Marathon/Running News: 4/11/08 - 4/18/08

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News From: Friday, April 18, 2008
	2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Big marathon weekend: Women have Olympic aspirations (The Salt Lake Tribune) This Sunday morning 150 women will line up in Boston to race for 3 Olympic spots that will be filled in less than 2 hours 45 minutes.Carol Cabanillas and Carre Joyce are among two of the women qualifiers for the years Beijing Olympic Marathon
	Boston Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Keeping a tireless pace Not one to slow down, Wardian is certainly warmed up for Monday (Boston) With a time of 6 hours 56 minutes and 57 seconds Michael Wardian won the Mad City 100 kilometer race last weekend by more than 17 minutes. With his ankle black and blue from an accident in the race, he will toe the line at the 112th running of the Boston Marathon.
	Grandma's Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		More Money Raised for Family of Slain Marathon Runner. (Star Tribune) Grandma's Marathon put together and online auction and raised $2,750 for the family of Kenya's Wesly Ngetich. Ngetich was caught in between two ethnic groups fighting near his home town in January and a stray arrow took his life.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Human Interest Story
		Marathon champion breathes easy over Beijing pollution (The Age) The 2004 Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist, Stefano Baldini played down Beijing's notorious pollution and expressed his concern about the stand-off between the Chinese Government and Tibetans. Baldini added that the political strife was distracting and the he wants to focus on his training to defend his Olympic Title
News From: Thursday, April 17, 2008
	Boston Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Ads at the Boston Marathon start and finish lines. (Courant) Going against the grain of a 112 year old tradition, the B.A.A. will place advertisements for John Hopkins and Adidas at the start and finish line of the Boston Marathon during Patriots Day on April 21st.
		Kenyan event at Hopkinton school canceled (MetroWest Daily News) Elmwood Elementary School has held a tradition in Hopkinton of greeting Kenyan runners for the Boston Marathon for the past 15 years. The event was canceled when several outbreaks of Chicken Pox were reported in two separate schools, the lead sponsor, John Hancock Insurance and Financial Services canceled the event yesterday at the advice of its medical advisers and the state Department of Public Health.
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Boston Marathon - Cheruiyot, Grigoryeva return to defend titles (The Sports Network) The rain and windy conditions in last year's Boston marathon did not impede Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot and Russia's Lidiya Grigoryeva from running times of 2:14:13 and 2:29:18, respectively. The times were the slowest winning times since 1985. The two champions will return to defend their titles on April 21st.
	Olympics 2008 (Women)
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Sausalito's Lundy set for U.S. Olympic trials marathon (Marin Independent Journal) Chris Lundy set a personal best time of 2 hours, 41 minutes and 14 seconds last year in the 111th Boston Marathon. She was the fifth fastest American woman finisher, the 12th woman to finish and the 136th runner overall. She is hoping for similar condition this year when she runs the Women's Olympic Team Trials
News From: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
	Athens Marathon (Ohio)
		Human Interest Story
		Athens Ohio Marathon setback can't slow Ticket host (Dallas News) Craig "junior" Miller does more than lay down smack talk on the Dunham and Miller show on Dallas talk radio. He is an avid runner and completed the Athens, Ohio marathon in 3 hours and 25 minutes just missing his qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. He was on pace until he shut down at mile 23 and was forced to stand still for 4 minutes
	Boston Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Boston Marathon raises prize money by more than a third (Boston.com) Going from $575,000 to $796,000, the Boston Marathon has raised it overall prize money structure by more than 33 percent over 2007.
	Great Ocean Road Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Great Ocean Road marathon launch (Geelong Advertiser) The May 17th Great Ocean Road has already attracted over 1,000 participants for the four scheduled events including the inaugural marathon. The course will be run from Apollo Bay to Lorne and organizers are hoping for well over three thousand runners.
	London Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Ex-Stanford star Hall earns USATF honor for marathon best (Palo Alto Online) Former Stanford standout and All-American Ryan Hall was named the USATF Athlete of the week for his 5th place finish in the London Marathon and the second leading marathon time in U.S. history with his 2 hour 6 minute and 17 second finish. Hall is second only to former world record holder Khalid Khanuocchi.
	Marine Corps Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Troops can register early for Marine Corps Marathon. (The AirForce Times) Active duty military personnel can register for the Marine Corps Marathon prior to the open registration date on April 30th. The 30,000 participant limit will be on a first come first served basis.
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
		Human Interest Story
		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.
		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.
		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
		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.
	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
		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."
		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.
		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.
		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".
	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.