For the men’s half marathon 2017 was the best year ever - three sub-59-minute runners and another 20+ running sub-60s.
The Copenhagen Half Marathon has quickly developed into one of the world’s highest quality half. This year it provided all the sub-59-minute performances as the top three – Cheroben, Okambo and Oloitiptip – ran 58:40, 59:48 and 58:51 respectively to move to third, eighth and 10th on the world all-time list. And they were followed by four more runners under one hour.
(12/30/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR UNIQUE RACE: There isn’t anything complicated about running with snowshoes. You just have to remember to pick up your feet.
The challenge, as with any winter running, is keeping yourself dry - because wet clothes can kill you.Beyond the normal challenge of sweating from all the extra exertion, racing snowshoes tend to throw around a lot of snow. In loose snow, it looks like a snow squall is following you when you run. Half of it falls on you, so you should wear clothing that sheds the snow.
(12/29/2017) ⚡AMP
Fred Lebow believed that running is for everyone. He fell in love with the sport on his first run around the Central Park Reservoir, and he spent the rest of his life converting millions...
In the late 1960s he joined NYRR, which was a small club. He co-founded the New York City Marathon in 1970 as a four-lap tour of Central Park. He became president of NYRR in 1972 and served in that role and as race director of the NYC Marathon for 22 years, until his untimely death from brain cancer in 1994.
(12/29/2017) ⚡AMP
Bob Anderson started running in 1962. In 1963 he ran the 880 at the AAU Junior Olympics and finished first in 2:08.5. He was hooked. By 1964 he wanted to run the Boston Marathon but he didn’t know how to train. He started writing runners asking for advice. With all this info he decided to start a magazine in Oct 1965. His first issue of Distance Running News came out Jan 1966. He changed the name to Runner’s World in 1970 and built readership to over two million before selling RW in 1984.
(12/28/2017) ⚡AMP
“As we cross the finish line for 2017, and begin training for 2018, Capital Road Race Management would like to thank all runners, walkers, joggers, strollers, weekend warriors, speed demons, families, friends, first-timers, seasoned veterans, PR-chasers, and true heroes for lacing up and toeing the line with us every weekend. We have treasured every mile you shared with us, and look forward to many more.†from an email sent to runners who have run at least one of their races in California.
(12/27/2017) ⚡AMP
It was a good year for UK marathoners. Here are some stats: 17 men broke 2:20 and 43 men broke 2:25 (best since 1995), which is up from 15 and 38 in 2016. A 10th best of 2:17:10 was the best since 1997. 25-year-old Callum Hawkins ran the best time with 2:10:17. A good year but nothing like the 1980’s.
(12/27/2017) ⚡AMP
Japan’s Yuta Shitara has the potential to run 2:06:30, based on his 1:00:17 half. Moen’s disciplined pacing at Fukuoka is a role model for Shitara. Based on Shitara’s two marathons to date there’s no sign that he intends to approach the marathon with the same maturity and professionalism as Moen, but if he did he would be Japan’s best chance of seeing its 2:06:16 national record broken. Shitara ran like no one else in Japan this year to earn the Japanese long distance man of the year title.
(12/27/2017) ⚡AMP
On November 1, Artiwara “Toon†Kongmalai, the frontman of successful Thai rock band Bodyslam, set out for a very long run — a 55-day, 1,361 miles jaunt around Thailand.
Since that day, he’s been running up to five times a day, spending between 12 and 18 hours on the road. Toon wasn’t running for himself. He was running to inspire the citizens of Thailand to raise more than 20 million USD for 11 local hospitals. But he didn’t meet his goal. He far exceeded it by bringing in 45 million USD.
(12/27/2017) ⚡AMP
A Rio Viking put up a website featuring early covers of Distance Running News starting from the first issue published January, 1966. "I just ran across this site today by accident," says DRN/RW founder Bob Anderson. "These covers with captions brings back so many great memories. Thanks Rio for doing this." Bob Anderson started DRN with $100 and grew readership to over two million by 1980. He sold RW to Rodale Press in 1984, all before he was 37 years old.
(12/26/2017) ⚡AMP
"Three of the top ten winning marathon times were run on American soil in 2017," according to My Best Runs. "Ethiopian Dibaba ran 2:18:31 at the Chicago Marathon which was the second fastest winning time of the year. Boston's winning time of 2:21:52 ranked 7th and Honolulu's 2:22:15 ranked 10th. The best time of the year was run in London. Mary Keitany of Kenya ran 2:17:01." Lots of good times but still no one came close to Paula Radcliffe's world record time of 2:15:25.
(12/26/2017) ⚡AMP
There were a lot of fast marathon times in 2017. "The 15th fastest winning time for men was posted at the Rome Marathon," according to MBR. "Kitata an Ethiopian runner finished first in 2:07:28. Kipchoge posted the best time of the year at the Berlin Marathon. He ran 2:03:32. The fastest winning time of a marathon held on US Soil was 2:08:27. Kenyan's Cherono ran 2:08:27 at the Honolulu Marathon, 18th best winning time of the year. Only six of the top 50 winning times were run on US soil."
(12/26/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR TRAINING TIP: “The only way to run fast is to run fast,†says lifetime runner Bob Anderson. “Of course everything is relative. Being 70 years old, my fast is running a sub 6:45 mile. When I was younger, fast was a sub 5:15 mile. But I think this advice is for anyone wanting to run faster. Find a runable one mile paved downhill course. Do a one mile warm up and then run a mile faster than normal and let the downhill pull you along. Do this twice a week and push it more each time."
(12/26/2017) ⚡AMP
Our editors and crew would like to wish you and family a Merry Christmas. “We are up here in Eugene Oregon (Track Town USA) visiting my son and family,†says Bob Anderson, MBR founder and editor. “We have already run 12 miles on the Pre’s and River Trails,†says Michael who is in charge of posting timely results and guidance. “It is always a treat to spend time and train with Michael,†says Bob. Of course this morning like always they will do a Christmas Run.
(12/25/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR FAST FACT: Women were not allowed to run in Iran’s first International Marathon last year, but that did not stop Mahsa Torabi. The 43-year-old became the first woman to ever publicly finish a marathon in Iran. She did it alone, in a pink hijab with no music, little training and no blisters – just ‘a few aches’ in her feet at the end of the marathon, five hours and thirty minutes later.
And she did it, quite simply, because she always knew she could.
(12/25/2017) ⚡AMP
MRB FAST FACT: On this day in 1930, Boston Marathon champion John J. Kelley was born. The only BAA running club member to have won the prestigious Patriots' Day event, Kelley also coached 1968 winner Amby Burfoot. Kelley set a course record of 2:20:05 in 1957, winning by nearly four minutes. He finished Boston 32 times, his last being in 1992 when he finished in 4:07. Johnny died in August 2011.
(12/24/2017) ⚡AMP
There are many races around the world that encourages participants to run in full Santa's Suits. Pictured is the Santa Shuffle 5k Road Race held in Manchester, New Hampshire. Or as seen on Pinterest (on the link), others are dressing up in snowmen, elf's and other creativity costumes. Just another way to keep running fun and enjoyable. Merry Christmas to all our runners. And remember it is just one foot in front of the other.
(12/24/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR FAST FACT: The third Youth Summer Olympic Games will be held October 6-18, 2018 in Buenos Aires. The first was held in Singapore in 2010. The concept came from Austrian industrial manager Johann Rosenzopf in 1998. This was in response to growing global concerns about childhood obesity and the dropping participation of youth in sport activities, especially amongst youth in developed nations. Over 200 countries and 3,600 athletes participated in 2010. These Games are for youth 14-18.
(12/24/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR FAST FACT: After running at least a mile a day for 19,032 days, running legend Ron Hill finally took a day off on Jan 31, 2017. Hill became the first Briton to win the Boston Marathon, setting a then-course record at 2:10:30. He also competed in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics, placing sixth in the 1972 marathon. He has also held world records for 10-mile, 15-mile and 25-kilometer road races. Hill has completed 115 marathons, the last of which he ran in 1996, his final Boston Marathon.
(12/24/2017) ⚡AMP
Bill Rodgers, former American Marathon record holder won the Boston Marathon four times, including three straight from 1978 to 1980, also won the New York Marathon four times birthday is today. He turned 70. He has run hundreds upon hundreds of road races in his life.
He’s not sure of the exact number. He estimates that he has logged at least 180,000 miles in a distance running career that spans 50 years. There are many races he has run 20 times or more.
(12/23/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR FAST FACTS: Steve Prefonaine was the American record holder in every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters at the time of his death in May 1975. Pre traveled to Europe to race against the world's best. While competing in Scandinavia he was impressed by the the soft surface running trails. Alton Baker park seemed a natural location for a similar trail in Eugene, Oregon. He hoped the trail would allow him to safely train in Eugene, as well as help spread the influence of running.
(12/23/2017) ⚡AMP
The half marathon has been a major area of weakness for Japanese woman in recent years, with none under 1:09 since 2013 and a sub-1:10 time almost a surprise at this point. With four women today at the Sanyo Ladies Road Race under 1:09:30, three of them young runners making the all-time Japanese top 25 in their first serious half marathons, it was a welcome positive note to end a mostly disappointing year.
(12/23/2017) ⚡AMP
Watching Shalane Flanagan win the NYC Marathon was one of the top running highlights of 2017. We are psyched to see that she is planning to race Boston in April. There hasn't been an American female winner at the Boston Marathon in almost 30 years. Kenyan and Ethiopian runners now dominate the sport. But this coming April, Shalane Flanagan has a very real chance of winning. She's only 5-foot-4 and 102 pounds. But don't be fooled -- she's has been called a pony-tailed assassin in knee socks.
(12/23/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR FAST FACT: The first woman to run the mile in under five minutes was done May 29 1954 in Birmingham England. Diane Leather ran 4:59.6, just 23 days after Roger Bannister became the first ever man to run a sub 4-minute mile. Her best time came September 21, 1955 in London when she ran 4:45.0. However, it was not until 1967 that the IAAF started recognizing women's world records at this distance. Seems like the IAAF should consider these marks?
(12/22/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR UNIQUE RACES: One of the most challenging races in the world is the North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Its distance of 103 miles (and elevation gain of 9,600m) around western Europe's highest mountain, taking in Switzerland, France and Italy, is widely regarded as one of the most difficult foot races on the planet.
(12/22/2017) ⚡AMP
Let's Run.com awards: Galen Rupp is the obvious choice here. Paul Chelimo (U.S. champ indoors and outdoors, World Champs bronze) and Evan Jager (U.S. champ, World Champs bronze) were brilliant, but with a runner-up finish at the Boston Marathon and the first Chicago Marathon victory by an American man since 2002, Rupp had the best year of any U.S. runner.
(12/22/2017) ⚡AMP
Brogan MacDougall, a once in a generation-calibre high school runner, earns a Golden Shoe Award for the second consecutive year.She is nearly peerless in this country (and perhaps in all of North America) as a high schooler. She’s opted to race against adults, and showed her ageless talent in April, when she won against a field of 65 athletes, most of them in college, at the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia. It was her first time racing the distance on the track. She ran 9:21 for 3,000m.
(12/22/2017) ⚡AMP
On November 4, Andrew Peterson crossed the finish line of the 2017 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in 2 hours, 57 minutes, and 33 seconds. At the time, Andrew had no idea that he had accomplished his three-hour time goal and qualified for the 2019 Boston Marathon. The 24-year-old Special Olympian was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which makes it difficult for him to understand the passing of time when he’s running.
(12/22/2017) ⚡AMP
There are plenty of running opportunities across Scotland during this festive period. Lace up your new shoes and finish 2017 in style. The Ayrodynamic Turkey Trot on Boxing Day is a great opportunity to burn off the Christmas dinner in what can be a bracing run along the Ayr seafront. The 10K usually attracts a high calibre field; in last year’s event Luke Traynor led a field of 300 home in a fast time of 29:58.
(12/22/2017) ⚡AMP
Trevor Hofbauer, 25, is doing everything he can to get better, bit by bit. He quit his job, moved across the country and lives a lifestyle calculated in a way that is geared towards running fast, and far. Canadian Running visited the 25-year-old in Guelph, Ont., where he is now based, following his win at the 2017 Canadian Marathon Championships, which marked his Marathon debut. His winning time was 2:18:06.
(12/21/2017) ⚡AMP
Organisers of the Scottish Stirling Marathon have added a half marathon contest to their Sunday 29 April race day programme. Following the successful introduction of the new marathon earlier this year, the Great Run team behind the event have been working hard on an improved marathon for 2018 including a revised route. The addition of a 13.1 mile race will enhance Scottish Stirling Marathon’s status as one of the Scotland’s top events.
(12/21/2017) ⚡AMP
We at Canadian Running consider the quartet – Boxing Day 10-Miler, Robbie Burns 8K, Re-Fridgee-Eighter and Around the Bay 30K – the “southern Ontario grand slam†(in reference to a grand slam in baseball which is four runs.) All four of these races offer lesser-contested distances including 10 miles (16K), 8K, 8 miles (12.8K) and 30K. If you’re able to complete three of them, it’s a triple crown.
(12/21/2017) ⚡AMP
Japanese runner Yuki Kawauchi will be running the 2018 Boston Marathon, and hopes to improve on a world record that afternoon. On New Year’s Day, he will to attempt to break the world record for most sub-2:20 marathons ever run. Currently he is the co-record holder with American Doug Kurtis, each having run 75 marathons under 2:20. “I can think of nothing better than breaking the record in Marshfield on New Year’s Day and then improving that record in Boston on Patriots’ Day,†said Kawauchi.
(12/21/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR UNIQUE RACES: The Jungfrau-Marathon is one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the world - marvelous mountains scenery and the excellent change of the landscape between the start in Interlaken Switzerland and the finish on Kleine Scheidegg. There is no Marathon in Europe with such great dimensions. Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau the most famous mountains peaks of the Alps loom majestically over the course! The Jungfrau Marathon is one of the most popular mountain marathons.
(12/21/2017) ⚡AMP
“23 years ago, sitting in a Prague pub, my friends and I first expressed thoughts about setting up a marathon here. I couldn’t possibly have know then how such a small event could flourish,†stated Carlo Capalbo, president of RunCzech. 82,883 Runners took part in RunCzech Running League races in 2017. At these events four Czech records, nine course records and five world records were set. “When I see more and more Runners finish, I think to myself, this is only the beginning,†says Carlos.
(12/20/2017) ⚡AMP
Rock the Parkway is well on its way to selling out again in 2018 with 3,000 entries already! Reserve your spot before it's too late and beat the upcoming price increase on January 1st!
Rock the Parkway has become the premier half marathon in Kansas City and one of the largest and most popular half marathons in the Midwest! Voted Best Race Course in Kansas City. "I ran this half in 2012," says MBR founder Bob Anderson. "I loved everything about this race including running on Ward Parkway."
(12/20/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR TOP 100: Huddle doesn’t have the marathon experience that Flanagan does, having just run one marathon. With that said, Huddle’s debut in New York in 2016, when she finished third in 2:28:13, compares similarly to Flanagan’s debut in NYC six years earlier, when she finished second in 2:28:40. With all that noted, it would foolish to count out this woman set to toe the line in Boston April 16.
(12/20/2017) ⚡AMP
More than 5,000 runners will usher in 2018 at the four-mile NYRR Midnight Run in Central Park on Sunday, December 31, with a professional athlete field that includes past event champions Sarah Pagano and Daniel Winn, 2017 TCS New York City Marathon top-10 finisher Stephanie Bruce, and USATF 5K Championships runner-up Molly Seidel leading the way. Fireworks will light up the sky at the stroke of midnight.
(12/20/2017) ⚡AMP
The Shiseido women's corporate team announced that 2015 Gold Coast Airport Marathon winner Risa Takenaka, 27, is retiring from competition. Her last race will be January's National Women's Ekiden. Through a company spokesperson Takenaka explained her reasons for retiring, saying, "I have had a series of injuries that have kept me from training at the level that I want to." Her best marathon time is 2:28:09 and 1:10:10 for the half.
(12/20/2017) ⚡AMP
All-time Japanese #4 in the marathon at 2:21:36 in her debut earlier this year in Nagoya, Yuka Ando (Suzuki Hamamatsu AC) leads the elite field for the Jan. 28 Osaka International Women's Marathon. Hoping for a comeback after an ineffectual run at the summer's London World Championships, Ando faces former under-20 Japanese record holder Reia Iwada (Dome) and debuting 10000m national champion Mizuki Matsuda (Daihatsu) as her main competition.
(12/20/2017) ⚡AMP
Abbott World Marathon Majors,the collective of the world’s six greatest marathons, and partners Abbott and Wanda Group announced recently the creation of its first global age group marathon ranking system and age group world championships. The new program will launch in September 2018 and the top-ranked age group athletes will qualify to participate in the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships in the spring of 2020. The rankings will cover age groups for men and women from age 40 to 80+.
(12/19/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Since 1981, the Virgin Money London Marathon has grown to more than 39,000 finishers, is viewed in more than 196 countries worldwide and watched by between four and five million viewers in the UK. In 1979, after running the New York City Marathon, the late Chris Brasher questioned whether London could stage such a festival. “We have the course but do we have the heart and hospitality to welcome the world?†London is again part of World Marathon Majors series XI.
(12/19/2017) ⚡AMP
Abbott World Marathon Majors today awarded the Series X women’s title to 38-year-old Edna Kiplagat (KEN). "Edna’s outstanding victory in Boston in 2017 and her second place in Chicago in 2016 make her the winner of Series X." Kiplagat will receive $500,000 for topping the leaderboard with 41 points. Abbott World Marathon Majors is a series consisting of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world. The races take place in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City.
(12/19/2017) ⚡AMP
The major marathon season has been over for more than a month but that doesn’t mean that Japanese marathoning sensation Yuki Kawauchi will stop. He’s run four marathons in the past 40 days (he did 12 in 2017) and clocked his third-fastest of the year this past weekend with a 2:10:03 at a marathon in Hofu. That comes just two weeks after he ran 2:10:53 at the Fukuoka Marathon. From some photos from the race, you can see just how much he wanted to crack 2:10 in the last few kilometers.
(12/19/2017) ⚡AMP
John Kelly of Rockville MD won the Lookout Mountain 50 miler in 7:27:44. which was this year’s Road Runners Club of America Ultramarathon Championship. Kelly loves this sport and says, “The event and the course, really typify what I love about trail and ultrarunning. It's a great, low-key community of people putting on a well-organized race on a course with incredible trails and views. And it's great knowing that the proceeds from the race are going back towards those trails.â€
(12/19/2017) ⚡AMP
Howard Cohen has completed the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, every year, dating back to 1975. The craziest personal moment of adversity he’s overcome in the 43 editions. In 1975, at the inaugural Ottawa Marathon, a small group of runners, including Howard Cohen, raided an ice cream bar vendor just off the race course. They had become so hypoglycemic that the urge for sugar became too strong to resist the fuel. “It was a hot day, needless to say,†he notes.
(12/19/2017) ⚡AMP
Alisa's performance at Sinister 7 Ultra inspired racers, volunteers and spectators, MacDonald received a standing ovation at the awards ceremony. During the second leg of the 100 mile race, she passed Alex Petrosky, a celebrated ultrarunner and the race’s defending champion. She figured he would catch up to her later. He didn’t. Things would get tough for MacDonald, but after nearly 19 hours, she crossed the finish line beating everyone. “I shocked a lot of people, including myself,†she said.
(12/19/2017) ⚡AMP
The Tenmaya women's corporate team announced on Dec. 19 that two-time World Championships marathoner and 2012 London Olympian Risa Shigetomo, 30, will retire from competition at the end of the season in March next year. This year Shigetomo won the Osaka Marathon for the second time in 2:24:22, earning a return trip to London for this summer's World Championships where she finished 27th in 2:36:03.
(12/19/2017) ⚡AMP
John, ‘Maddog’ Wallace has run 383 marathons in 132 countries. In 2007 he started a website for himself and others who are obsessed with running marathons (or beyond) in different countries. His website is called the Country Marathon Club. To qualify for membership a runner must complete a marathon or ultra in a minimum of 30 different countries. There are no membership fees. Club and website expenses are funded by donations. John now has 109 members.
(12/18/2017) ⚡AMP
Sondre Nordstad Moen is the man of the moment after his European marathon record of 2:05:48 at Fukuoka Marathon earlier this month. "It took me 10 years of dedicated training to achieve this performance. It's all about hard work for many years," Moen says. "I think Africans will by far continue to dominate the long distances, but it is possible for some non-Africans to run at the same level as they do." He spends between 150 and 200 days each year living and training in Kenya, 550 since 2009.
(12/18/2017) ⚡AMP
It was the biggest shock in the 63-year history of the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards. But as Sir Mo Farah’s name was read out, and the crowd rose to its feet in stunned appreciation, it was clear no one was more dumbstruck than the man himself. First his eyes widened. Then he covered his mouth in joyous exhilaration. No wonder he was happy. King of the track, knight of the realm, one-man medal factory – and now, for this night at least, Britain’s most popular sports star.
(12/18/2017) ⚡AMP