G’day Bart from Pete in Oz
It’s always nice to hear from runners I meet during my travels. At the Big Sur Marathon six weeks ago I was asked “Mate, could you sign my Footy Jumper?” I knew the Aussie wanted me to sign something for him, something I’d never signed before but what the heck is a “Footy Jumper”? I’ve since found out it was quite an honor to sign Pete’s running singlet.
Here’s an email message I recently received from Pete, the Australian runner I met at BSIM:
G’day Bart!
Mate, it was awesome to meet you at the recent Big Sur Marathon.
I got home 3 days ago after nearly 7 weeks in USA and I had the time of my life! I loved the hospitality of the American people and the natural beauty of the country.
And Big Sur didn’t disappoint me in any way! As you know, I set myself for this run a very long time ago and it was the very reason that I came to America to realise a long held ambition. I’m proud that I made the journey and finished the race – it won’t be my last! I’m hoping to qualify for Boston next year (I need to run a 3:20 or better in the Sydney Marathon in 16 weeks time - I’m already in training and doing my “Yasso 800’s”!) and when I get there, I’m keen to do the Boston-Big Sur double only 6 days apart! That sounds like my kind of challenge, and as you say, Bart – “Never limit where running can take you”!
Anyway, mate, thanks again for your hospitality and friendliness whilst in Monterey. I treasure my Footy Jumper that you signed for me with your famous Big Sur quote (which inspired me to do the run in the first place).
Here’s an Email I put together for a few of my mates back home in Australia to showcase what a special run the Big Sur is, and to thank them for their comraderie in training with me to realise a goal. You’ll see a picture of your good self at the end of the Email and it was a big highlight for me to rub shoulders with yourself, Charlie Engle, and some other running royalty. Thanks again, Bart, and best wishes to you and family.
Pete Frayne
Victoria, Australia
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Photo Caption from Pete: Ok, now for a bit of running Royalty.. This bloke is dubbed the “Mayor of Running”, and all jokes aside, he is the very reason that I not only wanted to do the Big Sur Marathon, but actually became aware of it in the first instance. About 20 years ago, long before I’d run beyond 10kms and had dreamed of one day running a marathon, I picked up a “Runners World” magazine (US Edition).. The magazine compared and described some of the best marathons run in the USA/Worldwide at that time, and was written by Bart Yasso (below). His famous quote was “If we were told that we could run only one marathon in our lifetime, Big Sur would have to be it”. I never forgot the quote, nor the marathon. Bart Yasso has run marathons/Ultra marathons all over the world – including one on every Continent (yes, Antartica included) – and through places like Death Valley, Rift Valley, North Pole, and with Zulu warriors, bare-assed nudists, eskimos, and has been chased by Rhino’s in Southern Nepal, etc.. He’s just about done it all in his capacity as reporter/journalist/competitor over the years and has set many records. He is also the inventor of “Yasso 800’s” (Ozzie, Stevo, Sean, Al, and Riss would all be familiar with this training regime), and he is an Author, Multi Race Patron, and Motivational Speaker.
But above anything else, Bart Yasso is a ripping great bloke. I met him at the “Runner’s Expo” prior to race day where he signed the back of my Hawk’s guernsey with his famous Big Sur quote (see above) and we chatted for a while. I told him that he was the very reason I was here to do the Big Sur, and he was genuinely humbled and honoured that I would come all the way from Australia to do this race. The race organisers (Bob, Wally, etc) also ran with my story, and I was treated like a V.I.P. after that! Bart mentioned me in his presentation at the Runner’s Forum, and after that we chatted a few times both before and after the race. Here we are outside the “V.I.P. Tent” at the Finish (an area that I was ushered into by the Race Director!).
