Dec 10, 1999

Nice article about Emil Zatopek [January Runner's World], and what a magnificent photo of him. He was very handsome, but you'd never know it from the regular pics we always see of him running like he was possessed by demons.

He is such a gentleman too. I met him at New York City Marathon a few years ago and told him he was one of my heroes. I tell people stuff like that upfront, so then when they are gone I have no regrets.

My favorite Zatopek story is the one where he puts soapsuds in the bathtub, fills it with water, puts his clothes in, puts on his army boots, then runs in place for a while. His wife attested that the clothes got really clean. This definitely ranks with the all-time funniest running stories. (Gary Fanelli, Honolulu, Hawaii)

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