Running News Daily

Ethiopian Tsehay Gemechu outkicked Brigid Kosgei to retain her title in Lisbon

Tsehay Gemechu outkicked Brigid Kosgei to retain her title, while Keneth Kiprop Renju claimed a clear men’s race win at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Label event, on Sunday (8).

Ethiopia’s world 5000m fourth-place finisher Gemechu ran 1:06:44 to win by two seconds ahead of Kenya’s world marathon record-holder Kosgei, while Kosgei’s compatriot Renju ran solo to a time of 1:00:13, 47 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa.

Gemechu, Kosgei and Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase had remained together until the closing kilometres, passing 10km in 31:37 and 15km in 47:25. Before they reached 20km in 1:03:27, Gemechu and Kosgei had managed to drop Gebreslase and the leading pair were seven seconds ahead at that point.

Their advantage only grew and as they kicked in battle it was Gemechu who had the best closing strength, winning in a sprint finish. The race came a couple of months after Kosgei’s Tokyo Marathon victory in 2:16:02, with Gebreslase third on that occasion.

“I am so happy for my win,” said Gemechu, who finished second in the Istanbul Half Marathon in April. “The weather is very hot. I am happy to win against a strong athlete like Brigid Kosgei.”

Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter finished fourth in 1:08:33 and Italy’s Sofiia Yaremchuk fifth in 1:10:35.

Renju, meanwhile, passed 10km in 28:11 and 15km in 42:15 in the men’s race before clocking 57:02 at 20km and continuing on untroubled to triumph.

The battle for the runner-up spot was much closer and Esa ran 1:01:00 to beat Kenya’s Elvis Kipchoge Cheboi by three seconds, with his compatriot Kipkemoi Kiprono another five seconds back.

Ethiopians Adane and Dekebo break Barcelona Marathon records

Yihunilign Adane led the top two under the previous men’s course record, while Meseret Gebre Dekebo also ran the fastest ever women’s race at the Zurich Barcelona Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Label road race, on Sunday (8).

Achieving an Ethiopian double, Adane ran 2:05:53 to finish ahead of his compatriots Gebru Redahgne (2:05:58) and Kabede Wami, who matched the course record from last year with 2:06:03, while Dekebo also topped an Ethiopian 1-2-3, running 2:23:11 to beat Ayantu Kumela (2:25:00) and Zenebu Fikadu (2:25:11).

Adane, who finished third at last year’s Lisbon Marathon, took half a minute off his PB to win a close race and beat the course record set by Kenya’s Samuel Kosgei last year.

Dekebo’s time, meanwhile, takes more than four minutes off her previous best recorded when winning the Zurich Maraton Donostia-San Sebastian in November. It also improves the women’s course record set by Ethiopia’s Tadu Teshome last year by 42 seconds.

The Wanda Diamond League Final to alternate between Zurich and Brussels in 2024-27

The Wanda Diamond League Final will be held alternately in Zurich and Brussels between 2024 and 2027, following a decision by the Diamond League Association’s General Assembly in March.

Hosting rights for the two-day season finale – at which all 32 Diamond League champions are crowned – have been awarded to the Allianz Memorial van Damme meeting in Brussels for 2024 and 2026, and to Weltklasse Zurich for 2025 and 2027.

The General Assembly made the decision on the recommendation of the Quality Commission, which reviews applications to host the final.

The host city is now confirmed for each of the next five Wanda Diamond League seasons, ensuring all stakeholders are able to plan beyond the short-term.

The final will be held in Zurich on September 7-8, this season, before moving out of Europe, for the first time in the series’ history, to the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 2023. Zurich was also the host in 2021, becoming the first city to hold the final as a two-day event featuring all 32 Diamond Disciplines.

As in 2021, future finals held in Zurich will be split between city and stadium. Day one will see selected Diamond League champions crowned at the iconic Sechselautenplatz in Zurich city center, while the remaining disciplines will be held as part of a bumper programme at the Letzigrund Stadium on day two.

In both Eugene and Brussels, both decisive days will take place at the stadium, the former at the newly renovated Hayward Field, and the latter at the Belgian capital’s King Baudouin II Stadium.

Memorial Van Damme will celebrate its 50th anniversary when it hosts the final in 2026.

The Wanda Diamond League Final is the showpiece event of track and field’s premier international one-day circuit and features the biggest stars of the sport.

Athletes compete for points at Wanda Diamond League meetings throughout the season, with the most successful qualifying for a place in the final and a shot at the iconic Diamond Trophy, the most prestigious title in athletics beyond the major championships.

Both the Brussels and the Zurich meetings have a wealth of experience in hosting the showcase event, having been joint hosts between 2010 and 2019, when the final was split between two separate meetings.

Both have also played host to some of the most memorable moments in Diamond League history.

The road to running a 2:59 marathon was certainly not easy for Elaina Raponi

For Elaina Raponi of Kingston, Ont., breaking three hours in the marathon meant everything. At the 2022 Boston Marathon, Raponi knocked off her goal as she sprinted down Bolyston Street with 32 seconds to spare for a personal best of 2:59:28.

The road to 2:59 was certainly not easy for Raponi, as the sport had plenty to teach her over the past five years. She began running casually after she graduated from McMaster University in 2013. She started to take things seriously in the lead-up to her first half-marathon in 2017. 

“Running at the time was accessible,” Raponi says. “The low cost/no membership attracted me to the sport, but I never thought how much I would love it.”

Working full-time in communications at a Kingston hospital, Raponi, 31, has always relied on gratitude as something that has kept her motivated. In 2019, her life quickly changed when her father, Tony, was put on life support after quadruple heart bypass surgery. Raponi spent three months visiting him in three different hospitals in two different cities. 

“My dad is my best friend and my biggest inspiration,” she says. “When you get close to losing a loved one, it changes your entire perspective on things.”

In 2021, Raponi began taking her training more seriously, and she knew she needed a coach to reach her goals. “Truthfully, I didn’t know what my potential was, and thought having a coach might change my relationship with the sport,” she says.

She began training with a group called the Kingston Run Scene, under coach Brant Stachel. She broke 20 minutes for 5K in her first couple of months under his wing, but was unable to test her fitness in a race environment due to the pandemic.

Raponi found herself at the start line of the Erie Marathon, where she ran 3:33 and finished three minutes shy of the Boston qualifying time of 3:30:00. She felt defeated, but she knew she was capable of more.

Raponi kept showing up, and found herself on another start line at the Georgina Marathon last October. This time she was going to Boston, achieving a 30-minute personal best for a time of 3:03. 

“I was dealing with an Achilles injury going into Boston, but I kept telling myself to go after things because life is too short,” Raponi says.

Even though there was doubt going into the race, Raponi’s secret was to remind herself to be grateful for what she has: a loving family, a supportive coach and great friends.

Raponi’s next goal is to work toward a 1:20 at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Half in October.

Kenya’s Kigen, Ethiopia’s Borecha win Prague marathon

Nobert Kigen of Kenya won the men's title at the Prague international marathon on Sunday while Bekelech Borecha of Ethiopia was the fastest woman in the race. Kigen crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 54 seconds, beating a pair of Ethiopian runners.

Kelkile Woldaregay finished second in 2:08:30 with Yitayal Zerihun another 14 seconds back in third. Borecha clocked her personal best of 2:22:56.

More that 10,000 runners participated in the race that had two editions cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Emily Sisson breaks the American Women half marathon record

Fifteen years after she won a national junior title in Indianapolis on the track, Emily Sisson returned here to set an American record in the women’s half-marathon on the road.

Sisson finished in 1 hour, 7 minutes, 11 seconds in the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on Saturday.

The 30-year-old runner broke the American record of 1:07:15 set by Sara Hall on Jan. 16.

Sisson was paced throughout by male runner Brian Harvey, who finished in 1:07:12.

It was the first in-person Mini since 2019 after the annual race was twice canceled during the pandemic.

Hall’s time had broken the American record of 1:07:25 set by Notre Dame graduate Molly Huddle in 2018. Sisson twice nearly bettered that – clocking 1:07:30 in 2019 and 1:07:26 in 2020 – and finally secured the record on a breezy morning with temperatures in the low 50s.

Sisson, an NCAA and Big East champion while representing Providence, won the U.S. Olympic Trials at 10,000 meters last year and finished 10th at Tokyo.

In 2007, she won a USA junior title in the 5,000 meters at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium, just a few blocks from where the Mini finished at Military Park.

Andrew (Kremer) Pomaranski, a Bishop Chatard graduate, finished second to Sisson in 1:13:12.

Pomaranski, 39, a mother of three who now lives in Michigan, broke a 10-year-old personal best. She was 10th in January’s Houston Marathon in 2:33:35, third-fastest ever by a native Hoosier. While at Miami (Ohio) in college, she set an American junior (under-20) record in the steeplechase.

The Best Running Tips We've Ever Heard

Whether you've been running for a year or a decade, sometimes you hear a tip that makes you say, "Why didn't I think of that?!" We could always use a good hack, so read up on our list and see if there's something that can improve your running routine for the better.

Just Run for 10 Minutes

This one is an oldie but goodie. Not feeling your usual run? Aim to log just 10 minutes (or 1 mile, whichever you prefer). If the issue is inertia, most of the time you'll feel better after a warmup and want to keep going.

Make a Plan

Even if you're running casually, if you want to make sure your runs happen, schedule them out in advance. Look at the week (or month) ahead and decide when you'll be able to run and when it's better to focus on other things.

Better to Be Undercooked Than Overcooked

We'd never suggest toeing the starting line without proper training, but there's a fine line between being prepared and getting burnt out. As you get closer to a goal race, resist the urge to pile on more and more miles. And if you have any nagging aches or pains, a few days off can help get you to the starting line healthy. 

Always End a Workout Feeling Like You Could Do a Little More

Whether you have an easy run or an interval workout on tap, it's generally a good idea to leave some in the tank. Giving 110% is a great strategy for race day, but not every day.

Humidity Is the Poor Man's Altitude Training

If you live in an area with warm weather humidity (we see you gulf coast!), your runs are going to feel a lot harder than they would in drier weather. There are plenty of online charts that can help you adjust pace based on the dew point, but keep in mind that if the weather changes later on (and especially on race day), all of that humid training will pay off. Your body has to work harder to cool itself when it's humid, so those physical adaptations (e.g. higher core body temperature and subsequent increased heart rate) will ultimately make you a stronger runner.

Don't Try Anything New on Race Day

You've heard it before, but race day (and the days leading up to it) are the time to stick with your tried-and-true routine. Practice everything from your outfit and your pre-run breakfast to your shoes well in advance. The last thing you need mid-race is an urgent porta potty stop or blisters!

Prioritize Refueling

What happens after a run is almost as important as the run itself. Aim to refuel with a mix of carbohydrates and protein within 30 mins after finishing up your workout. Skimping on post-run fuel can hinder muscle recovery, so it's important not to overlook this step!

Don't Waste Energy up Top

Rather than clenching your fists together, lightly cup your hands (imagine you're holding a handful of potato chips that you don't want to crush!).

Make Every Run Have a Purpose

If you're training for a race, identifying the goal for each day is key. Sometimes the goal will be dialing in on race pace while other days it will simply be recovery. Knowing why you're doing each run can help prevent running unnecessary junk miles or on the flip side, skipping runs.

Follow these steps to fix Plantar Fasciitis foot issues

Plantar fasciitis is a painful injury that not only affects your ability to run, but can even make walking a challenge. It’s a very common issue among runners and can be difficult to get rid of, but not impossible. In the following video, runner, sports rehabilitation therapist and coach, James Dunne, shares three ingredients to successfully treat plantar fasciitis so you can get back on the road pain-free.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Your plantar fascia is the ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot, which absorbs the stress and strain you put on your feet on a day-to-day basis. Too much pressure on the plantar fascia can result in tears in the ligament, which causes inflammation and pain.

In many cases, plantar fasciitis pain occurs in the morning when you take your first steps of the day, and then decreases as you move around. It can return, however, after long periods of standing, during or after a run or when you stand up after a long period of sitting.

The keys to fixing plantar fasciitis

According to Dunne, the three most important aspects of plantar fasciitis treatment include plantar fasciitis stretches, strengthening for plantar fasciitis and loading your plantar fascia to promote recovery and long-term function. If you’re struggling with plantar fasciitis, check out the video to learn what you can do every day to resolve the issue and get back to running (and living) pain-free.

Meet the famous duck who ran the Long Island Marathon

In case you forgot about the famous duck, Wrinkle, who made an appearance on the course at the 2021 New York Marathon, he made another appearance at the Long Island Marathon in New York on May 7, in the kids 1K marathon, where Wrinkle clocked a world duck record of 18 minutes and eight seconds.

Wrinkle, who is known as ‘@seducktive’ on Instagram, posted to his 500,000 followers that the race was a lot of fun but hard, and he has no idea whether his time is good or bad. 

Before we get into this duck’s performance-enhancing diet, many fans have been speculating about the benefits of wearing webbed-foot shoes. Wrinkle sports customized booties made by his mom and dad to give him a little extra cushioning while he’s out for a waddle.

Wrinkle first gained attention at last November’s NYC Marathon, when he was spotted waddling on the course. Since then, he has been spotted cheering on marathoners in Boston and hanging out with other ducks at the local park

Upon further investigation into duck world records, Wrinkle might be the first to waddle 1,000m and do it at such a blazing speed of 3.31 km/h. 

The record is still under ratification, according to the non-existent World Duck Athletics panel. 

2022 Cocodona 250 Mile Women’s Race

There’s just something about Leadville, Colorado, legend Annie Hughes. With just 71:10:22 down, the 24-year-old claimed first in the women’s race. She led the women all race, and did so with nearly no sleep — only a few catnaps along the way. This is Hughes’ second 200-plus-mile race in seven months, as she won the 2021 Moab 240 Mile last October.

Second in the women’s race belonged to Lauren Jones, whose steady pace throughout delivered her to the finish line at 78:34:16.

Some five hours later, Aravaipa’s own Sarah Ostaszewski landed the final podium spot, with an official time of 84:21:24. Notably, Ostaszewski finished fifth in last year’s Cocodona showdown and looked pleased to have bested her previous performance by two spots.

2022 Cocodona 250 Mile Women’s Results

Annie Hughes (Hoka) – 71:10:22

Lauren Jones – 78:34:16

Sarah Ostaszewski (Aravaipa Running) – 84:21:24

Rhoda Smoker – 89:06:50

Stephanie Simpson – 89:46:29

2022 Cocodona 250 Mile Men’s Race

The second annual Cocodona 250 Mile began at 10 a.m. U.S. Mountain Time on Tuesday, May 2, in Prescott, Arizona. Runners endured scenic but brutal terrain over the 254-mile course and climbed more than 30,000 feet to arrive in the northern city of Flagstaff.

This year’s course was heavily modified from its intended route due to wildfires. The official cutoff time for the race is 125 hours, and it ends on Saturday, May 7.

This year’s event, put on by Aravaipa Running, did not disappoint and saw some impressive times set by those earliest to the finish line.

Thru-hiker and ultrarunner Joe McConaughy and young phenom Annie Hughes clinched the men’s and women’s top spots on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, respectively. At the time of publication, runners continue to trickle across the finish line, totally worked but generally beaming.

2022 Cocodona 250 Mile Men’s Race

Joe McConaughy, aka Stringbean (his trail name in the thru-hiking community), ran the entirety of the race in absolutely stellar form and broke the tape in a diminutive 59:28:54. That signified a more than six-hour lead over the rest of the field.

Michael McKnight picked up the pace in the back half of the race to close that gap. At 65:39:16, McKnight crossed the threshold at Heritage Square, claiming second place in the men’s race.

United States Marine veteran Matt Smith gained steady momentum, moving from the middle of the pack to round out the men’s podium late in the race. He finished in 73:01:19.

2022 Cocodona 250 Mile Men’s Results

Joe McConaughy (Brooks) – 59:28:54

Michael McKnight (Salomon) – 65:39:16

Matt Smith – 73:01:19

Kevin Goldberg– 74:24:58

Jason Koop – 75:47:25

Running Home: Michael Wardian Begins His Run Across America

Michael Wardian is running across America to raise money for World Vision.

On Sunday, May 1, from City Hall in San Francisco, California, runner Michael Wardian set off on his latest adventure — a run the whole way across the United States, ending at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to raise money for World Vision’s clean water projects around the world. He will be following Route 50, America’s loneliest highway, through some of the remotest parts of the country, and will travel through 13 states, covering over 3,200 miles.Wardian has a host of wild and wonderful running accomplishments to his name, and this latest challenge seems fitting for the runner, who holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run in Antarctica — 2:54:54, run on January 23, 2017.

This was the first leg of his World Marathon Challenge, consisting of seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Wardian holds the fastest cumulative time for the event at 19 hours, 21 minutes, and 36 seconds, averaging 2:45:57 per marathon. His Antarctica run is believed to be the only sub-three-hour marathon run on the ice-covered continent.

Wardian also previously held the record for the fastest marathon pushing a stroller, which he set with the help of his then 10-month-old son Pierce, at the Frederick Marathon in 2007, in a time of 2:42:21.

More recently, in 2020, Wardian won the Quarantine Backyard Ultra, completing 262.5 miles, or 63 laps, in a tight circuit around his local neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, to abide by social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first day of his latest challenge, which is called Running Home because he’s running in the direction of his home, the public was invited to share in Wardian’s send-off and to run a few miles with him.

He told iRunFar he had 20 to 30 people accompany him for the first part of his run from City Hall to Ocean Beach. There he dipped his toes in the Pacific Ocean before heading east on his quest toward the Atlantic, covering 57.97 miles on the first day.

All going well, Wardian’s schedule will see him averaging just over 50 miles per day to finish the traverse, appropriately, on July 4.

When asked about his motivation, he told iRunFar: “I’m trying to raise $100,000 for World Vision for clean water projects. I think right now we’re 14% of the way, so hopefully each day we get a little more and change a lot of lives. I think right now we’ve already impacted [about] 350 lives. It’s so cool, every day I get texts saying that somebody donated five bucks, and imagine if everybody donated just five bucks!”

You can follow Wardian’s run on the live tracker and send him a supportive message, make a donation to his World Vision fund, and help him reach his goal of raising $100,000 for this most worthy cause.

Update: Michael has crossed California and is now in Nevada.  

Timothy Cheruiyot and Jakob Ingebrigtsen will resume rivalry in Eugene Mile

Reigning Wanda Diamond League champion Timothy Cheruiyot and Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen will resume their rivalry in the men's 1500m when they go head to head in the prestigious Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on May 28th. 

Cheruiyot claimed his fourth career Diamond Trophy when he edged out Ingebrigtsen in the final in Zurich last year, just weeks after the Norwegian had beaten him to the gold medal in Tokyo.

Ingebrigtsen, 21, already has a rich history of success in the Bowerman Mile. At the 2017 Pre Classic Ingebrigtsen became the youngest to ever break the four minute barrier, running 3:58.07 at the age of 16. One year later he would lower his time to 3:52.28 and come back again in 2019 with a 3:51.30. In last year’s race, Ingebrigtsen captured his first Bowerman Mile victory, running the fastest time ever on U.S. soil, 3:47.24. After breaking the Olympic record in Tokyo last summer and taking down the indoor 1500 meter world record earlier this year, it’s clear the Norwegian is ready to cement himself further in the record books.

The budding rivalry between Ingebrigtsen and Cheruiyot will add another chapter at the Pre Classic in 2022. After winning the Bowerman Mile and claiming gold at the World Championships in 2019, Cheruiyot took silver at the Olympic games last year. He would ultimately bounce back to beat the Norwegian in Zurich.

The third Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season will also feature a strong field in the men's 5000m, with Canada's Olympic silver medallist Mo Ahmed taking on home hero Paul Chelimo and 2018 Diamond League champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia. 

In the women's discus, meanwhile, 2021 Diamond League champion Valarie Allman will be looking to use home advantage to get valuable points on the board in her bid to defend her title, going up against the likes of Olympic silver medallist Kristin Prudenz and six-time Diamond League champion Sandra Perkovic.

Betty Deer, 80, has been running in marathons across the country since 1986, the Indianapolis Mini Marathon this Saturday will be her last

The running began 48 years ago in a modest neighborhood in New Palestine. Betty Deer was a 32-year-old mother of two girls, a mother who, if truth be told, hoped a jog after dinner might keep those nagging extra five pounds away.

She set out from her driveway that first evening in 1974 and started jogging. A couple of neighbors spotted her and stopped Betty.

"Hey, we'd like to try running, too," they told her.

At first, they kept it short, about a mile and a half from the end of the street down to Sugar Creek.

"And then we'd get down there and it was like, 'Well now, you've got to figure out how to get back,'" said Betty. "How do we get back that mile and a half?" 

That was Betty Deer at 32. On Saturday, she will run her 34th Mini-Marathon at 80, a race she has finished in the top three in her age division the past 13 years.

It will be a bittersweet day, an end of an era. Betty has run more than 12 full marathons and too many half marathons and shorter distance races to count.

More than 50 medals hang in the den of her Greenfield home. Others are on the desk still wrapped in plastic. Many have been donated to sick kids at Riley Hospital for Children. Some have gone to Goodwill.

But on Saturday, Betty says she will cross the Mini-Marathon finish line one final time. 

"I wouldn't count on it," her husband Larry Deer quickly chimes in. He can hardly believe his wife of 61 years would really give up marathoning. "I don't think so. She might have another in her."

No, Betty says adamantly. When she runs long distances, right hip pain nags at her. The foot pain is there, too, and even the Asics shoes she has sworn by for decades aren't giving her relief.  

"This will be my last," she said. "It really will be my last."

The neighborhood jogs turned to running with co-workers after Betty clocked out at Community Hospital East, where she was a patient representative before going back to school to get a degree in social work.

"One of the ladies there said, 'You know Shirley runs the Mini. Why don't you do that?'" Betty said. "That's how it began."

It was 58 degrees, drizzling and overcast in May 1986. Betty drove to Indianapolis Motor Speedway where buses picked up runners and shuttled them downtown for the start of the race.

This was the 10th Mini-Marathon; the race began in 1977. It was Betty's first. She finished that race with the best time of her 33 runs: One hour and 59 minutes. 

She was hooked.

In the early days of the Mini, Betty ran the entire race.

"It was a mental thing in the beginning. I thought you had to run it," she said. The only time she would walk was to grab a paper cup of water, drink it quickly, and then start running again.

"But now I find out that I do just as well if I walk some of it," she said. On Saturday, she plans to run five minutes, walk 30 seconds, run five minutes, walk 30 seconds the entire race.

Her times have slowed as the years have passed. But it's all relative. Betty remains at the top of her age group. At 64 years old, she finished fourth in her age group, running the Mini in 2:07. Every Mini-Marathon since, she has finished in the top 3.

In 2019, Betty placed first in the 75-79 age group with a time of 2:41:27, beating the next closest competitor by a full six minutes and the fifth place finisher by 32 minutes.

"But I'm not fast. I'm not fast," she said. "See, I don't consider myself a competitive runner."

If not that, then what is she?

As running goes, Betty has been lucky. At 80, she hasn't had to have surgery on her knees or hip. She did have a thyroid issue and a couple of bouts with cataracts.

In the hundreds of races she has competed in, Betty has crossed the finish line every single time, though there was one Mini where she almost didn't.

It was the 10th mile of the race when she broke the third metatarsal bone in her foot.

"I didn't know what to do and I started walking, but it was painful," she said. "And I decided, 'Well, I might as well finish it.' And so I started running and actually it felt better after I started running. And I finished that race."

Betty doesn't have any rituals for the Mini-Marathon, no carb-loaded spaghetti dinners with garlic bread the night before. "It just depends what I feel like eating that night," she said.

In the morning, she usually has half a bagel with a smidge of peanut butter on the way to the race.

Her training consists of some type of workout six days a week. She runs three days, does spin classes and Pilates classes on two days and walks with a neighbor one day.

Betty saves her long runs for Sundays. To prepare for the Mini this year, she ran eight miles on Sundays in January, nine miles in February, 10 miles in March and 11 or 12 miles in April.

This week leading up to the Mini, she ran nine miles on Sunday, took a spin class and a Pilates class Monday and ran three miles Tuesday. She will rest until Saturday.

Now to run her final Mini-Marathon.

"The thing I've enjoyed most is running with my friends," Betty said. "If I'd stop running with them that would be devastating to me. So I'm going to keep running, just not to this level."

Six-year-old’s marathon sparks controversy on social media

On Sunday at the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio, a family of eight from Bellevue, Ky., all completed the 42.2 km together in eight hours and 35 minutes. Since then, their family marathon outing has sparked controversy online as two of the children are under 12, and one is only six.

Ben Crawford‘s Facebook post about his family’s marathon finish sparked criticism over the advisability of allowing his six-year-old son, Rainier, to cover the marathon distance. Many experienced marathoners and coaches, including Lee Troop and Kara Goucher, have weighed in online, stating that six is too young for the marathon.

Most experts advise against heavy training for children, whose bones are still developing. Even at 11, growth plate development is not complete; children who run marathons before puberty may be at risk of future musculoskeletal issues. Also, extreme training may also reduce levels of serum HGH (human growth hormone) and testosterone in children who have not yet gone through puberty. Many commenters question whether, even in the absence of long-term physical effects, so much training at such a young age could possibly lead to a lifelong love of the sport. It’s for these reasons that marathons have rules that entrants must be 18 or older.

Crawford posted that “On the marathon course, Rainier knew they usually hand out Pringles around mile 20. He was struggling physically and wanted to take a break and sit every three minutes. After 7 hours, we finally got to mile 20 and only to find an abandoned table and empty boxes. He was crying and we were moving slow so I told him I’d buy him two sleeves if he kept moving. I had to promise him another sleeve to get him in the family pic at the finish line. Today I paid him off.”

Crawford also has a YouTube channel that includes multiple posts with titles like “6 Year Old Runs 6 Miles–NO PROBLEM” and “5-Year-Old Trains for Marathon.”

In their defence, parents Ben and Kami Crawford say they have never forced their children to run and that Rainier begged to join them at this race. “We gave him a 50/50 chance of completing it and were ready to pull the plug at any moment if he requested it,” Crawford says on his Facebook page. “Yes there were tears, and yes he had a fall but every single member of our family has cried during a marathon.

“We go to great lengths to prioritize our kids’ health and experience of the day over sharing it with anyone else. Communicating these stories is a passion project that we do with our children’s co-operation and permission.”

This isn’t the first time the Crawford family has embarked on what some would see as a questionable challenge for a family with a young child; in 2019, he published a book called 2,000 miles Together: The Story of the Largest Family to Hike the Appalachian Trail. (Rainier was three at the time.)

The Flying Pig Marathon issued the following statement:

“Our marathon takes the safety and security of all participants very seriously. We receive numerous requests for special accommodations each year and carefully evaluate each one. Our goal is to provide a positive race experience for all participants while supporting them along the course. The Flying Pig Marathon was founded on the idea of hosting a world-class road race experience and will always strive to do so.”

Five excuses for when it’s OK to skip your run

You know the feeling–your run has turned into a slog. You’re underslept, underfuelled, and something hurts (more likely, multiple things hurt). Do you call it a day and go home?

If it’s an easy run, long run or a workout, in most cases you’re better off just gutting it out and finishing. Even if you don’t accomplish what you set out for, the effort you put in is still valuable and will contribute to your mental strength and fitness down the road. But sometimes, bailing on a run can be for the better. Here are a few examples of times when it’s more than OK to cut your run short. 

1.- If you have an injury

This is a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many athletes push themselves through an injury when they shouldn’t be exercising at all. If you’re injured, try to resist the urge to run until the issue is under control (no pain). If the injury gets worse while you’re running, you need to stop immediately, as pushing yourself through the last few intervals or kilometres could potentially set you back more weeks or even months.

Try to distinguish between the pain associated with an injury and common aches and soreness from running. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

2.- If you are sick

If you have the flu, infection or a virus, take a break from hard training and let your body recover. Hard or long efforts can damage an already weak immune system and open the door for further sickness or delayed recovery. If you insist on running, keep it short and easy. The rule of thumb is that if what ails you is above the neck (such as a sore throat or headache), you can still run, but be cautious. If it’s below the neck (such as in the chest/lungs), you should completely avoid hard training until things clear up.

3.- Mental and physical exhaustion

Running through a bit of physical fatigue is common, especially when you are training for longer distances. The first couple of kilometres are tough on tired legs, but you can shake off a bit of exertion after a few clicks. If you’re drained and lack energy or enthusiasm, it may be necessary to cut the workout short or reschedule the run to another day. Mental stress can carry over, leaving you unmotivated or unable to complete a workout.

Be honest with yourself and evaluate how you feel mentally and physically. If you are struggling and/or are completely exhausted, you might want to push your run to another day.

4.- Emergencies

This is obnious. Some things in life are bigger than you training to lower your marathon PB. In the case of an emergency, you shouldn’t even think about getting mileage in. Whether it’s a family or personal emergency, making sure you are following your training plan should be low on your priority list.

5.- A severe weather warning or natural disaster

Although the weather is usually beyond our control, runners are the first to blame the external conditions. Many old-school coaches will say there’s no such thing as bad weather, just a bad attitude (or bad clothing), but that’s not necessarily true. If there are high wind warnings or a tornado brewing, you may be able to finally use the weather as an excuse. Treadmills were invented for a reason.

The USATF Half Marathon Championships hosted by the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon are the fourth stop on the 2022 USATF Running Circuit

With $40,000 of prize money on the line and course conditions ideal for fast times, Olympians Leonard Korir and Emily Sisson headline the men’s and women’s field for Saturday’s USATF Half Marathon Championships in downtown Indianapolis, in what promises to be an exciting morning of racing. 

Korir (Colorado Springs, Colorado/USATF Colorado) leads a talented men’s field to the start line in Indianapolis. The two-time USATF Half Marathon champion is having a strong start to his 2022 season, with a runner-up effort at the USATF 15 km Championships and a fourth-place finish at the USATF Cross Country Championships, which puts him atop of the USATF Running Circuit overall standings with 19 points, four points ahead of Shadrack Kipchirchir, who is not racing Saturday. 

Korir will be joined up front by Futsum Zienasellassie (Flagstaff, Arizona/USATF Arizona), who finished sixth at the USATF 15 km Championships and ninth at the USATF Cross Country Championships. Zienasellassie beat Korir at the 2021 USATF Half Marathon Championships, placing fifth to Korir’s seventh. 

At the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run early last month, Zienasellassie placed an impressive fourth against strong competition, finishing four seconds up on fifth place Reid Buchanan, as well as besting sixth place finisher Lawi Lalang.

Both Buchanan (San Diego, California/USATF Southern California) and Lalang (Colorado Springs, Colorado/USATF Colorado) are entered in Saturday’s contest and will vie for top three finishes. Jacob Thomson (Flagstaff, Arizona/USATF Arizona), who placed tenth at the USATF 15 km Championships, leads the rest of the field, which includes notable road race standouts Noah Droddy (Boulder, Colorado), Sid Vaughn (Flagstaff, Arizona), and Caleb Kerr (Zionsville, Indiana/USATF Indiana). Leading the women’s field, Sisson (Flagstaff, Arizona/USATF New England) seeks to continue her dominance on the roads.

The Providence-based standout has had a quiet start to her 2022, only racing once. That one race though was one to remember, winning the USATF 15 km Championships by nearly two minutes. Sisson currently sits tied for third in the USATF Running Circuit standings with 15 points, only behind Emily Infeld and Emily Durgin, who have 20 and 19 points respectively. 

Behind Sisson, notable veteran Allie Kieffer (West Islip, New York/USATF New York) resumes her racing in the United States. Kieffer has raced twice in 2022, once in Great Britain and again in Italy. Her performance at the Roma Ostia Half Marathon in early March was impressive, as she finished fourth in 1:09:17 on the fast Italian course. Kieffer placed fourth in the 2021 USATF Half Marathon Championships in 1:10:44 and will look to improve on that performance on Saturday. 

Another top three contender is Tayler Tuttle (Boulder, Colorado/USATF Colorado). Tuttle placed eighth at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run last month, while finishing tenth at the USATF 15 km Championships. A top three performance in Indianapolis would move Tuttle into top five on the USATF Running Circuit. 

Other key entries include Jane Bareikis (Crestwood, Illinois/USATF Illinois), who has run 1:14 for the half marathon distance twice this year, along with Madison Offstein (Chicago, Illinois/USATF Illinois).

Ethiopians will be vying for course records at 2022 Tartan Ottawa International Marathon

Ethiopia will again be favored to win when the Ottawa International Marathon returns to an in-person event on Sunday, May 29th.

Indeed, the Ethiopian women are expected to extend their 10-year winning streak as they vye to break the course record (CR) of 2:22:17, set in 2018 by returning champion Geleta Burka. Burka will be challenged by the 2019 defending champion, Tigist Girma, who has since run twice under 2:20

These blistering fast women will be challenged by countrywoman Bruktayit Eshetu who finished 2nd in the 2019 Toronto Waterfront Marathon with a personal best of 2:22:40 and Juliet Chekwel of Uganda, who recorded a national record of 2:23:13 in her marathon debut two years ago.

Returning to Ottawa will be Lanni Marchant who broke the 28-year-old national record in 2013 by running it in exactly 2:28:00. Marchant will be heading off against Dayna Pidhoreski, the 2019 Canadian marathon champion with a personal best of 2:29:03.

Unprecedented depth of field in the men’s event

On the men’s side, Ottawa’s new Elite Athlete Coordinator Dylan Wykes, a 2012 Canadian Olympian, has assembled an unprecedented depth of field on Canadian soil. No fewer than eight of the men lining up on the start line will be boasting personal bests under 2:08, with three of them having recently run 2:06 or faster. The course record, set by fellow Ethiopian Yemane Tsegaye in 2014 is 2:06:54.

Wykes will be looking for return competitor Adugna Takele (2:05:57) and his fellow Ethiopian competitors Tsegaye Getachew Kebede (2:05:11) and Andualem Belay Shiferaw (2:05:52) to compete for that CR. The Ethiopians could see a fight from Kenyan Alex Kibet who recently won the Berlin Half Marathon with a personal best of 58:55, indicating his preparations are going well.

“It’s been an interesting challenge to build this start list with so little in-person competition over the past two years,” said Dylan Wykes, the Elite Athlete Coordinator. “Based on what we’ve seen recently with these athletes, and with how fast road races have been generally, I think we are quite likely to see some very fast times on May 29th. I can’t wait.”

The top Canadian in the men’s field is Tristan Woodfine, who was 10th in the 2018 Ottawa Marathon and will be seeking a top 10 finish.

The best steps to a faster post-run recovery, as soon as you finish a run, start preparing your body for the next one

Recovery starts as soon as your run is done, and the faster you can recover, the sooner you can get out for your next session. No matter if you were doing an easy 5K or a gut-busting interval session, what you do in the minutes and hours afterward is crucial if you want to set yourself up for success for the next day’s session. Follow these steps to become a master at recovery so you can run well and hit your goals all year long.

Cooldown

Every run should be followed by a cooldown, but exactly how intensive that cooldown is will depend on how intense your run was that day. Even after a short recovery run, you should finish the session with a very light jog or walk for about five or 10 minutes. After a hard interval session, your cooldown will need to be a little longer, since it will take your body longer to come back down “normal” status.

Hydrate

Whether it’s 30 degrees or below zero, re-hydrating after a run is important. You should aim to be drinking water (or an electrolyte beverage) within 10-15 minutes after your run and cooldown are complete. Being properly hydrated maximizes recovery, lowers your risk for cramping and injuries and will help you perform better on your next run.

Stretch

Once your cooldown is done and you’ve drunk some water, take five or 10 minutes to do some active stretching. This doesn’t have to be a full-blown yoga session, but stretching and restoring blood flow to the muscles that likely tightened up during your run will speed up your recovery and keep you feeling loose and comfortable throughout the rest of your day.

Take off your wet clothes

As much as you can, try to take your sweaty clothes off as soon as possible after your run, particularly if it’s wet or cold outside. Wet clothing can cool you off too quickly after a run, and by putting on warm, dry clothes, you are keeping your muscles warm to promote recovery and aid in blood circulation. Circulation is important following a run because good blood flow brings much-needed nutrients to your muscles while shuttling waste away.

Eat

Many experts argue your post-run nutrition is the most important factor in jump-starting the recovery process. Ideally, you want to eat something within the first 30 minutes after your run that has a good mixture of protein and carbohydrates. Good examples are yogurt with fruit and granola, a smoothie with protein powder, a banana with peanut butter or the runner’s classic, chocolate milk.

If you find it difficult to eat anything substantial immediately after a run, have something small right away, then wait until your stomach settles to have a full meal.

Nap (if you have the time)

Most runners don’t have time in their day to schedule a nap, but after a long run or hard workout, even a quick 15-20 minutes can really ramp up your recovery. If a nap isn’t in the cards for you, make sure you’re getting seven to eight hours of quality sleep most nights. Sleep is the ultimate version of rest and provides your body with the best opportunity to rebuild, repair and recover.

Stay mobile throughout the day

If you’re running in the morning and then heading to a desk job for the rest of the day, make sure you take a few minutes periodically throughout your day to get up and move around. Sitting for too long after a run can make your body stiffen up, which could set you back before your next run, so get up, do a few light stretches and walk around a bit to keep the blood flowing.

Useful tips on how to build the ultimate running body

They say that the one who falls in love with running once remains forever faithful to that passion. And those who practice running regularly, whether it is only recreational, or those runners who will not miss a single half-marathon or marathon, confirm that.

We all strive for the ultimate running body, and in order to get as close to it as possible, it is necessary to break it down into segments and pay enough attention to each of them. In the text below, you will find useful tips on how to improve your running technique and build an extreme running body.

Go Gradually

The first and basic rule is that you cannot expect miracles in the beginning, especially if you have been physically inactive for a long time, and if you have not practiced other types of training. In this regard, you should not worry too much if you lose your breath after the first kilometer, for it takes some time to get accustomed to this type of activity. 

Perhaps it would be best to actually practice fast walking before you start running, or to alternately jog and walk fast at certain intervals, which you can measure by distance or running time. If you measure by time, let it be a shift of at least 2 minutes, and if you measure by a distance, let it be half a mile.

If you plan to run at home and not outside, you can follow the same rules. According to the folks at yanrefitness.com, you can find a variety of running equipment, if you want to have some additional help in your running adventure. The fact that you are not running outside does not make any difference, because modern treadmills are made so well that you will have complete enjoyment of running.

Decrease your brisk walking intervals over time, and increase those when you run, until you run continuously. The pace is less important, it all comes down to continuity – do not skip training. It would be best to run 4 times a week.

At no point should you feel like you are going to collapse, but at the end of the workout, you should feel that you may have been able to do a little more. Let that be your guide. So, slow down in the beginning, then gradually speed up.

We also mentioned the frequency of 4 times a week, which turned out to be the best. In that respect, it is better to run less mileage and run 4 times, than to run only 2 times a week with significantly more mileage.

Set New Goals

This is very important. When you manage to run 5 miles effortlessly, then try to set new criteria for yourself – maybe to run that distance in a much shorter time, or to run a few more miles. This makes your muscles reactivate over and over again, which means you become stronger and burn more calories.

Of course, don’t be too hasty in setting goals.

Keep a Run Log

To make it easier to track your progress, we suggest keeping a running diary where you will enter mileage and other parameters. In fact, it might be best to use one of the mobile running apps, which are very practical. They give you more information, and one of them is the average speed, i.e. how many minutes it took you for one mile.

Monitor Your Pulse

Running is defined as cardio training, which means that it affects the greater blood flow to the body, and the more you are in shape, the slower your heart rate will be. So this is another parameter through which you can monitor your progress.

Don’t Forget Warm-ups!

And finally, something that you probably already know. Under no circumstances should you skip a warm-up of at least 5 minutes, during which you should activate all muscle groups, as well as stretching, which helps your body to cool down gradually and your muscles to recover more easily after physical activity.

Warming up makes the whole process much easier. It is not just improving the blood flow that is important for the work of the muscles, it is also accelerating the nervous-muscular system by which our brain sends an impulse to the muscles to contract. Fat-burning enzymes are secreted, which helps our aerobic system to increase the efficiency of exercise.

After all, running should be fun, and we’ve given you a few tips to inspire you and guide you on what you need to know before you get onto it. Hopefully, this guide will help you on that road!

100-year-old Lester Wright clocks 26 seconds in 100m

Lester Wright, a WWII veteran and recent centenarian, has broken the M100+  world record in the 100m, clocking 26.34 at Penn Relays last weekend in Philadelphia. He erased the previous record of 26.99 seconds, set by fellow American Donald Pellmann at age 100 in 2015. Wright had just turned 100 the day before the race.

Wright served in the U.S. military during WWII in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.

Wright said to the media post-race that he was inspired by having his wife, children, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren in the stands to watch. This world masters record is not Wright’s first; 24 years ago, he broke the M75+ world 200m record at age 76.

The newly crowned world’s fastest 100-year-old man still competes for his hometown Shore Athletic Club, a community athletics organization out of Spring Lake, N.J.

Wright and his wife Adele have been married for 81 years, raising four children, who gave them six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Wright became a centenarian on April 29 and then on April 30, he celebrated in style, running a new age-group world record in front of thousands of track fans. He crossed the line to a standing ovation, finishing seventh out of nine runners, beating an 86-year-old and 92-year-old.

Kenny Moore one of the great story tellers of American sport for decades has died

Kenny Moore, a former University of Oregon distance runner, two-time Olympian, journalist and author, died Wednesday in Kailua, Hawaii. He was 78.

Kenny's wife, Connie Johnston Moore, would like to share this message with you and with others, written from their long-time Hawaiian home:

"Kenny found his opening this morning. It was about 7.  He was already pretty distant and peaceful and then his breathing stopped. It was a very loving time for me with him. I think he knew he could leave with this morning being our last sunrise. I know you are sad but be grateful for him. It was his time and it was a relatively easy letting go I think for him. I hope you can spread the word for me. Take your time. Just love Kenny, love love love him. We were all privileged to know him and have him in our life. Peace and Love to you and everyone in Eugene."

From his 2019 Induction into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

As an athlete, Kenny Moore found himself right in the middle of some of those great stories while putting his own stamp on running and track and field greatness.

He was known as ‘Ken’ Moore when he graduated North Eugene high school and arrived at the University of Oregon.  He would letter three years each in track and cross country.

Always a versatile distance runner, Ken was a three time All-American on the track, with three more top national finishes in the 3-mile, 5,000 meters and the steeplechase.  Moore was a 1963 cross country All-American and was part of back-to-back teams that finished 2nd in the nation.

As a post-collegiate racer, he flexed his muscle at greater distances, winning the 1967 US Cross Country Championship and dominating the demanding Bay to Breakers road race in San Francisco.  Ken won the 12K monster six consecutive years from 1968-1973.

In 1970, Moore placed second in the prestigious Fukuoka International Marathon with a loop-course American record and personal best time of 2:11.36.

Moore competed on the biggest stage of all twice. He finished 14th in the marathon at the Mexico City Olympics then qualified again in 1972, finishing dead even with training partner Frank Shorter.  Shorter would take the gold and glory on the final day of the Munich games in the shadow of the terrorist attacks.  Moore just missed the podium, finishing 4th.

These experiences and these times provided extensive material for the writer who would become known as Kenny Moore.  In 25 years at Sports Illustrated, Moore told the big stories, championed the protection of amateur athletes and co-wrote the definitive biography of the enigmatic Steve Prefontaine that inspired the film “Without Limits”.  Moore has also written a biography of his Oregon coach, the legendary Bill Bowerman.

His activism helped win the freedom of imprisoned Ethiopian marathon champion Mamo Wolde.

KENNY MOORE - Athlete and Writer R.I.P.

(December 1, 1943 to May 4, 2022)

Best ways to prepare for an evening race, habitual morning runners, this one is for you

Dear morning runners: evening races are not that common, but they are out there. One of the advantages of an evening race is you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to prepare. But there are pitfalls, as you need to watch what you eat and do during the day to ensure your body has enough energy for your race.

Preparing for an evening race can be difficult to grasp, and eating too close to the start or a long, stressful day at work can easily mess it up. Here are some ways to prepare yourself.

Take it easy

Try to get plenty of sleep the night before, and sleep in the morning of if you can. If you are working, try to have a light activity day, and avoid standing on your feet for prolonged periods.

Practice training at night

The best way to prep for an evening race is by training in the evening to simulate the conditions you’ll be racing in. In the two to three weeks leading up to the event, try to train at the same time as the start. This will also allow you to practice your pre-race fuelling and figure out which foods work and which don’t. Most important, you’ll get a sense of what it feels like to run in the evening.

Fuel and hydrate

Since the race is later in the day, it’s important to make sure your body has enough gas in the tank to perform. Make sure you have a solid breakfast and lunch, then have something small an hour or two before your race–something similar to what you’d have if you were racing in the morning. If conditions are warm, try to sip at least a litre of water throughout the day. It also doesn’t hurt to consume electrolytes to keep your sodium and carbohydrate levels high during the race, especially for races longer than 5K.

Don’t do anything vigorous

Besides a light walk or some fresh air, there’s no need to run or play sports on the day of your race. Throw on a movie and kick your feet up and relax–you’ll want to save your energy for the race. 

New study finds exercise improves heart health even more for those with anxiety and depression, just another reason to lace up for your run today

A new study from the American College of Cardiology suggests that regular exercise can decrease the likelihood of heart complications by 22 per cent in individuals with anxiety and depression, compared to 10 per cent in those who don’t. Put simply, exercise seems to have stronger benefits for the heart health of those who struggle with stress-related conditions.

Researchers believe this is because of exercise’s ability to help counteract the negative effects of stress. “The effect of physical activity on the brain’s stress response may be particularly relevant in those with stress-related psychiatric conditions,” said the study’s lead author, Hadil Zureigat. “This is not to suggest that exercise is only effective in those with depression or anxiety, but we found that these patients seem to derive a greater cardiovascular benefit from physical activity.”

Heart attack remains among the leading causes of death in North America, and as anxiety and depression rates have risen throughout the pandemic, these findings couldn’t come at a better time. 

Researchers considered ‘adequate’ weekly exercise as 150 minutes of moderate-intensity movement. 

How to get back into running

While there are many ways to get 150 minutes of exercise in a week, or roughly 20 minutes a day, running is among the easiest. Beyond a pair of running shoes, there’s really no equipment needed. 

If you’ve taken a hiatus from running, or looking to get started for the first time, here are a few tips. 

Start with a 20 minute walk/run, and over time, decrease the time spent walking and increase the time spent running. Start with one minute running, one minute walking. 

Don’t run every day when you’re getting started; it’s best to alternate between a running day and a strength-training or cross-training day. Having some diversity in your exercise routine keeps things interesting and keeps injuries at bay.

Don’t worry about pace when you’re getting started–focus on consistency, and your pace will improve over time.

Running doesn’t feel good when you’re getting started (or restarted in some cases), but don’t let this discourage you. With every run, it’ll feel a little better.

Seven tips for beginners for surviving your first race

So you did it – you just signed up for your first race. Congratulations! Training for and completing your first race is one of the most exciting, challenging and rewarding processes. There is nothing like trying something new and finishing it on a high.

But now that you’ve signed up, how do you prepare for your first race?

Training for your first race involves so much more than actually running. You’ll need to avoid to injuries, plan a mental strategy, incorporate recovery, learn time management, and adapt your training for your specific race.

Whether you’ve signed up to run a 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon, or anything in between, the journey has only just begun. By the time race week arrives you’ll likely be full of nerves, excitement, questions and uncertainty – but it’ll all be worth it.

Here are 7 crucial times for your first race.

Everything you need to know for running a race, getting ready, and arriving feeling confident on race day.

1.- Don’t skimp out on training.

While it’s tempting to assume that the energy on race day will be enough to push you through those miles, skimping out on training certainly won’t set you up for an enjoyable run.

If you’ve signed up for your very first race – congratulations! Now is the time to put in the hard work, venture outside your comfort zone, and really prepare for race day. While the crowds and atmosphere certainly give you an extra boost on the big day, they can’t help your body complete a distance it’s not prepared for.

Stay motivated during training and remind yourself why you chose this goal to begin with. Sure, it’s going to be hard. Many moments will feel downright uncomfortable. But how will you know what you’re capable of if you only give it half your effort? Take the time to train before your race to set yourself up for a successful, enjoyable race day.

2.- Practice fueling and drinking ahead of time.

If you’re running a 5k or even 10k, you likely won’t need much fuel along the way. But if your first race is a half marathon or marathon – there’s no getting around the fact that you’ll need to fuel and hydrate on the run.

3.- Pick up your gear the day before.

The events that take place during your first race week are exciting, nerve wracking and stressful, all at the same time. There’s no need to add to the stress by rushing around on race morning trying to pick up your bib and find a place for that tshirt they just handed you.

4.- Get all your things out the night before.

Unless you’re running a themed race, you’re probably going to have to wake up early on race day. Waking up earlier than you ever have before may leave you questioning your sanity when you chose to sign up for the race.

5.- Assume that sleep will be tough.

Heading to bed knowing that you’ll be waking up before the sun means that you’ll feel more motivated than ever to get your best night’s sleep. But unfortunately, this hardly ever happens.

Between the nerves, excitement and uncertainties as you mentally prepare for your first race, you’ll likely find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night.

Accept the fact that you’ll probably not get the best sleep the night before your race, which will take some pressure off and help you relax when you find yourself wide awake at 2 am. The most important night of sleep before a race is actually two nights before, so make a point of hitting the hay early during race week and you’ll be all set for race day – even if you missed a few z’s the night before.

6.- Line up behind your pace group.

When you’ve been training at a specific pace or have a lofty goal in mind, it’s tempting to line up just a bit ahead of your goal pace to ensure you don’t fall behind.

However, lining up ahead of the pace for which you’ve trained usually means that people will be passing you left and right at the start of the race. You’ll be lined up with a group of runners that plan to run faster than you, which can feel awfully intimidating before your first race.

7.- Don’t go out too fast.

There is hardly anything that compares to the excitement on race day, whether it’s your first race or your fiftieth. But especially if it’s your first race, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and start out much faster than you had planned.

Make a point to hold yourself back in the beginning, running slightly slower than your goal pace. It will be tough not to get caught up in the excitement, but starting out too fast usually means that you’ll pay for it by struggling near the end.

Once you’ve gotten into a groove and are a few miles into the race, you’ll be able to pick up the pace and really give it your all without having burned yourself out in the beginning.

Join Andre De Grasse in Race With Me! virtual challenge

Canada’s Andre De Grasse is not only known for being quick on his feet, but also for working to empower youth through the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation. Last year, Canada’s fastest man co-authored a children’s picture book titled RACE WITH ME! to inspire youth through his story. And now, kids across the country can join the Olympic sprinter in an eight-week running challenge designed to encourage young Canadians to get moving.

Last year, thousands of kids across Canada participated in the first-ever Race With Me! challenge. This powerful movement helped fuel the Olympic spirit, propelling De Grasse to Olympic gold in the 200m in Tokyo. The Race with Me! challenge raised over $25,000 for Kids Help Phone and made a difference in the lives of many families.

The challenge was created by the 15-year-old Jesse Briscoe of Montreal, Que. After his sports clubs were cancelled during the pandemic, the teenager grew tired of sitting at home and playing video games. Briscoe was inspired by the Olympic champion and his dedication to encouraging young Canadians, so he contacted De Grasse’s management team, and the RACE WITH ME! virtual challenge came to fruition. Briscoe says the challenge has inspired him and his whole family to get out and run or exercise.

How does the challenge work?

The challenge started on May 1 and continues until June 25. During that time, Canadian kids can run 400m at their local track or measure it out on a sidewalk, road, park or other green space. Children and parents are then encouraged to record their times and videos from their races and upload them to www.racewithme.ca, where they will find leaderboards, prizing and other interactive content.

Throughout the challenge, De Grasse and his other Olympic-bound teammates will be sharing tips and words of encouragement through the challenge’s social channels and on the website. Registration is free, and the first 1,000 participants to sign up will receive a free challenge T-shirt. Families may also donate to the challenge, with the proceeds going to youth mental health charities, such as the Kids Help Phone, through the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation. 

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand is set to hang up her spikes after competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Dutee Chand, who has represented India at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, announced her decision to retire in an interview with ESPN after losing the 200m race to teen sprinter Priya Mohan at the Khelo India University Games. 

“I'm growing old, I'm not as fast as I used to be,” the 26-year-old Dutee Chand, who won silver medals in 100m and 200m races at the Asian Games in 2018, admitted. “I'll pull along for two-three more years if my body cooperates.”

Despite losing the 200m sprint to the 19-year-old Priya Mohan, Dutee Chand managed to win two medals at the Khelo India University Games. She successfully defended her title in the 100m sprint earlier in the Games.

However, Dutee Chand clocked only 11.68 seconds in the 100m, far from her personal best and national record of 11.17 seconds she achieved at the Indian Grand Prix in Patiala last year.

“My body is becoming slower and I began training quite late this season,” Dutee Chand reasoned.

Dutee Chand is also yet to meet the qualification standards set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for the Commonwealth Games (11.31s) and the Asian Games (11.36s), scheduled to be held later this year. 

For qualifying for the World Athletics Championships in July, Dutee Chand will need to better her personal best and clock 11.15s to make the cut in the 100m event.

“I've already participated in five events this year to make the cut for these international events… I'm confident of hitting my peak in June-July before the international circuit begins,” Dutee Chand reckoned.

Dutee Chand, who shot to fame after winning the 100m under-18 nationals in 2012, went on to become one of India’s most successful sprinters after PT Usha. 

In 2014, Dutee Chand won the 200m gold medal at Asian Junior Athletics Championships and in 2016, she set a 60m national record (7.28 seconds) at the Asian Indoor Championships to clinch the bronze medal.

After winning two silver medals at the Asian Games in 2018, Dutee Chand became the only Indian to win the gold medal at World University Games in 2019. 

Dutee Chand’s 200m silver medal at the Asian Games was also the first Indian medal in the category since PT Usha’s gold medal in 1986.

In 2022 so far, Dutee Chand won her 100m run at the national inter-university championships in 11.44 seconds in February followed by gold at the Federation Cup in 11.49 seconds in March.

Dutee Chand also made clear her plans to open up 'Dutee Chand Athletics Speed Academy' in Odisha after her retirement to train aspiring sprinters.

BMO Vancouver Marathon delayed by ‘suspicious device’ on course

Vancouver’s 50th BMO Marathon got off to a rocky start Sunday morning when the event was delayed due to a suspicious device found along the course near Science World. CTV News reports that Vancouver police feel “the device was ‘strategically placed’ to disrupt the BMO Vancouver Marathon Sunday morning, but has been ‘rendered inert.'” Due to the incident, the race started an hour behind schedule.

Police think the device, which was spotted just after 5 a.m. by a volunteer, was planted to cause panic and disrupt the event. 

Thankfully, it was a false alarm and the 18,500 runners were able to race safely. 

In elite results, Chris Balestrini took the win for the men in 2:23:56. On the women’s side, 2020 Olympian Dayna Pidhoresky won in a new course record of 2:34:30, surpassing Kim Doerksen’s 2:37:00 from 2014. Also under the former record was 2016 Olympian Lanni Marchant, who was second in 2:36:42. Post-race, Pidhoresky said, “It was a bit of a rollercoaster, mentally. Lanni and I were together for most of the first half of the race. She’s a tough competitor, so in no way did I ever think that I had it in the bag. I was working hard the whole time.”

Of his win, Balestrini mentioned the incredible views: “It’s so scenic and so fun. Going along the seawall is just amazing.”

In the half-marathon, Justin Kent and Olympian Ben Preisner crossed the finish line together in 1:04:54. Preisner, who was the top Canadian performer in the men’s marathon in Tokyo, has run consistently well since his first Games.

Post-race, Kent said he’s thrilled to see the running community back together: “It’s always a top-notch event. I heard that there are 3,000 volunteers–it’s amazing–we are super appreciative just to be here.”

In the women’s race, 2:28 marathoner Leslie Sexton continued her winning streak, taking the title in 1:14:56. Sexton, who has currently run the fastest marathon time within the qualifying period, has her eye on the World Championships marathon this summer. Olympian Natasha Wodak was also entered in the half on Sunday, but this time in the role of pacer. She helped her friend Julie Pelly to a personal best of 1:30.

Flying Pig Marathon Weekend Celebrates Hometown Marathon Winners

The 24th running of the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon powered by P&G celebrated two Greater Cincinnati runners earning their first Flying Pig marathon wins.

The men’s division winner was 29-year-old Zac Holtkamp of Alexandria, Kentucky, in a time of 2:27:18. Holtkamp won this year’s Heart Half Marathon and in 2020 finished second in the Mesa Marathon with a time of 2:22:29. “I waited until after the Heart Half to sign up for the Flying Pig,” said Holtkamp. “After the Heart Half I thought, OK I can do it.”

This was Holtkamp’s first Flying Pig after moving back to the area from Arizona. “I held off for years doing the Flying Pig,” he said. “So many people out there cheering me on, people that I knew, people that I didn’t know at all. For me, personally, that’s what keeps me going, every person who cheers for me, it’s like a mini aid station, it keeps me going.”

Second in the men’s division was 24-year-old Will Cadwell of Covington, in a time of 2:28:11. Cadwell won last October’s Fall Flying Pig Toyota 10K and also won the FCC 3 in July 2021. Third was 37-year-old Jeremy Wysocki of Miamisburg, Ohio with a time of 2:35:19.

In the women’s division, 34-year-old Grace McCarron of Loveland, Ohio won with a time of 2:50:00 in her first Flying Pig. McCarron won the Glass City Marathon in Toledo, Ohio in 2021. “The atmosphere, the crowd, is just amazing. Often when you do a marathon there are some quiet spots, but here people are cheering all the time,” she said. “You’re out there, you’re working so hard, and to hear those cheers makes all the difference.”

Second in the women’s division was 26-year-old Madeline Dawson, who won the Heart Half Marathon earlier this year. Her time in the marathon was 2:52:51. Pacing third was two-time Flying Pig Marathon winner Anne Flower of Covington, who finished in 2:54:04. Flower won the Big Sur Marathon in California just last weekend.

In the Paycor Half Marathon, Cincinnati native Caitlin Keen, a two-time winner of the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon (2018, 2021), won her first Paycor Half Marathon in a time of 1:21:08. The 29-year-old ran a half marathon in Waco, Texas, near her home in Fort Worth, last weekend, but because of a wrong turn, the course was shortened by two miles for the leaders. She made a last minute decision to return to Cincinnati this weekend for the half.

“The experience here is something I never expected. People stop me on the street here and say, ‘You’re Caitlin, I know you, congratulations on winning the Pig.’ I want to be here because that’s how much the people here mean to me.”

Second in the women’s division was 28-year-old Katarina Smiljanec from Covington in a time of 1:24:57. She also placed second in Friday night’s Fifty West Mile elite division. Third in the half was 24-year-old Aimee Piercy from Cincinnati in 1:25:53, who was third in Friday’s Fifty West Mile.

On the men’s side of the Paycor Half Marathon, 43-year-old Josh Whitehead from Huntsville, Alabama, won in a time of 1:12:14. Whitehead has made a remarkable recovery from a bicycle accident in 2020, when he was hit by a car and suffered a broken back, dislocated shoulder and partially collapsed lung.

Second in the men’s division was 30-year-old Eric Gruenbacher of Loveland, Ohio in 1:12:56 and third was 28-year-old Kyle Klingler of Cincinnati in 1:13:14.

The 24th annual Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon weekend powered by P&G began Friday night with sub 5:00 miles in the newly-configured Fifty West Mile, part of the TQL Beer Series.

This year the elite “dash for cash” mile started inside Cincinnati’s Transit Tunnel off Pete Rose Way and ended at the traditional finish line on Mehring Way. The fastest male among the elites was 22-year-old Andrew Taylor of Hilliard, Ohio, in 4:23. In a near photo finish, second place was 23-year-old Jack Cordonnier from Morrow, Ohio, in 4:25 and third was 28-year-old Charlie Michel of Cincinnati in 4:26.

Among the female elites, 27-year-old Gina McNamara from Washington D.C. won in a time of 4:59. Second among the elites was 28-year-old Katarina Smiljanec from Covington, Kentucky in 5:04 and third was 24-year-old Aimee Piercy from Cincinnati in 5:11.

Saturday’s slate of events began with the Toyota 10K, won by two-time Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon winner Jack Randall of Cincinnati. The 27-year-old won in a time of 31:45. In another close finish, second place was 29-year-old Logan Barrett of Jeffersonville, Kentucky, just one second behind at 31:46. Third was 23-year-old Walter Ramsey of East Lake Center, Georgia, in 35:46.

In the women’s division of the Toyota 10K, 42-year-old Shawanna White of Columbia, South Carolina, won in a time of 39:35. Second was 31-year-old Ashley Case of Angola, Indiana, in 40:45 and third was 31-year-old Kaitlin Budke from Blue Ash, Ohio in 40:51.

In the sold-out Tri State Running Company 5K, 24-year-old Jakob Mueller from Monroe, Ohio, was the winner in 16:07, with 31-year-old Anders Ludvigsen of Cincinnati second in 17:04 and 38-year-old Bryan Wagner of Lawrenceburg. Indiana third in 17:22.

For the women, 22-year-old Meredith Grace Gieske from Fort Mitchell was the winner in 18:57. Second was 45-year-old Amy Parker of Dublin, Ohio, in 19:26 and third was Abby Mace in 19:32.

Also held Saturday was the First Watch Flying Piglet, Cincinnati Children’s 26th Mile, PigAbilities presented by Goodwill Industries, and the Flying Fur.

Mo Farah says his elite track career could be over

Multiple Olympic and world champion Mo Farah admitted his elite track career could be over after he finished runner-up in the Vitality London 10,000 on Monday on his return to action.

Farah, who completed the 5,000 and 10,000 meters double at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, was racing for the first time since June after failing to qualify for last year's Tokyo Games.

The 39-year-old Briton finished a minute outside his best time at the London road race, which came in 2010, as he was out-sprinted by 26-year-old club runner Ellis Cross, who finished four seconds ahead with a time of 28min 40secs."In terms of the track, that's it, I think," Farah said. "Your body has to be ready. You have to be in the right frame of mind and compete with the guys. I love the sport and what I do, I've had a long career.

"The reality is that it has been so, so long. In my career, I've never been out that long before... Today was tough and Ellis did well to beat me."

Farah, who has won the London race seven times, confirmed he would definitely miss the World Championships in Eugene in July.

However, he was noncommittal when asked if he would run at the Commonwealth Games or European Championships in August.

"Right now, no," Farah said. "In three, months, two months...We've still got time.

"There's no secret to this, you've got to put in the miles, you've got to put in the work. If my body allows me to continue to do it then maybe.

"The World Championships are not on my radar at the minute... Because I've been there and done it, unless I can compete with the guys and be competitive, you've got to be honest and make that decision."

Eilish McColgan motors to victory in the Vitality London 10,000 in 30:23

Eilish McColgan came within two seconds of Paula Radcliffe’s long-standing British and European 10km record at the Vitality London 10,000 on Monday (2) morning.

After a frantic sprint finish, McColgan stopped the clock at 30:23 to miss the record by a tantalising margin. However, Eilish did relieve her mother and coach Liz of yet another family record as she improved her Scottish record of 30:38 which had stood since 1989.

This was McColgan’s second near-European record in just over a week, proving the European 5000m silver medallist is back in top shape after testing positive for coronavirus in March. In Malaga last week, McColgan clocked 14:45 for 5km to fall one second short of Sifan Hassan’s European standard bearer.

At twice the distance eight days later, McColgan came within touching distance of Radcliffe’s 10km mark of 30:21 from 2003 which also stood as a world record for more than a decade. However, the European all-time list is headed by Lonah Chemtai Salpeter’s 30:05 clocking from Tilburg in 2019 although that time was not ratified for record purposes.

“I am gutted to have missed the British record by a couple of seconds. I probably didn’t believe I could do it, so I went into the race thinking I’d be happy to run 31:40, but I’m in much better shape than I give myself credit for,” said McColgan.

McColgan passed through halfway in 15:15 - by contrast Radcliffe rocketed through 5km in 14:48 when she clocked 30:21 - and despite mustering up some of her track speed in the last 200 meters, McColgan couldn’t quite revise the record books. 

“I only saw the clock when I turned the corner towards the finish line, and I thought: ‘Oh my god, I could make it in time. I think I probably ran a 200m PB in the push for the finish line. I was so desperate to get the record but hopefully there will be another opportunity to go for it again later this year,” said McColgan who holds the European 10km record in a women’s only race at 30:52.

McColgan won the women’s race by more than one minute from fellow Olympian Jess Piasecki in 31:28 with Samantha Harrison third in 31:44.

In the men’s race, British international Ellis Cross achieved a significant victory over multiple Olympic, European and world 5000m and 10,000m champion Mo Farah who was racing for the first time in almost one year due to a stress fracture. 

Cross broke clear of Farah in the last two kilometers for victory in 28:40 to Farah’s 28:44. "I’m lost for words – I did not expect this in a million years. Honestly, I know it’s a cliché, but I couldn’t believe it. I just felt very good from the get-go. Obviously, I knew Farah had a finish, so the last 2K I thought I’d try and wind it up a bit – try to sting his legs a little bit to hold him off,” said Cross.

18-year-old U.S. sprint star Erriyon Knighton becomes fourth fastest man over 200m

On Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge, La., American Erriyon Knighton, who last year, at age 17, broke Usain Bolt’s junior sprint records, shattered his U20 world record in the 200m at the LSU Invite to become the fourth-fastest man in history over 200m. 

Knighton clocked 19.49 seconds, which is the fastest time recorded since the 2012 Olympics, where Usain Bolt clocked 19.32 at age 25. Knighton now only trails Bolt (19.19s), Yohan Blake (19.26s) and Michael Johnson (19.32s) on the all-time list.

The 18-year-old sprint star lowered his personal best and U20 record from 19.84 seconds, which he set at last year’s U.S.Olympic Trials. He went on to finish fourth in Tokyo, becoming the youngest U.S. male track and field runner to reach an Olympic final.

Knighton turned pro last year as a high school junior, signing a professional contract with Adidas. He is now the second-fastest American 200m runner after Johnson’s then-world record of 19.32 at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

He will next have his eyes on the U.S. Outdoor Championships in June and the World Championships in July, which are both in Eugene, Ore., where he ran his previous PB of 19.84 seconds last summer.

Another world U20 record was broken on Saturday at the Gaborone International Meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting in Botswana. U20 world champion Letsile Tebogo became the first man from Botswana to break 10 seconds for 100m. The 18-year-old pulled away from an experienced international field to win in 9.96 seconds (+1.9m/s), taking 0.01 off Trayvon Bromell’s world U20 record of 9.97 set in 2014.

Beginners: use this tip to increase your distance

Learning to run isn’t easy. Running takes plenty of motivation, courage and determination to push your boundaries. The goal for every new runner is to get more comfortable running, but when you’re starting, you are more prone to injury by overtraining or increasing your distance too quickly.

If you are stuck on trying to increase your distance in your learn to run program, we have just the tip that can help you reach your goal. Instead of forcing yourself to do more, try to do less by limiting your rest/walk time.

Beginners will commonly use the 5 and 1’s or 10 and 1’s method, which involves five minutes (or 10 minutes) of running and one minute of walking. If you are struggling to get past running for a certain distance or time, try cutting down your walk rest to 30 seconds.

Your heart rate (on average) decreases by 20-30 beats per minute (bpm) within one minute of stopping your run. Introducing a 30-second walk rest instead of one minute will bring your heart rate down while gradually increasing your endurance as you are limiting yourself to less rest.

This 30-second rest tip is perfect for beginners who are looking for an easy trick to increase their distance without doing more of it. Using the 30-second walk rest tip will eventually get you more comfortable running a particular distance without stopping, which is the goal of every new runner.

Kenyan runners Wesley Kiptoo and Caroline Rotich Set Course Records at 2022 Pittsburgh Half Marathon

Rainy conditions Sunday morning in the City of Champions did not slow down Kenyan runners Wesley Kiptoo and Caroline Rotich from breaking course records and taking home the first prize of $10,000 at the 2022 UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon.  

In the men’s race, Kiptoo and James Ngandu took an early lead in the first mile. They stayed neck and neck until the final stretch when Kiptoo broke the finisher’s tape clocking 1 hour, one minute and twenty-five seconds. Ngandu took home second, finishing only two seconds later. U.S. Olympic marathoner Jared Ward finished third in 1:03:37.

“Today was my professional road racing debut,” Kiptoo said. “I will remember this race and the City of Pittsburgh forever. I’d like to thank the organizers and race sponsors for inviting me and for making it all possible.”

In the women’s race, Rotich smashed the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon course record by 34 seconds finishing in 1:09:30. U.S. Olympic marathoner Aliphine Tuliamuk, who previously held the course record, took home second in 1:09:54, and Sarah Sellers finished third in 1:11:51.  

“It feels great to win my first race ever in Pittsburgh,” Rotich said. “It was so great seeing all the people on the course and cheering despite the rain. I can’t wait to be back!”

Lisa Weightman shatters master's 10k record at Sydney10

In glorious running conditions the 2022 Sydney10 saw record fields and performances. In the women’s, four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman, ran the fastest women’s 10km road time ever in Australia, while in the men’s there was a breakthrough and surprise for Brisbane’s Kieren Perkins.

WOMEN 10KM

In her last race, eight months ago, Lisa Weightman placed a magnificent 26th. In Sydney this morning, Lisa Weightman just carried on from her last race, her fourth Olympic marathon eight months ago in Japan, with a stunning 31:20 10km time. It fell just three seconds short of the Australian record set by Benita Willis in Manchester in 2006, however it was the fastest time ever on Australian soil. It sliced 30 seconds from Lisa’s previous best.

“I’m very pleased and especially after a break and reset post-Olympic Games,” she said. “I would have been happy to get anything with a 31 in-front of it, but to get that close to Benita national record is great.”

Lisa setup the performance on the first lap.

“I passed 5km in 15:30, a PB, and was feeling good and knew I was on for a good run.”

She finished in 32:20, ahead of a tremendous run by Leanne Pompeani clocking 31:43.

The result confirmed some training adjustment are working for Lisa.

“I felt strong from the work I done on the Melbourne university track with the boys.”

Secord placed Leanne Pompeani also entered the record books. Her time of 31:43, was a 43 seconds PB and was the third fastest in Australian history.

She ran hard from the gun and was trailing Lisa.

“After passing 5km in about 15:30, Lisa started to put the foot down and I knew I couldn’t go with that pace,” said Leanne.

“Towards the end, I was definitely feeling it, like you want to stop, but knew I was on for a PB so pushed on. I had ‘banked’ time early as I had run quicker than expected.”

The battle between NSW-based pair of Aynslee van Graan and Jess Noble was terrific. For much of the race Aynslee held the lead, but Jess was able to pass her in the last kilometres to take third in 33:31, from Aynslee with 33:36.

Both claimed satisfying PB. For Jess it removed 80 seconds from her previous best and for Aynslee 16 seconds.

Jess, a fourth-year physiotherapist from Newcastle was very happy.

“I felt I had the potential to run that time,” she said.

“I felt good in the race, except for a 4-5km patch.”

Jess was watching Aynslee closely, knowing she was a threat.

“I could see her most of the way, she is super quick.”

It has been a tremendous 12 months of progress for Jess which she puts down to ‘such a good and positive training group’ under coach Ben Toomey.

But as Jess is still so young, still 20, it does raise the question of how far can she go in the sport?

“I’m not one to think too far ahead,” she said. “I never thought I could run these times.”

Aynslee van Graan only arrived back in Australia from South Africa on Thursday morning after travelling home to see family and friends.

The women claimed the following places on the event’s all-time list: Lisa Weightman #1, Leanne Pompeani #2, Jess Noble #24 and Aynslee van Graan #28.

MEN 10KM

There was a surprise in the men’s 10km with Brisbane’s Kieren Perkins, 29, continuing his amazing rise over the last couple of years. He destroyed his PB clocking 28:57 to destroy his previous best mark of 29:29 set at Launceston in December. Just four years ago he was a 34-35 minute 10km athlete, but under the coaching of Bert Squad led by Peter Bracken, has had enjoyed an amazing rise in the last few years. He has also received some help with his track sessions from Jayden Russ, which assisted him under 14 minutes in the national 5000m championship.

“I shocked myself,” is how Kieren described his performance. “I felt good early and ran with Jacob Cocks (from SA) for 2-4 km, then put my foot down and pull away.”

After he had broken away, defending champion, who had not run for a few months, Kieren Tall was the only remaining danger.

“I felt he (Tall) was there and if I knew if gave him a sniff he could be a problem, so I kept the pressure on.”

“With 2km to go I kicked away. I didn’t want him near with 400m to go should he have I kick.

“I felt strong mentally and physically and felt I could keep pushing throughout.”

Kieren also felt the cool weather in Sydney assisted him.

Can he explain his improvement over the last few years?

“I think taking athletics more seriously and a new squad and positive culture.”

Kieren is an Army logistics officer and has he is full-time runs around 5am daily. No surprise he has little trouble with the six monthly 2.4km Army fitness test.

Defending champion Kieren Tall (Run Crew), was returning to racing and pleased with his second place in 29:16.

“It was better than I expected,” he said. He was a little conservative early ‘so I wouldn’t blow up’.

Next for Kieren is a big training block ahead of concentrating on some road races later in the year.

Third was Queensland’s Liam Boudin in a one second PB time of 29:21, holding off SA’s Riley Cocks (29:25) and Bendigo’s Nathan Stoate (29:30).

The men claimed the following places on the event’s all-time list: Kieren Perkins =#2, Liam Boudin #8, Jacob Cocks #11, Nathan Stoate #13.

The second-ever Cocodona 250 will kick off on Monday, May 2nd, with an alternate course beginning in Prescott, Arizona, and ending in downtown Flagstaff

Over 200 runners will have roughly five days to cover over two hundred miles of some of the Southwest's most beautiful and challenging terrain. 

The race takes place on the current and historic homelands of many Indigenous groups, including the Jumanos, Yagapaiv Apache, Hopitutskwa, Pueblo, Zuni, Hualapai, Hopitutskwa Hualapai, and Hohokam. 

Here's what you need to know about the 2022 Cocodona 250, which athletes to watch for, and how to follow along.

Course Changes for 2022

Due to the Crooks Fire, which started on April 18, race officials rerouted nearly a quarter of the course after the Prescott National Forest was placed under an emergency closure through May 3, for ease of firefighting efforts. As of April 26, the Crooks Fire was 16% contained and burning around 6,400 acres south of Prescott in the Bradshaw mountains.

The new course will start in Prescott, Arizona, rather than Black Canyon City. 

"[The fire] basically broke out less than a mile from the mile 63 aid station," said Jamil Coury, owner of Aravaipa Running and one of the Cocodona organizers. "We've been able to do a reroute of the first 70 miles of the race courseand we're going to be running about 60 miles and then we'll merge back with the course and we'll make up the rest of the miles later on in the race."

As a relatively new race, Coury says there are still some challenges to work through with an event as long as Cocodona. The last-minute course changes proved particularly challenging, but he hopes the event will continue to settle into a routine over the coming years.

"We're trying to work out the kinks for sure. You know, a lot can happen in this length of race," he says. "Everything else is mostly kind of like last year. We're looking to do a livestream of the event again on our YouTube channel until at least the top female podium comes in and we'll see from there, we might try and do some bonus broadcasts with some of our finishers in the last couple of days. It's more like we're trying to test a couple more ideas for the course. We'll get feedback from those and then maybe settle into a more long term route."

Runners to Watch

In its first-ever running last year, Cocodona featured 176 runners, 108 of whom finished. This year the field is considerably larger, with 234 registered runners. Twenty-one of those are finishers from last year's inaugural event: 17 men and four women. 

Those 17 men include 2021 champion Michael Versteeg and three other top-10 finishers (Joshua Locke, Tod Bachman, and Mark Vogel). The women's field includes only two returners from last year's top 10, fifth place finisher Sarah Ostaszewski and ninth place finisher Jodi Semonell.

But alongside those returners comes a strong contingency of newcomers who will look to challenge both the men's and women's course records of 72:50:25 and 85:30:38, respectively.

"For the women, I think the biggest name on the list would be Annie Hughes from Leadville. She won the Moab 240 last year, Leadville 100 last year, and then Coldwater this January," says Coury. "Briana Grigsby from Tucson was fifth at the Black Canyon 100K this year and second at the Javelina 100K last year. And then Sarah Ostaszewski. She finished last year, and she'll be returning."

Hughes, at just 24, will seek to remain undefeated at the 200+ mile distance. She's been training for Cocodona with shorter ultras since winning the Moab 240 in October. She won the Coldwater Rumble 100 in January and the Staunton Rocks Running Up For Air 12-hour event in February. At that race, she racked up 56 miles in just under 11 hours and beat all the other competitors, regardless of gender. She then celebrated her 24th birthday on March 13 by running for 24 hours around her home in Leadville, Colorado, covering nearly 120 miles.

"I feel like with 200s, there's just so much time to go through highs and lows, and you just kind of have to ride the highs when you're feeling good and just go with it," said Hughes. "You can't really plan for these things, so I'm just kind of going into it looking at it as an adventure."

After Cocodona, she will continue a full racing schedule through the summer with three 100s: High Lonesome in July, Run Rabbit Run in September, and Javelina in October, back in Arizona. For Cocodona, she'll focus on carefully scheduling sleep and nutrition, seeing the experience as an opportunity for adventure.

"I think it's really cool that [200s] are becoming more popular and that a brand new race as amazing as this one is now available for runners," said Hughes. "I'm really excited to be a part of this race in one of the first years it's ever been run, because I think it's going to become really big." 

On the men's side, Coury will be watching for 200+ veteran Michael McKnight, who DNF-ed last year's race due to heat struggles, and last year's winner Michael Versteeg, as well as backcountry guide, coach, and pro Brooks athlete Joe McConaughy, who will take his first crack at the 200+ mile distance. McConaughy currently holds the fastest known times (FKTs) for the Arizona Trail (supported), Long Trail in Vermont (self-supported), and Appalachian Trail (northbound, self-supported).

"[McConaughy has a] strong thru-hiking, kind of FKT background," says Coury. "Also really fast at short distance and then even at like the 100-mile distance, he's got some really fast times. He has this interesting mix of super long and short and fast."

McConaughy also brings recent experience with running fast in the area where Cocodona takes place.

"I'm stoked. It's an awesome route. [Aravaipa is] an awesome race organization. There's lots of great runners. So it's kind of like everything you want from an effort," says McConaughy. "I did the Arizona Trail last year and I did it right around the same timeSo it's really cool thinking I did the Arizona Trail and now coming back for another big section of trail. And adventuring in Arizona is really exciting. I just love the desert and the vibes and the whole area. It's just a very, very lovely, fun state."

MEN

Michael McKnight (32, Smithfield, UT): two-time champion of the Triple Crown of 200s (which includes the Moab 240, Tahoe 200, and Bigfoot 200), his record on those three combined races is the fastest ever by nearly 45 hours (162:00:51). He has multiple wins at both Bigfoot and Moab.

Michael Versteeg (Prescott, AZ): Last year's winner, also won the 2020 Fuego y Agua 100K and was fourth at the 2019 Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile

Chad Trumbo (39, Columbus, OH): Won the Fuzzy Fandango 50K in November, sixth at the Mohican 100 Miler in 2021.

Joe McConaughy (30, Seattle, WA): Third at Gorge Waterfalls 100K earlier this month, fourth at the 2021 Javelina Jundred, holds numerous thru-hiking FKTs.

Cole Crosby (33, Cranston, RI): Fifth at the USATF 50K championships in 2020, recent wins at the Manchester to Monadnock 55 Miler and MCW Westfield Ultra 9 Hour.

Eric Senseman (33, Flagstaff, AZ): 2017 JFK 50 Mile winner, with top-three finishes at the 2019 and 2021 Black Canyon 100K.

WOMEN

Annie Hughes (24, Leadville, CO): Recent wins at the Leadville 100, Coldwater Rumble 100, and Moab 240.

Rhoda Smoker (35, Elverson, PA): Recent wins at the Conquer the Wall Endurance Challenge 47 hour run, Dogwood Ultras 12 hour, and Green Monster Trail Challenge 50K.

Brianna Grigsby (34, Tucson, AZ): Recent wins at the Sinister Night Runs 54K and McDowell Mountain Frenzy 50K, plus top-five finishes at the Black Canyon 100K and Bandera 100K earlier this year.

Lee Conner (49, Cleveland, OH): Top-five finishes at the Forget the PR Mohican 50K, Run Lovit 100 Miler, Outlaw 100, and Cloudsplitter 100 - all in the last 8 months!

Jodi Semonell (49, Omaha, NE): Second at the 2020 Moab 240, ninth last year at the inaugural Cocodona 250, recent wins at the Dizzy GOAT 12 hour run and Hitchcock Experience Endurance Runs 100 Miler.

Sarah Ostaszewski (30, Beaverton, OR): Fifth at last year's Cocodona, with recent wins at the Bristow 24 hour run, Mogollon Monster 100 Miler, and Across the Years Marathon, plus a top-10 finish at the Javelina Jundred in October.

Life Stress, Work Stress, Training Stress-Your Body Can't Tell the Difference

Jen Yoshida was used to telling people that running two miles a day is what got her through law school. "Once the run was over, I would tell myself that the hard part of the day was over. It made the difference between feeling optimistic about the day and maybe fearing what was coming next."

Yoshida was frustrated then that she didn't getting the same mental or physical boost once she was a practicing intellectual property lawyer and had added swimming and biking to become a triathlete.

"Work is so much more stressful now, so I should be fine with my increased training, right? I thought I was meeting one big challenge with another. Exercise is good for mental health, so I assumed more exercise would be better."

Yoshisa was confused when her increased training schedule wasn't making her more able to confront work-related stress, plus she was running out of steam during workouts. "I was exhausted at work and my fuse was getting shorter. When I completely forgot a meeting with a client, that was the last straw. I knew something had to change."  

Except for the few elites among us, most athletes must perform extraordinary balancing acts between work, family, relationships, sleep, nutrition, finances, and training. All of these aspects of life incur stress, but many of us assume that the physical stress from training is different from the psychological stress incurred from everything else.

We have been told that exercise is an excellent stress-reliever, without context or qualifiers, and therefore assume that there is a never-ending dose-response. If some exercise is good for mental health, then why wouldn't more be better? It's All Stress to Your Brain and Body

Whether it's because you've got a huge work project to complete, are going through a tough time in your relationship, or ran a tune-up marathon last weekend, the stress that you are experiencing is all the same. We might be surprised to know that it doesn't matter if one type of stress is more enjoyable than the other or if you perceive one to be "healthier" than the other.

Research shows that all forms of stress are additive and, taken together, will alter the functioning of the body to compensate for the total load. Those compensations can look like anything from fatigue from a few days of pushing your limits, all the way up to osteoporosis from a combination of high stress and low progesterone resulting from months or years of overdoing it. 

Those compensations can also look like snapping at your partner out of nowhere or even feeling deep depression or pervasive anxiety. Most of us may be able to connect those feelings with family or work stress but are unlikely to connect that with our training. In fact, many of us will double down on training, thinking that we are doing the right thing to cope or because we are in need of escape.

In those moments, we are not thinking about the research that demonstrates the huge amount of physical stress that training causes because we do not perceive the activity to be psychologically stressful. Unfortunately, our perception is not reality.Stress: The Vicious Cycle vs. the Optimal Curve

Adding more training to manage stress is like adding more wood to a fire you're trying to extinguish. In a review article, John S. Raglin, a professor in the psychology department at Indiana University, Bloomington and a pioneer in groundbreaking studies of mood and endurance sport, clearly states that increasing exercise can also increase stress and negatively affect mental health.

He notes that intention is irrelevant since stress increases either through necessary training or an abuse of training and his overall body of work points to a trend toward greater mood disturbance with increasing amounts of exercise. If we continue to increase overall stress by increasing training, research shows that this chronic physical and mental stress without adequate recovery can cause disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis leading to dysfunction of the endocrine system and yes, overtraining syndrome. 

The Yerkes-Dodson CurveHarder to accept is the fact that there is an optimal level of training and life stress for each body. The Yerkes-Dodson curve above illustrates the fact that zero stress will not result in positive gains, but huge amounts of stress will also not result in positive gains. Research shows that the idea of there being a "sweet spot" where stress on the system results in excellent performance without causing overwhelming detriment is fundamental to almost everything we do. 

For example, we know that zero water causes dehydration and too much water causes hyponatremia, but we are well-hydrated and healthy somewhere in the middle. We can apply this logic to everything we do and everything around us-there is a perfect amount for everything in nature. However, we must learn to accept the same logic when it comes to stress. There is a perfect amount of training and life stress for every body and mind, where we are alert, engaged, energetic, and thriving. We just have to find it. 

Training Doesn't Subtract from Stress Load-but Rest Does

But, isn't exercise a stress reliever? Multiple studies show that exercise certainly does provide a certain amount of stress relief, but it's important to understand that this research is typically conducted for the general population of the USA, which tends to be quite sedentary. Therefore, the study populations are non-athletes and designed to convince people that 20-30 minutes of low-level aerobic exercise 5 times per week is a good idea for general health.

These studies are not designed to address the stress relief needs of high-performing, high-volume athletes trying to fit fifteen hours of training on top of a full-time job.The solution is to take a look at which stresses we have control over and which we do not. We then need to take control by making adjustments, some of which may require us to battle with our own deeply held assumptions about our relationship with training.

For example, we likely can't change our work responsibilities, school schedule, or certain family commitments. However, we can probably do our best to get a bit more sleep, try some time-saving tactics like meal-prepping, and yes, we can skip a workout. We have to challenge the assumptions that we can't cope without training, that training is the only remedy, and that skipping or cutting a session short will detrimentally affect our performance. On the days when we need to decrease the pressure, the best training we can do is no training at all. 

While there is no evidence that taking a bit of physical rest will increase stress and promote disease in athletes, there is plenty of evidence that increasing training can do all of that and more.

If you find yourself unable to back off given the clear evidence that you might be heading for trouble, a mental health care practitioner can help you get control before you burn out. Finding and respecting your own sweet spot will ensure that you get to enjoy your runs - for life.

Giulietta & Romeo Half Marathon in Verona: Alfred Kipchirchir and Meseret Gola win

The Dermasphere Giulietta & Romeo Half Marathon and Avesani Monument Run 10k experienced another historic day of great international sport and strong solidarity with the A Casa far from Home project "Emergency Sick Children of Ukraine - We help sick little ones on the run"They traveled half the world to come to Verona starting from the endless African highlands to become the new champions of the Dermasphere Giulietta & Romeo Half Marathon.

The 'Romeo' of 2022 is Kenyan and bears the name of Alfred Kipchirchir, he is the winner of the 15th edition of the Verona half marathon where he crossed the finish line in 1h00'57 ".

The 'Juliet', on the other hand, is very shy but when she runs she has grit and class to spare, her name is Meseret Gola and she comes from Ethiopia. He took the success in 1h10'09 ".

Two excellent performances, even if both failed to beat their personal bests or even to beat the records of the course. It is difficult to do so at this point of the season that sees the great road racing competitions finish. The satisfaction of winning the prestigious Verona race was nevertheless great.A great event as usual was the one organized by the organizers of Gaac 2007 Verona Marathon Asd, in collaboration with the Municipality of Verona, which maintained organizational standards of excellence, confirming the Gold Label Fidal.

Official start complete with a gunshot entrusted to the mayor Federico Sboarina and for the following waves also to the Sports Councilor Filippo Rando present at the start to greet the thousands of Italian and foreign participants.

Surprise second in the standings was placed by the Polish Ada Nowicki in 1h02'51 ", delighted at the arrival for having established a new personal best. He beat his 1h03'11 "which he had done at the Napoli City Half Marathon last February. Place of honor again for the colors of Kenya with Bernard Musau Wambua with 1h02'57 ". First of the Italians is the South Tyrolean Hannes Perkmann (Atl. Valli Bergamasche Leffe), sixth in 1h05'03 ".  Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) athlete Peter Njeru finished fifth clocking 1h03'53 just 30 seconds back of 4th place.  

Female podium completed by the Kenyan Lilian Lelei (Atl. Castello), second in 1h14'04 "and third the Ethiopian Meseret Ayele (G.s. Il Fiorino) with 1h15'25". Holding the Italian flag high is Arianna Lutteri, the current Italian marathon champion, who ran in 1h21'40 ". Avesani Monument Run 10k, real 9.7km, which was won by Alessandro Comai (Venus Triathlon) in 29'19 ", while among women the success of Claudia Andrighettoni (Us Quercia) in 34'23". Hundreds of people also participated in the non-competitive Avesani Monument Run 10k.

Gianni Pistis, coach and runner of the Charity Partner A Casa Away From Home, engaged in the project "Emergency Sick Children of Ukraine - We help sick little ones on the run" has more than hit the target.

Leaving last, Gianni had the task of overcoming a minimum of a thousand athletes, for each of which a company from Varese, which wishes to remain anonymous, will donate a thousand euros. Gianni honored his commitment by finishing in general position 204 with a time of 1h28'18 "and thus surpassing over 2 thousand athletes.

Eugene Marathon was gone but not forgotten as record number of runners will mark race's return

It’s been three years since the Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon held a live race.

It’s been even longer since the finish line was inside Hayward Field.

Both are back this weekend as the longtime local road race returns Sunday morning to the streets of Eugene and Springfield.

The traditional finish line had to be moved to Autzen Stadium in 2019 due to the construction of the new Hayward Field. The race was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, then went virtual in 2021 as the pandemic continued.

“On some days I can’t believe it’s been four years,” race director Ian Dobson said. “And on some days it feels like it’s been forever, like it’s hard to remember it almost.”

Hard to remember, maybe, but hardly forgotten.

Registration for the 15th Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon and Saturday morning’s Eugene 5K and Kid’s 1K Duck Dash — which both start outside Hayward Field and end on the track and the finish line — has reached record-setting numbers.

According to Dobson, approximately 9,700 have signed up for one of the four races. Broken down, they expect 4,000 for the half marathon, 3,200 for the marathon, 1,500 for the 5K and 1,000 for the Duck Dash.

The race has essentially reached capacity.

"Actually, we don’t even know what it is because we’ve never had to explore that," Dobson said with a laugh. “We’re limiting registration because we want to make sure we can do a great job for the people that are registered, not because we can’t fit more people on the roads.”

The marathon’s previous best year was 2013 when it had 8,561 registered participants.

“We’re really, really excited about that,” Dobson said. “I think some of it is genuine enthusiasm for the event, and a lot of it is also people who are, ‘It’s time to get back to doing stuff.’ ”

The 26.2-mile marathon and 13.1-mile half marathon courses will closely resemble what they were in 2018 with only a few minor changes. 

The most obvious is where the marathon and half-marathon participants split off from each other. That point is now on the south side of the Willamette River's Knickerbocker Bridge instead of the north side. 

That change eventually redirects marathon runners through downtown Springfield and keeps them off Centennial Boulevard.

“Which I think is a gift to everyone,” Dobson said. “Traffic control, law enforcement, runners, everybody.”

The Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon has always been largely a community event, though professionals and other runners with larger goals have also participated in the race. This year is no different.

There are 80 “elite” runners entered in both races, a designation given to men who have recorded marathon times of 2 hours, 25 minutes or 1:08:00 for the half marathon, and women who have times of at least 2:53:00 or 1:20:00, respectively, since May 1, 2019.

The 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying window opened in January and hitting the standard of 2:18:00 for the men and 2:37:00 for the women is certainly on the agenda for many.

For the rest of the runners, the race weekend marks the long-awaited return to road racing. Dobson said at least one-quarter of the registrations have been rolled over from people who initially signed up in 2020 or 2021.

“I think there’s a real excitement to be back to something familiar," Dobson said. “It just feels good.”

Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon

Start: 7 a.m. Sunday at 17th Avenue and Agate Street

Finish: Inside Hayward Field

89-year-old Bylahalli Raghunath Janardan hopes to complete 4th World 10K

As Bengaluru prepares to get back to large participatory running events, an 89-year-old retired Railways officer Bylahalli Raghunath Janardan, is setting his eyes on his 4th World 10K, scheduled to be held on May 15.

Even though he hasn't fully recovered from a spine injury, he incurred a few months ago, Janardan is determined to take part in the Bengaluru running festival with a back support belt, "I haven't taken part in any marathon in the last two years because of various problems and that's why I am really looking forward to the World 10K. However, I won't be running at my absolute best as I am currently recovering from a spine injury, but I will run slowly and walk intermittently with a back support belt."

When asked about the exciting aspects of a mass participatory running event, the 89-year-old said, "It's great to run with a crowd and especially youngsters. I get inspired to train hard when I see them run and I feel they get inspired by me as well."

Speaking about the importance of exercise in his life, Janardan said, "In 1995, I had to go through a difficult time. While I was travelling with my family to find a prospective match for my daughter, I fainted in the car. Later, I was diagnosed with Major Epilepsy and I was told that I have to take medications for the rest of my life. When I started taking the medications, I had a tough time dealing with the side effects. I felt lazy and lethargic. However, after nine months, I decided to give up medicines and start exercising."

Janardan also spoke about the turning point in his life, "Once my son was selected to play the sitar at a cultural event which was hosted at a place 30km away from my home. Just like that, I decided to get on a cycle and ride to the event venue. And I also came back home the same day. After that day, I started cycling regularly and became a very active person. I have not touched the Epilepsy medicines again and I have also never had an Epilepsy attack. That is the difference an active lifestyle has made in my life."

The USD $210,000 World Athletics Elite Label Race will witness some of the world's finest distance runners on the roads of Bengaluru as well as thousands of mass participation competitors from across India. For the first time, the event will be conducted in two formats: on-ground and a virtual app-based run.

Grooming Future Champions in Thika Kenya

The Kenya Athletics Training Academy (KATA) is barely eight months old since it was officially opened September 2021. (Founder and executive director Bob Anderson flew over from California USA for the opening.)

KATA's presence in Thika and Kiambu County is being felt widely after our pioneer athletes have gone flat-out to inscribe the name of the Academy in the region.

During the last two seasons, nearly 90 per cent of our trainees have participated in both Cross Country and Track with positive indicators.

Competing at County level and getting selected to represent the unit at regional level is a positive indication that with time, the future champions in Kenya’s Central region will be the products of the Kenya Athletics Training Academy (KATA).

In addition to winning slots to regional championships, all our athletes have posted their Personal Records in their individual events, again proving that KATA is attaining its objectives of seeing upcoming and young runners improving their times.

All this is because of the well-thought out Program in the Academy that combine a high level of discipline, hard-work, and self-realization among the current crop of our learners.  The on-site management team make it all work: Florence Kimiti (manager), Elam Wangwero (operations) and Joseph Ngure (head coach).  All report to Bob Anderson daily who works from his office in Mountain View, California.  

Our day’s Programe begins with morning workouts between 06.15 and 08.00am with easy morning run covering 12 to 18Km on alternative days before breakfast in our Olympic Dining Hall at KATA.  

After breakfast, cleaning and maintenance of the Academy is the duty of the day for everybody.  We feel this is one of the processes of making these future champions responsible and useful members of society. Some go to nearby colleges to acquire skills that will come in handy after retiring from their active sporting career.

Currently we have our most improved athlete Zakariah Kirika (29:54 10k) pursuing electrical wiring, Fredrick Kiprotich is studying Agriculture and Boniface Mungai is studying accounting at a local university.

During three training sessions daily (not including Sunday), our second training session takes place between 9:00am and 11am and is mainly for agility, coordination exercises and speedwork.  The last training session begins at 16:30 pm to 17:30 pm. This is easy jogging mainly around the Academy.

In addition to daily and weekly training, the athletes focus on short-term goals that is tested during our monthly 10Km time-trial that is held usually every third Wednesday of each month. (Eight have been held so far.) These trials are open and several athletes from our neighbouring training camps have joined our team in testing their training too.  We charge no entry fee and pay no prize money.  But we offer internet exposure to all our finishers. (All results, a story and photos are posted timely on the My Best Runs website which currently have over 100k visitors monthly.)

It is from this time-trial that those who meet the target get the opportunity to compete in Europe through their respective management. Three of our athletes have had the privilege of going to Italy last year and this year since February, Peter Mwaniki Njeru and Lucy Mawia are in Europe now and are posting remarkable results. This is a big motivation to our KATA team!  

Apart from training and keeping the Academy clean, our athletes’ trains on the use of computers and each has to post his or her work-out on My Best Runs where our editorial team, under the stewardship of Elam, Okata and Eston Mwangi, update races on a daily basis.  (My Best Runs also have editorial people (all runners) in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Bend Oregon, Chandler Arizona and Mountain View California.)

As the season moves on, we are expecting good performance in Road Races in Kenya beginning with the inaugural Uhuru marathon classic on May 8th in Kenya where four of our athletes will be flying the KATA flag.  

Lucy and Peter have already done well in races in Europe and will be racing again May 1 in France and Italy.  Lucy clocked a 31:20 10000m on the track in Italy and most recently Peter placed second on a tough 15k course in Istanbul clocking 46:33. Lucy is racing in France and Peter a half marathon in Italy on May 1. 

With a lot of potentials in the region, our next target will be young talents in our neighbouring schools and our technical arm will be visiting 2-3 institutions to help in training the school kids as they prepare for their inter-schools championships next month.

We are overwhelmed by the number of new athletes who want to join our Academy.  But then the opportunities are many. 

How Sport Sampling Can Unlock Your Running Potential 

Cross-training as we know it might soon become a thing of the past. Not because it's no longer worth your time, but the opposite: switching up your routine could be so advantageous that there's no sense in drawing any line between training on and off your feet. 

The term "cross-training" carries its fair share of baggage. Images of injured runners grinding away on a bike or racking up laps in the pool come to mind, ushering in an all-too-familiar sense of dread for the next time you find yourself sidelined.

It implies that we're stuck doing something lesser while we count down the hours until we're running again. Even those that include regular strength training or alternative cardio days in their schedule usually see it as a box to check off for injury prevention. 

But the idea that other activities should always take a backseat to running as the main source of fitness isn't doing runners any favors. Expanding our definition of what counts as training for running, not just in the absence of running, gives runners permission to reap a much wider range of benefits from moving their bodies in other ways. 

The Norwegian Method

Take a look at one of the most decorated countries in the recent Winter Olympics: Norway. 

The nation's "Joy of Sport for All" model prioritizes variety over specificity. Championships don't come into the picture for young athletes before the age of 13. This gives kids the chance to sample a variety of athletic options before even thinking about committing to one. They're not raised to limit their athletic exploration. 

Norwegian competitors may achieve such unparalleled success because of a few clear benefits to expanding your athletic horizons: multi-sport exploration wards off injury, burnout, and complacency, no matter what your primary sport. 

The Scientific Benefits of Variety in Training 

In sports like running, repetitive motion presents a serious risk. Brett Mueller, DPT and Sports Clinical Specialist, explains that "doing the same activity at a high frequency exposes your body to the same stresses." 

Think about how many times you pump your legs forward and backward over the course of a short run. Fluctuating trail terrain breaks up the monotony, but the same basic motion still forms the base. "In contrast," Mueller counters, "variety in sports exposes the body to different stresses. The body is able to rest from one while experiencing different stresses from another." 

From a mental standpoint, "switching between sports challenges your mind to grow, learn, and adapt to the various mental demands of each sport," according to Dr. Brian Zuleger, Professor of Sports Psychology at Adams State University and a Certified Mental Performance Coach. "In a sport like trail running where the landscape, weather, and extent vary so much, the ability to be adaptable is key. Participating in other sports challenges you to be more resilient to change." 

Being able to transfer skills and adjust your mindset across athletic outlets comes in handy when exploring unfamiliar routes, braving inclement weather, or attempting an intimidating distance. 

Sarah Strong, ultrarunner and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Fireweed Counseling in Colorado, offers a therapeutic argument for branching out as well.

"Strong social support is tied to positive mental health outcomes," she says, "so an athlete can enhance their circle of support simply by engaging in a number of activities." 

That wider circle of support can then show runners how far their worth extends beyond any one aspect of their identity - which can come back around when injuries or other struggles pull running away from center stage.

More Than a Consolation Prize

After falling from a cliff during a race in 2017 and breaking fourteen bones, ultrarunner Hillary Allen begrudgingly turned to cycling. 

"When we're told we can't run, it can feel like a consolation prize to do anything else," Allen reflects. "I wasn't sure if I would be able to return to running again, so when I got on a bike I almost felt disappointed because it wasn't the same. I had this negative connotation: I'm biking, sure, but I'm not running." 

Since that injury, Allen has returned to running in full force. But the accident that threatened her life and her career - combined with a second setback after breaking her ankle the following year - set her on a new path that changed the way that she functions as an athlete. 

"Because of the injuries I've sustained, I can't train like a lot of ultrarunners do," Allen says. She needed to accept that her body couldn't handle the same volume and intensity on foot that it used to, or that others in the sport may be able to.

That reality has given Allen the chance to find value in other sports as a complement to running instead of just a placeholder. You'll find her on the bike nearly as often as on foot - not only as a way to respect the limitations of her resilient body, but also to maximize her overall training capacity. 

"There Is No Such Thing as Cross Training - Only Training!" 

Allen believes that she wouldn't be able to reach her running potential without cycling.

"It helps me to feel my best physically while getting in the endurance that I need," she says. "I can still put in big back-to-back days without worrying about the physical impact on my body." 

Adam St. Pierre, Allen's coach, believes that "there is no such thing as "cross-training" - there is only training!" That attitude directs their efforts together as they harness the benefits of each type of training.

"The fitness gained from cycling has been huge for Hillary's improvement as an ultrarunner. It has allowed her to train more total volume and do high intensity workouts more regularly than she could if she only ran."

Allen has proven those claims on paper, too. She reached a peak of only 15 miles on her long runs before going on to win the Cortina Trail 48k as her first race back from injury. 

"That race holds a lot of value for being the 'aha' moment that made me realize how the bike was making me super fit even while I couldn't run," Allen says.

Partners in Adventure

Allen focuses on gravel cycling to give her the same sensations of solitude and exploration that she finds in trail running, which adds an important emotional component on top of the physical benefits.

Her new partnership with Pinarello as a member of the Scuderia Team has given the passion she's found for cycling a firm foundation to stand on and grow from.

She's part of the "Adventure Tier" of the team, which features crossover athletes who have cultivated an appreciation for cycling alongside their main competitive outlet. Fellow team members Jamie Bestwick, a BMX racer, and skier John Collinson also demonstrate how different sports enrich one another. 

Allen's companions and mentors on the Scuderia Team also remind her that the trail community she loves isn't restricted to just running. "The worlds are so parallel . . . The fact that the gravel community feels so much like the trail running community is what first drew me to gravel."

Back to the Beginning 

Allen encourages athletes to dip their toes into other sports with the intention to "enjoy the experience for what it is," without comparison to what you already know from running. She's wrestled with the discomfort of giving yourself permission to be a beginner at something again, back when she first dabbled in gravel cycling. 

But you're not just a pawn on a chess board. You're the queen of your own game, free to move in any direction. Starting fresh in a different sport doesn't mean starting over - it's more like a step to the side into another plane. Lateral movement adds new depth to the athletic branch of your identity, as proof that we're more than just the sum of our runs. 

Incorporating Sport Sampling Into Your Training

Substitute one of your weekly training runs for a spin, swim, or ski. Here's how to find common elements across any discipline: 

Rely on RPE. Neither mileage nor heart rate translates seamlessly across different sports, so your Rate of Perceived Effort is the best guide. Easy days should be a 5/10, moderate and tempo days at an 8/10, and hard workouts at a 9 or 10/10. The same applies on the bike, in the pool, or on skis. 

Stay Focused. Whether you're in for an easy day, long haul, or hard workout, your efforts in another discipline should reflect similar intentions for the best carry-over. 

Ease In. Remember: the same effort level will likely result in lower output in the new activity. Part of being a beginner is giving yourself time to adjust to a different type of movement. Start with an easy or recovery day to keep the pressure low, and build up to higher intensity options as you adapt. 

Add Time. Not only will giving yourself extra time during your session in the new activity keep you from feeling rushed or stressed while you're learning, it'll also balance out any dip in intensity with an increase in duration. 

Mess up. This is your opportunity to start from scratch, and some of our best lessons come with failure. Mistakes are sometimes our best teachers. Figure out what works best for you by leaving behind what doesn't through an ongoing process of elimination. 

Tommy Rivs' Cancer-Free Return to the Boston Marathon Was Beautiful

Alternating bouts of running and walking, Thomas Puzey-widely known as "Tommy Rivs" or simply "Rivs"-made his way along Boylston Street toward the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 18. Flashing a wide smile and waving to the crowd, the Arizona-based runner celebrated his return to the site of his fastest marathon.

Five years ago, Puzey ran the race of his life here, averaging 5:17 per mile as he covered the hilly course in 2:18:20 to place 16th overall. This year, he utilized a run-walk method throughout and averaged just under 15 minutes per mile, reaching the finish line in 6:31:54. Officially, he was 24,799th out of 24,918 finishers.

Few, however, covered the course with as much joy and gratitude or received so much support and goodwill. The 37-year-old is a far different runner now than he was in 2017, after a near-death battle with a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma.

"I know I am one of the lucky ones, to still be alive," he says.

This time around, Puzey's 26.2-mile journey was a celebratory benchmark of progress on his new athletic quest, where the primary goal is to be fit enough to battle cancer if-or, more likely, when-it returns. His blood and chest scans have been cancer-free for the past 15 months-after he completed six rounds of chemotherapy-but doctors have told him the rare form of cancer still has a high probability of relapsing.

"You hope that never happens, but I'm still in the bunker." he says. "It's not over for me yet. I'll always be looking over my shoulder. It's all hovering just out of sight or circling above me."

In June 2020, Puzey returned home to Flagstaff from a routine training run in the Grand Canyon feeling exceptionally fatigued and disoriented. He initially assumed he was suffering from heat stroke or severe dehydration; later, he thought it might be COVID-19. But when he ultimately checked himself into a hospital two weeks later, doctors diagnosed him with a rare form of cancer and discovered his lungs had been almost completely overtaken by invasive nodules. Suddenly fighting for his life, he was airlifted to the Scottsdale hospital in late July and was eventually sedated into a medically induced coma

Five months and multiple surgeries and treatments later, Puzey was released from the hospital, weighing in at a gaunt 95 pounds and unable to cross a room without the aid of a walker. But he was alive.

Thousands of followers, who had come to know Puzey as much for his soulful posts and coaching wisdom as for his athletic achievements, poured out support as he candidly shared his experiences and emotions on social media during the long, slow recovery process.

Today, Puzey has regained much of the muscular physique that made him stand out in a field of lanky elite runners as much as his bushy reddish-brown beard and array of tattoos. But it's always been his relentless determination that has defined him as an athlete and helped him earn podium finishes in ultramarathon trail races, triathlons, and marathons.

That determination has been evident as he's slowly rebuilt his health. Last November, Puzey had just enough physical and aerobic strength to walk the New York City Marathon in about nine hours. Since then, he's been able to start a running routine again. These days, he says, he runs at a 10-to-12-minute per mile pace for 30 seconds, followed by 30 seconds of easy walking. He had been doing a routine of running 60 seconds, then walking 60 seconds, but that proved too ambitious, leaving him excessively fatigued.

On most days, Puzey, who continues to be sponsored as an elite athlete by Craft Sportswear, says he is out the door by 5 A.M. for four to five miles alternating running and walking. He bikes to school with his three daughters before continuing solo for a two-to-four-hour ride, keeping the pace "slow and methodical." Later in the day, usually after a nap, he'll try to get in another hour-long run-walk session before getting back on his bike to pick up the girls at school. Throughout the day, he'll do dozens of push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and planks to build general strength. Occasionally he'll get in a swim.

"He's still pushing his body more than most people do," says his wife, Steph Catudal. "That's the only way he knows how to exist, just forward movement, being outside and being on his feet."

Still, Puzey's adaptability impresses Catudal. "It's just so beautiful to see him embrace that and not be frustrated and not be angry and bitter that he's not where he was a couple of years ago," she says. "It's so inspiring for me to see that he is happy where he is right now and coming to terms with it all, and that he's accepting that 30 seconds at a time is what it is, and that's OK."

The hardest adjustment, Puzey says, is how long it now takes to build fitness. "The process is exactly the same now-stress, rest, and replenish-it's just a lot more gradual trajectory, and progress comes much more slowly."

No matter how hard he works, Puzey's oxygen capacity will likely never be remotely close to what it was two years ago. His pulmonary and critical care specialist Dr. Seth Assar says his lungs are like Swiss cheese, replete with holes and scar tissue from where the cancerous nodules had been.

His passion for endurance sports, however, had never been about race results but about the pursuit of excellence within the bounds of his potential. That passion holds true now. "Satisfaction and happiness in life don't come from sitting around and doing nothing," he says. "It comes from working really, really hard at something and actually accomplishing it from time to time. That is where happiness is found, in that struggle."

And Puzey recognizes the opportunity he's been given and the responsibility that comes with it. "This has been really rough, but it could have been much worse and much different," he says. "I'm one of the lucky ones, with the gift of having another chance, and because of that, I feel morally obligated that there is a responsibility to test the limits of this new potential. I owe that to my family. I owe that to myself. I owe that to my physicians and my nurses. And I also owe that to the tens of thousands of people who have supported me and my family. If I don't seek out that potential, then it's a mockery to the people that supported me, and it's also a mockery to the people who don't have this opportunity."

While his rare type of leukemia/lymphoma has a very high recurrence rate, Assar says Puzey has exceeded expectations every month since his release from the hospital, and that gives hope for sustained remission. In the event that it does come back, Puzey's renewed strength and fitness will be an asset.

"I don't see Tommy as living with a dark cloud over his head," Assar says. "He's gone on with his normal life. He's pushing himself every day. He's not living under the fear and the burden that this disease is just going to go ahead and sweep him up one day. Tommy is living."

What better way to affirm that you're still living than running Boston? "Running a marathon is a time stamp in which we're able to declare 'I am here.'" Puzey says. "So, I am here. This is where I am right now. It's not where I want to be, it's not where I want to be forever, but it is where I am right now."

Elite runner leading Hamburg Marathon fumbles bottle, goes back to get it

Last weekend at the Haspa Hamburg Marathon in Germany, Abraham Kiptoo of Kenya was leading the race when he fumbled his hydration bottle at a water station. Instead of moving on, Kiptoo turned around and ran back to get it, while being passed by 10 or so runners.

We aren’t sure how much time this would’ve cost Kiptoo, but a sudden change in movement can certainly affect your rhythm and cadence. Kiptoo ended up finishing the race eighth, in a personal best time of 2:06:59. Cyprian Kotut of Kenya won the marathon in a course record time of 2:04:47, in a thrilling sprint victory over compatriot Stephen Kissa (2:04:48), whose time set a Ugandan national record.

On the other hand, Kiptoo obviously knows how important hydration is for optimal performance. Who’s to say he didn’t gain back what he lost, by making sure he salvaged his bottle? If you can constantly maintain your hydration, it will optimize your performance and might help you avoid a trip to the medical tent. It’s important to balance how much fluid your body loses through sweat and how much fluid you drink during a hard effort like a marathon or long run.

The incident happened between 25 and 30 km into the marathon, a point in the race where hydration is particularly important as your body becomes fatigued. Usually, at larger marathons, water/aid stations are available every two to four kilometres.

Although the young 23-year-old Kiptoo lost time, he managed to catch back up to the lead pack, to only drop off around the 35 km marker, as Kissa and Kotut surged on.

Kiptoo is an elite runner who trains with Eliud Kipchoge and Geoffrey Kamwaror of the Ineos NN Running Team based in Iten, Kenya.

How to Choose a Running Partner

Choosing a running partner is similar in many ways to choosing a mate.  Compatibility, chemistry, and ability to get along are very important. 

A running partner will experience you during your best, and worst, times, and will be expected to be there for you through thick and thin.  Finding a good running partner is no easy task, and there are a number of considerations that should be made when looking for a good fit. 

Pace

One of the most important considerations when choosing a running partner is the pace that each runner prefers to run.  If one runner is significantly faster than the other, the faster runner should be honest about whether or not he or she is comfortable slowing down.  In turn, the slower runner should not take offense if his or her pace is too slow.  Occasionally, a faster runner will agree to join a slower runner during an easy or recovery day. 

These types of situations work very well, because the faster runner can benefit from being held to a slower pace, while the slower runner may be forced to run slightly faster than normal.  For beginning runners, however, finding someone very close to their goal pace is highly recommended. 

Compatibility

Choose a running partner who is compatible with your lifestyle.  For instance, if you are only available to run in the morning, finding a runner partner who is only available in the evenings will not work.  Also seek someone who has the same tendencies as you.  If you like to talk while you run, someone who prefers only the sound of his or her footsteps will not be a good partner. 

Goals

A factor that can make having a running buddy indispensible is choosing someone with a similar goal as you.  For instance, if your goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon, finding another runner with a similar desire can help keep you motivated and on track.  Running partnerships that mix two people with drastically different goals often fail due to resentment. 

For instance, if one person is simply running for fun while the other person is running competitively, each party may feel frustrated with the other person’s level of commitment. 

Opposites Attract

While compatibility is a great quality for a running partner, bear in mind that running with someone who has certain opposite features can also be good.  For instance, if you are good at long runs but not very good at speed workouts, seeking a running partner who is great at speed but not so good at distance can benefit both of you. 

Attitude

Always look for a running partner who has a similar attitude as your own.  If you are an overwhelmingly positive person, you will not enjoy the company of a pessimist, and vise versa.  Some of the best running relationships have been ruined because one runner sees the world through rosy colored glasses while the other prefers to think that every glass is half empty. 

Amputee runner Jacky Hunt-Broersma completes 102 marathons in 102 days

As Forrest Gump in the Oscar-winning 1994 film of the same name, lead actor Tom Hanks abruptly trots to a halt after more than three years of nonstop running and tells his followers, "I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now."

Jacky Hunt-Broersma can relate. On Thursday, the amputee athlete achieved her goal of running 102 marathons in as many days, setting an unofficial women's world record.

And she can't stop/won't stop, saying she will run two more for good measure and wrap up her challenge Saturday with 104.

"I might as well end April with a marathon," she told The Associated Press.

Britain-based Guinness World Records did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment. Guinness lists the men's record for consecutive daily marathons as 59, set in 2019 by Enzo Caporaso of Italy. It can take up to a year for the organization to ratify a world record.

"I'm just happy that I made it. I can't believe it," Hunt-Broersma said. "The best thing was the incredible support I've received from people around the world who've reached out, telling me how this has inspired them to push themselves."

Hunt-Broersma, 46, began her quest Jan. 17, covering the classic 26.2-mile marathon distance on a loop course laid out near her home in Gilbert, Arizona, or on a treadmill indoors. Since then, it's been "rinse and repeat" every day for the South Africa native, who lost her left leg below the knee to a rare cancer and runs on a carbon-fiber prosthesis.

Her original goal was to run 100 marathons in 100 days so she would beat the record of 95 set in 2020 by Alyssa Amos Clark, a nondisabled runner from Bennington, Vermont, who took it on as a pandemic coping strategy. But earlier this month, after nondisabled British runner Kate Jayden unofficially broke Clark's record with 101 marathons in 101 days, Hunt-Broersma realized she would need to run at least 102.

On foot, day in and day out, she has covered 2,672 miles -- the equivalent of running from her Phoenix suburb to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, or from New York City to Mexico City.

Along the way, Hunt-Broersma gained a huge social media following and raised nearly $27,000 to help fellow amputee blade runners get the expensive prostheses they need. Health insurance typically doesn't cover the cost, which can exceed $10,000.

Hunt-Broersma, who ran her 92nd at this month's Boston Marathon, hopes her quest will inspire people everywhere to push themselves to do hard things.

What's next for the endurance athlete? A 240-mile ultrarace to be staged over mountainous terrain in October in Moab, Utah.

Multiple U.S. record holder Molly Huddle and partner Kurt Benninger welcome their first baby

On April 26, Olympian and American-record holder Molly Huddle and her husband, Kurt Benninger (who is Canadian), welcomed the birth of their first child, Josephine Valerie Benninger. The couple met during their undergrad years at Notre Dame University in Indiana. 

Huddle’s pregnancy was extremely well documented. Returning to elite competition after pregnancy remains poorly understood, and Huddle wanted to do her part by giving other women a peek behind the curtain. Huddle posted weekly updates to her Instagram, letting her followers know what she’d done for training and how it made her feel.

“Week 31: A lot of track and treadmill. It’s easier to stay flat and I can keep a water bottle nearby. Modifications are the name of the game at this stage. Made some adjustments to the core routine to avoid “the doming” happening on exercises that were fine only a few weeks ago,” she writes. 

Beyond keeping followers up to date with her training, Huddle also provided tips and outlines things that, in retrospect, she wishes she’d done differently. 

This year, Huddle, along with NCAA champion Sara Slattery, co-wrote their first book, How She Did It. The two women wanted to outline their paths from high school to becoming NCAA champions, to Olympic start lines.

Beyond detailing their own stories, they compiled advice from more than 50 female runners, to help demystify the process for the next generation. The book features runners as diverse as Joan Benoit Samuelson and Raevyn Rogers, and shares their insights on the sometimes winding route to success.

Huddle and Benninger relocated from Phoenix, Ariz. to Providence, R.I. in 2021. 

Five things you wish you had known before your first race

If you are preparing to tackle your first road race. Whether it’s a 5K or 42.2K (or something in between), we are here to help you out with what you wish you had known before your first race.

Here’s what fellow first-time racers had to say:

1.- “Have fun!”

Having fun is the most important thing all runners should remember to do going into their first race. There’s no need to put any pressure on yourself; have fun with the race, and take in the entire experience. Enjoy the music, the crowds and the general fun aura that builds around races. 

2.- “Rest up in days prior”

It’s important to make sure you’re well-rested three to five days before the race, as the excitement may prevent you from having a good sleep the night before. Don’t partake in any strenuous activity you normally wouldn’t do the day before your race. Another thing one runner recommends is not to drink too much the night before. One or two drinks won’t hurt you, but any more than that are likely to impact your performance. 

3.- “Don’t go out too fast”

It’s obvious that you’ll feel best at the beginning of the race. But with all the emotion of the start, it’s tempting to sprint off. But if you do this, you’ll pay the price later when you run out of gas.

4.- “Don’t try anything new on race day”

Avoid eating anything you wouldn’t normally eat before going for a run. That applies to anything, not just food–including shoes and clothing. It’s better to go with things your body has been comfortable with during training.

5.- “Go to the bathroom before the start”

Even if you feel like you don’t have to go, GO. We cannot stress enough that there is no worse feeling than having to halt your run for a porta-potty stop. If you go before the start, you can (hopefully) avoid needing to go again mid-race. Avoid lineups by going 15 to 30 minutes before the start of the race. 

How to dress for spring running, if anything is certain, it's the uncertainty of spring weather

If anything is certain in the spring, it’s the uncertainty of the weather. Cold, windy mornings can give way to sunny, warm afternoons. It’s often cold enough to make rain especially miserable, and in many places, snow remains a serious possibility until late spring.

It’s easy to remain either underdressed or uncomfortably warm from wearing too much clothing. The following tips will help you make the best choices for what to wear on your springtime runs.

Create your own ‘feels like’ temperature

Your body produces a lot of heat when you run, so add about 10 degrees to the ‘feels like’ temperature of the weather report. For example, if the weather says it’s 12 C outside, but feels like 8 C, you can assume that once you’re warmed up, it’ll feel more like 18 C, so plan to be comfortable at this temperature. If it’s raining, only add about five degrees to the forecasted feels-like temperature.

Of course, some people are much more sensitive to the cold, so understanding how your body reacts to various temperatures is important.

Layers still apply

You may think that the days of layering are over when the spring arrives, but don’t be too hasty. No matter how seasoned you are with spring running, you’ll still likely over or underdress some of the time. If you decide to wear a T-shirt but the weather’s dicey, tie a jacket around your waist in case you’re not warm enough. You can always take it off again if you get too warm.

Get a windbreaker

As we’re making the transition from winter to summer, the winds in many parts of the country can get pretty gusty and can make what should be a warm day feel a lot cooler. A lightweight windbreaker will help you control your body temperature, and if you get one that’s waterproof, you can also prevent those spring showers from soaking you to the bone.

Try some half-tights

Too cold for shorts but too warm for tights? Half tights or capris are the answer.

Get a hat

Nothing’s worse than going for a run and having the rain pelt you in the eyeballs the entire time. A ball cap will keep the rain off your face so you can actually see where you’re going. (Glasses-wearers especially appreciate a ball cap when it’s raining.)

Double down on the shoes

Having more than one pair of shoes is a good idea regardless of the season, because it can prolong the life of your shoes. In the spring, having a second pair serves a double purpose, because if your shoes get soaked or muddy one day, you have a dry pair to wear the next day while they’re drying. If getting two pairs of shoes isn’t an option for financial reasons, remove the insoles and stick them in a sunny area of your house (or better yet, outside in the sun) to dry more quickly.

French steeplechaser Claude-Boxberger receives four-year ban for positive EPO test

French steeplechaser Ophélie Claude-Boxberger, who tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO in 2019, has had her doping suspension extended to four years, according to France’s highest administrative court, le Conseil d’Etat.

Claude-Boxberger initially received a two-year suspension, but both she and the country’s anti-doping agency appealed the initial decision. Claude-Boxberger denied wrongdoing, while the French anti-doping agency believed the two-year ban was too lenient and requested an eight-year ban.

Claude-Boxberger tested positive for EPO during an out-of-competition test carried out on Sept. 28, 2019, before the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar in October. Afterward, she revealed that she was romantically involved with the French team doctor, Jean-Michel Serra.

Claude-Boxberger is a five-time national champion in the 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase and is the fourth fastest French steeplechaser in history, with a personal best of 9:35.56. She represented France at several European Championships and the 2019 World Championships, where she was eliminated in the heats of the 3,000m steeplechase.

She was suspended for two years in March 2021, retroactive to her positive test in 2019; she was allowed to compete until the latest decision. The current ban will run until April 2024, which means she will likely be able to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris.