Marathon/Running News: 1/19/08 - 1/26/08

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News From: Saturday, January 26, 2008
	Dubai Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Magical Martin books Olympic Marathon place (Westmeath Examiner) After a set-back over a visa difficulty forcing him to drop out of the Houston Marathon, Irishman Martin Fagan qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing at the Dubai Marathon; but the qualifier did not come without its own share of pain. Fagan was on a 2:10 pace, then encountered spasms in his back and right hip after the 25k mark. He crossed the line collapsing in pain and was brought to hospital; but managed the qualification time.
	Miami Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Miami Marathon a welcome escape for Kenyan runners (Miami Herald) Five elite racers from Kenya escape from the violence occurring in their home country to participate in the 2008 Miami Marathon. They have altered their lives - for training they try to stay within 5 kilometers of his home. These runners are defending champion Jared Nyamboki, Wilson Chepkwony, Sammy Nyamongo, William Serem and Wesley Chelule.
	Odds And Ends
		Human Interest Story
		Kenya's Olympic hopefuls forced to choose between training and survival (Guardian Limited) As violence continues to escalate following the presidential election in Kenya, elite runners have been forced to cut training after receiving death threats and many have been accused of contributing to post-election violence. Fifty-six runners among them, Ezekiel Kemboi, the reigning Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion, and Evans Rutto, 2004 London Marathon champion, signed a statement dismissing the allegations and complaining of being trailed by security agents. William Mutwol, bronze medalist at the 1992 Olympics, received a text message saying his "head would be turned into soup". Moses Kiptanui, regarded as a steeplechase great, recorded a complaint with the police about harassment from the police; but very little is being done.
	Osaka Int'l Ladies Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Fukushi falls flat in marathon debut (Daily Yomiuri Online) Kayoko Fukushi has much to think about following her disastrous debut at the 2008 Osaka Marathon. A favorite in the race, Fukushi was the runaway leader at the halfway mark, but her lack of race tactics or her ability to pull off the pace lead to a disappointing nineteenth place finish. Mara Yamauchi of Britain won the race in a 2:25:10.
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Kano runs in Osaka for keeps this time (Daily Yomiuri Online) Yuri Kano who debbuted at last year's Osaka Ladies International Marathon will be all business in the 2008 race. With hopes of qualifying for the Japanese Olympic team, Kano has stiff competition in the field with the likes of Japan's top long-distance runner Kayoko Fukushi and others. Her finish at the 2007 Osaka race was 2:24:43, the fifth-fastest debut time by a Japanese.
News From: Friday, January 25, 2008
	Mumbai Marathon
		Humor
		Life is a Marathon Heres how to plan for it (Moneycountrol India) Planning ones finances can be equated to running a marathon. A few key points indicated in this analogy are: conservation, extrapolation, elimination of liabilities, finding a rhythm and enjoying one's self.
	Odds And Ends
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Gebrselassie takes Lisbon path enroute to Beijing (IAAF) Ethiopias World Marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie announced that he will compete in the 2008 Lisbon Half Marathon. He has not fully opted out of running the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Gebrselassie will visit the marathon course and make a final assessment.
		Human Interest Story
		Lee Pledges Support for 2011 World Athletics Championships (Korea Times) President-elect Lee Myung-bak of Korea pledged to fully support the World Athletics Championships to be hosted by Daegu in 2011. The IAAF selected Daegu in March 2007 over Moscow and Brisbane as the host of the event.
		Canadian athletes won't face gag order (Globe and Mail) The Canadian Olympic Committee will not follow the Belgian Olympic Committee in muzzling athletes on the topics of China's human-rights record and politics at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Belgian Olympic Committee had passed an ordinance banning participants in the Games from giving political opinions at Olympic venues or wearing any distinctive insignia protesting China's human-rights record. The Belgians believe that the Games "are not a remedy for all social ills
		Britain's Loss Is Canada's Gain... (Toronto Sun) Jon Brown, who will be competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics for Canada if he qualifies at the 2008 Tokyo Marathon, is keeping a low profile in Victoria, B.C. If Brown qualifies, this will be his third Olympic Games who competed for Great Britain in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004. Brown's personal best is 2:09.31 from the 2005 London Marathon.
		Training/ Health
		Drugs chief warns Olympic cheats (BBC Sport UK) John Fahey, new head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, has warned drug cheats that testing at the Beijing Olympics will be more stringent than ever before. The Chinese authorities have built a high-end labratory to be staffed by highly-trained personnel. Fahey was a former finance minister in the Australian government.
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		Kenyan runners fear for lives, accused of fomenting violence (USA Today) Some of Kenya's most celebrated runners say they are receiving death threats because of rumors they are involved in the continuing ethnic violence in the nation. William Mutwol, a bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 1992 Olympics, received another threat in a text message on his cell phone. Fifty-seven runners say they are accused of promoting killings and the displacement of victims, of transporting guns and bows and arrows, and of encouraging the destruction of property. Moses Kiptanui, chairman of Athletics Kenya's Marakwet branch, says safety measures have been taken - security agents have been following some athletes; others have been summoned to the police station for questioning.
		Human Interest Story
		Hawaii Soldier Runs Marathon in Kuwait for a Good Cause (KHNL) Hawaiian Sergeant Major Ben Cavazos ran a 100 mile ultra-marathon solo in Kuwait simultaneously with the annual HURT-100 race in Hawaii. Cavazos wanted to bring awareness to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project, which looks to help injured servicemen and women. He finished in a time of 19:59:49. His race would be very diff
	Osaka Int'l Ladies Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Kayoko Fukushi to make marathon debut at Osaka Ladies Marathon (IAAF) Triple national record holder in the half marathon (1:07:26), female Kayoko Fukushi, will be making a highly anticipated marathon debut at the 2008 Osaka Ladies Marathon. Fukushi, the greatest womenâs track runner in the Japanese track history, is a national record holder in the 5000m and 3000m, a six-time national 10,000m champion and a five-time national 5000m champion. Also vying for victory are defending champion Yumiko Hara and Yuri Kano winner of the 2007 Hokkaido Marathon.
News From: Thursday, January 24, 2008
	Boston Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Huckabee enters Boston Marathon to run with charity (The Boston Globe) Team Hoyt charity team has a running champion in Mike Huckabee. Not only is he running for president, he is running for Team Hoyt in the Boston Marathon. The 51 year old presidential hopeful has lost 110 lbs and will raise money for the duo of Team Hoyt
	Cowtown Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		NBMA selects Cowtown Marathon for 2009 event (Black Athlete Sports Network) The National Black Marathoners' Association has selected the Cowtown Marathon for its 2009 Event. The NBMA seeks to encourage Black Americans and others to pursue a healthy life-style through long distance running and walking. As one of the largest events in the Southwest, Cowtown Marathon will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary.
	Dubai Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Dubai Marathon: The Unsung Heroes (Xpress Sport) The 2008 Dubai Marathon had some top running heroes headlining the race, but there are many that had not had a mention, such as 84-year-old Swede Sven Ol-Mars who finished the race in just over six hours. Ol-Mars has run over fifty marathons.
	Gasparilla Distance Classic
		Human Interest Story
		Distance Races Run Into Glitch (Tampa Bay Online) Tampa race organizers for the Gasparilla Distance Classic, which includes the Bank of America Marathon, are thinking of pulling the plug on using the new timing system they have slated for race day. Contracted to use Michigan-based SAI Timing, SAI Timing's new electronic timing device failed to work at the 2007 Honolulu Marathon leading to a runner and race director's worst nightmare. Race officials may switch back to using Championchip since more than 17,000 runners are expected to participate in race weekend.
	Miami Marathon
		Training/ Health
		Headphone ban falls on Miami runners' deaf ears (Miami Herald Tribune) For safety reasons, USA Track and Field, the sport's governing body, prohibits the use of iPods and other headphone devices in running events; but the Miami Marathon is not enforcing the ban. Race director Robert Pozo does agree that headphones, mp3 players, sunglasses with flap-down speakers and the like are hazardous, but he is following the lead of the Walt Disney World and New York City Marathons.
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Miami Marathon will have Olympic feel (The Sun-Sentinel) With the participation of US Olympic team member Brian Sell in the Miami Marathon's Half Marathon, race organizers are encouraging spectators to wear red, white and blue and bring small flags to wave and help promote the "Miami to Beijing" theme at Sunday's race. Other Hansons-Brooks Distance Project will be participating as well. Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. Because of the political unrest in Kenya, Chemokil Chilapong, Evans Ogaro and Penuel Nyagaka Osoro were forced to withdraw from the marathon.
	New York City Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Two Unalaska women, two goals, one New York City Marathon (The Dutch Harbor Fisherman) Zoya Johnson and Ann Touza, of Alaska, raised the money to compete in the New York City Marathon. Touza state she is not a skinny exercise fanatic, and she did it and hope others will be inspired and believe they can run a marathon. Both avoided the limited field by raising three-thousand dollars to get a guaranteed entry into the race.
	Odds And Ends
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		AP Interview: Kenyan-born runner Lagat says Olympic glory will help ease violence (International Herald Tribune) Kenyan born, American National Bernard Lagat believes if Kenyans win gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the success will help heal the wounds in the East African nation, which has been wrought with violence since the presidential election in December. While Lagat currently lives in Tucson, AZ, most of his family and his parents still live in Kenya. Lagat, a middle-distance runner and double world champion, became a US Citizen in 2005.
		Human Interest Story
		Prepping for 50 and 100 Mile Races (The Wall Street Journal) Brian McNeill, an information-technology manager at the International Monetary Fund, os an ultra-marathoner who finds time to train in his busy schedule. With graduare school added to his schedule, McNeill currently runs only forty miles per week and crosstrains at the gym. Once 238 lbs, McNeill has whittled down to a lithe 182 lbs.
		Golden dreams: Former Boulder resident to run in trials (Helenair) Heidi (Reider) Schuette is going to the 2008 US Women's Olympics Trials. Schuette who went to college at Montana State was never good enough to compete at national levels, but in her last year of college she ran 3:17 at the Seattle Marathon. Schuette found her passion and years later at the 2007 St. George Marathon clocked a Olympic Trials qualifying time of 2:46.41.
News From: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
	Boston Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Defending Champions to Return to Boston (Race Results Weekly) Organizers of the Boston Marathon announced the participation of 2007 defending champions Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Lidiya Grigoryeva for the 112th Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon will actually be the second race of an extraordinary weekend of marathon running. On Sunday, April 20, the USA Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon will be contested on a special criterium course through Boston's Back Bay and nearby Cambridge.
		John Hancock Financial Announces Return of Defending Champions to Run 2008 Boston Marathon (PR Wire) John Hancock Financial, a principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, announced the return 2007 champions Kenyan Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Russian Lidiya Grigoryeva for the 112th running of the esteemed Boston Marathon. Cheruiyot will be going for his fourth win which would put him in the league of marathon greats Bill Rodgers and Clarence DeMar who have won the race four or more times.
	Chicago Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Marathon Makeover Kicks off Saturday. (Clarion Ledger) Started with a complaint and a challenge in 2004 by Mark Simpson and his marathon fanatic friend, the program aims to take most anyone and train them for the Chicago Marathon. The popularity of the program has grown from 20 people finishing the 2004 Chicago Marathon to well over 200. The program kicks off Saturday in Jackson, MS.
	Dubai Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Sammy Korir Becomes First Man to Run 10 sub-2:09 Marathons (IAAF) Following the 2008 Dubai Marathon, Sammy Korir became the first man to run ten sub-2:09 marathons in a lifetime. Korir's personal best is 2:04:56 at the 2003 Berlin Marathon where he paced Paul Tergat to the former world record. Stefano Baldini is scheduled to run the 2008 Flora London Marathon where he could become the first man with fourteen lifetime sub-2:10s.
	Miami Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		UM med school dean ready to run Miami Marathon (Miami Herald) Pascal Goldschmidt, 53, dean of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, runs and stays very fit for life and his demanding job. With a Miami Marathon best of just under 4 hours, he motivates others to run and serves as one of the most well known cardiologists in the country. All this fitness and he still finds time for a wife and two children.
		Human Interest Story
		Juan Carlos Gil and Staff Sergeant Dustin Tuller Win 2008 Avis 'We Try Harder' Awards at ING Miami Marathon (CNN Money) PR Racing and Avis Rent A Car System, LLC announced today that Juan Carlos Gil and Staff Sergeant Dustin Tuller have won the 2008 Avis "We Try Harder" award in conjunction with the ING Miami Marathon. The award honors individuals who endeavor to overcome considerable obstacles through courage and extraordinary effort. Juan Carlos Gil, a member of the Achilles Track Club, was born with cerebral palsy. Staff Sergeant Dustin Tuller is an Iraqi war veteran who suffered severe gunshot wounds and lost both his legs as a result.