Interview - Greg Meyer, 1983 Boston Marathon champion

Leinenkugels Creamy Dark Ale is awesome!!!

Important question is, are Greg & Tony Francona (Red Sox Manager) twin brothers from different mothers?

Greg:

http://rodale.typepad.com/firstperson/images/2007/04/09/meyer_gregboston96_2.jpg

Tony:

http://multimedia.heraldinteractive.com/images/d457245d75_francona_10262007.jpg

Now that you mention that, they even talk the same way!

Definitely separated at birth.

If my memory serves me right there was an album (back in the vinyl days) called "Twin Sons of Different Mothers" by Tim Weisberg and Dan Fogleberg.

Still available:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Sons_of_Different_Mothers

Boston Marathoner wrote:

Greg Meyer, 1983 Boston Marathon champion and the last American man to win the Boston Marathon, gives a great interview at

http://www.garycohenrunning.com

.

How do we know he is the "last American" to win Boston?

;)

read that Hansons

Greg Meyer is secretly managing the Red Sox.

Hopefully Greg Meyer will be able to retire that "last American man to win at Boston" moniker soon. It would be great to see Ryan Hall give it a shot in '09.

Another way to look at '83 is after that an increasingly greater number of foreign runners started coming to race on our shores- runners who were faster than Americans. Fast forward to 2008, look at races on nearly any weekend from around the globe & you'll find Kenyans not only winning but taking many of the top places. The only place Americans are doing the same is in domestic races...where foreign runners don't show up (or aren't eligible for prize money).

Meyer was interviewed by the Boston Globe last April, at least I think it was last April, about his Boston win. He said that once he knew he had the race won at about the 22 mile mark he slowed from about five minutes a mile to maybe five twenty or so.

Can you link that?!? I looked and didn't find it. If true, and IF he could have maintained 5:00 pace he would have had the world record at the time; he would have smashed it, actually. I find it hard to believe he consciously unnecessarily slowed down.

No. It was in the actual newspaper. I didn't read it online and didn't save the paper. He did say that he slowed consciously. Many guys did do that in those years. Shorter used to talk about "maintaining" during the late stages of marathons, i.e., going just fast enough to maintain his lead but not pushing himself any harder than that. You have to remember that in those years the idea was to win the race and that times were often by-products of the winning effort. There were few, if any, financial incentives for running faster.

PS,

It's not completely out of the question that I'm remembering incorrectly.

greg is the man!

Dude has a sick training log

Meyer has noted in a few interviews that he slowed down and didn't push the last few miles just like he said in this interview.

A guy wrote:

Dude has a sick training log

Only on Bob Hodge's website can you get side by side weekly training comparisons from Greg Meyer and George Malley.

June 28 – July 4-1982

Meyer 100 miles

6/28– Mon. A.M.; P.M. 8

6/29 - Tues.A.M. 8; P.M. 6+ pickups

6/30 Wed. A.M. 10; P.M. 3 up, 4 x (440, 220) . 62, 30, 60, 29, 60, 29, 58, 27, 2 cooldown

7/01 Thurs. A.M. 10; P.M. 5

7/02 - Fri A.M. 7

7/03 - Sat A.M. 5; P.M. 2 warmup, 1 mile race 4:09.8, 4 miles down

7/04 - Sun. P.M. 19 Good

Malmo 116 miles

6/28 M - AM 4.5 moderate PM 12 moderate

6/29 T - AM 7 slow PM 4 very slow (very humid can't breathe)

6/30 W - AM 6 easy PM 10 moderate

7/01 T - AM 5 easy PM 3 warmup, 3x 1 mile w/ 400 jog( 4:34,4:33,4:30) 4x400 (61,61,61,59) 4 warmdown

7/02 F - AM 8.5 moderate PM 3.5 warmup, 10 x heartbreak hill (1:39, last one 1:33), 3.5 warmdown

7/03 S - PM 16 moderate

7/4 S - AM 14 slow feel very ill

July 5 - July 11

Meyer 99 miles

July 5 Mon. A.M. 5 up, 4.5 mile race (1 st place); P.M. 8

July 6 Tues A.M. 10; P.M. 9 in Chicago

July 7 Wed P.M. 9

July 8 Thurs A.M. 10 in Maine

July 9 Fri A.M. early 15; P.M. 8 (4 miles of good fartlek)

Jul 10 Sat A.M. 20 at 6:20 pace (2:07)

Jul 11 Sun. 0 - big toes - bad blister

Malmo 69 miles

7/5 M - Flu

7/6 T - Flu PM 8.5 slow

7/7 W - Flu PM 11.5 slow

7/8 T - Flu PM 10 slow

7/9 F - Flu PM 9.5 easy

7/10 S - AM 4 moderate PM 3 warmup, 8x400 (62.1) w/200 jog, 3 warmdown

7/11 S - PM 20 moderate

July 12 - July 18

Meyer 115 miles

Jul 12 - Mon. A.M. 12; P.M. 3

Jul 13 - Tues. A.M. 12 HOT !!!

Jul 14 Wed. A.M. 7; P.M. 9

Jul 15 Thurs. A.M. 8; P.M. 3 up, 6 x Hills at Pump House (1:32,1:32,1:31,1:31,1:33,1:28); 3 miles down

Jul 16 - Fri A.M. 10; P.M. 7

Jul 17 - Sat A.M. 10 early; P.M. 8 Hot, sub-6:00

Jul 18 - Sun. A.M. 17 - 6:40 pace HOT!!!; P.M. 3

Malmo 124 miles

7/12 M - AM 9 moderate PM 13.5 fartlek (10 min easy, 10 min hard)

7/13 T - AM 4 moderate-hard PM 3 warmup, 6x800 (2:10,2:10,2:10,2:10,2:10,2:06) w 400 jog, 4 warmdown

7/14 W - AM 10 easy PM 17 moderate (last 5 hard)

7/15 T - AM 4 easy PM 10.5 easy

7/16 F - PM 13.5 easy

7/17 S - AM 4 slow PM 6.5 slow

7/18 S - Brownsville 5 miler, 2 warmup, 5 mile race in 24:12(1st), 5 warmdown

July 19 - July 25

Meyer 131 miles

Jul 19 - Mon. A.M. 9; P.M. 3 up, 7 x Hills at Pump House (1:29,1:31,1:30,1:30,1:30,1:28,1:29);

3 miles down Very good and very HOT !!!

Jul 20 - Tues. A.M. 10; P.M. 9 - w/pickups + 55's

Jul 21 Wed. A.M. 15; P.M. 5 + strides

Jul 22 Thurs. A.M. 9; P.M. 9

Jul 23 - Fri A.M. 9; P.M. 3 up , 6 X 1 Mile in (4:42, 4:41, 4:38, 4:37, 4:36, 4:33) in flats

Less than 2:30 rest, 880 of 55's, 2 down

Jul 24 - Sat A.M. 21 good over hills

Jul 25 - Sun. A.M. 13 easy

Malmo 128 miles

7/19 M - AM 15 easy PM 8.5 easy

7/20 T - PM 17 easy

7/21 W - AM 10 moderate AM 11 fartlek (5:00 hard, 5:00 easy)

7/22 T - AM 8 easy PM 4 warmup, 12x200 (28-28.5) w 200 jog, 3 warmdown

7/23 F - AM 4 easy PM 14 moderate

7/24 S - AM 18.5 moderate

7/25 S - AM 8 slow PM 5 slow

July 26 - Aug

Meyer 74 miles

Jul 26 - Mon. A.M. 9 easy; P.M. 3 up, 8 x Pump House Hills (1:30,1:28,1:28,1:27,1:29,1:27,1:27,1:28) 3 miles down - Best hill workout EVER!!

Jul 27 - Tues. A.M. 10 easy ; P.M. 8 legs are very tired from Hills

Jul 28 Wed. A.M. 6; P.M. 12 + 3 miles late

Jul 29 Thurs. A.M. 9; P.M. 2 up , 12 X 220 at 32 ; 1 down; Back went out again.

Jul 30 - Fri A.M. 6 easy; P.M. 3 Back is very BAD - got treatment.

Jul 31 - Sat 0 - Treatment - acupuncture

Aug 1 - Sun. 0

Malmo 133 miles

7/26 M - PM Nike Holliston 5.2 mile, 2.5 warmup, 5.2 mile race in 25:26 (4th), 6.5 warmdown

7/27 T - AM 8.5 moderate PM 4 warmup, 2x200(28.5), 2x300(45.2,45.2), 1x400(59.1), 2x300(45.2,44.3), 2x200(28.5), 2 warmdown

7/28 W - AM 9.5 moderate PM 14.5 moderate

7/29 T - AM 9.5 moderate PM 4 warmup, 10x400(61.3) w/200 jog, 4 warmdown

7/30 F - AM 9 moderate PM 11 moderate

7/31 S - AM 11 moderate PM 12.5 moderate

8/1 S - PM 3 warmup, 2 miles in 8:53.1 (in NB 990s), 1.5 warmdown

Aug 2 - Aug 8

Meyer 68 miles

Aug. 2 - Mon. 0 - Treatment

Aug 3 - Tues. 0 - Treatment

Aug 4 Wed. A.M. 7; P.M. 5 tight - stiff - sluggish

Aug 5 Thurs. A.M. 7; P.M. 9 Hard - a little sore; Treatment

Aug 6 - Fri A.M. 9; P.M. 6 up, 220/330 in (30, 46, 30, 45, 30, 45, 30); 2 down - still tight and no lift

Aug 7 - Sat A.M. 7 easy

Aug 8 - Sun. A.M. 5; P.M. 2 up, 5 mile race - 1st in 22:45; (4:20 - 8:59 - 13:38 - 18:18 - 22:45) Am very lucky back came around so fast - have iced it after all runs - Not running from the start made a difference. Great race effort!

Malmo 111 miles

8/2 M - AM 10 moderate PM 11 hard (1:01:30)

8/3 T - AM 4 easy PM 3 warmup, 300(44.1), 2x800(2:00.4,1:59.8), 400(57.1), 300(42.0), 4 warmdown

8/4 W - AM 11 easy PM 11 easy

8/5 T - AM 8.5 easy PM 10 moderate

8/6 F - PM 14.5 moderate

8/7 S - AM 6 slow PM 5 easy

8/8 S - AM 2 easy PM Riverside 5 mile, 3 warmup, 5 mile race in 23:11 (4th), 5 mile warmdown

Aug 9 - Aug 15

Meyer 140 miles

Aug. 9 - Mon. A.M; . 8 Treatment; P.M. 21 (2:23)

Aug 10 -Tues. A.M. 10; P.M. 10 very tired and sore

Aug 11- Wed. A.M. 8; P.M. 3 up , 6 X Hill in Weymouth,; 3 down still sore and tired

Aug 12 Thurs A.M. 9; P.M. 9 easy

Aug 13 - Fri A.M. 7; P.M. 2 up, 1 ½ @ 6:53 ½ @ 2:12; 1 m @ 4:30 ¾ @ 3:21; ¾ @ 3:21 1 m @ 4:32;

½ @ 2:11 1 ½ @ 6:53; 2 down - 7 ½ miles of intervals!!!

Aug 14 - Sat A.M. 21+ (2:18)

Aug 15 - Sun. A.M. 8; P.M. 8

Very good week - 2 long runs - great track + OK hills. Not bad!

Malmo 93 miles

8/9 M - PM Sore throat/fever 13 moderate

8/10 T - AM Sore throat/fever 4 moderate PM 6 easy

8/11 W - AM 4 easy PM 14 easy

8/12 T - AM 8.5 easy PM 8.5 easy

8/13 F - AM 4 easy PM 6 easy

8/14 S - Am 4 easy PM 6 easy

8/15 S - AM Falmouth Road Race 3 warmup, 7.1 mile race in 33:10 (8th), 4 warmdown

Aug 16 - Aug 22

Meyer 101 miles

Aug. 16 - Mon. A.M. 10; P.M. 3 up, 7 x Hills at Pump House Great! (1:26,1:26,1:27,1:26,1:26,1:22.3 - Record, 1:27); 3 miles down

Aug 17 -Tues. A.M. 10; P.M. 10 (Treatment)

Aug 18- Wed. Noon: 5; P.M. 2 up, ¾ @ 3:17 Very Good !!; (½ @ 2:09; ½ @ 2:09; ½ @ 2:08; ½ @ 2:07; ¾ @ 3:12 3 down;

Aug 19 Thur A.M. 10; P.M. 5

Aug 20 - Fri A.M. 7

Aug 21 - Sat A.M. 3 up, 10-mile race , 3rd in 47:50 , Shit!; 1 down

Aug 22 - Sun. A.M. 10

Malmo 142 miles

8/16 M - AM 10 moderate PM 10 moderate

8/17 T - AM 10 moderate PM 13 easy

8/18 W - AM 4 moderate PM 4 warmup, 1200(3:17), 4x800(2:09,2:09,2:09.2:07), 1200(3:12), 4 warmdown

8/19 T - AM 10 moderate PM 12.5 moderate

8/20 F - AM 8.5 moderate PM 3.5 warmup, 8 x Chestnet Hill (2:00,2:00,2:00,2:01,2:04,2:02,2:02,2:00)

8/21 S - AM 13 moderate PM 10 moderate

8/22 S - PM 21 miles moderate

Aug 23 - Aug 29

Meyer 124 miles

Aug. 23 - Mon.P.M. 21 - in 2:20

Aug 24 -Tues. A.M. 8; P.M. 8

Aug 25- Wed. A.M. 3 up, 6 x Hills in Weymouth (:69 :66:70 :67:68 :60); 3 miles down; P.M. 5 easy

Aug 26 Thur A.M. 10; P.M. 7

Aug 27 - Fri A.M. 8; P.M. 3 up , 3 x 1 ¼ @ 4:28 + 68, 66, 64; 2 x ¼ @ 62; 3 miles down

Aug 28 - Sat A.M. 8; P.M. 2 up, 10km race , 1st in 29:00; 2 down

Aug 29 - Sun. A.M. 21 - 1 warmup; 2 mi @ 9:58 - 2 minute surge every six minutes until one hour, then 5:00 surge, then a 1 min. surge every six minutes, until end at track with 1 mile in 4:55.

Total time for 20.3 mi = 1:58; (1 x 2 mile in 9:58, 7 x 2:00, 1 x 5:00, 7 x 1:00, 1 x Mile in 4:55)

Malmo 141 miles

8/23 M - AM 10.5 moderate-fast PM 4 warmup, 3x400-400-800 (62,62,2:07.1,60.4,61.1,2:07.0,60.1,60.1,2:08.4) w/200-200-400 jog, 4 warmdown

8/24 T - PM 20 moderate

8/25 W - AM 11 moderate PM 11.5 moderate-fast

8/26 T - AM 12 hard PM 11 moderate

8/27 F - AM 6 moderate PM 8.5 easy legs are shot!

8/28 S - PM 17 easy

8/29 S - PM 4 warmup, 10 x Chestnut Hill (69-71), 5 warmdown

Aug 30 - Sept 5

Meyer 92 miles

Aug. 30 Mon.A.M. 10 easy; P.M. Willie Nelson Concert!

Aug 31 -Tues. A.M. 9; P.M. 10

Sept 1 - Wed. A.M. 8; P.M. 3 up , 5 x 880 @ 2:10; Less than 2:00 rest, 1 down, raining and cold

Sept 2 - Thur A.M. 6; P.M. 10 - some good timed fartlek!

Sept 3 - Fri A.M. 8; P.M. 8

Sept 4 - Sat P.M. 8

Sept 5 - Sun. A.M. 6; P.M. 2

Malmo 103 miles

8/30 M - AM 4 easy PM 11 slow

8/31 T - AM 4 easy PM 4 warmup, 8x800(2:10) w/400jog, 4 easy

9/1 W - PM 13 moderate

9/2 T - AM 4 easy PM 4 warmup, 1 mile (4:16.1),8x200(27.7) w/ 200 jog, 4 warmdown

9/3 F - AM 4 easy PM 12 easy

9/4 S - AM 4 easy PM 9 easy

9/5 S -AM 7 slow PM 4 slow

Sept 6 - Sept 12

Meyer 94 miles

Sept 6 Mon. A.M. 3 up , 12.4 Race - 20km; New Haven. 1 st 58:26 - AR !! 28:55 @ 10k - 46:55 @ 10 mile; 2 down

Sept 7 -Tues. A.M. 6; P.M. 8

Sept 8- Wed. A.M. 15

Sept 9 Thur A.M. 8; P.M. 2.5 up , 4 x 3/4 (3:19, 3:15, 3:14, 3:09); Less than 2:30 rest; 2 down

Sept 10 - Fri P.M. 8

Sept 11 - Sat A.M. 5; P.M. 5

Sept 12 - Sun. A.M. 3 up , 9.3 race (44:55) 2nd

Malmo 128 miles

9/6 M -AM New Haven 20k, 3 warmup, 20k race in 59:42(3rd), 4 warmdown

9/7 T -PM 15 easy

9/8 W -AM 10 easy PM 11 easy

9/9 T -AM 7 easy PM 4 warmup, 4 x1200(3:19,3:16,3:15,3:09) very easy! w/ 400 jog, 4 warmdown

9/10 F - PM 22 easy

9/11 S - AM 9 easy PM 11 moderate

9/12 S - PM 3.5 warmup, 8 x heartbreak hill (1:36,1:35,1:35,1:35,1:35,1:35,1:37,1:36), 3.5 easy

Sept 13 - Sept 19

Meyer 97 miles

Sept 13 Mon. A.M. 9

Sept 14 -Tues. P.M. 21 (2:01 for 20+); 2 miles on track, 2 min. surge at 30, 2:00 on - 2:00 off - 5:00 on at 1 hour, 2:00 on - 2:00 off - 5:00 on at 16 miles, 1 mile on track

Sept 15- Wed. A.M. 10

Sept 16 - Thur A.M. 8; P.M. 3 up , 3 x (880, 1 mile) in 2:15 2:14 2:13; 4:39 4:38 4:36; 2:00 rest; 3 down

Sept 17 - Fri A.M. 8

Sept 18 - Sat A.M. 3 up , 10 mile race in Ann Arbor, 49:10; 3 down

Sept 19 - Sun. A.M. 14 easy

Malmo 102 miles

9/13 M - AM 4 hard (21:14) PM 10 moderate (59:30)

9/14 T - AM 4 easy PM 12.5 moderate

9/15 W - AM 7 easy PM 4 warmup, 2 x 1mile (4:16.4,4:15.8) w 2:30 jog, 4 warmdown

9/16 T - AM 8.5 moderate PM 12 easy

9/17 F - AM 4.5 easy PM 10.5 easy

9/18 S - PM 6 slow, very humid, can't breathe!

9/19 S - AM Philly Distance Run, 2.5 warmup, 13.1 race in 1:01:43(AR 2nd) Winner Mike Musioki 1:01:35(WR), 2.5 warmdown

Sept 20 - Sept 26

Meyer 81 miles

Sept 20 Mon. A.M. 10

Sept 21 -Tues. A.M. 10

Sept 22- Wed. P.M. 8

Sept 23 - Thur A.M. 8; PM. 4 up , 6 x 330 @ 46 , 1 down

Sept 24 - Fri P.M. 6

Sept 25 - Sat A.M. 4

Sept 26 - Sun. A.M. 2 up , 26.2 Race - Chicago Marathon - ***1 st , 2:10:59***

Felt Great - easy - under control!

Malmo 108 miles

9/20 M - PM 17.5 easy

9/21 T - AM 9.5 easy PM 13 easy

9/22 W - PM 8.5 easy

9/23 T - AM 5.5 easy PM 7.5 easy

9/24 F - AM 7 slow PM 4 slow

9/25 S - AM Virginia Ten Mile 2 warmup, 10 mile race in 48:35(6th), 5 warmdown

9/26 S - PM 11 easy

13 week totals

Greg averaged 101 miles

12 long runs: 8 x 20 miles, 1 x 17 miles, 3 x 15 miles

6 hills (4 x 1:30, 2 x 1:10)

7 hard track

4 track speed

6 races

Malmo averaged 115 miles

12 long runs: 4 x 20 miles, 5 x 17 miles, 3 x 15 miles

4 x hills (1 x 2:00, 2 x 1:35, 1 x 1:10)

12 track

4 track speed

7 races

Raced each other twice.

Aug 8 Riverside 5 mile, Meyer 22:45 (1st), Malmo 23:11 (4th)

Sept 6 New Haven 20k, Meyer 58:26 (1st), Malmo 59:42 (3rd)

Same workout twice (trained together?)

Aug 18, 3/4 mile, 4x800, 3/4 mile (3:17, 2:09, 2:09, 2:08, 2:07, 3:12)

Sept 9, 4 x 3/4 (3:19, 3:15, 3:14, 3:09)

They were both beasts!