Runner's World Story on Debbie Heald

She set the world indoor record in the mile as a 16 year old in a meet with 2 russians and another american superstar (Debbie was not, at the time), it remains the national HS record some 40+ years later. Really a tough story of all that she went through over the years and how her life has turned out. Very well written and compelling story.

Anyway, she is my 2nd (or 3rd?) cousin. I've never met her that I recall, but my grandfather used to talk about her and her record from time to time (she was his niece). About all I ever knew about her was that she set the record in the mile. I was more familiar with the story about her dad (my great uncle). My copy of RW came in the mail and I looked at the cover which has a vague reference to a forgotten miler, and for some reason I thought of her. Find out, it's not a squib, it's a significant story in the issue. I called my dad (her cousin) and he was excited enough to run out and by his own copy right then. It's interesting that her dad was one of my granddad's 2 siblings. We (my dad, sister, cousins, etc.) were pretty close to my great aunt and her family of kids and grandkids, but we never knew anybody on my great uncle's side. I may have met some more distant relatives on that side once or twice, at the most. I wasn't even alive at the time, but I almost feel guilty that none of the east coast Healds (meaning my grandfather or grandmother) seemed to have stepped in to help out a clearly troubled family. Oh well, it's a good read. I left out any details in case anybody wants to read it fresh.

Video of her race: http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?video_id=61937-Womens-Mile-Debbie-Heald-HS-AR-WR-4-38-5-USA-vs-Russia-Indoor-Meet-1972

I'm sorry, I just watched that for the first time. It's one of the more dramatic things I have ever seen, admittedly, I'm a little biased.

Cool - I look forward to reading it. RW gets panned by a lot of us here but I still think its well worth the subscription as every other issue or so, they will do a fantastic feature length piece.

That race footage is awesome.

FYI, your father's cousin in your first cousin once removed. Debbie Heald's children would be your second cousins. Your children and Debbie Heald's grandchildren would be third cousins.

The "first" or "second" designation indicates how many generations separate two people from their common ancestor; the "removed" part indicates a difference in generations. In your case the common ancestor is your great-grandparent, her grandparent.

That video was pretty amazing. I am looking forward to reading the story too.

Just read the story and then came back and watched the video - wow.

kath wrote:FYI, your father's cousin in your first cousin once removed. Debbie Heald's children would be your second cousins. Your children and Debbie Heald's grandchildren would be third cousins.

The "first" or "second" designation indicates how many generations separate two people from their common ancestor; the "removed" part indicates a difference in generations. In your case the common ancestor is your great-grandparent, her grandparent.

Thanks, I'm only 95% sure that she is my Dad's first cousin, to be honest.

The video was awesome and what a finishing kick!! The Russian had no idea what just happen! Thanks for sharing.