Holassie trounces competition

 

Ronnie Holassie won the Miami Mercedes-Benz Corporate run last year, with a fellow athlete hot on his trail. This year he was first in the Fort Lauderdale race, and he could have taken a nap before the second-place finisher crossed the line. His unofficial time: 15 minutes, 21 seconds.  My friend Lou was near the front of the line when the cannon went off, and he told me, "That guy started slow, then turned the corner and took off.'' By "slow," he likely meant a 5-minute mile pace, or a wee bit slower. Those of us who are not Olympians would consider that super fast.

I watched the first 100 or so athletes finish, and it was amazing. Drenched in sweat, they give it all they've got when the finish line is in view and they know the end is near. In all shapes and sizes, they run. They run to stay fit; they run to stay healthy. They run for their lives.