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Lead Stories: Sunday, July 20, 2008

TIME Magazine Ranks Oscar Pistorius One of the 100 Most Influential People of 2008

Posted May 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 AM by Andrew Goodman

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Today, it was announced that Oscar Pistorius has made the 2008 TIME 100, the annual list published by TIME Magazine, which identifies the 100 most influential people in the world. Oscar is in good company, including the Dalai Lama, Lance Armstrong, Nelson Mandela, Vladimir Putin, and Al Gore.

While TIME refuses to rank the 100 in importance, but does create categories – Oscar is listed third in the Heroes & Pioneers list, just after Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Oprah Winfrey – the magazine also conducted a poll amongst its readers to hear whom they thought should be on the list, and Oscar placed 19th.

Just one year ago, very few people in the world were aware of this young South African bilateral amputee who may very well change the history of sport because of his resolve and determination to compete on equal ground and without apologies against able-bodied athletes.
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Inspirational DVD Review:
“The Jim MacLaren Story”

Posted September 27th, 2007 at 7:00 PM by Valerie Cerami

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Movies, Success Stories

I am imbued with pride to have this brightly hued, clear as blue sky rubber wristband, embedded with the words Choose Living dangling from my wrist. This little circle of hope looms large - in spirit, courage, inspirations and realizations. It emotionally, powerfully, figuratively and literally represents the circle of life – as truthfully as the geometric shape it holds. Wearing it - and believing in it - helps support the foundation that touches the world: The Choose Living Foundation.

The foundation’s spokesperson and founder, Jim MacLaren, has come full-circle in his aspirations, accomplishments and never-ending optimism – with a dash of wisdom added to the mix (and what a mixture of circumstances he’s encountered). Jim does it all with a smile and indefatigable love of life and the simple things we all take for granted.
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FINISH STRONG with TFS’s collection of famous quotes!

Posted September 14th, 2007 at 7:06 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes, Special Features, Famous Quotes

From Jesse Owens to Dr. George Sheehan … from Steve Prefontaine to Sir Roger Banister … from ancient philosophers to runners just like you …

The Final Sprint has accumulated the most comprehensive anthology of motivational quotes to help you FINISH STRONG!

Pick out your favorites and read them before a big race or even choose one as your training credo!

Have one you want us to add?

No problem; just send an email to thefinalsprint@gmail.com!

Start Here . . . Finish Strong!
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Quote of the Day: 7/21/07

Posted July 21st, 2007 at 6:00 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.”

- Oprah Winfrey

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Podcast 55: JIM MACLAREN
TFS’s June 2007 Success Story and the Epitome of Courage

Posted June 7th, 2007 at 1:30 PM by Adam Jacobs

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

TFS is proud 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. Past award recipients have included female running pioneer
Kathrine Switzer, former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, and double amputee runner Oscar Pistorius.

I am proud to announce that TFS’s June 2007 Success Story and my guest on Episode #55 of The Final Sprint Podcast is The Epitome of Courage: Mr. Jim MacLaren.

Jim, a former Yale University All-American football and lacrosse player, was hit by a bus at age 22; an accident that forced doctors to amputate his leg. However, Jim persevered, beat the odds and became a marathon runner, Ironman triathlete world record holder and earned the title: “The Babe Ruth of Amputee Athletes”.

Eight years later, Jim was once again the victim of a tragic accident; hit by a van while competing in a triathlon and left as a quadriplegic after sustaining serious spinal injuries.

Never the one to give up, Jim once again proved that his spirit was strong enough to surmount even the most unthinkable of adversities. Jim has gone on to become a motivational speaker, founder of the “Choose Living Foundation”, and as Oprah said at the 2005 ESPY Awards in presenting him with ESPN’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award, Jim has “given new life to those around the world who need it most”.

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

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Jim MacLaren
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 18.5 MB
Length: 27:05

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

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26.2 - vs. - 13.1:
13.1 reasons for running a half-marathon before attempting your first full

Posted June 4th, 2007 at 6:08 PM by Bridget Sullivan

Section: Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Let’s get this one simple fact straight: you do not have to run a marathon to be considered a “real runner.” Anyone who pounds their feet on the pavement in repetitious monotony, automatically knows how many miles are in a 5K, and doesn’t laugh when someone bellows out the word “fartlek,” is a REAL runner.

But since the running boom officially “boomed” a second time with Oprah’s 26.2 feat in 1994, not to mention her triumphal landing on the cover of Runner’s World magazine, more and more runners continue to spin their feet at the distance. Dubbed “everyman’s Everest’ by former professional runner and current Runner’s World executive editor, Amby Burfoot, the marathon of the twenty-first century attracts everyone from the taut and toned twenty-year-olds to the Ben & Jerry fifty-year-olds. Gone are the days of the first boom where everyone ran hard, everyone ran more than 70 miles per week, and almost everyone belonged to the same gender.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, 410,000 runners hit the finish line last year, as opposed to 277,000 in 1994. And there are no signs of slowing down: the Chicago Marathon shut down registration for its famously flat October race earlier than ever before.

But why the sudden rush to the summit when there at least 13.1 reasons to run a half before you land on top of the world?

Read the rest at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com

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Shannon Miller, Ed Viesturs among the celebrity athletes that completed today’s New York Marathon

Posted November 5th, 2006 at 7:27 PM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Believe it or not, there were actually celebrity athletes other than Lance Armstrong who competed in the 2006 ING New York City Marathon.

The amateur runners in this year’s race who have competed professionally in other sport included: the 7-time Olympic medal winning gymnast, and Ed Viesturs, one of the world’s premier high-altitude mountain climbers.

It seems as if Miller listened to the advice she was given by our Editor-in-Chief, as she successfully completed the marathon in 4:17:33. Read the rest of this entry »

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