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Jon Rankin:
Facing the Next Step [Part 1]
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 22)
Posted December 24th, 2008 at 10:13 AM by Jon Rankin
Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin
Welcome to the official blog of rising U.S. track & field star Jon Rankin, the inaugural member of TheFinalSprint’s Elite Athlete Blog Series. Check back every other Wednesday for his latest entry at http://jonrankin.thefinalsprint.com
The year 2005 marked the moment in my life when I would enter what’s known to all soon-to-be graduating college seniors as “the real world.” No, I’m not talking about the MTV show The Real World. Even though that would have been a lot more fun post-graduation, it’s as far as you can get from anything like the real world I’m talking about (sorry real world fans). I’m talking about the world where financial aid is no longer student loans (that’s what I had), college scholarships (that’s what I didn’t have) or grants (didn’t have any of these either), but a job that you have to find. Where your living situation is no longer a dorm room, but most likely a small, dirty, really old apartment in a location furthest from where your job is located. Going into my 5th and final year of college I was faced with the inevitability of the bubble that college creates for all 18-22 year olds bursting and having to create a similar situation all on my own once that diploma touched my hands. To say the least, I was staring in the face of the real world and I was uncertain about my future with less than twelve months of school left.
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Jon Rankin:
We Can All Be Heroes
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 21)
Posted December 11th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Jon Rankin
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin
Welcome to the official blog of rising U.S. track & field star Jon Rankin, the inaugural member of TheFinalSprint’s Elite Athlete Blog Series. Check back every other Wednesday for his latest entry at http://jonrankin.thefinalsprint.com
Last night, December 5th, 2008, I attended the Nike high school cross country event called the Nike XC Cool Down in Hollywood, California. I had the best time hanging out with all who attended, from the Nike LA Reps, the local high school cross country runners, their coaches and their parents. Along with my training partner, Alysia Johnson I had the joy of being a “celebrity” guest for the event. The event had a little bit of everything: good food and music, running videos, even a dance contest. Unfortunately, I couldn’t compete in the dance competition, but if I did I think I could have given the high school kids a run for the win and bragging rights!
The night provided a rapidly aging runner like me—I know I’m not old but it feels that way sometimes–an opportunity to reminisce with the young audience about my high school experience and what it meant to me looking back now. I have to admit that as I described my high school running experience I felt nostalgic. I hadn’t realized in quite sometime how much I missed the pasta parties. One of my fondest memories from high school cross country was the nicknames that we had for each other, many we still shamelessly use to this day. My nickname was “Rankdog.” I know, I know, “Rankdog?” I’m not even going to try and explain it. All I can say for the name was that I, I mean we thought it was cool at the time…..
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USATF Enacts Board Restructuring Plan
Posted December 5th, 2008 at 11:30 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Members of United States Track & Field attending the annual convention in Reno, N.V., this week overwhelmingly voted to approve a set of bylaw changes that will significantly alter the size and makeup of its board of directors. The organization said that the changes, which would slice the number of board members in half from 31 to 15, would increase the accountability and professionalism of the Indianapolis-based governing body for athletics in the United States. The changes were approved by a voice vote on Wednesday.
“This was a historic vote, culminating reorganization efforts that had their roots as far back as the mid-1980s” said outgoing USATF president Bill Roe through a media release. “It is about improving the organization. Our own board, the group that will be remade by this legislation –the group that will remove most of itself with these changes– recognized this fact. They put their own self-interest aside to act in the interest of the sport. I congratulate our membership on making these extraordinary changes final.”
The restructuring is a big victory for chief executive officer Doug Logan who took the reigns of the organization only last summer. Previous CEO Craig Masback left in January after a ten-year term and now works for Nike outside of the athletics realm.
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Dysfunction Run Amuck
Part I: USA Track & Field and the Need for Change
Posted November 20th, 2008 at 2:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
The upcoming presidential election for the sport’s national governing body, U.S.A. Track & Field (USATF), comes at a critical juncture in the history of the organization. Recently appointed CEO Doug Logan has shown both a strong commitment to continue reforming the anti-doping measures that were begun by his predecessor Craig Masback as well as a passion for challenging the status quo. His success in tackling these issues as well as the tough marketing challenges that lie ahead will need to be complimented by a streamlined board of directors in order to ensure the future of the American track federation.
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has levied demands for change at USATF, including serious threats of reduced funding or even de-certification if they fail to comply. Although the restructuring process has already begun for USATF, the process itself faces some tough challenges of its own. USATF national secretary Lynn Cannon has leveled some strong accusations of financial mismanagement that have already reverberated throughout the United States track & field and running community. They have resulted in denials and/or finger pointing from within the board.
TheFinalSprint.com’s investigation into this matter uncovered disturbing accusations and issues of dysfunction, including infighting, power struggles, racial tension, lack of oversight, and conflicts of interest within the board of directors. While the allegations may not rise to the level of criminality, they do threaten to undermine the organization at a time that it desperately needs cohesiveness and efficiency.
With the belief that sunlight is the best disinfectant, TheFinalSprint.com will provide an inside look at USATF and its current situation over the next six installments to be published between now and USATF’s annual meeting in Reno, NV. The topics to be covered in each segment and the date that it will be available can be found below:
- 11/20 - Introduction
- 11/21 - How Did We Get Here?
- 11/25 - USOC Mandates / A Question of Authority
- 11/28 - Cannon’s Allegations / Financial Mismanagement
- 11/29 - ‘Jets vs. Sharks’ Dynamic / Racial Tensions
- 12/02 - Overstepping / Conflicts of Interest
- 12/03 - Pres. Election / Logan / Restructuring
Jon Rankin: Being Human
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 20)
Posted November 7th, 2008 at 10:06 AM by Jon Rankin
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, 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/
The summer is now far behind us and as the fall quickly fades away I find joy in the coming and going of the seasons. I know I haven’t communicated much with the great Final Sprint audience but all of you haven’t been too far from my mind or heart. In fact, I’ve spent a great part of my summer reflecting upon the journey we went through together this past Olympic year and I realize we’ve had “conversations” of great depth: conversations about my fears and dreams, my triumphs and my failures. And as I now reflect upon those conversations I sit here feeling a profound sense of gratefulness for your ears and your kind words. As we move towards a new season of training and racing I look forward to picking up where we left off, only this time our journey will be bound for a destination in Europe–Berlin, Germany for the 2009 World Championships.
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TFS Running Podcast:
Nick Symmonds Tribute to Coach Frank “Gags” Gagliano
Posted October 31st, 2008 at 5:59 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
Welcome to another installment of TheFinalSprint.com Running Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America. I’m your host, Jimmie Markham. In this episode, US. 800 meter runner and Olympian Nick Symmonds pays tribute to his coach Frank Gagliano, affectionately known as “Gags” to his athletes and in the running community. Nick talks about his coach’s retirement, how he came to be coached by Gags, whether or not being coached by Gags altered his training in any way, He also discusses what sort of legacy Gags will leave on the sport of track & field.
Download the podcast to hear Nick do his impression of Gags as he relates a story or two about the man and mentor who made him the runner he is today. Finally he touches on how his training is going and when we can expect to see him race next.
TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”
Host: Jimmie Markham | Guest: Nick Symmonds
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 15.1 MB | Length: 00:21:59
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TFS Running Podcast: Marathoner Peter Gilmore on How the Economic Crisis Affects Elite U.S. Runners
Posted October 31st, 2008 at 9:29 AM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, Road Racing
Today I’m joined by Peter Gilmore; a well respected U.S. marathoner who runs for Team MarathonGuide.com. Gilmore, who has a marathon PR of 2:12:45 (Boston, 2006), has been struggling with injuries of late, but seemes headed back on track. Last year, he won the Surf City USA Half-Marathon in Huntington Beach, CA and set a new course record of 1:03:53. He was also the top American at the 2007 Boston Marathon and 2006 ING New York City Marathon,.
In the interview, he discusses the current economic crisis, offering his unique perspective as both an elite runner and as someone who holds a masters degree in finance. Gilmore talks about how how the current economic crisis is affecting him, personally, as well as other elite runners, how this downturn might actually be good for the sport in the United States and offers steps that professional and other runners can take to weather the storm.
Download the podcast to here Gilmore go into these topics, as well as, his recent injury, progress made in rehab, and when and where he hopes to return to racing. In addition, he offers his predictions and thoughts on this weekend’s NYC marathon!
TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”
Host: Jimmie Markham | Guest: Peter Gilmore
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 15.1 MB | Length: 00:21:59
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TFS Running Podcast:
NYC Marathon Teleconference with Kara Goucher and Abdi Abdirahman
Posted October 30th, 2008 at 12:17 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
Welcome to a special episode of TheFinalSprint.com Running Podcast featuring the 2008 ING New York City Marathon. Today we present a teleconference interview (courtesy of the New York Road Runners) with Kara Goucher and Abdi Abdirahman, along with New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg and PR Director Richard Finn, as well as several members of the media, including John Elliott of MarathonGuide.com and Peter Gambaccini of Runners World.
During this episode Abdi and Kara talk about their preparations and expectations for the race as well as their goals for the 2009 season. In addition, Kara talks about training under the tutelage of Alberto Salazar (the last American to win the New York City Marathon) and Mary discusses the recent controversy in the Chicago Marathon and the Nike Women’s Marathon over “gun” times trumping “chip” times, and much more!
TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”
Host: NYRR, Jimmie Markham | Guest: Abdi Abdirahman, Kara Goucher
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 33.6 MB | Length: 00:36:47
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ESPN The Magazine Highlights Symmonds Training Blog
Posted October 17th, 2008 at 12:18 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Running & Training, Track & Field, Training Plans, Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds
The most recent blog entry published on TheFinalSprint.com by 2008 U.S. Olympian Nick Symmonds is featured in a new article on the ESPN The Magazine website.
Symmonds’ entry, entitled “Preparing for Indoor Track & My Base Training Regimen”, included a sample week of his base training regimen.
For the full text of Symmonds’ entry, please click here.
To check out the ESPN MagDaily by Evan Bartsch, “Reporting From The Jock-O-Sphere”, please visit:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3648628
Symmonds publishes new blog entries every other Monday at TheFinalSprint.com, so make sure to bookmark and check back often at: http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com
TFS ElectionCast 2008:
USA Track & Field Presidential Candidate DEE JENSEN
Posted October 9th, 2008 at 12:30 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, Drugs In Sports, Trail / Ultra, Masters, Road Racing
Welcome to the third and final episode in TheFinalSprint.com Running Podcast’s special-edition series: “TFS ElectionCast 2008: Interviews With The USATF Presidential Candidates”. This series will introduce you to the candidates for president of the governing body of track & field in the United States: USA Track & Field (USATF).
Today’s interview is with Dee Jensen, who is the current vice-president of USATF and treasurer of the Dakotas Association. She also has experience as a coach and official.
You can find our interview with Bob Bowman here and our interview with Stephanie Hightower here. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed to be notified when these interviews, as well as, all of our other articles and podcasts are published.
TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”
Host: Jimmie R. Markham | Guest: Dee Jensen
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 15.6 MB | Length: 00:22:49
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On June 9, 2009
Bridget said:
I completely agree with this article. Although I don't think moderate caffeine before a moderate workout...