Marathon/Running News: 4/8/08 - 4/15/08

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News From: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
	Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Derby Marathon, miniMarathon reach cap of 12,000 runners (Business First) The Kentucky Derby Marathon and Half Marathon have filled to the breaking point of 12,000 participants. The race received entries from 47 states and at least 9 countries. Organizers felt that a cap of 12,000 was due in order to maintain an appropriate infrastructure for the safety of all runners and adequate supplies for all participants.
	London Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Robinson records PB at London marathon (The Gazette) Dan Robinson ran a personal best of 2:13:11 at the 2008 London Marathon to almost certainly book his Olympic spot for the Beijing Games. Robinson bettered his personal best by forty seconds to finish in twelfth place, just behind Olympic champion Stefano Baldini.
		Human Interest Story
		Lisa just misses Olympic Marathon qualifier (HeraldSun) MELBOURNE'S Lisa Weightman, who was an Olympic hopeful made the A-standard for the Olympic Marathon by finishing in two hours 32 minutes and 32 seconds with a 13th place finish in Sunday's London Marathon. Her debut race over the distance. She is a member of the Australian women's team that won bronze at the world cross-country championships in Edinburgh. Her finish time was only 32 seconds shy of the Australian Qualifying standard and thus Weightman will have to sit the Beijing Olypics out.
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Liz Yelling wins duel with Hayley Haining to secure final Olympic place (Times Online) On a grim day in the capital city of London, Liz Yelling pulled of a victory over Hayley Haining to secure the third and final spot representing Britain in the Beijing Olympics this summer. Yelling, who had an issue with her foot her foot, joins Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauch
		Human Interest Story
		Maasai Warriors finish Flora London Marathon (Londong Times) Four of the six Maasai warriors completed the London Marathon in over 5 hours on Sunday. Two others finished on Monday as a ceremonial strap on one of the warriors legs forced him out of the race at mile 13. He and his teammate returned to finish the race on Monday after recovering from the injury. The Maasai return to northern Tanzania today, hoping that they will have raised the £60,000 they need to install bore holes and pumps that will bring fresh water to their village of Eluai.
		London Marathon finish line 'felt magic' (BBC) Dave Heely completed the London Marathon on Sunday and it was a finish line bigger than just London. Heely had run 6 marathons in the 6 days leading up to his finish in London. And considering he is legally blind, it seems to add that much more to he accomplishment.
	Odds And Ends
		Human Interest Story
		Biranchi, Marathon Kid Budhias Ex-Coach, Shot (Hindustan Times) Biranchi Das, former coach of world class marathoner Budhia Singh, was shot down by gunmen outside of a Judo Exposition. The gunmen called Das outside from the building and gunned him down in broad daylight. Criminal activity is said to have played a major roll in the shooting.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Human Interest Story
		Darfur athletes train on as Olympic row rages (Sudan Tribune) Nagmeldin Ali Abubakr, a 21-year-old from Nyala in southern Darfur, and one of Sudans main medal hopes for the Beijing Games crouches down near the starting line of an old dirt track in his home town. He is a world away from the troubles in China over the politics of the games and the difficulties encountered in Kenya near the rift valley. He hopes to bring running to the forefront of Darfur sports.
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Geb rethinks Beijing Olympic Marathon Plan (Guardian Limited) Haile Gebrselassie, who, at one point had pulled out of the Beijing Olympics all together has stated that he is rethinking his plan. His coach, Jos Hermens, is consulting physicians regarding Geb's asthma and how it will be affected by the sever pollution in Beijing during the marathon. The two time 10,000 meter Olympic Gold medalist may still run in the Olympics yet.
News From: Monday, April 14, 2008
	Boston Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		'I kicked cancer' Eckert to run Boston Marathon less than a year after diagnosis (The Daily News Online) Dale Eckert wanted to complete his second Boston Marathon last spring before he addressed the tumor that had developed between his right eye and brain, also known as esthesioneuroblastoma. Eckert knew there was something wrong when the overwhelming pressure in his forehead caused a nosebleed during the Newburyport's native's final massage in the days leading up the marathon. Before surgery, Eckert set one goal for 2008: Running the 112th Boston Marathon. Less than one year after the cancer diagnosis, Eckert will join his wife Dale Anne Granger-Eckert.
	London Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Buster busted: The Oldest London Marathon Runner isn't 101, He's ONLY 94 (The Mail) "Buster" Martin who completed the 2008 London Marathon attempting the title of oldest marathoner in the Guinness Book of World Records, is now in doubt after the discovery that he may not be quite as old as he has claimed. Buster, whose real name is Pierre Jean Martin, reportedly told NHS staff that he was born on September 1, 1913, not 1906, as had been previously claimed. A source at Guinness told The Times that Buster "appeared to be a fake, and more so, one being exploited by his company, which is using him to promote their services".
		The Masai's marathon was easy...there were no lions! (The Evening Standard) The Masai warriors, the surprise attraction of the 2008 Flora London Marathon, were not going to let the weather ruin their day. The six warriors, who were running in shoes cut from old car tires, were hoping to raise £60,000 for their village. One of the six was forced to quit after feeling ill and another pulled out to accompany him to hospital, but the remaining four crossed the line in 5:24.
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		London Marathon champ Irina Mikitenko challenges Paula Radcliffe (Daily Mirror) 2008 London Marathon champion Irina Mikitenko has challenged world record holder Paula Radcliffe. Radcliffe missed Sunday's event due to an injury. "The Olympics will not be a quick race," forecast Mikitenko. "But London next year will be and I can experiment running a fast one. I am looking forward to racing against Paula in London."
		Human Interest Story
		Gordon Ramsay soaked in London Marathon (Daily Record UK) Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay got a soaked as he took part in the 2008 London Marathon. Ramsay known for his hot temper joined other celebrities among the 48,000 entrants, including actors Jonny Lee Miller and Phil Daniels, Radio 1 reporter Mark Chapman, 2007 Apprentice winner Simon Ambrose and the Jonathan Ross show band Four Poofs And A Piano.
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		American Hall strides to fifth in London Marathon (USA Today) Ryan Hall competing in his third marathon at the 2008 London Marathon, finished fifth place in 2:06:17 which was the fastest time ever by an American-born marathoner. Hall's performance validated the opinion of Stefano Baldini of Italy, the 2004 Athens Games champ who praised Hall's potential in pre-race comments. Hall stamped himself as a contender for major marathon titles and as a medal hopeful in August in Beijing, where the hot, humid conditions makes both marathon running and predicting difficult.
	Odds And Ends
		Human Interest Story
		Controversial coach of 4 yr old Indian marathon boy shot dead (International Herald Tribune) Biranchi Das and then four year old Budhia Singh became instant celebrities in record-crazy India when the boy attempted to run a marathon in 2006. But last August, Das was charged with torturing the child after the boy's mother said she discovered scars on her son's body. Although never brought to trial, Das was shot dead in eastern India. Upon hearing the news, a tearful Singh said Das was like a father to him and he would always miss him.
	Salt Lake City Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Salt Lake City Marathon: 12,000 participants anticipated (Salt Lake City Tribune) The 2008 Salt Lake City Marathon is expected to break all previous totals since the event started in 2004 with an anticipated 12,00 signed up for the race. Race director Steve Kerr likes those numbers, but he also states the goal is to make the event more community based and community oriented. Race weekend festivities include a bike tour, a handcycle and wheelchair race, a 5K, a half marathon and a marathon.
	Turin Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Kibiwott takes his second career win in Turin (IAAF) Defending champion Stephen Kibiwott won the 2008 Turin Marathon in 2:10:12. Oleksandr Sitkovsky from the Ukraine took the runners-up spot in 2:10:17 qualifying for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Italy's Vincenza Sicari, whose previous attempt to qualify for the Olympics failed one month ago when she dropped out of the Rome Marathon, won the women's race in the womens race in 2:29:50.
News From: Sunday, April 13, 2008
	Glass City Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		32nd annual Glass City Marathon (13abc.com) More than one thousand people laced up their sneakers for the 32nd annual Glass City Marathon. The event raises money for the Sy Mah scholarship fund at UT. The 1st-place finisher from today's marathon gets a savings-bond, a trophy, and a jacket.
	London Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Blind Daves a marathon hero (Express and Star) Record breaking runner Blind Dave Heeley has completed his Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge with his final race culminating at the 2008 London Marathon. At fifty years of age, Heeley and his sighted running guide Malcolm Carr have covered a total of 183.4 miles over the past week running for the charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind. The Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge has seen the duo run in the Falkland Islands, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai, Tunis and London.
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Lel Takes London Record in History Making Race (Race Results Weekly) The 2008 London Marathon made history with three men finishing under 2:06 breaking the standing course record set in 2002 by Khalid Khannouchi. Martin Lel won the men's race in 2:05:15 followed by world half marathon record holder Sammy Wanjiru in 2:05:24 and Abderrahim goumri in a 2:05:30. American Ryan Hall looking forward to the Olympic Games finished in fifth in a 2:06:17. In the women's race Irina Mikitenko led the field to victory in a 2:24:14 beating Svetlana Zakharova and upsetting race favorite Gete Wami who fell over another runner at the 30K mark aid station and regained ground to take third in a 2:25:37.
		Lel takes third London Marathon win as three men go under 2:06! (IAAF) Kenyan Martin Lel led three men under 2:06 for the greatest in-depth mens marathon in history at the 2008 London Marathon. Lel won in 2:05:15. Wanjiru finished second in 2:05:24, clipping 75 seconds from his best, with Goumri third in 2:05:30 (Moroccan record), a massive 2 minutes 14 seconds inside his PB. German runner Mikitenko battled the wind and rain to win the race in 2:24:14 unseating favorite Gete Wami and Russias Svetlana Zakharov.
	Rotterdam Marathon
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		Kipsang sets 2:05:49 course record in Rotterdam (IAAF) Setting a new course record of 2:05:49 William Kipsang won the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon. Daniel Rono was second in 2:06:58 and 2001 World 10,000m champion Charles Kamathi was third in a 2:07:33 with personal best times for both. The women's race was won by Lyubov Morgunova of Russia in a personal best of 2:25:12.
News From: Saturday, April 12, 2008
	City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
		Human Interest Story
		Los Angeles Marathon bounces paychecks (Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Marathon employee paychecks have bounced in recent weeks, Chris Devine, the chairman of Chicago-based owner Devine Sports acknowledged Wednesday. Devine, whose firm acquired the marathon in 2004 for $15 million, also has stated that his race is for sale.
News From: Friday, April 11, 2008
	London Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Ryan Hall returns to Flora London Marathon Sunday (USATF News) Ryan Hall, the American Men's Olympic Trials Champion, will return to the marathon event this Sunday in London to take on very stout field of talented foreign athletes.
		Human Interest Story
		The London Marathon is easy. There are no lions. (Guardian) The six Maasai warriors have trained hard to race in the London Marathon. Isaya, 24, has been writing a diary of his travels from his small village to the bustling city of London. The travel started with boarding a plane that terrified him. Fear was pushed aside when thoughts of winning money in the race could provided enough income to drill a well for fresh water.
	Marine Corps Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Marine Corps Marathon Announces Registration Procedures for 2008 (News Blaze) The Marine Corps Marathon, held in Arlington Virgina, which takes place on October 26, will open its online registration on April 30th. The 30,000 runner race is expected to fill very rapidly.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		The Olympic Marathon? Sure, Its a Long Shot, but ... (The New York Times) Janelle Kraus knows that she will have to improve nearly 10 minutes on her marathon personal best in the women's Olympic Trials held in Boston on Sunday to have a shot at making the Beijing Games. She thinks she will be thrilled to finish in the top 10 with such a competitive field.
	Rotterdam Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Fortis Rotterdam Marathon hoping for its first sub-2:06 (IAAF) Race Organizers for the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon are expecting fast times in this year's line-up. The course record of 2:06:14 was set by Kenyan Felix Limo four years ago. Defending champion Joshua Chelanga will be joined by five sub-2:07 and five sub 2:08 marathoners such as Paul Kiprop, Richard Limo, Benjamin Maiyo and Jimmy Muindi. The women's race will feature four women with a personal best under 2:28 - Malgorzata Sobanska, Lyubov Morgunova, Alice Chelagat and Zekiros Adanech.
News From: Thursday, April 10, 2008
	Boston Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Passover restricts Jewish runners' pre Marathon diet (Metro West Daily News) Jonah Pesner is gearing up for his first Boston Marathon. His pre-race carbo loading meal will be...matzoh (unleavened bread). Pesner didn't think he would have to violate the dietary rules for the week long Passover Holiday.