RUNNING : New York’s Fred Lebow Is in Hospital Awaiting Biopsy Results

Of all his storied fights and battles, this is surely Fred Lebow’s toughest. The feisty race director of the New York Marathon--the man who invented big-time marathons--is today in a New York hospital, awaiting the results of a biopsy on a growth removed from his head.

Lebow said it all began about a month ago when, typically, he was running.

“I was abroad at a marathon,� he said this week from his hospital room. “I usually run an eight- or nine-minute pace. All of a sudden, I was doing a 12-minute pace. It was hard to run. I thought, OK, no big deal. Then I went to Belgrade and I was jogging. I was so slow. I figured it was all the traveling.

“I came back to New York and went jogging in Central Park. Same thing. I didn’t pay much attention to it.�

Then, two weeks ago at a banquet, Lebow was introducing people he had known for quite a while and mixing up their names. Something was wrong, but he didn’t know what. Without telling him, friends of Lebow’s made a doctor’s appointment. A CAT scan showed a cyst or growth on his brain. He was immediately hospitalized. Last Monday, part of the growth was removed. Results are expected by early next week.

Lebow, 52, has refused to slow down. He began a running program on the roof of the hospital. After the operation, he was slowed to a walk, which he does for an hour in the corridor each day. His room is filled with flowers and cards, and Lebow has been visited or called by scores of athletes whose careers have crossed with his.

It has been the source of much comfort to him.

“Mary Decker came by today,� he said. “Bill Rodgers called. The people at the London Marathon called. I hate to be in the hospital, but I am going to fight this. Besides, from my window I can see all the races in Central Park.�

In town for the Los Angeles Marathon but not running it is Mexican middle-distance star Jesus Herrera, who was second in the 1988 race.

Herrera will run in the 5K race, which is affiliated with the marathon and is being staged for the first time. More than 2,000 runners are expected to take part.

Herrera repeats the same sad story that other Mexican athletes have told over the years, that of little official support and some official intervention.

Herrera said that if sports officials don’t want an athlete to compete abroad, they simply don’t grant permission to leave the country. He said that to avoid such a situation, he didn’t tell anyone he would be running here.

“I just got on a plane,� he said.

In a country that has bred some of the sport’s most talented runners, it is disheartening to hear that the problems persist. Herrera said if athletes inquire about information on improved diets or training methods, officials ignore them.

Big Brother Is a Watch: A new sports timing system will be tested in this year’s L.A. Marathon, and it may well be the shape of things to come. About 340 runners will be equipped with a timing device that, its developers say, will provide instant and accurate timing information--not only after the race but also during the race.

The Time Tag system calls for a runner to wear a specially designed device strapped to one wrist, programmed to identify the runner according to entry number. The device emits a radio signal that is received as runners pass by antennae, placed at various points along the course. The information is processed and is supposed to provide instant race splits and updates.

The system has been used in the Ironman Triathlon and some other events but never in a marathon. Twenty entrants in the Friendship Cup race--which consists of national teams--will test the devices. In addition, 320 students from the Southland will wear them.

Running Notes

Olympic sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner, who retired from the sport last fall, announced that she has taken up marathon running and hopes to compete in the 1996 Olympics in her new discipline. “I have the dream of running the marathon because I just love running,� she told a group in Melbourne. “I’ll go out and just run and run and run along the roads. I love the fact of running . . . The Bolder Boulder race in May has been selected as the 1990 TAC national women’s 10K championship . . . The Goodwill Games marathon team will be selected based on performances from last Sept. 30 through March 18. The 1990 men’s national marathon championship will be held at Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 11. Yet to be determined are the qualifying races for the World Championships in Tokyo next year . . . Qualifying standards have been set for the Olympic trials marathon: 2:20 or better for men and 2:45 or better for women. . . . Two of marathon running’s top women--Joan Benoit Samuelson and Ingrid Kristiansen--will not run this season. Each is expecting her second child.

WATCHING THE LOS ANGELES MARATHON

FREEWAY RAMP CLOSURES

Harbor Fwy. northbound/southbound and 6th St., 7 a.m.-11 a.m.

Hollywood Fwy. northbound/southbound and Hollywood Blvd., 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Hollywood Fwy southbound and Vine St., 7 a.m.-11 a.m.

Hollywood Fwy. southbound and Gower St., 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Santa Monica Fwy. eastbound and westbound and Crenshaw Blvd., 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

PARKING: Parking near the start and finishis available at the Coliseum lots for $5 per car and at USC lots for $6 per car.

ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS

The start/finish and 10 locations along the course will provide spectators with entertainment and race updates. They are: START/FINISH: Spectators can view the start from the east side of Figueroa Boulevard and the finish at the Coliseum’s east entrance in Exposition Park.

1. Little Tokyo, during Mile 4, at the northwest corner of San Pedro and Second streets. Entertainment: a seven-person drum group, five-girl dance troupe. Times of operation: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Leading runners should arrive here at about 8:54 a.m.

2. During Mile 5, on Olvera Street at the Gazebo. Entertainment: mariachis. Times of operation: 8:30 to 10:30. Leading runners should arrive here at about 8:59 a.m.

3. Chinatown, during Mile 6, 827 North Broadway on west side of the street. Entertainment, dance and drill teams, firecracker celebration. Times of operation: 8:30 to 10:30. Leading runners should arrive here at about 9:05 a.m.

4. During Mile 7, Club Bahia parking lot at 1130 West Sunset Boulevard. Entertainment: Latin rock groups. Times of operation: 8:45 to 11. Leading runners should arrive here about 9:10 a.m.

5. During Mile 9, Sunset Boulevard and Bates Avenue. Entertainment: Jewish folk dance and music. Times of operation: 8:45 to 11. Leading runners should arrive here about 9:19 a.m.

6. During Mile 13, corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Drive. Entertainment: vocalists, rock and roll band. Times of operation: 9 a.m. to noon. Leading runners should arrive about 9:38 a.m.

7. During Mile 20, northwest corner of Olympic Boulevard and Western Avenue. Entertainment: traditional Korean folk dancing and singing. Times of operation: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Leading runners should arrive about 10:13 a.m.

8. During Mile 21, southwest corner of Pico and Crenshaw boulevards. Entertainment: reggae music, rhythm and blues, gospel, dancing. Times of operation: 9:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Leading runners should arrive about 10:19 a.m.

9. During Mile 23, southeast corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Rodeo Road. Entertainment: gospel music, dancing, reggae music, rap. Times of operation: 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Leading runners should arrive about 10:30 a.m.

10. During Mile 26, southeast corner of Menlo Avenue and Exposition Boulevard. Entertainment: American Indian music and dance. Times of operation: 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Leading runners should arrive about 10:45 a.m.