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Lead Stories: Tuesday, October 7, 2008

26.2 - vs. - 13.1:
13.1 reasons for running a half-marathon before attempting your first full

Posted June 4th, 2007 at 6:08 PM by Bridget Sullivan

Section: Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Let’s get this one simple fact straight: you do not have to run a marathon to be considered a “real runner.” Anyone who pounds their feet on the pavement in repetitious monotony, automatically knows how many miles are in a 5K, and doesn’t laugh when someone bellows out the word “fartlek,” is a REAL runner.

But since the running boom officially “boomed” a second time with Oprah’s 26.2 feat in 1994, not to mention her triumphal landing on the cover of Runner’s World magazine, more and more runners continue to spin their feet at the distance. Dubbed “everyman’s Everest’ by former professional runner and current Runner’s World executive editor, Amby Burfoot, the marathon of the twenty-first century attracts everyone from the taut and toned twenty-year-olds to the Ben & Jerry fifty-year-olds. Gone are the days of the first boom where everyone ran hard, everyone ran more than 70 miles per week, and almost everyone belonged to the same gender.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, 410,000 runners hit the finish line last year, as opposed to 277,000 in 1994. And there are no signs of slowing down: the Chicago Marathon shut down registration for its famously flat October race earlier than ever before.

But why the sudden rush to the summit when there at least 13.1 reasons to run a half before you land on top of the world?

Read the rest at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com

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Podcast 47: Interview with Senator (and marathon runner!) Bill Frist

Posted May 4th, 2007 at 1:26 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

In Episode 47 of The Final Sprint Podcast I was proud to be joined by Senator Bill Frist.

Senator Frist has not only achieved great success and widespread recognition for his work as an elected official, but is another example (like Oprah, Al Gore, P. Diddy, Kim Alexis, Shannon Miller, and of course Jim Ryun) of a public figure that has successfully completed a marathon. As a matter of fact, in just ten years Senator First was able to complete 7 marathons
and 2 half-marathons despite the demands of public service.

Senator Frist (who is also a heart surgeon, author and pilot) represented the people of Tennessee for two terms, served as the Majority Leader for the Republican Controlled Senate, and is among the most influential people on health care policy in America.

In the interview Senator Frist discusses how he got into running, overcoming the loss of his kneecap in a motorcycle accident, and how he found the time to train for marathons while serving as the third person in the United States’ line of executive succession.

Download the podcast to hear Senator Frist speak about these issues, as well as, his passion and views on health and fitness (and how they affected his own legislative initiatives), the many other government officials who run and have completed marathons (i.e. - Senator John Edwards and former Governor Mike Huckabee) and much more!

Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Bill Frist
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 17.1 MB
Length: 00:25:00

Check out every episode of TFS’s Podcast in iTunes!

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Read the rest of this entry »

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TFS Interview: Olympic medalist Shannon Miller talks about running 26.2

Posted November 13th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews

Only a week removed from her final gymnastics performance, Shannon Miller completed her very first marathon; running all 26.2 miles at the 2006 ING New York City Marathon. The seven-time Olympic medalist had confessed to being quite nervous when I spoke to her two days before the race at Tavern on the Green. However, when it came time to perform, Shannon, as per usual, rose to the occasion.

Shannon and I spoke again a few days after the race and she reflected on her experience in NYC and life after gymnastics:

1. So you did it! You ran your first marathon! How was it and how do you feel now?

It was amazing. It was just so weird you know, because I finished and felt great. I really felt good throughout the entire marathon. My legs were a little sore, but nothing horrible. I had heard all these horror stories about blisters and cramps. I didn’t have any of that, but after my excitement wore off a bit and some time had passed after I crossed the finish line – I really started to feel it. My ankles, everything, haha. But that’s OK - I had such a good time. Read the rest of this entry »

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TFS Interview: Kim Alexis, supermodel and marathon runner

Posted November 12th, 2006 at 8:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews

This week I had the opportunity to speak with supermodel Kim Alexis about running in this years ING New York City Marathon and her love for fitness.

Most people know Kim because of her captivating beauty, and for good reason. She has served as the Revlon spokesperson, appeared on over 500 magazine covers, including six Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions, and the very term “supermodel” was created because of her. However, there is a lot more to Kim than just her looks. She has used her intellect and rare talents as an actress, broadcaster and television host. Kim continues to demonstrate her passion and dedication by speaking out about women’s issues and, of course, in being a wonderful wife and mother.

1. Kim, we appreciate you taking the time to tell our readers about running in the this year’s NYC Marathon, your eighth marathon to date. I know you have always been a fitness enthusiast, but what motivated you to get into marathon running?

I swam all through junior and senior high school. I never ran cross country. I used to see them train and wonder how they could run 3 miles! But, I had a friend who came up from Miami to run the Jacksonville marathon in 1985, he asked me to run part of the race. I had never run more than 10 miles or maybe a half marathon on a tread mill. I overheard my husband at the time and my friend whisper, “She’s never going to make it!” and that’s all it took. I ran the whole thing with him and finished in about 4:24. (I ran as Kim Stockton, but Runner’s World had looked it up and figured it out). Read the rest of this entry »

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Shannon Miller, Ed Viesturs among the celebrity athletes that completed today’s New York Marathon

Posted November 5th, 2006 at 7:27 PM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Believe it or not, there were actually celebrity athletes other than Lance Armstrong who competed in the 2006 ING New York City Marathon.

The amateur runners in this year’s race who have competed professionally in other sport included: the 7-time Olympic medal winning gymnast, and Ed Viesturs, one of the world’s premier high-altitude mountain climbers.

It seems as if Miller listened to the advice she was given by our Editor-in-Chief, as she successfully completed the marathon in 4:17:33. Read the rest of this entry »

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