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Lead Stories: Thursday, December 4, 2008

Goucher on Marathon Debut in New York: ‘I Believe I’m Ready’

Posted October 29th, 2008 at 2:39 PM by James Dunaway

Section: News & Results, Marathons

A year ago, Kara Goucher got a good look at the 26.2 miles of the 2007 ING New York City Marathon course riding as a passenger in the lead car.

This year, Goucher will be covering the course on foot. “Watching the race last year, I was blown away by the course,” she said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “I knew right then I wanted to run a race on it. It’s a little bit daunting, especially the last five miles, but I’m excited to be in the race this year.”

For the 30-year-old Goucher, who with Deena Kastor and Shalane Flanagan has given American women’s distance running a modicum of respectability in recent years, it will be the longest race she has ever run.
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New York City Marathon 08:
Elite Women’s Preview

Posted October 29th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Paula Radcliffe winning 2007 NYC Marathon The ING New York City Marathon will once again be the premiere event on the women’s side of the fall distance schedule. The 2008 edition of the race will feature a large group of the world’s best female marathoners and should provide no shortage of drama. From the return of World Record holder Paula Radcliffe from injury to the battle for the 2007-2008 World Marathon Majors title to the much-anticipated debut of American Kara Goucher, this race has a slew of intriguing storylines.

Even with so many impressive names entered at New York, Great Britain’s Radcliffe must remain the headliner. Radcliffe used an impressive sprint finish to edge Ethiopia’s Gete Wami and claim her second New York title last fall and appears to be in fine form once again. She suffered another Olympic disappointment this summer due to a buildup that was severely hampered by injury, but her impressive 51:11 victory at last weekend’s BUPA Great South Run indicates that she is fully recovered.
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Kara Goucher Set to Make Marathon Debut Sunday in New York City

Posted October 27th, 2008 at 10:00 AM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Road Racing

Now that the Olympics have ended, athletes must reevaluate their goals. For Kara Goucher, that means moving up to the marathon distance. Goucher, 30, announced last month that she planned to make her debut November 2 at the New York City Marathon.

The elite women’s field includes world record-holder (2:15:25) Paula Radcliffe, 34, of Great Britain and 2008 Olympic silver-medalist and former world record-holder (2:18:47) Catherine Ndereba, 36, of Kenya. Ethiopia’s Gete Wami, 33, fought hard but ultimately finished second behind Radcliffe at last year’s NYC Marathon and will compete again this weekend. Also making her marathon debut is Kim Smith, 26, of New Zealand. Smith defeated Goucher in the 2008 Olympic 10,000m. Smith has faster 5,000m and 10,000m times than Goucher, but has not recently raced any longer distances.

Goucher proved herself against Radcliffe at the half-marathon distance by winning the 2007 Great North Run in 1:06:57. Radcliffe was coming back from an injury and childbirth at the time, but went on to win New York last year.
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Kara Goucher to Make Marathon Debut in New York

Posted September 11th, 2008 at 2:07 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Kara Goucher courtesy of nyrr Following in her coach’s footsteps, 2007 IAAF World Championships 10,000m bronze medalist Kara Goucher will make her marathon debut at the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 2.

“Last year when I watched the race first hand, I decided I wanted to run in New York,” Goucher commented. “The ING New York City Marathon is one of the most prestigious, and the course is challenging, so I’m excited for my first marathon to be this one.”

Goucher’s coach, Alberto Salazar, made his marathon debut in New York in 1980 and won the race. He would win it two more times in 1981 and 1982, and remains the last American man to win the race.
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Never Trust A Pacemaker: Mbogo Takes Title in Marathon Debut in Singapore

Posted December 5th, 2007 at 7:23 AM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Elija Mbogo winning 2007 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Never trust a pacemaker. They have a habit of carrying on and winning the race. Elijah Mbogo of Kenya exhibited the habit early Sunday morning, when he won the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on his debut, and in a course record, no less: 2.14.23. The man who should have known better, two-time winner, Amos Matui failed by just two seconds to catch his 19 year old compatriot, thus missing his hat trick. Veteran, David Cheruiyot, who won Istanbul just five weeks ago, made it a Kenya one-two-three with his 2.14.43, also under the old record.

Mbogo knew who Matui was, because his two previous victories with a fast finish have forged a reputation for the 33 year old. All Matui needed to know about Mbogo was that he was a pacemaker. In contrast to his previous marathon start, when he duly dropped out at 30k, Mbogo said he every intention of finishing today, if he felt good at that point.
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Interview Excerpts: Gilmore, Rohatinsky and Shay on being Marathon Trial “Underdogs”

Posted October 26th, 2007 at 9:50 AM by Adam Jacobs

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

Peter Gilmore 2006 ING NYC Marathon courtesy of NYRR Earlier this week, the New York Road Runners hosted the final installment in a three part series of teleconferences related to the about the November 2 U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon trials in New York City.

This third teleconference provided the media with an opportunity to speak with NYRR CEO/President Mary Wittenberg and the following professional athletes: Peter Gilmore, Josh Rohatinsky, Ryan Shay

On being referred to as dark horses and training for the Trials:

Ryan: Since winning the USA Marathon title in 2003, my training has had a long period of ups and downs, some changes in coaching and changes in training environment . . .
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Podcast 97: KATE O’NEIL Reflects on Her Impressive Marathon Debut in Chicago

Posted October 22nd, 2007 at 5:18 PM by Adam Jacobs

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

Episode 97 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my follow-up interview with KATE O’NEIL on her extremely impressive 3rd place, debut marathon performance at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

In the interview Kate reflects on her big day and talks about the keys to her success, battling through the heat, when she realized the leaders were too far out of reach and why after initially “feeling terrible despite the happiness” she now is excited to run another marathon.

Download the podcast to hear Kate discuss these topics, as well as, how this experience and her success in a slow, but strategic race will help her in April’s U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, training adjustments and preparing for the wind in Boston, her racing plans for 2008, and advice for first time marathoners!

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: Kate O’Neil
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 8.34 MB | Length: 12:08 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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Hladyr & Wanjiru Withdraw from ING NYC Marathon

Posted October 4th, 2007 at 6:55 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Samuel Wanjiru world record half-marathon Two key athletes who had been contracted to run the 2007 ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 4, have withdrawn from the race, according to the New York Road Runners, the race founders and organizers.

Tetyana Hladyr of Ukraine, the surprise second place finisher in last year’s women’s race, has been forced to quit the field due to a foot injury which will require surgery, according to her agent Andrey Baranov. Her husband, Aleksandr Kuzin, still remains in the field, however. He set a personal best of 2:07:33 in a solo run in Linz last April.

Also out of the race is the world record holder in the half-marathon, Samuel Wanjiru. Wanjiru, who runs for a Japanese corporate team, decided to postpone his debut because of unspecified difficulties with his preparations, according to his agent, Federico Rosa.
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Two Elites Drop Out of New York City Marathon

Posted October 4th, 2007 at 10:41 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Previously announced entrants Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya and Tatiana Hladyr of the Ukraine will not compete in the ING New York City Marathon 2007 on Sunday, November 4, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

Wanjiru, the half-marathon world record-holder, had planned to make his marathon debut in New York; however, he told race organizers he was withdrawing due to problems with his preparation. Hladyr, the runner-up in last year’s race, has a foot injury that will require surgery, according to her manager, Andrey Baranov. The surgery is planned for October 11.

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Podcast 86: KATE O’NEIL on making her 26.2 mile debut at Sunday’s Chicago Marathon

Posted October 2nd, 2007 at 12:24 PM by Adam Jacobs

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

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 86 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with 2004 Olympian KATE O’NEIL about making her marathon debut at Sunday’s Lasalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

In January, Kate finished second and ran a personal best 1:11:47 at the Aramco Half-Marathon in Houston. She continued her success with third places finishes at the Falmouth Road Race in August and the New Haven 20-K in September (where she also set another PR).

In the interview, Kate talks about her mental and physical preparation for Chicago, plans to run in next April’s U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trails in Boston, and why she chose Chicago over other fall marathons (i.e. - New York) for her debut.

Download the podcast to hear Kate discuss these topics, as well as, how Deena Kastor and the other members of Team Running USA in Mammoth Lakes, CA have helped with her approach to the marathon, her views on the role of pacesetters, how cheering fans have confused her with her twin sister Laura when they ran together at Yale, 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: Kate O’Neil
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 12.0 MB | Length: 17:30 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!