Marathon/Running News: 2/28/08 - 3/6/08

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Training/ Health
	Odds And Ends
		News From: Thursday, February 28, 2008
		US Olympic Committee hopes for best, plans for anything (USA Today) Over four major issues US Olympic athletes will face at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games are pollution, oppressive heat, lack of free speech, food safety and getting around. None can predict how the outcome will be, but athletes are taking a stand with top seeded tennis player Justine Henin and distance runner Haile Gebrselassie possibly not participating. American long-distance runner Dathan Ritzenhein spoke the party line when he said the prospect of skipping the Olympics seems ridiculous to him.
Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
	Odds And Ends
		News From: Thursday, March 6, 2008
		Prepping for the 2008 Olympics: Kastor, Browne, Sell headline fields for USA 15 km Championships (USATF News) Defending Champion, Deena Kastor will try to claim her sixth 15K national title on Saturday, March 8th at the 15K Championships in Jacksonville, Florida. The 2004 Olympic Marathon Bronze medalist holds the current American record with a time of 47 minutes and 15 seconds. On the mens' side Dan Browne (15K Champion in 2000)will line up with 2008 Olympic Marathon runner Brian Sell. The field includes several standout half marathon runners and several Olympic hopefulls.
	Nagoya Int'l Women's Marathon
		News From: Thursday, March 6, 2008
		Hashimoto out of Nagoya Marathon (The Daily Yomiuri) The defending champion of the Nagoya Marathon has pulled out of this Sunday's race. The 32 year old injured her knee while training in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has dashed any hopes of qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
	London Marathon
		News From: Thursday, March 6, 2008
		Paula Radcliffe Withdraws From London Marathon With Toe Injury (Bloomberg) World record holder Paula Radcliffe withdrew from the 2008 London Marathon due to a toe injury. Radcliffe, the champion of London Marathon in 2002, 2003 and 2005, would have been attempting her fourth win. The women's field will include Gete Wami, Berhane Adere, Constantina Tomescu-Dita, Svetlana Zakharova and Britons Hayley Haining and Liz Yelling
		News From: Tuesday, March 4, 2008
		World Marathon Majors Set to Resume at London (Race Results Weekly) The World Marathon Majors 2007/2008 series will continue at the 2008 London Marathon. Martin Lel, who won both the Flora London and ING New York City Marathons last year, is at the top of the men's leader board with 50 points. Gete Wami of Ethiopia, the 2006/2007 series winner, sits on top of the women's leader board with 55 points scored in three races.
	Taunton Marathon
		News From: Tuesday, March 4, 2008
		Taunton Marathon Tops 1,000 Entries and Growing (Somerset County Gazette) The Taunton Marathon has had it's highs and lows and still keeps chugging along. Since 1981 organizers have stuck to their mantra of Taunton-the race where the runner matters. With over 1000 runners signed up for this years April 6th race, officials are expecting another 500 by the March 25th deadline.
	Nagoya Int'l Women's Marathon
		News From: Monday, March 3, 2008
		Focus to Be on Japanese Women at Nagoya Next Sunday (Race Results Weekly) the 2008 Nagoya International Women's Marathon will be the last of the six marathon qualifiers Japan is using to select it's women's Olympic marathon team. Competition for the third spot will be intense for Tomo Morimoto, Yumiko Hara, Takami Ominami, Naoko Sakamoto, Naoko Takahashi and Harumi Hiroyama in the field. The first two sports will most likely go to Reiko Tosa who had a bronze medal finish at the 2007 IAAF World Championships and Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi with her win of the 2007 Tokyo International Women's Marathon.
	Olympics 2008 (Women)
		News From: Monday, March 3, 2008
		Tough marathon 'suits' Radcliffe (BBC Sport UK) In preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe believes the difficult conditions expected in Beijing will suit the tougher racers in the field. Although the British favorite to medal, Radcliffe failed to finish the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon. Extreme heat and humidity is expected in Beijing along with the high pollution the country is battling.
	Marathon des Sables
		News From: Sunday, March 2, 2008
		Woman, 71, to tackle Sahara ultramarathon (Daily Yomiuri Online) Noriko Iida, a seventy-one year old housewife from Japan, will run the grueling 2008 Marathon Des Sables ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert. Iida who began running at age forty-nine will be this year's oldest runner and the oldest Japanese ever to participate in such a race. Since retiring as a teacher, Iida has been competing in tough events in Japan such as a 71.5-kilometer mountain race and a 100-kilometer ultramarathon, as well as normal marathons and runs as many as 40 such races in one year.
	Greenway Trail Marathon
		News From: Sunday, March 2, 2008
		Fighting hunger one step at a time (Bridgeton News) With the number of hungry individuals growing in the area, local pastor, Rev. Steve Shuster, pastor of First United Methodist Church, has decided to run the 2008 Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon to increase awareness of this issue and raise funds for a local organization that assists these residents in need. The funds he has collected, so far, will go toward the Help and Hope Ministries' food closet. So far he has received about $8,000 from his congregation and the community.
	City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
		News From: Saturday, March 1, 2008
		Kenyan runner feels safe in U.S. (Pasadena Star News) Elite Kenyan half marathoner Jacqueline Nytipei will have her marathon debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Marathon. She'll run against her aunt, Mary Ptikany, who is also one of the favorites to win. Although Nytipei is safely living in Tucson, Arizona with her husband; her eighteen month old son is still in Kenya which has been in upheaval since the presidential elections in December 2007.
		Los Angeles Marathon Returns Sunday with Gender Battle (Race Results Weekly) The 2008 City of Los Angeles Marathon returns for its twenty-third running. The men's elites field will include Joseph Kahugu, Benjamin Kipchumba, Benson Mbithi, Philip Tarus and Joseph Ngolepus. The women's elite field will include Albina Gallyamova, Tatiana Titova, Mary Ptikany and Jacqueline Nytepi.
	El Paso Marathon
		News From: Saturday, March 1, 2008
		Organizers seek continued growth for El Paso marathon (El Paso Times) The 2008 Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon prepares for its second running. Both defending champs, Roberto Gonzalez and Angie Song, will be in the elite field.
	Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run
		News From: Saturday, March 1, 2008
		Aldrink looks to repeat at Sarasota Marathon (Bradenton.com) Bradenton native, Mike Aldrink, will be returning to his hometown to defend his title at the 2008 Sarasota Marathon. Aldrink had won eight of eleven marathons he ran in 2007. This will be Aldrink's 40th marathon.
	City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
		News From: Friday, February 29, 2008
		Los Angeles Marathon Returns Sunday with Gender Battle (Race Results Weekly) The 2008 City of Los Angeles Marathon returns for its twenty-third running and the gender battle continues with on the gender battle: the winner of one gender will receive $120,000 plus a Honda automobile, while the other will receive just $20,000 plus the car. The men's elites field will include Joseph Kahugu, Benjamin Kipchumba, Benson Mbithi, Philip Tarus and Joseph Ngolepus. The women's elite field will include Albina Gallyamova, Tatiana Titova, Mary Ptikany and Jacqueline Nytepi.
	Little Rock Marathon
		News From: Friday, February 29, 2008
		Several entrants capable of finishing Little Rock Marathon quickly! (Arkansas Democrat Gazette) Little Rock Marathon race director Bill Torrey said he doesn't expect personal records from the winners of the race but he is hopeful for some fast times. John Rotich of Kenya has a best of two hours and twelve minutes coming into Sundays race. Fellow Kenyan William Serem has crossed the tape in two hours and fifteen minutes and will compete with Ethiopian Tamrat Ayalew who won last years Marine Corps Marathon in two hours and twenty-two minutes and eighteen seconds.
	2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon
		News From: Friday, February 29, 2008
		Ames Native to Run in U.S. Marathon Trials (Mid-Iowa Newspaper) Erin Block has qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials with a 2:45.58 at the St. George Marathon, but is certain she will not be a member of the U.S. Olympic Team. Block ran her first marathon in 1996 and worked hard to achieve a sub-3:00 marathon. Despite a torn hamstring, Block is looking forward to enjoying herself at the trials.
	Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 28, 2008
		Japanese to secure final Olympic berth at Lake Biwa Marathon (IAAF) The 2008 Lake Biwa marathon, the oldest continuous marathon in Japan, will see many 2:07 marathoners in its roster of elites. Dmytro Baranovsky, with 2:07:15 at the 2006 Fukuoka Marathon, Mubarak Hassan Shami with a 2:07:19 at the 2007 Paris Marathon, and Jose Rios with 2:07:42 at the 2004 Lake Biwa Marathon. Lake Biwa will be the final race for the Japanese men to qualify for the Olympic marathon team spot. Japanese elites Atsushi Sato, Arata Fujiwara Tsuyoshi Ogata, and Satoshi Osaki will battle it out for the honor to run for Japan.
	Boston Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 28, 2008
		Defending Boston Marathon champ Cheruiyot leads strong Kenyan field (USA Today) Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot will defend his title in this year's Boston Marathon and attempt to become the first Kenyan to win the 112-year-old race four times. Second and third place finishers in the 2007 BAA Boston Marathon, James Kwambai and Stephen Kiogora, added their names to the already impressive field for the 2008 edition.
	Nagoya Int'l Women's Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 28, 2008
		Takahashi looks for Olympic berth in Nagoya marathon (International Herald Tribune) Sydney Olympic gold medalist Naoko Takahashi will look to secure a place on Japan's team for the Beijing Olympics at the 2008 Nagoya International Women's Marathon, a race she won in 1998 and 2000 before becoming the first Japanese woman to win a gold medal in an Olympic athletics event. The Nagoya race is the final Olympic marathon qualifying event for Japanese women. Takahashi will need to win the race with a better time than Tomo Morimoto's 2:25:34 from the 2008 Osaka marathon.
	Marathon des Sables
		News From: Thursday, February 28, 2008
		Sudbury climber to 'shuffle' across Sahara (The Sault Star) Armed with her anti-venin kit, a 17 kilogram back-pack and a pair of custom made shoes, McGrath will start the Marathon des Sables - a 243-kilometre trek across the scorching desert sands of Morocco. While some competitors run the entire course, McGrath says she's planning to employ what is known as the "airborne shuffle,'' which the Canadian Air Force captain describes as a technique akin to speed walking. McGrath has just climbed Everest last year.
	Boston Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 28, 2008
		Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot aiming at fourth consecutive Boston marathon title (IAAF) Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, the Boston Marathon course record holder and winner in 2003, 2006 and 2007, has added incentive to win as he will seek to become the first Kenyan to claim four Boston Marathon crowns. 2007 Chicago Marathon winner Patrick Ivuti will go head-to-head against Cheruiyot who was fourth in the Chicago race.
	Nagoya Int'l Women's Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 28, 2008
		Takahashi to face stiff test in Nagoya Marathon (The Daily Yomiuri) Naoko Takahashi will face some very grueling competition in the third and final domestic Beijing Olympic qualifying marathon in Nagoya. The 2000 Olympic gold medalist failed to win a bid to defend her title in Athens in '04. She will be among 15 other invited women runners for the March 9th qualifying race.
	Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon
		News From: Thursday, February 28, 2008
		Japanese to secure final Olympic berth at Lake Biwa Marathon (IAAF) The 2008 Lake Biwa marathon, the oldest continuous marathon in Japan, will see many 2:07 marathoners in its roster of elites. Dmytro Baranovsky, with 2:07:15 at the 2006 Fukuoka Marathon, Mubarak Hassan Shami with a 2:07:19 at the 2007 Paris Marathon, and Jose Rios with 2:07:42 at the 2004 Lake Biwa Marathon. Lake Biwa will be the final race for the Japanese men to qualify for the Olympic marathon team spot. Japanese elites Atsushi Sato, Arata Fujiwara Tsuyoshi Ogata, and Satoshi Osaki will battle it out for the honor to run for Japan.
Post-Race Review/ Results
	Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run
		News From: Thursday, March 6, 2008
		The Sarasota Marathon: WE HAVE A WINNER AT LAST! (Herals Tribune) Cristina Noble crossed the finish line first in Sunday's Sarasota Marathon but Madeleine Zolfo, 43, of Treasure Island, Florida was officially declared the winner on Monday night. Noble ran the 2007 Detroit Marathon in 3 hours and 9 minutes and her disqualified time from Sunday was 3 hours and 10 minutes. Race officials concluded that the course was well marked and that Noble merely missed one mile of the course from the 17th mile to the 18th mile on an out and back section on Ken Thompson Parkway.
	City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
		News From: Monday, March 3, 2008
		Russian woman beats men in L.A. Marathon (The Statesman) Russia's Tatiana Aryasova, in her marathon debut, started her career with a win in Sunday's Los Angeles Marathon. Her time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, 9 seconds, allowed to win the man versus woman challenge with her nearly 20 minute head start. Kenya's Laban Moiben won the men's division in 2hours, 13 minutes and 50 seconds
	Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon
		News From: Monday, March 3, 2008
		Shami wins Lake Biwa Marathon (IAAF) Mubarak Shami of Qatar won the 2008 Lake Biwa Marathon in 2:08:23 edging out Eritrean Yared Asmeron at the 36K mark. Many Japanese were also excited about the race within a race as Lake Biwa Marathon was the last men's qualifier for Japan's Olympic team. Satoshi Osaki who finished first Japanese in 2:08:40. The Japanese team will be announced on March 10th.
		Qatar's Shami wins Lake Biwa Marathon ahead of Ertirea's Yared Asmerom (International Herald Tribune) Eritrea's Yared Asmerom surged late in the race but could not hold onto Qatar's Shami who won by 11 seconds with a time of 2 hours 8 minutes and 23 seconds. Third place went to Japan's Satoshi Osaki with a time of 2:08:36.
	Napa Valley Marathon
		News From: Sunday, March 2, 2008
		Four Olympic Trials Qualifiers at Napa Valley Marathon (Race Results Weekly) The 2008 Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon brought joy to four female runners who qualified for the USA Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon. The B-standard for the Trials is 2:47. Maureen Ackerly of Richmond, Virginia clocked 2:44:25 winning her first marathon. Claudia Becque of Chicago was runner-up in 2:44:52 followed by Shaluinn Fullove of Palo Alto, Calif., in a personal best 2:46:04. Mary Coordt of Elk Grove, California was the final qualifier in 2:46:30.
	Little Rock Marathon
		News From: Sunday, March 2, 2008
		Little Rock Marathon Winner (Arkansas Times) The 2008 Little Rock Marathon attracted thousands to the streets of the city on a warmer day than expected. Tamrat Ayalew, formerly of Ethiopia, now of Atlanta, Georgia won the men's race in a little over than 2:20. Ayalew had recovered from being shot in the knee.