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“For every finish-line tape a runner breaks -- complete with the cheers of the crowd and the clicking of hundreds of cameras -- there are the hours of hard and often lonely work that rarely gets talked about.”

Grete Waitz

9-Time NYC Marathon Champion Grete Waitz Dies at Age 57

April 19, 2011

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Grete Waitz via @Runners World

After battling cancer for the past six years, Grete Waitz, the Norwegian marathon champion who topped the winner’s podium at the NYC Marathon nine times, died today in Oslo at the young age of just 57.  Waitz had won the 1978-80, 1982-86, and 1988 NYC Marathons. She earned the title “The Greatest Champion in New York City Marathon History” by race organizers and fans, alike.
The interesting thing is that Waitz did not originally plan to become a marathon champion. Her husband convinced her to register for her first marathon, the NYC Marathon, in 1978. While she was originally expected to be a pace setter, she ended up winning the marathon and setting a world record of 2 hours, 32 minutes, 30 seconds.
This is a great loss to the running world, particularly because after Waitz retired from running, she dedicated her life to promoting health and wellness and raised funds to support cancer research.
Each year the New York Road Runners club organizes the “Grete’s Great Gallop,” a half-marathon, in honor honor of Grete. A great way to celebrate a wonderful person.

Provided by: http://theultralete.com/2011/04/9-time-nyc-marathon-champion-grete-waitz-dies-at-age-57/