Marathon/Running News: 2/12/08 - 2/19/08

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Training/ Health
	Odds And Ends
		News From: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
		Beijing says no events will be postponed for pollution (International Herald Tribune) Beijing Olympic organizers have no plans to postpone events because of pollution, but the marathon and other endurance sports could be postponed by severe heat, humidity and heavy rain. Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, has said he may reschedule endurance events to protect athletes from poor air quality. Beijing officials have said pollution will not be a problem by the time the Games start on August 8.
	Boston Marathon
		News From: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
		Think spring! Don't get down on winter (Metrowest Daily News) As the heart of winter approaches, many New Englanders are feeling the worst of the season as a few are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression. Many advise to take a trip to a warm weather destination, to enjoy the outdoors with winter activities such as skiing, light therapy or by gearing up for a big race like the Boston Marathon.
	Odds And Ends
		News From: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
		Treadmill Desks: Put the 'work' in 'work out' (Ocala.com) Having been fed up trying to lose ten pounds for the past ten years, Jay Buster of Boulder, Colorado has built a treadmill desk. Rather than being sedentary eight hours per day buying Japanese securities online or arbitrage, Buster has lost sixteen pounds and loves his new lifestyle. Others are following in his figurative footsteps, the Mayo Clinic recently released what it calls "the office of the future" treadmill desk.
Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
	Marathon des Sables
		News From: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
		Australians Take On the Sahara Challenge (The Epoch Times) Paul Gladwell and Martin Edwards, two IT workers from Melbourne, Australia who have both lost close family members to cancer, have been logging 180km a week for a one of the most grueling races in the world. The 23rd Marathon des Sables scheduled for March involves a seven-day 240km run across the Sahara Desert in 104 degree temperatures during the day to 41 degrees at night, sandstorms and grueling physical pain. The participants are required to carry their essentials in their back pack sleeping bag, food and clothing while the race organizers provide a tent and water.
	Odds And Ends
		News From: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
		Wanjiru returning to The Hague (IAAF) Half Marathon World Record Holder Sammy Wanjiru plans to return to the 2008 Fortis City-Pier-City Half Marathon. Wanjiru who broke his own world record at last year's race with a 58:33 finish will be joined by London Marathon and New York City Marathon winner Martin Lel. Patrick Makau Musyoki, Francis Kibiwott and Deribe Merga will also be joining the field.
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		River Run Entries On Near Record Pace (News4Jax) 31st the Gate River Run has over 14,000 runners in the 15K event. Five-time champion Deena Kastor will be back to defend her title. Kastor will also be inducted into the 2008 Gate River Run Hall of Fame.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		News From: Saturday, February 16, 2008
		Tergat targets Olympic marathon gold (Daily Nation Online) Former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat is aiming for a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Tergat, the track and road race icon, who is also a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme, is nearing the ripe age of thirty-eight; but believes he can compete with the world's best as long as he has the will and passion for the sport.
	Austin Marathon
		News From: Saturday, February 16, 2008
		Six AT&T Runners Seeking Olympic Qualifying Time at the Austin Marathon (The Statesman) The AT&T Austin Marathon, which has produced a number of qualifiers for the U.S. Olympic marathon trials, will see six female runners trying to chase down a shot at their Olympic dreams. Among them are Becki Michael, a twenty-four year old middle distance runner from Ohio, and Kim Fitchen-Young, a thirty-nine year old former 2004 Olympic trials qualifier in the 10,000 meters and the marathon who is returning to competitive running after the birth of her child less than one year ago. The qualifying time the women are aiming to achieve or better is 2:47.
	Tokyo Int'l Marathon
		News From: Friday, February 15, 2008
		Japanese to seek Olympic selection - Tokyo Marathon PREVIEW (IAAF) The line up for the second 2008 Tokyo Marathon will include defending champion Daniel Njenga, runner up at the 2007 Berlin Marathon Abel Kirui, Hailu Negussie, Jon Brown, Viktor Röthlin and Eric Wainaina. Japan's Toshinari Suwa is the best Japanese in the field with a personal best of 2:07:55 is aiming to make the Olympic team.
	Malta Marathon
		News From: Friday, February 15, 2008
		Record Number of Participants for Next Weeks BMW Malta Marathon (The Malta Independent Online) The 2008 BMW Malta Marathon will see a record number of one thousand participants in the full marathon and half marathon events, many from all over the world. Germany leads the list of foreign runners. Registration for the marathon has been filled at three hundred participants.
	Kilimanjaro Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 14, 2008
		Tanzania: 2008 Kilimanjaro Marathon Registers Bumper Field (All Africa) Kilimanjaro international marathon has roughly 400 international runners for the March 2nd race. Foreign countries have clamored to enter the mountainous race. The United Kingdom and Australia have 45 and 18 entries, respectively. The U.S. will be sending 61 runners to attempt to complete the task.
	Rotterdam Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 14, 2008
		Rotterdam Marathon boasting three 2:06 marathon runners. (IAAF) The April 13th Rotterdam Marathon will be loaded with talent. Three of the top athletes have run sub 2:07 in the marathon and two returning champions have gone under 2:09. The three sub 2:07 runners are from Kenya. Robert Cheboror, William Kipsang and Joseph Riri all have impressive marathon races under their belt which should make for a grueling race.
	Georgia Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 14, 2008
		Georgia Marathon filling fast. (Atlanta Journal Constitution) With 10,000 runners entered in the field of the Georgia marathon the race should fill to capacity. Only 5,000 spots remain for the March, 30th race. Race organizers have secured last years marathon champions Joseph Chirlee and Valentina Levushkina. 80% of those who have registered are from the Peach State.
	London Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 14, 2008
		Tergat will miss London Marathon (BBC Sport) Following a four-month military training course, former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat will not run in the 2008 London Marathon. Tergat believes his fitness level is at 40%. His focus will be on the Beijing Olympics.
	Odds And Ends
		News From: Thursday, February 14, 2008
		Sore IT Band May Hamper Ritzenhein at U.S. Cross Country (Race Results Weekly) The 2008 U.S. Cross Country Championships in San Diego will see Dathan Ritzenhein compete prior to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Ritzenhein, third in last year's event, still feels a minor injury incurred from running the Event Scotland Great Edinburgh Cross Country, which will be the same challenging course set for the World Cross-Country Championships in March. Although the Beijing Olympic Marathon is his main focus, he would like to compete in Worlds.
	Boston Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 14, 2008
		John Hancock Financial Announces World's Top Women to Run 2008 Boston Marathon (Earth Times) The 23rd Boston Marathon with John Hancock as the title sponsor will pit some of the leading women in the world against defending champion Lidiya Grigoryeva. 2006 winner Rita Jeptoo, two-time runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka and a new generation of international talent, including Askale Tafa Magarsa and Dire Tune, both of Ethiopia, will arrive at Hopkinton to challenge all comers and the hills to Boston.
		News From: Wednesday, February 13, 2008
		Jeptoo & Prokopcuka to Challenge Grigoryeva at Boston Marathon (Race Results Weekly) The 2008 Boston Marathon women's race will include defending champion Lidiya Grigoryeva, Rita Jeptoo and Jelena Prokopcuka. Prokopcuka who has been runner up in 2006 and 2007 will be formidable competition. Ethiopians Askale Tafa Magarsa and Dire Tune who are rising stars will be competing at Boston for the first time.
	Pasadena Marathon
		News From: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
		First Annual Pasadena Marathon sign-ups begin (Pasadena Star News) The first annual Pasadena marathon, scheduled for November 16, will start and end in Old Towne Pasadena near Delacey and Green. Organizers initially opened the field to 15,000 participants. That number has since been reduced to a mere 8,000 and organizers expect it to fill quickly. The popularity of fall marathons should attract many runners to the area.
	Odds And Ends
		News From: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
		Ritz hits the cross country trails (The Register Guard) Dathan Ritzenhein, a member of the 2008 US Olympic Marathon Team, will compete at the USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego. Ritzenhein who is focusing on cross country for the next six weeks needs a top-six finish to reach his goal of qualifying for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh in March.
Post-Race Review/ Results
	Odds And Ends
		News From: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
		Kenya retains the GROE marathon title (Kenya Broadcasting Corporation) As the 2008 Greatest Race on Earth (GROE) Series concludes, Kenya has once again won the marathon relay series title for the fourth consecutive year. The Kenya team is awarded a total of 23.8 million shillings by the title sponsor Standard Chartered. The GROE consists of finishes at the Nairobi, Singapore, Mumbai and Hong Kong Marathons.
	Myrtle Beach Marathon
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		Myrtle Beach Marathon: NY woman, NC man are winners (Myrtle Beach Online) Gayle White won the women's race at the 11th Myrtle Beach Marathon in 2:49:04. White was disappointed having missed the 2:47 qualifying standard for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. Runner up Lisa Tolley finished in thirteen minutes after White.
	Austin Marathon
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		Sell runs to victory in Austin Half (Altoona Mirror.com) 2008 U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Team Member Brian Sell won the AT&T Austin Half-Marathon in 1:04:11. His Hanson-Brooks teammates, Todd Snyder, Mike Morgan, Luke Humphrey, Michael Reneau and Patrick Moulton, finished second through sixth.
		London teacher Hassell hustles to 1st marathon win (The Austin-American Statesman) Biology teacher Lucy Hassell won the 2008 Austin Marathon's women's race in a 2:36:26. Runner-up Becki Michael qualified for the US Olympic Trials with a 2:43:42. Canada's Nicole Stevenson placed third in 2:44:46.
	Pune International Marathon
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		Bhitane wins Pune Peninsula Marathon (iafrica.com) The 2008 Puma Peninsula Marathon had it's forty-first running with over 3000 top road and lifestyle athletes. Zolani Bhitane won in 2:23:38. Sibusiso Mbingeleli came in second in a 2:24:02. Luketz Swartbooi finished third in a 2:24:29. Joanna Thomas won the women's race in a 3:02:50. Ursula Frans was second in a 3:03:41. Maureen Dladla was third in a 3:11:17.
	Hong Kong Marathon
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		Best feet forward right to the very end (The Standard) The 2008 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in which a Japanese ended four years of domination by Kenyans. Koichiro Fukuoka from Nagasaki won the race in 2:18:10. The women's race was won by Kim Kum Ok of North Korea in 2:36:43. She crossed the finishline hand-in-hand with compatriot Jong Yong Ok who was ruled second by a judge.
	Austin Marathon
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		Frey, Americans win in Austin Marathon men's race (The Austin-American Statesman) The 2008 AT&T Austin Marathon saw a tight finish in the men's race as Jacob Frey sprinted 600 meters to victory in a 2:20:38 becomin the first American to win since 1994. Mike Sayenko was runner-up in 2:20:42 and Kenya's Joseph Mutinda was third in 2:20:43. Lucy Hassell of Great Britain won the women's race.
	Birch Bay Marathon
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		Birch Bay Marathon a hit (The Bellingham Herald) At the 2008 Birch Bay Marathon Jim Hulbert had incentive to run faster as a boxer dog at mile 11 gave a chase and nipped at his feet as he ran. Andy Martin won the race in a 2:35:24. Locals Dan Gallant and Jim Hulbert finished second and third respectively in 2:59:52 and 3:01:06. In the women's race Maria Amaya in 3:36:00. Runner-up Theresa Westfall finished in 3:36:29.
	26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		Runaway winners in inaugural 26.2 for Donna race (Florida-Times Union) Alene Reta of Ethiopia and Mariska Kramer-Postma of Netherlands won the inaugural 26.2 with Donna the National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer. Reta finished in a 2:21.57. Kramer-Postma won the women's race in 2:45.42. While Reta was able to run to the finish line with a police escort, Kramer-Postma had to dodge through many runners competing in the half-marathon which was a bit of a challenge for her.
	Ft. Lauderdale A1A Marathon
		News From: Monday, February 18, 2008
		AIA Marathon winners excel out of their environment (Miami Herald) John Roberts and Cindy Anderson won the men and women's races of the 2008 A1A Marathon. In a marathon debut Roberts who raced the 26.2 miles on a dare from his girlfriend finished in a 2:50:31. Anderson, also in her debut marathon, won the women's race in 3:07:02.
		Roberts, Anderson win marathon debuts (Sun Sentinel) Both winners of the 2008 A1A Marathon win in their marathon debuts. John Roberts won in a 2:50:31 and Cindy Anderson in a 3:07:02 setting a course record. In the third year of the race also had a record turnout of 4,974 participants.