A Complete Change In My Life And My Running

It's been three years since I posted an update on myself and what's going on in my life. Oh how time has a way of changing everything from both an emotional and physical standpoint. It all began on September 17th 2006. I was living in Westerly at the time and just beginning to get my life back together after leaving home and commencing to run again. On that particular sunday evening, I returned to my car to see three text messages, please call. Not knowing whom it may be I called. To my amazement it was the lost love of my life Joanne Marie Guindon. I had prior to this call, tried to find and contact her. It took two years to finally find her on the classmates.com website. We spoke for over an hour and from that point on my life completely changed.
I had battled drug addiction, left my family to try and locate Joanne Marie, and always through it all tried to run, but always had a setback due to injury after injury. We remained in contact for over a year and a half before finally realizing that we needed to see each other. We did, and that's all it took. The love was so real and genuine that we just wanted to be together for the remainder of our lives. Joanne visited here on many occasions, as I visited San Fransisco during the month of March in 2008. On Joanne's final visit here in June of 09, on the 17th I asked her to finally marry me down at Crescent Beach on top of the hill over looking the ocean. Thank god she said yes. Just a few months later on September 28th I flew out to SFO to pick my baby, Dolce & Gabby for the return flight home and too finally begin our lives together. We lived at Crescent Beach in a seasonal rental, and now reside in Norwich, Ct in an old victorian home, and we love it. The poodles are great and I just love my Joanne Marie so much.
As for my running, Ummmmmmmmmm it's been one problem after another. I started training in a very good way in 01/10. Everything was going well until we moved too Norwich and on July 5th I pulled my meniscus from my right inner knee and subsequently had surgery on 09/28. I have come out of it in a very good way. I can't count the number of surgeries that I have had on my body due to running injuries or other aliments. But I've had enough, and now all I desire is one more marathon. I have no idea as to where and when. But this is too be determined by my recovery period and when I'm able to train in the right manner. It's great to have the runners mindset, but what's more important is that I'm back with my long lost love Joanne Marie. And hopefully after being separated from her for over 27 years, we will finally be married and have our love last forever and ever.
Their is much in this blog, from old time running to present. For me it's all about the history of running and the past. The names of Pre, Shorter, Burfoot, Kelley & Kelley, Rodgers, Salazar have never been surpassed when it comes to the level at which they competed. The sport has changed so much over the years. And as John Kelley and I discussed just yesterday, it's all about technology and this nut whom seems to think that running barefoot preserves injury and lengthens a runners career. I'm just happy and fortunate that I competed during the running boom, where a 2:30 marathon in Boston barely got you into the top 200. With todays times a 2:30 will place you in the top 50 of Boston, or for that right any major marathon in this country. Yes, the sport of running has changed, and it's now forward for me in trying too compete in another marathon in 2011.

March 19 @ 9:45 a.m.
Thank you for not retiring Haile. It's time that you obtain the gold in the upcoming 2012 London Olympics in the marathon

HAILE GEBRESLASSIE

All that can be said about this extraordinary athlete is that he is and will always be the best. Thank you for all the memories, as I'm hoping as well as everyone else, that you change your mind on retirement.
This is a great program for the simple purpose of tracking my time and runs. But there is a major flaw in the GPS and the mileage that it detects. I know my runs are quicker and longer than the actual stated. It's in all likelihood that the program is off by 10%, but I still love this little program. But for me this is not important because my runs are all about time on my feet.


There is nothing like an old fashioned run that begins in the sun and ends in the trails


This is a photo of Kell that I obtained from the Boston Globe. This photo was taken while Kell was going up Heartbreak Hill during his victorious 1957 win.

There is no other running photo that is more priceless than this one of Mr. Kelley winning Boston in 1957. I cherish his friendship and am very thankful for all that he has done for me in regards to my running and his overall caring for me as a person and runner

This is Kell in front of his store. What a great man and person. If all individual were like him, this world would be perfect. It's amazing to me the bond that Joanne and him have developed. She just loves him to death. Maybe more than me, ha ha.
Their is no better to be associated within the running community than Mr. Kelley. His mannerism and approach is so pragmatic and reasonable. He taught me so much during my racing years.
I will always remember the Boston Marathon 83. I had a terrible race and felt lousy the complete race. As I turned left to proceed down towards the finish line, I lost my footing from fatigue and whatever. Who came around the corner while I was down on the ground, good old Kell. He just looked down and said " what the hell are you doing down there " We still get a good laugh when we reminisce old running stories, such as this one.

This photo was taken during the winter of 1957. On the left is Mrs. Kelley, Jess & to the right is Mr. Kelley's mom

This Is Me Competing In The Ocean State Marathon in 82. Jim Butler With The "R" On His Shirt Is Just Ahead Of Me

What Running Means To Mean

Running isn't just about putting one foot in front of another. It's about the feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction, euphoria and personal contentment. I love the feeling of the leaves beneath my feet on the trails during the fall months. There is no other feeling of having my size nine shoe hit the snow packed pavement and it feeling like running on a carpet.
I've run in the best areas of the country, up mountains and along the beach side. Boulder mountain and Mt. Washington have totally different characters; but in all it's about running the mountains- either up the Mt. Washington Road or weaving through the trails of Boulder Mountain.
My Jo always asks," Why, why do you continue to do this to yourself when your always getting injured/ The reply is very simple and easy: It is because of the peace and relaxation that it provides me, along with physical shape that I'm able to attain at my young age of 54.
One of the most peaceful runs I enjoy are the Saturday evening runs after a morning long run. It's no more that twenty to thirty minutes long, but it's what it provides me in ridding my body of the build up of lactic acid from the long run. I prefer these runs on a golf course; with my shoes off and having the feeling of fresh cut grass, with a touch of dew on the short green fairways under my feet.
Running all began for me during the summer of 1969. I was hanging out with friends in the neighborhood, and some how someone said that I couldn't run the block a certain amount of times. Well I clearly remember running 12 laps of which is approximately 3 miles. That's all I needed in order to get hooked on this incredible individual sport. Amby Burfoot, the prior year had won the Boston Marathon, and everyone started calling me Brose. The named held and to this day Tim Smith, the greatest Norwich runner ever still calls me Brose. Entering my freshman year at NFA, I showed up for the first practice on a thursday evening at the NFA track. I was overwhelmed, due to the shear number of runners and the greatness of the varsity team. My experience through high school was up and down. I had an excellent freshman and senior year, with the in between years being mediocre and comprised of playing other sports such as golf and tennis. Once out of high school I finally made the decision to make running my sport because I felt it was my best chance of excelling in the sporting arena. I clearly remember after my college freshman year really being intrigued by the marathon. The year was the winter of 1974 as I headed up to Middletown, Ct with Tim Smith, Geno Mcmerriman, Larry Rice and myself to attempt in qualifying for my first Boston Marathon. The result was great as I indeed qualified in the time of 3:03. A month and a half later it was up to Boston with my mom, sister and Carol Ann. They dropped me off in Hopkinton and I was well on my way to running the worlds greatest marathon. I was in awe prior to the race, in seeing both John Kelley's, Amby Burfoot and the masses of runners competing on this beautiful sunny day. I remember Tim Smith saying to me just prior to the run, Brose run within yourself and don't get caught up in the excitement of the crowds. Wow was he right. The crowds were simply amazing as I trudged along at a sub 3 hour pace. That's all I wanted to achieve in my first attempt on this historical course. I remember turing the corner at the bottom of the Newton Hills at the fire station. Coming down Commonwealth and turning right onto Hereford St my heart was pumping and I had all this energy that I felt I could have used up during the race. Just before turning left and going down to the finish line at the Pru I saw my mom, sister and Carol Ann screaming at me. I was so happy and proud that I had accomplished my goal of running sub 3 in an actual time of 2:58.26. What a feeling that was driving back home knowing that I had just run the Boston Marathon and completed it. My success in this race goes to Tim Smith whom had helped and guided me through the process of training for this event.
I was now hooked on running the marathon, and wanted another one soon there after. My ability to excel and run at a higher level didn't occur until after my college career at Johnson & Wales in Providence, R.I. I was now hooked up with one of Eastern, Ct greatest runners, Wayne Jacob. He then introduced me tho his friends Kim Murphy, Steve Lamb, Jim Suarez and Walt Blanker, and of most John J Kelley. Now hanging and running with this great group of former Fitch runners I started to bloom and my race times began to drop. I remember one evening while at the Kelley household speaking with Kell and him telling me to always be humble in your accomplishments and always strive to be the best you can. From that moment on I was inspired to become the best runner I possibly could. He advised me on many different types of workouts, and every sunday Kell always went with the group of guys for our typical 20 miler. It was one sunday 5 weeks before Boston in 78 that I was determined to run 50 miles in one day. I went on my 20 milers with the guys early in the morning. Then during the afternoon and evening hours I went each time for a 15 miler, for a total of 50 miles for the day. That evening, I obviously was tired, but my legs felt ok. I knew from this workout that running Boston in just a few weeks at a high level was very possible for me. And it happen. I was well on my way to a sub 2:30 until the 24th mile where my legs just gave out. I struggled in from there for a 2:30.56 time. Yes, I was very pleased and happy, but also knew that there was so much room for improvement. My recovery after this race went well. Kell spoke to me after this race and told me that I had the ability to run a 2:25 and that I needed to be smart in my training and racing. I ran many great races that summer and fall season. Rose Arts was always a disaster, but Manchester was always my race. My season in 78 ended with a very good Manchester where I ran 24:47 and a 3rd place finish at the Glastonbury Santa Run.

His time was cut short in a tragic car accident in 1975. In August of that summer my friend Joe Banas and myself had the ultimate pleasure of meeting both his mom and dad during the 15 mile Charleston Run in West Virginia. We met them both at the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

During Pre's time he was simply the best. He was vibrant, relentless and had a running attitude that has yet to be matched. Yes many Americans have come and gone. But the one thing about Pre is that different is that it's been 35 years since his tragic death and to this day the name Pre is very well known in the running community. And that will remain for eternity because he was simply PRE !!!!


This Was Pre's Last Race, 05/29/1975 . The Ironic Part Of This Photo And Finish, Is That He Wore A Black Tank For The Only Time In His Career. In This Race He Set An American Record In The 10,000 Meters And Beat The Great Frank Shorter. In The Caption It Say's, Where Is The Next Pre ? My Belief Is That There Will Never Be Another Pre.

Steve Prefontaine Quotes

“You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.”

“How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'Your too small Pre', 'Your not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your foolish dream Steve'. But they forgot something, I HAVE TO WIN.”

“Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative.”

“A lot of people run to see who's the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.”


May 29-30, 1975

Pre died in the early morning hours of Friday May 30, 1975. We raced at Hawyard Field the previous Thursday evening. To the left is Pre talking to me before the 800m. Pre ran 5000m in what turned out to be his final race. Pre died about 6 hours after this picture was taken.

[from Tom Jordan's book] "Against the unbearableness of Steve Prefontaine's death, it is comforting to know that virtually everyone he cared about was close to him on the last night of his life."

His last race over, Pre took several victory laps, saying thanks to the people of Eugene. At one point, he stopped and talked with his family who had come from Coos Bay to watch the meet. After signing autographs, he went to the apartment of his friends Mark Feig and Steve Bence to shower.

Later, Pre stopped by the Oregon awards banquet and talked to Bill Dellinger about his training. After a brief visit, he and his girlfriend, Nancy Allman {Pre was dating Nancy instead of Mary at the time of his death}, left for a party being held by Geoff Hollister up at his house to celebrate the end of the Finnish tour.

First, however, Pre made his ritual stop at the Paddock for congratulations and a few beers. Then he went to the party about 10:00 p.m.

Shorter, Moore, and the Finns were there. Pre's parents were there. Walt McClure, too. Pre was happy and relieved that the tour was over. According to some of the guests there, he drank about six beers in the two hours he remained at the party.

At 12:15 a.m., Pre left with Nancy and Frank. "We all three got into the MG and drove down to the UO ticket office where Nancy had left her car and let her off," Shorter told Jerry Uhrhammer of the Eugene Register-Guard. "Then he drove me home."

Shorter was staying with the Ken Moores at their home on one of the hills encircling Eugene. He and Pre sat in the car for a few minutes, discussing what their stand would be on the AAU moratorium. Both agreed that they would not duck the meet, but would run their specialties all-out, and then take on the AAU. With that, Shorter got out of the car, and Pre drove on down the hill.

What exactly happened at the bottom of Skyline Boulevard is open to question. It was a road Pre had run along hundreds of times in his years in Eugene. As it approaches the intersection with Birch Lane, there is a sharp curve. Although there was no indication of excessive speed, Pre's 1973 MGB crossed the center line, went over the curb and hit one wall of the natural rock that lines either side of the street. His car flipped over, pinning him underneath. The MG was equipped with a roll bar, but Pre was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident. He apparently did not die instantly, but suffocated from the impact and weight of the car on his chest.

There were skid marks for 40 feet from the wall, indicating that he had slammed on the brakes after losing control of the car. Why he lost control is unknown.

Moments after the accident, another car, also an MG, came on the scene. The occupant, seeing someone pinned under the overturned auto, apparently panicked and sped off to get his father, a doctor. By the time neighbors had alerted the police and they arrived at the accident, there was no longer a pulse. Pre was dead.

An autopsy performed the next day showed that the level of alcohol in Pre's blood was 0.16 percent, above the Oregon legal limit of 0.10 percent. Perhaps his driving wa impaired enough that he simply misjudged the curve and his approach speed. Perhaps, as one policeman speculated, he was reaching for his cassette tape of John Denver's "Back Home Again" and took his eyes off the road. Perhaps he failed to make the turn for an altogether different reason.

The result is the same.

Flags at half-mast, the scoreboard clock ticking away, and silence. Absolute silence. Eugene was saying good-bye to Steve Prefontaine. At the end of the ceremony, the crowd stood, applauding the time on the clock - 12:36.2 - a time Pre once said he would be satisfied with in the three mile. photo by Don Chadez.

Frank Shorter crossing the finish line in the prized event, the marathon. The 1972 Olympics are very well known for the tragedy and murder of many Israel athletes. No American has yet to win the Olympic Marathon since Frank's victory.
My reason for placing the Prefontaine and Shorter photo's together is that Pre's final race came against Frank. They ran the 5,000 meters and Pre won at the legendary Hayward Field track.

A good athlete always mentally replays a competition over and over, even in victory, to see what might be done to improve the performance the next time.
Frank Shorter

For the novice runner, I'd say to give yourself at least 2 months of consistently running several times a week at a conversational pace before deciding whether you want to stick with it. Consistency is the most important aspect of training at this point.
Frank Shorter

I admire runners older than I - they are now my heroes. I want to be like them as I grow older.
Frank Shorter

The marathon is all about energy management. I had planned to run it like a track race with strategic surges to blow up my competitors by putting them into oxygen debt, so that is the way I prepared.
Frank Shorter
Yes, winning the gold medal was undoubtedly the biggest day of my career - mostly because I won the way I had prepared to run it. It was a totally satisfying experience.
Frank Shorter

You don't run 26 miles at five minutes a mile on good looks and a secret recipe.
Frank Shorter

Antti Viskari, John J. Kelley, and Eino Oksanen Sitting Together

Antti Viskari, John J. Kelley, and Eino Oksanen Sitting Together
Original caption: B.A.A Marathon winner Antii Viskari (center), 27-year-old Finnish Army Sgt., wears the victory wreath as he poses with John J. Kelley (left), of Boston University, who finished second, and Eino Oksanen, Finland police detective who finished third, after the 60th annual B.A.A.Marathon. Viskari set a new world record as he finished the 26 mile, 305-yard course in two hours, 14 minutes and 14 seconds.

Mrs. Kelley was simply the best. She never ran a mile in her life, but she knew more about the sport than the common runner. She had the heart of gold and she loved everyone whom ever touched her heart. Her and Mr. Kelley were so good to me as a person and the development of my running career. There was always food and great conversation at her kitchen table. God those were the days when it comes to be part of a great running community. I never once called her Jess or Jessie. I don't know why but I assume it all comes from the respect and love I had for this beautiful woman. I miss and love you Mrs. Kelley.

John A. Kelley 1935 Boston Marathon Winner
Well first off this part of this blog has nothing to do with feeling sorry for myself due to all the medical problems that I have endured. It all began in 04/79 just two days before the running of the Boston Marathon. I at that time was in great shape coming off a great fall and early spring of training and racing in early 1979. On this particular saturday night I was returning home to my apartment after attending my friend Jack Thompsons wedding. I was heading home early since I was to leave the next day for the race on Patriots Day. On the way back up the hill near Washington Park I was in a severe car accident of which I remember very little. In the hospital for three months I sustained many injuries including both legs and femur bones broken, left hip broken, left arm broken of which was pinned back together, all my fingers broken, both ankels broken , jaw broken and my upper top teeth gone. Prior to being released from the hospital my doctor informed me that I would never be able to run again due to my severe hip injury. Well we all know runners tick to a different beat and I was not about to take no for an answer. Then again on Super Bowl sunday 1986 I was again in another serious car accident. Returning from a weekend of X-country skiing with Fran and my cousin Tim I was rearended and sustained 2 fractures in the neck at c5 and c6. I was released from Hartford Hospital that night and returned home with severe headaches. The following day while staying home from work I obtained a phone call from the hospital stating that they had made a mistake and that I indeed had the fractures in my neck. To make a long story short all healed and again I moved forward. Yes I commenced running again but could never attain the level of fitness that I had hoped for due to my limitations and right ankle problems. Yes I ran well at times but it was hard but I continued to try and attain some consistency with my training but never was able to put together a full year of injury free running. Then with all that had happen with the car accident I had 5 hernia surgeries with every subsequent surgery due to me being foolish and boneheaded with my commencing of running and working out to early. Then finally in 1990 I had the final hernia surgery of which I had both sides meshed back together, so now I have a bionic stomach with meshing holding me intact.
Yes I always tried to again to resume running but if it wasn't one thing it was another in regards to something else happening. Then in the spring of 1998 my left knee began to bother me, in which I had it operated on that summer. Then all hell broke loose with my life. When I was released from the hospital I was put on a medication called Ultram. At the time it was classified as a non-narcotic and was to have no dependency affects. Well I now no better. It ruined my life and made my life with wife Carol and chikdren Chris & Sarah a living hell. I was so caught up in the sickness of this drug that I could care less about anything else. And yes I also tried to resume running & training as well as worked through this maze of sickness. Back then I always knew there was a problem but continued to function just enough to get by with my fast debilitating life style. It ruined me as well as everyone whom cared for and loved me. But its a sickness hard to explain to someone whom has not experienced. Well through this I had 2 more surgeries on the knee of which were not successful at all. I was frustrated as hell and sick of the whirlwind lifestyle I was leading. I had tried an inpatient detox program but quite obviously I was not ready to stop the madness. Again I tried another program at the Mountainside Treatment Center and although I went back to the druging and lying to all the program did indeed provide me with much information and guidence of which I am every thankful for now. I also hooked up with a great therapist named Julie Longton and she was a saint whom also provided me many tools and help with much support and hard love through all these difficult and trying times. But yes I continued to use and abuse myself and then one day in 05/2004 I awoke and said enough is enough. At that time I was not taking the drug as I had previously when I would take 8-10 a day. At this time it was around 3-4 per day so I suffered some and went through only a few days of withdrawl but I had hit rock bottom and was determined to pick myself back up and get myself back together. Times with Carol were hard. I put her through hell, and this is not something she deserved because she is a sweet loving person . And my relationship with my children also suffered, but again I was determined to mend, heal and move forward in a positive manner. The damage I caused to my family, my mom, sister and yes my dad whom has sinced passed. The sad part about my dad was that he never knew since my mom chose not to tell him since he was ill with his stroke and difficulties with everyday living.
The day of getting my life back was 05/22/2004 - I had had it with that shitty drug Ultram and it was done. I then on 07/04/2004 moved away from home and moved in with my sister Cindy whom I am ever so thankful for. She gave me a place to live and provided me much support and love. Well yes I tried to commence running again in 09/2004 but again the left knee acted up. I then found a great surgeon named Dr. Hutchens whom operated on my knee in early 2005. Again I resumed running and it lasted just two months before it again acted up to the point where it was hard to walk. I made an appointment with him the second week of 09/2005 and was told that I had very few options. One was never run again and endure the pain, another was total knee replacment of which I would never run again and the third was a replacment of the meniscus through a cadaver. Well for me it was a no brainer since I wanted to RUN. I went in to the hospital on 11/22/2005 and had the surgery completed. Talk about hell and swelling and the pain was intolerable. I was taking pain meds since I had no choice but it was controlled and I had no problem with it. After surgery I worked and worked with my PT to get the knee back so I could again run again. My doctor thought I was crazy but he knew my desire to lace up the shoes again was not going to be taken from me easily. As he has stated to me many times " you are running on a time bomb waiting to blow ". If it does it does but I am a smarter in regards to listening to my body and when to take it easy.
Now when I commenced this quest on 06/01 I had to learn how to run all over again. A complete workout consisted of 100 meters at a time. It took I month just to get to a point where I could run 2 miles. Fast forward to now - I have missed just 4 days of running since the beginning and do double workouts at least 2x per week. The majority of my running is completed in a controlled enviornment on the track. Yes it gets boring but its better than the alternative. It provides much cushion for the knee and yes I do run on the road but in a limited manner. I run by time and not miles @ 8:30 -9:00 minute miles. I have done very limited speed but will commence soon doing T running to develop strength and speed. My left knee will never be right or 100%. I have a continued problem with my left quad which breaks down very often. I must continue to do my exercises and light weight lifting to keep it strong. If I can get it to 95% strength it would benefit my so much but at this point and time its maybe 85%. I run with a very slight limp due to the limited strength in the leg but it will improve with time.
So here I am today running and just thankful that I am able to do so. I know I have limited physical abilities but I will never use that as an excuse. I will push forward and continue to improve. It will take at least a full year of training and racing before I see much of a benefit. I would love to be able to run a 5k averaging 6:10 per mile but only time will tell. Its all up to my physical growth and staying healthy. I have the desire and determination and again am just fortunate to be putting one foot in front of the other.
As for the drug addiction I must call my old therapist Julie and thank her for all she did for me. Its funny and I keep saying this and told Julie on many occassions. You could put a bottle of Percoset and Ultram in front of me. I would throw the bottle of Percs away but eat the Ultram. No reason why but its part of the attraction to the devilish drug that I had. I must always keep in mind that its one day at a time and I am only one pill away from it starting all over again. But I have my life back and everything else if beginning to fall back into place. I have a lovely granddaughter in baby Hailey. Shes the apple of my eye. Carol is my friend and how and why she still supports me is beyond belief. Chris & Sarah I get along very well with. Chris has changed so much for the good and now has a wonderful girlfriend in Tiffany. Sarah I say was born to be a mother. She is so great with Hailey but as for her getting married to Nate, she has no interest in that. They are both young but they will learn with life experiences.
I will now move forward and continue to strive for my goal of running the Las Vega Marathon. I will be there god given. But if not it will never be because I did not try. Life and running is all about putting your best foot forward and doing the best you can. In life its about treating people the way you want to be treated. With running its all about determination and for me now I must also include patience.

Bill Rodger's Quotes

The starting line of the New York Marathon is kind of like a giant time bomb behind you about to go off. It is the most spectacular start in sport.
Bill Rodgers

To be a consistent winner means preparing not just one day, one month or even one year - but for a lifetime.
Bill Rodgers

You cannot always run at your best.
Bill Rodgers

My biggest weakness as a endurance athlete has been in not drinking enough water after training, thereby racing sometimes while dehydrated.
Bill Rodgers




Bill Rodgers 1979 Boston Marathon Winner. During The Late 70's & Early 80's He Was The World Greatest Marathon Runner

John J. Kelley Is The Only Member Of The BAA To Ever Win The Boston Marathon

John J. Kelley Is The Only Member Of The BAA To Ever Win The Boston Marathon
Yes Kell your again crossing the Boston Marathon finishing line first. You will always be first in my mind and heart. This celebration was 50 years after your actual victory in 1957. How I only wish that Mrs. Kelley was there to see her Johnny cross that line again. I miss and love you Mrs. Kelley.

This poster says it all about Emil Zatopek. He was the most relentless and powerful runner of all time. He never looked like a runner when out there competing. He always looked more like he was dying, the poetic motion of John J Kelley.
Kell admired Emil so much, that he named his first child Julie, Emily as her middle name.

John J Kelley, Jock Semple, Tom Murphy

his book is about the life and times of Jock Semple. It was written by John J Kelley and Tom Murphy. Jock was not only a great runner during his time as an athlete, but was also the most well known director of the Boston Marathon

My Jock Story

The day began very early in the morning during the month of February. I was picked up by Tim Smith in his old VW with Geno Mcmerriam and Larry Rich. We headed to Hopkinton, Mass. in a raging blizzard to run the Silver Lake Dodge 20 miler. All I can say that it was down right horrible and awful. I obviously wasn't ready for these type of condition because I was cold from the onset and 15 miles in I had no alternative but to stop. The only special touch from the actual run was passing old John A Kelley just about a quarter mile into the race. It certainly was inspiring passing the greatest legend when it comes to marathon running.
Now to Jock. It was well after the race and I was adamant in obtaining my application for the Boston Marathon. The awards ceremony was complete and I was hunting down Jock for this glorious piece of paper. Finally I located him in the car dealership near the finish line. I approached him and asked, " Mr. Semple can I please have an application for the Boston Marathon ". In his old and gruff manner his reply was, with his hand gesturing, get out of here, he stated don't bother me your too young to run my race. To my recuse was my friend Tim Smith whom knew Jock very well. He told Jock I was indeed 18 years of age, and finally I had my application in hand. Fast forward to 1978, it was after the race and I approached Jock and thanked him for allowing me too run in his race. I then asked him if he remembered my confrontation with him five years prior at the Silver Lake Dodge Race. To my amazement his reply was yes. He then asked me how I had fared today and I replied Mr. Semple I ran 2:30.56. He pated me on the shoulder and said in his Scottish accent, great job son. That was my final contact with this great runner and organizer of this great race. Quite obviously we all know what Jock is well known for, in his encounter with Kathrine Switzer during the running of the 1967 edition of Boston. Kathrine ran the race in an unofficial manner and Jock located her on the course and proceeded to jump off the press vehicle and try to remove her number. He was unable to accomplish this due to her husband being by her side and other intervening. It was obviously all Jock.

FOLLOWING IS A PHOTO OF JOCK & KATHRINE

Crazy Jock At His Best
John Joseph Kelley (born December 24, 1930 in Norwich, Connecticut, United States was the winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon and the marathon at the 1959 Pan American Games,[1] and a member of two United States Olympic Marathon teams. He is often dubbed John "The Younger" to avoid confusion with John A. "Johnny" Kelley "The Elder", the similarly-named winner of the 1935 and 1945 Boston Marathons. (Contrary to popular belief, these two John Kelleys are not related.)

Career Summary

An excellent competitive runner during his high school years at Bulkeley School in New London, Connecticut, Kelley began racing in marathons during his college years. From 1950 to 1954, he attended Boston University, a Massachusetts school located about a mile from the Boston Marathon finish line. While at Boston University, he would excel in team races and would run his first two Boston Marathons, in 1953 and 1954. He finished fifth in the 1953 race before following up with a 7th place finish the next year. After graduation from college, Kelley would finish 2nd in the 1956 Boston Marathon and made his way onto the U.S. Olympic Marathon team which competed in Melbourne, Australia during the same year. He would go on to win the Boston Marathon outright in 1957 while setting a new course record on the remeasured course. After his win at Boston, Kelley would win several other marathons including eight consecutive wins of the Yonkers Marathon in Yonkers, New York.[1] As a result of his record setting performance at Yonkers in 1960, he again found his way onto the U.S. Olympic Marathon team and competed in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He placed 21st and 19th in the Melbourne and Rome Olympic marathons respectively.

John J. Kelley's Boston Marathons

  • 1953 2:28:19 5th
  • 1954 2:28:51 7th
  • 1956 2:14:33 2nd
  • 1957 2:20:05 1st
  • 1958 2:30:51 2nd
  • 1959 2:23:43 2nd
  • 1960 DNF
  • 1961 2:23:54 2nd
  • 1962 2:28:37 4th
  • 1963 2:21:09 2nd
  • 1964 2:27:23 7th
  • 1965 2:25:23 14th
  • 1967 2:25:25 12th
  • 1968 2:37:03 15th
  • 1969 2:31:36 22nd
  • 1970 2:36:50 63rd
  • 1971 2:44:10 96th
  • 1972 2:40:05 79th
  • 1973 2:41:13 66th
  • 1974 2:32:18 78th
  • 1975 2:34:11 169th
  • 1976 2:46:43 154th
  • 1977 2:46:26 353rd
  • 1980 2:55:45
  • 1982 2:55:50
  • 1983 2:55:30
  • 1984 2:58:35
  • 1986 3:01:40
  • 1987 3:08:46
  • 1988 3:28:53
  • 1989 3:46:50
  • 1992 4:07:32

Trivia

John J. Kelley is the only runner to ever win both the Boston Marathon and Mount Washington Road Race, which he won in 1961. He made the ascent in one hour and 8 minutes 54 seconds, nearly seven minutes faster than the winning times in the three previous years the race had been held, 1936-1938.

Life Beyond Running

After the pinnacle of his career as a runner, he went onto a successful career as high school running coach. At Fitch High School in Groton, Connecticut, Kelley coached Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon. In addition to coaching, Kelley would find work over the years as a newspaper columnist, free lance writer, cab driver and running wear store co-owner. John Kelley married Jacintha C. Braga in 1953, and has three children, Julia, Kathleen, and Eileen.


Frank Shorter, Amby Burfoot & John Kelley

This link is about Amby running the Athens Marathon. The special side of this column is that Amby's son Dan is also running his first ever race, and it's this marathon. I do remember Amby's son and the medical concerns he has had throughout his life. I also recall being informed at the Kelley kitchen table that Amby had delivered his own child in his vehicle.

Amby Burfoot winning the 1968 Boston Marathon. Amby at the time was also a student at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Ct. Amby was coached in high school by 1957 Boston winner John J Kelley. Amby and Kell are the only formers winners of Boston to be from the same town or city. Both resided from Mystic, Ct at the time of there victories.

Two Of The Greatest Marathoner's Of All Time / John J Kelley & John A Kelley

Friday, November 12, 2010

It's Friday And I Love It

Listening to Bruce and putting in a whopping 9:33 is what I call my happiest day of running during the week. I'm really looking forward to my run tomorrow. The weather is going to be perfect and I think I'm going into the meadows. I just love running there because of the soft trails and the peaceful air. Well it ought to be peaceful due to cemetery and good old Samuel Huntington's tomb. For all too know Samuel was the true first President of the United States. He was the President of the Continental Congress.
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