RACING - "Any race is a good race!" "Nervousness is a good thing. It made me go faster in the 1-mile races. Two-mile races are just twice the pain."
ENDURANCE RACING - "It was really appealing to hammer myself and go for the miles. I would like to see longer racing events."
EDUCATION - "I received an art scholarship to Westchester Community College (New York) and became a pretty good draftsmen, but before I knew it Westchester thought my talents lay elsewhere and then I joined the US Army for a different kind of education."
RUSSIANS - "They beat me by 14 minutes in 1958 but 15 years later I beat them in the 1973 Lugano Cup in what turned out to be a "death sprint," with an USA ending."
EAST GERMANS - "The German walkers were built like tanks, not tall and wiry as most endurance athletes. They must have been on something "crazy." When the Berlin Wall fell the East German coaches all fled for China and you know the rest."
WOMEN - "There were many good looking Olympic performers, but they were too serious, it was easier to get together with the tourists, even for a race walker."
LEARNING CURVE - "I always would talk with athletes from other sports to see what motivated them and I would stay fresh with their inspiration."
WORKING - "Legend has it that Laird never worked but that isn't true. I worked for eight (8) years as a draftsman in Pomona (CA). But for the most part I worked at being a race walker for more than 20 years and became very good at it."
TRAVEL - The NYAC was very generous through the years making it possible to win more than 60 championships, but when necessary or money was tight "I hitch-hiked" across the country to enter big races. I remember doing this at least four (4) times."
CHAMPIONSHIPS - "Most years there were 11 championships on tap and one year I won 9. I loved the trophies and would go most anywhere, any distance, anytime."
Next Page: Hall of Famer Larry Young Recalls Laird's Help
