Running News Daily
Top Ten Stories of the Week
9/8/2018
These are the top ten stories based on views over the last week.
Dave McGillivray who has heart issues says just because you are fit doesn't mean you are healthy
Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray was at home resting last night after undergoing his third angiogram in the past five years earlier in the day at Mass. General Hospital.
The tests showed that McGillivray, who turned 64 on Aug. 22, has one heart artery 80 percent blocked and another 40-to-50 percent impaired. McGillivray plans to meet with a heart surgeon in the next week or so to decide the best avenue of treatment.
”Right now, my mind is spinning out of control. I never thought during my lifetime and in my craziest dreams that I would need bypass surgery. This just wasn’t on my radar,” McGillivray said in an email sent out to friends and colleagues last night.
”But, I’ve also finally learned and accepted the fact that I am not invincible. No one is.” McGillivray, who maintains a whirlwind schedule, recently served as race director/organizer of the MR8 5K event, which finished inside TD Garden last week.
Just weeks before this past April’s 122nd edition of the Boston Marathon, McGillivray completed an arduous trek of running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. Each year, to celebrate his birthday, McGillivray runs an equal amount in miles.
Dave wrote in his email, "On the one hand, I wanted to keep this private. At a certain level it is almost embarrassing to me that I am in this position. However, I also want to expose the fact that this can happen to ANYONE and sometimes I am led to believe that the fittest athletes could actually be the most vulnerable ones because they are in such denial of their illness and don't act on it like others do.
I'm hopeful that this message can actually save others going through a similar experience and make everyone think a little deeper about their own health and act on it before it is too late."
(09/06/18) Views: 5,762
Michael Wardian ran 184.5 miles at 11:55 per mile pace breaking the record set in 1976
Michael Wardian woke up one day and decided to go after a record set in 1976. He left Cumberland, Maryland at 5am Saturday morning September 1st.
A little more than an hour ago he finished running the entire C&O Canal Trail (184.5 miles) that goes through Maryland and ends at Rock Creek Parkway in Washington DC.
The trail surfaces are crushed stone, dirt and gravel. The record he wanted to beat was set by Park Barner in 1976 when Park clocked 36 hours, 48 minutes, 14 seconds. Michael clocked 36 Hours 36 Minutes 3 seconds today which is an average of 11:55 per mile.
He had to also deal with temperatures that reached over 90 degrees. This one run also takes him to the top of the Run The World Challenge 2 leader board which he is also participating in that started August 29. Enough miles to circle the globe are being logged by 175 Runners from around the world.
(09/02/18) Views: 809
Former New York Marathon champion Stanley Biwott has recovered from a leg injury and will be on the front line at the Great North Run
The 32-year-old Kenyan distance runner was forced to pull out with a leg injury at the London marathon in April. The injury to his left leg forced him to stop training for three weeks. The Great North Run will be held on Sunday. "I have since recovered and I am focused on testing how fast my knees can hold up against a strong challenge from Mo Farah and others," he said on Tuesday in Nairobi. The 32-year-old has been struggling with injuries for the past two years, missing last year's London Marathon with hamstring problems and the Rio Olympic marathon race. He was also unable to defend his title at the 2016 New York Marathon, stepping off the course during race with a calf injury. Newcastle will be his first major race this season as he plans to return to full marathon action in Chicago in October. There he will be up against compatriot Abel Kirui, who was second last year, as well as Geoffrey Kirui, the world marathon champion. At the same time, organizers of the Great North Run have also announced the inclusion of former London marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru to the elite list heading to Newcastle. (09/04/18) Views: 404
It is not like the 2018 Boston Marathon winner Yuki Kawauchi to run a bad time even in tough conditions
It is not like Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi to run a bad marathon time. He has run more sub 2:12 and sub 2:19 Marathons than anyone in the world. He handled the terrible weather in Boston to win that Marathon.
So what happened today? Here is what Yuki posted on Facebook. “I ran the Northeast Wakkanai Peace marathon today,” Yuki wrote.
The course is point to point like Boston and there was a very strong headwind. He was running alone in the lead through 36k. “Suddenly I got cramps into both legs and both hands at 38km. Nevertheless I didn't walk. But I slowed down,” he wrote.
He was passed by one of Japanese corporate runner at 40km. “My finish time was my worst time (2:24:55). I am sorry and shamed for my fans and local people. So I promised to run this race next year again. I promised to make course record and win for my fans and local people. Next marathon is Bank of America Chicago marathon on October 7,” he posted.
He says he will not run a full Marathon until Chicago so he can concentrate on running well there. Sounds like a good plan.
(09/02/18) Views: 318
Michael Wardian is going after the record of running 184.5 miles this weekend in less than 35 Hours.
Michael Wardian, amazing ultrarunner, is going for the FKT - fastest known time - on the entire C&O canal, that’s 184.5 miles. He left Cumberland at 5am this morning Saturday September 1st. At 8:15pm (EST) he has completed 85 miles and has 100 miles to go. Photo was taken at Fort Fredricks (70 + miles). You can follow Michael by clicking on the link (the title). He is running the entire C&O Canal that goes through Maryland and ends at Rock Creek Parkway in Washington DC. The trail surfaces are crushed stone, dirt and gravel. The record he wants to beat was set by Park Barner in 1976 clocking 36 hours, 48 minutes, 14 seconds. Michael is also part of the Run The World Challenge 2 Team. Go Michael! We are all behind you! (09/01/18) Views: 303
Run The World Challenge 2 Profile: Sheldon Gersh says that running has the same priority as eating and sleeping for him
73-year-old Sheldon Gersh partiicipated in the first Run The World Challenge and has taken on the second one too. The Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley has worked there for 47 years, he loves to travel with his wife and one thing he always finds time to do is run.
So how did it all begin? He played soccer for Oregon and running was a necessity to survive the miles covered in practices and games. "In the off season I would run to stay fit," says Sheldon. "Once college was completed, I knew that I was going into the army and I needed to be very fit."
He handled army training well and says "it was a piece of cake." The summer before he entered the army, he ran with a high school cross country team which was ranked number one that year.
"I ran the years I was in the Army, including my adventure in Vietnam." Once he left the army he continued to run. "It made me feel so good. I thought about playing adult soccer but it was such a hastle to get together a team."
At the same time he had a friend that made him a bet that he had to finish in the top half and under an hour in his first Bay to Breakers road race in San Francisco. "I ran almost everyday plus played soccer with a team I coached," he remembers.
"I won the bet." For Sheldon running has the same priority as eating and sleeping. "Most people don’t look at it that way but I do. Running is extremely important to me, not much can prevent me from doing it, definitely not the weather," he says.
Two highlights? Running the Boston marathon back in the 70's and placing in the top 100 at the Bay to Breakers (12k) clocking 43 minutes. He also says, "I had a goal when I turned 60 to run a mile under six minutes.
A friend, Rich stiller trained me." Sheldon ran 5:47. He wants to continue running forever but says he "doesn't want to overdo it. I just think running makes you feel better. I look at so many people who look and act much older than me. I feel like they are my parents," he says.
He keeps fit by doing more than one activity a day. He also swims, does boxing and spins. "My long term goal is to continue running forever," says Sheldon Gersh.
(08/31/18) Views: 123Bob Anderson
Sara Hall will headline the Mattoni Usti nad Labem Half Marathon on September 15
Sara Hall and Jared Ward will run the Mattoni Usti nad Labem Half Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label road race. The two Americans add to an increasing interest and participation from some of the finest U.S. distance runners in recent RunCzech events. At the 2017 Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon the organizers were proud to host the two time Olympic medalist, Galen Rupp and the very popular and talented Jordan Hasay, both of whom were preparing for the Boston Marathon. In Prague Hasay achieved a significant personal best of 1:07:55 which prepared her for a big marathon breakthrough in Boston 16 days later. Although Rupp ran a very respectable 1:01:59 he was disappointed that foot problems kept him from being more competitive. (09/04/18) Views: 54
Jake Robertson and Mo Farah are ready to battle at Great North Run, the duo will go head-to-head once again
The duo will go head-to-head once again on Tyneside ahead of Autumn marathons. Jake Robertson and Mo Farah will renew their rivalry at the Great North Run on Sunday, September 9. In last year’s race, the New Zealander led Great Britain’s Farah into the final 400m before the four-time Olympic champion out sprinted his challenger with a trademark kick to take the win in 60:06, six seconds clear. Robertson also memorably proposed to his girlfriend Magdalyne Masai at the end of the half marathon. Farah, who previously announced his return to Tyneside, is bidding to become the first runner to win five consecutive titles. Since last year’s race, Robertson has taken the roads by storm winning the renowned Houston Half Marathon in a personal best equaling time of 60:01, before he made his marathon debut in Japan, where he broke the New Zealand record clocking 2:08:26. The duo will hope for impressive outings at the Great North Run before taking on Autumn marathons. Farah heads to Chicago where he will face defending champion Galen Rupp amongst others, and Robertson races for the second time over 26.2 miles in Toronto. (08/31/18) Views: 50
Kenyan Rodgers Kwemoi wins CZ Tilburg Ten while Galen Rupp finishes third
The Kenyan Rodgers Kwemoi won the CZ Tilburg Ten Miler for the third time in a row. He finished in a very fast time of 45:23. Second was the Kenyan Noah Kipkemboi in 45 minutes and 47 seconds. Third was two-time Olympic medalist Galen Rupp (USA) in 46:23. Khalid Choukoud was the first Dutchman to cross the finish line and scored a time of 47:52. Kwemoi and Kipkemboi walked together for a long time, with Kipkemboi leading up to 10 km. That went so hard that they were up to 9 km on the track of the best world performance ever.That is also the course record of Haile Gebrselassie in Tilburg with 44:23. The summer weather ensured that the pace could not stay that high. Kwemoi was the first to cross the finish line and is the first athlete to win the CZ Tilburg Ten Miles three times in a row. Galen Rupp's time of 46:23 was just ten seconds off the American record (46:13) set by Greg Meyer in 1983. (09/03/18) Views: 47
Poland's Marcin Swierc took victory last night after a dramatic finish at the UTMB Festival
Poland's Marcin Swierc took victory last night after a dramatic finish to the TDS, the first major race of the UTMB festival, while France's Audrey Tanguy took a surprise win in the women's category. After making a gap on leader Dmitiry Mityaev of two minutes seven seconds over the last 7.8m, Swierc became the first Pole to win a UTMB race. He was 62 seconds ahead of USA's Dylan Bowman, who also passed the Russian, a further 41 seconds back, between the last checkpoint at Les Houches and the finish line at Chamonix. Swierc, who started steadily, completed the 123.4km in 13 hours 24 minutes. Mityaev and Bowman did much of the front-running in the middle of the race as favored American Hayden Hawks went from being early leader to suffering his third DNF in UTMB races. Meanwhile, Swierc was just 29th and nearly three minutes behind the leader after 6.8km. He was up to 23rd but still more than four minutes adrift at 11.4km. Sky running specialist Mityaev made a push up the final big ascent from Contamines to Col Tricot, establishing a four-minute lead, only to have that reduced on the descent and finally eclipsed on the flatter run-in to Chamonix by Swierc and Bowman. Rob Forbes was Britain's top finisher in 12th as Tom Owens, who figured highly in the early stages, was eventually 20th. (08/31/18) Views: 43
