint: Abdirahman, Abdi (Podcast 69, 8/7/2007 ) Armstrong, Kristin (Podcast 20, 2/26/2007 ) Barton, Michelle (Podcast 63, 7/9/2007 ) Biggins, Jim (Podcast 8, 2/3/2007 ) Boyett, Steve (Podcast 42, 4/26/2007 ) Browne, Dan (Podcast 76, 9/10/2007 ) Carruthers, Danielle (Podcast 17, 2/19/2007 ) Chervenak, Mary (Podcast 77, 9/10/2007 ) Clay, Bryan (Podcast 58, 6/18/2007 ) Clement, Treniere (Podcast 59, 6/21/2007 ) Culpepper, Alan (Podcast 15, 2/15/2007 ) Daniels, Dr. Jack (Podcast 24, 3/7/2007 ) Devers, Gail (Podcast 11, 2/9/2007 ) Dryer, Elva (Podcast 45, 5/1/2007 ) Engle, Charlie (Podcast 52, 5/23/2007 ) Famiglietti, Anthony (Podcast 36, 4/8/2007 ) Frasure, Brian (Podcast 33, 4/1/2007 ) Frist, Bill (Podcast 47, 5/4/2007 ) Gaffigan, Ann (Podcast 78, 9/11/2007 ) Galloway, Jeff (Podcast 1, 1/11/2007 ) Garcia, Rudy (Podcast 3, 1/19/2007 ) Gilmore, Peter (Podcast 38, 4/10/2007 ) Gilmore, Peter (Podcast 68, 8/4/2007 ) Goucher, Adam (Podcast 39, 4/11/2007 ) Goucher, Kara (Podcast 56, 6/8/2007 ) Hall, Ryan (Podcast 6, 1/29/2007 ) Hall, Ryan (Podcast 43, 4/27/2007 ) Han, Peter (Podcast 72, 8/10/2007 ) Heidrich, Dr. Ruth (Podcast 4, 1/23/2007 ) Hoyt, Dick (Podcast 64, 7/16/2007 ) Huckabee, Mike (Podcast 22, 3/4/2007 ) Ion, Brent (Podcast 28, 3/16/2007 ) Johnson, Jeff (Podcast 46, 5/3/2007 ) Johnson, Weldon (Podcast 48, 5/11/2007 ) Jurek, Scott (Podcast 34, 4/3/2007 ) Karnazes, Dean (Podcast 9, 2/5/2007 ) Kastor, Deena (Podcast 23, 3/5/2007 ) Keflezighi, Meb (Podcast 40, 4/21/2007 ) Keflezighi, Meb (Podcast 41, 4/23/2007 ) Kern, Don (Podcast 12, 2/11/2007 ) Kern, Don (Podcast 30, 3/21/2007 ) Khannouchi, Khalid (Podcast 51, 5/18/2007 ) Liquori, Marty (Podcast 19, 2/23/2007 ) Loken, Susan (Podcast 32, 3/29/2007 ) Lovejoy, Jeff (Podcast 2, 1/15/2007 ) Maclaren, Jim (Podcast 55, 6/7/2007 ) McDonnell, John (Podcast 79, 9/12/2007 ) McMillan, Greg (Podcast 26, 3/12/2007 ) Mills, Billy (Podcast 14, 2/14/2007 ) Moller, Lorrain (Podcast 66, 7/20/2007 ) Moller, Lorrain (Podcast 65, 7/18/2007 ) Monti, David (Podcast 54, 6/1/2007 ) Moore, Anwar (Podcast 70, 8/7/2007 ) Morin, Luc (Podcast 44, 4/29/2007 ) Perry, Michelle (Podcast 75, 9/3/2007 ) Pistorius, Oscar (Podcast 16, 2/16/2007 ) Ramaala, Hendrick (Podcast 71, 8/8/2007 ) Reed, Tony (Podcast 73, 8/23/2007 ) Rhines, Jen (Podcast 29, 3/20/2007 ) Richards, Sanya (Podcast 60, 6/21/2007 ) Richards, Sanya (Podcast 25, 3/9/2007 ) Richards, Sanya (Podcast 74, 8/28/2007 ) Rigsby, Scott (Podcast 49, 5/16/2007 ) Robinson, Khadevis (Podcast 62, 6/27/2007 ) Romanowski, Perry (Podcast 10, 2/7/2007 ) Rupp, Galen (Podcast 50, 5/17/2007 ) Ryun, Jim (Podcast 18, 2/22/2007 ) Sell, Brian (Podcast 27, 3/14/2007 ) Smith, Tommie (Podcast 21, 2/27/2007 ) Smith-Batchen, Lisa (Podcast 67, 8/3/2007 ) Solinksy, Chris (Podcast 53, 5/29/2007 ) Switzer, Katherine (Podcast 37, 4/9/2007 ) Symmonds, Nick (Podcast 31, 3/26/2007 ) Talbott, Daniel (Podcast 5, 1/26/2007 ) Tegenkamp, Matt (Podcast 57, 6/13/2007 ) Tegenkamp, Matt (Podcast 61, 6/26/2007 ) Tegenkamp, Matt (Podcast 80, 9/17/2007 ) Waitz, Grete (Podcast 35, 4/6/2007 ) Webb, Alan (Podcast 7, 1/31/2007 ) Williams, Todd (Podcast 13, 2/12/2007 ) […]
September 17th, 2007 at 5:24 pm