Marathon/Running News: 8/22/08 - 8/29/08

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News From: Friday, August 29, 2008
	Accra International Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Ghana: Accra International Marathon On September 28 (allAfrica.com) Ghanaman Centre will be the start of the Accra International Marathon. The 26.2 mile race was organized by Fit4Life and their longevity project. The race will draw nearly 1,000 runners from around the world.
	Air Force Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Fairborn invites county to turn out for Air Force Marathon (Xenia Gazette) As the Air Force Marathon gears up for its 2008 race, the town of Fairborn is calling on locals to come out and support the runners. To make sure everyone can dress for the occasion, special Downtown Fairborn and USAF marathon shirts are available for purchase. Those who wear their shirts on marathon day will also find that the shirt is a ticket to a free breakfast at the American Legion Post 526.
	Chennai Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Chennai marathon: 2500 runners,including Olympian Surendra Singh sign up (MyNews.in) About twenty five thousand runners, including Beijing Olympics marathoner Surendra Singh have signed up for the Chennai Marathon. The event is a 21.09 km run filled with international runners for the first time. There would be a special cash prize for Tamil Nadu runners if they happen to emerge as winners in the professional section, in addition to the stipulated prize money.
News From: Thursday, August 28, 2008
	Big Bear Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		There Are Options to Running a Marathon (Big Bear Grizzly Net) Runner and cyclists can participate in events surrounding the Big Bear Marathon this Saturday. The innagural marathon kicks off at 6:30 am and includes a 26.2 mile bike tour as well as a half-marathon and 5K road race.
	Cayman Islands Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Discounted Caymen Islands Marathon Registration Set To End. Fees for the Sunday December 7th marathon will rise to $85 USD and $55 USD for the half-marathon. (Caymen Net News) The discount for the Caymen Island Marathon will end on September 1st, 2008.
	Chennai Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Chennai Marathon: Anthem released (Galatta.com) The Chennai Marathon, to be held on August 31st, released its marathon anthem for this year at an event at the Taj Coramadel Hotel. Proceeds from the marathon provide education, healthcare, and career guidance to underprivileged children.
	Chicago Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Trio gearing up for Chicago Marathon (Cape Breton Post) Three Cape Bretoners, Carol Dakai, Catherine Howley and Renee MacDonald, will run the Chicago Marathon for the first time. Looking forward to the fast, flat course, the women of differing marathon abilities are excited for race day on October 12th. Olympic runner Ryan Hall, will act as a Team World Vision captain, along with his wife Sara.
	Florida Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon Makes Run for Tourists (Florida Today) Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon event promoter, Mitch Varnes, is banking on the traveling marathon runner for his innagural event. Varnes hopes that 20 live bands along the course and $12,000 in prized money will attract thousands to Brevard County.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Ritz: 9th at Olympics (Rockford Independent) Dathan Ritzenhein finished the 2008 Olympic marathon in 2 hours 11 minutes and 59 seconds for ninth place overall and the top American. He was one spot ahead of famed Olympic Trials runner Ryan Hall. He said that cramps and tight hamstrings caused him to stop in the later half of the race near the 30K mark.
	Pocatello Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Pocatello Marathon catches on (Idahio State Journal) Mike Calley seems to be a people pleaser. The events surround his Pocatello Marathon are gaining popularity. Now in its ninth year the races registration is well over 750 with runners from all over the U.S. and several other countries including Japan and Austrailia.
	West Texas CrossRoads Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		West Texas Crossroads Marathon Kickoff set for 8/26/08 (CBS 7) The first marathon in the Permian Basin will take off on October 4th, 2008. The 26.2 mile race will take place in West Texas and is planning and exposition for local businesses to display their wares.
News From: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
	Big Bear Marathon
		Pre-Race Review/ Lineup
		Big Bear Marathon gives options to running a marathon (Big Bear Grizzly) HBT events is hosting more than a 26.2-mile footrace on September 6 in Big Bear Lake, California. Cyclists can participate in the 26.2-mile bike tour and runners also have the option of running the half-marathon or 5K race.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Human Interest Story
		Big Bear Valley watches the marathon in unison (Big Bear Grizzly) Ryan Hall, was in Beijing, China, to compete in his first Olympic games, the town of Big Bear was gathered at the Big Bear Convention Center to watch. The weather was hot and muggyin China and Big Bear. The temperatures were in the mid 80s as the marathoners finished the race. Hall finished tenth with a time of 2:12:33.
	Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon and 1/2 Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio marathon prices go up after August 31 (Dallas News) The inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon and Half Marathon will be held on November 16, 2008. Cost is $95 now for the marathon; $75 for the half. After August 31, prices rise to $110 and $80.
	Tupelo Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Runners stampede to fill Tupelo Marathon lineup (Daily Journal) Mike Lail, the race director of the Tupelo Marathon, expects a record field of over four hundred for the marathon and 14.2 mile distance. Lail he doesn't want the entries to top five hundred for course safety reasons. Six-time defending champion Chuck Engle, the 2007 winner, has signed up. The Columbus, Ohio, resident is bringing a few multi-marathon runners with him.
News From: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
	Boston Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		John Hancock's 2008 Boston Marathon Fundraising Program Raises More Than $3 Million for Local Organizations (Marketwatch) John Hancock's Boston Marathon Fundraising Program raised $3.3 million for charitable and community service organizations for the 2008 race. As part of the overall total, ninety-six employees of John Hancock and Manulife, its parent company, participated in the employee marathon program. As the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock provides select non-profit organizations with invitational marathon entries that enable funds to be raised for their organizations. The entries are distributed to runners who wish to raise money but who would not necessarily qualify for race entry based on their personal running times. Non-profit groups, hospitals and community agencies receiving entries asked runners to raise at least $3,000 for their organizations.
	City of Los Angeles Marathon (L.A. Marathon)
		Human Interest Story
		Dodgers owner Frank McCourt backs company hoping to run the L.A. Marathon (Los Angeles Times) Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has agreed to provide financial backing to a new Los Angeles company that hopes to buy operating rights to the Los Angeles Marathon from its Chicago owner. McCourt is pursuing the deal independent of his baseball holdings and hopes to help cover the race's outstanding financial obligations. Devine Racing Management, owned by Chris Devine, a Chicago businessman who purchased rights to the L.A. Marathon in 2004, has struggled with race-related finances.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Marathon heartbreak for Martin Fagan (Westmeath Examiner Inc.) Ireland's Martin Fagans Olympic dream came to an end when his achilles tendon flared up causing him to drop out about eight miles from the finish. At the start Fagan could be clearly seen as the lead group set a blistering pace.
News From: Monday, August 25, 2008
	Disney World Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Walk, Do Not Run, to the Nearest Marathon: Races See More Walkers (Baltimore Sun) Kelly Blassingame is among a growing number of participants in the marathon. While she watched her first marathon in Alaska, it spurred her on to run her first. She completed Disney World in January and will walk the 1/2 marathon in Baltimore on October 11th.
	Mudgee Marathon
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Locals out of top spot at Mudgee Marathon (Mudgee Guardian) Nick Kastelein ran 3 hours 3 minutes and 20 seconds on his way to beating all but one competitor in the Mudgee Marathon. Jonathan Blake, of Illawong ran away from Kastelein near the 12 mile mark to go for the win in 2 hours 45 minutes and 11 seconds. Sally Gordon proved that she was the best in the region by winning the women's title and placing fourth overall.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Stanford's Hall comes up just short in marathon (Palo Alto Online) Former Stanford All-American Ryan Hall, champion of the 2008 US Olympic Trials Men's Marathon, couldn't repeat his performance at the 2008 Beijing Games. Hall finished in tenth place and fellow American Dathan Ritzenhein finished ninth. Hall completed the marathon in 2:12:33, six minutes behind the winner Kenya's Samuel Wanjiru.
		Human Interest Story
		SA ponders Olympic-sized failure (Business Day) South Africa's Hendrick Ramaala summed up their countries feelings about the Olympic games in China when he acted surprised at the marathon pace for the first 10K. Khotso Mokoena jumped 8m 24cm with his fourth jump in the long jump to earn silver and salvage a very disappointed SA team.
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Olympic Marathon meltdown for South Africa (The Times) The Beijing Olympic Men's Marathon left much disappointment in its wake for South African runner Henrick Ramaala, in his fourth Olympics, who crossed the line in forty-fourth place in 2:22.43. Ramaala, who was close to tears after the race, was training for a 2:08 marathon and was rumored to be upset, because Athletics SA had allegedly reneged on an earlier agreement that they would pay him to focus on the Olympics. TV footage of the marathon, shown in South Africa, showed Ramaala had picked up the wrong water bottle at the first feeding station and had gone back to sort out the mess.
	Quebec City Marathon/Marathon des Deux Rives
		Human Interest Story
		Ontario man dies in Quebec City marathon (CBS News) Daniel Porter, 51, collapsed three kilometres from the finish line in the Deux Rives Marathon. An on site medical doctor stated that is was probably a massive heart attack. Race organizers said that nothing could have been done to save Porter. The unusually high heat affected over 60 other athletes who were treated for heat related illness.
News From: Sunday, August 24, 2008
	Akron Marathon
		Human Interest Story
		Get Your Rush From Road Runner Akron Marathon TV and Radio Spots Courtesy of Black Keys and hfa (PR Web) Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney of The Black Keys were glad to help this years Akron Marathon. Members of the band wanted to donate something to the race and decided that running uniforms didn't seem to fit their style. So they made a song to motivate runners and it has appeared on TV spots for the marathon and radio spots as well.
	Olympics 2008 (Men)
		Post-Race Review/ Results
		Marathon gold for Kenya's Wanjiru (Joy Online) Despite the searing heat and high humidity, Kenya's Sammy Wanjiru won the Olympic Gold medal in the men's marathon with a time of 2 hours 6 minutes and 36 seconds. This was Kenya's first Olympic Gold in the marathon.
		Overcoming tumultuous year, Wanjiru takes first Kenyan Olympic marathon victory (IAAF) Twenty-one year old Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru made history as he won the 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Marathon by being the first Kenyan to win gold and by setting an Olympic record in 2:06:32 despite the ninety degree weather. Wanjiru's win was also a triumph as an achievement for a nation that started the year in such turmoil that many of its runners were forced to flee for their lives. Wanjiru who plans to run the Berlin Marathon now has Haile Gebrselassies Marathon world record in his sights.
		Röthlin finds his balance in Beijing (IAAF) Swiss national Viktor Röthlin may not have medaled at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Men's Marathon; but his achievements are praised as his sixth place finish time of 2:10:35 was the fastest finish for any Swiss runner. Rothlin who won bronze at the 2007 World Championships was also the best Non-African marathon runner in Beijing. Rothline who trained a short time with elite marathoners Lel and Cheruiyot coaches himself.
		Robinson of Great Britain finishes twenty-fourth in Beijing Olympics Marathon (Setanta Sports) Dan Robinson was pleased with his twenty fourth place finish in the men's marathon at the 2008 Beijing Games. The punishing pace and the heat and humidity took its toll on most of the field and slowly Robinson edged back into it to finish in a time of 2:16.14. Robinson represented Great Britain.
		Malinga trails in marathon, finishes 31st (New Vision Online) Uganda's dream of winning a medal ended yesterday, after Alex Malinga finished a distant thirty-first in the mens marathon race. Though he tried to stay with the lead pack when the race started under a good weather, he dropped off half-way through the course. He clocked 2:18:28. Malinga admits he did not have enough speedwork in his training to keep up with the field.