12 Best Moments for U.S. Distance Running in 2012

With the end of the year upon us...What's your favorite moment of 2012?

http://www.runningusa.org/2012-12-best-moments-USA-distance-running?returnTo=main

Sorry, I can't tell you.

It's very close, but I think I'd pick "Rupp's Record Romp at Olympic Trials over "Rupp's Olympic 10,000m Silver Medal" because what Galen did at Hayward was so very impressive. Breaking Prefontaine's 1972 OTC record? Inconceivable!

(That silver in London was the highlights of the Olympics, though.)

Mark B wrote:It's very close, but I think I'd pick "Rupp's Record Romp at Olympic Trials over "Rupp's Olympic 10,000m Silver Medal" because what Galen did at Hayward was so very impressive. Breaking Prefontaine's 1972 OTC record? Inconceivable!

(That silver in London was the highlights of the Olympics, though.)

And what was left out about Rupp's 10,000m race was that he graciously agreed to help pace Ritzenhein to the "A" standard in the pouring rain, when he really had no personal incentive to do so.

The US Trials 10,000 and the Olympic 10,000 are a close call for me.

#12 - WS100 record. Because I was there at the finish line, and it was insane to see it.

Meb's 4th place run in London (and I loved his win in Houston). At around 18 miles, he was in 19th place in London, but he didn't give up, dug deep and climbed all the way to 4th - shows just how gutsy he is and then he had to be transported through Heathrow in a wheelchair since his feet were so blistered to catch his flight home later that week.

(I must also admit that my hatred for Kobe Bryant went away when I saw how many Olympic events he watched as a USA cheerleader and spectator. He was in the stands for gymnastics and women's swimming. I also have to applaud the women's swim team as they are an impressive and phenomenal group of young women.)

For me it is Rupp's 10,000 at the Olympics and Ritz's 2:07 at Chicago...

I agree and concur with #1 and #2. My #3 would be Kim Conley's dramatic close for 3rd place in the trials and that infectious smile she has. Wait, Meb's gutsy performance @ the Olympics would be # 3 or 4 and Jager's PR #5.

Wait wait wait wait wait, I completely forgot about the ACTUAL #1 BEST RUNNING MOMENT OF 2012. Silly list doesn't even remotely make mention of it. Of course, that could be because she's Australian.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m81vcwuVO71rcx94ao1_500.gif

Mike MacLellan wrote:Wait wait wait wait wait, I completely forgot about the ACTUAL #1 BEST RUNNING MOMENT OF 2012. Silly list doesn't even remotely make mention of it. Of course, that could be because she's Australian.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m81vcwuVO71rcx94ao1_500.gif

NICE

Yes, this is an American list...

Mike MacLellan wrote:Wait wait wait wait wait, I completely forgot about the ACTUAL #1 BEST RUNNING MOMENT OF 2012. Silly list doesn't even remotely make mention of it. Of course, that could be because she's Australian.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m81vcwuVO71rcx94ao1_500.gif

Yep. Clearly discrimination against those bouncy kangaroos. Or whatever you call 'em.

Mark B wrote:

Mike MacLellan wrote:Wait wait wait wait wait, I completely forgot about the ACTUAL #1 BEST RUNNING MOMENT OF 2012. Silly list doesn't even remotely make mention of it. Of course, that could be because she's Australian.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m81vcwuVO71rcx94ao1_500.gif

Yep. Clearly discrimination against those bouncy kangaroos. Or whatever you call 'em.

Those are wallabies

Nick Morris wrote:

Mark B wrote:

Mike MacLellan wrote:Wait wait wait wait wait, I completely forgot about the ACTUAL #1 BEST RUNNING MOMENT OF 2012. Silly list doesn't even remotely make mention of it. Of course, that could be because she's Australian.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m81vcwuVO71rcx94ao1_500.gif

Yep. Clearly discrimination against those bouncy kangaroos. Or whatever you call 'em.

Those are wallabies

More like wallaboobies. Amirite?????

I gotta agree with #1. I was screaming at the television during the Olympics when I saw Rupp kicking and thought he could pass Bekele the final 100m. What an awesome, awesome race.

I am also really intrigued by the longer distances now. I am just finishing up Scott Jurek's book and he talked about breaking 16 hours for the first time at Western States. Now Tim Olson went way under 15 hours. I've hiked the first 4.5 miles of the WS course from Squaw Valley. It would take most people 2-3 hours to cover the first 5 miles of the WS course. Incredible run by Olson.

Mike Morton's record is incredible as well. So is the guy who just broke Kouros' 72 hour record by running 329 miles. He averaged more miles/day than the winner of the 24 hour race (and that is a guy who ran 12:44 for 100 miles on trails). Also incredible.