Running News Daily

Fast times at the third annual KATA Double 15k in Thika Kenya

The third edition of the kenya double road race was held today 2nd September 2023 at kenya athletics training academy (KATA) in Thika kenya. This also replaced the monthly KATA Time Trial for September.

On the chilly morning, the weather was perfect for a great race, runners started arriving at the academy as early as 6am for this mind blowing and challenging event.

Our race organizers had worked tirelessly to make sure that the event was ready on time under the eye of the race director and academy manager Florence Kimiti. and the kata team working hand in hand.

At 9.am Kenyan time the race started, and all the favorite runners were on the leading group making sure that they have an eye of what’s going on, race Favorite Bernard Musau took charge after the 3rd kilometer and went ahead to win the first leg in 29:44,  Nahshon Ndegwa come in second in 30:26 and job Kamonde run 30:27 to finish 3rd. 

In the women race, it was similar to men race, the one horse race saw Miriam Chepkemoi 34:35 dominated the race from gun to tape, Kellen Waithira  came in 2nd in 35:37 and Karen Chepkemoi hold on to the 3rd in 37:14. 

During the halftime break, it was the time for bob Andersons kid cup mile which saw amazing talent from the upcoming kids, in the boys race Davis Wanjihia won the race in 6:46, Benjamin Ndaro was 2nd in 6:55 while Lewis Mburu sealed the podium in 7:03. The girls was won by 11yrs old purity Wambui took the honors I 6:33, Emma Elianah was 2nd in 7:30 and Abigail Imali came 3rd in 7:39 to seal the podium. 

After the break , it was time for second leg and saw Bernard fired up as he destroyed the field from the gun and won easily in 14:48 (his total time of 44:32 ties the 3rd best time time ever) his opponent job Kamonde run 15:02 and Raphael Gacheru ran 15:08 to third place after fifth place in 10km. 

Miriam Chepkemoi final time was 51:33 which is the 5th best female tine ever.  40-year-old Gabriel Kahura clocked 47:06 which is the best time ever for 40 years plus.  

The race had a huge success and runners loved the new challenge in the double racing.

 

(09/02/2023) Views: 678 ⚡AMP

Record smashed at the 24th KATA 10K Time Trial held this morning August 16 in Thika

The 24th edition of the KATA time trial monthly series was held today on 16th of august 2023 at the Kenya Athletics Training Acadamy in Thika Kenya. The 10km saw the time trial record holder Peter Mwaniki improve the course record in a time of 28:39 from the his previous time of 29:00.

In the womens 10km race saw the return of our record holder Lucy Mawia who also has been racing in europe, she won the race in a time of 33:39. she was followed by marathoner Kellen Waithira in a time of 35:49 while Emily Chepkwemoi came in third in a time of 36:21.

Raphael Karita was the runner up in the mens 10k clocking 30:07 missing his pb by fivd seconds. Evans Kiguru came in third clocking 30:39. 

In the 5k race Fredrick Kiprotich came home first with a time of 15:00 while Levis Kuria came in second clocking 15:19 Antony Mukundi sealed the podium in 15:38.

In the womens race Caren Jepkemoi won in a time of 18:58. She was followed by Virginia Wanjiru in 20:10 and Lilian Musenya came home third in 22:33.

In the masters, 42-year-old Paul Ng'ang'a clocked 33:56 while 61-year-old Charles Ndirangu clocked 38:30 in 10km race which is 85% age-graded.

This time trial comes two weeks before KATA's biggest race of the year, the Double 15k (10k+break+5k) which will be held on September 2, 2023 at KATA in Thika.  Total of 33K KES of prize money up for grabs plus 20K KES bonus for both men and women winners if they break the world record,

Julius Koskei holds the world record for the Double Road Race 15k set May 10, 2015 in Pacific Grove, CA USA.  He clocked 43:11 that day.  His 10k leg was 29:11 and his 5k leg was 14:00.  The second leg starts one hour and 45 minutes after the start of the 10k leg.

Risper Gesabwa holds the female record clocking 48:45 in Pleasanton California Dec 21, 2014. Her 10k leg was 32:55 followed by a 15:49 5k leg.

The sport of double racing was started in 2010 in Mexico.  The first US Double was held in 2012.  Over 300 Double Racing events have been held around the world.  The lastest one was the Golden Gate Double 8k (5k+break+3k) held August 6, 2023 in San Francisco.  

The Road Race Federation (DRRF) located in Mountain View, CA USA is the governing body of the sport.  Rules and regulations have to be followed. The DRRF maintain all stats on all events.  This will be the sixth Double event held in Kenya.  The director and founder of the DRRF is lifetime runner Bob Anderson who is also the owner of KATA.

10K MEN.

1. Peter Mwaniki 28:39 2. Raphael Karita 30:07 3. Evans Kiguru. 30:39 4. John Kuria. 30:48 5. Paul Ng'ang'a.  33:56 6. Bernard Gicheha 37:33 7. Ishmael Mbugua 38:07 8. Charles Ndirangu 38:30

10k WOMEN.

1. Lucy Mwende 33:39 2. Kellen Waithira 35:49 3: Emily Chepkemoi 36:21

5K MEN.

1. Fredrick Kiprotich 15:00 2. Elvis Kuria. 15:19 3. Anthony Mukundi 15:28 4. Brian Ontieri 15:37 5. Kelvin Ragui.  15:44

5K WOMEN.

1. Karen Chepkwemoi 18:58 2. Virginia Wanjiru  20:10 3. Lilian Musengya 23:23 4. Vera Achitsa. 34:51

(08/16/2023) Views: 451 ⚡AMP

Two world bests set at the 9th Annual Golden Gate Double 8k today August 6

We had an amazing morning in San Francisco for our 9th annual Golden Gate Double 8k (5k+break+3k) and our Golden Gate 10k/5k.   We had 452 registered runners.  The weather was perfect.  Like in the 50-60’s with hardly any wind.  And we could see the GG bridge the whole time.  

Congrats to our Double winners: the current king of the Double Anthony Cortes clocked 25:20 (15:52 + 9:28) for the win.  14-yearly-old Caroline Chang did her first double today and won clocking 32:03.

There were two world bests set today.  71-year-old Suzanne Koonce (second photo) from Menlo Park, California smashed the current 70  plus record set by Sharlet Gilbert of 43:38.  Suzanne clocked 41:48 today.  

Bobby Hastings of Chico, California set the record for 60-69 a couple of years back of 31:39, a time that was nearly two minutes ahead of everyone else.  Today he focused on beating that time and he did clocking 31:29.

The next double racing event is set for Dec 16th in Palo Alto California. The featured event, the Double 15k (10k+test+5k) will be run.  There will also be the Palo Alto 10k/5k and the Bob Anderson’s one mile kids run (kids 13 and under).

(08/06/2023) Views: 552 ⚡AMP

82-year-old Ben Lipschuetz is targeting a world record on Dec 17 in Palo Alto California at the Double 15k

Ben Lipschuetz of Los Altos California hopes to clock the best time ever run for male runners 80 plus for the Double 15k on Dec 17 in Palo Alto.  

The Double 15k is a two stage race.  First runners run 10k and then take a break.  The second stage is 5k and it starts  one hour 45 minutes after the start of the 10k. Times are added together for scoring.  

The Double Road Race Federation (DRRF) is the governing body for Double Racing.  The first Double was held October 2010 in Mexico.  The first Double 15k held in the US took place Dec 2012.  The overall world record was set May 10, 2015.  Kenyan's Julian Kosgei clocked 29:11 for the 10k leg and then followed that up with a 14 minute flat 5k.  His combined 43:11 is the current world record.

The Women's record is held by Kenyan's Risper Gesabwa.  On Dec 14, 2014 in Pleasanton California she clocked 48:45 (32:55 10k followed by 15:49 5k).  The American record for men was set by Joe Moore in Manhattan, Kansas on Nov 9, 2013.  Joe clocked 44:48 (30:04/14:48).  Kim Conley set the record for women in Pleasanton, Ca Dec 21, 2014.  She clocked 49:24 (33:34/15:49).

The best time recently run is 44:40 (29:56/14:44). 4th best time ever. 18-year-old Joseph Njoroge clocked this time in Thika Kenya September 14, 2022.

The next two official DRRF Double 15k coming up are Dec 17 in Palo Alto California and March 25, 2023 in Brisbane California.  Both flat fast courses.  

The world record Ben has his eye on was run by 83-year-old Eddie Reyna Dec 22, 2013.   Eddie clocked 1:59:56 (1:23:02 for 10k followed by 36:54 for 5k leg).

Ben recently competed at the Trailblazer 10k Sept 24 in Mountain View,Ca.  He clocked 1:08:09 on the long 10k course.

"I met up with Ben after the Trailblazer race," says Double 15k director Bob Anderson (photo with Ben), "and told him he could smash the 80 plus world record.  This might even be an understatement."

The 80 plus world records for females was set August 23, 2014 in Pleasanton by 80-year-old Barbara Robben 1:57:26 (1:17:56 plus 39:30 for 5k leg).  

"Our Palo Alto event is nearly sold out but there are a few spots currently available," says race director Bob Anderson. There is also an open 10k, 5k and kids mile for 13 and under. 

(Second photo: Palo Alto 2021 winners.  Anthony Cortes clocked 49:26 (32:46/16:40) and Delaney Miller clocked 57:19 (38:36/18:43).  Both wearing the yellow jersey showing they won the first leg. 

(Third photo: 70-year-old Suzanne Koonce was the Victory Cup winner.  She clocked 1:18:49 (52:36/26:13).  The Victory Cup is awarded to the runner with the best age-graded score.

 

 

(12/06/2022) Views: 1,002 ⚡AMP

Joseph Njoroge clocks the 4th fastest Double 15k (10k+break+5k) ever this morning in Thika Kenya

Joseph Njoroge (blue jersey) from Ngong Athletics Club was the overall winner of the Second edition of the Double 15k race held in Thika on Wednesday morning.

The 18-year-old Nyandarua-born Njoroge clocked 29:56.17 in 10Km before caping the event with 14:43.93 to emerged top in 44:40.10 in the new race that is gaining ground in Kenya.

Local ace Zakariah Kirika, 21, who trains with the host Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Thika, combined 45:25.31 to finish second splitting 30:28.54 in 10Km and 14:56.77 after the break.

For the women, Newcomer Caren Chepkemoi from the Thika based Training Academy won the lady’s category in 59:50.76. She timed 40:14.97 in 10km and 19:35.79 followed by training mate Susan Njeriwho fished second in combined 1:00.01.68 in the race organized by Kenyan Athletics Training Academy.

62-year-old Charles Ndirangu who trains at KATA smashed the 60-69 world best clocking 55:11 for the two legs.  His splits were 37:04 for 10k and 18:07 for 5k.  

“The double Race tests athletes’ endurance. They must do 15Km split into 10Km and 5Km. This is separated by 1hr 45min break from the start of the 10Km race and beginning of the 5Km leg.  Times are added together for scoring.  The leaders after the first leg wears the yellow jersey so everyone knows who is leading going into the second leg," explained Bob Anderson, the creator of Double Racing in 2010 and the chairman  of the Double Road Race Federation based in Mountain View California USA. 

This was the second Double Race after the first was held in September last year during the official opening of the KATA that now hosts 15 athletes.

The KATA 10Km monthly Time-Trial resumes on October 15th in Thika.   

 

(09/14/2022) Views: 955 ⚡AMP

Anthony Cortes won his third official Double Racing event over the last eight months

Anthony Cortes (first photo) from Half Moon Bay, California won his third straight Double Racing event August 7 in San Francisco.  He clocked 25:21 for the Double 8k.

Double racing veteran Jose Pina was just 23 seconds behind in second place.  Anthony had won the 5k (15:59)  and Jose did close the gap by four seconds running at 4:59/mile pace but not enough to over take Anthony.  Times from the two legs of a Double are added together for scoring.

Participants in the Double 8k first ran 5k at 8:20am and then 3k at 9:35am.  The runner (male and female) who wins the first leg wears the yellow jersey in the second leg so everyone knows who they need to beat in the second leg.

In the female division 14-year-old Evey Powell (second photo with her mom in red cheering her on) from England blew away the field clocking 30:31. 7th best time ever. Her 12-year-old sister won the open 5k clocking 22:05 earlier in the day.

71-year-old Sharlet Gilbert from Richmond, California clocked 44:29 to win the 70 plus division.  This is the second fastest time for this divison.  She set the record in 2021 clocking 43:38 on the same course.

The best time ever for the Double 8K was clocked Sept 6, 2015 in Nyahururu, Kenya.  17-year-old Eligah Kariuki from Kenya posted 23:33.  Kristen Rohde (USA) holds the women's record clocking 27:34 in Palo Alto, Califonria Feb 19, 2017. 

At most Double Racing events there are also open races.  At this recent event there was also the Golden Gate 10k and 5k run/walk.

Nina Zarin’s from Arlington Va was the overal winner in the Golden Gate 10k clocking a blistering 35:59. First male was Noah Gonzalez clocking a solid 37:36.

18-year-old Dominic Robles won the Golden Gate 5k clocking a fine 16:54.

"What a fun morning we had in San Francisco August 7. The weather was perfect for our sold out field," said race director Bob Anderson.

This was an official Double Racing event sanctioned by the Double Road Race Federation (DRRF) which was founded in 2010 when the sport was created.  Over 150 events have already been held in six countries.  

There are four official Double Racing events: Double 5k (3k+break+2k), Double 8k (5k+break+2k), featured event Double 15k (10k+break+5k) and Double 21k (15k+break+6k).  Stats, records and more details can be found on the website DoubleRoadRace.com 

The next Double Racing events scheduled are: Palo Alto Californiua Dec 17 (Double 15k), Brisbane California (Double 15k) March 2023 and Golden Gate August 6, 2023.

"If you would like to set up an official Double Racing event get in touch," says Double Racing creator Bob Anderson. 

My Best Runs is the official sponsor of the DRRF.

(08/10/2022) Views: 1,285 ⚡AMP

Inspired by his dream of competing in the Boston Marathon, Bob Anderson started Distance Running News In 1966

Bob Anderson (publisher of My Best Runs) started Distance Running News in 1966, while he was still a high school student. Retitled Runner’s World in 1970, the magazine played a pivotal role in establishing running’s credentials as a legitimate sport.

Feature articles on training, diet, race tactics, and hotly contested reviews of running shoes delivered Runner’s World an audience in the millions, before the company was sold in 1984. Nearly 40 years later, Bob is still an exercise evangelist and a serial entrepreneur. Just don’t call him a jogger, he was only interested in racing!

ANDERSON HAS COMPETED IN NEARLY 1000 RACES

1. Why do you love running so much?

I love running simply because it gives me a lot of self-confidence. Plus you can run anyplace, anywhere, anytime — all you need is a good pair of shoes! It’s just you and your body in the fresh air. I also love that feeling when your heart’s pumping, things are clicking and you’re running as fast as you can. It’s an adrenaline rush. I’m 74 years old and I still run about 30 miles a week and walk another 30 miles. My little dog Daisy joins me for about half of this.

2. That is an amazing effort. Back in the early 70s, running wasn’t considered a sport in the way that football or baseball is, was it? How would you describe it?

Well, my dad, when he was in his 40s, wouldn’t have been caught dead in a pair of running shorts outside, it was just way too weird! I grew up in Kansas and ran cross-country and track in high school. But once the season ended, there was nothing, and college running was really only for superstars. People just didn’t run for fun and fitness. There were a few pockets of hardcore runners (like in San Franciso), and the Boston Marathon was around, but only a few hundred people entered races in those early years.

A STACK OF HISTORY

3. A lot of things conspired to create the jogging boom in the late 1970s. How did the marathon become a phenomenon?

I have to say one thing about jogging — I’ve never jogged a mile in my life! I run, and I run races! Anyway, what really helped put running on the map was when Dr. Kenneth Cooper came out with the book Aerobics. A few years earlier, President John F. Kennedy started the 50-mile hike challenge. Those two events really jumpstarted the running scene in America.

In January 1966, I published the first issue of Distance Running News.  Even though I only printed a thousand copies, lots of people wanted to read it. The next thing I knew, people started sending in subscription money. New Balance was one of my first advertisers. I think they paid $10 for a little ad.

4. Bargain! 

It started with two issues a year, then we went from four to six, then monthly. We went from black and white photos to colour. I started with a hundred bucks, and by the time I sold the magazine in 1984, we had 2,500,000 readers! We changed the name to Runner’s World in 1970, and the magazine became the Bible of running.

5. Did you have a grand plan for the business?

Not really. I was still in high school at the time! I was interested in running the Boston Marathon but had no idea how to train or go about it. I was reading every single word I could find about running, which wasn’t much. On the way to a cross-country meet one day I said to my best friend (Dave Zimmerman), "I want to start a magazine about running. We’ll call it Distance Running News!"  He said great!

A YOUNG BOB BESIDE HIS HANDY WORK

6. It sounds like the magazine fostered a great sense of community.

Absolutely. You’re right, it was all about bringing people together, which is exactly what social media does for people today. A kid living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who absolutely loved running, but was into it by himself, was suddenly able to find out what was happening in the world of running by reading the magazine.

We covered all sorts of topics, including articles on how to break through the pain barrier when you hit the wall at 20 miles, training information, dietary advice, running after 40, and women’s running. When I started Runner’s World, a woman was not allowed to run more than a half-mile.

7. Whoa! I have never heard that before.

I mean, it’s hard to believe that was the case, but a lot of people thought the female body was just not made to run beyond a half-mile. As far as I was concerned, people are people, and it didn’t matter if you were a man or a woman. I didn’t care if you were 10 years old or 75 years old — or even 100 years old! — the fact of the matter is running should be for everyone. I remember Kathy Switzer was thrown out of the Boston Marathon in 1967. It was crazy, but women were not allowed to run 26 miles at that time. That rule didn’t change until 1972. Anyway, those are the sorts of things we were dealing with in those early days, and we covered it all.

8. The athletic brands were also in their infancy during this period. Did you have any inkling how big brands like New Balance would become?

I wish I could say I did. [laughs] At the time, the sneaker companies were really small firms. New Balance was based up in the North East of the USA and other brands were dotted around America. To put things into perspective, back in those days, a best-selling running shoe maybe sold a thousand pairs. That’s how small the business of running was.

In 1968 I asked some experienced runners if 10,000 subscribers was possible. They told me that figure was just unbelievable and that I’d never reach it. Those people I talked to clearly thought I was just a kid with crazy dreams, but I didn’t start Runner’s World to make money — I just wanted to help the sport! In my mind that was a much bigger goal.

9. Well, I’d say you had the last laugh. Do you remember when your first running shoe edition was printed?

Oh yeah, our first shoe issue came out in 1967, and we reported on all the brands. As the years went on we did it annually, and it became the biggest issue of the year by far, with close to four million readers. We hired Peter Kavanaugh at Penn State University — who we paid $25,000 for equipment — and sent him all the shoes to test. We included feedback from readers in the results too. We would end up ranking the shoes starting with the number one running shoe of that year.

10. Sounds like a recipe for drama and intrigue.

Yeah, it was. [laughs] Because we rated a shoe number one, the controversy was never far away. Some brands felt we had too much power and … actually one company thought that we were being ‘influenced’ and decided to pull out of the shoe issue, thinking that their second place ranking should have been higher. Funnily enough, we sold more copies of that October shoe issue than we ever had because the controversy made the national news. We were fully investigated and cleared, of course, because we were doing nothing wrong. We just presented the facts as we saw them.

11. What are your memories of working with Jim Davis, president of New Balance?

First of all, Jim was very personable and he didn’t need to be in the limelight. He seemed like a really hardworking guy who really cared about running shoes and making the very best product that he could. I was very impressed, and you just got the feeling he was gonna make his brand work. He made and sold shoes in different width sizes, and he was willing to roll the dice on that. And here we are today, New Balance is a huge company. It’s a very impressive story. 

(Jim Davis bought a small Boston Shoemaker in 1972 and turned it into a $3.6 billion New Balance company.  Jim is the chairman of New Balance and his wife Anna joined the company in 1977 and is the vice chairman.  Jim and Anna's net worth is estamated to be 4.6 billion dollars.)

12. You sold Runner’s World in 1984, by which time you had 300 employees…

We had 350 employees actually. [laughs] I was going through a divorce at that time and needed to sell the company. It’s funny, I started the magazine because I wanted to run the Boston Marathon, but I literally became a weekend runner only because my day was pretty full from six in the morning until eight at night. However, I was still able to run sub-six-minute miles in races on the weekend.

13. That’s quite ironic, isn’t it?

Yeah, it is. I wish I had followed my own advice. As I’ve gotten older, when I look back, my whole life was Runner’s World before the age of 35. Instead of taking off for an afternoon run, I just worked really hard. Luckily I’m still running 30 to 35 miles every week. I finally ran the Boston Marathon in 2013. It only took me 45 years to be on the starting line.

14. And was it as amazing as you thought it would be?

Oh my gosh, I’ve run close to a thousand races in my life but the Boston Marathon is number one. It was just an incredible experience and I was thrilled my wife and son Michael were with me that day. At the same time, that was also the year of the terrible bombing. Luckily I finished about a half hour before that happened. I ran 3:32:17 that day at age 65.  I was proud of my time but it only gave me like 9th in my age division.  

15. I didn’t connect that tragic year with the Boston race. That should have been a great day for you and a lot of other people.

Yeah, it was great, right up until the point the bomb went off. The experience of finally running through Boston and seeing the crowds was just beyond words. That doesn’t overshadow the victims and all the other people whose lives were destroyed that day, but the Boston Marathon is still an incredible race. What a tragic contrast to the joy that running brings.  

16. One last question.  You just can't stay away from being part of the running world!

I just love running and it will be part of my life until the end.  I am the editor/publisher of our website My Best Runs.  As of 2022 we have nearly one million unique readers annually.  In 2010 I started a new sport called Double Racing and we established the Double Road Race Federation. The double is a two stage race.  Our most popular disance is the Double 15k.  We run 10K and then a 5k one hour and 45 minutes after the start of the 10k.  Times are added together for scoring.  In 2012 I ran 50 races over the course of a year covering 350.8 miles averaging 6:59/mile.  A movie A Long Run the movie covers the event.  

I also started  the Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Thika Kenya (one hour outside of Nairobi) and officially opened it Sept 4, 2021.  We currently have 13 Kenyan runners living and training there.  We do a monthly 10K time Trial and we have had four of our runners already break 30 minutes.  We have a lot of plans and have just started.  I am working with an amazing team there who takes care of the day to day.  Many have already told us we have one of the nicest if not the nicest "camp" in all of Kenya.

I love running and I love turning on as many people as I can to this amazing sport...Running and Racing!

(07/11/2022) Views: 1,271 ⚡AMP
by Woody (Sneaker Freakers)

oollee says ditch plastic wáter bottles will be the oficial wáter sponsor for the Golden Gate Double 8K and Golden Gate 10k/5k August 4

Everyone has a right to clean water, no matter what you look like, how much money you make, or which political party you favor. In America, that right is enshrined in law.

oollee water purifier equips homes and businesses with a high-tech reverse osmosis device. Ditch Plastic Bottles Today!

oollee Water Provider will be the official water supplier for the fifth annual Golden Gate Double 8K, UjENA 5k and Golden Gate 10k events being held August 4 in Crissy Field across from Sports Basement in San Francisco.

oollee Water Provider located in Menlo Park, California says "Drink your water clean, fresh and free of harmful additives and impurities using oollee services.  Limitless clean water in your home every single day."

"We are excited to welcome oollee as our official water provider," says race director Bob Anderson.  oollee will also be awarding the male and female 10K winner one of their water purifier system valued at $2199 each. 

The Golden Gate 10K, UjENA 5K and DOUBLE 8K (5K+3K) courses offer unparalleled views of the Golden Gate Bridge for more than 80% of the course! The course will begin on historic Crissy Field near the Presidio in San Francisco.  Runners will enjoy the gorgeous vistas of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

These races sponsored by Sports Basement are competitive and fun events.  A special Golden Gate finishing medal will be awarded to all 10K and 5K finishers. The featured event is the Golden Gate Double 8K.  Participants will race a 5K at 8am, take a break and then race 3K at 9:15am.  Times are added together for scoring. 

"Double Racing was started in 2010 and nearly 100 events have been staged already," says creator Bob Anderson. 

"If you have not done a Double, you need to experience it," says Lisa Wall social media director for My Best Runs.  "I have run several and I really like the unique aspect of the event."

The event is almost sold out and most likely will be within the next few days. 

(07/19/2019) Views: 2,069 ⚡AMP

A Long Run the movie tells one man's story, but it's every runner's journey. Bob Anderson's life connects us to many icons...by the end, you're left with a runner's high without the sweat says Dan Brown

Over 100,000 people have already watched A Long Run the movie with good reviews. Now you can watch the full length movie...compliments of MyBestRuns.com with speical arrangments with it's production company Around Town Productions.   

Actor Sean Astin who narrated the film wrote, "I loved A Long Run.  Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wonderful journey Bob."  Boston Marathon director Dave McGillivray wrote," In watching A Long Run, you readily see the impact and influence Bob has had on our sport over the years.  This story is inspiring, motivational, educational and simply makes you want to go out the door and do a run..and a real 'long run' at that."

Joe Henderson writer and former Runner's World editor wrote, "I’ve always known Bob Anderson as a man of Big Ideas, one with a knack for making these dreams come true. He conceived a little magazine called Distance Running News, which grew into the biggest one, Runner’s World.

"He created a book division that published some of the sport’s best-selling titles...This all happened before Bob turned 30, but his idea-generating didn’t stop then. At more than twice that age, he dreamed up Double Racing and then to celebrate his 50th anniversary as a runner, Bob plotted a tough year-long course: 50 races, averaging better than seven minutes per mile overall, concluding the week he would turn 65."

A Long Run tells one man's story, but it's every runner's journey. Bob Anderson's amazing life connects us to icons like Bill Rodgers, Billy Mills and Paula Radcliffe but also to the low-budget thrill of a community 5k. The gorgeous cinematography captures The Avenue of the Giants, the beauty of Central Park in New York City, the San Francisco landscapes, resort cities like Cancun and Cabo, the lush island of Kauai and the vistas of Fort Bragg.

And the smoothly intertwined stories - his 50-race challenge, the magazine, the running boom - are handled with Olympic-caliber pacing. By the end, you're left with a runner's high, without all the sweat.

This is an inspirational life long journey that takes you across the United States, into Mexico and introduces you to some amazing runners.

A Long Run features Bob Anderson who started Runner's World magazine when he was 17 with $100. He grew the magazine to nearly a half million circulation with monthly readership of nearly 2.5 million before selling it to Rodale Press in 1984. How did he do it and why did he sell the magazine he loved?

50 years after he started running, he started his 50 race challenge... one year - 50 races - 350 miles.

His goal - Average under a 7 min/mile average pace at 64-years-old. That's fast for any age!

In the running formula known as age-grading, Anderson’s mile pace is the equivalent of a 30-year-old running an average pace of 5:24 for 50 races covering 350 miles.

“I wanted to do something special, something that would be very positive for running,” Anderson said. “But I also wanted to do something that would not be easy.”

Did he reach his goal? How did he cope with injuries? Weather? Hills? How did he recover each week?

Bob Anderson first run took place Feb. 16, 1962. His first race was May 7 that year, when he covered 600 yards at Broadmoor Junior High in 1 minute, 39 seconds.  By 1963 at age 15 he placed first at the Junior Olympics in Missouri clocking 2:08.5 for 880 yards.  

By 17, Anderson wanted to tackle a marathon. He wanted to run the Boston Marathon. But neither he nor his high school coach (coach McGuire) knew how to prepare. So Anderson did the 1965 equivalent of a Google search: He sent letters around the country asking for advice.  

Coaches and top athletes replied not just with training tips, but also with addresses of other people Anderson should try. Soon he had a network of running experts at his disposal.

Recognizing the value of this collected wisdom, he turned to teammate David Zimmerman while on a bus trip to a cross-country meet for their Shawnee Mission West team. “I’m going to start a magazine,” Anderson declared.

With $100 from baby-sitting and lawn-mowing jobs, the 17-year-old launched Distance Running News. The magazine debuted in January 1966 with a 28-page issue that Anderson collated, stapled and folded himself.

The publication created a stir among a previously unknown army of foot soldiers. Thirsty runners plunked down the $1 subscription price (for two issues) — and often enclosed an additional $5 just to make sure the magazine stayed afloat.

“Until then, I wasn’t even aware that there was a running community,” said SF Bay Area runner Rich Stiller, who had been running with Anderson since the early 1970s. “I always think that Runner’s World was part of the jet-propulsion that really made the running boom take off and made people realize, ‘Oh, gee, I’m not doing this alone.’ ”

The magazine grew so quickly that Anderson dropped out of Kansas State University. He recruited a SF Bay Area writer and runner named Joe Henderson to be his editor, and moved the magazine headquarters to Northern California.

Anderson’s 50-for-50 goal was in jeopardy after he stumbled out of the gate or, more specifically, down a trail in Mountain View.

While on a training run in December, Anderson awoke to find his head streaming with blood and two people standing above him looking alarmed.

“There were no marks at all on my hands, which means I must not have even realized I was going down,” he said.

The fall required over 60 stitches and plastic surgery. But determined not to cancel the first race in his 50-race quest, Anderson limped to the starting line in San Francisco on New Year’s Day with a ruddy forehead and an eggplant of a bruise on his left knee. He finished that first race and then 49 more that year.  

When Bob was publishing Runner's World he got so consumed managing a staff of 350 and was not able to train enough to run the Boston Marathon.  However he did run ten marathons between 1968 to 1984 but none with enough training.  He would not run Boston until 2013 when at age 65 he clocked 3:32:17.

A Long Run the movie covers a lot of ground.  The year long event finished over six years ago but the story is fresh and a movie all runners and even non-runners will enjoy.  You will want to watch it over and over again.

Some of the runners besides Bob Anderson featured in the film include: Bill Rodgers, Paula Radcliffe, Joe Henderson, George Hirsch, Rich Benyo, Amol Sexena, JoAnn Dahlkoetter, Rich Stiller, Hans Schmid, JT Service, Pina Family, Wall Family, Billy Mills, Gerry Lindgren, Dave Zimmerman, Dean Karnazes, Monica Jo Nicholson, Coach Lloyd McGuire, Katie McGuire, Mary Etta Blanchard, John Young, Roger Wright and more...

It was produced by Around Town Productions and directed by Michael Anderson (third photo at one of the showings in a theater in Monterey). 

To watch the movie click on the link or go to: www.alongrun.com

(05/13/2019) Views: 3,602 ⚡AMP
by Dan Brown

My Best Runs founder Bob Anderson is the featured runner on Amby Burfoot's Lifetime Running website today

Bob Anderson is the featured profile today on Lifetime Running. 

As the founding publisher-owner of Runner's World magazine ("Making Tracks Since 1966"), Bob Anderson played a pivotal role in the American running boom. Less well known: He has been, and at age 71 remains, a passionate runner and racer. In recent years, Anderson has thrown his creative energy behind a Double Racing concept ("Running with a halftime break") and a free Running News Daily column which Bob edits.

Here are some excerpts from my interview: 

When did you start running and WHY?

I started running on Feb 16, 1962.  My older brother went out for cross country because my dad ran some in the Navy and I wanted to give it a try. Could not run without stopping after a mile that first day.

Your best races and running achievements?

One of the features on our Ujena Fit Club website is that it age grade all races. Five of my top races that I am most proud of would include when I ran a 1:25:24 half marathon at age 64. A 59:17 10 miler at age 53. A 17:09 5k at Carlsbad at age 49. A 3:32:17 marathon at Boston age 65. And a 2:08.5 880 at age 15.

But my greatest running achievement has to be when I ran 50 races in 2012 at age 64. My 50-race challenge was not just about finishing a race each weekend but it was also about achieving an average performance which would be at least 80% age graded. I raced 350.8 miles and averaged 6:59 per mile.

3 key tips for successful lifetime running?

1--Run or walk each day outside covering at least one mile.2--Don’t worry about speed unless you want too. Make this your choice.3--Run at least a few races each year. 

Favorite quote?

Steve Prefontaine: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” 

What are the biggest lessons (life lessons and running lessons) you have learned from running?

Running is magical and makes everything possible. My day is not complete without a run. Running is just part of my DNA. If I had not found running, I can not imagine what kind of life I would have had. 

Age is only a number and even through the number is getting larger, I just don’t let a number tell me what I can or cannot do. We only live once, so why not enjoy it to the fullest?

Running helps add meaning to every day.  

After posting this on FB Gary Rush wrote:

If not for Bob Anderson and his magazine, and the stories and photos and dreams it inspired in my life- I likely would have not been a runner since age 14 or a marathoner since age 15...

Editor's Notes:

First Photo: with Linda Sereno at the San Juan Christmas 2018 Double Road Race (Dec 16, 2018).  Linda was awarded the Best Double Racer for 2018 the night before along with Dwayne Spencer.  Second Photo: finishing the 10k leg of a Double Road Race in Bali Indonesia with Ken Whyte from Ausutralia.

The next Double Racing event will be the Palo Alto Double 8K (5K+break=3k) on March 10, 2019. 

(01/10/2019) Views: 2,810 ⚡AMP
by Amby Burfoot

Run The World Challenge 2 Profile: Linda Sereno says she finds her inner peace when running out in the mountains

Linda Sereno grew up with two older and two younger brothers.  "I copied them, playing football, baseball and basketball.  Later my oldest brother helped me take on running.  I loved it," Linda says.  "In high school, we had a fund raising event for our band to go to Ireland to compete in the Saint Patrick's Day parade in Dublin.  We were sponsored for each lap we could run/walk in two hours," Linda remembers.  She never stopped running for 2 hours and did 52 laps around the quarter mile track.  "I love running, especially on trails, up and down mountains. I love the wind, the animals, and the scenery.  I think, I space out, and I dream on those runs. I find my inner peace out in the mountains," she says.  Asked about what is her secret to her success.   "I think it's important to keep your core strong, stretch daily, and do strength exercises.  I use my body weight to improve muscle tone rather than using weights.  I do push ups, sit ups, planks, burpees, squats lunges, and stretches," 58-year-old Linda Sereno says.  She tries to run three times per week, two days of track workouts and one long run."  Last year she finished a 50 miler.  "I was the second woman overall on a challenging hilly race with 9,500 feet of elevation change.  Another challenge I accomplished was Boston to Big Sur.  I wondered if I would have the endurance to complete both marathons without any injuries, and I did in 2011.  The times were not exceptional, but I was pleased to have accomplished my goal," she says.  Her husband, Kirk, is a surfer.  He was a competitive swimmer and diver in high school and community college.  Her daughter, Amy, is a successful runner and is an assistant coach at a local community college.  Linda is currently a 1st/2nd grade Dual Immersion teacher, teaching English and Spanish.  Why did she enter the Challenge for a second time. "Run the World Challenge can help motivate many people become more active in order to fulfill a global goal," Linda says.  Linda has already posted 51 miles for this challenge. She also has run a lot of Double Racing Events.  One of her best performances at age 55 was clocking 1:04:04 for the Pacific Grove Double Road Race 15k in 2015.  She clocked 43:40 for the 10K leg and 20:23 for the 5k leg.  This was age-graded at 87.07%.   Photo: Linda with a dear friend and running buddy Lidia Santos (09/11/2018) Views: 1,689 ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

Global Run Challenge Profile: Willie Korir says of this challenge, It builds a strong bond and love for running around the Global

RUN THE WORLD:  Willie Korir's father and mother lives in Eldoret, Kenya.  He is the seventh born in a family of nine, five boys and four girls.  All of his family lives in Eldoret.  Willie lives near Nairobi. Willie joined the first Global Run Challenge on Global Running Day and posted the most miles, 22.5 miles and he plans on averaging 131 miles weekly for this challenge.  That is almost 22 miles daily since he takes off one day each week.  I asked him...  "I got into running through my friend William Waweru and my cousin Reuben Maiyo who used to always encourage me to run coz they saw a lot of potential in me," he said.  We had met in 2013 when we travelled to Kenya to stage a Double Racing event.  More recently we connected on Facebook.  I asked him how important running is to him. "Running makes me fit physical and healthier. I love running a lot coz its something flowing in me," he wrote.  How about life in Kenya?  "My life in Kenya is blessed with good weather and nice terrain for training. Life here is so hard for upcoming athletes like me coz you need to look for money to buy food, pay rent, buy training gear and look for races to run locally. Athletic career is so competitive coz every person is in good shape because of hard training.  Sometimes i go training without a meal but coz of love for sport I crush 18+ km, 30km long run or speedwork then drink water, sleep a little and wait for next session with determination of being the best athlete," he wrote.   Any secrets? He is a good runner with goals of running a sub 61 minute half marthon and sub 2:10 marthon.  "My secret is running smart.  This involves planning well my workout and later reflect my weekly training so as to know where to improve and maintain. Lastly, I always think and dream about running." he says.  And being part of Run The world?  "The Run The World Global Run Challenge is a nice platform that bring athletes together and share a goal of self management in sports.  It builds a strong bond and love for running around the globe hence making the whole world a running planet."  Willie has big goals and we are glad to have him on our team.   (06/24/2018) Views: 1,865 ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

70-year-old Bob Anderson will be running his 60th Double Racing Event on August 5

Bob Anderson ran his first "official" Double Racing event in October, 2010,  "That was the Double Road Race in Cabo Mexico," says 70-year-old lifetime runner Bob Anderson. 

"It was very hot and humid and the second 5k leg was tough but I did it."  For that Double, runners first ran 10K and then one hour and forty-five minutes ran a 5K.  Times are added together for scoring. Since then Bob has run 59 Double Racing events of different lengths. 

On August 5 in San Francisco, Bob will be running the 4th Annual Golden Gate Double 8K.  The first leg is a 5K and the second 3K leg starts one hour and 15 minutes later. 

"It is always hard getting started on the second leg but once I get going I get back into the rhythm" says Bob. 

"My pace is always faster the second leg.  I have had some sciatic nerve issues this year but that seems to be behind me now.  I can't wait to run the Golden Gate Double 8K and on September 30th the Pacific Grove (California) Double Road Race.  I am hoping to win my division at both."

(05/08/2018) Views: 2,933 ⚡AMP

Bob Anderson's passion for running is contagious and some may even say, a bit fanatical

In this episode of Runners Connect Podcast we speak with Bob Anderson photographer, filmmaker and founder of Runner’s World Magazine, My Best Runs and runner-finisher of a grueling year-long race challenge that consisted of one race a week for 50 weeks. He averaged 6:59/mile pace for the 350.8 miles at age 64 which was 81% age-graded.

The next year at age 65 he ran the Boston Marathon finishing in 3:32:17. Bob started running at age 15 and two years later launched Distance Running News, a 1,000 copy magazine that later blossomed into the 2.5 million monthly readers periodical known as Runner’s World.

But, as successful as Runner’s World became, it was not without a cost which we learn about in this interview. Bob shares personal ups and downs with running, especially as they relate to his early creation of Runner’s World.

We move on to discuss his epic film A Long Run detailing his one year race challenge and featuring many of Bob’s running peers including Paula Radcliffe and Bill Rogers; the creation of a new running event called Double Racing; and the development of an informational and interactive website, mybestruns.com which features the best, most interesting and unique races from around the world.

Bob’s passion for running is contagious and, some may even say, a bit fanatical as detailed in the year long 50 race challenge documented in the film A Long Run.

His ideas and direct involvement in fitness continue into the current decade where Bob broke into a new race age category, 70 plus. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Bob Anderson.

(04/06/2018) Views: 2,326 ⚡AMP
by Stephanie Atwood

Sharlet Gilbert and Dawyne Spencer are Double Racing Winners

Sharlet Gilbert (66) from Richmond CA does all sorts of races and does them well. She was first in her age-group at the New York City Marathon, Boston and second at Big Sur. She better her time at Pikes Peak by over an hour. Last night she was honored for her first place finish for 2017 Double Racing Leader Board. Double Racing is a two stage race created by MBR founder Bob Anderson. Dawyne Spencer won the Male division. Both are running the Christmas Double Road Race (15k - 10+5) today. (12/16/2017) Views: 1,305 ⚡AMP