Running News Daily

Track and field has witnessed the emergence of another extraordinary teenage phenomenon.

At just 16 years old, Czech sensation Linda Botková produced one of the greatest under-18 performances in the history of the women's 400m hurdles, storming to the European Athletics U18 Championship title in Rieti, Italy, with a breathtaking 55.19 seconds. It was far more than a gold-medal-winning run—it was a performance that rewrote the record books and firmly established her as one of the brightest young stars in global athletics.

From the gun, Botková displayed remarkable maturity, attacking each hurdle with confidence, precision, and outstanding rhythm. She controlled the race from start to finish before unleashing a powerful sprint over the closing metres to cross the line in a stunning new personal best.

The significance of her performance extends well beyond the championship. Her sensational 55.19 not only earned her the European U18 crown but also produced an astonishing collection of milestones. She shattered the European Under-20 record, set a new European Under-18 best, established a new championship record, and remarkably lowered that championship record in all three rounds of the competition. The time also became the world Under-18 leading performance of the season, a new Czech Under-18 national record, and the second-fastest performance ever recorded by an Under-18 athlete.

Only world record holder and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has ever run faster at the same age—a remarkable statistic that underscores just how exceptional Botková's achievement truly is.

Producing such a performance at only 16 years old, while still developing physically and technically, speaks volumes about her immense talent, discipline, and competitive maturity. It is a race that has instantly elevated her from a promising prospect to one of the most exciting young athletes in world track and field.

For Czech athletics, Botková's triumph represents the arrival of a potential global superstar. For the rest of the athletics world, it is a powerful reminder that a new generation is already pushing the boundaries of what seemed possible.

Winning European Under-18 gold was a remarkable achievement. Doing so in 55.19 seconds, while rewriting multiple records and becoming the second-fastest Under-18 400m hurdler in history, transformed the race into one of the greatest junior performances the event has ever witnessed.

The coastline of Bangsaen, Thailand, provided a fitting stage for season-ending statements as the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon unfolded in the cool pre-dawn hours. On a course that rewards discipline as much as speed, Kenya’s Samwel Nyamai Mailu and Dolphine Nyaboke Omare delivered controlled, authoritative victories—closing their 2025 campaigns with confidence and setting a clear tone for the road season ahead.

From the opening kilometres, the race signaled its intent. The pace was honest but restrained, shaped by exposed coastal stretches and rising humidity along the Gulf of Thailand. Rather than early fireworks, both elite fields settled into rhythm, waiting for the moment when patience would turn into purpose. 

Mailu Times It Perfectly

In the men’s race, a compact lead pack flowed smoothly through the early stages, with Kenyan and Ethiopian runners sharing the workload. Mailu ran economically and composed—never forcing the pace, never drifting from contention.

As the field passed halfway, the tempo tightened. Between 15 and 18 kilometres, Mailu applied sustained pressure, lifting the pace without a sharp surge. The move was subtle but decisive. Ethiopia’s Teresa Nyakola and Regasa Seyoum Beharu responded gamely, but the Kenyan’s rhythm proved relentless. By the closing kilometres, the gap had opened, and Mailu crossed the line in 1:02:59, a victory built on control and timing.

“This race was important for me to close the year well,” Mailu said. “I ran with patience and trusted my training. Now I’ll return to training and start preparing for next year’s road races.”

Nyakola secured second in 1:03:22, with Seyoum third in 1:03:36, completing a podium defined by tactical intelligence rather than early aggression.

Omare’s Authority in the Women’s Race

If the men’s contest was about timing, the women’s race was about command.

From the outset, Omare took responsibility at the front, dictating a steady, uncompromising tempo. Ethiopia’s Beriha Gebreslasie and Mehret Gemeda stayed close, forming a compact trio through the middle stages as the course flattened along the coast.

The separation came quietly. Between 12 and 16 kilometres, Omare increased the pace gradually, stretching the elastic until it finally snapped. Without drama, she edged clear, maintaining form and cadence as the humidity deepened. Omare crossed the line in 1:10:14—a performance marked by calm authority and fatigue resistance.

“I’m happy to finish the year with a win,” Omare said. “This race gives me confidence. I’ll focus on next year’s road season, building step by step for the big races ahead.” 

Gebreslasie finished second in 1:11:12, while Gemeda claimed third in 1:12:30, both producing resilient runs that kept the contest honest deep into the second half.

Discipline Rewarded on the Coast

Bangsaen21 once again proved to be a race that rewards restraint. The flat profile invites ambition, but the conditions punish excess. Those who conserved early and committed late emerged strongest.

For Mailu and Omare, the victories were about more than the clock—closing a demanding year with clarity, validating months of preparation, and turning the page with purpose. As the sun rose over the Gulf of Thailand and applause filled the finish area, the message was clear: the champions leave Bangsaen with momentum, eyes already fixed on 2026 and the global road calendar ahead. 

Bangsaen21 2025 Results

Men

Samwel Nyamai Mailu (KEN) — 1:02:59

Teresa Nyakola (ETH) — 1:03:22

Regasa Seyoum Beharu (ETH) — 1:03:36

Gelana Teshome (ETH) — 1:04:20

Eyob Faniel (ITA) — 1:05:54

Abdi Kebede (ETH) — 1:05:55

Nattawut Innum (THA) — 1:10:10

Arthit Soda (THA) — 1:10:50

Pongsakorn Suksawat (THA) — 1:11:32

Women 

Dolphine Nyaboke Omare (KEN) — 1:10:14

Beriha Gebreslasie (ETH) — 1:11:12

Mehret Gemeda (ETH) — 1:12:30

Lelise Bekele (ETH) — 1:13:49

Kalkidan Debeb (ETH) — 1:17:59

Pareeya Sonsem (THA) — 1:22:05

Ornanong Wongsorn (THA) — 1:22:14

Linda Chantachit (THA) — 1:24:13

Kawinthida Thadased (THA) — 1:25:35

Thanaporn Phatthanothai (THA) — 1:25:37

KATA’s second Satellite Time Trial brought impressive results from Tingoro Camp (K26)  Oct 15 under the leadership of Coach and Camp Operator Benard Rono. Both the women’s 5km and men’s 10km races showcased outstanding individual efforts, steady progress, and several new personal bests.

 

These results highlight the effectiveness of the KATA system — combining focused athletic training with sustainable farming — as athletes across Kenya continue to grow stronger through dedication and discipline.

 

women’s 5k 

Position	Name	Time	Age	Camp	Bib
1	Faith Cheplkenei	16:32.05	18	Tingoro	181
2	Linda Chebet	17:01.55	18	Tingoro	099
3	Naomi Wangare	17:07.77	17	Tingoro	098
4	Esther Chepkemoi	17:17.91	19	Tingoro	134
5	Sylvia Cheplelimo	18:20.34	17	Tingoro	132
6	Stella Cheplelimo	18:24.56	17	Tingoro	133
7	Joy Chepkemoi	—	—	Tingoro

Men’s 10k 

Position	Name	Time	Age	Camp	Bib
1	Kelvin Kilel	30:11.12	26	Tingoro	036
2	Kelvin Langat	30:13.49	17	Tingoro	095
3	Clinton Kipbet	30:41.14	19	Tingoro	137
4	Shadrack Bett	31:21.10	21	Tingoro	096
5	Silas Longwet	31:32.71	18	Tingoro	093

 

“Each of our KATA camps continues to build a culture of improvement and excellence. The performances at Tingoro today show that our approach is working. Congratulations to all the athletes, and to Coach Benard Rono for guiding the team so well.”

— Bob Anderson, KATA Founder & Director

 

As the world’s largest marathons continue to draw tens of thousands of runners and charge hefty entry fees, many athletes—both seasoned and new—are turning their attention to something more intimate: small town road races.

Once considered only for local fun-runners or age-groupers, these events are experiencing a global resurgence, offering runners everything the mega-marathons can’t—less stress, lower costs, a tight-knit community, and often, surprisingly fast competition.

A More Personal Experience

Big-city races like the New York City and Berlin Marathons may offer world-class crowds and fanfare, but the scale can feel overwhelming. In contrast, races in small towns like Monforte da Beira (Portugal), Charlevoix (Michigan), or Iten (Kenya) are drawing runners looking for a different experience.

“After years of chasing majors, I ran a 10K in a village with 300 people,” says Linda Greene, a 2:58 marathoner from Chicago. “No lines, no chaos, and I ran my fastest time in two years.”

Competitive Fields, Surprisingly Fast Courses

Don’t assume these races are only about charm. Many feature flat or downhill courses, and some attract elite talent. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, the Capital City 5K in Olympia, Washington, saw a 14:12 finish this spring from a local collegiate athlete training for the Olympic Trials.

Organizers often design courses for speed and simplicity—something increasingly rare in major urban races where logistics can dictate less-than-ideal routes.

Lower Costs, Higher Value

With registration fees as low as $10–$30, small town races often include perks like free post-race meals, local wine or produce giveaways, and handmade medals or shirts.

“Running the Golden Gate 10K in August cost me less than dinner in San Francisco,” said one Bay Area runner. “And I didn’t even have to wake up at 4 a.m. to get to the start.”

Building Community

In towns where everyone knows your name—or at least cheers you by bib number—these races build true connections. Organizers are often runners themselves, and volunteers may include the local mayor or schoolchildren.

“You can actually talk to the race director. You can warm up on the course. You feel seen,” said Daniel Okoth, a Kenyan athlete who trains in Kapcherop. “It reminds you why we run.”

Not Just for Locals Anymore

With the rise of digital registration and online coverage, many small town races are welcoming international runners looking for something special. My Best Runs now features a growing list of these hidden gems, and more athletes are flying into tiny airports to chase PRs and peaceful scenery.

Looking for your next great race?

Skip the mega-expo. Skip the corrals. Skip the parking issues.  Go back to where it is just about racing.

In a historic display of endurance and speed, Kenyan star Beatrice Chebet broke the women’s 5K road world record today at the Cursa dels Nassos in Barcelona, becoming the first woman in history to complete the distance in under 14 minutes. Chebet blazed across the finish line in a remarkable 13 minutes and 54 seconds, smashing her previous record of 14:13, which she set at the same event last year.  This is 4:28 per mile. 

A Year of Dominance

Chebet’s new world record caps off an extraordinary year for the 23-year-old, who dominated the long-distance running scene in 2024. Earlier this year, she achieved a rare double gold at the Paris Olympics, winning the 5,000m and 10,000m events. Her ability to excel on both the track and road has made her one of the most versatile and celebrated athletes of her generation.

In today’s race, Chebet showcased her tactical brilliance and unparalleled speed, pulling away from the competition early and maintaining a relentless pace throughout. Her achievement further cements her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Young Talent on the Rise

Behind Chebet, Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa Kumanda delivered a stellar performance, finishing second in 14:23, a time that set a new world under-20 record. Uganda’s Belinda Chemutai rounded out the podium in 14:36, underscoring the depth of talent in women’s long-distance running.

Chebet’s record-breaking run comes as a fitting end to a year that saw her named World Athletics’ Female Athlete of the Year, a recognition of her consistent excellence across multiple platforms.

A Star with a Bright Future

Born in Kericho County, Kenya, Beatrice Chebet has steadily risen through the ranks since her early days as a promising junior athlete. She first gained international attention in 2018 when she won the World U20 Cross Country Championships. From there, she transitioned seamlessly to senior competition, with her Olympic triumphs and multiple Diamond League victories solidifying her place at the pinnacle of the sport.

Off the track, Chebet is known for her humility and dedication to her training. She often credits her success to the support of her family.  She trains in Londiani, Kericho County. She is nicknamed the "smiling assassin". 

A Record to Inspire

Chebet’s achievement in Barcelona is not just a personal milestone; it’s an inspiration to young athletes worldwide. By breaking the 14-minute barrier, she has redefined what is possible in women’s distance running, paving the way for future generations to dream bigger and aim higher.

As the athletics world celebrates this historic moment, all eyes will now turn to 2025, where Chebet will undoubtedly aim to build on her incredible legacy.

An American sprint legend has raised concerns over women athletes' safety in Kenya, advocating for cultural change and systemic reform.

American sprint icon Allyson Felix has expressed deep concern over the safety of women athletes, describing violence against female competitors as a "real problem" that demands urgent attention.

Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete in history with 20 World Championship medals and 11 Olympic medals, spoke passionately about the challenges facing women in sports, particularly in light of recent tragedies in Kenya.

“There has to be a change in the culture. Something is not right, and it does make me worry,” Felix said during an interview with BBC 100 Women.

Her comments come few months of the devastating death of fellow Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set on fire by her boyfriend earlier this year.

Cheptegei’s death marked the third killing of a female athlete in Kenya in the past three years.

Felix, recently elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission, pledged to prioritize addressing violence against women athletes.

“The consequences have to be severe, but I think there has to be more than that,” she emphasized.

“I think we have to rally around the sports community and come together.”

The alarming trend of violence against female athletes in Kenya highlights the urgent need for change, Felix noted, adding her voice to growing calls for stricter penalties and cultural shifts to ensure women’s safety.

Her advocacy for women’s rights, both on and off the track, has become a defining feature of her legacy since retiring from competitive athletics in 2022.

Felix’s commitment to advocating for women goes beyond addressing violence.

She has been a trailblazer in fighting for maternal health rights and equal treatment for female athletes.

In 2018, after surviving a harrowing experience with severe pre-eclampsia during her pregnancy, Felix exposed systemic inequities when her former sponsor, Nike, threatened to slash her pay due to motherhood.

Her powerful op-ed in The New York Times led to groundbreaking changes in maternity protections for sponsored athletes, with Nike and other athletic apparel companies introducing policies to safeguard pay and bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy.

“I was terrified what the consequences would be,” Felix admitted.

“It just wasn’t in my nature. And so it was really difficult to be able to just be vulnerable.”

In Kenya, where cultural barriers and economic challenges compound the issues facing women athletes, Felix’s story resonates deeply.

Many athletes have struggled to find support systems to navigate the demands of sports and family life. Felix’s advocacy offers a blueprint for addressing these issues.

Through her leadership role with the IOC Athletes' Commission, Felix aims to amplify the voices of athletes and promote systemic reforms globally.

She has also launched Always Alpha, a management firm dedicated to women’s sports, to ensure female athletes receive tailored representation.

Felix’s advocacy extends to maternal health, particularly for Black women in the United States, where they are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Her efforts recently secured a $20 million grant from Melinda Gates to improve maternal health outcomes, and she is exploring ways to extend her work internationally, including in Africa.

“I want [my children] to always know that you should have an impact, that you should help others, that you should stand up for what you believe in,” she concluded.

I am a numbers’ guy. I’ve always been a numbers’ guy. I always want to see what the numbers tell me before I opine from an emotional standpoint. 

Accordingly, I did a deep dive into the last five women to hold the marathon world record going back to Kenyan Catherine “The Great” Ndereba, in 2001. What I found was a changing world order.

Catherine Ndereba was the last of the old school road racers who then progressed to the marathon. Catherine came to compete on the U.S. road tour beginning in 1995, but really began winning convincingly in 1996 at age 24, winning four times in New York City; Spokane, Washington; Utica, NY; Flint, Michigan; and Philadelphia, Pa. 

In 1999, she made her marathon debut in Boston, running to eighth place in 2:28:26. Later that fall, she finished second in New York City in 2:27:34. But she also had eight wins on the road circuit when you could still make money there and the marathon wasn’t yet as lucrative as it is today. 

The following year, 2000, Catherine won her first Boston and Chicago Marathons, with another eight wins on the road circuit. She won Boston again in 2001 in 2:22:53, then set her world record in Chicago in the fall in her sixth career marathon, running 2:18:47, with another eight wins on the roads. Catherine was 29 when she ran her record and set her personal best by 2:46 seconds. 

In all, she ran 23 marathons, finished 23, won 8. 

Great Britain’s Paul Radcliffe broke Catherine‘s world record one year later in Chicago 2002 (2:17:18) then smashed her own record one year later in London (2:15:25), a record that would last 16 years, by far the longest standing women’s marathon world record in history. Before that, Paula had run her debut in the spring of 2002 in London, at age 28, winnng in 2:18:56, a debut record.

In all, Paula started 13 marathons, finished 12, won 8. She, like Catherine, was age 29 when she set her final record at 2:15:25. 

But Paula had a long, distinguished career in cross country and track going all the way back to 1992 when won the IAAF World Cross Country U20 championship in snowy Boston before finishing fourth in the World Junior Championships in the 3000m, a circumstance that would repeat itself over the years until she moved up in distance. 

Paula ran fifth at the 1996 Olympic 5000m final in Atlanta. Then fourth in the 1997 World Championships 5000 in Athens; second in the WC 10,000m in Seville; and fourth again in the 2000 Olympic 10,000 in Sydney. She just couldn’t finish the last 200-300m with the East Africans like Derartu Tulu and Gete Wami to nab gold. 

She entered her first marathon in London 2002 after showing her ability at the half marathon, winning at the Great North Run and the World Half Marathon Championships in Vera Cruz in 2000, and again in Bristol in 2001 – though she still ran on the track at 3k, 5k and 10k. From there, it was clear sailing, as the world came to expect Paula’s 2:15:25 to last for a long, long time.

It wasn’t until Brigid Kosgei came along in Chicago 2019, running 2:14:04, that Paula’s mighty record fell. But that was a bit of a stunner, as people didn’t see it coming. That gave even more gravity to the super-shoe era, because Brigid was 25 years old running the ninth of her 17 career marathons when she set her record. It was a personal best by 4:16, very similar to what we saw with Ruth Chepngetich last Sunday in Chicago. Both were deep into their marathon careers before producing their other worldly record performances. 

Between Brigid and Ruth came Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa. She ran her world record of 2:11:53 at age 26 in Berlin in the third of only five career marathons. And that WR was a personal best by 3:44 at age 26. 

And now, of course, we have Ruth Chepngetich, whose 2:09:56 in Chicago last Sunday has had heads spinning faster than Linda Blair in the Exorcist. 

Ruth has run 15 marathons, finished 13, won 9, while running her world record in her 15th marathon, seven years into her career, setting a PB by 4:22. That last stat is the one people have trouble getting their heads around. You don’t improve that much so late in your career; they say.

But Brigid Kosgei ran her world record in the ninth of 17 career marathons with a personal best by 4:16. So what Ruth did was not unprecedented, though taken from a tiny sample. 

The ages when they produced their world records:

Catherine, age 29; Paula, age 28 and 29;Brigid, age 25; Tigst, age 26; Ruth, age 30.

The world is constantly spinning, changing. Catherine Ndereba and Paula Radcliffe came from an old world, not just pre-super shoes, but pre-only focusing on marathons and half marathons. 

And with the super shoes and super nutrition and super coaching and super God knows what else, there has been a great stir in the running community. Some refuse to even consider the possibility of these record times. Others say “wait and see if any positive testing follows down the line”, as we have seen many times before. And very few say, “everything‘s on the up and up. There’s nothing here to see other than a great performance.”

That doesn’t leave the sport in a very good place. But guess what? We are kidding ourselves if we think 2:09:56 is going to last very long. Look at Chicago’s women’s splits: 15:00 at 5K = 2:06:46 pace; 45:32 at 15k = 2:08:16 pace; and 64:16 at halfway = 2:08:32 pace. You even out that effort just a little, and you’re looking at sub-2:09! It’s coming. You can count on it. Plus, once one-person shows what’s possible, it inspires many more to try.

Remember, we are still in the first two generations of world-class women’s distance running. We have no idea what their limits may be, notwithstanding all nefariousness that attends the sport these days.

And so the debate continues, even as the sport searches for leadership, which seems to be missing in action. It’s one hell of a Wild West show, isn’t it?

The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has unveiled a team of 20 athletes to represent the country at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games later this month.

Over 10,000 top athletes from around the world will take part in the Games slated for July 26 to August 11 in France.

Announcing the track and field squad, UAF President Dominic Otuchet said the team boosts experienced athletes who have what it takes to win medals for the country.

“We have athletes who have been proven and tested at the big stage,” said Otuchet.

World star Joshua Cheptegei who bagged a gold and silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 will lead Uganda’s team together with half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo. The duo will battle in the 5,000m and 10,000m final.

“After getting a bronze medal at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, my target is now to improve and win a gold medal. I know it will call for a lot of hard work to be able to achieve this and I am already working hard,” says Kiplimo.

Female athlete Peruth Chemutai who won a gold medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase will also be another medal hopeful for the Ugandan team.

The team has 10 male and 10 female athletes, with another two, Belinda Chemutai and Loice Chekwemoi, on the waiting list. Besides track and field athletes, Uganda will also have two swimmers, a cyclist and a female rower.

Uganda Team:

Men:

Tarsis Gracious Orogot (200m),

Tom Dradriga (800m),

Jacob Kiplimo, Joshua Cheptegei (5,000m/10,000m),

Oscar Chelimo (5,000m),

Martin Magengo Kiprotich (10,000m),

Leonard Chemutai (3,000m SC),

Victor Kiplangat, Stephen Kissa, Andrew Rotich Kwemoi (Marathon)

Female:

Halimah Nakaayi (800m),

Winnie Nanyondo (1,500m),

Joy Cheptoyek (5,000m/10,000m),

Esther Chebet (5,000m),

Sarah Chelangat, Annet Chemengich Chelangat (10,000m), Peruth Chemutai (3,000m SC),

Stella Chesang, Rebecca Cheptegei, Mercyline Chelangat (marathon),

Reserves: Belinda Chemutai (5,000m),

Loice Chekwemoi (3,000m SC).

Likina Amebaw, Jemal Yimer, Hagos Gebrhiwet and Caroline Nyaga were among the winners as athletes descended on Paris for the Festival of Running ASICS Speed Race 5km and 10km events on Friday (5).

Competition took place on an iconic 2.5km loop that started and finished at Palais-Royal in the shadow of the Louvre.

Ethiopia’s Amebaw and Kenya’s Loice Chemnung both dipped under 30 minutes in the women’s 10km, with Amebaw clocking a PB of 29:56 to win and Chemnung finishing just one second behind her. They were joined by Kenya’s Miriam Chebet during the first half of the race but Chebet was unable to maintain the pace and finished third in 30:41.

Finishing fourth, Nadia Battocletti improved her own Italian record to 31:19.

“It was a very amazing race. It was a fast race – I ran under 30 minutes, so I liked it,” said Amebaw, who was recently confirmed as joint runner-up in the 2023-2024 World Athletics Cross Country Tour.

She also voiced her ambition to return to Paris to compete in the No.1 Olympic sport at the Games in August.

“I have got to work hard, and I hope I will be at the Olympic Games,” she said. “Now I will get ready for track competition.”

Less than three weeks after his Seoul Marathon win in a PB of 2:06:08, Ethiopia’s Yimer matched his 10km best, running 27:43 to win the men’s race, also by one second.

Kenya’s Hillary Kipkoech was runner-up in 27:44 and his compatriot Vincent Kibet was third in 27:48.

Ethiopia’s multiple world and Olympic 5000m medallist Gebrhiwet was racing a couple of weeks out from his African Games 5000m victory, which followed a 5km win in the rain at the Podium Festival in Leicester, UK. In Paris he won the men’s 5km in 13:24 ahead of Mohamed Ismael (13:32) and Adel Mechaal (13:34).

Kenya’s Nyaga, who also raced in Leicester where she finished second, this time topped the women’s 5km as she secured a dominant win in 14:40 over Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek and Belinda Chemutai, who ran 15:03 and 15:05, respectively.

 

The traditional Paderborn Easter Run is celebrating its 76th edition on Saturday. Konstanze Klosterhalfen has signed up at short notice and will almost meet the assembled German marathon elite over 10 kilometers.

Among the men, Simon Boch is chasing the first 27s. Station two of the 2024 R5K tour awaits the U20 and U23 talents over 5 kilometers.

What a line-up at the Paderborn Easter Run: With the marathon aces Katharina Steinruck (Eintracht Frankfurt), Fabienne Königstein (MTG Mannheim) and Deborah and Rabea Schöneborn (both SCC Berlin), the 10-kilometer race was on Holy Saturday (March 30th). already well staffed. Konstanze Klosterhalfen (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen), currently the best German runner on this route and the 5,000-meter European champion in Munich 2022, has now announced her participation.

Konstanze Klosterhalfen has her eye on the Olympic standard of 30:40 minutes for the 10,000 meters on the track and wants to show that this mark is already within her reach on the road. Her current best time on the road, set on March 16th when she won in Laredo (Spain), is 31:07 minutes. However, the 27-year-old is only number two on the star list behind the Kenyan Purity Gitonga (PB 30:57 minutes) - although she was significantly slower in her recent triumph in Dresden in 31:40 minutes.

The fastest German runner in the elite field over 10 kilometers is Simon Boch (LG Telis Finanz Regensburg). He narrowly missed his first time of 27 minutes three times in 28:01 and 28:02 minutes respectively. In the wake of the favored Kenyans Vincent Kimutai Towett (PB 27:42 min) and Victor Kiptoo Kimutai (PB 27:52 min), the mark in Paderborn could finally be due. With Velten Schneider (VfL Sindelfingen), the fourth place in the DM also mixes with the road runners over the obstacles. His best time of 29:01 minutes from last year shows that he is in good hands there.

SECOND STOP ON THE R5K TOUR 2024

The prospect of a race under the eyes of the German running elite is certainly a special motivation for the young talents. They will start their five-kilometer lap in Paderborn at 11:00 a.m. in the second race of the R5K Tour 2024 , before the aces led by running star “Koko” Klosterhalfen start their ten kilometers on the super-fast Paderborn course at 12:20 p.m .

There are also well-known names on the start list at the second stop of the R5K tour 2024 to Dresden ( we reported ): Tristan Kaufhold (SSC Hanau-Rodenbach) and Linda Meier (LAV Stadtwerke Tübingen), two running talents, are starting in Paderborn, who will be in the 2023 The opening season of the R5K tour celebrated overall victories in the U20. While the Hessian can defend his title in the U20 this year, the Tübingen native has moved up to the U23. There she will meet again Sonja Lindemann from LG Wedel Pinneberg, with whom she had a duel for the U20 overall victory in the R5K tour in 2023.

MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNERS VERSUS LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS

The female U20 and U23 are strong in this year's R5K tour for young running talent in Germany. At the start of the second race of the racing series initiated by German Road Races (GRR) together with the German Athletics Association (DLV), there are two other runners, Vanessa Mikitenko (SSC Hanau-Rodenbach) and Carolina Schäfer (TG Schwalbach), alongside Linda Meier In 2023, they competed for Germany at the U20 European Championships in Jerusalem.

This also applies to U20 European Championship participant Jan Dillemuth (Königsteiner LV), who is competing in the U23 in Paderborn: “The meeting of middle distance runners like him with runners who otherwise concentrate on long distances is also what makes the five kilometers so appealing race as part of the R5K tour,” says Christian Stork, head of organization for the Paderborn Easter Run. And so it will be particularly exciting to see how last year's winner Tristan Kaufhold will present himself, who, as the German U20 champion over 10 kilometers, improved the German best time for under 20 year olds to 29:40 minutes.

Tens of thousands of runners took part in the city's largest running event. Omroep West reported on the CPC Loop all day long.

The 47th NN CPC Loop Den Haag was won by Kenyan Brian Kiptoo (1.00.53), but the most remarkable performance was by Nienke Brinkman. The Dutch runner  triumphed among the women, running the half marathon in a personal record of 1.07.44  despite the  windy conditions.

In the men’s event, Brian Kiptoo shook off compatriot Moses Kiptoo (1.00.55) and Albert Rop (Bahrain, 1.01.05) in the closing stages. Khalid Choukoud finished as the best Dutchman: fourth in 1.02.55. Choukoud, this year’s ambassador for the NN CPC Run The Hague , had been suffering from a bad cold for the past week but was satisfied with his performance “at 85 per cent of my ability”.

On the women’s podium,  Brinkman was flanked by Rosalinda Jepketer (Bahrain, 1.08.40) and Kenya’s Pauline Esikon (1.08.47).

Laulauga Tausaga-Collins led a gold medal sweep for the USA as five records fell on the opening day of the North and Central American & Caribbean (NACAC) Championships at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, The Bahamas, on Friday (19).

A World Championships finalist, Tausaga-Collins broke the discus championship record twice in her first two throws (62.21m and 63.18m) to claim one of the eight titles for the USA.

Three other women surpassed the 60-metre mark, all in the final round, but it was not enough to catch the US thrower, who was pleased with her win before heading to the Wanda Diamond League final.

Cuba’s 2015 world champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Denia Caballero returned to competition after a full pause following the 2021 season and moved from fourth to silver with 61.86m in the sixth round, finishing ahead of USA’s Rachel Dincoff (61.56m) and Cuba’s Silinda Morales (60.73m).

Despite the hot and humid weather conditions, US distance runners rewrote three records: Gabrielle Jennings in the women’s 3000m steeplechase (9:34.36), Natosha Rogers in the 5000m (15:11.68) and Sean McGorty in the 10,000m (29:23.77) with the latter erasing one of the two remaining men’s championship records from the inaugural edition in El Salvador in 2007.

Not only did Jennings and Rogers break the championship records, they also led medal sweeps for the USA. Katie Rainsberger and Carmen Graves took silver and bronze in the steeplechase, while Fiona O’Keefe and Eleanor Fulton secured the other podium places in the 5000m.

USA’s 2016 world indoor champion Vashti Cunningham found some redemption after failing to reach the World Championships final on home soil. The three-time global medallist and Olympic finalist cleared 1.92m on her first attempt in the women’s high jump final, breaking St Lucia’s three-time winner Lavern Spencer’s 1.91m record set in Toronto in 2018.

One of the biggest surprises of the first day came in the women’s hammer, where USA’s world bronze medallist Janee’ Kassanavoid got the better of world champion Brooke Andersen. Kassanavoid won with 71.51m as Andersen managed 68.66m, recording just her second defeat of what has otherwise been a highly successful breakthrough season.

Oop The other winners on the opening day were Chris Bernard in the men’s triple jump (16.40m) and Roger Steen in the shot put (20.78m).

In other action outside the finals, world and Olympic champion Shaune Miller-Uibo delighted the home crowd with an easy semifinal win in the women’s 400m in 50.84, only 0.02 off the championship record. Jamaica’s Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper led the semifinals in the 100m hurdles (12.62) while her compatriot Andrew Hudson (20.25) and USA’s Brittany Brown (22.59) led the 200m semifinals.

A total of 17 finals will be contested on Saturday, including the men’s and women's 100m and 400m, featuring two other individual world champions from Eugene: Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson (200m champion running 100m) and Miller-Uibo.

The fourth edition of the championships, held for the first time to the Caribbean, was opened by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis, and is dedicated to the late Anita Doherty, an educator of many generations of Bahamians, who competed for the island nation in the pentathlon at the 1970 Commonwealth Games.

After two years of being held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 46th annual Bellin Run will return as an in-person event on Saturday while still offering a virtual option.

The 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) race, one of the largest in the nation, has been held on Green Bay's east side since 1977, attracting thousands of runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes each year.

“The whole mission of this event is in alignment with Bellin Health’s mission of getting people healthy," said assistant race director Linda Maxwell. "We know that being active is very important in being healthy, and that people need goals. So that’s why we do this event.”

With this mission in mind and knowing the excitement and motivation that an in-person race day brings, the Bellin Run organizers found it important to get people back out and together.

They still wanted to keep a virtual option, however, for people who may be out of town, busy during the race time, or not comfortable being in crowds yet.

In April 2020, the Bellin Run was converted to a virtual-only event amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed the race anytime and anywhere, submitting their results electronically. Despite hopes of returning to an in-person event in 2021, organizers determined that a virtual event was again the only safe option.

When the time came to decide the approach for this year's event, organizers were confident they could hold it safely in-person, especially because everything, including race packet pickup, takes place outside.

“Outdoor transmission continues to be extremely rare, and I feel great about where we are at as a community," said Dr. Bradley Burmeister, an emergency physician at Bellin Hospital. "I look forward to the return of the in-person Bellin Run and getting feet on the street in honor of heart health.” 

As of Friday, the Brown County COVID-19 community level was low.

Around 6,000 participants have registered for this year's Bellin Run so far, 1,000 of whom are for the virtual option. Maxwell said they are expecting a couple thousand more registrations in the week leading up to the event.

These registration numbers are down from 2019, the last in-person race, which had more than 11,000 participants. According to Maxwell, this was expected, as people are out of their pre-pandemic habits and just starting to make their way back to the things they used to do.

This slow return to pre-pandemic habits is also reflected in volunteer registrations. More volunteers are still needed, especially on course corners to keep participants safe during the race.

82-year-old Erlinda Biondic of Aurora, Ont., spends most of her days’ trekking to Newmarket, Ont. Fairy Lake Park from her Aurora residence. Erlinda and her husband, George, have been ultrarunning for many years, completing popular treks along Ontario’s Bruce Trail, Camino de Santiago in Spain and the U.S. Appalachian Trail. Last month, Erlinda became the oldest woman to complete 50 miles, 100 miles and to break the six-day world record, covering 251 miles (403 km) in 144 hours at the 3 Days at the Fair ultra in Augusta, N.J.

Erlinda was confident and trained heading into the ultra. She was intending to break the world record for 48 hours and 6 days in the 80+ age group. She spent the pandemic training for this event in the hallway of her Aurora apartment. Then when restrictions diminished, she walked at the local golf course and on the trails around it.

“No matter the weather, I try to get outside twice a day,” says Erlinda.

Besides leaving her apartment twice a day, she credits a lot of her fitness and strength to the yoga and boot camp instructors at the Aurora Seniors Centre. “We are constantly working on keeping my balance strong with core-focused exercises,” she says.

Erlinda has a strict diet during training. “I consume a lot of carbohydrates and add a vegetable to every meal,” she says. During the race, Erlinda and George pre-cook tuna, crumpets, eggs and ramen and carry them in ziplock bags while out on the course.

Each lap at the 3 Days at the Fair ultra is a one-mile loop circling the aid station. “The course is flat and great for runners to break records on,” says Erlinda, who has done this race on several occasions.

Days after covering 251 consecutive miles, the new six-day world record holder was back to training. “I luckily had no blisters or swelling during my six-day ultra,” Erlinda says. “George’s foot and quad massages help me recover.”

When she was asked about how she felt to be the oldest person to cover 100 miles, she began to tell me about the next races and records hopes to chase. In Sept., Erlinda and her husband will compete at the Race for the Ages, an age-graded eight-hour handicap race, where the oldest runners get a head start on the rest of the field.

As Erlinda gets older, she continues to push her physical barriers. She and her husband plan to hike the famous rim-to-rim in Grand Canyon National Park this month and participate in Ottawa’s Sri Chinmoy 24-hour ultra on July 23.

 

Runners will pack central San Diego streets again Sunday as San Diego’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon returns to its early June schedule.

The race resumed after its pandemic pause late last year, in October, with a new look and name. Root your favorite runner(s) on or just head out to see the competitors, crowds and other entertainment. But for motorists, there will be closures. Here’s the basics:

Weather

Runners and spectators can count on sunny and mild conditions, with highs expected to reach 68 Sunday, rising just a couple degrees from Saturday.

5K – A Day Early

Saturday matters because first up, there’s the 5K at Balboa Park, starting at 7 a.m. at President’s Way and Park Boulevard, heading north to Laurel Street and cutting through the park. Runners and walkers move on to Sixth Avenue before reaching the finish line on Balboa Drive.

Courses for Race Day

On Sunday, runners in both the full and half marathons kick off the day on near the northwest side of Balboa Park at 6:15 a.m. Spectators are welcome – cheering is free! – but motorists face many detours until the afternoon.

The race routes extend from the park through Hillcrest and east to Normal Heights to start, before runners on the shorter route shift to the south, through North Park and along Pershing Drive to the finish line on Union and Ash streets.

Marathon runners will double back through North Park all the way west to Mission Bay, before heading through Linda Vista and University Heights on the way back south past the park to the downtown finish line.

Closures

Most road closures and detours – including parts of state Route 163 and Interstate 5 – will be in effect from 5:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. Police and volunteers will begin with soft closures along the entire route.

A few of the major affected streets include University Avenue, Adams Avenue, 30th Street, Sea World Drive, Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, Tecolote Road and North Harbor Drive.

In addition, Sixth Avenue and other streets near Balboa Park will close earlier, at 2 a.m., but re-open by 10 a.m.

Parking will be blocked off in some cases too. Streets will reopen on a rolling basis once the last participant has passed and volunteers have removed all course materials.

Transit options

The Metropolitan Transit System has added service for the marathon, starting at 4 a.m., including the Green, Blue and Orange trolley lines. Officials suggest the Green Line for spectators – its County Center/Little Italy stop is five blocks from the finish.

They also note that the Green Line stops at Old Town, Morena/Linda Vista and Fashion Valley offer prime viewing spots, with time to jump back aboard the Trolley to see the finish.

Nearly 20 bus lines, though, must make detours due to street closures. For a list of additional Sunday service and detours, see the MTS marathon page.

Entertainment

Enjoy performances throughout the route, from a variety of bands, impersonators and DJ’s. See the marathon list for which mile marker to choose. And there’s more! Head to Waterfront Park at 10:45 a.m. for the Finish Line Festival with headliner Matisyahu, along with a game zone, beer garden and food trucks.

The crack of a starting pistol sent a scribble of smoke upward, queuing upbeat dance club music.

Miles away, a barber shop quartet serenaded with harmonic tones.

Palmer College of Chiropractic members dressed as vertebrae snaked their way up the infamously steep Brady Street.

Good Samaritans sprinkled cooling droplets of mist and rushed to the aid of an overheated runner.

A volunteer raked a neat pile of thousands of discarded water cups out of the road.

"These 14,000 cups have gotta go somewhere," Jen Broders said.

Post-race Jello shots were downed and accompanied by dives onto a front-lawn water slide.

Runner, walkers, past Olympians, pint-sized entrepreneurs, Marilyn Monroe look-alikes and "short-legged, no-talent" family members, friends and supporters packed the streets of downtown Davenport on Saturday morning for the 47th annual Quad-City Times Bix 7. More than 9,750 people registered for Bix races, according to race officials, marking the first time participation has dipped below 10,000 since 1986 (not counting last year's virtual Bix).

"Since last year's race ended, we've been planning for a very different race because our plans have changed on a monthly, weekly and daily basis," Bix 7 Race Director Michelle Juehring said.

The 53-year-old became race director in 2020 after the retirement of former longtime Race Director Ed Froehlich. She guided the race through its virtual version during the COVID-19 pandemic and was in the midst of preparing for her first full-blown Bix as its director.

Through all the changes COVID-19 forced in 2020, planning for the 2021 race was not without lingering pandemic-induced difficulties.

"We didn't know if the race would be open to all contestants until, basically, the last week in June, first week of July," Juehring said. "I am very grateful to have a whole race, but the road to getting here has forced us to be flexible and change."

Shade become prime real estate along the race course for bystanders. The temperature at race time was 78 degrees, tied for the third-hottest in Bix history, with 82% humidity and a 9-mph wind.

Though the start-time temperature was reasonable, the mercury shot up quickly and so did the action inside the medical tent. By 9 a.m., the temperature had climbed above 80 degrees. By 10:30 a.m., the mercury reached 85 degrees, at which time 36 people had been treated in the medical just past the finish line, one of whom was transported to the hospital. Another 10 runners were taken from the course to the hospital. Craig Cooper, spokesman for Genesis, said Saturday evening that one person had been admitted to the hospital but all others taken to Genesis had been treated and released.

Beat the Elite runner Doug Boleyn, 53, was the first patient escorted into the medical tent. Innovation officer at Genesis Health System, Boleyn was treated by colleagues from Genesis, which staffs the medical tent with dozens of volunteer doctors, nurses, aids and others. He was treated and released. 

The hot, hazy and muggy conditions, though, didn’t slow former Olympian Leonard Korir, 34, of Colorado Springs, Colo., who won his third Quad-City Times Bix 7 with a time of 32 minutes, 48 seconds, edging 25-year-old Frank Lara, of Boulder, Colo. Forty-one-year-old fellow Olympian Edna Kiplagat of Kenya won the women’s division.

“To win it three times, I’m so grateful,” said Korir, who credited his experience and training for his third top finish at the Bix 7.

As runners slogged through the heat and crowds on Kirkwood Boulevard, a gray tarp, continuously sprayed with a hose, offered brief refreshment for those brave enough to jump on.

Watching over the scene, resting on a lawn chair with Happy Birthday balloons tied to the back, was a large photo Sean Troncao's mother smiling.

he loved the Bix, Trancao said. It was one of her favorite days of the year. This year the Bix fell on her birthday weekend, so the family chose to celebrate at the Bix and bring her back to the event she loved so much.

"It just felt fitting to make sure she could join us," Trancao said.

Tom and Linda Hughes arrived on McClellan Boulevard at 6:15 a.m. Saturday to reserve their usual spot for their large family to watch the road race, and to promote organ donation through the Iowa Donor Network.

The group wore matching T-shirts featuring a photo of Tom's sister, the late Mary Ellen Smith. Smith used to run the Bix every year and was killed several years ago in a pedestrian-truck crash. Upon her death, all of her organs were donated.

Jerry Spaeth, Carl Anderson and Ken Stark stood on the side of the road enjoying a drink or two and cheering on Stark's wife, who he said has been running the Bix 7 for 22 years.

"I ran it for 15," Anderson said. "Now I stand here and drink beer." 

 

Five local groups will take the stage at Bayfront Festival Park on Saturday, June 19 as part of the 45th annual Grandma’s Marathon weekend, it was announced today.

The all-day celebration, which is free and open to all ages, was moved to Bayfront this year from its traditional place near the finish line in Canal Park. Rock-a-Billy-Revue will kick the off the live show at 9:00 a.m. Saturday and be followed throughout the day by Boxcar, Whiskey Trail, and Big Wave Dave & The Ripples.

“The past year has been extremely tough for so many in Duluth and our surrounding communities, and we feel very fortunate and honored to have received such generous support through the years,” Finance & Operations Director Linda Hanson said. “This is an opportunity not just to celebrate a job well done but also to provide a huge thank you to everyone who has ever been part of Grandma’s Marathon. There is no doubt we would not be here without each and every one of them.”

Participants in both Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon will receive a free drink ticket after completing their race, and those tickets can be redeemed all day Saturday at Bayfront Festival Park. Beverages will be provided by Superior Beverages & Coca-Cola, and food will be provided by Famous Dave’s.

Bayfront Festival Park will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19. Sounds Unlimited will play music between sets, and a full lineup of the day’s live music is below:

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Rock-a-Billy Revue

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Boxcar

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Big Wave Dave & The Ripples

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Whiskey Trail

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Big Wave Dave & The Ripples

Boxcar will also play a live set on Friday, June 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. following the 27th annual William A. Irvin 5K, which will start and finish for the first time this year in Bayfront Festival Park. Admission for that show is also free and open to all ages.

The musical lineup is one of several pieces Grandma’s Marathon has added back into its 2021 weekend plan following the recent loosening of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. Another significant change will be that masks or face coverings will no longer be required, though still strongly encouraged, through most parts of the weekend’s events.

“Grandma’s Marathon is a large event that is still going to attract people from all over the country, from all different walks of life, and potentially with many different comfort levels,” Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider said. “We want everyone involved to feel as comfortable and as safe as possible, so we encourage everyone to take proper precautions in terms of masks and distancing even in areas it’s not technically required by the guidance.”

The only area where masks or face coverings will still be required is on the shuttle bus before and after the race, in keeping with current public transportation guidelines.

A loosening of the state’s public health guidelines, announced last week by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has paved the way for the return of two traditional and popular pieces of Grandma’s Marathon weekend.

Based on the Governor’s expected timeline of eliminating capacity limits and distancing requirements, organizers say they will now be able to welcome spectators on race weekend and host a post-race celebration.

“Those things were crossed off pretty early in our planning process based on the previous guidelines, and the result was going to be a very different feeling come race weekend” Executive Director Shane Bauer said. “Bringing those pieces back will not only amplify the experience of our participants, but it’s great for our community members who wait all year to be part of Grandma’s Marathon weekend.”

Spectators were originally discouraged from attending this year’s Grandma’s Marathon, but the updated guidance will now allow those who wish to watch the races to do so.

“It’s great to be adding that community aspect back into our plans for June,” Race Director Greg Haapala said. “That said, we will be keeping some of the mitigation tactics in place to help keep some of those large groups from forming, and we ask that everyone who does attend is mindful and respectful of others.”

The post-race celebration will be in a new location this year, moving from near the finish line in Canal Park to Bayfront Festival Park. Live musical acts will be featured throughout race day, and admission will be free for all ages in celebration of the 45th anniversary of Grandma’s Marathon.

“The move to Bayfront is an exciting change for this year’s Grandma’s Marathon,” Finance & Operations Director Linda Hanson said. “It’s a great Duluth venue built for the very thing we want to do – come together and celebrate with our participants, our many partners, and our community that supports us year round. To be given the opportunity to bring this event back into our planning means so much because it’s not only a tradition, it’s how we say thank you to everyone for a job well done.”

Amid the excitement of what the new guidelines allow, organizers want to remind anyone planning on participating, volunteering, or attending Grandma’s Marathon that personal responsibility will still play a major role in the weekend’s overall success.

“This is still a large event that involves people from all over the country, from all different walks of life, and potentially with many different comfort levels,” Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider said. “We want everyone involved to feel as comfortable and as safe as possible, so we encourage everyone to take proper precautions in terms of masks and distancing even in areas it’s not technically required by the guidance.”

It’s expected that Grandma’s Marathon will be one of the country’s first major running events to return following the COVID-19 pandemic, so plenty of eyes will be on Duluth this June.

“This is our chance to do a really big thing and do it well,” Schneider said. “We want people to enjoy themselves, to feel safe, and to say good things about our race and our community when they leave here. Grandma’s was built on the idea of community coming together, and we need that in a different but critically important way this year.”

Masks or face coverings, according to the expected guidelines, will be required in all race-controlled areas with more than 500 people in attendance. Organizers expect that to include the start and finish areas, Bayfront Festival Park, the Michelina’s All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner, and the Essentia Health Fitness Expo.

As in the originally released plan, participants will not be required to wear a mask or face covering while actively participating in their race.

The 45th annual Grandma’s Marathon weekend will be held June 17-19, 2021.

Eight years before Kathrine Switzer shocked the world by running the Boston Marathon, Arlene Pieper Stine did her 26 miles in the Pikes Peak Marathon, with a 9-year-old daughter in tow

Arlene Pieper Stine got into the Pikes Peak Marathon in 1959 as a stunt to market her Colorado Springs health club. When she finished, the 29-year-old mother of three was in the record books as the first woman to finish a sanctioned marathon. Unlike the Boston Marathon, the Pikes Peak race never had a prohibition on women participating.

One of Colorado mountain running’s most beloved heroes used to climb up the ladder next to the sign draped across the town of Manitou Springs’s main drag — “Welcome, Pikes Peak Runners” — so that she could send off the hundreds of runners who had packed the narrow street to head off for the summit of the 14,115-foot mountain more than 13 miles and 7,800 of vertical gain in the distance. Then they would turn around for the return trip.

“Runners, ready,” she said into the microphone in the absolute still morning of sun, rain, or even snow of late August. “Go!” said Arlene Pieper Stine.  

Pieper Stine became the race’s folk hero in 2009 when race officials went looking for the former Colorado Springs resident and health club owner so that they could bring her back to her hometown with some news: Not only had she been the first woman to complete the Pikes Peak Marathon — the punishing switchbacks, rocky single-track, and finally, the last few miles above timberline at over 12,000 feet — but she was the first woman to complete any sanctioned marathon, eight years before Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon in 1967. 

Fifty years after she finished the full “out and back,” as Peak marathon veterans refer to the course, with a time of 9 hours and 16 minutes, Pieper Stine was once again at the start line.  

Pieper Stine died Feb. 11, 2021, a month shy of her 91st birthday, as she was trying to build up her strength after battling COVID-19, her daughter Kathy Pieper said.

“She got cards and letters from runners and it meant so much to her,” Pieper said. “And I was able to go into her assisted living facility — all covered up — to see her. She ran such a good race.”

She became a role model and inspiration for women runners who looked to her for her boldness and independent spirit — a wife, mother, business owner, and runner who hiked and ran on Pikes Peak with her family in the 1950s, dressed for the race in white sleeveless blouse, white shorts, white headwrap, and tennis shoes from Woolworths.

“We didn’t carry water or have aid stations in those days,” she said in a 2014 interview. “I still remember it like it was yesterday. You can be a wonderful wife and mother, but it showed me that if there’s something you really want to do, you should go for it.”

Year after year, Pieper Stine was as much a part of the race as the unpredictable weather, the friendliness and camaraderie of the runners whether elite or there for a bucket list challenge, or because life wouldn’t be the same without that weekend in late August that turned Manitou Springs into an excited, nervous, and glad-to-be alive running party.

“If I can do it, so can you,” she told the runners who thronged around her in Memorial Park at the Race Expo, at the pre-race spaghetti dinners, or on the streets of town. 

From the first time that she and Pieper returned to Manitou Springs in 2009 for the 50th anniversary celebration of the race that they had run together — Arlene at age 29 and Kathy at age 9 — Pieper Stine became living reminders of the beauty and challenge of running the Peak. 

 “‘It’s a beautiful day for a race,’ I remember her saying as we passed runners that day,” Pieper said of the race she did with her mother in 1959. “And she kept that same attitude every year. She never could believe that runners would come up to her and say ‘Can you just touch my hand for luck?’ or ‘It’s so good to see you again.’ She remembered everyone and had wanted to say something to them all. She could barely walk 10 paces down the sidewalk and people would say, ‘Can I get your picture? Can I get your autograph?’ It was just the thrill of her life when [race organizers] found her.”

In 2019, to mark the 60th anniversary of Pieper Stine’s marathon step for woman runners everywhere, a group of women runners dressed in white sleeveless blouses, white shorts, and headscarves and hats gathered to run up Pikes Peak to mark the occasion. And like the rock star of the trail running world she was for women, Pieper Stine showed up for the celebration.

Four years earlier, in 2015, I had the opportunity to celebrate Pieper Stine myself. The night before the marathon, I joined the Peak Busters gathering at the Manitou Springs City Hall and was reassured by Arlene, as I had come to know her. I had come back from falls and injuries like everyone else on the peak, since my first marathon on the mountain, in 2004.

At that time, Arlene was using a wheelchair after hip surgery. It was my second out and back and I was eager but nervous. “Good luck,” she said. “You’ll have a great time!” I bent down and she took her hand in mine. “OK,” I said, feeling tears about to come, feeling a part of history of this mountain that had both tested me and rewarding my training — or had spit me out during a few memorable Ascents and my first marathon. But I could always count on feeling inspired by the women who had come before me, especially Arlene.

The next morning, she was at the start, shaking hands, giving hugs, and talking to racers through the speakers, to get ready and GO!

“Without pioneering efforts like Arlene’s, we would have no history nor legacy in our sport,” said Nancy Hobbs, executive director of the American Trail Running Association. “Many women — young and old — have been inspired by her.

That includes Pieper, who is planning to train for the Ascent along with one of Pieper Stine’s grandsons, Kyle, 29, who wants to train and qualify for the marathon. She also is survived by daughters Karen, 67, and Linda, 57, and her son, Karl, 66; three other grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

“Mom wanted to sprinkle some of her ashes on Pikes Peak,” Pieper said. “And I thought, ‘I’d like to go back 60 years later and see if I can do the Ascent.’ Maybe I can finish it, maybe not even do it as a race. And then maybe I could keep her legacy going.”

Karen Craigie began trail running when she was 59 years old, and her adventures are just getting started

Karen Craigie, 68, had always played soccer. But she considered trail running a different beast. It wasn’t until she finished her first 15K trail race that things began to click. Once the switch went off, there was no turning back. A retired nurse, Craigie was hooked on exploring trails over bigger and bigger distances. From there, she began tackling 20K to 50K adventures in the mountains and on the trails, and beyond.

The beginning

It all began when Craigie was 59 years old. She signed up for a trail running clinic in North Vancouver, and three months later she finished her first 15K trail race, The Dirty Duo. Motivated by her partner Linda, who is 11 years younger, Craigie never knew what the trails would offer. She was amazed at what it did for her mind, body, and spirit. Despite living in North Vancouver, it wasn’t until she began participating in trail running clinics that she started exploring the trails in her backyard.

Craigie and Linda decided to sign up for the next clinic to train for a 25K trail race. Nowadays, her favourite distance is 50K. “What I love most about trail running though, are the adventure runs. There is no stress or pressure about meeting cutoff times and one can just really enjoy the scenery.”

Next steps

Craigie has always had the mental toughness to get through tough times on the trail. But as her running goals continued to grow, she hired a coach. “When I retired, my goals got loftier, so I decided I needed a coach. Gary Robbins kindly agreed without hesitation. I completely attribute my successes to having two great coaches,” she says. Robbins and Eric Carter continue to coach her to this day.

Running resume

Just as Craigie is not defined by her age, the distances she loves have no limits. Her ultrarunning and trail running resume is stacked for someone of any age. Once she toes the line, there’s no turning back. She has completed every race she’s started and has yet to come in DFL. “I usually win my age group. However, at times, I am the only one in their 60s.”

So far, Craigie has raced the notorious Knee Knacker 48K race twice, Mount Hood 50K, Sun Mountain 50K, The Golden Ultra 60K, Survival of the Fittest 35K, Squamish 50K, WAM 55K, and over seven races 23-25K in distance. In 2014 she did the Vancouver BMO Marathon, and was reminded how much she truly loves the trails.

In October 2015, Craigie ran across the Grand Canyon with friends. They found themselves under the desert stars in the middle of the night in the canyon, which was a definite highlight. In July 2018, she created her own adventure run in Ireland. Craigie and friends ran 208K over seven days. Each day ranged from 20-42K covering north, west, and southeast coasts. Next year, she plans on running somewhere in the Alps, continuing to abide by the notion she is “not an age.”

Sebastian Coe, the two-time Olympic 1,500 meters champion for Britain who became head of athletics' world governing body in 2015, was blocked from membership as recently as December over a conflict of interest.

But Coe changed his role at the marketing company he is currently running as managing director to a passive position, thus paving the way to IOC membership.

Coe's belated entry into the IOC club is significant because he has been mentioned as a potential future president of the Olympic movement.

Voting at the IOC Session, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, saw 85 valid votes with six abstentions: 77 voted to approve Coe's membership, with eight voting against.

"Thank you to all of you who voted for our sport, our federation today," said Coe.

"I look forward, our whole sport looks forward, to working even more closely with all of you in performing and building upon all sports because at this time, of all times, the need for community in elite sport to thrive and flourish is probably never more important.

"Thank you very much for the position today."

As Coe signed his IOC oath, IOC president Thomas Bach let slip a greeting."Finally, welcome!" Bach said.

Also approved for individual IOC membership were Princess Reema Bandar al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) board member Maria de la Caridad Colon Ruenes and acting Mongolian National Olympic Committee president Battushig Batbold.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has been nominated to become a new International Olympic Committee (IOC) member in July, the IOC president Thomas Bach said on Wednesday.

Coe, the two-time Olympic 1,500 meters champion and the head of the athletics' world governing body since 2015, was repeatedly blocked from IOC membership over a conflict of interest surrounding his role as managing director of the CSM Sport and Entertainment company.

"In effect what has changed is that Coe has committed himself to change his status within the company he is currently running as managing director to a passive position," Bach said on a teleconference after a meeting of the IOC Executive Board (EB) on Wednesday, noting that the Brit is among five people who will be elected as new IOC members on July 17.

The other four proposed IOC memberships belong to individual members Maria de la Caridad Colon Ruenes of Cuba, former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Saudi Arabian Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, all female candidates, and Battushig Batbold of Mongolia.

Bach also announced on the teleconference that the EB agreed to submit to the IOC Session a four-year extension of the term of China's IOC member Yu Zaiqing, whose term is to terminate at the end of 2021, due to the important role that he plays in Chinese sport and society. 

“It is with heavy hearts but clear purpose that we announce this fundamental change to our 2020 event,” said Executive Race Direcor Randy Van Straten. “Bellin Health is a health system first, and at this time we must focus our attention and resources on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting our patients and communities.”

The majority of the Bellin Run’s Operations Team and countless event volunteers are Bellin Health employees, Van Straten said. Those individuals have appropriately turned their efforts to focus on fighting COVID-19.

Race officials are encouraging runners and walkers to stay active as a means of bolstering their physical and emotional health. They will continue to offer virtual training support through this year’s event and beyond.

“While we can’t be together physically, we encourage the Bellin Run community to come together as we support each other during these challenging times,” said Assistant Race Director Linda Maxwell. “We’re hosting our 6 p.m. Wednesday training runs via Facebook Live, and we’ll be offering other resources and messages of encouragement to keep people engaged. We encourage participants to share their journey across our social media channels and stay virtually connected however they can.”

Runners and walkers are encouraged to continue their activity solo (always taking personal safety into account) or with members of their household only. In-person group training sessions of any kind are strongly discouraged.

Virtual Bellin Run participants will run or walk a 10K (6.2 miles) anywhere, anytime between June 6 and June 21, adhering to any physical distancing guidelines that are in place at that time. Results will be submitted electronically, and participants will receive a race shirt and metal reusable straw (part of the event’s sustainability efforts) via mail.

Individuals who have already registered for this year’s event may choose to transfer to the Virtual Bellin Run, defer their registration to the 2021 event or receive a refund (less $2.50 in online registration fees). Visit www.bellinrun.com to register for the Virtual Bellin Run as a new registrant or select your option if you have already registered.

For health and safety reasons, race officials are strongly discouraging participants from running the Bellin Run course on race day.

“We appreciate our Bellin Run community more than they know,” Van Straten said. “Things won’t be the same this year, but we look forward to celebrating the power of perseverance and community through this very special virtual event. We look forward to coming back, stronger than ever, for our 45th anniversary event in 2021.”

This past weekend, Gary Robbins went for a run on his treadmill, and he didn’t stop for almost 26 hours. He ran in the Aravaipa Strong virtual race, competing in the 100-mile event, and his run doubled as a fundraiser for the B.C. Search and Rescue Association. Running for 26 hours is hard enough, but Robbins made it even tougher on himself and climbed around 17,500 feet in addition to running 100 miles.

His challenge has raised over $15,000 for the B.C. Search and Rescue Association, and donations can still be made to support the cause.

The British Columbia Search and Rescue Association is a non-profit society that represents 79 search and rescue groups across B.C. Across the province, 2,500 volunteers are available in over 80 communities 24/7, collectively putting in 100,000 hours of work each year.

These groups have an incredible rate of success, with 95 per cent of subjects found or rescued within the first 24 hours of a call. The Search and Rescue Association gets some support from the provincial government, but it relies on donations to stay active.

Robbins hoped to raise $5,000 for the non-profit, but he has tripled that goal and the total now sits above $15,000.

Robbins’ official time for the 100-mile run was 25:53:42. Although this is almost 10 hours slower than the winner of the 100-mile Aravaipa Strong event (American Sarah Emoto won the virtual race in 16:15:46), Robbins likely had a much harder run than any of the other competitors as it included 17,500 feet of elevation.

Robbins is no stranger to ultramarathons, and before the coronavirus outbreak he was gearing up for another shot at the Barkley Marathons this year. Even with a history of ultrarunning, Robbins struggled with the treadmill run.

“Happy to have gotten through this so that I never have to think about anything like this again,” he tweeted. “It was challenging in all the ways I thought it’d be and lots more ways I hadn’t envisioned. My body is completely wrecked.” His wife, Linda Barton-Robbins, also tweeted post-race, saying that her husband couldn’t even make it up their stairs at home.

The Aravaipa Strong virtual race took place from April 17 to 26, and runners could choose from seven distances, starting with 5K up to 100 miles. The races featured over 2,000 runners worldwide from 29 different countries. Ten per cent of the proceeds from the race were donated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Lizzie Shankland-Fee said the courage of her dad, former Huntington School deputy head Gordon Fee, was driving her on to organise a social-distancing marathon with a group of friends.

Gordon, 80, was a gymnast who marked his 60th birthday by turning six back-flips. He still boasted a six-pack when he turned 75. But after running the 2018 York 10K Gordon felt breathless and tests showed he had the lung cancer mesothelioma.

He underwent surgery, chemotherapy and other gruelling treatments, and was not expected to live beyond a year, but Gordon, his wife Linda and their family are continuing to take each day as it comes, supported by York Against Cancer.

The charity gave them a free short break at its Whitby apartment and Gordon has also taken part in its free exercise sessions. “The holiday was magical,” said Lizzie, 40.

“The apartment is a magnificent penthouse and the views of the beach are phenomenal. “Some days Dad struggled but he could watch us taking the kids down to the beach. When he was well we carried him down there and he had the most amazing day, just watching us burying the kids in the sand! It was perfect. We now live for the rainbow days and memories we can make together.”

But Lizzie, a teacher who lives in Manchester, has not been able to see Gordon and his wife Linda since coronavirus struck. They are self-isolating at home in York.

Lizzie has set up a JustGiving page, where wellwishers can sponsor her and leave messages of support.

She says her dad was very touched when she told him what she was doing. “People have left such lovely messages and for him to be able to read them is really sweet.”

Upon crossing the finish line of a marathon, endorphins high and glowing with accomplishment, any devoted runner might start thinking about the next one.

In a few weeks, Linda Carrier will finish six laps of a seven-kilometer ice airstrip in Antarctica and board a plane, not for home in Pinehurst, but to Cape Town, South Africa.

There will be another race to run 12 hours hence.

Going from subzero temperatures to a summer day will call for a wardrobe overhaul, but a half day and 2,500 miles after finishing the first marathon, Carrier will set off on another 26-mile course.

That’s just the first leg of the World Marathon Challenge, which will see Carrier and 40 other runners from around the world run seven marathons on seven continents. They have all of 168 hours to do it.

Extreme athleticism has been in vogue for a while as a way to subvert midlife crisis, but Carrier took up running as a teenager soon after she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She first ran a half marathon in 1995 at 33, and has been gradually pushing her physical boundaries ever since.

Carrier has run more than 100 marathons and half-marathons. Not just any marathons, either: Berlin, Chicago, New York, London, Tokyo and three times at Boston. She celebrated her 50th birthday by running a 50-mile trail ultramarathon in Washington state.

“I never let diabetes define me". She said. When she was diagnosed with diabetes, there was no question of slipping into inactivity as she learned to give herself insulin and moderate food intake.

“Running added to the complexity of the equation, but my doctors said it was really helping,” she said.

Carrier dove into distance running on a lark. She ran her first marathon in Honolulu with friends and hoped, at best, to come through it alive.

As forms of exercise go, running is easily the most accessible. There’s no equipment needed, aside from a decent pair of shoes, and any trail or stretch of road will suffice for a course. It wasn’t long before Carrier started noticing her fellow runners’ shirts, and the names of groups that transcend national boundaries and unite people who make a hobby of running regular marathons.

She was soon drawn into the fold and found herself ticking off all the boxes: qualifying for Boston, then onto the other major cities. Now 57, Carrier has run marathons in 29 states, which means she only has 21 to go.

“The key to this schedule is you start out and just start to build,” she said. “Her training schedule basically got it where I was learning to run on tired legs. Running seven marathons and flying over 33,000 miles straight, through all of the time zone changes and running in different temperatures, you’re going to be tired.”

“Linda is an inspiration to so many within the diabetes community as she represents our goal of helping individuals with diabetes live longer, healthier lives,” said Mark Grant, vice president of the Americas region for the Diabetes Group at Medtronic. “We are humbled that our MiniMed 670G has supported her journey, and look forward to following her future successes.”

Tracy Sundlun, the former track coach who helped create the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon Series, has settled his breach-of-contract lawsuit against the company he co-founded.

The deal with Competitor Group Inc. was quietly reached recently in San Diego federal court, where the case was moved after being filed last January in San Diego Superior Court.

Sundlun, 67, sued CGI for $146,000 — the amount he says he was owed in a severance agreement after being let go by the international firm in July 2016.

The Santee resident known as “Mr. Marathon” had been senior vice president of Competitor Group, which has changed ownership of the years. CGI is now a part of Ironman-operator World Triathlon Corp., a unit of Chinese-based Wanda Sports Group.

On Tuesday, Sundlun lawyer David Greifinger said: “The case has settled and the terms are confidential. Neither Tracy nor I can make any comment.”

CGI and World Triathlon Corp. didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Lawyers for CGI said in court filings that Sundlun was denied his severance because he violated its terms. They said he disparaged the company in a Times of San Diego story that appeared in November 2016. Sundlun denies any disparagement.

CGI alleged that Sundlun slammed the company when he said “the elite-athlete budget has been cut again” and “I just know that … [the elite-athlete budget] just keeps getting cut.”

In the run-up to a possible trial before Judge Linda Lopez, CGI lawyers issued a subpoena to freelance writer Ken Stone, a Times of San Diego contributor represented pro bono by Dan Gilleon of San Diego.

Along with a request for documents, the CGI lawyers set a deposition date for Stone. (Only previously published documents were provided.) But with both parties agreeing not to call Stone as a witness, the deposition order was dropped.

On Dec. 11, the same day as the canceled deposition, the case was settled in Lopez’s court. 

Sundlun declined to comment on the case against his employer of nearly 20 years.

With Tim Murphy, Sundlun helped grow Elite Racing — organizer of the original Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon in San Diego and the Carlsbad 5000. (Elite essentially became the events arm of CGI in December 2007.)

In May 2017, Sundlun told Times of San Diegothat CGI owed him well over $160,000 and hadn’t been reimbursed for all his business expenses. He also said he was owed $2,000 monthly COBRA health insurance payments.

Among personal mementos yet to be returned, he said at the time, was private correspondence with his daughter and files related to his friendship with basketball great Wilt Chamberlain. (Sundlun coached Wilt’s Wonder Women, an outgrowth of the La Jolla Track Club.)

On May 12, 2017, Sundlun filed a complaint against CGI with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Greifinger said then that CGI was using the Times story as an excuse not to pay 38 weeks’ severance on his $200,000-a-year salary, plus other benefits.

“That doesn’t justify their not paying him,” he said. “(They) unilaterally backed out of the settlement agreement.”

Originally based in Mira Mesa, CGI moved to Sorrento Valley in March 2017.

But after being acquired in June 2017 by Ironman (owned by Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin), CGI’s staff shrank from over 200 to about 20.

Former CGI president and CEO Josh Furlow — who let Sundlun go in 2016 — was himself fired in January. 

“Somebody had to be the fall guy” for corporate losses, said an industry veteran who didn’t want to be named.

On Dec. 12, Magistrate Judge Lopez ordered both sides to file a joint motion for dismissal of the case by Feb. 10, 2020.

Sundlun is a member of the Running USA Hall of Champions and the National High School Track and Field Hall of Fame.A U.S. track team manager at the 2016 Rio Olympics, he continues to be active in the sport.

Next month, he’ll be a race director of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 50-kilometer men’s race walk, again being staged in Santee.

Russia has been handed a four-year ban from all major sporting events by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).

It means the Russia flag and anthem will not be allowed at events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and football's 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But athletes who can prove they are untainted by the doping scandal will be able to compete under a neutral flag. 

Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said the ban was part of "chronic anti-Russian hysteria".

"It is obvious that significant doping problems still exist in Russia, I mean our sporting community," he said. "This is impossible to deny. 

"But on the other hand the fact that all these decisions are repeated, often affecting athletes who have already been punished in one way or another, not to mention some other points - of course this makes one think that this is part of anti-Russian hysteria which has become chronic."

Russian president Vladimir Putin said the country had grounds to appeal against the decision.

Wada's executive committee made the unanimous decision to impose the ban on Russia in a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, recently.

It comes after Russia's Anti Doping Agency (Rusada) was declared non-compliant for manipulating laboratory data handed over to investigators in January 2019.

It had to hand over data to Wada as a condition of its controversial reinstatement in 2018 after a three-year suspension for its vast state-sponsored doping scandal.

Wada president Sir Craig Reedie said the decision showed its "determination to act resolutely in the face of the Russian doping crisis".

He added: "For too long, Russian doping has detracted from clean sport. The blatant breach by the Russian authorities of Rusada's reinstatement conditions demanded a robust response. 

"That is exactly what has been delivered. 

"Russia was afforded every opportunity to get its house in order and rejoin the global anti-doping community for the good of its athletes and of the integrity of sport, but it chose instead to continue in its stance of deception and denial."

But Wada vice-president Linda Helleland said the ban was "not enough".

"I wanted sanctions that can not be watered down," she said. "We owe it to the clean athletes to implement the sanctions as strongly as possible."

A total of 168 Russian athletes competed under a neutral flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang after the country was banned following the 2014 Games, which it hosted in Sochi. Russian athletes won 33 medals in Sochi, 13 of which were gold.

Russia has been banned from competing as a nation in athletics since 2015.

Despite the ban, Russia will be able to compete at Euro 2020 - in which St Petersburg will be a host city - as European football's governing body Uefa is not defined as a 'major event organisation' with regards to rulings on anti-doping breaches.

Fifa said it had "taken note" of Wada's decision, adding: "Fifa is in contact with Wada to clarify the extent of the decision in regards to football."

The promoters of the Russian Grand Prix also said they were "confident" the race would go ahead because their contract was signed before the Wada investigation and runs until 2025.

An F1 spokesman reiterated the comments of the promoters, adding: "We will monitor the situation to see if there is an appeal and what would be its outcome."

In a statement, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said: "Those responsible for the manipulation of data from the Moscow laboratory before it was transferred to Wada appear to have done everything possible to undermine the principles of fair and clean sport, principles that the rest of the sporting world support and adhere to. 

"This sincere lack of respect towards the rest of the global sporting movement is not welcome and has zero place in the world of sport. It is only right that those responsible for this data manipulation are punished."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it "supported" Wada's decision.

Jackline Wambui, who won the 800 metres at the Kenyan trials, and Linda Kageha, who was in the mixed relay team, have withdrawn from the world championships after failing to take mandatory testosterone level tests, an Athletics Kenya (AK) official said on Thursday.

AK Vice President in charge of competitions Paul Mutwii said Wambui and Kageha had declined the mandatory test and withdrew from the global showpiece event in Doha.

“The IAAF has set tough conditions on gender and doping and we must comply. If an athlete fails to take the tests, they are definitely out of the (world) championships,” Mutwii told Reuters.

“Wambui and Kageha declined the test on testosterone levels. They had no choice but to withdraw,” said Mutwii.

Wambui’s withdrawal left 2013 world champion Eunice Sum as Kenya’s only entrant in the women’s 800m event.

Michael Kibet and Daniel Simiyu, who finished first and second in the 5,000 metres at the Kenyan trials, are awaiting clearance to run in the world championships after not meeting Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) criteria for three out-ofcompetition and one in-competition doping tests, Mutwii said.

“We have, however, entered them pending clearance from AIU. We expect a response from AIU by Monday next week,” the official added.

Nicholas Kibet and Jacob Krop, who finished third and fourth at the trials, have been entered.

“We have entered Krop so that we have two athletes in case AIU fails to clear Kibet and Simiyu,” Mutwii said.

Reigning men’s 1,500 metres world champion Elijah Manangoi pulled out of the Doha event this week due to an ankle injury.

The world championships run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6.

Felix Kiprotich and Stellah Barsosio have smashed the men's and women's marathon course records at the Sydney Running Festival.

Pre-race favorite Kiprotich took almost a minute and a half off the men's record, becoming the first person to break 2:10 for the Sydney Marathon with a winning time of 2:09:49 as he breasted the tape at the Sydney Opera House forecourt. 

In a quick race in perfect conditions, second placed Michael Kunyuga and Japan's third-place finisher Saturo Sasaki also ran under the previous course record of 2:11:18, set by Gebo Burka in 2014. 

Last year's winner Elijah Kemboi finished fourth in 2:13:55 - 42 seconds faster than his victorious time in 2018. 

The women's record fell by even more, with Barsosio finishing alone in 2:24:33, which was good enough for eighth place overall.

That's an incredible 3:33 faster than the previous record (2:28:06), set by Makda Harun in 2017.

Second placed woman Josephine Chepkoech also run under the previous record, finishing in 2:26:43, while the third placed woman - Tejitu Chalchissa - finished in 2:28:22.

In the half marathon, Ryota Komori won in 1:05:00, beating Thomas Do Canto by 32 seconds.

Belinda Martin won the women's half in 1:14:50, ahead of Rebecca Lowe in 1:17:04 and Karinna Fyfe in 1:18:09.

These are the 10 most scenic marathoners you need to put on your bucket list 

1) Midnight Sun Marathon, Norway.  Head to Tromso, Norway to try an Arctic Marathon where the sun doesn’t set…literally! Norwegians experience the “Midnight Sun” from May 20 to June 22, which allows runners to run a marathon during the night. A big portion of the race happens along the coast, so runners enjoy picturesque views of the Norwegian sea as well as the snow-capped peaks. 

2) BMW Berlin Marathon, Germany. This marathon that starts and ends at the Brandenburg Gate takes runners in a large loop around the city. This is the perfect marathon to experience a slice of history as marathoners will pass the iconic Reichstag, Berlin Cathedral, Tiergarten and Potsdamer Platz, to name a few.

3) â€‹Marathon du Medoc (France).  This is a wine and food festival disguised as a marathon! The course will take you through the vineyards of the Médoc in Gironde. Held in the Southwest of France near Bordeaux; food stands and wine tasting stalls dot the entire course of this event. Nibbles offered include pastas, oysters, cheese, steaks, fruits, and the region's famous wines to wash down everything. This fun marathon usually turns into a carnival of spirited, costumed runners as participants are encouraged to dress, according to the year’s theme. 

4) The Hong Kong Marathon (Hong Kong).  This is easily the biggest participation sporting event in Hong Kong with over 70,000 runners from 90 countries participating in it. Marathoners enjoy some of the best urban landscape. This iconic race unfolds against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s breath-taking skyline and harbour. The full marathon and half marathon, both start at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui racing up into New Territories, and heading back down to a spectacular finish in Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island. The Hong Kong Marathon has been awarded Gold Label status since the 2016 and with total prize money of US$300,000, it is one of Asia's most prominent marathons.

5) Big Five Marathon (Limpopo, South Africa).  This is undoubtedly the wildest marathon in the world! Conducted within the private Entabeni Game Reserve in South Africa, this marathon runs through the African savannahs. True to the marathon’s name, you have a chance of bumping into lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and cape buffaloes in addition to the other animals like giraffes, antelopes, etc., along the way. The safety of the runners is not compromised as park rangers watch over the Big Five Marathon to ensure that participants can gaze safely at zebras, leopards, and antelopes as they run.

6) Great Wall Marathon (China).  This marathon isn’t for the faint hearted, but it’s the race of a lifetime. Strictly speaking, the marathon route overlaps the Great Wall of China for a small section of the race, but this relatively short section on the Wall is a challenging 5,164 steps. Participants get to run through old villages and see sweeping hillside views, with hundreds of enthusiastic locals cheering for them. 

7) Skarkasse 3-Laender Marathon (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).  This unique marathon offers runners an opportunity to run through three countries - Germany, Austria and Switzerland in one single race! This 26.2-mile journey starts on the island of Lindau, Germany, before taking runners through several Austrian towns, and then crossing the Swiss border and finishing in Bregenz. The flat terrain, half of which courses along the shores of Lake Constance, features a mix of cobblestone, gravel and asphalt. 

8) Big Sur Marathon (California, USA).  For the past two years, the Big Sur Marathon sells out in record time! Traversing through one of the world’s most scenic courses, meandering through the coastline along the azure blue waters of the Pacific ocean and redwoods, the Big Sur International Marathon held in California ranks high on the list of challenging marathons due to its alpine terrain and strong headwinds. Known for its incomparable natural beauty and dramatic coastal scenery, this race has a strict 6-hour time limit to complete it.

9) Patagonian International Marathon (Patagonia, Chile).  This marathon will take you through the jaw-dropping landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park, a route which makes way through turquoise waters, towering peaks and pristine glaciers. This is also the most eco-friendly race in the world. Instead of medals, participants have a tree planted in their name. The organisers also encourage you to carry your own water bottles to avoid cup waste. So, go ahead and fulfil your dream of running in one of the most pristine places on the planet!

10) Australian Outback Marathon (Australian).  Big open skies, cool rock formations, soft red earth under your feet, this marathon was made for adventure seekers and nature lovers. This marathon will give runners a glimpse of the famous Uluru and Kata Tjuta rock formations and sacred sites of the aboriginals of the area. 

Run The World Global Challenge is a world-wide celebration of running.  The program was started by Bob Anderson one year ago, July 4, 2018.  Since that time 281 runners around the world ran or walked and then logged 122,123 miles.  This equals 335.5 miles daily or 2,348 miles weekly for 52 weeks which equals 4.9 times around the world. 

"One of the key reasons we started this program," says creator Bob Anderson, My Best Runs and Runner's World magazine founder, "was to motivate people, bring together runners from all over and to run miles all over the world." 

That all happen. Runners from 20 countries participated, miles were run in 75 countries and it certainly motivated many runners to run more miles than they were running before. 

53-year-old James Kalani had not run much over the last few years and then he entered the RTW Challenge.  After getting in good shape over several months, he started pushing it for Challenge #5 which started March 31. Over the last 94 days he ran and logged 1536 miles.  That's 114 miles weekly.  It was not just covering miles, many were quality. On June 16 he ran 30.6 miles at an average pace of 6:41 per mile.

Before the RTW Challenge creator Bob Anderson was running on average 20 miles weekly.  "I got so motivated by this challenge," says Bob.  "I looked forward to running not just one time daily but often I would run two or three times.  I took a photo everyday and posted it in our Runner's Feed.  I also read every post and commented on each for the whole year.  I have been running since 1962 and have run nearly 1,000 races.  I am an addicted runner but I needed something new and this was it."

In the end Bob averaged 5 miles daily or 35 miles weekly for a total of 1830 miles for the year.  With the added miles he also improved his racing performance.  He ran 7:54 pace for 10k and placed third 70 plus at the London 10,000 in May.  A race with nearly 20,000 runners.

The RTW Challenge team did some amazing things during the year.  69-year-old Brent Weigner lives in Cheyenne Wyoming but many of his 2036 miles were run outside of the United States.  In fact Brent ran miles in 30 different countries. 

The most miles were run and logged in the United States.  The top five countries were: United States (64,899 miles), Kenya (24,066 miles), Palau (8,242 miles), India (7,423 miles) and South Africa (6,765).  The amazing story here is that the little country of Palau has less that 22,000 inhabitants and placed third.  Their team leader Aaron Salvador logged 1,584 miles himself and encouraged his team to run and log. 

The team leader for South Africa, Liz Dumon, is the key reason why her country placed fourth.  She herself ran and logged 1000 miles.  Liz encouraged people to sign up.  In fact our youngest members were twins she recruited along with mom and grandma. The 7-year-old twins Jonathan (logged 118 miles) and his sister Michelle (logged 100 miles) had loads of fun and posted regularly in the Runners Feed.  Their dogs joined in on the fun too. (Third photo of twins with Grandma)

Their 56-year-old grandma (Johanna Fourie) logged 672 miles and placed 10th for females.  Right behind her was mom (Erika Fourie) with 625 miles. 

Who said age is just a number? The top three overall females were 65 plus.  Placing first was 68-year-old Kat Powell (USA).  She logged 1271 miles.  Not far back was 69-year-old Linda Robinson (USA) with 1145 miles followed by 65-year-old Carmella DiPippa (PW) with 1040 miles.  Sixth female was 71-year-old Karen Galati (USA) who logged 835 miles.

On the men's side there were so many stars.  35-year-old Kenyan Eliud Esinyen averaged 15.7 miles daily or 110 miles weekly (second photo).  Many times he ran three times daily.  On April 21 he ran a marathon on a tough course at high altitude clocking 2:22:46 which is 5:27/mile pace.  On January 27 he ran a 10k clocking 31:05.  Eliud ran and logged the most with 5,738 miles. 

Kenya's team leader Willie Korir (27) placed second overall with 5195 miles.  He also posted images regularly in the Runners Feed along with comments.  He also wrote several stories for My Best Runs Running News Daily column including finding inside information about the king of the marathon, Eluid Kipchoge.

The first American and third overall was 45-year-old Michael Wardian with 3618 miles (frist photo). This ultra star pulled off many amazing feats during the year.  Most recently on June 29 he ran 89.9 miles around Washington DC.  On May 4th he ran 62.14 miles at 7:14/mile average pace in Sacramento.  He ran the Big Sur Marathon in 2:35:18 making the podium.  He had run the Boston Marathon earlier a little faster clocking 2:33:23.

In March he travelled to Israel and posted the fastest known time on the 631-mile Natoinal Israel Trail.  He covered this distance in 10 days, 16 hours and 36 minutes.  Earlier he not only ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days (winning them all) he tacked on three more marathons when he got home.  That's ten marathons in ten days.  He is the complete runner with a wide range.  On Feb 10th he ran a 5k in 17:01. 

"Michael is one amazing versatile runner and we were happy when he decided to join our team," says Bob Anderson.

Second American and fifth overall was 75-year-old Frank Bozanich who logged 3523 miles. Frank has run many ultra races over the years and have won many.  Lots of these miles were not real fast compared to what he has done before.  But on July 30th last year he ran 20 miles in Reno in two hours and 43 minutes.  That is an 8:09/mile pace. 

Finishing in seventh place was 72-year-old Paul Shimon who logged 2835.  Like so many of our team, Paul had to deal with a lot of bad weather in Kansas during the winter.  But he layered up and got in the miles.

Michael T Anderson (61)  placed eighth overall logging 2,798 with lots of fast times along the way.   He has run over 130,000 miles in his lifetime so far.  On June 8th he ran 19:13 for 5k in Atlanta where he lives.  On April 28 he clocked 39:25 for 10k.

"The fastest runner on our team was Joel Maina Mwangi," says Bob Anderson.  This 34-year-old Kenyan placed 13th overall with 1,953 miles logged.  On March 10 he ran a 30:14 10k in Torino Italy.   He ran six half marathons under 1:05.  His fastest was run in Aosta, Italy where he clocked 1:02:50 on September 30. 

"There are as many amazing stories," says Bob Anderson. "I am glad our event is helping motivate runners all over the world.  I am looking forward for year two." 

What's next?  Run The World Global Challenge #6 will be a 10-week program.  There is no entry fee.  You just need to have a free My Best Runs (the sponsor of this program) account and sign up for Run The World. 

January 19 and 20 marked the 19th year of HURT (Hawaii Ultra Running Team) 100 miler in Oahu, Hawaii. Located in a mountainous tropical rainforest, the course includes five 20-mile (32K) loops with 7,468 metres of elevation gain, and a cutoff of 36 hours. The 99 per cent singletrack consists of 20 stream crossings, exposed ridges, roots, rocks, puddles and mud wallows. Rainfall on race day meant slippery conditions, falls, broken bones, and some DNFs. Seven Canadians started HURT 100, and three finished. First Canadian finisher Pargol Lakhan finished top 10 female in 34:02:23.

HURT 100 is considered one of North America’s toughest 100-milers. Picture a scene from Jurassic Park–except the dinosaurs are muddy and hungry ultrarunners. Canadians Simon Garneau (Que.), Derek Anaquod(Sask.), Karen Johansen (Alta.), Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam (Alta.), Craig Slagel (B.C.), Lori Herron (B.C.), and Pargol Lakhan (B.C.) toed the line. Due to the weather, injuries, and unanticipated complications, only Gutierrez-Kellam, Anaquod, and Lakhan finished. 

Lakhan traveled from Vancouver, B.C. to Hawaii without a support crew. After a series of serendipitous Facebook conversations, she lucked out with pacers and a crew she had never met. From the 6 a.m. start line through to the finish, Dennis Källerteg and his parents supported Lakhan. In just over 32 hours of racing, these strangers became her friends. Källerteg, a 22-year-old from Sweden, had raced HURT 100 in 2018, but dropped out prior to the 2019 start line. The family ultrarunning vacation became a crewing adventure instead.  

Like most 100-milers, runners risk getting lost, getting injured, falling, feeling nauseous, and anything else Mother Nature throws at them. During the first 32K loop, Lakhan felt strong and was with the top ten women until she went a few kilometers off course. With somewhat fresh legs, she climbed back up the technical trails and found her way. Seeing fellow B.C. ultrarunning family Gary, Linda, and Reed Robbins cheering runners on every loop made Lakhan feel comforted. “It felt like I was running at home.” 

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. 

Linda Prefontaine posted this on Facebook and got hundreds of likes and comments.  She wrote, “My favorite pictures of my brother are not of him crossing the finish line. They are pictures like this that show what a wonderful, warm and caring person he was. Like this photo of my brother and Gerry Lindgren.

“If you were the recipient of my brother's friendship and love , then you were a lucky person because the competitor Steve was fierce and bold but that was only a part of who Steve Prefontaine was. He was more than just a man running on the track.”

Hundreds of people posted comments.  Tom Lux wrote, “Linda. The first time I met your brother I had just arrived in Eugene.  I was by myself stretching on the track with nobody around. Steve came up to me and started asking about what I was doing.  

“His interest was genuine and abundant. He did not know me and I was a nobody.  Never talked about himself but only inquired about me.  Of course I was in total awe!”

Richard Leedom posted, “Yep--he was bold and fierce.  He was also emphatic about fighting for our sport.  Emboldened me to join his fight against the AAU, (led to my own battles with them).  He definitely had the passion.  

“But, he truly wanted to make a difference and, I don't know how many people aside from those who met or knew him, realized just how much he wanted to change things.  Thanks for sharing these moments.  Keeps us reminded why your brother truly deserved the iconic spot he has taken in the world of athletics--not just running.” 

Yes Linda, your brother Steve Prefontaine was one tough runner on the track but he was just one amazing, caring and thoughtful person as well off the track as you know. He had a big heart.  He died over 42 years ago because of a freak accident but he will never be forgotten for everything he accomplished on and off the track.

73-year-old Bill Mitchell has run 157 marathons – including 23 ultra-marathons – says a daily cup of hot chocolate and wine gums are the secret of his success. (Wine gums are sweets and contain no alcohol). 

Bill Mitchell began running in his early 60s and says that he is now the fittest he has ever been. And it’s no surprise to hear that when you discover the former merchant navy officer from Derbyshire UK, has run the infamous Marathon des Sables – a six-day, 250km endurance test where temperatures often exceed 50C (122F) an astonishing three times.

"A lot of people resign themselves," says Bill "to old age. I always say to people you’re never too old to do anything. The bottom line is anyone can do it as long as they’ve got the desire."

Bill said he found his second ultra-marathon easier than his first – and credits his unusual diet plan. He added, "I drink hot chocolate every day. It is delicious. I also carried a small bag of wine gums with me."  

Mitchell also follows a strict diet – that includes eating oily fish and avoiding meat, cream and butter – to ensure that is fit and healthy.  Mitchell began running in April 2008 and his hobby has now led him and his wife Linda, 68, across the globe.

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

My name is Linda Prefontaine. Steve Prefontaine is my brother. I understand there is a City Council meeting on the 23rd and I’m hoping my letter can be read at that time in support of saving the history of Hayward Field. I moved to Eugene in 1973 to continue my education at the University of Oregon. When I moved to Eugene it was a nice, small college town. The atmosphere was laid back and the pace was pleasant. I thought I would live there until I died. Over the years the town has changed in many ways. Some of the changes were necessary because of the economy’s dependence on wood products that the town needed to move away from. Real growth and expansion of the business sector is very evident today. Another fact about the early days of Eugene is that my brother made Hayward Field come to life. His presence electrified Hayward Field in a way that had never been done before. People from all over the world came to Eugene to watch him compete. Today people from all over the world still come to Eugene to walk on the historic track at Hayward Field. They do because Steve Prefontaine ran on that track. They come because there is a history there that is magical and cannot be replaced or duplicated. When I attend track meets at HF I can still feel his presence. If Hayward Field is demolished along with the east grandstands I don’t think as many people will be drawn to come to Eugene and Hayward Field. Why would they? The history of Hayward Field will be taken away for ever. I probably won’t be attending as many meets there. It won’t be the same. I moved away from Eugene last fall, back to Coos Bay. I no longer like what Eugene has become and do not want to live in the atmosphere and the mindset of the city that exists today and what I fear it will become in the future.

The Sparkasse 3-Lander Marathon is unique in that runners will pass through three different countries. The marathon starts from the beautiful Island of Lindau-habour, then passes through the Austrian towns Lochau, Bregenz, Hard, Höchst, it then crosses the Swiss border at St. Margreten and continues across the Rheindamm back to Hard and finally finishes in Bregenz. 60% of the course takes place along Lake Constance. This Oct 7th race is for sure a bucket list type of event.

For 13,563 days in a row, Evans never missed a run. The 68-year-old, started streaking just 2 weeks after the birth of her daughter in 1980 and continued lacing up for nearly 4 decades, averaging 4 miles a day (and logging at least 1 mile daily). But on July 31, 2017, while out on a 12-mile run in preparation for the Columbus Marathon in October, Linda’s streak—and life—were cut short when a hit-and-run driver under the influence of drugs swerved off the road, hitting and killing her on impact.