Running News Daily
Top Ten Stories of the Week
3/3/2018
These are the top ten stories based on views over the last week.
What did Yuta Shitara strap to his arm at the last aid station at the Tokyo Marathon?
Yuta Shitara ran the fastest marathon of any Japanese runner ever at the 2018 Tokyo Marathon on Sunday. He clocked 2:06:11.
At the last aid station he pulled something from his bottle set-up and put it around his right arm bicep. One person on Let's Run suggested it was a "a giant nicotine patch." Another said it was a "Hello Kitty Coin Purse."
Michael Capper on FB said "Never seen this before." Gary Rush stated, "Maybe a gel fluid holder? I think its against IAAF rules for elites to wear or use communication devices or receive electronic updates during a race."
Bob Anderson says, "After looking at more than ten photos of Yuta finishing races, I did not see a similar 'thing' strapped to his arm."
In any case he blasted the last few kilometers wearing this 'thing'. Did it give him an unfair advantage? "First of all we need to know what it was," says Bob.
(02/25/18) Views: 1,663
We now know what Yuta Shitara picked up at the 40K Aid Station
Yuta Shitara, who won a million dollars (US) breaking the Japanese marathon record in Tokyo Sunday, picked up this arm sleeve at the 40km aid station, and then blasted onwards to the finish in 2:06:11.
We asked our Japan's contributor Osamu Tada about the arm sleeve. "His family gave him his portrait," says Osamu. "Maybe it is a new way of cheering...as an aside his twin brother is going to run the Biwako Marathon this weekend."
The mystery behind this event certainly caught the attention of many. "I think this is great," says Bob Anderson. "Yuta is one good runner and if more people now know his name because of this event, all the better."
(02/27/18) Views: 1,045Osamu Tada (in Japan)
Dickson Chumba wins the Tokyo Marathon again...six Japanese Runners under 2:09
Kenya’s Dickson Chumba (the 2014 Tokyo and 2015 Chicago champion) opened a nice gap as they approach 38km and went on to win in 2:05:29.
At 40k Japan’s Yuta Shitara takes another swig from his festive bottle and grits his teeth as he hunts down and passes Amos Kipruto.
This is a man on a mission! Yuta Shitara did not let up and accomplished the following: 1. Ran a Japanese marathon record of 2:06:11 2. Finished 2nd in the Tokyo Marathon (highest finish ever by a Japanese man at a World Marathon Major) 3. Won 100 million yen for setting the NR. That's $936,000US.
Wilson Kipsang dropped out at 15k...Amy Cragg finished third in the women’s race taking five minutes off her PR. (2:21:42). Ethiopian’s Birhane Dibaba won the female race in 2:19:51.
This year’s race was the biggest field ever with 35,500 starters.
(02/24/18) Views: 548
One of the Greatest American Distance Runners of all times has to be Gerry Lindgren
DID YOU KNOW: Here are some reasons why Gerry Lindgren is still one of American's greatest distance runners ever.
In 1964, as a high school senior, Lindgren ran 5000 meters in 13:44, on a clay track in Compton, CA setting a U.S. high school record that would remain unbroken for 40 years.
On July 25, 1964, Lindgren outran two seasoned Russian runners to win the 10,000m event in the US-USSR Track Meet in Los Angeles.
Lindgren ran 200 miles a week for 6 weeks in preparation for the US-USSR meet. After that victory, he also set a new teenage record of 13:17.0 for 3 miles while competing in Jamaica.
Lindgren and Billy Mills battled each other in the 6-mile at the 1965 AAU Nationals meet. Mills won with a diving lean, while both were timed in 27:11.6, a new world record.
Maybe Lindgren's greatest race came during a May 1966 NCAA Regional meet at age 20, in the 3-mile run on a dirt track during a cold, windy day in Seattle. He raced to 12:53.0, just missing the world record of 12:52.4 held by Ron Clarke.
"Gerry did some amazing things in his short career," says Bob Anderson. "It was very exciting meeting Gerry and featuring him in our movie A Long Run." Gerry has been living in Hawaii since 1980 and still runs regularly.
(03/01/18) Views: 484
Months of work, time, sacrifice and determination paid off for Amy in Tokyo
Amy Cragg finished third at the Tokyo Marathon in 2:21:42. That is a PR of over five minutes and good for number five on the U.S. all-time list and the sixth fastest time in Tokyo. Amy posted this right before the start on FB: “Months of work, time, sacrifice and determination...here we go!!! She did it. At the press conference Friday she said, “she hoped to run 2:22:59 with the caveat that while she'd like to run a fast time her priority would be placing in the top three.” Amy made good on that promise. Shalane Flanagan posted this before the start, “When (Amy) is about to race I feel like I am too!!! My heart rate is already through the roof and butterflies in my stomach....still have 5hours until gun goes off.” There were a lot of people cheering for Amy thousands of miles away. (02/25/18) Views: 291
Details of Japan's Project Exceed and the Million Dollar Payout
Yuta Shitara set a National Japan Marathon record yesterday at the Tokyo Marathon and walked away a millionaire...The bonus comes from Project Exceed, a program launched in 2015 by the National Corporate Federation to encourage national marathon records before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Here is how it works, any Japanese citizen, who broke the men's national record of 2:06:16 or the women's record of 2:19:12 on a record-legal course would receive 100 million yen, roughly $937,000 USD currently. The runner's coach or team would also receive a separate 50 million yen ($468,000 USD) bonus. Info from Brett Larner @ Japan Running News (02/26/18) Views: 277
Billy Mills’ dad told him, someday, son you’ll have wings of an Eagle
DID YOU KNOW: Australia’s world record holder Ron Clarke was the favorite in the 10000m at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. America’s Billy Mills (26), remembers, “I was diagnosed as hypoglycaemic: low blood sugar. I didn’t know if I could finish...But I just tried to stay with the leaders, lap after lap after lap.” Then came the moment that inspired Mills. Spotting the eagle embroidered on the shirt of a German runner, he cast his mind back to his childhood and kicked for home. “The wings of an eagle!” Billy says. “Back to my dad...‘Son, someday you’ll have wings of an eagle’. I may never be this close again. I’ve got to do it now...Then I felt the tape break across my chest. A Japanese man asked ‘Who are you?’ And I thought I’d miscounted the laps: ‘Finished’ You are the new Olympic champion’.” In a breathtaking final lap watched by a crowd of 85,000 and millions of TV viewers around the world, Mills stunned everyone, bursting into the lead and breaking the tape in a new Olympic record time of 28:24.4, 50 seconds faster than his previous PR. (02/23/18) Views: 274
One of the world's leading experts in long distance running, Dr David Martin has Died
Dr. David Martin, USATF marathon stalwart and dedicated researcher, died February 28 in Decatur, Georgia after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 78. Martin was one of the exercise physiologists responsible for USATF’s heat-training program assisting Team USATF marathoners Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi on to the medal podium at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, sharing his research on ways to train and race in hot weather with Team USATF athletes’ personal coaches. Recognized as one of the world's leading experts in long distance running, Martin published more than 50 articles in coaching journals intended to assist coaches and athletes understand the science of human athletic performance. He published five books including Better Training for Distance Runners in 1997. R.I.P. my friend, you will be missed. (03/01/18) Views: 253
How fast did Amy Cragg run at the Tokyo Marathon?
How fast was Amy Hastings Cragg at the Tokyo Marathon Sunday? Think about this. Only four separate American women have ever run faster. Ever. Here are the top seven times: 2:19:36 Kastor, Deena USA London 4/23/06, 2:20:57 Hasay, Jordan USA Chicago 10/8/17, 2:21:14 Flanagan, Shalane USA Berlin 9/28/14, 2:21:16 Kastor, Deena USA London 4/13/03, 2:21:21 Benoit, Joan USA Chicago 10/20/85, 2:21:25 Kastor, Deena USA Chicago 10/9/05, 2:21:42 Cragg, Hastings, Amy USA Tokyo 2/24/18. from Gary Allen posted on FB. (02/27/18) Views: 203
Her running partner was out on a routine run when she was hit by a car. Cara made a promise to her...
Cara Koprowski of Longwood holds the shirt she plans to wear when she runs the Disney Princess Half Marathon on Sunday in honor of her late friend, It was last St. Patrick’s Day, and Cara Koprowski of Longwood was preparing breakfast for her family. She did not learn the awful truth until hours after that initial transmission.“Your friend, Amy, was hit by a car this morning while running. Before she died, Higgins, 50, made Koprowski promise that she would run the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Koprowski will fulfill that pledge early Sunday morning in the 13.1-mile race that will begin and end at Epcot. “I’ve never felt that broken,’’ said Koprowski, a fourth-grade teacher at Wekiva Elementary School. Koprowski, 43, met Higgins after her family moved to Silverdale, Wash., near Seattle, after the Navy transferred her husband there. Higgins was a second-grade teacher when Koprowski got a job at the same school. (02/24/18) Views: 192
