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Lead Stories: Thursday, May 22, 2008

Ryan Hall: Perseverance
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #1)

Posted January 18th, 2008 at 5:00 PM by Ryan Hall

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Ryan Hall

TFS Elite Athlete Blog Series RYAN HALL 425x75 copy Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Ryan Hall as he begins his quest for Olympic gold! Check back every other Friday for Ryan’s latest entry.

ryan hall winning 2007 olympic trials men's marathon in central park These past three weeks I have been shown what it means to persevere in the face of hard times. Sara and I arrived in Flagstaff on December 30th to stay with our friend, Alicia Shay, with the goal of helping her in whatever way we could through the recent loss of her husband. However, as is the case so often when we try and help others, we are the ones who get blessed from the experience. I guess this is why Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Alicia showed me what it means to get up every day and face her troubles with courage and strength. I am sure a lot of people are proud of how Alicia has endured this hard time. I am certainly very proud and inspired by her ability to just plain get up everyday and choose to live a life of joy, even though she certainly has the right to be bitter, angry and frustrated.

Perseverance is a trait that I have had to learn a lot about during my running career.
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Quote of the Day: 9/23/07

Posted September 23rd, 2007 at 6:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: Announcements, Motivation, Famous Quotes

Quote of the day “One of the reasons I love marathon running is because I believe that it is an activity that is analogous to life. In a marathon there can be tough inclines and rough terrain and times when you don’t think you’ll be able to go any further. However, with some determination and a little help from the aid stations along the way, you can cross that finish line and realize your goal.

“The same can be said for life, which has both its extraordinary peaks and intense valleys. Regardless of one’s situations, I believe that with some inner strength, courage and encouragement from those whom you love, I believe people can achieve anything”

- A.J.

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Podcast 73: TONY REED
TFS’s August ‘07 Success Story

Posted August 23rd, 2007 at 8:21 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Motivation, Success Stories, Columns, Success Stories, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

TheFinalSprint.com (TFS) is honored to present our monthly Success Story award to individuals who have overcome tremendous obstacles, changed their own lives and/or the lives of others through running, sports or fitness.

I am proud to announce that TFS’s August 2007 Success Story, and my guest on Episode 73 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast is TONY REED. On June 23rd, Reed became the first Black person to run a marathon on all seven continents (A feat accomplished by fewer than 200 people in the world) and in the process broke new ground for minorities in the world of amateur marathon running (It is estimated that Black Americans account for only 1-2% of all US marathoners).

Reed, who grew up in a St. Louis housing project, is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Black Marathoners’ Association (NBMA); a non-profit organization that encourages Black Americans to pursue a healthy lifestyle through running and awards college scholarships to high school distance runners. Reed, whose own decision to lead an active and healthy lifestyle prevented the onset of full-blown diabetes, has shown what it takes to reach seemingly impossible goals and has become an ideal role model for people of all races.

Download the podcast to hear Tony discuss his seven continent marathon adventure, breaking down racial barriers, the NBMA, and much more!

Note: This episode also features a very special, guest co-host: Don Kern. Don is also a member of the exclusive Seven Continent Club and last winter completed all seven races in an astonishing 35 days (just four days off the Guinness World Record!).

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Hosts: Adam Jacobs, Don Kern
Guest: Tony Reed
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 22.3 MB
Length: 32:29

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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

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Podcast 37: Interview with the legendary Kathrine Switzer

Posted April 9th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Columns, Success Stories, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

TheFinalSprint.com’s monthly Success Story selection aims to highlight remarkable and factual accounts of runners who have overcome major obstacles and/or changed their lives, or the lives of others, through running and fitness.

I am proud to announce that TFS’s April 2007 Success Story and my guest in Episode 37 of The Final Sprint Podcast is the legendary KATHRINE SWITZER!

Kathrine, who was called the “Susan B. Anthony of running” by fellow running great Joan Benoit Samuelson, broke the gender barrier in 1967 when she became the first woman to officially enter and complete, what was at that time, the all-male Boston Marathon.

She also won the 1974 NYC Marathon, was a driving force behind the inclusion a women’s marathon in the Olympics, received an Emmy for her work as a sports broadcaster and remains one of the most courageous and inspiring runners in history.

Download the podcast to hear Katherine discuss what led to her iconic run, little known facts about her “race gear”, attempts to forcefully remove her from the course, finding the inner strength to push forward, how the race forever altered the course of her life and the lives of all future generations of female athletes, her new autobiography “Marathon Woman” and much more!

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

[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you

Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Kathrine Switzer
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 21.5 MB
Length: 00:31:25