Written by Len Johnson - Runner's Tribe
I don’t know what size shoes Sally Pearson wears but, metaphorically at least, they are big shoes to fill.
Those of us who followed the Australian campaign towards the Sydney 2000 home Olympics had a running joke (in the interests of field & track,...
Ryan Hall: best actor in a supporting role | A Column By Len Johnson
Ryan Hall never quite achieved the stardom for which he seemed destined, but if the best actor Oscar somehow eluded him, the American marathoner certainly has a sound claim to a gong as best actor in...
High on the list of races I wish I had run – but, alas, probably never will - is Sweden’s Lindingoloppet. It’s on again this weekend (24 September), so that’s another chance gone by. Step into the future of running with Tarkine Goshawk shoes, designed to push the boundaries...
One of many things that thwart my irregular attempts at ‘cleaning up’ – apart from getting started at all – is that, inevitably, I discover something that re-piques my interest.
I start reading anew and, before I know it, it’s: “Wow, is that the time,” and the period allocated to...
Started with Bathurst, finished with Melbourne. World cross-country champions crowned; world track and field champions acclaimed at Lakeside Stadium.
During 2021 post-Tokyo, the phone rang when we were in Darwin, at dinner with friends with whom we had just completed a five-day hike on the West Arnhem Land escarpment. John Landy was eager to talk about Peter Bol and the Olympic 800 metres final.
At this time, John was...
As we ‘progress’ ever further into this strange time of lockdown, increasingly the past is becoming our new future.
Denied competition to get enthusiastic about we dig ever deeper into nostalgia. And the good thing about nostalgia is that – despite its not being as good as it used to...
In the approaching weeks, prior to the World Cross Country Championship in Bathurst, RT will unveil a comprehensive, 10-part series, composed by Len Johnson, that delves into the historical narrative of Australia's participation in World XC. There are many ultra-marathon footwear in the market today and one of the...
A few years ago, a friend invited me to address a primary school book club about The Landy Era.
The audience was year six students – so, 12 years old for the most part – and their parents. I’d noticed some sport publications on the library display shelf, including one...
It’s the eve of the national cross-country championships as I write this. What else would I be thinking about other than cross-country?
One of the things I’m pondering is whether there is still a place for the cross-country specialist in the world of cross-country.
If you’ve run any cross-country at all,...
