Repeat of Hanover?

Press, 18 October 1980, Page 20

Repeat of Hanover?

One of the most eagerly awaited races at the World Veteran Games in January is almost certain to be the confrontation between John Macdonald, chairman of the organising committee, and Hal Higdon of the United States. They will meet in the 45-49 men’s 10,000 m race and, more than likely, in the 5000 m as well.

Higdon is a colourful individual who sometimes lists his occunation, as runner, probably with tongue in cheek. His whole life has centred round free-lance writing with mainly running as the background. He began running while attending Mount Carmel High School but did not begin to attain prominence until after graduation from Carleton College in 1953. Higdon started competing at the University of Chicago Track Club and over that, period of 27 years has won national and world titles. He worked for a while as a free-lance gag cartoonist then became assistant editor on the staff of the Kiwanis magazine. In 1959, after two years in that job he resigned as he decided he could make more money writing articles on the outside. Nevertheless, he has succeeded where so many have failed: National

Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Playboy, and Sports Illustrated have all carried his material, and he has published 20 books, most recently The Beginner’s Running Guide and The Runner's Cookbook, a best-seller.

Although he spent most of his career writing about such diverse sub-jects-as business, politics, science and crime, Hal Higdon has almost been forced by demand to concentrate on what previously had been considered a hobby: running.

Higdon and Macdonald are somewhat similar in , outlook in their approach to running, intense and with a never-say-die attitude, fighting all the way to the finish. Higdon went to Hanover to ■ compete - against the best but the 10,000 m was run in sections, -unseeded and on a dirt'track’ behind the stadium proper.

This was remedied . for the 5000 m races. Although both , Higdon and Macdonald were iust out of place in the 5000 m, Higdon beat Macdonald,home.

It was a different story in the 10>000m where Macdonald, who favours the longer event, was first in a time of 32min 5.5 s while Higdon recorded 32min. 32s for second place. LINDSAY TOINTON