He Who Has The Most Fun Wins (by Matt Fitzgerald)

There is a very interesting new study I want to tell you about today. It involved a team of amateur cyclists engaged in their normal training and racing over the course of a full season. At the beginning of the study period, researchers brought all of the cyclists into the lab and had them perform a simulated 40K time trial and recorded the details of each subject’s performance. This test was repeated approximately every four weeks over the next 24 weeks. At the beginning of the study period each team member also filled out a questionnaire designed to assess the athlete’s level of enjoyment of his or her training. The questionnaire was administered again at two-week intervals over the next 24 weeks.

Can you see where this is going? The researchers found a strong correlation between enjoyment and performance. The cyclists whose time trial performances improved the most over the course of the season also exhibited the highest levels of overall enjoyment of their training and racing. What’s more, high levels of enjoyment appeared to be predictive of improvement. That is, when an increase in enjoyment was registered in a given questionnaire, improved time trial performance tended to follow. This finding is important because it suggests that the proper conclusion of the study is not merely the obvious fact that improving is fun. The results also suggest that athletes who are having fun in their training for reasons other than improvement are likely to improve because of it.

For some time now I have been advising my fellow endurance athletes to get creative in their training and to design workouts and periodization patterns based on hunches, gut feelings, preferences and so forth, instead of tying themselves to standard methods. I give this advice in part because I believe that our feelings about training are potentially powerful guides to the best course to take in our training. It’s a brain training thing. The subconscious brain mediates between one’s body and one’s conscious goals and plans and is therefore the best oracle for maximum progress. Crudely put, there is value in applying the maxim “If it feels good, do it” to one’s training.

This new study strongly validates my beliefs in this regard. There’s only one problem. The study never happened. I made it up. It’s a study I’ve wanted someone to do for some time, and the results I described are the very results I would expect from such a study if it was done. I just thought I would put it out there in hopes that the idea will filter its way to a professional who has the expertise, resources and inclination to make it real.

Check out Matt's blog at www.mattfitzgerald.org

Brooklyn Half Marathon results

12,000 runners hit the road today in Brooklyn. After two loops in hilly Prospect Park it was straight to the beach at Coney Island.
[pictures and video to follow]

1 RIVERA HECTOR M. M38 906 RUNC CLIFTON NJ 1:08:20
2 RIMAWI SHADI M33 784 WEST CALDWELL NJ 1:08:43
3 GARCIA FELIPE M27 283 WSX BROOKLYN NY 1:08:58
4 GAPAK EDUARD M25 907 WS N.Y. NY 1:09:08
5 CONTRELLA LARRY M22 159 GNY NEW YORK NY 1:10:23
6 FIELD RYAN M24 255 NEW YORK NY 1:10:34
7 CASSIDY MICHAEL M23 128 GNY STATEN ISLAND NY 1:10:45
8 ARNSTEIN MICHAEL M32 40 VCTC NEW YORK NY 1:11:47
9 EDWARDS JACOB M22 229 NORTH STONINGTON CT 1:12:10
10 KEITH DYLAN M24 377 ARLINGOTN VA 1:12:20

FULL RESULTS

Derek Clayton: first guy to go sub 2:09 - 40 years ago...

“Gee whiz. I don't know. It's getting pretty quick. I still don't know if I'll see a 2hr marathon because these guys, none of them are training any harder than me. I can say that for a fact."

Really? Gebrselassie ran 250km (156 miles) a week during his buildup to Berlin. Well, Clayton ran 250 miles a week.

“It was all experiment," he says now. “I didn't have books or magazines back in my day. I was flying blind."

Ze Dieter dishes on the differences between Kenyans and Europeans

Dieter Hogen is known for being a coach for Kenyan runners in Kenya and Boulder. Duncan Larkin did a nice interview with him for RunningTimes.

[Photo: Dieter Hogen with Evans Rutto, Timothy Cherigat and Rutto's son Dieter Ruttto - no kidding!]

Running Times: You’ve coached European athletes and you’ve coached Kenyans. What are the differences in how you’ve worked with these two types of runners?

Dieter Hogen: There are no big differences, first of all. Why would someone who has the same goals want to train differently than some other type of runners? That’s the advantage of a strong training group. They all can benefit from the group.

READ IT!

Actually, since reading "The summer of the caveman" I am a big fan of the interviewer Ducan Larkin. "The summer of the caveman" is Duncan's summary of key elements for marathon training. It was his approach to break 2:30.
Apparently, Ducan tries to get rid of his past as it was hard to track back the rules (even google cache did not cooperate). Gladly, I remembered that I had posted them some time ago on a board. Here you go:

"There's several key elements to the Summer of the Caveman:

1. Caveman Shit
2. Mileage that will make you cry "straight off the boards."
3. Marathon pace, marathon pace, fucking marathon pace!* Use the 40 second bracket plan.
4. Recovery
5. Smart Racing
6. Magna Carta adherence
7. Weight control and discipline in all things. Discipline. Structured discipline first and foremost.
8. Beards and hair. Beards are a must and hair must be Lance Armstrong-short--maybe shorter.
9. Chicks. Whatever man. I'm not spending a damn dime more on the timeless and incalculable ritual of trying to move seminal fluid a matter of inches (ha!) across a membrane. It's either in the works or its not. Note to self: monks may be on to something
10. Diet. Meat will be required."

* If you ever come across the acronym "FMP" in a run training plan, here's where it originates from!

Kampala/Uganda Half Marathon: watch out for Cross Worlds 2nd Moses Kipsiro

Kampala — Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga will grace the inaugural Hared Source of the Nile marathon in Jinja on Sunday. Organising committee chairman Muhammad Amin described Kadaga's acceptance to preside over the function as a big boost. Over 900 runners have registered for the event that will start and end at the source of the world's longest river.

Uganda Athletics Federation official Namayo Mawerere reported an influx of runners after the Monday deadline. Competitors can pick their vests and numbers at Nsambya Hared petrol station opposite Sharing Hall and Clive road in Jinja.

Amin said they extended the flag-off time to 9am to allow the big Kampala entry enough time to warm up for action. The race will next year be upgraded to a full marathon. Several seasoned runners including world cross-country silver medalist Moses Kipsiro and Adero Nyakisi have entered the competition.

Catherine The Great at Kenyan Prison Champs

By CHRIS MUSUMBA

Two-time World marathon champion Catherine Ndereba will put her swollen toe on the line when she leads Central Province in Friday’s Kenya Prisons Athletics Championships at Nyayo National Stadium.
Ndereba, whose hopes of defending her marathon title at the World Championship in Berlin in August is in doubt, said her toe has improved and that she is capable of running again. The seventh-place finisher at the London Marathon said she will go to the US for specialised treatment after the Prisons event.
“I want to run here and see how it (toe) will do. It was a major concern for me in London where it flared up, but I look forward to a good race tomorrow,” she said on Thursday.

The 10,000m race, in which Ndereba will be competing, has also attracted a galaxy of stars. Former New York Marathon champion Margaret Okayo, reigning Boston Marathon champion Salina Kosgei, Singapore Marathon winner Edith Masai, Susan Chepkemei, and Caroline Kwambai will compete in the long distance race. Ndereba however said it is only after the doctor’s review that she will confirm her slot in the Kenya team to Berlin where she would be a reserve athlete.

The Prisons championship comes a week after their colleagues in the Armed Forces held theirs at Kasarani. Reigning national champions Kenya Police, who boast the best talent in the country, will hold their event next week.

Berlin, September 20, 9am, Marathon smackdown: Geb vs. Sammy

VERSUS

Zersenay Tadesse - Eritrea's David Beckham

Despite the school-run training, Zersenay's sporting life began as a promising cyclist, another popular sport in Eritrea, until a row with team mates cut that short. Spotted by a local teacher, he then turned to running.

Right now, the Eritrean is training to run the 10,000 metres in the world championships in Berlin in August and a half-marathon in Britain later in the year.
"My goal in the future is to break the world record for the half-marathon," he said. "You need luck on the day though."

READ MORE

Fiona Docherty - Ottawa Marathon race report

The race was started at 7:00 a.m. under clear skies with a cool breeze keeping the temperature hovering around 15 degrees Celsius. About 37,000 runners were registered to compete over the Ottawa Race Weekend, with more than 100,000 spectators out there in full force, cheering.

My preparation for this race went well and had a good taper. I arrived in Ottawa on Thursday before the race to a wonderful surprise waiting at my home stay - flowers and a banner signed by all my friends and team mates wishing me all the best. It bought a tear to my eye. I was so overwhelmed with all the wonderful support that I received from my family, friends and sponsors. I am so grateful for that.

I then moved to a hotel two days out which was closer to the race start. Ottawa is a beautiful city and I got to enjoy it as much as I could while checking out the course and competition, also I got to enjoy some High tea at a fancy Hotel with a wonderful friend.

Race morning was the usual prep of early breaky, stretches and porta loo stops. I was a little nervous but calmed completely when I got to the start line.

The time I wanted to aim for 2:40 – I found out that there wasn’t a pacer for that time. There was one for 2:36 and one for 2:45. But I did overhear that there was a Canadian girl wanting to do the same time and she had bought in her own pacer. So I jumped on that right away. I started with them and went through 10km 20seconds down hmmmmm not good but I thought to myself I had to be patient.
As I continued I noticed our time getting slower so I made the decision to go off on my own. I felt strong and got to 30km when the Canadian girl’s pacer caught me (minus the girl), I asked him nicely if he could help me do my goal time of 2:40. From 30km was a head wind and the only major hill in the race. The pacer said to tuck in behind, soon I realized he was going too slow so at the top of the hill I had to leave him.

I could see two Kenyan girls in front so I focused on them and knuckled down to catch the first one at 35km, the next at 39km. I felt strong but time was ticking quickly and I knew now that I wasn’t going to make 2:40 so the plan was to get under 2:43 which is the qualifying time for World Champs for the NZ team. I then picked up the pace. I was on a mission. With 400m to go I just dug it in (as shown in the pic) so determined to go under that time WHICH I did! 2:42:10 Yippee. Once across the line I was whipped away for a drug test – Well actually a very slow hobble.

I was very happy with my race – apart from the pacing situation – I feel that next time I can’t rely on others – I will bring my own pacer. But all and all for my first marathon and relatively short prep for it – I was very happy and look forward to going faster next time.

Results

1 Asmae Leghzaoui MORROCO 2:27:40
2 Lioudmila Kortchaguina CANADA 2:32:09
3 Kosgei Jerotich KENYA 2:34:27
4 Salomie Getnet ETHOPIA 2:37:21
5 Fiona Docherty NZL 2:42:10
6 Evanline Kimuria KENYA 2:43:51
7 Katarina Janosikova SLOVAK REPUBLIC 2:44:49


CHECK OUT: http://feedocherty.com/

Meanwhile in Kenya...

Thanks Phil Minshull for the great pics!

Get your kicks: Cortez re-loaded

mzungo.org just had the chance to get a brand new pair of the infamous Cortez 2009 last weekend over in Warszawa, Poland.

The Nike Cortez is one of the longest running sneakers from Nike. From the kids in the hood, to the grandparents in their walkers, it seems like every age has been able to rock the Cortez.

Nike is bringing an updated version of the timeless sneaker for 2009. By adding Free technology, and Flywire technology, they have brought this shoe from its origins in 1972 to our future in 2009. With enough colorways to make everyone happy, this classic is back again.

mzungo.org says: They just look good. Use 'em to catch the bus not your latest 5k PB.

In Pictures: BolderBoulder 2009

More BolderBoulder: Carney Finishes 4th, Leads Team USA

James Carney, running in front of his home crowd, took 4th overall (29:53) in the 2009 Bolder Boulder 10k on May 25. Despite some thunder and a distant funnel cloud, Carney and all the elite racers put on a show for the fans. Thousands took to the streets cheering the athletes as they made there way towards the CU campus. Another 40,000 were waiting inside the University of Colorado football stadium awaiting the runners while enjoying Memorial Day festivities.

The Ethiopians dicated the race early running a blistering 1M in 4 minutes 7 seconds. At that point, Carney sat all the way back in 10th, but battled his way back. Beating the entire Kenyan team, Carney lead Team USA to the tape inside the stadium. Teammates Bolota Asmeron (5th, 30:02) and Fasil Bizuneh (13th) also ran well to give Team USA second place.

Brad Hudson on Carney’s performance - “We are very happy with the 4th place finish. James was able to beat great competition in a hard race. He felt strong throughout and executed as planned. Finishing inside a packed football stadium in front of the home crowd made for an exciting finish. ”

On getting ready for USA’s - “Preparation since the Cardinal Invite has been solid. James is going to be a tough competitor at outdoors. We really feel like he’s going to challenge and surprise some people in the 10k at Hayward. He’s heading to Colorado Springs for a few days for some additional altitude training. We are still deciding if we’ll run again beforehand. No races are planned at this point.”

Notes: Tera Moody was the other Marathon Performance athlete in the elite race on Monday. Moody, who was recently named to Team USA’s marathon squad heading to Berlin for World’s, finished 14th overall in 35:43. She lead Team USA to a 5th place finish in the team battle.

Boaz: 2nd in Nordian 10k, 3rd in Healthy Kidney 10k

For the second straight weekend Boaz Cheboiywo (the runner with number 5 on the picture) placed in the top 3 at another premier 10k road race.

On Sunday May 16, Boaz made his debut in the NYRR sponsored Healthy Kidney 10k. Despite morning fog and rain, Boaz steadily held third place from mile 4 to the finish line in 28:31.

Brad Hudson - “We’re really happy on the outcome of this race. Coming off a slow Stanford 5k, this was a step in the right direction. For that course, in Central Park, it’s a very good time. He was close to beating Patrick Makau (2nd in 28:28) even after a long battle against the weather.”

Flash-forward a week to May 23 at the MDS Nordian 10k in Ottawa. Cheboiywo was tasked to rabbit Merga through world record pace on the road. Merga went on to run the fastest 10k ever on Canadian soil while shattering the course record. Cheboiywo, who’s pacemaking duties ended when Merga left, reset himself to finish second overall (28:17).

Brad Hudson - “Boaz rabbited through 3k at 7:57 (26:40 10k pace) when Merga decided to go. The time was okay based on the initial WR pace and the fact it was nowhere near an even run. This time, he (Boaz) was able to beat Patrick MaKau who finished 7th.”

On what the future holds for Cheboiywo.

Brad Hudson - “Next up is Steamboat and Peachtree. We’re working on building strength right now and moving into higher level training. Our goal for Boaz is the 2012 Olympic Marathon in London, as an American on Team USA. He’ll receive his US citizenship in June, 2010.”

Video: Tilahun Regassa winning the 2009 Bolder Boulder

mzungo.org already reported on Tilahun Regassa´s win in Boulder this monday. See now the impresive final metres of his 28:17 finish in the packed football stadium.

Product Review Center: NIKE Lunar Trainer Central Park TC spec.ed.

Nike's Lunar Trainer have been around for almost a year now. However, many people still ask me what they are like. "Wow they are light. But so much cushioning?" "They look incredibly wide. Are they any good for quicker running?" "How do they compare to the Lunar Racers?"

Last week I received my latest pair of Lunar Trainers. They are a special edition in Nike Central Park Track Club colours (also available for general sale). Recently I have been doing all my training, even the recovery jogs in Lunar Racers. They are truly flat and have enough cushioning for my liking even for longer runs. I totally neglected my Trainers which were my tried and trues for everyday running over winter.
So, why the Trainers now? Well, last week my running volume was higher than the recent weeks as I didn't race on the weekend. I wanted to go out for a 2hr long run at easy to moderate pace but my legs were already quite tired. I figured that some extra cushioning for this run on concrete - I did my run around Manhattan route - would not hurt.

I loved it. Sure, if you speed up they are too cushioned and not direct enough. Also, the heel is too high, let there be no doubt. So, if you want to race or do faster workouts from tempo up, the Racer is your obvious choice.

mzungo.org says: if you are looking for a truly neutral, well cushioned and for its cushioning very, very light shoe, look no further. It will serve you well on non-specific long runs and daily maintenance workouts.

Fam again

A couple of weeks ago mzungo.org had a chance to sit down with Anthony 'Fam' Famiglietti for a great interview.
Now Universalsports has a nice read as well - check it out.

"I think what it was, was the people who were involved in the sport early on were the short-shorts guys with band-aids over their nipples,” Famiglietti said. “I was like, ‘Man, I don’t want to be a part of that. That’s not my style.’ I don’t wear short shorts. I think for a lot of younger athletes in high school it’s not appealing. I didn’t join the wrestling team because I didn’t want to wear one of those unitards. Track guys wear short shorts. When you’re a kid, those things matter to you."

Worlds Berlin: more ladies lining up for Marathon

Mara Yamauchi is looking to further improve at this year's WC Marathon in Berlin after her strong performance in London this spring. She had a look at the course and concluded: “I want to finish in the top three. I’ve been very close to the medals before, and this time I really want to win a medal as I know I can – I just have to deliver on the day. We will train in Japan (Tokyo and Nagano) until early July, and then in St. Moritz, Switzerland. We’ve been to all these places before and they are excellent for training. I am building up again now and I have one race planned before Berlin – the Sapporo half-marathon on 5 July in Japan.”

Meanwhile Miki and Mocki are the hopefuls for the host country with Melanie Krauss completing the team.

MARTIN LEL - welcome to mzungo.org!

One of the greatest of our sport is Martin Lel. Surely he needs no further introduction but because his palmares is so incredibly impressive, have a look at these highlights:

LONDON MARATHON 2005, 2007, 2008

NYC MARATHON 2003, 2007

Welcome to mzungo.org Martin, it is an honour to have you!

BolderBOULDER

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- Tilahun Regassa of Ethiopia won the men's division of the Bolder Boulder on Monday in the fastest time since 1995. Regassa, 19, finished in 28 minutes, 17 seconds. Teammate Mamito Daska, 25, won the women's division in 32:48.
"They weren't expected to win," Ethiopia team manager Hussen MacKay said. "They are very young in terms of running careers." Tadese Tola of Ethiopia, who just recently won NYC's Healthy Kidney 10k in Central Park record time, was second in 28:36. James Carney was the top U.S. finisher, coming in fourth at 29.53. Regassa's time was third-best in race history and the best since 1995, when Kenya's Josphat Machuka won in a course record 27:52.
Regassa, Tola and teammates Gebo Berko broke from the pack at the start.
"That was the plan," Regassa said through an interpreter. "Get a jump on the rest of the field and keep on moving."

Less than 2 miles into the race, Regassa had put several hundred meters between himself and his countrymen. He looked back frequently, but the rest of the field was too far back to be in view. "I didn't expect it," Regassa said. "I didn't expect to be that far ahead." He turned his head one final time before entering Folsom Field on the University of Colorado campus, where the race ended before a roaring crowd of 50,000.
"I was looking back to find my team members," Regassa said. "I had to see how they were doing." They still weren't in sight. It was Regassa's second victory of the season. He won Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K race in Richmond, Va., in late February.
Last year's winner, Ridouane Harroufi of Morocco, did not run this year.
Ethiopia won the team title, beating out Team USA 19-24.
Daska's time was the fourth-best women's finish in race history and the fastest since Romania's Lidia Simon's 32:30 in 1999. Teyba Erkesso was second in 33:02, less than 100 meters behind Daska. Defending champion Millicent Gathoni of Kenya finished fifth. Tera Moody was the top American, placing 14th.
Ethiopia won the women's team competition. Japan was second and the U.S. was fifth.

FULL RESULTS

Tuesday is quiz day - Win Bart Yasso's book!

If you haven't ordered Bart Yasso's book yet because you are broke, here's your chance to win it!

Bart Yasso is famous for his "Yasso 800s". The deal is to run 10 800s with a 400 jog. Whatever time in minutes and seconds you can run on average for the 800s will be your likely marathon finish time in hours and minutes.

One guy approached Bart after a marathon. He was not in a happy place. He did the test and completely screwed his race which he paced based on the outcome of the test. Turns out he made a big mistake at the test. What was that?

Please answer in our comments section 'message to mzungo' below.

Movie Monday: Deena Kastor - Coming back in 2009

Sotokoto Marathon: Large crowd turns up for race

Hundreds of runners created a sea of humanity on a dull morning as they thronged Nairobi National Park and Lang’ata Road for the inaugural Sotokoto Marathon.

Athletes donned their running gear to begin the race at the Ivory Burning Site.

This was the site that former President Moi burned 10 tons of ivory to reinforce Kenya’s commitment in wildlife conservation in 1989.

As Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka sounded the hooter at 10am cheers and shouts of encouragement broke out as the runners moved to the starting line.

Two false starts were witnessed as runners responded promptly to bursts of overheated balloons at the start point.

The marathon, the first to be run at the famous Nairobi National Park, was a race for all with able-bodied athletes running alongside the physically challenged in the 21k duel.

Children were not left out either, as there was the 4km category.

One of the physically challenged athletes was Allan Kipchumba from Eldoret who finished second in the category.

READ ON...

Sotokoto Safari Marathon: Marathon winners’ parade

David Tarus and Japan-based Philes Ongori were crowned pioneer Sotokoto Safari Marathon men and women champions as 2,000 runners invaded the serenity of Nairobi National Park to contest in its first edition.

In winning the main 21km races in 1:02.29 and 1:11:11, Tarus and Ongori did no harm to their bank account balances with each earning the Sh1.2 million top prize.

In the men’s showstopper, Tarus, who placed second at this year’s Standard Charted Mumbai Marathon, dislodged long-time race leader and runner-up, Nicholas Kamakya, 6km from the finish before majestically powering to victory.

Winning did not come as a surprise since I was very prepared for the race and I was not afraid of anybody. I decided to begin with a slow 10km and began increasing my pace from the half point," the 28-year-old who trains in Eldama Ravine and is managed by Gianni Demadonna, told reporters.

"It is a proud moment for me to be the first winner of this event that is also my first major victory. My target is to compete well in major international races," he added. After Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka flagged off the race at the site where former President Moi famously set fire to elephant tusks worth Sh60m inside Nairobi National Park, Kamakya, Charles Sigei, Gilbert Yegon, Gilbert Kirwa and Jacob Yator hit the front early.

READ ON...

L.A. Marathon: Kenya's Wesley Korir wins in record time (Results)

L.A. TIMES REPORTS

Late start, fast finish.

Wesley Korir of Kenya won the Los Angeles Marathon in record time this morning, shrugging off the latest starting date in the race's history.

Korir pulled away from Tariku Jufar of Kenya on Olympic Boulevard in the 24th mile and finished in 2 hours 8 minutes and 24 seconds, breaking Cherono Benson's record of 2:08:40 set in 2006.

Korir, 26, won $160,000 and a 2009 Honda Accord. He collected $20,000 for winning, $40,000 for clocking under 2:09 and $100,000 for becoming the first runner -- male or female -- to finish. The men started 16 minutes 57 seconds behind the women, a time based on the average of differences in lifetime bests among the top six men and women.

READ ON...


1 14 Wesley Korir Piedmont CA Ken MEN 25 TO 29 26 M 02:08:24
2 1 Tariku Jufar Addis Ababa Ethiopia MEN 18 TO 24 24 M 02:09:32
3 2 Laban Kipkemboi Concord MA Kenya MEN 30 TO 34 31 M 02:10:29
4 10 Mulugeta Wami Wymegen Netherlands MEN 25 TO 29 26 M 02:10:49
5 4 Negari Terfa Brescia B S Italy MEN 25 TO 29 25 M 02:10:53
6 11 Benjamin Limo Teddington Middlesex Twill, UK MEN 30 TO 34 34 M 02:14:38
7 18 Fekadu Lemma Brescia Italy MEN 25 TO 29 25 M 02:15:12
8 19 Isaac Arusei Concord MA Ken MEN 35 TO 39 36 M 02:17:54
9 13 Moses Kororia Santa Fe NM Ken MEN 30 TO 34 32 M 02:19:48
10 15 Diego Colorado Bogota Columbia MEN 35 TO 39 35 M 02:20:38
11 5 Paul Kosgei Trento Italy MEN 30 TO 34 31 M 02:21:09
12 17 Brian Livingston Los Angeles CA US MEN 30 TO 34 31 M 02:21:34
13 13315 Romualdo Sanchez Los Angeles CA MEN 35 TO 39 39 M 02:25:40
14 52 Tatiana Petrova Riga Latvia WOMEN 25 TO 29 26 F 02:25:59
15 20 Jason David Gutierrez Bogota Columbia MEN 25 TO 29 25 M 02:26:21

RESULTS

PICTURES

Frank McCourt's big plans to be tested in Monday marathon

LA TIMES REPORTS

Frank McCourt has big plans. He wants to take his latest purchase, one of L.A.'s great institutions, and revive it, give it new shine, have it stand cheek-to-cheek with the big monuments in Boston and New York.

Only this isn't about balls and strikes, Manny and the World Series. It's about the Los Angeles Marathon, the glorious-but-bunged-up jewel which, after months of wrangling, will commence its 24th running on Monday morning. (Yes, Monday. More on that shortly.)

In case you didn't know, late last year the energetic and sometimes controversial Dodgers owner bought the L.A. Marathon from a Chicago company that had mismanaged matters so badly the race's future was reportedly in peril. Debts were owed. Bills weren't being paid on time. Neither, sometimes, were the winning runners.

Undaunted, McCourt described the race as an untapped civic asset, brimming with potential. But just as when he took over the then-ailing Dodgers in 2004 -- recall, before this latest on-field success, the flurry of general managers, field managers and bad contracts -- owning L.A.'s marathon hasn't exactly been a jog in the park.

For starters, there's the thorny issue of when the race should be run. The marathon had long been held on the first Sunday in March, when the weather is usually cool and helpful. But as part of the ownership transfer, L.A. City Hall bent to religious leaders who viewed 20,000 runners blocking off Sunday streets -- and hindering access to churches -- much as they view a Biblical plague of locusts.

READ ON...

Comrades Marathon 2009 in pictures and photos

BUPA London 10,000: MoFa with a MoFo 27:50!

Matthew Brown reports for IAAF

London, UK - Mo Farah broke the British 10km record to win the second ‘BUPA London 10,000’, a 10km road race on the streets of the British capital this morning (Mon 25).
The 26-year-old ran away from Kenya’s Samuel Kosgei on the scenic central London course to cross the line in 27:50 slicing five seconds from the national record set by Mark Scrutton in March 1984 when Farah was less than a year old.
Kosgei was second in 28:03 after chasing the Briton hard for the first 7km, while Ukraine’s Sergey Lebid was third in 28:34.

New Zealander Kim Smith was a runaway winner of the women’s race in 31:38 breaking her personal best by 40 seconds. Hatti Dean added to a good day for Britain as she finished second in 33:52, 33 seconds ahead of the Olympic marathon champion, Constantina Dita.
“I knew I was in really good shape,” said Farah who returned to Britain recently after six weeks altitude work in Font Romeau.
“My training’s been going really well and I came here wanting to win. I wanted to get close to 28 minutes but I didn’t expect the British record. That’s a real bonus.”

MEN

Farah set off at the head of a field of 9000 running alongside his training partner Boniface Kiprop of Uganda, with Kosgei, Lebid, and former Olympic Marathon champion Stefano Baldini in attendance. Two Britons, Phil Wicks and Andrew Lemoncello, were also in the leading group. Farah made the most of the excellent conditions - overcast skies and a light breeze - as he knocked out consistent 2:40-2:45 kilometre splits. By the 3km mark he led a line of four athletes clear of the rest, with Kosgei already on his heels. These two gradually pulled away from the chasers over the next 4km as the course snaked along the Thames, past St Paul’s Cathedral, and through the City of London.
Farah made his move between 6 and 7km as the two leaders strode past St Paul’s for the second time. With a 2:40 split for the seventh kilometre the Briton finally pulled away from his stalker and headed back to the finish line in The Mall with the wind in his face.
“Samuel hung on for a long time,” said Farah afterwards. “I knew I could out-kick him so I wasn’t worried but I wanted a decent time so I thought I would push on and get away.”
“The crowd really helped. They made a big difference cheering all the way. Now I want to run well over the summer and keep moving on. My aim is to get the British 5000m record but more importantly I want to run well in the big championships.”
Kosgei had expected to do well here after setting a PB of 27:49 at the World’s Best 10km earlier this year, but the Kenyan was hampered by a tight calf in the closing stages.
“I thought I could stay with him but my calf started hurting and I couldn’t hang on,” he said. “I expected to win so I’m a bit disappointed.”
There was more good news for Britain as Phil Wicks beat Kiprop, the Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion to finish fourth. Baldini marked his 38th birthday by finishing eighth in 29:42.

WOMEN

If Farah had to fight for his victory, Smith had it all her own way in the women’s race. The 27-year-old Olympic finalist blasted off at the start leaving Dita and the rest in her wake. She ran unchallenged for the whole race and won by more than two minutes. “I’m feeling pretty fit right now and that felt very comfortable,” she said. “I wanted to make a good impression out there. I knew Constantina was feeling a little tired after the Olympics so I thought it’s a good chance to beat someone who’s an amazing runner.”
Dean was also delighted to notch up victory over the Olympic champion. A former British record holder for 3000m Steeplechase, Dean caught Dita at the half way mark and steadily pulled away over the second half.
“I was hoping for a slightly quicker time,” said Dean, who set her PB of 33:40 in Bristol earlier this month. “But I think it’s important to look at who I beat. I know she is a marathon specialist but to beat an Olympic champion is really exciting.”
For her part, Dita was just pleased to make the podium as she is still suffering with the liver problems that forced her to drop out of the London Marathon last month. “The time was not fast but it’s OK to come in the top three,” said the 39-year-old Romanian. “It’s my first race since the marathon so it’s fine. These girls are all younger than me anyway.”
Australia’s Emily Brichacek was fourth in 33:34, a personal best for the 18-year-old.

Product Review Center: Bart Yasso "My life on the run"

Like most other people, I had heard of Bart Yasso because of the "Yasso 800s", a 'methodology' he invented to determine a likely marathon finish time. The deal is to run 10 800s with a 400 jog. Whatever time in minutes and seconds you can run on average for the 800s, will be your likely marathon finish time in hours and minutes. It is a remarkably simple but effective method.
When we started mzungo.org, I spotted him on facebook and he invited him to be one of the first friends of Ask Mzungo.

The first (and so far only time) I saw Bart in person, was at the 2009 Boston Marathon expo where he worked for Runner's World. It was Sunday morning around 9 o'clock, the day before the race. He announced a preview of the "Born to Run" movie. The Runner's World movie room fit about 200 people. But all he got that early Sunday morning was about ten sleepy souls. However, he talked to us as if we were 200. You could tell that he was very experienced at it.

As soon as it was time for me again to go crazy on Amazon, I didn't hesitate and ordered Bart's book. As a true nerd, I read almost anything about running I get my hands on. However, the reviews for Bart's book were so outstanding that I wondered if all of Runner's World staff had to write a review on Amazon. This could be Amby Burfoot's: "This book cracked me up. Bart is inspirational, funny, and crazy. All the making's of a runner:)!" First he orders everyone to write a review than he gets away with a simple one-liner that on top of it contains a smilie (if you make the effort, you can even find some typos but who are we to point fingers...).

Its subtitle "The wit, wisdom and insights of a road racing icon" is a sweet summary of what to expect. At first glance I would put the emphasis on 'wit' though. He had me laugh a couple times and that's the way you always get me. But it wasn't just that what intrigued me.

Maybe it was his encounter with an Italian guy:
"Piero took me to a park saying he wanted to critique my running style. 'You have terrible form!' he said. 'You carry your arms too far from your body, you're bowlegged, and you have bad posture. You do everything wrong!'" Uh, I have heard that before. Maybe not only our times show the same running (dis-)ability?

Maybe it was his ride across the US - 165 miles a day for 20 days, all self supported - that got me hooked and renewed my wish to do the same asap. Later in the book he claims that only the South African Comrades Marathon is missing on his palmares. It is also on my list. Should I really keep pushing it for 'later'? Or will it be too late as it might be for him now, as he is fighting Lyme disease?

Maybe it was his devotion to help other runners as he had his own issues in life. "As runners, we each have a duty to accept the role as mentor to a slower runner or a new runner or someone who doesn't think he or she can walk around the block, let alone finish a 5k. Remember, we're not some members of a snooty, noses-in-the-air fraternity. We are runners!"

Whatever it was - probably a combination of it all - reading "My life on the run" left me with a good, almost fuzzy feeling. It is definitely light reading, very entertaining. But hidden under humor and wit it provides life lessons any runner might either be able to use as valid advice or at least appreciate and say "exactly".

mzungo.org says: get it now!

Ottawa Marathon: last year's champions defend, great debut by Docherty [results]

IAAF reports for mzungo.org

Ottawa, Canada - Kenya’s David Cheruiyot made it four wins in five years, while Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco also defended her title in Sunday’s Ottawa Marathon - an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
The race was started at 7:00 a.m. under clear skies with a cool breeze keeping the temperature hovering around 15 degrees celsius.

MEN

Earlier this week the 39-year-old Cheruiyot had boldly predicted he could dip under 2 hours 10 minutes but after the pack went through the half way point in 1:05:36 it was clearly not in the cards. Nor was an attack on his own course record of 2:10:35 set in 2005. A further annoyance appeared shortly thereafter as he battled a side stitch and watched Wegayehu Girma (Ethiopia) and Ahmed Baday (Morocco) pull away.
“The conditions were good but I had a stitch around half way and that caused me to reduce my speed,” he explained. “But then I picked up again. I caught them at 41km. I thought I was going to be number three. But with one kilometre to go I saw they were going slow and I tried to catch them.”
With three hundred metres remaining Cheruiyot appeared in front of the spectator’s grandstand in a furious sprint as Girma struggled to stay close. Six seconds eventually separated them and as the Kenyan crossed the line in 2:13:23 he held four fingers aloft to indicate his fourth Ottawa victory.
A race official handed him a Kenyan flag and he jogged back up the finishing straight to the delight of the fans. He earned $15,000 US for the victory.
Baday held on to 3rd place with 2:13:56. It was small consolation for the Moroccan who had done the majority of the pace making.
Reid Coolsaet was crowned Canadian champion in his marathon debut finishing in 2:17:10 for 8th place. For that he earns a $5,000 Cdn bonus.
“I wanted to be the top Canadian,” Coolsaet revealed. “I wanted to run under 2:16. I ran 2:17 low. I didn’t run as fast as I would have liked to. I can’t complain about the conditions today.”

WOMEN

Leghzaoui literally halted on the finish line and vomited in front of a wall of photographers, the effort of setting a course record of 2:27:41 clearly visible. She had led from the start and her margin of victory was telling. Second place went to Canada’s Russian born Lioudmila Kortchaguina in 2:32:10.
It has been a difficult year for the 37 year old Toronto resident. In November she lost her Canadian government funding and after finishing 3rd in the Houston Marathon in 2:30:34 learned her father was gravely ill. She returned to Russia in time to see him before he passed away in early March.
“I knew Asmae had run 1:10 for half marathon by herself two weeks ago and would try to break 2:26 here,” Kortchaguina said. “The others started faster than me and they paid for it. I moved into second place at the half way point. I tried to slow down. But everyone ran faster. Everyone was excited.”
“I don’t know yet if I will run the IAAF world championships in Berlin. I haven’t decided. The Canadian standard is 2:29 but nobody can do it. But for the team? I don’t know yet.”
The winner was accompanied by her husband and coach, Mohammed Arar, who draped a Moroccan flag over her shoulders as she slowly made her way to the athletes’ recovery area.
‘I am happy this year has been very good,” Leghzaoui declared. “I wanted a fast time I went alone but in the last few kilometres there was lots of wind. I expected some runners to push me but after three kilometres I was alone.
“Last year Ottawa was my first marathon. It was good experience. I was training to run faster than 2:27 today.”
Kenya’s Irene Jerotich claimed 3rd place in 2:34:28.
Fiona Docherty had a great debut, finishing between Ethiopian Getnet and Kenyan Kimuria in fifth place with a respectable 2:42:11. Stay tuned for her race report and a mzungo.org exclusive interview coming soon.

MEN
1. David Cheruiyot (Kenya)2:13:23
2. Wegayehu Girma (Ethiopia) 2:13:29
3. Ahmed Baday (Morocco) 2:13:56
4. Laban Moiben (Kenya) 2:14:17
5. Ketema Amensitsa Tadesee (Ethiopia) 2:14:48
6. Abraham Kabeto (Ethiopia)2:16:23
7. Thomas Omwenga (Kenya)2:16:32
8. Reid Coolsaet (Canada)2:17:10
9. Fikadu Lemma (Ethiopian) 2:18:31
10. Josephat Ongari (Kenya) 2:19:47

WOMEN
1. Asmae Leghzaoui (Morocco) 2:27:41
2. Lioudmila Kortchaguina (Canada) 2:32:10
3. Irene Jerotich Kosgei (Kenya) 2:34:28
4. Salomie Getnet (Ethiopian) 2:37:22
5. Fiona Docherty (New Zealand) 2:42:11
6. Evaline Kimuria (Kenya) 2:43:51
7. Katarina Janosikova (Slovak Republic)2:44:50
8. Caroline Chepkorir (Kenya) 2:49:48
9. Myriam Grenon (Canada) 2:51:09
10. Caroline McIlroy (Canada) 2:54:00

Comrades: Zimbabwean Muzhingi defeats Russian recordman Shvetsov

Zimbabwean Stephen Muzhingi (33, photo) was the first man to cross the winning line in this year’s Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban’s Sahara Stadium Kingsmead.
Muzhingi finished in a time of 5h23:26, the second-fastest recorded time in the history of the historic marathon.
A visibly jaded Muzhingi completed the course a mere three minutes from the record time of 5h20:49 set two years ago by Russian Leonid Shvetsov (photo below). Last year Muzhingi finished in third place.
Leonid Shvetsov, defending champion and record holder of both the "down" and "up" runs, was second in 05:33:05 and Charles Tjiane, the first South African home, came third in 05:34:18. The rest of the top ten are all South African athletes. Fourth was Fusi Nhlapo in a time of 5:36:16, Lucas Nonyana came in fifth in a time of 5:39:29.
In sixth place is Mncedisi Mkhize in a time of 5:41:14, seventh is Bongmusa Mthembu in 5:41:51, eighth was Peter Molapo with 5:42:24, ninth is Bethuel Netshifthefhe with 5:43:34, and in tenth place is Harmans Mokgadi in a time of 5:44.48.

Meanwhile, Olesya Nurgalieva won the women's race in an unofficial time of 6:12,08.
Her twin sister, Elena Nurgalieva was second in 6:12,11 followed by another Russian, Tatyana Zhirkova in 6:15,00.

Full results

Adam Jacobs of TheFinalSprint.com dead

[photo: two well known figures in the running circuit: Grete Waitz and Adam Jacobs]

By David Monti
(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

Adam Jacobs, the founder and editor of TheFinalSprint.com and an enthusiastic supporter of American distance running, died unexpectedly Friday night. He was 24 and lived in Jersey City, N.J.
The death was confirmed by his mother, Jodi Jacobs, who called the Race Results Weekly office Saturday morning to report her son's death.
Jacobs founded TheFinalSprint.com while a first year law student to provide both coverage of elite distance running and to build ties in the running community for athletes of all abilities. A natural salesman, Jacobs quickly found sponsors for the site and built up the site's editorial content with a special focus on podcasts and elite athlete blogs. Sara Hall, Ryan Hall, Nick Symmonds, and Jon Rankin were among the athletes who blogged on TheFinalSprint.com.
Like other information websites, TheFinalSprint.com was hit by the recent downturn in advertising and sponsorship revenue, especially from the auto industry. Over the last several months the site had fewer updates than normal.
Mrs. Jacobs encouraged mourners to make a donation in Adam's name to their favorite running organization.

mzungo.org says: I was a big fan of Adam's podcast, it was easily the best running podcast out there. He had great interviews that made my long runs a pleasure and inspired my running. I never thought he was only 22 when he started the podcast. He seemed very professional and mature.
THANKS FOR ALL MATE, YOU WILL BE MISSED!

Merga 27:24 - we were right but we're impressed nonetheless!

We predicted ten days ago that Deriba Merga would come short at his trial to run a new road 10k world record by besting Micah Kogo's 27:01 from this spring. However, a 27:24 is much faster than we expected and quite intimidating given that Merga just won the Boston Marathon. He completely annihilated the race putting almost a full minute into Kenyans Boaz Cheboiywo clocking a time of 28:17, while Hosea Kibet Rutto was third at 28:21.
Despite taking the 8k world record en route (21:48, minus 14 seconds), Merga wasn't happy with his race. He was cited to have run well and fast back home but somehow not being able to transform that onto the streets of Canada's capital.

[Full results and marathon report to follow soon!]

mzungo.org says: there should be more competitive road 10ks and 5ks. Yes, track is great but racing on the road brings such a different dynamic. People can watch for free. The trace will actually be followed from the gun unlike track where TV stations chime in and out, often just showing the last three to four laps. With a channel like Universalsports we might have a broadcaster for internet showing. When it comes to marathons, Universalsports has started the next big thing with its free live broadcasts.
Put together an elite pack of maybe 30 guys, block an inner city square of about a mile and let them rip it!

Man to watch: Julius Kibet mzungo.org favorite for LA Marathon

With the 24th Los Angeles Marathon only two days away, the excitement seems to grow daily. Sure, LA is not Boston or London. In fact, on marathon terms it is probably 6.2 miles away from that, the difference between good and great. However, we feel that its profile has risen to a level where we have not seen it for a long time. It might have been more important in earlier years but we are too young to judge on that (whoa, I get to say "too young" while talking about myself). The late May date might have to do with it. Many runners can do more miles in wamer weather. Sure, it could get hot on race day but that's the trade-off. Rumours have it that this year's move from March to May is not set in stone. As long as LA stays away from April, it could build on a rising profile.
Universalsports has a nice roll down of the pro's roster - check it out.

However, we decided to pick our own favorite and give you some background about the guy.
His name is Julius Kibet, he's Kenyan and 27 years old.

Julius is known as a very solid racer from 10-K to 25-K. He's often popping a 62ish half and won the Philly Distance run over that distance three times, with a PR of 61:17 in 2004.
He used to be part of the gang at Westchester Track Club and as such got his first taste of the marathon distance as a pacemaker in New York in 2006, going to 25K. But when he came back the following year to run the full distance he failed to finish despite running two good half-marathons in the lead-up to the race. He finally made the full distance in Frankfurt last October, but finished some three minutes behind the winner. While three minutes is a lot, a 2:10:14 is nothing to sneeze at, especially given that in hindsight Frankfurt turned out to be one of the great marathons in 2008.
So, why Julius? He might lack experience for the distance but he hasn't raced yet this year (or under our radar) and will therefore be fresh. The 30somethings in the race might be up for a surprise when things get fast on Monday.

(Julius Kibet running the 2006 NYC Marathon as pacemaker aside Henrik Ramaala - photo courtesy of the NYTimes)

Paul T. hit´s Dublin

Paul Tergat is one of the greatest runner´s ever. But he´s not only a great sportsman.

When racing the Great Ireland Run in Dublin earlier this year, Athletics Ireland had a press conference at the Clonliffe Harrier´s Clubhouse in Santry, Dublin where Paul showed his dedication and love to the sport in his very special manner.

A lot of video´s from the press conference are now uploaded HERE and are ALL worth to watch.

ELITE FIELD PROMISES SURPRISES AT LOS ANGELES MARATHON XXIV

There’s no obvious favorite in either the men’s or women’s division of the 24th Los Angeles Marathon. And that’s a good thing.
Sure, there are five men with lifetime bests under 2:10, but could a former track & field star ascend thepodium in victory in front of the Los Angeles Central Library on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25?

A candidate worth considering has to be Kenya’s Benjamin Limo, who enters the race with whatappears to be a modest marathon best of 2:12:45 from the 2008 Amsterdam Marathon. But he is aformer IAAF World Champion in the 5,000 meters from 2005 and has plenty of speed. Now 34, he’s moved onto the roads and according to manager Ricky Simms, “Ben is very serious about the marathon. As one of the top long-distance track runners, he is determined to run a world-class time on the roads. He was in good shape for Amsterdam last fall and was running well up to 20 miles but got bad blisters in the last few miles and jogged in.
“He would like to run well in L.A.”

He will get to test his fitness against 2007 Los Angeles Marathon champion and fellow Kenyans Fred Mogaka (2:12:03 best from 2006), Laban Kipkemboi (Kenya, 2:08:38 best from 2007), who finished second in 2006 and third in the 2005 Los Angeles Marathon and 2007 runner-up Moses Kororia. Two Ethiopians have the best recent marathon marks in the field in 24-year-old Tariku Jufar, who ran a quick 2:08:10 in Frankfurt in October, 2008 and Negari Terfa, who has already clocked 2:09:01 this season in the Xiamen Marathon in China on January 3.

The 26.2-mile race will be run on the fastest course in Los Angeles Marathon history, previously used in 2005 and 2006, where Kenya’s then-21-year-old Benson Cherono ran a race record 2:08:40 in 2006.
Among the women, the fastest time coming into the race belongs to 38-year-old Romanian Nuta Olaro who ran 2:24:33 in Chicago way back in 2004. But two Russians are on the rise and could challenge Lidiya Grigoryeva’s race record of 2:25:10, also from 2006: Lyubov Morgunova and Tatiana Petrova.
Morgunova, also 38, won the prestigious Rotterdam Marathon last year in her lifetime best of 2:25:12 and then followed up with a strong ninth-place finish in the 2008 New York City Marathon (2:30:38).
Petrova was the silver medalist in the 3000 m Steeplechase in the 2007 IAAF World Championships,then finished fourth in the Olympic Games steeplechase final in Beijing last year. Only 26, she has dabbled in the marathon since 2004 but slashed more than five minutes off her lifetime best with athird-place finish in the Dubai Marathon in January in 2:25:53. Is she ready to step up with anothermonster improvement in Los Angeles?

The 2009 Los Angeles Marathon offers a prize purse of $100,000 in cash, divided evenly between menand women with $20,000 for each winner, runner-up prize of $12,500 and additional prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 for places three through five. The winners will also receive a 2009 Honda AccordEX-L V6 sedan, which has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $28,705. However, the first person – man or woman – to cross the finish line will receive an additional $100,000 in the unique Los Angeles Marathon “Challenge.” Begun in 2004, the Challenge pits the men and women against each other by starting the women’s elite field several minutes ahead of the men; the first person to reach the finish line will win the Challenge purse. In addition, bonuses for achieving specific times are available from an additional $3,000 for a sub-2:12:00 (men) or sub-2:30:00 (women) performance up to $75,000 for a sub-2:07:30 race for the men orsub-2:20:00 for the women.

The Los Angeles Marathon XXIV elite fields as of May 13, which are subject to change:

1 Jufar, Tariku ETH
2 Kipkemboi, Laban KEN
4 Terfa, Negari ETH
5 Kosgei, Paul KEN
6 Kemboi, Peter KEN
7 Koskei, Julius KEN
8 El Boumlili, Khalid MAR
9 Tusse, Feyisa ETH
10 Wami, Mulugeta ETH
11 Limo, Benjamin KEN
12 Mogaka, Fred KEN
13 Kororia, Moses KEN
14 Korir, Wesley KEN
15 Colorado, Diego COL
16 Batres, Mark USA Rowland Heights, CA
17 Livingston, Brian USA Los Angeles, CA
18 Lemma, Fekadu ETH
19 Arusei, Issac KEN
20 Gutierrez, Jason COL

Marathons this weekend

23 - Europe marathon Luxembourg - Luxembourg
24 - Run Ottawa - Ottawa - Ontario - Canada
24 - Copenhagen marathon - Copenhagen - Denmark
24 - Regensburg marathon - Regensburg - Germany
24 - Iwelt marathon Wurzburg - Wurzburg - Germany
24 - Rwanda marathon for Peace - Kigali - Rwanda
24 - Winterthur marathon - Winterthur - Switzerland
24 - Coeur d'Alene marathon - Coeur d'Alene - ID - US
24 - Med-City marathon - Rochester - MN - US
24 - Buffalo marathon - Buffalo - NY - US
24 - Keybank Vermont City marathon - Burlington - VT - US
24 - Mad-City marathon - Madison - WI - US
25 - Los Angeles marathon - Los Angeles - CA - US

Merga vs Makau over 10km - Ottawa prepares itself for a world class weekend of road racing

We have given our view on Merga's 10k world record attempt already last week.

IAAF reports today with a more extensive outlook on the Ottawa racing weekend:

Setting a World record in Saturday’s MDS Nordion 10km (23) in Ottawa would continue a phenomenal season for Ethiopia’s Deriba Merga.
This weekend this Canadian city will host a 10km and a Marathon, which are both IAAF Silver Label Road Races.
Earlier this year (Ras Al Khaimah, 20/02/2009) the 28-year-old Merga equalled** Felix Limo’s World 15km best in a time of 41:29, and then last month went on to win the Boston Marathon in 2:08:42. That’s two colossal achievements in a very short span.

Merga is an enormous and versatile talent. Two years ago he ran a track personal best for 10,000m of 27:02.62, and in 2008 set a PB of 2:06:38 when coming sixth at the London Marathon, and was unlucky to miss out on an Olympic marathon medal in Beijing where he finished fourth.
Since his Boston Marathon victory on 20 April Merga has been training at home in Addis Ababa with the World 10km record in mind, the global mark of 27:01 which is currently held** by Kenya’s Micah Kogo (Brunssum, 29/03/2009).
Yet neither the World record nor victory will come easy in Ottawa.
Merga ran his 15km time en route in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, and a second behind him at that split was Kenya’s Patrick Makau Musyoki. But by the end of the race it was Makau who held the upper hand winning the half marathon in 58:52 with Merga well beaten in third in 59:18. It was a PB for the Kenyan, the second fastest run of all-time, while Merga was just outside his career best (59:15, New Delhi, 9 Nov 2008).
Makau will also be racing in Ottawa, and both men have the same 27:42 PB for 10km, again from the Ras Al Khaimah race. An intriguing and possibly epic battle between two of the world's best road racers awaits!
Another top Kenyan will also be vying for the win, reigning champion Julius Kiptoo, who battled jet lag and a head wind over the final four kilometres to win in 28:37 a year ago, returns to defend his title.

Organisers have put up a World record bonus of $100,000. The winner will receive $5,000.
Elite Athlete director Manny Rodrigues says the course has been altered somewhat since Race director John Halvorsen, a former Norwegian international, raced to a time of 28:12 way back in 1988.
“The course John ran on is an older course which was probably a bit slower,” Rodrigues says. “That started on Parliament Hill. It had a different start and finish. This course is… flat and fast. The only hill is at 5km. You have to cross a bridge to get over the Rideau canal. It’s only a 5m rise over a kilometre. It’s sort of an out and back course. You go down one side of the canal then back along the other side. It minimises the number of turns. Actually there are only six turns.”

One of the challenges facing Rodrigues is finding pacemakers capable of pulling the favourites through the half way point in under 13:30. Boaz Cheboiywo and Dereje Tadesse (Ethiopia) have been enlisted for the task. The latter won the Cleveland Rite Aid 10k last weekend in 28:55. Cheboiywo, who was born in Kenya but now resides in Michigan, is also in very good shape having run 28:31 for 3rd place in New York’s Healthy Kidney 10k.

The Ottawa marathon is being run for the first time in five years without a title sponsor. John Halvorsen says the organisers are actively searching for a replacement for ING for 2010 but participants in all events will still receive the exceptional treatment for which the Ottawa weekend has come to be known.
The numbers are growing every year and both major events are sold out. At the front of the marathon pack in the women’s race three-time Canadian champion Lioudmila Kortchaguina is expected to challenge for the $15,000 first place prize money and the honour of being the first female to win Ottawa five times. She won in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007. A year ago she was an eleventh hour scratch. Earlier this year she ran 2:30:34 to finish 3rd at the Houston Marathon at the age of 36.

Defending champion Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco returns to the Canadian capital. Others bearing a second look are Liza Hunter-Galvan (New Zealand), a
consistent 2:30 marathoner and Irene Jerotich Kosgei of Kenya who has also run in the 2:31 range. Look out for triathlete turned runner Fiona Docherty who will debut on the Marathon (outside of an Ironman).

Underscoring the critical role experience plays in marathoning David Cheruiyot of Kenya, a three time Ottawa winner also returns. Now 39-year-old he still believes he is capable of a sub 2:10 clocking. A year ago he blamed the lack of pacemakers at 30km for missing the course record of 2:10:36 he himself set in 2007.
“I hope to run 2:09 on Sunday,” he declared from his home in Kapsabet, Kenya.” I hope to run maybe five more years. It’s my work now. I don’t work, that is my job. I have some businesses but I want to run.”
Once again others in the strong African contingent are expected to fight for the prize money. Luka Chelimo of Kenya, Ethiopia’s Ketema Tadesse and Ahmed Baday of Morocco have all run under 2:11.

Victory is worth $15,000 with a sub 2:10 bonus of $5,000 also on offer. Should be an extraordinary weekend in Ottawa.

Baldini and Dita set for London 10km

Olympic Marathon champions past and present return to the British capital next Monday (25 May) in a bid to win the second edition of the 'Bupa London 10,000'.

Stefano Baldini, who won the Athens Olympic Marathon in 2004, will be chasing victory for Italy on his 38th birthday, while Constantina Dita, the 2008 Olympic Marathon champion, is seeking redemption in the women’s race after the 39-year-old Romanian was forced to drop out of the London Marathon just a month ago.

They will race over a spectacular central London course which follows the proposed route of the 2012 Olympic Games Marathons, starting in Birdcage Walk and taking in Parliament Square, Victoria Embankment, St Paul’s Cathedral, the City and Trafalgar Square before finishing in The Mall.

“I am delighted to be returning to London for the BUPA London 10,000,” said Baldini, who ran the London Marathon eight times over 10 years, finishing second in 1997 and 2003.

“I have raced in this city many times and have many great memories,” he added. “I will be doing my best to give myself a great birthday present with another top three London finish on 25 May.”

Elite starters and their PRs

Men

Abdullah Ahmad Hassan QAT 27:31
Luke Kibet KEN 27:47
Samuel Kosgei KEN 27:49
Boniface Kiprop UGA 27:58
Sergiy Lebid UKR 27:58
Mo Farah GBR 28:07
Stefano Baldini ITA 28:10
Phil Wicks GBR 28:54
Andrew Lemoncello GBR 29:18

Women

Constantina Dita ROU 31:11
Kim Smith NZL 32:18
Fatna Maraoui ITA 32:38
Emily Brichacek AUS 33:48
Hatti Dean GBR 33:40

Course Video: Bolder Boulder, Boulder, USA

Ethiopian Teams Look Hard To Beat At Bolder Boulder 10-K

Monday's 31st running of the Dick's Sporting Goods Bolder Boulder 10-K in Boulder, Colo., will feature the 12th edition of the race's unique International Team Challenge, and the Ethiopian squads will be hard to beat. Teams, which are comprised of three athletes from the same nation plus British Commonwealth and Colorado state squads, are scored using traditional cross country scoring, and the top male and female teams will earn $15,000. There is also individual prize money and time bonuses to further sweeten the pot.

Ethiopia scored a scant 11 points in last year's competition, handily defeating their traditional rivals Kenya by nine points. Although only one of their athletes will return this year, Gebo Burka who finished third, the newcomers are top-notch: Tilahun Regassa and Tadese Tola. Regassa won both the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10-K and Cooper River Bridge Run 10-K earlier this year, and was second at last week's ING Bay to Breakers. Tola smashed the Central Park record for 10 km at last Saturday's Healthy Kidney 10-K (27:48) and is clearly in excellent shape.

MORE

mzungo.org keeps a close eye on hardcore-jogger Lucho. Keep it coming Tim! ;-)

Pro Athletes Running

Official Site

KENYA’S PAUL TERGAT TO RACE AT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SEATTLE

Tergat, two-time Olympicsilver medalist, recently won the Lake Biwa Marathon in Japan with a time of 2:10:22. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, as the first runner in history to break 2:05 with a time of 2:04:55.

“I’m excited to be part of the first Rock ‘n’ Roll event in Seattle. I’m very happy with my races in 2009 and I’m hoping that will continue at the end of next month,” said Tergat, who will be running his first race in the U.S. since the ING New York City Marathon last year. “I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll in Virginia Beach back in 2002 and I’m looking forward to be being part of another great event. I’ve yet to decide on my plans for the rest of the year but I am enjoying my running at the moment and looking forward to a competitive half marathon.”

Tergat’s PR in the halfmarathon is 59:17, set in 1998, which at the time was the world’s best and is still one of the top-20 all time fastest times ever recorded for the distance. He is the fourth fastest marathon runner in history and his marathon PR currently ranks as the sixth fastest ever run.

“We are thrilled to have Paul Tergat race in Seattle,” said Matt Turnbull, elite athlete coordinator for the event. “Paul is one of the true icons of athletics and has been a champion whether it be on the track, roads or cross-country.”