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A \u00a0Norwegian legend, known to many as \u00b4Grete the Great\u00b4, died last week. \u00a0Grete Waitz (pronounced \u00b4Vites\u00b4), a Norwegian school teacher, was a spectacular role model who dedicated her life to health and fitness by becoming one of the greatest female marathoners in the world. \u00a0To tell you the truth, I didn\u00b4t know anything about Grete until after she died last week. \u00a0I try to get out and run with my dog most days, but I\u00b4ve never run more than 5 miles and I don\u00b4t have the desire to do any more than this. \u00a0As far as distance activity goes, I go for biking. \u00a0I would much rather bike a couple of centuries than run a marathon. \u00a0It\u00b4s not that I don\u00b4t enjoy running, but I find biking more enjoyable and easier on the body (and you can more easily stop along the way and enjoy a beer and a burger…). \u00a0However, I have major respect for individuals who are capable of distance running.<\/p>\n
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Grete Waitz was a member of the Norwegian Olympic team and participated many times in New York City marathons. \u00a0She began her long relationship with the New York City Marathon in 1978 as a pace maker. \u00a0Unlike most pace makers, Great made it all the way through the race. \u00a0Apparently after completion of the race, she was upset with her husband for persuading her to compete; she claimed she would never do it again. \u00a0How untrue that was-she went on to\u00a0win 9 of them (more than anyone else)! \u00a0She finished the race with a record breaking 2 hours and 32 minutes! \u00a0In addition to many other victories,\u00a0Waitz won a gold medal in the World Championship of Athletics in Helsinki, Finland in 1983 and a silver medal in the L.A. Olympics in 1984.<\/p>\n
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Waitz grew up in Oslo during a time when females were not expected to be distance runners. \u00a0Her family wasn\u00b4t very supportive of her, but she kept on training hard and competing in races all over the world. \u00a0She was a spectacular role model for both male and female runners and for athletes in general. \u00a0Not only was she a competitor but she utilized her love for distance running to benefit others. \u00a0After announcing that she had cancer in 2005, she began her public work to promote health and wellness. \u00a0For more than 25 years, Waitz was an ambassador for the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge, an organization that promoted fitness for full time workers. \u00a0In 2007, she started a cancer care foundation called \u00b4Aktiv mot kreft\u00b4(Active against Cancer). \u00a0In 2009, she announced a cooperative campaign with Adidas (one of her sponsors). \u00a05% of all sales of Grete Waitz collections were given to hospitals for training and investment in PET scanners. \u00a0Grete Waitz received several prestigious awards from the Norwegian Royal family and the Norwegian government. \u00a0She was considered a true legend. \u00a0R.I.P. Grete Waitz-you are an inspiration to women in general and to the importance of health and fitness.<\/p>\n
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A \u00a0Norwegian legend, known to many as \u00b4Grete the Great\u00b4, died last week. \u00a0Grete Waitz (pronounced \u00b4Vites\u00b4), a Norwegian school teacher, was a spectacular role model who dedicated her life to health and fitness by becoming one of the greatest female marathoners in the world. \u00a0To tell you the truth, I didn\u00b4t know anything…<\/p>\n