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Josh Cox: Miracles 50
and A Boy Named Sue
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #8)
Posted May 1st, 2008 at 4:00 PM by Josh Cox
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Josh Cox
Welcome to the official blog of U.S. marathon runner Josh Cox. Every other Wednesday visit http://joshcox.thefinalsprint.com for Cox’s latest blog entry and for more information, also please visit: www.joshcox.com
“I believe in miracles.
I believe in a better world for me and you.
Oh, I believe in miracles.
I believe in a better world for me and you.”
-The Ramones,
I Believe in Miracles“Son, this world is rough
And if a man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough
And I know I wouldn’t be there to help you along.
So I give ya that name and I said good-bye
I knew you’d have to get tough or die
And it’s that name that helped to make you strong.”
- A Boy Named Sue
(A song written by Shel Silverstein made famous by Johnny Cash. A song about a dad who names his son Sue and leaves - the son vows to exact his revenge for his awful name. He finds his dad, fights him, his dad gets up, smiles, and explains why he named him Sue. )“The secret of man’s being is not only to live but to have something to live for.”
-Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russian literary giant & Casino fiend
Somewhere around 41 miles, in the high hills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains the race came undone. I could no longer run; a humbling experience for a self-assured 22-year-old college senior who, several hours earlier, had thought running a 50-mile race was a good idea. For the first time in my life I wished I were jogging – oh the horror – anything but the “J-word.” But alas, I was doing the S-word. Shuffling. Shuffling is what we runner’s do, we bypass the jog and enter straight into the shuffle. It’s part of the unwritten code – run slow, shuffle, but never, ever jog.
Read the rest of this entry »
Wardian Wins USA 100k Champs, Shatters Mad City Course Record
Posted April 14th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Trail / Ultra
In his debut at the distance, Michael Wardian won the USA 100km Championship at the Mad City 100k on Saturday. Wardian’s time of 6:56:57 shattered the previous course record of 7:14:31 set by Greg Crowther.
Carolyn Smith was victorious among the female competitor’s and was one of only three women to complete the race. Overall, there was a total of 21 finishers.
Official Results:
MEN -
1. Michael Wardian 6:56:57
2. Steve Stowers 7:14:34
3. Adam Lint 7:19:06
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: TrailFit.com
Crowther to Defend USA 100km Title at Mad City 100K
Posted April 11th, 2008 at 9:08 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Trail / Ultra
Greg Crowther (Seattle, Wash.) will head to Madison, Wisconsin this Saturday to defend his title at the 2008 USA 100 km Championships. The championships will be hosted for the second time by the Mad City 100K.
The distance, 100 kilometers, is just over 62 miles, where 37 competitors will run a scenic 10-kilometer course around Lake Wingra ten times, providing support crews and spectators many opportunities to see the athletes during the event.
Crowther will have his work cut out for him as Michael Wardian (Arlington, Va.), makes his first appearance at the 100 km championships. Wardian won the USA 50 km championships last month, setting a championship record of 2:55:05.
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: TrailFit.com
Ultra Runner Dean Karnazes to Carry Olympic Torch
Posted April 9th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Olympics, Trail / Ultra
According to his new blog entry at RunnersWorld.com,“Ultramarathon Man”
Dean Karnazes has been selected to carry the Olympic torch while it passes through his hometown of San Francisco, CA.
Karnazes, an elite (and at times controversial) ultra endurance athlete, is coming off of an impressive victory at the grueling Atacama Crossing, a 275-K race across the Atacama Desert in Chile. He was also the recipient of ESPN’s 2007 ESPY Award for “Best Outdoor Athlete”.
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: TrailFit.com
Netshifhefhe, Biktagirova to Defend Two Oceans Titles
Posted March 18th, 2008 at 1:00 PM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Trail / Ultra
The 39th Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, to be run over 56 km this Saturday, March 22, in Cape Town, South Africa, will be momentous for a number of reasons. Foremost among these is that the event will have a new race director for the first time in 28 years, with Rowyn James succeeding Chet Sainsbury, who retired after last year’s Two Oceans, which is always held the Saturday before Easter.
The race also has a new technical sponsor in PUMA, while both defending champions, Bethuel Netshifhefhe and Madina Biktagirova, will be returning.
Almost 19,000 runners have entered the ultramarathon and the accompanying half-marathon, which will be held for the 11th time. The shorter race has attracted a record field of 11,213, making it South Africa’s biggest half-marathon.
Read the rest of this entry »
Podcast 112: Two-Time Spartathlon Champion & Premier Ultramarathon Runner SCOTT JUREK
Posted January 7th, 2008 at 7:15 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, Trail / Ultra
Episode 112 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, features my interview with America’s dominating ultramarathon runner and premier vegan athlete SCOTT JUREK.
In the interview Scott evaluates his historic 2007 season, including a course record despite an ankle injury at the Hardrock 100 and his second-consecutive victory at the legendary Spartathlon.
Download the podcast to hear Scott discuss these topics, as well as, his 2008 racing plans, the mental aspects of successful ultra-running, pain perception and tolerance for endurance athletes, Sri Chimnoy’s Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, his volunteer work and passion for the sport, potential post-athletic career plans, and much more!
Listen In
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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Scott Jurek
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 22.4 MB | Length: 32:38 MIN
Episode Sponsored By: Nike +
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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
TFS News Briefs: 11/30/07
Posted November 30th, 2007 at 1:15 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, TFS News Briefs, Trail / Ultra, Masters
Blazing-Fast Fukuoka Marathon Expected
Samuel Wanjiru, the world record holder in the half-marathon, will be making his debut in the marathon at Fukuoka. He hopes to break Atsushi Fujita’s course record of 2:06:51. Fujita and Toshinari Takaoka, the Japanese national record holder at 2:06:16, will be challenging Wanjiru for the victory. It should be one of the 4 fastest marathons of 2007Read more at: [IAAF]
Ultramarathoner Learns Life Lessons in Latest Race
Ultrarunner Kevin Patrick explains the life lessons he took away from his latest race, a 24-hour trail ultra. Writes Patrick, “Ultra marathons demand that you look inward. That you “dig deep.” That you keep pushing when you think you have nothing more to give. But I’m also learning that they demand honest and accurate self-assessments.” Read more at: [Runner’s World]
Preview of Spanish, German Teams at European X-C Championships
European Athletics has previews of the German and Spanish cross-country contingents hoping to win the European Cross-Country Championships in Toro, Spain next weekend. Read more at: [European Athletics: Spain | Germany]
USATF announces 2007 Mountain/Ultra/Trail
Running Awards
Posted November 30th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by Jamal Walker
Section: News & Results, Trail / Ultra
The Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) Council of long distance running has chosen the 2007 USATF Mountain Runners of the Year, Ultrarunners of the Year, and Contributor of the Year. The following will receive their awards at the annual USATF National Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, December 1 at an awards breakfast.
Rickey Gates, 26, Boulder, CO, (Pictured)is the mountain runner of the year. This is the first time Gates has received this award. He had a stellar year winning the USA Mountain Champs and USA Trail (10km) Champs on back-to-back weekends in June, and made his second consecutive Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team.
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: TrailFit.com
Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs to Host
IAU Trail World Challenge
Posted November 16th, 2007 at 12:30 PM by Hariz Siddiqui
Section: News & Results, Trail / Ultra
The 18th Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs, scheduled for Saturday, December 8 in Huntsville State Park, will host the 2007 IAU Trail World Challenge for the 50 Miler and the 50K events. In 2006, Sunmart was given a tryout as the IAU Trail World Challenge and overwhelmingly satisfied the criteria for hosting an IAU (International Association of Ultramarathoners) event.
The 50 mile race and 50 kilometer event are expected to attract over 1,000 ultra-marathoners from more than 40 states and 14 countries. The 50 mile route is comprised of four 12.5 mile loops through the park’s extensive trail network. The 50K route covers a two loop course. The 50 mile event begins at 7:00am, with the 50K race set to start at 7:30am at Huntsville State Park, which is 60 miles north of Houston. A prize purse will be awarded in both the 50 Miler and the 50K.
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: TrailFit.com
What is your favorite running movie or documentary?
Recent Comments
Page 2 Articles
- Dancing the Bear: A 100-Mile Journey of Personal Exploration (DVD)
Documentaries have become an increasingly popular and powerful movie genre, with a variety of titles such as “Super Size Me”, “Fahrenheit 9/11″ “Roger and Me”, and “Spellbound” gaining both cult status and mass appeal.
However, the special interests of runners have been largely neglected, and I’ve been left wondering, “Where’s my running documentary?”. My wait […] - Koerner ends winless streak; earns top honors at Western States 100mi Endurance Run
Sixth time’s a charm. For Hal Koerner, a sixth attempt at the Western States Endurance Run brought a long sought after victory. A five-year streak without title ended for Koerner Saturday night as he crossed a finish lined with spectators. At 9:12 p.m., Koerner received a winner’s welcome from a host of camera flashes and […]
- Kimball retains title at Western States Endurance Run
Nikki Kimball, first place women’s finisher in the 2004 and 2006 Western States Endurance Run, approached the start of this year’s 100-miler with hopes of a third title. Despite her previous successes in California’s notoriously challenging ultramarathon, Kimball was not convinced of certain victory.
Like many of her peers, the Montana runner regards the Western […] - VIDEO: Koerner, Kimball win 2007 Western States 100 Endurance Run
Congratulations to Hal Koerner and Nikki Kimball on winning one of the world’s most grueling, athletic events: the 100 mile Western States Endurance Run.
Koerner was able to top an intense challenge from Erik Skaden and edged out 2006 champion, Graham Cooper, to win in 16 hours, 12 minutes and 16 seconds. On the […] - Shvetsov Recorded Fastest Comrades Pace Ever
The Comrades Marathon, the world’s largest and most famous ultramarathon, presents a unique challenge for the sport’s statisticians. Not only does the race change direction each year between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, but either gains or loses 670m (2197 feet) of elevation depending on the direction (Durban is at sea level). This year’s race […]
- Two deaths mar last Sunday’s Comrades Marathon
Two runners who participated in the 82nd Comrades Marathon died on Sunday, one during the race and one afterwards. The ultramarathon, which had more than 12,000 entrants, was run over 89.3 km between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
Michael Gordon (34) died shortly after being helped across the finish line by fellow runners. He apparently suffered a heart […] - Stunning victory for Shvetsov at Comrades Marathon
Size doesn’t matter, at least not in the Comrades [Marathon].
Tall, strongly-muscled, long-striding Russian Leonid Shvetsov, 38, finally disproved the belief that big men can’t win the “down” Comrades when he shattered Bruce Fordyce’s venerable 21-year-old record in the ultramarathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban by more than three minutes in what second placer Grigoriy Murzin described […] - 34th Western States 100-mile Endurance Run
Beginning in the Squaw Valley and finishing in Auburn, the Western States Endurance Run spans 100 miles of rugged California trails, ascends to an elevation of over 15,000 feet, and attracts some of the world’s most dedicated outdoor runners.
As one of the longest-running and most prestigious ultramarathons, the Western States 100-miler boasts over 400 […] - Russians & South Africans poised to dominate Comrades Marathon
South African men have won the last three “down” Comrades Marathons, but it seems likely that a Russian will be first across the line this Sunday, June 17, when the 82nd running of the world’s largest ultramarathon takes place between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The distance of the race this year is 89.3 km.
The ultramarathon will […] - Race Recap: 2007 Bishop High Sierra 50m/50k
They say that in chess, the best players think several moves ahead. As we drove into Bishop for the 14th annual 50-miler and 50k (actually, a 33-miler, but who’s counting?) on May 19, we were doing the same thing, inspired by the city’s name and thinking of our next move, as in:
When can we visit […]
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On May 16, 2008
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