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Upsets, Record Time At Rome Marathon
Posted March 23rd, 2009 at 7:08 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Benjamin Kiptoo Koulum and Firehiwot Dado wore bib numbers 36 and F12, respectively, at today’s 15th Maratona di Roma, sure signs that they were not expected to contend for victory. In fact, Kiptoo, a Kenyan who prepared for this race in the same camp where Martin Lel is currently training for the Flora London Marathon, was actually a designated pacemaker. Dado, an Ethiopian who has only run one marathon, was the last elite woman organizers accepted into the race.
But here today they beat the odds –and their respective fields– to turn in upset victories. Moreover, Kiptoo, who had won both the Brescia and Beijing Marathons last year in respectable but modest times, overcame stiff winds, chilly temperatures, and a rough and winding course to post the fastest-ever marathon in Italy: 2:07:17. Dado, who has the same coach as last year’s Boston Marathon champion Dire Tune, chopped her personal best time by an unlikely ten minutes to win in 2:27:08.
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Rome Marathon Offers Generous Bonuses, Prize Money
Posted November 26th, 2008 at 3:00 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The 15th Maratona della Città di Roma, scheduled for Sunday, March 22, in the Italian capital, is once again offering generous bonuses and prize money to encourage fast times, according to elite athletes coordinator Massimiliano “Max” Monteforte.
The race is offering a whopping EUR 250,000 (USD 315,000) to the race winners for a new male or female world record (2:03:59 / 2:15:25). Those marks may well be out of reach on Rome’s cobblestones, but a EUR 75,000 (USD 94,500) bonus is also on offer for new Italian records (2:07:22 / 2:23:47), along with EUR 50,000 (USD 63,000) for an Italian all-comers record (2:07:44 / 2:22:53). Only Italian citizens are eligible to earn the EUR 75,000 bonus for the Italian records.
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Rome Marathon Bigger, and Maybe Faster, Than Ever
Posted March 13th, 2008 at 5:00 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The first major European marathon of the season, the 14th Maratona della Città di Roma, is set for Sunday, March 16, in the Italian capital and it is bigger than ever. Organizers reported earlier this week that 14,500 runners have signed up for the marathon, and they expect another 50,000 for 4 km “Stracittadina” fun run. Last year’s marathon had 12,027 finishers, making it the largest marathon in Italy.
But just as importantly, organizers are hoping for fast times and have provided strong financial incentives for athletes to achieve them, plus pacemaking to keep the race moving.
“I communicate to you that our aim is to abolish the best performance on Italian ground both in the female sector and in male sector,” said Max Monteforte who recruits the professional athlete field.
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TFS News Briefs: 2/27/08
Posted February 27th, 2008 at 12:45 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs

Heavy News Day At IAAF Website
The folks at the IAAF website have been busy today. There are 9 news items for you to read, including an article about the 51 USA athletes going to the world championships, plus profiles of the Chinese, Italian, Moroccan and German contingents.
Read more at: [USA][China][Italy][Morocco][Germany][IAAF]
World Indoor Championships: Greek Team Profile
The European Athletics site is quite busy, too, with a profile of the Greek team going to the World Indoor Championships, plus an article about how the World Cross-Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland has set a participation record.
Read more at: [Greece][Edinburgh][European Athletics]
Mainstream Press Acknowledges US Distance-Running Resurgence
When the mainstream press finally gets wind of happenings in US distance running, you know there must be no doubt about it whatsoever. The Boston Globe has published a profile detailing the resurgence of US distance running, something the US running community has known for a long, long time.
Read more at: [Boston Globe]
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TFS News Briefs: 2/04/08
Posted February 4th, 2008 at 3:23 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics, TFS News Briefs
Wanjiru Wins Spanish Half-Marathon in 59:26,
Sets Sites on London, Beijing
Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru won the 21st Mitja Marató (half-marathon) de Granollers near Barcelona, Spain with a time of 59:26. proving that he is fit and ready for the Flora London Marathon this April. He also has his sites set on the Beijing Olympic Marathon this summer.
Read more at: [IAAF]
Maurice Greene Reaches “Journey’s End”
Former Olympic and world 100m champion Maurice Greene announced his retirement after unsuccessful battles with nagging injuries. Read more about this story at: [IAAF] Read more about Greene at: [Wikipedia]
Field Events Dominate Governor’s Cup Indoor Meet in Samara, Russia
A sellout crowd at the Governor’s Cup Indoor Meet in Samara, Russia was treated to world-class performances in the field events by a top-notch international field of athletes from 17 countries.
Read more at: [European Athletics]
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Entries Still Open for Lago Maggiore Half-Marathon
Posted January 14th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Entries are still open for the scenic Lago Maggiore Half Marathon, to be held for the first time on March 9, 2008. The Italian race, which begins in Stresa and finishes in Verbania, offers panoramic views of Maggiore Lake and the Borromeo gulf with their famous islands.
The registration fee is 17 € until the 16th of February while after this date, and until March 6th, the registration fee will be 20 €. Registration will be possible also after March 6th at the Sport Expo the 7th and 8th of March at the cost of 30 €.
Registration information is available at http://www.lagomaggiorehalfmarathon.com
New Half-Marathon Set
for Next Year in Italy
Posted November 26th, 2007 at 10:06 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Sport Pro-Motion, an Italian event management company run by Paolo Ottone, will present the first Lago Maggiore Half-Marathon next year, which will run along Lake Maggiore with stunning views of the Borromeo Islands and the surrounding Alps.
The race will be held on 09-Mar-2008 and registration is already open. For more information visit http://www.pro-motion.it
Rome Marathon Offers Generous Bonuses,
Prize Money
Posted November 16th, 2007 at 11:45 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The 14th edition of the Maratona della Città di Roma, set for Mar. 16, 2008, will not only offer runners a beautiful course through one of the world’s most historic cities, but a chance to win sizable bonuses and prize money.
While it is unlikely that a new world record would be set in Rome, there is a €250,000 ($366,000) world record bonus for the first man to break 2:04:26 or the first woman to break 2:15:25. Perhaps more realistic are the €50,000 ($73,000) bonuses for a new Italian all-comers record for either men (2:07:45) or women (2:24:59).
Furthermore, Italian citizens can earn a €75,000 ($110,000) bonus for breaking either their male (2:07:22) or female (2:23:47) national records. Finally, there are €25,000 ($37,000) bonuses for new male or female course records (2:08:02 and 2:25:07, respectively).
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World Record Holder Kiplagat To Run Dubai Marathon
Posted November 9th, 2007 at 12:42 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The fastest woman ever over the half-marathon distance has decided to run twice as far at next January’s Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, organizers announced yesterday.
Lornah Kiplagat, the reigning IAAF world cross country and road running champion, has been lured to the desert by the chance to win a $1,000,000 bonus for the world record and also a $250,000 first prize, the largest in marathon running.
“When we announced the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon was being taken to the next level thanks to the support of Dubai Holding, our aim was to attract the very cream of long distance running,” said event director Peter Connerton through a media release.
Kiplagat, 33, was born in Kenya but became a Dutch citizen in 2003. At last October’s IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy, she scorched a pending world record for the half-marathon of 1:06:25, passing through 20-K in 1:02:57, also a pending world record.
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Scheduling and Qualifying Rounds at International
Track & Field Meets
Posted October 18th, 2007 at 8:53 PM by Jimson Lee
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Masters
Scheduling an international track meet with a full program of events is no easy task, especially when it involves a large number of competitors.
Add both genders, five year age groups starting from age 35 up to 100, and you’ll certainly run out of time and space. Often, multiple stadiums are used and the 2007 World Masters Athletics in Riccione, Italy, was no exception; hosting events in three different stadiums.
Of course, athletes representing our Italian host accounted for almost one-third of the 9000+ participants, and the most popular age groups (M40-44, M45-49, and M50-54) accounted for almost a third as well. Unlike local Masters competitions, straight finals are non-existent for these age groups.
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The Final Sprint
On March 15, 2010
SDrunner said:
Great review, I wrote one on the Ironman Road Trainer HRM, which is similar to this one, without the...