TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Janicki, Sakurai Win IAU Trail World Challenge 50 Mile

Posted December 11th, 2007 at 12:07 PM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Trail / Ultra

This year’s Sunmart 50 mile event served as the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) Trail World Challenge. Runners representing twelve IAU federations ran side-by-side with the Open field to vie for the overall championship. The men’s winner Jaroslaw Janicki hails from Poland and broke the tape in 6 hours, 7 minutes and 46 seconds. The women’s winner, Norimi Sakurai from Japan, clocked in at 6:34:58 at the 18th Texas Trail Endurance Runs on Saturday.

Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: TrailFit.com

One comment, add yours | Permalink

Slow it down … take a hike!

Posted July 19th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Jessica Galvano

Section: Motivation, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Life goes by fast.

Sixty miles per hour to the office. Seven miles per hour on the treadmill. Forty-five in a thirty-five to make practice on time. And all after eight cups of coffee.
The jittery, anxiety-inducing schedule of espressos and non-stop “to dos” has, for many, become an accepted inevitability. In a fast-paced society, the natural tendency is to meet the demands of high speeds by downing Red Bull, exceeding speed limits, and attempting to function on a paltry five hours of sleep.

While it may be nearly impossible to control the speed of your work environment, maintaining a relaxed and enjoyable exercise regimen is entirely within reach. Instead of stepping on the treadmill for your usual run, try a hike instead. The texture of an actual trail is, not surprisingly, preferable to a synthetic treadmill and the scenery certainly has more appeal than the cold, gray concrete of the gym.

Read the rest of this article at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com

Comment on this post | Permalink

Race Recap: Great Midwest Relay (GMR)

Posted July 10th, 2007 at 3:30 PM by Perry Romanowski

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Running & Training, Cross Training

The following race recap was written by endurance “joggler” Perry Romanowski; a unique and talented athlete who successfully juggles while running marathons and other long-distance events at competitive paces. For more information about Perry, “joggling”, and/or to support his current charity venture, please visit: JustYourAverageJoggler.com.

The Great Midwest Relay (GMR) is a two-day race featuring a 190-mile trek from Madison, WI through Milwaukee, WI to Chicago, IL. 2007 marked the third annual running of this team event which is the longest distance race of its kind in the Midwest. Relay teams of 6-12 people run 36-continuous segments along bike paths, wooded trials and streets following red arrows the entire way. Some of the proceeds from GMR are donated to the Special Olympics and runners of all skill levels are encouraged to participate.

This year, 120 teams started and 115 teams finished. The winning time was a blazing 19:55, but the average finishing time was just around 27 hours. It was the first year I participated, so this review is presented from the vantage of a newbie. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. A few minor issues with the event organization were unfortunate but in the end, I’d recommend you try it if you have an inclination for team fitness events.

Read the rest of the recap at our partner site: TrailFit.com

Comment on this post | Permalink

Keeping it safe on the trails

Posted April 2nd, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz

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

Trail running can be a great workout and an excellent way to challenge your body and take your run to the next level. It can also be very mentally fulfilling by providing opportunities to enjoy nature and escape into a world of peace, quiet, and beautiful scenery.

Although enjoyable, trail running, like other forms of exercise, also comes with some inherent and potential risks. Rocky terrain, unknown paths, and unfriendly wildlife can make any trail run a challenging experience. So the next time you’re heading out to a trail, keep these helpful tips in mind to stay safe and have fun:

1) Get the low-down on a particular trail before you begin your run. Consult trail guidebooks, check the internet if possible, talk to people who have already run the trail you’re considering, or speak with the appropriate land-management agency to ensure the trail is safe and open to the public – whatever you do, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into!
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Switch it up and challenge yourself with a trail running adventure!

Posted January 22nd, 2007 at 2:30 PM by Kathryn Magro

Section: Running & Training, Training Tips, Cross Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

We’ve all experienced that day when we finally grow tired of seeing the same houses and landmarks along our running route. What’s a runner to do? Fear no more! Add some excitement, change your scenery, enjoy nature and increase your workout intensity by trying: Trail Running!

Trail running typically takes place on hills, mountains, hiking paths, etc - and is exponentially growing in popularity among runners, triathletes, hikers and other athletes. As a matter of fact, there are now approximately 6.5 million regular trail runners in the United States. The main allures of trail running comes from the more challenging and scenic courses. Constant changes in terrain are common; therefore, proper training and equipment are recommended before participating in any sort of formal races or events.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink