A native of Oslo, Norway, she died there, with her husband, Jack, at her side. It was Jack who talked her into running long distances in the first place.
A world record-holder in the 3,000 meters, Waitz got an invitation to run the New York City Marathon in 1978. Her role was the "rabbit," the early pace-setter who peels off late in the race and lets the expected challengers battle it out for ultimate victory. It was her first marathon.Waitz never really relinquished her rabbit role, fighting through her suffering to win the race in world record time, shaving a full two minutes off the existing fastest time for the distance. She took the lead at the 18-mile mark and ran a "negative split" — the second half faster than the first.
It was the first of nine wins in New York. That record still stands. It is far and away the record. The most a man has won is four. That was Bill Rodgers.
Waitz also won the London Marathon twice and the high-profile Stockholm Marathon once. From 1978 to 1988, she entered 19 other marathons around the world and won 13 of them. She broke the world record three times.
She was successful in world championships as well, taking out gold in 1983 and silver at the 1984 L.A. Olympics.
Waitz also excelled in cross country, winning five gold medals at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships (in 1978-1981 and 1983).
She was a pioneer in her sport, a super-fast runner who brought recognition and prestige to a sport that had little funding, especially for women. As a result, her native country has an annual race named after her. The New York Road Runners have an annual half marathon named after her as well.Her fame transcends running events as well: A statue of her stands at the Norway pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort and outside the Bislett Stadium in Oslo. She has even appeared on a set of postage stamps.
An excellent multimedia show is here.
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