A Couple Of The Nicest Guys In The World

Harry Groves was Penn State's track and cross country coach for over 30 years until he retired in 2006. Harry has coached some of the finest athletes to come out of Penn State over the years. Some have become Olympians. In 2001 he was inducted into the US Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was a founder, in the late 60s, of the Nittany Valley Track Club (since renamed the Nittany Valley Running Club) of which I am a 20-year member and "Propaganda Minister" (I've done the Newsletter, web site, newspaper blog, and other duties suited to a big-mouth).

During the summer, the NVRC sponsors a film series at Appalachian Outdoors, a local outfitter. Last summer, the Club screened Fire on the Track, a biopic of Steve Prefontaine, a legendary American distance runner who died tragically in a car wreck in 1975 when he was still a rising star on the world track scene. After the movie, Harry gave a Q and A about "Pre", coaching, and one of Pre's great rivals, Penn State's Greg Fredericks. Harry recounted one of their closest head-to-head races (Pre won), and then went on to give a touching tribute to his younger "brother" Fredericks, whom I'm honored to be able to run with.

Coach Groves always had a reputation as a salty, curmudgeonly old cuss who would work his athletes hard, but also brought the best out of them. Even in retirement, Harry keeps in touch with and inspires his old team members, and up-and-coming athletes, too. Harry put together a team for the 20K Distance Classic at this year's Penn Relays. Captained by one of his former athletes and assistant coaches, Artie Gilkes, the team took first place with Gilkes finishing 3rd overall.

In the videos below of the Q and A, we see Harry on his best behavior. (Harry can say some startlingly inappropriate things, but also knows his audience.) But he's always honest, and entertaining. And generous. And really, quite a pussy cat when you get to know him. Harry just turned 80 a few weeks ago. And his younger "brother" Greg Fredericks? Greg just turned 60 last weekend. And he really is, as Harry says, one of the nicest guys in the world.

[HT - Tara Murray]

Comments

[Tara Murray]

I was still scared of him when I went to this screening. After his talk he pulled a folded up piece of newspaper out of his shirt pocket - it was one of my newspaper columns. I was surprised he even knew who I was, and I was sure he'd see that I had no idea what I was talking about. But he said some nice things about my writing, and he told me I should pay more attention to the Penn Relays. I paid attention this year - and Coach Groves' team won the 20K.

[Marty]

Yeah. I'd meant to mention that in the post above and so I edited the post to include mention of the team win. It's amazing the influence Harry still has 4 years after retirement.

[Chris]

Sort of like our HS coach, Bob Ivory, but on a bigger scale. Same kind of influence.

[Marty]

I think Ivory is still around, occasionally volunteering at the school, though not coaching. Last time I checked, one of Ivory's teams from the early 70s still has a HS record at the Penn Relays for the Distance Medley Relay.

[Valerie Longfellow]

A record from the '70's? Hmmmm . . . . . That DMR doesn't happen to be in yds. vs. meters, does it? My brother in law has a record for the 100 yd. (9.9!) at his high school, but that's because that distance isn't run anymore. I'm not being uncharitable, just curious.

[Chris]

Yes, I remember that team! 1972, if I recall correctly. The event was was the thousand cubit dart.

[Marty]

They did win in 1972. It was in yards at that time. The time was not a meet record, but I think the 1200 (1320 yard) split was a record. I don't see that recorded on the Penn Relays site and can't find it right now, but I remember seeing it once. Here are the Penn Relay records for the DMR:

http://news.pennrelaysonline.com/event-history/high-school-boys-history/high-school-boys-distance-medley-relay/

[Valerie Longfellow]

I'm seriously concerned that someday, after reading Mazur banter, my eyes will really stay stuck in that upward roll they involuntarily take.

[Marty]

BTW, I think that the yards-meter thing may be why the 1320 split still stands as a record. They switched to meters in '75. And the yard/mile courses are longer. (1 mile = 1609 meters), so a 4 minute 1600 is still not a 4 minute mile. That last 9 meters can kill you!

[Chris]

I remember back then, the best sprinting sneakers (yes, they were still called sneakers) had supple calves leather soles (for lightness), and burlap uppers because they "breathed".

We trained in Keds.

[Marty]

And Keds made you run faster and jump higher.

It's gone full circle. From the high-tech running shoes developed since the 70s to the new fad of barefoot running. Barefoot running supposedly leads to a more efficient, natural style that also results in fewer injuries (if you avoid the glass). My son "converted" and can now run 10+ miles barefoot.

[Marty]

Oh, and Val, we really love having you as a Mazurland correspondent. You're one of those people we can just be our fucking selves with!

[Valerie Longfellow]

I have that effect on many people. It's my gift. And my curse.

[Valerie Longfellow]

It took me awhile to find it. Brace yourselves for a super hero sized SHWING moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE1wM8-pvng

[Marty]

My daughter tells me that foreign movies in France are usually dubbed rather than subtitled, and she's very annoyed by it. But, if that's how this movie is shown in Poland, that's really annoying. If you're gonna dub, delete the original voice track!