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Alan Price, American Centurion
Alan Price, American Centurion
Fuente: Bernardo José Mora(http://www.comunalia.com/marcha) y Centuriones australianos
Se llamaba (se llama todavía) Alan Price, y entre los marchadores de gran fondo norteamericanos está considerado una leyenda.
Alcanzó el título de Centurión en septiembre de 1978, con 31 años de edad. Su marca de 18 horas 57 minutos y 41 segundos en
las 100 millas supuso un nuevo récord de Estados Unidos. Desde ese año hasta 1993 tomó parte en 23 pruebas de 100 millas/24 horas.
Ganó nueve ellas. En 1979 batió el récord USA de las 24 horas con 118 millas y 316 yardas (algo más de 190 km) y en 1984 volvió a
mejorar su propia plusmarca nacional de las 100 millas con 18:46:13.
Aunque era el mejor marchador de gran fondo de su país, no
dejaba de ser un desconocido para el gran público. Su carrera deportiva se desarrolló al margen de todo lo que significara dinero.
Ni premios, ni becas, ni contratos publicitarios. Cuando batió por segunda vez su récord de las 100 millas lo hizo calzando unas
zapatillas compradas en los saldos de la tienda "Foot Locker". Le habían costado un dólar y noventa centavos.
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Price, of Washington D.C., first qualified as American Centurion (C 23) in September 1978 as a 31 year old and his
time of 18:57:41 was a new American record. His first 50 miles was indeed fast – 8 hours 54 mins – and his final time
showed the he maintained his pace fairly well in the second half.
The next year, he prepared for the American Centurions race with a 100 mile walk in August 1979 at Fort Meade. His
time of 21:09:09 was done in 90oF heat, an amazing performance. Only 6 weeks later he fronted for the annual
American Centurion event in Colombia and showed that he had recovered well. He flew through the first 5 miles in
42:15, a time more at home in short roadwalking events. He passed the 50 mile mark in 8:44:00 and looked set to beat
his 1978 record. Alas, the cold overnight conditions took their toll and he slowed to 19:52:50. But on this occasion, he
decided to keep going and recorded a new American 24 Hour record of 118 miles 316 yards.
Price went on to win the American Centurions qualifier event on 9 straight occasions and in 1984 broke his own 1978
record with 18:46:13. In an interview with the Columbia Daily Tribune after his 1984 record walk, he told how he first
came to Columbia in 1978. He said, "I heard about the race in Columbia in an ad in Runners' World along with a feature
on one of the guys who won a lot. They had some times in there, and I said, 'I can do this.' So I told everyone in D.C. I
was going to Columbia and set a record. I had a hard time getting the money for the trip, but I always knew I would go.
I was kind of the dark horse figuratively and literally."
Price was referring to his race by that remark. He was a black in a sport that did not attract blacks. He had never walked
in a race longer than 50 miles prior to 1978. He was actually a "closet walker," and he said he felt funny practicing in
the daylight, so he would go to the track at Bennicker Junior High in Washington, D.C., after dark and practice in the
pitch black. He told the Columbia reporter, "People who don't do this think it's easy. That's because they haven't tried it
yet."
Alan Price walks in the 1978 American Centurion qualifier in Colombia
Price enjoyed telling about entering a 100-mile race in San Diego in 1982 where the promoters wanted a "name athlete"
for a big draw. They got Don Choi, who held the American distance record for a six-day run of more than 450 miles.
The race promoters figured walking a 100-miler would be a piece of cake for him. Price blew him away in 19:35:44.
"Well, he finished it," Price said, "but I'm telling you, he was hurting pretty bad. I asked him which he thought was
harder, a six day run or a hundred-mile walk. He said, 'No doubt about it, a hundred-miler!' Alan Price liked having the
best in another sport invade his turf and come away shaking his head.
In 1984, at the age of thirty-seven, Price, who is only five feet seven inches tall, weighed 138 pounds at the start of his
record-setting performance. He weighed 127 pounds at the finish. During the race, he consumed a quarter of a large
watermelon, a half gallon of apple juice, and a pint of water. There were no fat endorsement contracts from shoe
companies and clothing manufacturers for racewalkers; consequently, he had to cut corners wherever possible to save
money. He set his American record wearing a $1.90 pair of discounted Foot Locker shoes he picked out of a pile on a
clearance sale table. Such is the humble life of a racewalker in the United States—even a champion.
He may have been unheralded outside our sport but his place amongst the greatest long distance walking exponents is
guaranteed. His string of 23 centurion qualifiers in 15 years and his American records put him head and shoulders
above those of us who dabble around the edges of this most demanding sport.
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