Good Sports

by Budd Glassberg

Reprinted with permission from the Zionsville Times Sentinel on October 4, 2006

An Ironman Streak Even Cal Ripkin Would Envy

“I had always planned to take my scrapbooks and just write about each race as it is recalled by me. This was to be when I broke my leg and couldn't run. Well I never broke anything badly enough to go to bed or for that matter to stop running, so I am going to do it now at the age of 60.” – Charley Robbins from Charley Robbins’ Scrapbooks (1982)

In 2002, for the first time since 1952, Charley Robbins did not be run in the Manchester Connecticut Thanksgiving Day Race. After 50 consecutive years, Robbins figuratively hung up his running shoes. I say figuratively, because Charley “Doc” Robbins rarely ran in shoes. A barefoot wonder, Charley Robbins was inducted into the Barefoot Hall of Fame in 2002. He died last month at the age of 85 in Middletown, CT where he lived with his daughter. He left behind a legacy and a life story that commands attention.

Though I had never met him, I had read stories about his accomplishments and seen pictures of him.  The recent pictures showed an extremely thin, short fellow whose ribs were clearly visible beneath a wrinkled layer of skin.  His emaciated condition was not due to disease.  Charley "Doc" Robbins had always been slim.  His 5'7" frame never carried more than 115 pounds.

Twice Charley Robbins won the Thanksgiving Day Race in the mid 1940’s. He won a total of 11 national championships and once finished third in the Boston Marathon. He could run long distances in a five minute twenty seconds per mile pace. His legacy of 65 injury free years of running makes one pause and consider that there may be benefit in strengthening our feet by allowing them to actually touch the ground.

In 1982 he published a book entitled Charley Robbins’ Scrapbooks. His introduction is a classic example of his simplistic approach to running. He wrote, “I thought the introduction would be much longer and profound, but this is about all. My methods are often peculiar and don't look good, but thank goodness there is one activity (racing) which depends only upon who gets there first. In almost all other activities in our life, the opinions of others and the lack of a means to demonstrate our results has to be in the act. (To make a football team or get ahead in business requires one to impress those in charge.) If one is a genius at painting, he must wait until someone gives him a chance to show it. Enough philosophy, I will open my Manchester High School scrapbook and get started.” (p.iii)

Charley Robbins was a practicing psychiatrist at Connecticut Valley Hospital. He lived in the woods for many years, chopping wood for the wood stove to heat his shack and breaking rock for his gravel driveway. He eschewed modern conveniences such as high tech running clothes. Instead he often ran in everyday clothing. He found shoes unnecessary except when the temperature dipped below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. At such times he might wear wool socks or rubbery aquasocks. In his book he inserts tips for runners. I especially enjoyed his suggestions for cold weather. He wrote, “I have some notes on cold weather clothes. Pajamas are good under sweat clothes or street pants. I use them when it is 10°F or lower in the a.m. (dark). The ski warmup pants are very handy to wear to meets. They are the ones that zip all the way down the legs and can be put on like diapers. I have found my rabbit hopping or skipping technique very handy this winter as it has been very icy on the roads. I talked to a young runner who is now coaching the local high school. He has fallen twice this winter. I don't think this would happen if he skipped over the questionable Spots.” (pp. 185-187)

The running world has lost one of its truly unique characters. I have been touched by his minimalist life style and straight forward ways. I regret never having run with the man. In memory of Charley “Doc” Robbins, I will race barefoot this Saturday at the Hanover College Invitational and keep him in my thoughts throughout the race.

Caption for picture: CHARLEY ROBBINS, running his 27th straight Manchester Road Race in 1978, kept his streak going for another 23 years.
(COURANT FILE PHOTO) Nov. 12, 2001
Copyright 2006, Hartford Courant

Budd Glassberg is a resident of Zionsville who is active in the local running community. Visit www.runz.com for reprints of all his columns. You can reach him by email at budd@runz.com.