*Breaking News* Lel is back with a 61:07 win in New Orleans

Top 10 Men

202 Martin Lel 1:01:07
201 Sammy Wanjiru 1:01:33
205 Shadrack Biwott 1:01:40
203 Martin Fagan 1:02:11
204 McDonald Ondara 1:02:26
260 Mike Morgan 1:02:56
208 Robert Scribner 1:05:43
206 Anthony Gallo 1:06:17
200 Abebe Yimer 1:06:34
209 Neil McDonagh 1:06:51

Top 10 Women

251 Berhane Adere 1:07:52
253 Kim Smith 1:07:55
252 Azalech Maresha 1:09:46
255 Lisa Paulson 1:13:15
261 Ramilya Burangulova 1:13:38
257 Diane Nukuri 1:14:25
2733 Erin O'Mara 1:21:08
1785 Sarah Skotty 1:21:18
1690 Varinka Barbini 1:22:20
1682 Elizabeth Chenoweth 1:23:05

Report to follow, stay tuned!

TOKYO MARATHON

by Brett Larner, japanrunningnews

What a day. With 6 degree temperatures at the start, strong winds, rain turning to snow as temperatures fell, and a tsunami warning for the waterfront finish area, this year's Tokyo Marathon had the worst conditions in the event's four-year history. That is saying quite a bit after the cold rain in 2007 and the gale-force winds last year. Times were never on the table as runners fought simply to survive.

Injury-plagued debut marathon national record holder Masakazu Fujiwara (Team Honda) staged a major comeback, gutting it out over a pack of nine with a surge at 2:52/km over the last 2.195 km to win the men's race in 2:12:19, the first Japanese man to win Tokyo. 2008 Tokyo runner-up Arata Fujiwara (Team JR Higashi Nihon), no relation, won out a great sprint finish for 2nd against half marathon national record holder Atsushi Sato (Team Chugoku Denryoku) and amateur Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't). Time aside, the day was a big one for Masakazu Fujiwara. One of the best university runners Japan has ever produced with the debut and university marathon record of 2:08:12 and a World University Games half marathon gold medal to his name, Fujiwara has struggled with overtraining-induced injuries throughout his pro career. Tokyo was only his 2nd marathon in the 7 years since his record-setting debut, and his win was a sign that at age 28 he may finally be ready to live up to the potential he showed years ago. At the post-race press conference Fujiwara told reporters, "After joining Honda I trained too hard for five years and was always injured. I've learned self-control recently and that is very significant. I think this is the new start of my marathon career. I think 2:06 is possible."

Russian Alevtina Biktimirova broke the women's field with a surge just before 12 km, dropping 30 seconds off her 5 km split and building a lead which was never threatened even as she slowed dramatically in the final stages. Biktimirova took her first Tokyo win in 2:34:39 as the top Japanese women fell apart in the wet snow, defending champion Mizuho Nasukawa (Team Universal Entertainment) and the retiring Akemi Ozaki (Second Wind AC) both dropping out after alternating the lead in the chase pack. Ozaki was last seen staggering near 35 km and then talking to medical personnel. In their absence amateur Maki Kono (AC Kita) was the first Japanese finisher, 4th behind Ethiopian Robe Guta and Romanian Nuta Olaru. "I ran with the intent of setting a new PB," commented Biktimirova at the post-race press conference. "That's why I went out fast. However, because it was cold, I realized that it wasn't possible to run a PB today, so in the last half of the race I changed my goal to just winning the race.”

The men's race went out slightly off pace in the cold and rain at 3:02-3:03/km until the 15 km turnaround at Shinagawa, but even this was too much for some as contenders including Tokyo 2008 and 2009 3rd place finishers Kensuke Takahashi (Team Toyota) and Julius Gitahi (Team Nissin Shokuhin) fell away. Rounding the post, the leaders ran straight into a headwind that lasted until the Asakusa turnaround just before 28 km. The pace dropped to 3:12/km but still runners lost contact, and around 26 km the rain turned to wet snow.

Rounding into the tailwind at 28 km, 2009 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon winner Akinori Shibutani (Team Yanagawa Denki) made a sudden, bold move with a push down to 3:00/km pace. Nobody made an immediate move to follow, the pack instead spending the next 4 km reeling him back in. Masakazu Fujiwara made the next move at 33 km. He opened a gap but at 34 km abruptly slowed and went to the rear of the pack. From there the pace slowed and the pack of nine began to wait for someone to make the next move. Kawauchi and first-time marathoner Joseph Mwaniki (Team Konica Minolta) took turns leading but nobody stepped up as the group ran over the bridges from 36 to 40 km.

Finally, at 40 km Masakazu Fujiwara took the reins and launched an attack going through the water station. Sato, Kawauchi and Mwaniki went after him but could not match strides. Arata Fujiwara was at the back of the pack and seemed to be caught off guard but shot up the inside of the pack in pursuit. As Masakazu Fujiwara built an unbreakable lead over the final two km, Arata Fujiwara waited until the downhill with one km to go to break away from Sato and Kawauchi. Only one second separated the trio from each other at the goal, with 15 seconds splitting the two Fujiwaras.

Arata Fujiwara and Sato's runs were good steps in the right direction even though each fell short of his goal, but Kawauchi's performance was the sensation of this year's Tokyo Marathon after Masakazu Fujiwara's return. A young self-training office worker in the Saitama Prefectural Government, Kawauchi's time of 2:12:36 was a PB by 5 minutes despite the conditions and a pre-race goal of 2:14. Looking at some of the people he beat and came close to beating it's quite possible he will get under 2:10 soon, something that would be noteworthy indeed.

2010 Tokyo Marathon - Top Finishers
click here for complete results and splits
Men
1. Masakazu Fujiwara (Team Honda) - 2:12:19
2. Arata Fujiwara (Team JR Higashi Nihon) - 2:12:34
3. Atsushi Sato (Team Chugoku Denryoku) - 2:12:35
4. Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) - 2:12:36 - PB
5. Tomoya Adachi (Team Asahi Kasei) - 2:12:46
6. Joseph Mwaniki (Kenya/Team Konica Minolta) - 2:12:53 - debut
7. Rachid Kisri (Morocco) - 2:12:59
8. Takaaki Koda (Team Asahi Kasei) - 2:13:04 - debut
9. Salim Kipsang (Kenya) - 2:13:16
10. Kiyokatsu Hasegawa (Team JR Higashi Nihon) - 2:15:15 - debut

Women
1. Alevtina Biktimirova (Russia) - 2:34:39
2. Robe Guta (Ethiopia) - 2:36:29
3. Nuta Olaru (Romania) - 2:36:42
4. Maki Kono (AC Kita) - 2:39:01
5. Jing Yang (China) - 2:41:04
6. Yumi Sato (Team Shiseido) - 2:43:01 - debut
7. Wakana Hanado (Team Nanchiku) - 2:44:03 - PB
8. Julia Mumbi (Kenya/Team Universal Entertainment) - 2:45:11
9. Yoshimi Kasezawa (Hadano Sports Park AC) - 2:47:03
10. Noriko Hirao (First Dream AC) - 2:47:32

No XC Worlds for Ritz

"I regret to announce that I am withdrawing from the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. I am very disappointed not to be able to lead the team that will be going to Poland to compete for Team USA. I have had a series of setbacks this winter that have held me back from training at 100%. A nagging injury as well as a stomach virus have caused me to miss training over the past couple weeks and I have not been able get to the level of training that is required for me to be at my best. To reach the goals I have set out for the year, I need to be completely healthy and ready to train as hard and smart as possible.. After talking with my coach Alberto Salazar we decided that it was more important for me to refocus my goals of having another successful track season and most importantly, preparing for a return to the marathon in the fall. I love cross country and I was very excited to represent my country; however this is the right decision for me to have a successful year and continue my development to the highest level possible. We decided it was not worth the risk for me to continue to train through these problems at the expense of being fully prepared for the summer and fall. This was a very difficult decision for me but I look forward to being back 100% and ready to go again soon."

SOURCE

Results 28th Bremgarten Reusslauf/CH (11k)

1. Schaffner Jérôme 1978 Neuchâtel 33.00,9 ----- (1) M30 1. 3.00
2. Nesero Kadi 1986 Mülligen 33.05,4 0.04,5 (2) M20 1. 3.00
3. Feyisa Mengesha 1978 Herisau 33.28,3 0.27,4 (4) M30 2. 3.02
4. Stähli Lukas 1982 Wattwil LC Meilen 33.37,0 0.36,1 (2140) M20 2. 3.03
5. Kreienbühl Christian 1981 Rüti ZH 33.40,8 0.39,9 (1333) M20 3. 3.03
6. van Berkel Jan 1986 Winkel Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon 33.44,3 0.43,4 (2317) M20 4. 3.04
7. Oliver Rubén 1976 Ebmatingen TV Oerlikon 34.31,8 1.30,9 (1708) M30 3. 3.08
8. Valterio David 1978 Sion 34.42,1 1.41,2 (3699) M30 4. 3.09
9. Lehmann Adrian 1989 Langenthal LV Langenthal 35.04,8 2.03,9 (3890) M20 5. 3.11
10. Linder Philippe 1978 Wilen (Sarnen) Parmino Racing Team 35.13,1 2.12,2 (1430) M30 5. 3.12

How in the world did Paula run 2:15?

What Paula actually wanted to do in spring 2003 was run in the men's race. She wanted to start on the same start-line as Khannouchi et al. It would have been tough, in London there aren't normally too many men running in the 2:15 range, so she might have ended up running largely alone. She knew that, but was prepared to take the risk, for something great.

London didn't want her to do that and forced her to run the women's race, so that they could guarantee maximum TV coverage of her. As a compromise they offered her male pacers in that race, and she accepted their offer. But it hadn't been her idea.

That race does not count as the women's only world record race, it counts as the world record race for a mixed race. The two men were contractually obliged to run to the finish. This was really no different from Chicago.

People forget about London 2005 in which Paula ran, entirely alone after quickly demolishing the female pacers, 2:17. I saw her do that live, all by herself down the street, sprinting into view and then disappering with just the motorbike for company.

Pacing wasn't ever particularly important to Paula. So often she was someone else's pacer.

posted by 'some coked up brit' on letsrun.com

Blog roll: RUNssel heading south

And once again i´m happy that the bulky triathlon days are over.

Packing today as i have to be out of the bed on Saturday morning at 3.30am to get the 6am Dublin - Rome flight!

Devo andare...

Ramaala for President!

Johannesburg - Former New York marathon champion Hendrick Ramaala wants to take over as the head of Athletics South Africa (ASA) when a new board is elected in a few months' time.

Ramaala sits on the interim board that was voted in last November after ASA president Leonard Chuene and his executive were suspended with senior members of ASA staff - all of whom face disciplinary hearings for financial mismanagement and their bungling of the Caster Semenya gender controversy.

And the 38-year-old, who will compete in the Lake Biwa marathon in Otsu, Japan on March 7, believes he has what it takes to rebuild the sport.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't want the president's position," Ramaala said on Thursday.

"We, as athletes, understand athletics and we know what the problems are. We are ready to take back our sport."

The veteran distance runner, who holds the South African 10 000m and half-marathon records, said he would remain competitive as an athlete and still have time to lead the ASA administration.

"Not one person on the previous board didn't have other business interests," Ramaala said.

"Sometimes board members in sports organisations don't even pitch for meetings because they have other commitments, but I've got the time to do the job.

"I train in the mornings, and then I have the whole day free, and I can work my life around my responsibilities as president. I only travel two or three times a year for short periods of time.

"At the moment, on the interim board, we meet once a month. These monthly or weekly meetings are nothing. I'm ready for a real challenge."

Last month ASA interim board member James Evans resigned because he felt South Africa's Olympic governing body (SASCOC), who took over the federation after Chuene and his board were suspended, were not allowing athletics experts to run the sport. And Ramaala agrees that the only way ASA will recover from the mess created by the former board is to hand the sport to those with experience in athletics.

"We don't want to be explaining to people what a 100m sprint is, or why the national cross country championships are important, or why the national marathon trials should not be held a month before a global championship," Ramaala said.

"The athletes are more than ready to run the organisation. You don't need a political degree to run this organisation - you need to understand athletics.

"Other sports are so far ahead of us because they are run by people who understand those sports and have played those sports, but athletics has been run by people who have never run in their lives. You only have to look at their waistbands to realise that."

The ASA interim board must be replaced by a permanent executive by the end of May - the end of the six-month deadline given to ASA administator Ray Mali and his team - and Ramaala will take his first step to finding a seat on that board this weekend.

The Central Gauteng Athletics provincial association will elect a new board on Saturday, and Ramaala has been touted as the favourite for the president's seat.

"I have been approached by some people who say they want me for that position," Ramaala said, "and if it's offered I will accept it.

"If I don't say yes, I will be failing my supporters and my sport. We must not allow power mongers who don't care about the sport to take over again."

mzungo.org says: where can we vote, mate?

TOKYO MARATHON: IAAF preview

Tokyo, Japan, Ken Nakamura for the IAAF - The 2010 Tokyo Marathon, the only mass participation Marathon with an IAAF Gold Label in Japan, is scheduled to start at 9:10AM (9:05AM for wheelchair) on Sunday February 28. It is the only major marathon in Japan with the start time in early morning.

Men’s course record under threat?

The course record, 2:07:23 set by Viktor Rothlin set two years ago, could be broken, for three runners with better personal bests will start. The quickest on paper is Rachid Kisri of Morocco with the personal best of 2:06:48 set at the 2009 Paris Marathon. Others who have run fastet than Rothlin’s mark are Kenyan William Kiplagat, who clocked 2:06:50 in Amsterdam back in 1999; and local favourite Atsushi Sato, who ran 2:07:13 at the 2007 Fukuoka Marathon, and will be looking for his first career win.

“This is the 13th marathon of my career, but I have yet to win one,” Sato said. “In Berlin, I was sixth but was not contending for the medal. So on Sunday my goal is to win my first marathon.”

Although Kiplagat’s personal best is more than a decade old, he has not slowed down much. He clocked 2:07:05 at the 2009 Frankfurt Marathon, his second fastest time. As it turns out, Kiplagat’s first and most recent sub- 2:08 marathon spans a record 10 years. The previous record was jointly held by Stefano Baldini and Khalid Khannouchi, who both recorded their last sub-2:08 nine years after their first. Incidentally, Kiplagat’s 2:07:05 is the fastest ever for a 37- year-old. So Sunday could be another record setting day for Kiplagat if he runs another sub-2:08 marathon.

At the pre-race press conference today (26), Kisri claimed to be good shape. When legendary marathon runner Toshihiko Seko asked if any particular training session gave a needed confidence boost, Kisri said, “There is a two loop course (total of 34Km at high altitude) in Morocco everyone runs in training. (Two-time World champion) Gharib ran the course in 1:55, where I have covered the same course in 1:54.”

To the same question, Arata Fujiwara, who finished second two years ago with 2:08:50, said, “My 40Km run on February 3 was a big confidence builder. At 15Km I started to feel bad and started to think about quitting. However, soon, my rhythm returned and I was able to finish the run with 3:10 to 3:20 per Km pace. The fact that I was able to overcome the bad patch during the long run was a big confidence builder.”

Other men’s contenders

Kisri, Kiplagat and Sato are not the only runners capable of breaking the course record. The defending champion Salim Kipsang, along with Charles Kamathi , Gudisa Shentema and Teferi Wodajo all have personal best under 2:08 making the mark within reach. Kamathi especially has high potential, for he is the 2001 World champion at 10,000m with a 26:59.49 career best. Kamathi has a pair of sub-2:08 marathons (2:07:33 in 2008 Rotterdam and 2:07:48 in 2008 Berlin) to his credit, but considering his personal best at 10,000m as well as his half marathon best of 1:00:22, Kamathi should have much faster marathon in him.

Shentema and Wodajo both recorded their personal bests recently (2:07:34 for Shentema in Paris 2008 Paris and 2:07:45 for Wodajo at Amsterdam 2009) and thus it is possible that they are in an upward spiral and can improve their personal best further.

Another runner who ought to be able to run faster is Julius Gitahi, a 27:11.17man in the 10,000m with a marathon best of 2:08:57. Gitahi was a superb high school runner while in Sendai Ikue High school, also the alma mater of Olympic Marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru. Gitahi’s section record in the national high school ekiden still stands, a mark Wanjiru was unable to break.

The most intriguing runner in the field may be Nicholas Kiprono. Although he clocked only 2:17:15 in his only completed marathon, he has three sub-61:02 Half Marathons to his credit in 2009, suggesting he may be ready for a breakthrough.

Guta and Biktimirova the favourites in the women’s race

Turning attention to the women’s side, the favorite may be Robe Guta of Ethiopia, the fastest in the field with 2:24:35. However, Alevtina Biktimirova, who lost to Dire Tune by two seconds at the 2008 Boston Marathon is quite competitive and could be a surprise.

“I am in the best shape of my life,” Biktimirova said. However, her stated goal was quite modest, saying she is just looking to to improve her time from last year, while defending champion Mizuho Nasukawa and Akemi Ozaki were more aggressive.

“I am getting better and better every day starting in early February,” Nasukawa said. “I am going after my personal best, which is also the course record.” Ozaki is also going after the win and the course record.

Julia Mumbi, a Kenyan who lives in Japan is coached by Yoshio Koide who coached 2000 Olympic Marathon champion Naoko Takahashi, could also be a factor. Nineteen-year-old Yang Jing could be another surprise.

The race starts by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku and runs by the imperial palace, through Ginza, Asakusa and Tsukiji before finishing at the Tokyo Big Sight. The race starts around 40m above sea level and lose most of the elevation in first 5Km, after which the course is mostly flat except for three bridges after 28Km.

A record 32,000 runners, selected from 272,134 applicants, will start the Marathon while 3000 will participate in the accompanying 10Km road race. The weather forecast calls for rain, but what can slow down the race is the wind from the sea nearing the end of the race.

The men’s contest is a selection race for the Japanese squad for the 2010 Asian Games. The List of Invited Runners:

Men
Rachid Kisri (MAR) 2:06:48 2009 Paris
William Kiplagat (KEN) 2:06:50 1999 Amsterdam
Salim Kipsang (KEN) 2:07:29 2007 Berlin
Charles Kamathi (KEN) 2:07:33 2008 Rotterdam
Gudisa Shentema (ETH) 2:07:34 2008 Paris
Teferi Wodajo (ETH) 2:07:45 2009 Amsterdam
Julius Gitahi (KEN) 2:08:57 2008 Tokyo
Aleksey Sokolov (RUS) 2:09:07 2007 Dublin
Nicholas Kiprono (UGA) 2:17:15 2008 Baltimore

Japanese
Atsushi Sato 2:07:13 2007 Fukuoka
Arata Fujiwara 2:08:40 2008 Tokyo
Yuzo Onishi 2:08:54 2008 Lake Biwa
Kurao Umeki 2:09:52 2003 Berlin
Seiji Kobayashi 2:10:38 2009 Beppu-Oita
Kensuke Takahashi 2:11:25 2009 Tokyo
Shigeru Aburaya 2:07:52 2001 Lake Biwa
Tomoya Adachi 2:11:59 2008 Beppu-Oita

Women
Alevtina Biktimirova (RUS) 2:25:12 2005 Frankfurt
Robe Guta (ETH) 2:24:35 2006 Hamburg
Julia Mumbi (KEN) 2:26:00 2008 Osaka
Nuta Olaru (ROU) 2:24:33 2004 Chicago
Yang Jing (CHN) 2:36:28 2009 Beijing

Japanese:
Mizuho Nasukawa 2:25:38 2009 Tokyo
Akemi Ozaki 2:27:23 2009 Hokkaido
Miyuki Ando 2:29:07 2008 Osaka
Kaori Yoshida 2:30:58 2008 Nagoya

World's Best 10k with a new World Best?

San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dave Kuehls for the IAAF

Sammy Kitwara and Vivian Cheruiyot will race across the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge Sunday (28) evening to defend their titles in The World’s Best 10K in San Juan.
The World’s Best 10K is an IAAF Gold Label Event.

Kitwara to tangle with in-form Kipruto and Kipsang

Kitwara was last year’s road race revelation. First, he handed Haile Gebreslassie a rare defeat at the City-Pier-City Half Marathon. Then, he won the World’s Best 10K and the Peachtree road races. At World’s Best, which has featured such runners as Khalid Khannouchi and Paul Tergat, he ran faster than anyone has before, setting a course record of 27:26.

So far this year Kitwara has been in good form. He was second to Tilahum Regassa at the Zayed International Half Marathon in Abu Dhabi, finishing in 59:34. He was also second to Joel Kimurer at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championships.

Yet Kitwara will have his hands full in San Juan. Silas Kipruto, second in 2008 and 2009 returns, as does Wilson Kipsang, who was third last year in San Juan and finished third at the Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championships, just five seconds back of Kitwara. Ethiopia Deriba Merga, the 2008 champ, returns. He is the 2009 Boston Marathon champion and fourth place finisher at the Olympic Marathon in 2008. Merga dropped out of the Ras Al Khaimah last week for unspecified reasons but he is always dangerous.

But perhaps the strongest challenge could come from American Dathan Ritzenhein, who is running in San Juan for the first time. Ritzenhein took a bronze medal at last year’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, and should be ready to run the roads in San Juan. He also has plenty of leg speed, clocking a 12:56 for 5000m last fall. Earlier this month Ritzenhein was a convincing winner at the U.S. cross country championships.

As Cheruiyot, Masai and Keitany square off, can Abeylegesse again play spoiler? – women’s race

Cheruiyot is the woman who dethroned Lornah Kiplagat last year after Kiplagat had virtually put her name on the race. Cheruiyot won last year in 31:12, a PB, and went on to take gold in the World Championships 5000m. Last weekend she was a very close second to Tirunesh Dibaba over two miles in Birmingham at the Aviva Grand Prix, clocking 9:12.35, an indication that there is a lot of speed in her legs at this time.

Cheruiyot will be strongly challenged by a deep field that includes Berlin 10,000m gold medallist Linet Masai, who was also fourth in the 2008 Olympic 10,000 and last week won the Kenyan World championships cross country trials; Mary Keitany, gold medalist at the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships; and Dire Tune, the 2008 Boston Marathon champ who was third last year and has placed fifth at the RAK Half Marathon and third at the Zayed International Half Marathon earlier this year.

Another interesting challenger is Turkey’s Elvan Abeylegesse, the Olympic silver medalist at 5000m and 10,000m. Abeylegesse has broken 30 minutes in the track and last week she ran the fastest debut half marathon (1:07:07) at RAK.

Come Sunday evening, it could be Abeylegesse’s strength versus Cheruiyot’s speed.

mzungo.org says: according to some, Elvan is shooting for Paula Radcliff's 10k world record, posted in San Juan seven years ago. Exciting!

Comrades Marathon: Seventy-eight Zimbabweans will participate

Seventy-eight Zimbabweans will participate in this year’s Comrades Marathon event, to take place in South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal province in May.

Due to the FIFA 2010 World Cup between June and July, the 85th edition of the Comrades Marathon was this year moved forward to May 30, from its traditional June dates. Without giving any names, organisers of the popular event this week told The Zimbabwean ****** that among the more than 23 000 runners from around the world who have applied to take part in this year’s event, 78 were Zimbabweans. “The response to this event has been overwhelming and among the participants, we will have 78 Zimbabweans running this year,” said Steven Johnston of the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA).

Stephen Muzhingi, who is the defending champion of the men’s event, having won last year’s race in the time of 05:23:27, is once again expected to lead his country’s quest for more honours this year. Second place last year went to Leonid Shvetsov of Russia in 5:33:10 and third place to South Africa’s Charles Tjiane in 5:34:21. Russia’s Olesya Nurgalieva won the 2009 women’s Comrades Marathon in 6:12.12, while her twin sister, Elena Nurgalieva came second in 6:13.14 followed by another Russian, Tatyana Zhirkova in 6:15:03. This year’s race looks set to eclipse the 75th edition of the event in 2000, which currently holds the record for being the largest ever field for the Comrades Marathon, with 23 961 runners.

Two Oceans Marathon entries close soon

Entries for the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon close on March 3 and runners are reminded to enter before the deadline as no late entries will be taken.

Participants can enter online at www.twooceansmarathon.org.za or pick up an entry form from any Sportsmans Warehouse and other leading sports stores countrywide. Close to 6,000 entries have already been processed for the ultra marathon which, ironically, winds along only the Atlantic Ocean. The Indian Ocean, contrary to Cape Town's favourite mythology, meets the Atlantic at Cape Agulhas.

Representatives from the race office will be taking ultra entries only at the Seeff Weskus Marathon in Langebaan and the PWC Marathon in Nelspruit on March 6 and at the Vaal Marathon in VanderBijl Park on March 7.

Only entries from runners taking part in these three events and who finish in the qualifying time will be accepted.

As entries for the half marathon are closed, those runners still wanting to run the half can only do so by substituting with another runner or bidding for an entry through the auction at www.oldmutual.co.za/twooceansmarathon.

Substitutions, upgrades and downgrades, as well as any entry changes, will only be processed from March 4 to 10.

The onus is on the individual to find someone who is not running so that a substitution can be done.

Frith returns to Two Oceans

Stephen Penney

Two Oceans Marathon record holder, Frith van der Merwe, will return to Two Oceans this year for the first time since finishing tenth in 1999.

However, Van der Merwe will not be running the ultra marathon, but will be handing out the blue numbers to the runners finishing their tenth Two Oceans ultra.

Van der Merwe, who teaches at St Andrew’s College and is a member of the Run/ Walk For Life Athletics Club, said she is very excited to return to this year’s Old Mutual Two Oceans, “the world’s most beautiful marathon”.

This outstanding athlete still holds the record for the Two Oceans course in a time of three hours 30 minutes and 36 seconds, which was set in 1989, the same year she went on to set the Comrades Marathon record, which also still stands to this day.

Van der Merwe said it was a huge honour for her return to Two Oceans and hand out the blue numbers, although she did expect something like this to happen at Comrades first.

After her record win in 1989, where she received a vehicle for breaking the record, she remembers feeling “so good” adding that she went on to break the 50km world record in the process.

Van der Merwe says the Two Oceans is a race of which she has always had fond memories. Meanwhile, as part of a fundraising effort Two Oceans will auction off 20 half-marathon and 10 ultra marathon entries as
well as an autographed pair of Usain Bolt’s Puma spikes, to the highest bidders. For more information visit www.oldmutual. co.za/twooceansmarathon.

While entries for the Two Oceans half-marathon are closed, entries for the ultra marathon close on 3 March. This year sees the introduction of 8km and 18km trail runs, which take place on Good Friday, the day before the Two Oceans half and ultra marathons.

Tokyo Marathon Expo Kicks Off

translated by Brett Larner

The leadup to the Feb. 28 Tokyo Marathon kicked off Feb. 25 with the official opening of the Tokyo Marathon Expo 2010 at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center. Along with the bib number pickup center for those running Sunday's race, 96 companies and organization are represented at the expo, which will continue through Feb. 27.

Presiding over the opening ceremonies at 9:45 were Tokyo mayor Shintaro Ishihara and Mexico City Olympics marathon silver medalist Kenji Kimihara. During his opening remarks Ishihara brought up the example of comedian Kunihiro Matsumura, who suffered a heart attack while trying to run last year's Tokyo Marathon, as he urged runners, "Take it easy out there." Going on, Ishihara commented, "Through negotiations with the police we have been able to increase the field size this year from 30000 to 35000, but even so the applications this year were 10 times that number. People have come to recognize the good feeling of accomplishment you get from running. Even everyone who finishes just under the cutoff time can share in that feeling of accomplishment. This is the time when we are truly all one."

Among the first group of people to enter the expo was Niigata University student Konomi Miyamura, 19, who came down from Niigata to run her first marathon at Tokyo. "When I saw Big Sight I started to get really excited because I could feel that this is really going to happen!" she said as she picked up her bib number. "This is my first experience with the marathon so my goal is to make it all the way to the finish."

Leting’s acid test on road to Poland

By CHRIS MUSUMBA

The national cross country team pitches tent in Embu on Friday with the coaches keen on polishing and rectifying the mistakes witnessed during the national trials a week ago.

David Leting will be in the driving seat as he seeks to cement his name among great coaches in Kenya’s athletics folklore.

Leting, who has served as an understudy to Julius Kirwa since 2005, faces an uphill task as he guides the 24-strong team to the March 28 World Cross Country Championship in Bydgozsc, Poland.

“There were some glaring disparities during the national trials,” Leting conceded. Already rocked by an age fixing scam, the team will be under scrutiny by its rivals and the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

Paul Mutero has since been dropped from the team over cheating, with Clement Lagat, seventh in the championship, taking over his place in the junior men’s 8km team.

As he leads his squad to camp, Leting does not expect any absenteeism, saying: “We expect everyone in camp. I will then assess each athlete’s fitness and see where they need to add or relax. At the moment we are just fine.”

After Florence Kiplagat secured the gold in the senior women’s 8km race, focus turns to the senior men’s 12km where no Kenyan has succeeded since Paul Tergat in 1999.

“Our athletes are capable of doing it. But they fail in the last 500m. It is here that we need to look into and then guide them through the steps,” said Tergat after the team selection at Uhuru Gardens.

Leting is however optimistic Kenya’s stature in the competition, in which it has reigned supreme for over 26 years, will be retained.

Kenya team to Bydgozsc

12km men: Paul Tanui, Lucas Rotich, Joseph Ebuya, Hosea Macharinyang, Leonard Komon, Richard Mateelong, Mathew Kisorio;
8km women: Linet Masai, Lineth Chepkurui, Margaret Wangare, Emily Muge, Ann Wanjiru, Gladys Chepngeno;
8km men: Charles Chebet, Paul Mutero, Caleb Mwangangi, Japheth Korir, Gideon Kipketer, Isaiah Kiplagat;
6km women: Nelly Chebet, Purity Cherotich, Faith Chepngetich, Mercy Cherono, Alice Aprot, Esther
Coaches: David Leting, John “Warm-up” Mwithiga, Charles Mathu

Running in NZ

Buffalo Run Half Marathon on Catalina Isl/CA this Saturday

AVALON, Calif. - (February 22, 2010) - With its biggest field in years, the 11th Buffalo Run Half Marathon and 5K - to be held on Saturday morning, February 27 - will introduce 500 runners to the trails of Catalina Island.

This year's field will showcase athletes from 17 different states, and has also drawn a couple of runners from Great Britain. And as another sign of the growth of women in participant sports, 55% of the race's runners are female.

They'll all come to Catalina Island to traverse 13.1 miles of dirt fire trails, climbing up to a 1,600-foot elevation before returning to sea level. Very few tourists ever get to visit this part of the island, called the "interior", and known for its exotic wildlife, herds of buffalo and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina.

"The Buffalo Run Half Marathon is a great course; the trails are just challenging enough, and the views are unbelievable. The other great thing about this race is that it's a perfect warm-up for next month's Catalina Marathon," Pacific Sports CEO Jack Caress said.

The Buffalo Run Half Marathon and Catalina Marathon (March 13) again will combine to form the American Trail Championship (ATC). Awards will be based on the combined time in both events and given to the top male and female overall as well as winners in each age and weight category. Participants who compete in both events will receive an American Trail Championship t-shirt.

Duncan Kibet: Lisbon half as test for London

TRANSLATED BY GOOGLE TRANSLATOR

Carlos Móia opened their wallets to purchase a last minute, getting hit conditions to bring the Kenyan Duncan Kibet to the record attempt at the World Half-Marathon in Lisbon, March 21.

"We want to regain the world record that has been our," said the prominent businessman, aged 64. Kibet appears in the first line to be the second best marathon in the world, just after the Ethiopian Haile Grebselassie.

Kibet, 31, before signing the contract to collect information on the Marathon race organized by the Clube de Portugal. "I spoke with Robert Cheruyot Martin Lel and I explained a lot."

Having the security of the added value that represents the evidence, Kibet is preparing for high-flying. Will run the London Marathon in April and the test is seriously in Lisbon. "As I have said is the half-marathon in the world more important and I am very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in it for the first time."

Concerning the possibility of beating the record of the World, Kibet said: "I train with me always thought to be the best in the world and I think with a good help can I beat the world record, although the notion that the half marathon is a race quite different from the marathon, "secured the accredited Kenyan distance runner.

Record reports

Mike Wardian - Confessions of a Serial Racer

Interview by: Duncan Larkin

Once upon a time, runners were told to take one day off for every mile raced. They were also told that the marathon was an event best raced once a season if not once a year–something to plan and train for with patience and caution.
Those were the old days.

Meet Mike Wardian. Mike runs marathons and ultra marathons nearly every weekend, winning most of them. Wardian, 35, is a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon and a three-time U.S. champion in the 100K, 50K, and 50-mile trail events. At the 2008 World 100K Championships, he finished 9th overall and was the top American.

Mike Wardian lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Jennifer, and son, Pierce.

Competitor.com: Why do you choose to run so many marathons and ultra marathons back to back? Why not go with the periodization approach where you get yourself to peak for one specific race?
Mike Wardian: A lot of the races build on themselves. I’m trying to do well in all of them, but they build on themselves and I have the ability to recover pretty quickly, so I’m able to do that where other people don’t have that luxury or don’t feel they have that luxury. I think more people could do it if they wanted to.
Have you always approached racing this way or is this a fairly recent thing in your running career?
I’ve always raced a lot and then I was able to start improving doing it the way that I have been. I’ve kind of hit a pinnacle at the moment, but I’m thinking I can break that barrier of 2:20 [marathon] shortly. I was hoping to do it this past weekend and it didn’t work out. I ran 2:23 in Jacksonville. I’m right around that level. As far as marathons go, I really hope to run sub-2:19 at the National Marathon in a couple weeks. Between then and now, I’ve got a couple races lined up. I’ve got the 50K National Championships and the Lower Potomac Marathon, which I intend to run with my pack on to prepare for the Marathon des Sables.
For me, it works out really well. I like to run and really like to race. It’s what it’s all about. I like to go to the line to see what I can do each and every time. No one cares what you’ve done before; they are there to beat you. You have to be on top of your game each time you go to the line.
So how do you do it? How do you deal with delayed onset muscle soreness and the pounding that the human body takes from running at the speeds you are running at for hours upon hours week after week? Can you share some of your recovery secrets?
I don’t have a lot of secrets. I keep trying to move after the race. I’ve started doing some stuff with compression. I don’t know if it really helps. I’m experimenting. I never feel there is a magic bullet. You’ve always got to keep trying new things and figuring out what works for you. As far as the compression goes, I’m not 100 percent sold on it. I have some compression tights that I put on after the race. I can’t tell, man. They feel so good when they come off. I can’t tell if they have anything to do with recovery. My legs feel pretty good after a race, so maybe I need to push harder.
Moving is the biggest thing, I think. I try to keep moving the next day and just get back into my training, because I usually have something else going on right afterwards. I don’t do the active rest like the Hansons guys [Hansons Brooks Distance Project coaches Keith and Kevin Hanson], or anything like that. I just get back into training and start going at it again, because there are a lot of things I want to accomplish. I don’t have the luxury of taking three weeks off in order to fully recover, I guess. If I have to race tired, I will. That’s part of the game. Usually, when I come to the line, I’m feeling pretty good and ready to go.
Besides ultras and marathons, you are also racing 5Ks and shorter-distance races, correct?
Yeah. I’m actually looking at my accounting from last year for taxes and I ran 44 races last year. It looks like 5K is probably the shortest distance I raced up to the Marathon des Sables in Morocco with 100Ks and 100-milers thrown in there for good measure.
Do you feel that anything you do in terms of hydration or fueling during one race helps you recover for your next one?
That’s a good question. I don’t know. I like to try and keep up with things. I don’t forgo liquids or anything like that. It’s funny. My wife was giving me a hard time, because we had a Kenyan stay with us. And my wife was like, “Joseph, do you eat gels?” And Joseph was like, “I have no time for that!” And that made me wonder. I think I have like three or four [during marathons]. My wife then was like, “How can you have time for gels, but Joseph doesn’t have time for them?” I said, “I don’t know. I guess it’s because he’s running faster than I am.” I think he’s a 2:11 guy.
I won’t turn around and get a water if I miss it, which happened yesterday. I do try to drink early and even within the first two miles and then stay on top of it. I take salt if I need it. And make sure I keep up with my nutrition—especially in ultras, it can get to the point where you are in a debt that you are never going to climb back out of. At least for a while and it’s going to suck while you are in it. I mean, it’s going to suck anyhow, but if you can, delay the point where you’re going to start having to hurt as long as you can. That’s what I like to try and do.
Do you eat different combinations of foods before and after a race to help your recovery?
I’ve done some different things in that regard. In the past, I’ve not eaten dairy leading up to a race. I’ve tried different things. For the most part, I try to eat like I normally do. I’m a vegetarian so I’m not eating meat and having to worry about stuff trying to be digested, I guess. Everything moves pretty quickly through me. I don’t try to do anything special. After a race, I might eat stuff I might not normally eat. I might get an ice cream or something like that just to enjoy the satisfaction of having a good race.
I don’t know if you do this, but I make a deal with myself that if I hold the pace, I can have whatever I want. I’ve definitely made those deals. If you don’t come through on them, you are going to remember that the next time it gets hard. Sometimes I eat stuff that’s not normally in my diet like Pringles after a race for the salt. I think after Western States I had a Slurpee. I can’t tell you the last time I had a Slurpee. It looked good. If it’s a big event and I had a pretty solid result, then I might treat myself to something that’s not in my normal repertoire.
Do you forgo alcohol?
For the most part I do. I’m not a really big drinker in the first place, which is a lot different than when I was younger. I think maybe last year I had 10 or 15 beers. A lot of times after a race, I’ll have a beer just because I’m jacked up on caffeine.
Is that caffeine from the gels you eat?
Yeah. And that’s the other thing I should mention: I don’t drink caffeine or use caffeine except when I’m racing. That works really well for me.

READ ON...

Get your kicks - HTM2 X NIKE RUN BOOT (...not really)

HTM is back! We can't remember the last official Nike release under this heavy-hitter acronym, but given the impeccable credentials of the key players (Tinker Hatfield, Mark Smith, Hiroshi Fujiwara and Nike CEO Mark Parker), you know this is definitely going to be worth the price of admission. Previous HTM releases have veered from premium Air Force 1s in over-sized boxes to Court Forces, wovens and the Macropus amongst other classics. Given the recent cosmic switch to plimsolls and lo-fi vulcafieds, we were certainly intrigued as to the new HTM direction - our money was on modernity - a woven chukka flywire packin' anti-vulc free boot made from ground-up space shuttle dust was our prediction. As it turned out, we weren't entirely wrong - the new HTM2 is a fairly radical looking bootie with more than a whiff of '90s deja vu about it. Rubber toe caps, slip-on fit, elastic gussets... throw in a novel stencilled Swoosh and you have one of the most futuristic designs to roll out of Portland in a good minute.
Whatever your point of view, and this one won't be hard to hate, it's definitely radical enough to inspire water cooler convos, which we see as a definite plus. On the downside, the limited distribution makes it tough to cop a pair! We've seen various snippets of things this year from all brands and remain hopeful that we might just be seeing the first glimpses of a 'new wave' of ambitious product coming through.... but the questions remains, is the timing right and will kids go for it?
The Nike HTM2 Run Boot is available exclusively in Japan and at 21 Mercer on Feb. 20th and March 1st.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 Shoe Review

For several years now, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS has been a category leader in the maximum support category. Shoes in this category offer support just beyond moderate over-pronation but not so much that they become motion control shoes. This niche is filled by other shoes like the Mizuno Alchemy and Saucony Omni (Ultimate now 8), but the Adrenaline has been the sales leader and is one of the most popular shoes in the industry. Thus any update to this shoe is always critical.

What’s New

1. The heel design has greater decoupling and a beveled angle to slow the rate and degree of pronation while also providing a smoother ground impact and transition.

2. The medial TPU support has been removed, as it is no longer needed as a result of the heel redesign.

3. Asymmetrical midfoot wrap has been added to provide a better fit.

4. Profile Sockliner replaces standard sockliner for greater cushioning and enhanced arch contour.

Does this version run better than last years?

No longer just about good pronation control and a reliable fit, The Adrenaline GTS provides a noticeably smoother ride compared to past models. Our wear testers were all in agreement that the ride of the shoe was fairly smooth and, in comparison, the ride of the Adrenaline GTS 9 was a bit abrupt. Jonathan and Phil felt the shoe was a bit softer than average, whereas Bonnie noted the shoe was a bit firmer than average. All wear testers assessed the energy return as good but felt there was a slight delay in the energy return. Another consistent evaluation was the flexibility of the shoe was a tad toward the stiffer side.

How is the fit?

The fit of the shoe tends to be geared toward lower volume feet, but the medium width accommodated a good range of feet. Phil has slightly wider, flatter feet and noted that his feet hung over the base of the midfoot but overall fit was not an issue. Jonathan has a slightly narrower foot and felt the shoe hugged his foot nicely without too much excess material. Although it did not cause a problem, Jonathan noted the tongue was a bit short. Bonnie has normal width foot and commented that the fit seemed tailored for her feet. All testers noted the toe-box height was a bit lower than medium. Bonnie said the heel collar was low, so it did not cause irritation but the resulting fit with orthotic inserts was not ideal.

Bonnie says: The shoe has great step-in feel. For a support shoe, it feels a bit light and the shoe keeps me in touch with the road. I am concerned that the loss of TPU reinforcement may result in less pronation control than previous versions.

Phil says: I think the shoes feel comparable to other shoes at this price. The midfoot could be a bit wider to better accommodate my flat feet. I liked the low arch feel and the feel for the road.

Jonathan says: Best Adrenaline to date. The 9 was a bit firmer than the 8 and I feel like the 10 is probably a bit softer than the 8. I liked the heel-to-toe transition and even though the shoe is a bit softer than other versions it has a pretty good road feel. I just wish the tongue was longer.

Symmetry is usually good, what about asymmetry?

With the Adrenaline 10, the Brooks’ designers were challenged with making a top-selling shoe better without losing its current customer. We feel the designers were successful. Fit is always a critical component of any shoe update. Although a new, asymmetrical midfoot wrap has been introduced to better specifically fit the medial and lateral sides of the foot, the overall impression of shoe fit remains consistent with the Adrenaline GTS 9.

READ ON...

THIS SUNDAY: 36th edition RomaOstia Half Marathon

THE TEXT IS TRANSLATED USING GOOGLE TRANSLATOR

Thirty-fifth edition of the RomaOstia, the half marathon that more participation of Italy Sunday, February 28th, 2010 will see over 10 thousand athletes from all over the street in the world.
Starting at 9:16 fixed by Palalotomatica for the elite women for the second consecutive year will challenge their male colleagues, which leaves at 9.25 am and 9 minutes later, ie the gap between male and female race record.
For people who love again the wave Partez to ensure more safety and security, depending on your level, the grid was established based on the time stated at the time of enrollment, all you will have 6 screens that are staggering in three waves starting with 5 minutes away from each other.
To help athletes achieve their personal best trusted the Pacemakers, recognizable through a balloon of a different color, will ensure regular rhythms 21.097km from 1:24 to close 'to 2 o'clock, at the end medal for everyone.
Frai the top runners of 2010 we find the winner of last year Elijah Keitany, and the winner of the 2006 William Rotich, for Italy Daniele Meucci chase her personal best. In the women favored to win the final three are the Kenyan Timbilil, the French and the blue Daunay Rosalba Console, returned to high levels after having become a mother.
Giuliano Giannichedda and Gianni Morandi guide the thick patrol VIPs and politicians at the start.
It reminds all participants that the opportunity will be open free for the return lines of the subway and the train back from Ostia to Rome.

THE COURSE RECORDS:

Maschile: Robert Cheruiyot 1:00.06(2002) Stefano Baldini 1:00.56(1997)
Femminile: Souad Ait Salem 1:0913(2008) Gloria Marconi 1:09.25(2003)

He will start Sunday morning at 9.15 from Palalottomatica the 36th edition of the Rome Ostia. To facilitate the departure of more than ten thousand competitors, the organizers (GS Bank Romans) have decided to take the departure "wave". E 'also confirmed this year the challenge men and women.

Women's Top Runner (with a record below 1:22) will start at 9.15, 9 minutes before the first "wave" of men, and will try to repeat the feat in last year that allowed Anna Incerti crossing the finishing line before the first man.

Anna firm is also dedicated the medal in 2010 which will be handed to all competitors who cross the line, and in which is represented by a man chasing a woman. Over one thousand and five hundred will be the representatives of the fairer sex.

Many famous athletes: Elijah Keitany, winner of the 2009 Rome Ostia, William Rotich Todo, Theury, James Kibocha, Daniele Meucci. Among women Christelle Daunay, second place at the 2009 Rome Ostia, Alice Jemeli Timbilil, Rosalba Console.

Competitors once started from Piazzale della Lottomatica along via Cristoforo Colombo, and come to the "Round of Ostia" in Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo km 21.097 to complete the set, will continue for another 3.600 meters in the long round trip to return to sea 'height of Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo.

The bibs for the participation of Roma Ostia can retire in the Salone delle Fontane EUR, Thursday, February 25 from 15.00 to 19.30 and Friday 26 from 10.00 to 19.00

Personal Delivery Bags: The bags will delivery trucks lined up at the large parking lot in front of the Palalottomatica and will start at 08:50 exhaustively

Women's field announced for NYC Half

A quartet of the world's most dominant female long-distance runners, including 2004 Olympic marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor, 2008 Olympian Mara Yamauchi of Great Britain, 2009 Hokkaido Marathon champion Kiyoko Shimahara of Japan, and 2008 NYC Half-Marathon runner-up Madaí Pérez of Mexico, will compete in the first spring running of the NYC Half-Marathon on March 21.

Both Yamauchi and Kastor, the 2006 London Marathon champion, will be using the 13.1-mile race as a final tune-up for the Virgin London Marathon in April.

"The woman's lineup is now jam-packed with some of the world's greatest runners including American veteran Deena and international stars like Mara, Kiyoko, and Madaí," said Wittenberg. "The race will only up the intrigue leading into the spring marathons."

American marathon record-holder and three-time Olympian Kastor, 37, competed in the summer edition of the NYC Half-Marathon in 2009, finishing in seventh place (1:13:47). Earlier this year, Kastor made her 2010 racing debut, winning the P.F. Chang's Rock ‘n' Roll Half-Marathon held in Phoenix in 1:09:43.

"This fits perfectly into my preparations. I look forward to testing my fitness on the roads of New York City," said Kastor. "New York Road Runners always attracts the best distance runners in the world to their events, and the NYC Half-Marathon is no exception."

The Japan-based Yamauchi, 36, who represents Great Britain, will be making her NYC Half-Marathon debut. The 2009 London Marathon runner-up and 2008 Olympian finished sixth in the Marugame Half-Marathon earlier this year in her first race since a foot injury prevented her from competing in the World Championships in Berlin last summer. The injury was a momentary setback for Yamauchi, who scored victories in the 2009 Matsue Half-Marathon and 2009 Marugame Half-Marathon.

"The atmosphere and support in New York is fantastic. I am really looking forward to racing against top-level competitors in this event," said Yamauchi. "This will be my final tune-up, so I can sharpen my race tactics before heading to London."

One of Japan's strongest competitors, Shimahara, 33, of Tokyo, will be making her second appearance in the NYC Half-Marathon-she finished 10th in 2008. In 2009, Shimahara won the Hokkaido Marathon and finished second in the Yokohama Marathon and Honolulu Marathon.

Pérez, 30, of Mexico City, will be making her third appearance in the NYC Half-Marathon after finishing fifth in 2007 and second in 2008 in a personal best time of 1:10:26. The Mexican record-holder in the marathon (2:22:59), Perez is coming back from maternity leave; she had her second child last year.

On the American side, Sally Meyerhoff, 26, of Scottsdale, AZ, who was the 2009 USA 25K Championship runner-up, will make her NYC Half-Marathon debut. Representing ZAP Fitness/Reebok, Jessica Minty, 25, of Blowing Rock, NC, who placed 12th at the USA Half-Marathon Championship earlier this year, also joins the field.

Previously announced, the NYC Half-Marathon will offer the largest half-marathon prize purse in the United States: $100,000. The men's and women's champions will each earn $20,000, the largest first-prize checks for a non-marathon race in the country.

The NYC Half-Marathon continues to attract leading professional athletes and recreational runners from around the world. In 2009, more than 19,000 people applied to run the race, and more than 10,000 finished.

On a course designed to celebrate New York City, the NYC Half-Marathon will take runners on a loop through Central Park, down Seventh Avenue through Times Square, across 42nd Street, and along the expansive West Side Highway to Chambers Street in the heart of the city's financial district.

NYC Half-Marathon Leading Ladies
Name	Deena Kastor	Mara Yamauchi	Madaí Pérez	Kiyoko Shimahara
Age	37	36	30	33
Hometown	Mammoth Lakes, Calif.	Tokyo, Japan	Mexico City, Mexico	Tokyo, Japan
Half-Marathon Personal Best	1:07:34, Berlin, 2006	1:08:29, Marugame, 2009	1:10:26, New York, 2008	1:10:16, Miyazaki, 2006

TOMORROW: Armagh International Preview

A host of international athletes will be racing in this Thursday's 20th anniversary Armagh Road Races(6.30pm at the Square) sponsored by Armagh Council and Puma.

The main 5k Men's event has built up over the years to feature many top track and road names and this year is no exception.

Individuals likely to feature include British 1500 metres runner Nick McCormick and the Irish trio of Mark Kenneally, Mark Christie and David McCarthy. Kenneally was one of the few Irish athletes to perform well in last December's Euro Champs where he had the race of his life to finish 8th. Christie is returning from injury while 800 metres specialist McCarthy will be using the event as a sharpener for the coming track season.

The international flavour is enhanced by US and Polish athletes any of whom could feature on the podium finish. Ben Bruce was 4th in the recent US Cross Country Champs while Lucas Meyer was in the top 10 in this month's US Half Marathon. Poland's Gizynski and Kozlowski were 4th and 7th respectively in Armagh last year while Finland's Ultrainen was 6th.The line up also includes Poland's Bartoszak who won in record time 6 years ago.

Local interest will centre on recent NI cross country bronze medallist Eddie McGinley and North's Stephen Scullion if he has recovered from injury.

In the Ladies 3K event Newcastle's Kerry Harty starts favourite to successfully defend her title from last year. Ireland's Hazel Murphy has also entered- her recent winning time in the AAA's 3K Champs qualified her for next months Worlds in Doha.While she easily defeated Harty in that race the Newcastle girl is a formidable road racer who will not easily surrender her title.

Others in contention are Andrea Whitcombe and Amanda Moss who were 2nd and 4th in 2008. Carly Jones from Wales(7th last year) will also be vying for a share of the individual prize awards

Geb on record chasing

"Many people say to me, I only chase records—what’s wrong with that? That’s what I want to do! In Berlin last year they brought Duncan Kibet into the race, the second fastest marathon runner of all time. I said, “Yes, let him run.” It made me concentrate even more."

Bay Area Track Club

From David Monti, RaceResultsWeekly.com

A group of elite athletes and coaches based in the San Francisco Bay Area have recently come together to form the Bay Area Track Club (BATC), the latest group to be recognized by USA Track & Field as a USA Distance Center. The says it has two main goals: to provide support for Olympic athletes and emerging elites, and to promote running, health, and fitness within the community.

"Our vision is much greater than supporting a small group of elite runners," explained BATC president Tony Kauke in a statement. "We really want to support a health and fitness movement, a running movement, across the Bay Area for people of all ages and abilities."

The BATC's members have represented the United States in international competition 19 times, and includes national champions and even an international medallist, Shannon Rowbury. Rowbury, a San Francisco native who still lives and trains there, was one of the key people behind setting up the group.

"The idea of a post-collegiate group in the Bay Area is something I and many other local elite runners have dreamed of for a long time," she said through a media release. "To be the best athlete I can be I need a training group. More importantly though, having grown up in the Bay Area, it is important that I give back. The BATC’s community programs will provide me with the opportunity to have a great impact on youth fitness."

The club's current roster includes four Olympians: Rowbury (1500m), Blake Russell (marathon), Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Marathon) and Bolota Asmerom (5000m). Other members include aspiring Olympians David Torrence (1500m/3000m), Garrett Heath (1500m), Alysia Johnson (800m), Jon Rankin (1500m), Clara Horowitz Peterson (5000m/road), Tom Kloos (steeplechase), Francis Gadayan (800m), and Peter Gilmore (marathon). The club also has a foreign member, Briton Tim Bayley (1500m).

Several of the club's members will be competing in the USA Indoor Championships this weekend in Albuquerque, N.M., led by Rowbury, who won the national women's 3000m indoor title in 2008, and Torrence, the defending national men's 3000m champion.

Napa Valley Marathon preview

NAPA, Calif. - February 23, 2010 - The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon announced today that a U.S. Olympian, a member of a Team USA gold medal-winning squad, and three U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers are among the top entrants scheduled to compete in the 32nd annual race on Sunday, March 7. They will join a sold-out crowd of 2,300 participants that are ready to race, run, or jog the scenic, 26.2-mile marathon course that spans the length of the world-renowned Napa Valley wine country.

The rolling, point-to-point Napa Valley Marathon (NVM) course is generally considered a fast one by competitors who have run it.

"I love everything about the course," said Dick Beardsley, a world class marathoner in the 1980s. "I've run it more times than any other marathon. It's the kind of course that you can really get rolling on. For runners hoping to qualify for the Marathon Trials, the Boston Marathon, or simply run fast, I don't think you'll find a much better course."

Beardsley holds the NVM men's course record of 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 20 seconds set in 1987, and he is the all-time fifth fastest U.S. male marathoner (2:08:54). The NVM women's course record of 2:39:43 was set by Diana Fitzpatrick in 1992.

This year, Devon Crosby-Helms, 27, of San Francisco will head a strong women's elite field. Crosby-Helms scored her first-ever marathon victory at the 2007 NVM, navigating the fast course in 2:52:49. Since then, she has lowered her marathon personal record to 2:49:51. The lighting designer and certified personal chef has earned more prominence, however, at "ultra" race distances from 50 kilometers (31 miles) to 100 miles.

In fact, with only 3-1/2 years of ultrarunning experience, Crosby-Helms has turned into one of the top female ultrarunners in the world. She has competed on officially sanctioned (by USA Track & Field) U.S. national teams at the last three IAU World Cup 100K races, an international event which is often referred to as the 100K "world championship" of ultra- distance running. At last year's IAU World Cup 100K in Torhout, Belgium, she finished fourth overall while helping the U.S. women's team win the team gold medal. In 2009, Crosby-Helms also set a women's course record at the JFK 50-Miler, the oldest and largest ultra race in the country. She has also earned two USA Track & Field national 50K titles (2006 and 2007) and a national 100K title (2007).

Crosby-Helms will use the Napa Valley Marathon to gauge her fitness and speed as she prepares for the challenging Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in June.

"The marathon is a great way to get some speed early in the season and then build for Western States 100," she said. "My goal for Napa is just to go out, race well, and have fun. I don't really have any expectations since I haven't raced a road marathon in a long time."

Several women will line up at NVM's starting line with the 2012 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials race on their minds. In 2008, the top four female finishers at NVM all qualified for the 2008 Trials, which were held just seven weeks later in Boston. The prestigious Trials race, in which about 125 elite U.S. female marathoners compete, selects the three women who comprise the U.S. marathon team at the Olympic Games. The women's qualifying period for the 2012 Trials began with a one-day qualifying window last October at the 2009 USA Marathon Championships, resumed on January 1, and will close 30 days before the Trials race. The host cities and dates for both the women's and men's Marathon Trials will be announced by USA Track & Field within several months. Women must finish a marathon in a time of 2:46:00 or better within the qualifying period for acceptance into the 2012 Trials.

Meghan Arbogast, a marathon and ultramarathon competitor from Corvallis, Ore., is headed to this year's NVM to do exactly that. Arbogast, 48, has qualified for three previous Marathon Trials. Her running accomplishments also include a personal marathon best of 2:45:46 and three top-ten finishes in the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. Like Crosby-Helms, Arbogast competed at last year's Wold Cup 100K in Belgium where she placed fifth, one place behind her USA teammate.

"I've really enjoyed competing in the last three U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and I'm not ready to give it up," Arbogast said. "I know I'm aging, but I want to fight it as long as I can."

Molly Friel 42, of Fresno, Calif. is hoping to qualify for her second Olympic Marathon Trials, and she will use NVM to test her fitness level for achieving that goal. Friel competed in the 2004 Trials where she finished 86th in 2:57:48. Later that year, she ran her personal record marathon time of 2:45:09 at the California International Marathon. In 2008, she was entered in the Napa Valley Marathon, ready to try and qualify for her second Trials, but a foot injury a month before the race forced her to cancel her plans. She is looking forward to another opportunity.

Dolores Bergmann, 38, of Chester, Calif. (near Lassen Volcanic National Park in the Sierra-Nevada mountains) is entered in NVM still looking to qualify for her first Marathon Trials. She was victorious in her debut marathon, running 2:48:55 at the 2006 Newport (Oregon) Marathon, not quite good enough to meet the 2:47:00 "B" qualifying standard for the 2008 Trials. She did not improve in four subsequent marathon finishes. Bergmann has prepared for NVM over the winter primary by training on snowshoes and treadmills with a weekly long road run at lower elevation.

Napa Valley Marathon entrant Abigail (Abby) Larson, 30, of Salt Lake City, Utah has Olympic credentials. She was a member of the U.S. Olympic cross-country ski team at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, competing in three events. Larson began running in college with her cross country ski team at Northern Michigan University where she was a four-time NCAA All-American. Following the Olympic Games, she placed 12th at the 2007 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon/San Diego in 2:53:38, her personal best. Larson no longer skis competitively. She is currently completing a Ph.D. in exercise and sport science at the University of Utah and works as a community and clinical dietitian.

Additionally, three-time NVM women's champion (1997, 2005, 2009) Mary Coordt, 40, of Elk Grove, Calif. is entered, but she is a tentative starter. Coordt has been concertedly training for the Two Oceans Ultramarathon in Cape Town South Africa on April 3 and will wait to see how she feels. Coordt has already qualified for her fourth U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials race.

Top entrants in the men's field include:

- Michael Arnstein (New York, NY), 32, the NVM men's runner-up in 2008 (2:34:07). He ran a personal record of 2:30:59 while placing second at the Palm Beach (Fla.) Marathon last December and hopes to run 2:29 at Napa.

- Kenneth Burgess, 29, (Piedmont, Calif.), a Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard who has a marathon best of 2:40:22 set in Boston in 2006. Burgess co-supervised the search and recovery efforts of TWA Flight 800 in 1996 when he was stationed in Long Island Sound. The international flight exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 230 passengers. He is competing in his first NVM.

- Sean Meissner, 38, (Sisters, Ore.), a marathoner and ultrarunner who won marathons last year at Redding, Lake Tahoe, and Columbia Gorge using them as training runs for ultras. His marathon PR is a solid 2:39:06 registered at the 2006 California International Marathon.

The 2010 Napa Valley Marathon starts on Sunday, March 7 at 7:00 a.m. sharp in Calistoga on the Silverado Trail near the intersection of Rosedale Road. The marathon's fast, USA Track & Field certified (for accurate distance) road course runs the length of the beautiful Silverado Trail and finishes at Vintage High School in Napa. Top runners are expected to reach the finish between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Runners will receive official times up until 1:00 p.m. when the course closes.

Entry slots are still available for the companion Kiwanis 5K Fun Run, which starts (8 a.m.) and finishes at Vintage High School on marathon morning.

Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon weekend includes a Sports and Fitness Expo, Friday, March 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa. Also on Saturday's slate is the marathon's popular Marathon College, an innovative speaker/seminar program that includes a "faculty" composed of respected running authorities and celebrity runners.

For more information about the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon, please visit the marathon's web site at www.napavalleymarathon.org.