Running News Daily
Top Ten Stories of the Week
3/31/2018

Bill Sumner is one of the fastest 70 plus runners in the country

Bill Sumner has been running the Carlsbad 5000 for years. This year he moved into a new age-group (70-74) and he placed first running 21:11.

This is the second fastest time (70+) over the last 12-months of all the races My Best Runs is tracking. Only Dave Glass (70) who ran 20:54 at the Syracuse Festival of Races is faster...

"Bill and I have been bumping into each other in Carlsbad over the last 25 years," says Bob Anderson. "I have beaten him a few times but not lately. Two things has not changed over all these years. First his love for running is as strong as ever. And secondly he is always happy with a warm smile."

Bill in his prime ran a 30-minute 10,000 meters, and was a 4:16 masters miler in his 40s. Sumner helped start Cal Coast running club in the 1970s, when he organized a campaign to collect "gently used" running shoes for needy high school teams.

The club is still going strong. "I'm trying to save everybody," Bill says. "I read that if you try to please 100 percent of the people 100 percent of the time, you'll fail. But I'm still trying."

(03/28/18) Views: 506
Bob Anderson

Geoffrey Kamworor wins third straight World Half title

The weather at the IAAF 2018 World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia, Spain today was challenging. It was 63 degrees at the start with winds as strong as 26mph. But that did not stop Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor for winning his third straight title in 60:02. With the wind in their faces a group of about 30 passed the 10k mark 29:28. But things started changing and the wind helped pushed Geoffrey to an amazing 27:16 split from 10k to 20k. In fact according to Paula Radcliffe who was following the race for the IAAF, “he just ran 13:01 5k split! Could that be right?l”. It appears it was right. 24 men ran under 62 minutes and considering a slow start, this is outstanding...Netsanet Gudeta Kebede from Ethiopia set a new women only WR earlier (they started 25 minutes before the men) posting 1:06:11. (03/24/18) Views: 376

96-year-old Mike Fremont still runs 10 miles three times per week

Mike Fremont, who turned 96 years old on February 23, still runs 10 miles three times per week. He canoes the other days. He holds four single-age world records (Marathon: ages 80 and 90 years old and Half Marathon: ages 90 and 91) and continues to compete today. He has been running his whole life, but attributes his excellent health and spunk to his vegan diet. When not running or paddling his canoe, Fremont volunteers his time speaking at schools to encourage others to live healthy lives and encourage environmental conservation. He’s as “rare as the yeti,” says his friend and accomplished ultrarunner, Harvey Lewis. Lewis, 42, of Cincinnati, Ohio, thinks Fremont should still “buy green bananas. His quality of life is outstanding. He can go farther than most Americans of any age. Mike has the energy of a high-school teenager,” says Lewis. “In fact, probably more. He can do more pull-ups—eight at one time—and push-ups than many active young people. And he will have you laughing within minutes. He’s humble, often kidding at his own expense.” When he was 60 he ran a 3:20 marathon. Not too bad, but the world record at that time was 2:36. At 90 he ran a 6:37 marathon. It set a world record. Almost twice what it took 30 years earlier. (03/28/18) Views: 315
Inspirational Stories

Gorecka and Berglund were the Pro winners at the 33rd Annual Carlsbad 5000

The 33rd Annual Carlsbad 5000 was run under perfect weather conditions. In the Pro Women Race Emelia Gorecka from England was the overall winner posting 16:00. The next two were Americans: Alycia Cridebring (16:17) and Emily Myers (16:21). Emelia said "I was stoked for the blazing sun. Stoked for the epic crowds and stoked to take the W... Stoked is my new favourite word." She is training in Flagstaff...For the Pro men Kalle Berglund was the overall winner posting 14:15. Second from USA was Gebre Abadi (14:18) and third was Ole Hesselerg (14:24). In the Master's Race, Neville Davey was the overall winner in 15:20 and Nancy James-Klinger was the Master's women winner with 18:43. (These times are unofficial) (03/25/18) Views: 270

The Barkley Marathons participants are in for a world of Hurt this weekend

Elite runners from around the globe are in for a world of hurt this weekend during the annual 100-mile Barkley Marathons in Morgan County.

The Barkley Marathons has grown from a small and ridiculous race in Morgan County, Tennessee, into an international phenomenon followed around the globe.

The brainchild of former ultra-marathoner Gary Cantrell has especially grown in popularity in the last few years, coinciding with the release of a documentary on Netflix and other high-profile media coverage. The added media attention is a burden and a blessing.

The media can help inform people about the event while also allowing them to stay away. "It is not a spectator event. I hate it, because everyone wants a piece of that feeling [of the Barkley Marathons]. We just don't have room for people to come here and watch. This is all set up at a small campground. The runners are gone for several hours at a time in the middle of the woods. We need the media to let people know about the race because that's the best way for them to experience it," said Cantrell.

The hoopla is the result of true substance. The race is as intriguing as it is insane. Runners have to complete five 20-mile loops up and down the hills of Frozen Head State Park within 60 hours. Runners do not know when the race will start, other than sometime between midnight and noon on Saturday.

They are given one-hour advance notice of the start when Cantrell blows a conch shell. The race begins when Cantrell lights a cigarette.

(03/23/18) Views: 261

The New York Marathon title is Kamworor's Next major focus

IAAF World Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor has shifted focus to defending his New York Marathon title on November 4. However, before going for his second marathon title, Kamworor the Kenya Police Service Officer, will focus on lowering his 10,000m personal best (PR) of 26 minutes 52.65 seconds in the upcoming Diamond League series starting in Doha, Qatar. Speaking shortly after landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday from Valencia, Spain, Kamworor said he will rest for about two weeks before resuming training, eyes on the Doha meet. “I’m very happy to defend my title. I’m very happy for my victory it was my third but it was still just as exciting as the first time I won it,” said Kamworor. (03/27/18) Views: 217

Jake Robertson was the first non-African to Win CCC10K since 1997

Jake Robertson (NZ) last training session (photo) in Kenya before traveling to New Orleans for the Crescent City Classic 10k this Saturday. He won last year running 27:55 (PR), 15 seconds ahead of Kenya's Edwin Rotich. Jake said today, "fast time would be nice but I'll have to wait and see what the day will bring." The weather can always be a factor racing in New Orleans...Jake has been getting in some tough workouts with the "boys" in Kenya: like 10 x 2 minutes @ 2:56-2:50km pace and then 10 x 30 seconds @ 2:45km pace. Other workouts he has posted include: 12x600m with 1 minute recovery (running them between 95 and 97 seconds). "Excited about my future," he posted. "Today is another opportunity to progress on my goals near and far." With all this speed work, is he ready to tackle Sammy Kipketer's course record of 27:10 set in 2002? That’s really fast! (03/26/18) Views: 167

Japan’s Citizen Runner, Yuki Kawauchi was officially recognized by Guinness

Japanese marathon runner Yuki Kawauchi received a certificate from Guinness World Records in his hometown on Sunday recognizing him for completing the most number of marathons in under 2 hours and 20 minutes. "I'm very happy but this is still a passing point," said Kawauchi, known as the "public servant runner," who has achieved 78 sub-2:20 marathons. "I'm now aiming to reach 100 (sub-2:20s) to be called the hard-bitten Kawauchi." Yuki, a 2:08 marathoner is known for his unconventional approach to elite distance running. Yesterday he ran a marathon in a Panda suit in his home town. This is not the first time he raced in costume. He ran the 2015 Japan’s Kuki Half Marathon in 1:06:42 while wearing a business suit. Kawauchi is a hero to many in Japan because of his decision not to accept corporate sponsorship for his running. Instead, he works 40 hours per week. (03/25/18) Views: 74

Wilson Kipsang did run the Tokushima Marathon and in fact won it Sunday

Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang won the 2018 Tokushima Marathon Mar. 25 that took place in the city of Tokushima, Japan. 12,400 people took part. Invited elite athlete Wilson Kipsang (Kenya), the 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist, won in 2:19:35. Local runner Takumi Matsumoto was 2nd. Kipsang's time was just over four minutes off the course record of 2:15:25 set by Yuki Kawauchi in 2014. Kipsang is in the process of establishing a fund to support improvement of the living environment and education of children in his home country and is taking part in activities to support that end. (03/26/18) Views: 61

VF corporation bought the running shoe brand Altra

North Carolina’s VF Corporation has bought running-shoe brand Altra. For Altra, a company born in the kitchen of one of its founders, the move is indicative of astronomical growth over the past decade. In 2008, marathoner Golden Harper began melting shoes in a toaster oven and cutting excess midsole foam from the heel, believing that a flatter midsole would help alleviate running injuries. VF owns North Face, which also makes running shoes. With both brands under the same umbrella, they could be forced to alter the products they manufacture or the consumers they target to avoid competing with one another. (03/27/18) Views: 60