Yet Shorter was NOT coming out of nowhere.įollowers of the Sport must have known that prior to his Olympic Gold medal, Shorter had already stacked up quite a Championship resume’, notably his victory in the running world-acclaimed Fukuoka Marathon the previous December.

Shorter, who had already set the American record twice (!) in the 10K on the track a few days earlier in the Munich Olympic stadium, surged midway in the marathon field and totally dominated a world class field, seemingly coming out of nowhere to the millions watching the race unfold on ABC live, that memorable day. In 2022 Athletes, Coaches, Aficionados and Fans will no doubt be commemorating the 50 th anniversary of Frank Shorter’s Olympic Marathon win which launched “The Running Boom!” The 50 th Anniversary Of Frank Shorter’s 1971 Fukuoka Marathon Victory! Jeff Benjamin, Jenny Simpson, Frank Shorter, photo courtesy of Jeff Benjamin Fukuoka Marathon had its last competition this past December 2021. Jeff Benjamin (whose birthday is January 15, the day we are publishing this piece) caught up with the 1972 Olympic gold medalist and 1976 Olympic silver medalist, to discuss this amazing race.

His 1971 Fukuoka Marathon win, which happened on 5 December 1971, was one of his finest races. įrank Shorter may not have invented it, but he sure demystified running.įrank Shorter takes Fukuoka Marathon in 1971, his first of four wins in Fukuoka (in a row), photo by Asahi Shimbun/ Fukuoka Marathon, courtesy of Getty Images The late John Jerome, way back in 1977, in a Summer issue of Mariah magazine (now Outside) said it best, ” by putting 26 miles together at five minute per mile pace, Frank Shorter invented running, ”.

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