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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

Cornell and LetsRun.com’s Robert “Rojo” Johnson

Posted June 25th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Interviews, College

The 2008 American Milers Club High Performance Series wrapped up last Saturday, June 14, mostly without a hitch. The weather in Indianapolis was perfect, the crowd was enthusiastic and the races were stacked with talented athletes.

Among the outstanding performances was Anna Willard’s personal record of 4:06.26 in the 1500-meter run. In the men’s 1500-meter run, Steve Sherer also set a personal best with a 3:36.81 that barely beat Andy McClary’s 3:36.91.

The main attraction of the night, however, was Alan Webb in the 800-meter run. When word got out earlier in the week that he would race, fans expected to see him redeem himself for his sub par 1500-meter performance at the June 8 Prefontaine Classic. Instead, Webb placed fifth with a time of 1:47.41, far from his 1:43.84 personal best. With the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials just days away, what do these races mean for Webb’s chance to make the team? Will the number-one 1500 and 800-meter runner in the nation not go to the Beijing Olympics? While many of Webb’s fans remain optimistic, others are concerned.
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Podcast 48: Interview with LetsRun’s Weldon Johnson

Posted May 11th, 2007 at 12:21 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 48 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with Weldon Johnson; the co-owner of the LetsRun.com and it’s extremely popular, helpful, and at times controversial message board.

Although he has been plagued by injuries, Weldon, known to avid Lets Run’ners as “Wejo”, is also an accomplished post-collegiate runner and an Olympic marathon hopeful. Some of his career highlights include winning the 1998 Marine Corps Marathon, qualifying for the 2000 Olympic trials, and pacing Paula Radcliffe at the 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on the way to a new world record.

In the interview Weldon talks about where LetsRun.com came from, his long terms goals for the site, the plethora of experienced podtrac_survey_120x60_v2 runners who interact often anonymously or with aliases on the message board, and why Lets Run has never been redesigned.

Download the podcast to hear Weldon discuss these topics, as well as, his own running career and future aspirations, the decision to quit his job and train full-time, pacing Paula, the growth of post-collegiate running groups, his trip to Mombasa, Kenya for this year’s World XC Champs and much more!

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Weldon Johnson
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 20.5 MB
Length: 00:29:52

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Other stories and links of interest: March 26, 2007

Posted March 26th, 2007 at 2:30 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results

World XC Recap: A Truly Unbelievable Day — LetsRun.com’s Weldon (Wejo) Johnson offers first-hand coverage of the World Cross Country Championships from Mombasa, Kenya.

“Marathon Woman” — The brand-new autobiography of the legendary and revolutionary Kathrine Switzer; the first woman to register for and enter the Boston Marathon. This year’s race will mark the 40th anniversary of her courageous and pioneering accomplishment. Swizter, a NYC Marathon Champion, also co-authored “26.2: Marathon Stories” and wrote “Running and Walking for Women Over 40″.

dathan-ritzenhein-runners-world-april-2007-michael-darter.jpg “Making of a Marathoner” — Runners World (April ‘07 Edition) … If you haven’t read this in-depth article on American runner Dathan Ritzenhein - it’s time that you do. Kenny Moore, a former Olympic marathoner who was trained by the legendary Bill Bowerman, details Ritz’s development and ongoing transformation into a gutsy and fearless marathoner.