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Interview: Running the dream - Tito Tiberti

2011-11-17T01:25:00.000+03:00

New York City Marathon two weeks ago. Who is this white guy running with the lead pack and suddenly drops out at the 5 kilometer mark? Its Tito Tiberti from Brescia, Italy!

We caught up with Tito to get some feedback on his run in New York.

You ran with the lead pack at the NYC Marathon until 5k and then suddenly dropped off the pace. What was the motivation to do so? It looked like you went for a 5k PR. Looking at your splits, you then continued to run a 1:11 half before you had a nap on Pulaski Bridge at the half marathon before jogging to the finish, maybe with a friend. Was that the plan all along?

Well, it's been a last minute choice. Something foolish came into my mind and I told myself: “Let's make those guys watching at home jump off their sofas!” (I was thinking to my friends, parents and training mates). Seven days before the NYCM, I completed the Frankfurt Marathon in a good 2h24.14 (My PB stands at 2h23.09); I felt obviously tired, but at least I was in New York! I decided to listen to my coach's advice, so I wasn't meant to “push” for more than 20km. But I split the 20km effort in a 5km sprint plus a 15km marathon pace run... I went to New York with a friend of mine, who was trying to run his first sub 3h hour marathon. At the half marathon mark I literally stopped for 18 minutes waiting for him and then I started running again with my friend (Teodoro Zanardelli who finally hit the wall and clocked a 3h08.54) getting by till the finish line! It was definitely FUN!

How did you catch up with the leaders, assuming you started a few steps back? All-out sprint?

Wow, that was the difficult part of my adventure! For strange reasons I was given bib number 8902 (I say strange because I was 37th in 2009 and 62nd in 2010), so my corral was pretty far away from the elite runners. I had to find my space going in the corral with the 1000 bibs (I know I shouldn't. So don't try this at home!!! I mean, I passed “irregularly” from a corral to the previous during the warm up, but at least I'm sure I did not damage anyone). In any case I started at the cannon shot with a 14” gap to the elite field. I made the first uphill kilometer (I'm Italian, I'm used to kilometers...) in 2'48” without a proper warm up. That was an all-out sprint! Then – once I caught up – it was easier. Till the 4th km mark I was running quite easy (I'm a 14'32” guy for 5.000m), but when we clocked a 2'56” on the uphill 5th km I had to raise the white flag. I surrendered but I was happy being there.

How tough was it for you while running with the lead pack?

It wasn't so tough, as long as my thoughts were completely devoted to enjoy the moment. It's been a privilege to be among those champions even for only 15 minutes. When I began thinking I had to be careful not to make anyone of them fall or something similar, I realized It was getting tough! But it's been amazing looking at them running so easy at such a fast pace. May I say I loved Matthew Kisorio the most? He looked elegant and his coach Claudio Berardelli is a friend of mine as we worked together in Dr Rosa's camp (Brescia, Italy, 2006).

Did you get any comments or looks from the elite runners?

Viktor Rothlin seemed the most surprised with another European in the pack, but none of them looked worried, obviously. I had tons of comments and congratulations after the race. Running (in Italy) is considered a minor sport, even if there are 35.000 Italians completing a marathon every year, so my presence for a few minutes in front of NYCM field was considered an excellent proof, while – for instance – my decent 10.000m PB of 30'20” on track was ignored.

You ran a 2:24 at the Frankfurt Marathon a week before NYC. Would you have stayed with the leaders until half-way if you wouldn't have run Frankfurt?

To tell the truth, NYCM was in my program while Frankfurt Marathon wasn't. On a last minute basis I was included in the elite field in Frankfurt and – as I was feeling fit – I decided to try my best in Germany and then fly to NY for a holiday. If I would not have run in Frankfurt, I would have tried a steady pace race in NY (targeting the first Italian in the race, who clocked only a 2h27'). Unfortunately in Frankfurt I lost more than 2' in the last 3km because of cramps, and in New York I was too tired!

Will we see you in London at the marathon again with a new 5k PR?

Do you mean in the 5.000m race at the Olympics? I'm only joking... I didn't think about it yet, but I'm sure I'll have to run my track PB to stay in the leading pack on London Marathon fast course! I'd love to run London Marathon, but I didn't register on time and I guess I'm not good enough to be included among the invited athletes out there (not even for free!).

My friends keep having fun! As Mr. Jobs said: “stay hungry, stay foolish”

Oh, last but not least: I should have run with my beloved “volpain team” orange Saucony singlet in NY, but I forgot it in the washing machine, sorry Berty!

Thanks very much for the interview Tito! M.

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2011-07-07T01:59:00.001+03:00

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Happy Birthday! Nike Swoosh!

2011-06-16T22:20:00.000+03:00

A simple check mark established itself as a timeless symbol on this Saturday some 40 years ago. With all the submissions in place, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recognized the Nike Swoosh logo on June 18th, 1971. But what became the designer of this icon, who reportedly gotten only $35 for her effort? Reporter Allan Brettman of The Oregonian tracked down graphic designer Carolyn Davidson, who indeed only billed the company $35, or $2 per hour for 17.5 hours, for her work. An assistant professor at Portland State University and a part-time executive at Blue Ribbon Sports, Phil Knight’s chance meeting with Davidson, then a graphic designer major, landed her a freelance gig with Knight. After years of chart and presentation productions for Knight’s numerous meetings with Onitsuka Tiger of Japan, whose sneakers Blue Ribbon Sports distributed at the time. Knight asked Davidson to create something else, a logo. Disagreements between Knight and execs at Onitsuka made it clear he should create his own firm. But obstacles, especially the mammoth adidas, meant Knight needed something as symbolic as the 3-Stripe. That task went to Davidson.

READ ON...

Blog Roll - Reid Coolsaet

2011-06-16T21:18:00.000+03:00

Nationals this year (June 22-25) are in Calgary, AB which sits at an altitude of 3400 feet. That altitude isn’t all that high but it will likely still make distance races a little harder (slower). In order to prepare for the elevation a bunch of us from Speed River are heading to Canmore, which is about an hour’s drive from Calgary. Canmore is at 4400 feet which is very similar to Sedona, AZ where I’ve done many runs while training in Flagstaff. On a typical run you won’t even notice any altitude but when you try and run fast on the track it’s just a little slower. It’s not like 7000+ feet when you’re gasping for air between intervals. I’m looking forward to the trip because I’ve never been to Banff and have heard great things.

READ ON...

The star-spangled runner: On your marks for the Los Angeles to New York Footrace 2011

2011-06-16T21:15:00.000+03:00

"Treat it like a job" – that's the advice I need to remember this summer. It won't be your average nine to five. Going to "work" in the next few weeks will mean weaving through the Joshua trees of the Mojave Desert; scaling the peaks of the rugged Black Mountains in Arizona, battling across the windswept high plains of Oklahoma, and through the forests of Missouri.
But it's a good tip for tackling the epic task ahead. This Sunday, I will be in Huntington Beach in Los Angeles, with 15 others, for the start of the LA to New York City 2011 footrace (the world's longest, incidentally).
Three thousand, two hundred and twenty miles across an entire continent stretch ahead, all of which I plan to do on under own steam. Fifteen states; 45 miles a day; just the one pair of legs. In just over ten weeks' time, on August 27, I hope to run into New York, seeing the skyscrapers of Manhattan for the first time in my life.
You may well wonder why (and no, my favourite film isn't Forrest Gump). My mum certainly does. She hardly leaves Leicestershire. What's making me do this?

READ ON...

Get your kicks - NIKE LUNARGLIDE+ 3

2011-06-16T21:05:00.000+03:00

Grandma's Marathon 2011: Schedule, Route, History And More

2011-06-16T21:04:00.000+03:00

Grandma's Marathon 2011: Defending Men's Champion Withdraws From Race

Long-distance running generally is not a sport that lends itself to guarantees, but this one is pretty much set in stone.

The men's side of the Grandma's Marathon is guaranteed to have a new winner in 2011.

Defending men's champion Philemon Kemboi, a native of Kenya, has been forced to withdraw from the 35th annual running of Grandma's Marathon due to visa problems, according to the Duluth News Tribune. The withdrawl was confirmed by race officials on Tuesday.

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Bid to con Wanjiru girlfriend foiled

2011-06-16T21:02:00.002+03:00

Police in Nakuru on Wednesday arrested three people who tried to fleece a girlfriend of marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru three days after his burial.

The three are being held at the Central Police Station after their plan to lure Judy Wambui to sign up for a suspicious deal at a Nakuru hotel failed.

“We are holding three suspects and we are interrogating them to establish their motive for calling Ms Wambui to partner with them only a few days after Wanjiru was buried,” said Nakuru police boss Johnston Ipara.

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Yuki Kawauchi Building Up for World Championships With 50 km Ultra This Sunday

2011-06-16T21:00:00.000+03:00

by Brett Larner for JRN

Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref.) became an international name when he finished 3rd at February's Tokyo Marathon, qualifying for the Daegu World Championships marathon with a time of 2:08:37 which made him the top man on the Japanese team despite an existence completely outside the corporate running leagues. At the recent Nittai Time Trials meet Kawauchi ran his last track race of the season before getting into the brunt of his marathon training, running 14:10.32 for 7th in the 5000 m in the midst of a typhoon. Before the race Kawauchi sat down with JRN to talk about his planned World Championships preparations. First up on his schedule is the Okinoshima 50 km ultramarathon this Sunday, June 19.

READ ON...

Blog Roll - Ian Sharman

2011-06-16T20:58:00.000+03:00

Well, not quite to plan this time around. Comrades is always such an overwhelming experience and that was the case again, but this time in the sense that the race humbled me and left me heartbroken after spending so long focusing on it.

My race went bad after around 35km before even hitting the marathon mark and I could only jog from that point, losing motivation given that a sub 6h time was clearly not on the cards, never mind a gold medal for top 10. Luckily I perked up a bit nearer the end after seeing Kami Semick charging along as if it was the first few miles and with a shot of chasing down the Russian twins for a win. 6:25 was my final time, which was well off the 5:51 needed to get a gold medal this year.

But the real story, which I'm really glad I got to see first hand, was the set of amazing performances by the top Brits and Americans. Before I mention the names and times, I'll just lay out the stats of the course so people can appreciate how good their performances were.

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As Grandma’s Marathon turns 35, race legends look back

2011-06-14T13:42:00.000+03:00

Garry Bjorklund’s blistered feet screamed for help after reaching London Road in the inaugural Grandma’s Marathon. The rookie road racer, and running shoe store owner, made a rookie mistake by using new shoes.

At 19 miles, near the Lester River Bridge, on a hot morning on June 25, 1977, he stopped, pulled off his racing shoes and hailed a friend on a bicycle, carrying his well-worn Nike Waffle Trainer shoes.

The swap was made, his feet were happy and the 26-year-old Bjorklund carried on for a victory in his first race of 26.2 miles, winning by nearly five minutes. It came less than a year after he made the 10,000-meter track final in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, and gave Grandma’s Marathon immediate credibility.

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Drug testers crack down on school doping

2011-06-14T13:40:00.000+03:00

South Africa's drug busters are to crack down on rampant doping in school sports - which has more than doubled in the past year - starting with this year’s Craven Week rugby tournament.

And government is considering legislation to take action against those supplying the dope.

The SA Institute for Drug Free Sport, boosted by a cash injection from the department of Sports and Recreation, on Tuesday launched an "I Play Fair - Say No to Doping" initiative to counter the increase in school-going dopers.

“Our SA doping control stats clearly show the use of performance enhancing drugs is on the increase among adolescent athletes and among the adult population,” institute chairman Shuaib Manjra said.

READ ON...

Inside the anti-doping system

2011-06-14T13:36:00.002+03:00

Andy Murray calls it "draconian". Rafael Nadal says it makes him "feel like a criminal". To anti-doping agencies around the world it's the most important weapon they have.

This is the "whereabouts" system, and I'm about to join it.

On Wednesday afternoon I was officially added to something called the National Registered Testing Pool, the first non-sportsman ever to be given such access. From now on I have to specify where I'll be for an hour a day, seven days a week, for up to three months in advance.

Why? So I am available for random out-of-competition tests. Why me? Because this is exactly what the 400 or so elite Olympians in Britain have to do, because it is the controversial heart of the fight against doping and because I want to see exactly how easy or onerous it is to stay on the right side of the system.

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“I was ready for Doha when the Diamond League started before this cruel injury. But now there is no pain even when I sprint...”

2011-06-14T13:35:00.000+03:00

After three months out with an ankle injury, World 800m record holder David Rudisha is looking to return to the track and run a world-leading time in Lausanne on June 30 when he debuts at the Samsung Diamond League race.

In a telephone interview from his base in Tuebingen, Germany, Rudisha said he will have a test run in the French city of Nancy on June 24 where he will be experimenting on the extent he can go in sprinting.

It is after that confirmation that Rudisha will head to Lausanne a week later, seeking to run under a minute and 43 seconds.

World Indoor champion Abubakar Kaki of Sudan holds the world lead of 1:43.68, which he set in winning the two-lap race in Eugene, Oregon, on June 4.

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Majors cement Wanjiru legacy

2011-06-14T13:33:00.001+03:00

With the World Marathon Majors promising to rename the elite circuit trophy after the late Samuel Wanjiru, his venerated place in classic distance running will be cemented for generations to come.

The fallen Olympics champion was finally interred on Saturday in a ceremony steeped in the contrasting side of a young life snuffed at the tender age of 24 on that May 15 dark Sunday.

“He is simply the greatest marathoner of all time. His victory at the Olympics was the signature and the best race ever run. London Marathon will be honoured since he gave us memorable races in 2008 and when won a year later,” David Bedford, the London Marathon director said at the funeral.

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Did you know...

2011-06-13T15:21:00.000+03:00

...that the oceanic marathon record is held by De Castella in 2.07.51 and was run in Boston 1986.
...that the south american marathon record is held by Carmen De Oliviera in 2.27.41 and was run in Boston 1991.
...that the fourth and fifth fastest marathon in Italy is noted for Gelindo Bordin in 2.08.19 and 2.09.27 in 1990 and 1988 where run in, you guessed it, Boston.

Luxemburg Marathon highlight this weekend during long distance off season

2011-06-10T23:02:00.000+03:00

6/11/11 ING Europe-Marathon Luxembourg Luxembourg City Luxembourg
6/11/11 LGT Liechtenstein Alpine Marathon Bendern Liechtenstein
6/11/11 Ostfriesland Marathon Hesel Germany
6/11/11 Salomon South Downs Marathon Chichester United Kingdom
6/12/11 Alpino Madrileno Marathon Cercedilla (Sierra Guadarrama) Spain
6/12/11 Macleay River Marathon South West Rocks Australia
6/12/11 Phuket International Marathon Phuket Thailand

The city is ready for its 40th Mini 10k

2011-06-10T22:55:00.000+03:00

1, Masai, Linet, KEN, Nike, 5-Dec-1989, 30:26.50 (Olympics, 2008), 30:48 (Mini, 2010)
2, Shobukhova, Liliya, RUS, Nike, 13-Nov-1977, 30:29.36 (Cheboksary, 2009), 32:19 (Jersey City, 2009)
3, Kiplagat, Edna, KEN, NIKE, 15-Sep-1979, 33:27.0hA (Nairobi, 2007), 31:18 (Peachtree, 2010)
4, Kiplagat, Lornah, NED, adidas, 1-May-1974, 30:12.53 (St. Denis, 2003), 30:32 (Peachtree, 2002)
5, Smith, Kim, NZL, Reebok, 19-Nov-1981, 30:35.54 (Palo Alto, 2008), 31:23 (Peachtree, 2010)
6, Pavey, Jo, GBR, NIKE, 20-Sep-1973, 31:12.30 (Olympics, 2008), 31:47 (Manchester, 2007)
7, Chebet, Emily, KEN, adidas, 18-Feb-1986, 31:33.39 (African Championships, 2006), 32:05 (Madrid, 2004)
8, Ozaki, Yoshimi, JPN, Dai-ichi Life/adidas, 1-Jul-1981, 31:47.23 (Kobe, 2005), None
9, Gebre, Belainesh, ETH, West Side Runners, 23-Dec-1988, NA, 31:33 (Peachtree, 2010)
10, Kastor, Deena, USA, Asics, 14-Feb-1973, 30:50.32 (Palo Alto, 2002), 31:44 (Mini, 2004)
11, Kiros, Aheza, ETH, adidas, 26-Mar-1982, 31:06.93 (Ostrava, 2008), 32:31 (Cape Elizabeth, 2009)
12, Incerti, Anna, ITA, Nike, 19-Jan-1980, 33:19.01 (Lumezzane, 2003), 32:12 (Barcelona, 2008)
13, Demissie, Misiker Mekonnin, ETH, West Side Runners, 23-Jul-1986, NA, 32:34 (Cooper River - Charleston, 2010)
14, Wellings, Eloise, AUS, adidas, 7-Nov-1982, 31:41.31 (Palo Alto, 2011), 34:03 (Boston, 2006)
15, Kano, Yuri, JPN, Second Wind AC/Mizuno, 27-Oct-1978, 31:53.07 (Niigata, 2004), 32:17 (Cape Elizabeth, 2008)
16, Simon, Lidia, ROU, Asics, 4-Sep-1973, 31:32.64 (Euros, 1998), 31:59 (Mini, 1999)
17, Aguilar, Alessandra, ESP, , 1-Jul-1978, 32:42.49 (Athens, 2003), 32:26 (Manchester, 2007)
18, Lewy Boulet, Magdalena, USA, Saucony, 1-Aug-1973, 32:33.02 (Palo Alto, 2008), 33:13 (Mini, 2003)
19, Deba, Buzunesh , ETH, West Side Runners, 8-Sep-1987, NA, 32:37 (Mini, 2010)
20, Van Blerk, Irvette, RSA, Nedbank Running, 5-Jul-1987, 34:19.54 (Durban, 2004), 33:12 (Cape Town, 2004)
21, Nelson, Adriana, USA, Asics, 31-Jan-1980, 34:02.79 (Stanford, 2004), 33:21 (San Juan, 2007)
22, Hallissey, Claire, GBR, Asics/Capital Area Runners, 17-Mar-1983, 33:10.73, Birmingham, 2009), 32:36 (Bristol, 2011)
23, Pritz, Molly, USA, Hansons Brooks, 7-Apr-1988, NA, 32:59 (Rockville, 2010)
24, Pidhoresky, Dayna, CAN, Mizuno Canada, 18-Nov-1986, NA, 33:02 (Toronto, 2011)
25, Bersagel, Annie, USA, New Balance Silicon Valley, 30-Mar-1983, 33:02.13 (Palo Alto, 2005), 33:59 (Hole, 2008)
26, Porter, Sarah, USA, Unattached, 22-Aug-1989, 33:17.39 (Turlock, 2011), None
27, Nukuri-Johnson, Diane, BDI, Asics, 1-Dec-1984, 33:17.01 (Stanford, 2008), 34:11 (Peachtree, 2008)
28, Kiernan, Reilly, USA, NYAC, 23-Sep-1988, 36:05.16 (HEPS, 2009), 35:09 (Scotland Run, 2011)
29, Cummings, Sarah, USA, NYAC, 3-Jan-1989, 33:55.91 (Mt. SAC/Walnut, 2010), 36:31 (Mini, 2010)
30, Aliyu, Aziza, ETH, West Side Runners, 20-Oct-1985, NA, 32:22 (Rockville, 2011)
31, Hullinger, Heidi, USA, NYAC, 27-Oct-1982, 34:29.88 (Palo Alto, 2004), 37:04 (Mini, 2009)
32, Mandefro, Hirut, ETH, West Side Runners, 5-Aug-1985, NA, 33:03 (Rockville, 2009)
33, Abrha, Serkalem Biset, ETH, West Side Runners, 8-Mar-1987, NA, 34:48 (Rochester, 2010)
34, Higgins, Lesley, USA, NYAC, 10-Jun-1980, None, 36:23 (Healthy Kidney, 2008)
35, Gurma, Muliye, ETH, West Side Runners, 20-Jan-1984, NA, 35:19 (Healthy Kidney, 2009)
36, Bell, Rolanda, PAN, NYAC, 25-Oct-1987, None, 36:41 (Scotland Run, 2011)
37, Harrison, Rachel, NZL, University of Canterbury, 30-Sep-1986, NA, NA
39, Audain, Anne, USA, Unattached, 1-Nov-1955, 31:53.31 (Edinburgh, 1986),
41, Switzer, Kathrine, USA, Marathon Woman, 5-Jan-1947, NA

Ryan Hall attacks the morning

2011-06-10T22:51:00.000+03:00

"I was enjoying a cup of coffee and reading my Bible when Sara got a call from her coach, Dena, informing her that a spot had opened up in the 1500 meters in the Prefontaine Classic (one the most competitive track meets in the country)." Read on...

Get your kicks - NIKE Lunaracer+2 Collection

2011-06-09T23:10:00.000+03:00

Club Profile: New York City's Central Park Track Club

2011-06-09T23:07:00.000+03:00

A thriving middle-distance and distance group in the heart of Manhattan / via runningtimes.com

Four times in a row for Chepkurui

2011-06-09T23:05:00.000+03:00

Commonwealth Games 3,000 metres steeplechase silver medallist Mercy Njoroge and Lineth Chepkurui easily won their respective races on the first day of the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championship at the Nyayo National Stadium Thursday.

With elite athletes having remained in their camps in Europe and USA, the forces championship lacked its usual spark as the fringe athletes dominated the races.

Njoroge, who shelved plans to run in tomorrow’s Diamond League race in New York, emerged from the shadows of Agnes Chesang and Beatrice Chepngeno to win in a national leading time of 10 minutes 8.5 seconds.

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Get your kicks - NIKE ZOOM STRUCTURE+ 15 – SPRING 2012

2011-06-09T23:03:00.002+03:00

McCourts' settlement also could affect Los Angeles Marathon

2011-06-09T23:01:00.002+03:00

The Dodgers are not the only Los Angeles sports institution facing an uncertain future because of the protracted divorce proceedings between Frank and Jamie McCourt.

Frank McCourt also owns the Los Angeles Marathon.

The McCourts are divorced but have not settled on how to divide their assets. In the meantime, Major League Baseball has taken over the day-to-day operation of the Dodgers and is investigating the finances of the team "and related entities," including the marathon.

Frank McCourt is struggling to meet the Dodgers' payroll, and if the Dodgers are put up for sale — whether by McCourt, the divorce judge or MLB — the marathon could be too.

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Meanwhile in Iten...

2011-06-08T23:17:00.002+03:00

Blog Roll - Reid Coolsaet

2011-06-08T23:16:00.002+03:00

This past weekend seven of us from Speed River went down to the Music City Distance Carnival in Nashville, TN. I was warned it was a hot place to run a 5000m but since six other teammates were going down and it wasn’t too far to fly and the pace was supposed to be set for 65 second laps I decided to go there over Portland, OR (June 11). Well the temps were more than I bargained for because when I raced it was 28C (82F) with 67% humidity. Bolota Asmeron asked the pacer to go for 64 second laps so I sat back but the heat caught up to him quickly and we both passed 1600m in 4:23. I then split 3000m in 8:17 with a couple other guys before Bolota dropped out and Paul Chelimo slowed. I ran by myself for the rest of the race until I got a little scare with 100m to go as Chelimo ran 59 for his last 400m compared to my 63 and came within two seconds of me in the end.

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Steve Osaduik - Fort to Fort 3k/2k/1k/1k

2011-06-08T23:14:00.002+03:00

Fort to Fort 3k/2k/1k/1k from Steve Osaduik on Vimeo.

Blog Roll - Eric Gillis

2011-06-08T23:13:00.000+03:00

Didn't post after Ottawa as I went directly into downtime ;) Occupied my time by eating lots of chocolate bars and Sun Sun. That lasted six fabulous days. Now back to limiting myself to one chocolate bar a day and no Sun Sun, unless I'm really craving!

Heading into Ottawa I had dropped out, or cut short, every workout the previous 10days, chest cold getting the better of me. Timing was poor to say the least. Had been keying on Ottawa for the entire Spring. In each previous race I had met, or surpassed my expectation giving me a lot of confidence. Felt excited and ready to lay it on the line in the nations capital. A week of feeling lousy eat up all that excitement, but lucky I didn't pick it in. I ended up feeling considerably better day before, and actually felt ok for race, go figure. Ended up finishing 4th overall and 1st Canadian, same as last year.

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Renato Canova Speaks

2011-06-08T23:11:00.000+03:00

Running Times reports that renown coach coming to Colorado Springs for Afro-American Project

Why Non-Marathoners Still Need Long Runs

2011-06-08T23:08:00.000+03:00

VIA RUNNING TIMES

In November of 1961, legendary coach Arthur Lydiard told the 1960 800m gold medalist, Peter Snell, to go run a marathon. Before that, Lydiard had Snell incorporating the Waiatarua circuit, a grueling, 22-mile long run up and down the Waitakere Ranges in New Zealand, as part of his 100-mile training week. What was a man who would race for less than 2 minutes doing running for 2 hours? This type of training was completely unheard of for middle-distance runners back in those days.

But it paid off.

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FINLAND DOPING: Coaches knew of use of EPO

2011-06-08T23:03:00.000+03:00

The reopened STT doping case was already entering the final stretch when a surprise revelation was heard on Tuesday.

Former top skier Mika Myllylä, who was heard in court as a defence witness, said that he had told the Finnish Ski Association coaches Pekka Vähäsöyrinki and Antti Leppävuori of his use of EPO.

In the ongoing trial Vähäsöyrinki and Leppävuori are among the accused. They are being charged of aggravated fraud arising out of an earlier libel action against the Finnish News Agency (STT).

The men are accused of having denied in court that they had any knowledge of the use of doping within the Finnish Ski Association and of having demanded compensation in a fraudulent fashion for the distress caused to them by a condemnatory news article by STT.

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CAS to rule on Olympic doping rule in September

2011-06-08T22:57:00.002+03:00

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set a September target to rule on the legality of an International Olympic Committee anti-doping rule that's barring LaShawn Merritt from the 2012 London Games.

Sports' highest court says it will hear the United States Olympic Committee's dispute with the IOC on Aug. 17, and expects a verdict the following month.

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letsrun.com - Technical Analysis of 30km and 10000m in Eugene

2011-06-07T23:46:00.000+03:00

We asked John Capriotti to organise the attempt for the WR on track on 25k and 30k, after I saw the recovery of Moses Mosop after Boston Marathon. The WR was 30 years old, and not too difficult to better. My idea was to bring Abel Kirui, now at the beginning of his specific preparation for defending his title of World Marathon Champion, at the record of 25k, and after to increase the pace with Moses, at the moment faster than Abel in every distance we use.
For those reasons, I prepared a schedule looking at 1:13’40” for 25 km, and 1:28’ for 30 km.
I was interested in two things : to control the level of Moses and Abel in long run at the moment, and to better the records, but not in running at their max speed. This attempt must not be a “finalized” record, but a record coming during a phase of preparation without specific focus. The reason was : if we use sometimes sessions of 30 km fast like the WR on track, why don’t try one time to do this on track in official way, so the athlete becomes owner of one official WR ?
But, during last week before the attempt, Abel had a problem in one foot : during a session with the bike (sometimes we use with the goal to increase the frequency of the action), pedaling barefoot, he burnt the skin of one foot because of the friction with the belt of the pedale, and this provoked a little infection, so his left foot became painful and swollen. Consequentely, he had some problem in running fast for 25 km.
During the race, the fact Joel Kimurer tried to stay with Moses like a competitor, not like somebody for helping the pace, changed the plan. Moses decided to increase the speed for going alone, after realizing that Abel could not stay with Kimurer till 25 km, so there was no more reason to wait, but could run faster than the plan.
He went for two following laps in 63”2 and 65”2, covering the km between 17600 and 18600 in 2’42”, and when was alone put himself at a pace of 2’52” per km in comfortable way.

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World Championships Marathoners Ozaki and Nojiri Head for U.S. Altitude Training

2011-06-07T23:22:00.000+03:00

translated by Brett Larner via JRN

Teammates at both the Daiichi Seimei women's ekiden team and this summer's World Championships marathon in Daegu, Korea, Yoshimi Ozaki and Azusa Nojiri left from Tokyo's Narita Airport on June 6 for two months of altitude training in Boulder, Colorado. Ozaki, the defending World Championships silver medalist, plans to adjust to the change in environment by running the June 11 New York Mini 10 km and the June 18 Steamboat Classic 4-miler in Illinois.

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Wanjiru's mother fails to appear in court

2011-06-07T23:20:00.002+03:00

The mother of the late Olympic champion Samuel Wanjiru was not arraigned in court Monday as was published in a section of the media.

Mrs Hannah Wanjiru was expected to appear at the Nyahururu law courts to face charges of assault and creating disturbance.

Police had at the weekend confirmed that she would be taken to court to face the charges she had allegedly committed over the weekend.

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Running Warehouse : Brooks Sneak Peak

2011-06-07T23:19:00.002+03:00

Get your kicks - NIKE LUNARGLIDE+ 3 - SPRING 2012

2011-06-07T23:18:00.002+03:00

Get your kicks - ADIDAS ORIGINALS LQC RUNNER - CITRUS PACK

2011-06-07T23:17:00.003+03:00

Classic 10K defending champ not invited back to Middletown

2011-06-07T23:17:00.000+03:00

Ethiopia's Alene Reta was set to defend his men's title at The Classic when he encountered a foe he couldn't outrun.

His past.

Reta, who won the 2010 Classic in an eye-opening 28:53, was disinvited from Sunday's race when organizers learned he had been banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations from 2001-03 after testing positive for steroids.

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Rising to the challenge of Kenya's 4,000ft half marathon

2011-06-07T23:16:00.000+03:00

It's a long way down. We're parked at the edge of the Rift Valley, looking out over the vast, faded mass of land stretched out below. In the back of the van are about 10 Kenyan runners, including David Barmasai, who a few months ago won the Dubai marathon (the most handsomely remunerated race in the world) and is part of the Kenyan team for the upcoming world championships.

The driver starts the engine and we bump along the uneven dirt road winding its way down into the valley. Far below, small, cone-shaped mountains poke up like grassy knolls.

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Triumphant return for Hunter-Galvan

2011-06-07T23:14:00.002+03:00

iza Hunter-Galvan was an easy winner of the women's section of the SBS Christchurch marathon at Lincoln yesterday, her first competitive race since ending, on May 29, a two-year suspension for a positive drug test.

By international standards the time was not fast at 2hr 45min 31sec, but Hunter-Galvan was delighted to win and even happier to learn that her time yesterday was 63sec faster than she had run in 1999 when she also won the title.

The 41-year-old mother of four, who admitted being nervous about the reception she would receive from fellow athletes before the race, said she need not have worried.

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Marathon master loses legs in pipeline blast

2011-06-07T23:13:00.000+03:00

Ian Winson should be helping to organise the race that gave him "a purpose and sense of belonging". Instead, he is fighting for his life after losing his legs in the weekend's deadly Auckland watermain explosion.

Mr Winson, 47, a network engineer for Watercare, was seriously injured when a gas explosion tore through a tunnel he and colleague Philomen Gulland were inspecting in Onehunga on Saturday morning.

Ms Gulland, a 48-year-old Canadian-born mother of two, was killed and Mr Winson was blown out of the tunnel and lost part of both legs.

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Renato Canova: The Wizard From Italy

2011-06-07T23:12:00.000+03:00

roughout history there have always been those intrepid souls responsible for the guidance of athletes with both unique genetic talents and the singular ability to fully utilize such talents. They’re the men and women who hover over stopwatches in wet, cold, snowy and windy as well as sunny conditions. They’re the ones scratching out the weeks of workout schedules that will bring dramatic improvements to their charges. They must pick horses for courses. Yet those same chosen thinclads must be properly guided and encouraged to the fine levels of fitness that stop clocks early and dazzles spectators and peers alike.

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Meanwhile in Buenos Aires...

2011-06-06T16:43:00.000+03:00

The 47th edition of the South American Champions. (5000 meters) More infos @ atletas.info

Men's marathon finish at 2011 San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

2011-06-06T16:38:00.000+03:00

Watch more video of San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 2011 on flotrack.org

Meb Keflezighi after 1st place 62:38 at 2011 San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon

2011-06-06T16:37:00.002+03:00

Watch more video of San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 2011 on flotrack.org

Jack Daniels talks about RunSmartProject.com

2011-06-06T16:36:00.002+03:00

Watch more video of Jack Daniels on flotrack.org

Get your kicks - NIKE FREE 3.0 V3 - SPRING 2012

2011-06-06T16:34:00.000+03:00

More Colours

In pictures: Life of Sammy Wanjiru

2011-06-06T16:32:00.000+03:00

Click HERE to start Slideshow

The barefoot running debate: Born to run, shoes & injury: the latest thinking

2011-06-06T16:30:00.000+03:00

ne of the more interesting, and certainly topical presentations at the recent meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Denver was a symposium on barefoot running. It was led by Irene Davis and Daniel Lieberman, both advocates for barefoot running and top scientists in this field. Lieberman in particular is something of a 'legend' in the field, and two years ago, he gave the prestigious keynote address at the ACSM meeting.

Since then, the area has moved on, thankfully. Most recently, Lieberman's group did some fascinating work on the barefoot running concept in runners accustomed to shoes or running barefoot, and that's the focus of this post, along with some thoughts on the concepts underlying barefoot running. A lot of the time, I'll play devil's advocate, because I believe in Lieberman's findings, and the theory behind barefoot running is sound. But there are some "loopholes", and I'll end with those.

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Hometown Hero Keflezighi Rocks The Field In San Diego

2011-06-06T16:28:00.000+03:00

The look on Meb Keflezighi’s face in the first mile of this morning’s Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon said it all: this was his race, in his hometown, and it was going to be run on his terms.

Tearing through the first mile in 4:47, only three-time New York City Marathon champion and two-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel of Kenya went with Keflezighi, who was running his first half marathon in the city where he grew up.

Lel sat contently on Keflezighi’s shoulder through the 5-mile mark (23:27) before the Olympic silver medalist decided enough was enough. After Lel refused Keflezighi’s invitation to take over the lead 5-1/2 miles into the race, the 2009 New York City Marathon champion broke free and opened up a large lead he held all the way to the finish line. Keflezighi, who went through 10K in 29:03 and 15K in 43:45, broke the tape at Sea World in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 40 seconds–1:58 up on second-place finisher Drew Polley, who represents the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Lel, who finished second at the London Marathon just 7 weeks ago, dropped out of the race just after the 10K mark.

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Philemon cruises to World 10K win

2011-06-06T00:12:00.000+03:00

A 24-year-old policeman, who started his running career just two years ago, won the TCS World 10K on Sunday, declaring later that his belated start had indeed motivated him to work harder to catch up with more experienced rivals. Philemon Limo of Kenya had the race stitched up just after the halfway stage, but the women’s event was much tighter, with Ethiopian Dire Tune nosing ahead of compatriot Merima Mohammed at the tape.

India’s best runners were left trailing in the wake of the Kenyans and Ethiopians. Asian Games and CWG medallist Kavita Raut finished 16th, over a minute behind the winner, while Sudha Singh was 20th. National Games gold medalist Suresh Kumar was the best Indian in the elite field, finishing 20th, ahead of armymen VL Dangi and Kheta Ram.

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Drama at Wanjiru burial preparations

2011-06-06T00:10:00.000+03:00

Kemboi, Keitany win in Orego

2011-06-06T00:09:00.002+03:00

World steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi and former Africa 1,500 metres holder Haron Keitany were among Kenya’s winners at Saturday’s Prefontaine Diamond League athletics meeting in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

Kemboi won the 3,000m steeplechase in eight minutes, 8.34 seconds to finish ahead of compatriot Paul Kipsiele Koech (8:10.13) and Ethiopia’s Gary Roba (8:11.34).

Keitany (3:49.09) defeated Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop to third place in the 1,500m, with Silas Kiplagat (3:49.39) second. Kiprop clocked 3:49.55.

Caster Semenya, whose 800m triumph at the 2009 World Championships was followed by a gender controversy, finished second in the women’s 800m, but said she wasn’t disappointed.

She closed from eighth to second on the final lap, but left herself too much to do and couldn’t threaten race winner Kenia Sinclaire of Jamaica, who won in a world-leading time of 1:58.29.

“The time is good. Under two minutes, 1:58,” said Semenya, who was runner-up in 1:58.88. “Now I can train harder so I can run a fast time. It was good to be back — fans — I miss that a lot.”

Kenya’s Olympic silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei was second in 1:59.15.

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Negari and Deba win Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon titles in their debuts in San Diego

2011-06-06T00:07:00.000+03:00

Terfa Negari of Kenya won the men’s Rock ‘n Roll Marathon on Sunday and Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia took the women’s event.

Negari pulled away at mile 19 to breeze to victory in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 18 seconds, kissing the ground after winning his first title at 26.2 miles in his San Diego debut. Tesfaye Sendeku of Ethiopia was second in 2:12:23. Gilbert Chepkwony of Kenya was third in 2:12:50.

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Bernard Lagat discusses Kenyan training and racing and how his style has resulted in a long career

2011-06-06T00:06:00.002+03:00

Watch more video of Prefontaine Pre Classic 2011 on flotrack.org

Bernard Lagat gets treatment from Dr. David Pascal after the 2 mile at the 2011 Pre Classic

2011-06-06T00:05:00.002+03:00

Watch more video of Prefontaine Pre Classic 2011 on flotrack.org

Holiday Marathons offer path to grass-roots racing

2011-06-06T00:03:00.000+03:00

Fast or slow, everyone in this race was wearing No. 1.

And that's not all the 150 or so runners in the Memorial Day Marathon in New York City's Van Cortlandt Park had in common. They also were running for free and far from the Big Apple's crowded streets.

"This is more of a community event," said David White, a 41-year-old runner from Manhattan. "It's just a small-town kind of thing. This is the love-of-running type thing."

Welcome to Holiday Marathons, a series of races in New York City's fourth-largest park that forsakes the electronic timing, extensive swag and large entry fees common at the corporate-sponsored events that populate the running calendars across the country.

"This is the anti-New York Road Runners race," said Kate Donovan, a Van Cortlandt Park regular who lives in the Bronx. "It's for free and for fun."

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2:02 Marathon - Moses Mosop

2011-06-06T00:01:00.000+03:00

VIA LETSRUN.com

As we talked about in our preview, the men's 30km world record was soft and we expected it to fall Friday night. However, the way Boston Marathon runner-up Moses Mosop destroyed the record on Friday night was a thing of beauty.

The runners started out with decent conditions. Although the sun was still out and the temperature was 71 degrees, the wind had died down to a more reasonable 8+ mph at race time. A record attempt was possible, as the field of 9 stepped to the line with the lap counter saying 75 laps to go.
The first 10k was pretty uneventful because of a masterful rabbiting job by Ketema Nigusse Tola. The leaders ran between 69-plus and 71-plus the whole first 25 laps, with a whole bunch of 70-points in a row (they needed sub-71 pace to break the 30k record). Although this was a track race, there were water stations on the track and the runners took water frequently, drinking and dousing their heads.

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Police arrest athlete Wanjiru's mother

2011-06-04T16:16:00.000+03:00

Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru's mother Hannah Wanjiru was arrested Saturday after she dramatically interrupted a grave marking ceremony.

A relative to Wanjiru’s wife Terezah Njeri Mr Paul Wanjohi was rushed to Nyahururu district hospital after he was hit on the back of the head with a piece of wood.

A groundbreaking ceremony by the athlete’s grandfather Samuel Kamau Njoroge, 80, in readiness for the burial suddenly changed when Ms Wanjiru, armed with a machete, arrived and started hurling abuse to those present.

“Who is that trying to bury my son before those who killed him are arrested”, she shouted as she entered the compound.

She also broke into intermittent screaming. The screams attracted a large number of onlookers from the residential-cum-farming
neighbourhood.

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Coltart Meets Muzhingi

2011-06-04T16:14:00.000+03:00

THE Minister of Education Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart met Comrades Marathon winner Stephen Muzhingi in Harare yesterday and saluted him for flying the national flag high.

Muzhingi became the first man in 23 years to win the world's oldest and toughest endurance race for three successive years.

"On behalf of the citizens of Zimbabwe and myself, I want to express my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Muzhingi for his victory," said Coltart.

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Kogo, Changeywo top billing for Bangalore World 10K

2011-06-04T16:11:00.002+03:00

The elite athletes’ roster for this year’s World 10km race at Bangalore looks like a kaleidoscope. Kenyans Micah Kogo and Doris Changeywo, the fastest runners in this event this year, will compete in the 4th edition this Sunday. The TCS World 10km is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Micah Kogo Kemboi won in Brunssum, Netherlands, with a time of 27:15 on 3 April while Doris Changeywo clocked 31:26 when taking the title in Wurzburg, Germany two weeks later. Kogo, the Beijing Olympic bronze medallist in 10,000m, briefly held the global mark when he won the Parelloop 10km in 27:01 at Brunssum two years ago. Changeywo was a silver medallist in last year’s Commonwealth Games at the Indian capital New Delhi, finishing behind country-mate Grace Momanyi in 10,000m.

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Kipyego arrests 10,000m title

2011-06-04T16:10:00.000+03:00

In the absence of elite athletes, road racer Bernard Kipyego triumphed in the men’s 10,000 metres final on the first day of the Kenya Police Athletics Championship at the Nyayo National Stadium Friday.

Kipyego’s return to the track, however, was only meant to secure points for his Nyanza Province team as he is focusing on running at the Chicago Marathon in October.

“I want to gauge my speed and performance in a competitive meeting. I have no intentions of running at the World Championships (on the track),” he said.

Kipyego looked relaxed as he took the command of the race after just three laps and went through the race as if in rehearsal of a major marathon.

He clocked 28:35.1, which was slower than what most of the fringe athletes were targeting, 27:40.00, to qualify for the World Championships.

Philemon Rono, representing Vigilance House, the Police headquarters, was second in 28:35.4 ahead of Wilson Kipsang 28:36.2 and Joseph Kiptum 28:36.4.

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Does he get sub 9?

2011-06-03T11:57:00.001+03:00

Welcome party for Muzhingi

2011-06-03T00:05:00.000+03:00

Bakers Inn, the leading bread manufacturer in Zimbabwe have taken the lead in hosting a welcome party for three-time Comrades Marathon winner Stephen Muzhingi.

The welcome party will be held at Keg near Harare Sports Club. Speaking to NewsDay Sport, Baker’s Inn representative Kudakwashe Musasiwa said they had been working with Stephen Muzhingi for a long time.

They had decided to host a congratulatory party for him after his treble triumph in the Comrades Marathon he won last Sunday.

“We have decided to fulfill our obligation and honour Muzhingi after his sterling performance in the event. We have been working with the runner for the past months making sure that he got most of the things he wanted in most cases,” said Musasiwa.

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NIKE SPORTSWEAR RUN THE CITY DRI-FIT T-SHIRT

2011-06-03T00:02:00.000+03:00

Doctors puzzled by new facts in Wanjiru’s death

2011-06-03T00:01:00.000+03:00

There were more questions than answers on Wednesday after the first post-mortem examination on marathon star Samuel Wanjiru.

Chief Government Pathologist Dr Moses Njue appeared to question claims that Wanjiru plunged to death from the balcony at his home.

He, however, declined to address journalists at the police station, with lawyers for the athlete and his mother later issuing contradicting statements.

Later at Wanjiru’s home, Dr Njue argued that the injuries to Wanjiru’s palms and knees indicated that the athlete landed on his fours and was conscious that he was jumping.

This could therefore not explain the fatal injury to the back of his head, which preliminary investigations indicated was inflicted by a “blunt force”.

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Meb Keflezighi Returns Home to the Streets of San Diego

2011-06-02T23:59:00.000+03:00

The streets of San Diego will be alive with
music and the excitement created by fans of hometown hero Meb Keflezighi
during Sunday's Dodge Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon & ½ Marathon
To Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®. Keflezighi, running on the
roads in the city he grew up in for the first time as a professional, will
have plenty of supporters among the crowd, including his parents, brother,
sister, wife, children, friends, former classmates and many in the
community who have watched his rise to stardom with pride.

"It will be something special," Keflezighi said, of his pro debut in San
Diego. "I'm excited about it. I'm looking forward to doing it. It's an
opportunity for a lot of (familiar) people to see me. It should be fun
running in the city where I grew up. I don't get that treat very often.
I've always wanted to do it."

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Blog Roll - Ryan Hall

2011-06-02T23:57:00.000+03:00

Yesterday I raced in one of my favorite road races. After racing for the first time in Boulder in 2008 I have been itchy to return so after my recovery went well post-Boston marathon, I was excited to get on the starting line. Training has been progressing nicely. I am obviously very early on in my preparations but with each passing week I feel my fitness increasing. My biggest concern was going from two months of sea level training at Stanford up to the altitude in Boulder.

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Kastor to make her comeback in NYRR Mini 10K

2011-06-02T23:56:00.000+03:00

Four months after the birth of her first child, American marathon record-holder and Olympic medalist Deena Kastor will make her return to racing at the NYRR New York Mini 10K on Saturday, June 11, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

The 40th running of the original women-only road race will be dedicated to five-time Mini champion Grete Waitz, who died April 19 following a long battle with cancer.

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Paula Radcliffe retains Olympic hopes despite injury woes

2011-06-02T23:54:00.002+03:00

Charles van Commenee - the pragmatic, spade’s-a-spade-calling Dutchman in charge of the British track and field team - had it just about right when he stood at the side of the wind-swept Paula Radcliffe Stadium in Loughorough a week past Sunday. “What about Paula Radcliffe?” Van Commenee had been asked, while giving his thoughts on the state of the host nation’s athletics talent as the pre-Olympic year track season got underway.

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Not same excitement at this Comrades as before

2011-06-02T00:26:00.000+03:00

AS RELATIVE normalcy prevails along the hallowed Comrades Marathon route between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, muscles will continue to spasm for at least a few more days.

More than 19600 runners entered this year’s event but a relatively disappointing 11374 managed to finish the race.

After the 85th running of the Comrades last year just before the World Cup , it was no surprise that events were a little more sombre this year.

It might also be because of the 86th version being an up-run, from Durban to Maritzburg, that many thought they would give it a skip and rather tackle next year’s down-run.

Apparently legs being morphed into jelly on the way down to Durban sound a sight more appealing than heaving a tired body up the N1 through the M13 and eventually along the R103 on the up-run.

Whichever way you look at it, this year’s version of what is often billed as the world’s top ultra- distance marathon did not offer the same sort of excitement as in previous years.

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Thieves ruin Comrades spirit

2011-06-02T00:24:00.000+03:00

Thieves violated the spirit of the Comrades Marathon when they broke into a past winner’s van, stole his equipment and then used his hotel card to make off with all his belongings – including his passport.

Russian twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva, who came first and second in yesterday’s race, also had their possessions stolen from the car.

Elena is a six-time winner of the marathon and holds the record for the up run which she set in 2006.

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Big honour for Muzhingi

2011-06-02T00:22:00.000+03:00

Three-time Comrades Marathon champion Stephen Muzhingi will be feted like a King after President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai agreed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to honour the sporting icon.

Muzhingi’s exploits in the Comrades Marathon were discussed at length at a Cabinet meeting and Mugabe and Tsvangirai were of the same thinking that the Masvingo-born athlete should be honoured.

It is understood that Muzhingi is set to be given a diplomatic passport and cash at a State function to be graced by the two political leaders. The date for the function is yet to be set.

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Muzhingi eyes Comrades Marathon record

2011-06-02T00:21:00.000+03:00

History-making Comrades Marathon winner, Stephen Muzhingi (Pictured), is confident of matching the record of wins in the competition that was set 23 years ago by a South African athlete.
After winning the world’s most popular marathon event, the Zimbabwean said he was now setting his sights on breaking the record Bruce Fordyce set in 1988 as he won his eighth title. This past weekend Muzhingi secured victory to become the first athlete to win three titles in succession after Fordyce, the best athlete to compete in the marathon.
“I am aiming for that record, starting with next year where I am confident I can win my fourth title,” the award-winning Zimbabwean told this newspaper after winning the challenging marathon. Muzhinigi, sponsored by retail chain Mr Price, followed up his two down run victories with an up run victory in the 86th edition of the Ultimate Human Race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

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RADCLIFFE: I CAN STILL COMPETE

2011-06-02T00:19:00.002+03:00

Paula Radcliffe insists her injury-affected return to action in the Bupa London 10,000 on Monday is not the beginning of the end for one of the world's finest distance runners.

The 37-year-old, hampered by a torn disc in her back, could only finish third on her long-awaited comeback following an 18-month absence, beaten in the 10 kilometre road race by winner Jo Pavey and Gemma Steel, a 25-year-old who has never represented Britain in a track or road race.

It is the latest in an almost endless list of injury problems which have plagued the marathon world record holder throughout her career, notably at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics when her chances were ruined in the first instance by a stomach upset and in the second a stress fracture of her femur and a hip injury.

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Wanjiru burial team rejects bid to replace chair

2011-06-02T00:18:00.000+03:00

Friends and relatives of marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru have resisted a move by his mother to have funeral committee chairman Ndegwa Wahome step down.

Ms Hannah Wanjiru had asked Mr Wahome, a lawyer, to disqualify himself from chairing the committee on grounds that he represents the interests of her daughter-in-law Terezah Njeri.

In separate interviews with Nation, members of the committee said Mr Wahome was unanimously elected chairman during the first meeting by Nyahururu residents and other friends of the late Wanjiru.

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Kiwi drugs cheat is back in the running again

2011-06-02T00:17:00.000+03:00

Liza Hunter-Galvan is a shock entry in this Sunday's Christchurch marathon – and not everyone is happy.

Just days after completing her two-year ban for using EPO, the United States-based Hunter-Galvan has chosen the Christchurch event as the beginning of her road back to redemption.

Her entry has been met with swift opposition from Wellington's Gabrielle O'Rourke, who holds two national titles and ran 10th in the 1993 Boston Marathon.

O'Rourke, who is running the half-marathon in Christchurch, says a group of runners find Hunter-Galvan's entry "too raw".

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New Zealand's Smith set for NY Marathon

2011-06-02T00:16:00.000+03:00

New Zealand's Kim Smith, who led the first 17 miles of the Boston Marathon in April before being forced out by a leg injury, was named on Wednesday as an entrant in this year's New York Marathon.
Organizers of the November 6 race said Smith will make that her return to marathon action and will return to competition for the first time since Boston on June 11 in the New York Mini 10K race.
"I can't wait to step on the line in November," Smith said. "I want to put my Boston Marathon experience behind me and I hope to do that in New York. Marathon weekend in New York is so exciting. It's a lot of fun to be part of the buzz."

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Radcliff's return disasterous

2011-05-31T22:44:00.000+03:00

The marathon world record-holder, competing in her first race in 18 months since the birth of her second child in September, had a more honest assessment of her disappointing third-place finish behind Jo Pavey and Gemma Steel.
“I wanted it to be a bit better than that,” she admitted. “For me, it was a bit of a disaster.”
The 10km road race finished in The Mall, the scene of Radcliffe’s three London Marathon triumphs, but there was little to celebrate for the 37 year-old as she crossed the line in 33 min 17 sec, some 55 seconds after Pavey, another distance-running mother, had broken the tape. The tears swiftly followed.
“I was just really gutted,” said Radcliffe. “I stopped and looked at the clock and knew I should be running a marathon quicker than that. It was not good at all.”

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Muzhingi completes Comrades hat-trick

2011-05-29T19:45:00.000+03:00

Zimbabwean Stephen Muzhingi became the first man in 23 years to win the Comrades Marathon three successive times with a convincing victory in the 86th edition of the race in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.

South African Fanie Matshipa, who had done a lot of the hard work, pushing the pace in the second half, held on to finish second.

Russian Elena Nurgalieva, the defending champion, recovered from an early fall to win her sixth title in the women's race ahead of twin sister Olesya.

Muzhingi's countryman, Point Chaza, had broken away early and held a lead of more than seven minutes at the halfway mark, which he crossed in 2:36.19, on record pace.

Chaza, however, faded soon after with Muzhingi and Matshipa storming past with 30km to go.

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Matsipa must remain patient

2011-05-29T19:43:00.000+03:00

Fanie Matshipa should not be too hard on himself for not winning the Comrades Marathon on Sunday because his time will undoubtedly come in the in the next few years, coach John Hamlett has predicted.

The 33-year-old ended the 86th edition of the race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in a credible second place, crossing the line as the first South African in a time of 5:34.29 – just under two minutes behind winner Stephen Muzhingi from Zimbabwe.

Matshipa, a miner from Limpopo, was taking part in the race for just the fourth time in his career. His previous three appearances saw him finish in 18th in 2006 and fourth last year, while in 2008 he failed to finish.

"I think he had a great race, but the best man won to be honest," Hamlett said.

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Victorious twins had 'worst run ever'

2011-05-29T18:17:00.000+03:00

he siblings won the race for the eighth time in nine years, but neither felt in their best form in the 86th edition of the ultra-marathon, an 87km 'up' run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

"The was the worst run I've had, and it was my worst result in nine years," Elena said after crossing the line in 6:24.11, almost 15 minutes off her own course record and the slowest winning time since 1999.

"I wasn't feeling well today -- I had a problem with my stomach -- but of course I'm happy to have won."

Olesya said they had not yet recovered from the Two Oceans 56km ultra-marathon in Cape Town in April, which resulted in their slower than usual performances.

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Nurgalieva sisters robbed

2011-05-29T18:16:00.000+03:00

Russian twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva were robbed of their belongings at the 2011 Comrades Marathon on Sunday.

The sisters, who finished first and second in the ladies race, were robbed of all their gear at the second water point.

Their team vehicle was parked near the refreshment station for around 15 minutes while the back-up team provided the sisters with drinks.

Three kit bags were stolen from the vehicle. Two of the bags belonged to the sisters and the third bag was their team manager's.

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Comrades triple for Muzhingi

2011-05-29T18:15:00.000+03:00

Zimbabwean Stephen Muzhingi became the first man in 23 years to win the Comrades Marathon three successive times with a convincing victory in the 86th edition of the race in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
South African Fanie Matshipa, who had done a lot of the hard work, pushing the pace in the second half, held on to finish second.

Russian Elena Nurgalieva, the defending champion, recovered from an early fall to win her sixth title in the women's race ahead of twin sister Olesya.

Muzhingi's countryman, Point Chaza, had broken away early and held a lead of more than seven minutes at the halfway mark, which he crossed in 2:36.19, on record pace.

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Comrades Marathon: - 1 Day

2011-05-28T18:31:00.002+03:00

Runners out to deny Muzhingi his hat-trick

2011-05-28T18:30:00.003+03:00

The winner of the Comrades Marathon in 2009 and 2010, Zimbabwean Stephen Muzhingi, is going to be under a lot of pressure in Sunday’s 86th running of the race.

However, with six previous Comrades behind him he has a wealth of experience to fall back on and is in peak condition, mentally and physically.

His main challengers along the 89km route between Durban and Pietermaritzburg could well be Mr Price runners Ludwick Mamabolo and Bongamusa Mthembu, who were second and third respectively to Muzhingi last year, although Mthembu actually finished fourth only to be elevated to third after the disqualification of Sergio Motsoeneng for a doping infringement.

Others in the Mr Price line-up looking for one of the 10 gold medals on offer are Fusi Nhlapo and Leboka Noto.

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The spirit of the Comrades lives on

2011-05-28T18:30:00.000+03:00

The Comrades Marathon on Sunday, further back in the field a few others will commemorate the history of the race.

Founded in 1921 by Vic Clapham as a memorial to the veterans of the Great War, the 89km race has introduced many changes over the years, but the spirit of the annual event is embraced by its tradition.

The Comrades Marathon celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2011, and Antony Clapham, the founder's great grandson, will become the first person in his family to attempt the race.

“I'm not from a sporting family, but when I was 13 or 14 I was watching the race on TV and they recounted the history of the event,” Clapham, a converted cyclist, said on Saturday.

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Marathon mileage

2011-05-28T18:28:00.000+03:00

Ninety years after the race was first run, the Comrades Marathon remains as relevant as ever and as much a permanent fixture on the South African sporting calendar as events such as rugby's Currie Cup and the Dusi Canoe Marathon.

Should you doubt it, just pop down to the start of this year's race in Durban on Sunday morning and sample the nearly 20 000 runners who will line up for what is an "up run", that is, a start in Durban and finish in Pietermaritzburg, just less than 90km later.

But, what's interesting is the various takes on what the modern Comrades represents, as opposed to the founding principles of the event, which originated nearly a century ago, thanks to the efforts of race founder Vic Clapham.

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Africa champ Kiprop reigns supreme in Iten

2011-05-28T18:26:00.000+03:00

Africa 10,000m champion Wilson Kiprop on Friday beat a quality field to win his specialty at the final leg of National Bank of Kenya and Athletics Kenya track and field meeting at Kamariny Stadium, Iten.

The athletes struggled for qualifying marks as they braved slippery conditions and cold weather following a heavy downpour the previous night.

And a police crackdown in the morning on vehicles flouting traffic regulations contributed to most runners reaching the stadium late.

Kiprop, who had been out of action following a career threatening knee injury after winning the World Half Marathon Championships last year, led a pack of five runners as World Youth 3,000 bronze medalist Paul Lonyangata, Levy Matebo and Kenneth Kipkemboi ketp tabs.

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Muzhingi eyes Comrades record

2011-05-28T18:25:00.000+03:00

Defending champion Stephen Muzhingi was oozing confidence on the eve of the 86th Comrades Marathon, while his counterpart on the women's side, Elena Nurgalieva, was far more conservative in her predictions.

Muzhingi, who won the ‘down' run for the last two years, said he was confident of breaking the men‘s record for the ‘up' run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.

The Zimbabwean was “aiming for five hour and 24 minutes“, which would challenge the record of 5:24.49 set by Leonid Shvetsov of Russia in 2008.

“I don't put pressure on myself anymore and I'm going to run my own race,” Muzhingi said on Friday.

“It's a matter of dealing with distance and time, rather than people, and I'm not going to run anyone else's race.”

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Residents to Demonstrate Over Wanjiru Burial Delay

2011-05-28T18:24:00.000+03:00

Residents of Nyahururu will today join relatives and friends of the late Olympic Marathon Champion Samuel Wanjiru in a peaceful protest to express their anger over intruders, whom they claim are sabotaging the burial of the fallen hero.

In a meeting held at Olympia hotel in Nyahururu yesterday, the residents said Wanjiru's mother Anne Wanjiru is not solely to blame for the burial arrangement crisis, but has been held hostage by businessmen and lawyers who want a protracted legal battle in order to benefit from Wanjiru's property.

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Hansons-Brooks Runners Ready To Rock San Diego

2011-05-28T18:19:00.002+03:00

Next Sunday nearly 32,000 runners will take to the streets of San Diego from Balboa Park to SeaWorld for the 14th annual Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon & ½ Marathon to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ®. Leading the charge of running Elvi, thousands of Team In Training participants and first time marathoners, will be a group of elite athletes from Michigan vying to be some of the first athletes across the finish line.

San Diego-native Desiree Davila’s scintillating performance in April’s Boston Marathon not only catapulted her into the distance running elite, it sent reverberations throughout her teammates at the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project.

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Comrades Marathon: - 3 Days

2011-05-27T00:48:00.003+03:00

All set for Comrades

2011-05-27T00:48:00.000+03:00

Organisers of this weekend's Comrades Marathon insist that everything is in place for the successful running of the 86th edition of the race.

Close to 20 000 athletes will line up for the run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, almost double the number that took part in the last race in that direction, but less than the 23 000 plus that participated last year.

Amongst those competing are also 1 288 foreigners, celebrities and politicians like new Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele and MEC for Health in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

After the last two competitions were run the other way around - last year it was changed especially because of South Africa hosting the Soccer World Cup - this time around it is back to the "Up Run", which was last run in 2008 when Russians Leonid Shvetsov and Elena Nurgalieva were the winners in the male and female races respectively.

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Get your kicks - NIKE LUNARFLY+ 2 GREY/WHITE/CHLORINE BLUE

2011-05-27T00:45:00.002+03:00

Get your kicks - Adidas Response Cushion

2011-05-27T00:44:00.002+03:00

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Bekele's on the Comeback Trail

2011-05-27T00:43:00.002+03:00

fter a year and a half of uncertainty, three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele has returned to the mountain trails outside Addis Ababa healthy and with the intention of restoring himself as the world's premier distance runner.

The 28-year-old Ethiopian star seemingly disappeared following the Great Edinburgh 9K Cross Country Race in January 2010. At that race, he finished fourth on the snow covered grounds of Balmoral Castle and went home to lick his wounds. What was initially believed to be a minor calf muscle strain turned into a seven-month nightmare during which he couldn't run a step. He avoided surgery but had to endure plenty of rehab, he said during a phone interview from his home in Addis Ababa earlier this week.

"The calf muscle was injured. The muscles were strained badly and it was very difficult to try an operation," reveals Bekele, the world record-holder at 5,000m (12:37.35) and 10,000m (26:17.53). "I didn't do this. But the recovery was long and then the treatment also. I tried to run on it, and everything is good now.”

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In Pictures: Hamburg Marathon 2011

2011-05-27T00:42:00.000+03:00

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Blog Roll - Jeffrey Eggleston

2011-05-27T00:41:00.000+03:00

It was quite a weekend in Pittsburgh! As I reflect back on the the unexpected result, I’ve come to the conclusion that sometimes not having a definitive race plan is beneficial. As a race ‘rabbit’ brought in to assist other athletes and fully-participate in all the weekend events, I had a very planned-out stay in the Steel City. And yet, after 18 miles of pacing on Sunday, I decided to improvise a little…

Highlights from the Event Weekend

On Friday night, I attended a reception for all the generous event sponsors at the LaMont Restaurant. It took some convincing on my part to the Restaurant staff that I was with the Marathon event, and not the Junior Prom that was also going on. After enjoying a glass of Cab and taking in the panoramic view of downtown, I was given the opportunity to address the sponsors on behalf of the elite athletes and Olympic Trials hopefuls. It’s quite humbling to speak in front of such a distinguished group– which included the Mayor (who was making his half-marathon debut), sponsors and the entire race organization. However, I was glad to convey the fact that their support goes a long ways in helping many aspiring athletes realize their dream. Later on, after watching some fireworks and having another glass of Cab, I chatted with Race Director Patrice Matamoros. I thanked her again for having me, and joked with her that maybe I would win her race on Sunday.

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