The Waitz is Over

Or
Grete Excavations
Like many strangers to New York City, Grete Waitz ran through the streets as quickly as possible to avoid the perils that befall outsiders, from muggers to flashers to the inescapable stench of garbage and urine that pervades America’s Calcutta. Unlike most strangers, Waitz was generally successful, and wisely timed her visits for the first week of November, winning the New York City Marathon 9 times in 12 tries, setting a record in her first marathon and breaking that record three more times. She ran that first marathon as a lark at her husband’s urging that a trip to New York City would be a second honeymoon. As part of their celebration, the two dined on shrimp cocktail and filet mignon… the night before the marathon. Waitz was in such agony over the last 10 miles that after she crossed the finish line, she took off her shoes and threw them at her husband, proclaiming she would “never do this stupid thing again.” As with most women, she couldn’t be trusted, and was back the following year to shave almost 5 minutes off her record.