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Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

TFS News Briefs: 11/30/07

Posted November 30th, 2007 at 1:15 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, TFS News Briefs, Trail / Ultra, Masters

Blazing-Fast Fukuoka Marathon Expected
Samuel Wanjiru, the world record holder in the half-marathon, will be making his debut in the marathon at Fukuoka. He hopes to break Atsushi Fujita’s course record of 2:06:51. Fujita and Toshinari Takaoka, the Japanese national record holder at 2:06:16, will be challenging Wanjiru for the victory. It should be one of the 4 fastest marathons of 2007Read more at: [IAAF]

Ultramarathoner Learns Life Lessons in Latest Race
Ultrarunner Kevin Patrick explains the life lessons he took away from his latest race, a 24-hour trail ultra. Writes Patrick, “Ultra marathons demand that you look inward. That you “dig deep.” That you keep pushing when you think you have nothing more to give. But I’m also learning that they demand honest and accurate self-assessments.” Read more at: [Runner’s World]

Preview of Spanish, German Teams at European X-C Championships
European Athletics has previews of the German and Spanish cross-country contingents hoping to win the European Cross-Country Championships in Toro, Spain next weekend. Read more at: [European Athletics: Spain | Germany]

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Podcast 98 Roy “Robot” Martin on his Arrest, Coaching and Drug Use in Track & Field

Posted October 26th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, Drugs In Sports

Episode 98 of The Final Sprint Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, features my interview with two-time U.S. Olympian and National High School 200m Record Holder
ROY “ROBOT” MARTIN.

The former Olympian talks about his recent arrest, coaching, his take on the infiltration of performance enhancing drugs and how it contributed to his own retirement.

Since retiring from professional racing, Martin has focused on coaching and giving back to his community. He is also employed as a hall monitor at Florence Middle School in Pleasant Grove, TX. However, Martin was placed on administrative leave after being arrested on drug charges earlier this week. Police officials have charged Martin with drug possession, report that Martin conducted an “unauthorized drug sting” and are moving forward with their investigation. Conversely, the highly respected Martin says that he was only trying to help fight the significant drug problem in the middle school and in his community.

In the interview, Martin provides his side of the story and also discusses coaching, wanting to become the next Bob Kersee, highlights of his own career, and provides his own, startling estimate of the percentage of elite runners using performance enhancing drugs in the mid 1980’s to early 1990’s.

Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)
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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Roy Martin
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 20.2 MB | Length: 29:27 MIN

Episode sponsored by:
Camelbak - the originator and leader in hands-free hydration.

To learn more Camelbak Elixir, their effective, easy-to-use and portable electrolyte beverage, as well as Camelbak’s running specific hydration systems, please visit www.camelbak.com.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions and beliefs expressed by interviewees on The Final Sprint Podcast do not necessarily represent or reflect the opinions and beliefs of TheFinalSprint.com, TFS Media Network, The Final Sprint, LLC, and/or our sponsors.

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Former Olympic Runner Arrested on Drug Charges; Says He Wanted To Help Kids

Posted October 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Olympics

Roy “Robot” Martin broke speed records and ran his way on the U. S. Olympics team. Tuesday he was arrested for possessing Xanax without a prescription at Florence Middle School in Pleasant Grove, TX where he is currently employed.

However, Martin says that the possession stemmed from his efforts to fight the middle schools’ drug problem.

Click on the video below to watch CBS-11’s report on the Martin arrest:

For a more detailed analysis of this situation, check out the article published yesterday by TheFinalSprint.com’s Assistant Editor Jimmie R. Markham entitled High School Record Holder Roy “Robot” Martin Arrested.

For more information on Martin, please visit: www.robottrack.com/ourcoach.htm

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Top three running routes
in Dallas, Texas

Posted February 28th, 2007 at 2:12 PM by Warwick Ford

Section: Columns, Fun on Foot

Warwick Ford is a guest contributor to The Final Sprint and author of “Fun on Foot in America’s Cities,” the book that details and maps the best on-foot routes in 14 major US cities. Check out FunOnFoot.com for more information and to purchase the book or maps.

Big “D”, Dallas, TX, seems much more a place for automobiles than for pedestrians. If you asked the average person here what was the most important thing he did with his feet, he would say hitting the accelerator and the brake. Nevertheless, Dallas does have a thriving subculture of on-foot enthusiasts. There is a keen running community and a few really good trails convenient to downtown. The DART bus and light rail system can help you get to and from these trails, making it possible to plan exercise outings without using a vehicle at all.

The weather is excellent for running in October through April, with good temperatures and only a small risk of precipitation ruining your outing. In the other months, average maximum temperatures move into the 80s and 90s, meaning you might want to go to extra pains to fit your outdoor exercise in early in the day. In this short article, we shall look briefly at the very best of those local on-foot routes.

For a training or recreational route to be motivating and enjoyable it needs to have four attributes:

1. Comfort from both the safety and underfoot perspective;
2. Attractions to make it interesting;
3. Convenience to city center and public transit; and a worthy
4. Destination to help motivate you to finish the route.

Applying this model to Dallas, we came up with the following three winning routes:
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Race Recap: 37th Annual Dallas White Rock Marathon

Posted December 13th, 2006 at 1:35 PM by Jenna Sumara

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The cold and rain did nothing to stop the determination of the 10,317 runners at the 37th annual Dallas White Rock Marathon; a race that led to two new marathon records.

Kenyan Moses Kororia finished the race in 2:12:04; breaking Jeff Lodwick’s 24 year record of 2:12:18. Kororia was also able to overtake Russia’s Svetlana Ponomarenko a few yards before the 24th mile to win an additional $25,000.
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