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Lead Stories: Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Jon Rankin: Life’s Certainties
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #9)

Posted March 27th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by Jon Rankin

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin

Welcome to the official blog of rising U.S. track & field star Jon Rankin; the inaugural member of The Final Sprint’s Elite Athlete Blog Series. Be sure to check back every other Wednesday for Jon’s latest entry at http://jonrankin.thefinalsprint.com/

“Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.”

- Benjamin Franklin

I really don’t know how to interpret the above quote from Benjamin Franklin. Without a doubt it’s tax time. Yikes!! Honestly, I think that it’s kind of funny because it would be a very dreary life if death and taxes were the only things truly certain in life. What about love? What about running? What about the sweet smell of freshly cut grass in the early morning hours prior to a cross country race? If death and taxes are the only things certain I thank God for every day that I do get to run because I’ve been injured way too many times not to realize how lucky I am to be where I’m at today, just a few months away from make one of my biggest dreams a more certain part of my reality.
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Ryan Hall: Perseverance
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #1)

Posted January 18th, 2008 at 5:00 PM by Ryan Hall

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Ryan Hall

Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Ryan Hall as he begins his quest for Olympic gold! Check back every other Friday for Ryan’s latest entry.

These past three weeks I have been shown what it means to persevere in the face of hard times. Sara and I arrived in Flagstaff on December 30th to stay with our friend, Alicia Shay, with the goal of helping her in whatever way we could through the recent loss of her husband. However, as is the case so often when we try and help others, we are the ones who get blessed from the experience. I guess this is why Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Alicia showed me what it means to get up every day and face her troubles with courage and strength. I am sure a lot of people are proud of how Alicia has endured this hard time. I am certainly very proud and inspired by her ability to just plain get up everyday and choose to live a life of joy, even though she certainly has the right to be bitter, angry and frustrated.

Perseverance is a trait that I have had to learn a lot about during my running career.
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Quote of the Day: 12/18/07

Posted December 18th, 2007 at 6:00 AM by J. R. Markham

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

What counts in a battle is what you do once the pain sets in.
- John Short

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Quote of the Day: 12/04/07

Posted December 4th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes

“In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance.”

- Goethe

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Podcast 73: TONY REED
TFS’s August ‘07 Success Story

Posted August 23rd, 2007 at 8:21 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Motivation, Success Stories, Columns, Success Stories, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

TheFinalSprint.com (TFS) is honored 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.

I am proud to announce that TFS’s August 2007 Success Story, and my guest on Episode 73 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast is TONY REED. On June 23rd, Reed became the first Black person to run a marathon on all seven continents (A feat accomplished by fewer than 200 people in the world) and in the process broke new ground for minorities in the world of amateur marathon running (It is estimated that Black Americans account for only 1-2% of all US marathoners).

Reed, who grew up in a St. Louis housing project, is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Black Marathoners’ Association (NBMA); a non-profit organization that encourages Black Americans to pursue a healthy lifestyle through running and awards college scholarships to high school distance runners. Reed, whose own decision to lead an active and healthy lifestyle prevented the onset of full-blown diabetes, has shown what it takes to reach seemingly impossible goals and has become an ideal role model for people of all races.

Download the podcast to hear Tony discuss his seven continent marathon adventure, breaking down racial barriers, the NBMA, and much more!

Note: This episode also features a very special, guest co-host: Don Kern. Don is also a member of the exclusive Seven Continent Club and last winter completed all seven races in an astonishing 35 days (just four days off the Guinness World Record!).

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

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Hosts: Adam Jacobs, Don Kern
Guest: Tony Reed
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 22.3 MB
Length: 32:29

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

Check out every episode of TFS’s Podcast in iTunes!

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How Old Is Too Old to Get Faster?

Posted October 12th, 2006 at 4:00 AM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Training Tips

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Make sure to also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

A runner can improve for up to 10 years, regardless of the age at which s/he starts. This assumes that a runner trains consistently. If s/he is inconsistent (start/stop or with no plan) so s/he is always restarting, the total period of improvement might be extended, but the eventual level reached might be lower.

I think that progress is best achieved through a long term program that includes a balance of speedwork, endurance, strength, and rest…that is, long runs and high mileage with speed training, hill training, weight training and scheduled rest periods. And it should be based on a plan…and the longer term the plan, the better.

I think you should set out on a multi year plan. I suggest the type of plan I like to follow…alternate marathon and 10k seasons. I prefer spring 10k and fall marathon programs, but the reverse works just as well. You can even fit three programs into a year with shorter “racing” phases following the training cycles.

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The Trail From Beginner to Boston

Posted October 5th, 2006 at 12:01 AM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Motivation, Training Tips

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Make sure to also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

In order to qualify for Boston, it is necessary to be able to do two things…..run long and run fast…..and both in the same race. The qualifying time for females under 35 years of age is 3:40, or 8:24 per mile. For men under 35, it is 3:10, or 7:15 per mile. Neither is easily done. But, with the right combination of desire and my three P’s…..Patience, Perseverance and a Plan…..many runners can get there. Those who have formed the Boston Training Group have certainly demonstrated the strong desire. Your Patience and Perseverance will be tested over the next year or more. What is needed now is a long range Plan.

The plan should extend at least a full year to allow a buildup to a fall marathon. It should be designed to develop yourself in progressive stages to the point where you can take on a marathon program. Read the rest of this entry »

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