Running News Daily

Ultra-marathon man ready to run the Toughest Foot Race On Earth

In just 2 months, Evan Laframboise will be taking part in the Marathon des Sables in Morocco, an infamous challenge which was dubbed the ‘toughest foot race on earth’ by the Discovery Channel. The ultra-marathon covers 155 miles (250 km) over 6 days and requires runners to be self-sufficient, meaning competitors must carry all their own food, equipment and clothing. The participants are only supplied with rationed water and a bivouac – a temporary tent or cover used by soldiers and mountaineers – to sleep under every night. Laframboise said he wants to raise $7,000 for the local charity Variety, which supports children and their families living in Jersey who are sick or disabled. (02/20/2018) ⚡AMP
Epic Adventures

73-year-old Larry Macon has completed 2,021 Marathons

Larry Macon, has completed 2,021 marathons so far, and averages about a hundred a year. Those numbers seem pretty mighty to most, but Macon is unfazed by his own accomplishments. "Oh it's no big deal," he said. "They think I'm deranged, but hey, I don't disagree with them."All of it started with a lie he told to his friends."They said, 'hey Larry, what'd you do this weekend?' I hadn't done a daggone thing. But I looked down at the newspaper and I said, 'oh, I'm preparing for a marathon.' That lie led him to Gulfport on Monday. He was one of dozens of runners participating in the Gulf Coast Series for Mainly Marathons, which consists of five races in five states in five days. (02/20/2018) ⚡AMP

83-year-old Grandmother training for the London marathon!

Jean Harcourt is 83-years-old, this great-grandmother has decided to train for the London marathon. Jean hasn’t chosen to do a marathon to tick it off a list or feel smug about her accomplishments. She decided to start training as a way to cope with the sudden death of her brother Danny, who passed away of a heart attack in October 2016. After reading an article that advised doing something that seems impossible to help with the loss of a loved one, Jean settled on a marathon, having run one 14 years before and thought ‘never again’. She started training in June last year, starting by jogging for just a minute a day. She’s now running 36 miles a week. (02/20/2018) ⚡AMP

Dealing with the elements in the winter months

Experts say there are solid reasons to brave the elements and exercise outside in the winter months. You may weigh less after a grueling summer run that drains your body of fluids, but you burn more calories running the same route in cold weather because your body must work harder to stay warm....”Eyeing the frost outside,” says Tanya Isch Caylor, “I wonder if I’m wearing enough layers. But when I finally hop out and mention the cold to my sister, she shrugs. “It’s not that bad,” she says. “There’s no wind.” And just like that, I stop shivering — proving, once again, that when it comes to winter running, the proper mindset is the equivalent of an extra layer of clothing.” (Photo: A runner plowing through a snow drift during the Huff 50k Trail Race) (02/19/2018) ⚡AMP

Something you might not know about Marathon WR Holder Paula Radciffe

DID YOU KNOW? Paula Radcliffe may be defined by her incredible accomplishments in the marathon but there is little doubting the significance the half marathon played, and more specifically the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, in her success over the iconic marathon distance. A little over six weeks after the bitter disappointment of finishing fourth in the 10,000m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the British distance runner opted to enter her first IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in the Mexican port city of Veracruz. Just two weeks earlier, Radcliffe had impressed on her half marathon debut running a European record of 1:07:07 at the Great North Run. Yet it was to be her display in blazing temperatures in Veracruz, where she secured her first global title. “I enjoyed the race so much and was very proud to win a global title,” says Radcliffe of her victory 18 years ago. “It reinforced in my mind the decision we had made to move towards the roads." (02/19/2018) ⚡AMP

Ethiopian´s Meseret Defar, To Make Marathon Debut In Tokyo

2-time Olympic 5000m champion Meseret Defar of Ethiopia will make her marathon debut at the Tokyo Marathon on February 25th. Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar is the leading name in the women’s field. A winner of 2 Olympic 5000m titles, 2 world 5000m titles and 4 world indoor 3000m titles, the 34-year-old has spent the past few years – when not injured or pregnant – making a gradual transition to the roads. She has won three half marathons on US soil and finished second at the 2013 Great North Run in 1:06:09. With track PBs of 8:23.72 for 3000m, 14:12.88 for 5000m and 29:59:20 for 10,000m, athletics fans will be keen to see what Defar manages on her marathon debut. (02/19/2018) ⚡AMP

Mother of four wins her third straight half marathon - Little Rock is next

Tia Stone, a 39-year-old mother of four children, captured her third straight women's overall title Sunday morning in the 11th annual Run the Line half-marathon. The Searcy, Ark., runner, who placed fourth overall, completed the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 25 minutes, 46 seconds. "This race is like a good practice run for me." said Stone, who will be running in the Little Rock Marathon in two weeks for the third straight year. "It was my dad that got me interested in running because he was a runner where I grew up in southeast Florida," she said. "I ran relays in high school as well as college." For Stone, Sunday's half marathon was just a warm up for a full marathon in Little Rock (02/19/2018) ⚡AMP

Man Wants to run a marathon in every European country to help his friend with M.E.

Over 4,800 people applied for the Malta Marathon - but for one man from the UK, this marathon is much more than a test of his endurance. "I’ve completed 14 marathons so far (UK, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, Greece, France, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Netherlands and Slovenia) with 15 left to go," he said. That's why Mike is currently running around Europe to complete 29 marathons to help raise money and awareness for biomedical research to find a cure for M.E. It was 10 years ago when Mike Harley's best friend Ian was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or M.E. this is the only way I feel I can help him, by running marathons," said Mike. (02/19/2018) ⚡AMP

Is North Korea’s Kim Jung using the Olympics to spread his propaganda?

The IOC will facilitate participation by North Korean athletes in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as it did at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, IOC President Thomas Bach says. “We have always applied strict political neutrality, and the same will be done for Tokyo 2020,” Bach said Friday. “North Korea decided to take part in the Winter Olympics despite soaring tensions over its nuclear weapons and missile programs. This reply was posted on the Japan Times website, “ They should be banned... I'm sure that murderer Kim Jung is willing to pay plenty for an international stage for his propaganda. A North Korean watchdog group posted, “North Korea may have sent an official delegation of athletes, Kim Jong-un’s sister, and a large group of identically dressed female “cheerleaders” to the 2018 Winter Olympics, but an ordinary citizen of the communist country has yet to have access to any coverage of the events.” North Korea sent 22 athletes to Pyeongchang as part of a charm offensive after months of bellicose rhetoric and provocative missile launches. (02/18/2018) ⚡AMP

Kirui knows that every runner will want to beat him at this year’s Boston Marathon

Kenya's Geoffrey Kirui has cut short his holiday to start preparations so that he can be in the form of his life to defend the Boston Marathon title. Kirui said he is determined to win a second Boston Marathon title.

"I know it will not be easy this year because every runner will want to beat me. Winning a second Boston Marathon title attracts me," Kirui told KweséESPN.

The 2018 Boston Marathon (April 16) is going to have one of the best fields ever. The 24-year old who is training in the Kenyan town of Eldoret, said that he embarked on a training programme that worked wonders last year and he believes it will help him be in the best form.

"It is always very tough winning a Marathon title for two straight years, but I am very determined and hungry to make this happen," he added.

Kirui said he decided not to think about the Commonwealth Games and opted out because his key focus is winning the Boston Marathon again.

(02/18/2018) ⚡AMP

Understanding the limits of the Human Body

Once we believed the secret to optimal performance came from the muscles, the lungs, the heart. Then, we were told that it’s all in our head, and we just need to push through the pain. The truth is that “the brain and the body are fundamentally intertwined,” writes Alex Hutchinson, a fitness journalist (with a doctorate in physics) who competed for the Canadian national team as a runner. To understand the limits of the human body, you have to consider them together... One of the biggest surprises came when I was looking into limits of hydration and heat. Alberto Salazar almost died a few times after races. People always say it was because he didn’t drink enough. After the 1982 Boston Marathon (Duel in the Sun) his body temperature was something like 88 degrees...In running, you breathe hard and you think that oxygen is a limiting factor...From a physiological perspective, it is not because I am out of oxygen, it’s because my carbon dioxide levels are too high and are triggering a warning system in me. But these guys are able to ignore the warning system and just keep going. (02/18/2018) ⚡AMP

Women’s course record crushed at Black Canyon100K by over an hour

Ailsa MacDonald won the Arizona trail race in 8:53:33, the second fastest time outright on the day behind the overall winner Tim Freriks, who clocked 8:12:06. The St. Albert, Alta. resident crushed the women’s course record, slicing more than an hour of the previous best time, 10:06:31. Courtney Dauwalter, the second woman overall, also dipped under the previous course record clocking 9:18:33. The Black Canyon 100K follows the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail and extends between Spring Valley to New River, Ariz. The 100K course features 2,100m of elevation gain and 2,712m of elevation loss along the route. (02/18/2018) ⚡AMP

On Sunday Kipyokei ran the Fastest women’s half marathon ever recorded on Mexican soil

Kenya’s Diana Chemutai Kipyokei established a Mexican all-comers’ record of 1:10:00 at the 32rd Guadalajara Half Marathon IAAF Bronze Label road race on Sunday (18). With temperatures hovering at about 55F 24-year old Kipyokei set out an aggressive pace from the beginning, covering the first part of the race at 3:20-per-kilometre pace. Having passed through five kilometres in 16:09 and 10 kilometres in 32:19, she went on to stretch her advantage to about 700 metres by the end, eventually winning in 1:10:00. Her time is the fastest half marathon ever recorded on Mexican soil by a woman. (02/18/2018) ⚡AMP

USA’s 2016 World Mountain Champion is Pan American x-country Champion

USA’s Joseph Gray and Connor Jeffery, Canada’s Brogan MacDougall and Ecuador’s Carmen Toaquiza were the winners at the Pan American Cross Country Championships in San Juan Opico, El Salvador, on Saturday (17). Joseph Gray led the USA charge in the men’s elite 10km race over a two-kilometre loop course at an equestrian site. Donning the US uniform for the third time in a continental cross-country race, the 33-year-old Gray found an extra gear to finally rise to the top of the podium, following a seventh-place finish at the inaugural 2015 Pan American event in Colombia. Gray, the 2016 world mountain-running champion, completed the distance in 30:02, three seconds ahead of Maiyo. Team USA won the team title. (02/18/2018) ⚡AMP

Being hit by a truck didn’t stop this Marathoner from qualifying for Boston two weeks later

Lucy McCausland has always enjoyed the challenges of running a marathon. The 63-year-old McCausland was at the start of the Five Points of Life Marathon a year ago. Because she was there at all.

There, ready to run, instead of being home in bed or laid up in a hospital or, well, even somewhere worse. A little more than two weeks earlier, a routine training run came to an abrupt and frightening end when she was struck by a truck that ran through a stop sign.

The impact sent McCausland sprawling onto the hard asphalt, injuring her back and head. “I thought he saw me, but he didn’t,” she says.

She was sent to the emergency room, where she underwent tests to determine the severity of her head injury. There were some anxious moments before the doctors came back with some good news.

“I took it as a motivation thing. I was just so lucky... I ran within 17 seconds of the time I wanted, which got me into Boston Marathon this April,” she said.

(02/17/2018) ⚡AMP

His Doctor Calls Him a Diabectic Superhero after running 223 Miles

Crossing the finish line of a 223-mile relay race as a solo runner is quite an accomplishment very few athletes achieve in a lifetime. Add Type 1 diabetes to the mix, and it seems like a feat nearly impossible. Nearly. Don Muchow (56) completed Texas' Capital to Coast Relay, spanning from Austin to Corpus Christi, in October as a solo participant. Muchow said he was attracted to running because "It was cheap and easy to do, and there were not that many ways to do it wrong," he said. His doctor calls him a "mutant diabetic superhero." In the last 12 months in addition to relay he ran solo, he also did a full Ironman and a 100 mile ultra marathon. (02/17/2018) ⚡AMP
Epic Running Adventures

Kipsang looking at running a flying fast time at Tokyo Marathon

Kenyan's Wilson Kipsang said on Friday he is confident he is going to retain his title and improve on the course record he set in his victory last year at the Tokyo Marathon. Organizers have also said the course has been changed and is flatter and faster. "Don't be surprised if the world record went down in Tokyo. I have my eyes on the target. Winning Tokyo Marathon in a flying fast time," Wilson Kipsang said. His main competition is Tesfaye Abera from Ethiopia whose best time is 2:04:24 and Feyisa Lilesa, the Olympic marathon silver medalist and Dickson Chumba. (02/17/2018) ⚡AMP

This Ethiopian runner career was cut short when he was tortured for peacefully protesting

Demssew Tsega Abebe was a famous marathon runner in Ethiopia and was expected to be on his country’s Olympic team. But his career was cut short when he was tortured for peacefully protesting his government’s policies. His heels and feet were so severely lashed he could not run for more than a year. He fled to the Washington area in 2016, and he has been trying to bring his wife and two children to the United States ever since, in part to get medical care for his 5-year-old son, Dagmawi, who cannot speak. Until today, Abebe had never met his 2-year-old daughter, Soliyana, as his wife was pregnant with her when he fled. Last week, Abebe learned that his family had won a humanitarian immigration petition to join him. (02/17/2018) ⚡AMP

Helen Davies competitive running bug is still there after having two sons

Eight years ago, Helen Davies represented her country not once, but twice, over the marathon distance at major athletics championships. Now she is back on the marathon trail, after starting a family. She has two sons, Kingsley (aged five) and Hector (aged three), who occupy most of her time, but the competitive running bug is still there. That was reflected in her comeback marathon last year, when she won the Brighton Marathon in 2:42:37 (finishing 15th overall), and her recent victory at the Great Bentley Half-Marathon in Essex (1:15:51). She hopes to win Brighton again this year, “I’m running better than I was at this time last year,” explained Davies. (02/17/2018) ⚡AMP

It´s Not Too Late To Get Running for Eugene Marathon Weekend

Runners will be flooding the streets of Eugene and Springfield in late April, taking part in the Eugene Marathon weekend. It's not too late to start training for this year's races, especially the 5K or even half marathon. The Eugene Marathon is less than three months away. The three distances to choose from in this year’s race weekend are 26.2 miles, 13.1 miles, or 3.1 miles. "The half-marathon or 5k is still a great option for people that have some experience with running or walking but that hasn’t officially started a training program yet,” says assistant race director Ian Dobson. (02/17/2018) ⚡AMP

Their new hobby is Speed mountaineering and long-distance trail running.

After learning the basics of mountaineering from the Spokane Mountaineers while at college in Spokane, Cyrus and Niles Desmarais have embraced mountain running. The twins often spend hours ascending and descending imposing peaks that might take other climbers a day or more. But, they loved to run. And they loved the mountains. So, Cyrus convinced his brother to start a new hobby. Speed mountaineering and long-distance trail running. “I just got tired of doing multiday mountain trips,” Cyrus said. “And I was like, ‘what if we become better runners and I teach Niles some of these mountain skills he needs to learn.’ We could have a lot more fun.” (02/17/2018) ⚡AMP

adidas To Release New Versions Of the Ultra Boosts

SHOE NEWS: adidas has introduced the Ultra Boost and Ultra Boost X as a part of their Energy From The Ground Up campaign. In the Ultra Boost, the ventilation holes of the original Ultra Boost return to the upper across the foot’s key sweat zones – the cage and forefoot. Combining this with a newly developed PrimeKnit composition, designed for reduced stretch to provide runners with a prime fit and additional support, the Ultra Boost is a truly unique proposition. Ultra Boost and Ultra Boost X are available on adidas.com for $180 starting Feb. 21 and in adidas stores worldwide starting Feb. 28. (02/17/2018) ⚡AMP

Horrible heat and mayhem take out 18 runners on 298km non-stop ultra marathon

Searing heat changed the 298-kilometre non-stop Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC) from a difficult task into an impossible one for most the field on Friday, as 18 of the 28 runners dropped out before reaching the end of the Wilson trail. Runners take on the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau trails, participants have 60 hours to reach the end of the Lantau trail to be deemed “finishers”, and 75 hours to be called “survivors”. (02/17/2018) ⚡AMP
Epic Runnling Adventures

He was lucky to be choosen twice in four tries to run the Tokyo Marathon

The Tokyo Marathon has more than 320,000 applicants each year. And of those applications, only 35,000 are selected to participate in the race. That means, each year nearly 300,000 applicants are left disappointed. The Feb. 25, 2018 version of the marathon is no different. Hundreds of thousands of runners will be sitting at home, while the lucky few get to run through Tokyo. But 49-year-old Kiochiro Sakaki won’t be sitting at home. He was one of the lucky ones that was chosen to run – again. Sakaki was lucky enough to be chosen to run in 2009 and now again in 2018. So, with roughly 1 in 10 odds of being selected, Sakaki has been chosen twice in four tries. (02/16/2018) ⚡AMP

How fast do you need to run to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials

The qualifying standards for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon are subject to amendment by the IAAF. The window to qualify for the marathon is: September 1, 2017 to January 19, 2020. Or to qualify for the marathon running a half marathon September 1, 2018 to January 19, 2020. There will be two groups and here are the qualifying times: Men 2:15 for group A and 2:19 for group B. Or 1:04 for half marathon for group B. Women 2:37 for group A and 2:45 for group B. Or 1:13 half marathon for group B. Only gun time count. (02/16/2018) ⚡AMP
2020 Olympic Trials

The first Ironman was held in 1978 40 years ago

The first Ironman was held in 1978 in Oahu, Hawaii Ironman is beginning the “40 Years of Dreams” campaign in celebration. Throughout the course of the 2018 Ironman and Ironman 70.3 event series, the campaign will be rolled out in a variety of ways, leading up to the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on October 13. On February 18, 1978, 15 dreamers set out on the shores of Oahu, HawaiI, to complete what was thought to be the impossible – swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running 26.2 miles, totaling 140.6 miles in a single day, as they looked to put an end to the argument of who were the best athletes in the world – swimmers, cyclists, or runners. (02/16/2018) ⚡AMP

Batten goal is to qualify for the US Olympic Marathon Trials in Austin

Caitlin Batten is a physical therapist from Charleston, SC. She is a relative latecomer to competitive running, Batten did not start running until after she graduated from college. Though she competes in races of all distances, the marathon is definitely her favorite distance. Her goal is to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. She recently ran the Chicago marathon, but had a bit of a shoe mishap at mile 16 and ended up running 2:51. The 2020 Olympic Marathon qualifying times are for women 2:37 group A and 2:45 group B. For men 2:15 for group A and 2:19 for group B. (02/16/2018) ⚡AMP

This will be a great experience for the kids at the Greater Manchester Marathon

Kids can now take part in this year’s Greater Manchester Marathon with a special one-mile race. The event has been created for five to 11-year-olds. Race organisers, Xtra Mile Events, expects up to 1,000 children to take part in the Family Mile on April 8. Nick Rusling, CEO of the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half Marathon, said: “We are thrilled to introduce the Family Mile, which gives kids the chance to really feel involved in the excitement of the race. “We have set up a great experience for young runners – the course starts and finishes at the same places as the official marathon does which makes it even more exciting, especially at the finish line.” (02/16/2018) ⚡AMP
Kids Running

Ethiopia team ready for IAAF Trinidad Alfonso World Half Marathon Championships

Ethiopia’s fastest man and woman over 13.1 miles this year have been named on the national team for the IAAF Trinidad Alfonso World Half Marathon Championships Valencia 2018. Men: Dawit Fikadu, Betesfa Getahun, Getaneh Molla, Jiksa Tadesse, Jemal Yimer Women: Ruti Aga, Meseret Belete, Bekelech Gudeta, Zinash Mekonnen, Zeineba Yimer (02/16/2018) ⚡AMP
Ethiopia Running

This race can quickly turn into a struggle for survival

“One of the most challenging experiences on the planet is the Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000-Mile Alaska Foot Race,” says Race directors Bill and Kathi Merchant. This years’s race starts Feb 25 from Knik Lake Alaska, The race can quickly turn from a race into a struggle for survival. Weather and trail conditions change rapidly, requiring participants to undergo an application process. It’s a grueling, punishing race through the interior of Alaska and some of the roughest terrain in the western hemisphere where winds can gust at 120 mph and temperatures can drop to -50 or below. Only 11 can say they have finish this 1000 mile race. (02/15/2018) ⚡AMP
Epic Running Adventures

South Africa´s Caster Semenya wanting to win 800m Gold for third time in Tokyo

Caster Semenya’s gender is still pretty much all anyone talks about when they talk about this powerhouse runner, however she was cleared to compete. Today Caster Semenya is looking forward to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where she aims to defend her 800m title and win it for the third and, perhaps, final time. "I’m an athlete who works more on short-term goals. Every month we see how we can improve our fitness, how we can improve our biomechanics and how we can improve our breathing."So, yes, Tokyo, I’m looking forward to it. "I’ll be 29, so it will be probably my last Olympics 800m. But yes, if I can still go faster, you never know where you can end up," Semenya says. (02/15/2018) ⚡AMP
2020 Tokyo Olympics

Running mitigates negative impacts of chronic stress on the brain

A new BYU study discovers exercise -- particularly running -- while under stress also helps protect your memory. The study, newly published in the journal of Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, finds that running mitigates the negative impacts chronic stress has on the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. "Exercise is a simple and cost-effective way to eliminate the negative impacts on memory of chronic stress," said study lead author Jeff Edwards, associate professor of physiology and developmental biology at BYU. (02/15/2018) ⚡AMP
Medical Advice

Benoit Samuelson going to run 5K at 40th Annual Napa Valley Marathon

Runners from 16 countries and 44 states will gather in California’s Napa Valley for the 40th Annual Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon and Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa 5K Run on Sunday, March 4, 2018. American running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson (Freeport, Maine), a member of the Running USA Hall of Champions, will be a special guest and will be running the 5k. It was 34 years ago when Joan Beniot won the inaugural U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials race in 1984 and then winning the gold medal in Los Angeles at the first women’s Olympic Games marathon. (02/15/2018) ⚡AMP
Olympians

These simple foods can help you recover from a stress fracture

Stress fractures are an overuse injury, often caused by repeatedly running long distances or drastically increasing mileage. Primarily affecting the bones in the lower legs and feet, stress fractures occur when the muscle becomes fatigued and transfers undue stress to the bone. To help recover or to help prevent a stress fracture, Take Calcium and vitamin D. Milk does a body good. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that runners get at least 1,000 mg of dietary calcium—an 8-ounce glass of milk has about 300mg. Also regularly eat kale, broccoli, spinach, and soy products. The best way to get Vitamin D is from sun exposure, but also eggs, tuna, cod liver oil, and mushrooms are also a good source for vitamin D too. (02/15/2018) ⚡AMP
Runner's Diet

India’s Bugatha has sets his sights on Tokyo 2020

Srinu Bugatha, surprised many to finish third among Indian men at the high-profile Mumbai Marathon. Now his aim is to compete in the Olympic Marathon in Tokyo 2020. The Mumbai Marathon was the first step towards his ultimate dream. “I wanted to know what I was lacking because I want to compete at the marathon 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Bugatha. However, his short-term focus, though, is on the upcoming Asian Games and Commonwealth Games where he will compete in the 5000 and 10,000 metres events. (02/14/2018) ⚡AMP

Gasparilla Distance Classic Half is part of the Professional Road Series

When 30,000+ runners head down Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa for the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic on Feb. 24 and 25, they’ll be joined by some of America’s best runners like Stephanie Bruce from Flagstaff, Arizona. Bruce won the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Half Marathon last year and she’s coming back this year to defend that title. This half marathon is now part of the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) series. It joins four other American road races: Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, Lila Bloomsday Run 12K, Boilermaker 15K, and the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler. This series of races is meant to showcase competition, but it also focuses on a clean sport. (02/14/2018) ⚡AMP

Akor had to be carried away from the podium at Lagos City Marathon

Organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have described that one of the participants at the just concluded third edition of the race, Mary Akor, was being denied her entitlement as one of the winners in the Nigerian category. The organisers alleged that Akor dumped Nigeria for the United States of America at the peak of her career in 2004 and therefore was no longer eligible to participate as a Nigerian. Akor attempted to collect the N1 million prize money for the first Nigerian woman. Security men had to carry her away from the podium. She has had other issues, Mary Akor failed a drug test and accepted a two-year ban from competition, retroactive to May 6, 2013. (02/14/2018) ⚡AMP

14 athletes named to Athletics Canada's team for the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships

The 14-athlete squad will travel to Birmingham, U.K. for the March 1-4 IAAF championships, held every 2 years. Notable qualifiers on Canada’s team include Damian Warner, Olympic bronze medallist in decathlon and Shawn Barber, a world champion pole vaulter. The women’s 1,500m features two Canadians including Gabriela Stafford, a 2016 Olympian, and Kate Van Buskirk, the newly-minted national record holder for the indoor mile. two women also qualified in the 400m including Kelsey Balkwill and Travia Jones. (02/14/2018) ⚡AMP

2018 Austin Marathon Set to Debut New Marathon Course

The new Austin Marathon course was designed to provide a better participant and spectator experience and allow enhanced traffic flow along the course, while still finishing with the picturesque Texas State Capitol as every runner’s backdrop. The first half of the Austin Marathon will remain unchanged. After Mile 12, half marathoners will head south to the finish line while marathoners continue east before turning north and running on Guadalupe St. through the heart of the University of Texas. (02/14/2018) ⚡AMP

Experience trail running in some of the most beautiful and challenging mountain environments

Under Armour announced the race dates and locations for the 2nd annual Under Armour Mountain Running Series. The trail running series is designed for running professionals and enthusiasts alike who want to experience trail running in some of the most beautiful and challenging mountain environments and destinations across North America. The 2018 UA Mountain Running Series kicks off on July 14 in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at Copper Mountain, the largest ski resort in Summit County, Colorado, where runners will be greeted with spectacular scenery and alpine wildflowers... Race distances at each location will include a distance for every runner to test themselves: 5K, 10K, 25K, and 50K. A $5,000 prize purse will be distributed across the men’s and women’s podium for the top three 50K finishers at each race in the series. (02/14/2018) ⚡AMP
Trail Running

Most races just offer an 80 and over category...this needs to change

Ronald Todd has a simple request. He wants all marathons and half-marathons to post results equally throughout age categories. Most races are broken into five-year age categories, but when it gets to athletes over age 79, everyone is lumped together in an “80 and over” category. Even the Boston Marathon does it that way. The Honolulu Marathon is an exception, listing results for ages 80-84, 85-89 and 90-94. But, as he plans out his events for 2018, Todd is realizing that this bias is widespread. “That’s just not right!” Todd says. Todd turned 85 in December. When he was 84 he was looking forward to moving up to the next age bracket. He had placed fourth in a race where only the top three were recognized but figured that the next year, he’d move up a group and be the young guy in the breakdown. (Pictured is Kay and Joe O'Regan who celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary running a marathon.) (02/14/2018) ⚡AMP
Senior Running

What is going to happen to Runner's World...more employees terminated

A month after laying off 150 employees inherited through its acquisition of Rodale, Hearst Magazines is undergoing another round of cuts. Runner's World is part of the group of titles previously published by Rodale.

Hearst did not respond to a request for comment, but a source close to the company tells Folio: that at least 50 employees were notified Monday of their termination, effective immediately. It is not clear how many Runner's World employees were asked to leave.

"I am concerned to see this," says RW founder Bob Anderson. "Running and Runner's World grew up together...I have been concerned with all the discounted magazine offers I have been getting...I have some ideas if whoever is calling the shots want to listen," says Bob.

(02/13/2018) ⚡AMP

Abebe Bikila had only run two marathons before winning and running a PR by over six minutes in Rome

DID YOU KNOW? Abebe Bikila was a member of the Imperial Bodyguard, and was a last-minute addition to the Ethiopian team but caused a sensation by running barefoot through the streets of Rome and winning gold, at the 1960 Olympic Games.

Four years later he retained the title, this time wearing shoes. On both occasions he clocked world best times... Abebe participated in a total of sixteen marathons, winning twelve and finishing fifth in the 1963 Boston Marathon.

In July 1967, he sustained the first of several sports-related leg injuries which prevented him from finishing his last two marathons.

On March 22, 1969, Abebe was paralyzed as a result of a car accident. Although he regained some upper-body mobility, he never walked again. He died at age 41 on October 25, 1973, of a cerebral hemorrhage related to his car accident. He had only run two marathons before Rome and there he set a PR by over six minutes.

(02/13/2018) ⚡AMP
Olympians

After Running a Marathon on Seven Continents...they still had one more to do

With seven marathons on seven continents in seven years already behind them, Stephen and Eleanor Pienaar are ready to become the first South Africans to compete in the North Pole Marathon. They started training for the Marathon which takes place on moving sea ice and considered one of the toughest marathons in the world, in September last year. “We will be running on sea ice, which will be more extreme than the Antarctic Ice Marathon,” says Eleanor. “Russian soldiers will parachute out of a plane and secure the perimeter to make sure no polar bears wander onto the course. We will be running a four-kilometre lap 10 times. We have to be in a contained area because of the polar bears and the sea ice, that can crack underfoot. It will be completely different to the Antarctic Ice Marathon. We will be running in temperatures of minus 40 to 30 degrees.” The North Pole Marathon will be run on April 9 this year, they will be starting their trek to the North Pole on April 1. (02/13/2018) ⚡AMP
Epic Running Adventures

This six day stage Race covering 236k finishes in a small and serene fishing village

The Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica kicked off Sunday and will run through Friday. The run covers a demanding 236km over six days. The course boasts a total elevation gain of more than 34,000 feet – with the race finish near the border of Panama in a small and serene fishing village that until recently was only accessible by boat. Known locally as the ‘Rainforest Run, the course runs along Costa Rica’s lush and tropical Pacific coastline. Weaving in and out of the Talamancas – a coastal mountain range spread across the southwest corner of the country. (02/13/2018) ⚡AMP
Epic Running Adventures

Quick healthy dinner ideas for busy runners

"When it comes to making quick healthy meals, my No. 1 advice for runners is to choose nutritious and fast cooking ingredients that provide a combination of carbohydrates, good quality protein and healthy fats," says Melissa Kazan a registered dietitian. "Here are four dinner ideas that will make weeknight meals fun and tasty: 1.One-pot meals like vegetarian chili are easy to make, packed with quality carbs and fibre and make perfect leftovers. 2. You don’t have to be a master chef to whip up a fantastic meal with a slow cooker. For any runner who has little time to cook, crockpot is the way to go. 3. Load up on antioxidant rich veggies by whipping up a homemade pizza. 4. Think outside the box and try a Mexican-inspired ground meat and pasta dish." Click on link for cooking details. (02/13/2018) ⚡AMP
Runner’s Diet

Kristen Zaitz used to run 120 miles weekly...she now wants to see what she can do on less mileage

Kristen Zaitz is a three-time U.S. Olympic marathon trials qualifier and has a personal best time of 2:32:48. Her next marathon will be Napa... There used to be a time when Kristen Zaitz was putting in 120 miles a week. “I had done it for so long, at such a high level, that I was pretty burned out when I had my daughter a year ago,” said Zaitz. “The training has been super laid back and I really just wanted to come back slowly and have not much pressure on myself. Napa will be a good little eye opener for me.” (02/13/2018) ⚡AMP
Runners

As Millions of Chinese take public transportion Pan Shancu runs 131 miles home instead

As tens of millions of Chinese converged on bus and railway stations last week, 42-year-old Pan Shancu decided to make his own way home for the Lunar New Year holiday – by running 211km (131 miles) across eastern China. He set out just before 4.15am on Thursday and arrived home at about 7am the next day. He would have got there a little sooner, but decided to stop off for a bowl of noodles a few hours from the finish line. Pan, who owns a massage shop in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, took a little under 27 hours to complete the mammoth journey – equivalent to five regular marathons – to his hometown in Tiantai county. “I think running is more fun than driving or taking buses, and you can appreciate the scenery along the way,” he said. (02/13/2018) ⚡AMP
Chinese Running

Erekiel Chebii Returns and is the one to beat at Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon

Defending champ Ezekiel Chebii (Kenya) returns to lead the field for the Mar. 4 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon. Chebii is one of three men in the field with recent 2:06 times, his 2:06:07 in Amsterdam 2 years ago leading Tadesse Abraham (Switzerland) and Abera Kuma (Ethiopia) to form a clear trio of favorites. Making up the second pack are 4 current sub-2:10 Japanese men, 2017 Gold Coast winner Takuya Noguchi, Rio Olympian Satoru Sasaki, and Sasaki's teammates Takuya Fukatsu and Fumihiro Maruyama. (02/13/2018) ⚡AMP
Japan Running

Time is running out to get registered to run the New York City Marathon

The window to register for the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon is closing, so if you haven’t committed to run this year, this week is your last chance. Registration for the race on Nov. 4, 2018, opened on Jan. 15 and will close at 11:59 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, online. For a guaranteed spot, eligible runners must have hit the New York Road Runners (NYRR) time-qualifier, which is based on age, in a previous race. For example, a male runner who is between the ages of 18 and 34 must have run at least a 2:53 marathon or a 1:21 half-marathon. A female runner of the same age must have run a marathon in 3 hours and 13 minutes or a half-marathon in 1 hour and 32 minutes. (02/12/2018) ⚡AMP