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
Ethiopian running icon Kenenisa Bekele fell short of his target of running a 25km personal best at the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K but he still dominated the race in the Indian city after breaking away from his rivals just after 18 kilometres before coming home in 1:13:48. Bekele had talked at Friday’s press conference about beating his best for the distance of 1:12:47.
(12/18/2017) ⚡AMP
Peter Kimeli Some lived up to expectations at the Shenzhen Marathon, winning the race in 2:14:49. While the men’s race was won by the pre-race favourite, Kyrgyzstan’s Viktoria Poliudina defeated some of the more favoured athletes in the women’s race to win in 2:33:25, her third personal best of the year.
(12/18/2017) ⚡AMP
TRAINING TIP: It is that time of the year when many runners have to deal with cold weather. The tendency is to put on too many layers of clothes. Layers is the way to go but if you can, warm up inside and get your blood flowing. If you can manage to break a sweat before you head out the door, you won’t be as chilly on your run. Outside is always the best. Much better than doing your run on a treadmill. However, there are times that the treadmill is the best option.
(12/17/2017) ⚡AMP
WHY DO WE RUN: Dean Karnazes says - “Running is cleansing for the soul. Some days I come home feeling overwhelmed by the heaviness of everyday living. Then I go running and everything changes. The problems are still the same, but the way I look at them is different, lighter.†Dean is an ultra Marathoner and author. In 2005 he ran 350 miles in 8 hours 44 minutes without sleep.
(12/17/2017) ⚡AMP
Taiwanese long-distance runner Hsieh Chien-ho set a national record for the women's half marathon on Sunday, clocking 1:15:05 as part of the Taipei Marathon, missing the entry standard for the World Half Marathon Championships 2018 by five seconds.
The 30-year-old runner clinched the gold medal in the half marathon with more than 27,000 entrants taking part in the marathon and half marathon events, including 3,200 from 51 countries and regions.
(12/17/2017) ⚡AMP
Mick Iacofano from Median, Ohio won the Jacksonville Marathon on Saturday in 2:18:39. The 23-year-old won his first attempt in near course-record time at the 35th annual Ameris Bank Marathon with his father joining him for a rare two-generation top-10 finish. “I started feeling really good and confident about my time coming into this week,†said Iacofano, whose time was just four minutes off Jerry Lawson’s course record of 2:14:33 from 1992. Michael Iacofano, Mick's father placed 7th.
(12/17/2017) ⚡AMP
Sharlet Gilbert (66) from Richmond CA does all sorts of races and does them well. She was first in her age-group at the New York City Marathon, Boston and second at Big Sur. She better her time at Pikes Peak by over an hour. Last night she was honored for her first place finish for 2017 Double Racing Leader Board. Double Racing is a two stage race created by MBR founder Bob Anderson. Dawyne Spencer won the Male division. Both are running the Christmas Double Road Race (15k - 10+5) today.
(12/16/2017) ⚡AMP
Many of the most successful athletes from this month’s European Cross Country Championships in Slovakia will test themselves against a United States team in the Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh XCountry on January 13 in Edinburgh. In the absence of the now biennial World Cross Country Championships in 2018, the event is the biggest cross-country meeting of the winter.
(12/15/2017) ⚡AMP
Bob Podkaminer, a veteran international race official, said USA Track & Field added a new rule: "A fellow competitor can help you stand up, but no one can help you make forward progress," said Podkaminer by phone from his home in Northern California. "When you are in distress, then it is no longer sport. That's one of the reasons why this particular rule came into effect. The well-being of an athlete is paramount. That's why I think it's a good thing that happened [at the Dallas Marathon]."
(12/15/2017) ⚡AMP
MBR UNIQUE RACES: Running and travelling can be the perfect partners – whether that’s an early morning exploratory jog on a business trip or a dedicated holiday built around a multi-stage race. New routes, scenery and challenges can help enliven one’s love of running, while seeing the world on foot offers an enhanced perspective.
(12/15/2017) ⚡AMP