Len Johnson - Runner's Tribe
One of the beneficiaries of the decision to compete in Moscow was Rob de Castella, who made his first of four Olympic teams in the marathon.
‘Deek’ finished tenth in the marathon in Moscow, his first experience of the surging sort of running required to win...
Written by Len Johnson - Runner's Tribe
“Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” Victor Hugo is reputed to once have said.
Like many such ‘quotes’, this may not be a precise rendition of the French poet and novelist’s words, merely the most common paraphrase. Hugo’s observation...
A Column By Len Johnson - Runner's Tribe
Being a selector is often a thankless task – literally, in the sense that not many of those selected ever think to say ‘thank you’, and, figuratively, in the sense that it is bloody hard work.
So perhaps it is fitting that the...
From Rabat to Kampala
A Colum By Len Johnson - Runner's Tribe
This Sunday, the Australian teams to contest the world cross-country championships leave for Kampala. It is just on 42 years since Australia first contested the event in Rabat, Morocco, on 16 March, 1975.
Now, 42 might seem a strange anniversary...
A Column By Len Johnson - Runner's Tribe
It is entirely fitting that Steve Moneghetti’s induction into the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame should have been announced the week of the world cross-country championships.
Despite his great achievements at the marathon and on the track, it was the world cross-country which...
A column by Len Johnson – Runner’s Tribe
Here’s a multiple-choice question: It’s 3am; the next-door neighbour’s party is in full swing, the music boring its way into your brain.
Do you: (a) bury your head deeper into the pillows; (b) ask him to turn the music off; or, (c) ask...
A Column by Len Johnson - Runner's Tribe
Crikey. No sooner do we write in defence of Matt Centrowitz’s tactics in the Rio Olympic men’s 1500 metres final than we get an Australian championships replete with races run on what we might now call the Centrowitz-Kipyegon model: slow as a...
A column by Len Johnson – Runner’s Tribe
Last weekend, 5-7 May, was one of those times when, to dip our lids to Roy Slaven and H.G.Nelson, “too much sport was barely enough.”
To recap, we had off-field shenanigans with the John Coates v Danni Roche election for the Australian Olympic...
A column by Len Johnson – Runner’s Tribe
Al Lawrence, who died earlier this week after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer, was arguably the best Australian distance runner most of you have never heard of.
Born in the Sydney suburb of Punchbowl, a member of Botany Harriers, Lawrence spent most...
No 10,000m at Pre', plus Rio medals returned.
A column by Len Johnson – Runner’s Tribe
No Mo' Ten
Pardon me. The realisation hit late. It is the eve of the Prefontaine Classic and I have just noticed there is no 10,000.
It may not have the storied history of our own Zatopek...
