Who was Coach GP's most inspiring interviewee?...

“The crossover in my career between broadcaster and coach, to me, is very interesting. Having coached athletes, both professional and amateur, and having interviewed professional athletes such as those mentioned on this page - I have found their common denominator to be their passion. Their passion takes the form of an unswerving, unyielding drive toward their specific goals coupled, of course, with their immense talent.

One of my personal broadcasting highlights came when I interviewed the legendary Stanford University Track & Field coach, Payton Jordan at age eighty-two. Payton had just run 30.1 seconds for 200M at the 1997 National Masters Track & Field Champ-ionships. Incredibly Payton was disappointed in his performance and I asked him why he. He replied that his technical form let him down at the start. “ I popped up too soon” he growled at me.

 My main question to him... 'How ? How at age eighty-two can you run that fast?' He said, 'GP, it is quite simple. Remember these five things.

1) Have fun, always have fun and love what you do.

2) Always work on your range of motion and flexibility: Always.

3) Work on your strength. Be it running stairs, hills or strength training in the gym.

4) Always work on your breathing capacity. As I have grown older, I have lost my breathing capacity but I work on it, I do breathing exercises When I am sitting in traffic around Palo Alto, I breathe in for four seconds and out for eight seconds. You can build up to this.

5) Finally, Speed, never ever stop working on speed……..do things fast, fast fast fast !!

The man was 82 years old...now that's passion!
 

 

Are you looking to spice up your race finish?
Would you like to enhance the 'race experience' for your race participants and for their families and friends at the finish line?

Coach GP is an experienced broadcaster, having conducted radio interviews with professional athletes including Andre Agassi, Gary Player, Vijay Singh and Tony Dorsett to name but a few.

Coach GP is one of the most experienced and most dynamic start/ finish line announcers in the United States. His distinct English accent and his flair for the dramatic, will perfectly capture the passion and excitement of your event

For two years prior to relocating to the east coast, GP was the Sports analyst for KSCO 1080 AM radio Santa Cruz, responsible for the production of the sports department and conducting interviews. Click on the headphones to the right to hear one interview he conducted with Mbarak Hussein, now a 2:08 marathoner

 

 

 

 

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Listen to Coach GP's radio interview with the very engaging World Class marathoner Mbarak Hussein. Mbarak placed 5th at the 2001 Boston Marathon 7 days prior to the interview 

Mbarak is featured in my book and is soon to be featured in the DVD version of Run Tall, Run Easy. He provides wonderful insight as to what transpires at the very front of the pack in a world class race. He also provides hope and inspiration with his kind words for those also racing the marathon, albeit a few miles further behind.

Radio and Television color commentary

Detroit Free Press Marathon                                                          Start/Finish line emcee announcer
 

ING Fargo marathon                                                                                  Start / finish line emcee announcer.
 

Sea Girt 5k                                                                                         Finish line emcee announcer

Wharf to Wharf
Prior to 2003, when he moved to New Jersey, Coach GP was the radio color commentator for the Wharf to Wharf race (15,000 participants) in Santa Cruz

Bay to Breakers
GP was the corporate announcer at the legendary Bay to Breakers (75,000+ participants, 100,000+ spectators)

Miami International Marathon
From 2003 to the present, GP has been and continues to be the television color commentator for the prestigious Miami International marathon. GP has worked this event alongside such running notables as Frank Shorter, Bart Yasso and John The Penguin Bingham.

GP would love to take on the radio or television commentary and analysis for your event. For more information on Coach GP’s availability please contact his manager, Jan Seeley at Jan@MarathonandBeyond.com. Remember he'll do everything he can to help you enhance your event!

 

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Running Buzz Website Editor: Tom Schaefer