Coincidences abound - Jonnie, my friend whose summer bbq’s are legendary on the balcony of his lower east side manhattan apartment, is a big Chelsea football supporter, so I emailed him to tell him I’d be in the area - and it turns out his mum lives there on Cheyne!!

Visit www.ReebokGrandPrix.com for tickets, more information and updated news on additional athletes, or call 1-877-RBK-GP05. They are cheap two - for the price of one Stones ticket you can take a family of six! Inspire with fire.

DavidP tight hams, Anil “I‘ve something to say, later…” Yeah, Queen of the Harriers picking it up when she wished, AmexLee, Cruiser battling the winds, and Jonathan aiming for the ‘stams.’
Suneet sent his excuse…“Was actually going to return to the track today!!! But the weather put me off...yeah, I'm a wimp, I know. Leg is on the mend - gone from limpy to laggard but lightning is a long way away yet. I am clearly deconditioned. Seems like I have lost my stamina for distance running (according to the textbooks, my muscles are depleted of the glycogen stores they build up when you do regular long runs). So I have a lot of work to do! Off to do a killer progressive hill workout on the treadmill…” Besides he’s off to hike in Hanoi!

Four-time Olympic medalist Maurice Greene, world-leading shot putter John Godina and eight-time World Cross Country Championship medalist Werknesh Kidane lead the list of world-class international athletes announced today for the inaugural Reebok Grand Prix. What a meet this is shaping up to be!! June the 11th!

Tergat has not confirmed his participation interest as yet to run, but has also been asked to help as a team manager…interestingly enough you’ll note that Felix Limo is not there, after one bad(?) result, third in Rotterdam after four 2:06’s, they ignore him…. And Catherine Ndereba has a an auto slot if she wants it from the IAAF as defending champion.

So I get to the airline and check in, I want to take everything as hand baggage and the lady says, “You’re a couple of pounds over the limit” So I tell her, “Let me just take my coat out of the bag (Even though I am wearing it)” and what I do, on the other side of the counter that she can’t see is simply empty half of the possessions onto the ground and re-weigh the bag - “Good Love, that’s fine!” She tells me, as I bend down and scoop all the things back into the bag.. I was on a roll!

I got to the check in desk and waited till almost everyone had boarded… then when I walked onto the plane and those puny little seats caught my eye I merely swizzed my direction and threw my bag onto a Business class seat, sat down, and hey presto I had given myself a free upgrade - that’s the only way to fly Virgin.. In business it is actually a decent airline!

Talking Money - $100 to see the Stones? Jezz, I saw them in 1980’s, on their so called farewell tour, for under 10-quid… how times have changed. If they do ten songs that‘d be…. Oh well.

“A small group with Lornah, Hilda, Derarte Tulu and Jelena Prokopcuka ran the first kilometer in 2:57. 3 K went in 9:15 with Lornah, Hilda and Jelena way ahead of the rest of the field. At 5 K Lornah and Hilda ran away from Jelena and ran together till 8 K. At 8 K Jelena came back so Lornah started to push the pace and ran the 8th kilometer in 3 minutes. At 8,5 K Hilda had to let Lornah go. At 9 K Hilda was passed by Jelena. Lornah won in 31:28 with Jelena Prokopcuka 2nd in 31:35 ( NR ). Hilda finished 3rd in a new PB of 31:46, well ahead of 4th and 5th finishers Charlotte Dale ( 32:51 ) and Derartu Tulu ( 32:53 ).

“Doris Changeywo ran the Marikenloop in Nijmegen. The Marikenloop is a Women's Race over 5 kilometer and organised by the same organisation of the Seven Hills 15 K. Doris started pretty fast and after 1 kilometer she was well ahead of the rest of the field. She won the race in a course record of 16:23. Dutch Kristijna Loonen was 2nd in 16:52.
Next weekend Lornah, Hilda and Doris will run in the FBK Games in Hengelo, the Dutch GP1. They will run the 5,000 meter.”

Alemtsehay won the women's race in 35:10, one of WTC's fine runners, with Julia Stamps in second for NYAC. NYAC also had the top man too for the locals with John Henwood clocking in under the 30-minute mark, 29:29, just ahead of El Khatarbi 29:31 of WTC. A very classy race, and good to see John on the way back to fitness. My tip, Simon W. was too tired from his 1:13 25-k run last week where he passed 10k in a time well superior to what he ran yesterday.

I have been running now so much in Hyde Park I feel like I know the place, and it is definately a secondary park to NYC's. We saw a race there and it was sticks and stones compared to the NYRR's affairs. No chip mat, hand writing the entry forms, etc etc.....

BIg thanks to Urban who kindly gave us his morning, and also to Huw Lobb (14th in London this year). who is the first runner to beat a horse in the runner Vs horse race last year where he won $40,000. (hey to rent an apartment, unfurnished in Chelsea is 5,000-pounds a week on this street where we are based),,,,,,, Anyway back to Huw, he was great and gave an interview in the Park... Today we will meet Joyce Smith at her home, who won London twice and ran in the 1972 & 1984 Olympics for another interview, and the famous Hugh Jobes at his house as well.

The flight over was bad - I hate Virgin... we are on line for take off and other planes overtake us on the run way, 'Oh another daly' what pulling power... plus we fly at such an altitude we got turbulance like on a small jet up in East Icelandic stromy skies.....

I was sitting next to a woman who had lingered too long in the tax free perfumary, nevertheless we provided some entertainment, especially in her efforts to drink red wine whilst wearing white on the rough weather....

THe stewards on the plane got in a flap when I hit the call button three times (the trick to getting some attention) - hit it once you are ignored, wait five minutes, nothing, hit it twice, same thing. So I flashed the light three times and the medic s started running - apparently that is for emergencies only! All this finally got me a glass of water... it was that kind of flight - compared to British Airways Virgin is a dump, well worth the extra money to fly BA!

Arriving in England I was surprised how slow people move compared to the 'ritmo' of NYC. I mean we are on a moving esculator and people jam-stand to block your way moving at a yard a minute... I love the fast flow in NYC, makes getting places so much easier...

The underground/Subway though is nicer here, far more clean, comfortable and civilized. Beautiful stations too with curved low ceilings & wonderful old prints and posters (Tried to pry one from the wall but was unable).....

On the 4th of June both Lornah and Hilda will run in the Freihofer 5 K in Albany, NY. This will be Hilda's first race in the US. Lornah won last weekend the Britannic Asset Management Women's 10 K in Glasgow in 31:44 with Hilda finishing 2nd in 31:52. Next weekend the two will run in the Manchester 10 K in the UK.

Mind you an insider tip - don‘t expect blazing saddle results in Manchester, wait until NYC….

So noticing the lack of urm, good things, in the basket I politely enquired if she was having a final binge.. Well that did not go down too well I can tell you, from the shape of her eyebrows curling at me. Then, pointing out the lack of substance I had in my own basket, “I see your health kick didn’t get past January?” In referral to my every year resolution to eat more vegetables…. Touché.

“that is what I get for using equipment I have not used for years without testing it first. At least I can look forward to the 400m in two weeks knowing that I will run in new gear.” Well for once we can say, Glad we weren‘t there!

Lissy who did some tremendous reeling in, Mia who dances the strides we note, Rick “Haven’t ran so fast since I was 13,” Luiz, Chuckychina, DavidP, RandySax going on a coffee course this weekend, Kwasi-clothed, Anil, AmexChris, Michelle getting back to her zippy self, Queen of the Harriers running tough, Cristina - great jump over a soccer ball, Vanessa (safe trip to Brasil) and a great session! and Jonathan hanging in like a trooper. Excuse of the night? Hotrod Evelyn‘s, “Due to locking myself out of my apartment tonight, I didn't make it down to the track.”

Paul won the world half marathon champs when debuing at the 21.1k running 60-flat… I think he could have been a WR holder in the marathon if he‘d moved up in the nineties, instead of 2003 when he still ran a sublime 2:07:07... Apart from all this Paul is a true Gentleman of the Sport, one of the most humble athletes you‘ll ever meet.

Women- RUDOLPH AMY 31 F PROVIDENCE RI 16:08 #2 DAVENPORT MARIE 30 F GUILFORD CT 16:09 #3 MISGANAW ALEMTSEHAY of WTC 16:13

Olympic hurdles star Liu Xiang set for Reebok Grand Prix
NEW YORK CITY (May 17) – Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, whose historic victory in Athens has transformed him into a megastar as his nation prepares to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, will compete at the Reebok Grand Prix on June 11, organizers announced today. Liu will run the 110-meter hurdles, at which he tied the world record when he ran 12.91 to win the 2004 Olympic gold medal.

“The event will be part of Liu’s first tour of competition in the United States, and his only scheduled appearance on the East Coast. The Reebok Grand Prix will be the first international competition ever held in the new Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, and marks the return of world-class outdoor track and field to the East Coast. Tickets, at $30 and $20, are now on sale. Group discounts are available. So get them whilst you can.

Meanwhile Meb‘s quote, “The Healthy Kidney 10K race is for a good cause and it will help me determine my fitness level.” says he is either sandbagging or not entirely confident we think…

#2 - June 25th is the race - To be a race volunteer is rewarding, and when it is a race like the Achilles TC’s Hope & Possibility race doubley so - Dani Lachowicz Volunteer Coordinator, Email: dclachowicz@aol.com Lots of different interesting opportunities to help out over the weekend, so why not give a morning of your time? Go for it!

The Simba’s Schedule - Race schedule for the coming few weeks: May 22: Lornah and Hilda in the Manchester 10 K May 22: Doris in the 5 K Marikenloop, Netherlands May 29: Lornah, Hilda and Doris in the FBK Games, Hengelo ( 5000 m ) June 4: Hilda and Lornah in the Freihofer 5 K, Albany NY June 17: Hilda, Lornah and Doris in the Utrecht 10,000 m.

WOMEN 1) Colleen De Reuck, 41, USA/CO, 1:25:15(M), $9500 2) Albina Ivanova, RUS, 1:26:53, $2000 3) Jenny Crain, USA/WI, 1:28:29, $3500 - both Master results are pending US records, and WR for Colleen!

Well in fact when we arrived at the parking lot I actually remembered I had ran there before, a long time ago with CPTC - it is an awesome place to run, and makes the Rockefeller Estates seem like a kept garden. I ran with my running buddy Falusi and the time flew by running in such an amazing place.. We got a little lost but… On the way back we stopped off to discover the town of NP, and the starbucks there. It is how I imagine the village of Woodstock to be like, tie-dye and incense with a mid America look to the inhabitants, and many students dotted enough to make an out of place feel to an in-place college town. I would like to be there running more often on those amazing trails. I also met up with an interesting chap called Karl who is doing lots of philanthropic stuff in East Africa right now - he has just returned from visiting Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya in a whirlwind two week trip.

However I am not sure how plausible it is to suggest he was breathing in second hand smoke to the amount to be tested positive as I have no idea about the limits, but is sounds pretty iffy to me!
One thing is for sure, cannabis is not a performance enhancer for the 100m!

2000m ST - 1 Shaheen Saif Saaeed QAT 5:14.53 2 Kiprotich Wesley KEN 5:16.46 3 Rutto Ronald Kipchumba KEN 5:20.44
(Missing the WR 5:14.43, set by Seoul Olympic champion, Julius Kariuki of Kenya in 1990)

women’s 3000 ST - Inzikuru Docus UGA 9:28.50 2 Chepchumba Salome KEN 9:39.34 3 Tóth Lívia HUN 9:41.48

M3000 - Kipchoge Eliud KEN 7:28.56 2 Choge Augustine Kiprono KEN 7:28.78 (WJR) 3 Limo Benjamin KEN 7:29.60

M1500 - 1 Komen Daniel Kipchircir KEN 3:30.77 2 Bashir Daham Najim QAT 3:31.04 3 Kipchirchir Alex KEN 3:31.10 4 Songok Isaac Kiprono KEN 3:31.94
W3000 - 1 Defar Meseret ETH 8:39.75 2 Adere Berhane ETH 8:39.87 3 Bati Gelete Burika ETH 8:39.90

Also to the Urban team - CURTIS PAUL STEWART CHRISTOPHER KNAFLIC RANDY MO GIAMPIETRO UATH NEW YORK GOODWIN DAVIE KAVANAGH PAUL TILLMAN SABRINA GARVER KARIN LYNCH CHRISTOPHER MULIA ADAM MADELL ROBIN ALLEN JONATHAN

Ali the Juiceman with a hopping leg, Luiz, Lissy, Michelle who gets the commitment award for the night after leaving the Yankees game early to attend, “I ate a hotdog I hope my stomach is…” and it was!, Cristine, Anil in Orange, Queen Diane, Kevin, DavidG, Rick, Mia, Eve - her second boot camp in as many days, Colleen, HotRod Evelyn, Kim discovering bathrooms aren‘t so common downtown, and Kwasi. Even OzPaul made an appearance… late.

Talking Father-Mothers… Congrats to Charlotte’s (from the Wednesday night group) MAAM team that grabbed team bronze on Sunday, and an article in the press as well.

And the quote of the race, Hoff who bettered his PB by over two minutes said: “Everybody was looking at Jifar. At 35 kms, when I was looking back I saw that he was no longer a danger. At that moment I thought I can finish in the top five. I was even happier with second. I have to thank Peter Langerhorst, the husband of Lornah Kiplagat, who advised me to run slower in my training. He has proved to be right with saying so.” - Way to go Starbucks!

The prices is Scotland are not as bad as London either, though my comrades tell me that Dublin is even more expensive these days. Which reminds me one of these days I must get over to visit the Berk who must be a master this November - I am trying to persuade him to make a come back to competition, but apparently he likes gardening too much - his last 5-miles was a very low 23, and that is pretty speedy for a 39-yr old… hm, probably worth over 100% on the age grading…

Anyway, a while back I was talking about how annoying it is to go with someone when they taek a cellphone to the table, even the noise... like in a church when the ringtones go off.. (Ed's note - what would you know about churches?)

Going back to the cafes and the cellphones -

Mind you, (see below picture)the seats (extremely comfortable we may add, and transportable too no less)are somewhat off the norm up in the outdoor cafes in some parts of the world too! They would make for a great marathon post race café though, y'know when you sit down and can not get back up again.
The plants on the tables can be purchased, or chewed, along with the bakery goods. I did not pluck any leaves off and eat them, y‘know just in case!

On the Wickers....

Three Little Words That Work !!
(1)The three little words are: "Hold On, Please..." Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventually hear the phone company's "beep-beep-beep" tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task. These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.

(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?
This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a "real" sales person to call back and get someone at home.

What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer !!!

(3) Junk Mail Help:
When you get "ads" enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these "ads" with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away. When you get those "pre-approved" letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 37 cents postage "IF" and when they receive them back. It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before! the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes.

One of Andy Rooney's (60 minutes) ideas.
Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 37 cents. The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it...Twice! Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea !

If enough people follow these tips, it will work---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.

Saw Shiney in the park the other day with Kate - he has been running well of late, genes - did we mention his brother has run 8:16 for the steeplechase 3000m?

Women - 3000m 1. Prisca Jepleting (KEN) 8:58.6 2. Veronica Nyarwai (KEN) 9:01.3 3. Agnes Chenonge (KEN) 9:04.6

It was nice to be again in a restaurant where for the first two and a half hours there was not one single cellphone to be heard!

That night at the Fiorello’s restaurant opposite the Lincoln Center - Margherita pizza as a starter (with the thinnest of crusts you have ever seen, talking blue rizla papers ), Filet of Sole (with capers as the vegetable!), and strawberry cheesecake drizzled in chocolate sauce from a copper pot for the dessert - Yum, and it was a huge slice too! In that restaurant they have reserved seating for regulars, like Pavarotti has his booth complete with a brass nameplate, we tried to get a photo but did not manage…. The food was good though….

Talking restaurants the sommelier at a very well known posh restaurant is a good runner, he is a member of the Buena Vista Gym and word has it he was running “Very fast” the other day… next time I am there I’ll have to ask him for some wine recommendations, although I am not actually lacking in a list of my own taste.

And Galen Rupp, coached by Salazar, beat Rudy Chapa's 29-year old American junior record of 28:32 with a 28:15.51 in Eugene on the same night.

Snapper Don was out there, we saw Frank McConville, I even saw my friend Srba Nikolic who I have not seen in an age and a half! The New York Flyers won the team race inboth the women’s ½ & the 5k!

Watch out for Rose in Berlin, she‘s a legend and will debut like one too I am sure.

Women 1. Jelena Prokopcuka (Lat) 32:42 2. Derartu Tulu (Eth) 32:54 (after London!!) 3. Jessica Augusto (Por) 33:24

In Oxford, England, 25-year-old medical student Roger Bannister cracks track and field's most notorious barrier: the four-minute mile. Bannister, who was running for the Amateur Athletic Association against his alma mater, Oxford University, won the mile race with a time of 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.

For years, so many athletes had tried and failed to run a mile in less than four minutes that people made it out to be a physical impossibility. The world record for a mile was 4 minutes and 1.3 seconds, set by Gunder Hýgg of Sweden in 1945. Despite, or perhaps because of, the psychological mystique surrounding the four-minute barrier, several runners in the early 1950s dedicated themselves to being the first to cross into the three-minute zone.

Roger Bannister, born in Harrow, England, in 1929, was a top mile-runner while a student at the University of Oxford and at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London. In 1951 and 1953, he won British championships in the mile run. As he prepared himself for his first competitive race of the 1954 season, Bannister researched the mechanics of running and trained using new scientific methods he developed. On May 6, 1954, he came to the Iffley Road track in Oxford for the annual match between the Amateur Athletic Association and Oxford University. Conditions were far from ideal; it had been windy and raining. A considerable crosswind was blowing across the track as the mile race was set to begin.

At 6 p.m., the starting gun was fired. In a carefully planned race, Bannister was aided by Chris Brasher, a former Cambridge runner who acted as a pacemaker. For the first half-mile, Brasher led the field, with Bannister close behind, and then another runner took up the lead and reached the three-quarter-mile mark in 3 minutes 0.4 seconds, with Bannister at 3 minutes 0.7 seconds. Bannister took the lead with about 350 yards to go and passed an unofficial timekeeper at the 1,500-meter mark in 3 minutes 43 seconds, thus equaling the world's record for that distance. Thereafter, Bannister threw in all his reserves and broke the tape in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. As soon as the first part of his score was announced--"three minutes..."--the crowd erupted in pandemonium.

Bannister went on to win British and Empire championships in the mile run, and the European title in the 1,500-meter event in 1954. At the end of the year, Bannister retired from athletic competition to pursue his medical career full time and in 1955 recounted his experiences in the book The Four Minute Mile. He later earned a medical degree from Oxford and became a neurologist. In 1975, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

His world record in the mile did not stand long, and the record continued to be lowered with increasingly controlled climatic and surface conditions, more accurate timing devices, and improvements in training and running techniques. A "sub-four" is still a notable time, but top international runners now routinely accomplish the feat. Because a mile is not a metric measurement, it is not a regular track event nor featured in the Olympics. It continues, however, to be run by many top runners as a glamour event.

We had a great night with focused athletes lining up to learn… the salt shaker was session #1.…. Saw Monsieur Mileage in the park, and just as I was doing a couple of hula hoop twirls Sylvia came by laughing, but hey this is Central Park - ALSO, if you can run the Central Park six mile loop for Soundwalk and listen to a running CD let me know, but it has to be in the next few days. Thx.

Y’know the kind of race where the gun goes off and you don’t? Well that was it. Actually I am not a royalist at all, no real interest in the royals, but before the race I was jogging behind the castle on some little dirt trails.

The paths were yards from the Castle’s back door and I could not help but remember reading an article how when Princess Diana came here she felt ostracized and left out, so she would take walks, and I had a spooky feeling that it was here she used to wander… who knows.

The Tartan 10k concept is looking to go to a four city grand prix - watch out New Zealand! The locals really got behind the event, and there are some magnificent castles/stately home type places around where one can stay before/after the race.

The running up there is perfect, with wooded paths reminiscent of Sweden. Next year the race organizers are thinking of putting together tours which would be a blast starting with the race. A whisky tour, golf, and a good post race party would be nice. There is also a tartan uniform (shorts/singlet) in the making too for those not kilt-inclined.

Although this was a somewhat rustic version many cafes in Scotland insist that Mobiles are turned off before entering a café or a restaurant, a nice touch that one misses when living in New York where the obligatory table layout is a knife, a fork, and a cellphone at each seat.

WOMEN 1.Farida Makula, Timmax, 37.55.39 2.Halima Ramadhani, Team 100, 38.40.77 3.Asia Swalehe, Mapanda, 39.59.04

Fancied to write the date that way, a pretty exquisite day! Anyway thanks to Kurt Le Vert who managed to find this picture from the Balmoral Road Races somehow, he also managed to find the results too as I had not managed -

Dereje Kebede who won the Scottish Race did so in 32:25-minutes (Our reporter struggled to 6th). Kebede was very interested to hear how the Track races were going back in his homeland -
Ethiopian Track Champs - Men's 10,000m 1. Gebregziabher Gebremariam (Ethiopian Banks) 28:38.94 2. Abebe Dinkessa (Prisons Police) 28:39.07 3. Assefa Mezgebu (Ethiopian Banks) 28:56.54 Women's 1500m 1. Gelete Burika (Prisons Police) 4:10.10

The man who was third was also in the national team the year that Kebede first made the squad, he said, “The first National Team I made I was with Tesfaye Tola (Olympic Bronze), Jifar (NYC winner & CR holder), Mezgebu (WC Silver 10,000), and Haile Gebrselassie…” And a lot of his success came from the ‘belief’ - simply knowing he was good enough to run with these guys made him think he was a 27-min man when he stepped out of Ethiopia
Wow, imagine, you must know you have made it when those guys are your team mates - and in fact that squad did win WC Gold in the Half Marathon Champs in Bristol. Dejere ran 61:59 earlier this year he said in Kenya.

More coming tomorrow we hope, of Scotland anyway!

“The 2005 NYRR Outdoor Track Series will start at 7:15 pm on Tuesday nights (May 17 and 31; June 14 and 28) and feature races at distances from 400m to 5000m. Registration begins at 6:45 pm at Icahn Stadium each evening. For details, see the NYRR website and calendar:
http://www.nyrr.org/nyrrc/org/home.html. We hope to see you at Icahn Stadium!!
Well the local runners have begged for this, so let‘s hope they support it too! Get up there - Get track!

Michelle in Green, David G looking better when he left the social club, David P on the drive, Kwasi - in gear for the spring, Colleen made a good drive with the stables in sight, John pushing well, Eve stepping up well, Greg on a mission, Susan - even adding extra on! Cruiser - thx for the shoes4africa shoes! Luiz ran right on the button, and RandySax well recovered from Boston. And Shawn popped by too, in spring green.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2005 HOPE & POSSIBILITY 5 MILER FEATURING: Thousands of New Yorkers Recently Wounded War Heroes The Always Inspiring Achilles Track Club And One Famous Jogger: Trisha Meili, author of I Am the Central Park Jogger; A Story of Hope & Possibility

For more information on registering as a team or an individual, call Achilles at (212)354-0300, or email us at achillestc@aol.com The Hope & Possibility welcomes everyone regardless of your ability; runners, joggers, walkers, wheelchairs! Corporations Organizations Families Schools Health & Wellness Centers YOU! Achilles track club -- hope & possibility 5 mile run/walk

Traveling to the race: I stayed with Quentin & Amanda, the race hosts, the night before the race, and the Ethiopian guy who is very nice.. We drove very early in the morning to Balmoral Castle as I had to do a TV show for the BBC. Bang went my hope of actually getting a sleep in after my travels (didn’t sleep the previous night).. But now, anyway we were whizzing round these bendy Scottish highland roads where the Scots fought off the English when the Ethiopian guy regurgitated his breakfast, all over my luggage… Hmm, what a start!

Arriving at the castle six hours before the race start we met the film crew and I went off to do the filming.. Too bad for me that the film director wanted the shooting to be done out of the Sun, and it was flippin cold in the gray shade! Well I did get the chance to nip in the castle which caused considerable edgy looks from about five caretaker ladies who watched me like a hawk would a pending meal creature.. I kept on looking for the Royals but spotted none!

The actual race was a success for the organizers - 6,000 people at the event, 1,600-runners, eight ferrets (I kid you not), and no rain! A beautiful course - though rather odd seeing army men in the bushes (as this was the royal residence)…. Desperate attempts to get he Ethiopian in a kilt failed at the last minute, yet he won the race (But in a slower time than my “WR”) wearing just tartan shorts and a singlet. I met up with parents at the race, and drove back with them… away from getting cups of coffee with milk automatically added. Luckily my parents had good coffee and cupboards of Yogi teabags! Almost a temple of herbal tea…. I forgot to mention every time I heard the race announcer talking he was moaning that my kilt was not “regulation weight” for a kilt, and I met the Scottish man who ran in a ’proper’ kilt.. So I asked him, “Do you want to swop because my kilt goes below the knees and it is damn hard to run with floppy material chopping your stride…” He did not want to - I mean all of us train in track suits, what was the deal?

The next day - Seals & Sin-ema… in the morning we went to the coast and saw loads of seals. I suggest a home movie for green peace - do you remember when they clubbed a seal to death in a propaganda film? Anyway it started to pour so we went to see (not Sea) Sahara at the movie house instead - not a bad fun film, like a James Bond with cavalier humor. Coming home I helped my parents take down a tree in their garden (I once went on a course to be a Tree Surgeon), with deadly slivers of bark flying I felled the thing.

The next day we went to visit a castle build in 1596, there was nice paintings on the ceilings of the room, so I decided to sneak a photo (cameras are banned from the inside of these old residential castles). I made my mother guard the door whilst I whipped out the camera.. I thought I turned off the flash, but no - a huge zizz went round the room and down the spiral staircase, but luckily nobody complained… then my Mother started taking pictures too as she spied a painting on the roof of a guy playing a lute and thought it too good to miss.

These castles are rather amazing - usually what happened is that the owners could not afford the upkeep so they ‘donate the castle’ to the national trust.

Then it was the Hitchhikers’ Guide to Coffee… we found this café that was started by a hitchhiker who went round Britain, suddenly got bored on the road, stopped and built a café in the nearby field - he had rickshaws to sit in (photos to come).. The muffins where not too good though… Moments after we went to a Mohair shop and the shop keeper was excited because Prince Charles & Camilla had just been in “Oh Charles was touching everything” “Camilla was in that red coat”

Then we went to the Scottish Hotel, Restaurant, and Manager award winning place for Coffee and cakes where they played dire repetitive jigs and clicked their fingers whilst saying “aiy” to everything that was asked, yet not producing the desired cakes… yep that was a flavor of the holiday…

Flying back I nearly missed the flight - I was early but then was daydreaming around the duty free when I heard my name, “Last call for the BA flight! Mr. Tanser we are waiting for you and will take..” Off I sprinted - ‘Minn Hinsti resa’ as they could say Up North. The girl sitting next to me was excited because a few seats up in the plane sat the Archer from the Lord of the Rings, hm, I was not so impressed and was more interested in eating my Lebkuchen cookies brought onboard so I would not have to eat the flying food! I opened the inflight magazine and got a laugh from “Monaco on a Budget” - yeah right! Kind’ve like the Masa restaurant review (“That $500 meal is so-o-o worth it“) next to the envelope in the mag asking for your unused foreign coins to help unicef.. “Pennies make a difference.” How the world flips huh? Anyway enough of that--

People who step out of SUV’s round here usually have problems making the arduous journey to the sidewalk from the road, and would gladly park on the sidewalk if allowed.

Marathon Training Class.

Hm races we recommend coming up:
Revlon Run 5k this Saturday… Cinco De Mayo in Prospect Park next weekend (win trips to Puerto Rico if you run fast enough)…. Mid May Classic - a pancake 4-miler in Fairfield with a fab organization and food fest following the race….. Then of course the Ridgewood Races - 1-mile, 5-k, and 10-k in NJ at the close of the month…….

On that note I once knew a girl in Sweden, a girl friend of one of the training partners at Sparvagen who used to change toothbrushes very frequently… come to think about it she‘d give TGV a run for his money. I remember once we were on a training camp… no you had to be there, all about a bus, not paying the full fare, and a village called San Pedro. Those were the days living in the South of Spain pretending to be a hard working athletes… I used to go on a morning run and get chased by a mad donkey when I crossed ‘his‘ field. Anyone who wants a cheap running holiday could do worse than head for that region, the mountains Andalusia ones are fab for training in.

And…London marathon champion Martin Lel hopes to run in either the Chicago or New York City races this year if he fails to win selection in the Kenyan team for the Helsinki world championships in August….

Then as fate would have it I just got this email from Conor!
“Seventeen years ago Eamonn Coughlin initiated a 5 mile race in his adopted home of Rye, NY. Today the race is a highly popular fixture on the Tri State racing calendar and attracts top runners from around the area as well as every day runners looking to participate in a community organized race through the beautiful streets of Rye.

“Just 25 miles from Manhattan, Rye is easily accessible by Metro North train from Grand Central station and by car on the I-95.
>There is a one mile kids fun run at 1pm followed by the 5 mile race at 1.45pm. Post race festivities include a free barbeque and prize giving.
>The race is a fast USATF certified course and the course record (2004) is an astonishing 22:46.
>The race benefits children’s programs at the YMCA.
>5 mile start at 1.45, 1 mile kids race at 1pm
>Entrance fee (includes T shirt and BBQ) $20
>Registration : online at Runner.org (look for RYE YMCA race registration). Limited race day registration
>Number pickup: At Rye Ymca on race day
>Prizes: !st. $500, 2nd $300, 3rd $200 (male and female) and team prizes, men and women $250, 5 deep. Age group medals for all age group categories.

Three Fast Ethiopians.com @ Dinner.

In the women’s race congrats to Alemtsehay Misganaw 24 WTC NY 21:56 2 Julia Stamps 26 NYAC NY 22:41 3 Leteyesus Berhe 26 WTC NY 22:50

Age group winners - Birthday Boy Stephane ’Monsieur Mileage’ Bois 40 WS NY 21:36 Jerry Macari 45 UATH NY 21:38 Paul Mascali 52 NY 22:12 Sidney Howard 66 CPTC NJ 26:35 Zofia Wieciorkowska 42 WS CT 24:01 Jean Chodnicki-Stemm 45 WS NY 25:09 Mary Rosado 55 CPTC NY 30:09 Ginette Bedard 71 NY 31:45

Women’s team winner - Central Park TC, congrats also to #5 New York Flyers #12 Urban Athletics

Men’s team winners - congrats to Warren Street S&A.C… also to #9 Urban Athletics, & #11 New York Flyers.. On that note good to see MikeGee out there turning up for WS although not wanting to go the 4-miles, great team spirit… also BethGee and BabyGee out on the course.. And of course RLX Pascarella who always does a great job of cheering on the runners regardless of affiliation, nice to see - thanks.

Congrats to all the Urban Pirates out there - MACARI JERRY GREENE KAVAN HENRY PIERRE MULIA ADAM COLLINS CHRISTIAN KAVANAGH PAUL MCINTYRE KAREN LUCAS DAVID MADELL ROBIN KONRAD EVELYN CANNELLA PAUL PULTZ DAVID HORTON KATHLEEN A CHESLIK THOMAS CHIN DENNY SUMMERSON CHRISTINE E LYNCH CHRISTOPHER

And good to see Mary Queen of the NYRR running, and Bernie the Chairman supporting the event - also to the hundreds of volunteers who help these weekly races, a thankless job - great stuff!

Women: 1 Ivana Iozzia (Italy) 2:35:54 2 Silvia Sommaggio (Italy) 2:36:28 3 Maria Cocchetti (Italy) 2:36:36

Women 1. Edith Masai (KEN) 2:27:06 (debut) 2. Malgorzata Sobanska (POL) 2:28:46 3. Claudia Dreher (GER) 2:29:49

Men’s - Charles Kibiwot 30 Germantown MD 29:33 #2 John Henwood 33 New York NY 29:37 #3 Joseah Matui 27 West Chester PA 29:42 - At Sallae Mae 10k in Washington, DC.

On that note if anyone knows the whereabouts of the former winner of that race, Zach Nyambaso, Please let me know as his brother is desperately trying to locate him. Last year Alex Mulinga from Uganda won this event.

And great to hear that Anders Szalkai celebrated his birthday by jumping in to London, running a super 2:21 that felt easy! Fab news - "jag firade med lopp i London; 2:21:27 (30). Nöjd, sprang "lugnt" andra halvan!"

In the same race Kurt Le Vert qualkified for Boston 06! Well done.

But anyway back to the RW party - there we met up again with Rod Dixon and his lovely wife, Drew and was it Mia (nice person anyway), some salmon, and of course the RW crew, as well as some NYRR folk.... speaking of whci I traveled back to NYC with Jonni, which was nice....

The Boston race was as always a cracker, such excitement causing me to swallow an alarming ten cookies per mile (not to include the chocolate smudge cake, or whatever it was called)....

Well I did throw a banana in there once in a while, basically only to take the taste of the Copley Plaza coffee away from my smacker....

back to Boston results.. aside from the first few placings (*if you read my story the coincidence the last American to place 4th in '87 was within 9-secs of Culp's time)... Congrats to the sper Oz - Andrew Letherby 31 Australia 2:16:38 beating Quaadi, a 2:07 Frenchman by a place, then two great American placings in the top 11 (Shay & Gilmore), and what about 46-yr old Joshua Kipkemboi againt he top mater at 2:19:28 - shocking,that guys just never gives up! Interestingly he always says "I'll take the masters' money, but I train like the boys!"

Halfway splits - Radcliffe in 68:27, Okayo 70:00, Dita 70:15, Chepkemei 70:17, Johnson 72:30, Joyce Chepchumba 72:36, Lyudmila Petrova 72:46, Mulu Seboka 72:54, Tegla Loroupe 73:03 and Sonia O'Sullivan completing the top 10 in 73:07.

The Men - 1. Martin Lel, Kenya, 2 hours, 7 minutes, 26 seconds. (more than two-and-a-half minutes off his previous best time). 2. Jaouad Gharib, Morocco, 2:07:49. 3. Hendrick Ramaala, South Africa, 2:08:32. 4. Abdelkader El Mouaziz, Morocco, 2:09:03. 5. Stefano Baldini, Italy, 2:09:25. 6. Jon Brown, Britain, 2:09:31. 7. Toshinari Suwa, Japan, 2:10:23. 8. Paul Tergat, Kenya, 2:11:38. 9. Sammy Korir, Kenya, 2:12:36. 10. Evans Rutto, Kenya, 2:12:49.

Women 1) Albina Ivanova (RUS) 2:28:21 2) Lydia Simon (ROM) 2:31:20 3) Derartu Tulu (ETH) 2:31:58

Chris Williams, a 15-year old soph at Collegiate High School (who hit a 4:23 indoor mile this winter) was 12th overall in a field of nearly 6,000 runners at the Niketown Run for the Parks 4 Mile. He won his age 15-19 division by over a minute in 21:08 (86.0%)- a name to watch!

well done to the Urban Pirates too - Jerry Macari, Kavan Greene, Paul Kavanagh, karen McIntyre, David Pultz, Adam Mulia, Lee Shufro, Camille Collette, Denny Chin, & Tom Cheslik.

The Greater New York AA women captured their 3d straight “unofficial” Boston Marathon team title for Coach Bob. The “Running Wild” newsletter stated:

“The past 2 years the BAA officials have promised to add a women’s team title. This year over 500 women competed, including several teams despite the fact that they were in no way encouraged to enter. Why are the officials so slow to change? It wasn’t until the 76th running of the event back in 1972 that women were officially allowed to compete at all. The winner that year was GNYAA’s Nina Kuscsik. Now in the 83d year of Boston they still award team prizes to the men, but not to the women. I was told that the main reason that they haven’t changed is because they didn’t receive any complaints. Very logical! Well gang, direct your complaints to: Will Cloney, BAA Marathon, Box 233, Prudential Station, Boston, Mass. 02199.”

Leading the way, and scoring for the 3d straight year for the non-winning, winning team was Lauri Pedrinan McBride who PR’d in 2:47:36 for 10th place----her 2d straight sub 2:50 and 2d straight top 10 Boston finish. Sharon Barbano was next in 20th in a PR of 2:53:27. The 3d scorer was Toshi d’Elia, who ran a PR---2:58:03--for 33d place overall.

The “Running Wild” newsletter notes under the title “TOSHI = SUPERWOMAN:”

“Toshi d’Elia worked so hard last year for the Atlanta, Boston, and NYC Marathons in her quest to break the 3 hour barrier that it was heartbreaking to see her just miss each time due to bad weather or blisters. She trained even harder for this year’s Boston, including some brutal track and hill sessions, and was rewarded for her perserverance. Her 2:58:03 was an American record for age 49+ and she became the first woman over age 46 to break the 3 hour barrier. She was honored by Sports Illustrated with a silver bowl and appeared in their April 30 edition in “Faces in the Crowd.” Her performance also earned her first in the masters (40+) division. But that too was unofficial as Boston only awards masters awards to men.”

(NOTE: the next year Toshi ran 2:57 at the World Masters Champs in Glasgow, Scotland to become the first age 50+ woman to break 3 hours. Every year they have had the NYRR awards program Toshi has been a nominee. And every year she sits at Coach Bob’s table.)" Yjanks Bob.

What else is new - ran Fresh Ponds this morning - what a fun event, I have been wanting to do the 5-miler since Iread about Lynn Jennings and Henry Rono's jaunts here....

Got a great interview with Boston Billy yesterday after the room had died down... eating like a pig as I always do in Boston, but luckily the trousers still fit... another coincidence, I met a man I last raced ten years ago, and I ask him to translate for me to Ahmaric and then it turns out since I last saw him he is now the husband of Gete Wami...

From Coach Bob Glover's Diaries, "10K in Central Park in 36:01---on mimimal training-- to help our month-old West Side YMCA team gain it’s first award--3d place. John Eisner (15th--33:53) led the way. Newsletter notes: “our newcomer from California, Robin Williams, added strength with his 20th place (34:21) showing.” Yep---that Robin Williams. He had just moved to NYC to go to acting school where he became buddies with a guy named Christopher Reaves. Yep ---Popeye and Superman. Funny thing, he thought I was funny. Ha!" Kool huh?

Talking to Andrew The Oz Letherby yesterday, check out the interview on RW, and he is saying that Boston and NYC are now institutions of his year - great to hear as he is the biz of Oz, check out the results he's had this year, I think a big breakthrough to the Sub 2:10 is imminent....

Anyway talking Art I am superdooper happy with my new business cards! The printer called to say, "They're blurry, are you sure you want them like this?" I replied, "Print 'em up!" And I love them!

The internationally-renowned middle distance runner Bernard Lagat (born December 12, 1974) has become a citizen of the United States of America.

Running under the Kenyan flag, the country of his birth, Bernard Lagat won medals at the Olympics and World Championships over 1,500 metres and a number of gold medals at other international events. He is also the second fastest man ever over the blue riband distance of 1,500 metres.

Runner’s World Boston Coverage. My updates here might be a bit patchy after Thursday as I will be up in Boston, but you can follow the scoop at the above link, as well as here. Check out Catherine Ndereba‘s interview today noon on RW-online.

Anil, now known as The Sc*****, according to Costanza, "He picks his *****" had disclaimers clamped on all his gossip east of the Jordan to the West - so unfortunately we can't report all that he had to say, too bad - as it was gossipy stuff.... Question - when Costanza was ‘talking‘ the dog why did he assume the voice of a fairy sitting on a cactus?

The Store's Corp Challenge team is looking good this year, "Ever since I kicked Costanza off the team...." Said the diplomatic Boss, Hm, we thought Costanza was a Rock on the team - not as solid as his diamond tooth, but anyway on Thursday he is having his knee injected with drugs so he'll be out of action for a while regardless - we heard him asking a woman whether she thought Childbirth or Knee Injections were more painful with an authority that makes one wonder if he'd experienced both...

On that note Costanza (beret-less again), as he sidestepped the issue of Anil's latest Blind Date with the 94th St Brunette (who is so blind she has no name to date), wants it know that he has been married for over thirty years! Imagine the Chubby Boss is not even One yet on the marrying score card! Anil and I have not even been born!

Ethiopia took the women's title in the Beijing International Road Relay (Ekiden), in the Chinese capital on Sunday (10 April) despite China fielding their top two internationally known runners, Xing Huina (Oly. Gold) and Sun Yingjie (2:19, and WC bronze) - Sun will be at London on Sunday.

P Radcliffe 1/2 M Okeyo 3/1 S Yingjie 10/1 S Chepkemei 10/1 T Loroupe 12/1 L Petrova 16/1 S Kosgei 20/1 B Johnson 25/1 J Chepchumba 33/1 C Dita - Tomescu 33/1 A Ivanova 40/1 S O'sullivan 66/1 - If you put money ‘each way’ on Susan that is the closest thing you are going to get as a sure bet.

Tough to run a marathon inside Central Park, I take my hat off to these women.
And winning the Half was our Fat Tuesday friend - Troncoso, Carmen F 46 1:19:07 Reddy, Veena C F 26 1:17:17 (pic of Carmen coming tomorrow).

Hm, I suppose I can talk more about it now; I hate it when you go to a race and the raffle prize is better than the overall running prize, but this is now so often the case.
You would think that these days I would be lobbying for the prize that I stand a chance of winning (the raffle), but nothing puts on a ’print’ of a non-runner’s event when you go to a race and the first prize is a trophy, and the raffle prize is a flight to Ireland for two.

Yes, yes, I can understand clearly why race directors do it, but for me running is about doing your best, and competing - even if you are not winning and a huge raffle prize against a trophy spells ‘community games’ to me instead of Race. One of the first races I ever ran was in Iceland and I was lucky enough to win the race - I won a plastic trophy. Then came the raffle, and it was for a pair of Nike Running shoes. Well low and behold I won the shoes too. In a good natured fashion a few people called out, ‘he shouldn’t be allowed to win’ and ‘re-raffle’…. I mean if they had won the raffle would they have swapped a plastic trophy for the shoes? Nope. Why? Of course it was a better prize.

Funnily enough when Iwas running track in Sweden in 93/94 Kipketer was one of the runners on the circuit. He was mainly a 1500m runner in the early days, and showed nothing of the explosion that would happen. Living in Copenhagen he was forever in the South of Sweden (Less than an hour away). He was a lousy darts player, but a true gentleman of the track. He now has a fantastic house in Kenya in the ‘runner’s estate’ and the Berko and I were staying in his second house, an ancillary building off the main thing, the last time I was over in Kenya. Personally I hope he has a sublime season, and ends on a high note - a very classy runner.

Femmes : 1. Lidiya Grigoryeva (Rus) 2h27'00 2. Florence Barsosio (Ken) 2h27'16 (back as usual into great marathoning form) 3. Asha Gigi (Eth) 2h27'37
And glad to report that The Dude, “Had a blast – just a bit off pace at the end couldn’t hang on to the sub 4. Very happy nevertheless.” Kool.and so close at 6-minutes!

Men’s race - Jimmy Muindi won after breaking away after 23 miles to finish in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 49 seconds and lead a Kenyan sweep. Jackson Koech was second in 2:08:01 and defending champion Felix Limo was third in 2:09:01. Long time readers of this site will recall the Muindi stories, needless to say he has been on the scene for an age and a half.

Greg - welocme, and Susan. Alicia - a friend of Evelyn‘s, AmexLee, worked well, Hotrod Evelyn in Blonde and going to be drumming up the women in the team, Alec - looking forward to visiting his house4 in the hills this summer, Jose - ready for London, Cristina smiles on the track and a kick of a tiger, Vanessa from Brasil loking smooth, Diane Queen of the H alwys prepared to do the work, Herb the Verb - nice of him to cheer on the troops, Robie the Englishman IX, AmexChris - running steady, Jonathan- welcome, Luiz like a lion last night, and Tomster in his new togs and a cool singlet…. Excuses? Charlotte sends - Ross is on tv tonight, that’s a good one!

ON Marathons, no surprises (haile-expected) to read that Haile Gebrselassie and Gezahegne Abera have both pulled out of the Flora London Marathon.

Boo‘s to the competition though, its longest event was a men‘s 800m, nothing over 400 for the women - 1 Werner Botha (RSA) 1:47.35 2 Abdoulaye Wagne (SEN) 1:48.27 3 Yassine Bensghir (MAR) 1:48.56 I can hear the race director now, “The crowds don’t want to see long races….” Tell that to Bislett fans.

Afterwards I hooked up with TGV who is fitting in with life at the Trump quite well, “I can get used to coming back from a run having my omelet and coffee ready…” On Sunday night his son was in the elevator at the same time as Robin Williams, and in fact recognized him as they were waiting for the elevator - “That’s Robin Williams!” The kid said, and when they were in the elevator he started reeling off all the appearances of Williams’ with voice overs etc…. Marty's wife made a brief apology saying 'I hope you don't mind type of thing' and Williams quipped something back, not really that funny - that everyone knew now... It was the same night when the TV documentary was aired and apparently it was not quite a complimentary show! Poor Robin was probably trying to sneak up alone to his suite to hide for the evening.

Well we went to Totonno’s which still has fine pizzas, not bad beer and cheesecake either, however we did not risk trying the coffee there as there was a starbucks right across the road…. TGV is thinking already about his next car, "I want the six speed, and to be a good citizen I could just drive it on the weekends..." We bet he will get the massarati before the porsche six speed.... one thing is for sure, we won't have to wait long till we find out....

A reminder that Ali’s party is on Saturday night….

On that note after the Flyers workout tomorrow I am going out with TGV who is in town for the week for NYC pizza. Going to my fav place on the UES for sit in…. but not my fav take out place….

Watch out for Rotterdam this weekend! Predictions - If the weather is good a super, super fast time by the Limo Munster! And a win by the Simba. Waiting to hear an update from Starbucks on her form.

WOMEN - 800m 1. Janet Jepkosgei Busienei (Individual) 2:12.3 2. Caroline Chepkwony (Kapsabet) 2:13.1 3. Joyce Chelagat (Individual) 2:18.1
1500m 1. Inness Chenonge (MAB) 4:29.0 2. Pamela Kipchoge (Kiplombe) 4:33.6 3. Irene Birgen (Individual) 4:34.5
5000m 1. Grace Momanyi (Nyanza South) 16:32.7 2. Sharon Cherop (New Balance) 16:35.0 3. Doris Changeiywa (Individual) 16:51.0
10,000m 1. Salome Chepchumba (Individual) 34:55.5 2. Jane Omoro (Telkom) 34:59.0 3. Nelly Chepkurui (Kapsabet) 36:05.3
3000m SC 1. Charity Kiprono (Individual) 11:27.1 2. Everlyne Chebichi (Individual) 11:36.6 3. Jane Jeruto (Kapsabet) 11:37.5

My legs were aching from the get-go, I would like to say from over training but in actual fact it was a day in a recording studio down on Broadway.. Strangely enough, whilst reading a script, I had to run on the spot - the recording took off and on six hours, and that is a lot of running on the spot I can tell you, my calves were like shredded wheat with barbed wire veins…

Rejuvenating in Starbucks later with TGV and listening to a great Shoe4Africa initiative he has coming Sylvia came in from ATC (always a pleasure, and she was relating stories of German air trips not to be taken), and then Scott from the Flyers came in - a driving force for NYC 2012.….

Anyway I was wandering across the Southern end of the park (as I decided to walk home as the little drizzle was quite pleasant) I met some nice people from Scotland who wondered why I was wearing a T Shirt that said Real Men Wear Kilts yet was not wearing a kilt - not bothered to explain the morning’s activities we started talking about apartments, and the wonderful buildings that surround the periphery of the park. When I first came to NYC I found a fav building on Fifth, now I have to find the finance! Yeah right. I was actually quite happy with my tree house in Amsterdam..but that’s another story for another day.

Meanwhile in Berlin, with No Joyce on the starting line - Men, 1. Paul Kimugul (Kenya) – 1:01:04 2. Joseph Ngolepus (Kenya) – 1:01:16 3. Moses Kigen (Kenya) – 1:01:39
Frauleins - 1. Luminita Zaituc (Germany) – 1:11:04 2. Lee Eun-Jeong (South Korea) – 1:11:15 (National Record) 3. Beatrice Omwanza (Kenya) – 1:11:18

Better to watch - April 1 World's Best 10K 1:00 p.m. Taped coverage from this February 26 event in Puerto Rico.

Nice to see Meb there, The Senator, supporting NY Running… Marty from CT coming in, as were some people from the Essex Running Club NJ, Kathrine Switzer and Roger Robinson - two of my favs, the legendary Gary Murhcke, all the NYRR people… and I actually never found my table to sit with and ended up sitting with the Harriers who were nice - great club, and accommodating (thank you Douglas), heard a few snippets from the Queen of the H's Iceland trip... then as the desserts ended I moved over to the Urban Table - who had not really dug into their desserts (lucky me), Costanza was the fashion item of the night with his Beret, and Cara looked super cool in her black outfit, Stumpy was there, “Let it be known that Anil challenged me, not the other way round…” (a la basketball), then the Dudes came over (Camille and Heather) and we popped over to say hello to the Peters’ - Bonne Chance a la Paris Marathon next week!

Missed Ursula who had sick kids, Saw Rita, and the Russian Rocket, Fidel Staab was in stunning Orange - and speaking which Sidney Howard won again, as did Alston who ran 52.7 for the 400 in his mid fifties and has the smoothest stride in the city… unfortunately the Etjiopian Girls from WTC did not seem to have made it…. Heard Spaghetti’s name being called out for the men’s 30-39 but did not see him. Herb the Verb was there in his club singlet. Good to see Michael & Denise back again “I’m at 40mpw” she said after stepping out of the wheelchair a month ago… Saw The Rope again “I’m floating” and of course RLX picking the hardware. The Rube won again, as he must do with such results, and it was good to see Zoomalong and the little nipper there…

Tony the coach from CPTC had some words of wisdom.. Yep quite a night - and every one was leaving with the Red Mugs…. Bernie, the Chairman, and Sue were seen full of smiles, and I was glad to see (though disappointed not to hear more of) The Voice of the NYRR, Ian Brooks. Warren King was out there too… ah, who was not there - this is the night when the runners come out to dance…. Even our Queen of the Age Group Rez runners, Ginette was there is style - got to meet her nice family….

So back to the round table; Joyce had won New York, London, Chicago, and Tokyo - which, in our opinion, was the Grand Slam of marathons. I mean leaving out Rotterdam and Amsterdam hardly seems far either - for a marathon without a big budget, and in a small city, Rotterdam has more than contributed to the world of marathoning.

Meanwhile over on an awesome isle off Manhattan, a big wow! What a facility - an IAAF standard (the only one with the current IAAF approval in N.A.) is the Icahn Stadium. Loads of faces out there including Gary M of SRS, Norbert (both NYC marathon winners) & Mike Frankfurt of the Armory fame, Bernie the Chairman, Winning the peoples’ race congrats to James Thie 26 NYAC NY 15:07 & 1 Kate Irvin 26 CPTC NY 17:49... An outstanding performance - Kathryn Martin 53 NY 18:15!! Central Park TC won both team races.

The main race USA Champs: A parade of solo excellence! Deena Kastor 25:05 just missed the record by a scant 3-seconds! #2 Jen Rhines 25:54, and Amy Rudolph 26:02 ran superbly too.

The men’s race, Jorge Torres 22:47 (passed 5k in the lead at 14:13) running with hardly a frown on the brow, before Abdi Abdirahman 22:56 & Anthony Famiglietti, the local in23:02

And congrats to the Urbanites out there too- MACARI JERRY R KUGLER ANNE ZLOTCHEW DAVID MACARI CARA GOODWIN DAVIE MROMAN HENRY MCINTYRE KAREN KONRAD EVELYN PULTZ DAVID CHESLIK THOMAS.

I saw Shiney who had some exciting career news (remember him from the Fatties?) In fact it was day of Fatties with Sylvia in the USA 8k, and Carmen too! Still running fab at 45-yrs old - that's what the Fatties do to you!

Then as I was walking looking for bagels I bumped into Kathrine Switzer & Roger Robinson, thanks to Kathrine for getting me a coffee… speaking of Kathy‘s I met the ubergirl on the starting like, Martin of Northport… Anyway - we went down to watch track side and saw The Run Doc zipping about, and the Russian Rocket who is doing well, but not competing these days.

Then my friend Stephan from Soundwalk came and we went on the hunt, to Balthazars, to grab food for our road trip - I had two bread rolls, could not spy a starbucks, and then we set off to new Jersey in search of Tom Fleming - the legend, the only man to run a sub 2:20 marathon inside Central Park, and set a 20-mile, and a 30-km American record inside of the park….. “I attacked the hills“ He must of! Boy, what a job we had getting there! Too Europeans in a foreign state… five hundred U-turns later we found Tom… Did I tell you about the first time I met Tom? He heh, well needless to say he is one of my all-time fav runners for his tenacity and amazing running spirit - they broke the cast with tom - who else attacked every single race like it was his last….

meanwhile down in Dallas severe thunderstorms thwarted Paul Koech’s WR attempt at the 8k, as he was slowed to a 22:55 - as the guy has ran 26:46, and a 2:07:07 the other year, it would be interesting to see what he could have run on Randall’s Island! Olga Romanova, won the women's invitational in 26:30

A mean can we blend? I could take a bit of Passover, perhaps called it leftover, and extend the holiday to Monday right? Leftover Monday, only celebrated three years in four.

Deena & Carrie yesterday in their NY State of mind.

Adam Goucher a late scratch from the 8km…. Jorge Torres, “My first road race of my career, not counting a race in the 7th grade… Wetmore is not a big believer in racing on the roads” Deena, “The first race of the year, and the training has been phenomenal.” Anthony Fam., “I’ve been doing all my training this winter in Central Park, I love the place.” Carrie Tollefson, “I’ve been used to racing for just four minutes… I’ve done a couple of 10k’s”. One thing is for sure - the road running scene in NYC is looking very bright, as is the XC, and track too. The Queen of the NYRR, Mary, spoke about great plans ahead for this city that are mind blowing, and will make it the Running Center of the World. So get out there tomorrow, and see what it is all about! Deena‘s goals for the summer - under 14:45, and 30:00 for the 10,000.

“Charles and his bride-to-be, sensitive to strong public opinion against her ever being queen, had said she would take the title of Princess Consort if he becomes king. They are being married in a civil ceremony April 8.”

Begging the question what does Prince Phillip (husband of the current ruling monarch) do of importance? Britain, ah, Kings and Queens, and lost in the lost ages. “Immediately after their April 8 wedding, Parker Bowles will be called Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, and will not be called Princess of Wales — the title used by the late Princess Diana.” The saga, if only William Shakespeare was alive to record in on a mini disc… reality royals.

The five mile cycle back home was atrocious - it reminded of the days when I was doing dispatch rides on motorcycles, and with weather like this we have to ride two up to stop the motorcycles being blown from lane to lane on the highway… and then there was Iceland, yep - bad weather.

Flashback - The Wedding of 2004

Cara & The Chubby Boss.

One thing is for sure, if they have an ancillary XC peoples’ race it will be just as fast as the premier event! The good news for foreigners is that it will be held in Mombassa, at sea level.

Race II - Randall’s Island, the US Champs 8km, and the people 5km! Can’t wait, promises to be fab.

“Lots of grumblings around that but once things get going they move along nicely. Nicely as it can be I guess along the board walk - the multiple dead spots and loose board that would bounce or catch someone’s toe notwithstanding - saw at least two or three folks go down hard from these...
I start to work my way up through the pack only to see Tough as Nails, Queen of the Harriers in the race with her three broken ribs! The turnaround comes up an there goes Toby with the Chubby boss in the pack directly behind him... many cheers from the crowd...

“A pack of Harriers including Chucky China is next then me looping back cause the group to go through part of the boardwalk that has sand on it but its not too bad. into a second mile that most people I spoke to thought was long (had a discrepancy of about 20 sec on my watch) Anyway we cruise on down the boardwalk back to Ocean Parkway and are wind up going right into the teeth of a stiff breeze for the next 6 or 7 miles - I held to my pace for most of this winding my way up through the pack past an older gentleman that moaned and groant - uh uh uh uh with ever step but did not slow and was still able to talk to the ladies - so I did not fear for him.

“Finally a break from the wind and what do we get Hills in Prospect Park - the early ones although long were not too bad - at this point running into the wind for so long and missing some water took it out of me but I gamely tried to push on looking for any team shirts to pass - oh there’s a Flyer - Got him! - The last little bit was a sort of tease looking around well look we should be done with the hill then that little left and a nasty little rise right before the finish - but the sun shone and it felt good - all considering a good race...

Did run into David at the end of the race and I believe that her ran a PR or at least better than he says he usually runs the Half... so it meant that we had all top 5 runners in the top 10% of the field... Way to go UA! with an unofficial count it looks like the team is still in the hunt.” Thanks Kurt!

After the first race - Bekele of Ethiopia had won again, and yes he did help the team take Gold, Kenya second, Qatar bronze - Spain, in 9th, were the first non Africans to complete a team score. Abraham Chebii, Isaac Songok took second and third overall for Kenya. A tremendous 12th place by the USA’s Jorge Torres of Colorado.

Our man on the spot - Urban Satellite, “KENENISA WOW! A very fast course in my view, sprint start, Kenenisa in top group, very strong Quatarians including Shaheen, After 6 mins Shaheen sprinted for about 200 meters to raise a gap, Kenenisa kept cool, cruising on, looking very strong, passed Shaheen again who seemed finish, Abraham Chebi came towards the end, but Kenenisa could hold the gap and won easily. What a champ! All this talk etc, his running is on another level!” Thanks.

Women’s Long - Dibaba did indeed win (2 for 2 on the predictions so far), with Wernesh Kidane also of Ethiopia in second. Alice Timbili in third for Kenya. (After a Kenyan protest Alice moved up to second, then back to third, and today back to Second….), Benita Johnson, the defending champ was shut out of the top five, and slotted in seventh just behind Catherine Kirui, sister to Ismael and the late Richard Chelimo.
Ethiopia, Kenya, Portugal was the team order… and a fine run, 13th, but Colleeen DeReuck of the USA.

Although Ethiopian Bati Gelete Burika won the Junior Women’s it was not enough to hold off Team Kenya, who took their first team gold. No other nation had anyone in the top ten making Lindsey Scherf of WTC, 18th place absolutely fabulous!

Junior men’s race - Kenya swept the top five with 1st Augustine Kiprono Choge. Tariku Bekele, in 6th, as the first non Kenyan - the brother of Kenenista. Kenya, Ethiopia, and Qatar for team medals. Galen Rupp of the USA in 20th was the first non-African (not counting Quataris).

The main 12k men’s race - Bekele again, completing his quadruple double(!) I thought he’d falter in this one to Dinkasa, but the Ethiopian who has been supreme on his home turf could only finish 4th, Funnily enough the Team went as this - Ethiopia, Kenya, and Qatar - but if the two Qatar scorers in the top eight had NOT switched citizenship a couple of years ago then Kenya would have won the Team Gold.. Posing the question, Did Kenya really win? Both Hassan, 3rd, and Shaheen 8th, are full-blooded Kenyans who continue to train in Iten, Kenya - yet score for Qatar.

Regardless Ethiopia took the coveted medal, and the Amazing Dibaba also doubled to win the Women’s short, with Werknesh also doubling her silver from Saturday’s long! Ethiopian’s won Team gold in front of Kenya by one single point as Kenya’s LAST scorer was in 7th place, 18-points to 19-points. Way back in third with 67 (accumulation of 4 finishing positions) came a surprise bronze and a fine result by the USA women.

So Ethiopia again ousted the Kenyans convincingly for Team & Individual medals. The only bright part for the Kenyan team was the team whitewash in the Junior race of positions one through five.

Our man’s report - “Just seen the race. Very hot day, first 10 minutes big group maybe 26 runners, including Motti and Ritz, Bekele and Kipchoge driving the pace. Jogging for them. After 15 minutes Ritz drops back and soon Motti, too. Heat takes it's toll I guess. Bunch of 15 cruising around, after 20 minutes group gets smaller and smaller. Then, the Bekele show starts! Kipchoge driving the pace and it's now him and Kipchoge, 30 seconds later Bekele gets serious and surged away, raising a huge gap, nobody can go with him, exhibition race by Bekele, waving to the crowds on last lap, blowing kisses to the crowd. Even more impressive win than in the short race, senational! Lebed was moving good towards the end. Mo Farrah strong finish after 100th in the first lap he worked through the field. Ritz ended up in the sixties. What would have happened if Bekele would have seriously trained for this event?

“Women short a bit of a carbon copy of yesterday's race. Possibly most impressive win by Augustine Choge, one of brother Colm O'Colm's runner.” Thanks Urban!

And a classy response from the IAAF, "We note the decision of the Greek authorities with interest," said International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) spokesman Nick Davies. "Our doping review board will now consider the English version of the decision." Rather like the Turks ‘clearing‘ their own last week…

Great to see so many familiar faces out there - Fidel Staab and RLX - the gentlemen of coaching cheering on runners from every team….

Urban Pirates - MACARI JERRY R HENRY PIERRE ZLOTCHEW DAVID STEEGE KURT GOODWIN DAVID GARVER KARIN (Welcome!) KAVANAGH PAUL HORTON KATHLEEN PULTZ DAVID YOUNG SHAWN… Begging the question what ever happened to OzPaul, “Yeah I’ll use it as a training run at 5:50-pace” and Stumpy who was seen at the start and at the finish… “Hmm, don’t ask!” Well the Urban men scored a point, and our women… nearly! Congrats to all.

Barsosio Sally 25 Kenya 32:28 5:13 Petrova Tatyana 21 Russia 32:31 5:13 Romanova Olga 24 Russia 32:38 5:15 Keane Kelly 32 USA 32:45 5:16 Burykina Yelena 32 Russia 32:56 5:18 Alexandrova Galina 29 Russia 32:59 5:18 Yoder Begley Amy 27 USA 33:19 5:21 Ketema Atalelech 22 Ethiopia 34:45 5:35 of Westchester TC.
Smokin‘ men‘s master - Aufdemberge Paul 40 USA 30:06 4:50

“I support any entity that combats steroid abuse in sports, and I also support all the non-cheating athletes themselves -- recreational, amateur and professional -- who DO raise the quality and expectations of international competition and basic human health. Of the reports regarding the investigations of steroid-juiced pros, what I find confounding lacking is a vigorous inquiry into the issue of NON-professional athletes using steroids or “legal supplements” to improve their performances.

“ I might sound naive, but isn’t the purpose of competition to excel via one’s own training, one's own effort? How can steroid users feel anything but shame, when all is said and done, that their “accomplishments” were by way of cheating? I’m dismayed to see athletes of any kind turn to supplements and drugs touted by nutritional companies, to get an edge on their competitors. One popular magazine, Runner’s World, a highly respected sports journal for runners of all levels, has been publishing ads, such as the one in the March issue, p. 125, that push a new and fortifying supplement. The stuff is “...scientifically formulated to reduce fatigue... legal in every nation ... (allows you to) hone yourself into incredible shape, with-out [sic] having to juice up... gives your body the vitamins and minerals it needs to run faster on less oxygen. Add it to your regiment and you will see a huge difference in a few weeks.”

“The ad also quotes a user: “...Using it raised oxygen levels naturally, producing abnormally high levels of energy, virtually eliminating any signs of burnout.” What’s with the “abnormally high levels,” and why isn’t anyone onto this crap? (And what’s with the mention of juicing up, as if THAT were an acceptable practice?) Doctoring one’s body so that is can operate faster on less oxygen absolutely mimics the illegal practice of blood-doping, or artificially enhancing the blood’s ability to carry that oxygen.

“Blood-doping has rightly caused massive uproars – and, sadly and stupidly, deaths – in the professional cycling world, with runners, swimmers, and other endurance-sport pro athletes having been caught as well. Why do athletes tolerate this? That’s my question. Who among "the elite" are truly elite, and who are the sorry-assed, doping dopes? I see runners and triathletes all across the nation ingesting all sorts of crazy stuff ... and all I can manage, ethically, financially and I guess gastronomically is that which comes in the form of whole foods. And in the name of folk worldwide who defend clean athletic competition and who strenuously and publicly object to illegal assistance, I’d like to ask those who do cheat what in hell’s name is their point? Certainly it can’t be that they’re fine athletes or that they aspire to represent the inspiration and dignity of human striving.

“Resorting to over-sexed nutritional supplements ought to be much more of a stigma. It should be such a stigma that the athlete’s shame alone would ensure avoidance. But how does a wise society check the pervasive commercialization and frequent corruption of healthful recreation and competitive athletics? The question remains bizarrely difficult for the athletic and sports-law communities to answer.
Fiona D.J. Bayly”

The Commander was running a fine session, controlled until he got carried away and flew off, Kwasi, who knew all the rugby songs somehow, was zipping the straights and cruising the turns, David G & The Commander’s pal that grouped well, the Juiceman who pulled on the brakes and ran smooth the ‘whole’ session. Welcome back Anne who ‘also’ looked like she had never been away. Luiz who pulled through the session with sage speed… yep there was good form throughout tonight… must be that there is a spring in the air.

Seen on the Bridle Path, back from France, was Monsieur Mileage - talking about how fast they start races in France over the XC. S’true, I remember one of my first races at XC in Europe - the gun went off and in a nano-second I was 300-places behind everyone!
Also John Henwood, our reservoir Champ and the fastest 10,000m runner in NYC.

The men are led by one of my favs - Toshinari Takaoka Tsuyoshi Ogata Michitaka Hosokawa Wataru Okutani Satotshi Irifune - all Sub 2:10 men.

And The BUPA Great North Run, the world’s biggest half-marathon, will be celebrating its 25th staging this year with the biggest field in its history. A record total of 50,000 runners have received confirmation in recent days that they have a place in the race on September 18 following completion of the entry ballot. Shocking - 50,000!!

And the women - 6. Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 1:10:39 7. Leah Malot (KEN) 1:12:00 (in our opinion she should not have left the 5000m).

Someone else who is preparing for London in the news today (see below) for the latest on PaulaMania. The pressure she must carry going into a race is absolutely amazing, it is a wonderment she copes so well. London’s calling, but first stop the USA.

Anyway - why are we mentioning this? It is because Silverstone is the site of my other world record. In my younger days I, along with 11-others, pushed an 8-ton truck 300-miles (or was it 500?) to this track ( a world record for a distance hand pushed according to the Guinness Book of Records), and then we set a ‘lap‘ record also at the track with the truck. As traditions go they opened the bar up with free drinks whenever a record is set there.. Glad to say I was not one of the people mixing half a pint of Guinness with ½-pint of Champagne, with brandy and cognac shots thrown in.

3/19 Brooklyn Half 4/24 Tom Labrecque 4M 5/14 Queens Half 6/11 NY Mini Marathon 10K (Women Only) 6/19 WABC Father's Day 5M (Men Only) 7/30 Mets Run for Home Plate 5K 8/20 Club Championship 5M (Double Points) 10/2 Grete's Gallop Half-Marathon 11/6 ING NYC Marathon 12/11 Joe Kleinerman 10K

As far as the women’s team race MCNY made an excellent start followed by the ever strong WS women (last year’s champs), GNY Screamin’ had a solid start to the year, and if the Crushed Orange get their women into place this could be a season royale!

An Urban goal is to get a scoring team in each race! The Flyers are doing quite well actually too, especially the women - I am hoping they will get stronger & stronger as the season progresses.

“The 1994 World Cup winner is the second high-profile Brazilian international coaxed to the club by owner Simon Clifford. Last year the Teesside businessman also persuaded former Brazil captain Socrates to join the club, which is based in a former pit village near Leeds in Yorkshire. Clifford, who names a number of Brazilian players among his friends, owns a string of soccer schools in the South American country. Romario, who was sacked by Fluminense before joining Vasco in January, last played for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier away to Uruguay in 2001. Garforth are top of the NCEL Division One table, having won 16 of their 24 matches this season.” What a shocker - this guy was the world’s best in the mid nineties! What a boon for the club!

Sounds tough! Lambruschini was the Euro Champion in the steeple, he has a sub 8:10 we think! Good for sprinting away from snakes!

Women: 1 Jen Rhines 49:21 2 Elva Dryer 49:42 3 Blake Russell 49:46 4 Colleen De Reuck 49:51

Susan Chepkemei won in 68mins 49secs ahead ahead of fellow Kenyan Margaret Okayo by 30secs, with Asha Gigi of Ethiopia third in 69mins 59secs.

Inthat latter race, Congrats to winner Rob Zand 35 NY 1:12:05, and the team champs West Side Runners
Congrats to Urbanites - MULIA ADAM DARCY DAVID MO GIAMPIETRO ALDERSON BOB.

And in the 4-miler congrats to race winners Alvaro Cruz & Catherine Stone. And to Urbanites - WILLIAMS SHAWN ZLOTCHEW DAVID MCINTYRE KAREN PULTZ DAVID CHESLIK THOMAS

Congrats to Kevin The Commander running well in the 5k in Morristown placing 7th in a top notch field.

And of course to Costanza - they had a test at the store - to see whom the customers gravitate towards - The Players were Costanza, OzPaul, and Anil, - “I even gave them my regulars as I chance to even the game….” Apparently, according to the Chubby Boss, it was a walk-over, or a run over.

“Ashley is one of five NYRR Foundation children selected to travel to Norway as a part of the NYRR Foundation/Norway Exchange Program. AND meet the King & Queen of Norway!
“Thanks to your support, NYRR Foundation kids enjoy meaningful experiences that transform their lives. Join us at our next big event, the Youth Track & Field & Wellness Jamboree, on Saturday, March 19th, 2005 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Armory Track & Field Center. For information about this event and all NYRRF programs, please visit: http://www.nyrrf.org/ Congrats to the wonderful work the NYRR Foundation is doing bringing running to the kids of NYC who else wise would not have a running program in their school.

WOMEN 1 Lena Cheruiyot KEN 71:56 2 Grazyna Syrek POL 72:21 3 Hafida Gadi FRA 72:59 4 Zahia Dahmani FRA 73:02

And a name we missed at Alphen making a fine comeback - #8 Greg van Hest NED 60:48 for that 20km.

Senior Men's 4 km: Dave Davis (8th in 11:57, Portland, Ore.); Adam Goucher (2nd in 11:39, Portland, Ore.); Joshua McDougal (4th in 11:41, Lynchburg, Va.); Donald Sage (3rd in 11:40, Stanford, Calif.), Jorge Torres (5th in 11:44, Boulder, Colo.); Luke Watson (10th in 12:01, Minneapolis, Minn.).

Senior Women's 8 km: Colleen De Reuck (1st in 27:24, Boulder, Colo.); Katie McGregor (5th in 28:04, St. Louis Park, Minn.); Renee Metivier (7th in 28:32, Boulder, Colo.); Kathy Newberry (4th in 28:01, Williamsburg, Va.); Chelsea Smith (9th in 28:39, Provo, Utah); Laura Turner (8th in 28:37, Provo, Utah).

Senior Women's 4 km: Melissa Buttry (3rd in 13:29, Waverly, Iowa); Shayne Culpepper (2nd in 13:27, Lafayette, Colo.); Shalane Flanagan (1st in 13:24, Pittsboro, N.C.); Lauren Fleshman (5th in 13:30, Palo Alto, Calif.); Amy Mortimer (6th in 13:38, West Roxbury, Mass.); Blake Russell (4th in 13:30, Marina, Calif.).

Personally I do not think any of the above teams will be top five contenders for the team prizes, but good for the USA for sending full teams.