News & Releases >> 2005 >> Apr 11 2005
NEWS Apr 11 2005
Ed Whitlock has resounding victory in Rotterdam with another sub-3: 1-0 Canada!
by Alan Brookes
ROTTERDAM, Holland. 11 April 2005
Ed Whitlock turned in another marvellous performance in cool, breezy and wet conditions in Rotterdam yesterday, crossing the line in 2:58:40, a resounding three kilometres ahead of Dutch rival, Joop Ruter (3:12:22), to take the first leg of their head-to-head match-up. The return leg will be run on Ed's home-turf at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on September 25th.
Ed ran in long-sleeved t-shirt and shorts, and took charge from the start, setting a sizzling pace, barely over 4 minutes for the first kilometre. Ruter hung on gamely for close to 5k, and then dropped back, leaving the Canadian to battle the elemnts and the clock. Whitlock showed a remarkable consistency, coming home only one minute slower in the second half than he went out in the first-half. Ruter suffered further in the final 7km, cramping in the 7 degree celcius, wet and windy conditions.
In his own words, Ed became quite unambitious himself around 35k, but then came through his bad patch to run a very strong 3 or 4km stretch, guaranteeing his sub-3, before fading for a tough finish in the final kilometre. Ed placed a remarkable 439th overall out of 9,193 finishers.
Ed now has the only 3 sub-3 hour performances by a septuagenarian (2:58:40, 2:59:10, and 2:54:49).
Over the weekend, Ed was treated royally by his Rotterdam hosts, mixing freely with, and earning the respect and admiration of the elite African contingent—the likes of Felix Limo (a 2:06 marathoner), and race winner Jimmy Muindi (2:07:50 yesterday).
Ed and Joop Ruter became good friends over the weekend, and are already looking forward to the re-match on the Toronto Waterfront.
For now, it's 1-0 Canada, Ed over The Flying Dutchman.
Related stories, pre-race:
- The 70+ showdown in Rotterdam by Eamonn Fitzgerald
- At 73, Marathoner Runs as if He's Stopped the Clock by Marc Bloom, NEW YORK TIMES
"This is a great article—it's balanced between inspiring and unbelievable, and is funny and even a bit morbid! Those not familiar with Ed's achievements could go to town on the image of a 73-year-old who runs loops in a cemetery for 3 hours/day.
It's the perfect match race: the unassuming Canadian, quietly living the life of the ascetic in determined pursuit of the perfect race, against the brash, trash-talking Euro who carouses all night after his races. Nothing says 'bring it on' like a little trash talk from a Dutch septuagenarian with a name that belongs on a futuristic super-hero!
Go Ed!" – W. Donahue - Require Running Motivation? Read this Article on Ed Whitlock (copy of Marc Bloom article, with photo)
- Maclean's magazine's top photographer, Peter Bregg, follows Ed to Rotterdam
