Marathon/Running News: 3/10/08 - 3/17/08

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News From: Monday, March 17, 2008
	Boston Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Swampscott residents to make statement at Boston Marathon (Swampscott Reporter) Bill Flannery and Dan Santanello are running the 2008 Boston Marathon with the MassGeneral Marathon Team Fighting Kids Cancer One Step at a Time. The team has come a long way since its modest beginning in 1998, when a team of 10 runners raised almost $50,000 to support the pediatric cancer program. Now, a team of 122 runners has banked a cumulative $4 million and the number continues to rise.
	Dong-A Seoul International Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Persistent Marathoner Stages Successful Comeback (Donga.com) Kim Yi-yong yesterday proved himself one of the nations elite runners again at the 2008 Dong-A Seoul International Marathon. Kim who was first Korean finisher and overall seventh place finisher in 2:11:14. Sammy Korir won the marathon in 2:07:32. The winner of the women's race was Zhang Shu Jing of China in 2:26:11.
	London Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Marathon challenge will aid the disabled (The Flintshire Standard) Trudie Richards of Hope will tackle the Flora London Marathon next month, in a bid to raise £1,500 for disability charity Scope. Richards, a fitness coach, is also a classroom assistant at Ysgol Estyn, coordinates the after school club at Derwen School in Kinnerton and is a youth worker during the evenings.
		Liz gets set for marathon effort (The Press) Liz Davis, of Haxby, York, will tackle the 26-mile course next month in an effort to raise £1,000 for the St. Leonard's Hospice. The mother-of-two is no stranger to tests of endurance - having completed the London Triathlon last year.
		Two soldiers in Iraq training to run London marathon (The Bolton News) Corporal Damien Byrne and Sergeant Major Stephen Tickle will join other members of the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster regiment in returning to the UK to compete in the 2008 London Marathon. Following the marathon, these soldiers will be heading back to their base in Basra. The Battalion members will run in a bid to raise £7,500 for the charity Sense, which supports children and adults who are deaf/blind or have associated disabilities.
	Odds And Ends
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		Mara Yamauchi wins Matsue Ladies Half Marathon (IAAF) British born, Japanese based Mara Yamauchi, who won the Osaka Ladies Marathon with a personal best of 2:25:10 in January, won the 2008 Matsue Ladies Half Marathon in 1:09:59. Rie Takayoshi and Hitomi Niiya finished second and third respectively in 1:10:49 and 1:11:41.
		In largely solo run, Geb takes Lisbon Half Marathon (IAAF) Haile Gebrselassie dominated the men's field winning the 2008 Lisbon Half Marathon in 59:15. Charles Kamathi and defending champion Robert Cheruiyot came in second and third respectively. In the women's race Salina Kosgei, winner of the 2005 and 2006 events, nabbed victory in 1:09:59 finishing two seconds before Pamela Chepchumba.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		Don't fear Beijing boycott (Herald Sun UK) FEARS of an athlete boycott over Beijing's stifling smog and China's Tibetan crisis have been watered down by senior Australian Olympic powerbroker Kevan Gosper who is also the vice-president of the Games coordination committee. And in the light of China's poor human rights record, Gosper also has called on protesters not to target the Olympic Torch Relay that will include an Australian leg in Canberra. Gosper said the $16 billion being spent on air quality measures will ensure other athletes don't follow the lead of marathon world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie.
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Gebrselassie will skip Beijing marathon (CNN) World record holder Haile Gebrselassie has once again ruled out competing in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics, telling a Spanish newspaper that he would be "committing suicide" by running in unfavorable conditions. He will instead try to qualify for the Ethiopian team in the 10,000 meters track event of which he won gold in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics. Gebrselassie added that he would attempt to finish his career with victory in the marathon at the London Olympics in 2012 when he would be 39.
	Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		McCurdy sets course record at marathon (Galveston County Daily News) Matt McCurdy won the 2008 Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon, setting a new course record in 2:38:12. John Hill, runner-up, finished nine minutes behind and third-place finisher Matthew Curtner-Smith finished in 2:56:29. Defending womnan's champion Caroline Chamness won the women's race in 3:19:42 and Sarah Husbands took second place in 3:30:14.
	Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Shamrock Marathon runners brave winds (Hampton Roads.com) Runners at the 2008 Shamrock Marathon faced high winds throughout the day; but it didn't stop marathoners Samuel Gebremichael from winning the men's race in a 2:22:40 and Jessica Allen from winning the women's race 2:48.59. Allen, who was attempting a 2:47:00 qualifying time for the 2008 US Women's Olympic Trials, missed her mark by two minutes. Allen looks forward to attempting a qualifying time for the 2012 trials.
News From: Sunday, March 16, 2008
	Big Sur International Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Debating the world's hardest running courses (Monterey County Herald) There has been a lot of debate in the running community about the world's hardest running course. Big Sur Marathon, with its 560-foot climb at Hurricane Point, is considered one of the hardest marathons in North America, but it doesn't even make the "A" list of toughest running events. Top contenders are The Run to the Sun, a 36-mile race climbing 10,000 feet up the Haleakala volcano on Maui; the 7.1-mile Dipsea trail race in Marin County that travels up the outskirts of Mount Tamalpias and down to the sea at Stinson Beach, the Western States Endurance Run that is a brutal 100-mile trail run from Squaw Valley to Auburn, which features more than 23,000 feet of elevation change. Without a doubt there are tougher marathons on Everest, in Antarctica, a 135-mile race through Death Valley, and a multi-day race where runners cross the Sahara Desert which are top contenders.
	Dong-A Seoul International Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		2:07:32 victory for Korir in Seoul (IAAF) The 2008 Dong-A Seoul International Marathon was Sammy Korir won in a 2:07:32, the fourth fastest time of his career and the best since April 2006. Zhang Shujing of China won the women's contest in 2:26:11. Korir already ran his second Marathon of the year; earlier he had finished third in Dubai in January clocking 2:08:01.
		Kenya Sweeps Seoul Marathon (Korea Times) Sammy Korir, best known for pacing Paul Tergat to a world record finish in 2003, won the 2008 Seoul Marathon in 2:07:32. Runner-up was Jason Mbote in a 2:07:37 and third was Edwin Komen in a 2:07:45. Top Koreans were Kim Yi-yong of South Korea who finished in 2:11:14 and Lee Bong-ju, silver medalist at the 1996 Summer Atlanta Olympics, who was eighth in a 2:12:27.
	London Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Tragedy drives Jonathan Pearce to run marathon (The Daily Mirror) TV Football pundit and Sunday Mirror columnist Jonathan Pearce is to run the London Marathon in memory of his tragic baby niece from Mitochondrial Disease, a rare and mostly fatal cell abnormality. The Lily Foundation was formed by the family to help find a cure for the fatal disease which affects just one child in a thousand.
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Short of Conditioning, Keflezeghi Withdraws from London (Race Results Weekly) Reigning Olympic Marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi has withdrawn from the 2008 London Marathon. Keflezighi and his coach Bob Larsen feel that he is short of the conditioning for such a competitive marathon. Keflezighi will now give his complete focus on preparing for the USATF Olympic Trials. This is the second time Keflezighi has had to withdraw from London. The first time was in 2005 when an injury forced him to withdraw and he was unable to finish in 2007, but dropped out in the 16th mile (26th km) due to achilles problems and a blister on his foot.
	Odds And Ends
		Human Interest Story
		Ethiopia orders Gebrselassie to run (The Province) Ethiopia has ordered world champion marathon runner Haile Gebrselassie to compete in this summer's Olympics in China after the athlete announced that he will not run the 42.195-kilometer race because the air pollution in Beijing is a possible threat to his health. Ethiopian Sports Federation's technical director Dube Jillo stated: "It is the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, representing the nation, that determines whether Haile is fit to compete in the marathon event in Beijing's Olympics or not." Doctors and officials will decide whether Gebrselassie is fit to compete, Dube said.
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		SA athletes dominate in Elands Valley Marathon (SABC News) Former Olympics gold medalist Josia Thugwane and former Comrades Marathon Champion Sipho Ngomane continued their dominance of the 2008 Elands Valley Marathon. Thugwane won the half marathon for the third time while Ngomane also succesfully defended his title in the marathon. The two runners say their victories will boost their confidence in their preparations for the forthcoming Two Ocean Championships and Comrades Marathon respectively.
	Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly the National Marathon)
		Human Interest Story
		Marathon Director Takes Long View (The Washington Post) Keith Dowling, former national-class marathoner, ran a personal best of 2:13:28 at the 2002 Boston Marathon; but rather than particpate in marathons as a runner, he is the race director of the National Marathon. Nonetheless, Dowling believes the work ethic required for both endeavors is similar. National Marathon will have a new sponsor, an updated course, an increase in prize money and an quality field especially in the women's half marathon, where at least eight elite women are using the race as a final tuneup for the Olympic trials marathon in Boston.
	Roma (Rome) Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Kenya's Kiptoo Yego wins Rome marathon (Guardian.Co.uk) Kenya's Jonathan Kiptoo Yego won the 2008 Rome Marathon in 2:09:57 beating Philip Sanga Kimutai by five seconds. Henry Kapkyai Kimeli came in third in a time of 2:10.17. Galina Bogomolova won the women's race with in 2:22.53, the fastest a woman has run a marathon on Italian soil. Larissa Zousko was more than five minutes behind in second place.
News From: Saturday, March 15, 2008
	Trinidad & Tobago Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Chemwold's hope for Kenya (Trinidad Express) Winner of the 2008 Trinidad and Tobago Marathon Caroline Chemwold of Kenya remains troubled by her native country Kenya's continued political unrest. Chemwold believes that key leaders can bring peace to Kenya if they listen to each other, accept their problems and come up with solutions. It's an additional difficulty as Chemworld is required to leave her two young daughters and her husband for more than four months to provide a comfortable income for her family.
News From: Friday, March 14, 2008
	London Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		High Blood Pressure Results in High Mileage (Matlock Mercury) Phil Heler, of Dales, will run London, New York and Berlin this year. He is joining Lord Seb Coe, a double gold medalist, to raise money and awareness for Get Kids Going. Heler got started when he tested positive for high blood pressure. His sedentary lifestyle days were over.
	Odds And Ends
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		Elite runners united for peace (Daily Nation) A few of Kenyas top elite runners, past and present, will be in Iten on Saturday not to run, but to support a unique peace race. Runners like world champion Luke Kibet, Joyce Chepchumba, Martin Lel, Robert Cheruiyot, Daniel Komen, Nyantika Maiyoro and Douglas Wakiihuri will be present at the Shoe4Africa Peace race, a unique 5K competition for junior athletes organized by US based Shoe4Africa. Shoe4Africa is recognized for promoting Aids awareness through sport
		Secret anti-doping probe (The Australian) Australian anti-doping investigators have been secretly trawling through athletes' medical records on the eve of the Beijing Olympics for any evidence that they are taking performance enhancing drugs. They will be evaluating the results of its secret trial, in which investigators cross referenced athletes' names with prescription records held by Medicare which is highly confidential since it violates the doctor-patient confidentiality clause. Marathon legend Rob de Castella called on ASADA to pursue those who corrupted and misled athletes, the head of ASADA said intelligence sharing by federal agencies would help to ensure coaches, trainers, doctors, sports organizations and third parties did not avoid punishment.
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Training prepares running group for Chuckanut 50K (Bellingham Herald) Hundreds are preparing for the grueling 2008 Chuckanut Mountain 50K Trail Run. The race will start and end with flat 10Ks of the Interurban, while the middle 30K has 5,000 of elevation gain and equal loss. Local runners who are part of the Evening Epic Run may have an advantage since the members gather each Wednesday night to go on strenuous trail runs for up to two hours.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Human Interest Story
		Geb is Got: World Record Holder Forced into Olympic Marathon (Sport) Haile Gebrselassie thought he was headed to Beijing to run the 10,000 meter race. He had opted out of the marathon due to exercised induced asthma that would be worsened by the extreme pollution in Beijing. The IOC supported his decision . The Ethiopian Athletic Federation said that it was not Geb's choice to opt out of one race and jump into another. The world record holder will be forced to run in the pollution
	Roma (Rome) Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		High quality field expected at Rome Marathon (European Athletics) Over 13,000 athletes are expected at the 2008 Rome Marathon of which nineteen in the elite men's field have performances under 2:10 and sixteen elite women have sub 2:30 finishes. A new course record is expected with Philip Singoei leading the field with a personal best of 2:07:57 in Eindhoven in 2007. Galina Bogomolova is the female star of the race with her 2:20:47 from the 2006 Chicago Marathon.
	Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Sisters run the distance together at Seabrook (Galveston County Daily News) Sisters, Saundra Stockholm, Alisa Daigle, Connie Bourque, Judy Thomas and Barbara Murphy, who have been running together for more than thirty years are planning to run the 2008 Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon. The sisters picked Seabrook to coincide with a family milestone - one of the sister's fiftieth birthdays. Four of the sisters have competed in marathons in San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Baton Rouge, La., while Bourque is running her first full marathon Sunday.
	Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		The Shamrock Marathon Grows a Little More Green (Pilot Online) The Virginia Beach Shamrock Marathon is green in more ways than one and this year it grows a little more green. The 26.2 mile race has always been centered around St. Paddy's day and displayed all levels of green in the past. This years race will be environmentally friendly and recycling receptacle are being placed on the course and plastic goody bags are replaced with cloth backpacks. The race has been designated as a Runner's World Green Team event and a Virginia Green Event.
News From: Thursday, March 13, 2008
	Marathon des Sables
		Human Interest Story
		Desert marathon test for footballer (Royston Crow) Martin Westcott, former Royston Town footballer, will be taking part in the 2008 Marathon des Sables, a 151-mile endurance race through the Sahara Desert. Westcott will be raising money for pupils at Castle School in Cambridge, a specialist school for children and young people with complex learning difficulties. Westcott's training is limited, having never experienced the terrain or the heat that he will encounter in the Sahara.