Friday; September 4
On this date in 1922 the Finish runner, Paavo Nurmi, set a world record in the 2000 meters (1.2 miles) with a time of 5 minutes 26.4 seconds. This time knocked about four seconds off the mark that had been set four years before it and was an exceptional time for 1922. Yet, if we take a look at the modern record books, we realize it is a glacial pace compared to Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1999 time of 4 minutes 44.79 seconds. In retrospect, maybe Nurmi wasn’t all that good. Folks, that last comment was said with tongue-in-cheek because Paavo Nurmi was that good! The “Flying Finn” won nine gold and three silver medals over three Olympics Games in the 1920s. He is also credited with setting almost two dozen officially sanctioned world records and another dozen or so unofficial records. Yes, he truly was a world class athlete for his day. No, his times may not compare to what are being posted today, but he made the most of the talent he had using the techniques and equipment at his dispo