Marathon/Running News: 3/18/08 - 3/25/08

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Direct Links: 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon Atlanta Marathon Boston Marathon Capital City Marathon City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon) Danube Marathon Fargo Marathon Fox Cities Marathon Isle of Man Marathon Knoxville Marathon London Marathon Marathon des Sables Marathon of Utrecht Odds And Ends Olympics 2008 (Men)
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon
	News From: Thursday, March 20, 2008
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		With late race charge, Kastor takes U.S. Marathon trials title (IAAF) Although Magdalena Lewy-Boulet charged out to an early lead at the 2008 US Olympic Team Trials, favorite Deena Kastor closed an almost two minute gap starting at mile 15. Kastor passed Lewy-Boulet after mile 23 to win the race in 2:29:35. Lewy-Boulet was second in 2:30:19 and Blake Russell was third in 2:32:40.
Atlanta Marathon
	News From: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Weather Channel to Sponsor Atlanta Marathon (Race Results Weekly) The Weather Channel (TWC) will now be the title sponsor of the Atlanta Marathon & Half-Marathon. TWC will produce and air segments profiling five runners training for the race in different geographic areas (and climates) throughout the USA. The cable channel will also use it's website, weather.com to display additional information about the race, including training profiles, video vignettes, blogs from the featured runners, running tips, running calculators, and local route maps.
		Training/ Health
		Medical concerns are high priority at this year's ING Atlanta Marathon race (The Signal) Deaths and other health issues in several races last year raised concerns about the preparedness of medical staff for the 2008 ING Atlanta Marathon. Dr. Perry Julien, co-medical director of the ING Atlanta Marathon, cites adequate training and frequent fluid intake as a runner's best defense against high temperatures like those experienced at the Chicago Marathon. When asked about the two deaths that took place during those races, he said that while unfortunate the fatalities were due to preexisting health conditions and not the eighty eight degree heat or the races themselves.
Boston Marathon
	News From: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Former Presidential Candidate Running Boston Marathon (The Boston Channel) Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will be running the 2008 Boston Marathon as part of the Team Hoyt charity team. Huckabee shed over one hundred pounds after being diagnosed with diabetes in 2003 when he was governor of Arkansas and since he has run four marathons with a personal best time of 4:26:05 at the 2006 Little Rock Marathon.
		Site gets run for its money (Boston Herald) Running enthusiasts across the globe will be able to watch this years Boston Marathon by traveling no further than their computers. The Boston Athletic Association has sold the Internet rights to the April 21 marathon to the World Championship Sports Network, which will showcase the race online at WCSN.com.
	News From: Monday, March 24, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		UNC doctor trains for Boston marathon (The Daily Tar Heel) A competitive swimmer for most of his life, Dr. Charles van der Horst qualified for the 2008 Boston Marathon with a 3:26:44 at the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon. The fifty-six year old is recognized as one of America's best in HIV/AIDS treatment and research.
Capital City Marathon
	News From: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Marathon's motto: quality over quantity (The Olympian) The Capital City Marathon has been listed among the top thirty Boston Marathon qualifying races under a category titled "Most likely to qualify" in a list published by MarathonGuide.com. Capital City Marathon is the only race in Washington State. The race will offer a polyester running pant by Asics in place of the standard T-shirt and take home water bottles along with paper cups along the race course.
City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
	News From: Thursday, March 20, 2008
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		ChronoTrack Systems and Impinj Bring RFID Technology to LA Marathon (Marketwire) Recently formed ChronoTrack Systems, Inc. today announced that the company's road race timing system, based on Impinj UHF Gen 2 radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, performed flawlessly at the 2008 Los Angeles Marathon. ChronoTrack's "D" timing tag allows race organizers to print an integrated bib and tag for each participant, encoding the runner's bib number into the tag's RFID chip at the time of printing. The peel-off, disposable portion of the bib becomes a tag that runners attach to their shoes.
Danube Marathon
	News From: Thursday, March 20, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Bratislava to Host Third Annual Marathon (Slovakia Today) The 2008 Bratislava Marathon in its third year is expecting a record number of runners. The Korean and American ambassadors to Slovakia have registered for the relay run, while a number of politicians and famous personalities such as national tennis player Dominik Hrbaty have made surprise entries as well. Nearly 1,300 competitors in all have put their names down for the marathon event, which is expected to feature last year's winner Bogdan Dziuba and Artur Blasinski from Poland.
Fargo Marathon
	News From: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Marathon entries way up (In-Sports News) The Fargo Marathon had 6,150 entries as of Monday up significantly from the 3,400 about this time a year ago. Knutson said 1,200 are registered for the marathon, abut 2,300 for the half-marathon, 1,100 for the marathon relay and 1,300 for the 5K. A goal of having all 50 states represented, which was reached last year, is short just Delaware and West Virginia.
Fox Cities Marathon
	News From: Monday, March 24, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Kimberly man counts blessings until he can run again (Green Bay Press Gazette) Forty-five year old Ed Willenbrink, a 3:10 marathoner who ran at the University of Notre Dame, was an avid runner until he was struck by a car after two cars collided in February of this year. Willenbrink suffered a number of injuries which included a fracture to his leg in seven places, a broken pelvis and head trauma. With a bar placed into the length of the leg, Willenbrink is determined to get back to running and marathoning when the time is right.
Isle of Man Marathon
	News From: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Enter the Isle of Man Marathon (IOM Today) Registration has opened for the 2008 Isle of Man Marathon and Half Marathon set for Sunday, August 10. The race will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. Race entries will be accepted on race morning at an additional fee of £10.
Knoxville Marathon
	News From: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Knoxville Marathon sponsor is long term (Knox News) Following a press conference with Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam discussing the Knoxville Marathon, Tony Spezia, president and CEO of Covenant Health, said the Knoxville Marathon can count on long-term sponsorship from his company. Covenant Health is in the first year of a three-year deal (through 2010) to sponsor the Knoxville Marathon. It didn't officially become the primary sponsor until the second year in 2006 when the marathon became known as the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon.
	News From: Wednesday, March 19, 2008
		Humor
		Ellington making marathon leap in Knoxville (Go Volsxtra) Former four-time All-American distance runner at the University of Tennessee, Stewart Ellington, is keen on winning the 2008 Knoxville Marathon. Ellington, a 5K trck star, has been running about ninety miles per week in preparation. He has run the half marathon three times, but never with competition in mind.
London Marathon
	News From: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		Super slimmers marathon bid (Express and Star.com) Leslie Joyner, who used to eat junk food and do no exercise before she shed more than six stones, is gearing up for her third London Marathon. Joyner, who works for a stockbroker in Birmingham, was inspired to become a weight loss leader after being asked by complete strangers how she had slimmed down. She has completed one hundred twenty half marathons as well as several full marathons
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Will Yelling get through the Great Wall? (Dorset Echo) Liz Yelling is looking to fulfill her childhood dream of winning gold at an Olympic Games. A good finish at the 2008 London Marathon will guarantee a spot for her on the British Olympic Team. This is the last shot at the Olympics for thirty-three year old Yelling who is coached by Alex Stanton.
		Human Interest Story
		Stroke victim stuns doctors by entering marathon (The Standard) David Morris, a twenty-three year old who suffered a life-threatening stroke less than eighteenth months ago, has stunned doctors by making a miracle recovery after the stroke which left him with bleeding in the brain and fifty per cent speech loss. Now, just 16 months later, he is preparing to take part in Britain's most famous road race - and he is still on the lookout for sponsorship for his charity CLIC Sargent is the UK's leading children's cancer charity.
Marathon des Sables
	News From: Thursday, March 20, 2008
		Human Interest Story
		McGrath preps for marathon; Mountaineer ready to take on Sahara Desert (The Sudbury Star) Meagan McGrath, who has climbed to the top of Mount Everest and has conquered the Seven Summits, will challenge herself against the heat of the Sahara Desert in the 2008 Marathon des Sables. The seven-day, 245.3-kilometre footrace is a feat forcing competitors to deal with extreme heat, different types of terrain, sandstorms and insects and animals in the desert. Runners must carry all of their food and supplies for the duration of the race in a bag on their backs and are required to bring certain items with them, such as anti-venom kits. Water is provided by the organizers, as well as tents for shelter at night.
Marathon of Utrecht
	News From: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Chumba wins bitterly cold Utrecht Marathon in 2:12 (IAAF) Kenyan Sammy Chumba outkicked fellow kenyan Raymond Bett to win the 8th Jaarbeurs Utrecht Marathon in 2:12:07 despite the cold winter-like conditions. Bett clocked 2:12:14 for second place. A third Kenyan, Mariko Kiplagat, the winner of 2007 with a course record of 2:11:14, came home third in 2:13:31. The women's race was won by Irene Cherop of Kenya in 2:41:44. She was nearly fourteen minutes ahead of Lithuanian Justtina Jasulyte who clocked 2:55:04. Cherop, 22, finished seventeenth overall.
Odds And Ends
	News From: Monday, March 24, 2008
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Falilat Foundation Unveils Abuja City Marathon (This Day Online) Former Nigeria track and field star, Chief Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo will will unveil the first Abuja City Marathon to be held in Nigeria. The founder of the foundation, Falilat Omotayo revealed that the Minister of State in the Federal Capital will inaugurate the ten member committee that will see to the planning and execution of the Marathon, the first of its kind in Abuja. The primary sponsor of the race is the Falilat Foundation.
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		McGregor and Torres head USA team for 2008 World Cross Country (IAAF) Jorge Torres and Katie McGregor will lead the US Team at the 2008 World's Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland. 2008 US Olympic Team marathoner and 10,000 hopeful Dathan Ritzenhein sidelined with an injury is focused on the 10,000 meter trials. Top female runner Shalane Flanagan has also opted to sit out of the championships in lieu of the US Olympic Trials.
	News From: Thursday, March 20, 2008
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Team Kennet athlete wins UKs toughest marathon (Newbury Today) Mark Shepherd clinched his second long distance success in just eight days when winning the event billed as the UKs toughest marathon. Shepherd completed the 26.2 mile event at Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire in a course record breaking time of 4:14:30. Competitors faced an arduous examination of their durability with a 21-lap circuit of Wendover Woods that included a 6,000 feet near vertical climb that even needed the help of a rope, before a 6,000 descent. He went on to win the Welsh Championship at the Barry 40 mile track race.
	News From: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
		Training/ Health
		Growth hormone no benefit to athletes: U.S. study (Reuters) US researchers have found that people who take human growth hormone in the hope of boosting athletic performance are not only breaking the law, but fail to improve athletic performance. Growth hormone did develop more lean body mass, but this did not translate to either more strength or exercise capacity. Those same people had swelling of their tissues due to lactate acid and more fatigue compared to people not taking the drug.
		Human Interest Story
		Website Offers a Marathon of Long Distance Facts (Star-Gazette.com) MarathonGuide.com is the go-to Web site for everything you've always wanted to know about marathoning but were afraid to ask. There's basic information, results, reviews and news at your fingertips.
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Ngomane wins marathon for 4th time (Sowetan) Former Comrades marathon winner Sipho Ngomane won the 2008 Sappi Elands Valley Marathon in 2:21:31. Although he was using the race to add to his mileage, this was Ngomane's fourth successive win. Sara Mahlangu was the winner of the women's race in 3:05;13.
Olympics 2008 (Men)
	News From: Monday, March 24, 2008
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		IOC president says Olympic marathon will be a success despite Gebrselassie withdrawal (International Herald Tribune) Despite the world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie's decision to skip the marathon event, Olympic officials state that this won't affect the quality of the marathon event or the 2008 Beijing Games. Pollution and the violence in Tibet and other human rights issues have been a major concern for China and the International Olympic Committee. IOC President Jacques Rogge said there is "no danger whatsoever" for athletes competing in high intensity events lasting under an hour, but athletes in endurance events longer than that such as the marathon, road cycling and triathlon could be affected by poor air.
	News From: Wednesday, March 19, 2008
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Gebrselassie claim about Beijing Olympics purely personal (China View) The Ethiopian ambassador, Haile-Kiros Gessesse, to China made a statement about the world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie's announcement declining to compete in the Beijing Olympic marathon is a personal decision made without consulting the country's Olympic committee. Gessesse said only the Ethiopian Olympic Committee could decide who will play and who will not and the committee has not yet decided the final list of athletes attending the 2008 Olympic games.
	News From: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
		Training/ Health
		IOC will have a back up plan to tackle Beijing smog (European Athletics) Concerned with the smog and pollution in Beijing, the International Olympic Committee has taken measures to monitor the air quality especially for the outdoor endurance events lasting longer than one hour. Such measures will include daily monitoring of air quality and weather conditions at the venue, a reporting process from the Beijing Environment Protection Bureau to the IOC and relevant sports Federation, and a joint IOC-sports Federation decision to postpone the event if necessary.
		Human Interest Story
		Baldini states Athletes to China on Peace Mission (AGI News On) With the crises in Tibet and the pollution concerns marring the days leading up to the 2008 Olympic Marathon in Beijing, Stefano Baldini, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist in the marathon, states that the athletes are going to China on a peace mission and a boycott of the Olympics would be a defeat. An in response to Gebrselassie's decision to attempt the 10,000 meters and withdraw from the marathon, Baldini finds Geb's decision contradictory seeing there is no air conditioning in the stadium where the 10,000 meters will be held.
		China's Olympic Problems Grow With Tibet Unrest, Beijing Smog (Bloomeberg.com) While China is under fire for human rights problems for actions in Sudan and Tibet and facing difficulties due to the pollution shrouding Beijing, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stresses the need to not politicize the Olympic Games. Other politicians, including European Union ministers, have rejected the idea of a boycott of China. The last Olympic boycott took place in 1984, when the Soviet Union and fourteen East European countries chose to skip the Los Angeles Games.