Louisville Triple Crown series brings runners from the woodwork
By Tracy Harris, Running Journal columnist
(Editor's note: Tracy Harris is a new columnist for Running Journal in Kentucky. Look for her Kentucky running columns in the pages of Running Journal's monthly print edition.)
It's a typical winter weekend in Louisville, KY — gray, rainy, windy, chilly. Certainly not the conditions our fair-weather running friends prefer.
Heck, I'm not happy about it either, really.
Yet, when I arrive at Seneca Park, there's nowhere to park. I'm weaving around runners and walkers who — inexplicably — are on the road instead of the pedestrian path 10 feet away.
These masses of people were not here last week, or the week before.
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Malakwen Nips Bacha at Finish of ING Miami Marathon
Maraviglia women's marathon champion; Boitt, Mariita win half-marathon; 10th edition draws sell-out 25,000 entrants
Running USA wire
By Gary Ferman, US Road Sports
Samuel Malakwen of Kenya just inched out Teferi Bacha of Ethiopia in a dramatic sprint to the finish line to win the 10th ING Miami Marathon on Sunday through the streets of Miami, Miami Beach and Coconut Grove.
The spectacular finish was the marathon equivalent of a photo finish in horse racing, with both runners literally running shoulder-to-shoulder down the finish-line chute. It was one of the closest endings in marathon history, and both runners were credited with a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, 55 seconds.
Tidewater Striders Running Club
Almost 40 Years Old and Goin’ Strong
By Jean Phelan
President, Tidewater Striders
Founded by a handful of dedicated runners in 1972 the Tidewater Striders has provided support to the running community for almost four decades. As the club’s leadership speculates on an appropriate 40th anniversary celebration, it is looking at both accomplishments and the road ahead for the 1,600-member club.
Nashville Striders
Active club provides race management, helps community, Tom King races are in March
By Peter Pressman, President, Nashville (TN) Striders
In early 1970, there were 17 original members when the Nashville Striders Club was established with Tom King as President. This group of runners mainly met at the Downtown YMCA or at Percy Warner Park.
The Club remained pretty much low-key for the next few years, with the group adopting the name of Nashville Striders in 1975, with King as president. By late 1976, the club listing included 74 members. The year 1977 marked a major milestone, as the monthly publication, the Funrunner, was established by Larry Wallace.
RRCA: Lynchburg is Runner Friendly
Lynchburg, VA, has been designated the 2011 Outstanding Runner Friendly Community by the Road Runners Club of America.
Lynchburg has shown that it meets, and exceeds, the program’s criteria, which includes community infrastructure, civic backing, and local business support for the sport of running. Their infrastructure fosters physical activity in a safe environment; a proven track record that organizations and businesses work together to promote running as a healthy exercise and sport; and they create and maintain positive relationships between the running community and local government.
“Lynchburg is a shining example of the positive benefits running can bring to a community when everyone is on the same page,” said RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack. “While we are proud of all of our Runner Friendly Communities, we feel Lynchburg has provided a blueprint for future communities.”
Lots of Southern races are RRCA championship events
There are a lot of a lot of championship RRCA races this year in the 13 southeastern states covered by Running Journal.
THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONHIPS:
Germantown Half Marathon
Germantown, TN - March 18.
14th Annual NC Roadrunners Club Invitational 1/2 Marathon & 10K
Cary, NC - May 20.
Woodstock 5K
Anniston, AL - August 4.
Making a Plan For Your 2012 Marathon
By Carolyn Mather
A few years ago, my husband Steve, after smoking three packs of cigarettes a day for more than 30 years and being a very Type A executive who weighed in at more than 225 pounds, decided he needed to get in shape for skiing. He started "sneak" running as he did not want me to know. During a period of several weeks he managed to get injured. He finally confessed as he limped around and asked me for some "coaching." I helped him recover and within a few months he ran his first 5K at age 50 in 28:24, meeting his goal of being under 30 minutes, not walking, and not being last. He continued to improve and in January he told me he wanted to run a marathon.
Needs help finding old marathon results
Paul Riefberg needs your help finding some old race results, especially the Waynesboro (VA) Marathon of Oct. 8, 1977. Paul, a former Alabamian who lives in Texas, is seeking complete results of every marathon in which he participated – and there wasn’t much publicity given back in those early days of marathoning.
He recently tracked down the results of the 1974 Andrew Jackson Marathon in Jackson, Tennessee, where he finished sixth out of 35 finishers. He did that by obtaining age group results from the Jackson Sun daily newspaper, contacted runners on that list and found one who had the list of all finishers.
He also needs results of the Boston Marathon from April 1974. He placed 347th in 2:51:02 out of, perhaps, an estimated 1700 runners. He found a list of all sub-3-hour finishers but wants the complete finish list.
State Running Records
Running Journal is compiling a list of states across the South who are keeping State Running Records. You can find the current list on our website by clicking here. You’ll find records from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
