So here’s a question about those very first IM’s, and particularly the very first one that I can’t seem to find an exact answer to on here. How did the class of 1978 train for that very first race? I’ve dug around and read the stories about Gordon Haller winning in 11:46, and John Dunbar running out of water and drinking beer, but still finishing in 12:20. However, from virtually every single article I’ve read it sounds like John Collins and his buddies invented this race a few weeks before it went off, and then they all just went out and did it. I see most were in the military (SEALs), so I’m sure there was plenty of PT going on. But what, if anything, was their training like? Did they just go out and do it and have fun? Their bikes certainly looked like nothing special, no wetsuits, no hrm’s, no power meters, no strava, no 15-18 hours a week, just 15 guys racing around Oahu, and 12 finished in under 17. So how did they do it? And how awesome would that be these days if Jesse Thomas or Andy Potts chugged a beer at mile 20 -something of the marathon b/c an aid station ran out of water.
It’s a good question - I had always thought they were fit guys who just did it
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I’ve got believe most of them, if not all, didn’t do anything different from their normal exercise routines. They did just got together and did it. I think John Collins said he ate some chili on the bike course. Some special need. I find it refreshing looking back at those times. No wetsuits or special swimwear. Regular bikes with no aerobars, disc wheels, etc. Running shoes weren’t near as good as they are now. Nutritional information for an event like that was nonexistent. It’s like a bunch of guys who tinker around with some woodworking saying “Hey, let’s get together in a few weeks, buy a bunch of materials, and build a house”. Then they do it.
So here’s a question about those very first IM’s, and particularly the very first one that I can’t seem to find an exact answer to on here. How did the class of 1978 train for that very first race? I’ve dug around and read the stories about Gordon Haller winning in 11:46, and John Dunbar running out of water and drinking beer, but still finishing in 12:20. However, from virtually every single article I’ve read it sounds like John Collins and his buddies invented this race a few weeks before it went off, and then they all just went out and did it. I see most were in the military (SEALs), so I’m sure there was plenty of PT going on. But what, if anything, was their training like? Did they just go out and do it and have fun? Their bikes certainly looked like nothing special, no wetsuits, no hrm’s, no power meters, no strava, no 15-18 hours a week, just 15 guys racing around Oahu, and 12 finished in under 17. So how did they do it? And how awesome would that be these days if Jesse Thomas or Andy Potts chugged a beer at mile 20 -something of the marathon b/c an aid station ran out of water.
Acc to a 2003 active.com that came up on Google, Haller said he was running around 100 mi/wk back in '78, plus a mod amount of swim and bike, so he was in excellent shape. He was 27 when he won in '78 and his best time was 10:58 in '79 and has competed at Hawaii almost every year since '78. Also, it should be noted that Haller was NOT a SEAL but rather was a communications specialist with a degree in physics. 
http://www.active.com/triathlon/articles/ironman-s-first-champ-gordon-haller-looks-back-25-years
I found this TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8COaMKbNrX0 to be fascinating.
It speaks to the many examples you provide. Interesting thoughts…
Thanks Olmec, that was an interesting video. Kind of goes along with what I have been saying for a number of years now about Dave Scott and Mark Allen, that given the same equipment/nutrition as triathletes today, they would likely still be winning.
So here’s a question about those very first IM’s, and particularly the very first one that I can’t seem to find an exact answer to on here. How did the class of 1978 train for that very first race? I’ve dug around and read the stories about Gordon Haller winning in 11:46, and John Dunbar running out of water and drinking beer, but still finishing in 12:20. However, from virtually every single article I’ve read it sounds like John Collins and his buddies invented this race a few weeks before it went off, and then they all just went out and did it. I see most were in the military (SEALs), so I’m sure there was plenty of PT going on. But what, if anything, was their training like? Did they just go out and do it and have fun? Their bikes certainly looked like nothing special, no wetsuits, no hrm’s, no power meters, no strava, no 15-18 hours a week, just 15 guys racing around Oahu, and 12 finished in under 17. So how did they do it? And how awesome would that be these days if Jesse Thomas or Andy Potts chugged a beer at mile 20 -something of the marathon b/c an aid station ran out of water.
Acc to a 2003 active.com that came up on Google, Haller said he was running around 100 mi/wk back in '78, plus a mod amount of swim and bike, so he was in excellent shape. He was 27 when he won in '78 and his best time was 10:58 in '79 and has competed at Hawaii almost every year since '78. Also, it should be noted that Haller was NOT a SEAL but rather was a communications specialist with a degree in physics.
http://www.active.com/…-looks-back-25-years
Yea, I read that one too, which is cool, but kinda wonder about the other competitors as well. Seems like normal athletic guys that just said why not. Just read about Frank Day who 2 weeks before the race was talked into it by Collins. I think we spend so much time focused on training and gear many of us lose sight about those days when no one took themselves so seriously, and were just as good as we are now.
Below is a photo of Gordon and me. He was the classic workout junkie . . . and quite good at it. There are legendary stories about him running to the Mexican border and back - who knows what’s true and what’s embellished. I’m also good friends with Dave Orlowski who was 3rd in that 1st race . . . in cut-off blue jeans. He has great stories. Dave was a military MP and was just in great shape. By the way, Dave has had some recent health struggles so send some thoughts his way. These guys are legends as well as roll models in many ways.
Did they just go out and do it and have fun? Their bikes certainly looked like nothing special, no wetsuits, no hrm’s, no power meters, no strava, no 15-18 hours a week, just 15 guys racing around Oahu, and 12 finished in under 17.
They would have been massacred on Slowtwitch…
They would have been massacred on Slowtwitch…
True that.
So here’s a question about those very first IM’s, and particularly the very first one that I can’t seem to find an exact answer to on here. How did the class of 1978 train for that very first race? I’ve dug around and read the stories about Gordon Haller winning in 11:46, and John Dunbar running out of water and drinking beer, but still finishing in 12:20. However, from virtually every single article I’ve read it sounds like John Collins and his buddies invented this race a few weeks before it went off, and then they all just went out and did it. I see most were in the military (SEALs), so I’m sure there was plenty of PT going on. But what, if anything, was their training like? Did they just go out and do it and have fun? Their bikes certainly looked like nothing special, no wetsuits, no hrm’s, no power meters, no strava, no 15-18 hours a week, just 15 guys racing around Oahu, and 12 finished in under 17. So how did they do it? And how awesome would that be these days if Jesse Thomas or Andy Potts chugged a beer at mile 20 -something of the marathon b/c an aid station ran out of water.
Acc to a 2003 active.com that came up on Google, Haller said he was running around 100 mi/wk back in '78, plus a mod amount of swim and bike, so he was in excellent shape. He was 27 when he won in '78 and his best time was 10:58 in '79 and has competed at Hawaii almost every year since '78. Also, it should be noted that Haller was NOT a SEAL but rather was a communications specialist with a degree in physics.
http://www.active.com/…-looks-back-25-years
Yea, I read that one too, which is cool, but kinda wonder about the other competitors as well. Seems like normal athletic guys that just said why not. Just read about Frank Day who 2 weeks before the race was talked into it by Collins. I think we spend so much time focused on training and gear many of us lose sight about those days when no one took themselves so seriously, and were just as good as we are now.
Oh, i totally, TOTALLY agree on the not taking themselves too seriously; “over seriousness” is a real prob in today’s world.
Given your ST moniker “Desert Fox”, are you a Rommel fan??? Maybe wish you’d been born earlier so you could’ve soldiered in WWII??? Just curious.
I had the opportunity to meet Dave Orlowski last summer at IMLP. He came to our hotel to speak with several triathletes and their families the night before the race. His stories were wonderful. He stayed for photos and 1:1 conversation after he spoke. He was very gracious with his time. You could tell that triathlon held a special place in his heart.
I had the opportunity to meet Dave Orlowski last summer at IMLP. He came to our hotel to speak with several triathletes and their families the night before the race. His stories were wonderful. He stayed for photos and 1:1 conversation after he spoke. He was very gracious with his time. You could tell that triathlon held a special place in his heart.
Those pictures are awesome. Those guys are like the Lombardi’s/ Nameth’s of our sport, and the sad part is 80% of competitors might not ever dig that deep to learn much outside of the whole Collins story. It would be awesome if WTC had an online museum, so we could all learn a little more than just cranking out yards and miles and dropping thousands of dollars on the newest and coolest aero-crap. Last year a guy at a July 4th party told me, “you guys who race the Ironman, that’s “tip-of-the-spear” stuff” (granted we were all seriously buzzed at that point), I thought was a super cool statement, but these guys are the real tip of the spear. The Originals.