Regional News
Sixteen-year-old Alana Hadley of Charlotte runs 2:58:23 in debut marathon in Cleveland
CLEVELAND– The 2013 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon weekend opened with a sun-splashed Saturday morning at FirstEnergy Stadium and ended Sunday with a pair of blazing fast times in the men’s and women’s marathons.
The 36th annual event includes a 10K, half marathon and full marathon on Sunday and a 5K and Kids’ Run events on Saturday.
“We’re very pleased with the great times we saw from the runners today,” said Executive Race Director Jack Staph. “We are excited to see that our numbers are continuing to climb in terms of participants and spectators and we’re proud of the fact the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon continues to attract so many elite runners from the United States and around the world to our city.”
Philemon Terer, a 27-year-old runner from Kenya, was the first to cross the marathon finish line with a time of 2:17:37. Terer began pulling away from the other runners a little more than a mile from the finish line, though he spent most of the race alongside Tesfaye Dube.
Dube, of Ethiopia, came in second with a time of 2:18:10, followed by 34-year-old Geofrey Kiprotich, also from Kenya, at 2:19:41.
Among the women, Sarah Kiptoo, 23, of Kenya took first with a time of 2:33:42. The women’s marathon winner from 2012, Mary Akor, 36, finished second with a time of 2:36:03. She was followed by Joanna Johnson, 24, of Oberlin, Ohio who finished in 2:48:43. Alana Hadley, the 16-year-old star runner from Charlotte, N.C., finished in 2:58:23 for sixth place in her marathon debut.
Runners Unable to Finish Invited to 2014 Boston Marathon
B.A.A. issues special invitation to 2013 Boston Marathon starters who did not cross Boylston Street finish line
Running USA wire
BOSTON - The B.A.A., organizer of theBoston Marathon, is issuing an invitation to participate in the 2014 Boston Marathon to official entrants in the 2013 Boston Marathon who were unable to cross the Boylston Street finish line. More than 5000 official starters were affected on Monday, April 15 at the 117th Boston Marathon when the race was stopped at 2:50 p.m. ET.
"The opportunity to run down Boylston Street and to cross the finish line amid thousands of spectators is a significant part of the entire Boston Marathon experience," said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director.
Faber joins McMahan, Kastor on Team USA Women's Marathon team
Jeanette Faber of Nashville, Tennessee, has set a personal record in each of the 13 marathons she has run, dropping her debut time of 3:28:51 in 2004 by more than 56 minutes.
USA Track & Field announced Faber, Denna Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, California, and Dot McMahan of Oakland Township, Michigan have each qualified for Team USA Women's Marathon Team for this summer's IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.
Kastor is the veteran of the team and an Olympic bronze medalist. She qualified with a time of 2:32:39 at this year's Asics L.A. Marathon, where she placed third. Kastor owns the fastest time ever run by an American woman with 2:19:36 at the London Marathon in 2006. This marks Kastor's fifth Outdoor World Championships team, but her first time competing at a distance other than the 10K.
Bugs Bunny: 'Turn left at Albuquerque'
By Scott Sullivan
Editor, Michigan Runner
(The annual RRCA National Convention was recently held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the same time, the Running Network, of which Running Journal is a member, was also holding its national meeting in Albuquerque. Scott Sullivan, who is also editor of a newspaper in Saugutuck, Michigan, wrote this column after returning home. We thought you would enjoy reading his humorous report. By the way, Bugs was once involved in a "Tortise vs the Hare race." You can located that race on YouTube.com to see who won. )
Michigan Runner publisher Art McCafferty has doctorates out the wazoo. So when he asked if I’d like to visit the home of Bugs Bunny, instead of my usual, “Huh?” I replied to him, “What’s up, Doc?”
‘Time began to slow down’ at Boston
By Jamie Merriman
Spa Pacers, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Boston was alive with pre-marathon excitement. We settled into our hotel and began to plan our weekend. Saturday morning we arrive at the Expo early. The convention center was full. People from all over the world were there – picking up packets – buying mementos and securing the coveted “Boston Marathon Jacket.”
By that time the butterflies were in full flutter. The weekend flew by – we visited local attractions including the Sam Adams Brewery – and walked down Boylston Street past where the finish line would be. There were other runners, their families, friends filled with enthusiasm and excitement for what Monday would bring – all the while workers were rushing to complete the finish line area.
Trafeh Sets American Record at USA 25 km Championships
INDIANAPOLIS – A quick early pace and a competitive field helped to propel Mo Trafeh to an American record of 1:14:18 as Dot McMahan took the Women’s title in 1:25:52 at the USA 25 km Championships in Grand Rapids, Mich., hosted by the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
The USA 25 km Championships are the fifth stop on the USA Running Circuit, which will conclude this fall with the .US National Road Racing Championships. The top ten finishers at each race on the circuit qualify to compete in the .US National Road Racing Championships.
Wants to finish what she started
By Kimberly Crist
Florida Striders Track Club
I’ve written previous articles upon returning from the Boston Marathon and each year seems to add a new adventure. This year was unlike any other.
About 40 Jacksonville folks boarded our bus around 6:30 am on April 15 to head to Hopkinton. The bus was very quiet in the beginning but the closer we got to the race, the louder the excitement got.
South Florida runner to take on one of world’s toughest ultras
By Bruce Morrison
Publisher, Running Journal
Monica Patino, 35, of Weston, Florida is to fly to Durban, South Africa on May 29 for a race. Not just any race, mind you. She’s determined to run the Comrades Marathon on June 2, one of the toughest ultras in the world. It is a very difficult and mountainous course of about 56 miles.
“We have to run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and the cut-off is 12 hours. I decided to do Comrades because I love the challenge of such a hard race,” Patino explained. Everyone finishing the race in less than 12 hours receives a medal. At 12 hours, the course is closed.
Bryan Graydon Top RRCA Club President
Lakeland (FL) Road Runners Club President Bryan Graydon was honored as the "Outstanding Club President of the Year" by the national Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) at its annual convention in Alburquerque, New Mexico. Graydon has served as club president since 2010 and the club hosted the annual RRCA Convention that year. RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack presented the award, commenting that Graydon led a "great club." Graydon, a school principal, is a columnist for Running Journal. Graydon is shown in the photo with his award, which was presented by Knaack, who is at left.
Sergio Reyes First to Three-Peat at Flying Pig Marathon
A record number of participants were part of the 15th anniversary of the Flying Pig Marathon with 33,852 signed up for weekend events
Running USA wire
CINCINNATI -- Sergio Reyes, the 2009 and 2012 winner of the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon powered by P&G, is the first to win the event three times with his victory Sunday in the 15th anniversary running of the race.
The 31-year-old Reyes, of Palmdale, California, won the event in 2 hours, 21 minutes, 51 seconds, 13 seconds better than his winning time of 2:22:04 last year.
Don Nelson outstanding RRCA State Rep
Don Nelson, South Florida state representative, was honored at the annual RRCA Convention in Alburquerque, New Mexico, as the "Outstanding State Representative" of the year. RRCA has seen a strong 60% growth in running clubs in South Florida under Nelson's leadership, along with a strong youth program, including the introduction of the Kids Run the Nation. Nelson, of Cudjoe Key, said he was "humbled and honored."
Meb Keflezighi RRCA Male Runner of Year
Meb Keflezighi, American Olympian, was the featured speaker at the luncheon meeting Saturday, May 4, in Alburquerque, New Mexico, at the annual meeting of the Road Runners Club of America and was honored as the RRCA's Open Male Road Runner of the Year.
It was also Meb's birthday the next day and he was greeted with a rousing singing of "Happy Birthday" by delegates representing running clubs across America.
Meet Records Fall at 21st Annual Central Florida Gliders Spring Track Classic
Altamonte Springs, FL – More than 700 athletes from 10 countries competed in the 21st Annual Central Florida Gliders Spring Track Classic, held Saturday, April 27, at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Nearly 1,000 supporters filled the stands and lined the track to cheer on the athletes, who ranged in age from 6 to over 60, as they race walked, ran, jumped, and threw. Nineteen meet records were broken under partly sunny, breezy weather conditions..
Wietecha, Horst Win Rainy 14th St. Jude Country Music Marathon
By: Dan Cruz, Competitor Group
Running USA wire
Nashville residents Daniel Lepage and Gisela Olalde steal the show in the half-marathon; Biggest Loser winner Danni Allen breaks two hours running first 13.1-mile race for St. Jude; Country music star Craig Morgan and special guest Sarah Darling post-race concert
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The rainy downpour soaked participants at the 14th St. Jude Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon presented by Nissan on Saturday, April 27, but spirits were still high as they crossed the finish line.
Asfaw, Shagena win Kentucky Marathon
Getachew Asfaw, 24, of Silver Spring, Maryland won the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon April 27 at Louisville, KY, in 2:19:50, topping fellow Silver Spring runner Birhanu Tadesse, 26, who finished in 2:20:20. Bryan Moreman, 27, of Addison, NY, was third in 2:26:16, and Scott Breeden, 23, was the first Louisville runner, finishing fourth in 2:30:35.
In the women’s competition, Meghan Shagena, 24, finished first in 2:58:45, followed by April Woo, 30, also of Louisville, in 3:04:30. Third went to Dianne Griesser, 45, of Milford, Ohio, in 3:13:53.
USATF launches improved iPhone/iPad app, Fast Forward
Fans of the World’s #1 Track & Field Team and members of USA Track & Field now have an upgraded way to follow the National Governing Body when the organization on Thursday announced the launch of an improved iPhone/iPad app and Fast Forward digital member magazine. It marks the most significant step yet in terms of digital media for USATF.
The app will serve both USATF members and non-members and includes an extensive member-only area while the addition of video and website links will be featured in Fast Forward. Each will be first-time options announced by USATF.
Apple iPhone and iPad users can download the app here.
Will I Ever Run Another PR?
By BRYAN GRAYDON
Like most runners, I look to run each and every race as fast as I possibly can, but lately those times have not been what I have wanted. With every passing race, I begin to ask myself, "Are my fastest times behind me?"
I had run on and off since college to try to keep fit and in shape for other sports I played. It wasn't until around age 30 that I started to take it seriously. I would not call myself an overly talented runner, but one who trained hard and wasn’t afraid to put in the work to better his racing performances.
Like most runners, I made great strides early on, then hit that plateau where improvement came in clumps of seconds instead of minutes. I began working with an online coach and really learned the fundamentals of proper training and saw my times once again begin to drop. This continued for about five years where I would set new PRs each year at every distance I ran.
We are changed by Boston
By Bob Dozoretz
Boston has changed us. Yes, I believe this to be true, and all major marathons and large races will now be changed.
Security will be greatly increased, as it must be. We want and deserve the extra safety that will be provided, and casual observers will be inconvenienced and all our stuff will be checked. Like airlines, some items may be prohibited and backpacks will be discouraged, with clear plastic bags the norm.
Spectators, family and friends will be in a special section, discouraged or prohibited from the course, and will wait for us to finish with some extra concern for our safety.
Boston attack -- Was this really happening?
By Stephanie Freeman
Rushing to the streets to help runners, my eyes stared vacantly in disbelief. Is this actually happening at The Boston Marathon? Here I am at mile 25.5 pushing runners in the opposite direction of their dream, the Boston Marathon Finish Line. Was this really happening?
The day had started well. The weather was excellent, unlike the race of 2012 when it was unseasonably hot and runners were falling out everywhere. The girls I was with were up and ready to brave the race they had worked so hard for. (Kristie Poole finished in 3:21 and Heather Trana in 3:29, both of Macon.)
Condolences on Boston Marathon tragedy
From Running Journal:
The senseless tragedy at the Boston Marathon saddens us. How someone could viciously hurt innocent adults and children is beyond comprehension. That act has permanently damaged many people. Death and injuries of this tragic event will remain scars for many people.
We in the running community, we as Americans, give our condolences to the many who have suffered crushing loss and permanent injuries, plus many now have a new fear of personal safety where there should be none.
We also extend our sympathy to those who put on one of the greatest sporting events in the world. The Boston Marathon is an icon for runners everywhere. Many have run “Boston” or have it as a goal. It is cherished and long may that continue.
