Interview with Grete Waitz

By Rachel Wallack

Norwegian marathoner Grete Waitz got her start in track and cross country. She was a junior national champion at the 400, 800, and 1500 meters. She set a world record in 1975 with 8:46.6 in the 3000. But the marathon was Waitz’s path to stardom, in spite of her initial discomfort in the spotlight. She awed the world with her winning performances in New York in 1978-80, 1982-86, and 1988.

Waitz won the IAAF World Cross Country Championships five times, the Peachtree Road Race 10K four times, and the NYRR New York Mini Marathon five times. The gold medalist at the inaugural 1983 IAAF World Championships Marathon and the silver medalist in the first women’s marathon, at the 1984 Olympic Games, she’s more than just a champion, she’s a hero; Waitz has inspired many, including the children who run with the NYRRF, of which she’s the chairwoman.

Waitz, in NYC for the celebration of NYRR’s 50th anniversary, talked to New York Road Runners about her experiences.

New York Road Runners: What inspired you to start running in the first place—before you even thought about doing a marathon?

Grete Waitz: I was just a young girl, and I enjoyed running. I didn’t even think about it as a sport. We were playing—playing was synonymous with all outdoor activities. Running laps around the house and around the block was where it started.

NYRR: What was the breakthrough for you? How did you make the transition from a playful activity to a career?

GW: I got a little bit older, and I became a member of a track and field club—in the European club system—and I enjoyed the sport, the distance, and the spirit. It was a passion for me.

NYRR: How did you make people pay attention to you back then? I imagine it was tough to be a runner and even tougher to be a female runner.

GW:  We’ve come a long way in a very short time. When I got a little older, I wasn’t encouraged to do sports—it wasn’t what girls should be doing. Even in the media, women didn’t get the same attention. We had to be twice as good. I had to set world records to get noticed.

NYRR: Did your New York City Marathon 1978 win really keep you in the sport and deter you from retiring from running?

GW:  Yes, I came to New York with my husband to celebrate my retirement. I left for New York determined to continue my teaching and maybe have kids. But, instead, I quit my job teaching and never had kids. I always got excited when I came to New York for the marathon. Winning was a highlight each and every time.

NYRR: What do you think the New York Road Runners Foundation is doing to improve the sport today? What has been your motivation to get involved with NYRRF?

GW:  When I was their age, I wasn’t any good at running. I was a mid-pack runner. I didn’t excel at the sport until I was a teenager.  One of my passions now is to get the kids involved. It meant so much to me as a kid and as a girl. It’s really nice to pass it on.