DeCastella Salazar Rotterdam showdown 1983

Big Rob and Big Al strut their stuff in the buildup to their epic showdown at the 1983 Rotterdam marathon. Also included is a Salazar documentary and the 1984 Phoenix 10km road race.

[@lanagorgeous9485]

Carlos Lopes was godlike. Not only kicked ass in the Olympics but in international cross country and on the track. Mr. Lopes was one of the greatest distance runners of all time, but never gets credit on any top lists of great distance runners.

[@filipem9247]

Yes, he is Portuguese and doesn't speak english. I think you might have the answer there. He finished cross country in '83 2nd ,'84 and 85 1st. Set the WR in rotterdam '85 with 2:07:12h thats a crazy time for 40years ago. He had a special ability for kickin on the last laps either 10km or 42km.amazing negative splits. His weakness was often being Injured.

[@cesarcoelho7227]

It is amazing how nobody talks about Carlos Lopes. Lol . He ended up winning tne gold in 84. I wasn’t surprised

[@ABPerlov]

Around that period Lopes was World Cross Country champion and had the 2nd best time in the 10000m. Then in 1985 he achieved the marathon world record. Lopes had very impressive range.

[@danishskiwarehouse]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you very much for uploading! I remember watching the 83 Rotterdam marathon when I was 10 years old and, despite being in Australia, I wanted Salazar to win. Sadly in light of recent events, Salazar’s accomplishments are brought into question.

[@lanagorgeous9485]

I followed Alberto very closely in the late 70's and 80's and he was legitimate back then as an athlete. He burned himself out after three years at the top. He was an incredibly tough runner, but by 1983, he was never the same. Most contribute that tough Boston Win in 82, that started his spiral down. His last great performance was NY 1982. He didn't start experimenting with questionably strategies until he was a coach in the 2000's. But in the 80's his performances were definitely on the level and legit!

[@paulofaraco2205]

Like para esse videp espetacular 2.08 e para corredores um tempo quase imposdivel ate hoje poucos conseguem👍😎🇧🇷

[@user-ro7ee7]

Very-very good Video Thanks... Forever Great Run...

[@daveyork0]

Every month was Movember for that dude

[@stefan2338]

I may be wrong, but I am fairly sure that I saw Gelindo Bordin in that race

[@paulofaraco2205]

Tempos incriveis abaixo de 30 e pra poucos👍😎

[@theenglishalpinist5031]

"I don't know how the Pommie guys train when it gets this cold" LOL Maybe he asked Charlie Spedding a year later (who beat him in the Olympic marathon, just as he did at Seoul 88).

[@sunnydays5581]

lopes got the last laugh in LA 84. No medals in Rotterdam

[@mendoncacorreia]

I think Lopes let Deeks win this one. At Chicago, the following year, he outsprinted him easily to take 2nd place. Lopes strategy before LA was not to worry too much his olympic opponents. As he told many years later: "I knew them, but they didn't know me..."

[@marknorris1381]

@@mendoncacorreia I doubt Lopes would have allowed anyone win a race in front of him. Inexperience in the marathon is what beat him here. Rotterdam was only his second try in a race at the distance, his first try ended up in a DNF due to a spectator incident, whereas De Castella had already won 4 of 6 marathons he'd run in up to this, De Castella had the experience and he knew how far out he could kick from, Lopes was still finding his way in this type of race. Lopes got on top of De Castella once he got the marathon race experience under his belt. He probably also learned from competition with De Castella how much De Castella had, and what he needed to do to overcome him.

[@chrisjones245]

my dad always talks about deek and his glycol.. it is really important

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Job we have a trail named after you in scotland.all guys in their fifties who remember you.how the trail is called the John Brown trail is another story

[@classicalgreekintroductory6045]

The guy runs a 28.19 in a 10k road race and is utterly disappointed afterwards...

[@ABPerlov]

Great documentary. Jon. Who do you rate is the better marathon runner, Salazar or De Castella?

[@jonbrown1471]

Deek without a doubt.

[@ABPerlov]

@@jonbrown1471 Thanks for the reply. I did not expect a reply. There is a thread on Letsrun discussing who is the best 1980's male marathon runner. It is between Lopes, De Castella, Jones and Seko. I wonder if you had choice or admired any of those runners.

[@michaell8722]

And definitely a more durable runner..

[@ABPerlov]

@@michaell8722 Agreed. De Castella's marathon results and longevity are more impressive.

[@lanagorgeous9485]

Neither one did well in Olympic competition when it was all on the line, but Carlos Lopes was godlike. Not only kicked ass in the Olympics but in international cross country and on the track. Mr. Lopes was one of the greatest distance runners of all time, but never gets credit on any top lists of great distance runners.

[@diegovanegas3962]

I never understood Salazar’s cockiness and arrogance come from. Also as a coach didn’t do well at the end.

[@RevAlKhemy]

First heard of AL in 1973, our best runner snickerd that AL would get his " doors blown off" 2 mile mark, AL accelerated to 4 minute mile pace, people were stunned, our best runner was in shock, but gamely tried to catch AL. AL just stumbled a bit up a small hill...but he just cruised home at a 5 mile pace, course record of course. Sadly AL seemed to do way too much speed work, way too hard.

[@bootymanager]

Jon, I'm writing an article for the 40th anniversary of the race. This doco is called 'Marathon One' isn't it?