Running News Daily
Top Ten Stories of the Week
7/9/2022
These are the top ten stories based on views over the last week.
Remembering the USA Olympic Trials 10000m 50 years back
50 YEARS AGO the temps hovered near 95 degrees at the start of the 1972 Olympic Trials 10,000 meters.
That's pretty dang hot for a twenty-five lap race...but nowhere near as toasty as the pace that Frank set. His scintillating 4:25.4 first mile was nearly world record pace.
One by one, those that had tried to hang with Shorter got dropped like a bad habit beginning about 2 miles (reached in 8:58.5 by the former Yalie).
Meanwhile Florida Track Club teammates Jeff Galloway and Jack Bacheler, running their own steady-eddy tempo in arrears, began gobbling up the roadkill.
The last to fall off was homeboy Jon Anderson wearing the signature yellow and green striped Oregon TC kit (he had graduated from Eugene's Sheldon High School and at the time of these Trials, his Pop was the Mayor of TrackTown).
Anderson fell back as far as 6th place, some 60 yards out of third, while grabbing his sides as though he was battling a side stitch.
Then all of a sudden with a couple of laps to go, and much to the delight of the partisan crowd, Jon channeled his inner Lazarus, showing new signs of life.
While Frank and Jeff were just too far ahead to be 'catchable', Anderson's late charge reeled in Jack. The pair of lanky distance runners bumped shoulders coming out of the final turn. It was a collision caused by fatigue, not aggression, and drew Bacheler a disapointing DQ, while Jon sped across the finish line, up by 6/10 of a tick.
1 Frank Shorter 28.35.6
2 Jeff Galloway 28.48.8
3 Jon Anderson 29.08.2
4 Tom Laris 29.43.0
5 Bill Clark 29.57.0
6 Don Kardong 30.21.2
7 Gregory Fredericks 30.37.6
8 Dave Antognoli 30.39.6
DQ Jack Bacheler 29:08.9
SIDEBAR: Seven days later in the marathon race, Shorter and Kenny Moore would tie for first while Bacheler, chaperoned by teammate and now 10,000 meter Olympian Gentleman Jeff Galloway, would cruise home in third spot to make his second Olympic Team (Jack was also on the 1968 team at 5,000 meters). Frank finished fifth in the 10,000 meters in Munich clocking 27:51:32 an American record but not good enough for a medal. Frank a few days later won the Olympic Marathon. A feat that helped escalate the running boom in America.
Four years later Frank added a silver medal to that gold when he finished second in the marathon at the games in Montreal.
Postscript from Pete Stein:
Tom Laris made the Olympic team in 1964, competing in the 10,000 … He missed making the team in 1969 … And was one of the favorites, along with Frank Shorter, to make the team in 1972 … For a good portion of the race, he was running with Frank Shorter, well ahead of the other competitors in the race … And then, affected by the heat, ultimately, fading back … Ultimately, he finished fourth, serving as an alternate to the team … and not running in the Olympics
I felt very bad for Tom, because I knew how hard he worked to make the team … and how bad that he wanted to make the team as he knew that it would be his last opportunity
Months later, we crossed paths and I expressed my feelings for him … And he shared some thoughts that I have never forgotten … and which have served me well.
He said, “I believe that everything happens for a reason … And that sometimes things don’t work out the way that I would liked … And at the time, I would be greatly disappointed … but I learned to look for the reason that this happened as I moved on in my life … And ultimately, I would find the reason … And realize that ‘my disappointment at that time’ was a good step in the right direction that led to better things in my life.”
As I said, I never forgot what he said to me … And it served me well in my life.
(07/06/22) Views: 196Mike Fanelli
Rhonex Kipruto wins men’s elite division at AJC Peachtree Road Race
Against what was touted as the fastest field in the race’s 53-year history, Kipruto pulled away near the seven-kilometer point of the 10K race and finished in an unofficial 27 minutes, 25 seconds.
It is Kipruto’s second title at Peachtree, having won previously in 2019. Kipruto won despite having arrived Sunday evening on a flight from Doha, Qatar. Fellow Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie finished in second place.
Rhonex Kipruto and Kibiwott Kandie Added to Fastest Field in Peachtree History
Rhonex Kipruto is returning to Atlanta for two reasons: Vindication and to protect his event record at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race. The 10K world record-holder was announced Thursday by Atlanta Track Club, organizers of the Peachtree, as a late addition to the elite field at Monday’s 53rd Running of the race.
The 2019 Peachtree champion isn’t the only Kenyan superstar joining the field: Also making the trip to Running City USA will be Kibiwott Kandie, whose personal best of 26:50 gives him the second-fastest 10K in the world this year and fifth fastest all time. Kandie, the 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon champion and 2022 Kenyan 10,000m champion, will be making his Peachtree debut.
Kipruto’s winning time of 27:01 here in 2019 is not only the Peachtree record but also the fastest 10K ever run in the United States. To hold on to his event record – and perhaps be the first man to ever break 27 minutes on American soil – he’ll have to battle five other men with road personal bests under 27:15. In addition to Kandie who defeated Kipruto when they raced on the track earlier this month, that speedy group includes Bravin Kiptoo, who was the runner-up to Kipruto, his brother, in 2019.
Kipruto was not planning to race the Peachtree this year. As one of the top-ranked 10,000- meter runners in the world, he was expected to make the Kenyan team for the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, later in July. However, he finished a disappointing sixth in the Kenyan Championships and now hopes to redeem himself by making history on the Fourth of July.
“Chasing after the course record, weather permitting, is on my mind, especially as I failed to make Team Kenya this past weekend,” said Kipruto. “What comes after the defeat is always more important than the defeat itself.”
Kirpruto’s 2019 course record came with a $50,000 bonus for the 50th Running of the Peachtree. This year, the bonus is $53,000 to be split among any men or women in the footrace or Shepherd Center Wheelchair Division who set a record. With two other division record-holders returning – Brigid Kosgei in the women’s footrace and Daniel Romanchuk in the men’s wheelchair division – anyone who sets a record this year may find themselves sharing the purse. There will be plenty of competition. For Kosgei – whose 30:22 course record is also the fastest time ever run in the U.S. – the path to victory has become slightly easier, as Sheila Chepkirui withdrew after finishing second in the 10,000 meters at the Kenyan Championships. However, Irene Cheptai, the 2017 World Cross Country champion who finished 6th in the 10,000m in Tokyo last summer, has been added to the field.
There have been several other notable withdrawals from the elite field. Eight-time Peachtree winner Tatyana McFadden, 2017 Peachtree winner Leonard Korir and 2022 Publix Atlanta Half Marathon winner Nicholas Kosimbei are no longer racing on Monday.
(07/01/22) Views: 142Running USA
Stay cool on your next run with these three tricks, use these tips to keep your core temperature down
If you’re training for a summer race this year, you’ll want to prepare for that event by exercising in the heat, as unpleasant as it sometimes may be. Heat training will pay off, especially if race day is warmer than expected. There are ways to keep the heat from getting to you, especially during longer runs. Your goal is to keep your core body temperature down while staying aware of the signs of heat-related illnesses. Use these three tips to keep your body temperature down on your next hot-weather training session.
Choose your clothing wisely
Make sure you’re wearing light-colored clothing, in a sweat-wicking material, polyester, or polypropylene. Cotton attire may feel cool at first, but will get heavy and uncomfortable once you add sweat. Wearing a hat you can dip in water will keep your head (and core, as a result!) cool, and feels nice as well. Chris Kostman, race director of the Badwater 135 ultramarathon in Death Valley, Cali., has more than a little experience with hot-weather events. In an interview with GearHub Kostman suggested spritzing your clothes with water before setting out: you’ll cool as the water evaporates.
Have a cold drink before you start, and keep drinking
Staying hydrated is essential during the hot months. Not only will it help prevent potentially life-threatening ailments like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but it will also keep you feeling better and running faster. When we get dehydrated, our blood thickens, increasing our heart rate through a process called cardiac drift. Being mindful of how much you are drinking before, during, and after your outdoor workout is important. Studies show that drinking something partially frozen before exercising can keep your body temperature down for even longer than simply imbibing a cold drink, so stick that sports drink in the freezer before your run so that it’s icy. If you find you’re taking in a lot of water, or you’re participating in a long, hot endurance event, make sure that you’re also taking in electrolytes and sodium so that you replenish what you’re sweating out and avoid conditions like hyponatrema.
Learn from the pros: ice, ice, everywhere
The recent Western States 100-mile race reportedly had 5 pounds of ice, per athlete, per aid station. Ultrarunners at these warm races have devised techniques to wear the ice all over their bodies, and no matter the distance of your next hot training run or race, you may want to try some of their efficient ways to beat the heat. Fill a bandanna or tube sock with ice and tie it around your neck. The icy water it releases as you continue will keep you cool as you move. Sticking a baggie of ice into your hat can work as well, or wearing sleeves that you stuff with ice cubes and allow to melt.
The most important thing during hot-weather runs: take the signs of heat exhaustion seriously. If you’re very hot but aren’t sweating, you have a throbbing headache that doesn’t abate or you start to feel unwell, get inside, cool your body down, and monitor your symptoms.
(07/04/22) Views: 140Keeley Milne
A new Pre stature wil be on display at World Championships
This Bronze statue of Pre has just been delivered to the Fifth Street Public Market in Eugene. It should be on display throughout the July 15-24 World Championships, and I hope the world will learn our USA Running and Oregon story. And selfishly, the Nike story.
(07/04/22) Views: 100Steve Bence
Break out of a running rut today with these tricks, mix up your routine to feel revitalized
If you feel like you’re in a rut and can’t get out the door or are simply not having fun when you’re out there, try modifying your routine with one of our (tried and tested) simple suggestions.
I recently missed a couple of scheduled training runs due to some travel–no big deal, right? I know from experience that it takes much longer than a day or two to lose fitness and that I simply needed to jump back on that proverbial horse. Sounds easy enough, but I was quickly reminded of how a few sub-par days of running, or a few unplanned extra rest days can play tricks with my mind. These ideas might sound silly, but they work–and you’ll soon be looking forward to your runs again, rather than opting for the couch.
Switch it up
If you usually run on the roads, drive to a nearby trailhead and tackle a few trails. Switching it up doesn’t have to take a lot of effort, though: changing your routine can be as simple as veering into a different neighbourhood, running at a different time than usual (think evening instead of early morning), or throwing a stair workout into the mix. Trying something new can be challenging–but it also lessens any expectations you may have of yourself to hit goals or run at a certain pace. Know that you’re stimulating both mind and body by adding creativity, and you’ll probably have some fun while you’re at it.
Scrap the data–or take a break from obsessing over it
Data can be useful and is a handy tool to have. Many things can impact it. and it can be easy to focus on the numbers and ignore what they may be actually reflecting. If you’ve just had a mentally exhausting week, your heart rate may be higher than normal and you may find it hard to hit the usual paces you run at; similarly, if it’s really warm or windy outside, you may run slower than usual. If you find that you’re getting hung up on the numbers, try going for a run and leaving your watch behind. That may be too hard (hey, I hear you); alternatively, try telling yourself that today’s run is simply “miles in the bank” and change your watch setting to reflect time rather than pace. If you can’t resist looking at your data later and are surprised by how slowly you ran, know that not only did your body find the pace it needed for you while you were out there, but also that running slowly is a skill. Give yourself a pat on the back for taking a step towards greater running efficiency.
Try a new podcast or playlist, or try not listening to anything
Confession: I once ran to the same (albeit long) playlist for close to a year. When I’m struggling to get out the door I find that getting some podcast recommendations from friends, downloading a few episodes, and queuing them up to listen to is enough of a mental boost to get me out the door. Whether it’s a running-based podcast, true crime, self-help, or something funny, knowing I can zone out and tune into something new can be enough to overcome the lack of enthusiasm I may be feeling. My partner recently went through a bit of a battle to get out the door, and discovered that leaving his formerly-relied-upon headphones at home and enjoying the scenery on his long run was a game-changer for him. While he’s back to his regular eighties-mix playlists, he says he plans to take the quieter, scenic path more often.
Bonus tip: combine a few of these for an extra boost
Go really wild and throw a few of these mental picker-uppers into the mix at once. Like adding a shot of espresso to your regular coffee, adding more than one of these tricks to your run will amp up the rewards. After a week of dragging myself out the door, I ran some mountain bike paths with my husband. I had been following a training routine and working on nailing paces in speed workouts while keeping my heart rate down in longer runs, and I needed a change. While I kept my watch on, I ignored my pace and stopped to take a few photos and chat with passers-by. I left my headphones at home, paying attention to the new route we were following and admiring the scenery I often take for granted while grinding out interval repeats. I knew the windy, hot day heat was going to impact my data, and I reminded myself that wind and heat are powerful tools to train mental grit, something that is not directly reflected on Strava. The result? I had a blissful and challenging morning run, bonded with my partner while enjoying our community, and felt refreshed and ready to approach my next training block.
(07/01/22) Views: 98
Keeley Milne
Flanagan Breaks Gold Coast Marathon CR, Fukuda Takes Men's Race
As Australia's Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon returned for the first time since 2019, Lindsay Flanagan became its first American winner female or male, taking 6 seconds off the course record and over 2 minutes off her PB to take 1st in 2:24:43. Accompanied by dedicated male pacers and a large group of men in a race that never saw a lead women's group congeal, Flanagan went through halfway in 1:11:59 and then sped up even further, clocking her two fastest 5 km splits of the race, 16:52 and 16:47, from 20 to 25 km and 25 to 30 km. The effects of that came down on her after 30 km as she slowed beyond 3:30/km, but with a rally over the last km she held on to just crack Ruth Chebitok's 2018 CR of 2:24:49.
Post-race Flanagan and her coach, Australian NR and Oceania AR holder Benita Johnson, were elated, having just met each other in person a few days before the race after a year of online coaching.
Like Flanagan, 2nd-placer and local favorite Lisa Weightman, the CR holder in Gold Coast's 10 km and half marathon divisions, ran the entire way with only male accompaniment, splitting halfway in 1:12:36 and coming home in 2:25:55, the best-ever by an Australian woman at Gold Coast and the 2nd-best time of her career. 3rd-placer Shiho Kaneshigestarted more conservatively with a 1:14:00 first half, passing American Stephanie Bruce just before 20 km and staying on track to break her 2:28:51 PB until late in the race when she faded to 2:29:12, also a career 2nd-best and her first time sub-2:30 outside Japan.
While the top women all ran separately, a lead group of 4 men shook out by 5 km, with Australian Liam Adams pacing Japan's Jo Fukuda and Akihiro Kaneko, Belgian Amaury Paquet and fellow Aussie Samuel Gebremichael on track to just break 2:10. When Adams dropped off before 20 km Fukuda took over, he and Kaneko quickly dropping the other two and pulling away. Fukuda, whose 2:09:52 best was set on the Gold Coast in 2018, disposed of Kaneko just past 25 km and ran the rest of the way alone, making good on his race logo-themed hair dye job with his first-ever marathon win in 2:10:55. In contrast to the fast women's race, it was the slowest men's winning time since 2010. Kaneko was 2nd in 2:14:25, Paquet taking 3rd in 2:15:45.
Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist Madison de Rozario fought off Paralympic teammate Christie Dawes to win the women's wheelchair division, her time of 1:46:58 good enough for 3rd overall. The only men to beat her were Jake Lappin, 1st by a wide margin in 1:37:32 and Luke Bailey, just hanging on to 2nd overall in 1:46:01.
(07/03/22) Views: 96
Nnenna Lynch to be new chair of NYRR board, Lynch will serve as the first woman and first African American in the position
New York Road Runners (NYRR) today announced that Nnenna Lynch is nominated to serve as the next Chairwoman of the NYRR Board of Directors. It is a historical appointment as she will become the first woman and the first African American in the position.
Since 2014, Lynch has served on the NYRR Board of Directors. Additionally, she serves as the Chair of the NYRR Community Impact Committee, and she is helping to lead the CEO search process for the organization.
Lynch has a long history in real estate development, government, public policy, and finance. She previously served as the Senior Advisor to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, where she set the strategy for growing New York City’s economy and oversaw over 10 city agencies with a collective budget of USD 5 billion and more than 20,000 employees. Currently, she is the founder and CEO of Xylem Projects, a New York City based and mission-driven real estate investment and development firm with a focus on high-impact urban mixed-use, affordable and mixed-income housing.
Lynch will succeed George Hirsch in June 2023 after formal approval by the Board of Directors at its 2023 Annual Meeting. Hirsch, who has served for 17 years, will become Chairman Emeritus. Hirsch is the founding publisher of New York magazine, was the long-time worldwide publisher of Runner’s World and he is a founder of the five-borough New York City Marathon.
“I am honored to serve as the new NYRR Chairwoman of the Board supporting the world’s premiere community running organization. Running has been a lifelong passion of mine, and after eight years of serving as a Board Member supporting NYRR’s community impact initiatives, I’m looking forward to serving in this role to help further NYRR’s presence in the community for future generations,” said Nnenna Lynch.
“I am thrilled to have Nnenna serve as our future Chairwoman of the Board,” said George Hirsch, Chairman of the Board, NYRR. “As a lifelong runner and with her deep experience in the New York community, we know her passion will further our organization’s commitment to the sport as well as supporting our community initiatives throughout the five boroughs. Nnenna is ideally suited for the role.”
Lynch currently holds many leadership positions including Co-President of the Association of American Rhodes Scholars. In addition, Lynch is a Trustee of Villanova University, a board member of the Van Alen Institute, and a former board member of the New York City Housing Authority. She earned an M.A. in Anthropology at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and a B.A. in Sociology at Villanova where she won five NCAA titles in track and field. Lynch is a born and raised New Yorker and since her childhood growing up seeing the urban blight of 1980s New York she has been passionate about revitalizing neighborhoods.
(07/01/22) Views: 95AIMS
Athletics Kenya issues strict rules for athletes at pre-worlds Champ
Athletics Kenya (AK) has warned that no athlete will leave the World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games training camp at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani without permission.
AK Chief Administrative Officer Susan Kamau said that AK, the team management and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) will decide whether to allow some athletes to compete in the Diamond League.
The Stockholm Diamond League is on Thursday in Sweden with events like the 800m, men’s 3,000m and women’s 3,000m steeplechase on the program.
The World Athletics Championships will run from July 15 to 24 in Oregon, United States followed by the Commonwealth Games on July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England.
After Stockholm, the next Diamond League is on August 6 in Silesia, Poland.
However, there are close to 15 events in the World Athletics Continental Tour before the start of the world event.
Kamau noted that it will be wise for the athletes in camp to concentrate on their preparations.
“Nevertheless, we shall make a decision on whom to release if possible,” said Kamau, adding that members of the athletics team selected on Saturday are already in camp at Kasarani.
“We have been working on their documentation and all is well. We are ready for the world event and Commonwealth Games. We shall be giving updates on the progress of the team,” said Kamau.
Kenya finished second with 11 medals; five gold, two silver and four bronze during the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships.
Team Kenya collected 16 medals in athletes at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games; four gold, seven silver and five bronze, a performance that saw them finish fifth overall in athletics.
The country finished 14th overall with the only other medal coming from boxing through Christine Ongare who won bronze.
Athletics Kenya selected a team of 47 athletes for the World Athletics Championships and a similar number for the “Club” Games. There are several athletes who will double up in the two competitions.
The trials witnessed the return to form of some athletes, for instance World 3,000m steeplechase champion Conselsus Kipruto and Commonwealth Games 800m champion Wycliffe Kinyamal.
Others are the 2015 World Military Games 1,500m champion Selah Jepleting and World Half Marathon silver Kibiwott Kandie.
It also witnessed the continuous rise of some like Amos Serem, World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase champion Jackline Chepkoech and Abel Kipsang in 1,500m.
While Kipruto and Kinyamal will be heading to Oregon, Serem, Jepleting and Kandie could only settle for places in the Commonwealth Games team due to varying reasons.
Kipruto, who has been struggling with form, something that saw him fail to defend his Olympic title in Tokyo last year, eased off at the home-straight allowing World Under-20 champion Amos Serem to win.
Jepleting was the surprise winner of the women’s 5,000m, having scaled the distance event from 1,500m.
It was her second 5,000m race this year, having finished fifth at the Kip Keino Classic, but the anti-doping rules locked her out of the world event team.
Jepleting has not repented Kenya since the 2016 Durban Africa Senior Athletics Championships.
Kenyans athletes must go through three out-of-competition tests to qualify for the world event. Jepleting and Serem didn't meet this requirement.
(07/01/22) Views: 94Ayumba Ayodi
Asics Half Marathon, Eloise Wellings outran 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games marathon teammate Jessica Stenson
In Saturday's Asics Half Marathon, Eloise Wellings outran 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games marathon teammate Jessica Stenson 1:10:53 to 1:11:35 for the win in wetter conditions that what the marathoners faced 24 hours later. Both Wellings and Stenson headed straight overseas post-race for altitude training in preparation for Birmingham.
National and Oceania record holder Brett Robinson had a relatively conservative win in the men's race, outkicking Ed Goddard by 5 seconds for the win in 1:03:14. The likewise Birmingham-bound Liam Adams was 5th in 1:05:32 before taking on lead men's pacing duties the next day. Chuo University's Haruto Wakabayashi cracked the top 10 with an 8th-place finish in a PB 1:04:29. A complete replay of the half marathon:
