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Lead Stories: Sunday, October 12, 2008

Running Film Festival to Premier During Olympic Trials; Support Ryan Shay Memorial Fund

Posted May 28th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Adam Jacobs

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

RFF Release: When nearly 200,000 athletes and fans converge on Eugene, Oregon, for the 2008 U.S. Track & Field Trials, there is no doubt they will enjoy the beautiful scenery and the competitive spirit of “Track Town USA.”

However, when they leave Hayward Field for some well-deserved down time, hundreds will head to the movies. That’s right! Hollywood comes to Eugene, as the city plays host to the first film festival ever devoted to the subjects of track & field, marathon running, and cross country: the Running Film Festival (RFF), scheduled for July 3 – 5 on the University of Oregon campus.

RFF is the brainchild of running enthusiasts and industry entrepreneurs, who formulated the idea after assessing the vast, yet underexposed, collection of celluloid devoted to the sport. The festival signed a title sponsor to join presenting sponsors TheFinalSprint.com and Running Times, and a great event was born. A portion of the proceeds from the RFF will be donated to the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund
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The Final Sprint Podcast Highlighted by Running Times

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 9:07 AM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Resources, Olympics, Special Features, Podcasts, Trail / Ultra

thefinalsprint icon the final sprint logo The Final Sprint Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, continues to capture audiences and receive praise from athletes, coaches, journalists, industry leaders and running fans from around the world.

Most recently, Running Times Magazine chose to highlight The Final Sprint Podcast along with Flocasts/Flotrack and the World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) in their October 2007 issue.

The Final Sprint Podcast, launched in January 2007, features three to five audio interviews each week and is hosted by TheFinalSprint.com Editor-in-Chief Adam Jacobs.

Jacobs has proudly welcomed a dynamic and eclectic list of guests, including track & field superstars (Sanya Richards, Ryan Hall, Alan Webb), Olympic marathon medalists (Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi), ultra-elite champions (Dean Karnazes, Scott Jurek), coaching icons (Dr. Jack Daniels, Jeff Galloway), courageous heroes (Jim MacLaren, Kathrine Switzer, Billy Mills) and running legends from years past (Gail Devers, Jim Ryun, Grete Waitz).

To listen in, subscribe to the podcast feed, or even download recent episodes right to your mp3 player, please visit: TheFinalSprint.com.

The podcast is also available at no charge in iTunes.

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Podcast 83: DEAN KARNAZES on the ESPY, 24-hr record, and criticisms from Scott Jurek

Posted September 26th, 2007 at 6:17 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, Trail / Ultra

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years BR Sportswear is closing out their line of high -quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

Episode 83 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with “Ultramarathon Man” DEAN KARNAZES: the recipient of the 2007 ESPY for “Best Outdoor Athlete”.

In the interview Dean talks about the ESPY award, raising money for charity and his attempt to break the 24-hr. running record in Times Square, and the North Face Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc.

Dean also responds to the critical comments made by Scott Jurek in a recent Endurance Planet interview. Jurek’s comments included: “I’m not winning races and performing, I shouldn’t be gracing the cover of magazines, getting a title, or even being okay with accepting a title such as Outside Magazine’s “America’s Best Outdoor Athlete”. I would feel ashamed to have that title.”

Download the podcast to hear Dean discusses these topics, as well as his continued to efforts to inspire others and hopefully increase exposure and available sponsorship money for trail and ultra running, the conflict between his desire to train/compete and a multitude of marketing and promotional obligations.

Listen In
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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Dean Karnazes
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File Size: 12.5 MB | Length: 18:13 MIN

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

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Wariner, Tibbs, and Karnazes receive ESPY Awards

Posted July 18th, 2007 at 7:45 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field

ESPY TROPHY ESPN Jeremy Wariner and Casey Tibbs were the recipients of ESPY Awards earlier this week presented to the Best Track & Field Athletes of the Year and Dean Karnazes received the ESPY Award for Best Outdoor Athlete.

The ESPYs recognize outstanding achievements and performances by athletes during the previous year and include 19 “Best in Sport” categories, which pit athletes from different sports against each other, along with 17 individual sport categories and two sponsored awards.
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Podcast 63: Elite ultra endurance and trail runner MICHELLE BARTON

Posted July 9th, 2007 at 2:39 PM by Adam Jacobs

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

Episode 63 of The Final Sprint Podcast was done in conjunction with TrailFit.com; a comprehensive trail running, ultra- marathoning, and adventure racing publication and the newest member of the TFS media network.

Today’s guest is Southern California’s MICHELLE BARTON; an elite ultra distance and trail runner with an intoxicating love for the sport, eternally positive spirit, and incredible athletic ability.

These gifts have propelled her to ultra-marathon finish lines, such as the 2006 Orange Curtain 100k, ahead of not only the women but also every male runner in the field. Most recently, Michelle was victorious at the Holcomb Valley 33 Mile Trail Run on June 10th and then two weeks later had the honor of pacing Gordy Ainsley at the legendary and infamous ultra that he founded: the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (WS100).

Download the interview to hear Michelle discuss her experience at Western States, how she trains, staying fueled on a vegetarian diet, the differing training and mentalities for ultras, trails and road races, Dean Karnazes, plans for the future, the booming and supportive ultra-endurance community 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: Michelle Barton
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 16.7 MB
Length: 24:20

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

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VIDEO: Ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes hopes to set world record in Times Square

Posted June 21st, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results

Ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes tried to break the world record for the most miles run on a treadmill in 24 hours. He made his attempt high above Times Square in New York City on June 21st.

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Podcast 12: Interview with Don Kern on his record-setting attempt to run a marathon on each continent in 35 days

Posted February 11th, 2007 at 2:30 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Yesterday I had the pleasure of interviewing Don Kern; the adventure marathon runner who is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for running a marathon on each continent in the shortest duration of time. The current record is 99 days and he hopes to shatter it by completing the feat in a mere 35 days.

Don, who is also the race director of the Grand Rapids Marathon, ran the Mercedes Marathon today in Birmingham, Alabama; the first of the seven marathons he intends to complete. His “world tour” will also include marathons in Egypt, Spain, Antarctica, Argentine, Australia and South Korea.

Download the podcast to hear Don discuss his record-breaking feat, the affiliated charities, his past adventures (such as running in the inaugural marathon on the South Pole with Dean Karnazes) and much more!

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, 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: Don Kern
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 14.8MB
Length: 00:21:38

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

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Podcast 9: Interview with extreme ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes

Posted February 5th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Today’s podcast features my interview with Dean Karnazes, the “Ultramarathon Man”‘ who earned national acclaim (and became the target of skeptical critics) for completing the Northface Endurance 50 (Fifty marathons in fifty states in fifty consecutive days).

After the NYC Marathon, his 50th and final race, Dean decided to follow in the footsteps of Forrest Gump and “just kept running”; making it all the way from New York City to St. Charles, MO!

His resume also includes a myriad of impressive (and unique) feats, such as finishing the first marathon on the South Pole, winning the 2004 Badwater Marathon (135-mile race through Death Valley in 120-degree heat), swimming across San Fransisco Bay and running 350 miles in 80 hours and 44 minutes.

Download the podcast to hear Dean respond to all the critics and discuss his past achievements, un-orthodox training routine, source of motivation and plans for the future.

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, 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: Dean Karnazes
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 20.1MB
Length: 00:29:23

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

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Dean Karnazes, the Ultramarathon Man, runs in the footsteps of Forrest Gump

Posted November 16th, 2006 at 4:00 PM by Jenna Sumara

Section: News & Results, Marathons

How do you go through 5 pairs of shoes, 18 pairs of socks and 3 toenails? Well, if you’re Dean Karnazes (aka: the Ultramarathon Man) you do it by running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. Karnazes has not only completed the feat, titled the Endurance 50, but is now also doing his best Forrest Gump impression; deciding to run home to San Francisco from New York City. Runnnn Deannnn, Runnnn!
forrest gump running beard.jpg
Karnazes, beleive it or not, is not the first person to pull off the 50 marathons in 50 days challenge. Although clearly uncommon, others (such as Sam Thompson) have done it as recently as a few months ago. However, no one has even come close to attaining the level of publicity and fanfare that Karnazes enjoyed over his 50 days. The Endurance 50 and Karnazes made countless headlines and received lucrative corporate sponsorships from Toyota, Northface and Runner’s World. These sponsorships helped him to raise more than $100,000 for Karno Kids; a foundation to benefit youth fitness programs that was founded by Karnezes. Read the rest of this entry »