Sunday, November 8, 2009
Ngetich, Ozaki prevail in ‘Battle of Marathon’
Pat Butcher for the IAAFIf the Battle of Marathon had been scheduled for today, the Persians would not even have made it off their boats, to line up against the Athenians, such were the choppy seas and torrential rain on the bay of the famous location.
It was left to the runners in the Athens Classic Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, to battle the elements instead. Josephat Kipkirui Ngetich proved the best of the inheritors of the legend of Phillipides. On one of the toughest courses in the world, the 23-year-old, in only his second marathon improved his personal best by over three minutes, to win in 2:13:44, the second fastest time in the race’s 26 year history.
Ngetich had dropped 25 metres behind the leaders, colleague Edwin Kipchom and Ethiopian Alemayehu Ameta after 28 kilometres, but he rallied shortly afterwards, and by 35k was engaged in a head to head with Ameta, with Kipchom 100 metres behind.
But the Ethiopian cracked completely in the last five kilometres. Kipchom came past to finish second in 2:14:18, which would still have been a course record on the current configuration prior to last year. A third Kenyan, Pius Mutuku was third in 2:14:39, and Ameta was fourth in 2:14:51.
At least the torrential early morning rain relented to a steady downpour for the start and the first hour, and the sun even broke through as Ngetich broke away from his final opponent.
Pointing to his thin woolly hat, Ngetich said, “At least it kept me cool when the sun came out. I thought I could win at 35k. The rain wasn’t really a problem, but the course is tough.”
Not ‘arf’, as they say in south London. After a flat start, which takes the runners round the tomb of the Athenian soldiers who died in the celebrated battle in 490 BCE, the road from Marathon to Athens climbs from 10k to 31k, which is to say, a half-marathon uphill, before the gentle decline into the city, with the finish in the atmospheric Panathenaiko, the marble stadium built for the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896.
Patience pays for Ozaki
The runners are usually in no state to appreciate either scenery on the way, or the exotic stadium at the finish. But Akemi Ozaki of Japan was overjoyed to have won the women’s race on what she called, “this historic course”.
Ozaki ran a cannier race than even Ngetich. She tracked the leading trio of Natalia Volgina of Russia, Sviatlana Kouhan of Belarus, and Ethiopian Eshetu Degefa through halfway before dropping away at 30k. “They put on a sprint, but I decided it was wiser to run at a steady pace,” she said after picking up the winner’s trophy.
It certainly paid off, she was back with the leaders within two kilometres, broke away with Degefa at 35k, and went away from the Ethiopian with three kilometres to run. “I was a little worried at first, because the surface was really slippery with the rain. But when I got to 39k, I said to myself, now is the time to really run”.
Ozaki, 32, won in 2:39:56, Degefa was second in 2:40:32, and Kouhan third in 2:40:54.
Next year’s event promises to be even more special than Ozaki already felt. The year 2010 is the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, a little skirmish described by many historians as the most crucial event in European history. But it is also an opportunity for every marathon runner to come and pay their respects to the place (and the time) where their event truly began. But you’d better be sharp, because entries will be limited.
Leading Results –
MEN -
1. Josephat K Ngetich, KEN 2.13.44
2. Edwin Kipchom, KEN 2.14.18
3. Pius Mutuku, KEN 2.14.39
4. Alemayehu Ameta, ETH 2.14.51
5. Philemon Rotich, KEN 2.16.14
6. Michael Chemchir, KEN 2.16.37
7. Masaru Takamizawa, JPN 2.17.24
8. Emmanuel Tirop, KEN 2.19.02
9. John Maluni, KEN 2.19.30
10. Michael Koronei, KEN 2.21.49
WOMEN -
1. Akemi Ozaki, JPN 2.39.56
2. Eshetu Degefa, ETH 2.40.32
3. Sviatlana Kouhan, BLR 2.40.54
4. Natalia Volgina, RUS 2.41.48
5. Georgia Ampatzidou, GRE 2.44.23
6. Magdalini Gazea, GRE 2.44.28
GEBRSELASSIE TARGETS NEW WORLD RECORD AT 2010 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON
Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebrselassie will be hoping for a case of third time lucky when he returns to Dubai in January to defend the title he has won for the past two years at the 2010 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. The current world record holder, Gebrselassie met with race officials in his home town of Addis Ababa last week to confirm he will return to Dubai for a third crack at breaking one of the most celebrated world records in sport on January 22.
“There are few, if any, greater names in athletics history than Haile Gebrselassie so once again we are proud and delighted that he has chosen to make his next marathon appearance in Dubai in three months time,” said Event Director Peter Connerton.
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and staged under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon saw Gebrselassie make his Dubai debut in January 2008 with a sensational winning time that was the second fastest in history. Last year, he defied some unseasonal rain showers to win again, this time posting the eighth best time ever to win from up-and-coming countryman Deressa Chimsa.
“Last year the rain was bad and I wasn’t feeling 100% so to win and prove I could run well in the wet weather was a bonus for me,” said Gebrselassie.
“I still can’t believe I didn’t break the world record in 2008 – everything was perfect except the pace for the first half of the race, which was too fast. For me, Dubai is a perfect racing venue.
“It’s only a short flight from Addis, the weather is usually beautiful, the course itself is very, very good and the athletes are treated really well. I’m already training hard and looking forward to running again in Dubai in January.”
Gebrselassie’s last marathon appearance was in Berlin in September where he won for the fourth consecutive year but fell short of breaking his own world record of 2h:03m:59s he set a year earlier on the flat course. He did, however, pass through the 30km point in 1:27:49, a new world record for a road 30km and the 27th of his incredible career.
His return to compete in the US$2 million Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon is expected to increase entries for an event that has raised awareness of the emirate as a venue for road running.
“We are already counting the days until Haile lines up with marathon runners from across the world,” said Ahmed Al Kamali, Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon General Co-ordinator, President of the UAE Athletics Federation and Al Ahli Club Board Member.
“He is an inspiration to millions of runners around the globe and we believe his third appearance in Dubai will help encourage people of all ages in the UAE to take to the streets and start running. It’s fun and it’s healthy – whether it’s the full marathon distance, the 10km or the 3km Fun Run, there’s a race for everyone at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.”
Entries for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon are being accepted now at all branches of Fitness First in Dubai and online at the event’s official website www.dubaimarathon.org. Teams and individuals are asked to ensure of their places in the line-up before the closing date for entries on December 31.
Video: Anna Pierce Interview
Don’t worry if you can’t find Anna Willard’s name on results next track season, you just need to look for a new name, Anna Pierce. Pierce recently married US steeplechaser John Pierece and both are hard at work up in Mammoth Lakes where we caught up with the Mammoth Track Club. Anna walks us through one of their daily routines and gives us a little insight on her average training day.
Hero’s welcome for Olympic marathoner Wanjiru
By DAVID MACHARIA for Daily NationOlympic champion Samuel Kamau Wanjiru was on Saturday given a hero’s welcome in Nyahururu and assured of a 24-hour security detail. Wanjiru had on his arrival in the country last Thursday expressed fears on his security and was quoted in the media as saying he could migrate to Japan where he could feel secure.
But on Saturday, Nyahururu Police commandant Daniel Masamba assured him that his security would be given priority. The KCC chairman Matu Wamae said the Olympic, London and Chicago marathons champion should be provided with a 24 hour security “so that he does not migrate to Japan over fears over his security”.
This was said during a fanfare filled home-coming reception at the NYahururu stadium. The Nyahururu deputy mayor Irene Wacuka led the crowd in saying five kikuyu traditional ululations for Wanjiru.
The deputy mayor said a street in Nyahururu town would be named after Wanjiru and urged the athlete to bring many of his foreign friends to visit the town. Musicians and comedians accompanied the procession that started in Nairobi on Friday and stopped over in Nyeri for the night before arriving in Nyahururu on Saturday.
Among the athletes present included multi paralympic medal winner Samuel Wanyoike who challenged Wanjiru to aim for more records in his career. Wanjiru holds Olympic marathon and the world half marathon records in addition to Chicago marathon course record.
Illicit brew
Kenya Dairy Board MD, Machira Gichohi, said Wanjiru would be used by the parastatal to spearhead a campaign against illicit brew consumption by youth. KCC chairman Matu Wamae said illicit brews had destroyed the lives of many young people in central province. He said his organisation gave funds to Athletics Kenya in a bid to tap talent through hosting youth races.
Addressing the crowd, Wanjiru urged the government to come up with projects that can keep the youths busy saying took illicit brews and drugs because of idleness. “They don’t drink because they like it but because they lack something to do”. he said adding that he was ready to sponsor events that could help youths realise their talent.
Behind Tulu's Triumph
Sabrina Yohannes writes for Running TimesThe most discomfort Derartu Tulu experienced on the morning of the 2009 New York City Marathon was after she crossed the finish line in first place and took part in TV interviews and the medal ceremony in her shorts. The bag with the rest of her gear had been temporarily misplaced. Noting her discomfort, security guard Ed Cardona offered her the long black coat he was wearing over his black suit and she gratefully accepted. The garment that fit snugly on his 225-pound build dwarfed her 101–pound frame.
Derartu Tulu overcame a lot more than a world-class field to win in New York.
“It was cold at the start of the race, but nothing like what I felt afterwards,” says Tulu, who took the wind on the course in stride and skirted around Salina Kosgei and Yuri Kano when they fell early in the race. “I very nearly fell myself, but by the grace of God, I was spared,” says Tulu, who otherwise looked comfortable and strong throughout her race. “The pace was never fast. So I was comfortable.”
The same cannot be said of her last three years after she gave birth to her daughter Ruth in the fall of 2006. Though her perseverance eventually paid off, the two-time Olympic 10,000m champion, who had made thrilling comebacks in the past, had not competed at all in 2006 and 2007 and registered mostly discouraging results since. “During that time I struggled a great deal even to lose weight and to regain my endurance,” says Tulu.
The mother of an 11-year old daughter Tsion, and the adoptive mother of four children, three of them orphans and one with family in the Bekoji region Tulu hails from, she had stopped training early in 2006. “The culture doesn't really allow you to run while pregnant, and I don't think that I would be able to do that either,” she says. That was followed by a difficult childbirth by Caesarean section and long recovery. “I had gained up to 18 kilos [about 40 pounds], and it took me a great deal of time to lose that weight,” says Tulu, who considers 45 kilos (99 pounds) her ideal weight. “I was 45 kilos when I ran in Sydney, 45 kilos when I ran in Athens,” says the 2000 gold and 2004 bronze Olympic 10,000m medalist, who was a younger and leaner 20-year-old weighing just 42 kilos (92.4 pounds) when she took her first Olympic gold medal in Barcelona in 1992. “Now I’m 46 kilos, so I have one more to lose,” she says.
Her first race back was a second-place finish in Madrid in April 2008, but in 2:36.32, way off her 2005 personal best of 2:23:30 at the Helsinki world championships, where she finished just out of the medals in fourth place. “After giving birth to my second child, I've run three marathons,” says Tulu. “I ran in [Madrid], Tokyo, and Nagano. Two of them I finished in 2 hours and 36 minutes, and one of them in 2:34. So when things like that happen, sometimes you start to give up hope.”
Among the things giving her encouragement was the reaction from fans in Addis Ababa who saw her training. “They would ask me, ‘Where have you been? We long to see you back again’,” says Tulu, who brought Ethiopia its first Olympic gold in 12 years after the nation boycotted the 1984 and 1988 Games, and has been revered in Ethiopia since, along with Haile Gebrselassie. “I used to be surprised, thinking there are so many other runners, how are they still expecting me to accomplish things?” Tulu continues. “But they would say to me, ‘We always want to see you and Haile running again and doing great things again.’ And I realized how much they still expect from me. So I started to tell them, ‘Well then, wait a little while for me. I may be able to accomplish something yet. I hope that I can do something good this year.’ ”
Tulu’s own track record was also one that inspired belief in longevity and comebacks. After becoming the first black African woman to win Olympic gold in 1992, she had taken fourth at the Atlanta Olympics but triumphed stunningly in Sydney and medaled yet again in Athens after leading an Ethiopian sweep of the medals at the 2001 world championships, all over 10,000m. At the world cross country championships, she had taken gold in 1995 and 1997 and then returned to take gold in 2000. In the marathon, she won London and Tokyo in 2001, and was third in New York in 2005. Although she took global medals or had notable results i
n several other years, there have been gaps in Tulu’s career. “I have periods of my life where I have interrupted running due to child birth,” she says. “In addition, I've also had some leg injuries. So I do feel that I have lost some time … I feel that out of the 20 years that I've been competing, I have run, perhaps, half of that.”With the passing years, Tulu found that she has lost some of her strengths, but others have improved. “As you continue running over the years, you learn a lot, and you gain experience from your training, from your competitions,” she says. “And if you do everything that you set your mind on and if you're determined and you run from the heart, your legs may not be as fast as they used to be, but your mind may be faster. There are things that you have to change with time. For example, I can't do quite the speed work that I used to be able to do, so I have to reduce the speed and listen to my body as I work.”
Tulu listened to her body but in September her results spoke even louder in telling her she should tackle another major marathon. “I ran a Philadelphia half marathon and for 21k, I ran 1 hour and 10 minutes, and that told me that I am OK,” says Tulu, whose personal best is 1:07:03 run in 2001. “In my last 21K, I ran 1:15,” says Tulu, who had been discouraged by her 1:14.57 in 17th place at the Ras al Khaimah in February 2009. But after that 1:10:33 for fourth in Philadelphia, she set about preparing for what turned out to be her triumphant return to the top spot at a World Marathon Majors venue. “I decided to run here,” says Tulu. “So since then I went back home and I trained really hard.
“I didn't really expect to win here, but I did know that I could be a good competitor and I planned to fight until the very end,” she said after taking the New York title in 2:28:52. “It turned out it was God's will that I should win, and I am extremely happy.”
“I still have a lot of work to do because 2:28 is not a good time,” she says. “But after all of the struggle I went through these last three years, I am delighted to have managed this.”
Tulu may tackle the RAK half marathon again in 2010, as well as some other road races between December and February, such as the Sanyo road race in Japan. She has not made plans for her next few marathons but is targeting a major one further down the road. “I’m planning to keep running until the London Olympics,” she says. “I hope to be able to bring another victory to my country.” Her resume suggests that outcome cannot be ruled out, and her adoring fans will no doubt provide encouragement along the way. “The Olympics are three years away, and let alone three years, you don’t know what will happen in three months’ time, but that is my goal,” says Tulu.
For now, though, not even the cool temperatures that kept her briefly hugging a blanket and a borrowed coat could erase her trademark brilliant smile as she stopped and posed for pictures and praise after Sunday’s victorious finish. An even warmer reception awaits her in Addis Ababa, from where she already received the first waves of congratulations when she spoke to family and friends by phone on Sunday. “I know that all Ethiopians will be very happy with this and will greet me with great joy,” she says.
Jorge Torres on His Marathon Debut at New York
Great article by Duncan Larkin for Running Times MagazineIn the era of 22-year-old, gold-medal marathoners like Sammy Wanjiru, American hopeful Jorge Torres may be a bit of an anomaly by choosing to debut at the ripe old age of 29. Even more of an anomaly is Torres choosing to run his first 26.2 miles in New York, one of the most challenging major marathons. But there’s a method to the madness. Torres, an eight-time All-American at the University of Colorado and a 2008 Olympian in the 10,000m, has been training this year under the watchful eye of former marathon world-record holder and NYC champ Steve Jones (AKA “Jonesy”). Look for Torres up there with the other American hopefuls contesting for the national title.
Running Times: I recently talked with your training partner Jason Hartmann. He told me that your coach, Jonesy, told him before his Twin Cities win that he was “ready.” Did he tell you that as well?
Jorge Torres: What he told me, he told Jason. He said I’m ready to go. I finished my final workout for New York City last week, which was last Tuesday. It was the hardest workout out of all my training. After I nailed it, he was like, “You are good to go.”
Jonesy has won New York City and has held the world record. So was that a pretty good blessing, then, wasn’t it?
JT: Oh yeah. Jonesy is going to tell you the way it is. He won’t blow any smoke up your butt. He either tells you you are ready or not. After I finished the build-up stage and the hard workouts, he told me I was pretty much good to go. He told me I had done all the work and it was time to relax.
Did he tell you anything else about NYC? I know when he ran it he pushed the envelope from the beginning. Did he tell you anything like that? Did he share any tactics with you?
JT: He pretty much told me that he doesn’t want me thinking too much about the race. He wants me visualizing the atmosphere and all that, but he doesn’t want me actually visualizing the race and getting too worked up about it until two to three days beforehand. He doesn’t want me spending my energy on it. He told me to stay relaxed and rest up now that the work is done, and don’t get worked up about it. He might talk to me about the actual race-day strategy closer to the race, like three days before. He just doesn’t want me to spend any unnecessary energy.
You ran the Great North Run in England, a half marathon, last month in 62 minutes. That was a tune-up race, right?
JT: Yep. The purpose of it was to get a longer race under my legs while I was doing high mileage. I used it as a hard training run during my work-up phase.
I heard you lost your bag on the way there. Is that true?
JT [laughing]: How did you know that?
I got my sources, Jorge.
JT [laughing]: Yeah, I lost my bag.
So did you get your bag before race day?
JT: I got it the night before my race. It was a short trip—pretty much get in, get out. I usually don’t check in my bags, but Jonesy was like, “I’m going to check in a bag.” So I decided to check one in too, which was one of the most idiotic things I’ve ever done. So sure enough, my bag doesn’t show up. The thing is, I’m a pretty relaxed guy so I took it well.
Did you have your race-day flats in there?
JT: I had everything in there. The only thing I had on me w
as my laptop and a sweater. All I could do was change my top. I had to wear the same thing over and over. I took it pretty well. I don’t let little things bug me. If it had been race day, it might have been a different story. I figured it would show up. They knew where it was.Other than the bag debacle, were you happy with your performance at the Great North Run?
JT: Overall, I was happy with the performance. The main reason is that it was just a build-up. I mean I was just building my miles up and getting all the experience. As long as I came out of the race feeling comfortable, confident, and thinking that my pace there was long-term—26.2 miles. I knew if I could finish strong, I could run 26.2 miles that way. And I did finish strong. I got into a pace; I got into a rhythm. I practiced not to surge hard. You know in 10Ks you can surge hard and play the mind game, but all my teammates, Jonesy, and my brother, Eduardo, tell me that I make a mistake of surging early and eat it in later miles, so I tried to make it nice and easy—steady.
So you are saying that you got to play your cards more slowly in the marathon, right?
JT: Exactly. Even when I was coming down the home stretch, this guy [Chema] Martinez, a guy who has run 2:08, pulls up next to me. I had been running by myself the whole race from mile 2 to pretty much the last mile. So Martinez comes by me and surges past me. I had a decision to make. Jonesy had been telling me to practice steady-pace running. I said to myself, “You know what, let him go. You are just here for practice.” I knew that I was there to run the race at a good solid pace and I did that. As soon as I finished the race, I knew I could do it for 26.2 miles.
So you are saying it was a great learning experience for you there.
JT: It was a great learning experience. One of these days I want to do a half marathon at a faster pace. There it was pretty much all practice.
Let’s now talk about your debut in New York. You are following the traditional approach, which is to do the marathon later in your career. You see guys like Sammy Wanjiru doing the marathon at such a young age nowadays. Why did you decide to wait so long?
JT: I guess you could say that I am a traditionalist kind of guy. It’s something that I’ve gotten from my mentors. One of them passed away. [Torres’ long-time coach, Greg Fedyski, was killed in a car accident last summer.] Even Coach Wetmore and Coach Jones have told me that the time would be right when I’m ready to start the marathon. Coach Fedyski once told me that, once I had a good base of mileage under me and I was older, I’d be strong enough to run the marathon. Same thing with Mark Wetmore. So I’ve taken all this advice from people in my running career and have listened to them. I didn’t get caught up in the hoopla of starting early and doing it for the money or whatever the reasons.
I know from talking with Jason earlier that Jonesy has you guys doing three workouts a week and tempo runs at paces faster than race pace. I also know he’s not a big technology guy. Would you consider him doing anything unconventional?
JT: To tell you the truth, not really. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen a lot of programs and have talked with a lot of my colleagues. I know there are a lot of different build-up strategies. I look at Jonesy’s training philosophy and it’s like what you said: simple. There is no high-tech scientific reason behind it. You go off your gut instinct. You go with it and you believe in it.
The highest tech thing we have is on our Sunday runs, Jonesy drives around in a car and hands us water and GU. That is the highest tech we go. The rest of it is him on a bike clocki
ng us or keeping an eye on us with his stopwatch. There’s no reason to bring anything like altitude chambers into it. He just wants us to grind it out. I like that. For me, it works with Jonesy. I follow him and I believe in him. That’s kind of what I believe in. I joke around once in a while with my friends. I say that we are kind of like organic. We’re green. We don’t use any of the extra stuff; we do it the natural way.That’s funny. I know you guys have your Fight Club house and that movie is all about Spartan simplicity, so I guess the Jonesy way goes with that as well.
JT [laughs]: I never thought about it that way, but you’re right.
You’ve indicated that you plan to return to the shorter distance events next spring. As you know, Ritz set the American record in the 5,000m after his intense marathon work where he built up a huge aerobic base. So are you going to take a page out of his book?
JT: I hope I do exactly what Ritz did. Ritz proved that you can do it. Just because I’m doing the marathon doesn’t mean I’m off the track. I still think I can get some good track times in. I know if I build up my mileage and build up my base, like I’ve been doing for the marathon, I can come back even stronger on the track. I know that Ritz’s talent was aerobic capability. He has an amazing aerobic engine. Obviously he’s been building on this engine over several marathons. He had this high base. He came back and ran 12:56, because of this huge amount of strength. He couldn’t run a 1:48 800, but he could just go out there and hit 58s to 64 [-second laps]. For him it was a good rhythm—a good pace. I’m hoping I can build something like that. I’m hoping I can build my base where running low 60s is not that big of a deal. And that’s why I’m going to run track next spring, because I will have that base.
You are from Chicago. Why not debut in your hometown? Why did you pick a hard course like New York? Was it due to your schedule or something else?
JT: It’s more timing and schedule. Obviously as far as cross country goes, I’ve been a strong runner. I’m sure 26.2 miles is going to affect me, but I know I can handle the hills as well. You aren’t going to go wrong debuting in New York City. Mary Wittenberg and the New York Road Runners put on such a great race.
The main thing is schedule, to tell you the truth. Unfortunately, I had to push back my training. I did want to debut in Chicago, because it’s my hometown, and it would be a fantastic opportunity to get out there and give it a good effort, but unforeseen things happened, especially when my mom, my coach, and my sister-in-law were in a car accident, and I was mentally not into it. When I got back from all that, I saw the schedule and I realized that Chicago was definitely not possible. I would have had to force myself to train in such a short period of time, whereas if I ran New York City, I could have a lot more of a calm and relaxed training style.
As you head into this big race, I’m sure Coach Fedyski would be really proud of you. What do you think he’d be telling you right now?
JT: Over the years, Fed taught us that if you get in good training, the race will take care of itself. He never really gave me big rah-rah speeches. Even when I was in junior high or high school, as soon as I’d finish my last workout, he was like Jonesy, he’d kind of give you this nod like you were ready to go—not much more than that. I think if Greg saw me finish my last workout, he’d give me the nod.
Are marathon times getting faster or not?
A Further Analysis of Marathon Performances
As US fans continue to drink in the first American victory in New York since 1982, we thought we would follow up the race report with a further analysis of marathon times. If you read the comments to the race report, Joe Garland and cassio598 mentioned that in the early years of the race the course was four laps through Central Park, and that to examine the progression of times we should rather analyze the winning times since 1976. The graph in question is this one here:
Read the full article at SCIENCE OF SPORT
As US fans continue to drink in the first American victory in New York since 1982, we thought we would follow up the race report with a further analysis of marathon times. If you read the comments to the race report, Joe Garland and cassio598 mentioned that in the early years of the race the course was four laps through Central Park, and that to examine the progression of times we should rather analyze the winning times since 1976. The graph in question is this one here:
Read the full article at SCIENCE OF SPORT
Blog Roll ~ Sally Meyerhoff
Getting my spunk back and out of a funk…
Well, it’s obviously been a really long time sine I last posted a blog entry. Before the marathon I got so busy and preoccupied with other things and I kept putting it off. Well, here we are on November 3rd and I’m finally doing it.
I moved back to Tempe, Arizona after living in Eugene for a few months and I am so incredibly happy. It’s so unbelievably beautiful here and right now the weather is sunny and 80’s everyday. I got out of the 108+ degree days of July, August and September and loved the summer weather in Eugene. I slept in most days and I could run pretty much any time of the day. As the months went on I missed my family, friends, support network and the brother of my two dogs (my brother’s dog) in Arizona. I knew it would be best for me to move back and in my favorite state in the country (no bias or anything, haha )
Since the marathon I have been in a little bit of a funk. I know it’s normal after a marathon (especially my sub-par performance) to feel totally ready for a break and have those post-race blues. I think it’s because you work so hard for so long and then the big day comes and it’s over before you know it. You have to go back to the drawing board and start all over again with new goals, training, etc. and it can feel overwhelming. Usually I take my week or two completely off and I am raring to go. This time after my vacation in Mexico and another week of lap swimming in Eugene, I still didn’t feel ready to run. I kinda wanted to but not really, haha. I ran a few days and then it was time to pack up the moving truck and drive back to AZ. I didn’t run during this because about 100 trips (no joke) up and down 3 flights of stairs is hard enough..forget running for a couple days!!
Well, after a week back in AZ, my motivation is gradually coming back, but it’s harder than it’s ever been. I am attributing it to everything I have to do (unpacking, settling in) and getting relaxed again in AZ. I have gone out to breakfast, lunch and dinner with so many friends and extended family members in town, that I’ve hardly had time to do more than unpack a couple boxes. My room is a mess!! haha I think when I settle in and I’m not surrounded by boxes, I’ll be able to focus on my training even more. I guess I need to be grateful for the distractions I have, because sometimes we need them to stop thinking, eating and breathing everything “running” day in and day out.
So here’s to today: my goal is to get completely unpacked and organize my stuff…which will hopefully result in getting my spunk back and out of this funk
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Wittenberg: "Is Nick Arciniaga the new Brian Sell?"
Date of Birth: June 30, 1983
Hansons-Brooks Distance Project start: February 15, 2007
Hometown: Fountain Valley, CA
College: Cal State Fullerton
Personal records: Marathon 02:13:46; 25k 1:18:41; Half Marathon 1:05:44; 10,000m 30:32; 5,000m 14:21
Miles run/week: Between 100 and 130 mpw
Why do you run? I run for the joys of running well and winning. I run because I am good at it. I hope to make an Olympic team, running is my best option for that.
The best thing about being a Hansons-Brooks athlete? Having guys to train and race with every day. It makes it easier to wake up in the morning and get my run in.
How have you improved since joining the Hansons-Brooks ODP? Not very much yet, but 3 months isn't that much time and I am a slow learner.
When did you start running? Freshman year of high school, 10 years ago.
What challenges do you face as an athlete? Training as much as I can to improve without getting injuries. Eating as much as I can without spending too much.
What do you like to do when you're not running? Mostly sleep, I like to watch every movie that I can, expanding my movie trivia.
Favorite event: Right now it's the marathon, but I do like running the steeple on the track. I don't think I'll be running that anytime soon though.
Favorite workout: Tempo runs, as long as it doesn't get too much faster than 5 minute pace, the longer the better.
Favorite pre- and post-race foods: Pre-race would be Mexican food and Pasta. Post-race is whatever I can get my hands on, usually a nice bloody steak.
Role models: My parents, who have taught me how to do things the right way. And Brian Sell: Trying not to sound too corny, but it's true, ever since I first heard of him I've respected the way he has trained and raced.
Blog Roll ~ Mike Sayenko
ING New York City Marathon 2009
The race was a huge blessing with all the things going on around me. The three months leading up were crazy, I was in Ukraine, then quad strain four weeks ago, car accident (5 days later), then hamstring issues, and on top of that my long time good friend Karen died of liver and pancreas cancer in just five days of doctors finding out about it. It has been a really tough last month, I didn't think I would run after most of this, running for Karen was the only motivation for me.
I want to thank all my friends and family support. Specifically I want to thank Mark Mandi, who has helped pace me during workouts. Tom Cotner, who has supervised my training for the last two years and knows about anything you can think of (hes really smart! make sure you have plenty of time to talk tho if you ask a question). Greg Metcalf, my college coach who has always supported me and believed in me and continues to allow me to use the UW facilities and meets. Neil Chasan, who has helped me rehab from the quad strain a great Physical Therapist. Dale Schenck, who has helped work on me throughout the year helping me stay loose with massage. And last but not least Greg Jimmerson, who has given me the inspiration, and also a great masseur as well. Again thanks for everyone that has helped me along the way.
Now for all the nitty gritty if your a running fan you will probably enjoy this if not, well then I hope it helps you somehow in your attempt at the distance.
Also, please follow me on the right side bar, under followers to receive the lates blog updates. Let me know of anything you would like to hear about and I will cook something up.
Diary of the race:
Woke up @5:45am, race @9:40, we got an extra hour from time change. I got decent sleep, about 5 hours. Just had a powerbar and Gatorade 3 hours before the race. I set up water bottles every 5k, and I drank at every station.. Last bottle was @36k, mixed Powerbar 2X Espresso Gel into my 15k bottle, 25k, and 36k, and I had one before the start (about 2min before the gun went off). I think I would give myself an A for drinking on the day, compared to all my other marathons (five in all now), this was by far the best.
Had tight hips before the race which ended up being my determent along with flats that started go give me blisters at mile 6, and i just couldn't push off my toes and run aggressively around corners.. made it painful.
I was running with the lead pack the first 5miles but decided to fall back after I realized I was over my head running sub 5min pace and I knew I couldn't hold that for the full distance. Fell back to a group of Moen, Sell, Nick Arcianaga, Allen Wagner, Pat Tarpy, Migidio Bourifa (Italian), and I.. ran in that group for 13.1 then Nick made a move, and Sell and I wear trying to play catch up at mile 14, after working together for 2 miles, Sell was done, really falling back as we got onto first ave (ended up running 2:25).
From then on I was on my own trying to catch the pack with Nick, Tarpy, and Migidio Bourifa (Italian), but the pack was too big (over 40 meters). So I ran on my own the last 10 miles starting at mile 16. The wind was really tough, it was relentless the entire race. And it was blowing in your face the entire race, which made it really hard the last 10 miles, the beating of the bridges, uneven surface, pot holes really wears on your legs on this course.. and is really what makes it so tough.
Again Congrats to Meb, it was a great day as a friend of mine won the race! First American to win the ING New York City Marathon in 27 years. Couldn't have been a better day for US Distance running as we put six in the top ten.
More Good in Depth Article, Injuries and wind challenge humbled, grateful pros
MILE SPLITS:
5:39 (all uphill), 4:48, 4:56, 4:55, 4:53, 5:06, 5:09, 5:11, 5:03, 5:01, 5:10, 4:59, 5:10,
(66:46 for the Half)
5:06, 5:16, 5:11, 5:11,
5:09 (18 miles - 1:32:03, 5:07 pace - 2:14 flat pace),
5:17, 5:27
(20miles - 1:42:48, 5:08 mile pace about 2:14:20 pace),
5:31, 5:23, 5:25 (through 23 miles was on 2:15:35 pace, 5:11 mile pace, 1:59:07), 5:38, 5:16, 5:22, 70 sec last 0.1
RESULTS:
1 8 Meb Keflezighi 02:09:15 CA USA USA
2 6 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot 02:09:56 Kenya KEN
3 4 Jaouad Gharib 02:10:25 Morocco MAR
4 5 Ryan Hall 02:10:36 CA USA USA
5 11 Abderrahime Bouramdane 02:12:14 Morocco MAR
6 9 Hendrick Ramaala 02:12:30 South Africa RSA
7 15 Jorge Torres 02:13:00 CO USA USA
8 19 Nick Arciniaga 02:13:46 MI USA USA
9 10 Abdi Abdirahman 02:14:00 AZ USA USA
10 16 Jason Lehmkuhle 02:14:39 MN USA USA
11 12 Jackson Kotut Kipkoech 02:15:10 Kenya KEN
12 21 Peter Gilmore 02:15:22 CA USA USA
13 39 Migidio Bourifa 02:16:01 Italy ITA
14 29 Mike Sayenko 02:16:38 WA USA USA
15 28 Mike Reneau 02:16:45 WI USA USA
16 45 Jose Telles De Souza 02:17:28 Brazil BRA
17 34 Allen Wagner 02:17:49 PA USA USA
18 24 Max King 02:19:11 OR USA USA
19 40 Mohammed Awol 02:19:31 NY USA ETH
20 18 Christopher Raabe 02:19:49 DC USA USA
21 23 Pat Tarpy 02:20:43 RI USA USA
22 2292 Antonio Liuzzo 02:22:36 NY USA ITA
23 49 Helder Ornelas 02:22:44 Portugal POR
24 205 Brett Winegar 02:23:11 WA USA USA
The race was a huge blessing with all the things going on around me. The three months leading up were crazy, I was in Ukraine, then quad strain four weeks ago, car accident (5 days later), then hamstring issues, and on top of that my long time good friend Karen died of liver and pancreas cancer in just five days of doctors finding out about it. It has been a really tough last month, I didn't think I would run after most of this, running for Karen was the only motivation for me.
I want to thank all my friends and family support. Specifically I want to thank Mark Mandi, who has helped pace me during workouts. Tom Cotner, who has supervised my training for the last two years and knows about anything you can think of (hes really smart! make sure you have plenty of time to talk tho if you ask a question). Greg Metcalf, my college coach who has always supported me and believed in me and continues to allow me to use the UW facilities and meets. Neil Chasan, who has helped me rehab from the quad strain a great Physical Therapist. Dale Schenck, who has helped work on me throughout the year helping me stay loose with massage. And last but not least Greg Jimmerson, who has given me the inspiration, and also a great masseur as well. Again thanks for everyone that has helped me along the way.
Now for all the nitty gritty if your a running fan you will probably enjoy this if not, well then I hope it helps you somehow in your attempt at the distance.
Also, please follow me on the right side bar, under followers to receive the lates blog updates. Let me know of anything you would like to hear about and I will cook something up.
Diary of the race:
Woke up @5:45am, race @9:40, we got an extra hour from time change. I got decent sleep, about 5 hours. Just had a powerbar and Gatorade 3 hours before the race. I set up water bottles every 5k, and I drank at every station.. Last bottle was @36k, mixed Powerbar 2X Espresso Gel into my 15k bottle, 25k, and 36k, and I had one before the start (about 2min before the gun went off). I think I would give myself an A for drinking on the day, compared to all my other marathons (five in all now), this was by far the best.
Had tight hips before the race which ended up being my determent along with flats that started go give me blisters at mile 6, and i just couldn't push off my toes and run aggressively around corners.. made it painful.
I was running with the lead pack the first 5miles but decided to fall back after I realized I was over my head running sub 5min pace and I knew I couldn't hold that for the full distance. Fell back to a group of Moen, Sell, Nick Arcianaga, Allen Wagner, Pat Tarpy, Migidio Bourifa (Italian), and I.. ran in that group for 13.1 then Nick made a move, and Sell and I wear trying to play catch up at mile 14, after working together for 2 miles, Sell was done, really falling back as we got onto first ave (ended up running 2:25).
From then on I was on my own trying to catch the pack with Nick, Tarpy, and Migidio Bourifa (Italian), but the pack was too big (over 40 meters). So I ran on my own the last 10 miles starting at mile 16. The wind was really tough, it was relentless the entire race. And it was blowing in your face the entire race, which made it really hard the last 10 miles, the beating of the bridges, uneven surface, pot holes really wears on your legs on this course.. and is really what makes it so tough.
Again Congrats to Meb, it was a great day as a friend of mine won the race! First American to win the ING New York City Marathon in 27 years. Couldn't have been a better day for US Distance running as we put six in the top ten.
More Good in Depth Article, Injuries and wind challenge humbled, grateful pros
MILE SPLITS:
5:39 (all uphill), 4:48, 4:56, 4:55, 4:53, 5:06, 5:09, 5:11, 5:03, 5:01, 5:10, 4:59, 5:10,
(66:46 for the Half)
5:06, 5:16, 5:11, 5:11,
5:09 (18 miles - 1:32:03, 5:07 pace - 2:14 flat pace),
5:17, 5:27
(20miles - 1:42:48, 5:08 mile pace about 2:14:20 pace),
5:31, 5:23, 5:25 (through 23 miles was on 2:15:35 pace, 5:11 mile pace, 1:59:07), 5:38, 5:16, 5:22, 70 sec last 0.1
RESULTS:
1 8 Meb Keflezighi 02:09:15 CA USA USA
2 6 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot 02:09:56 Kenya KEN
3 4 Jaouad Gharib 02:10:25 Morocco MAR
4 5 Ryan Hall 02:10:36 CA USA USA
5 11 Abderrahime Bouramdane 02:12:14 Morocco MAR
6 9 Hendrick Ramaala 02:12:30 South Africa RSA
7 15 Jorge Torres 02:13:00 CO USA USA
8 19 Nick Arciniaga 02:13:46 MI USA USA
9 10 Abdi Abdirahman 02:14:00 AZ USA USA
10 16 Jason Lehmkuhle 02:14:39 MN USA USA
11 12 Jackson Kotut Kipkoech 02:15:10 Kenya KEN
12 21 Peter Gilmore 02:15:22 CA USA USA
13 39 Migidio Bourifa 02:16:01 Italy ITA
14 29 Mike Sayenko 02:16:38 WA USA USA
15 28 Mike Reneau 02:16:45 WI USA USA
16 45 Jose Telles De Souza 02:17:28 Brazil BRA
17 34 Allen Wagner 02:17:49 PA USA USA
18 24 Max King 02:19:11 OR USA USA
19 40 Mohammed Awol 02:19:31 NY USA ETH
20 18 Christopher Raabe 02:19:49 DC USA USA
21 23 Pat Tarpy 02:20:43 RI USA USA
22 2292 Antonio Liuzzo 02:22:36 NY USA ITA
23 49 Helder Ornelas 02:22:44 Portugal POR
24 205 Brett Winegar 02:23:11 WA USA USA
In Pictures ~ Frankfurt Marathon 2009
Ingo Kutsche from www.sportfotografie.biz passed us on some great shots from the 2009 edition of the Frankfurt Marathon. Thanks!
2009 NEDBANK SOWETO MARATHON SIGNS-OFF WELL
Johannesburg, Sunday, 01 November 2009: This year’s Nedbank Soweto Marathon ended the traditional running season on a higher note this weekend (Sunday, 1 November) when two South African runners finally claimed the leading places in both men and ladies categories - making locals across the board proud.Tshidiso Bosiu and Rene Kalmer became the latest winners – walking away with R100 000 respectively. Both runners also pocketed an additional R 10,000 for various time incentives, plus Kalmer beating the 2001 race record of 2:45:37.
Kalmer broke the tape in 2:44:06 while Bosiu clocked in 2:18:10 to win the men’s category. Kalmer was followed by Poppy Mlambo who recently participated in the 16th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, which were held in Birmingham, England. Besides her prize money of R 80 000, Mlambo received an additional R 6 000 time incentive money.
Mlambo was in turn followed by four-times winner Mamoroallo Tjoka, whom many expected her to take the win for a record fifth time. She finished in 2:53:13.
Bosiu, who has only been racing for the past two years, took the men’s lead after half way, ended up clocking 2:18:10. The 27-year old was followed by two-times winner, Mabuthile Lebopo who had his suspension lifted by Lesotho Amateur Athletics Association (LAAA) on Friday, 30 October 2009. Tsotang Maine who has regularly contested the top places in men’s race since 2004, came third with a time of 2:19:49.
A record of 4923 runners completed the 19th Nedbank Soweto Marathon with another 6300 participants in the 10km walk and run events.
Comrades Marathon - ENTRIES CLOSED!
Entries for the first phase of the 2010 Comrades Marathon officially closed on 27 October 2009 as the 15,000 entries was reached. Entries for the second phase opened on Sunday, 1 November at 09h00 and within 27 hours the CMA received the targeted 5,000 entries for Novice Runners. As a result entries for the 2010 Comrades Marathon is now officially closed.
No late entries will be accepted and no correspondence will be entered into.
Date: Sunday, 30 May 2010
Start: 05h30 at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg
Finish: 17h30 at Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead in Durban
Distance: 89km – 56 miles
What Happened To James Kwambai?
David Roche for letsrun.comOne of today's most interesting LetsRun.com emails came from Columbia senior David Roche. Roche was standing in mile 23 of the ING NYC Marathon when 2:04:27 marathoner James Kwambai stopped running and started walking. As Roche described it, the pre-race favorite Kwambai was vigorously rubbing his stomach and had a pained look on his face.
Roche, camera in hand, gave Kwambai some water. The Kenyan thanked him and Roche patted him on the back as he walked on. According to race splits Kwambai covered that mile in over 17:00 before being taken to a hospital. according to his coach Dr. Daniele Rosa in this excellent NY Times article.
If Kwambai had been full steam, perhaps Meb would not have been able to keep up and the US wouldn't have been able to celebrate a big victory (and erupt in debate and arguing). When we hear more about why Kwambai had to stop, we'll let you know.
Don’t expect ex-Bulldog at Dam to Dam
By Lance BergesonOne of these years, it would be fantastic to see former Drake University standout Jason Lehmkuhle take a run at the Dam to Dam 20k course record.
Just don’t expect him to run in the 31st annual race on June 5 of 2010.
Lehmkuhle told me last week that he’s eyeing a spring marathon to start off 2010. The target is most likely the Boston Marathon on April 19. Running Boston would put Dam to Dam in jeopardy because of the need for recovery following the 26.2-mile race and a quick turnaround six weeks later to Dam to Dam.
“Tentatively, I’d love to run a spring marathon,” said Lehmkuhle, who mentioned Boston when I asked him about possibilities. “I need to see how I come out of this (New York City Marathon) first.
“I know that it (Dam to Dam) will be tentatively scheduled for me in most years.”
The Team USA Minnesota runner finished 10th in the New York City Marathon last weekend.
The Dam to Dam men’s record is 59:23 set by Phil Coppess in 1985. Lehmkuhle, 32, ran a personal best of 59:04 for the 20k distance, which isn’t a common distance these days, at the USA Championships on Labor Day.
The record could be his. That is, if he decides to come to Des Moines next June.
New York Marathon Winner Meb Keflezighi Wows the Crowd at Niketown In Los Angeles
for LA Running Examiner by A. K. EastonWhen Meb Keflezighi ran his first marathon in New York in 2002, he told everyone that this was his first….and his last. Thankfully, he changed his mind.
After becoming the first American man in twenty-seven years to win the New York Marathon, Keflezighi made a stop at Niketown in Beverly Hills on Thursday to talk to a crowd of runners about his running, and his life.
He told the crowd about his days as a Bruin, running for UCLA, and that upon graduation he wrote a letter to marathon great Alberto Salazar to ask him for help in achieving his goals as a professional runner. Salazar, the last American man before Keflezighi to win the New York Marathon in 1982, agree to assist him.
Keflezighi went on to not only win this year’s New York City marathon, but is an Olympic silver medalist, and has set several U.S and Olympic records.
When asked about his training, Keflezighi outlined the months leading up to the marathon, when his mileage hit a high of one hundred and forty miles a week.
Revealing a few recovery secrets, Keflezighi talked about his use of icing to help his muscles recover. In a funny antidote, Meb told about how when goes to the store to get the big bags of ice, people at the store remark that he must be having a big party. For convenience sake, he usually just agrees, laughing to himself about the ‘party’ to come.
When training in Mammoth, Keflezighi uses nature for his ice baths, sitting on a rock in a stream. He’s there so often that locals have named the area Meb’s creek. Locals use the space, but when they see Meb coming, they vacate the rock.
During a question and answer period, a question came from Jordan Beck, 12, who asked, “Which is harder the mental part or the physical part?” Before he answered the question, Meb asked the boy about himself. When Beck remarked that he runs the mile in 5:02, Keflezighi responded by bowing to the young athlete and saying, “Call Salazaar we have a future Olympian here.”
When he finally did answer young Beck’s question, Keflezighi said that he believes training is 90% physical and 10% mental, but when racing, because all the physical work is done, the equation is reversed with the challenge being 90% mental and 10% physical.
With so many young runners in the crowd at Nike, Keflezighi emphasized that students should remember that it’s important to prioritize. He looked many of the youngsters in the eyes as he proclaimed, “Always remember that it’s academics first, athletics second.”
Having grown up in San Diego, Keflezighi proved to the group that he’s a true Californian. When he arrived from New York, at 9:30 a.m., the first place he wanted to go? In-N-Out Burger!
In closing, Keflezighi imparted his wisdom for running, and for life, on the crowd. “If you are consistent, patient, and work hard, all the rest will come.”
Oh, and when a runner asked Keflezighi what he ordered at In-N-Out Burger, he shouted out, “A Double-Double! Of course!”
No Easy Task: Getting To The Starting Line of The ING New York City Marathon
by Molly O'Toole for letsrun.comBut Once You Start, Finishing Is No Longer Much Of A Challenge
At the finish line of the 2009 ING New York City Marathon, winners Derartu Tulu and Meb Keflezighi have already crossed that lauded threshold, but runners continue to pour in from the crowd stretching around the last Central Park curve below fall leaves. If the exhausted athletes can break the front line of photographers ten feet beyond the finish, nearly 45,000 heavy gold medals stand ready to be added to the weight of 26.2 miles on the body.
Take a good look, because let’s face it — many of us will never see the start, much less that storied finish line, pass under our feet. But we, the runners who didn’t run Sunday, are as much the story of the world’s largest marathon as the ones wearing the bibs. Because for every professional out there vying for the tape, there are a hundred regular runners, who despite pounding the pavement with faithful feet, didn’t quite qualify this year, found others feeling uncharitable or found themselves out of luck in the lottery.
If everyone got to run, it wouldn’t be the New York City marathon. Without those whose toes never touch the start, crossing the finish would just be crossing another line.
NYC Marathon Turns 40: Then and Now
On the brisk marathon day a banner hung above the finish line, “40 Years of Fabulous Finishes in Central Park 1970-2009,” a reminder of the humble beginnings of a race that has become a veritable mecca of marathoners, runners competitive and casual, sports enthusiasts, media, and celebrities.
On September 13, 1970, New York City Firefighter Gary Muhrcke worked through the night, then in the morning, ran, and won, a marathon — the first ever New York City Marathon, the brainchild of the young New York Road Runners organization and race co-founder Fred Lebow — in a time of 2:31. That day, Muhrcke and 126 other American participants ran a rough course of four six-mile loops around Central Park, cheered by a little over 100 spectators. Muhrcke received a recycled bowling trophy for his victory. Competitors paid $1 to enter, and could register to run on race day.
This year when Muhrcke — now 69, with over 150 marathons (12 New York’s) under the band of his shorts — returned to race. He, along with 43,740 other participants, dealt with a different animal: the largest marathon in the history of the event. The 26.2-mile course from Staten Island, through Brooklyn and Queens, into Manhattan, up to the Bronx, and down Fifth Avenue into Central Park for the finish, is lined with over 2 million spectators. Athletes from 110 countries, looking to bring home a portion of the $800,000 total prize purse, with $200,000 and $140,000 in prize money and time bonuses going to winners Keflezighi and Tulu, according to the NYRR post-race breakdown.
Muhrcke told Runners World before the race, “I’m from a different era, and [when] I put a number on, I’m competitive with myself.”
“Forty thousand is a lot, but I’m not in awe of that … It’s very, very small. I would love for everybody in this country to run one marathon a year,” added Muhrcke who noted the value of the experience, whether a runner finishes in 4 hours or 2:15 (Muhurcke finished in 3:46:25 this year).
Muhrcke is indeed right when he says it’s a different era. On that hot day in 1970, only 55 male runners — 44 percent of the field— finished the first New York marathon. In 2009, out of a record-breaking field of 43,741 starters, only 266 runners dropped out — 43,475, or 99 percent, finished what they started.
In the 1970, the single female entrant, Nina Kuscsik, later one of two women to first run a marathon under 3 hours, was a DNF due to sickness. In the 2009 ING NYC Marathon, women represented 15,239 of the starters, and 15,121, or 35 percent, of the finishers.
Sunday’s race ended officially at 6:40 pm — though the timing system scores participants through 8:40 – that’s 10 hours and 20 minutes after the official 8:20 am start (or 23 minutes, 40 seconds per mile pace). Though this generous time allotment may contribute to the near certainty a runner will cross the finish line of the NYC marathon, it does nothing to indicate how many will make it to the start, by some perspectives an equally impressive feat, as just getting in is a marathon in of itself.
The Race to the Start: “Guaranteed” Entry
Today, interested athletes must apply for and earn entry to the NYC marathon. Despite the recent renewal of the “plodder” debate by the New York Times, the 2009 NYC Marathon was the most selective: out of 102,486 applicants, nearly 47,500 were rejected, over 24,000 more runners than ran the 2009 Boston Marathon. And though millions of sporting enthusiasts flock to New York each Fall, the average runner couldn’t automatically qualify.
According to Running USA’s “State of the Sport” report for 2008, the average U.S. female long distance runner is just over 39 years old, married, without kids at home, has run for over 5 years or more, and runs at least 4 days a week, for a total of 20 miles or above. She’s completed at least one marathon. The average U.S. male long distance runner is about 45 years old, married, without kids at home, has run for 10 years or more, and also runs a minimum of 4 days a week, for a total of 20 miles or more. He has completed at least two marathons. Both genders run, primarily, to lose weight, maintain health, and relieve stress.
Last year, the median finishing time for male marathoners in the U.S. was 4:16, a pace of 9:46 per mile, and 4:43:32 for females, a pace of 10:49, according to RUSA’s annual marathon report. In order to qualify for the 2010 NYC marathon in the Open category, ages 18 through 39 (containing the majority of marathoners in the U.S. last year), men must post a time of 2:55 or better, a pace of 6:41 per mile, and women a time of 3:23 or better, at 7:47 pace.
READ ON...
The NYC Half-Marathon to Run on March 21, 2010
NYRR's "other" crown jewel event is moving to the spring! The NYC Half-Marathon will take place in 2010 on March 21. Look for the application on December 1.
Hometown Hero: I Almost Hung My Hat
By MICHELLE WAYLAND for NBCIt took sweat and tears in the face of adversity. But something told Meb Keflezighi not to give up and at the Hall of Champions on Friday, he explained why.
“Even if I finished in fifth place with the time that I had run I would have been happy because I got the best out of myself. I always say run to win, which means get the best out of yourself,” he said.
On Sunday, the San Diego High School alumnus became the first American man to win the New York City Marathon since 1982.
On Friday, he said his inspiration came even earlier than high school. Dick Lord was his seventh grade teacher at Roosevelt Junior High and one day he gave Meb an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“He just said ‘you run hard, you do the best that you can, you’re going to get an A or B. You goof around, you mess around, and you’re going to get D or F. I just took off like a bolt,” Meb said. “My parents always emphasized the education part of it. Education is something that nobody can take away from you. Injures still happen.”
Wearing "USA" on his chest, Keflezighi ran the incredible time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds on Sunday. He pulled away from Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya in the 23rd mile to beat the four-time Boston Marathon champ by 41 seconds.
“About two miles to go, on mile 24, I tried to make a move and test Robert Cheruiyot and he let me go. I said ‘wow, this is sweet’,” Meb said Friday.
Alberto Salazar had been the last American men's champion, taking three straight titles from 1980-82.
Born in Eritrea, the 34-year-old became a U.S. citizen in 1998 after his family fled war to thrive in a new home in San Diego in 1987.
Meb graduated from San Diego High School in 1994 as the first person ever to be awarded the Union Tribune All Academic/Athlete Team Captain two years in a row, according to his biography. He then went on to star at UCLA.
He hobbled to eighth at the trials two years ago, then later found out he had a stress fracture in his hip.
“I was ready to hang my hat in 2007 when I couldn’t walk and not be able to just crawl from place to place. My wife saw me and said, ‘ this is not the way you make a living and you have your UCLA degree and I have my University of South Florida diploma and we can make some other choices.’ But we prayed hard and worked hard and I said, ‘God, show me the light,” he said.
Long days of rehab followed, and he didn't feel 100 percent until early this year.
"A lot of people were kind of starting to write him off, saying he's older and he's had too many injuries and all this," said Hall, Keflezighi's neighbor and occasional training partner.
That day in 2007 he also lost close friend Ryan Shay, who collapsed and died during the race. The loss crippled Meb, but on Sunday, he found strength from the memory of his dear friend.
“‘Lord, help me. Give me his energy to be able to make me win this race,’ and so I tried early and I just have him a ‘may he rest in heaven’ at the place where he passed away,” he said.
The future is bright for Meb and could include Boston and London, but for today, he’s putting the brakes on his sprint to success.
“Right now, we’re just enjoying this beautiful moment,” Meb said.
Mikitenko runs London again
TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN USING GOOGLE TRANSLATORThe Wattenscheiderin Mikitenko will go again in 2010 the London Marathon (April 25) at the start. This confirmed the 37-year-old from leichtathletik.de. In the past two years Mikitenko had won the race in the British capital in 2008 and set a German record 2:19:19.
In five starts marathon Mikitenko crossed the finish line three times so far as the winner. In addition to her two victories London in 2008, she was the fastest in Berlin. At its premiere in 2007 in Berlin Marathon, and their start in Chicago (USA) this fall, she had become a second each. In addition, she had the last two editions of the World Marathon Majors series won.
Besides Mikitenko including Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya has pledged his start for the London Marathon. The 22-year-old was in that year was the winner on the Thames, so that both defending champions go to the start. Thereafter, Sammy Wanjiru in the Berlin Marathon in the fall to prepare, where he wants to attack the world record (2:03:59 h) of the Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie.
If she does something, then she gets it right
TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN USING GOOGLE TRANSLATORby Nicole Benning for Laufticker.de
Quick as a weasel
To learn more about the equally delicate and fast runner Muehlacker to learn from, we meet in the evening in a café in her hometown. That it is "only" tea there, as the glossy coffee was already cleaned, they may well get over, because they do not want any coffee.
Christine is fast, very fast. Usually faster than almost all men. Until recently she held the record Wurttemberg over 10 km (33:59 min)) h half-marathon (1:14:52, now it's just the track for the 10 km. When I asked whether she wants to bring back to the half marathon, is not a clear "yes", but no "No". We must therefore be a surprise.
For several years, the little weasel, just as it is, after a very successful competitive career, only recreational runner, at which she is very happy. And she lives up to its nickname of all honor and will always be faster.
She moved to the end of competitive sports to TriTeam Heuchelberg for which also starts her boyfriend Sebastian Kienle, a very successful triathlete. She has no desire to championships, and everything surrounding the like only to make an appointment through targeted training plans and training camps, train training and whatever else has heard anything about this. Why she feels at the triathletes in good hands. She wants to be recreational athlete - albeit at a VERY high level. 2008, she was in the half marathon at position 5 of the German scores, before her only the (semi)-professional athletes Mikitenko, Mockenhaupt, Hahn and Viellehner. "I must cut myself yet," she says with sparkling brown eyes on this splendid performance.
If she does something, then she does it right and with complete consistency. Therefore, there is no return to competitive sport. The decision has a long history. The former obstacle distance runner of the German B had much trouble with the cadres in charge of the DLV, shed tears over failure to nominations for international operations, although the benefits were in place, felt left alone by the officials, to name a few. But the chapter is closed. "As it is now, it's good. It was the right decision for me. "
Christine came to work in 1997 as a 14-year-old on "Youth training for the Olympics". Until then, they had more or less unsuccessfully, with gymnastics and fencing, with successful attempts and alongside with general athletics. Then her running talent was discovered. In 1998, she picked up in the jersey of the LG Maulbronn the first medal at the country level over 800 meters and was nominated for the D-squad. We went forward quickly, along with her change of 1999 to VfL Waiblingen, they also denied her first road race over 5 km in Schwaikheim. This was followed by good times, in 2001 the inclusion in the C-squad of the DLV, 2002 in the B squad, 5 gold, 8 silver and 4 bronze medals at the German championships and international operations for the German Athletics Federation, in particular over the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
When she calls her greatest success of its 9th Place at the World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy in 2001. The end of 2004 was then concluded by train, Christine moved once again, albeit more by accident. This time on the road, whatever you like better, because long track competitions they feel boring. It was then equal to German Vice Champion in the marathon at the juniors.
After re-disregard for the Executive Nomination 2005 - this time in the marathon - she has jettisoned, 2006, the towel as a competitive athlete and then filled with the same enthusiasm plunged into her studies in business administration with an emphasis on marketing and communications. If she does something, then they do it right.
She graduated with distinction in 2007 from still hanging off the master in parallel, since 2008 and had the job in the automotive market research Pforzheimer one in the bag. That was a stressful time, she is glad that the master now successfully behind her lies and she can now only train after work and relax. And she attended a guilty conscience when they are idle times on the sofa sets and easy listening music only. From the corner of the music, incidentally is also her nickname "Weasel's", which was her dog, the bass player for their favorite band Sportfreunde Stiller missed.
In normal training times Christine comes to about 6 sessions a week, each with about 14 km. It can of course also be something more or less. Speedwork in the form of interval training or train never makes it, instead, fartlek runs, or minutes of their normal training sessions. On the weekend she tried to run something even longer, which, however, since she has discovered the cycling, and more often fails.
In fact, she considers an ideal complement for road cycling and running, since she makes it, it has become even faster. "At first I could not cycling, I was the absolute Nichtradfahrerin, I'm not even cycled to school. More than 30 min was not in it. But now I'm absolutely delighted. "The wheel unit they have, of which she believes made faster. "An exhausting wheel unit with speed lace is as good as speed training."
In their record run of 10 km 2008 in Pforzheim, she has dared to experiment and dispensed onto shrinkage. Instead, it has gone as the Eisschnellläuferinnen retracted on the reel and then the course of their lives. Once again a proof that unconventional methods should not automatically be wrong. It also conducts no training diary, but it stops ou
t any little interruption in racing, what they do not know. Unconventional is probably that they like to run on the treadmill. She enjoys it when it's cold outside in winter, indoors in shorts and T-shirt to be able to run. It may then running and cycling combined together in any way. Down from the roll up on the treadmill.Whenever it is possible on weekends, they trained together with her boyfriend. Either panting in the shelter on the bike or running loose in the 4-cut. It makes it sometimes even the pace, such as the Alster run this year in Hamburg. Then she looked after him for the triathlon.
Talking about triathlon: The fact that they also can be good, it has proved in 2008 as Rookine Kraichgau Challenge. Secretly, she has applied there for the rookie program. "I do not know if I would do it." Unfortunately, it has experienced her boyfriend but then, the surprise was that burst. Their performance was surprisingly good for this: she detention 5 in the women's field, and won her age group! This year, she then took her first overall victory at the same Zabergäu to follow up triathlon. All she wants to go to the Triathlon did not participate but surely once again for the fun of a sport.
Gladly, they would once again run under 34 minutes over 10 km, it has to match everything but just as last year in Pforzheim. Weather, shape, and the head has to play along and you need real opponents. Back in Pforzheim were some fast Kenyans at the start, with which it is easy mitgelaufen. For 2010, it still has no concrete plans in the spring she plans to run a half marathon. Everything else will show. My favorite race is the half-marathon in Karlsruhe, perhaps it is because so again in the fall at the start.
Whether the 26-year-old wants to run one marathon, they do not know yet. Because if so, it will come of h in any case a time of less than 2:40:00. And they shrink a bit of the high training costs and is afraid that they are in the race to torture must. They can, according to Christine about himself, even that is not. "I always look at award ceremonies and then the marathon runners can go barely - that scares me off." But - even in the marathon training can indeed lead unconventional methods to your destination. Its main objective is to run with fun, stay healthy and continue to run along beside it at the head of the German women. Without any pressure. She had long enough.
CPTC at 2009 NYC Marathon
By Dan SeidelCPTC had 83 athletes complete the ING New York City Marathon this past Sunday, winning some team age-group awards outright and competing strongly in others. Despite the difficult windy conditions, many runners still set impressive PRs or gutted out their races to the finish, even after falling a bit off their pace. Most important, as anyone can attest who was at the Wall of Orange near Engineer’s Gate at mile 24, was how confident those in orange singlets seemed at this late stage in the race; this is a testament as well to the quality of our coaching.
Before turning to some of the outstanding individual performances, though, here’s a summary of the team awards, which were scored by the top three runners for each group by cumulative time: the open men took fifth, all running under 2:34; the 40+ men grabbed second, with all three under 2:48; the 50+ men won their age group; the open women (including two outstanding debuts!) were second, all under 2:54; and the 40+ women were fourth.
Those watching the elite women’s early start on TV would have seen CPTC’s Rebecca Yau lined up with the likes of Paula Radcliffe and eventual winner Derartu Tulu. Rebecca, 23, was making her debut at the marathon distance, and had a chance to chat with the some of the elites beforehand. Once the race started, she worked together with a group for the first eleven miles, then ran much of the rest of the race alone, struggling after twenty miles but still finishing with a sparkling debut of 2:51:22. Toward the end of the race, she said, “the consolation … was seeing the elite men passing me and getting a sense of how the race was playing out; when Meb passed me Cheriuyot was still with him, and they both looked strong.”
Thirty seconds behind Rebecca was Felice Kelly, taking second in the 25-29 age group and running 2:51:55 (a PR of several minutes). In third for the open women, and making her marathon debut as well, was Kristin Lucas, 25, who ran 2:53:19. With three women so close to the Olympic B standard for the marathon (2:46), and considering the difficulty of the course and conditions, the possibilities for CPTC’s young women marathoners seem exciting.
On the men’s side, another 23-year-old, Steve Kinney, was making his marathon debut as well. In what he would describe afterward as a “crazy day,” Kinney led the men’s team with a 2:31:58, and fed off the support from the crowds: “In the those last few miles seeing my family, friends, and random fans going crazy just made it so much easier for me to go for it at the end.” Not far behind Steve was new member Tom Dichiara, who ran a very intelligent even split and came in at 2:33:13, a huge PR; followed by Ulrich Fluhme, with a one-minute PR of 2:33:31. Ulrich was struck by the number of CPTC supporters out on the course: the orange jackets “appeared after every corner in my blurred vision … Even the most quiet street in the Bronx was taken over by CPTC’ers.” He wanted especially to thank Coach Tony for his “always positive attitude and relentless support”; and “2:25” Thom Little, who is “definitely a role model when it comes to fierce racing … I kept saying all summer, ‘If I can still see Thom in the Bronx, I’ll have a great race.’”
Our team-award winners were the tip of the iceberg. There was a slew of impressive performances, including a three-minute PR for Jay Barry, who just missed cracking 2:40; a two-minute PR for Scott Stamp (2:44:59); a nearly five-minute PR for Steve Rosenbaum (2:53:29); a five-minute PR for Maria Pavkovitch (3:07:38); and a twenty-minute PR for Alma Liebrecht (3:18:01). This is hardly an exhaustive list; please visit http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/Results.htm for full results.
And here is David Greenberg reporting on the Masters:
“The fabulous men’s 50+ team was the collective star of the marathon in the master’s division. Alan Ruben (2:47/84.7%), Michael Rennock (2:48/82.9%)) and Yasuhiro Makoshi (2:58/83.2%) won their division by over 17 minutes over West Side Runners. In true master’s time reversal fashion, that time was 8 minutes faster than the CPTC 50+ M’s victorious effort in 2008. Michael’s race was particularly impressive, setting a New York Marathon PR by four minutes. The depth of the 50+ team is amazing – they dominated the race despite not having Stuart Calderwood (2:48 in 2008) and Jeff Wilson (2:51 in 2008). Alan also took fourth place in his age group as an individual competitor.
In the 40+, Robert Siegel’s 2:52/75.4% was a big PR for him, and perhaps a lifetime age-graded score PR. Peter Allen ran a quick 2:50/81.0% at age 49, and Josh Rayman came down from Vermont to run 2:39/80.1%. With Alan Ruben’s help, the 40+ took second in their division, with Josh and James McQuade (2:45/77.5%) also scoring.
On the women’s side, the standout race was Judith Tripp’s 3:46/84.8% – that was a marathon PR by over three minutes for her, good for 4th in her age group, and, like Robert, a lifetime best on the NYRRC age graded tables – a double rare feat at the marathon distance. Yumi Ogita also edged over the 80% marker, running 3:13/80.5%.”
Paul Lekuraa aiming at second consecutive Athens Marathon title
Pat Butcher for the IAAF
It takes a tough guy to win the Alpha Bank Athens Classic Marathon, and they don’t come any tougher than Paul Lekuraa, who is back to defend the title he won last year.
It was an eleventh hour victory in all respects. After waiting for a delayed visa, Lekuraa rode an old motorbike to Nairobi airport in a thunderstorm, arrived late Saturday night in Athens, grabbed a couple of hours sleep before being bussed to the start in Marathon the following morning. Running with a migraine on one of the toughest courses in the world, the 35-year old, in only his second marathon hung tough to win a photo-finish, and break the course record by close to two minutes.
“I ran like a man,” recalled Lekuraa, that rare bird among Kenyan marathoners, a Maasai. “I know they say the Maasai normally don’t run, or don’t want to run,” said Lekuraa. “But I want to run. I want to provide for my children”. He and his wife, Rose have four children, aged from 12 to four.
Having arrived on Thursday this year, he could enjoy the relative comfort of three days’ preparation, but that won’t make the course any easier, the mid-race climb, from 10km to past 31km is the hardest in any major marathon. But given the history of the race, from Marathon to Athens, ie the original marathon course, and the provenance of the race’s name, the runners just have to get on with it.
“It is tough, it’s the hardest course I’ve ever run,” he reflected, “but it’s no problem, because it’s the same for everyone.” As usual, his toughest opponents will be his Kenyan colleagues. “Victor is strong, Victor Kigen,” he said, naming the man with whom he trains under the aegis of former marathon world record holder, Paul Tergat. “But you’re never sure who is the strongest in Kenya, because there are so many people training in so many different places.”
On paper, Pius Mutuku, with a best of 2.10.34, and Philemon Rotich, who ran his best, 2.10.26 in Rome earlier this year, must be favourites. But Lekuraa’s 2.12.42 on this course last year stands muster, and Kigen, who won Belgrade in 2.13.28 in April, sounded confident. Like Lekuraa, he has benefited from Tergat’s advice not to over-race.
“Sometimes, you can feel under pressure, from family and managers, to race more,” said Kigen, “but I’ve learned you shouldn’t have too many races. I think I can run under 2.10. I’ve come here to win.”
Following the victory of Tagami Mai last year, another Japanese, Akemi Ozaki is favourite for the women’s race. She improved her personal best to 2.27.23 in Sapporo in October, and is undaunted by racing again two months later. Her training parallels Kigen’s racing philosophy because, unlike many of her compatriots, who will train up to 50 kilometres a day, Ozaki says, “No more than 30km, it’s important for your health not to over train. Running a marathon itself is training.”
Could Philly make more on its marathon?
By Christopher K. Hepp
In three weeks, a record number of runners are expected to take to Philadelphia's streets and compete in the city's 16th annual marathon.
With 10,000 entrants, the event with a budget of $1.7 million can count on a fourth consecutive year of growth while pumping $10 million into the regional economy and aiding seven local charities.
Those seem impressive numbers, until one looks elsewhere.
Take Chicago, for instance, where the marathon has 45,000 entrants and contributes $140 million to the economy, according to a University of Illinois study. The similarly sized New York marathon, being run today, means $220 million to that city. Both races generate tens of millions of dollars for scores of charities.
Overall last year, Philadelphia's marathon ranked 12th in size in the United States, trailing the monsters like New York, Chicago, and Boston, but also races in Orlando and Portland, Ore.
Why does that matter?
Well, for every runner, particularly out-of-town runners, the city can benefit in a variety of ways: meals bought, hotel rooms booked, stores shopped.
As the business of running booms - and the city searches ways to boost tourism - Philadelphia's premier footrace lags behind in size and economic impact.
It does so despite the best efforts of the City Representative's Office, which organizes the event and has plans for making it bigger in the future.
That the city is involved at all is rare. Philadelphia's marathon is one of the increasingly few major running events owned and operated by a municipality. The marathons in New York, Chicago, and Boston, for instance, are independent of their host cities and have professional race directors with extensive marathon experience.
Here, the race is managed by the City Representative, a political appointee who can expect to be replaced with each new mayor. Melanie Johnson took the position two years ago after serving as Mayor Nutter's campaign spokeswoman. She admits she had a lot to learn about the marathon business.
And it is a business.
In New York, for instance, the race takes in $45 million in revenue. Race director Mary Wittenberg oversees a staff of 120 that puts on 49 other events year-round leading up to the city's crown jewel.
Here, Johnson oversees the marathon while juggling her other duties, which include organizing the Welcome America Fourth of July program and generally promoting the city.
"We are good at multitasking," she said in a recent interview, when asked if the race might be better served if outsourced or even sold to a private group whose only focus was the marathon.
"The marathon is one of the most successful events we have. It really broadens our ability to promote our city. Why shouldn't the city do it?"
The question was put to City Controller Alan Butkovitz, who conceded he had not previously given it any thought. His quick conclusion, however, was there was value in considering privatizing the race.
"Certainly there are incentives for a private manager to maximize sponsorships vs. a bureaucratic approach that just minimizes headaches for a city department that has many other responsibilities," he said.
Indeed, sponsorships can be a critical fund-raising tool for major marathons.
The title sponsorship alone for the ING New York Marathon is worth more than $1 million, Wittenberg said. The nonprofit event's 2006 IRS filing reported about $10 million in sponsorships, or about a third of the total revenue that year.
READ ON...
Wanjiru, Mikitenko Claim Titles of 2008-2009 World Marathon Majors Series
Samuel Wanjiru, of Kenya, and Irina Mikitenko, of Germany, are the winners of the 2008-’09 World Marathon Majors series, and both were presented with $500,000 USD for their respective accomplishment at an award ceremony today in New York. Wanjiru collected 90 points over the two-year series, winning at the 2008 Olympics, as well as at London and Chicago in 2009. He was also runner-up at London in 2008. Similarly, Mikitenko won three major marathons and finished second place in another during the last two years; she won at London in both 2008 and 2009, was victorious at Berlin in 2008, and was runner-up at Chicago last month. Mikitenko also won the 2007-’08 WMM series.
In the series, the world’s top runners score points for winning and top placings at the five events which comprise the World Marathon Majors: Virgin London Marathon, Boston Marathon, real,-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and ING New York City Marathon. (In years in which the Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships are contested, those marathons also count in the point totals.)
WMM series points are collected for top five finishes with 25 points for first place, 15 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth and 1 for fifth.
Winners of the World Marathon Majors series:
WMM series Men Women
2006-2007 Robert K. Cheruiyot, KEN Gete Wami, ETH
2007-2008 Martin Lel, KEN Irina Mikitenko, GER
2008-2009 Samuel Wanjiru, KEN Irina Mikitenko, GER
2008-2009 Men’s Final Leader Board
1. Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 90 pts.
2. Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 50 pts.
3. Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) 41 pts.
4. Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 40 pts.
5. Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) 35 pts.
5. Jaouad Gharib (MAR) 35 pts.
2008-2009 Women's Final Leader Board
1. Irina Mikitenko (GER) 90 pts.
2. Dire Tune (ETH) 40 pts.
3. Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) 35 pts.
3. Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) 35 pts.
5. Ludmila Petrova (RUS) 31 pts.
5. Salina Kosgei (KEN) 31 pts.
To view biographies of Wanjiru, Mikitenko and the world’s other top marathoners, as well as leader boards for the 2008-2009 series and the 2009-2010 series, which is now halfway to completion, go to www.worldmarathonmajors.com
Reyes, Marley Win Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon
By: Matt Dockstader
On a classic Northern California autumn day, a sold-out field of runners filled the start line at Francis Ford Coppola Winery for the 2nd Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon on Halloween. Sergio Reyes, 28, from Palmdale, CA, crossed the finish line first in 1 hour, 6 minutes, 47 seconds, while Tiffany Marley, 27, of Lake Hughes, CA was the women's winner in 1:20:13. Both set course records.
In the athlete VIP tent, Reyes (left, brightroom) commmented on the incredible experience, "fifteen minutes before the race we were all standing at the start in the pitch black with temperatures in the 40s. Then the dawn broke and the fog rose over the vineyards, and the sun started to warm the air and light the vineyards - totally inspiring! It was easily the most beautiful race I've competed in."
A rising star on the national running scene, Reyes, only three weeks ago, was the first U.S. finisher at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a personal record 2:15:30 - making this feat all the more impressive.
Josh Spiker from Ventura, CA was the runner-up in 1:07:25. Winner of the January 2009 Carlsbad Marathon, Spiker enthused about this half, "The views are absolutely awesome!"
While he maintained an even pace throughout the race, Spiker noted that the ups and downs on the course made measured breathing a challenge.
Seventy percent of this year's competitors were female, and the women delivered with some fast times led by women's winner Marley. What was her biggest advantage? "My coach", said Marley, "who just so happens to be my boyfriend, 5th place finisher Justin Patananan."
Finishing 13th overall and second women was Shawna Burger from Santa Monica, CA, in 1:21:55. Was the morning of the race entry meant to throw the competition in the lady's field? "Not so," said Burger.
Having just finished the recent Santa Monica 5000, Burger was cajoled by local friends Maria and Dorothy, who also ran but finished distantly back in the pack, to compete. "My legs are a bit jelly right now after the SM5000 and I didn't plan to compete. But a girl can only take so much of a good razzing from friends without getting up at 4:00am and representing on a gorgeous Fall morning!"
The Halloween inspired event was an athlete and crowd favorite, with all of the top finishing athletes commenting on how much fun and inspiration they gleaned from all the volunteers manning the water stations along the route and the fans cheering them on at the finish below Lake Sonoma in the end of Dry Creek Valley.
The men's and women's overall winners each received $400 cash, a Ball wristwatch and a 9-liter bottle of Shiraz from Francis Ford Coppola Winery. At the completion of the race, which had 1,560 finishers, participants rocked out to the groovin' tunes of Five AM, while enjoying wines from sixteen of the areas finest wineries.
2nd Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon
Healdsburg, CA, Saturday, October 31, 2009
MEN
1) Sergio Reyes (CA), 1:06:47*, $400, a Ball wristwatch and wine
2) Josh Spiker (CA), 1:07:25
3) Jeff Gardina (CA), 1:08:12
*course record (previous record, 1:14:36, Christian Hesch (CA), 2008)
WOMEN
1) Tiffany Marley (CA), 1:20:13*, $400, a Ball wristwatch and wine
2) Shawna Burger (CA), 1:21:55
3) Sarah Raitter (NV), 1:24:58
*course record (previous record, 1:20:52, Tamara Karrh (GA), 2008)
For complete race results, go to: www.runhealdsburg.com
Enough with the Keflezighi bashing
Brian Cazeneuve for sports illustrated
As Meb Keflezighi raced his final meters of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, he pointed to the USA singlet he chose to wear for the race. He did not point to a company logo; he pointed to the place he calls home. After breaking the tape, he crossed himself and sprawled on the pavement to kiss the ground that propelled him. This was a celebration-in-waiting. The gentleman runner had become the first U.S. athlete to win the country's most celebrated distance race since 1982.
However, over the next few days, people started whispering about Keflezighi's claim to his country. Keflezighi was born in Eritrea and how were people supposed to identify with or believe in his patriotic gesture? Darren Rovell penned an article on CNBC.com entitled "Marathon"s Headline Win Is Empty." In the story, Rovell wrote, "Unfortunately, it's not as good as it sounds ... the fact that he's not American-born takes away from the magnitude of the achievement the headline implies ... Nothing against Keflezighi, but he's like a ringer you hire to work a couple hours at your office so that you can win the executive softball league."
The comment smacked of the remarks people made about sprinters Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe being "auxiliaries" simply because they were black. These are increasing divisive times. It is fashionable in some circles to be insular and exclusionary in the name of being patriotic. Somehow people in our nation of immigrants buy into it, whether driven by fear, ignorance or latent racism.
To his credit, Rovell later wrote what we'll call a clarification in which he apologized for not understanding Keflezighi's history. He was not alone. On Monday, The New York Times ran an article that did not advocate a position and was entitled, "To Some, Winner Is Not American Enough." It referenced unnamed remarks, including one from a running website that read, "Give us a break. It's just another African marathon winner."
I'm going to give Rovell the benefit of the doubt that his piece had no racist intentions. He explained that he meant to question the legitimacy of athletes who made themselves into geopolitical free agents, those reared by another sports system in another country earning honors for the U.S., sort of like the trove of Kenyans who run for Bahrain because the oil-rich country paid them to swap citizenship. He did not understand at the time that Keflezighi did not fall into that category.
The phrase "American dream" may be kicked around with casual carelessness, but in fact, from his family's journey to the States to his academic, professional and athletic successes, Keflezighi's story is profoundly American. It should be enough to say that Mebrahtom Keflezighi came to the States as a 12-year old and ran his first formal race as a San Diego schoolboy, but his entire tale merits revisiting.
Keflezighi had never seen a car until one pulled up next to him when he was 10 in his village of Adi Beyani and he tried to race it. During the county's 30-year war for independence from Ethiopia, soldiers would search for boys aged 12 and older to conscript into the military. Those who refused or tried to run were shot.
The Keflezighis had an elaborate escape route through a backdoor for Fitsum and Aklilu, Meb's older brothers, once they reached the age of conscription. The Keflezighis were among the few families in the village whose house had a metal roof. They still lacked electricity and would tell time by sticking a rock in the sand and waiting for the shadow it cast to pass a certain point.
Russom, the family patriarch, was an open supporter of liberation forces, and therefore a target of militia. Police constantly threatened him as he tried to manage his grocery store in Asmara, the capital city. In 1981, he fled to Sudan by walking 600 miles in the dead of night. He slept during the days, drained swamp water through his clothes in order to drink, and carried only a flashlight he could shine in the faces of hyenas who might want to eat him.
It took the Keflezighis five years until they saw their father, who eventually brought the family to San Diego to live with his half-sister. The students there at Roosevelt Junior High teased Meb because of his old clothes and quiet demeanor. That is until he won a mile race in five minutes, 20 seconds. "That was the first time other kids showed me respect," he said.
Yes, the talent was there, but the formal running training hadn't yet begun. Even when Meb started progressing through the high school ranks, Russom stuck to his edict about education coming before sports, often waking his children at 4 a.m. to study an English book with them. "Education is something nobody can take away from you," Russom would tell his kids. They all listened. Consider the rundown of what the Keflezighis have done, without English as the family's first tongue.
Meb's oldest sibling, his half sister, Ruth Donahue, is a manager at Home Depot. His oldest brother, Fitsum, was taking English as a second language one year and earned the top academic award at Roosevelt Jr. High a year later. He earned an electrical engineering degree at UC Santa Barbarba and is now a project manager National Semiconductor in Silicon Valley. The next brother, Akiliu, was a double major at UCSB in economics and political science and has an MBA from the Monterrey Institute of International business. Meb graduated from high school with a 3.95 GPA and was a communication studies major at UCLA while winning several national titles in distance running for the Bruins. His coach, Bob Larson, recalls chastising Meb for yawning before a race at the Pac-10 Championships because he had been up all night writing papers. Meb won the race anyway.
Next sister, Bahghi, finished med school at UCLA and is now doing nonprofit work as a doctor for underprivileged communities. Merhawi, a younger brother, graduated UCLA with a law degree and serves as an agent for several runners, including Meb. Another brother, Bemnet, graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in business management and is now taking courses to be a CPA in San Diego. Adhanet graduated from Stanford this year with a degree in economics. Younger sister Fnann is the vice president of the black student union at UC San Diego, where she is a junior and resident adviser. Youngest sister Zaida is a freshman at Cal-Berkeley. Youngest brother, Admekom, is a high school sophomore.
Meb once remarked that he might be the least accomplished member of his family. He said it about an hour after he won the Olympic silver medal in the marathon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He speaks passionately, even in private, about his gratitude for the chance he and his family have been given to succeed here.
I once told him that a similarly grateful man whom I knew well surmised that those who had to work to earn the privilege of their citizenship appreciated it more than those who were born into it. I think my Argentinean-born father, who came over to join the U.S. Army during the Second World War, would have been proud to share Meb's colors.
Blog Roll ~ Dathan Ritzenhein
I want to start by saying congrats to Meb on his win in NYC! What an amazing and tough race he ran. I got a big lesson not to underestimate him earlier this year by the beating he gave me at the USA half marathon championships. He worked hard after those couple years of injury and bad luck and it was inspiring to watch him come back and win on the biggest stage. I was especially motivated all week after watching the race. I was just coming off my break and I was already ready to go, and then that just pushed me even more. Luckily I have Alberto holding me back. Watching the race really gave me the itch to get back into the marathon. We will start looking into that soon enough, but the first priority is to get back into shape. After taking two weeks off I was thinking I would be right back at it, but we Alberto really wants to give me a month to recharge my body, so that means easy workouts and a lot of strength but it is much slower build-up than I am use to. I really enjoy the change though. All the new exercises are fun and it feels like we are changing things all the time.The atmosphere here with the Oregon Project is so exciting. Everyone is ready to give it everything and without a doubt, we have the best support system in the sport. We want to win medals and that is the focus for everyone who is a part of our team. The sense of team is growing as well, because we have so many people all working toward the same goal. I have started to run with Jerry’s guys some and now Galen and I are getting on the same work schedule, so it is fun to have the ball moving again.
Back to the grind now, World XC is only four and half months away, time to get fit. Until next time…
Scared Wanjiru pleads for security
CHRIS MUSUMBA for DAILY NATIONOlympic, Chicago and London Marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru is considering relocating to Japan because he fears for his security, especially at his rural home in Nyahururu, which has been raided twice by thugs.
On return from New York on Tuesday night, where he was crowned the new World Marathon Majors champion, fetching a prize pack worth Sh38 million ($500,000), Wanjiru asked the government to improve security.
“What is the government doing to honour sportsmen in this country? It is very little. But that is maybe why some of them are sneaking out to Qatar. I have a big name in Japan and if I go there I will be comfortable,” he said.
It was the first time that Wanjiru was accorded a hero’s welcome upon his arrival, having won four of the five marathons he has run in a short three-year span.
Wanjiru recently added the Chicago marathon jewel to his illustrious crown when he won in 2:05:41.
The time was one second under the previous course record and thus earned him an additional Sh7.6 million ($100,000) alongside the Sh5.7 million ($75,000) prize fee. His appearance fee was estimated at Sh19 million ($250,000).
Wanjiru and Irina Mikitenko of Germany won the 2008-2009 World Marathon Majors series. Wanjiru collected 90 points over the two-year series, winning at the 2008 Olympics, as well as in London and Chicago in 2009. He was also a runner-up in London in 2008.
“This is inspirational and a morale booster for me and other athletes. I have never been received like this,” he said.
In the WMM series, the world’s top runners score points for winning and top placings at the five events - London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
Keflezighi returns to San Diego after New York City Marathon win
from SAN DIEGO reports THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Five days after winning the New York City Marathon, Meb Keflezighi was back where it began for him.
Keflezighi, who moved from his native Eritrea to San Diego when he was in the sixth grade, was honoured Friday at the San Diego Hall of Champions for becoming the first U.S. man in 27 years to win the New York City Marathon. His time of two hours nine minutes 15 seconds was a personal best.
"It's great to be back in beautiful San Diego," Keflezighi said. "I'm just thrilled to be here. My dream became a reality on Sunday, and it was a great field assembled nationally and internationally. What a beautiful weekend it was."
The 34-year-old Keflezighi spoke in front of an audience of many of the same people who coached and taught him during his school years, including from nearby San Diego High.
"It's good to see all of these familiar faces that have seen me through sixth grade on," Keflezighi said. "From not being able to speak English, to be featured on TV and to run the city of New York and finally win it. I can't put it into words, but I'm going to try: It's just the most gratifying moment of running."
The marathon victory was Keflezighi's first, and came after he recovered from a stress fracture in his hip that hindered the 2004 Olympic silver medallist for more than 18 months. He trained for the comeback in California as well, choosing to rehab in the mountain town of Mammoth Lakes.
"I was ready to hang it up in 2007 when I couldn't walk," Keflezighi said. "Once I made that commitment to come back, we worked hard. What a better way to finish so strong in New York and a tough course and run a personal best ever for me and probably one of the top U.S. times on that course."
Keflezighi has continually competed for U.S. teams in international events despite his African roots, and will do the same in attempts to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Since returning from the injury, Keflezighi has also won a half-marathon in San Jose and set personal bests at seven-mile distances.
KNOWN UNKNOWNS?
Article by Pat ButcherAs one marathon world record holder fails a fitness test, another prepares, once again, to test the limits of his longevity.
There is barely eight months difference in age between Paula Radcliffe, at 35, and Haile Gebrselassie, 36, and they will both inevitably come to the end of their long roads sooner rather than later. But, to evoke the (evil) spirit of Donald Rumsfeld, is that sooner going to be a lot sooner than that later is later? Who knows, as Rummy might say?
Both champions have indicated a desire to run the Olympic marathon in London 2012, almost a contractual obligation, to herself and to the British public in Radcliffe’s case, after the failures in Athens and Beijing; yet little more than the icing on a career cake for Geb, having tasted the fruits of 26 world bests and records in what is already the longest run at the elite level of any athlete in history.
While it is easy to sympathise with Radliffe’s burning desire to get back into action and prove that she is still the best after months of intermittent injury, there is a strong suspicion that her disastrous run in New York last Sunday was motivated more by profit than the competitive instinct.
Even finishing fourth will have netted her more in prize and appearance money than the surprise winner Derartu Tulu. But the revelation that she had a cortisone injection just days before running 42 kilometres raises a doubt about her racing rationale, where before there had never been any doubt, at least not in this quarter.
Nothing wrong with chasing a buck or two (hundred thousand or so). If you are fit? Which is one of the reasons why Geb is running the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon again, on January 22, 2010. He has twice won the Dubai first prize of $250,000, and if, as he has announced, he is successful in his world record attempt, there will be a bonus of one million greenbacks (not counting appearance fees) to augment his already burgeoning bank balance.
Haile makes no bones about the fact that he is record chasing, and to those who say he has no opposition, he replied last week, “In Berlin (September). They put in Duncan Kibet, who is the fastest marathon runner in the world after me. And I said, ‘let him run’. It just made me concentrate even more to kill him off in 20k”. Kibet dropped out, as the Geb went on to win Berlin for the fourth year in succession.
He has set two world records in Berlin, 2.04.26 in 2007, and the current 2.03.59 in 2008. In the subsequent Dubai races, he was set up to break both of those records, but an overenthusiastic first half ruined his first attempt, in 2008 (he ‘only’ ran 2.04.53, the second fastest in history); and turning into the teeth of a rainstorm at 30k washed out 2009 (2.05.29). So he returns for a third attempt.
“Of all the races I run in the world, the two best courses, for me, are Berlin and Dubai. I think it’s still possible for me to break the world record there, but everything has to be right, and I’m not going to spoil my chances by predicting it. I still can’t believe I didn’t break the world record in 2008. Everything was perfect except the pace for the first half of the race, which was too fast. Last year the rain was bad and I wasn’t feeling one hundred per cent, so to win and prove I could run well in the wet weather was a bonus for me”.
He had a hesitant start to his marathon career when he launched it in 2002, with a third place in London behind the world record of Khalid Khannouchi. Three years later, fast wins in Amsterdam, Berlin and Fukuoka were offset by two more poor runs in London, ninth (”the worst race of my career”) and a failure to finish, which was later discovered to be due to pollen allergies. All that was put behind him later that year, 2007, when he returned to Berlin and ran his first marathon world record. And for his next?
“For the three months leading up to Dubai, I started slowly with a number of long runs. I will then do a month of speed training and by December everything has to be ready. I will do a number of speed “tests,” these are very important to gauge how well I am running and what I still need to do to be absolutely ready for a world record attempt.
“I will do 30-35km maximum road training per day, split into morning and afternoon runs. I will also work in the gym - treadmill, cycling, exercising - for around three hours minimum once a week. By the time I start the Dubai Marathon I will weigh 58kg… by the time I finish, I will weigh 54kg”.
Seems like a nice equation - lose four kilograms, and gain up to 1.5 million bucks!
Deena Kastor’s Comfort Zone
Matt Fitzgerald for COMPETITORDeena Kastor hold the American record for the marathon. Photo: PhotoRun.net
In this exclusive interview, the American marathon and half marathon record holder discusses her lifestyle for success.
Deena Kastor, 36, is one of the most accomplished American distance runners of all time. She owns the American record for the half marathon (1:07:34) and marathon (2:19:36) and won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Marathon. One of the secrets to Kastor’s long-term success is what you might call her “comfort zone.” Early in her career, Kastor found the perfect coach (Joe Vigil, now retired), the perfect place to live (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), and the perfect all-around lifestyle to support her running, and she has never deviated from this winning formula.
We interviewed Kastor about her comfort zone shortly before she flew east from her home in California to provide reporting for NBC’s television coverage of the 2009 ING New York City Marathon, which was won on the men’s side by an important character in her comfort zone: her longtime Mammoth Lakes Track Club teammate Meb Kelflezighi.
Competitor: In your mind, why have you been able to race so successfully for so long?
Deena Kastor: I chose a coach [Joe Vigil] who I believed was the best and most knowledgeable in the world, so I trust and believe in the program. So it was very easy to come to practice every day and just follow the protocol. Being part of a competitive running group, we get an incredible amount of quality work done together.
But I believe the leaps and bounds that I made over the last several years have come from outside the training environment and how we choose to recover. During a workout you’re breaking down soft tissue and really stressing your body. How you treat yourself in the time between your workouts is really where you make your gains, recover, supercompensate and gain strength to attack your next workout.
It’s easy to get to practice and focus at that time, but I make a conscious effort to focus on the time between workouts in order to get the most out of my recovery to maximize my training.
What is it about living and training in Mammoth Lakes that seems to agree with you?
Mammoth is a town of 7,500 people, and everyone who lives there is an athlete of some sort. We have skiers, mountain bikers, climbers. We’re just the runners who fit into this extraordinarily fit community, and it definitely shows in the support that we get from everyone outside of our training group. It’s fun to be connected to the community in that way.
Almost every world and Olympic champion in running has lived and trained at altitude. We are at 8,000 feet of altitude, which is similar to Kenya’s Rift Valley. We know we are at optimal altitude with an optimal community situation—we really feel grateful for where we are.
I’m a homebody. I love to be at home and get into that training zone. The optimal buildup to any competition is a two-month period at home in Mammoth Lakes, and the simplicity of a mountain town where I can focus on getting the work done and recovery. The time in between I fill with chiropractic and massage and acupuncture and ice baths and proper nutrition immediately after workouts.
Since Joe Vigil’s retirement in 2004 you have been coached by his protégé, Terrence Mahon. What was that adjustment like?
Coach Vigil’s training was nose to the grindstone every day. Terrence’s training has a little more of a middle-distance philosophy mixed in, with neuromuscular recruitment and explosive workouts mixed with endurance workouts. Terrence’s training is really well rounded and has made me a much better all-around athlete in the second half of my career. I think both coaches were perfect for the time that I had them. Coach Vigil instilled an incredible work ethic, and Terrence has made me more of a well-rounded athlete.
When you look at the workouts we’re doing, we’re all doing pretty much the same thing, from the recreational runner to the elite distance runner. Our workouts are similar: We’re doing interval sessions one day a week, long runs one day a week, tempo runs once a week. The difference comes with the elite runner being able to dedicate so much time to recovery. Also, we believe in our coaches. If you’re second-guessing your program or second-guessing the coach you’re operating under, chances are you’re not going to be fully committed to the workouts you’re doing on a daily basis.
You seem to thrive on continuity in your coaching and other supporters.
I’ve surround myself with people I believe in: my therapists, my coaches, my manager—I’ve chosen the best people in the trade. When I go to work every day I know that I am being helped by the best professionals and that gives me an extreme amount of confidence.
I think anytime you commit to a coach, commit to a team, commit to a training environment, the continuity that you get from that is going to pay off in the future. I notice that when I have to travel, my training suffers in the weeks that I spend away from the coach and the team. Terrence has created a dedicated group of athletes who love meeting to practice together and feed of the support that we offer one another.
Do you have some favorite workouts that you have relied on for many years to build your confidence?
I really gain the greatest confidence from putting together weeks upon weeks of solid training. It’s not really a matter of walking away from a session of mile repeats and saying, “Wow, I’m ready.” It’s running a session of mile repeats two days after a 24-mile long run and following that up with a tempo run just under race pace—it’s putting in the work week in and week out that’s really what I thrive on.
My favorite workout to do is four times two miles at 9,000 feet. It’s an elevation that taxes me, whereas when I do intervals and other sessions at 7,000 feet I’m usually able to do them quite easily. But when I go up to 9,000 feet and do these two-mile repeats it really taxes me and it feels really good afterwards. Trying to hit five-minute-mile pace at that elevation is a really daunting task, but it’s a workout I really thrive on and love doing.
I gather that over the years you have developed a daily routine that works well for you. Can you take us through a typical day in the life of Deena Kastor?
I wake up at about six o’clock and then eat breakfast and then take the dog for a walk. As soon as I get back my husband [Andrew, a massage therapist by trade] will stretch me out and get me ready for practice. At 8:30 everybody meets for practice. Whether it’s a hard day or an easy day I’m usually back at around 11:00 or 11:30. I’ll eat a snack and then take an ice bath and then eat lunch right afterwards. Then I lay down to take a nap. When I wake up I eat another snack, walk the dog again and do my second run. At 4:30 I meet my trainer at the athletic club for a gym session. Then I come home and prepare dinner for my husband and myself. It’s usually early to bed.
I try to sleep 12 hours with my night rest and my nap combined. I am sleeping half the day, but I found that it allows me to be more energetic when I’m awake.
The Keflezighi Controversy
Matt Fitzgerald for Competitor MagSome say Meb Keflezighi is not really American. Probably the same people who say Barack Obama is not really an American.
The headline says it all: “To Some, Winner Is Not American Enough.” It appears above an article printed in the November 3, 2009 edition of the New York Times and it refers to a mostly online controversy that erupted in the wake of Eritrea-born American citizen Mebrahtom Kelflezighi’s victory in last Sunday’s ING New York City Marathon.
The first round of headlines issued in the U.S. media after Keflezighi crossed the finish line first in 2:09:14 was celebratory. The story was not “Meb Keflezighi Wins New York City Marathon” but rather “American Wins New York City Marathon For First Time Since 1982.” But then, in the next 24 hours, it was as if one-third or two-fifths or some other fraction of the spectacle’s direct and indirect observers said, “Hey, wait a minute: That guy’s not really an American!” Hence the next round of headlines.
The observer who protested against the initial, celebratory headlines most influentially was sports talk radio personality Darren Rovell, who in an article posted on cnbc.com wrote, “Nothing against Keflezighi, but he’s like a ringer who you hire to work a couple hours at your office so that you can win the executive softball league.”
Before I explain why this opinion is troubling to me, I will first say this: There is an undeniable difference between American and American-born. The correlation between the intensity of partisanship on the part of sports fans and the strength of the geographic association between fans and the athletes they support is natural and requires no justification. While I almost always root for naturalized American runners against runners from other countries, I almost always root for American-born runners more ardently than I do for naturalized American runners, and for runners from New Hampshire (my home state) more ardently than I do for runners from the other 49 states. The closer to home an athlete’s victory is, the more special it is to me. That’s just a natural law of sports fandom, and there’s nothing wrong with it as far as I can see.
So, as an American, I was very glad to see Meb Keflezighi win the New York City Marathon, but I would have been even happier to see Ryan Hall win, frankly, because Keflezighi was born in Eritrea and Hall was born in the United States. What complicates this preference is, of course, race. Almost all of the top American-born distance runners are white, while almost all of the top naturalized American runners are black. But while I do believe that the potential for skin-color prejudice lurks inside every person, myself included, I am pretty confident that (especially as a white man married to a black woman) I need not attribute any part of the slightly greater intensity of my support for Hall than for Keflezighi to racial bias.
The crucial difference between my perspective on this matter and Darren Rovell’s, I believe, is that Rovell feels no patriotic association whatsoever with Keflezighi. Rovell thinks in binary terms: either you are American born or you are not American. I think in terms of a spectrum. For example, I feel a much stronger patriotic association with Keflezighi, who came to this country as a child and who started running only after coming here, than I do with Bernard Lagat, who was born and raised in Kenya and represented Kenya in the 2000 Olympics and only became a U.S. citizen in 2004, when he was 29 years old. But Rovell, it would appear, makes no such distinctions.
It bears repeating: Darren Rovell, and those who share his feelings with respect to this controversy, feel no patriotic association whatsoever with an athlete who is a United States citizen and has lived in America longer than he has been a runner. I suppose they can’t help it, but I fear that it is an ugly instinct that makes them view Keflezighi as so thoroughly “other”—as less “one of us” than he really is.
Am I calling Rovell and his sympathizers on this issue racists? No, I’m not. I’m just saying they felt no pride—none—when Keflezighi won the New York City Marathon mainly because Keflezighi is black.
RESTORING LOST GLORY: Nyeri half Marathon organisers keen to make the event a success
By MUTWIRI MUTUOTA for The StandardOrganisers of the 13th Nyeri Half Marathon are keen to restore the event’s glory of recent years.
The November 29 event that will end at the historic Dedan Kimathi Stadium (formerly Kamukunji Grounds) in the Central Province headquarters located 154km from Nairobi returns this year.
"Time has come to restore Nyeri Half, one of the oldest Half Marathons back to the status it enjoyed a few years ago. We noticed the event was stagnating in prominence though it has fulfilled its objectives of tapping talent," Anthony Maina, the finance director, said.
Drama has been associated with the event, most memorably the 2005 edition where First Lady, Lucy Kibaki, the chief guest, tore into then Sports Minister, Ochillo Ayacko and Sports Stadia Management Board over the state of swimming pools at Nyayo and Kasarani complexes.
In 2007, some runners eager to make a quick buck waited until the last kilometre of the men’s 21km main event before dashing from the crowd to the finish only for their trick to be unearthed minutes later when genuine winners trooped to the stadium.
And in its launch on Tuesday, invited Athletics Kenya (AK) officials used the sidelines to blast the Mara International Marathon that was being concurrently unveiled at a different part of Nairobi.
In spite of the sideshows, Nyeri Half has earned its niche as a key calendar event and this year, the steering committee has revamped its running.
Thanks to increased sponsorship from title backers, Safaricom, that was raised to Sh918,000 (up from Sh600,000), the top prize money for main 21km men and women races has doubled to Sh100,000. Runners-up will receive Sh50,000 with Sh30,000, Sh25,000 and Sh20,000 going to third, fourth and fifth placers.
A competitive field is also being drawn. Already, the 2007 World marathon champion, Luke Kibet, has signed up with twice winner and course record holder, Nathan Kosgei (2005/2007) returning. Defending champion, Peter Muriuki has been contacted but is yet to confirm entry.
"I’m willing to go the full distance this time and I’m ready for the event," Kibet who finished third at Bupa South Run in Portsmouth on October 25 (10km), said yesterday.
Last year’s Broad Street Run (US) winner, Jane Murage, who finished second at last year’s edition, is fronting the women’s field.
"This year, I’m going for victory. I know the course well and it will be a good build-up for my season," Murage said.
Also lined up for the event, whose patron is twice women’s World champion and Olympic silver medallist, Catherine Ndereba is one of the most recognised international distance athletes who will come in as a guest.
Are running records nearing their limits?
People have been getting faster and faster over the last few decades. Usain Bolt shattered both the 100m and 200m world records at the World Championships in Berlin, knocking tenths of a second off each. Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie’s world marathon (42km) record of two hours, three minutes and 59 seconds is nearly 23 per cent faster than it was in the 1920 marathon.
In all other competitive races, the running speed for men and women is significantly faster today than it was some years back, and as running performances continue to improve, the limits to human performance remain the subject of much debate.
Skeletal ‘springs’
Are there are absolute limits to the speed at which man can run? Legged locomotion is a complicated process. As it walks or runs, man or animal periodically accelerates both the limbs and centre of gravity. These accelerations require the co-ordinated application of forces by muscles and skeletal ‘springs,’ and the mechanical and co-ordination of these forces can be complex.
In turn, the acceleration of the body’s various masses and the contraction of muscles place stress on one’s skeleton that can be potentially harmful. The metabolic demands of locomotion vary with the shape, size, speed and gait of the individual.
Maximum running speeds have been predicted based on the mass of the body, the rate at which energy can be provided to the limbs, the ground force muscles can produce, the stiffness of the ‘spring’ formed by the muscles, ligaments and skeleton, the aerobic capacity of the lungs and circulatory system and the strength of bones, ligaments and tendons.
All of these factors vary with body size, limb shape and the distance over which speed is measured. Body size and limp structure, though with limits, can be worked on or ‘customised’ to increase running performance through substantial improvements in training, nutrition and equipment.
Competitive swimming provides an example of equipment potential effect: improvement in the design of full-body swimsuits, a breakthrough not contemplated 10 years ago, contributed to a rash of world records at the Beijing Olympics.
The subject of ‘legal’ artificial performance enhancement still surrounds the athletes’ world records and speed limits. For example, if a woman artificially enhances the concentration of testosterone in her body, a large number of changes accrue that make her physiologically more like a man and capable of higher speeds.
Social ramifications
The speed or magnitude observed over the last century cannot continue indefinitely: for any given distance, any species of animal will eventually reach its limits. Female athletes will most likely to catch up or even run faster than men in middle and long distance events.
The consequences of reaching the limits of human athletic performance undoubtedly have social ramifications for both the athletic, scientific, and general populations. In a quest to attain faster times linked to commercial reward, the athletic and scientific community may continue to explore greater performance gains through the use of pharmacology and the evolving science of gene doping.
For spectators of athletic events, the impact of attaining the limits to human performance may be less profound. As was observed with the changes in javelin design in the 1990s and the subsequent reduction in the world record, spectators will continue to be thrilled by these gladiator-like contests between the world’s greatest athletes irrespective of performance in relation to world records.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Merhawi Keflezighi on his brother
Meb's victory in the 2009 ING New York City Marathon is obviously very significant, newsworthy and historical, but it also has a personal element to every individual, organization and other entities involved with Meb ( Meb the individual, family, San Diego community, Mammoth, UCLA, Eritreans, Italians, Nike, PowerBar, NYRR, New York City, the Marathon, the running industry, sports media, the running media which has followed Meb for a long time, long time fans, new fans, etc.). With so many affected entities, I don't expect Meb's victory to mean the same thing to everyone.
But first and foremost, let's respect the athletic achievement. On Sunday, November 1, 2009, Meb conquered the ING New York City Marathon, in which the NYRR had assembled their greatest men's field ever. Meb conquered the course and the competition. He ran a personal best time in one of the most difficult marathon courses, and his time stands as one of the top times run on this New York City course. And Meb also conquered the conditions: every runner on Sunday complained about the strong winds on race day.
Meb took advantage of humbling lessons he learned in his marathon career to be
victorious in NYC 2009.
1. Team Meb trained hard, but smart and Meb came to NYC at 100 percent health and great fitness.
2. There were health concerns with the flu going around, so Meb kept very low key before the race. With a great chance to win the race, Meb understood a victory would be more meaningful to any sponsor, race organizer or friend, than obligations before the race. We appreciate the NYRR, Nike, PowerBar and friends for understanding and respecting this position.
3. Meb held himself back at First Avenue. At this point, Meb was running with his head instead of his emotions. He was feeling great, but didn't want to push the pace. Meb's motto was stay within striking distance.
4. Meb ran behind Robert Cheriyout, just like Stefano Badlini sat on Meb for a mile during the 2004 Olympic Marathon.
5. When Meb made his move, he made it count. It was a strong and race defining move that solidified Meb's victory.
So many things have to go right in a marathon and Meb made all those things go right. All the things didn't just happen for Meb, Meb knew he would have to run smart and strong and take risks in order to put himself in position to win the race. Meb believed he could win the ING NYC Marathon starting with his debut in 2002, and everyday until Nov. 1, 2009. Meb believed it, never let the dream
expire, and ultimately he achieved it!
There is no better story of persistence and overcoming obstacles. The last two years are a microcosm of Meb life, that of the potential of U.S. distance running, and the universal life experience. Running and sports are metaphors for life. Meb's achievement on Sunday transcended running and sports.
The morning of the race, Jim Gerweck (of "Running Times") told me, Meb is laser-focused. I mentioned that while Meb was always focused, this laser focus was balanced with an amazingly relaxed approach. The quiet confidence with which Meb spoke and walked in the weeks leading to the race was contagious on his team. Meb first and foremost TRULY believes in himself, so that makes it so easy for those that KNOW him to believe in him. Meb illustrates his self-confidence with his approach, consistency, determination and incredible work ethic. There is no way to put into words just how priceless these characteristics are in a champion. Yordanos, Meb's wife is amazingly supportive. If there is one person that believes in Meb more than Meb, it is Yordanos. And this belief is not solely based on being on a loyal wife. A woman who TRULY did not BELIEVE in her husband would not be capable or willing to make the daily sacrifices Yordanos made and will continue to make. Example, Yordanos and the kids sleep on a different floor of their Mammoth home when Meb is training. Giving Meb the chance to get proper overnight sleep and naps during the day, proper meal intake, emotional support, and spiritual support are some of the most significant forms of support Yordanos provides on a daily basis. She even pointed out to Meb some race patterns from 2004 and 2005 that would allow him to win this year.
Meb is a pretty serious gentleman, he takes life very seriously, he takes his position as a role model very seriously, and his approach to everything is very business-like. That is where his daughters Sara and Fiyori come in. They keep Meb from being too serious. They always win that battle and Meb is a better
athlete because the relaxation required to deal with his daughters is mandatory and natural. After a play session with the girls and he attacks his training multiple times a day, there is plenty of that stored up seriousness to go around. Meb's family values are derived from his parents and Yordanos' parents.
Meb's family is the most consistent source of unconditonal support and love.
Meb has assembled a great team to support his athletic goals. Coach Bob Larsen is Meb's coach of 15 years, since Meb's freshman year at UCLA. Coach Bob Larsen retired from 20 years of coaching at UCLA to focus on coaching Meb and in the process develop American distance running. In 1998, Meb wrote a letter to Alberto Salazar and said it was his goal to "become one of the best runners in the world in the 5k, 10k, and marathon, and lead the resurgence in American distance running."
Meb set out on this goal, along with Coach Larsen, Coach Vigil and Deena Kastor, and they achieved their individual athletic goals in 2004 in Athens, and inspired training groups and individuals to do what we are seeing in the USA today. It is not fair to not give these four individuals the credit for having the vision,
creating the structure, and accomplishing their individual and industry goals. Of course many entities provided the support required to carry out this vision (including Allan Steinfeld and Mary Wittenberg of NYRR, and Running USA, the Mammoth community and others (Coach Larsen is the best person to indicate who were the early supporters and who stayed on and joined later). But I would like to mention that Nike and John Cappriotti were early supporters of the the former Team Running USA Mammoth.
That team is now Mammoth Track Club, and it has evolved but the objective is still as it was before, develop Olympic and World Championship medalists. In addition to Coach Larsen, Meb works very closely with his Mammoth Track Club teammates and coach Terrence Mahon, and support team Tomas Rodriquez and Dirk.
Meb's team includes many people that Meb can mention more specifically, but does include good friend, exercise physiology and nutrition consultant Dr. Krista Austin. Meb stayed with Krista for over two months while he was rehabbing in Colorado Springs between September 2008 - late November 2008.
As Meb always says, he is grateful to everyone that has helped him along the way, whether it is family, friends, race organizers, sponsors, media, teammates, coaches, consultants, fans, competitors, teachers and of course none of this would be possible without GOD!
Let me end this piece on Meb, with an illustation of how Meb's victory and the media coverage of his victory transcended our sport:
On Monday, November 2, Meb was invited and honored at the New York Knicks game against the New Orleans Hornets. Before they announced Meb's name to the spectators, Meb was hanging out courtside. Chris Paul, a member of the 2008 Olympic Basketball Redeem Team (I think) and current star of the Hornets, came up to chat with Meb in between his warm-up shots. Chris Paul, a super star in his own right, and his reaction to meeting Meb left me amazed by the impact Meb's victory has made and will continue to make. Chris Paul, better known as CP3, told Meb, "I can't believe you did a push-up after finishing the marathon.". He proceeded to request that the media on the court take a picture of him and Meb together. Chris Paul then wanted a guarantee, "Hey Meb, if I get this photograph, will you autograph it for me?" To which Meb responded "of course." As Chris Paul departed back to his warm-up, he commented, "I can't wait to tell my mom I met you." For a lifelong fan of basketball and small point guards, this scene with Meb and Chris Paul is a source of great pride in Meb as my brother, client and great athlete, but even more so as a great ambassador for the sport of running!
Thank you Fred Lebow and the NYRR for creating and developing the New York City Marathon, the event that has allowed Meb to shine brighter than ever!
Merhawi Keflezighi
Director, HAWI Management
Handling Adversity With Integrity
Proud manager, brother and fan of Meb Keflezighi
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Why we should love Paula
Rick Broadbent fo the TimesOnlineWhen Paul Gascoigne cried during the World Cup semi-final in 1990 they were the tears of a clown. On a sporting vista of anodyne robots and PR speak, Gazza was all red raw emotion and red-rimmed eyes. People loved him for his weakness.
The public perception was different when Paula Radcliffe cried during the Olympic marathon in 2004. She was fatuously damned as a quitter and self-pitying. Of course, Gazza's tears were the product of self pity, as he realised he would not play in the World Cup Final should England overhaul West Germany, but that was forgotten. Gazza's crimes since then have been manifold, but he is mostly forgiven. He is a damaged figure, plagued by mental illness and the flipside of fame, and there is a nagging thought that, somehow, we who idolised him are partly responsible.
I have nothing against Gazza, but the way he has been rehabilitated while Radcliffe remains a divisive figure is puzzling. On Sunday Radcliffe ran the New York Marathon when not fully fit. At the end she succumbed to tears of disappointment and pain. Then the knives came out.
Those posting messages at the foot of the race report in The Times were split into two distinct camps. One group hailed her as the owner of just about the most astounding world record in sport, while the other said she should quit. "Diddums," wrote one detractor.
The photograph of her in the throes of despair at the end did not help, but there is absolutely no rational reason to peddle the notion that Radcliffe should hang up her running shoes. Yes, she has been savaged by injuries, but it is only a year since she won the New York Marathon. Anybody who retains that sort of ability should be championed rather than hastened towards the retirement home.
Even on Sunday, with a problem behind her left knee, she was fourth. Admittedly, it was not the strongest field, but that is still the sort of finish that all other British runners, Mara Yamauchi aside, can only dream about.
It is time the critics learnt to love Paula Radcliffe and it is a mystery why some do not. We do not have the world's best footballers, rugby players or cricket players. An Englishman has not won one of golf's majors since 1996. Despite the huge coverage he gets, Andy Murray has still to win a grand-slam event. We have had two Formula One champions in the past two seasons, but there will always be a subjective element to any appraisal of a sport where people drive different cars.
Even the most cynical should have been won over by Radcliffe's display at the Olympics last year. In truth Radcliffe should not have been there. She suffered a stress fracture of the left femur less than three months beforehand and was told it was Mission Impossible. She refused to believe it and worked like a dervish. It all backfired. She struggled home in 23rd and there were more tears.
That was a truly heroic effort in a field where superlatives are bandied about frivolously. Radcliffe carried on, risking serious injury, partly because she knew the criticism that would have been unfairly levelled at her by armchair archers had she not. It was the same on Sunday. Her friend and the New York race director, Mary Wittenberg, told her she did not need to compete. Radcliffe said she had to. "And she knew she could not drop out once she started," Wittenberg said.
Others revealed that Radcliffe had been deeply concerned about her fitness in the build-up. She had talked it down in the build-up so that the field would not "leg it." If she was being disengenuous it certainly paled alongside the bare-faced lies spoken by football managers on an almost daily basis.
There were tears on the Friday morning, before she met the media, and more on Sunday after the race. Self-pity? Perhaps, but marathon runners do not get many chances. Radcliffe took a huge gamble in Beijing because she knew it would be four years before she had another. In that period Andy Murray will have had the chance to win 16 grand-slams titles. Lee Westwood will have had a shot at 16 Majors plus a couple of Ryder Cups. A few months before Radcliffe's tears in Beijing, John Terry cried as Chelsea lost the Champions League final. He was not pilloried, despite having a chance to win the same thing the following year.
Radcliffe, by contrast, has not had an injury-free year since 2005. In the last four years she has run only two marathons when fit - in New York in 2007 and 2008. Imagine being the world's best at something and having such infrequent opportunities to show it. You might be driven to tears yourself.
The other thing that is hard to fathom when it comes to Radcliffe's more fervent critics is that she has none of the hubris, truculence or arrogance that comes with certain other sports stars. She is just very nice. Some say she is obsessed, as though that is a flaw in a sportswoman who wants to be the best. I'm sorry, but you do not set a world record for the marathon by playing at it. And anyway, as one figure in the sport said in New York at the weekend, how many other sportswomen who are intent on winning gold in London are planning to have a child beforehand? There is a bigger picture for Radcliffe.
Radcliffe has simply been unfortunate. Had the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games taken place two months later, she might well be a double Olympic champion now. By the time she gets to London she is likely to be the underdog. And this being Britain, that will probably be the time when she finally gets the luck and love she deserves.
Who will really miss Julio Rey?
EuropeanAthletics reportsSpanish national Marathon record holder Julio Rey announced his retirement from competitive sport last week. Rey, 37, had been struggling with injuries for the last year and decided to hang up his spikes after being forced to pull out from last month's Amsterdam Marathon.
Rey's personal best in the Marathon - 2:06.52 set in Hamburg in 2006 - is not just a Spanish national record but also the fourth best time set by a European ever.
He won the Hamburg Marathon four times in his career.
He won bronze medals in the Marathon at the last two editions of the European Athletics Championships, in Munich (2002) and Gothenburg (2006). His career highlights also include a silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Paris in 2003; second place finishes in the Marathon races in Paris and Fukuoka, Japan, and a fourth place finish at the 1998 London Marathon.
Rey respresented Spain at the last two editions of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004.
At the national level, he won the Spanish Cross Country titles in 1997 and 1998. He also won the 10000m title at the National Championships in 1997 besides the Half-Marathon title in 2004.
He represented Spain on the international stage on 23 occasions.
mzungo.org says: He was tested positive on Mesterolon in 1998 and banned for two years.
His version:
"Ich beharre immer noch auf meiner Unschuld. Die Probe war zwar positiv, aber es war kein Doping, denn ich habe nichts eingenommen. Meine Motivation weiterzumachen war, der Welt zu zeigen, dass ich unschuldig war.
Ich habe im In- und Ausland untersuchen lassen, ob eine Hormonstörung vorliegt - nichts. Und kurz nach dem positiven Test hatte ich eine negative Trainingskontrolle. Ich werde wohl nie erfahren, was passiert ist. Es war der erste positive Test auf diese Substanz. Sie würde einem Läufer wohl auch nichts bringen. Ich habe gehört, es sei vor Viagra ein Mittel gegen Impotenz gewesen."
Free translation: "I have taken nothing."
Miki relentless: 2010 two more marathon majors and the 10k @ ECs
by EuropeanAthleticsTwo-time reigning World Marathon Major series winner Irina Mikitenko of Germany is planning to run the 10000m instead of the Marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, Spain, which runs through 26 July to 1 August.
Marathon specialist Mikitenko confirmed that in 2010 she will participate in only two Marathon races, one in spring and another in autumn, but she has not made a decision on the venues yet.
The 37-year-old Mikitenko pocketed $500,000 after winning the 2008-09 series of the World Marathon Majors that concluded with the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
The World Marathon Majors is a series consisting of five of the largest and most renowned Marathon races in the world: the Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon.
Mikitenko intends to compete in all the WMM races in the next two-year cycle of 2009-10.
"It's definitely a goal to run at each of the five Marathon races of the World Marathon Majors Series and if possible win, too," Mikitenko told the German Athletics Federation website leichtathletik.de.
Despite pocketing $1 million after winning the last two editions of the World Marathon Majors series, Mikitenko clarified that money was not the primary thing on her mind.
"Frankly speaking money does not matter to me. When I run, I never think of money. I am glad that I have been able to win the last two World Marathon Majors title but that is certainly not among the top considerations when I decide to run a Marathon," she said.
Flanagan Marathon debut in Boston?
Universalsports (NEW YORK) – Things couldn’t have gotten any better for Shalane Flanagan in 2008. She qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team in two events and won a bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m. But this year, things went a little rockier. After a tumultuous break with coach John Cook, Flanagan joined Jerry Schumacher’s group with the Nike Oregon Project.After the switch, it took time for Flanagan to get acclimated to her new training regimen and it had an impact on her results. In June, she placed second to Amy Yoder-Begley in the 10,000m at the U.S. Outdoor Championships, and in August at the World Championships, Flanagan finished 14th in 31:32.19.
Unbeknownst to Flanagan at the time, she was suffering from physical ailments that were not diagnosed until after she returned home from Berlin. Now healthy and returning to training, Flanagan is also contemplating her future, specifically when she will make the transition from the track to the marathon. We caught up with Flanagan, who will observe the 40th ING New York City Marathon from the lead truck.
While still in Berlin after you ran in the World Championships, I happened to ride the U-Bahn with your mom one night and she mentioned that you were not feeling well physically at that time. What was ailing you?
It was rough spring. I didn’t really know why I wasn’t feeling so well. I thought it was from transitioning to a new coach, new training and stuff. But there were actually some underlying health issues that I was not aware of. It was diagnosed and I had some things looked at and I’m feeling much better. I’m adjusted to the training.
I hope it wasn’t anything too serious, was it?
No. It was a combination of things. I apparently picked up a parasite, most likely in Beijing. I got food poisoning there.
What’s with you and the food poisoning? You got it here (before the U.S. 8K Championships) and then at the Olympics?
Yeah, I don’t know. I got it twice last year. But that’s what was holding me back. There were some iron deficiency issues that could have stemmed from the parasite. I don’t know. There were also some genetic things that I was diagnosed with, nothing catastrophic but enough to throw me off. You have to have everything going for you on all cylinders when you’re trying to compete at a high level. But now, I’m feeling better so it’s all good.
So what’s in the plans for you now, moving forward into 2010?
It’s like I’m trying to rebuild this whole base and trying to get a good foundation for marathoning. So, I’m just trying to learn everything there is to learn about the marathon. I’m looking forward to hopefully running a half in January.
Is the big-picture focus for 2010 the marathon?
This next year is to improve on everything. Whatever presents itself, I’m just going to listen to my body and make sure that I can adapt to the new training. I’m going to start off with a half, see what happens, and then go from there. Maybe the next step is a marathon. Maybe the next step is going back to the track, running really fast and then going to the marathon. I’m kind of open to anything right now.
If you run a half in January, where would that be?
I think it will be the U.S. Championship in Houston. I think that’s on January 17.
Coming off that, do you feel you should have enough time to weigh your options?
Yeah. There will definitely be time to make a decision, whether to do cross-country or track. It’s a great year to just experiment and see what I want to do.
In talking a lot with Kara Goucher, she said the thing that really got her excited about running the marathon was getting to ride the lead truck here and watch the 2007 race. Was that sort of the same idea for you?
Yeah. Winning in Boston or in New York for me is pretty much the equivalent of an Olympic gold medal. Having the opportunity on a yearly basis to go and win a gold medal is exciting. I was able to watch the Boston Marathon this spring on the truck, and now I’ll do New York. I’m trying to see what each race has to offer. For my first experience, I feel I need to go somewhere where I think I can be successful and have a comfortable feeling. However the training leading up to it will also play a roll. I’m not going to force myself into it. But this is a great way to see what it’s all about.
What was your experience like watching the race in Boston?
It was awesome, just because I grew up in Boston. Watching Kara battling and the race itself was phenomenal and so tight. And there were so many components that I just wasn’t aware of, like the water stations and how that operates. I was trying to look at it in a very functional kind of way, and envisioning myself racing and how it would play out. But at the same time, it was very emotional too watching everyone who trained so hard, watching Kara in the last mile. It was an unbelievable experience and made me want to commit to the training.
Having seen Boston from that perspective, what specifically will you be looking for here?
A lot of people say Boston is really tough, and it is. But New York is really tough too. I think both races have exceptionally hard courses. I’ll be trying to get familiar with the course and seeing how it plays out. I’m trying to absorb the whole thing and seeing where I can envision myself being successful. I think either one I would be really excited about. New York is a really sexy marathon. I think it has a cutting edge, something really appealing to it. Boston has the really old-school, blue-collar kind of feel. They’re very different from what I could tell.
Is it safe to say then that when you do make your marathon debut it will be in either Boston or New York?
That’s what I would hope, yeah.
Would running the Boston Marathon this spring be cutting it too close from a training aspect to the half-marathon in January?
I’d love to run one as soon as possible, so I’d love for it to be Boston. But I just don’t know if I’m ready. My coach is very meticulous and a planner, so if he says that I’m ready to go, I’m ready to go. If he says that I’m not ready, I’m not going to force a marathon. That would be a big mistake. I want my first one to be an enjoyable, successful experience.
Hypothetically speaking, if everything goes well with the half in January, what would be the progression of your season?
I have no idea. It’s totally unexplored territory for me. I don’t even know what the steps would be. I don’t even know what a good marathon workout is yet. I’m having to compute in my mind, when I go on long runs, what getting down to good marathon pace would be. If I run 2:25, I could maybe be a contender in a major marathon for the most part. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what I have to do in practice to get to that. After a half, I don’t know what that would entail. I don’t know how I will feel after the half. I could be completely beat up, I don’t know.
How difficult is that process when all you’ve run prior is track and cross-country?
It’s such a different training for me. I’m used to going all out and going out trying to just pound myself. In marathon training, I constantly have to say, ‘Be patient. Hold back.’ I won’t make it through to the end of a workout if I don’t conserve something. It’s a completely different mindset. I think it’s going to take a lot of practice and patience on my part to get into that mindset of conserving and when you get to that point at the end when you think you’ve got nothing left, pulling out even more.
Have you done workouts at marathon pace yet?
Not a full one yet. I’m working on trying to get my long runs in and having them be at a decent clip. Sub-six-minute pace for like 14 miles has been my goal. I’m trying to get up to eventually run two and a half hours for a long run. I just have to be on my feet long enough. If anything, I’ve not been on my feet very long whenever I do my long runs. My workouts have been mostly short and fast stuff. Just being on my feet for two and a half hours is a big accomplishment right now.
Have you been running in Oregon or are you down in North Carolina?
I’ve been in North Carolina, but I was just out in Portland last week visiting with my training group and coaches.
How has it been assistant coaching at North Carolina?
It’s been awesome. It’s been really cool. There is a new coach there, Pete Watson. He’s welcomed me to help out and assist him in trying to build the program back up because I’m familiar with the places to run. So I’ve been helping him get started and I enjoy being around the kids.
It has to be pretty different being back in that type of environment, right?
Yeah. The collegiate system is where I got started. I have so many great memories at North Carolina. The best thing I feel I can do…you can donate money, but I think if you donate your time, that is the most valuable thing. Not that I have tons of knowledge, but I can at least help a little bit in whatever they need me to do. I’ve been helping a little bit with the recruiting and trying to build up the men’s program again. The women have always been strong.
Coming off of Berlin and regaining your health now, how has the experience been for you from a running perspective?
It’s helped me probably more than it’s helped them. I had a really hard last six months. It was kind of stressful. So to regroup at home and have people around who still think I’m amazing because I made it to a World Championship. They don’t care that I didn’t medal. They’re just amazed that I’m making it to the World Championships. It’s been refreshing and rejuvenating. They’re impressed with anything so I’m playing to a pretty easy crowd. Having been able to run with them, they’re so appreciative of anything and any time I give to them. It really feels good.
So when does full-time training for the half begin for you?
I’m pretty much in it. I’m on a little bit of a down week this week because I just got back from Oregon on Monday and we’re going to be here. This is a great place to train, but I’ve been doing a lot of socializing. I’m kind of used to being a hermit so all this socializing gets me a little tired. But as soon as I get back on Sunday, it’s going to be pretty serious for the next two and a half months trying to build up a foundation for a marathon, be it spring or fall.
Will you do any road races between now and the half to get the competitive juices flowing again?
I’ve always got that competitive spirit so I don’t necessarily have to test myself that way. But as long as the workouts are going well I should feel pretty confident going into the half. But if my coach says, ‘Let’s test it out and get in a real environment of road racing,’ then I’ll do it. But as of right now, I don’t see anything logistically that looks to be really good to do.
Mary Keitany 66:54 in Delhi
IAAF from New Delhi, India - Mary Keitany looked to be cruising towards a World record time through 15km of Sunday’s Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Eventually the Kenyan settled for 1:06:54, falling short of the mark, though she smashed the course record.The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
Deriba Merga did not have a Kenyan breathing down his neck as he crossed the finish-line first for the second year in a row in the men’s race. The Ethiopian had his countrymen, Eshetu Wondimu and Tilahun Regassa for company for the better part of the race before breaking away past the 15km mark to coast through to a 59:54 win. Wondimu (1:00:02) came second while Regassa, who set the early pace, faded to fourth behind Kenyan Wilson Kipsang (1:00:04) who was second here last time.
There was no challenge at all to World Half Marathon champion Keitany in the women’s race. Defending champion Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia (1:10.02) finished ninth, unable to match the early pace set by the front-running Kenyan. Ethiopians Wude Ayelew (1:07.58) and Aberu Kebede (1:07.59) who took the second and third spots, tried to put up a fight, but in the end found Keitany too good.
Though the race started in almost ideal weather conditions, the temperatures rose considerably about half an hour after the start, forcing runners to slow the pace.
On the flat course, the early pace was furious as Merga, a little restless right at the start, turning sideways often to place his team-mates and the position of the Kenyans, kept up his relentless front-running act once they broke away from the crowd of runners. The Ethiopians set such a good pace that by the 5km mark, reached in around 13:51, the Kenyans were left well behind.
The leading bunch of Merga, Regassa and Wondimu was inside the course record pace at the 10km mark in 27:43. But with little challenge from the Kenyans and the heat slowly taking its toll, the Ethiopians had to slacken the pace in the race’s second half.
Merga crossed 15km in 41:55, still inside the course record he set last year (59:15), and as he began running away from his team-mates, it was Regassa who showed signs of fatigue. Wondimu, who had drifted behind slightly midway through only to catch up with his countrymen in the lead, tried his best to keep pace with Merga, but in vain.
From around 100 metres to the finish, Merga kept looking back to find whether someone, especially Kipsang, was making a late charge. Memories of that superb surge by Kipsang last year must have come flooding back. This time, though, there were no worries for the 29-year-old Ethiopian. The US$ 25,000 first prize was his without much ado. He tried to find words to express his joy as television reporters surrounded him, but only ended up saying nothing. The 59:54 was his sixth best time, his last year’s effort in Delhi being still his best.
Wondimu looked set to crack one hour for the first time in his career, but eventually settled for 1:00:02, just one second off his best, clocked in Berlin last year. Regassa, still a junior, clocked his third best at 1:00:37 for his fourth pace, overtaken by Kipsang towards the end and thus being deprived of a podium finish.
Kipsang, who looked steady to start with, could not show his customary pace. “At 15km, I felt pain in my toe and I checked my speed. The gap between me and the leader became more than expected and in the end I wasn’t able to cover the lost ground,” the Kenyan said.
Third sub-1:07 for Keitany
Keitany’s domination was total. The Kenyan never allowed anyone to even think about putting up a challenge. Taking off fast, she ran much of her race in the company of Indian male runners and thus kept a steady pace. She was past the 10km mark in a stunning 30:39, raising murmurs about Delhi witnessing a World record. By the 15km mark, at 46:40, she was still very much ahead of World record pace. But then, after that the pace slackened. The course record of Mergia, 1:08:17, was battered beyond recognition, however.
Keitany, who took the top prize of 25,000 dollars, said that she had Lornah Kiplagat’s 1:06:25 World record in mind when she started. “The course was excellent and the weather was not bad. I hope to come back next year,” she said.
Kiplagat’s 2007 effort survived, just as it had in Birmingham 20 days earlier when Keitany clocked 1:06:36, the leading time in the world this season and the second fastest ever. Her 1:06:54 today was the seventh best on the all-time lists. The Kenyan, who dedicated this victory to her one-year-old son, now holds four of the top-10 timings on the all-time lists. She had timed 1:06.48 behind Kiplagat, a former Kenyan now a Dutch, in Udine in 2007.
Though the Ethiopians were outclassed by Keitany, they took the next three places behind her, Mamitu Daska (1:08:07) coming ahead of Kenyan Peninah Arusei for fourth.
Deepchand Saharan won the race among Indian men in 1:04:00, finishing 17th overall. Sukanya Mall was the best Indian woman, coming overall 22nd in 1:20:11.
Over 29,000 competed in various events including a Great Delhi Run in which celebrities took part. The Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, gave away the prizes to the winners of the main event. Merga received a golden mace apart from his winning cheque.
By an IAAF correspondent
Leading Results:
MEN -
1. Deriba Merga, ETH 59:54
2. Eshetu Wondimu, ETH 1:00:02
3. Wilson Kipsang, KEN 1:00:04
4. Tilahun Regassa, ETH 1:00:37
5. Titus Masai, KEN 1:00:43
6. Dieuodone Disi, RWA 1:01:37
7. Kiplimo Kimutai, KEN 1:01:40
8. Juwawo Wirimai, ZIM 1:01:45
9. Stephen Mokoka, RSA 1:01:47
10. Ezekiel Cherop, KEN 1:01:50
WOMEN -
1. Mary Keitany, KEN 1:06:54 (New Course Record, previous 1:08:17)
2. Wude Ayelew, ETH 1:07:58
3. Aberu Kebede, ETH 1:07:59
4. Mamitu Daska, ETH 1:08:07
5. Peninah Arusei, KEN 1:08:30
6. Mara Ibhrahinova, AZE 1:08:45
7. Teyba Erkesso, ETH 1:09:05
8. Amane Gobena, ETH 1:09:32
9. Aselefech Mergia, ETH 1:10:02
10. Pamela Chepchumba, KEN 1:10:04
Don't Meb the Geb: Dubai sub 2:03:59?
WorldTrack (LONDON) — Ethiopian long distance great Haile Gebrselassie will take aim at his own world record when he defends his Dubai Marathon title next year.Gebrselassie, who holds the world record of 2:03:59, said he will attack his standard over the fast Dubai course on January 22.“I still can’t believe I didn’t break the world record in 2008,”Gebrselassie said.
“Everything was perfect, except the pace for the first half of the race, which was too fast.
“It’s only a short flight from Addis, the weather is usually beautiful, the course itself is very, very good and the athletes are treated really well. I’m already training hard and looking forward to running again in Dubai in January.”
The Ethiopian legend set the world record in Berlin last September.
Meb and Hall: will it be London or Boston 2010?
By Dick Patrick, USA TODAY NEW YORK — Meb Keflezighi has become a streak buster in the marathon. In the 2004 Olympics, his silver medal ended a 28-year U.S. drought in the event. When he won Sunday's 40th New York City Marathon, he became the first U.S. champ in the race in 27 years, since Alberto Salazar in 1982.
He had a question Monday when his legs were feeling surprisingly fresh from his personal-best 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds over the 26.2 miles: Who was the last American to win Boston?
The answer: Greg Meyer, in 1983.
Keflezighi posed another question: who has won both Boston and New York? The Americans are Bill Rodgers, who won each race four times, and Salazar, who won NYC three times and Boston once. Kenyans Ibrahim Hussein, Joseph Chebet and Rodgers Rop also completed the double.
Could his questions signal which way Keflezighi's leaning for a spring marathon? Assuming he's healthy, he's got two choices, either Boston or London, both in April.
After his win on Sunday — worth $200,000 in prize money on top of a six-figure appearance fee — he's in a great financial position. He can expect six-figure appearance fees for both races, with London known as the bigger spender.
Keflezighi wasn't providing indicators Monday, since both races are attractive.
"What a great way to fill out the resume by winning Boston," he said. "That would be huge."
But London has the lure of a flat, fast course, unlike hilly Boston. Both Keflezighi, 34, and his coach of 15 years, Bob Larsen, believe he's capable of running 2:07 or faster. "The engine is there," Keflezighi said. "I just have to fine tune it."
A fast time is most likely to come in London, where last April Keflezighi was ninth.
"London has offered me lots of shots," said Keflezighi, who has run London and Boston once apiece. "Part of the marathon is getting to the starting line healthy. I was only able to do that this year. If I decide to do a fast marathon, London would be great."
Larsen said a decision "won't be made for some time." Until then, Keflezighi can savor his NYC win, which he said ranks slightly ahead of his silver medal because it was also a U.S. championship. It was the 20th national title of his career, two years after a hip stress fracture from the 2007 Olympic trials marathon in Central Park prompted thoughts of retirement
Keflezighi seemed spry Monday. "This race, Chicago '03, Athens and New York '04 were marathons where I felt like jogging the next day and I could go upstairs and downstairs comfortably," he said. "When the training is done right, I recover much more faster."
Spring fling: Ryan Hall, disappointed in his fourth place (2:10:36) Sunday, is likely to have the same options as his Mammoth Lakes, Calif., neighbor and occasional training partner Keflezighi about a spring marathon. Either London, where Hall has run a personal-best 2:06:17, or Boston, where he was third in April.
"It's good to have a humbling experience once in a while," Hall said. "I always run my best races after a humbling experience."
After Boston, Hall second guessed himself for doing a lot of leading into a headwind. After New York, he wondered if he should have spent more time in the front of the lead pack.
"He can have trouble in races where there are no pacemakers," said his coach, Terrence Mahon. "He just needs some experience at it."
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Keflezighi, Tulu, Fearnley, Hunkeler Press Conference Transcript
On Monday -- the day after the 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon -- the champions of each of Sunday's races met the press at Tavern on the Green. The transcript from the press conference is below:RICHARD FINN: Thank you. We're going to ask each of our four champions to say a couple of words. Maybe upon reflection, looking back at what happened yesterday. So we'll start with Edith, Kurt, Derartu, and then Meb. Edith?
EDITH HUNKELER: I'm still very happy that I won yesterday. Here it's the fifth win in five starts. Now I can believe what happened yesterday.
And it was a tough race. I've never seen such a big women's team, you know. To be the winner, it's super, super cool to be the best. Yes, I enjoy it today, the whole day, it's great.
RICHARD FINN: It's always a little extra super cool to win here in New York, isn't it?
EDITH HUNKELER: Yeah, it is. New York is a big city. Everyone knows it, and to win here is fantastic.
RICHARD FINN: Kurt went to the Jets game afterwards, so maybe that wasn't the best part of his day.
KURT FEARNLEY: I'm a bit of a fan of NFL, so this is the first game I've seen one. And I've been traveling to the states since I was 14, and I always wanted to go to a game. This is the first time that I've been in the right city at the right time. Although I had to catch a car immediately from the press conference to get there, and hadn't showered and kind of stumbled up a few flights of stairs to get to my place, it was worth it. It was a fantastic atmosphere.
The day yesterday, I don't know what it's saying, but I won my first race here by 5 minutes, the next year I won by two, the next year I won by 40 seconds, and yesterday I won by. 15 of a second. So I don't know what's happening next year if I'm going to get a win up here. But I'm a little nervous already.
It was a tough race. I haven't hurt like that in a long time. Hopefully, I don't have to hurt like that for a long time to come. But, you know, the guy that I was racing is a dead set legend, and to push with him for the last ‑‑ he's 44 or 45, and I've never seen him push like this. And he's been racing since '88. So it was a good day.
MARY WITTENBERG: I'll add, because I don't know, I didn't see the television broadcast how much this was coming across to all of you. But a perfect temperature of 52° at the start, 54 at the finish. 55% humidity at the start, 49% at the finish.
But I realize now why you might not have had such a good sense of it at the Mandarin or at the Tavern where miles per hour was 5. But what we felt at the start and that I felt all through that course like I haven't felt it in a decade, winds 14 miles per hour from the northwest.
RICHARD FINN: Derartu, as Mary said, a towering figure in this sport, on track, now on the roads. Possibly some reflection of what this means to your career, especially, again, coming back after several not as good years.
DERARTU TULU: He yesterday I had been asked how it felt to have had this victory 17 years after my first major victory. Yes, yesterday's victory was a great one for me. And as you said, it was a big victory.
I consider this to be a really great accomplishment in my life, and yesterday was a great day. It is a day that I shall never forget for the rest of my life. I'm extremely happy.
RICHARD FINN: Has it sunk in, Meb?
MEB KEFLEZIGHI: Well, first, I want to say thank you to Mary and her team and ING, and New York Road Runners for bringing me here. It's good to be back in this room again because I was a little emotional at the start.
But focusing on the great things what a wonderful day it was yesterday, it's just a dream come true. I don't know, a lot of people ask which was sweeter, the silver medal or the gold medal in New York? But it's pretty close, but I think yesterday was the day that sealed the deal. I think.
But to have that big of a field, and to be able to win it over those guys who run 2:04, two times Boston champion, lot of 2:05, 2:06 guys, to win over that was a huge accomplishment.
And I got a really great message from Alberto Salazar congratulating me, which was not just for what I've done for the U.S. distance running, but for myself and my family. It was just the sweetest voices mail you can get. I want to say thank you to him, and sent him a text this morning because of the time change.
But has it sunk in? Some did. I didn't sleep much last night. I don't usually do, but I was writing down what texts, and I got an email and voice mails, and all full from everywhere. A lot of people said it brought tears to their eyes. They never usually cry in entertainment, with the Super Bowl or things like that, but yesterday was.
We were at dinner last night with Mary and they said usually nice guys finish last. But she said it's nice to see nice guys finish first. And that tends to be the word on the street. I'm just going to be happier wearing that USA jersey in New York where I got my Ph.D. I don't know what I've got now, but I've been here many times. Second place, third place. 20th place in the last showing. To overcome the injury, it's just perfect time. It's just much more sweeter. Thank you.
RICHARD FINN: Questions for the champions.
Q. Not only did you win, but you obviously had some time to savor the win. I think there were a few minutes there where you were pretty sure you were going to win it. I'm just wondering in a couple of minutes from the finish when you got there, what kind of thoughts were going through your head at that point?
MEB KEFLEZIGHI: As soon as I have broke up right before 24 miles, I was confident that I was going to keep going, you know. Just to be able to along, expand the lead a little more, little more. That gives you a little cushion toward the end, so to savor it, fifth tries and finally get a ride. But when you get a ride, you've just got to enjoy it.
I celebrated with about a mile to go. I started pointing a little bit. I said just enjoy this moment. And Coach Larsen always said enjoy the moment, you can't go back. My wife also says after the injury, she said this is a limited time. Enjoy what you're doing. You're not going to look back later on. It just sinks in. She was in tears just because we stayed up late watching the video of the New York City Marathon, talking about the strategy and things like that. Just reflecting what nobody can do.
To see me not be able to walk or lift my leg without assistance of my hand, you know, that's what it was emotional. I didn't think I could run again or walk straight again at that point two years ago. So to be able to come and win this, what you dreamed of.
In 2002 I think I can do this, but when you can't walk, you can't walk. That's the bottom line. And to be able to win is just much more sweeter.
Q. There's a poster from the New York Marathon which says New York City, Helen Beck 26.2 Miles. Do you think that reflects a little bit your past years where you have been injured and you were ill?
MEB KEFLEZIGHI: Yeah, I mean, the marathon is a marathon. And 26.2 Miles, a lot of things can go wrong. But, you know, when things go right, you know, you recover faster. You'll be able to walk normal. The distance is just grueling itself.
But congratulations to the great champions here, and the great champions that are outside that saluted us as we came in. They're all wearing their medal. That is the pride of finishing a marathon, go with what you are capable of doing within your limits. We're obviously a little more talented than others. But to put their hearts into four hours, five hours, six hours‑plus, is a huge accomplishment on their part.
RICHARD FINN: What will this mean or what kind of reception will she get when she goes back to Ethiopia? First Ethiopian woman to win here?
DERARTU TULU: It is a great victory, because as you know after child birth I had been away from the sport for some time. But when I am training and a lot of Ethiopians back home see me, they would ask me, where have you been? We long to see you back again.
But I used to be surprised thinking there are so many other runners, how are you still expecting me to accomplish things? But they would say to me, we always long to see you running again and doing great things again. And I realize how much they still expect from me.
So I started to tell them, well then, wait a little while for me. I may be able to accomplish something yet. I hope that I can do something good this year. Now I know that they will feel great joy because I am a senior athlete, and I know that all Ethiopians will be very happy with this and will greet me with great joy.
READ ON...
Tulu, Petrova, Daunay Post-Race Press Conference Transcript
Deratu Tulu won the women's ING New York City Marathon on Sunday. She, Ludmila Petrova and Christelle Daunay (the second and third-place finishers) participated in a post-race press conference. The transcript follows:THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the news conference for the top three women at the ING New York City Marathon 2009. Fabulous day here in New York with plenty of surprises and exciting moments. We certainly had our share of them in the women's race. We're crowning a new champion today, Derartu Tulu, first Ethiopian woman to win. We welcome back to the 1, 2 and 3 position, Ludmila Petrova, who is probably our most durable and consistent performers, second here for the second year in a row, Ludmila was also our 2000 champion, so there is tremendous consistency there. We welcome our first leading French finisher and woman to the podium in several years, I think in almost 20 years, but we'll check on that, Christelle Daunay who ran a fabulous and very gritty race.
Q. I'm going to ask each of the ladies to start with a comment. Then we'll open it up for questions.
DERARTU TULU: In general I'm extremely happy to have won today's race. I did not come here necessarily expecting to win. But I did expect that I would be a strong competitor, and I'm very happy to have won.
THE MODERATOR: Ludmila? Second here again, and again, this seems to be your favorite spot.
LUDMILA PETROVA: I'm happy again for my 25 years. But in masters I am second. How I can be not happy.
THE MODERATOR: Christelle?
CHRISTELLE DAUNAY: For the first time I come in New York I'm very satisfied with my third place. I came here to win, and I did everything I could, but the other two competitors were better than me.
THE MODERATOR: I'll ask one question then we'll open it up. To each of the three ladies. Paula Radcliffe was here. She was the two‑time defending champion, had won here three times. How surprised or how did you feel out there when you sort of took the lead from Paula? Were you surprised? What did you sort of see out there to each of the ladies starting here.
DERARTU TULU: Paula is someone with whom I have competed a great many times. I have beaten her on the track and cross country. But in the marathon, let alone to beat her, I have never even been able to run very far with her. The most I think I've been able to keep up with her is 10 to 15 kilometers. So I had always hoped that I would one day finish close to her.
In today's race I was disappointed to see her falling back and struggling. I actually tried to encourage her to get her to keep up with us. At some point it was clear that she was not able to do so, and I'm actually disappointed that she was not able to run that well. However, Paula is a really great athlete. I know that she has many more great races in her, and she will be back to do great races in the future.
LUDMILA PETROVA: Paula is strong for me always. I think she has some problems with her hills only, she will be back to run fast again.
CHRISTELLE DAUNAY: Like the other two competitors said, I think Paula is a fantastic runner. It has been an honor to run against her today. I think she was maybe not in top shape, but I still hope to run with her many other times.
Q. It's very special that you're here. Please tell us what this exceptional victory here in New York means to you?
CHRISTELLE DAUNAY: It's true that after the Paris Marathon when I did a time of it 2 hours 25 minutes I was ready to come here to the New York Marathon, which is the biggest, most important marathon.
I was very up to compete against Paula, and I'm very proud of my third place here.
READ ON...
New York City Marathon 2009 - Top 50 Men
TOP 50 Finisher
1 8 Meb Keflezighi 02:09:15 CA USA USA
2 6 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot 02:09:56 Kenya KEN
3 4 Jaouad Gharib 02:10:25 Morocco MAR
4 5 Ryan Hall 02:10:36 CA USA USA
5 11 Abderrahime Bouramdane 02:12:14 Morocco MAR
6 9 Hendrick Ramaala 02:12:30 South Africa RSA
7 15 Jorge Torres 02:13:00 CO USA USA
8 19 Nick Arciniaga 02:13:46 MI USA USA
9 10 Abdi Abdirahman 02:14:00 AZ USA USA
10 16 Jason Lehmkuhle 02:14:39 MN USA USA
11 12 Jackson Kotut Kipkoech 02:15:10 Kenya KEN
12 21 Peter Gilmore 02:15:22 CA USA USA
13 39 Migidio Bourifa 02:16:01 Italy ITA
14 29 Mike Sayenko 02:16:38 WA USA USA
15 28 Mike Reneau 02:16:45 WI USA USA
16 45 Jose Telles De Souza 02:17:28 Brazil BRA
17 34 Allen Wagner 02:17:49 PA USA USA
18 24 Max King 02:19:11 OR USA USA
19 40 Mohammed Awol 02:19:31 NY USA ETH
20 18 Christopher Raabe 02:19:49 DC USA USA
21 23 Pat Tarpy 02:20:43 RI USA USA
22 2292 Antonio Liuzzo 02:22:36 NY USA ITA
23 49 Helder Ornelas 02:22:44 Portugal POR
24 205 Brett Winegar 02:23:11 WA USA USA
25 47 Bryan Morseman 02:23:50 NY USA USA
26 8963 Filippo Lo Piccolo 02:24:04 NY USA ITA
27 33 Josh Eberly 02:24:10 CO USA USA
28 1076 Nelson Laux 02:24:19 CO USA USA
29 42 Kassahun Kabiso 02:24:43 NY USA ETH
30 214 Andrew Cloke 02:24:48 DE USA USA
31 14 Brian Sell 02:24:59 MI USA USA
32 52 Dan Mcgrath 02:25:05 NY USA USA
33 226 Felipe Garcia 02:25:24 NY USA MEX
34 79 Hermann Achmuller 02:26:14 Italy ITA
35 203 Antonio Santi 02:26:23 Italy ITA
36 229 Stuart Burton 02:26:24 OR USA GBR
37 220 Tito Fiorenzo Tiberti 02:26:34 Italy ITA
38 43 Halefom Abebe Tsegaye 02:26:35 NY USA ETH
39 58 Francisco Ribera 02:26:48 Spain ESP
40 204 Victor Rodrigues 02:26:56 France FRA
41 59 Oleksander Holovnytskyy 02:27:39 NY USA UKR
42 46 Deresse Deniboba 02:27:48 NY USA ETH
43 221 Mirko Canaglia 02:27:52 Italy ITA
44 207 Miguel Beltran Mendez 02:27:59 Spain ESP
45 48 Benjamin Paredes 02:28:01 Mexico MEX
46 245 Larry Contrella 02:28:11 NY USA USA
47 8962 Francesco Duca 02:28:15 NY USA ITA
48 41 Sergey Kaledin 02:28:17 Russia RUS
49 1080 Stephen Littler 02:28:42 Great Britain GBR
50 222 Michael Cassidy 02:28:57 NY USA USA
READ ON...
1 8 Meb Keflezighi 02:09:15 CA USA USA
2 6 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot 02:09:56 Kenya KEN
3 4 Jaouad Gharib 02:10:25 Morocco MAR
4 5 Ryan Hall 02:10:36 CA USA USA
5 11 Abderrahime Bouramdane 02:12:14 Morocco MAR
6 9 Hendrick Ramaala 02:12:30 South Africa RSA
7 15 Jorge Torres 02:13:00 CO USA USA
8 19 Nick Arciniaga 02:13:46 MI USA USA
9 10 Abdi Abdirahman 02:14:00 AZ USA USA
10 16 Jason Lehmkuhle 02:14:39 MN USA USA
11 12 Jackson Kotut Kipkoech 02:15:10 Kenya KEN
12 21 Peter Gilmore 02:15:22 CA USA USA
13 39 Migidio Bourifa 02:16:01 Italy ITA
14 29 Mike Sayenko 02:16:38 WA USA USA
15 28 Mike Reneau 02:16:45 WI USA USA
16 45 Jose Telles De Souza 02:17:28 Brazil BRA
17 34 Allen Wagner 02:17:49 PA USA USA
18 24 Max King 02:19:11 OR USA USA
19 40 Mohammed Awol 02:19:31 NY USA ETH
20 18 Christopher Raabe 02:19:49 DC USA USA
21 23 Pat Tarpy 02:20:43 RI USA USA
22 2292 Antonio Liuzzo 02:22:36 NY USA ITA
23 49 Helder Ornelas 02:22:44 Portugal POR
24 205 Brett Winegar 02:23:11 WA USA USA
25 47 Bryan Morseman 02:23:50 NY USA USA
26 8963 Filippo Lo Piccolo 02:24:04 NY USA ITA
27 33 Josh Eberly 02:24:10 CO USA USA
28 1076 Nelson Laux 02:24:19 CO USA USA
29 42 Kassahun Kabiso 02:24:43 NY USA ETH
30 214 Andrew Cloke 02:24:48 DE USA USA
31 14 Brian Sell 02:24:59 MI USA USA
32 52 Dan Mcgrath 02:25:05 NY USA USA
33 226 Felipe Garcia 02:25:24 NY USA MEX
34 79 Hermann Achmuller 02:26:14 Italy ITA
35 203 Antonio Santi 02:26:23 Italy ITA
36 229 Stuart Burton 02:26:24 OR USA GBR
37 220 Tito Fiorenzo Tiberti 02:26:34 Italy ITA
38 43 Halefom Abebe Tsegaye 02:26:35 NY USA ETH
39 58 Francisco Ribera 02:26:48 Spain ESP
40 204 Victor Rodrigues 02:26:56 France FRA
41 59 Oleksander Holovnytskyy 02:27:39 NY USA UKR
42 46 Deresse Deniboba 02:27:48 NY USA ETH
43 221 Mirko Canaglia 02:27:52 Italy ITA
44 207 Miguel Beltran Mendez 02:27:59 Spain ESP
45 48 Benjamin Paredes 02:28:01 Mexico MEX
46 245 Larry Contrella 02:28:11 NY USA USA
47 8962 Francesco Duca 02:28:15 NY USA ITA
48 41 Sergey Kaledin 02:28:17 Russia RUS
49 1080 Stephen Littler 02:28:42 Great Britain GBR
50 222 Michael Cassidy 02:28:57 NY USA USA
READ ON...
Meb Keflezighi leads American men's resurgence in New York City Marathon
UCLA alumnus Meb Keflezighi, who won the silver medal at the Athens Olympic marathon but didn't make the U.S. team for the Beijing Games, set a personal-best time in winning the New York City marathon today.
Keflezighi, a native of Eritrea who grew up in San Diego and became a U.S. citizen in 1998, became the first American man to win the race through New York's five boroughs since Alberto Salazar triumphed in 1982. In a field with a record 43,741 starters and a strong elite group, Keflezighi set a personal best of 2 hours 9 minutes 15 seconds after he broke away from Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot with just over two miles to go.
Ryan Hall of Big Bear, Keflezighi's occasional training partner in Mammoth Lakes, was fourth in 2:10:36. Six American men finished in the top 10, the first time that has happened since 1979.
"It was such a popular victory because he had some struggles the past few years," Keflezighi's coach, Bob Larsen, said by phone from New York.
"He's been persistent and got rid of all the injuries. He's such a competitive guy. He's still got it."
Keflezighi was especially emotional as he approached the finish line, remembering his disappointing eighth-place finish in the U.S. trials for the Beijing Games that were held in New York in 2007. He later learned he had a fracture in his hip.
"He was literally crawling on the floor, room to room, after the Olympic trials marathon," Larsen said.
The 2007 race also was clouded by the death of elite U.S. marathoner Ryan Shay, who died of a heart ailment during the race. Today, Keflezighi crossed himself when he reached the point in the course where Shay had fallen.
Keflezighi found the physical and mental strength to separate himself from Cheruiyot -- a four-time Boston Marathon winner -- and approached the finish line alone. "Robert had to let him go," Larsen said. "At the end, he pointed to the 'USA' on his jersey a couple of times. It was a big moment.
"He's 34. A lot of guys wouldn't have persevered. This is a big step for him and another big step up for everybody in American distance running. This is the best field they've ever had in New York."
Keflezighi's New York Experience: The Best and Worst of Times
Meb Keflezighi already knew that life could change for the better. In 1987, his parents moved their 11 children out of Eritrea when a war with Ethiopia would have forced the boys into the military. At first they moved to Italy but relocated to San Diego. In 1998 Keflezighi became a United States citizen.
The move that Keflezighi made today in the 24th mile of the ING New York City Marathon proved smart too. He made his charge for victory, pulling clear of his last challenger, Kenya’s Robert Cheruiyot, and went on to become the first U.S. winner of the men’s race since Alberto Salazar in 1982.
Once again life changed for the better.
The last time Keflezighi ran a marathon in New York, it was the worst day of his running career. At the trials for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, held in Central Park in 2007, he fell ill a few days before the race, was hit by calf cramps caused by dehydration, and broke his right hip. He finished 8th, and the 2004 Athens Olympic silver medalist was out of the team for Beijing.
Worse followed.
Keflezighi collapsed after hearing that Ryan Shay, his friend and training partner, had died during the race because of heart-related problems. Today the runners passed the spot in Central Park where Shay passed away. ““I did this when I was there -- the cross -- that’s what it was for,” Keflezighi said.
For a few days after the 2007 race, Keflezighi had to walk on all fours in his hotel room. His legs were swollen so badly that he could not fly to Shay’s funeral. He was diagnosed later as having a stress fracture of the hip.
“Life is about ups and downs,” Keflezighi said. “I hope to be an example when the going gets tough -- that there is light at the end of the tunnel if you keep your hopes high.”
Following three-time winner Salazar as the first U.S. champion of New York for 27 years is ironic given that Keflezighi had written to him 11 years ago suggesting changes needed to improve American distance running. “To visualize that, and to be the first American to win since him, is a big honor,” Keflezighi said.
“I said: ‘You know what my accomplishments were in high school and at UCLA. Give me an opportunity to lead the USA -- he was working for Nike -- give me the chance to run as a professional instead of going to get a part-time job’.”
Ryan Hall, the second-placed American today, in 4th place, is a close neighbor of Keflezighi in Mammoth, Calif. They don’t train together, they don’t share a coach, but they are good friends.
“If there was one other guy in the race I wanted to win, it would definitely have been Meb,” Hall said. “I’ve learned so much from him. I feel like he’s an older brother to me, so it was neat for him to win.
“Just seeing him go through those hard times, and a lot of people were starting to write him off, saying he’s older, he’s had to many injuries – to see him come back and win here was huge for him.”
Keflezighi posts an historic NYC Marathon win for a fallen friend
If you're 34-year-old Meb Keflezighi, what tribute could you possibly come up with that would be a fitting honor for your friend and training partner Ryan Shay, who collapsed and died in November 2007 during the U.S. Olympic marathon trials in New York City?
In a news conference before the 2009 New York City Marathon, you could ask for a moment of silence in his honor. Check.
Or, just as you turn into Central Park between miles 23 and 24, you could break away from Robert Cheruiyot, the four-time Boston Marathon champion from Kenya, en route to becoming the first American to win in New York since Ronald Reagan was settling into his first term 27 years ago. Check.
And then, less than a mile later at the bottom of Cat Hill, now that you are solidly in the lead with the television cameras -- and the eyes of the world -- on only you, you can make the symbol of the cross on your chest as you fly by the spot where Shay, a Notre Dame grad, fell. Even though Shay's father, Joe Shay, isn't watching the race -- there are too many faces he painfully recognizes -- he might say afterward that you are "one of the class acts in all of sports" and that your gesture is "just so significant." Check.
And just to make it all more meaningful, perhaps it can come after a year-and-a-half of rehab following that terrible November day two years ago, when Shay died and when your body fall apart. When you got sick days before the race, cramped up because of dehydration during it, and ended up crawling around your hotel room on all fours because of the pain in your legs. When, for days "you practically couldn't get up and walk to the bathroom," according to your wife, Yordanos. And when, months later, a doctor would find the stress fracture in your hip that had you thinking about hanging up your racing flats for good.
You could go through all that and then return to New York in 2009 to run a personal best and win a marathon for the first time, well after people were beginning to "write you off" because of age and injuries, as Ryan Hall, the most-hyped U.S. marathoner who finished three places behind you on Sunday, put it. Check.
That would be even more perfect because, instead of retiring, you would have struggled back to health and all the way back to the starting line in New York, where you could force yourself to forget that nearly all the two million spectators lining the New York City course expect an athlete running for Ethiopia, Kenya, Brazil or Morocco to pass first. Check.
That last part shouldn't be too terribly difficult, given that you already banished the naysayers when you took silver at the Olympic marathon in Athens, the first medal for a U.S. man since Frank Shorter took silver in 1976. And even before that, you joined a generation of American distance runners, like Shay, who knew that Americans could run with Africans, and who were resolved never to let there be another time like 2000, when the U.S. qualified only one runner for the Olympic marathon.
And maybe you can make sure, on race day, to be the only runner out there wearing a USA singlet, so that it will be that much more unique when you enter the last quarter-mile slapping the letters on your chest and remembering how Shay took personal offense when people said you weren't a "real American" even though you've been here since you were 12. And so that it will be that much more special when, in post-race interviews, you recite the exact day you came to America -- October 21, 1987 -- from Italy after your family left Eritrea as refugees; and when you mention how much you loved going to school at UCLA, and how grateful you are for the opportunities, in school and in sport, that America gave you, and how proud you were to become a citizen in 1998. Check.
And then, when you cross the line in first, you can let the tears of sorrow and the tears of joy mix as they flow down your cheeks. Check.
Ryan Hall: “I’ll get over this.”
As Ryan Hall slunk into his director’s chair on the dais, the look of disappointment on his face told the whole story.
Hall came into the ING New York City Marathon, which doubled as the U.S. men’s marathon championship, with high expectations. Some even thought he had a chance to win here.
Instead, he will leave with another near-miss, a fourth-place overall finish in 2 hours, 10 minutes, 36 seconds, second-best among Americans to Meb Keflezighi, who won the race in 2:09:15.
“It was a disappointing day for me to be honest,” Hall said. “I felt like I was in better shape than that, but the day was what it was.”
What it was is the latest painful setback for Hall following his triumphant turn at the Olympic Trials Men’s Marathon here in 2007. Since then, the Californian has finished 10th at the Beijing Olympics in 2:12:33, and third in the Boston Marathon in 2:09:40.
Neither of those performances could be considered dismal.
Quite the opposite in fact.
Not many runners could hope for a Top 10 finish in their first Olympics or a podium spot in their first trip to Boston.
In that sense, Hall is perhaps his own worst enemy.
His brash running style and dominant victory in the Trials led many to anoint him, rightly or wrongly, as the savior of American distance running. With that have come expectations of victory that are unrealistic, or, at the very least, premature.
But Hall, and all of us, are realizing that winning the Trials and winning a major marathon are two different things.
“Honestly, I don't know,” Hall said when asked about the expectations for him before this race. “You know, I handled it the best I could. Felt really confident and comfortable going into the race. You know, it was nothing new. Every time I've been to the starting line of a major marathon, people are expecting big things. I think I just expect a lot from myself.
“So maybe this is going to be a good thing not to lower my expectations, but just to, I guess just to go into it more humble and expecting it to be hard, because it is hard. And, yeah, it's just not easy to pick up a win in a major marathon. Everything's got to click right on the day.”
At no point during the race did Hall look ill-prepared or to be struggling. He employed a strategy that seemed to indicate that he had learned from his mistake in Boston, where he lead for most of the windy early stages before fading slightly late. This time, he ran patiently in the pack and let other shield him on a deceptively windy day.
“Yeah, you get in the wind and you're out there leading,” Hall said, referring to Boston. “Then you hear the people back in this media room being like what's he doing leading this race in the wind, you know. And everyone back home is giving me a hard time for leading in Boston into the wind. So you start to second guess yourself. And honestly, it doesn't feel comfortable when you're leading into the wind.”
Hall was right with the other elite runners coming off the Queensboro Bridge. The pack found itself chasing Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, who made his signature surge when seeing the crowds on First Avenue. But Hall and Keflezighi helped reel Ramaala back in, and the American contingent hung tough during the uphill section of First Avenue.
The pack began to really separate after consecutive miles of 4:43 and 4:37. Hall, as well as Americans Abdi Abdirahman and Jorge Torres fall off, leaving a group of five men – James Kwambai, Robert K. Cheruiyot and Jackson Kipkoech of Kenya, Abderrahime Bouramdane of Morocco, and Keflezighi – at the front. By the 19-mile point, Hall had fallen 21 seconds off the pace.
“I was kind of going in and out of feeling good and not feeling good,” Hall said. “I think I made some tactical mistakes just sitting too far back. I don't tend to run well at the back of packs. I was trying to stay relaxed and trying to conserve as much energy as possible. I think I need to be up in the mix more.”
Although he managed to salvage his day by moving up to fourth place, it didn’t seem to ease Hall’s disappointment much, which is understandable. Competitors aren’t after moral victories.
“It's really disappointing when you don't feel like you did as well as you were expecting to do,” he said. “I don't know. I was looking at my splits out there, and I was like, man, I was doing 18‑mile tempo runs at five‑minute pace, and the same split I hit today at 7,000 feet in practice in the middle of 130‑mile weeks. So when you start to see that it's easy to get down on yourself.
“I invested a lot in this. I brought up a massage therapist and got two hours of massage every single day. You're running for these kids out there, trying to raise money for their schools. I wanted to bring home a big paycheck for them, you know. I had a lot to run for with our foundation that we're starting.
“I was thinking about my family and my wife who has invested so much in me. I mean, there are so many people, my coach, my teammates, everyone back home watching. You want to do well not only for yourself but for them. And when you don't, it's a big let down because you invest a lot, so it hurts a lot when you don't hit it.”
So instead of the celebration at In-and-Out Burger he was looking forward to back home, Hall again finds himself picking up the pieces and moving on to the next opportunity to fulfill those great expectations.
“It takes a couple of days, and then you realize that there's going to be more opportunities and you learn from it,” he said. “I think you learn a lot more from your disappointments than you do from the times that you win. And it's good to have a good humbling experience every once in a while. I always run my best races after a humbling experience. In a couple of days I'll turn my head toward the spring and start looking forward to that.
“I’ll get over this.”
Keflezighi's win bodes well for U.S. distance future
An encouraging year for U.S. middle distance and distance runners continued Sunday with six American men in the top-10 at the New York City Marathon, led by Meb Keflezighi's victory.
The win was the first by a U.S. man in New York since Alberto Salazar won three in a row from 1980-82. The last time there were six in the top 10 was 1979 when Bill Rodgers and Kirk Pfeffer went 1-2.
Ryan Hall was fourth (2:10:36), Jorge Torres seventh (2:13:00) in his 26.2-mile debut, Nick Arciniaga eighth (2:13:46), Abdi Abdirahman ninth (2:14:00) and Jason Lehmkuhle 10th (2:14:39).
MORE NOTES: Norton, Edwards raise funds
"I think this is just the start of delivering on the day," said NYC Marathon director Mary Wittenberg of the U.S. men. "They've been knocking on the door. This has been a long time coming."
Since the glory days of Bill Rodgers, who won Boston and New York four times each during the '70s and '80s, and Frank Shorter, who won Olympic gold and silver in 1972 and '76, the U.S. has struggled. The nadir may have been 2000, when the USA had just one entrant apiece instead of the maximum three in the men's and women's Olympic marathons.
The distance community, with Wittenberg and the New York Road Runners Club taking a lead role, got busy raising money and trying to support runners. In 2004 Keflezighi took silver and Deena Kastor bronze in the Olympics. "The only country with two medals," Keflezighi said.
This year the U.S. also had success at shorter distances. Both Dathan Ritzenhein and Matt Tegenkamp broke 13 minutes for 5,000 meters. Ritzenhein was sixth at the world championships in the 10,000 and third at the World Half-Marathon Championships. Collegians such as Galen Rupp of Oregon and German Fernandez of Oklahoma State had impressive performances from the mile through the 10,000.
The women were also successful with Shannon Rowbury earning a bronze medal in the 1,500 at the world championships. Anna Willard and Jenny Barringer broke 4 minutes in the 1,500.
"There are tons of Americans pushing the envelope," said Hall, 27. "Now it's a lot of young guys coming to the marathon with fresh legs so I think we're going to continue seeing improvement."
Torres trains under 1988 NYC Marathon winner Steve Jones in Boulder, Colo., in a group that has been a recipient of funding generated by the NYRRC.
"I think there is a new era of distance runners coming behind us who may or may not look up to us, but they're definitely going to try to challenge us," Torres said. "So I think it's going to be pretty exciting the next couple of years. I think American distance running is where it should be and it's going to get even better."
Hall unhappy: Hall, who won the Olympic trials in 2007 and was third in Boston in April, called his fourth place "disappointing." He entered the race with a personal best of 2:06:17, set on a fast course in London far different than the hillier NYC course.
"I felt like I was in better shape than that," said Hall. "I kind of went in and out of feeling good and not feeling good. And I think I made some tactical mistakes just sitting too far back."
Hall, part of a large lead pack early, hung with the leaders until 18 miles. He was exasperated after finding out he averaged five minutes per mile, which he had already been doing over 18-mile courses in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., at 7,000 feet in the midst of 130-mile weeks.
"It's good to have a humbling experience every once in a while," he said. "I always run my best races after a humbling experience. … I'll get over this. In a couple days, I'll turn my head toward the spring and start looking forward to that."
Tulu top woman: At 37 Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia is still adding to one of the most impressive resumes in women's distance running history. Tulu won the women's race in 2:28:52, marking her return to the big time after having two children.
"To have come back after all of that and to accomplish this tells me what it is possible to do at any age," said Tulu, adding she planned to enter London next spring.
She won the Olympic 10,000 in 1992 and 2000, the 2000 world cross country title and the London Marathon in 2001, giving her major titles on the track, road and cross country.
"I didn't really expect to win here, but I did know that I could be a good competitor and planned to fight until the very end," Tulu said.
She needed to fight to the end. She pulled away in the final mile from Russia's Ludmila Petrova, 41, the 2000 champion who finished second (2:29:00) for the second consecutive year.
The pre-race favorite was Britain's Paula Radcliffe, who had won 8 of her 10 marathons, was 3-for-3 in New York and is the world record holder. But Radcliffe, who has battled injuries and illness in recent years since her 2:15:25 in 2003, had a hamstring problem that led to tendinitis behind her left knee. She was told the tendon wouldn't tear but it could inhibit her running.
Past 11 miles she began struggling with the problem. By 23 miles Radcliffe fell off the four-woman lead pack.
"I knew it was a risk because if the injury came back, then, obviously, I was going to run like I did," Radcliffe said about starting the race. "It was probably a risk that I wouldn't have taken had I had a good year's racing.
Watching The 2009 ING New York City Marathon In North Brooklyn: One Fan's Perspective
North Brooklyn, NY - Eddie Galeski lunged forward, propping his weight onto his left leg. He clapped his hands together and bounced impatiently.“I'm waiting for Paula Ratcliffe to come through,” he said. “Paula's f------ awesome.”
Galeski, 51, was waiting outside his apartment on the corner of Leonard Street and Greenpoint Avenue. The spot is in the neighborhood of Greenpoint, which is New York’s largest Polish enclave, along Brooklyn’s northern tip.
Three hundred meters away, the New York City Marathon climbs the Polaski Bridge and drops into the borough of Queens. Along the way, marathoners pass the halfway mark.
At 10:15 on Sunday morning, the women leaders were approaching Greenpoint. Galeski stood ready in a backwards Yankees hat, sweatpants, blue t-shirt and basketball shoes. The air was cool and damp, about 50 degrees, and Galeski bounced to keep warm. Everyone else was in a jacket or sweater. A helicopter swirled overhead.
“She’s comin’, she’s coming’,” Galeski said, bending forward and slapping his hands. He held his arms out over the road. “Come on Paula!”
READ ON...
The Post-Race Elite Vibe
I came to New York City to watch my first major marathon not knowing what to expect. Around 9am Sunday morning, I joined members of the media from all over the world on the 36th floor of the Oriental Mandarin Hotel on Columbus Circle, just off the corner of Central Park. Well over 100 members of the media filled the room sitting in neat, compact rows watching the men's and women's marathons simultaneously on big-screen projections. Five screens in all, the outermost screens were set up to show every important kilometer or mile split for each of the top runners in the race. The center screen often was split-screen with men and women and each sex had their own large screen.
As the women started to run first, I scanned the room. Behind me was a reporter from "Sports Radio 66. The FAN! WFAN, New York!" giving periodic audio updates to their 20/20 hotline. To my right was a print reporter for the Queens newspaper, an older man who knew running fairly well. All around me people were tweeting, facebooking, socializing, and the guy directly in front of me was reading LetsRun.com. I came to realize throughout the day that very few of the media there to cover the race knew very much about the elite runners, or elite running in general. For example, no more than 5% of the room could have told you who James Kwambai was and why he was an important entrant in the race.
The Race - A Tough Major Marathon
No rabbits, windy conditions, bridge crossings, Central Park hills and tough, veteran competitors combined to make today's NYC Marathon extremely grueling and interesting. Almost every competitor I spoke with after the race spoke about how tough the wind was, how tough the last few miles were, and simply how drained they felt. One elite described the wind as "in your face for 18 or 19 miles." On a course that usually yields many negative splits, surprisingly few from either race could churn out faster miles in the second half. The men went through the half in 65:11 and only two men broke 2:10. Many elites ended up with second-half splits 8, 10, 11 minutes slower than the first half (you can see all of my various post-race interviews/videos on the letsrun.com youtube page).
The volunteers, spectators and many members of the media were understandably excited and joyous around the finishing area, but most of the athletes were so obviously beaten. Paula Radcliffe was crying and helped through the mixed zone by race staff. Former champion Hendrick Ramaala, Abdi Abdirahman, Brian Sell, Christelle Daunay, Ryan Hall, Yuri Kano and many, many others were simply beaten down by the toughness of today's race. And they were the finishers. A few of the big favorites didn't finish (former champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos, as well as the #1 and #3 fastest men in the field in James Kwambai and Patrick Makau), or even start (Martin Lel). Negative splits and smooth races produce happy, joyous runners. The runners today were not just exhausted (as is expected) but clearly sullen and humbled.
READ ON...
As the women started to run first, I scanned the room. Behind me was a reporter from "Sports Radio 66. The FAN! WFAN, New York!" giving periodic audio updates to their 20/20 hotline. To my right was a print reporter for the Queens newspaper, an older man who knew running fairly well. All around me people were tweeting, facebooking, socializing, and the guy directly in front of me was reading LetsRun.com. I came to realize throughout the day that very few of the media there to cover the race knew very much about the elite runners, or elite running in general. For example, no more than 5% of the room could have told you who James Kwambai was and why he was an important entrant in the race.
The Race - A Tough Major Marathon
No rabbits, windy conditions, bridge crossings, Central Park hills and tough, veteran competitors combined to make today's NYC Marathon extremely grueling and interesting. Almost every competitor I spoke with after the race spoke about how tough the wind was, how tough the last few miles were, and simply how drained they felt. One elite described the wind as "in your face for 18 or 19 miles." On a course that usually yields many negative splits, surprisingly few from either race could churn out faster miles in the second half. The men went through the half in 65:11 and only two men broke 2:10. Many elites ended up with second-half splits 8, 10, 11 minutes slower than the first half (you can see all of my various post-race interviews/videos on the letsrun.com youtube page).
The volunteers, spectators and many members of the media were understandably excited and joyous around the finishing area, but most of the athletes were so obviously beaten. Paula Radcliffe was crying and helped through the mixed zone by race staff. Former champion Hendrick Ramaala, Abdi Abdirahman, Brian Sell, Christelle Daunay, Ryan Hall, Yuri Kano and many, many others were simply beaten down by the toughness of today's race. And they were the finishers. A few of the big favorites didn't finish (former champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos, as well as the #1 and #3 fastest men in the field in James Kwambai and Patrick Makau), or even start (Martin Lel). Negative splits and smooth races produce happy, joyous runners. The runners today were not just exhausted (as is expected) but clearly sullen and humbled.
READ ON...
Meb Keflezighi Ends 27-Year Drought With First American Men's Win Since 1982
With USA emblazoned in large red letters across his white running singlet, Meb Keflezighi on Sunday became the first American man to win the ING New York City Marathon since Alberto Salazar in 1982.
Keflezighi, who finished second in 2004 and third in 2005 in New York, recorded a time of 2:09.15 to defeat a world-class field. Four-time Boston winner Robert Cheruiyot, from, Kenya, was second in 2:09.56, Morocco’s Jaouad Gharib third with a time of 2:10.25, and a second American, Ryan Hall, finished fourth in 2:10.36.
The six Americans in the top 10 tied the best collective home performance since the marathon moved into the five borough format in 1976. Rounding out the top 10, Jorge Torres was seventh(2:13.00), Nick Arciniaga eighth (2:13.46), Abdi Abdirahman ninth (2:14.00) and Jason Lehmkuhle tenth (2:14.39).
The 34-year-old Keflezighi kept a cool head during the first half of the race when South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala, the 2004 champion, and Morocco’s Abderrahime Bouramdane made breakaway moves. Both were reeled in and, by the 15th mile, a lead pack of 11 included Ramaala, Bouramdane and four Americans – Keflezighi, Hall, Torres and Abdirahman.
Also still in contention was former double world champion and 2008 Olympic silver medallist Gharib and Cheruiyot, a late replacement for former world record holder Paul Tergat. But Marilson Gomes dos Santos, the Brazilian who was seeking to become the first three-time winner since Salazar in 1982, had become detached.
In the 17th mile, Ramaala kicked again, taking with him Bouramdane and two Kenyans, James Kwambai and Jackson Kipkoech. But the break did not survive for long as the chasing pack closed up and still the four Americans were hanging in there.
Now Hall and Torres were struggling and, at 20 miles, only six men remained in contention: Kwambai, Cheruiyot, Bouramdane, Keflezighi, Gharib and Kipkoech. In the 22nd mile, Bouramdane, Kwambai, Gharib and Kipkoech dropped back, leaving a duel between the Kenyan and the American.
Still running smartly, Keflezighi let Cheruiyot take the pace, slipping in behind him, waiting to pounce. Finally, in the 24th mile, Keflezighi made his move and it proved decisive as he pulled clear to win by 41 seconds.
Wearing all the way to the finish the hat and arm-warmers he had started out with, Keflezighi pointed proudly to the USA letters on his vest and held his thumbs up. As he crossed the line there was a spontaneous burst of applause in the media room.
Tula and Meb steal the show
The much-anticipated 40th running of the New York City Marathon took place on a crisp autumn day yesterday, as more than 42,000 athletes from around the world covered 26.2 miles through the five boroughs that comprise New York City.The field of elite runners for both the men and women included top elites from around the world. Champions Derartu Tulu and Meb Keflezighi faced strong competition for their first place finishes. For the first half of the race, a pack of several men led the race, while the women's field was contained to about five top runners. Once the athletes crossed into Manhattan shortly passed the halfway point, some runners began to fall back as the strongest pushed the pace. The race was an exciting one as the elites struggled against each other for the lead.
As the last leg of the race entered Central Park, favorites Ryan Hall and Paula Radcliffe were nowhere near the front of the group, which had separated more than in the early miles. Defending champion from Brasil, Marílson Gomes dos Santos, had dropped out at Mile 23. 37-year old Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia and 34-year old Meb Keflezighi of the United States crossed the finish line as champions, in what was the first New York City Marathon win for both. Tulu finished in 2:28:52, pulling away from second-place Ludmila Petrova of Russia in the last half-mile, where as Keflezighi held the lead from Mile 24 until the end and finished in an impressive 2:09:15. Keflezighi's victory marked the first US men's win since 1982.
Paula Radcliffe on her New York marathon disappointment
Paula Radcliffe could only finish fourth in the New York marathon and revealed she had a hamstring problem
And the winner is...MEB!
We at mzungo.org didn't expect it. We were prepared to see a strong Meb but the win was far away for us.
Congrats to a brilliant execution from all at mzungo.org.
A deserved win in style!
Congrats to a brilliant execution from all at mzungo.org.
A deserved win in style!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Gangs of New York: mzungo.org's outlook on race day
Abdi
Mzungo Markus: Very strong this year. Will rock’n’roll on tarmac again. Deserved 10 mile US champ. More likely to be an American winner than Halleluja. Knows NYC already and should know how to race a smart marathon now. Go for it.
Mzungo Uli: If his legs talk more than his mouth, he’ll be game.
Bolota Asmerom
Mzungo Markus: Hmmm. Difficult. One of the ten eggs thrown at the wall that might survive. Not Top10. Serious contender for the US champs though. Speed is there he just needs the confidence.
Mzungo Uli: Would like to see him surprise me.
Fasil Bizuneh
Mzungo Markus: DNF mile 3 due to digestive issues. Need to show something this year to prove his early success.
Mzungo Uli: If not, ready for a surprise.
Abderrahime Bouramdane
Mzungo Markus: Fourth.
Mzungo Uli: Do they have out of competition testing in Morocco? Tough as nails either way.
Dan Brown
Mzungo Markus: Mother in law’s finest. Not fully recovered from a good season. Will the Brown army ship sink in the Top10? Unfortunately, I don’t think so. Berlin Worlds were tough and he didnt really recover.
Mzungo Uli: Younger than I am but more over the hill than me. Top10 at US champs.
Robert Cheruiyot
Mzungo Markus: Four Boston Wins. Nuff said. Will win after Lel dopped. Even with a different name. Serious and smart racer. He can read a read such a race. Ran a “Ok” worlds in Berlin and should be fully recovered by now.
Mzungo Uli: I only really saw Lel challenging him if he is healthy which I doubt a little.
Jaouad Gharib
Mzungo Markus: True Racer. Knows how to play the game. Top3. There is not bullshitting with these guy!
Mzungo Uli: Incredibly tough. I thought he was done and then he pulls a 2:05 in London, closely beaten by Wanjiru who had to fight all the way to the line to keep him in check. Will not have the finish to win on Central Park South but will be in close contention.
Marilson Gomes dos Santos
Mzungo Markus: Looked like jogging Worlds. Shouldn’t have hurt him but also shows how inconsitent he is. Hard to tell if he will do it once more in the city. Showed last year that he is a first class racer – wouldn’t be surprised if he hits the nail again!
Mzungo Uli: Agreed. But I want to see the Africans keep him in check this year.
Ryan Hall
Mzungo Markus: Don’t believe the hype. Rookie wins NYC?
Mzungo Uli: More heart than legs. When the big guys drop to a 4:20 pace at First Avenue, Hall will cover the moves. But if the surges continue into and out of the Bronx, he will be out of contention. Needs to win an international marathon first before cleaning Big Mama.
Meb Keflezighi
Mzungo Markus: Home crowd advantage, knows the course. However, won’t win but possibly US champ. Has not too much years left in the big game and need to get back to old olympic glamour.
Mzungo Uli: Four minutes slower than e.g. Gharib in London. Any questions?
James Kwambai
Mzungo Markus: After break-through race in Rotterdam, he needs to proove that he’s no one hit wonder. Well, he was second three times in the Majors. Dark horse again? – Top 5? Very unpredictable. I would like him to stay up front and give it a go. Better he doesnt get a sprint finish...
Mzungo Uli: Dark horse is a bold call for the third fastest marathoner ever. But I agree. Rotterdam is not NYC. Would like to see him win though.
Jason Lehmkuhle
Mzungo Markus: Survival of the fittest! The PB’s of the possible Top 10 competitors are a different class and not comparable with him. He knows the course and knows himself. Wouldnt be surprised if he shows a class act after resting a good bit through the season.
Mzungo Uli: Time trialling into Top 10 again. Smart.
Martin Lel
Mzungo Markus: What to say! Would have been my top tip. Dance for us in 2010 Martin!
Mzungo Uli: Hendrick Ramaala told me that a Lel in shape is out of this world. Everybody is just second best. Was my top pick. Will reign London again. Get healthy mate!
Patrick Makau
Mzungo Markus: Has prooven to be able to pull magic out of the hat for 13.1 miles. Can he handle the bridges beyond that distance though? The secound half is a tough and i doubt he’ll be able to handle this part well. Dominates the race in the middle stage though.
Mzungo Uli: Will win. But not this year. Just yet.
Hendrick Ramaala
Mzungo Markus: The young generation will never have a chance again to see Michael Jackson on stage. But they can still get a glance of Hendrick surging down First Ave at 4:20 pace and blowing the pack to shreds. It’ll be a Bad Thriller. Beat It!
Mzungo Uli: Go get them mate!
Brian Sell
Mzungo Markus: As a fan, I want him to finish in the Top10 despite a big sledgehammer in Boston. Podium at US champs. Please! How long do I have to wait for a dentist appointment? Before you give the patients pain give to those other US Championship Marathoners!
Mzungo Uli: It’s over. Have another beer, dude. Those were the days. Or were they?
Jorge Torres
Mzungo Markus: Who? Jonesy Boy will tell him what to do...
Mzungo Uli: Best of luck.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Americans look to podium at ING New York City Marathon
Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, Abdi Abdirahman,Brian Sell, Jorge Torres and Jason Lehmkuhle spoke Thursday at a press conference in advance of the ING New York City Marathon. The race on Sunday also will serve as the 2009 USA Men's Marathon Championship. Below are excerpts from the press conference.
Abdi Abdirahman: This is my second home, New York. I've run this race many times. I've been feeling good, everything's been going well. Everybody says "you look happy, you look good, you look fit." I'm not going to predict anything, but there's something in the air this year. We're going to have a group of guys in the front. It won't be just me and Meb or me and Ryan. It's going to be a great day for U.S. distance running on Sunday. There's only one race and there only can be one winner. I am going in with one mentality, and that is to be the first guy across the finish line. We are all there to be the first across the finish line.
Meb Keflezighi: I'd like to ask everybody to put their head down for a second for Ryan Shay. This is my first time coming back to New York since 2007. I've been here many, many times. I'm excited. This has been a good year for me, and I'm looking forward to Sunday. It's a race of 26.2 miles, and it's going to be the best in the world. We're all going to run our hearts out. In Boston in 2006 we (the Americans) were third, fourth and fifth. If we can replicate that on Sunday, it will be a great day for us.
Ryan Hall: I'm excited to actually be running here. I've been here since 2006 watching this race. I'm glad to actually be running. I have a whole lot to run for here, with our Hall Steps Foundation. I'm so for all these guys who are up here (the Americans), if any of us gets on that podium or in the top spot, that's a victory for America. I don't feel competitive toward them, I feel we're encouraging of each other. It's about how we can finish as high as possible.
On his familiarity with the course: I feel like I've run this race. I've been on the course many times, in the lead vehicle. I've previewed the last 20 miles, tempo'd the last six miles, done loops and loops around the park .I've gotten dizzy doing that. I think it's actually very similar to the Central Park Olympic Trials course. I think coming into the park, for those of us who ran the Trials, it's going to be a breath of fresh air. It will be like, we made it. We know what Central Park is like.
Brian Sell: It's very exciting to be here on the 40th running, and what better race to do it at. It would be great if we're 1-6 up here. We all have our goals in mind and hopefully we're all racing and attacking that second half.
On familiarity with the course: I came out about a month ago and ran the first 20 miles, then came out the next day and ran the last 16. Sunday's course has a few more long grinders, and Central Park has more rolling hills. I think it will be interesting.
On retiring: I caught lightning in a bottle in 2007. If I can repeat that this year, I'd be really happy. I'm feeling it more than I was in 2007, in my hips. I'm getting older and looking forward to running in the mornings so I can have a big breakfast, and no other reason. If I have a top five finish, that would make me think twice (about retiring).
Jorge Torres: I want to that the NY RR for putting on such a great event and giving me an opportunity to debut here. To be on the world stage in the media capital of the world is a great opportunity, and I hope not to disappoint myself and the American public. We're here for one mission and one mission only: to show America that we've made it to the top.
On getting advice from his coach, Steve Jones, former NYC Marathon winner: I keep on asking Steve about the race but he keeps putting it off. He tells me just relax, don't worry about it, we'll talk about it closer to the race. We're cutting it pretty close. There marathon is a whole new event for me, but I've had some pretty solid workouts. I'm probably in one of the best forms I've ever been in my life, I just hope it translates over into the marathon.
On running the course: I haven't had a chance to actually run it myself, but I've seen it on TV many times and I've seen how the race breaks down every year.
Jason Lehmkuhle: I'm so excited to be here, back in New York. It's an incredibly competitive field. Certainly the deepest American field since the '07 Trials here and the most competitive marathon I've ever been in. I can't wait for Sunday. I don't think anybody would tell you they are racing only for an American championship. We're running to place as high as we can in the field.
Abdi Abdirahman: This is my second home, New York. I've run this race many times. I've been feeling good, everything's been going well. Everybody says "you look happy, you look good, you look fit." I'm not going to predict anything, but there's something in the air this year. We're going to have a group of guys in the front. It won't be just me and Meb or me and Ryan. It's going to be a great day for U.S. distance running on Sunday. There's only one race and there only can be one winner. I am going in with one mentality, and that is to be the first guy across the finish line. We are all there to be the first across the finish line.
Meb Keflezighi: I'd like to ask everybody to put their head down for a second for Ryan Shay. This is my first time coming back to New York since 2007. I've been here many, many times. I'm excited. This has been a good year for me, and I'm looking forward to Sunday. It's a race of 26.2 miles, and it's going to be the best in the world. We're all going to run our hearts out. In Boston in 2006 we (the Americans) were third, fourth and fifth. If we can replicate that on Sunday, it will be a great day for us.
Ryan Hall: I'm excited to actually be running here. I've been here since 2006 watching this race. I'm glad to actually be running. I have a whole lot to run for here, with our Hall Steps Foundation. I'm so for all these guys who are up here (the Americans), if any of us gets on that podium or in the top spot, that's a victory for America. I don't feel competitive toward them, I feel we're encouraging of each other. It's about how we can finish as high as possible.
On his familiarity with the course: I feel like I've run this race. I've been on the course many times, in the lead vehicle. I've previewed the last 20 miles, tempo'd the last six miles, done loops and loops around the park .I've gotten dizzy doing that. I think it's actually very similar to the Central Park Olympic Trials course. I think coming into the park, for those of us who ran the Trials, it's going to be a breath of fresh air. It will be like, we made it. We know what Central Park is like.
Brian Sell: It's very exciting to be here on the 40th running, and what better race to do it at. It would be great if we're 1-6 up here. We all have our goals in mind and hopefully we're all racing and attacking that second half.
On familiarity with the course: I came out about a month ago and ran the first 20 miles, then came out the next day and ran the last 16. Sunday's course has a few more long grinders, and Central Park has more rolling hills. I think it will be interesting.
On retiring: I caught lightning in a bottle in 2007. If I can repeat that this year, I'd be really happy. I'm feeling it more than I was in 2007, in my hips. I'm getting older and looking forward to running in the mornings so I can have a big breakfast, and no other reason. If I have a top five finish, that would make me think twice (about retiring).
Jorge Torres: I want to that the NY RR for putting on such a great event and giving me an opportunity to debut here. To be on the world stage in the media capital of the world is a great opportunity, and I hope not to disappoint myself and the American public. We're here for one mission and one mission only: to show America that we've made it to the top.
On getting advice from his coach, Steve Jones, former NYC Marathon winner: I keep on asking Steve about the race but he keeps putting it off. He tells me just relax, don't worry about it, we'll talk about it closer to the race. We're cutting it pretty close. There marathon is a whole new event for me, but I've had some pretty solid workouts. I'm probably in one of the best forms I've ever been in my life, I just hope it translates over into the marathon.
On running the course: I haven't had a chance to actually run it myself, but I've seen it on TV many times and I've seen how the race breaks down every year.
Jason Lehmkuhle: I'm so excited to be here, back in New York. It's an incredibly competitive field. Certainly the deepest American field since the '07 Trials here and the most competitive marathon I've ever been in. I can't wait for Sunday. I don't think anybody would tell you they are racing only for an American championship. We're running to place as high as we can in the field.
The NYC Marathon Has Made Great Strides Since 1970
On November 1, 1970, The New York Times ran a story that began: “Nearly 200 entrants were expected to show up in Central Park at 11o’clock this morning for the running of the first New York Marathon.”Thirty-nine years later, more than 40,000 contestants are expected to show up for the 2009 ING New York City Marathon, which airs on Channel 4 this Sunday. And an estimated 2 million New Yorkers will watch the race at various locations. From a very modest beginning, the New York Marathon has made astounding strides.
It’s a classic New York story: a small group of pioneers has an idea. They promote it and capture the imagination of hundreds, then thousands -- and millions. In just a few years, it becomes an international event that stirs the imagination of the world.
But let’s not forget the first marathon -- which goes back to ancient Greece where, in 490 B.C., a runner from Marathon, Greece carried news of the Greek victory over the Persians to Athens. He delivered the message to the Athenians and then, because of fatigue and exhaustion, collapsed and died.
Here in New York, about 2500 years later, a fire fighter named Gary Muhrcke, after a busy night fighting fires , was ready to go home and take it easy. But his wife, Jane, persuaded him to go to Central Park and enter the first New York marathon race. She drove him there. Muhrcke plunked down the $1 entry fee and joined the other 126 starters. He ran the four laps in Central Park in 2 hours, 31 minutes and 38 seconds and his name went down in history as the inaugural champion of the first New York Marathon.
It’s to pioneers like Muhrcke and the late Fred Lebow, co-founder of the New York City Marathon, that New York owes the recognition this race has earned throughout the world.
It’s more than a race. It has become a symbol of New York itself, of its vibrant energy, its enduring, competitive spirit. The Marathon contestants and champions have made the city proud.
And nowhere is that more visible than along the route of the race, from Staten Island, to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. Every runner is greeted with warmth and almost adulation by the crowds lining the streets. As he or she goes through one neighborhood after another, as people offer paper cups full of water to the passing athletes, they hear voices saying things like: “Good going!,” “Keep it up!”, “Bravo!” and “Yea!”
The marathon is transformational. It forges a collective can-do spirit for runners and spectators alike. Immediately after the 9/11 disaster this was especially apparent but it has been true in every marathon since Lebow and friends expanded the race from just the park to the whole city in 1976.
Lebow, as I knew him, was a zealot. He devoted his life to the race. A Holocaust survivor,Lebow believed in the city and its people. When he was inducted into the National Track Hall of Fame, his health was failing. He was suffering from a brain tumor. He whispered at a special ceremony in Central Park: “I’m flattered and honored and I don’t deserve it. I’m just a peon. I’m awed and embarrassed.”
In 1992, he ran the marathon himself with the celebrated Grete Waitz of Norway, the nine-time women’s winner and his running partner that year. Disregarding the advice of doctors, he refused to stop short of his goal of completing the 26 mile course and, at the finish line, embraced Waitz. They kissed and then he kissed the finish line.
He said: “I never believed so many people would watch a miserable runner two hours behind.” He died in 1994.
As president of the New York Road Runners Club, Lebow was able to attract the world’s outstanding marathoners to New York. Among those who have run here are: Rob de Castella of Australia, Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway, Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania, Ibraham Hussein of Kenya and American runners like Alberto Salazar and Bill Rodgers. This year, three Maasai warriors from Kenya, wearing their tribal clothing, are running.
R. I. Duffus said of New York that it is ‘’an anthology of urban civilization” that has never lost its respect “for the striving, combative, beauty-loving spirit of man.”
The marathon is a symbol of that spirit, embodying the best of New York and New Yorkers -- and those who strive for achievement throughout the world.
NYC bound: Paula R.
Paula Radcliffe has raced just once in the past year.
No better place to erase the frustrations of the injuries and ailments that have sidelined her than the New York City Marathon on Sunday. Three times she has come in seeking to prove she remains at the top of her sport, and three times she has won.
Still, the world-record holder would rather not keep repeating this cycle of discouragement-then-redemption. She makes no secret of planning to compete through 2012, when she could win that elusive Olympic gold medal in front of her fellow Brits at the London Games. Radcliffe won't rule out racing beyond that - it just depends on whether her body lets her.
"It's that mental side, when you've done all the preparation and you can't make it to the starting line - that's what kicks you in the teeth each time," she told The Associated Press on Thursday before speaking to local high school athletes at an event sponsored by Nike. "That will be what would make me say, 'I can't do this anymore."'
Radcliffe planned to run the London Marathon and at the world championships this year, then undergo bunion surgery to alleviate nagging soreness in her right foot. But during her training for London, the pain became so bad she couldn't walk.
Radcliffe had the reconstructive surgery in March. She hoped to race at worlds in August, running the NYC Half-Marathon the week before to test her readiness. But despite winning in New York, Radcliffe decided her foot wasn't quite ready for a marathon.
She then planned to enter the world half-marathon championships earlier this month - until tonsillitis kept her out.
Radcliffe feels confident going into the NYC Marathon. But she can imagine if she has too many setbacks in a row at some point in the future how that would wear on her - and make her consider retirement.
"When it's one, and then you get four or five good races, and then it's one - that's OK, you can deal with it," Radcliffe said. "Every athlete knows, especially in the marathon, that of 10 people trying to get to the start line, maybe only six will get there. Everybody knows that risk.
"But it's when for me it's been the last four in a row, that's when you have to stay strong and have really good support around you. You just need one good race, then it's like, 'OK, I can handle it now.' When it's one after another it starts to push you down."
New York, where Radcliffe is the two-time defending champ, always seems to be the site of that one good race. In 2004 and 2008, she rebounded from Olympic heartache with wins here. In 2007, she was victorious in her first marathon since the birth of her daughter less than 10 months earlier.
Isla is now almost three, and Radcliffe hopes to give her a sibling soon - in time to give Mom plenty of time to train for the 2012 Games. Radcliffe said she'll be fine if she runs only two or three marathons between now and London.
The way she feels heading into Sunday's race is the way she always hopes to feel in the days leading up to a marathon.
"It's just nice to have the work done," she said, "and know you can stand on that starting line ready to go."
NYC bound: Ryan Hall
Unlike some elite marathoners Ryan Hall doesn't look to race results for confidence. He's more attuned to his training before a major marathon.He's feeling good on both counts prior to Sunday's 40th New York City Marathon, where he'll be one of the contenders in a strong men's field. About 40,000 runners will compete.
Hall, who took third in April at the Boston Marathon, doesn't compete much between 26.2-mile races. He was fourth in a half marathon (62:35) in New York in August and won the Philadelphia Distance Run half-marathon (61:52) in September.
"The races give me confidence not so much in terms of time but in how I ran them," said Hall, the only American to break 1 hour in the half marathon, "Being able to close well and try different tactics I'm not particularly familiar with."
Hall, 27, describes his training as "solid" at altitude in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. "It's come around in the last month. I think with marathoning it's a thing of timing. I don't like to be super sharp two months out or even five weeks out.
"I like to feel like every week is getting better and better. That's certainly how my training's gone. I've had some really big workouts the last month that went really well."
An 18-mile tempo run at 7,000 feet has become a Hall staple. He recently improved his best pre-Boston time on the run by one minute.
"You get an extra minute of fitness better than that, that's when special things can happen," he said.
Hall is running New York for the first time but has familiarity with the course. He was in the lead vehicle in 2006 and covered the last 20 miles of the course in previous visits to New York. In addition his coach, Terrence Mahon, has won New York.
"I feel like I've run this race," Hall says.
Letsrun.com talks NYC
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2009 ING New York City Marathon Men's Preview
The 40th Edition Should Be A Race For The Ages
The men's race of 40th edition of the ING NYC Marathon should be one to remember as the field is totally loaded. On Tuesday, NYRR head Mary Wittenburg rightfully said the following about the men's field: "I believe we will host our strongest field ever."
That statement was almost certainly true when she said it, as the race had lined up an amazing cast of characters, including 5 guys who had run 2:06:17 or faster in James Kwambai (2:04:27), Martin Lel (2:05:15), Jaouad Gharib (2;05:27), Patrick Makau (2:06:14) and Ryan Hall (2:06:17), former champions Hendrick Ramaala and Marilson Gomes dos Santos, a four-time world marathon major winner in Robert Cheruiyot, 2008 Boston runner-up Abderrahim Bouramdane, former Olympic silver medallist Meb Keflezighi, and then tons of other top US talent, including US Olympians Abdi Abdirahman, Dan Browne, Brian Sell, and Jorge Torres.
As I was going to publish this preview, I learned that Martin Lel has withdrawn. He was going to be my pick to win, so his withdrawal is a major blow, but the race is still stacked nonetheless.
And since generic race overviews are boring, I'm going to go out on a limb and give you a list of three guys from whom one will win the marathon. If my prediction is wrong, LetsRun.com will give one person who picks the winner correctly $50.
One Of These Men Will Win The 2009 ING NYC Marathon
Jaouad Gharib - I'm certainly not going out on a limb when I say that Gharib has to be considered one of the biggest threats for the crown in New York, as his track record in the marathon is unbelievably impressive. The world champion in 2003 and 2005, the 2008 Olympic silver medallist, and a 2:05:27 personal best (which is the 2nd best in the field).
About the only reason to not like Gharib is because he's 37 years old. But that shouldn't scare people, as he's shown no signs of slowing down of late. Sure, he can't have that many years left in the tank, but he set his PR and national record of 2:05:27 this year when he got 3rd in London - just 17 seconds arrears of the greatest marathoner on the planet - Sammy Wanjiru. The year before in Beijing, when Wanjiru ran in my mind the single greatest marathon in history, Gharib was the only guy within 3:28 of him, as his 2:07:16 runner-up performance was just 44 seconds back.
So earlier this year, Gharib set a PR in the full marathon. More recently, he ran 60:04 for 3rd at the BUPA Great North Run on September 20th. He's clearly in good form.
One other thing to consider about Gharib is he is amazingly consistent. He's run 12 marathons in his life and they've all been big time marathons - either a global championship marathon, world marathon major or Rotterdam or Fukuoka. In those 12 races, he's finished in the top four nine times.
Side note: It's really hard to believe that 2:05:27 puts him at #10 on the all time performers list.
Martin Lel - (Editor's Note: Lel has now pulled out but we decided to leave up what Robert wrote about him as we found it to be interesting)
The 31-year-old Martin Lel is without a doubt one of the greatest marathoners in history. A 2-time winner in New York (2003 and 2007), Lel also has three times won the most competitive marathon in the world, London. His PR of 2:05:15 makes him the 7th fasest in history and he comes into New York in great form as he won the BUPA Great North run on September 20th in 59:32, defeating one of his biggest New York rivals in Gharib in the process.
The scariest thing bout Lel is that he comes into New York very hungry as he was forced to withdraw from London last spring due to injury the week of the race. And as far as consistency goes, Lel's track record is even more impressive than Gharib's. Since getting serious about the marathon in 2003 when he ran his first world marathon major, Lel has run 10 marathons, 9 majors and the 2008 Olympics and he has finished in the top three in nine of them (he was 5th in the Olympics).
Patrick Makau - If you look at his bio on the New York Marathon site, Makau is described as a "half-marathon specialist." Well that's what people used to say about Sammy Wanjiru when he was moving up to the marathon as the half marathon world record holder. Last year, in our Chicago preview, we talked about how great success at the half marathon often equals great success at the marathon. Makau is one who is proving that once again, as he ran a 2:06:14 in his marathon debut in Rotterdam in April.
A 2:06:14 in his debut - and the crazy thing was that it was viewed as a disappointment by some, as that was the race where both Duncan Kibet and James Kwambai ran 2:04:27. In my mind, 2:06:14 in one's debut is very, very good. Makau is only 24 and normally runners improve once they get a marathon or two under their belt. And it looks like Makau has already learned a thing from his debut, as prior to New York, he hasn't done any prep races. Before Rotterdam, he went for the world record in the half in Ras Al Khaimah and came up as the #2 performer in history at 58:52. In my mind, you don't want to be 58:52 sharp just 6 weeks out from a marathon, as one needs to be working more on their endurance at that stage in their training. Makau apparently now agrees.
Since he's known for scorching fast times on flat courses, one might be concerned how Makau will handle the difficult New York course. That concern is unfounded, though, as Makau is a past winner of the Healthy Kidney 10k in Central Park.
Geb was surprised by Kwambai. Will we be?
Absolute Studs That Won't Win
James Kwambai - It's appropriate that we mentioned Kwambai in Makau's profile as my only question about Kwambai is, "Is he too half-marathon sharp for the marathon?
7 weeks ago, he ran 59:08 for third in the half marathon in Rotterdam. Admittedly, it was a ridiculous race where 7 Kenyans broke 60:00. But it's hard to emphasize the point enough that one might not want to be that sharp that close to a marathon. To prove my point, please realize that Sammy Wanjiru only ran 61:08 in that race and he went on to break the course record a few weeks ago in Chicago. Additionally, 8 weeks out from his 2:04:27 this spring, Kwambai only ran 62:21 in the half.
Regardless, the 26-year-old did run 2:04:27 this spring, making him the 3rd fastest in history. The bad news was that Kwambai was only #2 in that race. Kwambai has a history of running well and finishing 2nd, as he is the one that helped push Haile Gebrselassie to the world record in Berlin in 2008 (when Kwambai was 2nd in 2:05:36) and he also was 2nd in Boston in 2007.
So we know Kwambai has been very fast in the past and is very sharp. And Kwambai does have a good coach in Italian Claudio Berardelli and he has great training partners in Lel and Cheruiyot. Has Barardelli been able to keep his form for the last 7 weeks? We'll find out Sunday.
Marilson Gomes dos Santos - Unlike a lot of the other leading contenders in this year's race, the two-time New York champion (2006 and 2008) isn't a consistent major player in big-time marathons. Besides his two wins in New York, dos Santos has run 7 other marathons and has never finished higher than 6th in any of them. He is a New York specialist in some ways. But last time I checked, this was a New York City marathon preview, so the 32-year-old has a shot.
And since this preview seems to be all about me stating how one doesn't want to be overly sharp at the half marathon prior to racing the marathon, let me point out that dos Santos ran 63:14 in the half last year before winning in New York. The year before, he ran 59:33 in his prep half before getting 8th in New York. Well the "good news" for dos Santos fans is that this year he was only 15th at the World Half Marathon Championships on October 11th, where he ran 62:41.
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot - Just over a year ago, Cheruiyot was definitely considered one of the greatest marathoners on the planet, as in April of 2008, he captured his 4th Boston (3rd straight) title. However, since then things haven't gone great for Cheruiyot and he comes into New York with a bit of a chip of his shoulder. He was forced to pull out of last year's Olympics with a thigh injury before DNFing with stomach problems as he sought a 4th straight Boston title.
Cheruiyot rebounded a bit in August, as he was a creditable 5th at the World Championships in August. Lots of runners have run a World or Olympic championship in August and then done well in New York in November, but Cheruiyot doesn't have a great track record of doing two marathons in one season. Four times in his career, Cheruiyot has run a marathon within 10 weeks of his goal race and the results haven't been impressive, as he's run 2:12:14 (Prague 2005), 2:15:13 (Istanbul 2007), 2:14:38 (Portugal 2008), and 2:19:11 (Rio 2009) in those races.
As a result, it's hard for me to think he'll win in New York in 2009 unless Cheruiyot was using Worlds as a prep for New York and that doesn't appear to be the case, as he was one of the last additions to the 2009 ING NYC field.
And please don't think I don't personally want Cheruiyot to do well. He's one of the most inspirational stories in running in my book. In 2007, I wrote an article where I talked about how inspired I was by his life story, Inspired By A Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot, and in 2008, we at LetsRun.com wondered if he was the best marathoner in the world. More: *IAAF Profile Of Cheruiyot.
Studs That Won't Win
Hendrick Ramaala - Hendrick is one of the great personalities on the marathon circuit. Always a great interview as the man has a law degree, the 37-year-old is also a fearless racer, as he was the lone guy to try to go with Tola in August's New York Half and that was after he said the one thing he didn't want to do at age 37 was go out hard!
But let's face the facts. He's 37 and he's run 23 world marathon majors and won just one of them. He isn't going to win in New York, but we hope he does well.
Abderrahim Bouramdane - Since finishing as the runner-up in Boston 2008, Bourmadane hasn't done a whole lot that would make one think the 31-year-old Moroccan with a 2:08:20 PR could win in New York. He was 26th in the Olympics and then 5th in New York last fall before having a bunch of subpar races in 2009. So far in 2009, he's dropped out of a marathon in March, been 13th and 10th in two road 10ks in over 29 minutes in May, and then finished 6th in the New York Half in August.
The Americans
Many of the LetsRun.com faithful are probably irate that I don't have any of the Americans in the "One of these men will win the 2009 ING NYC Marathon category." But calm down, people. I'm not trying to insult the American entrants. The New York field is so strong this year that I don't even have the third-fastest marathoner in history, James Kwambai, listed in that category.
The 2009 ING NYC Marathon is serving as the US Championships for this year, so there is a lot of US talent in the race. In my mind, there are three studly Americans entered who I guess theoretically could possibly win under some strange scenario: Ryan Hall (less strange things have to happen for him to win) Meb Keflezighi and Abdi Abdirahman, and then three more US Olympians - Dan Browne and two guys that are headed in different directions, one of whom is making his much anticipated marathon debut, Jorge Torres, and one running the last marathon of his career, Brian Sell.
Let's take a look at them all.
Ryan Hall - America's Best Hope
Ryan is the greatest American hope for a victory. Having a 2:06 American-born athlete running in New York is something that Americans have been awaiting for 233 years (or at least 40). It's very, very exciting indeed, but people need to understand just how competitive the world of marathoning is in the year 2009.
Up until 1998, Ryan Hall's 2:06:17 would have been the world record, as from 1988 to 2002, the world record didn't change much. It was 2:06:50 in 1988 and 2:06:05 in 2002 until Khalid Khannouchi ran 2:05:42 in October of 2002. But since 2002, the world of marathoning has been revolutionized as the world record has dropped 2:06 in 7 years to 2:03:59 after only coming down 45 seconds in the 14 years from 1998 to 2002.
As a result, Hall's 2:06:17 puts him at 25th on the all time list. Yes, 24 people have run faster than Hall. And Hall's 2:06:17 is just the 5th 4th best PR in the 2009 New York field, as Kwambai (2:04:27), Lel (2:05:15), Gharib (2:05:27) and Makau (2:06:14) have all run faster.
At best, Hall is the fifth best marathoner on paper in New York and even that would mean one is ranking him ahead of past New York champions dos Santos and Ramaala (whom Hall is better than now) as well as a 5-time world marathon major champion in Robert Cheruiyot, whom as recently as last year we were wondering if he was the best marathoner on the planet.
Regardless, Hall has a chance and he comes into New York in good spirits as his 2009 year has gone well so far. In Boston last spring, he led early, then faded before rallying for 3rd. But a 3rd in Boston is much easier achieved than in New York as New York's field is simply better.
More recently, Hall has two respectable half marathons to his name in his leadup to New York. He ran a 62:35 half for third in New York half in August before winning the Philadelphia Distance Run in 61:52 in September. After the first race in New York, Hall said some very encouraging things as he told LetsRun.com, "(In November) I should be able to run this pace twice over."
Now I clearly think there is zero chance Hall can run 2:05:10 on New York's challenging course, but one of the things I like most about Hall is he doesn't limit himself. Trying to do something that is almost impossible - beat the Africans (and a Brazilian) and give America its first champion since 1982 - isn't easy so the fact that he possesses that self belief is huge.
Hall made another statement after that New York race that made a lot of sense as well: "Even if I don't run any faster (in Philadelphia on September 20th), I'll be confident going into the marathon."
Hall is correct in thinking that his prep races are plenty fast for a good New York showing. And there are a lot of reasons to think he'll run well on Sunday.
For one, Hall seems to always run well in New York, as he's won both a US Cross-Country title in New York as well as the 2008 US Olympic Marathon Trials. Moreover, I think Hall may be well suited for the full New York course, as I've always thought good cross-country runners are well suited for the challenging New York course and Hall's silky smooth stride has always resulted good XC showings as, in addition to the US title in New York, he also was 2nd at NCAAs in college and 3rd at Foot Locker finals in HS. Moreover, Hall's win on a modified New York course at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Central Park was simply electrifying.
But again, the odds are stacked against Hall. I hope he defies those odds and pulls off a victory, but if he does, it will be the greatest performance ever by a US distance runner in my mind.
Who Will Be The Top American In New York?
Ryan Hall 72.1%
Meb Keflezighi 15.8%
Abdi Abdirahman 4.5%
Brian Sell 3.3%
Jorge Torres 2.5%
Bolota Asmerom 1.7%
A Rejuvenated Meb
If Hall has an off day, he very well might not be the top American in the race, as both Meb and Abdi are very accomplished runners. I was going to estimate the odds of Hall not being the top American at about 25-30% and then I realize the LetsRun.com visitors had voted with similar sentiments (see the poll on the right - great minds think alike).
The top American very well may be a seemingly rejuvenated 34-year-old Keflezighi. The 2004 Olympic silver medallist has seemingly found the fountain of youth in 2009, as he's PRed at both the marathon (2:09:21) and half marathon (61:00). En route to his half marathon PR, he also go the US 20k record along the way. En route to his marathon PR, people seemingly have forgotten that he beat Dathan Ritzenhein.
Meb certainly is in good spirits, as he recently talked to Runnersworld.com about how he is "rededicating" himself to the sport. Now talk is cheap, but Meb's recent results back up his talk, as does his recent permanent relocation to the high altitude environment of Mammoth Lakes.
That being said, Meb is 34 and his marathon PR is 2:09:21 on a flat course. Meb's prep half may have been faster than Hall's but Hall's was a tactical affair. And in my book, despite Meb's Olympic silver, Hall is a better marathoner than Meb (Meb's silver says to me that he may be a better hot weather marathoner). So if they both have good days, expect Hall to be the top American, but it would be nice to see a resurgent Meb mix things up.
The Enigma - Abdirahman
Predicting what the 32-year-old Abdi Abidrahman is going to do is a little bit like predicting the weather. You generally have an idea of what you are going to get but are never quite sure until the day actually comes. Abdi comes into New York with some good results behind him, as he was just 17 seconds behind Hall at the New York Half (61:52 to Hall's 61:35) in August and then he won the Medtronic US 10 Mile Championship in 46:35 in early October.
But the one thing I've always wondered about Abdi is, "Is he a marathoner at heart?" Abdi admitted that my questions are well founded as he recently gave an interview to universalsports.com where he talked about how he's often tacked on a marathon after a long track season that ended with the World Championships or Olympics. Well, that's not the case this year and Abdi says he's better prepared for the marathon this time out.
That bodes well for Abdi, as the last time he ran a fall marathon with a proper buildup and not after a long track season was in 2006, when he ran 2:08:56 in Chicago.
One's Debut & One's Swan Song
Three other US Olympians are also racing in the 2009 ING New York City marathon. 2008 Olympic Marathoner Brian Sell is tired of the grind and moving on to dental school. It's interesting to note that Sell is significantly younger at age 30 than eight of the top athletes in Bouramdane (31), Cheruiyot (31), Lel (31), Abdi (32), dos Santos (32), Meb (34), Gharib (37), and Ramaala (37). Given his talent level, Sell has accomplished an awful lot and being a dentist is probably a lot more lucrative than being a 35-year-old former 2:10 marathoner.
2008 10k Olympian Jorge Torres will make what in my mind is a much overdo debut at the marathon at the age of 29. Just for financial reasons, one has to wonder if Jorge should have made his debut a few years ago. Ritz got a reported $200,000 in 2006 for his NY debut when he didn't deserve it. Now with the recent success of American marathoners, Torres' debut isn't getting much attention. With his cross-country background, the New York course is a good place for the Chicago native to make his debut. It's interesting to note that his PRs at the shorter distances of 1,500, 5k and 10k - 3:41, 13:20 and 27:42 - are very similar to those of 34-year-old Dan Browne, who has PRs of 3:41, 13:16 and 27:42. Browne, a 2004 Olympian at 10k and the marathon, has a marathon PR of 2:11:35.
Browne, Sell and Torres are guys worth watching, but they have next to zero chance of being major factors up front.
The Big Question: Who Wins In New York?
Ryan Hall 36.4%
James Kwambai 25.9%
Robert Cheruiyot 10.5%
Jaouad Gharib 9.7%
Marilson Gomes Dos Santos 5.9%
Patrick Makau 5.9%
Other 3.0%
Hendrick Ramaala 2.8%
Predictions:
I was very confident in picking Lel for the win, so his withdrawal has really messed me up. So that leaves just Jaouad Gharib and Patrick Makau from my original top 3. If I could add two more and do a top 4 most likely to win, I'd go with those two and then James Kwambai and dos Santos.
But even though he's won in New York twice before, when I think of dos Santos, I just have a hard time seeing him beating a slew of 2:05 and 2:06 guys, although he could do it as New York is a real race, not a time trial.
If Kwambai wins, look for it to be in blowout fashion, as he'll rewrite what I know about marathon training since he was super-sharp for his recent half marathon. Too sharp in my mind, but he does train under a good coach in Berardelli and since I originally was going to pick three guys, I am going to add him to my list as a third potential winner.
Choosing between Gharib and Makau for #1 is tough. Makau is a half marathon phenom like Wanjiru. The two-time World Half Marathon silver medallist and the #2 performer of all time at the half, Gharib is one of the most consistent marathoners over the last few years and the #10 performer in history.
So while I should probably pick Gharib, I'm going to say Makau will win, as he's 24 to Gharib's 37, and I inevitably root against Moroccans given the large number of EPO cheats that have come out of the country.
Rojo's Predictions: 1) Makau 2) Gharib 3) Kwambai 4) Hall
When I wrote my original predictions, I was very confident and I guess I'll stick with my confidence. If Makau, Gharib or Kwambai don't win, I'll give $50 to one person who correctly does pick the winner. Please click here for more info.
Editor's note: Rojo is too cheap. We've decided to give $50 to the person who picks the winner of the men's race and comes closest to the winning time, even if the winner is one of Rojo's top 3. And we'll do $50 for the person who picks the winner of the women's race and comes closest to her winning time. All you need to do is give us the winner of the race and the predicted winning time. The person who comes closest wins. If there is a tie, we'll randomly pick the winner.
Radcliffe's New York Marathon tips
Paula Radcliffe goes back to New York this weekend with a sense of déjà vu in the air.She has won the marathon there three times before, on each occasion at the end of a year spoiled by injury, and now she is hoping that history can repeat itself once again on Sunday.
Despite the fact that her 36th birthday is now just over a month away, Radcliffe believes she is ready to put the disappointment of missing out on this summer's World Championships behind her.
"In some ways you get better with age," she told BBC Sport. "Things like endurance and mental strength, if anything, get stronger.
"You have to accept that sometimes it takes longer to recover from hard sessions and when you do get injuries sometimes it can take a bit longer for the body to heal as it gets older.
"But I don't think you need to put more work in. Sometimes you can get race fit quicker because you have that backlog behind you."
606: DEBATE
Ten years ago I competed in my first marathon, in London; 10 years on I've decided to do it again, this time in New York!
Nick Crowther
Radcliffe's experience of the Big Apple will stand her in good stead. As she has found out in the past, the marathon is vastly different to compete in than the other big-city races.
"New York is a difficult one in terms of the start because everybody has to get out to Staten Island and people doing it for the first time don't realise how early you have to get out there and how long you're out there," she said.
"The other thing is that the road surface is very different in New York to London. "Where London is pretty good tarmac most of the way, in New York there's a lot of concrete and a lot of potholes! So when you're running with a lot of people you have to keep your eyes down and be very aware - a lot of people twist ankles.
"There's a bridge when you go into the Bronx - around 18/20 miles - and that's metal grid. That's pretty hard on your feet at that stage as well.
"But a lot of people underestimate how much harder it can be running on concrete, so it's important to have good, well-cushioned shoes and be ready for a bit more dead-legged feeling in the final couple of miles than in London."
Radcliffe shares the amateur runner's love of going for a run when visiting somewhere for the first time.
"Definitely, definitely," enthused the world marathon record-holder. "That's the good thing about New York too - you get to run through a lot of the city and it changes from borough to borough.
"In London it's a great crowd but you know you're in London the whole way, whereas in New York you know when you're in Williamsburg, you know when you're in the Bronx - and they're totally different.
"One year some of the Jewish rabbis just started walking across the street right in front of us. I thought the camera bike was going to knock them over because they didn't even bat an eyelid or look at us. It was kind of a surreal moment."
Radcliffe has warned New York debutants of the unexpected effect of running on to Manhattan for the first time," she stated. "When you hit First Avenue it's just so loud!
"It's really quiet on the [Queensboro] bridge. All you hear is the footfalls of other runners around you.
Second in the World Championship 10,000m was a "high-point" in 1999
"Then you just come down into this wall of sound and it's a massive, long, straight road and a lot of people pick up there at a dangerous point in the race - 16 to 17 miles - when you can empty reserves a little too quickly."
So has she ever been affected by it?
"I've always heard the warning stories so it hasn't affected me but I have seen Hendrik Ramaala a couple of times really surge hard on First Avenue and then pay for it a little bit coming back through the park," she revealed.
It was 10 years ago that Paula started on the long journey to running marathons.
"That was a really good year," she reflected. "I remember getting engaged and running about four personal bests on the trot then getting the 10,000m silver medal at the World Championships.
"But already in the back of my mind I was feeling the move towards the longer distances so that was the first year I did the Great North Run.
"I did it at the wrong time - at the end of a long track season - but really, really loved the road racing scene and the atmosphere."
It is a love affair that has grown over the years.
"Road racing is something really special," she added. "It's something you don't get on the track because you have 35,000 people all doing the same race and you really pick up on that camaraderie."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Loaded field set for USA Men's Marathon Championship
It's difficult to pick a favorite for this weekend's USA Men's Marathon Championship. As one of the most competitive U.S. men's fields outside of an Olympic Trials lines-up Sunday at the ING New York City Marathon, the field is loaded with a wide range of experience and emerging talent.Ryan Hall (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), sports the fastest marathon in the field (2:06:17) but Meb Keflezighi (San Diego, Calif.) has seen a return to the form that earned him an Olympic Silver medal in the marathon in 2004.
Keflezighi's year started off with a USA Half Marathon title in Houston and from there he went on to win titles at the USA Cross Country Championships, USA 7 Mile Championships as well as turning in a time of 1:01:00 half marathon to win the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose, setting a then U.S. 20 km record en route.
Hall and Keflezighi will likely have plenty of company in their race through the five-boroughs. Joining them in the hunt for the U.S. title will be Abdi Abdirahman (Tucson, Ariz.) who recently won his fourth USA 10 Mile Championship title in a championship record, 46:35. With several months of focused preparation behind him, Abdirahman says that he is better prepared for this marathon than any of his previous attempts.
2008 Olympian Brian Sell (Rochester Hills, Mich.) is reportedly making his last appearance in a major marathon but can't be overlooked as a top-five finisher given the experience that has served him well in the Big Apple before.
This year's championships could also provide a glimpse into the future of U.S. marathoners with the much anticipated debut of Jorge Torres (Boulder, Colo.), a two-time USA 8 km champion. Also stepping up to the marathon for the first time will be Josh Moen (Minneapolis, Minn.), who pushed Abdirahman to the final mile of the men's 10 mile championships earlier this month, finishing only three seconds back.
Others to watch will include Bolota Asmerom (Oakland, Calif.), Fasil Bizuneh (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Nick Arciniaga (Rochester Hills, Mich.), Jason Lehmkuhle (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Max King (Bend, Ore.).
The ING New York City Marathon will be presented live on Universalsports.com at 9 a.m. EDT Sunday.
About the USA Running Circuit
The USA Men's Marathon Championships is the final race on the 2009 USA Running Circuit (USARC). The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from 5 km to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners.
The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon, which attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The 2009 USARC has ten events each for men and women. Anthony Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.) currently leads the men's standings with 53 points but either Keflezighi or Abdirahman could overtake him with at least a runner-up finish on Sunday.
The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.
The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.
For more information on the USA Men's Marathon Championship and the 2009 USARC visit www.usatf.org.
NYC bound: Jorge Torres
Sunday marks a new chapter in the life of Jorge Torres, when he makes his marathon debut at the ING New York City Marathon. Torres has been one of the United States’ top runners since winning his first NCAA cross country title in 2002 while competing for the University of Colorado. He finished third in the national championships at 10,000m in 2008 and earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. His 10,000m personal best is 27:42.91 and his 5,000m best is 13:20.57. So Torres’s first marathon has been long anticipated.“It’s a little nerve-racking because everything has gone so smoothly,” Torres, 29, said by phone from his home in Boulder, Colo. “That has never really happened in any other preparation I’ve done. So the hay is in the barn, and now it’s time to race.”
Sunday’s marathon is the USA men’s championship, and the loaded field includes other Olympians such as Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, Abdi Abdirahman and Brian Sell.
Torres has been quoted as looking for a time of 2:10 in New York, but he clarified those reports. “That’s just the pace I intend to start out with,” he said. “I don’t plan to deviate from that pace, and if I end up going a little faster or slower at some point, that’s okay. But I’m not planning to hit the wall.”
While his preparation has gone well, Torres’s life in the past several months has been anything but predictable. After a disappointing ninth-place finish at 10,000m (28:42.13) in the national championships in June, Torres prepared to turn his attention to a fall marathon. But first, he attended to personal business – his wedding to Emily Oates.
The next order of personal business was tragic, as only eight days later, his mentor and former middle school coach, Greg Fedyski, was critically injured in a car accident while driving home to Illinois from Torres’s wedding in Colorado after vacationing in Colorado following the wedding.
Torres’s mother, Maria, also in the car, was critically injured as well; both were on life support, and Fedyski died when that support was later terminated. Maria Torres has since made a nearly complete recovery. Torres’s sister-in-law, Maria, also in the car, suffered minor injuries.
“It’s one of those things that happen,” Torres says. “'Fed’ was a big part of my life. He kept me focused. He went to Beijing with my family; we all celebrated my 28th birthday there. I’ll always have great memories of him, the last ones from my wedding. He was happy.
“My regret is that he always wanted to see me do a marathon. I know he’s still behind me, in spirit. I’ve learned that life is precious, that every moment counts.”
Torres marathon preparation didn’t begin in earnest until the end of July, and then with the joy of a new marriage tempered by the death of a friend. Coached by former marathon world record holder Steve Jones, Torres has persevered and tallied weeks of around 135 to 140 miles.
“From Day 1, when Coach Jones and Fed met, Fed approved of him,” Torres says. “So I know I’m in good hands. We started working together in 2008, and we clicked really well immediately, especially in the marathon. I’ve done everything he’s asked me to do, at that level or better. Coach Jones always says, ‘Be consistent,’ and we’ve done that. Now it’s time for me to perform.”
Tragedy keeps Tune home – The New York Road Runners were set to announce a couple of weeks ago that Ethiopian Dire Tune, the 2008 Boston Marathon champion, would be added to the elite field in the 2009 New York City Marathon. But about an hour before the group planned to circulate the announcement, Tune called them to say she would not be running.
Tune cited the murder last month in Ethiopia of her mother-in law and father-in law as reason for withdrawing from the race.
Marathon man - Yes, it’s overused, but if anyone deserves the accolade, it’s Brian Boyle from Welcome, Maryland. In 2004, a month after graduating from high school and on his way home from swim practice, Boyle was involved in a near fatal auto wreck with a dump truck. He spent two months comatose on dialysis and life support and underwent 14 major operations. Miraculously, Boyle survived, and three years later completed the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii.
On Oct. 10, Boyle, 23, ran the Baltimore Marathon in 4:05:03. On Sunday, he ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 4:33:07 and this Sunday he’ll run the ING New York City Marathon.
“This story has a happy ending,” exclaimed Boyle’s father, Garth, just after Brian crossed the finish line in Washington, D.C.
For his part, Brian Boyle was pleased with his Marine Corps effort.
“I’m feeling tired from Baltimore,” he said, “and I’m trying to save a bit for New York next week. In Baltimore [where he spent most of his time in recovery], I wanted to say thank you to the doctors there who saved my life. Today is in honor of my grandfather, a Vietnam War veteran.”
Boyle, 23, is a student at St. Mary’s College in Southern Maryland, where he competes on the swim team. Aside from that training, school work and running three marathons in one month, “he’s trying to qualify for Kona” [the 2010 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii].
Ladies night - Joan Benoit Samuelson and Grete Waitz will be joined by Deena Kastor on Thursday as part of the TimesTalk series at the New York Times building. Samuelson, the 1984 Olympic marathon gold medalist, will run the New York City Marathon on Sunday. Waitz has won the race a record nine times and Kastor is the American marathon record holder.
Getting older, better - George Hirsch, the founder and former publisher of Runner’s World magazine, has idolized his friends, Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter, for decades. Now 75 and more than a decade older than his heroes, Hirsch finds the tables have turned – he can now beat Rodgers and Shorter at the marathon.
When Hirsch ran the first five-borough New York City Marathon in 1976, he finished in 2:49; Rodgers won the race in 2:10 and Shorter was second in 2:13.
Hirsch will run the 40th New York City Marathon on Sunday with Rodgers joining him over the last few miles. Shorter had planned to join the final celebratory stretch, but a hip injury has sidelined him.
And expect Hirsch to do pretty well. He started the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 11 as a 20-mile training run, but felt good enough to finish in 3:58:42. Rodgers, 61, ran 4:06:49 at the Boston Marathon in April.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
NYC bound EXTREME: Martin Lel OUT!
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Well, this surely DOES change things considerably.We were among many "pundits," if you will, who thought that as loaded as the New York City men's field was, Lel, the two-time New York City and three-time London Marathon champion, still had to rate as the favorite if he was healthy. He's not; despite his recent 59:32 victory in the Great North Run, the esteemed English half marathon, Lel still has a persistent leg injury and has had to withdraw from Sunday's marathon. "The good result of the half marathon made us believe it (the injury) could be over but in the last day this problem came out again and he was forced to make this painful decision,” says Lel's manager, Federico Rosa. Lel's absence now opens up the marathon to a slew of possible contenders - James Kwambai, Robert K. Cheruiyot, Patrick Makau, Marilson Gomes dos Santos, Jaouad Gharib, Hendrick Ramaala, and yes, Americans Ryan Hall and Meb Keflezighi. There are a couple of less well-known runners on the entry list who do have formidable personal bests - Jackson Kotut Kipkoech of Kenya (2:08:07) and Chala Dechase of Ethiopia (2:08:31). New York's women's race has seen the withdrawal of Russia's Tatyana Petrova, the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon winner. She's not to be confused with 2000 New York City champ Ludmila Petrova, who set a masters record of 2:25:43 with a second place in New York last year and is back again.
get all news about martin lel's cancellation HERE
NYC bound: Hendrick Ramaala
South Africa's leading distance runner, Hendrick Ramaala, expects the toughest challenge to come from Martin Lel when the 37-year-old lines up for his eighth New York City Marathon on Sunday.
Despite the withdrawal of injured former world record holder Paul Tergat, New York race director Mary Wittenberg has again put together a world-class field.
Lel hasn't run a marathon since winning the London race in April 2008, but the 31-year-old is a class act and Ramaala was unsure whether the rest would be good oe bad for the Kenyan who won New York in 2003 and 2007, and has three London Marathon titles to his credit.
"Hopefully the rest will be bad for him," Ramaala joked, adding that he expected the Kenyan to control the race from the gun.
"I think he's the man to watch. If he starts fast, we're going to have a tough race."
But Lel won't be the South African's only opposition. The impressive line-up includes Kenyan Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, a four times Boston marathon champion and former Chicago Marathon winner, Olympic silver medallist and twice world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco, defending champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil, who also won New York in 2006, and Kenyan Patrick Makau, the second fastest half-marathon runner in history.
NYC bound: Jason Lehmkuhle and Josh Moen
Team USA Minnesota's Jason Lehmkuhle and Josh Moen will be among the competitors at the USA Men's Marathon Championship hosted by the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 1. The two will be part of a deep American field contesting the national marathon along with some of the world's best international marathoners who will be in the mix for the open prize purse and overall title. Between the open division for men and women and the USA Championship division and other awards, the prize money purse totals $800,000 for the 40th running of the New York City Marathon.Lehmkuhle's credentials include a fifth place finish at the U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Trials held in New York's Central Park in November 2007 followed by an eighth place finish at the ING New York City Marathon in 2008. He has a best in the distance of 2:12:54. This fall, Lehmkuhle placed third at the USA 20k Championships on Labor Day in a personal best time of 59:04, placed second at the Cow Harbor 10k in 29:18, and was fourth at the USA Men's 10 Mile Championship in a personal best of 47:16.
"I've run three races this fall and they have all gone very well with new PRs at 20k and 10 miles," said Lehmkuhle. "These fast races are certainly a positive indicator, but, in my experience, good races at shorter distances are certainly no guarantee of marathon success. My training has been very good during this buildup. Generally, the marathon-specific workouts have been on par with my best ever.
"This year's ING New York City Marathon is probably the deepest American field since the 2007 Olympic Marathon Trials and definitely the most competitive marathon field top to bottom that I have ever run in. It's exciting to be part of. I think I can run in the 2:11 to 2:12 range in New York and I'm going to focus on that. The goal for me in a marathon this top-heavy is to run a smart race, finish well over the last four miles and, in the process, maybe run down a few guys who should beat me on paper."
Moen will be running in his second marathon at the New York Championship, having run his first at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in 2008 in a race that was marked by heavy rain and wind. His time was 2:23:16. During 2009, Moen has continually improved, setting personal bests in the 5000 and 10,000 meters on the track of 13:35.73 and 28:26.26 respectively. On the roads, he was sixth at the USA 7 Mile Championships in July and second at the USA Men's 10 Mile Championship on Oct. 4 in a personal best time of 46:38. In addition, this fall Moen won the Victory 10k and the Run for Oromia 5k, both in Minneapolis.
"My training this year for the marathon has been different in that I've done more racing and actually done less work than in the past," said Moen, who joined Team USA Minnesota in August 2008. "This has made my legs feel fresher and given me more of a pop in my stride. Jason and I have been doing the harder workouts together.
"I think New York will go very well. I'm not sure how well but it's going to be good. I want to run competitively to the end in the U.S. Championship. Jason has given me some insights from his experience at New York. I'm expecting Manhattan to be the point where I need to relax and not be fueled too much by the crowds as there will still be nine miles to go."
NBC Sports will televise the 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. (Eastern) in a two-hour tape delay coverage. The women's professional field starts at 9:10 a.m., the men's championship and open field begins at 9:40, followed by a wave of runners at 10:00 and at 10:20. A record field of more than 40,000 runners from around the globe will take to the streets of New York. The 26.2-mile race will be seen by 2.5 million spectators lined along the route as runners pace through New York City's five boroughs -Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan, and finish at Tavern on the Green in Central Park.
NYC bound: Brian Sell
In late August, runnersworld.com's Peter Gambaccini interviewed Kevin Hanson, the co-founder with his brother Keith of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. The interview ended by talking about Brian Sell and his preparation for the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1. "I know he's said it a lot, but this will be Brian's swan song," Hanson said. "I'm not sure he's still in it mentally. I'm not sure he hasn't checked out. And I don't really mean that as a criticism. I don't really blame him. But one of the things for him is that he's never really run the New York City Marathon, and that was definitely one of the things he wanted to do before he was done. And I'm 95 percent sure this will be it for him."Hanson's first instinct, to acknowledge that Sell has talked about retiring "a lot," was probably understated. Sell, now 31, began training with the brothers in 2002, a year after graduating from college, and was telling reporters about his impending retirement by 2003. Except for a stretch in 2006, he has said something about quitting and going to dental school before nearly all the major races of his career. At the Olympic marathon trials in November 2007, he was a sentimental favorite to make the Beijing team in part because he had announced that, barring qualification, the trials race would be his last. He has been disappointed by his two most recent marathons, a 2:16, 22nd-place finish in hot weather at the Olympics (for which he did qualify), and another 2:16 on a windy day at the Boston Marathon in April. Through early September, his build-up for New York was going poorly and the combination of bad racing and bad training had prompted a new round of retirement talk.
"Brian's done a nice job of balancing other things in his life outside of running," Hansons runner Mike Morgan told me. "I think that's where you get the whole retirement thing coming in, maybe." Whether this is Morgan's logic or Sell's is not clear, but Sell has said similar things, about taking care of his family and moving on, for years. When the topic approaches quitting in interviews he very often mentions getting a "real job." "You can't blame it all on the elements," he told me in late September. "Sometimes you just have to look at the numbers and say, ‘Hey, you know, it's time to move on and get a real job,’ or continue my education and think about the future."
In 1965, the writer John McPhee published a book about a basketball player at Princeton University named Bill Bradley. McPhee's first visit to see the future NBA star play was in 1962, Bradley's freshman year. "I watched the general flow on the court for awhile," McPhee wrote in the book, which he titled A Sense of Where You Are, "and it was soon clear enough who had drawn the crowd, and that he was the most graceful and classical basketball player who had ever been near Princeton, to say the very least."
This is a difficult standard to apply to Brian Sell, whom nobody has regarded as one of the most talented (or graceful) runners in the sport and whose claim to fame, a fame that is limited more or less to a small, very devoted base of running fanatics, is rather opposite Bradley's. Nobody knew Sell's name when he was a freshman in college, and certainly nobody wrote a book about him. Nobody knew much of anything about Sell until 2004 when he led the Olympic trials marathon by a wide margin until 22 miles and then faded badly. After that he became famous; his boldness made him a cult hero, and even though it was poor race strategy it was essential to the creation of the myth of Brian Sell. His myth, which has been borne out no less than Bradley's, though on a smaller stage, is backwards: it is the myth of the underdog, not the superstar.
Sell is well-suited to his role, temperamentally and otherwise, and for its part the marathon rewards underdogs. The Hansons have been marathon-oriented since the group's formation in 1999; their idea is that marathoners, unlike shorter-distance athletes, can be built from scratch. They lived through the golden age of American marathoning in the 1970s and 1980s, and they wanted to bring that era's style of group training and high mileage back to the U.S. Running is a peculiar sport in that precocious talent is often idealized far less than determination. It is at least understood that where an unskilled basketball player cannot really ever overcome poor coordination, a slow runner can simply train his way out of mediocrity, and this has become the Hansons mantra. Being talentless is not dishonorable, and ability is far less important than consistency and dedication. Hard workers are canonized.
READ ON...
NYC bound: Meb Keflezighi
The last time Meb Keflezighi ran a marathon in New York he had the worst day of his running career.Two years ago at the Olympic trials, the 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist took ill a few days before the race, suffered calf cramps because of dehydration the last half of the 26.2 miles and wound up breaking his right hip. That wasn't the worst part.
Shortly after finishing eighth, five spots out of another Olympic berth, he learned that his close friend and ex-training partner, Ryan Shay, had died during the race of heart-related problems.
Keflezighi collapsed upon hearing the news. "We spent thousands and thousands of miles running and taking ice baths," he said of his time training with Shay in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
They talked on the bus ride to the start line in New York and had spent an afternoon reminiscing in the hotel lobby a few days before the race. "Life in general, his plans," Keflezighi says of their chat. "I definitely miss him."
Keflezighi, 34, has gotten a second wind in his running career after fearing injuries might force him into retirement. He's among the favorites in Sunday's New York City Marathon in a field that includes U.S. countrymen Ryan Hall, Brian Sell and Abdi Abdirahman plus Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot and defending champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil.
"(Shay) was definitely an inspiration for me to get healthy with good training," Keflezighi said. "He's going to be in my thoughts throughout the race."
Keflezighi's comeback has occurred in stages. For a few days after the 2007 race, he had to walk on all fours in his hotel room. His legs and feet were so swollen he couldn't fly to Shay's funeral.
It wasn't until a couple of months later that doctors figured out he had a hip stress fracture.
Last fall he spent two months at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, concentrating on strengthening the right side of his lower body during daily rehab sessions.
"You're only as good as your wheels," said Bob Larsen, the retired UCLA coach who has been coaching Keflezighi for 15 years. "That whole side needed balancing out, from the hip all the way down. The whole foundation needed to be reworked.
"If 2008 didn't knock him out, you've got to say he's got great character and great motivation to keep going with how much work he had to put in without racing."
The work has paid off with an outstanding 2009. Keflezighi ran a personal best marathon of 2:09:21 in London in April in addition to personal bests in the half marathon and 7 miles. He's now talking about the 2012 London Olympics.
Keflezighi's family has been a source of strength. He and wife Yordanos have two daughters, ages 3 and 1, with another child due in January. The native of Eritrea, who came to the USA in 1987, has 10 brothers and sisters, including brother Merhawi, his agent.
The downtime gave Keflezighi an opportunity to savor his accomplishments that include a U.S. record in the 10,000 in addition to his 19 U.S. titles and Olympic medal.
"God has blessed me with another chance," he said. "I have accomplished many things. It's possible there are others to accomplish. I don't think my God-given talent has been fully tapped."
ING extends title sponsor deal with NYC Marathon
ING has extended its deal to serve as the title sponsor of the New York City Marathon.
The contract was extended three years through 2013. The original deal, signed in 2003, had been renewed twice.
The European financial services giant said Monday it would split in two, spinning off its insurance arm to simplify its business and issuing new shares to repay bailout money in the Netherlands. The dramatic change in strategy capped a year of cutting costs and selling operations since the financial crisis struck, when ING was kept afloat only with two major rounds of assistance from the Dutch state.
Race director Mary Wittenberg said the event proved its value by still drawing a large number of international and out-of-town runners willing to spend the money to travel to New York in spite of the crisis. The race attracted more than 100,000 applicants for the second straight year. As in recent years, about half the field is from abroad; among Americans, about half are from outside the region.
"It was striking how people still applied and people from around the world still want to run," she said Tuesday.
The contract was extended three years through 2013. The original deal, signed in 2003, had been renewed twice.
The European financial services giant said Monday it would split in two, spinning off its insurance arm to simplify its business and issuing new shares to repay bailout money in the Netherlands. The dramatic change in strategy capped a year of cutting costs and selling operations since the financial crisis struck, when ING was kept afloat only with two major rounds of assistance from the Dutch state.
Race director Mary Wittenberg said the event proved its value by still drawing a large number of international and out-of-town runners willing to spend the money to travel to New York in spite of the crisis. The race attracted more than 100,000 applicants for the second straight year. As in recent years, about half the field is from abroad; among Americans, about half are from outside the region.
"It was striking how people still applied and people from around the world still want to run," she said Tuesday.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge closures for New York City Marathon
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes due to the following closures of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in order to accommodate the running of the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1:
UPPER LEVEL
Both directions: On Saturday, the entire upper level of the bridge will close at 11 p.m. to allow for roadway preparation in advance of the race. In addition, all vehicles containing hazardous materials will not be permitted to cross the bridge in either direction beginning at this time on Saturday. Upper level closures will remain in effect until approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday, when both directions are expected to re-open to traffic.
LOWER LEVEL
Staten Island-bound: On Sunday, the Bay Street and Lily Pond Avenue exits in Staten Island will close at 5 a.m. Also on Sunday morning, the entire lower level to Staten Island will close at 7 a.m. The closure will remain in effect until approximately 3 p.m. when the Staten Island-bound lower level is expected to re-open to traffic.
Brooklyn-bound: On Sunday, the entire lower level to Brooklyn will close at 7 a.m. The closure will remain in effect until approximately 3 p.m., when the Brooklyn-bound lower level is expected to re-open to traffic.
NYC bound: Gary Muhrcke
Gary Muhrcke was the winner of the first New York City Marathon in 1970 in 2:31:39. Muhrcke, who now lives in Huntington on Long Island, was a firefighter at the time and was generally sleepless after a night of battling blazes when he made his claim on marathoning history, achieving a distinction he acknowledges means more now than it did 39 years ago ("I'm not so sure sleeping the night before is so important," suggests Muhrcke. "The week before is important"). Muhrcke was perhaps the most talented competitor in the small corps of New York area distance runners in the 1960s, when most of the city's road races took place in the Bronx, near Yankee Stadium. Muhrcke was a two-time winner of the Yonkers Marathon, which in that era was second in this country only to Boston in prestige. He is also a runner of the Empire State Building Run-Up. He is now known for his chain of Super Runners Shops and New Balance Stores, 11 outlets in all, including one at the Armory Track and Field Center at 168th Street in Manhattan. Muhrcke appeared at a luncheon with reporters in New York on Monday with another 1970 New York City Marathoners, Bill Newkirk who is 74 and has done 17 marathons. The first New York City Marathon was entirely within Central Park, had 127 starters and 55 finishers. The entry fee was $1; the total budget was $1,000.Bill Newkirk's opening comment: "Fred (Lebow) had dreamed of moving the race (the old Cherry Tree Marathon) from the Bronx to Central Park for a number of years, and he personally called everybody who ran in the race. It was the only way he could get people. Everybody who ran in the race was capable of finishing. The reason they didn't was because it was a very warm day - I believe it was in the 80s - and they ran out of water after about 12 miles. When people completed their second six-mile loop, there was no water for them, and I noticed that was when most people dropped out. I thought I would try another loop to see how well I could do, and once I did that, I completed the last one (he was 47th in 4:19:21). It was not easy. We were totally ignored by the people (visiting the park). You couldn't see the runner in front of you or behind you. Basically everybody ran alone; we were just spread out that much. But it was great of him (Lebow) to do it. He was genius, I think, when it came to organization and promotion and work. He was always there making sure that everything went well. I'm just happy that he called me and I was able to show up."
Gary, you'd run Yonkers (a famously hilly and difficult course). What was more difficult, Yonkers or four times around the northern (Harlem) hills of Central Park?
Gary Muhrcke: I don't know, I'll tell you truth. All the last nine miles of Yonkers was very tough. I think four laps around Central Park, with Cat Hill and the Harlem hills on the west side, I don't know if there's marathon that could be any tougher than that.
How did you feel the fourth time around on the northern hills?
GM: Well, I had it easier than anybody else, because anybody else was finishing behind me.
Can you take us back to the day going into the race?
GM: I had worked the night before (at the fire station in Far Rockaway), and we were busy. And I had called my wife at about 8:30 in the morning and said "you know, I don't really want to go (to Central Park), I think I'm going to come home and take it easy." I don't want to run a marathon on September 13 (with) 85 degrees possible. I heard a disappointment in her voice, because we had three little children. I said "alright, we'll go, let's go, pick me up, we'll go."
And we entered at the race, and I had #2 on me. And of course, Joe Kleinerman (the NYRR registrar) kept the first ten numbers for people he knew were going to run reasonably well (Ted Corbitt got #1). So, you know, $1 and we were there. We were on the line and I had not run competitively for awhile, and I knew Pat Bastick was running reasonably well. I basically wanted to stay with him; I felt that he would run respectably. So I stayed with him and we did the lower loop (about two miles) and then we did two (six-mile) loops. And I guess we were in about ten place with two loops to go, and all of the sudden he says "I quit."
So I was out there by myself and I had to get into it mentally, and I had to adjust my stride and my pace and was actually able to pick up the pace. With one lap to go, I was in third place and I caught Tom Fleming going up the East Side. And I caught Moses Mayfield at the north end of the park, before we went up the Harlem hill. He was going so slow at the time compared to what I was running, and there were bicycle riders with (around) him and they said "no, that guy's not in the race, don't worry about him." That was the difference in our pace at the time.... Moses Mayfield was from Baltimore and he always ran very, very hard in the beginning of the race. He faded to eighth place, 'cause he was pushing a piano up that hill.
When you came across the finish line, did you think it was a big deal?
GM: No. It was just another race. Thank God we were finishing.
How did the tradition of your wife Jane providing the laurels wreaths for the winners begin? Was that at the first race?
GM: No. No laurels for the first race. Fred was at our house and they (Jane and Lebow) were walking to the beach, and walking and talking, and they started talking something about laurels and laurel wreaths. And Fred said "why don't we make them for this year's race," and Jane said "okay, I'll do it."
What did you get for winning in New York?
GM: I got a trophy and a watch. The trophy is broken. The watch, I don't know where it is.
So obviously, that first year, you couldn't have known the magnitude of your win. When did you start to perceive that? Was it even before 1976 (the year of the first five-borough marathon)?
GM: Today! (Laughs)
George Hirsch, the Publisher Emeritus of "Runner's World and current NYRR Chairman of the Board of Directors, notes: "I can remember the first time I saw Gary. There were no races, of course, in Central Park back then. They were all held outside of Yankee Stadium and they gave us that little locker room; believe us, it wasn't the locker room where the Yankees change clothes. We'd meet up there and it didn't matter what the distance was, the races were all sort of out and back, out and back.... Gary at that point was the best runner in the New York area and I'd never met him. And I had never seen really good roadrunners. Gary was a form runner. He really looked great. This was long before seeing people like Shorter and Rodgers who obviously were beautiful runners.
Because it was up and back, up and back, you got to see the leaders over and over. It was a chilly day, and Gary was wearing a white shirt, long sleeves, and it had "Millrose" on the front of it. Each time he'd be coming back against the field, he'd be further and further ahead. The second or third time, he'd say something encouraging to the people behind him like "looking good" or "feeling great." I liked the camaraderie of all this. I just liked the feeling of it. Gary was always encouraging to people. But in our little world at that time, he was the guy. There was just no question about it.
Gary, did you run the next year in New York, in 1971?
GM: No. I don't know why. I know I ran the first five-borough (marathon in 1976). I got hurt in '72, and it took me a couple of years before I got back into running again. I know I ran in '76. I've run a few since then. I think I've run 12 New Yorks (most recently in 1999).
Had you been a collegiate runner?
GM: No. I actually ran in high school, but I went into the Marine Corps. I got out, I got married, and that's when I started running (again).
Was your victory (in 1970) important to your colleagues at the firehouse?
GM: No. It was just another race. I was a strange person who ran, to them, I think. Today it's more important than it was 40 years ago, Without a doubt.
Did it get any kind of mention?
GM: Yes, there was a picture of myself in the "Daily News" and in "The Times." There was no advertisement. There was no publicity. No one was interested in runners. There was an article in the "Times" last week about people running slow. That's not me. I'm from a different era, and (when) I put a number on, I'm competitive with myself.
But could you imagine if everybody in this country ran one marathon a year? Forty thousand is a lot, but I'm not in awe of that in any way, shape, or form. When you have 100,000 people watching a football game at so many locations in this country, I don't think 40,000 is the right number. It's very, very small. I would love for everybody in this country to run one marathon a year. That's all. And I think we'd be better off physically .... You can see these people coming across the finish line in 4:00, and they are as happy and maybe even more happy than people finishing in 2:15. They're delighted with their achievement. It has to be great for them.
Children of the Marathon Recall a Forgotten Time
Unlike most 8-year-olds touring New York City, Wesley Paul began his sightseeing on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, standing elbow to knee with 4,822 strangers.
Paul was ready to run the 1977 New York City Marathon, and while the magnitude of the moment did not faze him — it was his fourth marathon, after all — the scale of his surroundings did.
Having come from Columbia, Mo., and not even 5 feet tall, Paul gazed in awe at the nearly 700-foot towers of the bridge. “I didn’t know people could build stuff like that,” Paul, 40, recalled recently.
Paul ran without parental supervision across five bridges and five boroughs — watched by relatives standing on sidewalks — to finish the race in a startling 3 hours 31 seconds. He is the youngest marathoner recorded in the marathon’s 40-year history but not the only child to become infatuated with a distance many adults find torturous, even life-altering.
Scott Black was exhilarated in 1979 as a 9-year-old. “People were holding out their hands, cheering me on,” Black, 39, said. “I remember there being TV cameras on me, a blimp for a portion of the race. I remember the crowds going crazy.”
Howie Breinan was exhausted but euphoric when he finished in 3:26:34 in 1978, also at age 9.
“I was hurting at the end, but I also remember the feeling of running in the park,” Breinan, 40, said of Central Park, “and what kind of a crazy boost of adrenaline I got from the fans.”
The adventures of Paul, Black and Breinan offer a glimpse into a forgotten aspect of the running boom of the late 1970s. Preternaturally self-disciplined, they were among about 75 children (ages 8 to 13) who tackled the early years of the New York City Marathon in a time of novelty and naïveté.
Organizers were uneasy about young runners, but it was not until 1981, records show, that age 16 became the requirement. New York’s official minimum age became 18 in 1988, after an advisory set by the International Marathon Medical Directors Association in the early 1980s, and reasserted in 2001.
With no conclusive study, physicians still debate risks to children who compete in marathons, like muscular-skeletal injuries, stunted growth, burnout, parental pressures and the ability to handle heat stress.
Mary Wittenberg, the chief executive of the New York Road Runners, said her organization endorsed children running only shorter races. “We are all about people running and being physically active for their entire lives,” she said.
Some marathons — Houston and Twin Cities in Minnesota — allow teenagers or admit younger runners on a case-by-case basis. Los Angeles has a program for schoolchildren ages 12 to 18.
“There’s no real medical data to say that kids should or shouldn’t run,” said Dr. William O. Roberts, the Twin Cities Marathon medical director.
“If it’s a kid’s decision to do it, they train well and they’re supervised, then there’s no harm to it.”
Paul, Black and Breinan began running as a chance to spend time with their fathers. Fathers themselves now, their perspectives have changed.
“I wouldn’t do anything differently,” said Black, a senior trial lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission. “I find that running has defined me as a person; a lot of my self-esteem has come from it. I don’t regret anything. That said, as a parent, I wouldn’t push my kid to that.”
Paul’s concerns were more safety-related. “I don’t think I would let my 8-year-old run New York City alone,” he said. “It’s just a different environment.”
The three have not run the New York City Marathon since the 1980s; they sustained injuries before they were 20, then concentrated on their studies. Only Breinan, who teaches chemistry and coaches cross-country at Glastonbury High School in Connecticut, still competes (in long-distance trail runs). He ran six marathons and six 100-kilometer races as a teenager and younger (3:18:29 was his New York best, in 1979).
As a child, he could not sit still, his mother, Eleanor, said; his daily run helped him channel his energy. “I got lost in it,” Breinan said. On weekends he loved going with his father, Edward, and his training buddies, who were swept up by running’s popularity.
Paul’s father, Ailo, was his only training partner while growing up in Missouri. “I was in a place where there wasn’t anything to do,” Paul said. “No cable, Nintendo, Wii. It was either go out with him, or that’s it.”
Paul first ran with his father at age 3, when the family briefly lived in Queens, and he credits Ailo for motivating him.
READ ON...
NYC bound: Gomes dos Santos
2008 ING New York City Marthon champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos held a press conference today in leading up to Sunday's race. Richard Finn, spokesman for New York Road Runners, helped mediate and ask questions during the press. Below is the transcript:RICHARD FINN: We're going to ask Marilson to make a couple of opening comments about returning to New York, then we'll open it up for questions. Marilson?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: I'm very prepared, physically and mentally for this event. The champions, the media for now is much more. My priority now is the marathon.
RICHARD FINN: Can you talk about is there anything special about New York?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: Well, I think it's very special because it's very different than my country. It's bigger than anything. It's more beautiful every time.
RICHARD FINN: Questions for Marilson.
Q. Can you talk about how you felt about your World Half Marathon performance? And what that told him about what he needed to do for this race?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: I don't change much about everything I've been doing to the past marathons, basically my training and nutrition and everything else.
RICHARD FINN: Did the Half Marathon performance, did it give him confidence coming in?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: Every marathon and every tournament I go to gives me much more confidence and opens my mind, and makes me be more prepared for the next one.
Q. I'm wondering about last year's race. A lot of us watching figured well, Goumri's won this thing and he had a pretty sizeable lead. I'm just wondering how Marilson felt? Could he see that Goumri was in fact running out of gas in front of him? Or did he think that maybe the race was lost?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: I feel very good because the second ‑‑ because the first I feel like a little bit more ‑‑ to the first part I'm not there, but in the second part is when I really feel like my body pushing and I feel much better to the second part. And I feel the second parts much more faster than the first one.
Q. But did he at any time think that Goumri's lead was too big to catch?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: No, I'm very confident.
Q. When Marilson looks at the athletes he has to beat this year to win for the third time, what does he think? Mary described the field as the strongest ever. Does he feel that if he can win this year it would be his best win in New York?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: Well, for the event, I have to their level, we never know. But I'll be very prepared for a win.
Q. What does he think about the quality of the field? When he looks at the names of the option, what goes through your mind?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: It's a very strong group. I think it's going to be like a big, big, big race. I think anything can happen.
Q. Is it the strongest field he's ever run against?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: I think every single one is the same feeling. It's not a difference if you're in New York or if you're in another country or another state. Every single event is the same feeling, the same rush.
Q. He's in such a unique position having already won it twice. I wanted to know if he won twice and went home, what was his recognition in South America? And what parties and what happened to him when he was so honored to win twice? I mean, that's really fantastic. What happened?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: It's not only in my country, but everywhere in south America. And I see myself equal and a not an athlete. It's because of the two, you know, championships that I won, the two marathons that I've run, so...
Q. I wonder if you've thought about whether you might still be running the marathon for the 2016 Olympics when they're in Rio?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: I'm going to try very hard. There's going to be a big, big party for me. It's the first Olympics and running in Brazil is ‑‑ can't be bigger than that for me.
Q. Have you seen any evidence that because of your victories and because you've won and gained some fame, has it had much of an effect on young people in Brazil? Is there more interest in running now?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: Yes, of course. Of course I see this every day, and everywhere I go. The new athletes always mirror themselves after me right now.
Q. Who are the other athletes in the elite field that you regard as your main challengers? Maybe just two or three athletes that you think are your main challengers?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: I think it's very difficult that I mention any names because it really is not just two. It's a large, you know, very strong athletes. And he I don't want to mention any names because I don't want to be unfair.
Q. In this book here you've been named the marathoner of the decade for the New York City Marathon. What do you feel about that honor?
RICHARD FINN: Marilson is one of the eight athletes that have been named one of the Marathoners of the Decade as part of on our 40th Running celebration. Marilson is for the decade of 2000.
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: Well, I'm always dreaming highly about this. Now I see myself in a really conquering what I really work so hard and dreaming of.
RICHARD FINN: We'll have Marilson here with several other athletes, Bill Rodgers, Grete Waitz, Tegla Loroupe and German Silva tomorrow to be formally presented with their Marathoner of the Decade honor.
Q. Do you prefer to train alone on or in a group and why?
RICHARD FINN: The question is whether Marilson trains or prefers to train alone, or do you train with a group, other athletes?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: The big part of my life I train by myself. But when you're in a group, I feel more easy, and I feel ‑‑ well, I think, again, I love to be in a group, but I feel more benefits for me if I train alone.
RICHARD FINN: Coach, is there anything you'd like to add to that?
COACH DOMINGUEZ: It's different who I train with, too. In Brazil, there are very few athletes that I can train with. So it depends for me who I train with.
Q. For our Brazilian audience in Brazil, where do you train following you up on the coach's question? Where do you train when you're training in Brazil? What is your favorite place to train and practice in Brazil?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: Campo of Jourdan. It's a city one hour and a half from Sao Paolo. It is 700 meters, and that's my favorite place to train. Campo de Jourdan.
Q. Where is that in Brazil?
MARILSON GOMES dos SANTOS: It's an hour and a half from Sao Paolo.
COACH DOMINGUEZ: And the climate is very, you know in favor of my training. It's a mountain climate.
RICHARD FINN: How much time did he spend there before coming to New York?
COACH DOMINGUEZ: After Berlin, I went back to Campo de Jourdan for training. And I only left after the Half Marathon, and get back to competition.
RICHARD FINN: So he went there after Berlin. And the only time he left after Berlin was to run the Half Marathon in Birmingham. Thank you.
NYC bound: The Girls
This will be an anxious week for ING New York City Marathon professional athletes’ consultant David Monti after the worst depletion of the women’s field in the event’s history. Monti is desperately hoping there will be no late withdrawals after five elite signings -- Dire Tune, Lornah Kiplagat, Jelena Prokopcuka, Mara Yamauchi and Tatyana Petrova -- dropped out of the race.Tune (Ethiopia) suffered a family tragedy while Prokopcuka (Latvia) withdrew after becoming pregnant. Kiplagat (The Netherlands), Yamauchi (Great Britain) and Petrova (Russia) are all injured. But the World record holder and three-time New York winner, Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain), remains in the field, as do Boston Marathon champion Salina Kosgei (Kenya) and Yuri Kano (Japan), who says she is aiming to become her country’s first winner in New York.
NYC bound: James Kwambai
He is the joint second fastest marathon runner of all time and yet one of the most unsung heroes of Kenyan distance running.He finished second in last year’s Berlin Marathon where Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie - the world’s fastest marathon runner - set his new world record (two hours, three minutes and 59 seconds) and settled for another runners-up place at this year’s Rotterdam Marathon in an impressive 2:04.27, the second fastest marathon run of all time.
Victory in the Dutch port city was credited to another Kenyan, Duncan Kibet, although the pair shared exactly the same finishing time.
And James Kipsang Kwambai is not done yet.
Kwambai, who dropped out of school at Standard Seven while studying at the Kondabilet Primary School in Marakwet East District, is the man to watch in Sunday’s New York City Marathon.
The 26-year-old returns to New York barely two years after his dreams for a podium finish in his ‘Big Five’ debut went up in smoke when he finished fifth.
However, he landed on the podium on his maiden appearance at one of the majors in Berlin last year where he finished second (2:05.36) behind Gebrselassie.
Pre-race favourite
The father of two says he is well prepared to win Sunday’s race in the Big Apple.
“In Berlin, I trailed Haile Gebrselassie for 36 kilometres and the Ethiopian finally broke the world record. At the 2007 Boston Marathon, where I was pre-race favourite, I held onto Robert “Mwafrika Cheruiyot” until the final water stop near the 25 miles where I slowed to pick a bottle of water and Cheruiyot squeezed the chance to win.
“And in Rotterdam, Duncan Kibet outsmarted me at the finish line when I relaxed to raise arms in celebration. But I must be cautious in New York,” says Kwambai, a seventh born in a family of nine, in hindsight.
Unlike other marathoners who graduate into road running from the track, Kwambai is not your typical runner.
Ernest Kwambai, their first born and a primary school teacher, forced him to take up running when he discontinued schooling.
“He beat me up and ordered me to choose one: I either get back to school or start training and since I knew I could not perform well in class, I decided to run although I was interested in farming,” says the diminutive and soft spoken Kwambai who trains in Eldoret together with four-time Boston Marathon winner Robert Cheruiyot, Kibet and former marathon and Chicago champ Martin Lel.
Kwambai trains under the Rosa Associati stable that is managed by Italian Federico Rosa, son of the silver-haired Gabrielle who is associated with great Kenyan runners like Paul Tergat and Moses Tanui.
READ ON...
Monday, October 26, 2009
NYC bound: Edward Norton
Edward Norton settles around a table in a small office overlooking Times Square, the American actor dressed smartly in a black collared shirt. Next to him is Samson Parashina, a Maasai warrior from the East African savannah, wearing a colourful tunic and intricately beaded jewelry.Two very different people from two very different backgrounds preparing to run the New York City Marathon on Sunday for the very same cause.
Norton is lending his celebrity support to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, an attempt to preserve the biodiversity within tribal lands in Kenya and Tanzania through conservation, education and health services to indigenous people. The goal is to raise money by running through the streets of New York, but it's also to raise awareness of one of the world's last truly dynamic ecosystems.
"The wildlife from that part of the world is in a lot of ways the wildlife of our childhood imaginations," the "Fight Club" star said. "It is lions and giraffes and rhinoceros, and I think there are deep-seated reasons we're still connected to that.
"I think for a lot of people, it's horrifying to imagine having to say to their kids or grandkids that these things used to exist and now they're gone. Most people aren't aware of how possible that is, that lions would actually disappear."
The trust began as an ecotourism lodge called Campi ya Kanzi, near the base of Kilimanjaro. The idea was to use profits from the camp to preserve the environment and to sustain the traditional culture of the Maasai people, who number about 7,000 in that region of Kenya. Four years later, founders Luca Belpietro and Antonella Bonomi created the land trust to further their goals.
Along with the Maasai people, the trust now manages about 113,000 hectares.
"I moved to this community land because I didn't want to purchase land and own thousands of acres with Africans being moved out of the land I purchased," said Belpietro, who grew enamoured of Kenya while doing a thesis on wildlife as a natural resource.
"I created the ecological camp with the idea that it would give the community an income so that they would have a motivation to keep the land as it is."
Norton joined the cause after a trip to Kenya, where he climbed Kilimanjaro and stayed at the lodge. He said the conservation model that Belpietro and the Maasai people are employing - using the land in an ecofriendly manner as a means to preserve it - somehow resonated with him.
Finally, he thought, here's a path toward sustainability that just might work.
"I was looking at these guys going, 'They are absolutely blazing a trail toward a very effective example of this,"' Norton said. "But they are somewhat limited in that the main funding of their work is tied to the conservation surcharges off tourism. What I understood was how to engineer organizational support that's more tied to the global capacity of giving."
That's how Norton arrived at the idea of running the New York City Marathon.
The Maasai people spend most of their lives running, sometimes travelling up to 40 kilometres just to find water. It made sense to Norton, who's spent the last 20 years living in New York, to bring Parashina and two of his fellow warriors to compete in one of the world's iconic distance races.
They'll be joined by about 30 others. Some of them are corporate officials lending their support, others celebrities like Canadian singer Alanis Morissette and illusionist David Blaine who can give a public face to a relatively unknown cause. Through T-shirts sponsored by Puma and online donations, the runners had raised close to $500,000 by Monday morning.
"I think the common interest that connects us all," Parashina said, "(is that) you find everybody plays a role in protecting the environment."
Norton and Belpietro were reminded of that when they were running through Central Park last week, wearily putting in a training run over the same paths where they hope to finish the marathon Sunday.
The American actor was telling the conservationist from Kenya about how the park grew out of the need to preserve even a sliver of New York's natural resources for future generations. It dovetailed, on a much smaller scale, what the Maasai conservation trust is accomplishing in Africa.
"It's interesting to think the idea that millions of people are benefiting from the idea of a man who was so much ahead of his time," Belpietro said. "Running this marathon will get many people understanding, it's not just about the fundraising but about the connectivity."
NYC bound: Sal Masekela
Well-known action sports figure Sal Masekela is scheduled to run in Sunday's New York City Marathon and, because long-distance running is not his forte, he's understandably nervous.
"I've never been more scared to do anything in my life," said Masekela, host of E! Entertainment's "Daily 10" program and longtime TV host of the winter and summer X Games. "In fact, I think I'd rather paddle into 20-foot Waimea Bay by myself than run in the NYC Marathon. However, this isn't about me. This is about the at-risk and disenfranchised teens desperately in need of the opportunities 'Stoked Mentoring' provides. I'm doing this for them."
Stoked Mentoring was founded by Masekela and Steve Larosiliere and its mission is to provide teens "a supportive, encouraging mentor along with a team of people determined to see them succeed."
The 'Stoked' mantra continues: "By introducing mentoring pairs to action sports, the very things many of us were warned against are now creating a positive environment and a foundation for teens. And one teen at a time, counterculture WILL change the world."
Its programs in Los Angeles and New York are partnered with schools and corporations and Sal, who is more comfortable on a surfboard or snowboard, hopes to use the marathon to raise awareness and funds for his foundation. He enjoys the support of numerous stars, including Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Tony Hawk, Rob Dyrdek, Ben Lyons, Catt Sadler and Ryan Seacrest.
Masekela's goal is to beat Sean "Diddy" Combs' time in the 2003 NYC Marathon of 4 hours 14 minutes 54 seconds. Combs has pledged a donation if that happens.
Individuals can show their support by visiting the Run Sal Run website. It's a worthy cause by a worthy individual who has been training and probably will do well. Here's the latest video posted on Sal's website.
"I've never been more scared to do anything in my life," said Masekela, host of E! Entertainment's "Daily 10" program and longtime TV host of the winter and summer X Games. "In fact, I think I'd rather paddle into 20-foot Waimea Bay by myself than run in the NYC Marathon. However, this isn't about me. This is about the at-risk and disenfranchised teens desperately in need of the opportunities 'Stoked Mentoring' provides. I'm doing this for them."
Stoked Mentoring was founded by Masekela and Steve Larosiliere and its mission is to provide teens "a supportive, encouraging mentor along with a team of people determined to see them succeed."
The 'Stoked' mantra continues: "By introducing mentoring pairs to action sports, the very things many of us were warned against are now creating a positive environment and a foundation for teens. And one teen at a time, counterculture WILL change the world."
Its programs in Los Angeles and New York are partnered with schools and corporations and Sal, who is more comfortable on a surfboard or snowboard, hopes to use the marathon to raise awareness and funds for his foundation. He enjoys the support of numerous stars, including Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Tony Hawk, Rob Dyrdek, Ben Lyons, Catt Sadler and Ryan Seacrest.
Masekela's goal is to beat Sean "Diddy" Combs' time in the 2003 NYC Marathon of 4 hours 14 minutes 54 seconds. Combs has pledged a donation if that happens.
Individuals can show their support by visiting the Run Sal Run website. It's a worthy cause by a worthy individual who has been training and probably will do well. Here's the latest video posted on Sal's website.
Sal's Last Major Run Before NY Marathon. from UX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP on Vimeo.
NYC bound: Mrs. Radcliffe
5-days.That's not a lot of time before tens of thousands of runners once again take to the streets of New York City for one of the world's biggest and most prestigious marathons.
But while many of those runners will be striving for a personal best one runner, Paul Radcliffe, will try for a fourth victory in New York.
"After the races I've missed I'm going to be really grateful to be there," said Radcliffe who has had a string of bad luck with injuries and illness.
Perhaps her biggest disappointment came due to a stress fracture of the femur while training for the Beijing Olympics.
"I'm pleased with how the training has gone," she told the BBC Five live program. "I wouldn't be putting myself on the line if I didn't think that I could go to New York and win it," she said.
"I really enjoy racing. It is something I love doing. Getting the chance to do that and to prolong my career for as long as possible is what I really want to do," she added.
"The hard thing I'm finding now is that my body is nearly 36 but my mind still feels like it did when I was 18 and probably will still always feel like that, so I just have to be more sensible about how I do the training and the recovery."
Radcliffe, who finished 23rd in the marathon in Beijing after failing to finish in Athens 2004, revealed she was still dreaming of Olympic success in front of her home crowd in three years," according to BBC News.
Need a break? Dublin Marathon - perfect weather brings Feyisa Lilesa close to a new course record!
The 30th edition of the Lifestyle Sports-adidas Dublin Marathon was won by Ethiopian Feyisa Lilesa in a time of 2.09.12, just five seconds shy of the course record. In doing so, Lilesa became the first ever Ethiopian to have won the Dublin Marathon and set the second fastest ever time for the course.
Russian Alexsey Sokolov, who holds the course record for Dublin, set in 2007, finished second in a time of 2.10.38, with Kenyan Noah Serem third.
Last year's winner, Ukranian Andriy Naumov, finished eighth.
Ukranian Kateryna Stetsenko took the women's title in a time of 2.32.45 after overtaking race leader Helalia Johannes of Namibia close to the finish. Last year's winner Larissa Zousko finished fifth.
Moldovan Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers took the Men's Irish National Championship in a time of 2.22.06, some four minutes clear of veteran Irish runner Pauric McKinney of Letterkenny AC.
The race for first Irish woman home was always going to be a tight affair with close friends and running foes Annette Kealy and Pauline Curley both battling to be first over the finish line.
However, it was Kealy of Raheny Shamrocks who had the edge in the finish in a time of 2.45.43 followed by Tullamore Harriers runner Curley in 2.46.13.
Once the Elite runners were through, the attention was focused on the rest of the field, where there were some amazing scenes of exhaustion and elation.
Gerard Fay, who ran the course seven times before today, having started solo on Monday last, completed his eighth Dublin Marathon (his first official) today in a time of 6.06.22.
Cian O'Loinsigh, who ran blindfolded in aid of Fighting Blindness, led by his son Fionn, crossed the finish line in a time of 5.28.04. Garret Doherty, who ran the 26.2 mile race backwards, finished in 5.28.33.
The current Rose of Tralee, Charmaine Kenny, ran in 4.15.10. Former Sawdoctor Johnny Donnelly, who is on marathon 32 of his personal mission to complete 80 marathons in four years in aid of Irish Charity Seachange, came home in 3.14.18, followed by a large 'Run Johnny Run' contingent, including Today FM DJ Ray Darcy
29 runners completed their 30th consecutive Dublin Marathon, the only female - Mary Nolan Hickey - finished in 4.16.22, while the oldest, 74-year-old Paddy Craddock, finished in 6.39.31.
Martin Codyre, who is paralysed from the neck down, realised his dream of completing the Dublin Marathon, assisted by his brother Brian and friend Conor Galvin when he crossed the finish line in 4.48.13.
The wife and three children of the late David Kelly completed the final mile of the race (4.03.20), taking over from a group of friends who ran a mile each of the course in his honour. Kelly, from Galway, was due to take part himself but sadly passed away recently in a car accident.
This year's marathon is believed to be the biggest ever, with an estimated 12,700 runners taking part.
The full list of race finishers and their official times are available on the official Dublin City Marathon website.
Top 3 Men:
1 - Feyisa Lilesa, Ethiopia, 2.09.12
2 - Alexsey Sokolov, Russia, 2.10.38
3 - Noah Serem, Kenya, 2.11.14
Top 3 Women:
1 - Kateryna Stetsenko, Ukraine, 2.32.45
2 - Helalia Johannes, Namibia, 2.33.26
3 - Tiki Gelana, Ethiopia, 2.33.49
Top 3 Irish Men:
1 - Segiu Ciobanu, Clonliffe Harriers, 2.22.06
2 - Pauric McKinney, Letterkenny A.C., 2.26.21
3 - Owen Gahan, 2.28.16
Top 3 Irish Women:
1 - Annette Kealy, Raheny Shamrocks, 2.45.43
2 - Pauline Curley, Tullamore Harriers, 2.46.13
3 - Claire McCarthy, 2.48.58
NYC bound: The Jones Boy
Paula Radcliffe ought to have little trouble keeping up with Jonesy on the streets of New York next Sunday. In addition to Britain's (and the world's) fastest ever woman over 26.2 miles, Britain's fastest ever man at the classic distance happens to be entered for the 2009 ING New York City Marathon. "I'll be running round with an old RAF friend from Cardiff, Rick McTaggart," Steve Jones said. "We'll probably run about five hours, so nothing to write home about."It was different on 21 October 1984. Jones blitzed to a world-record time in Chicago that day, clocking 2hr 08min 05sec in his first completed marathon. He has been the British record-holder ever since, improving those figures to 2:07.13 in Chicago in 1985, when he missed the new world record set by Portugal's Carlos Lopes by one second. Not that the former RAF aircraft technician from Ebbw Vale – at 54, now a house-painter and grandfather happily settled in Boulder, Colorado – was celebrating the 25th anniversary last Wednesday.
"To be honest with you, I think it's a little sad," Jones confessed. "I mean it's great to have the British record, and it appears that I might have it for some time yet, but I think it's a little sad that the rest of the world – well it's the African nations really – have kind of moved on and we haven't."
There are many sad statistics that can underline the decline in British men's marathon running, such as 25 sub-2hr 15min clockings in 1984; just one in 2009 (Dan Robinson having recorded a fine personal best of 2:12.14 in Amsterdam a fortnight ago). "But do we just dwell on the past or do something about it?" Jones said. "We can't go comparing what Charlie Spedding or Allister Hutton or myself or Eamonn Martin or Paul Evans were doing. We just have to turn things round for the guys of today. And the names that I just mentioned are the guys who should be mentoring and inspiring."
Jones is doing just that, for the benefit of distance runners of all nationalities, as coach of an elite profes- sional training group and also a club group based in Boulder, the long-time altitude training mecca in the foothills of the Rockies that was home to the Robin Williams sitcom Mork and Mindy. His elite group includes Jorge Torres, who ran for the United States in the 10,000m in the Beijing Olympics and who will be making his marathon debut in New York next week, and Fiona Docherty, the former New Zealand triathlete who made the World Championship grade as a marathon runner in Berlin in August.
Jones has also been helping Scotland's Freya Murray make impressive strides of late. As part of Scottish Athletics' endurance initiative, the 26-year-old has spent two spells working with Jones's club group in Boulder, and the benefits were clear when she won the BUPA Great Yorkshire 10km road race in Sheffield in September, clocking 32min 28sec. "Is it just the training here?" Jones ponders. "No, probably not. Is it my influence? I'd say some of it probably is – but in more of a mentoring, inspirational way than a coaching way."
And, he might have added, with the kind of uncluttered approach Jones brought to his own running, as a raw, heart-on-the-sleeve Alf Tupper type – a steelworker's son whose racing philosophy was "always to devastate the opposition", who was fuelled by Coke, Mars bars and meat pies when he broke the world marathon record in Chicago and by 10 pints of cider (the night before) when he clocked a world half marathon record of 61min 14sec in Birmingham the same year.
"What I do is make it simple," Jones, now a teetotaller, says. "There's no science in it – no heart-rate monitors. It's just running – running instinctively. Anyone who saw Steve Jones run in the Seventies, Eighties and early Nineties knew that he ran by the seat of his pants nearly all the time. You don't see that any more and that's what I'm trying to teach these guys. None of it comes out of a book. It all comes out of my own experience."
Like the time in 1988 when no one in New York could keep up with the Jones boy, when he won the Big Apple's big marathon by a margin of 3min 20sec. It remains the biggest winning chunk since the race spread from Central Park to the city's five boroughs back in 1976.
His fastest three marathons
Chicago 1984 Having failed to finish on his marathon debut in Chicago 12 months previously, Jones smashed Rob de Castella's world record, beating the Australian world champion and the Portuguese Olympic champion Carlos Lopes in 2hr 08min 05sec. "I didn't even know what the world record was," he said. "I just ran to win."
London 1985 Jones prevailed in 2hr 08min 16sec – despite having to stop for an emergency road-side dump while running neck and neck with fellow Briton and Olympic bronze medallist Charlie Spedding with four miles to go. "I didn't shake hands with him at the finish but that wasn't because he had beaten me," Spedding said.
Chicago 1985 The world record had moved on to 2hr 07min 12sec, courtesy of Lopes in Rotterdam, and Jones could probably have bettered it had there been a clock on the lead vehicle in Chicago six months later. Storming through halfway in a stunning 1hr 01min 43sec, he finished in 2hr 07min 13sec, still a British record.
NYC bound: The Great Mr.R in the mix!
South African runner Hendrick Ramaala isn’t your typical 2:06 marathoner. He’s never been coached. He doesn’t train in exotic locales, choosing instead to run along the same 3.5K loop that winds around Zoo Lake Park with friends from his running club. In fact, the 37-year-old lawyer didn’t even begin to run until he was cut from the soccer team at the University of the Witwatersrand. Despite all this, Ramaala has put forth solid results. He’s a four-time Olympian, has twice placed second at the world half marathon championship, and won the 2004 New York City Marathon. The following year he placed second to Paul Tergat in the closest finish in the race’s history. This year Ramaala returns to New York for the eighth time.Running Times: You are heading into another New York City Marathon. How are you feeling?
Hendrick Ramaala: I’m excited. I know it’s going to be a hard one. There is a really exciting field this year with some hard guys. For the past six or seven weeks, since I saw the field, I’ve been training with that in mind. I expect a very hard race, which means I’ve been training very hard.
Do you believe it will be the hardest New York City Marathon that you’ve run?
HR: I think it’s going to be one of the hardest, yes. I mean most of them are hard. This year is going to be a hard field to beat. Many of them are between 2:05 and 2:07 marathoners. You’ve got champions, too. This means it’s going to be a very tough race from start to finish. Still, I’m ready.
Have you been training any differently for this year’s race?
HR: No. I did the same training, but my motivation is higher. I know I can still do it; I know I have another win in me. That is what has been motivating me. I expect to mix it up with the guys and fight until the finish. And if I lose, it will be after fighting big time, not giving it away.
So you haven’t been doing higher weekly mileage or switching up your hard days?
HR: No, it’s been the same training, but better.
So that means you are still running the same 3.5K loop around Zoo Lake Park?
HR: Same old laps.
It must be a like a big track to you now.
HR [laughing]: Yeah.
Are you still working out with your same training group?
HR: Yep. They have done very well for me. They got me in great shape for London. Everybody has been pushing me hard to get me ready for the race. But I am now done with the hard work; I am waiting for the race. I can’t push the training hard. I am cutting back. I’m ready. I don’t want to train any more for it. I’ve done enough. If I train harder now, I will be asking too much of my body and get injured.
From watching you in the Olympics and in other marathons, I know you are a big proponent of front running. You like to push the pace at the beginning. Though it’s paid off for you before, it doesn’t always seem to work out. Why do you choose to always run aggressively like this? Why not sit back in the early stages of the marathon?
HR: It is the only way I win the big races. I’ve always struggled, but would prefer that instead of running other people’s races. I am not the kind of guy who likes to wait for other guys to make moves. When I’m in good shape, I initiate the moves. I run according to the way I feel. If I feel good, say at 10K, 15K, or 25K, I’ll make a move.
After 32K, we are all tired. It’s very hard to make a move at that time. We are all just hanging on. At that point, you are just hoping that the other guys fall back. For me, that is not the way to go. I make moves when I am still strong, which is usually just after halfway. I want to make a move when I am at my strongest, not when the other guy is at his strongest. Guys like Martin Lel or [Sammy] Wanjiru, you can’t break them near the finish. You have to make them work hard early. If you hope they fade at the end, you hope for nothing.
Those guys are very hard to beat. They won’t give up. You can wish or pray, but it’s not going to happen. Those guys come to races well, well prepared—guys like Jaouad Gharib. They train so hard; they are ready for any eventualities, ready for anything. You better make your move when you are still strong. You have to get them tired early and run away at the end, so that the last few kilometers are just survival of the fittest. I’ve won races that way.
So you are gambling out there then.
HR: Always a gamble, mate. If you sit back and wait for things to happen, sorry, they don’t happen. If you see me waiting out there, then that means I am having a problem and struggling. It means I am hanging on.
The last time I spoke with you, you mentioned the need to have good rest before you run the New York City Marathon, because the race is so mental and New York is such a busy city. Are you going to arrive early to get acclimated?
HR: No. I arrive late. I started my cut back and so I will already arrive fresh. I will get in a long sleep at home so that I can get out of trouble, stay in my room, and relax. That is very important. You have to stay out of trouble in the streets of New York.
So you don’t want to get there too early.
HR: I want to get in as late as possible.
I’d like to move away from you and now talk about South Africa. South Africa is a nation of 44 million people, while Kenya has around 30 million. Despite the fact that South Africa is a much larger country, it can’t seem to keep up with Kenya. Why is that, and what can South Africa do to increase its depth of distance runners?
HR: You are right. In Kenya, the runners are mostly from the same tribe and from the same region. The main thing is that they have role models and training camps. They have a system. They get them ready and get them out of the country—racing in Europe and America. Their training camps are professional. So are yours in America. I think America is starting to get it right with their training camps, getting athletes to train together under good coaches like Alberto Salazar. I follow U.S. running. I see changes. You are getting more and more good guys. They were there, but they were not discovered.
That is the same in South Africa. We have all this talent, but do not know what to do with it. Our coaches are struggling and our athletes are struggling. You need a structure and a system. The runners need to know that, if they train, they will have shelter, accommodations, a place to sleep. Athletes must worry about training and performance and not what they are going to eat, the bread-and-butter issues.
My country is struggling. We don’t have a system. The guys at the top are not interested much. They will talk it, but will always say the money is not coming. We take coaches to school, we talk all this big talk and then nothing happens. We need sponsors like soccer, rugby, or cricket have. They have the whole corporate world behind them. They get sponsors any time they want. In Kenya, athletics is the main sport; in Ethiopia, athletics is the main sport. In South Africa, athletics is maybe fourth or fifth on the list. We will struggle to get all this help like sponsorships and training camps. The other guys are grabbing everything out there. Take rugby: The kids are getting help from their schools; they have all these tournaments at the school level. Athletics is losing the talent to rugby, cricket, and soccer. How are we going to get the best athletes? The school kids go to these sports, because the sports are world-class in our country. It’s kind of frustrating. I wish I could do something, but I have my career.
It sounds like Athletics South Africa is kind of a mess right now, considering what you just talked about along with the Caster Semenya situation. When your career winds down, will you be getting involved to clean it up? You are a lawyer and a world-class runner, so this looks like the perfect combination to make a difference.
HR: That is possible. Once things slow down for me, maybe I’ll take these things seriously and get more involved. I can see where the problem is. I’ve spoken to a lot of athletes, commentators, and experts on what is needed. There are all these politics coming in, though. Nobody wants to hear the truth. It’s all about politics. You don’t need to run the federation to fix it. You don’t need to be in a powerful position to fix it. You just need to get a group of kids who have talent and promise and give them bread and butter, shelter, get them into a camp, let them train, and promise them trips to America or Europe. After that, you will get support. In this country, you get rewarded for winning. The new talent doesn’t get spotted. In this country, you get spotted by winning a gold medal. How you got it is your business.
And that seems to go with how you made it. You didn’t have a coach and kind of made yourself in this broken system. Would you agree?
HR: When I was coming up, we didn’t have coaches. For me, it’s too late, I’m not going to have a coach. When I was growing up, it was the 1990s. The 1990s and the 2000s are completely different. Most of the athletes were on their own. Why? Because there was nobody else there for them. You were on your own then. These days, we have some coaches coming up with the athletes. Still, I am optimistic. I don’t think we can catch Kenya or Ethiopia, because they are just way too far ahead in the front. I think we can get somewhere in the near future.
We are paying for our system now. It’s time for us to play catch-up. We have the talent and have the infrastructure. The athletes just need support. It’s not going to happen right now. It takes three to four years just to make an athlete.
As you near the end of your career, what would you like to accomplish? Is this your last New York City Marathon?
HR: Believe it or not, I think I am getting stronger and stronger. I am getting wiser. I don’t mind training hard. I got this marathon business. I just need to be motivated to continue. The way I’ve trained this year, I’m more motivated. I think I still have some personal records in me in the marathon. I think I can do much better. I’m really looking forward to next year. I’ll do New York first.
I think I still have a lot of energy. Let’s not forget Carlos Lopes broke records at 38. I started my career late. You know, I never ran as a junior. I’m stronger than ever—not in the shorter distances, because I’ve lost the focus. When it comes to the marathon, I really get motivated. I will do everything for my marathon career. For a 10K, I’ve given up. I just go there to prepare for the marathon. The half marathon is a stepping stone to the marathon.
You know, it’s exciting to be part of these marathon majors like New York. Just to be there is a big thing. Just to be training for the big races like the world championships or the Olympics is exciting. I get up early; I go train. I am ready to do anything for these races. I may retire in two or three years. I still think I can break personal records and win big races. And after New York, there is Boston and Paris and Fukuoka. There are still the smaller marathons—the Mumbais, Houstons, and Singapores. There is still Comrades, too.
So you will run Comrades?
HR: It’s a tradition here. You haven’t finished your career well if you haven’t run Comrades. I’m getting more and more exciting with the sport the more I age. I don’t feel the age yet. I feel it when I run the 10K, but not the marathon. I’m more mentally stronger. I can take the marathon much better than before. I have 24 marathons in my body. I’m getting rougher. The more I run, the more I get to know this. I’m looking forward to three more years. My mind and body are still together. I just need to keep the motivation high.
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