Running News Daily

Strong filed at Labor Day Road Race with notable athletes competing like Sara Hall and Leonard Korir

The 2018 Faxon Law New Haven Road Race, host of the USATF 20K National Championship, boasts a number of the country’s top runners. The event takes place on Labor Day, Sept. 3, on the New Haven Green.

Some of America’s top distance runners will compete for a prize purse of over $40,000. New Haven has hosted the USATF 20K National Championship since 1992. Past Faxon Law New Haven 20K champions Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, Meghan Peyton and Aliphine Tuliamuk head the women’s race field.

Georgia’s Cherobon-Bawcom won the 2011 race and finished 12th in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 Olympics. New Mexico’s Tuliamuk, the 2016 20K champion, will also be competing for the top spot. She now holds nine national road race titles. Peyton (Tualatin, OR.) was the 20K winner in 2013.

She has competed at the 2012 and 2016 USA Olympic Team trials and has been a member of four USA National Teams. Another notable athlete competing on Labor Day is California’s Sara Hall. Hall is a 2017 USATF Marathon champ and placed third at last year’s New Haven 20K.

New York’s Allie Kieffer is also expected to finish near the top. She was sixth in last year’s Faxon Law New Haven 20K and was fifth in last year’s New York City Marathon.

Currently, Colorado’s Leonard Korir is the men’s favorite. He won the 2016 race and lost in a lean to Galen Rupp in last year’s race. Korir competed in Rio Olympics in the 10,000. Korir will be challenged by Colorado’s Sammy Kosgei, Connecticut’s Donn Cabral, North Carolina’s Christo Landry and Massachusett’s Tim Ritchie.

(08/25/2018) ⚡AMP

European champion Volha Mazuronak is running the Minsk Half Marathon 2018

Volha Mazuronak will take part in the Minsk Half Marathon 2018. The winner of the gold medal in the women's marathon at the European Athletics Championships 2018 in Berlin will participate in one of the biggest mass sport events in Minsk on 9 September. One of the partners of the federation will allocate additional $5,000 for the athlete if she becomes a three-time champion of the 21.1km half marathon. The Belarusian Athletics Federation invites amateur marathoners, athletes to come to the Minsk Half Marathon 2018 and support Volha Mazuronak. “All the participants of the marathon need support of the audience and we hope that this year more people will come to cheer up the runners,” the federation said. This year the Minsk Half Marathon will be held for the fourth time. (08/24/2018) ⚡AMP

What does a two time Boston Marathon winner and the Boston Marathon Race Director have in common? They are both doing the Run The World Challenge again

Geoff Smith won the Boston Marathon twice.  He was leading the 1983 New York City Marathon at 26 miles until Rod Dixon caught him and Geoff finished just seconds behind. After taking a break from running due to some injuries, Geoff has now run every day recently passing 700.  While doing the first Run The World Challenge he nearly doubled his regular mileage. That team logged in 24,901 miles in 36 days 23 Hours 13 Minutes.  That’s enough miles to circle the globe.  “We are putting together our second team now and we hope to finish in 30 days,” Bob Anderson Run The World team Caption says.  Miles on the first team were run in 30 countries.  Youngest on the team was age 11 and the oldest was 82.  Team members logged in as many as 798 miles to as few as 3.  “I increased my average weekly miles from 20 to 35,” says 70-year-old Bob Anderson.  “The Run The World Challenge just gives more purpose to run a few more miles everyday,” he says.   There are a few more spots available.  You can continue with your regular routine and just take another minute or so to log in your miles on your My Best Runs account.    “I am looking forward to doing this challenge again,” says Geoff Smith.  Runners of all ages and abilities and throughout the world have already signed up.  How about you?  Use this link to sign up: https://mybestruns.com/goal.php  Join Geoff, Dave, Bob, Lize, Aaron, Owen, Lisa, Becca... (08/24/2018) ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

Ultrarunner cross-Canada speed record quest was cut short due to a back injury

It was a bittersweet ending for ultrarunner Dave Proctor and the Outrun Rare team, who officially ended their cross-Canada trip in Halifax.  Proctor, who started running in Victoria on June 27, was on a quest for the cross-Canada speed record while also raising awareness for rare diseases, but made it just past Winnipeg before pain from a back injury sustained before the trip forced him to stop running on July 28. He had covered more than 2,400K. Dr. Christine Chambers said, “I’ve seen rare disease patients and families make new connections with each other and with our organization… But even more, Dave has helped people who haven’t been impacted with rare disease, the ‘typical Canadians,’ realize the barriers faced by the one in 12 directly impacted and their families. He’s galvanized their compassion for those of us that have fallen through the cracks in Canada’s health care system. Like Dave Proctor, I think this is just the beginning.” Proctor decided not to dip his trademark Smithbilt cowboy hat in the Atlantic as originally planned, since, as he says, he expected to end the trip in Newfoundland, not Halifax. Neurological damage resulting from his untreated herniated disk forced the decision to wrap up the trip a week early and fly back to Calgary, where he will begin treatment. Proctor says it remains to be seen whether he’ll require surgery. “We are nowhere close to being done,” says Proctor of the effort to raise awareness and push policymakers for a national rare disease strategy. He also didn’t rule out the prospect of another attempt at the cross-Canada run. Proctor holds the 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour Canadian records for continuous running. The cross-Canada speed record is held by Al Howie, who ran across Canada in 72 days in 1991. (08/24/2018) ⚡AMP

British duo Luke Traynor and Emelia Gorecka set for Prague 10k

British duo feature among a top international field in one of the fastest 10k road races in the world. Luke Traynor and Emelia Gorecka have been named in the elite fields for the Birell Prague Grand Prix on Saturday, September 8. The British pair feature among a strong international field set to race in the 10k race on the streets of the Czech capital. In last year’s race, Joyciline Jepkosgei memorably ran 29:43 to break the women’s world record. Traynor has impressed throughout 2018, including a 10k personal best performance of 28:32 in June, a time that ranks him as the third fastest Scot of all time over the distance. The 24 year-old is no stranger in the Czech Republic and earlier this year won the Mattoni ÄŒeské BudÄ›jovice Half Marathon. (08/24/2018) ⚡AMP

NAZ Elite's Scott Fauble is scheduled to run the TCS New York Marathon

Scott Fauble ran the Falmouth Road Race on Sunday as part of his preparation for the upcoming fall marathon season, and he came away from the Massachusetts 7-miler with a second-place finish in 32:23. His finish reflects the kind of year NAZ Elite is putting in the books, as the team rides a wave of momentum that picked up the pace with Aliphine Tuliamuk claiming the USATF 25K and half-marathon titles in the month of May. After Tuliamuk earned her ninth and 10th national championships, Stephanie Bruce, at the age of 34, won her first-ever national title in July's USATF 10K Championships. While Bruce grabbed the gold, Tuliamuk finished with silver in the 10K. Now, Fauble, Tuliamuk, Bruce and teammate Scott Smith, who claimed sixth place in the Boston Marathon, will look to keep the team's foot on the pedal after being selected to run in the upcoming TCS New York City Marathon. It's the most runners NAZ Elite has entered in the marathon in the club's history. "This group, they are seemingly all in the prime of their careers," said NAZ Elite head coach Ben Rosario. "They are all racing really well at the highest level they’ve raced at, and that’s what you want going into New York because you have to be 100 percent on your game if you want to compete up front.” (08/24/2018) ⚡AMP

Ethiopian Fikadu Kebede returns to the Mexican capital to defend his title at the Mexico City International Marathon

Fikadu Kebede returns to the Mexican capital to defend his title Sunday at the 36th Telcel Mexico City International Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label road race, which will also honour the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Olympic Games. Last year, Kebede beat Bahrain’s Isaac Korir in the last kilometre to become the second Ethiopian man in five years to win the largest 42.195km race in Latin America. The winner of the 2017 Rabat Marathon with a lifetime best of 2:09:37, will enter his third marathon of the season after running 2:19:06 in Hong Kong in January and 2:14:37 for seventh in Lanzhou, China, in June. Apart from the city’s 2240m high altitude, the Ethiopian will also face five men with personal bests faster than his, including Kenya’s Matthew Kisorio (2:06:33), Felix Kipchirchir Kiprotich (2:06:54), Edwin Kipngetich Koech (2:07:13) and Titus Ekiru (2:07:43). The last three ran their fastest marathon times in 2017. The Ethiopian contingent looks more solid in the women’s race, but Kebede will also rely on his countryman Daniel Aschenik Derese, winner in Mexico’s capital in 2015. (08/24/2018) ⚡AMP

Ethiopian Senbere Teferi looking to reach the podium at the Tilburg 10k race

23-year-old Ethiopian Senbere Teferi made her debut 10K on the road in Tilburg last year clocking 30:38, the second best time ever in Tilburg.  She was also once on the podium at the World Cup cross and the World Cup track athletics 5000 meters. In January she made her debut at the marathon with 2:24 in Dubai. Recently she was second at the 10K in Bangelore, India. Her goal for Tilburg is winning and clocking a time under 31.00. In the race in Bangelore, Teferi was defeated by her Kenyan peers Agnes Tirop. Tirop was world cross country champion in 2015, then in China. In 2017 she was second at the Tilburg Ladies Run in 31.00. The third candidate for the podium was also in Tilburg earlier. 24-year-old Kenyan Alice Aprot was recently second at the Kenyan championships at 10,000 meters and last year in Kampala second at the WC cross. In 2016 she was a winner in Tilburg.   As usual, young talented African and European athletes come to Tilburg to clock a good time on the 10K course.  In Tiburg they also do the 10 miler. (08/23/2018) ⚡AMP

2018 Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half the star-studded men’s field is led by Feyisa Lilesa

The star-studded men’s field is led by Feyisa Lilesa, the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Marathon silver medalist. The Ethiopian distance runner has recorded a personal best of 2:04:52 ranking him in the top-ten fastest marathoners ever. Lilesa also boasts a personal best in the half marathon breaking the one-hour barrier at 59:22 and last year he won the New York City Half Marathon. “I’m looking forward to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon,” said Lilesa. “The race has a great history. World records have been set there, and it has had some fantastic champions. I am aiming to add my name to that list.” Lilesa will face some tough competition with four-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, and 2015 World Marathon Champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, toeing the start line beside him. Somalian-born Abdirahman represented the United States at the Olympics in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 and placed 3rd in the New York City Marathon in 2016. He has personal bests of 2:08:56 in the marathon and 1:01:07 in the half marathon. Ghebreslassie hails from Eritrea and made a name for himself winning the 2015 World Marathon Championship. In 2016, he became the youngest male to ever win the New York City Marathon at 20-years old. His personal bests are 2:07:46 for the marathon and 1:00:09 in the half marathon. “It’s great to welcome so many fantastic athletes to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon,” said Josh Furlow, Managing Director of North America for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series®. “As the fall marathon season begins, athletes will be using this race as a measure of how months of training have been going. Having Olympic medalists and World Champions line up against World Marathon Major winners shows the regard with which this race is held. We’re looking forward to another fantastic edition next month.” (08/23/2018) ⚡AMP

Five-time U.S. Olympian Bernard Lagat will Make his Marathon Debut in New York City

Five-time U.S. Olympian Bernard Lagat will make his long-awaited marathon debut at this year’s New York City Marathon. At 43 years old, Lagat is remarkably still one of the top U.S. distance runners. He most recently represented the United States at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in March and claimed the U.S. 10K title in July. If he continues racing at the elite level, there may be a chance for Lagat to try and make a sixth U.S. Olympic team in 2020. For now, he’s solely focused on his 26.2-mile debut and possibly making a run at Meb Keflezighi’s U.S. Masters record of 2:12:20. The women’s field for the New York City Marathon is absolutely loaded with the defending champion Shalane Flanagan, Boston Marathon champion Des Linden, London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot and three-time New York champion Mary Keitany. The men’s field already includes last year’s champion 25-year-old Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya. (08/23/2018) ⚡AMP

Global Run Challenge Profile: When your legs can't run anymore, run with your heart says Victor Reynoso

RUN THE WORLD CHALLENGE: 41-year-old Victor Reynoso loves to run and to run races.  He logged 157 miles in the first challenge and is anxious to get started again and do more.  

He is a single dad with a 8-year-old daughter.  "She is very smart and is my world, motivation and my little teacher," Victor says.  Victor started running in 2000.  He was invited to run with a group at the company and he got hooked right away.  

He says, "Running makes me happy."  He is an apprentice electrician, owns his own house and, "I love to spend my time off with my daughter and make new friends and share how I happy I am." 

His range of distances starts with the 5k and goes up to 50k.  His PR for 5k is 17:49, Half is 1:24, Full 3:10:57 and 50k is 4:11:08.  

On July 28th he finished second overall and first master at the Urban ICT 50K posting his PR.  That is 8:05/mile pace. What is his secret? "When your legs can't run anymore, run with your heart."  Run The World Challenge 2 starts August 29. 

(08/22/2018) ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

Double World Record Attempt at Copenhagen Half Marathon

It is said that Copenhagen is the place to run, if you want to set a new world record in the half marathon. When the race takes place on the September 16 the chase for a new world record is set for both men and women ”I am coming to Copenhagen to set a new world record," says Erick Kiptanui. The 28-year old Kenyan is confirmed for the Copenhagen Half Marathon.  His statement could prove to be correct, as earlier this year he ran the distance in just 58.42, at the Berlin Half Marathon. His time was only 19 seconds from the current world record, and two seconds from the fastest time ever run in seven years. This time was set at Copenhagen Half Marathon last year, where Abraham Cheroben clocked 58:40. Cheroben will also be present and he too will be going after the world record. ”In my opinion the Copenhagen Half Marathon is the place to run, if you want to run fast. I had an amazing race last year and I will be back again this year to reclaim the title,” Cheroben says.  The women's race will include the world champion Netsanet Gudate, who also holds the the world record in the women's half marathon and even though she is a good candidate for a gold medal, she will have to battle Joan Melly, who came in second place last year. Joan Melly expects to improve her placement and says that she will come to Copenhagen and set a new world record.  Melly or any other female runner will have to run better than 64:51 to set a new record in a mixed division.  A world record is never guaranteed,everything has to come together, but with a route like the one in the Copenhagen Half Marathon and world class runners, who want to set a new world record, the premises are as good as they get. (08/22/2018) ⚡AMP

European silver 10000m winner Susan Krumins is running the Dam tot Damloop race

European silver winner Susan Krumins is going to run the Dam tot Damloop.  She will run the 10 Mile race from Amsterdam to Zaandam on September 23.  The 32-year-old runner is currently in top shape. Last week she won in Berlin the silver medal in the 10000m  at the European athletic championships, just behind the Kenyan Lonah Chemtai Saltpeter. At the World Cup in London last year, Krumins was surprisingly fifth in the 10,000 meters. And in 2017 she picked up her first Dutch title during the Groet from Schoorl Run. A year earlier she already won the Zevenheuvelenloop.  (08/22/2018) ⚡AMP

Molly Huddle is going to run the New York City Marathon again

Elmira native Molly Huddle is part of a world-class elite women's field scheduled to compete in the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon. The list of women's runners also includes three-time race champion Mary Keitany, defending champion Shalane Flanagan, 2018 London Marathon winner Vivian Cheruiyot and 2018 Boston Marathon winner Des Linden. The race is scheduled for Nov. 4. Huddle and several other runners were announced Tuesday. Flanagan and Linden had been previously announced as competitors. This will be the third career marathon for Huddle, who finished third in her marathon debut at the NYC Marathon in 2016, posting a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes, 13 seconds. "Running a marathon is always a special experience, but I’m really excited to line up with such a great group of American women in New York this year," Huddle said Tuesday in a press release from race organizer New York Road Runners. (08/22/2018) ⚡AMP

South Africa’s ultra star Gerda Steyn is going to run the New York Marathon

Two Oceans champ Gerda Steyn to run New York Marathon. “So honored to be invited to the Greatest marathon on the earth!” Steyn tweeted on Tuesday. Dubbed the smiling assassin after her breakthrough Two Oceans ultra marathon victory in April to hoist her flag in the South African ultra-running landscape, the 28-year-old continues to improve in her fledgling career. In her first Comrades in 2015, the novice finished an impressive 56th in eight hours 19 minutes and eight seconds. A year later, Steyn was just outside the top-10 taking 14th in 7:08:23. Then in 2017, her phenomenal rise in the race continued with a fourth-place finish in 6:45:45. This year Steyn finished second in 6:15:34, beaten to first place by the phenomenal run of Ann Ashworth who took victory in 6:10:04. Steyn has a 42.2km personal best 2:37:22, and could well improve on that time at the New York Marathon. (08/22/2018) ⚡AMP

Global Run Challenge Profile: Asya Cabral says she is a better person becasue of her running

RUN THE WORLD CHALLENGE:  Asya Cabral discovered running in junior high when she joined the Track & Field team.  "I was a sprinter and ran the 100 and 200 meter dash, 4x100 meter relay, and did the long jump. Although much different from the endurance running I do now, I enjoyed training and competition," says 45-year-old Asya.  She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and has been running for 13 years.  The former sprinter has since run eight marathons and 18 half marathons.  One of her running highlights was qualifying for the 2017 Boston Marathon at the Chicago Marathon.  "Chicago was my fourth marathon, but first one I trained to Boston Qualify. I needed a 3:45:00 and ran a 3:33:41," she says.  "When I ran my first marathon in 2014, I never envisioned being able to Boston Qualify.  That 3:34 seemed so unreachable at the time," Asya continued. Running holds a special place in her heart and is a priority. "I'm a better person because of my running. It teaches me life lessons. Running is my quiet time with God where I gain wisdom and strength for my day. I use those lessons to motivate, encourage and inspire others to pursue their dreams and help them believe in what seems impossible."  Her secret to success? "is to stay humble and realize that my strength, my health, any accomplishment, my ability to work hard, and each breath I take is a gift from God. I don't take these things for granted because they can be taken away at any time," she says. Asya was on the first Run the World team, she was 7th female and logged in 208.27 miles within the 36 days 23 hours and 13 minutes it took the team of 175 to log 24,901 miles.  "I think the Run the World Challenge is fun, motivational and inspiring. Participating in the last challenge showed me just how much it has encouraged people to run more miles than they have been. It's also a nice way to learn about and communicate with runners all over the world," Asya says.  The next Run The World Challenge starts August 29. (08/21/2018) ⚡AMP
by Bob Anderson

Three-time champion Mary Keitany of Kenya wants to reclaim her crown this year at the TCS New York City Marathon

Mary Keitany and Virgin Money London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot are joining previously announced defending champion Shalane Flanagan and Boston Marathon champion Des Linden in star-studded field at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4.  “With Mary, Vivian, Shalane, Des, Tatyana, and Manuela, this year’s TCS New York City Marathon is stacked with some of the most competitive women’s professional athlete fields ever to compete in New York,” said Peter Ciaccia, president of events for NYRR and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon. “This is the best group of American women marathoners since the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, and along with Mary and Vivian, the competition will be fierce.” (08/21/2018) ⚡AMP

Two-time winner Rodgers Kwemoi from Kenya wants to win the Tilburg 10 Miler for the third tme

Rodgers Kwemoi returns to Tilburg and wants to be the first athlete to win this important race for the third time. He also thinks that if the circumstances are right, a time of a sub 45 minutes is possible. The former world champion 10,000 meters in the junior (2016) was recently the 10,000 meters winner in the Japanese Kobe. Last year he came in Tilburg clocking 45.03, in 2017 the world's best year at this distance.  The best time ever in Tilburg is 44.24 which is the world record set by  the legendary Haile Gebrselassie in 2005.   At the start there are several young emerging athletes such as Peter Kiprotich and Dominic Kiptarus (both from Kenya) who finished just above the hour at the CPC half marathon in the spring. Furthermore the talented Ugandan Abel Chebet. In addition to some good Belgian athletes, the Dutch Khalid Choukoud, Michel Butter, cross champion Edwin de Vries and America's Galen Rupp.  This will be Galen's last race before defending his title at the Chicago Marathon in October.   (08/21/2018) ⚡AMP

Lin Dinxiang overcame a drinking problem replacing it with running and exercising

Lin Dinxiang frequently blacked out, his hands shook and he suffered from diarrhoea and memory loss. Those were red flags from three years ago for Lin Dinxiang. Heavy drinking was almost a nightly activity for him. Since the onset of his health problems, the marketing manager has taken to exercising as a distraction from booze, despite having injured menisci in both knees during national service. The 35-year-old says, "I found a reason not to drink and to lead a healthier lifestyle. For me, the chemical release from running has become something I look forward to instead." Although he is not following a teetotal lifestyle, he no longer suffers from those debilitating symptoms. Today, Lin has completed three full marathons - including one in Chiang Mai. He also does muay thai and salsa dancing on top of his four to five weekly running sessions. His next high? Tackling the 21km half marathon at the Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon on Aug 26. (08/21/2018) ⚡AMP

Olympic and World champion Vivian Cheruiyot will return to the Great North Run looking for another victory

The four-time Olympic and five-time World Championship medallist won the world’s biggest half marathon on her debut over the distance in 2016, and finished second to winner Mary Keitany last year. She said: “I am looking forward to returning to England for the Simplyhealth Great North Run. “It was a magnificent race when I won here for the first time in 2016 and I want to be on top of that podium again next month.” (08/20/2018) ⚡AMP

Mo Farah aiming for high five win at Simplyhealth Great North Run

Mo Farah will look to become the first runner ever to win a fifth consecutive Simplyhealth Great North Run next month. The four-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time world track champion, who has competed in every Simplyhealth Great North Run staged since 2013, will defend his title over the world-famous half marathon between Newcastle and South Shields on Sunday, September 9. He finished second on his debut outing but has won on every occasion since and last year’s fourth win equalled Benson Masya’s record, with the Kenyan winning over the 13.1mile distance in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996. While Paralympic great Tanni Grey-Thompson has won the wheelchair event five times in a row, no runner has ever matched that feat. “I can’t wait to come back to Newcastle and race again,” said Farah, who is preparing to run the Chicago marathon in October. “It’s something I look forward to every year, the crowds are always unbelievable and it’s a good course for racing. “To be the best in the world you have to beat the best and it’s going to be no different here. I’m looking forward to the challenge.” (08/20/2018) ⚡AMP

Krar returned to Leadville 100 for his second win with over a hour ahead of second place

The legendary Rob Krar of Flagstaff, Arizona (originally from Hamilton, Ont.), has won yesterday’s Leadville 100, the 100-mile ultra in the Colorado Rockies. His time was 15:51:57. Krar is only the second person to have run the course in under 16 hours. Ryan Kaiser of Bend, Oregon was second, in 17:37:23, and Seth Kelly of Golden, Colorado was third, in 18:15:29. Started in 1983, the Leadville 100 is a 161K trail race through the Colorado Rockies, hitting 3840-metre peaks, earning it the nickname “the race across the sky.” In 2014, Krar ran Western States, Leadville and Run Rabbit Run in the span of just 11 weeks. He won all three. Krar came within 30 minutes of setting the course record with his 2014 win, finishing in 16:09:32. (08/20/2018) ⚡AMP

Megan Kimmel crosses the finish line at the Pikes Peak Marathon to set a new women´s record

Megan Kimmel had not run the Pikes Peak Marathon in nearly 10 years, but the 38-year-old runner out of Ridgway spent much of Sunday’s descent contemplating whether or not to go for a record-breaking time. “I took note of what my time was up top, and I was like ‘I think it’s still doable,’” Kimmel recalled thinking. “At Barr Camp, I was kinda like ‘Ah, I don’t have it.’” While she didn’t think she’d be breaking Lynn Bjorklund’s record set in 1981, Kimmel kept a solid pace to keep distance between her and the competition. Her mindset changed once more, however. “It wasn’t until I hit the pavement on Ruxton (Avenue) that someone was like, ‘You can do it. There’s time,’ ” Kimmel said. “That’s when I kicked it.” Her only remaining issue was figuring out the exact time she needed. Kimmel said she knew the record was just a little over 4 hours, 15 minutes but didn’t know how many seconds she had to work with. “Once you get closer to the finish line here, people really keep you going for sure,” Kimmel said. “But I have to say, I didn’t notice it that much because I was so focused on the time and the finish that I kinda had tunnel vision going on.” The focus paid off as Kimmel stormed through the tape in 4:15:04, good for a new record and the 14th-best overall time. Kimmel chalked up her performance to living at altitude and near-ideal conditions a day after the Ascent was shortened due to expected weather. She was able to complete the marathon in a sleeveless racing top without slowing to add or remove layers. (08/20/2018) ⚡AMP

Irish marathon champion Gary O’Hanlon wins Longford Marathon

The Irish marathon champion storms to victory in Longford, Clonliffe Harriers and St Abban’s win national league titles, while masters athletes impress in Tullamore. National marathon champion Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers was the runaway winner at the Longford Marathon on Sunday (August 19). O’Hanlon’s time of 2:21:00 saw him finish with over 21 minutes to spare over Raheny Shamrock’s Freddy Sittuk who finished in 2:42:52. In third place was was Peter Mooney in 2:49:27. First woman in 2:58:40 was Adrianna Melia who was also 10th overall. Paddy O’Toole won the half marathon in 1:14:07 with Adele Walsh of St Senan’s first woman in 1:24:54.  (08/20/2018) ⚡AMP

Canada’s Ben Flanagan pulls off the win in a crazy sprint to the finish at the New Balance Falmouth Road Race

It was a crazy sprint to the finish as 23-year-old Ben Flanagan (photo) wins the New Balance Falmouth Road Race this morning.  Scott Fauble (US) was second clocking 32:23, Leonard Korir was next in 32:28.  Stephen Sambu who keeps coming back to defend his men’s title in the 7.1 mile race finished fourth with 32:32.  The lead pack passed 10k at 28:50.  But Ben’s speed gave him the win.  On June 7th the University of Michigan senior won the 10000m at the NCAA Championships clocking 28:34 taking 39 seconds off his PR.  His last 400 meters there being 56.9 seconds.  Last year’s winner Stephen Sambu, from Kenyan who last year became the first man to win Falmouth four times, always sends Snapchat pictures of himself with the ocean backdrop to friends. He also spends some downtime on the beach. But above all, he said the camaraderie with the community, especially host families, keeps him giddy to return each year. “I feel like I’m home,” Sambu said during Friday morning’s media event. “They take you in like they’re your own kids. “I’ll be coming back even if I lose.” When asked about going for five straight wins and another $10,000 first prize, Sambu said he’s feeling some pressure, knowing that it won’t be easy. “Everybody is expecting me to win,” said Sambu.  “I’m ready, I’m feeling good. I don’t give up. I just fight until the end. I can lose, but I don’t lose easily.”  He was close but not close enough this year.  We are sure he will be back.  He just loves it too much!  (08/19/2018) ⚡AMP

Dave Mackey decided to have his Leg amputated in 2016 and today still runs Ultras

In 2016, Dave Mackey decided to have his own leg amputated so he could continue a remarkable ultrarunning career. On May 23, 2015, Dave Mackey went for one of his regular runs, 13 miles up three mountains that skirt Boulder, Colorado: South Boulder Peak, Bear Peak, and Green Mountain. The two-time Ultrarunner of the Year was training for the Western States Endurance Race in California, one of the premier 100-mile races in the country. His ultrarunning resume also includes several course records, and he once set the fastest known time of Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim, a run from one rim of the Grand Canyon to the other, and back, that covers 41 miles and more than 10,000 feet of elevation gain. The run is a bucket list item for many endurance athletes. Around 12 hours is considered an impressive accomplishment — Mackey did it in under seven. On that May run high up on Bear Peak, Mackey stepped on a boulder that dislodged under his foot. He fell from the ridge and the boulder pinned his left leg. Nearby hikers heard Mackey’s calls for help and were able to get the 300-pound boulder off. And though he suffered compound fractures in his left tibia and fibula, it appeared that his leg could be saved. But for the following year and a half, Mackey was waylaid due to constant pain and endless surgeries. Anxious to get back to competing, one of the world’s best runners decided in October 2016 that he would be better off having his leg amputated from the knee down. Mackey, at 48 years old, has come back strong. Since June 15, 2018, he has been competing in the Leadman — a five-event competition that includes a trail marathon, a 100-mile mountain bike ride, a 50-mile trail run or mountain bike ride, a 10-kilometer trail run, and a 100-mile trail run, all on extreme terrain and elevation that exceeds 12,000 feet. On August 18, he is running the Leadville Trail 100 Run.  (08/18/2018) ⚡AMP

Dina Pestonji overcame two strokes and ran half-marathon 10 months later

A Toronto woman has written a book about her struggles with an eating disorder, recovering from a car crash and two strokes, hoping her challenges will inspire other women. Despite having plenty of love and affection from her family, Dina Pestonji, now 35, still felt different from other girls with "pale skin and blue eyes," according to her book, Surviving Myself. The book explores her ensuing decade-long battle with anorexia, a near-fatal car crash and a pair of strokes that nearly crippled her. When asked how she went from learning the alphabet and how to walk again to running a half marathon merely 10 months later, Pestonji is humble. "I needed to be myself again and show myself I could do it," she said. "It was just me proving to myself I'm the same person.She credits having a loving family and friends and a team of physical therapists who pushed her. "I was lucky to have a supportive team. I've never thought anything I've ever done is really remarkable," she said. "I was given a circumstance and my body and mind worked together. I've learned to love myself and be kind to myself which I never was before. (08/18/2018) ⚡AMP

Michael Wardian runs fastest hundred miler ever in the state of Maine

Michael Wardian won the 2018 Great Cranberry 100 Mile today clocking 15:29:59.  An absolutely incredible run by Michael who just ran the fastest hundred miler ever recorded in the state of Maine.  Michael posted this on FB.  “Huge thank you to Gary Allen and the entire team at Crow athletics for such an incredible race.  My sister, Mariele helped me so much from crewing, recording my splits, and even running a few laps.  She kept me focused and determined. Also, I would like to give a heartfelt shoutout to all the other athletes, crews, volunteers and residents for cheering for me and each other 50 plus times. It was a battle but we did it.” (08/18/2018) ⚡AMP

Jim Miller uses a version of fartlek training to keep Running at 70

Say the world “fartlek” in a conversation and you’ll know if someone’s a serious runner, Jim Miller says. Non-runners will react with a giggle.  Fartlek is the Swedish word for “speed play.”  It is a training technique that emphasizes endurance at a faster pace. In the 1980s, when Jim Miller was an active member of the New York Road Runners, Fartlek training was the preferred workout for distance runners. He used it to train for five marathons, running a personal best of 2 hours, 58 minutes and 28 seconds in 1984. A variation of today’s popular high-intensity workouts, the fartlek mixes periods of fast and slow running with no rest in between. A 10-mile training run might alternate between 2 miles at a moderate pace, then a ½ mile at race pace. “I used to use the first mile of my run as my warm-up,” he says. “But as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized my body, particularly my back, needs some stretching and strengthening before I get going.” His 15-minute warm-up includes a series of planks, side planks, lower-back stretches and 70 push-ups—one for each year. The running portion of the Fartlek workout is a modified version of his marathon workout. It includes a 1-mile jog from his house to a community walking path, where he walks a mile before jogging another mile back home. “That walk is really therapeutic,” he says. “It reinvigorates me for my last mile.” He does the Fartlek routine a minimum of five days a week. “There will come a day when my Fartlek intervals will flip to 2 miles of walking and 1 mile of jogging, or even shorter increments, but that is the beauty of the workout,” he says. “It’s adaptable.” (08/18/2018) ⚡AMP

Galen Rupp is going to be racing the Tilburg Ten Miles before the Chicago Marathon

The CZ Tilburg Ten Miles is the the fastest 10 mile race in the world. Galen Rupp will be competing in the Sept 2 race.  Rupp has typically raced a road race about a month before a marathon. In this case, the Tilburg Ten Miles is just over a month before he will take to the streets of Chicago to defend his 2017 win. So far this year, Rupp has competed in four races. He ran an indoor 5,000 meters at Washington in January. He then won the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon, running 59:47, in March. Rupp began the 2018 Boston Marathon, hoping to improve on his runner-up finish from 2017. However, the cold and wet weather caused him breathing problems and forced him to drop out in the middle of the race. Now Galen will be running the Tiburg Ten Miles where Haile Gebrselassie ran the world record there in 2005, in the city in the south of The Netherlands clocking 44:24. Other previous winners include: Bernard Koech and returning defending champion Rodgers Kwemoi.  Kenya´s Rodgers Kwemoi won in 2016 and 2017 and will be running again this year.  His 2017 winning time was 45:03.  There has been four winning times under 46 minutes since 1988. (08/17/2018) ⚡AMP

Milind Soman ran 72K in Delhi to celebrate India’s 72nd Independence Day

While everyone celebrated Independence Day in different ways, actor, model and fitness enthusiast Milind Soman rang in the day doing what he loves the most — running. He ran 72k in Delhi, to celebrate India’s 72nd Independence Day. “I thought, why not celebrate it in a way that would make people fitter? To me, running is the best way to do that,” says Milind. He took off at 6.30 am from Lodhi Gardens and ended the run at India Gate at 4.30 pm. The idea for this run occurred to him very recently. He says, “I thought of it just two days ago, but the turnout has been great. It’s nice to see people from 44-year-olds to youngsters too, who joined the run with me. I would like to urge people to take health and fitness seriously. Running 72k is not just for Independence Day, but also to spread the message of exercising our freedom to live in a healthy way by making a choice to spend 30 to 40 minutes daily on ourselves. Age should not be a limiting factor, anyone can and must adopt fitness in their way of life.”  (08/17/2018) ⚡AMP

Former Northern Arizona runner Futsum Zienasellassie ready for Falmouth Road Race

When Futsum Zienasellassie spoke with his head coach about taking time to travel and see his family in in Eritrea, East Africa, the runner’s place of birth, it didn’t take long to get an answer. “He asked me if I was OK with him going there, and of course I was,” said NAZ Elite head coach Ben Rosario. “I think it’s important to see your family, but when you go to Eritrea, you can’t just shoot over there for a weekend, you have to stay for a while to make it worth it. And it’s a great place to train; it’s at high elevation, there are dirt roads and cool places to run. We thought that since he’s over there for two months, we might as well take advantage of the fitness, so he’s basically going from Eritrea to Falmouth.” Zienasellassie will be joined by teammates Scott Fauble and Kellyn Taylor as the trio competes in the Falmouth Road Race, a 7-miler on Cape Cod in Massachusetts set to take place Sunday. Despite being limited in how much he could communicate with Zienasellassie during the stay in Eritrea, Rosario thinks the trip will have a positive effect for the runner. Rosario said visiting home and reuniting with family was something Zienasellassie needed, and that he expects the young runner to return to the United States rejuvenated. “Typically when athletes are in a great mood, it leads to something good, so I expect that he does well on Sunday – as long as he can handle the travel OK,” the head coach said. Meanwhile, Fauble will use the race, which has been won by Stephen Sambu the last four years, as a chance to work on his training for a fall marathon.  (08/17/2018) ⚡AMP

Ultra-marathon runner, Troy Dzioba, is looking for triple crown title

It’s hard to imagine running a 100-mile endurance race throughout rocky, steep terrain in blistering heat, but for Spruce Grove’s Troy Dzioba, it’s just another day at the office. Dzioba, who has been running ultra-marathon races throughout Canada and the United States for years, is about to tackle his newest challenge, the Black Spur Ultra. Black Spur Ultra is a three-day, Kimberley, B.C.-based ultra-marathon that sees runners travel up to 108-kilometres in just 24 hours. All of this is done while reaching heights of 4,460 feet above sea level. For Dzioba, the decision to take part in the Aug. 25 race is part of his strive to earn himself a triple crown title — an honour reserved for athletes who complete the Sinister 7 ultra-marathon, the Canadian Death Race ultra-marathon and the Black Spur ultra-marathon. Thus far, Dzioba has completed both the Sinister 7 and the Canadian Death Race. 2018 marks the second time he’s completed the Sinister 7 and the fourth time he’s completed the Canadian Death Race. “In the Sinister 7, I placed second in the triple category and 11 overall in the men’s category,” Dzioba said, while taking some time off in Grande Cache. “In the Canadian Death Race, I placed second in the triple category again and was 18th overall in the men’s category.” Dzioba said he’s feeling positive about the way this season of endurance racing has been going, adding that he’s focusing on maintaining his fitness and not overdoing it in preparation of Black Spur — a course he’s never run before. (08/17/2018) ⚡AMP

Run The World Global Run Challenge 1 July 4 Start Special Awards Announced

The Run The World Global Run Challenge 1 presented by My Best Runs started July 4, 2018.  The goal was to run and log 24,901 Miles in the shortest posible time.  "The mission was to celebrate running, motivate our team, inspire others and complete the challenge," says team caption Bob Anderson. 

The team of 175 active runners finished in 36 Days 23 Hours and 13 Minutes on Thursday night August 9th at 11:13pm (PDT).  "It was an amazing event and I can not wait until the next one starting August 29," says Geoff Smith (team member and two time Boston Marathon winner). 

"Everyone on our team was a winner and deserve an award," says Bob Anderson.  "Here are our special awards just announced today.  Congrats to these winners and our entire team." 

Outstanding achievement - Frank Bozanich age 74 logged 475 miles. 

Most Inspiring - Aaron L. Salvador from the little country of Palau logged 296.4 miles and posted a comment and photo everyday. Shared with Geoff Smith who also posted a comment and photo everyday logged 240.5 miles (which is almost double what he was doing prior to the Challenge)  

Most Motivating - Grace Padilla (US) logged 327.11 miles posted a comment and creative photo everyday. Grace who is 47 placed 11th overall and was first female.  

Best Performance - Willie Korir from Kenya not only did he log the most miles (797.37) he also ran one of his workouts at 4:37/mile pace for 9.13 miles.  

Five Most Inspiring stories - based on their story posted on My Best Runs: (this award goes to the five who received the most views on My Best Runs) Michael Wardian (1,677 views), Benn Griffin (1,461 views), Swetha Amit (1,431 views), Roy Pirrung (1,241 views) and Kiranpal Singh Dhody (1,088 views)  

Most Inspiring Photo - Grace Padilla´s July 5th photo training on the track in Mammoth Lakes, California (featured photo).  

Best Youngest performance - Owen Wall age 11 who logged 34.2 miles including running 8.1 miles in one day at 9:59 pace during his longest ever run. Shared with Elliot Daniels age 14 who ran and logged 184.45 miles and ran 5:47/mile pace for six miles in the Wharf to Wharf race in Santa Cruz, California.  

Best Oldest performance - Libby James age 82 who logged 81.81 miles (rounds up to 82). Shared with 74-year-old Frank Bozanich who ran and logged in 475 miles. 

Top Fifteen Spirit awards (based on coment and photo posted regularly that appeared on the Run The World Feed): Aaron L Salvador, Grace Padilla, Shawn Whalen, Michael Anderson, Brent Weigner, Danilo Purlia, Larry Allen, Rosaura Tennant, Asya Cabral, Kati Toivanen, Lize Dumon, Roger Wright, Abbey Cannon, Geoffrey Smith, and Pulkit Singh.  

Best Single Run - Michael Wardian when we ran 100.5 miles in 30 hours 23 minutes to place 11th on July 21 at Hardrock 100.  

Notable Mentions - Dave Mcgillivray logged 164.52 miles (Boston Marathon Director), Becca Pizzi logged 226.17 miles (Holds the record for running seven Marathons. Seven days on seven Continents), Liz Dumon had never run 150 Miles in 30 days before this challenge, Boaz Kipqego from Kenya logged 588.52 miles and placed second, JR Mintz (age 52) logged the most miles by an American with 480.86 miles, Paul Shimon (age 71) logged 390.71 miles placed 6th overall and was third American, Harpal Singh Gill was first runner from India logging 331.66 miles placing 10th overall, Sam Tada was first runner from Japan logging 237.30 miles placing 29th overall. Malin Andersson co-owner of World´s Marathons logged in 77.67 miles and Will Adams who logged 51.58 miles mostly all plogging (picking up trash while running).  

Our next Run The World Global Run Challenge starts August 29.  There is a $25 entry fee to help cover expenses unless you can not afford it and then it will be waived.  

(08/16/2018) ⚡AMP

The Eugene Marathon is changing it´s course for 2019

The Eugene Marathon is changing course for 2019, with a new route, a new finish line and a new stadium experience. Registration opened Wednesday for the 13th annual race scheduled for Sunday, April 28, 2019 with race organizers unveiling necessary changes to its long-established course because of the renovation of Hayward Field, which had been the location of the start and finish line. Now the marathon and half-marathon will start just outside Autzen Stadium on Leo Harris Parkway, and end inside the stadium with the finish at the 50-yard line. “Once Hayward was gone, our dream course was Autzen,” race director Richard Maher said. “We didn’t want it anywhere else.” Of course, moving the start and finish to the other side of the Willamette River forced some reshaping of the 26.2-mile marathon course and the 13.1-mile half-marathon course. The race will now go from Autzen to the Ferry Street Bridge, crossing in the northbound lanes into downtown where it will weave from Seventh Avenue to Eighth Avenue before heading south on Willamette Street to 13th Avenue and east to Agate Street where it will pick up its former pattern to south Eugene and back. The early portion of the race through downtown is a highlight for race organizers, who envision sidewalks lined with spectators on race morning. It also means closing down some streets typically busy with traffic, though maybe not so much on an early Sunday morning. “A marathon is going to be disruptive to a community; hopefully it’s a good disruption,” assistant race director Ian Dobson said. “When you look at that course, it’s really designed with two things in mind: It’s going to be cool for runners and also, it doesn’t land lock big chunks of the community. (08/16/2018) ⚡AMP

Akron Marathon will honor Deena Kastor with their 2018 Ambassador Award

The Akron Marathon will honor Deena Kastor with their 2018 Ambassador Award as part of the events leading up to its marquee event in the Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series, the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay. The Award, given since 2008, recognizes the contributions of dedicated leaders and those who serve as an inspiration in the sport. Deena Kastor is one of the most accomplished distance runners in American history, and currently holds eight American records in distances ranging from the 5k through the marathon. A three-time Olympian, Kastor won bronze in the marathon during the 2004 Athens games – America’s first Olympic medal in the marathon in twenty years. In the USA Championships, she is a three-time marathon winner, a five-time 10k champion, and a nine-time road champion ranging in distances between 8k and 15k. In addition to her Olympic bronze, internationally, Kastor is a two-time silver World Cross Country medalist and won the 2005 Chicago Marathon and the 2006 London Marathon. Deena set five world masters records in the 10k, 15k, 10 mile, 20k and half marathon distances in 2014 alone. Her new book “Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory” was released in April and gives readers a look inside the mind of an elite athlete and how the power of positivity can give anyone a competitive edge. (08/16/2018) ⚡AMP

Defending Champion Tina Mascarenas, will face a Tough Field at Pikes Peak Marathon

Dunking both feet in a 5-gallon ice bucket and eating a pint of Snickerdoodle ice cream has become the nightly habit for Tina Mascarenas. She does the former because her ankles were hurt in a fall during a race on Mount Olympus in Greece in late June, and the latter because she craves ice cream about as much as she loves science and running. Mascarenes has a lot going on these days. She just started a new job with DNA Connections, putting to use the biochemistry degree she earned at UCCS. And she’s getting married Sept. 9. In between those life-changing events she’ll defend her championship at the Pikes Peak Marathon on Aug. 19. She didn’t expect to win last year, although she’d finished third in 2016. “I thought I was competing for top five,” she said. “I think I had the best day of my life.” It will take an even better day to win this year. The 29-year-old Doherty High graduate says a repeat victory isn’t realistic with the world-class Salomon runners who are part of the Golden Trail Series competing this year and insists that her goal is to finish in the top 10. (08/15/2018) ⚡AMP

Leslie Sexton has joined the lineup at this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Defending Canadian champion Leslie Sexton has officially joined the lineup at this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 21. Sexton is favoured to win again, as the strongest Canadian female entry. Her 2017 time was 2:35:47. Sexton stands to win $5,000 if she runs faster than 2:35:00, and she has stated her goal is to exceed her personal best, which is 2:33:33 (achieved on the Scotiabank course in 2015). Ultimately she would like to go sub-2:30 and join the likes of Lanni Marchant (Canadian record-holder, at 2:28), Krista DuChene (who is also running Scotiabank this year), Silvia Ruegger, Jaqueline Gareau and Lioudmila Kortchaguina. (08/15/2018) ⚡AMP

Ultra marathoner Matthew Porter with a life-changing of back neurolical disorder diagnosis is training for the Leadville Trail 100

A St. Charles man faced with a life-changing diagnosis will embark on a challenge that will push his body to the limit. As the sun rises over the Colorado mountains Saturday morning (Aug. 18), Matthew Porter will begin running and will not stop for nearly 30 hours. For two years, Porter has been training for the Leadville Trail 100, an annual ultramarathon that will take him on trails and dirt roads near Leadville, CO through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Porter's journey to the 100-mile race began eight years ago. He was married with three kids and growing a new company. Porter, admittedly, was not living the healthiest lifestyle. An innocent conversation with his then six-year-old daughter about her wedding day was the turning point for the rest of Porter`s life.'She pokes me in my stomach," he said. "'You have a lot of squishy. I don`t know if you`re going to make it,'" Porter's daughter said to him. The very next day, Porter took the first steps towards changing his life, but it was easier said than done.'Wrong shoes, wrong gear," he remembered. "Got up, went to go run a mile, made it about 100 to 150 feet.' Porter walked the rest of the mile that first day. Each day after, Porter ran a little further. Then a little further. As he ran, the pounds melted away. I look back at who that person looks like, and it almost looks like a different person. Feeling good about the changes he was seeing both physically and mentally, Porter continued running. However, the long-distance runs led to some wear and tear on his body. Three and a half years ago, a doctor ordered an MRI to look into some tension Porter was feeling in his back. That is when the doctor first noticed signs of Multiple Sclerosis. (08/15/2018) ⚡AMP

Hong Kong Marathon is increasing the size of their field by 4,000 in their 2019 event

The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon will welcome 4,000 more marathon runners in 2019 as organisers seek to foster a long-distance running culture in town. The annual Hong Kong showpiece, which will take place on February 17, will cater to a record 22,500 marathon runners, while the total number of runners will remain at 74,000. “There is always a great demand for the event and most of all we want to develop a culture for marathon running,” said Hong Kong Athletic Association chairman Kwan Kee. “The annual event has been running over 20 years and it’s time we produced more runners in the marathon category.” (08/15/2018) ⚡AMP

Kenyan runners Geoffrey Kirui and Bedan Karoki are ready to battle at Chicago marathon

Kenyan runners Geoffrey Kirui and Bedan Karoki may not be the top names at the Chicago marathon, but the duo are holding their cards close to their chest as they plot a surprise show on Oct 7. Kirui, the 2017 Boston marathon champion, was pushed to second position in defense of his title in April while Karoki, who had finished third in last year's London race, was fifth in the English capital clocking 2:08:34. Now the two are relishing challenging the status quo in Chicago, albeit from an obscure position. "The pressure is no longer on me like was the case in London. I can relax and focus on running my own race and leave the top names to choke each other out," Wanjiru said on Tuesday from his training base in Eldoret. Organizers have assembled together at least 11 men who have run two hours and seven minutes or faster, including past champions Abel Kirui and Dickson Chumba. They will face off against Galen Rupp, Mo Farah, Kenneth Kipkemoi, Paul Lonyangata, Kirui, Karoki, Stephen Sambu and Augustine Choge. Executive Race Director Careyu Pinkowski said, "This year's elite field is a collection of some of the best international athletes running on the global stage today. Karoki, a two-time Olympian in the 10,000m, is an exciting athlete who made his marathon debut in 2017. “We are confident that they will continue the great tradition of memorable and record setting performances in Chicago," he added. (08/15/2018) ⚡AMP

Comedian Kevin Hart, announced he is running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Comedian Kevin Hart said he will run in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. He made the announcement in a Facebook video with the help of his two adorable children. “Last year I ran my first marathon, the New York City Marathon, and I ran it in four hours. And I said you know what? That’s not good enough for me. I need to do more, I want more,” said Hart. Hart said he hopes to beat his time and go on to run three more marathons. “The road to becoming a better me starts today,” he said. Just as Hart stops talking, a screen behind him lights up with a special message from two of his children, Heaven and Hendrix. “We love you and your crazy dreams. You inspire us every day to chase our dreams. We want you to inspire more kids like us to move like you. Now get running, Chicago is in two months,” the pair said through signs. “Inspire kids like us to move. If I can do that, then dammit I’m doing a completely different job that I didn’t even think I was capable of doing,” Hart says. (08/14/2018) ⚡AMP

Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor will return to the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4th in hopes of defending his title from last year

Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor will return to the New York City Marathon on Nov. 4th in hopes of defending his title from last year, New York Road Runners announced on Tuesday. “Racing once more in the TCS New York City Marathon means so much to me," Kamworor said in a statement. "It is my favorite race, and although thousands of miles separate my training base in Kaptagat, Kenya to New York, the event feels like home. I say that because of the friendly nature of the event, the terrific organization and also because of the warmth I feel from the many thousands of supporters lining the route.” The 25-year-old captured his first World Marathon Major victory with a 2:10:53 win that included a 4-minute, 31-second split for the 25th mile. He finished just three seconds ahead of compatriot and former world record holder Wilson Kipsang. (08/14/2018) ⚡AMP

Kara Goucher a Two-Time Olympian and World Silver Medalist Shares Her Secrets to Conquering Self-Doubt

Throughout her career, Kara Goucher struggled with confidence. Dedicating time to thoughtfully focus on the positive aspects of her running and curbing her fears became an important and powerful part of her daily training routine. Here are some excerpts from Kara’s confidence journal, a practice suggested to her by the world-renowned Dr. Walker. “Self doubt has always been tough for me and learning how to chronicle and recall the best parts of my training has had a positive impact on my running and my life,” says Kara Goucher. “I hope this gives others the keys to unlock new potentials in all aspects of life.” Kara’s most useful confidence techniques including Positive Self Talk, Mantras, Setting Goals, Enclothed Cognition, Power Pose, Visualization Techniques, Power Words, and Social Connections.  (08/14/2018) ⚡AMP

Shalane Flanagan has been toying with the idea of retirement, but her retirement will have to wait until after this year's New York City Marathon

Shalane Flanagan has been toying with the idea of retirement for several years. But retirement will have to wait until after this year’s New York City Marathon.

She was supposed to retire after last year’s New York City Marathon, where she became the first American woman to win the title in four decades.

Since then, Flanagan faced heartbreak at this year’s Boston Marathon, where she finished in a disappointing seventh place under difficult conditions. Flanagan had hoped to win the race in front of a hometown crowd, as she’s from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Many thought Boston could be her last marathoner ever.

Now she’s announced a return to the New York City Marathon this fall. "When I experienced winning New York last year, it was like when you're sitting on your couch and finally something happens that you didn't realize would happen and it excites you,"

Flanagan said. "But this was my real life! It was the outcome of always wanting it and not knowing if I was going to get it. And suddenly everything I'd worked for was validated. I got it." Flanagan currently trains with the Bowerman Track Club in Beaverton, Oregon.   

The New York City Marathon goes on Sunday November 4th, 2018.

(08/13/2018) ⚡AMP

The president of Iceland, Jóhannesson is going to run the Reykjavik Half Marathon again

The president of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, announced on his Facebook page today that he intends to run a half marathon, in the Reykjavík Marathon this Saturday. According to the Icelandic Athletic Federation, this will be the 14th year in a row that the president participates in a half marathon in Reykjavík and the 16th time he participates in the event. The president already completed a half marathon in the Dettifoss Trail Run Jökulsárhlaup, on Saturday. In today’s Facebook post, he writes, “The second part of the marathon shall be completed in Reykjavík this weekend.” In 2014 was, when he completed the distance in 1:39:58, but most of the time, he has run the distance in between 1:40 and two hours. (08/13/2018) ⚡AMP

Japan´s Yoshihiko Ishikawa wins the 100 Meilen Berlin by over an hour

The 2017 24-hour world champion Yoshihiko Ishikawa (Nichia Kagaku) won the 100 Meilen Berlin Saturday, just short of the course record but beating his nearest competition by over an hour as he finished in 13:17.41. Part of a sizable lead group in the early going, Ishikawa broke free of the competition after two hours and was on his own the rest of the way. Projecting a finish time under 13 hours well into the race, in the later stages he slowed enough to miss the 13:06:52 course record set in 2014 but was still in a different class from the rest of the field, runner-up Stephane Ruel of France coming in in 14:25:24. Women's winner Monika Biegasiewicz of Poland won with the same kind of margin, running 15:29:48 to 2nd-placer Annette Mueller's 16:37:36. (08/13/2018) ⚡AMP

Caitriona Jennings handled tough conditions to win the Ireland National Half Marathon Championship in Dublin

Letterkenny Athletic Club's Caitriona Jennings became a Ireland National Champion on Sunday. She won gold in the National Half Marathon Championship in Dublin; the race was subsumed within the Rock n Roll Half Marathon. Caitriona crossed the line in an excellent time of 1.22.25. This left her 29 seconds clear of her closest challenger. Andrea Kiloran also had a fine run and finished in 2.03.44. Meanwhile, Teenage Letterkenny AC runner, Eoin Hughes, had a superb run in Wednesday evening's 'Jog in the Bog' in Derry. Eoin claimed 2nd place, in the 342 strong field, with a time of 16.26 for the 5K. (08/13/2018) ⚡AMP

Running the trails around Estes Park helped Kelsey Persyn win her first marathon

Kelsey Persyn won the Aspen Backcountry Marathon on Saturday, her first.   "It feels pretty cool. It's something I didn't expect, but I'm really happy that it happened. It kind of fueled my fire. I really want to get more into trail racing." Persyn, 22, was the top female finisher in Saturday's full marathon, which was essentially a 26-mile loop around — and up and over — Red Mountain, finishing at Rio Grande Park. She completed the race in 3 hours, 57 minutes, 55.71 seconds, which was good for 10th overall. This wasn't Persyn's first win in Aspen, as she also won the 2016 Aspen Valley Half Marathon, a road race, in 1:24:31. She ran track and cross country at Texas A&M before graduating this past May. She has been working as a park ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park this summer, and plans to make the move to Colorado more permanent. Running the trails around Estes Park helped her adjust to the altitude in Aspen. Saturday's race also happened to be her first full marathon. She hopes to race in the New York City Marathon in November. "I was kind of nervous in the beginning," Persyn said of Saturday's trail marathon. "Knowing you can overcome something like that is a really, really awesome feeling. It was just amazing. Trail running is great because time flies by, there is amazing scenery. It's just a really cool experience." (08/13/2018) ⚡AMP

17-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen shocked the world when he won both the 1500 and 5000 at European Championships

The hottest middle distance Track runner right now is just 17-years-old.  Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen even makes winning look easy.  In the middle of the 5000m in the European Championships he gives his brother (Henrik) a high five.  

Jakob must have been thinking a second gold was going to happen.  Nothing was going to get in his way even his older brother.  Jakob clocked 13:17, a personal best, for the win and his brother placed second.  

It was the golden double (1500/5000) that rippled around the world, a feat of athletic mastery most could only dream of at any stage of their careers, never mind at the tender age of 17. But sit Jakob Ingebrigtsen down and ask him just how he became this good, this early, and the Norwegian is happy to elaborate and explain why his is an otherworldly talent that has not just been born, but also made.

“I’ve been a professional runner since I was eight, nine, 10 years old,” he says. “I’ve been training, dedicated and following a good structure – the same as my brothers – from an early age.  For years he has been on the radar of anyone with a finger to the pulse of junior athletics, but when Jakob completed the 1500m/5000m double this week at the European Championships in Berlin, his star truly went supernova.  

Speaking on BBC TV, British long distance athlete Paula Radcliffe said: "Jakob Ingebrigtsen just goes to the front when he wants and dares everyone else to come alongside him. Nobody dares to go past him and he's 17.

"To bounce back from last night (1500m) and all the emotion that must have come with it as well - to be able to run with that maturity and control is unbelievable."

The brothers, from the small Norwegian city of Sandnes, have all grown into world-class middle-distance runners under the tutelage of their father Gjert.

At the age of 16, Jakob became the youngest man ever to break the four-minute mile and broke the European 1500m junior record with a 3:31.18 run in Monaco last month. "In two years' time, we will be back to win four medals, not just three," added Henrik.

"We're definitely coming back to improve the stats in our family. There are no limits for us, and we have another brother who is turning five years old, and soon can join the Ingebrigtsen team."  

(08/12/2018) ⚡AMP