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7/7/2018

What happend to Yuki Kawauchi? He did run his 80th sub 2:20 marathon at the Gold Coast!

It was hot and humid at the Gold Coast Marathon (Australia) July 1.  It was 65 degrees with 100% humidity.  Not the best conditions for running a marathon.  Yuki Kawauchi said,  "I could not run well." 

He finished 9th clocking 2:14:50.  (Kenneth Mungara won clocking 2:09:49, Kenta Murayama second 2:09:50 and Jo Fukuda third 2:09:52.)  

Yuki posted on Facebook, "But, I achieved my 80th time of sub 2:20 at this race."    "The Australian people were kind to me," Yuki says.

(Photo: Yuki with fan/marathoner Dion Finocchiaro.  Dion ran 2:24:36 a PR for him.  Maybe meeting Yuki gave him that extra push?) 

Yuki's next marathon is going to be the New Caledonia International Marathon August 26.  Their site says, "This is an Olympic-level world-class marathon as runners battle for victory along a spectacularly scenic route winding around Noumea's bays." 

Yuki posted on Facebook, "This race is my important memorial marathon.Because this race was my first oversea race. If I didn't run this race 10 years ago, I might not run oversea races like now.   

I want to build a course record."  Where is this marathon?  Their site says, "Surrounded by the vast expanse of the South Pacific, New Caledonia, with a surface area of 18,564 km², lies to the east of Australia and south of the thousands of islands and archipelagos making up Melanesia and Micronesia."       

(07/02/18) Views: 1,174

Global Run Challenge Profile: Mike Fanelli (62) has been running nearly every day since he was 14

RUN THE WORLD: Mike Fanelli caught the running bug after watching the 1968 Olympic Games on TV.  "I began competing as a high school cross country runner at age 14. I have run/trained practically every single day since and have a lifetime tally of 109,339 miles," Mike says. 

Over his nearly five decade career there have been many highlights.  A 2:25 marathon PR, a 16:40 100 miler (on the track) and one mile in 4:57 at age 50.  He is originally from Philadelphia and currently lives in the Sonoma Country Wine Country. 

The 62-year-old is a real estate broker representing luxury residential and vineyard properties.  As far as his running these days?  "These days my running tallies 35 to 40 miles a week...at least one of which is done on the track." he says.  He plans on logging in an average of 37 miles per week for the challenge.   

"I found out about the Run The World Global Run Challenge from my pal and 'streak mate' Geoff Smith and figured it'd be fun to be part of a mileage counting team effort," Mike says.

If you follow Mike on FB you know he has an amazing collection of running related material.  "My running archives began with one meet program which I got on March 1st, 1969 at the AAU Indoor National Track & Field Championships...as a 12 year old track nerd at that time, I chased down every single name athlete at that meet and got them to autograph my program...including George Young who only minutes before had set a new world indoors record that night for 3 miles," says Mike proudly. 

The library is now over 4000 pieces in all.  "I hope to donate my collection to an entity that will use it to educate people on the history of running and track & field." 

(07/01/18) Views: 570
Bob Anderson

Yuki Kawauchi may face rain at the Gold Coast Marathon but nothing like Boston

This Sunday, Yuki Kawauchi is likely to face the rain again as he competes in the 40th edition of Australian’s Gold Coast marathon, an IAAF Gold Label event. But nothing like what runners experienced in Boston with the biting winds and slippery roads. Mild and relatively still weather is forecast for race morning. It will be warm – with the temperature tipped to rise to just over 68F (20C) but nothing like as hot as the Commonwealth marathoners experienced. Kawauchi will be competing in his seventh straight Gold Coast marathon and chasing his second victory. His only win came in 2013, but he has three more podium finishes and has never finished outside the top eight. Kawauchi will need to be on his A-game, however, as two other recent winners are in this year’s line-up – last year’s victor, Takuya Noguchi and race record holder and two-time winner Kenneth Mungara. Actually, there are at least five former winners starting in this 40th edition of the race – Eric Sigmont, winner of the inaugural race in 1979, and 1990 Commonwealth Games 5000 metres champion Andrew Lloyd, who won in 1980, are also in the field. (06/29/18) Views: 459

The RUN THE WORLD Global Run Challenge 1 has Started, the team is 175 strong from 15 countries

The time has come for our 175 strong RUN THE WORLD Global team to start logging miles.  The goal is to login 24,901 miles or 40,072k within 30 days.  “We have put together a strong team,” says Bob Anderson, team leader.  “Our runners come with lots of experience to runners who are just getting started.  We have ultra marathoners capable of running 100 miles in a day, world class runners, past Olympians,  middle distance runners, trail runners, 80 plus runners, kid Runners, coaches, Race directors, recreational runners, marathoners, and more,” says Bob.  Some of the team will be logging in five miles a week while others will be logging in over 130 miles weekly.  “It is the type of team we were looking for.  Once the word got out there, we reached 200 easily.”  We established guidelines we needed to follow.  1. A team can not have more than 200 active runners.  2. There has to be at least one member in each age group, 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 plus.  3. At least 25% of the team must be either male or female (mixed team). 4. There needs to be Runners from at least 10 countries.  The runner can either have a passport from that country or live in that country.  5. The first 200 who log miles are on the team after the start date.  Each member have to set a weekly goal, post a short bio and agree to try to reach their goal and log the miles.   6. Miles can either be running, run/walk or walking miles.  Only “real miles” can be posted.  “Our team meets all these guidelines.  I am so proud of all our team members,” says Bob.  What is the mission? First it is a celebration of running.  Second, to inspire others to include running into their daily life.  (This is why we are publishing inspiration stories about our members).  Third, to motivate (Team members set a weekly goal which they want to reach or more.) Four, to bond (bringing Runners from around the world closer together.  “We are Runners” Five, to educate and inform (our My Best Runs website offers advice and reports on the best, most interesting and unique races in the world). “Our team is excited to finally get this under way.”   (07/03/18) Views: 400
Bob Anderson

Global Run Challenge Profile: Grace Padilla believes running is her fountain of youth

RUN THE WORLD: Growing up being the middle child out of seven kids was challenging for Grace Padilla Leong.   "I didn’t feel notice. I discovered running when I was 12 years old," Grace says.  Her younger brother started running and racing back in 1984.  "I was jealous of him because our parents spoiled him with running gear, eating out, and money when he won races. I wanted to feel special too." She tried the 3,000m steeplechase back in 1995.  "I wasn’t much of a hurdler, but I learned to step over barriers and run fast between them. I got better every time I jumped. I really enjoyed the extra challenge the barriers gave me."   She took pride in almost completely clearing the water barriers.  In 1996, she broke the America record and actually held the World Record before it was recognized.  "I was blessed to compete in the 1996 Olympic Trials in Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately, I had the flu and really struggled in the 114 heat during our race," Grace says.   She took time off after this to have a family. Then 16 years later, she decided to try the 2,000m steeplechase as a master runner in the World Masters Championships.  "I was nervous and went out too fast (75 for 400m) this came back to haunt me on the last 300m. I was running world record pace and missed winning by a few seconds. I wasn’t the same brave kid, now I was afraid of the barriers and landed in the middle of the water pit with two feet."  After getting hurt from all the impact from jumping the barriers, she decided to give steeplechasing a break."Running is my life so I make it one of my priorities. I get up early to feed my children, take them to school, feed all our pets. Then I teach part time, followed by coaching at our local high school my children attend. I usually run with my kids, except on the Track interval days. I do my speed work with my husband’s running club, SoCal RoadRunners." Although, she has never played soccer, she is a huge soccer fan.  "My uncle used to have a team when I was a kid and we would cheer for them every weekend."   Asked why she thinks she is such a good runner."When I was a kid I ran to get my parents attention and to make them proud. Then I ran for the awards. Later, ran because I enjoyed winning and the spotlight. Now I run because I love pushing myself and the way running makes me feel. I feel strong, beautiful, and brave! I think what makes me a good runner is the fact that I’m a hard worker! I don’t take any shortcuts. I’ve always been a front runner and I’m not afraid to take chances."  What does this think of this challenge?"This Run The World challenge sounds interesting and I want to be part of something great! Running bring people together world wide, language stops being a barrier."  Grace sums it up well. "Running has been my life and passion for over 35 years.  I believe running is my fountain of youth." (07/02/18) Views: 380
Bob Anderson

Wilson kipsang, Eliud Kipchoge and Zersenay Tadese will face off at BMW Berlin Marathon

Wilson Kipsang is a strong contender.  Now 36, the Kenyan set his world record time of 2:03:23 in 2013 in Berlin. Kipchoge and Kipsang lined up last year with the target of breaking 2:03 as a key objective but such hopes were dashed by steady rain throughout. Kipchoge won in difficult conditions clocking 2:03:32 while Kipsang dropped out do to stomach issues. Another runner to be taken into consideration is Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea, five times a winner of the world half marathon title as well as world record holder for the distance. Eliud Kipchoge has a strong claim to be the greatest marathon runner of all time. He is the reigning Olympic champion, having won the title in Rio in 2016, three times a winner in London (2015, 16 and 18), twice winner of the BMW Berlin Marathon title as well as winner of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2014. He finished runner-up in Berlin in 2013 when Wilson Kipsang broke the world record. He broke into new territory in May last year when running 2:00:25 for the marathon distance, achieved on the Formula One circuit of Monza in Italy though substitute pacemakers made the time ineligible as a record. In Berlin on September 16 Eliud Kipchoge is keen to show what he can do in regular competition and under hopefully favorable weather conditions: “My preparation is entirely concentrated on Berlin. I am confident I can beat my personal best on this fast course if conditions are good.”  With good weather conditions the world record could fall Berlin.   (07/05/18) Views: 232

Global Run Challenge Profile: Phil Camp is a lifetime runner with plenty of cool stories to tell

RUN THE WORLD: Phil Camp (70) was a former aviator at the United States Navy.  He now lives in Chula Vista, CA with his wife Judy who is a top master tennis player.  This photo of Phil running a mile in a track meet on the ship the Coral Sea was taken in 1974.  During his running career he has qualified for Olympic Marathon Trials three times starting in 1972.  He has won five marathons including Nike OTC (73) and Marine (79).  He says, "I didn’t get into masters running Stateside until age 45 because I was living in Sicily, then the Philippines my last two tours in the Navy."  As a master runner in 1993 Phil was second overall at the Carlsbad Marathon.  At the Carlsbad 5k he placed first 45-49 in 1993 and 1st 50-55 in 2000.  Phil continued to push as the years went by.  However, just after he turned 60 his ankle started hurting.  "It turned out to be a fallen arch," he says.  "A foot surgeon told me I was done running, but my podiatrist said he could keep me going at fewer miles with newer orthotics."  Another "age challenge" was dealing with his heart health.  "I had experienced coronary artery disease at 58 and got two stents," he says.  "The heart rhythm issue was a complete mystery to me."  He started taking long bike rides and he started wearing a heart rate monitor.  "A cycling friend told me that everyone he knew with similar symptoms had a pacemaker. That night I wore my HR monitor to bed and watched my HR drop to 33-35 bpm.  I drove myself to the ER around midnight and they told me I wouldn’t be leaving without a pacemaker."  It was February 2016, he was 68-years-old, and he got a PM.  "Running has never quite been the same since just before and after the PM. I get very fatigued if I run faster than 8:30 per mile," Phil says.  But he is still gets in his runs but just slower these days.  "I’m excited to be in the Run the World Challenge! I will slow down to whatever pace I have to to contribute my 15-20 mi each week, I’m just so happy to be included with such a large diverse group of runners."  Phil has many running stories to tell and this one is about Bill Rodgers.   "I knew Bill Rodgers was going to be at the Azalea Trail Run and being a local runner at the time I was too.  I took the race out fast for me, 9:36 at the 2 mi. Somewhere before 3 mi, Bill finally caught up. He said he left the line with the pack and wondered who was in the lead. One of the guys said, “that’s Phil Camp!” He said he had read an article in Runner's World several years before and figured he’d better not let me get too far ahead.  We shared the pace for awhile and then he slowly pulled away! Three years later when I was stationed in the Philippines I got a free military flight to Korea and managed to talk my way into the Seoul Marathon. They doubted that I had run a 2:13 but allowed me to enter. The next morning I showed up among maybe 10,000 runners with no idea how to stash my warm ups. Then a bus pulled up near the start line and all the elite runners including Bill stepped out to mingle with the crowd.  I waved at Bill and he told me to jump on the bus. They took us to a locker room with a track nearby for warm up and then back to the start ahead of the masses. Bill said he wasn’t running fast.  He was just there to run with his fiancée and attend the after party. I ended up 10th in a 2:19, my 3rd marathon in two months! Never forgot Bill’s kindness, one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met!" Phil has a lot of good running stories. (06/30/18) Views: 215
Bob Anderson

Sara Hall wins the Gold Coast Half Marathon in Australia today and then will be racing Peachtree on July 4th

Sara Hall (USA) made it back-to-back wins at this morning’s ASICS Half Marathon on the Gold Coast. In an enthralling women’s race, Hall achieved a 10-second personal best (PB) to win a consecutive ASICS Half Marathon in 1:09:27 after also finishing runner-up in 2015. It was also the second fastest performance ever recorded in the ASICS Half Marathon, only behind the race record of Lisa Jane Weightman (1:09:00). Hall, 35, pulled away in the second half of the race from Australia’s Sinead Diver (VIC) who finished second in 1:09:53, a close to two-minute improvement on her previous best. Today’s result was the 40-year-old runner’s third podium finish in the ASICS Half Marathon, having also placed second in 2014 and third in 2016. The Lee Troop-coached Laura Thweatt (USA) filled this year’s podium in third in a PB of 1:10:17.   Sara Hall is running Peachtree 10k on Wednesday.   (06/30/18) Views: 163

Global Run Challenge Profile: Aaron Salvador lives and runs on the Beautiful Island of Palau

RUN THE WORLD: Aaron Salvador says, "Running in Palau is a great experience."  Palau is a little country made up of hundreds of islands in the western Pacific Ocean.  Originally from the Philippines 27-year-old Aaron currently is residing in Palau for the last three years. He works as a full time waiter in a restaurant.

"I love to read books, snorkeling and strolling around the islands with natural sceneries and historical sites," he says.  While in school he discovered that he had potential in running. 

"But because of the ways of life I've been apart of running due to work. But then when I came here to the Pristine Paradise of Palau I started running again and enjoy every mile." He has done a lot of 5K's, 10K's and always finishes in the top three. He also won the 2017 Palau Marathon half marathon the the 2018 full marathon. Asked about running in Palau. 

"I'm not Palauan by blood but in my heart, Palau is my home. There are lots of hills and beautiful sceneries,” he says. Aaron’s passion is running. "After reading the stories of Runners doing the challenge, it gave me reason to join this Run The World Challenge, because I was inspired.  If they can, why can't I. 

“I want to challenge myself to where my capabilities lasts, to test myself and to prove that noting is impossible. With great determination l am aiming for my goals. Ill start, i will go through and I will run until the end."  Aaron set his goal at 50 miles per week and already logged in 10 miles on the first day of Run The World. 

(07/04/18) Views: 106
Bob Anderson

Global Run Challenge Profile: Becca Pizzi has run 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents twice and never gets injured

RUN THE WORLD: Becca Pizzi ran her first race when she was six years old.  Now 38 she has run over 70 marathons in 33 states.  "I love running, sharing my passion, and inspiring others," Becca says. She has run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, twice.  “I ran the World Marathon Challenge in 2016, to make history," she says. She was the  first US woman to complete this challenge.  She went back in 2018 to hopefully lower her time.  "I love to run and I love to travel; this is my favorite race."  She beat her 2016 time setting a new world best performance clocking 6 Days 7 Hours and 58 minutes this year.  "My daughter was at the finish line and ran the last 100 yards with me. She was my biggest inspiration to get me to the finish as fast as I could. I will never forget that moment."  Becca has many things going and she loves every minute of it.  "My life is like a puzzle. I own a Day Care, I manager an ice cream shop, my daughter is 10-years-old, I am a motivational speaker,  I coach my daughters soccer team, a kids Tri team,  I started the Belmont Track Club and a kids track club."  What she is most proud of is the Becca Pizzi 5k (now in the third year) in her hometown.  The proceeds go to graduating seniors.  "It is my chance to give back to the community. I love all that I do and don't ever feel overwhelmed."  Asked about this challenge.  "I am excited to log my miles with RUN THE WORLD. I whole heartedly believe in Bob's mission."  She runs a lot of miles and has never been injured.  What is your secret?  "I listen to my body. When I feel good I go for it, when something is tweaking I back off."  We know you love deserts? "I have my own ice cream flavor named after me, Becca7. I try to eat healthy and hydrate especially leading up to a marathon. I have a weak spot for Swedish Fish." she says.  Becca lives in Belmont, Mass with her husband Joe and her daughter Taylor.  "Lets circle the world," Becca says. (06/29/18) Views: 97
Bob Anderson