LOOK AND SEE HOW THEY RAN Grete Waitz Grete takes the silver medal, Olympics, L.A., 1984 Photo Courtesy of Runners World, Victor Sailor/PhotoRun KR Mini-Interview KR: Which sports did you play at the age of ten? Grete: In the winter we did a lot of cross country skiing and ice skating (no figure skating). I was physically active when I was 10, but that was in the form of play. KR: Did you participate in any training for running? Grete: When I was 10 years old I didn't participate in any organized sport activities. I started with track and field when I was 13 years old. KR: Did you run during your playtime? Grete: In the summer it was bike riding, different ball games, jumping rope and playing hide and seek. We had no TV so my two older brothers and I stayed outdoors playing. KR: How many hours or miles did you spend or cover on running and other sports? Grete: It is hard to estimate hours per day with active playing, but at least 2-3 hours every day. FACTS Grete won the New York City Marathon 9 times from 1978-88. She won a silver medal in the marathon at 1984 Olympics. She won the World Championship Cross country 5 times and the  World Championship in the Marathon in '83. She was a world class track runner before she started marathon running (2 world records in the 3000m). Even though Grete spends lots of time outdoors, she still loves to curl up with a good book. Birthday: October 1, 1953 Place of Birth: Oslo, Norway When Grete was ten years of age, she read the biography of Wilma Rudolph. Wilma was an African American sprinter who won three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. She had polio as a young child, but she was determined to overcome the effects of the disease. She succeeded and won three medals. It was this story that inspired her to become a great runner. LINKS Grete Waitz Stamp | Back to LOOK and SEE How they RAN Index Grete has authored two on the topic of running. On The Run, exercise and fitness for busy people is Grete's most recent book. Worldclass a biograhy, came out in the late 80's.