Carlos Lopez

Sunday 2.00pm 11KM(guess) 'Outlook' 45m58

Decided to try a new course today as I'd heard that a link had gone in around our estate, meaning I can run a true loop rather than Roo+Lake which doubles back on itself like a figure of eight. I was expecting the run to be much longer but it came in pretty much the same as Roo+Lake, I'd say about 11KM. However, the route was boring along new sub division roads . Not too many houses in certain sections, large swathes of yet to be released land. It did have some redemption providing slightly different perspectives of the golf course and more prolonged views of the distant ranges (out towards Mount Mee). It will be quite some time before the bicycle path which I prefer to run on, which is positioned away from the roads and traces the outside circumference of the estate connects up and around this soon to be huge estate!

Stayed awake for Cadel's timetrial. Disappointed of course. A combination of a lackluster performance from Cadel and a best ever timetrial by Carlos. I agree with a lot of sentiment that expressed the view that the strength of the CSC team combined with the weakness of Silence Lotto was THE telling factor in this years Tour result.

Back in 1976 I went to watch the World Cross Country Championships at Chepstow. I got to see Carlos Lopez in the flesh beat off a good challenge by Brits Tony Simmonds (2nd) and Bernie Ford (3rd). Calros went on to win these World CC Champs again in 1984 and in 1985, as well as picking up an Olympic Gold in the L.A. Marathon. What a fantastic and prolonged career he had.

An Ox!

Los Angeles, 12 August 1984. Competitors run through a mist during the men's marathon of the Games of the XXIII Olympiad. (L to R) Carlos LOPES of Portugal (bib 723) who the won gold medal in a time of 2:09:21, Robert DE CASTELLA of Australia (bib 25) who placed fifth and Charlie SPEDDING of Great Britain (bib 396) who took the bronze in a time of 2:09:58.

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