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Lead Stories: Friday, August 29, 2008

Kate O’Neill:
Personal Fulfillment
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 11)

Posted June 23rd, 2008 at 7:58 PM by Kate O'Neill

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Motivation, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Kate O'Neill

Hi, this is my blog in TFS’s Elite Athlete Blog Series. Bookmark kateoneill.thefinalsprint.com and check back every other Monday for my latest entry as I strive for the 2008 Summer Olympics!

With the Olympics fast approaching, I have been spending more time than usual thinking about goals. Ever since the Chicago Marathon, I had been chasing the goal of making the US Olympic Marathon team. When that did not work out, I was miserable, but quickly made new goals. I had to remind myself that being part of the US Olympic team was not the only reward of accomplishing my goals. The feeling of personal fulfillment was my prime motivation and that was something that I could still chase after.

For some people, personal fulfillment comes from very different accomplishments. After my long run this morning, I lounged on the couch for a while and watched the MTV show “Made” with one of my roommates. I had never seen the show before today. For those of you who are not familiar with it, the series profiles teenagers who want to be “made” into something more glamorous such as singers, athletes, or dancers. To guide them in the process, they are given a coach who is an expert in their chosen field. On this particular episode, a girl named Dyanna wanted to win her high school’s beauty pageant.
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“Running Film Festival” in Eugene Sure to Be An Unforgettable Experience

Posted May 25th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Trail / Ultra, High School

I’m going to this summer’s Olympic Trials—my first-ever Trials trip—and I’m getting pretty excited. Not just about the meet, but everything else as well. It seems like everyone in Tracktown USA is going all-out to make it an unforgettable experience.

The community at large is putting on a massive “Eugene ’08 Festival” complete with a temporary sports bar, music stage, kids’ activities, and excursions to sites like Pre’s Rock and the Nike campus. The whole effect is like the NCAA basketball tournament combined with the Newport Jazz Festival and the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, with the Tribeca Film Festival on top.

In fact, one entry from Tribeca will be shown in Eugene. Without a doubt, the biggest off-track happening during the Trials will be the upcoming Running Film Festival (RFF)– where a percentage of ticket sales will benefit the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund. Entries are still being accepted, but the schedule of feature-length films, documentaries and shorts currently includes the following:
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Film Festival to Complement Olympic Trials in Eugene

Posted May 21st, 2008 at 3:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, High School, Road Racing

After spending hours at the track watching the 2008 USA Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field in Eugene, Ore., this summer, track fans can retreat to the cool darkness of a movie theatre to take in the inaugural Running Film Festival, presented by Nissan and sponsored by TheFinalSprint.com and Running Times magazine.

“Everyone knows ‘Pre,’ ‘Without Limits,’ and ‘Chariots of Fire,’ but there are dozens of other movies and documentaries that runners will enjoy,” said Adam Jacobs editor-in-chief of TheFinalSprint.com. “We created an event that brings together great films, talented directors, elite athletes, and people who simply love the sport. Movie makers have the chance to screen their films for appreciative audiences with entertainment that fits seamlessly with the spirit of Eugene 08.”

Jacobs said that while the festival would include some world premieres, the core of the festival would be established running films like “The Long Green Line,” “Spirit of the Marathon,” “Run For Your Life,” “Indulgence,” “Run Like Hell,” and “Showdown.” The entire line-up will be posted at http://www.runningfilmfestival.com.
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Sponsor Name Change
for Chicago Marathon

Posted January 31st, 2008 at 6:03 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The Chicago Marathon announced that the official title of their race would change to reflect the turnover in ownership of the bank which owns it. Known last year as the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, this year the event will be called the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the race’s logo has been updated, accordingly.

“It is our privilege and honor to continue the grand tradition of this iconic race and maintain the tenets that have established it as one of the five most prestigious marathons in the world,” said Bank of America Illinois President David Rudis in a media release. “We also plan to strengthen and grow the race by developing additional community and philanthropic programs and welcoming new sponsors. Today is the first day of what we believe will be an exciting new era for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.”

The event also announced that the registration process for the October 12 race would open tomorrow. The race plans to enroll 45,000 runners (last year’s race had 35,867 starters).
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Braving Boston: Amy’s Journal for First-Time Marathon Runners [Part I]

Posted January 16th, 2008 at 11:56 AM by Katie Drummond

Section: Running & Training, Motivation, Training Tips

Meet Amy Hinrichs - part student, part writer, part comedienne - and part marathon runner. This April, Amy will embark on her first ever Boston Marathon. Whether you run ‘em, or only dream about it, join Amy on her training adventure as she prepares to join the thousands of intrepid runners in treading those incomparable 26.2 miles.

The joy of training for a marathon. (Yes, I promise you that the words” joy” and “marathon” may be found in the same sentence. You might have to dig beyond those extra glucose stores to find it, but it’s there. It’s possible.) Now I know what you’re all thinking. “This woman has got to be crazier than Britney Spears shaving her head if she thinks there is anything joyful about running 26.2 miles in the same day, let alone training for it.” – Well, I am here to inform you that running 26.2 miles in the same day is possible, and what better way to do that than to include you in my training plan?

Readt the rest of this entry at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com

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Marathon Comes to Big Screen, But For Only One Night

Posted January 7th, 2008 at 10:07 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Motivation, Movies

In an unusual arrangement, a full-length feature documentary film on marathon running will be shown in USA theaters, but only for one night: Thursday, January 24.

The film, “Spirit of the Marathon,” presents the stories of six runners who competed in the 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, from from first timers to elite runners like Deena Kastor and Daniel Njenga. The film explores how recreational runners use the marathon as a device to confront other issues in their lives –like divorce– and how elite runners are in it for equal amounts of glory and cash.

“The normal person, they want to make their body slim,” Njenga says over shots of him warming up before the race. “But for us, we want to make money. This is like a job and I love my job.”

Filmed on four continents, the two-hour movie chronicles the training of these athletes, interspersed with interviews from well-known marathon runners and experts, like Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Amby Burfoot, Dick Beardsley, Joe Henderson, Roger Robinson, and Kathrine Switzer. Shot in hi-def video, the footage of the Chicago Marathon is both varied and majestic; the producers had a crew of 62 on the scene and used 15 camera operators. There is also a rousing score.
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World Marathon Majors Set For 2008

Posted December 12th, 2007 at 3:50 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The events comprising the World Marathon Majors (WMM) confirmed their 2008 schedule today, which includes next August’s Olympic Games.

The first WMM event for 2008 will be the Flora London Marathon, slated for Sunday, April 13. The Boston Marathon follows eight days later on Monday, April 21, then the series goes dark until the women’s and men’s Olympic Marathons in Beijing on consecutive Sundays, August 17 and 24, respectively. The final three events in 2008 will be the real,- Berlin Marathon on Sunday, September 28, followed by the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 12, and the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2.
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Thrilling Finishes & Record- Breaking Performances Help World Marathon Majors Usher in Brand New Era

Posted December 12th, 2007 at 12:15 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Marathons

World, national and course records, thrilling finishes, more than 300,000 participants, and a championship race that went down to the final day highlighted the inaugural 2006-2007 World Marathon Majors Series, and ushered in a brand new era of growth and excitement in the sport.

After a six month break, the excitement will continue at the 2008 Flora London Marathon on April 13, followed eight days later by the 112th Boston Marathon on April 21.

Here is a look back at some of the many highlights from the 2006-2007 World Marathon Majors Series:

Record Breakers:

* 2006: Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) sets a course record of 2:07:14 at the 110th Boston Marathon.
* Deena Kastor (USA) sets a new American record of 2:19:36 in winning the 2006 Flora London Marathon, becoming the eighth woman to break 2:20:00.
* Ethiopians Haile Gebrselassie (2:05:56) and Gete Wami (2:21:34) each set national records in victory at the 2006 real,-BERLIN-MARATHON.
* Gebrselassie sets a new world record of 2:04:26 at the 2007 real,-BERLIN-MARATHON.
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Chicago Man Breaks World Record For Juggling A 50-Mile Ultra Marathon

Posted November 2nd, 2007 at 3:06 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Trail / Ultra

Chicago’s very own “joggler” Perry Romanowski broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest 50-mile ultra marathon done while juggling with the incredible time of 8 hours, 23 minutes, and 52 seconds. While accomplishing this feat at the Chicago Lakefront 50/50 ultra marathon, he managed to finish the entire distance with only 4 drops.

The sport of joggling was first invented in the early 1980s. Participants are required to continuously juggle 3 balls while running every step of the race. Guinness World Records rules state that if the joggler drops a ball, he must return to the drop point before continuing. The previous record for joggling a 50 mile ultra marathon of 8:52:07 was set by Ashrita Furman in 1989. In the Lakefront 50/50, Romanowski came in 16th place overall despite joggling the entire race.

Romanowski, a 38-year-old scientist at Alberto Culver, has completed 23 joggling marathons but this was his first ultra marathon. “I wasn’t fast enough to break the world record for shorter distances, so I figured I would try the 50 miler,” said Romanowski. “If you can’t go faster, go longer.”

Note: Romanowski was interviewed on TheFinalSprint.com Podcast, the most listened to podcast in North America, back on February 7, 2007. Click here to listen to the interview on-demand at no charge!

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Inaugural World Marathon Majors Series to Conclude at ING New York City Marathon

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Nearly two years have passed since organizers of the Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City marathons announced the formation of the World Marathon Majors (WMM), and 10 events, including the IAAF World Championships, have been run since the WMM Series was launched at the 2006 Boston Marathon. Just one race – the 2007 ING New York City Marathon – remains before the inaugural WMM Series champions will be presented with their share of the $1 million jackpot at a special luncheon on November 5.

Remarkably, after 10 events – and 262 miles of racing – the women’s WMM Series champion has yet to be decided. Of the 32 women who have earned WMM points, just two remain in contention for the title: Gete Wami (ETH) and Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT). With $500,000 at stake, in addition to the ING New York City Marathon prize purse, the two women will race head-to-head through the streets of New York. A win for either would clinch the title, but anything less than victory opens up an intriguing number of potential results.
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