Down on the track - I should call the Wedza Group the Spartans! Wow, the guys did a steamer - The First group’s load - 1 x 400, 5 x 2km, 1 x 800m….. We were disappointed that Danny The Dollarman did not wear his nose-strip as at Queens. OzPaul ran like a shark. An appearance from Chubby, “I was delayed on the way down, I had to buy a medal at a pawnshop to give Danny as he wanted a prize for winning the long run”.

The Queen of the Harriers was probably thinking - what a night to return, but she ran reall-lly well (Extra LL’s for effect). Centuryman gets points for the extended warm up miles, we saw him running in mid town! Lissy powered away. The Commander was not feeling 100%, not 90% either, Anil threw up (he he), Peter2 happy in his new shoes, Sabrina in lane #3, Jonathan experimenting with new shoes and after the 800, “I like em!” He got them recommended by Stumpy. Anne “At 80% running urm a bit faster?” Ali - welcome back, ran well. Chuckychina, “Be easy I’m recovering from the B2B!” Ran well regardless… Watch out for him at the Club Teams. Jose on fire, and Luiz doing remarkably well for his comeback sess. Cristina also running really nicely and strongly - good form!

Toni - saw and disappeared? Michelle’s Lucy is killing the regularity of all but the dog walks! Rick, throttling back, Cara - right on the nose of consistency. David a short rest killed him,then he was The Terminator again. Colleen - again the smile-iest runner we have ever seen! Two friends of Anil’s came down - hope they didn’t see him chuck the bucket. Susan ran strongly as did Sharon. Robin & Masterblaster were on a mission and it was driven! Cruiser had the eye of the leopard. Gary pushed the whole way, and Eric hung in there practicing his pacing - Feet on the metal in these sessions - In fact a superb job by all!

If you believe that I will tell you about Scotch Mist….

It gets better as Kenya’s second man continues, "Bekele is beatable. The bronze has given me the morale to train harder," he said. Similar sentiments were expressed by Mathathi. He said this being the first time to race against the Ethiopians, he has discovered that they are not tough. "With good training, I think I can tackle them," said Mathathi. He said he would have finished in the medal bracket but was blocked in the last 200m by Kiprop.

Ho hum - With good training, so did he have bad training before the WC? Kenya was lucky to get a bronze! Dinkassa is ‘another‘ man who has not run as well since he swopped shoe company from MIZUNO! It is true! Shoes do make a big difference, and one other company may pay better, but wouldn‘t you prefer to have the better performance? Geza‘ has complained constantly since switching how his Achilles does not have any control when he runs, who he missed the ‘wave ride‘.

Speaking weight - the famous coach Ernst Aaken (Norpeth‘s coach amongst others) said a 6-foot man should weigh 140lbs in competition weight - boy he would have loved Alan Culpepper, taller & leaner… Tergat is 6ft and leaner too. We believe James Bond wasn‘t though. Shadrock Hoff - the only man to make John Yuda look fat. Chubby on the phone today - the weigh in is down five pounds, "Someone came in the store today and told me I look skinny!" Costanza, the Shoe-Meister of New York City is going on vacation on Thursday - so make sure you pop in to say hello to him soon, or catch him at the Urban party when he returns on the 20th - we could not hold the party without him being there!

WOMEN - 1. Alemstehsy Misganaw, WTC ETH 59:12 (Must be the honeymoon race as she was wed last week!) 2. Jennifer Rapaport, MA 1:00:52... #5 Claudio Camargo, WSX CT 1:02:37

In a 12/2004 ESPN (The Magazine) story, Victor Conte wrote, "I've given packages of performance-enhancing drugs directly to Trevor."

"Most athletes in Kenya die poor. I really do not want to be like them," Qatar’s Saif Saeed Shaheen explains his reasons for jumping ship…. Fair enough, and good valid points, yet there has to be some sort of limit else the sport will be overturned into a salary cap baseball type competition where the countries openly bid on athletes.

Tatically perfect in the women’s 800 - Calatayud Zulia 1:58:82... It appears Maria Mutola’s era did end last year as the Championship star, as she was run into 4th. Hazel Clark was last in 2:01 - uncharacteristic of her.

The article then notes that Edith Masai “ran the best race of her life finished fifth.” Setting a Kenyan record - so ho hum?? Mosop also ran a PR - can‘t ask better than that right?

Today’s gripe - why, why when you have limited footage time break off from showing the 10,000m to RE-show the events of the already shown heptathlon from the previous day?? And yes, if I want a lesson about Russian Statues I will watch the history channel.

Loved the women’s 100m - Lauren is a breath of fresh air to the sprints, and Muna Lee - looks 110% drug free, another great for the sport.. She was half the size of the Jamaican girl who was knocked out in the semi’s who stood next to her doing Mike Tyson impressions.. Campbell proves she’s going to be fav for the 200, and the women’s 400m is looking to be a great match up. Webb ran a brave and intelligent 1500m, my fav Ramzi ran too impressively (Webb started lap three solo, and Ramzi ended it recording the lap split of 57 - meaning that he must have run about a 54)…. Not too smart a move to do… I remember Nixon Kiprotich telling me how a blow out lap in the Olympics cost him the gold in a similar incident.

The women‘s High Jump - what a dream comeback for Kajsa! And the newbie in 3rd Emma Green! What a result for Sweden!

Speaking of which Apple Fritters - I was talking to Rick about them, the starbucks food of runners.. have not had one in an age, used to live on them!

Moving on - why show the segment from the ’History Books’ golden moments when you only show a total of 18-seconds from the entire heats of the Steeplechase, even with three Americans running in three different heats… why show more of Helsinki’s harbor with the panoramic beauty shots that you show of Hazel Clark winning her 800m heat? Yep, this is the way to make sure the public does not really understand what is going on. Waiting for a live stream of good quality pictures of the BBC!

Much speculation fell on Radcliffe who led many laps and ran in road shoes - the British commentators (esp someone called Connie) were hammering Paula for running - why? Have they more experience? Paula knows what she is doing….
Paula 30:42.… not too shabby! Edith Masai fran Kenya got the national record - 30:30 - still not as fast as The Simba’s PR - The Simba who was never picked for the national track team!!

Also to note Marie Davenport who is debuting at the NYC Marathon had her second DNF in less than a month, Kathy Butler also a DNF, and Jen Rhines a solid 31:26, two secs later Sabrina Mockenhaupt who is fun and charismatic came in - she was going to be in the Berlin Project, Ozzie Benita 31:55...

“Much of the debate in the coffee houses this week is of Paula Radcliffe's attempt to run both the 10,000m and the marathon. I think it is a tall order.” Seb Coe. Should that be a Vente Order?
"I have never said I was doubling-up for both titles," said Radcliffe. The baby faced assassin, who stumbled at the start - taken out by Kwambai of Kenya, was always the fav… a rainy cold night did not make a difference.
Good news for us Paula fans - "It was tough. I lacked a bit of 10km training and it showed in the last kilometre.” meaning that her preps have been marathon orientated.

Anyway - Nobody female could have lived with a 58-last lap bar perhaps the great Tulu on a 30-minute 10km (Tulu ran 60” when running a 30:18), and how many men could do that? No flippin’ many!

How soon people forget - The British press blasting Paula for running a race where she truly belongs (Paula is the 9th best 10,000m track runner in the world right now, if not a few places higher - FACT). Steve Jones ran a world class and very, very hard and fast 15k on the hard, hard surface of the road a Week before he set the World Record at the Marathon!

Six Ethiopian men have run sub 27-mins, four of them will be running tonight in the men‘s version! The Euro record is 26:52 by ‘Moroccan‘ Belgian Mourhit - soon after caught for EPO… No non African has ever ran under 27 as yet. Can we hear Craig Mottram in the future?

Former triple world and Olympic javelin champion Jan Zelezny will miss the World Athletics Championships because of a leg injury. Ed’s note - Isn’t he a MIZUNO athlete? (Yes, but it was the javelin that injured him he he).

Anyway the flip of this was he was sitting in my aisle in First Class (No I didn’t pay for a first class txt, I was being re-routed upgraded), and I would never ever have recognized him in the flesh if I had not heard him name called, as off ice he looked like an overgrown school kid in scruffy jeans. His father was a great coach back in Sweden.

Do you want this player in your squad? ‘Forsberg scored 21 points in 22 playoff games when the Colorado won its first Stanley Cup‘. He is also the first hockey player to appear on a Swedish postage stamp - not too shabby in a Hockey mad country.

More fighting words from Kenya’s Edith Masai, "Not even the Ethiopians will scare me this time. I am prepared and set for the gold medal," (in the 10,000m).

Also - In the Kenyan Press - another odd article that includes some facts, like Noguchi in the worlds providing stiff opposition?? She is running Berlin in September. And omits Others, talking about Paula - he lauds her against Ndereba saying she’s won London and New York, are you forgetting her WR at Chicago in her second marathon? I‘ll stop now, but other things…

AmexLee back again, Colleen with the Florida Tan, Cristina loking like the one least bothered by the heat, Jose - first sess back, Anne - driven, as usual, Gary ran composed, Michelle full of smiles, Eric and the extra lap, Shawn adopting/looking after a 4-month old puppy, “He‘s a handful!” I can believe it, Cruiser loving the 200‘s, ChuckyChina getting reading for B2B, Tom with an angry dog, Anil looking for something to happen, Robin happening, we saw Frank on the track, “I’m 53 in October, and I ran 53.9 for the 400m!” Pretty damn snappy!

Speaking of the Women at the World‘s - a good read on the Baby Faced Assassin, apart from the last notes where they say the Simba’s course was uncertified - this is wrong, it was certified by the Dutch authorities, both before and after the race.

This is a great run for all aspiring marathon runners as the drinks n gels will be out there, and time passes quickly in the company of the large groups - the paces go up to 12-mins per mile we think, maybe even higher! Last year I did the 20-miler at 7‘s (the job Danny is doing), and it is a thankless job. Many people in the group think it is a race and they‘ll get awards for winding up the pace, and others complain if there is a split 10-seconds off pace.. When in reality the pace runners are mere volunteers with scant practice on pacing. When running with ‘quiet‘ runners I am actually very good at locking into the pace, my claim to fame was leading the Run to Work pace group round 6-miles at 7-min pace and hitting 42-minutes zero-zero without even a watch!! When I was younger, and faster, I used to do it on the track… at paces now that I would be delighted to hit!

10,000M MEN 1. FABIAN JOSEPH, ARUSHA, 28.33.44 (nice double) 2. JOHN YUDA, DODOMA, 28.55.26 3. ISAYA DEENGW, ARUSHA, 29.40.27
HALF MARATHON 1.JOHN YUDA, DODOMA, 61.40 (in flying form) 2.SAMSON RAMADHANI, ARUSHA, 62.16 3.ISAYA DEENGW, ARUSHA, 62.19 4.ROGARTH JOHN, ARUSHA, 62.23 5.GETULI BAYO, ZANZIBAR, 62.27 6.DANIEL SHAHANGA, MANYARA, 63.16 7.FRANCIS NAALI, KILIMANJARO, 63.49 (Still hanging in there)

5000M WOMEN 1. RESTITUTA JOSEPH, ARUSHA, 16.25.88 2. SARAH RAMADHANI, ARUSHA, 16.56.35 3. RUHAMA SHAURI, ZANZIBAR, 17.00.74
15 KM: WOMAN 1.RESTITUTA JOSEPH,ARUSHA,49.25.69 2.SARA RAMADHANI,ARUSHA,49.52.39 3.FABIOLA WILLIAM,K’NJARO,53:39

Great results from a dirt track at high altitude that is not so cool temps wise either!

Lornah was asked by the church in her hometown of Groet to hold a clinic during a fundraising event for new pews for the church. Lornah willingly obliged and after speaking she jumped out of 20-meter high tree! An outdoor sports company had an abseiling system set up and Lornah wanted to try the adventure games!

This Wednesday we will leave for Boston where Lornah will run the Beach to Beacon 10 K race in Cape Elizabeth. After Cape Elizabeth she will go to Falmouth for the Falmouth 7.1-mile road race.
Adidas-Endurox-Oakley.

The Race - First of all it was nice to see so many people out there - Bernie The Chairman in his retro NYRRC T Shirt (these days the ‘C’ has disappeared), Fidel, RLX, Tony, Bob Glover - Team leaders of the Big Four Teams.. Michelle Bleakley & Family whom I always like to see, John S from WTC, and Ginette - My inspiration in the over 70’s. Kimka, Jean Stemm & Vinyl, and MikeG “If you see me at a race you know it is a short distance one!” MikeG is a former winner of this race. I also talked to Lillian K who won the race last week, she’s excited about running her first NYC this November, “I’m Italian Spanish - that’s where I get my fire from!” John H, also the winner from last week, we were talking about the amazing running of the 10,000m Ozzie Craig Mottram who ran a 3:48 mile on Friday night…. Chris Bilsky of MCNY, Douglas Hegley of the Harriers who used to race for the Reebok Racing Club back in the day when he’d be at the front of these races…

Thanks to Andreas S. for the photo - Here is Toni, OzPaul, John H. Moi, and Kurt Le Vert.

Danny The Dollarman and Felipe were there, Danny‘s Number was 666 - cos he was going to run like the Devil.

And then all the Urbano’s! The first bit of good news is that Shiney has signed up as an Urbanite. Shiney is a fab runner, (his brother a three time Steeplechase Olympian PR 8:21 Justin Chaston), and has been my friend for many years. I never ask people to sign up for the club, but am always happy when they do - so after running unattached since the 1990’s he finally made a team choice. Shiney, who ran a marathon at the age of 15 for a $100 from his father, Justin ran one at 12(!), used to race back in Blighty - he even raced the great N‘gugi at the Mile!
OzPaul and Toni, Leo, Anne, Chubbs.. All looking serious warming up - Our team mascot, Costanza was out there, did I spot our fashion plate Lissy warming up? MikeT of CPTC zipped by looking in form.. I heard the support of Tomster…. Big thanks to Kurt Le Vert who picked me up on the East Side earlier that morning…..

Bang - the gun goes off - I run with MikeG for a bit, my hamstring starts pulling, which is a sign I am running too fast, so I slow down. I see Shiney up there - good. I can see Felipe up there with John, and a few guys from the Running Company, looks like Matt DePre. Out onto the road Vinyl goes past a few others including one guy who passes me then runs right in front of me, I slow, he slows, I move to the left, he moves.. Idiot..Dollarman and OzPaul, and Mike T go by, I am waiting for Chubbs - what’s wrong? At the turnaround Conor O’D goes past - nice guy, I ponder why he is so far back…. After this stage I drift off and wait for the finish…. The results: Congrats to #1 John Henwood, 32 NYAC NY 15:07 & Anne Kugler, 37 UATH NY 17:27 (last week I said sub 17:21)

Age Group winners - A sweep for the Warren St 40+ women(!) 1 Bea Huste 40 WS NY 18:50 2 Kim Griffin 43 WS NY 18:59 3 Olena Plastinina 41 WS NY 19:05,
Jean Chodnicki-Stemm 46 WS NY 19:24, Mary Rosado 55 CPTC NY 23:37, Ginette Bedard 71 NY 24:21, Emma Smoluchowski 18 TDUD NY 21:18, Gene Mitchell 37 RUNC NJ 15:27, John Samsel 61 WTC NY 19:10

Men’s team points - WSX won from the Running Company, and GNY, urban #7, NY Flyers - #14, Harriers somewhere in there.. Well done to all Urbano’s:
CURTIS PAUL CHASTON MATT WILLIAMS SHAWN MACARI JERRY R KUGLER ANNE KAVANAGH PAUL STEEGE KURT ROMAN HENRY BINDER LISSY PULTZ DAVID KONRAD EVELYN CHESLIK THOMAS CURTIS TONI

Anil, “How come everyone ran so slow?” Thanks man, we tried! Costanza, “Ouch!” and Jeremy could not stop laughing - yep, we ran like suckers! I have now decided to concede at Falmouth.. Trying to chase the Simba for the first 500m would be suicidal.. I’m going to jog off the starting line!

1-mile - Bashir Daham Najim (former Kenyan David Nyaga), QAT 3:47.97 2 Lagat Bernard USA 3:48.38 3 Komen Daniel Kipchircir KEN 3:48.49 4 Webb Alan USA 3:48.92 5 Mottram Craig AUS 3:48.98 (Willis Nicholas NZL 3:53.43)
M800-Mulaudzi Mbulaeni RSA 1:44.15 2 Borzakovskiy Yuriy RUS 1:44.18

W800 - Andrianova Tatyana RUS 1:56.91 2 Kotlyarova Olga RUS 1:57.55 3 Cherkasova Svetlana RUS 1:57.86 4 Clark Hazel USA 1:57.99
Jamal Maryam Yusuf BRN 8:28.87 (Born Zenebech Tola in Arsi, Ethiopia) #2 Ochichi Isabella KEN 8:31.42 3 Pavey Joanne GBR 8:33.79

Gilbert Okari won the men’s race in 32 minutes, 24 seconds, from John Korir - A fantastic seventh place by Andrew Letherby, another Australian who mixes it up with the world’s best East Africans with success.

1. James Kwambai(Ken) 1h 03' 10" 2. Isaac Macharia (KEN)1h 03' 55" 3. PauL Kirui (KEN) 1 h 04' 13"… #9. Jorge Eliecer Real(Colombia, & WSX when he is not at altitude training in Colombia and in NYC) 1h 06'30" (Great result as this is a hard course!)

Females. 1. Adriana Fernandez(Mex)1h 15'03" 2. Lioudmila Kortchagina (Can)1 h 16' 12" 3. Julia Rivera(Peru) 1h 17'59" First colombian female Ruby Reativa 1h 21' 34"

Racer \ Predictor	Adam	Anil	Jeremy	Costanza	Danny	Toby	result
Chubby	16:10	16:16*	16:22	16:06*	16:17	16:28	=17:19=
OzPaul	15:30	15:42	16:05	15:40	16:00	15:51	=16:13=
Felipe	15:20	15:30	15:16	15:22	15:10	15:17	=15:32=
Toby	16:35	16:49	16:42	16:36	16:35	17:00	=16:59=
Mike T.	16:00	16:15	15:56	15:49	16:01	16:11	=16:15=
Danny Dollar	15:45	DNF	DNF	15:58	15:57	15:47	=16:39=

The form books - Chubby, pulled a good one last week in the park, but has yet to get under 16:22 this year, which we believe he did on the track in June.

OzPaul; rumor has it, Chubbs & Costanza says he chokes under pressure. The last 5k we saw him at was the June YAI race where he ran 16:04.

Felipe - the man in form after he whizzed home to win the Bronx, Danny's partner in training, and the word is "in form".

Toby, Struggling is the polite version - last week died after the first mile.. given up waiting for the rebirth.

Mike T. Last outing a 15:56, but on the track, but maybe coming into top form for an August peak.

Danny The Dollarman, In his hard training mode, but has the ability to keep Felipe in his sights. He has yet to lose against the majority of the contestants listed this season.

Women - 800m: Hazel Clark (Knoxville, Tenn.), Kameisha Bennett (Knoxville, Tenn.), Alice Schmidt (Chapel Hill, N.C.).
1500m: Treniere Clement (Knoxville, Tenn.)
3000m Steeplechase: Elizabeth Jackson (Provo, Utah), Lisa Galaviz (Gilbert, Ariz.), Carrie Messner (Carbondale, Colo.)
5000m: Shalane Flanagan (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Lauren Fleshman (Stanford, Calif.), Amy Rudolph (Providence, R.I.).
10,000m: Katie McGregor (St. Louis Park, Minn.), Blake Russell (Acton, Mass.), Jennifer Rhines (Ardmore, Pa.)
Marathon: Jenny Crain (Milwaukee, Wis.), Emily Levan (Wicasset, Maine), Turena Johnson-Lane (Muncie, Ind.), Jill Boaz (Los Osos, Calif.), Mary Akor (Gardena, Calif.)

I could see that my garam masala was an acquired taste added to my Trout, plus the curry powder too…. Some liked it, and probably others did not. However I had a ball, and just to be a finalist was a hoot. I learned all about vineyards in California and organic growth ideas for grapes too. I love these kind of oddballs things, because it is so off the wave length of what I usually do that it is an entire win-win situation just to experience the whole thing. Yeah the $10,000 would have been nice, but $ are just $ spent. Another Rookie mistake - should I have tasted my dish before giving it to the Judges?? Probably. As Carlsberg used to say.

I was sitting down eating talking about Sheep faces, and how they are (yuck) prepared over in Iceland, when low and behold Steff Jax came over - she was covering the event from a media point of view, and was as surprised to find me there as I was her! She’s going to S.A. to do an endurance week long race where she must carry all her food with her - wow, very impressive, I moan carrying a backpack with a day’s supply of food. She’s getting into ultras now, and out of the tri’s.

Toni, David - the rest got shorter he ran stronger, like Lissy, Gary - welcome, Chris Cruiser - great sess, Ivan certainly got the all important ambition, Eileen - great session, turned up a notch, Ben - running each repeat faster and faster, Todd - moaning about the rest time, Moses - liking the track, Yuen feeling the hills from the weekend, Paul - stepped up a notch also, Mary - attacked well, Tracey - welcome, Mark up and down, and finished up. Atilla from Turkey came down to the track too - NYC’s next 5000m star, and we thank him for the Cap (don‘t know if I‘ll be brave enough to wear it but a really nice comment on there)! We hear CenturyMan was held up at work - valid excuse…. Colleen had a good excuse too.

We say, Nobody knows Paula like Paula - period. If I was Paula I would double, and Lasse Viren (whom I still think the absolute greatest distance runner of all time) says "Double." Why? Because Paula is from another era, the era of legends where the power of trying to achieve the amazing is the fuel for the relentless training. Frank Shorter already proved that the Olympic 10,000m - Marathon double is more than do-able when the order is in your favor (and not Marathon - 10,000 as it was in Athens for Paula).it looks like running out of fuel physically will not be an issue in Helsinki…. Go for it Paula!!

Viren? People lauded El G and Bekele for doubling at Athens - remember Viren? St he ran the 10,000 heats (at Athens for Bekele there was no 10,000m heat), then the finals, then the 5000 heats, then the 5000 final - winning both, THEN the very next morning he got up to run the Olympic Marathon finishing fifth. Ouch. Amazing.

And here‘s a picture sent to us by Stuart A. (apologies for butchering it) of Mike Trunkes preparing for his show down. The second battle of Queens - Chubbs‘s last chance before Mike closes his road racing for the season. No money on this one, just the bragging.

And women 800m: Benhassi Hasna Ait Hammou Mina Ait Hammou Seltana.
3000m steeplechase: Chaabi Bouchra.
Marathon: El Kamch Zhor Wahbi Kenza Naghmouch Hafida

MST 3000 - Koech Paul Kipsiele KEN 8:08.56 2 Tahri Bouabdallah FRA 8:09.71 3 Misoi Kipkirui KEN 8:15.85 4 Lincoln Daniel USA 8:15.93
M3000 - Songok Isaac Kiprono KEN 7:35.84 2 Limo Benjamin KEN 7:36.79 3 Choge Augustine Kiprono KEN 7:37.24 4 Songok Boniface Kiprotich KEN 7:38.95

And of course Kajsa won the High Jump! Bergqvist Kajsa SWE 1.95 & for good measure - Holm Stefan SWE 2.33 won the men’s - Heja Sverige!

La femmes - Sally Barsosio, KEN 31:17 $3000 2. Amy Begley, Albuquerque, NM 32:00 2000 3. Viktoria Klimina, RUS 32:11... #9. Dr. Kari Anne Bertrand, Gilroy 34:23

800m: James McIlroy (Windsor, Slough EH) 1500m: Michael East (Newham & Essex), Nick McCormick (Morpeth) 3000m steeplechase: Andrew Lemoncello (Fife) Marathon: Huw Lobb (Bedford), Dan Robinson (Tipton)

Jeanine Whitlock, back from the Drugs bust, at that meet, broke the British record in the pole vault… The 5000m was as we predicted - Bekele roadshow, or should that read track show? Mr. Kenenisa ETH 12:55.55 2 Mottram Craig AUS 12:56.13 3 Kipyego Bernard Kiprop KEN 13:12.47 4 Abdirahman Abdihakem USA 13:13.32 5 Weidlinger Günther AUT 13:13.44 6 Broe Tim USA 13:13.93... 11 Culpepper Alan USA 13:25.75
M1500 - Lagat Bernard USA 3:33.12 2 Webb Alan USA 3:33.16 3 East Michael GBR 3:33.32 4 Kipchoge Eliud KEN 3:33.80 5 Rotich Laban KEN 3:34.36

The only women’s distance race was the 800, and was it set up for Kelly to win? You judge - #1 Bernard-Thomas Neisha GRN 2:02.00 2 Meadows Jennifer GBR 2:02.05 3 Scott Susan GBR 2:02.06
The shocker result was in the men’s 400 - Benjamin Timothy GBR 44.75 defeating the Oly. Champ - 2 Wariner Jeremy USA 44.86

Well done to the Team runnas’ - MACARI JERRY GREENE KAVAN MACARI CARA MCINTYRE KAREN STROBRIDGE PARKS E. CANNELLA PAUL LAMARCA-MEHIGAN MIA CHESLIK THOMAS YOUNG SHAWN
Congrats also to Rick P from the Flyers who trains with on Wednesday and simply ripping through the minutes every time he races despite me giving him harder and harder sessions! The sky is the limit.

Next week is the big showdown at Queens - Costanza is even coming out to watch! There are more $bets$ on this race than you will believe, Danny the Dollarman has so many clauses, odds, and people handling the slips I am not surprised that he has chosen only to spectate at the race. So far thinking OzPaul will defeat Felipe are Costanza (additional time bet that Felipe will not beat 15:15), Chubby (additional time bet that if Ozpaul does lose he will be within 20-seconds of Felipe), Anil… And thinking that Felipe will defeat Ozpaul is this website staff, and Danny. Costanza meanwhile is rather worried with Anil’s behavior, “First Anil asks me if I have to bring my wife to Ozpaul’s wedding, then he starts stroking my shoulder. Every time he walks past me in the store he pats me on the Butt… whazhappening??”
Anyway Costanza was handing out the fashion tips, ‘you‘ve got to wear low socks’ he was telling everyone, ’it’s the look’ and if the CostanZ says it, it is true.

KBC Night of Athletics - Heusden-Zolder (BEL)
M1500 - Angwenyi Elkanah KEN 3:35.41 2 Blincoe Adrian NZL 3:36.33 3 Rono Robert KEN 3:36.45
M800 - Stewart Jason NZL 1:46.19 2 Mutua Joseph KEN 1:46.51 3 Omey Tom BEL 1:46.61

M3000 ST - Misoi Kipkirui KEN 8:08.15 2 Chemweno David KEN 8:09.09 3 Pröll Martin AUT 8:13.74 4 Chumba Linus KEN 8:15.57 5 Vroemen Simon NED 8:15.85, and 8:16.26 for the 16-year-old World Youth champion Tareq Mubarak Taher from Bahrain set an ’impressive’ junior national record.
M5000 - Al-Outaibi Moukheld KSA 12:58.58 2 Bellani Hicham MAR 12:59.67 3 Kosgei Shadrack KEN 13:01.06 4 Ebuja John KEN 13:03.79 5 Koech Stephen KEN 13:04.43 6 Chenonge Hillary KEN 13:04.70 7 Bakken Marius NOR 13:07.63 8 Goucher Adam USA 13:10.19 (Rupp Galen USA 13:44.72) Great run by Goucher & the junior Galen.
W800 - Grousselle Elisabeth FRA 2:00.84 2 Fouquet Virginie FRA 2:02.46 3 Ballentine Michelle JAM 2:02.84
W5000 - Wigene Susanne NOR 14:57.21 2 Wami Gete ETH 14:58.58 3 Maury Margaret FRA 14:59.07

Another Superman, Velo News (thanks to Neil B) Lance A talks, "I can't promise that I won't show up at a few cyclo-cross races and a few mountain bike races and a few triathlons and a few 10K runs," said Armstrong. "It's not as if I can sit around and be a fat slob. I have to do something." His thoughts on a marathon to shoot for, "Okay, 2:15."

Our prediction, or advice? If Lance wants to complete a marathon in 2:15 then stay on the saddle buddy. On the same lines don‘t expect to see Paul Tergat in the peleton next year.

Jeff W sends in the link with the alarming facts about the Cycling world.

A point of interest; Paul still remembers the last sale, and on hearing this reminded us; Where elese can you get TWO pairs of 2004 Shox for $60?? That’s the deal he picked up - what will you get!!!

Anyway speaking of the club we had the group in the park last night, in da soup - Paula (not the one above) swung a hard right, and swiped Ivan off the ropes, Lynn is advancing a storm, and Toni held steady to a fab sess, Kathy was going great till we found out she was racing last night(!!) You should have been taking it easy, a killer. Alex made it from JFK to the park, changed and started the session in less than an hour!! That is commitment! Chubby was watching over the other guys so we can’t comment on the other half, but Stan is looking mean, and Adam is doing the nasty’s…. at the Store Anil looked beat up from last night’s session, and Danny the Dollarman looked fresh - should’ve come down to 6th ST!

“One of South Africa's most successful international athletes, Hezekiel Sepeng, will continue to try to prove his innocence, even though his B sample also tested positive for a banned substance.”

WHEN IS PUNK ROPE? Monday nights, 7pm-7:50pm
WHERE IS PUNK ROPE? 14th Street Y (344 E. 14th St. nr 1st Ave)
HOW MUCH IS PUNK ROPE? $13/class for the public ($11 for members of the 14th Street Y)
ADVANCE REGISTRATION Space is limited, so advance registration is recommended (plus it saves you time at the door). Call 212-780-0800 x221 to register by credit card now.
MORE INFO Contact Tim Haft: 646-654-0668 tim@punkrope.com
So there you have it - I can defo recommend rope workouts for being excellent for conditioning training, and you’ve nothing to lose by trying it out! And Barry White said, “We‘ve got it together…” So don‘t worry about coordination and skills.

Tom, Randi, and Michelle all did well in the mushy soup. Kwasi looked drained too, Rick feeling the effects of intervals yesterday.. Atilla tried to turn up late, but failed, David P was the grinder, and Cara came down and put in a solid effort - This was a tough night, and it was extended two minutes longer than the famed same workout that Doctor Rosa and the Fila team used in the 90's.. Moses Tanui etc before he won Boston!

American Olympic champion, Justin Gatlin, and Jamaican world-record holder, Asafa Powell, are preparing for a head-to-head duel tomorrow in the 100m in London at the Grand Prix.

Reminds me of a race I did in CP when I first came to the city - The Marcus O‘Sullivan 5km. First prize was two air tickets (maybe, we say that because the year after Ellen K. won the race and is yet to receive the tickets).. Anyway this is my first ever race in CP and I jog up to the start and who do I see - Godfrey Kiprotich, a multi time XC ace of the Kenyan team - Fab!
So we set off 4:29 for the first mile, the second mile I start to slip a bit! So much so that Leonard Chalco caught me and passed me for second at the finish.. Anyway - the awards; first prize the plane tickets and whatever, then the guy brings out boxes of new running shoes, alright I‘m thinking, better than zippo, but… “And the age group prizes” So get this - 2nd and 3rd got nothing, but 4th place gets new shoes as he is the first age place! If I had know that I would have walked the last 200m to wait for somebody to pass. How fair was that? A year later at the race I won an Estee Lauder umbrella.. I think that race has now disappeared from the calendar.

Speaking of disappearance, bring back the first NYRR race I ever did - The Roosevelt Island 10k -that was a great race, flat as a pancake.. I think I won some socks in that one, the third place (bloody Chalco again, and Tesyafe Bekele won) prize was a $10 voucher for the NYRR shop. The day before I had been one place from a $1,000 at a race in NJ… socks, I was learning about the NYC races.

Women - Mari Ozaki, 2:23:59 / 2:23:30 (2003) Yumiko Hara, 2:24:19 / 2:24:19 (2005) Megumi Oshima (Tanaka), 2:24:25 / 2:24:25 (2005) Ryoko Eda, 2:24:54 / 2:24:54 (2005) Harumi Hiroyama, 2:25:56 / 2:22:56 (2000)

Well what am I moaning for Lee S went to Newfoundland, “I had a nightmare of a weekend going to the World Cup in Newfoundland. It took me nearly 36 hours to get to Corner Brook, including a 3:00 a.m. arrival Friday night in the wrong city since Air Canada screwed my connections. Then they lost my luggage, so I had my bike (and shoes since I put them in the bike box) but absolutely no clothing. I got the clothing 11:00 p.m. Saturday night before the Sunday a.m. race, at which point I had spent half the afternoon buying new clothes and getting them silk-screened so as to be ITU legal. For icing on the cake, Air Canada lost my bike on the way back to New York and I still don’t have it.” Youch - you see we tell every one - Fly British Airways, or walk there, it is the only way to go!

“Colleen, who is cranking up the training for an October marathon, surprised herself with a strong pace and even had enough fortitude left over to brave Home Depot on a weekend. As for me, well, since I'm not sufficiently back in shape to run the full route, I biked most of it. I took a little tumble when I was ambushed by a curb that was hiding under one of those lake-sized puddles. I just keeled over in slow motion, suffering no damage besides a few scrapes and some very sore muscles from the impact. But with a little encouragement from Colleen, I was back up and eager for my run over the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges. Afterwards, we were a soggy but happy bunch, downing bagels, iced coffee and Gatorade at my house, where of course the pets fell instantly in love with the allergic person. I can't wait to do it again, possibly sometime in September.” Danke, danke Shawn! I was very upset though to check my mail this morning and find no Kenny Omelet attachment to this message.

Crazy 8 - 1. Tibebu Yenew, ETH 23:05.9 $2000 2. Julius Kiptoo, KEN 23:06.0 $1200 3. George Kirwa Misoi, KEN 23:09.1 $800
Wimmin - 1. Viktoria Klimina, RUS 26:14.8 $2000 2. Aster Demissie, ETH 26:41.0 $1200 3. Naomi Wangui, KEN 27:01 $800.… 5. Atalelech Keteme, ETH 28:04 $300 WTC. The course/world records remain - 22:02 Peter Githuka (KEN) 1996 and 24:27 Asmae Leghzaoui* (MAR) 2002

Chubby and I completed 15-miles on Sunday - wowee! Rick, Adam, Lynn and Patricia also came along (Adam doing 17)… Back to the store Danny Dollarman comes in, “How far did you run? 15? That’s great man!”
Ten minutes later Patricia is asking Dollarman what he’d done that morning, “Ah, 22, even stumpy did 20.” Great, god don’t you love the patronizer! Suddenly Chubb’s and mine run did not seem so good, mind you we could not have gone much further - it was a haul and a half… So Danny tries to make it better, “15 is good.. For you guys!“ Oh yeah, keep going!
Somebody asks Adam his splits, “First loop 42-” he tells.. Well that was funny as Chubbs and I hit 42 and Adam was no longer with us….. “Er, my watch could have been wrong” Yeah, that sounds like a regular stopwatch, the watch always lies right?

Adams‘s next pearl of wisedom was when Lynn said she ate pizza last night, “Ah, fried cheese is the worst!” What kind of pizza do they serve in Brooklyn?? Fried?

We met Pierre the Pusher en route around the north end of the park and he ran a few with us pushin‘ as he‘s apt to doing, and a Moroccan guy who came and ran with us - nice guy, a stranger only for the first ten minutes, talking we found out he knew all the old crew, “Small world eh?” He said, too right…..

So anyway the new deal - July 30th OzPaul Vs Felipe Garcia at the Queens 5km. Danny the Dollar man has money on Felipe, and Chubb’s has his $60 on OzPaul (“I‘m a little worried as he‘s a choker under pressure”), the odds were upped as Danny told Chubbs that it would not even be close; so now it is that Felipe will/has to beat OzPaul by more than 20-seconds.

Talking Ozpaul - he’s getting married in September. No, we are not invited, but Chubb’s is, “Yep, it is my anniversary so I’m going as I don’t have to think of what to do on that day. Anil is going to, so he’s been desperate trying to find a date, asking all the girls…” Apparently Danny Dollarman was going to be invited before he got wind of the bet - so what will happen? Well our money is banked on Felipe, and like Danny Dollarman I do not think it will be too close!

Kool news also from Shoe4Africa - some big moves ahead. Two new programs starting.

Congrats to age group winners - Peter Farago, and we saw Ginette Bedard had her closest race of the season in the 70+ race winning only by thirteen seconds to Wen-Shi Yu - truly world class both running 39-mins!!

The men - West Side Runners dominated and even had Fidel Staab running for them, and the women New York Flyers were the team champions.

Congrats to the Urban Pirates - MACARI JERRY MACARI CARA MULIA ADAM MCINTYRE KAREN SHUFRO LEE LYNCH CHRISTOPHER CHESLIK THOMAS YOUNG SHAWN MOREIRA PATRICIA (patricia looked non too happy when Adam, Rick & I cheered her in, she gave us the blackest look, was it the singing?).

Anyway the bad news - C‘est moi, La ruine de moi; the first mile I attempted to run at ‘match the simba pace’ for my Falmouth attempt. The race goes off and I’m thinking ‘yes, I can do this’ unfortunately I was not quite moving as fast as I thought I was! That was the saga of the first mile, and things got somewhat more bleak as the miles rolled on. Nevermind, I shall be back next week for a replay.. And a mile less to go!

Meanwhile Starbucks was watching the Tour, “Italian Dario Frigo was arrested today in the tour ! They arrested last night his wife who drove in a car with 10 doses of EPO with her !! This guy was caught before, France is really tough on these things, he might stay in jail for some time!” Sounds pretty guilty to me. I guess the wife can‘t testify that the phials were not her own though right?

The Commander with Ozpaul to chase who was zipping round the track like a boomerang, Ali with Ann chasing or vice versa, Randi now a regular, Eric from the Flyers visiting, thingy whose name I forgot who ran great, Mike a newbie checking us out - as was Jae of the running-form class.
Larry who is finally doing the marathon this year, hopefully 100% fit. Jonathan who is off to Spain and the land of Sangria, Camille made it down, Colleen the smiler pushing well. The Queen of Harriers made it down and ran very impressively. David P putting in the work. Hotrod who flew on the last 400. Alec on the dot of arrivals, and Rick who cycled in and out.

Bellmore Striders Independence Day Run. 4 M- The Spaghetti Kenyan was the winner 1. Paul Mwangi, 38, New Paltz, NY, 20:06; 2. Felipe Garcia, 23, Brooklyn, NY, 20:09; 3. Trevor Murry, 39, Rockaway, NY, 20:58. WOMEN - 1. Alemtsehay Misganaw, 22, New York, NY (ETH), 22:55.. You see ‘Hurry the Murray’ is on his comeback trail!

If you go out to watch on Friday night stay till the last event to support Chris Graff in the 10,000m as he tries to get a WC qualifier time. He needs a 14-second PR, we wish him the very best of luck, I admire the guy for going for it.

Then it was to Mumtaz on Third (84-85th ST) to talk over the training plan of Peter2 for the NYC Marathon. Peter2 is now settled in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn and loving it - this weekend after the Dash & Splash he’s off to the Cape for a couple of weeks with the wife and of course to get on course for the marathon training!

This is one of my fav races here in the park, and I nearly got knocked over today by Pierre on his bicycle who was going backwards through a red traffic light I kid you not, and he reminded me that it is a must! I used to have the course record at this race, and even won a bottle of wine at the event! Ryan Grote took the record, but I remember the year I got the record there was this guy who kept with me for the first mile.. So after the race I tried to recruit him to CPTC… anyway I found out later he was called Karl Paranya and had just been part of an American WR setting squad in the 4 x 800m or something earlier that year! Ran the mile in 3:54 and surprise surprise he never got back to me about joining CPTC!

Congrats to all the Urbans too! STEWART CHRISTOPHER HENRY PIERRE COLLINS CHRISTIAN MULIA ADAM GOODWIN DAVID TILLMAN SABRINA MCINTYRE KAREN DARCY DAVID DEBAISE COLLEEN COLLETT CAMILLE MOREIRA PATRICIA SUMMERSON CHRISTINE E CHESLIK THOMAS

Joe Capitani Il Falco was out there, and gave us his Tour de France predictions -- “Podium: Armstrong, Vino', Basso. Dark Horse: Mayo. I still can't recover from Cipollini retiring.... “ Yep, similar thoughts on the Great Cipo’ a true legend. Anyway following the Bronx I met Arri who walks by, “Can I offer you a lift? I can drop you at your doorstep?” So we walk a million miles to where he has parked his car (to avoid getting boxed in by the race traffic) and it is right on the corner of where all the cars are being directed to miss the course (even though we are three hours past the start at this time). Gary says, “If you are good at reversing a block or so we can just go backwards.” Seems like a plan as in the 80‘s Arri used to be a part time cab driver! So we reverse half the way back to Manhattan, and on the way I ask him, “Any cab stories?”
“Well once I took a man to a boat, he missed the boat, but the boat was going by Staten Island, so we drove to Staten Island. The man had no money as he said the Ship‘s Captain was going to pay, and now the fare was $75 (A lot thirty years ago), so we get to Staten Island, and the Ship is already offshore. So I jump in a little dinghy with the guy and we go out to the Ship. The Captain had to unlock the Safe to get the money, he was non too pleased… I also took the Head of NBC to the airport the weekend of the WaterGate Scandal… got robbed a few times, I usually made the money back with sympathetic tips when I related the story that day…” An interesting ride home!

#27 overall Sally Barsosio Kenya 1/515:F25-29 F# 1 50:11, Nuta Olaru Romania 1/466:F30-34 F# 2 50:32 5:25 & Lidia Simon Romania 2/466:F30-34 F# 3 50:42 5:26

For me the race of the event was the women’s 5000 and I was totally wrong - the record still stands, The Baby Faced Assassin did not lie when she said she would NOT chase the WR this season, she ran for a win, and win she did - Dibaba Tirunesh ETH 14:32.57 2 Adere Berhane ETH 14:32.79 3 Defar Meseret ETH 14:32.90 4 Masai Edith KEN 14:37.20 5 Dibaba Ejegayehu ETH 14:38.07 6 Melkamu Meselech ETH 14:38.97 7 Pavey Joanne GBR 14:40.71 8 Timbilili Alice KEN 14:47.06 9 Ejigu Sentayehu ETH 14:51.11 10 Wami Gete ETH 14:51.47
Jo Pavey's decision to opt out of Britain’s world championships trials to compete in Rome was smart - she broke her personal best by eight seconds last night with the second-best performance over the distance by a British woman EVER.. And she was the one pushing the pace!

Surprising 800 results - 18-year-old Alfred ‘beating two Olympic medallists’ Yego Kirwa KEN 1:44.62 2 Mulaudzi Mbulaeni RSA 1:44.70 3 Borzakovskiy Yuriy RUS 1:44.81 & Wmns - Benhassi Hasna MAR 1:58.41 2 Cherkasova Svetlana RUS 1:58.47 3 Sinclair Kenia JAM 1:58.88.. Mutola back in 8th!

The IAAF‘s $1-million jackpot (for a person who wins all his/her events throughout the Golden Galas continues to have a serious lack of distance runners, I mean how fair is this? Arron just has to run 100m and the 5000m runner has to run a virtual marathon in distance to win. Sprinters can often double in one night with no ill effects, try that in the 5000m - the body needs more recovery, making it much harder to stay on top the whole season.

Talking fives - at the three AAA’s - 1 Mark Carroll (IRL) 13:48.90, (who must have a lot of FF miles!) 2 Mark Miles 13:58.18, 3 Michael Skinner 14:08.36
M100 - 1 Jason Gardener (B&W) 10.26secs, 2 Mark Lewis-Francis (Bir) 10.30, 3 Christian Malcolm (Card) 10.35
3000m Steeplechase: 1 Andrew LeMoncello (Fife) 8mins 33.93secs 2 Adam Bowden (Harrow) 8:36.36 3 Andrew Robinson (Newham Essex Beagles) 8:38.85
800m: 1 Tim Bayley (Belgrave) 1min 48.54secs 2 Ian Munro (Cambridge Harriers) 1:49.08 3 Michael Rimmer (Liverpool/Pembroke) 1:49.14
1500m: 1 Nick McCormick (Morpeth) 3:37.05 SR 2 Andrew Baddeley (Harrow) 3:37.08 PB 3 Michael East (Newham & Essex Beagles) 3:37.23 SB

W5000m: 1 Hayley Yelling (Windsor Slough & Eaton) 15mins 45.67secs 2 Natalie Harvey (South London) 15:50.21 3 Catherine Berry (Belgrave) 16:01.38
3000m Steeplechase: 1 Tina Brown (Coventry) 10mins 01.57secs 2 Jo Ankier (Shaftsbury Barnet) 10:01.93 3 Claire Entwistle (Wigan & District) 10:16.81 PB

The scourge of the 21-st century, the cowardly terrorists fighting the defenseless & unprotected citizens of the world.

Kelly Holmes is out of this weekend's World Championship trials too, though through injury over in the Brit State of Europe.

I think it is great, but Chubby would win everything… Costanza says he will come back from Italy at least 10-lbs heavier, to which Danny Dollarman added, “We’ll upgrade him from Chubby to another more fitting name!” Mean!

Lornah Kiplagat won last Monday, July 4, for the fourth time the Peachtree Road race in Atlanta, USA. The Peachtree Road race is the World's biggest 10 K race with 55,000 participants. Lornah won the race also in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Lornah ran the first 2 Mile with the Elite Men and her split time at 5 K was 14:45*! Her winning time was 31:17. 2nd was Sally Barsosio in 31:52 with Lornah's trainings partner and cousin Hilda Kibet coming in 6th in her first Peachtree Rd Race in a time of 32:37. The Friday before the race Lornah and Hilda visited the headquarters of ING USA and did a small presentation on what Lornah has done with the money she won in the " ING Run For Something Better" in New York in 2003 and 2004.

Lornah's next races will be the Beach to Beacon 10 K and the Falmouth Rd race, both in the USA.
Oakley - adidas - Endurox
* - that is below The Simba’s world record of 14:47!

The first ten customers in the store enjoyed the Heat-discount special though getting a whopping 33% discount on ALL purchases!! 33% was the centigrade recorded on the wall. Amanda of the NY Flyers picked up two pairs of ‘05 Shox’s, two nike sports bras, and a couple of pairs of adidas shorts for under $170!!

DollarDanny was shaking his head, “Costanza should be out there running in the park, the heat… tell me about it!” And the Store round the Block record was broken by Jeremy, he came for a job and broke the record - 58.8-seconds it stands at now - can you beat it and win free shoes??

London won a two-way fight with Paris by 54 votes to 50 at the IOC meeting in Singapore, after bids from Moscow, New York and Madrid were eliminated. Sebastian Coe said, "This is just the most fantastic opportunity to do everything we ever dreamed of in British sport."

Click here to watch the video 'Sport at Heart' that everyone over the pond loved, featuring Jo Ankier, who is coached by Bruce Smith, whose wife is featured on the TRAIN AWAY project coming to you soon!! Beckham, Kelly holmes, and Sir Roger Moore also in the Video. Pretty damn cool.

Anyway we hear from Starbucks who has just returned from Atlanta, “I heard from a very reliable source that Paris lost because London has more Starbucks coffee shops.....…”

Anil moving up nicely in the middle of the intervals, ChuckyChina convinced we ran one interval too many, Danny Dollarman came and kicked well -welcome, Masterblaster digging deep, Cruiser picked up nicely, Robin looking like the potion is working, Charlotte - promised she‘d come down and she did, India - with two middle names, a favorite color of blue and pink, gold shoes, and a tendency to kick water , Randi - welcome a newbie from the East Village, Atilla the Flying Dutchman, Michelle up and down hopefully feeling better now, DavidP zoomed on a couple, Peter2 - great consistent session, Rick - checked out the Falmouth course over the weekend - got some family members to beat out there, and Suneet - pushed to the book ends.

And to Oscar Gonzalez-Barret 15:47, and Sarah Scholl 17:24 winners of Marty’s Independence 5000 in CT. Marty the king of putting on a great race in that neck of the woods, his food at that race is awesome!

W5000M 1.SARAH RAMADANI, TEAM 100 17.07.88 (also doubled to win the 1500m) 2.PHILOMENA DANIEL, TEAM 100, 17.41.35 3.NATALIA ELISANTE, TEAM 100, 17.47.66

WHEN IS PUNK ROPE? Monday nights, 7pm-7:50pm NEXT PUNK ROPE CLASS No class on July 4‹Happy Independence Day! Monday, July 11, 7pm-7:50pm featuring punk rock from 1977

WHERE IS PUNK ROPE? 14th Street Y (344 E. 14th St. nr 1st Ave)
HOW MUCH IS PUNK ROPE? $13/class for the public ($11 for members of the 14th Street Y)
ADVANCE REGISTRATION Space is limited, so advance registration is recommended (plus it saves you time at the door). Call 212-780-0800 x221 to register by credit card now.
MORE INFO Contact Tim Haft: 646-654-0668 tim@punkrope.com
So there you have it - I can defo recommend rope workouts for being excellent for conditioning training, and you’ve nothing to lose by trying it out! And Barry White said, “We‘ve got it together…” So don‘t worry about coordination and skills.

Lornah‘s incredible streak continues on the roads - undefeated for many, many months.

The most incredible distance race of the Summer is coming this weekend - Rome‘s women‘s 5000m The Baby Faced Assassin Tirunesh Dibaba takes on Adere, her own sister Ejegayehu, Gete Wami, Werkenesh Kidane, and Meseret Defar.. And that’s just the women from her country!! I tell you the record is going!

Today - Athletissima 2005 Lausanne in Switzerland, always a good meet.

Talking Europe - Costanza is not happy with the latest trend of men wearing Capri pants coming from, according to the Shoe Doctor himself, Europa.

Paris - 5000 - Bekele Kenenisa ETH 12:40.18 2 Negera Abebe Dinkesa ETH 12:55.58 3 Gebremariam Gebre-egziabher ETH 12:58.60 4 Bekele Tariku ETH 12:59.03
M1500- Komen Daniel Kipchircir KEN 3:30.01 2 Lagat Bernard USA 3:30.64 3 Baala Mehdi FRA 3:30.80 4 Kipchirchir Alex KEN 3:30.82
M800 - Yiampoy William KEN 1:45.98 2 Mulaudzi Mbulaeni RSA 1:46.00 3 Bungei Wilfred KEN 1:46.25
MST - Kemboi Ezekiel KEN 8:09.14 2 Kiprotich Wesley KEN 8:09.46 3 Misoi Kipkirui KEN 8:10.02.… # 7 Mohamed Mustafa SWE 8:15.51

W3K - Masai Edith KEN 8:31.27 2 Ochichi Isabella KEN 8:33.59 3 Pavey Joanne GBR 8:34.66
W1500 - Yegorova Olga RUS 4:01.85 2 Dehiba Hind FRA 4:03.05 3 Yevdokimova Natalya RUS 4:03.59
W800 - Cherkasova Svetlana RUS 1:57.52 2 Calatayud Zulia CUB 1:58.37 3 Mutola Maria de Lurdes MOZ 1:58.96.… #8 Fouquet Virginie FRA 2:00.26.…

On site report from Urban, “kenny was flying around: martin keino and shadrack korir did the pace but after 4 mins he was on his own with Geneti behind him for 3k. he was on course for the record but in the end 12:40 Record crowd for a gala meeting 70,000”

Speaking cycling I went over the boro’s into Williamsburg to Charlotte’s the following day - wow, what a place she has! Space.. Unlimited! Mind you the roads over there are like minefields, my poor bike.

W3000 - Benita Johnson Australia 8:55.72 Shalene Flanagan USA 8:57.92 Kim Smith New Zealand 8:57.93... #6 Sonia O’Sullivan Ireland 9:05.94

Good Luck to the Simba & Starbucks traveling to Atlanta today! They will also be going to Falmouth later this Summer. I am going and my plan is to stick to The Simba for, hm, we'll see….. multiple results -A) Left on the starting line (highly probable). B) Hang for the first mile (Doable if I get my act together). C) Pass the second mile in front of the Simba (pipe dream).

The last time I tried something like this was when I was writing for Primera Hora, a Puerto Rican newspaper, and decided to try to run with Paula Radcliffe for as long as possible. May I add at this time that I was still running respectably (my PR is faster than the Women’s WR, and although I was not PR-ing I thought I could hang for a while)…. Well enter the buffets in Puerto Rico, enter the fact I was not really training.. Anyway so the gun goes off and I’m running behind Paul Tergat and Paula is pulling away.. I don’t want to be an idiot and run past Tergat(!) So I’m hoping that he’ll start to pick it up… he doesn’t until the first kilometer when he sprints to catch up the lead pack (with Paula up there)… so I exhaust myself hanging onto Tergat to catch up…. I lasted two miles before Paula disappeared into the distance….

Kool to see Eve working well. ChuckyChina muscling along, Alec showing he has the gears when choosing to use them. Cruiser stepping it up and rocking! MasterBlaster working hard with Robin at her side. Luiz looking strong, and pacing well. Todd with great form. Jonathan still needing the endurance, but putting in a sterling effort. Colleen who smiles no matter how much pain she runs into! Kwasi moving like a Rocket and AmexChris looking like he is back in form.

Catherine Ndereba, Turin Marathon champion, Beatrice Omwanza, Milan marathon champion, Rita Cheptoo, former world record holder, Tegla Loroupe and Hellen Kimutai are the women’s representatives for Kenya. Three to score for team competition.

In the 800m Kenyan Festus Nzimbi was the pacemaker and zipped to a 51.34 400m split! When I was in Kenya 2000 Festus was just beginning to start running. He was the smallest member of the Nzimbi brothers who have all been in Sweden over the last few years. He was just beginning to show form, and incredibly thin - from the Kamba tribe.

Then there is the tender beef from France; they tie a young bull to the wall so he can‘t move. They feed, and feed, and feed him so the meat gets very tender - then slaughter. There is also the technique when the young bull is tied in place in a milk bath…. Food for thought at the next French Restaurant you go to! Stephan was telling me this, as a meat lover, but now as one who has quit even though he likes the taste, “How could I eat meat after learning this?”

Wst 3000- Inzikuru Docus UGA 9:20.33 2 Bouchaouante Yamina FRA 9:47.73 3 Nilsson Ida SWE 9:50.63

And the 6th ST track is open on Wednesday according to Dave (thanks), only the soccer field is closed... whata shame.

I'm bombing down the road in Berlin, actually along the cobbles that are there on the old divide and this girl walks straight over the main road, she sees me and freezes - nowhere to go, no brakes either! Nice girl though... and I only ended up knocking her bike over, not her.... Luckily Dug did not pile into the back of us! Anyway but yeah, if you want converse but a stick!

Next day at the Achilles TC race - My friend Spaghetti won! Mwangi, Paul WSX 25:00 and Berhe, Leteyesus F27 29:15 of WTC.. The Full Results can be found here.

US Women's 10,000m Champs - Deena back from a stress fracture still manages fourth - what a hero! #1 Katie McGregor Reebok 31:33.82 2 Blake Russell Reebok 31:35.25 3 Jennifer Rhines adidas 31:37.20 4 Deena Kastor Asics 31:45.08 5 Elva Dryer Nike 32:00.91

"the track workout went smoothly with groups A and B running well. chuck was up in the park doing the corp challenge but we had the commander (cranking out a solid 5:04 for his last mile (about 13 seconds faster than his first 4), luis negative splitting well, anne and ali hammering it out, alec running solidly just under 6 min pace. randy running a tad behind, and lee and chris working off of each other. dapperdan cappiello made a surprise appearance and ran a solid couple of miles. group b ran well with michelle, lissy, chris, tomchezz, and the enfenterrrible all showing some solid efforts. whilst i was a little hesitant to run bootcamp the group helped me out and we managed a good session without you."

To which we say take Kelly Holmes out of the equation and what did the rest of the British team do?? Ha ha. Perhaps they should have gone to Spain with Paula, and Paula should’ve gone to the British base in Crete! Yes, I know they won the relay, but it was the worst performance in any Olympics for a British Team in history..

I mean you show me one starving pigeon in Manhattan in the month of June - rarer than a tooth from a Chicken. Luckily she went away muttering, the pigeons meanwhile left her bread for fancier pickings by the garbage bins. And the road sweeper swept on.

Okay - what I wanted to say, ‘So I don’t have to waste my time in idle chatter when I’m working out with you like now’ but what I did say, ‘Ah no, it is usually because I am thinking about what I have to do that day.’ What a wuss. The reason I like my gym so much is that when you are working out nobody comes and talks to you - it used to drive me nuts when I was on the treadies at the NYSC and people who I don't even know come up alongside and start asking me questions. Yep, I know - an unsociable twit, can’t be helped.

We read that Anders ‘recovered’ from his Stockholm Marathon by winning a marathon in Finland - 2:32:32 - congrats. Janne Holmen, the Euro Marathon Champion won the half there in 1:05:14

Quite a few people running from the local area in this 15,000 person event, and that is day one - to be repeated the next day with the same numbers. The finals are held here in Park Ave, thus if the Urban team qualfies the team bus only has to go just one avenue!

Sally Barsosio won the women’s 5,000m race at the National Championships in 15:43.2, “My aim is to represent Kenya in the World Championships in Helsinki," Little known Esther Chemutai was runner up, Susan Chepkemei was something like fifth and Rose Cheruiyot was in eighth place in 16:12.5.

Former world 4km cross-country champion Ben Limo also returned forcefully to win the men’s 5000m in 13:23.3, William Tarus was second in 13:23.7 & Mangata Ndiwa third in 13:24.0

Barnabas Koskei won the 10,000m to win the race. He was timed at 28:05.6. Peter Ndegwa was second in 28:07.0 while Gilbert Okari took third position in 28:11.0.

Great Britain's women clinched promotion to the European Cup Super League despite a surprising defeat for Paula Radcliffe in the 5,000m where, on day two, she finished second to Volha Krautsova of Belarus, who ran a personal best time to win in 15minutes 10.16seconds - hardly surprising as paula ran the 3k the day before and had come from her training camp to just score points for the Brit Girls who won the team comp. The same can not be said for the men who were relegated for the first time in 35-years… where’s Daley Thompson, Coe, and Ovett when you need them! And in the Super League Russia won the women's elite event in Florence, finishing ahead of Germany and France. Finland and Sweden were promoted to the Super League in European Cup.

Men Gashaw Melese (2:09:24- Paris) Gadisa Shentama (2:09:46- Rotterdam) Ashebir Demissie (2:10:40- Hamburg) Dejene Guta (2:10:49- Dubai) Shimelis Mola (2:10:51- Xiamen) Dawit Terfe (2:11:02- Rome) Ambesse Tolossa (2:11:41- Paris) Hailu Negussie (2:11:45- Boston) Medeksa Milkesa (2:12.10- Belgrade)

Women Asha Gigi (2:27:38- Paris) Leila Aman (2:24.54- Berlin) Dure Tune (2:30:48- Los Angeles) Mulu Seboka (2:30:54- London) Derartu Tulu (2:31:58- Nagoya) Askale Tafa (2:32:34- Rome) Shitaye Gemechu (2:32:51- Phoenix) Meseret Kotu (2:35:48- Turin) Only five can run in the Marathon, Kenyan theoretically can enter six women, as Morocco can men, as the defending champ gets a By to the Games.

Also on the UES I bumped, twice - on 89th & 85th, into Stephanie Hodge who is off to China next week - not to find a starting line for once! Next year she’s off to Harvard to plugga as they say in Sweden, or Study as they say over here…. “I was going to email you the other day, but then I went to Latvia,” That‘s Steph, seven marathons done already this year!

Well done to all Urboes - PANDROW BENNETT STEWART CHRISTOPHER MACARI JERRY R GREENE KAVAN KUGLER ANNE HENRY PIERRE MULIA ADAM ALDERSON BOB DARCY DAVID LYNCH CHRISTOPHER DEBAISE COLLEEN CHESLIK THOMAS MOREIRA PATRICIA LAMARCA-MEHIGAN MIA

Centuryman sent us this link where one can view the race on Video clips! Very hi-tech we think. Meanwhile with a bad leg I was perusing the aisles at Eli‘s selecting cream cheeses and bagels of differing flavors inside of huffing and puffing on the roads, and I went to Juliano‘s coffee shop instead of the water stations, but I did get in a jog later on…. Just because the evening was right and the park was so inviting... Besides I had just drank a gallon of inca cola, and anyone who has done that knows the after effects are the jiggling legs.

Michelle, like Chucky, back in form, Evelyn back on the fast track, Camille full of smiles, Cruiser ran great, and Ben digging deep and running well.

The restaurant is pretty damn snappy with reviews - USA Today - Top Italian Restaurant in the USA. Food and Wine Magazine - one of the top 25 restaurants in the USA. AAA-Four Diamond Award Wine Spectator - One of USA's 10 best Italian restaurants.

*MINI PHOTOS*

In an unprecedented display of supporting women‘s racing the ING-NYC Marathon will offer the women a greater prize money purse than the men - $130,000 first place woman, to $100,000 men! Considering that a lot of races don‘t offer equality the other way round this seems like a fine initiative we think! History is made.... Golf can stay in the dark ages!
The ING Run for something better has been enhanced too.. Should be a cracking event… and Six Marquee men have already signed up! And today is Lottery results day!

Speaking NYRR - Out on Randall’s Island. A big thank you to the club for putting on these events and supporing the community of running in NYC, because you can guess they are not running a profit but providing a service; track races that would not be available otherwise. The man behind these meets is non other than the Voice Of the NYRR, Mr. Ian Brooks, the legend of the larynx and a man who really knows athletics like no-other. The sooner Ian gets on the NBC Marathon commentary team the better.

Anyway George as usual won the 1500m ‘3:55‘, there were loads of CPTC’s and a bunch of Urbanites, and NY Flyers - and well done to all of them for coming out and racing - I saw a lot of really gutsy performances. Good to see Snapper Don out there… the biggest question people were asking was, “Who is the one they call Chubby?” They‘d read about the challenge! Good to see Warren King, The King, up there too! I reminder that I have to get back up to VCP for the XC this fall.

And did I win my bet? Chubby Vs Mike Trunkes… like taking candy from a baby… Rumor has it (I could not see from my trailing viewpoint) that Mike smoked Chubbs from nearly a straightaway... (Mike, you can take the beer I won from Chubbs next time you see him). In fact Danny the Dollarman also beat Chubbs too, “Easy meat”. Results will be up soon on the web, but I remember clearly now why I retired from the track four years ago(!) My comeback will be the indoor season, for the Thursday nights…. BUT I urge you all to do as Kurt Le Vert, Judith, Lee S, Andrea H, Greg, Glen, Conor O’D, Sid H, Eileen, Lloyd, Heather, Ed, & Paolo (Coming up to check out, and support the event), Mary Queen of the NYRR, Nicole, Danny C, Chubby, Mike, John, Sean F.. and a bunch of others did - Go racing at Randall’s, it really is a wonderful experience!!

And what the heck - here is a store promotion - If you beat that record and run a in a pair of Shoes that ‘COULD’ have been bought at Urban Athletics you get an additional $100 from the store! How about that? No purchase needed, you just have to blag your way to the dollars by saying, “Yep, they were bought here…” Racing flats sold at the store are many, so run fast and win $200!! No proof necessary, apart from the running part!

Women - 5000m: 1. Alphine Taliamuk, Western, 16:19.8 2. Nancy Wambui, Central, 16:29.5 3. Vivian Cheruiyot, RVP, 16:55.1
3000m steeplechase: 1. Lydia Kiprono, RVP, 10:225.8 2. Ruth Nyangau, Nyanza, 10:26.6 3. Ruth Waithera, Central, 10:40.9.

Hm, looks like the flow of Kenyan runners will continue for a few years if this is the school book results!

And Tegla in the Steeplechase?? 3000 m Steeplechase WOMEN 1. 135 INZIKIRU Docus 82 UGA 9:15.04 WL PB 2. 145 JANOWSKA Wioletta 77 POL 9:25.09 PB 3. 137 CHEPCHUMBA Salome 82 KEN 9:31.44 SB… 12. 147 LOROUPE Tegla 73 KEN 10:18.31 SB

M3000 ST #1 Shaheen Saif Saaeed QAT 7:57.28 2 Boit Kipketer Wilson KEN 8:09.32 3 Misoi Kipkirui KEN 8:13.48

M800 - Mulaudzi Mbulaeni RSA 1:44.12 2 Bungei Wilfred KEN 1:44.29 3 Kamel Youssef Saad BRN 1:44.54 4 Yiampoy William KEN 1:44.67 5 Borzakovskiy Yuriy RUS 1:44.89

Benhassi Hasna MAR 1:59.60 2 Papadopoúlou María GRE 1:59.79 3 Valdonado Laetitia FRA 1:59.96

But we did spot Virginie in the 800m - #1 Grousselle Elisabeth FRA 2:00.72 2 Valdonado Laetitia FRA 2:01.21 3 Jepkosgei Janeth KEN 2:01.49 4 Cummins Diane CAN 2:01.62 5 Ballentine Michelle JAM 2:01.90 6 Fouquet Virginie FRA 2:02.11

“IMPORTANT NOTE: The 103 St. Footbridge is now closed for construction through the end of June. Due to this closure, our group run from NYRR is cancelled for the two remaining meets. We recommend that runners take the bus or subway to 125th Street in Manhattan, then take the M35 bus across the Triborough Bridge and warm up at Icahn Stadium. It’s a quick 10 minute bus ride from 125th Street in Manhattan to the stadium on Randall’s Island. On weekdays, the M35 runs between Harlem’s 125th Street and Randall’s Island every 10-12 minutes.
“Thanks for your support of NYRR and the 2005 NYRR Outdoor Track Series! http://www.nyrr.org/race/2005/track_series.htm

The 40+ Zofia Wieciorkowska 42 WS CT 38:03, 45+ Jean Chodnicki-Stemm 45 WS NY 40:20 just in front of storming Stace the Ace, 50+ Kathryn Martin 53 NY 39:46, not forgetting our fav Ginette Bedard 71 NY 50:40 in the rocking 70’s

Good to see Zoomalong out there racing again, of course Bernie the Chairman was out supporting, and Mary the Queen of the NYRR not being able to run as her officiating jobs were all consuming…. Nice to Brendan Reilly from Boulder again, long time! Monsieur Mileage out cheering as were Anil and Kevin. Michelle Bleakly was out running with her husband and the cutest little girl - Michelle had a fab race to come in 24th overall……

But what a set of results - awesome women‘s 3000m with Defar who ran so controlled, but complained of the heat, Dibaba‘s 5000m was shocking, despite reports to the contrary she was behind the whole way, but pulled closer with a couple of speedy laps, but was still off record pace - but it was a lesson in running similar to the Simba‘s presentation in the park in the morning. All the results- clicko ici

And in the boxers’ corner - From AOL news: "I don't have the stomach for this anymore," Tyson said. "I most likely won't fight anymore. I'm not going to disrespect the sport by losing to this caliber of fighters." The sixth round was bizarre even by the standards of a fighter once banned from boxing for biting Evander Holyfield's ears. Tyson tried to break McBride's arm in the final round, then tried to hit him low. When all else failed he aimed his head at McBride's forehead, butting him and opening a cut next to his left eye. "I was desperate," Tyson said. "I wanted to win."

Lornah undefeated on the roads this year.
nah Kiplagat won yesterday for the 2nd time the prestigeous COF Mini 10 K Women´s Run in New York. It was hot and humid in New York but Lornah, known as "Simba" in NY, ran immediately away from the field right after the start. The first Mile went in 4.48 and she was already 11 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. 5 K went in 15.25 and she had a 43 seconds lead. After 5 K she had to slow down because of the tough conditions and finished in 31.44. 2rd was Osaka Ladies Marathon Champion Jelena Prokopcuka in 32.18 with 2004 World XC Champion Benita Johnson coming in 3rd in 32.24. Lornah´s trainings partner Hilda Kibet came in 6th in this very competitive field in a time of 33.16. Lornah has run 7 road races this year and won all of them. She won the Dutch 10 K Championships in Schoorl, the World´s Best 10 K, the 30 K of Velsen, the Rotterdam Marathon, the Glasgow Women´s 10 K and the Manchester 10 K. Next week Lornah will be pace setter in the Night of the 10,000 in Utrecht and on the 4th of July Lornah and Hilda will compete in the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta.
Oakley - adidas - Endurox

In the meantime here are the MINI photos - CLICK HERE

Meanwhile Nicely describing the current NY Weather for the mini “We don't have air conditioning in our apartment, so just sitting in my chair all day long is good training.” Is Alison of the NYRR.

Great to see Bob win. A really nice guy who spent the winter in Albuquerque when I was there one Winter.
M5000 - Kipketer Sammy KEN 13:19.46 2 Kipngetich Robert Sigei KEN 13:21.01 3 Jawher Mushir Salim BRN 13:21.63

W5000 - Adere Berhane ETH 15:01.78 2 Ngetich Prisca Jepleting KEN 15:04.10 3 Ochichi Isabella KEN 15:04.80 #12 Loroupe Tegla KEN 15:57.96 - and now on her way to the Mini!
Perhaps the best mark was in the men’s 100- Powell Asafa JAM 9.85

We wish Anders all the best, and know he will be back… we think when the Euro Champ’s come to his home next year, Goteborg, then he’ll be on fire!

Anyway at that point I started to feel ill, dizzy and faint. I thought I was going to black out. I could not focus, or stand hardly. A brief sit down and a chat to Hilda.. then I felt a bit more normal. Weird though I have been feeling dizzy of late for a few days. So I declined the starbucks offer and went straight to the Reebok Press conference, met Maurice in the Elevator, and decided to go home as I was feeling worse again. The elevator ride back down was tough - I felt like I was on the deck of the sinking titanic, I felt like... well I Even lost my appetite, it was gone, a most rare occurrence - I’ll go and jinx myself and say death is imminent, I’ll let you know via the email how it is on the other side. No wonder my running has been going to pot as late.

Big condolences and our best wishes to Costanza, whose mother passed away this week - Peace.

It is also a points race, so all women should be turning out for their respective teams….

As for the men - Get up to Randall‘s Island on Tuesday, it is 5k fever, we‘re going up and it should be a great night!

"Loroupe joins a stellar field including her compatriot Margaret Okayo, Olympians Colleen De Reuck of the US, Benita Johnson of Australia, Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands and the legendary Yuko Arimori of Japan for the 34th running of the world's longest running all-women's race.

W1500 - Wurth Christin USA 4:09.45 2 Clement Treniere USA 4:10.46 3 Tadesse Mestawat ETH 4:10.83 4 Deatherage Jenelle USA 4:11.67 5 Walsham Suzy AUS 4:12.83 6 Radcliffe Paula GBR 4:13.13 7 Elmore Malindi CAN 4:13.95 8 Culpepper Shayne USA 4:17.60 9 Flanagan Shalane USA 4:22.07 10 Legesse Meskerem ETH 4:25.79 11 Ceplak Jolanda SLO 4:44.68 - tumbles in the race, Paula fell.

M1-mile - Kipchirchir Alex KEN 3:50.91 2 Ramzi Rashid BRN 3:51.33 3 Lagat Bernard USA 3:51.53

M 2-mile - 1 Eliude Kipchoge Kenya 8:07.68 2 Alan Webb USA 8:11.48 A.R. 3 Boaz Cheboiywo Kenya 8:11.62

1500 - 1 Ghezielle Bouchra FRA 4:05.36 2 Lagat Nancy Jebet KEN 4:05.93 3 Turava Alesya BLR 4:06.15
M1500 - 1 Komen Daniel Kipchircir KEN 3:31.46 2 Heshko Ivan UKR 3:32.81 3 Yemmouni Mounir FRA 3:33.39

M5000 - Mottram Craig AUS 13:04.06 2 Songok Isaac Kiprono KEN 13:06.22 3 Mosop Moses KEN 13:06.83
W3000 - Ngetich Prisca Jepleting KEN 9:04.32 2 Kidane Etalemahu ETH 9:04.69 3 Timbilili Alice KEN 9:05.93
Mst - Koech Paul Kipsiele KEN 8:06.26 2 Kipruto Brimin KEN 8:11.69 3 Boulami Brahim* MAR 8:11.73

In the 5000 - Edith Masai - 15 minutes 52.5 second to claim the from Margaret Okayo - 16:19.4, Pauline Konga 17:14.5.

Bernard Rotich won the men’s category (5,000m) in a time of 14:03.3sec followed by Albert Okemwa (14:05.2) and Gilbert Ebei (14:12.6).

Okayo’s post race quote “beaten in the race due to poor preparation” was not really needed. Few pundits would have expected her to beat one of Kenya’s top 5k runners at any time of the year - but it does not bode well for her chances in the Mini this week!

Even more surprising that Alemu is also on the Mini list yet ran a marathon yesterday! See below at the foot of today‘s news.

Anyway we heard that Partime is back in training, in typical partime style; she’s getting in shape for an upcoming holiday with The Macaroos’ in Italy. No doubt the heat is on.. We also hear the company she works for is going public. So there is a grind to polish up the numbers.

I ran this race five years ago(!) when Tom Nohilly won, he was followed by a couple of Kenyans, then myself.. Arriving this year the runners were somewhat more ‘local’. Chubby, and OzPaul were jogging around, and I saw The Rube and CJ, then also Toni. As I changed shoes I coughed on a cloud of smoke as two women from the Parks department fittingly smoked like chimneys at a race ‘against smoking!’ Disgusting representation of the Parks department I must say, sitting on a registration table smoking.

OzPaul, after training in the Armory all winter with reports of fast intervals and sub 2-min 800’s, was the best of a bad bunch winning in 16:02. Too bad, as this is perhaps the fastest course in Central Park (start at W68th and head South), for the rest of us who trailed in afterwards. Chubby beat The Rube for the top master award, although in fairness to the Rube we hear he has no begun his speed training after finishing a great third in the Big Sur Marathon a few weeks ago.

CJ looked well under control to win (we think) the women’s race in 19:09 ahead of Miss Croatia (a former) amongst others…. A Giants’ guy was one of the many of invited celebrities (Someone from the soprano’s also, Maria M from Q104, another couple of Soap Opera stars etc) who come out to support this race. Thanks to the NYRR whose help made the running super smooth of this event (Jake, Sammy, & Phil).. And to Herb the Verb for setting us all up for the race.

I got back and Urban had emailed the splits from Stockholm Marathon.. I noted that Anders ran the first 5k in 15:57 of his marathon. Anders 2:28 15th. Kasirai Sita won in 2:13:30 from Zimbabwe from Daniel Kiprugut Too, 2:15:13 Tina Maria Ramos of Spain 2.41.28, #2 Susan Michelsson, 2:43:51 of Ozland, and Sparvagens Malin Ewerlöf-Krepp took third in 2:44:38, ahead of Mizuno’s Michelle Lee in 2:44:49.

Malin was an ace 800m track runner (Winner of the European 800m silver meadl both indoor and outdoors). She was also the first ever World Junior XC Champion back in 1989 aged 16! The best female ever to run for the great Sparvagen team, who of course won the Swedish team championships.

“For Doris Changeywo, the "Junior" in Team HATC, 2005 is the year she wants a breakthrough in running. The 20 year old Changeywo won already the East African Championships XC in Kenya earlier this year and ran a PB of 32:05 in the Women's 10 K in Glasgow. She won two weeks ago the 5 K Marikenloop, a 5 K Women's run in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and ran last weekend a new PB of 15:26 on the 5000 meter in Hengelo.

“Last night Doris ran in the Zwitserloot Dakrun 10 K in Groesbeek. A 10 K on a hilly and tough course. Doris started very fast and was for 4 k on course record pace. The course record, 31:58, is from HATC member Caroline Kwambai. After 4 K she slowed down but was still way ahead of the rest of the field. She finished in 33:02. 2nd was Yvette van Blerk from South Africa in 34:30, Nadja Weyenberg was 3rd in 35:14 and Pauline Wangui 4th in 35:27. Goal for Doris this season is to qualify for the World Championships in Helsinki where she wants to run thr 10,000 meter.

“HATC Athletes Jason Mbote and Onesmus Nyerere finished 2nd and 4th in the Zwitserloot Dakrun 10 K last night. Both will run next weekend in the Zwolle Half Marathon.
Team HATC
www.lornah.com
Oakley - adidas - Endurox

It was to be a long run out at New Paltz (god’s gift to running in NY State) and then back to The Rube & Zoomalong’s house ( who have a weekend house out there and very kindly invited us to hang out after).

Well the day dawned, nice weather as forementioned, and we were meeting Captain Sid up on 178th & Broadway for the communal van. So I thought I’d whip cross town on my bike, leave it at the subway station and zip up on the #1 or 9 train. However I had a zim-zim idea on the way over and thought, “why not keep pedaling and go all the way up to 178th?” It is only 10km, so that I did. As luck would have it the subways were down anyway so I would have not been able to go with my original plan… what fortune!

We were a large group but Sid’s van has rows upon rows. It is like a flippin’ plane, you look back and ask for a stewardess. I mean later when he was controlling the AC it is like, “You okay in the back? What about the middle? Up front okay, we are set!” Man, we needed a PA system to ask questions (especially as the middle row was talking Spanish).

Just before we are about to leave Tony (Ruiz the coach of CPTC) says, “Do you think it is safe to leave your bike up here? I dunno man!” I’m like, “All the crooks are down in the rich areas looking for their pickings, they are not going to dib on their own doorstep.”

Tony was not convinced, ‘Faith man, have the faith!’ And with that we were rolling. Chris Potter brought along his car and I’m guessing we had about fifteen all together, with a few up there from other ways and designs.

So Sid starts telling us about his runs up there, “We called them death runs.. Wanna know why?” and he continued, “I was out there lost for hours, and hours, I was begging hikers for apples.. Lost forget it.” Right!

I decided to keep The Rube in eyesight, or at least anyone who looked like they had a pot of glue about the location as I did not fancy eating apples for the rest of June and being known as the Cave man of New Paltz.

For the first twenty minutes of the run The Rube was hanging braided ties to the trees so we could find our way back (a fat lot of good they later proved to be!) and we hiked as Harry told stories of hiking in Austria on trips for $500, and the rest of us looked out for our footing and mountain lions. The run time took 2-hrs 32-mins though I think we ran for about 1’ 40-mins, god knows what we did for the rest of the time, well I ran in circles as if I stop I lock up like a tube of opened superglue.

Yep a lot of re-grouping, we ran up hills, switched back, ran round hills, even found towers, castles, possums, and along the way Tony kept us entertained with his soul food wisdom, “I’m running on empty” he would say, then go shooting by… We only went wrong once, and that was a mile down hill (and a ste-e-e-p uphill, and that U-turn was the one that finally did find his empty spot. But the Rube was a great guide… Mike Trunkes and I got lost on the homestretch, but luckily we came across a river and knew that we had not crossed one earlier in the day, so another U-was in order and this time we used the grand old version of GPS, the “Heeelllllloooo!” And luckily Alan was in earshot, shaking his head at us, ‘Pathetic! You didn’t see the marker?’ Back at the ranch we ate, lay in the garden and swopped war stories. As Sid says, “Trying to explain a day like this to a non runner is useless, but for me this is what it is all about.” Right on, and Tony, “I’ve been waiting for this, this is what makes running so worthwhile…” And if you have not been out there, then you’ll not know what I am rambling on about… so, Just go.

Harry, “So is being a vegetarian the secret to running fast times?”
Norm Goluskin, “No, short downhill courses are the way to running fast times.”

On the ride home we had not traveled but two short stumps of a pygmy’s hop before Harry announced that he wanted to stop at the Juice shop ( the healthy stuff). So the van all disembarked bar Stuart Alexander and I. Now Stuart is a cool dude, he brought three bottles of Champagne to drink for the post run and all three had been drained. He has recently started dating a French photographer in Paris, no bad thing, and as his last girlfriend lived in Prague it is step in the right direction. Anyway we started talking about Mrs. Howard S. of the Starbucks ownership fame who was a client of his with something to do with Art Galleries, and I got a hankering for a cup of coffee. So I hiked up the road to the Starbucks knowing the location as the Dolphin Runner and I had visited it about three weeks ago. Would you believe after I told my order & was waiting the barister, who was bringing my brew, (a freshly steaming hot grande) tripped and threw the coffee across the counter and over me! What are the chances! My white singlet ( from Prpa of Yugoslavia with the name Yugoslavia over the chest whom I had traded with in Las Vegas, but that’s another story) became brown. The coffee had scalded and turned my stomach pink it was so hot. The staff froze, until I told them, “Hey, I’m European, no sweat - we don’t sue!”

The rest of the ride home was uneventful except Alston kept on deciding and undeciding to get dropped off at 230th ST so we had to jump a series of red lights, and poor Chris following behind…. Well he hung in there like a trooper (to those luckily we did avoid. Glad to report my bicycle, amidst boxes of Malta Goya, bananas, and rumshuffle papers was still intact for me to cruise on home.

Awesome age groupe winners - Paul Mascali 53 NYAC NY 16:20 Heather Gardiner 26 RUNC NJ 18:54, ‘Kimka’ Griffin 43 WS NY 18:15 & the amazing Ginette Bedard 71 NY 23:29

1 Gete Wami 30 Ethiopia 2:30:55 2 Elfenesh Alemu 29 Ethiopia 2:31:08 3 Hellen Kimutai 27 Kenya 2:31:15 4 Kerryn McCann 38 Australia 2:32:29 5 Joyce Chepchumba 34 Kenya 2:32:49

One thing though Balthazars did refuse my request of Molasses when they asked what I wanted with the bread selection. You can have every kind of fattie spread, but not molasses (my preferred choice along with bitter marmalade, not the sweet stuff).

Thanks to Snapper Don for sending in this photo of the Press truck! “Looks like nothing much was happening….”

Chubby informs us he ran a fast 5k in training yesterday on the track…. Anil came racing back to the store at 7:30, “I’ve day off tomorrow and I left my cell at the store, I’m out on the town tonight, can’t be without the cell!” And off he ran. Adam came late to training in his street clothes, we made him change in the street, “This is New York, nobody will mind…” And strip he did, when he was just about to pull down his boxers his (female) Boss came running up the hill! Classic timing…. Anyway stripping on Third Avenue shows commitment so we give him marks for that, and scaring off all the old ladies off the bench.

And more news from Icahn Stadium at the NYRR event - George ran 3:56 to win the 1500m out there, he had no news of what anyone else did…We believe Chubby was running.

Women’s 1500 - Lagat Nancy Jebet KEN 4:04.01 2 Turava Alesya BLR 4:05.41 3 Jakubczak Anna POL 4:05.76 & ST 2k - 1 Inzikuru Docus UGA 6:04.46 2 Casandra Cristina ROM 6:16.58 3 Risku Johanna FIN 6:18.77

Lissy who won her age group at the Staten Island 4-miler this Memorial Day!! Anne flying down the track like a demon, David P, Colleen with the smiles, Shawn in reverse, AmexLee, HotRod Evelyn, Robin, Cruiser pushing well, Kwasi - “my legs got bloated, I never made the race!” Anil, Michelle lloking super smooth, Anil with less of a hobble, Luiz with a solid run.

"Finally we as athletes do have a choice and a voice. When we feel strongly on an issue such as this we can make ourselves heard by taking stands. We can choose not to race certain events and can campaign for better testing. We put 100% into hard training to try and maximize our performances, we have every right to stand up for the right to compete against others who have done likewise and not taken shortcuts," proclaims Paula Radcliffe.

On RW - “New York-based Ethiopian Atalelech Ketema won three races over the Memorial Day weekend in three different states. On Friday night she won the New Balance Moonlight Run 5-K in New Milford, Conn., (16:18/$750); on Saturday morning she won the Fayetteville 10-K Classic in Upstate New York (35:08/$500); and on Monday won the Fred d'Elia Ridgewood Run 5-K ($16:40/$300).”

Yep, second at the last race was Tatiana Belovol 16:57, and Anne in third - 17:46, for the men - Ar-ar Mohammed won in 14:43, Spaghetti Paul Mwangi 14:49, and Stephen Ondieki 15:03. Gene Mitchell three ticks back, doubling from Spring Lake. Spaghetti tells us he is “training hard in the mohonk mountains” great to hear, and he is back in form too. He has been for many years now consistently one of the areas absolute best performers…. A local legend. In the mile - Tatiana Belovol 5:02. A blasting 4:10 for Aidan Walsh beating George’s CR, and the masters Connor O Driscoll of WTC 4:43 to 4:45 for Marcus O Sullivan. A great scalp for Conor. An awesome 5:06 win for Zofia Wieliorkowska of WS.

In the 10k - Eric Too New Milford,NJ 25 32:14 from #2 Joe Lemay Danbury, CT 37 M 33:08 whose retirement from the sport is taking on Twainish proportions! And La Femmes - Hermela Romero West New York,NJ 34 F 37:49 More on Atalelech - her husband has just turned up, she had not seen him for 3-yrs, Fitsum (his name) is also running himself now.

“Most asked question after the race was if Lornah is going to run the World Championships in Helsinki this year. One newspaper already announced that she is not running in Helsinki. However, Lornah hasn't made up her mind but will make a decision before June 7.
Oakley - adidas - Endurox.

But Before July 04th come and meet Lornah & Hilda, and Starbucks himself who has a slue of athletes in the world rankings on the roads, all in person at the Store June 08th @ 7:30-PM

I seemed to remember there was no bag check so I went to the store and got an amhipod thingy (clips on your shorts for your valuables). I figured out I’d leave my clothes under a parked car near the start (I mean it is not going anywhere right?) and put my valuables in the ‘pod (such as $$, ID, and keys). Then I checked the map - yep close to the train station was the start.. The only yucky part was the train left Penn Station at 6:07-AM… however as good fortune has it I have been up every day super early, so the 5-AM would not be too early to jump up. On the train I met an athletics fan who had both of my books, thanks - appreciated!

Spring Lake is a party town, the locals were starting early! Asking my way to the start I got invited to two post-race beach parties, but beer before noon is not on my agenda these days…. The race was a shock to the bones, I ran the first mile at a pace I thought was feasible and suffered for the next four sinking into a slump of looking for a loophole (If I drop out now could I walk to the finish?)…
Anyway I barely ran faster than I did in 2004 and that was not a pleasing note, I wanted to run much better. I met a guy from Team Mizuno in Atlanta - nice guy and if you go in the store in Atlanta that sells Mizuno say hello. Following the race I met Scott from the NY Flyers and Randy who offered me a ride back to Manhattan (If anyone wants my return train ticket from Spring Lake to the Smoke let me know as it is yours for the asking). Unbelievable, I was in NYC at 10:40-AM! Like I’d never been away. For those of you who like Flat pancake courses this is one, but you have to enter in Feb, that is the draw back. Hey but the amphipod is absolutely brilliant, works great! I left my bag at the side of the road during the race, and it was there untouched following the race, but it was a comforting thought having my valuables on me. Buy one at the store! Anyway the results - Congrats to Mitchell, Gene Franklin Lakes, NJ 37 24:54 #2 Stephen, Ondieki Hackensack, NJ 30, 25:04 #3 Mulligan, Timothy Whiting, NJ 24 25:09
And the wimmin - Whitall Noel Toms River NJ 28:44 #2 Mitchell Amanda 36 Ardmore PA 28:51 #3 Kerah Cheri 34 Wall NJ 28:57

Talking about venturing I went running in the East Village the other day, I nearly passed out by the fumes of Petula Oils, I thought that had slid out of style with the Bee Gees.. Then all these guys who were two foot six keep on appearing from behind street signs, making navigation a nightmare.. And the pigeons, worse than up here - pure suicidal with swoops under the stride.. And the people, everyone just looks one way when crossing the avenues.. Even when traffic comes from both ways - how do people survive? To top it all it is boat week in NYC and all these men dressed up in “in The Navy’ uniforms are marching up and down and everywhere….

Women - 10,000m 1. Rita Sitienei 33:23.6 2. Rose Cheratich 34:14.7 3. Wilfred Mutua 34:27.4

And in the steeple - Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi clocked eight minutes 30.8 seconds to win the event. This was his debut in the Armed Forces Championships. Former world 3,000m SC champion and record holder Wilson Boit, who exchanged leads with Kemboi in the final stages of the event was second in 8:31.1. Patrick Nthiwa came a surprise third in 8:33.0, ahead former All Africa Games champion, Kipkirui Misoi in 8:33.4.

In the 5000m Ben Limo won the race in the fastest time on Kenya soil this season of 13:31.1. Commonwealth champion Sammy Kipketer shook off a strong challenge from two-time world 4km champion, John Kibowen to finish second in 13:36.5. Kibowen clocked 13:38.8 to finish third. Former Olympic 1,500m champion Noah Ng’eny pulled out of the race with two laps to go.

Churchill Kipsang won the men’s 1,500m race in 3:38.1. Robert Rono was second in 3:38.8 with Ben Kipkurui third in 3:39.7.
Women 5000 - Ines Chenonge beat Irene Kwambai and former world 10,000m champion, Sally Barsosio in 15:48.0 with Kwambai,15:49.6. & Barsosio after (leading the pack for the better part of the race) 16:01.5.

In the men’s 3000m Isaac Songok out kicked Eliud Kipchoge meters from the finishing line in win in 7:30 (with a 2:26:01 last km).

And the awesome 10,000 - 1 Bekele Kenenisa ETH 26:28.72 2 Negera Abebe Dinkesa ETH 26:30.74 3 Goumri Abderrahim MAR 27:02.62 4 Kipyego Bernard Kiprop KEN 27:04.45 5 Amyn Mohammed MAR 27:22.67 6 Kiprop Boniface UGA 27:25.12 7 El Amri Khalid MAR 27:26.24 8 Mezgebu Assefa ETH 27:32.02 9 Abdirahman Abdihakem USA 27:33.47 10 Msuri John Yuda TAN 27:33.84 11 Mamo Eshetu Gezhagne ETH 27:41.38 12 Zaman Sultan Khamis QAT 27:44.47 13 Abate Abiyote ETH 27:45.56 14 Baday Ahmed MAR 27:48.85 15 Kosgei Barnabas Kiplagat KEN 28:06.62 16 Kibiwott Francis KEN 28:57.78

Bekele, “It was too cold and there was too much wind,” wow, what would have he done at a cool night in Oslo. Dinkessa moved himself into fifth position on the world all-time list.

In fact nobody touched those records. The day was beautiful. I went out there with Anne. Just right conditions for running a 5km. I met Tom Fleming at the start who was just back from Wheeling, “What‘s this, back from the dead?” Yep - that‘s me! Tom (2 time winner of the nyc marathon & the undisputed King of Central Park’s running history) told the Wheeling course is brutal, but enjoyed the liquid refreshment out there. I also saw Randall out there, Wendy too (give her a badge she becomes a Captaino!) Then I bumped into The Spaghetti (remember to send me your current email) Kenyan who now lives out at New Paltz, so he‘s on the next long run out there… a troop of CPTC-ers, and RLX was out there too with a bunch of WS athletes including Vinyl Jim (I‘m on baby watching duties) and Pitcher Jean who set an age group record!!

There was a lot of GNY-ers too, talked to Alex (friend of serena Williams) Brus’ who was half and half with his race. I also saw Asmae Leghzaoui’s husband out there, and of course Atalech the zapper was there, and Beth the cool race director, and Mark Z who is the New Jersey’s version of the NYRR we hear…. R2 was out there too looking contemplative at the starting line.

The results - Atalech won the women’s race, Ann was third - she won a BMW! (Albeit it a toy one!). After the race we wandered over to the food tent only to discover the world‘s smallest bagels. However a move over to the VIP tent revealed bigger and better things. So I was helping myself to a poppy seed bagel (for the iron y‘know) and this runner behind me says, “This food is for runners only.” I told her I was a runner, and she said, “Well you haven‘t got a race number on.” Well excuse me for going to the car and changing my shirt ma‘am. So I said, “I don‘t look like a runner?” And she looked back and said, “I don‘t see so well!” So I replied, “Well you saw well enough to find the food huh!” Goodness.

Arriving home I discovered I had lost my keys! So I stood for a moment on First Avenue thinking about all the things I had to do inside my apartment that day. Unfortunately the Super was not home (who has a master set of keys). So I ate a bagel for extra energy, then went to the corner of the street and got a village voice free newspaper stand. I emptied out all the newspapers to make it lighter, then carried it over to the doorway. Then I climbed on top of the thing - quite tough as it is made of plastic and wobbles like hell when you try and climb up on it. Then with finger tips outstretched I could just reach the fire escape lowest rung. Then, in true commando style, with my bag round my waist as I did not want to leave it out on the street I pulled myself up, round, and onto the ladder. Then, scaled the iron balcony and up to the third floor, and through my open window. Meanwhile, amazingly, my keys went all the way back to New Jersey, and to the Newark Airport, before finally getting their way back to NY! Phew!

Women's race (5km) 1. Deborah Toniolo ITA 16:49 2. Rosalba Console ITA 16:55 3. Zaituni Nkoki TAN 17:10

Back to the meet - Men‘s 5000 - 1 Markos Geneti ETH 13:08.59 2 Meshack Sang KEN 13:20.26 3 Jorge Torres USA 13:20.57
W5k - 1 Lauren Fleshman USA 15:15.63 2 Blake Russell USA 15:26.60 3 Carrie Messner USA 15:47.37

Wimmin - 1. Elva Dryer, U S A, 32:51 2. Merima Hashim, Ethiopia, 33:17 3. Jen Rhines, U S A, 33:28 4. Colleen De Reuck, U S A, 33:40 5. Masako Chiba, Japan, 33:54 6. Abeba Tola, Ethiopia, 33:59 Teams USA, Ethiopia, and Japan! Awesome result from the US women! And great to see the Whizz of Oz grabbing #12 in the men’s - the first non altitude born athlete at an altitude race, fine result!

Coming soon the Stockholm Marathon and GB team is sending a squad, we hear from Urban that Michelle Lee, a 2:33 athlete, will be there trying to win.

Congrats to Brommaloppet winners - Carsten Jorgenssen 37.39 Pernilla Karlsson 46.55
I won this race three times back in the olden days for the primary reason that first prize used to be a mountain bike.

we also got an email from Deena who is training well on an under water trteadmill - we wish her a speedy recovery!