Marathon/Running News: 6/11/08 - 6/18/08

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News From: Wednesday, June 18, 2008
	Gold Coast Airport Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Gold Coast Marathon's 18,000 target within reach (Goldcoast.com.au) THE Gold Coast marathon looks set to crack the 18,000 entry mark with more than 16,000 registrants and two weeks until the race closes. The running events will be a significant tourism injection for the Gold Coast in Australia.
	Grandma's Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Grandma's Marathon record holder has sweet memories (Duluth News Tribune) Eighty-three year old Alex Ratelle once held eight world age-group records and thirty-two American age-group bests. The retired anesthesiologist has one of the most remarkable Grandmas records when he ran the marathon in 2:30:40 at fifty-six years old and a 2:48:20 at sixty years old setting American records in those age group. Ratelle who was a navigator in a B-17 bomber during World War II took up running for the first time since high school in his forties after his father died of heart disease.
		Grandma's Marathon purchases building (Business North) The Grandmas Marathon-Duluth, Inc. a non-profit organization, announced its Board of Director's approval of the purchase of the building that serves as the organizations headquarters in the Canal Park area. Grandma's Marathon headquarters has been located at 351 Canal Park Drive, less than 100 yards from the finish line of Grandmas Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, since 1996.
		Training/ Health
		Making training easier stride by stride (Duluth News Tribune) A running partner can be one of the most important parts of a training program for encouragement, motivation and more. Lynne Bailey and Sara Aturalyia and married couple Al and Krista Bastien preparing for the Grandma's Marathon find this bond draws them closer as strive to achieve one of the biggest goals of their lifetimes.
	Odds And Ends
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		'Forrest Gump' grandmother completes 5 yr run around the world (Daily Mail UK) In the past five years Rosie Swale-Pope, a sixty-one year old grandmother from Great Britain, has run 20,000 miles across some of the world's most hostile terrain. She set off in October 2003 with a goal to raise money for cancer charities having lost her husband to prostate cancer one year prior. Having encountered a polar bear, been hit by a bus, almost dying on several occasions and been the recipient of countless marriage proposals, Swale-Pope is happy to be home.
		Noguchi to Run at World Half Marathon (Daily Yomiuri) Defending Olympic champion in the women's marathon, Mizuki Noguchi will run for Japan's team at the world half-marathon championships in Rio de Janeiro in October following the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Prior to making her marathon debut in 2002, Noguchi placed second, fourth, fourth and ninth in consecutive world half-marathons from 1999-2002.
News From: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
	Chicago Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Nike sneaks logo onto the lakefront path (Chicago Tribume) Nike, in its first year operating the training program for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12, has boldly trod where few other corporations have tried to go: Chicago's lakefront path by placing ten decals in the middle of the asphalt bike lanes in five different locations on the lakefront path. Nike didn't exactly get permission to put the decals down on the public space. Many wonder if corporate advertising has gone out of control.
	Hatfield-McCoy Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Back to Back at Hatfield & McCoy Marathon (Williamson Daily News) Chuck Engle of Dublin Ohio won the 2008 edition of the Hatfield McCoy marathon in 2 hours 55 seconds. This was Engle' third win in the marathon at Williamson and his second in a row.
	Heart of America Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Marathon training gives runners confidence boost (Columbian Missourian) A group of ten runners meets at 6:00 am to run over eighteen miles with the Heart of America Marathon training group. Some have never run a marathon before and some have a bit more experience. Many view the training sessions as confidence builders for the race.
	New York City Marathon
		Training/ Health
		Lance Armstrong's marathon training tips (Monsters and Critics) Lance Armstrong is gearing up for his second New York City Marathon and taking AJ Calloway, the NY-based correspondent for Extra, with him. The two begin their training today, Monday, June 16th, in Manhattans Central Park and will spend the next five months preparing for one of the nations most exciting marathons on Sunday, November 2nd.
	Safaricom Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Huge entry for Safaricom Lewa Marathon (Daily Nation) Paul Tergat, the five time world cross country champion will join over 750 runners that are expected to take part in the 9th edition of the annual Safaricom Lewa Marathon which will be run at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on June 28.
	Teton DAM Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		2008 Teton Dam Marathon in the Books (Standard Journal Online) Over one thousand athletes participated in one of the various runs at the 2008 Teton Dam Marathon.
	Toronto Waterfront Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Marathon runner sets the pace for success (Durham News) Annemarie Wallwork, a thirty-seven year old mother of two and marathon runner, has come a long way having transformed herself from an over three hundred pound smoker who never exercised to an avid marathon runner. Despite her asthma and attempts at Weight Watchers, Wallwork joined the Learn to Run clinic at the Running Room. Since, she has lost 130 pounds, quit smoking, has run one marathon, four half-marathons and goes jogging four times a week and serves as an inspiration to many.
News From: Monday, June 16, 2008
	Grandma's Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Moment of silence planned before Grandma's Marathon (WKBT) Saturday's 32nd Grandma's Marathon will start with a moment of silence to remember a slain champion. Wesly Ngetich, who won the 2005 and 2007 Grandma's Marathon was caught in the crossfire of a fight between to ethnic groups and shot with a poisoned arrow. He left behind two wives and three children. Stephen Muturi will gather his thoughts and remember his close friend and countryman Wesly Ngetich (nuh-TEECH') of Kenya, last year's winner. Ngetich was fatally shot with a poisoned arrow last January. He reportedly was caught in the crossfire of a dispute between two ethnic groups near his home. He was 31 and had two wives and three children, ages 8, 6 and 1. Ngetich won Grandma's in 2005 and 2007. He was expected to return to Duluth this weekend to defend his title.
		Some Duluthians dread marathon runner's nervous bladders (Fort Mill Times) The Igo family who lives near the start line of the Grandma's marathon says they dread the marathon start and the hoard of runners who urinate on their laws. Grandma's race officials stated that they may disqualify runners not using the 205 portable restrooms at the start.
	Johnny Miles Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Moorehead, Macdonald win at Miles Marathon (Nova Scotia News) Dartmouths Ray Moorehead edged six-time champion David MacLennan of Scotsburn by 10 seconds Sunday to win the 33rd Johnny Miles Marathon in New Glasgow with a time of 2:41:21. Sydneys Karen Macdonald led the women with a time of 3 hours, 33 minutes and 39 seconds. Heather Hayes was second in 3 hours, 40 minutes and 43 seconds. Halifaxs Claire Barber was third in 3:42.06.
	Odds And Ends
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		Mogusu runs to second Sapporo title (Daily Yomiuri) Sapporo International Half-Marathon set the stage for the Japan's mens marathon Olympic team as well as foreigners Viktor Rothlin and Catherine Ndereba who were testing their fitness for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games. Switzerland's Rothlin saw the psychological edge to be gained by outsprinting Japanese rival Tsuyoshi Ogata. In the women's race world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba, using the race as part of her Olympic preparations, finished eleventh which might bode well having placed tenth before going on to win the world title in Osaka.
News From: Sunday, June 15, 2008
	Comrades Marathon (88km)
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Twice is nice for comrade Shvetsov (Independent Online) Russian athlete Leonid Shvetsov broke the Up record at the 2008 Comrades Marathon on Sunday by 47 seconds with a winning time of 5:24.48. He broke the Down record last year. He walks away with nearly 100 thousand for winning the race and breaking the record. The 39-year-old medical doctor, beat Vladimir Kotov's record of 5:25.33 set in 2000.
		Shvetsov, Elena win Comrades titles (Supersport.co.za) Leonid Shvetsov, a Russian medical doctor who stopped practicing to become a full time runner, broke the Up record at the 2008 Comrades Marathon on Sunday by forty-seven seconds with a winning time of 5:24.48. This after breaking the Down record with his win last year. Runner up was Jaroslaw Janicki in 5:38.28 and third was Stephen Muzhingi in 5:39.39. In the women's race, Russian Elena Nurgalieva who suffered through pain from a fall at the 10k mark came first in 6:14.36. Twin sister Olesya Nurgalieva came in second with a 6:15.51 followed by fellow compatriot Tatyana Zhirkova with a 6:17.44.
	Grandma's Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Bathroom breaks anger Grandma's race course homeowners (Duluth News Tribune) The Igo family who lives at the start of the Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon held in conjunction with Grandma's Marathon is one of the homeowners struggling with the downside of the large scale event - music and crowds that build during the early morning hours, litter the crowds leave behind and of runners relieving themselves near the familys driveway. Despite snow fencing and the race organizers sending out mass emails instructing runners to use the portable toilets, runners have not been abiding by these rules. Chicago Marathon has similar problems.
		Grandma's Marathon: Remembering a fallen champion (Duluth News Tribune) There will be a moment of silence before the start of Saturdays Grandmas Marathon in memory of last year's champion, Wesly Ngetich, who was killed in violence not attributed to the Kenyan Presidential elections in January earlier this year. Ngetich, a member of the Kipsigis tribe, won the 2007 Grandmas Marathon in 2:15:55, won in 2005 in 2:13:20, and placed sixth in 2006.
		32nd Grandma's Marathon is running strong (Duluth News Tribune) In 1976 the notion of a marathon race along the shores of Lake Superior began. In 1977 the race had 150 participants and a just under 650 dollars for a budget with one employee. Today there are more than 4,500 volunteers, 10,000 participants and 7 full time year round staff members for the 32nd annual marathon.
	Manitoba Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Record-setting participation in marathon (Winnipeg Free Press) The 30th running of the Manitoba Marathon Events capped another record breaking year with over 13,100 participants finishing races on Father's Day. Shirley Lumb, race director, stated that this was the 9th consecutive year of record setting participation.
	Missoula Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Frenchtown-Missoula marathon already has entrants from 44 states (Clark Fork Chronicle) Registration for the Missoula Marathon has entrants from 44 states and 5 countries, with people coming from as far away as Bali, France, Scotland, Australia and Canada. The total number of participants last year crested over 1,300 and the goal for this years race is 2,008.
	Odds And Ends
		Non-Marathon/ Other Running
		Four legs beat two in the Man Versus Horse race in Wales (Times Online UK) After powering over twenty-two miles, three mountains and two rivers, John McFarlane came in a close second in the Man Versus Horse race at Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales finishing thirty seconds behind the winner, a horse called Dukes Touch of Fun, and beating beat forty-five other horses and over three hundred runners. The quest to find out which is faster over open country man or horse originally took shape in a pub. McFarlane finished in 2:18:43 followed by defending champion Florian Holzinger.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Human Interest Story
		Time to raise the bar on Canadian Olympic qualifying debate (Ottawa Citizen) Following the 2008 Ottawa Marathon when American runner John Little made headlines across the country as a result of Canada's strict qualifying standards that is preventing any Canadian runner from competing in the Beijing Olympic marathon. Little's statement provoked a debate over whether Canada is expecting too much of its top marathon runners, after stating "They would rather send no one than send someone at 2:16, which is complete hogwash." Little was referring to the B-standard qualification performances of Gitah Macharia, who won the Canadian men's championship in Ottawa in a time of 2:16:55, and Matthew McInnes, who was second in 2:16:59 and Tara Quinn-Smith who finished the women's championship in 2:33:58.
	Olympics 2008 (Women)
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Yelling on Track for Beijing (Sporting Life) Liz Yelling believes Olympic marathon preparations are heading the right direction. She finished third in the Bupa Great Women's Run in Sunderland with a time of 29 minutes and 56 seconds. The race was shortened to 5 and a half miles from the 10K when waves crashed over one of the piers along the course.
		Human Interest Story
		Ndereba hopes Sapporo Half-Marathon sets pace for Beijing gold (Daily Yomiuri) Former Women's World Record Marathon Holder and 2007 World Championships Marathon winner in Osaka, Catherine Ndereba has her eyes on a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. Ndereba is using Sapporo as a test run to gauge the progress of her Beijing preparations.
	Phuket International Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Aussie wins Laguna Marathon (Phuket Gazette) Stephen Paine won the Phuket International Marathon in 2:37:52. In second place was defending champion Brent Roeger in 2:41:57 followed by Wu Yung-Fa from Taiwan in 2:44:42. Angela Louise Stevens won the womens marathon, finishing the course in 3:14:17 followed by Peta-Jane Harthen with a 3:35:32 from Australia, and Miho Miyashiro with a 3:40:18 in second and third place respectively.
News From: Saturday, June 14, 2008
	Air Force Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Air Force Marathon on record registration pace (Dayton Business Journal) Molly Loudon, race director of the Air Force Marathon, has announced the registration numbers for the September marathon are on pace to surpass 10,000 participants compared to the 6,700 that participated in 2007. She cited word of mouth and increased publicity for the 130 percent increase to date of registrants.