1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:16,467 Speaker 2: One of our greatest middle distance runners, Rod Dixon has 4 00:00:16,547 --> 00:00:18,987 Speaker 2: been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of 5 00:00:19,067 --> 00:00:22,667 Speaker 2: Merit for services to athletics in the New Year's Honors. 6 00:00:22,867 --> 00:00:27,387 Speaker 2: Rod Dixon was an incredibly versatile runner with a competitive 7 00:00:27,387 --> 00:00:31,587 Speaker 2: career which spanned nearly two decades across as many many 8 00:00:31,627 --> 00:00:35,827 Speaker 2: achievements in numerous disciplines. He won bronze in the fifteen 9 00:00:35,947 --> 00:00:39,867 Speaker 2: hundred meters at the nineteen seventy two Munich Olympic Games 10 00:00:40,347 --> 00:00:43,987 Speaker 2: and produced a memorable victory in the nineteen eighty three 11 00:00:44,467 --> 00:00:47,027 Speaker 2: New York City Marathon, which he won in a New 12 00:00:47,107 --> 00:00:51,587 Speaker 2: Zealand record time which lasted for thirty five years. What Dixon, 13 00:00:51,627 --> 00:00:54,227 Speaker 2: It's a bross Smith for me over the last prize? 14 00:00:54,787 --> 00:00:57,107 Speaker 1: Dixon A tremendous competition here at New. 15 00:00:57,107 --> 00:01:01,107 Speaker 3: York mainteen anythree? What Dixon sprinting holt of the finished? 16 00:01:01,427 --> 00:01:07,187 Speaker 2: What dictus spectacular racing effort? Please get any Part two 17 00:01:07,347 --> 00:01:11,947 Speaker 2: five fifty eight of Basilion absolutely iconic. He remains Rod 18 00:01:11,947 --> 00:01:15,427 Speaker 2: Dixon the only athlete in history to have meddled in 19 00:01:15,467 --> 00:01:19,067 Speaker 2: the Olympic fifteen hundred meters and one the New York 20 00:01:19,067 --> 00:01:22,747 Speaker 2: City Marathon. He competed in three Olympic Games, in two 21 00:01:22,787 --> 00:01:27,787 Speaker 2: Commonwealth Games, and several cross country World Championships podium finishers 22 00:01:27,827 --> 00:01:31,547 Speaker 2: in nineteen seventy three and nineteen eighty two. He then 23 00:01:31,587 --> 00:01:35,067 Speaker 2: became involved in many major events as a director, including 24 00:01:35,107 --> 00:01:38,507 Speaker 2: the Auckland Round the Bays, the Sovereign Miles Series, and 25 00:01:38,587 --> 00:01:43,267 Speaker 2: the Los Angeles Marathon. He founded Kids Marathon Foundation in 26 00:01:43,387 --> 00:01:48,307 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety, an educational running and nutrition program that's been 27 00:01:48,347 --> 00:01:52,427 Speaker 2: implemented in schools nationally and around the world, impacting more 28 00:01:52,467 --> 00:01:56,427 Speaker 2: than one point five million kids worldwide. He's been a 29 00:01:56,547 --> 00:02:01,827 Speaker 2: UNISEF Goodwill Ambassador promoting children's rights and welfare on a 30 00:02:01,867 --> 00:02:05,147 Speaker 2: global scale, and since two thousand and five has been 31 00:02:05,187 --> 00:02:10,267 Speaker 2: patron and in Dellusion Ambassador for Special Olympics, Leukemia Team 32 00:02:10,427 --> 00:02:14,787 Speaker 2: in Training and Achilles, New Zealand. He was inducted into 33 00:02:14,787 --> 00:02:17,227 Speaker 2: the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in nineteen ninety 34 00:02:17,227 --> 00:02:20,427 Speaker 2: six and now is an Officer of the New Zealand 35 00:02:20,587 --> 00:02:25,667 Speaker 2: Order of Merit. Rod Dixon joins us on Weekend Sport Congratulations. 36 00:02:25,747 --> 00:02:30,347 Speaker 2: Rod on this thoroughly deserved New Year's honor, and amongst 37 00:02:30,427 --> 00:02:33,467 Speaker 2: everything else that you've achieved, what does recognition of this 38 00:02:33,627 --> 00:02:35,107 Speaker 2: type mean for you? 39 00:02:35,827 --> 00:02:39,987 Speaker 3: Well, it's yeah, it's I guess. I think in my 40 00:02:40,107 --> 00:02:45,427 Speaker 3: earlier days wasn't that interested, more focused on running. But 41 00:02:45,587 --> 00:02:49,587 Speaker 3: certainly now as we see the impact that the Kids 42 00:02:49,747 --> 00:02:55,867 Speaker 3: Running program, Run, Jump, Play, ABC, Agility, Bounced coordination skills 43 00:02:55,867 --> 00:03:01,347 Speaker 3: for kids at elementary primary school is really working. And 44 00:03:01,427 --> 00:03:04,307 Speaker 3: I'm seeing kids in high school now that will tell 45 00:03:04,347 --> 00:03:07,067 Speaker 3: me that they were inspired by the program when they 46 00:03:07,067 --> 00:03:11,747 Speaker 3: were in elementary school and now they're playing basketball or 47 00:03:11,827 --> 00:03:16,427 Speaker 3: hockey or soccer at college. And that's we know the journey. 48 00:03:16,427 --> 00:03:17,227 Speaker 3: We know the journey. 49 00:03:17,387 --> 00:03:20,467 Speaker 2: Well, let's look at your journey. You grew up in Nilsen. 50 00:03:20,947 --> 00:03:23,467 Speaker 2: How did you catch the running bug? 51 00:03:24,987 --> 00:03:30,747 Speaker 3: Well, I think my primary school teachers have figured out 52 00:03:30,827 --> 00:03:34,667 Speaker 3: that seeing my day. In my day, if you misbehaved, 53 00:03:34,907 --> 00:03:37,307 Speaker 3: you had to go out and run around the football field. 54 00:03:37,827 --> 00:03:41,747 Speaker 3: And of course the pitcher kept telling my mother, it says, 55 00:03:42,027 --> 00:03:45,507 Speaker 3: your son is misbehaving all the time. Every day he's 56 00:03:45,547 --> 00:03:47,907 Speaker 3: almost behaving. And she said, well, what do you do? 57 00:03:48,267 --> 00:03:50,267 Speaker 3: I send him out for a run. She said, well 58 00:03:50,307 --> 00:03:53,267 Speaker 3: he loves that. Why don't you give him a hundred lines, 59 00:03:53,507 --> 00:03:56,907 Speaker 3: I will not misbehave. Well, I stopped misbehaving. I didn't 60 00:03:56,947 --> 00:04:00,867 Speaker 3: want to be writing one hundred lives. So it was born. 61 00:04:00,947 --> 00:04:04,627 Speaker 3: It was my DNA. It was absolutely and I joined 62 00:04:04,627 --> 00:04:07,627 Speaker 3: the running club when I was thirteen years old. And 63 00:04:08,147 --> 00:04:11,347 Speaker 3: of course just up the road was Harold Nelson, who 64 00:04:11,427 --> 00:04:14,707 Speaker 3: was the nineteen forty eight Olympian, nineteen fifty gold and 65 00:04:14,747 --> 00:04:18,027 Speaker 3: silver medalists at the British Empire Games, and he was 66 00:04:18,067 --> 00:04:22,107 Speaker 3: such an inspiration. George McKenzie, who's the brother of Dave 67 00:04:22,227 --> 00:04:26,867 Speaker 3: McKenzie who won the Boston Marathon on ninety sixty seven, 68 00:04:27,227 --> 00:04:30,427 Speaker 3: my brother, who was a great runner, it's my hero. 69 00:04:30,987 --> 00:04:36,307 Speaker 3: At meeting Sir Edmund Hillary in nineteen sixty at Tonnuis School. 70 00:04:36,547 --> 00:04:39,547 Speaker 3: These people just gave me so much inspiration. 71 00:04:40,667 --> 00:04:43,347 Speaker 2: Your early success or a lot of it was in 72 00:04:43,427 --> 00:04:46,907 Speaker 2: cross country. Were you always driven though to become a 73 00:04:46,987 --> 00:04:47,787 Speaker 2: track athlete? 74 00:04:48,907 --> 00:04:49,027 Speaker 1: Ah? 75 00:04:49,147 --> 00:04:51,547 Speaker 3: No, I think it was just you know there again, 76 00:04:51,867 --> 00:04:57,347 Speaker 3: you know cross country season track season were different, you know, 77 00:04:57,587 --> 00:04:59,867 Speaker 3: winter and summer, and it just meant that I could 78 00:04:59,907 --> 00:05:05,707 Speaker 3: run all year round. But I absolutely loved cross country 79 00:05:05,867 --> 00:05:09,067 Speaker 3: and my most favorite cross country course was at the 80 00:05:09,107 --> 00:05:13,027 Speaker 3: Oaklands Farm in Stoke where they had big hills and 81 00:05:13,107 --> 00:05:18,627 Speaker 3: big fences and gates and creeks and swamps, and we 82 00:05:18,867 --> 00:05:20,627 Speaker 3: just love going through that. 83 00:05:21,267 --> 00:05:23,667 Speaker 2: I guess given your cross country background, when you did 84 00:05:23,707 --> 00:05:26,387 Speaker 2: move to the track rod, the more obvious choice would 85 00:05:26,387 --> 00:05:30,147 Speaker 2: have been the five thousand meters. So as we look 86 00:05:30,347 --> 00:05:33,867 Speaker 2: at your appearance at the Munich Olympic Games, you targeted 87 00:05:34,227 --> 00:05:35,547 Speaker 2: the fifteen hundred meters. 88 00:05:35,547 --> 00:05:39,627 Speaker 3: Why was that, Well, it was because I was inspired 89 00:05:39,627 --> 00:05:45,227 Speaker 3: by Jack Lovelock, nineteen thirty six Olympic gold medalists, Peter Snell, 90 00:05:45,387 --> 00:05:51,467 Speaker 3: Murray Hilberg, Bill Bailey, Barry McGee, all these guys who ran, 91 00:05:51,747 --> 00:05:56,187 Speaker 3: John Davies, all these incredible athletes back in the sixties. 92 00:05:56,507 --> 00:05:59,987 Speaker 3: They inspired us and it was just amazing, and I 93 00:06:00,147 --> 00:06:02,627 Speaker 3: wanted to be a miner. I wanted to run the mile. 94 00:06:02,947 --> 00:06:07,347 Speaker 3: That was something that was very, very powerful. 95 00:06:07,987 --> 00:06:09,987 Speaker 2: Did it feel attainable to you? You had your brother 96 00:06:10,107 --> 00:06:13,907 Speaker 2: John as a coach and a mentor. Did Olympic qualification 97 00:06:14,187 --> 00:06:15,947 Speaker 2: feel attainable for you? 98 00:06:17,027 --> 00:06:19,747 Speaker 3: Oh? No, I don't think so. At the time ninety 99 00:06:19,867 --> 00:06:24,787 Speaker 3: sixty eight, with all our mates were listening on the 100 00:06:24,827 --> 00:06:29,947 Speaker 3: transistor radio to the fifteen hundred meters, and I said 101 00:06:30,107 --> 00:06:32,147 Speaker 3: I'll be there one day, you guys, and they get 102 00:06:32,667 --> 00:06:35,587 Speaker 3: have you been drinking? I mean it was like, I mean, 103 00:06:36,307 --> 00:06:39,187 Speaker 3: they couldn't, you know, But I said, no, this is 104 00:06:39,227 --> 00:06:41,347 Speaker 3: going to be a goal. I'm going to be doing this. 105 00:06:41,787 --> 00:06:44,067 Speaker 3: But it was just a dream. It was a dream 106 00:06:44,067 --> 00:06:48,147 Speaker 3: and it was spontaneous. But slowly the dots started to connect. 107 00:06:48,467 --> 00:06:50,547 Speaker 3: And I think that was when my brother John said, 108 00:06:50,867 --> 00:06:52,987 Speaker 3: you know, what do you think And I said, I 109 00:06:53,147 --> 00:06:54,867 Speaker 3: want to run the fifteen hundred. I want to run 110 00:06:54,907 --> 00:06:57,107 Speaker 3: the mile. He said, well, we're halfway there already. 111 00:06:57,827 --> 00:07:00,147 Speaker 2: And so how did it come to be? What sort 112 00:07:00,187 --> 00:07:02,907 Speaker 2: of training program, what sort of preparation did you put 113 00:07:02,947 --> 00:07:07,627 Speaker 2: in place that saw you run a personal best for Munich. 114 00:07:08,027 --> 00:07:14,027 Speaker 3: Well, I think certainly John, having been coached with George mackenzie, 115 00:07:14,507 --> 00:07:18,227 Speaker 3: John figured it out. And of course, in those early days, 116 00:07:18,827 --> 00:07:21,667 Speaker 3: the Lydiad used to come to Nelson because he worked 117 00:07:21,667 --> 00:07:24,387 Speaker 3: for Rothman's and he used to come to the club 118 00:07:24,707 --> 00:07:27,907 Speaker 3: and coach coaches, and of course John was there too, 119 00:07:28,267 --> 00:07:32,067 Speaker 3: and he understood the principles and philosophy of the Lydiad 120 00:07:32,107 --> 00:07:36,067 Speaker 3: Prince training, and I think all that was started to 121 00:07:36,107 --> 00:07:40,547 Speaker 3: come together. The ducks started to connect, and of course 122 00:07:40,787 --> 00:07:46,547 Speaker 3: I just was just motivated and inspired to I mean, 123 00:07:46,587 --> 00:07:49,027 Speaker 3: I couldn't wait for each day's training. It was amazing. 124 00:07:49,427 --> 00:07:51,627 Speaker 2: I want to talk about what happened on the track 125 00:07:51,627 --> 00:07:54,507 Speaker 2: in Munich in a moment, but those Olympics overshadowed, of course, 126 00:07:54,547 --> 00:07:58,307 Speaker 2: by the terrorist attack resulted in the death of eleven 127 00:07:58,387 --> 00:08:01,787 Speaker 2: Israeli hostages a West German police officer. The New Zealand 128 00:08:01,867 --> 00:08:05,547 Speaker 2: team were housed very close to the israel team when 129 00:08:05,587 --> 00:08:08,147 Speaker 2: all this took place. What do you remember of that 130 00:08:08,387 --> 00:08:09,067 Speaker 2: terrible day. 131 00:08:09,627 --> 00:08:14,307 Speaker 3: Well, yes, we were right next door, and sometimes when 132 00:08:14,347 --> 00:08:17,107 Speaker 3: we would go to breakfast and that we would walk 133 00:08:17,147 --> 00:08:19,827 Speaker 3: with the Israeli athletes and talk with them. And that 134 00:08:20,027 --> 00:08:22,507 Speaker 3: was what the Olympics is all about, just sharing and 135 00:08:23,227 --> 00:08:28,107 Speaker 3: understanding and learning and becoming friends. And of course we 136 00:08:28,107 --> 00:08:30,467 Speaker 3: were right next door, and in fact I was in 137 00:08:30,507 --> 00:08:36,147 Speaker 3: the room with Dick Taylor and as Terry Manners, who 138 00:08:36,227 --> 00:08:40,547 Speaker 3: is the marathonnner, and we heard we heard this banging 139 00:08:40,587 --> 00:08:43,627 Speaker 3: and pop pop pop in the night. We sort of 140 00:08:43,827 --> 00:08:46,587 Speaker 3: what they were all at about. And then I got 141 00:08:46,667 --> 00:08:49,107 Speaker 3: up in the morning and went out onto our little 142 00:08:49,147 --> 00:08:52,307 Speaker 3: balcony because our room was right next to the Israels, 143 00:08:52,507 --> 00:08:55,187 Speaker 3: and I said, now, there's somebody out there with a 144 00:08:55,227 --> 00:09:01,307 Speaker 3: ballet klava and AK forty seven rifle. We couldn't belave. 145 00:09:01,387 --> 00:09:05,587 Speaker 3: But within about ten minutes we had a knock on 146 00:09:05,627 --> 00:09:09,347 Speaker 3: the door passports, You've got to move out. And that 147 00:09:09,507 --> 00:09:16,387 Speaker 3: became the the What was going on with the negotiations 148 00:09:16,427 --> 00:09:19,027 Speaker 3: and the terrorists and they said that they had enough 149 00:09:19,107 --> 00:09:21,947 Speaker 3: explosives to blow up half the village? 150 00:09:22,587 --> 00:09:25,907 Speaker 2: How how did you handle that? Rod Well? I mean 151 00:09:25,907 --> 00:09:29,707 Speaker 2: what I mean, a completely foreign situation to a young 152 00:09:29,827 --> 00:09:33,667 Speaker 2: runner from Nelson. How did you deal with what was happening? 153 00:09:34,467 --> 00:09:37,947 Speaker 3: Well? Fortunately, we we you know, we all got to 154 00:09:38,707 --> 00:09:43,507 Speaker 3: our team and Graham Davy, who was our manager athletics manager, 155 00:09:43,867 --> 00:09:47,107 Speaker 3: he got us all over at the assembly point and 156 00:09:47,227 --> 00:09:53,707 Speaker 3: he worked with us for emotional and spiritual blessings for 157 00:09:54,347 --> 00:09:57,067 Speaker 3: what was going on, and I think we all started 158 00:09:57,107 --> 00:09:59,467 Speaker 3: to understand that we had to be part of this 159 00:09:59,667 --> 00:10:03,147 Speaker 3: support as best we could. And of course the unfolding 160 00:10:03,307 --> 00:10:07,907 Speaker 3: is as you said, the athletes and they were going 161 00:10:07,947 --> 00:10:13,867 Speaker 3: to actually they were going to postpone or cancel the games, 162 00:10:14,147 --> 00:10:17,107 Speaker 3: and the Israelis said, no, don't you do that. We 163 00:10:17,187 --> 00:10:20,627 Speaker 3: live with this every day of our lives. The games 164 00:10:20,787 --> 00:10:24,307 Speaker 3: must go on for the spirit and the integrity of 165 00:10:24,387 --> 00:10:27,987 Speaker 3: the athletes we have lost, and so we sort of 166 00:10:27,987 --> 00:10:31,307 Speaker 3: felt and then we were actually out there running for 167 00:10:31,387 --> 00:10:35,987 Speaker 3: the cause to continue with the Olympic movement, that terrorism 168 00:10:36,147 --> 00:10:39,027 Speaker 3: wasn't going to stop us believing in ourselves. 169 00:10:39,147 --> 00:10:42,107 Speaker 2: Incredible, incredible. Well, let's get to the fifteen hundred meters 170 00:10:42,387 --> 00:10:46,027 Speaker 2: in your heat up against the great Kenyon Kepkino, the 171 00:10:46,147 --> 00:10:50,147 Speaker 2: USA's Jim Ryan. You're around UPB three minutes forty in 172 00:10:50,187 --> 00:10:52,747 Speaker 2: the heat, second alongside Kano who clocked the same time. 173 00:10:52,787 --> 00:10:54,627 Speaker 2: I think, how much belief did you run in the 174 00:10:54,627 --> 00:10:55,467 Speaker 2: heat give you? 175 00:10:56,627 --> 00:11:01,587 Speaker 3: Well know, fortunately with my brother John in those days, 176 00:11:01,707 --> 00:11:05,907 Speaker 3: we had to lock in a phone call to New Zealand. 177 00:11:06,507 --> 00:11:10,387 Speaker 3: I would lock in a make a reservation for a 178 00:11:10,387 --> 00:11:13,227 Speaker 3: phone called every day so that I could talk to 179 00:11:13,307 --> 00:11:16,947 Speaker 3: John and tell him what was going on. But he 180 00:11:17,067 --> 00:11:20,987 Speaker 3: when he saw that fact that kin, he said, you've 181 00:11:20,987 --> 00:11:24,467 Speaker 3: got to stay up with him. He is he runs 182 00:11:24,467 --> 00:11:27,227 Speaker 3: the perfect race for you. It's a strength race, not 183 00:11:27,267 --> 00:11:31,027 Speaker 3: a speed race. And so I knew then to stay 184 00:11:31,107 --> 00:11:33,507 Speaker 3: up as close as I could to the to the leaders, 185 00:11:33,827 --> 00:11:38,267 Speaker 3: so that it was more of a even race, rather 186 00:11:38,347 --> 00:11:41,107 Speaker 3: than sitting at the back and hoping that I could 187 00:11:41,147 --> 00:11:41,867 Speaker 3: run them all down. 188 00:11:42,307 --> 00:11:45,147 Speaker 2: You won your semi final and another pebe then the final, 189 00:11:45,547 --> 00:11:48,667 Speaker 2: you broke Peter Snell's New Zealand record and winning bronze. 190 00:11:49,067 --> 00:11:52,307 Speaker 2: What do you remember most vividly about about the final. 191 00:11:52,787 --> 00:11:56,907 Speaker 3: Well, it was incredible to think that, but there again 192 00:11:57,467 --> 00:12:01,467 Speaker 3: we knew what Kino was likely to do, and I 193 00:12:01,787 --> 00:12:06,507 Speaker 3: stayed as close as I could to that pace, and 194 00:12:07,547 --> 00:12:11,827 Speaker 3: going into that last lap, I actually thought that the 195 00:12:11,867 --> 00:12:15,347 Speaker 3: other runners would start to go past me, but I 196 00:12:15,387 --> 00:12:19,187 Speaker 3: could see that I was third, and then a boy 197 00:12:19,347 --> 00:12:22,987 Speaker 3: went past me about two hundred to go and he 198 00:12:23,067 --> 00:12:25,667 Speaker 3: actually cut me off, which means I had to step 199 00:12:25,747 --> 00:12:28,187 Speaker 3: back and go around him, and I think I lost 200 00:12:28,227 --> 00:12:31,827 Speaker 3: that momentum, but certainly coming down the home straight and 201 00:12:33,907 --> 00:12:37,627 Speaker 3: I could see Vassal of first kind of second, and 202 00:12:37,787 --> 00:12:40,627 Speaker 3: I was third, and I just glanced to them. I left, 203 00:12:40,947 --> 00:12:43,307 Speaker 3: nobody was there, and I just couldn't believe it. It 204 00:12:43,347 --> 00:12:47,627 Speaker 3: was just a dream. And then of course after when 205 00:12:47,827 --> 00:12:52,707 Speaker 3: Ron Polanski, who was the MZPA, he came over and 206 00:12:52,707 --> 00:12:55,747 Speaker 3: he says, not only have you got yourself, but you 207 00:12:55,827 --> 00:12:59,587 Speaker 3: broke Peter Snow's New Zealand record, and I couldn't believe that. 208 00:12:59,987 --> 00:13:03,387 Speaker 3: I thought, oh, my gosh. Really so it was an 209 00:13:03,427 --> 00:13:04,387 Speaker 3: incredible moment. 210 00:13:04,907 --> 00:13:08,907 Speaker 2: What's it like to stand on Olympic podium? 211 00:13:09,227 --> 00:13:11,947 Speaker 3: I think, I think it's it's I think. You know. 212 00:13:12,307 --> 00:13:16,627 Speaker 3: It was interesting because when we when Simond Hillary told 213 00:13:16,707 --> 00:13:20,227 Speaker 3: us kids, he said that Mount Everest wasn't high enough 214 00:13:20,267 --> 00:13:23,267 Speaker 3: for your goals, your dreams and your aspirations. And here 215 00:13:23,347 --> 00:13:27,067 Speaker 3: I was standing on the podium feeling as if I 216 00:13:27,107 --> 00:13:31,507 Speaker 3: had found out Everest was said incredible. 217 00:13:32,907 --> 00:13:35,827 Speaker 2: A heartbreaking fourth in the five thousand meter final four 218 00:13:35,907 --> 00:13:39,587 Speaker 2: years later in Montreal. How devastated were you to miss 219 00:13:40,147 --> 00:13:42,227 Speaker 2: another Olympic podium four years later? 220 00:13:43,267 --> 00:13:47,107 Speaker 3: Yes, that was that was had. Of course, you know 221 00:13:47,347 --> 00:13:53,387 Speaker 3: New Zealand were threatened with the boycott the the African 222 00:13:53,467 --> 00:13:57,987 Speaker 3: nations of course boycott because of New Zealand, and we 223 00:13:57,987 --> 00:14:02,787 Speaker 3: were told be careful, you are going to be subject 224 00:14:02,827 --> 00:14:07,987 Speaker 3: to an attack, and that was walk a Dixon Quacks. 225 00:14:08,067 --> 00:14:11,747 Speaker 3: We were the three of us were told we didn't 226 00:14:11,787 --> 00:14:16,307 Speaker 3: walk in the opening ceremony because of the potential danger. 227 00:14:16,907 --> 00:14:21,507 Speaker 3: And then I haven't told too many people, but I 228 00:14:21,587 --> 00:14:25,667 Speaker 3: got third poisoning the night before the race and I 229 00:14:26,667 --> 00:14:30,107 Speaker 3: was up all night in the bathroom. So that took 230 00:14:30,147 --> 00:14:30,907 Speaker 3: the edge off me. 231 00:14:31,107 --> 00:14:35,747 Speaker 2: Goodness, then they step up to the marathon distance road 232 00:14:35,787 --> 00:14:37,147 Speaker 2: What was behind that decision? 233 00:14:38,347 --> 00:14:41,387 Speaker 3: Well, I of course, then the boycott of nineteen eighty 234 00:14:41,467 --> 00:14:46,067 Speaker 3: came around, yes, and so I mean we were we 235 00:14:46,067 --> 00:14:50,107 Speaker 3: were in Pennsylvania at the time, heading towards Moscow, and 236 00:14:50,147 --> 00:14:53,907 Speaker 3: we were told sorry, you won't be going to the Olympics. 237 00:14:53,947 --> 00:14:55,747 Speaker 3: And we looked at one another and said, well, how 238 00:14:55,747 --> 00:14:59,267 Speaker 3: do you know? It said, oh, Mouldoon, your Prime minister 239 00:14:59,307 --> 00:15:02,227 Speaker 3: has just announced the boycott. And we were already on 240 00:15:02,267 --> 00:15:05,907 Speaker 3: our way. So I thought to themselves, no, this is 241 00:15:05,947 --> 00:15:08,267 Speaker 3: not an One of the guys said, hey, there's a 242 00:15:08,347 --> 00:15:11,827 Speaker 3: road race here in Philadelphia next weekend, and Bill Rogers 243 00:15:11,907 --> 00:15:15,467 Speaker 3: the Boston around when Jackie is coming. And I said, oh, 244 00:15:15,587 --> 00:15:17,587 Speaker 3: that'd be kind of cool to run a team k 245 00:15:18,307 --> 00:15:21,747 Speaker 3: And so what I did, and I ran and I 246 00:15:21,787 --> 00:15:25,547 Speaker 3: finished third and of four thousand runners. And it was 247 00:15:25,867 --> 00:15:30,707 Speaker 3: the excitement of that and then and the runners and 248 00:15:30,787 --> 00:15:34,587 Speaker 3: the people running and walking, and he just was just 249 00:15:34,747 --> 00:15:37,547 Speaker 3: overwhelming because I had never been in a race with 250 00:15:37,627 --> 00:15:41,867 Speaker 3: that many people, and I just thought I liked this environment. 251 00:15:42,267 --> 00:15:48,387 Speaker 3: And I and then the guy Ron set me up 252 00:15:48,467 --> 00:15:52,187 Speaker 3: with the Airmstown Beer Festival next week. I said, i'd 253 00:15:52,187 --> 00:15:58,227 Speaker 3: better say for that wonderful And in fact, i'll tell 254 00:15:58,267 --> 00:16:04,547 Speaker 3: you rayson I the winner got his weight, his body 255 00:16:04,587 --> 00:16:10,987 Speaker 3: weight and beer. And so it was unbelievable because just 256 00:16:11,067 --> 00:16:13,787 Speaker 3: before they put me on the scouts, a guy said, 257 00:16:13,827 --> 00:16:15,947 Speaker 3: I'll put this vest on, and I put the vest 258 00:16:16,027 --> 00:16:18,987 Speaker 3: on it and it was a weight vest and they 259 00:16:19,027 --> 00:16:22,027 Speaker 3: weighed me and I was about nearly two hundred pounds, 260 00:16:22,347 --> 00:16:24,627 Speaker 3: which meant I could I could give beer to all 261 00:16:24,667 --> 00:16:25,467 Speaker 3: my friends. 262 00:16:25,707 --> 00:16:29,667 Speaker 2: Oh, brilliant, brilliant. And then of course New York nineteen 263 00:16:29,667 --> 00:16:32,947 Speaker 2: eighty three on New Zealand record time two of eight 264 00:16:33,027 --> 00:16:35,987 Speaker 2: fifty nine. It stood for thirty five years. When you 265 00:16:36,027 --> 00:16:38,107 Speaker 2: think back to that day in New York, a damp 266 00:16:38,387 --> 00:16:40,907 Speaker 2: day in New York, what stands out the most. 267 00:16:41,867 --> 00:16:46,147 Speaker 3: Well, it was I went back. I decided. In eighty 268 00:16:46,187 --> 00:16:49,907 Speaker 3: two I ran the Auckland Marathon, which was the Past 269 00:16:49,947 --> 00:16:52,787 Speaker 3: of Diamond Past of Marathon in Auckland, and I won that, 270 00:16:53,267 --> 00:16:56,467 Speaker 3: and I knew then that I had another good marathon 271 00:16:56,507 --> 00:16:59,347 Speaker 3: in me. I had a lot of races I had 272 00:16:59,387 --> 00:17:01,587 Speaker 3: committed to, so I knew I wasn't going to run 273 00:17:01,667 --> 00:17:04,707 Speaker 3: another marathon in eighty two. But then I set my 274 00:17:04,787 --> 00:17:07,587 Speaker 3: goal to run the New York's City Mouth eighty three, 275 00:17:07,827 --> 00:17:14,027 Speaker 3: went back and trained and absolutely focused for eighteen nearly 276 00:17:14,067 --> 00:17:18,507 Speaker 3: twenty weeks, specifically for the New York City Marathon. So 277 00:17:18,627 --> 00:17:24,747 Speaker 3: when I flew out over Lancaster and out of the Philadelphia, 278 00:17:26,147 --> 00:17:29,427 Speaker 3: I just knew that this was the moment that I 279 00:17:29,467 --> 00:17:33,027 Speaker 3: had done everything I could to be the best prepared 280 00:17:33,547 --> 00:17:37,587 Speaker 3: for this marathon. And of course, you know and I had. 281 00:17:37,627 --> 00:17:39,907 Speaker 3: In those days, we didn't have any telemetry, so I 282 00:17:39,907 --> 00:17:43,027 Speaker 3: had to put my split times on my fingers. And 283 00:17:43,067 --> 00:17:46,227 Speaker 3: it was amazing because I set myself a time of 284 00:17:46,227 --> 00:17:49,387 Speaker 3: two hours nine minutes to go out, and I was 285 00:17:50,067 --> 00:17:54,747 Speaker 3: variation between the various five mile, ten miles, thirteen mile, 286 00:17:54,907 --> 00:17:57,867 Speaker 3: eighteen mile, twenty three mile. I was in variation, but 287 00:17:58,107 --> 00:18:01,827 Speaker 3: I was so close to running the perfect race, and 288 00:18:01,947 --> 00:18:05,027 Speaker 3: yet I was still quarter of a mile to half 289 00:18:05,067 --> 00:18:08,667 Speaker 3: a mile behind in the leaders. But just focused on 290 00:18:08,747 --> 00:18:11,987 Speaker 3: that and then realizing that I wasn't able to go 291 00:18:12,067 --> 00:18:14,907 Speaker 3: to run any faster. They may not be slowing down, 292 00:18:15,187 --> 00:18:18,147 Speaker 3: and I started to run the tangents, and of course 293 00:18:18,347 --> 00:18:20,907 Speaker 3: when you run the tangents on the road, you actually 294 00:18:20,947 --> 00:18:25,187 Speaker 3: saved distance. You're not running faster, you're just saving distance, 295 00:18:25,547 --> 00:18:28,547 Speaker 3: and that it relates to time. And of course you 296 00:18:28,587 --> 00:18:30,667 Speaker 3: know I had like thirty odd corners to go and 297 00:18:30,707 --> 00:18:34,227 Speaker 3: I had two seconds per the corner that I saved. 298 00:18:35,027 --> 00:18:38,947 Speaker 3: That was the time that I've made up. And I 299 00:18:39,787 --> 00:18:44,787 Speaker 3: caught Jeff Smith, the Englishman, right on the mile twenty six. 300 00:18:45,027 --> 00:18:46,867 Speaker 3: So I only led the race for two under and 301 00:18:46,907 --> 00:18:47,907 Speaker 3: eighty five yards. 302 00:18:48,027 --> 00:18:50,587 Speaker 2: Yeah, well that's all. It was the most important two 303 00:18:50,627 --> 00:18:53,707 Speaker 2: hundred and eighty five yards. And the scenes when you win, 304 00:18:53,907 --> 00:18:57,667 Speaker 2: the arms raised to the heavens, iconic scenes. Rod. I'm 305 00:18:57,667 --> 00:18:59,387 Speaker 2: getting goosebumps even saying it was. 306 00:18:59,587 --> 00:19:00,027 Speaker 3: What was that? 307 00:19:00,067 --> 00:19:00,787 Speaker 2: What was that? Like? 308 00:19:01,347 --> 00:19:05,307 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely, the defining moments. And I thought to myself, 309 00:19:05,347 --> 00:19:08,747 Speaker 3: you know, and you know, after ninety seventy two when 310 00:19:08,787 --> 00:19:13,347 Speaker 3: I had won the bronze medal, they said I talked 311 00:19:13,387 --> 00:19:16,627 Speaker 3: about Servan Hillary coming to our school and inspiring us, 312 00:19:16,907 --> 00:19:19,227 Speaker 3: and they said, well you have to call sir, and 313 00:19:19,267 --> 00:19:21,227 Speaker 3: I said, oh, I don't think you can call him 314 00:19:21,267 --> 00:19:26,027 Speaker 3: because he said Himalayas building schools and hospitals. And they said, well, 315 00:19:26,067 --> 00:19:29,707 Speaker 3: hold on, he's the Auckland phone book and it's Hillary 316 00:19:29,947 --> 00:19:34,347 Speaker 3: Edmund Percival to eighty a rem you were a road 317 00:19:34,467 --> 00:19:36,907 Speaker 3: and the telephone number but I went and knocked on 318 00:19:37,067 --> 00:19:40,907 Speaker 3: his door, and I and I and he came, well, 319 00:19:40,987 --> 00:19:42,947 Speaker 3: Lady Hillary came to the door and see just a minute, 320 00:19:42,987 --> 00:19:45,907 Speaker 3: young man, And of course I was, I said, Satin 321 00:19:45,947 --> 00:19:49,027 Speaker 3: and I went to the Olympics last year. And he said, oh, yes, 322 00:19:49,587 --> 00:19:52,547 Speaker 3: I don't think he believed me actually, but you said, 323 00:19:52,707 --> 00:19:55,067 Speaker 3: but I had my medal with me, and I took 324 00:19:55,107 --> 00:19:57,627 Speaker 3: the medal out of my pocket and showed him, and 325 00:19:57,747 --> 00:20:00,027 Speaker 3: he said, oh, this is a very fine young man. 326 00:20:00,387 --> 00:20:03,387 Speaker 3: He said, were you inspy the next generation? And I 327 00:20:03,467 --> 00:20:06,547 Speaker 3: said yes, sir, and so that we that. He gave 328 00:20:06,547 --> 00:20:08,387 Speaker 3: me the metal back and closed the door. And I 329 00:20:08,467 --> 00:20:11,987 Speaker 3: didn't know what to do then, but certainly, you know, 330 00:20:12,147 --> 00:20:14,787 Speaker 3: you call your mother and she says, just hold on 331 00:20:14,867 --> 00:20:18,147 Speaker 3: to the goal, let go of the timing. And then 332 00:20:18,267 --> 00:20:21,987 Speaker 3: as we started to do the kid's program, the Hillary 333 00:20:21,987 --> 00:20:26,747 Speaker 3: Commission or the Hillary Foundation called me and they said, well, 334 00:20:26,827 --> 00:20:28,867 Speaker 3: you haven't told she And he said, I said, well, 335 00:20:28,907 --> 00:20:31,067 Speaker 3: he didn't tell me to tell him. He just led 336 00:20:31,107 --> 00:20:34,667 Speaker 3: me to do it. So of course, then he invited 337 00:20:34,747 --> 00:20:38,067 Speaker 3: me for a tea and he became the patron for 338 00:20:38,187 --> 00:20:41,787 Speaker 3: our program. And it was just incredible to think that 339 00:20:42,267 --> 00:20:45,667 Speaker 3: you know that journey and that inspiration that he gave 340 00:20:45,987 --> 00:20:48,987 Speaker 3: us as a country and the world. Actually, well, of 341 00:20:49,107 --> 00:20:53,427 Speaker 3: course then would let's not forget Augay Tenzi, who climbed 342 00:20:53,467 --> 00:20:57,507 Speaker 3: with And it was just all those moments, and those 343 00:20:57,627 --> 00:21:01,187 Speaker 3: moments all flooded in on that finish light at New 344 00:21:01,267 --> 00:21:04,307 Speaker 3: York and just realizing that I had to take all 345 00:21:04,387 --> 00:21:07,987 Speaker 3: those steps, the disappointment of seventy four con Work Games, 346 00:21:08,027 --> 00:21:11,507 Speaker 3: the disappointment of the seventy six Conwork Game, the boycott 347 00:21:11,667 --> 00:21:15,067 Speaker 3: of nineteen eighty I mean, all those were moments that 348 00:21:15,187 --> 00:21:17,947 Speaker 3: we have to go through in order to get to 349 00:21:18,107 --> 00:21:19,027 Speaker 3: our Mount Everest. 350 00:21:19,547 --> 00:21:22,387 Speaker 2: What wonderful perspective. How did you know it was time 351 00:21:23,667 --> 00:21:26,347 Speaker 2: to call it a day? Certainly in the elite competitive sense. 352 00:21:26,387 --> 00:21:28,627 Speaker 2: She went to a third Olympics in eighty four, I 353 00:21:28,707 --> 00:21:32,147 Speaker 2: think your final senior competitive appearance the nineteen eighty eight 354 00:21:32,547 --> 00:21:35,307 Speaker 2: World Cross Country Championship. How did you know it was 355 00:21:35,387 --> 00:21:39,507 Speaker 2: time to perhaps, you know, to call it a day 356 00:21:39,827 --> 00:21:40,987 Speaker 2: in an elite sense. 357 00:21:41,627 --> 00:21:44,987 Speaker 3: Well, I got very involved with the City of Los 358 00:21:45,027 --> 00:21:49,627 Speaker 3: Angeles Marathon and getting into coaching and training, and I 359 00:21:49,667 --> 00:21:53,547 Speaker 3: remember when Mayor Bradley at the eighty four Games, and 360 00:21:53,627 --> 00:21:57,507 Speaker 3: I said, why doesn't this city have a marathon like 361 00:21:57,867 --> 00:22:01,427 Speaker 3: New York and Boston and London. And he looked at 362 00:22:01,467 --> 00:22:03,907 Speaker 3: his people and he said, why don't we and they said, oh, 363 00:22:03,987 --> 00:22:07,267 Speaker 3: we've never thought about it. And of course from that 364 00:22:08,067 --> 00:22:11,507 Speaker 3: they created the City Los Angeles Marathon. And I was 365 00:22:11,667 --> 00:22:14,347 Speaker 3: asked to go and work on it, at which I did. 366 00:22:14,467 --> 00:22:20,747 Speaker 3: I loved going, and my thing was was to get leave, no, 367 00:22:22,307 --> 00:22:25,587 Speaker 3: to encourage everybody to get off the sofa and go 368 00:22:25,747 --> 00:22:28,627 Speaker 3: out for walking and jogging and let's see if you 369 00:22:28,707 --> 00:22:33,107 Speaker 3: can run a marathon. And LA that first year was 370 00:22:33,227 --> 00:22:37,547 Speaker 3: the highest number of first time runners ever to sign 371 00:22:37,667 --> 00:22:43,227 Speaker 3: up for a marathon and the first the highest finishers 372 00:22:43,427 --> 00:22:46,907 Speaker 3: of first time runners. So we knew that by training 373 00:22:46,947 --> 00:22:50,307 Speaker 3: and coaching the runners, we can get them to achieve 374 00:22:50,387 --> 00:22:53,627 Speaker 3: their goals. And it's not about how fast you run. 375 00:22:54,027 --> 00:22:57,707 Speaker 3: Finishing is winning. Winning is finishing, and that's the marcher 376 00:22:57,787 --> 00:22:58,387 Speaker 3: for our kids. 377 00:22:59,947 --> 00:23:02,707 Speaker 2: Just if we talk about the next generation, just quickly, 378 00:23:02,907 --> 00:23:05,747 Speaker 2: what have you made of the feats of teenager Sam 379 00:23:05,907 --> 00:23:07,987 Speaker 2: Ruth and middle distance running in the last twelve to 380 00:23:08,067 --> 00:23:08,827 Speaker 2: eight ten months or so? 381 00:23:09,547 --> 00:23:12,987 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely inspiring. Because of the schools that I go to, 382 00:23:13,107 --> 00:23:15,307 Speaker 3: the first thing the kids tell me is that what 383 00:23:15,427 --> 00:23:17,867 Speaker 3: about fam moves. We want to be like him, so 384 00:23:18,787 --> 00:23:22,507 Speaker 3: he is. He's been an incredible inspiration and you know 385 00:23:22,587 --> 00:23:27,667 Speaker 3: the Sam Tanners and Jordi Beamish and you know Nick. 386 00:23:28,507 --> 00:23:32,867 Speaker 3: It's just been amazing the inspiration that those athletes have 387 00:23:33,347 --> 00:23:38,667 Speaker 3: been able to share around the country and kids today 388 00:23:39,067 --> 00:23:42,187 Speaker 3: see are very very enthused. And here we had the 389 00:23:42,267 --> 00:23:45,587 Speaker 3: spectacle here at Nelson and the highest number of first 390 00:23:45,667 --> 00:23:49,867 Speaker 3: time runners running ten k's and five k's and fifty k's. 391 00:23:49,907 --> 00:23:51,907 Speaker 3: It's just very very inspiring. 392 00:23:52,187 --> 00:23:55,427 Speaker 2: Well, as are you, Rod. It's been energizing chatting to 393 00:23:55,467 --> 00:23:59,067 Speaker 2: you as always. Congratulations on your New Year's honor. As 394 00:23:59,107 --> 00:24:01,987 Speaker 2: I say, absolutely and thoroughly deserved, and thanks for taking 395 00:24:02,507 --> 00:24:04,467 Speaker 2: so much time to have a chat to us today. 396 00:24:05,027 --> 00:24:08,387 Speaker 3: Thank you, Jason, and you're here to everybody on the 397 00:24:08,947 --> 00:24:09,627 Speaker 3: on the planet. 398 00:24:09,787 --> 00:24:13,787 Speaker 2: Everybody on the planet Rod, including you. Thanks mate. Rod Dixon, 399 00:24:13,987 --> 00:24:17,227 Speaker 2: now Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for 400 00:24:17,347 --> 00:24:21,787 Speaker 2: services to athletics are named so in the New Year's Honors. 401 00:24:22,427 --> 00:24:25,587 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 402 00:24:25,707 --> 00:24:29,107 Speaker 1: to News talkst B weekends from midday, or follow the 403 00:24:29,147 --> 00:24:30,627 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.