Running News Daily
Top Ten Stories of the Week
9/15/2018
These are the top ten stories based on views over the last week.
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge is focused on only one thing as he gets ready for the Berlin Marathon Sunday
Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya says he has a crazy dream to be the fastest man in history. He hopes will inspire his quest to shutter the world marathon record in Berlin on Sunday.
Kipchoge, 33, will be racing in his 10th marathon since he graduated from the track back in 2012. The London champion has only one loss in his career back in 2013 against compatriot Wilson Kipsang.
He has won in Hamburg, Chicago, London, Rio (Olympics) and Berlin. "It's only a crazy dream until you do it. Don't be the fastest runner in the world, but strive to be the fastest runner in history," said Kipchoge on Monday in Nairobi.
Kipchoge will be running his fourth Berlin marathon on Sunday and has sounded out world marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto (2:02.57) saying he will be focused on lowering his personal best time, which is only eight seconds off the mark.
"Don't ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they are crazy enough," he added. "In Berlin the focus will be to improve on my personal best time of 2:03.05. Last year the weather was not good but I managed strongly to finish the race," he said.
(09/10/18) Views: 1,116
Teen runs the second fastest road 10K ever, Phonex Kipruto clocked 26:46 at the Birell Prague Grand Prix
18-year-old Rhonex Kipruto from Kenya runs 26:46 Saturday evening at the Birell Praque Grand Prix. This is the second fastest-ever road 10k, while his compatriot Caroline Kipkirui moved to third on the women’s world all-time list.
Phonex Kipruto – who was third in Prague last year in 27:13 and then ran 27:08 in New York before claiming the world under-20 10,000m title in Tampere – clocked 26:46 for a dominant win. It was a Kenyan top three as Geoffrey Koech ran 27:18 in second and Mathew Kimeli 27:26 in third.
A total of 11 athletes dipped inside 28 minutes. The women’s race was much closer and Kipkirui won in 30:19 ahead of Fancy Chemutai (30:22) and Diana Chemtai Kipyokei (30:23) to complete another Kenyan clean sweep. Running alone with his opponents rapidly dropping back, Kipruto went through 5km in 13:31 before clocking a negative split of 13:15 to take 22 seconds off his PB.
Only his compatriot Leonard Komon has run a faster time with his world record 26:44 set in 2010.
(09/08/18) Views: 782
Ultra marathon mom, stopped to breast feed her baby during the 106-mile Mont-Blanc Trail Race
A British mom has made headlines all over the world after being photographed taking a break to breast feed her baby son during a 43-hour ultra marathon.
Sophie Power, who recently competed in the 106-mile, high-elevation Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc trail run through France, Italy, and Switzerland, has been applauded for showing “motherhood endurance” and “the strength of the human body” in the snap, which was taken by photographer Alexis Berg.
The 36-year-old mother of two and avid runner took time to nurse her 3-month-old infant, Cormac, during the challenging race.
“Cormac usually feeds every three hours, “This isn’t a story about me,” she wrote. “It’s a story about the daily struggle of being a new Mum. A story about the need to nurture our babies the best we can. And the importance to priorities our physical and mental health — to be ourselves as well as be a mother.
“I have been overwhelmed by the positivity and supportive messages. They are for all mothers for we are all in this together.” Despite having to stop to feed her son, Power managed to complete the marathon in 43 hours and 33 minutes.
She believes that keeping active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy is really important. She has logged 273 miles on Strava so far this year, 27 races.
"In a typical race I would get in and out of the aid stations as quickly as possible," she says. "But here I had to focus on keeping down enough food for me and for Cormac, and resting."
(09/12/18) Views: 694
Run The World Challenge 2 Profile: Gloria Nasr has run the toughest race on earth already five times
Gloria Nasr was always active as a kid growing up in Lebanon. She did Kung Fu, worked out at the gym and did bodybuilding. "Upon arriving in Paris in 1995, I started riding my bike about 50k (31 miles) per day," Gloria remembers. "Then one day in 2002, a friend who wanted to lose weight asked me to accompany her for a jog. It was love at first sight and since then I have not stopped," she says. "Running is an integral part of my life. It's my moment of relaxation where I find myself within myself." As soon as she started running, she had a dream of running from her adopted country France to her homeland in Lebanon. A Transcontinental race of 4150km. "I realized this dream in 2013," Gloria says. She ran 50km a day across nine countries for three months and 10 days. "Those were the three most beautiful months of my life." She has also participated five times in the Marathon des Sables of Morocco. This is a six-day 156 mile ultra marathon which has been called the toughest foot race on earth. Gloria says, "I am currently preparing a new challenge, a transcontinental race from Paris to Beijing a distance of 10000km (6,214 miles).” Asked what is her secret to success, she says, “I always say that the most important thing is envy. with envy, courage, perseverance we can succeed many things. I also do not put pressure on training and despite my love for running, I keep a certain distance. I do not have an addiction to running." So why did she join our Run The World Challenge? "It's great to bring runners together from around the world." Gloria is a doctor, PMR, physical medicine and rehabilitation. She is French Lebanese, living in Paris. The 48-year-old has run 40:27 for 10K, 1:24 for 20k, 1:34 half marathon and 3:14 for the marathon. (09/09/18) Views: 480Bob Anderson
Run The World Challenge Profile: Joel Maina Mwangi wants to be the best of the best
Joel maina Mwangi was born in a small village of Thika town, about one hour outside of Nairobi, Kenya. Joel says, "I was raised up in a difficult situation. Eating was 50-50 but by the grace of God i was sponsored for secondary education."
Today the 33-year-old Joel is married and has two boys. "I always work hard to raise my boys in a good and better environment than i got," he says. "My school was 6km from home and I used to run to school for eight years (6-14) to avoid being late...otherwise I would be punished."
In 1998 he took part in a 10000m and won it. "My sport teacher noticed I could run," Joel remembers. "He encourage me to start training and from there I started training every morning before school." He did not stop there.
"I was the king of athletics." Joel is now a professional runner. "Racing sustain me and my family. It has enabled me to build a house and travel." Running has given him the opportunity to travel to different countries.
"My first trip abroad was to Belgium. i stayed there for one and half month. I had a difficult time because i was not in good condition. I came back home with 10€ ($15). That day I will never forget. I lost money but I learned a lesson."
Asked what is his secret to success Joel says, "I believe even if you are in good shape but mentally weak, I will defeat you. So I always tell my running mates to be strong mentally to conquer." He has been training in Austria, Hungary and now Italy. He says this about Italy.
"Despite its low altitude I like it. The advantage for me is because I complete in many races and train with Italian runners here." He runs for the Dinamo Running Club. Asked why he joined the Run The World Challenge for a second time. "I like it...it motivates me. It brings runners from different corners of the world together. It helped me a lot this season as I worked more to try to be the leader. But Korir managed to be the leader for Challenge 1. Due to that...I will sponsor Willie Korir for his start number and transport from wherever he will be within Kenya for the 2018 Nairobi marathon," he says.
Joel's personal records are: Marathon 2:14, 30kms 1:31, Half Marathon 1:01:16, 10km-28:26 (track), 5km 13:46, 3km 8:07 1-mile 4:06, 1km 2:28. "I am looking forward to be the best of the best. Don't tell me I am getting old..."old is Gold."
In the first Run The World Challenge Joel logged 511.36 miles placing him third. So far on Challenge 2 he has logged 224.9 miles and he is in fourth place. Most recently (September 9) he placed third at the Minski Half Marathon clocking 1:02:55. Photo: Joel (white jersey) running along side Charles Cheruiiyot Toroitich at the 2014 (Half) Marathon Solidarności in Poland. Joel clocked 1:01:16
(09/12/18) Views: 383
Dennis Kimetto says Kenyan athletes have the strength and skills to run the fast Berlin Marathon course in under 2 hours and 50 seconds
Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge (2:03.05) and New York marathon silver medalist Wilson Kipsang (2:03.13) will be the top Runners at the Berlin marathon on Sept 16 and Kimetto believes either athlete can run away with the world record. Kimetto's world record stands at 2:02:57. "First there is a race to be won and then the record. Kipchoge is the best so far but Kipsang has the ability to sprint and win if he has his tactics right. Both athletes are under pressure since they will all want to prove a point," said Makau on Thursday in Nairobi. Kipsang was forced to pull out of Berlin marathon last year under rainy and windy conditions after just 31km, citing stomach cramps. He recovered and a month later, and proved his critics wrong to secure silver in New York. "My training has gone on very well and I'm looking forward to a good run in Berlin. It has been an injury-free period for me since running in Tokyo although there has been lots of rain but that didn't stop me from achieving my dream," said Kipsang. Like Kipchoge, Kipsang will be running his fourth marathon in Berlin, having made his debut in 2013 running a world record time of 2:03:23 and has since followed it up with 2:03:13 for a second-place behind Kenenisa Bekele (2:03.03) in 2016. (09/07/18) Views: 303
The first woman to break five minutes for the mile almost went unnoticed
Diane Leather ensured her place in athletics history when she became the first woman to break five minutes for the mile in 1954. She achieved the feat three weeks after Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile. She died September 6 peacefully, aged 85, following a short illness just six months after the sport lost Bannister. There were other parallels between the two athletes. While Bannister was a medical student in Oxford, Leather was an analytical chemist at the University of Birmingham and a member of Birchfield Harriers. One thing they did not share, though, was the fame that came with their miling achievements. As Bannister became a global icon, Leather’s sub-five mile did not receive anywhere near the same publicity. This was an era when the longest event for women at the 1952 Olympics was just 200m and the mile was not recognised by the IAAF as a world record and was described as a world best instead. Leather first set a women’s world record, or ‘best’ as it was called, in September 1953 when she clocked 5:02.6. She improved to 5:00.2 on May 26, 1954, followed by her historic 4:59.6 three days later on May 29. Her sub-five time came despite erratic splits too – 68.8, 2:27.00 and 3:48.6. But further records came with 4:50.8 and 4:45.0 in 1955 and she held the world mark for eight years in total. (09/10/18) Views: 225
Canada's second fastest marathoner Reid Coolsaet is eyeing Jerome Drayton's record
Reid Coolsaet is the fastest Canadian in the field at this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. It’s a race Reid knows well having run it several times before. In 2011 he qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics by running 2:10:55. He has since lowered his PB to 2:10:26 making him Canada’s second fastest ever marathoner. The two-time Olympian, Coolsaet has had his eye on Jerome Drayton’s 2:10:09 Canadian record for some time. And no Canadian has run Scotiabank–or any other marathon on Canadian soil–faster. Coolsaet set that record (2:10:55) here in 2011. An interesting coincidence: Drayton’s record was set in 1975 at Fukuoka, Japan, a race Coolsaet has run twice, achieving an excellent time here in 2016 (2:10:55–the same time he ran at Scotia in 2011). With a PB of 2:10:28, set at the Berlin Marathon in 2015, Coolsaet has been tantalizingly close to this goal for a while. He’s had to be patient through a series of setbacks, most significantly a painful foot condition in early 2017 that took him out of competition for almost a year. He came back in time for the Canadian National Cross-Country Championships in November, placing ninth. Jerome Drayton has held the Canadain record since 1969. Jerome won the Fukuoka Marathon in 1969, 1975, and 1976, as well as the Boston Marathon in 1977. He has held the Canadian record since 1969, after breaking the then record of 2:18:55 set by Robert Moore a month earlier. (09/13/18) Views: 152
Run The World Challenge 2 Profile: Kenya's Rosaline Nyawira says she avoids anything that can lead her to fail
Rosaline Nyawira started running at an early age of eight in primary school. She started out as a sprinter running the 80m and100m. "Later my talent was polished by my games teacher and I also ran 200m and 400m," Rosaline says. "After finishing my secondary education, I improved my personal bests to 12sec in 100 and 24sec in 200m," she says. Later in 2016 she moved from the track to the road. Rosaline says, "To me, running is my full time career that keeps me motivated, focused, refreshed and healthy. Apart from running, I have an idea of starting my own business once I have enough capital." But right now she's focused on racing. She says, "I always train hard and smart to win easy. I am always focused and I avoid anything that can lead me to fail." Asked why she joined the Run The World Challenge. She says, "I think It's the best group to join because it encourage and motivate my career. Actually it's the best global group to join and learn as I socialize with my fellow athlete's around the globe." Rosaline is a Kenya athlete living and training in Durban, South Africa currently. She has run a 34:30 10K and a 1:10:45 half marathon. On September 2 she ran her first full marathon clocking 2:49 on a tough course. (09/10/18) Views: 114Bob Anderson
Run The World Challenge 2 Profile: Linda Sereno says she finds her inner peace when running out in the mountains
Linda Sereno grew up with two older and two younger brothers. "I copied them, playing football, baseball and basketball. Later my oldest brother helped me take on running. I loved it," Linda says. "In high school, we had a fund raising event for our band to go to Ireland to compete in the Saint Patrick's Day parade in Dublin. We were sponsored for each lap we could run/walk in two hours," Linda remembers. She never stopped running for 2 hours and did 52 laps around the quarter mile track. "I love running, especially on trails, up and down mountains. I love the wind, the animals, and the scenery. I think, I space out, and I dream on those runs. I find my inner peace out in the mountains," she says. Asked about what is her secret to her success. "I think it's important to keep your core strong, stretch daily, and do strength exercises. I use my body weight to improve muscle tone rather than using weights. I do push ups, sit ups, planks, burpees, squats lunges, and stretches," 58-year-old Linda Sereno says. She tries to run three times per week, two days of track workouts and one long run." Last year she finished a 50 miler. "I was the second woman overall on a challenging hilly race with 9,500 feet of elevation change. Another challenge I accomplished was Boston to Big Sur. I wondered if I would have the endurance to complete both marathons without any injuries, and I did in 2011. The times were not exceptional, but I was pleased to have accomplished my goal," she says. Her husband, Kirk, is a surfer. He was a competitive swimmer and diver in high school and community college. Her daughter, Amy, is a successful runner and is an assistant coach at a local community college. Linda is currently a 1st/2nd grade Dual Immersion teacher, teaching English and Spanish. Why did she enter the Challenge for a second time. "Run the World Challenge can help motivate many people become more active in order to fulfill a global goal," Linda says. Linda has already posted 51 miles for this challenge. She also has run a lot of Double Racing Events. One of her best performances at age 55 was clocking 1:04:04 for the Pacific Grove Double Road Race 15k in 2015. She clocked 43:40 for the 10K leg and 20:23 for the 5k leg. This was age-graded at 87.07%. Photo: Linda with a dear friend and running buddy Lidia Santos (09/11/18) Views: 94Bob Anderson
