The holy dove is out... to be caught again
Bought and sold and stuffed...And bought times ten
The dove is fabled, immortalized, yet never free.
But hell it‘s got a bird brain, So what’s our excuse as neither are we?
Wishes to Y’all & a good thought your way
Hoping for happiness, for you, every single day.
As Lennie is a Canadian I was thinking of ending the last line in ‘Ay…’ Talking of Lennie -- is he still living in a monastery? If he wants to go through the 'cleansing of the soul, giving up all the possessions bit'... Anyway-- Adiós Amigos, thanks for tuning in.
Ah, on the cusp of the sun's heat I remember I have to take a torch; the joys of packing from a fading memory of what is needed in the bush.
And we hear that Bobbie Dylan will start a new career as a radio DJ when he launches a new weekly music show on XM Satellite Radio next March.
Kidding--Every day has felt like a holiday; best place in the globe.
Anyway Flying home to Kenya today from Groet in the netherlands, to warm up the coffee for my arrival -- is Starbucks & The Simba. Starbucks is now hiding from the press -- “It is crazy, since the Simba won on Sunday we have no peace at all!” Ha ha, if it is peace that they want I better change my air ticket to Toluca, Mexico.
That is a place I have always wanted to go to -- it is where German Silva has his training camp, and I was going to go one year-- I ended up going somewhere else instead though..hm.. I do like Mexico though, a great place for running, and holidays full stop.
Anyway he is still raving about the zone diet (he lost 27-lbs in 3-weeks!), and says his energy levels have greatly increased since giving up caffeine -- wow, it is the opposite for me, well not true, but as it is my main source of liquid I’d die the death of a parched lizard without coffee. Thereafter we went to a bar in a mid town hotel called the Shelbourne, where ‘retro’ music was deemed to be the 80’s & the 90’s -- The all mouth and trousers guys standing at the bar is telling the girl sitting near him how he had his heart broken last year at college, and his life will never be the same again… meanwhile the girl is making passes at the guy behind her with her warrant arm.. It was that kind of place…. Walking back around the bewitching hour I saw a girl sitting on a fire hydrant rolling up her right sleeve, at a glance it looked like a case of blood on the tracks part two, but instead I listened to the woman in front of me talking to another woman, “Can I ‘IM’ you” and “Let’s text on it”-- the language of mid town. Then charily avoiding the pavement pizza I was outta of there.
The most spooky thing was earlier that day I was watching the French film, ‘Those who love me can take the train‘ and when the Gay Lover is driving along the road with a coffin in the back of his car there is a cover song of ‘I will Survive‘ playing that is pretty damn natty, a slow version with a male singer and a few different words added. So later in the evening Marty is telling me that he took a spinning class at Equinox, and, “They played your favorite song (a joke regarding a CD) -- I will survive. But it was a guy singing, else Gloria‘s gone hoarse…” What are the chances of that happening?
Kisii XC results speaking of Kenya --
4km
1. Jones Cheruiyot 11:38
2. Paul Koech 11:43 (the younger)
3. Frederick Yegon 11:43
12km
1. James Kipketer 36:51
2. Elijah Nyabuti 36:52
3. Edward Muge 37:06 women 4km
1. Beatrice Omwanza 14:09
2. Jane Omoro 14:22 (wow! Hanging in!)
3. Jackline Kemunto 14:26 I ran a KAAA track meet in this district years ago-- a 1500m race, I was flying but sadly so was everyone else… but a little faster…
So Chubbs asks, “Are you going to run when you are over there, I mean will you have anyone to run with? Perhaps you can find some old men, or an out of shape coach or something…” THere‘s a vot of confidence, right on the money.. Forget the kids -- they run like demons. Yeah, that is something else I want to do in Eldoret- go to a church and get some religion. Just kidding
And the women --Kiplagat, Lornah NED 19:55 #2 Mockenhaupt, Sabrina GER 20:00 #3 Nilsson, Johanna SWE 20:01 #4 Jevtic, Olivera SCG 20:04
Team talk - women’s --
Russia edged Great Britain to capture its third team title, 52 to 54, with France (73) repeating as bronze medallists. And the men --
France easily took their third straight team title, 21 points, Spain were the runners-up 64 points, and Ukraine with 71 points.
So… The Rube won the master’s battle royale - Vinyl, “When you get to my age the off days are really off.. My tempo runs on the bridle are faster than I ran today…” And I can testify to that having seen Vinyl whiz by and disappear out of eye sight within seconds, and the trifactor of the Chubby Boss.. “The flu..” we hear. This is a strange race as it comes shortly after the marathon when the ‘luft’ goes out of the running community -- many people ran sub par performances. Speaking of which -- here’s a fact I can not keep up at all with Rapido when she runs fast, thus that she had an off-par race was absolutely clear, way off par leaving Alemtsehay unchallenged thirty seconds ahead… Poor Spaghetti did not have a good race either, saw him on the sidelines after 1 ½-miles…It seemed everyone was out there -- nice to See Senor Ramon of the TNT fame,
Bernie the Chairman was out there cheering, George the new Chairman was running and fast, Queen Mary was commanding the whole affair, and good to see Peter Ciaccia out there but bad to hear he is still having issues with his bad knee.
After a warm down, and to the school for an apple cinnamon bagel, and hot choco, a nice walk through Central Park, I had a really nice time at La Negrita on the West Side...
Then it was down to Peter F to pick up the Shoe4Africa posters.. I was a tad early so he pulled something up on Tivo with Roger Bannister that I watched for a couple of minutes until my concentration wavered (not the best TV watcher), so instead I ate lunch (a salad with black olives dotted like crawling beetles thru a jungle) and discussed a ‘run as one’ concept that is being formulated as we speak, along with a few other things-- he is already focused on Paris '06 in the spring as is his habit--
Then, armed with the posters, via a stop at French Roast on Sixth Avenue, it was back uptown-- Crazy drivers in manhattan, and I am thinking, “Why the heck doesn’t anyone signal anymore?”-- hm, a good little reminder is how bad I ride (and drive) myself… I made it all the way down from 90th to South Broadway without stopping one single time for traffic lights, or queues, or signals! So how many red lights does that involve cruising through?
The conversation post workout was something to do with Gilligan’s Island and two woman-- to which I have no input as I have never seen the show so could not be part of what Kevin said was the great american debate, I guess you had to be there.
Anyway he is an Athletics teacher in a school outside of Stockholm now, the last time I heard he was a postman. Another good Russian who lived in Sweden at the time was a 1500m runner (3:35) turned road racer Iouri Pounda, or Yuri Punda as he called himself with the Swedish spelling.
Then I went home for breakfast before I met Dr. Nina who has a problem with her leg (ITB), then it was coffee (if it can be described as such) at Yura & Co on Madison Ave where a man at a nearby table was recommending that the runners put clamp-ons upon their running shoes today. Home to pickup my backpack then over to Columbus Ave to do some Christmassy stuff and I bump into Jeffrey Gould and he accompanied me on the shopping expeditions as he lives close by and knows the hood, then we went for a coffee at a little place near 86th & Columbus. Jeffrey tells me that it is harder being a philanthropist than a businessman (both careers sound fun!)…
Then zippo over to the East to gobble some lunch, and then to the local bank to try and open a safe box (a project that now rolls into its third day), and low and behold the banking info I was given with the opening hours is now out of date (strange as I got it from the said bank on Saturday)…Nevertheless no time for rest, I then had to get to midtown on Lex just below Grand Central to sign something for Shoe4Africa at the Lawyers offices and learn about the latest legal thingies.. And speaking Shoe4Africa I then had to go down to the bottom of Wall St to Peter F’s printing gallery to preview the poster for the race… pedaling down Broadway at 300-mph I realize I am not going to make it (as I have to do something back uptown too back at Columbus & get there before Peter leaves) so I lock my bike to a police barrier (extra security) and jump on the subway. I climb out at Chambers (I used to have an apartment on West Broadway fifty meters from there) so I presume that is the closest subway station -- Nope; I am running along the road now at 301-mpoh dodging cars and shoppers with the agility of a eel through the reeds (thank goodness for wearing running shoes) and keep on going past subway entrances and then another station(!)… I just catch Peter as he is leaving -- he shows me the poster, along with one he has just done for a straight DJ who is breaking onto the Gay scene (what a poster that was, can you imagine fig leaves and green underwear?)-- as he goes out himself he is signing me up for tango lessons, “With Maribella, you’ll love her, she likes men who can’t dance…” or something like that… Ran back to the nearest subway station, sat next to a drunk who kept on sliding up and down the seats, got back to 34th, hopped out dodged 50-million more shoppers, got on the bike back up to Columbus to finish my business over there, then popped over to the East Side pedaling very carefully with one arm carrying an entire stockade of things, checked the emails, answered the v/mails… went for a brief run as an excuse to warm the muscles so I could stretch which I have not done in a couple of days... Yawn, what a bazoo
- Hombres:
1. Edgar Sánchez (Atletas con Porvenir) 44:39
2. Luis Ochoa (Boyacá) 44:45
3. Alirio Carrasco (Club RPM) 45:19“ Thanks Jorge.
Of course San S. is a classic, or the classic, new year’s eve run-- The Simba got an invite hours after finishing the NYC Marathon, but turned it down. She’ll be Iten on that day celebrating in style I hope!
And in the half we had WTC again --
#1. Alemteshay Misganaw, 25, WTC/ETH 1:18:33 & Paul Ngeny, 27, KEN 1:04:43
And how nice it was on the way home, I dumped the guitar (I only play it down there anyway, so I’ll leave it there) and cycled up Madison Avenue-- they had had a street fair and the traffic was closed and speakers were put all along the sides of the roads so as you went up the avenue the Christmas songs were blaring out! Coolio -- that is how I would like the NYC Marathon to be like, speakers all round the course…
At the races - The Holiday 4-miler, congrats to --
Elmustafa McHkirate 24 WSX NY 20:44 & Erin Boyle 25 NYF NY 23:53.. Elmustafa arrived earlier this year from Egypt and will be running on the circuit for a while-- Ali is his friend, interestingly enough from the NYH… and age group congrats to
Gordon Bakoulis 44 MCNY NY 25:14, Kathryn Martin 54 NPRC NY 24:41. Jean Chodnicki-Stemm 46 WS NY 25:25, George Hirsch 71 CPTC NY 29:57, John Samsel 62 WTC NY 25:54, and last but not least Stuart Calderwood 47 NY 22:58 of CPTC.
Congrats to all the Urbo‘s -STEWART CHRISTOPHER ALDERSON BOB QUINTANILLA MANUEL STROBRIDGE PARKS ROMAN HENRY LABINER NANCY CORAN RANDI CHIN DENNY YOUNG SHAWN
Funnily enough, after seeing how the Flyer women were doing throughout the year I decided to try and make a concerted effort to get the women focused for the 2006 season, so I started bouncing the idea around to get a NYRR race focus, and Erin was one of the first people I was talking to about this -- looks like she is ahead of the plan! On Tuesday she ran a great hill work & tempo session and we guessed that she was ready to pop a ‘good one’ as they say -- so congrats to her for the win! The NY Flyers also won the team gold!
Speaking of which next week at the Joe Smo 10k Chubby will lead a strong Urban team to prove that the promotion to division one next year is no fluke! Leading the B league is a huge understatement as UA have the
biggest margin in any league placing… hm, we saw the NY Flyer men are in third too! Anyway the long & short of it is I am betting that next week the Urban men will place in the top three of A division… Shiney is running, OzPaul, Danny The Dollarman, Chubbs, Felipe, Stumpy, Chris Stewart… sounding like a good team! On the women‘s side Rapido will be racing, as will CJ (aka Mrs Macaroon).. And no doubt a few others…
Another sign of the times -- I have been selected for a free trial of a Running Magazine that arrives each month, and I was sorting through the post the other day and I noticed I have not even opened the plastic wrappings from the last two editions… My fav two magazines are New York (not the New Yorker), and W.
But back to Skyr -- my mum loves the stuff so asked someone in Iceland to send some over in the post, which they did, but too bad my parents were away when it arrived, and two weeks later when they went to the Post Office there was a one kilo very smelly rotten milk based package for them… the Post Master asked if they were importing old cheeses.
There was tough humid and hot weather as one would expect - 1 Irina TIMOFEYEVA RUS 2:34:37
2 Helen CHERONO KEN 2:35:12
3 Sylvia SKVORSOVA RUS 2:36:46
Oh yes, off the bat we hear that Milka Jep. something is making another comeback. The Kenyan used to be a local demon at the close of the nineties-- she is five weeks back into her training program, I last saw her racing at Yonkers, or was it at the Irish race in Belmont park, then a little later TGV and I went to see her in Ossining for a cup of tea-- that was a funny day.. Speaking of TGV I am going out to dinner with him next week when he makes a welcome return to the city, I was sad when he moved out to the West Coast, but I am glad that we keep in touch.
And the women--
Merima Hashim, Ethiopia,
Albina Ivanova, Russia, Edna Kiplagat, Kenya,
Margaret Okayo, Kenya, 2:20:43, and
Nuta Olaru, Romania.. Also In the elite filed we note Sylvia Mosqueda, of the Fat Tuesday’s! Ho ho-- when I was talking to her in Falmouth the famous last words were, “I’m laying off marathons for a while whilst I prepare to be a master…” Go figure! Well she lasted a few months… There is good spondoolies in this race including a nice $10,000 bonus for the first local runner, nice to see the race supports the community.
Speaking of runs in the park:
So I did my loop with Krafty and had a long chat about cinematography en route.. Upon finishing I bumped in to the Voice of The NYRR-- the man who brings fire to the footstep and flames to the stride-- we talked Tennis, and cycling… then Spaghetti came along -- now Spaghetti I have known for a decade now and admired him as both a great runner and person. His adventures will continue when he goes down to Florida after the Joe 10k to go and train with Ronnie Holassie (Another name from the past) -- the last time I was Ronnie he was still running for Trinidad (he now reps the USA) and was living in Miami training on the horse track- we were on a plane from Jamaica & it was most memorable for a bottle of rum opening in the overhead baggage compartment because of someone forgetting the screw the lid on properly -- what a mess!
Out in the park - great weather and a tough workout - 4.8-miles of it! Dan came out on his birthday - very commendable, Danny flew like a demon, The Commander chased with even splits, Todd was in there for a while, Peter2 & Michelle of the Flyers actually managed to run the last repeat faster than the first even though it was uphill as opposed to the first that was down… Richard was upgrading his asics, Robin is putting it back together, Charloote & Ross turned up after troubles with parking, The Queen of the Harriers also appeared from the bushes. David trackman was pushing well, and Sir Alec made an appearance with a great effort, as did David G. in his see-me in the dark Orange.
Chuck was running well, with a foreigner I didn’t recognize… yep a strong effort, and we saw Alem out there too - so a timely reminder his running classes start soon - scroll down for details!
We hear from the Man in Madrid who releases the following,
Bernard Lagat continues legal proceedings against WADA and the IAAF
Lawyers for the renowned American middle-distance runner Bernard Lagat today delivered the appropriate documents to the Landgericht Köln (Cologne Regional Court) in Germany to continue legal proceedings against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Bernard Lagat’s comments, which are for publication, are given below. The background to the case has been omitted here but it is in the public domain and easily obtainable.
“It is a German court’s practice to ask both sides to try and resolve their differences before taking proceedings any further but, at the initial hearing on 2 November, I found the IAAF and WADA positions to be irreconcilable with my own. My lawyers have informed the court of this, ahead of a full hearing which has been scheduled to begin in February 2006.
“There are three key issues that I am aiming to address by continuing my legal action.
“Firstly, I was hoping that the IAAF and WADA would provide an apology for what occurred to me in 2003 under their jurisdiction. However, none has been forthcoming. The IAAF statement that was offered on 2 November was completely inadequate.
“Secondly, there was no recognition or acknowledgement from either the IAAF or WADA that the testing procedures for EPO that I was subjected to in 2003 were far from failsafe and that an innocent athlete, who in this case was myself, could be wrongly accused of having taken performance-enhancing drugs.
“There is a significant body of scientific work which indicate that the shortcomings of the tests used in 2003 were known at the time of my erroneous result and I will be looking to introduce this material during the course of my court action.
“Thirdly, there is the matter of financial compensation for my loss of earnings and reputation which occurred due to my suspension by the IAAF in August and September 2003. Some media reports after the initial hearing said that I would not be eligible to claim compensation but this is not the case.
11/30
Meeting Spaghetti this morning, and Krafty too…
Tomorrow we announce our Urban Athletes of the year-- the two individuals who live in the area and who run the best (according to Urbomania)… Last year it was El Khatarbi of WTC who lives in Irvington, and had some steaming results around the country, and the women‘s winner was Midtown resident, who has since moved outta town -- Lyubov Denisova of Nike.
The Rolling Stones will take a brief break from touring to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. The rock 'n' roll greats will go on stage during the game Feb. 5 at Ford Field… You see I was telling Chubby he should not cut his hair, but would he listen??
The Urban Indoors at the Armory kicks off next week -- want in, phone the store @ 212.828.1906... Speaking of the Armory I saw everyone in the park this morning, including the Mayor of VCP who happens to be a director of that place (The Armory), we also saw The Rube zipping along looking like he has no marathon residue left! Of course the next BIG local race is the Joe 10k on the following weekend, but this weekend coming is the Holiday 4-miler -- a classic race.Another Classic Race -- The Shoe4Africa 10k for Women Only, in Iten January 06th 2006. Free T shirt for entrants, free post race food, Prize money for the top twenty -- free to enter!
IAAF Road Rankings have Gebrselassie behind Martin Lel.. Are they kidding? This year off the top of my head - Geb runs a WR @ 10-miles, wins Amsterdam in a World Leading 2:06 , Is the only man to run a 2:06 in 2005, wins a couple of Half Marathons in 61-mins in Spain by a mile, weeks after his marathon wins a high class 15k off no notice…. And Lel, yes, he won London in 2:07:27 was it, and? Let (a drawn out e vowel) me continue.. Geb also leads the world’s year ranking for the 10k smashing the British All-comers record in Manchester in May… the closest man to him, is of course himself in second place…. One can already guess the response -- "Well the field in London was very high class..." Well it does not matter if they were high class names that did not perform, Geb performed regardless of the field throughout the entire year...
She retired at the age of 22... Now the former world number one Martina Hingis is to return to professional tennis next year.
"I was never happy my injuries cut my career short and ultimately forced my decision to step away from tennis," said the 25-year-old Swiss superstar… goodness, retiring at 22!
“Aniko Kalovics the pre-race favorite will collect a bonus if she wins the European Cross Country title next month in Tilburg.
But the 28-year-old Hungarian won't receive the cash from the Championship organizers (European Athletics Association)
but those of the Great Edinburgh International cross country January 14.
Kolavics has already committed herself to the UK's top meeting in the Scottish capital even before bidding for the Euro title on December 11 in the Netherlands“. -- Favorite? My money is on The Simba!! The article continues, “she has in two cross country meetings, beaten all of her major rivals for the European crown.” Well, all we can say is watch out!
Jorge from CT sends us his pic from the ING-NYC Marathon, thus this pic is entitled, “My legs died after mile 18.” He had planned to run Manchester but, “I couldn't run the Manchester either due to the bad weather on Thanksgiving Day's morning. We had 4 inches of snow, and I saw many accidents on the news, and I decided to stay home.” Sounds like a wise move! So that is CT huh? NYC was beautiful that day.
In the mailbag from Ethan of the Z-brothers, “PS: you'll be pleased to hear the Urban Athletics men placed third Sunday in the Pete McArdle 15K. That course is definitely not a "walk in the park" (though it comes pretty close to one on the uphills, if you know what I mean).” Thanks Ethan, congrats, and yep - I know what you mean, I ran that race a couple of times back in the distant and the dim.
11/29
When I was a little nipper I ran the Gateshead International Cross Country, and the man that won the Senior race was a bloke named Craig Virgin, a twice winner of the world cross country championships. Following his race he was sitting on the ground undoing the laces on his spikes and I went over to say hello. There was another guy ( a non runner standing next to him) and when we approached he said, “Hey leave Craig alone, he’s just ran a race!” However Craig said, “No no, come here, sit down.” and he continued to talk and tell us about his race, and how he was suffering from Jetlag-- a really nice guy. So earlier this year I was super happy when he was sitting at the breakfast table of a certain hotel. He told me a reason for the above too, but I shan’t print that -- but needless to say, a great guy, and an amazing legend of the Running World.
Is anyone an expert on running any of the New York Bridges? Need info please(!)
I ran last night with Monsieur Mileage-- I as grooving along with Marvin Gaye on the Ipod and the other member of the Omelet Track Club popped out of the dark.. Coincidence as I met Kimka earlier on (who we are going to recruit if we get to the recruiting stage). The Monsieur is running again and did actually compete recently, “An Amazing comeback!” twas considering he was hardly limping along a month ago…So anyway I went to stretch at the Gym, as is the habit. SO I walked up to the magazine rack, and was disappointed to find de nada to read, then just as I was about to turn I spied ‘W’ magazine! So I scooped down to pick it up and a woman behind me looked at me with a pained expression one may wear with a tooth extraction and said, “Are you really going to read that?” Dragging the syllables out as if she was casting a fishing line… I mean what kind of reply could I give that? What I wanted to say, “Take a wild flippin’ Guess!” but y’know what they say about your own doorstep, so instead I pitted a polite, “of course!” and funny enough the December issue has something that ties in with what I typed above --about bridges.
It is always heart warming to see names from the old days doing well and Fernanda R. has been at the top for an age and a half: Torres Vedras, Portugal -
Women - 5.2km:
1. Nancy Kiprop (KEN) 18:38
2. Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) 18:46
3. Cláudia Pereira (POR) 19:00
Men - 9.6km:
1. Adam Ismael (Bahrain) 31:30
2. Peter Kamais (KEN) 31:37
3. Rui Pedro Silva (POR) 31:42
Wow, there is a place called Boring, in Oregon 97009.
Rye Turkey Trot 5M --Jeanne Halloran 34:30, and reason why the Boss can’t stop doing speedwork --Conor O'Driscoll taking the men’s in 29:22
The legacy of Balco - from Jeff.
and Lindgren from Urban in England.
Fischang - Cicchetti Memorial 5 Mile Run
Waterbury, in CT: 1. Kassahun Kabiso, 22, Bronx, NY (ETH) 24:37
2. Paul Mwangi, 39, New Paltz, NY (KEN) 25:25
3. Joe LeMay, 38, Danbury, CT 25:36 & La Femmes-- Heather Gardiner, 27, Morristown, NJ (CAN) 29:26 2. Zofia Wieciorkowska, 42, Stratford, CT (POL)30:03 - Jorge of CT the field man? And we also read Joyce ‘Cheppy’ Chepchumba, will be among the stars competing in the second leg of the US$1.575 million Greatest Race on Earth (GROE), in Singapore on 4 December. Running against her will be, amongst others, Ethiopia’s Gigi Asha Roba and Russian's Silvia Skvortsova, Alina Ivanova and Tatiana Titova.
Meanwhile over the globe Mono continues to run like a demon --Olympic Dream 10-K #1. Steve Moneghetti, 43, AUS 29:42 & Susan Michelsson, AUS 33:42 were the winners.
11/28
Want a flexible job in the running world? Urban Athletics is now hiring -- looking for that person (you don't have to be a runner) who wants to work in one of the two Manhattan Stores. Give it a whirl -- Ph: 212.267.2247 and ask for Cara if you are interested! Shy? You can fax resume to: 212 -945- 7146 or email: info@urbanathleticsnyc.com
From the mailbag, “Hi Toby,
I used the Creative Muvo on the run once per month and never had skipping. I found that the vest pocket is the best place for the device. I can certainly recommend saving money by using these more primitive mp3 players if youre not the type who fiddles with it on the run.
Also the single AAA battery last longer when there's no screen etc and no pausing by the user.
A ziploc bag would also help during inclement weather.
I know that Whole Foods recycles household batteries if you are near one of their stores.
The NYRR would also make a good recycling spot, if you found a volunteer to take the batteries to a recycling center once a month.
Sincerely,
Antonio.” Thanks, more advice on music for the run...meanwhile I am loading up on Patti Smith, Citizen Hope, and the Angels of Light... thanks to the driving beat of Bay Guerlain.
Well done to The Basque of Brooklyn and The Senora who both great well at the Prospect Park Turkey Trot! No results as yet, but propably on the PPTC.org site.
@ The Manchester T'Giving Road Race --
One out of two - 24:23 Kim Smith (#10 27:31 Julia Stamps of the NYAC) won the women’s, and my pick for the men’s came in #3 -- #1 21:50 Nick Willis, #2 21:56 Alistair Cragg, #3 22:07 Vyacheslav Shabunin, & the Whiz of Oz 22:10 Andrew Letherby in fourth. Spaghetti was #24 -- 24:04 Paul Mwangi. (If Paul is reading this please shoot me an email as I heard about the misfortune earlier that week and want to help). Anyway the course record 21:19 by Phillimon Hanneck in 1995 was untouched - tough time to beat. Phillimon I call Mr. Jeopardy as when I ran with him in the mid nineties he’d always speed up the training run if it looked like he would not get home in time to watch jeopardy, his favorite show. His training was somewhat unique compared to most of the other athletes wherever he trained -- in Japan, or in the USA. I always liked to run with him apart from when he did his 400m’s on the track when he transformed himself into a demon, and nobody wanted to run with him as he was too fast -- I am serious, he was like a 200m runner.
I got over to see Krafty Krebs finally -- the last time I was at Krafty’s I was helping moving him in four years ago to where he lives today, so it was nice to see the finished product. I got there via the L-train (across the dreaded water), and walked up Bedford Avenue where everyone looks like a beatnik and the palette of colors worn evolves around murky green, grays, and washed out blacks. Now did I mention that Krafty lives on the first floor and does not have a doorbell? So I had to hoof around the neighborhood having arrived trying to find a working phone booth -- not as easy as one may think. I asked about twenty people, popped my head in three bodegas and one pizzeria… (Krafty said, “You really should get a cell phone!”) Sweet coming from a guy with no doorbell!Anyway as funny as that might not have been it was actually the second time that very morning somebody had told me to get a cellphone; and both times by people with no doorbells (Krafty & Doctor Dan)! Well back to Brooklyn. So when I get in the building Krafty explains there’s a drug dealer living on the top floor and that is the reason why there is no doorbell, so everyone we meet in the corridor I ask loudly if they are the ‘one’ so I can spy a bona fide Brooklyn Drug Dealer… sadly no spottings. We did go for a run in Forest Park with an artist called John who makes Alien puppets for TV shows before going back for a slice of Pumpkin Cheesecake made by Meredith who does film editing and making for the TV… I left thinking that I would bring a cowbell next time.
Liz Yelling won the women's European trial race at the UK Cross-Country Challenge, and Mo Farah won the men's 10km race over in Britain. The Simba will be running as the race is in Tilburg on December the 11,th in the hometown of Greg Van Hest.
At the Ethiopian Great Run --Women -
1. Genet Getaneh (Prisons) 33:05.13
2. Ahaza Kiros (EEPCO) 33:05.43
3. Yenealem Ayano (Rental Houses) 33:13.06And the men -- consider Gebrselassie had the old CR of 30-mins (fitting for a 2800m altitude high run): Men -
1. Ketema Negussie (Muger) 28:24.13
2. Nathan Naibei (Kenya) 28:25.43
3. Deriba Mergia (Global) 28:34.82
She was always good with the post workout Boot Camp, and here’s the reason why for Jaime Windrow of the NY Flyers ‘other‘ job is as a Rockette!
Florence Marathon --Men:
1. Samson Kosgei, Kenya, 2:11:27
2. David Kipruto, Kenya, 2:16:15Women:
1. Alice Chelangat, Kenya, 2:30:46
2. Ivana Iozzia, Italy, 2:41:48
Well on Sunday I found myself in the former apartment of Gloria Vanderbilt in Mid town Manhattan (what I call downtown @ 54th).
A most beautiful penthouse apartment with a wooden terrace, and overlooking Paul McCartney’s deck (nope he was not out there enjoying the clement November afternoon, neither was Heather-- I am sure of that because I did peer across). I was playing the guitar, loudly, with Piers Lawrence who last appeared (and you may have heard) at mile 25 on Central Park South earlier this month at the NYC Marathon… On the Harp (and he was last heard at BB King’s Blues Club) ‘Bleedin’ Gums’ aka Doctor Dan, and as a backing guitarist--Stormin Norman.. Steve Golden Thumbs the drummer turned up late -- like a true musician, and missed the whole thing. As a sign of the times, and our aging souls, we had almonds and dried apricots as the side condiments…. D.K.D.S. Productions had the cameras rolling, so who knows maybe we’ll get some footage, and the next time we may open the window so Sir McCartney can be tempted to become the Bassman… Who knows, or take the ensemble out on the roof to Get Back...Hey there was good Cajun Coffee there too.
11/25
In the days when my running used to warrant the thought of a nose strip.. Thanks to Jon for sending this pic from the Swedish Champs 10,000mHave you seen the way the Ethiopians Run in this city? One man has been a part of all this; Alem Kahsay, and he is sharing his training secrets -- Join his running classes starting on December 6, 2005. “We will meet @ Engineers gate on 90th street @ 6:30pm. I also have a morning class which will start on the 29th of November @ 6:00am.If anyone is interested in joining a class phone 212-316-6288 or 646-345-4370” We can highly recommend Alem as one of the best -- Run like an African, Train with one of the areas Very Best Coaches.
In the mailbag, “Hi Toby, I'm not sure which iPod you are using but none of the iPods
perform well in a running environment except the iPod nano which is
really incredible. The iPod shuffle is a joke; lots of problems with
it. I had 2 of those and finally gave up. The standard iPods are ok
for walking around but running will cause the hard drive to skip and
go berserk. The nano is solid state and doesnt have a hard drive. It
recharges easily, holds a ton of songs, is light and holds up
wonderfully in long runs. I use it all the time and I love it for 2
or 3 hour runs. I just run along to my favorite songs and the time
goes by fast. Before I know it, I have a nice long workout done.
Re: Microsoft; it has a lot of bugs, crashes and just doesn’t work
nearly as well as any Apple product. I have the iMac which I use for
photography and video primarily; I would never go back to a PC. Here
is a website with some good info: www.kenrockwell.com. Hope this
helps, John McCarroll.” Thanks John!
10-lb turkey, eaten in 12-mins, by a 105-lb woman as the winner on the UES eating comp. She beat all the male heavyweights proving once again that the big eaters are the seemingly skinny people. First prize? $2,500. The purse is better than a quality 10k race!
I had a great thanksgiving, for once it was a day that where I saw more than I looked at, I took part in instead of partaking, so a thanksgiving turned to a thank you--
Don't forget that this weekend is the happening of two NYRR races --both worth looking at,and in fact I heard from LQD speaking abouyt the 'calling allthe Grateful Dead Fans' for the 37-miler... what do they say? Sometimes beer is not enough?As for the Sunday race -- the 15km XC. Of course check the www.nyrr.org site for all details...
Today I am going to Brooklyn to see Krafty Krebs -- remember him? He used to be the webmaster at the NYRR in the olden days of when I first arrived in the city -- nowadays he is a sculptor in Williamsburg with a nipper called Sebastian and a wife called Meredith -- how the times change!
11/24
Happy Thanksgiving. 
I am getting fed up with this computer as it keeps on crashing with the Microsoft program and losing all the typing I have done!
What else -- hm the ipod does not like the cold weather… it passed out before I did, even on a full charge! Maybe the machine is dead -- maybe it is my fault for taking it in the rain.. I need more songs -- I only listen to ABBA, and that‘s it.
37-million Americans traveling yesterday on the biggest travel day of the year.
Today’s Manchester T’Giving race I am still picking VS to win the men’s despite seeing that Mark Carroll is in the field, and for the women I will pick Kim Smith to round out the shekels.
Lots of buzz about Paula R’s return to racing with the 2nd fastest 10k split in the Chiba Ekiden relay with 31:41 to the Kenyan woman’s 31:18, but de nada about the fact, and from a standing start, for the first 5k leg (Ongori Philes of Kenya) that was won in a zippy 14:47! Faster than the time recognized by the IAAF as the world's best time set by PR & The Baby faced Assassin of 14:51... Strange days indeed, you would think it would get a shout at the very least in the press.
Kenya won both team titles, and the men’s race was won in a new WB time of 1:57:06. 2. JPN 1:58:58
3. USA 1:59:08 & Women 1. KEN 2:13:33 2. ETH 2:14:16 3. RUS 2:14:48
I met Zoomalong yesterday in Starbucks on Columbus, always good to catch up with her -- a NY legend.
Don’t forget this weekend is the Pete McArdle 15km XC up at Van Cortlandt. A month ago I did have vague thoughts about running this one.. But I have not the vaguest interest anymore -- though I do recommend it as a fab race to do. Three loops of the park is not that hard as long as you don’t set off too fast.
Speaking of three loops -- A small pre-thanksgiving group on the Rez… I had forgotten that Chubby sometimes shuts the store early -- I told people to meet at the store at 6:30 and when I got there the lights were off. So I am standing outside as there is one light on and I have a key but no alarm combo, so I don’t want to try if.. Anyway a homeless guy comes up and starts talking to me, so I am having a chat with him about Pizza, then Rice n’ Bean turns up and interrupts the homeless guy says something and wanders off. I was about to leave and the homeless guy says, “Can you buy me a slice of pizza?” And as I was 30-minutes early I wanted to but had no $$ on me.. Well little did I know that Shawn and Peter were in the coffee store across the road else I’d have dragged him in there.. So instead I told him to ask Rice n’Beans, but he said that Rice n’ Beans was ‘a rude man, he always ignore me’ to which I told him RnB’s would not ignore him if he wasn’t homeless… but this conversation was going round in circles so I set off in one myself, but that was not the three loops I was talking about.. On the Rez Rapido broke all speed and sound records -- wow, is all I can say.The scorers for the Marathon team are yet to come up on the NYRR site for the points but we can bet that the Urban Men have won the B division this year! Well done -- In the marathon OzPaul, Danny C, Chris Stewart, Urban Bettag, and Adam Mulia were all under three hours, so it looks like the team has it all sewn up! Watch out next year in the A-division! He he too bad that Rapido could not have scored for the men’s team as she beat them all in the marathon -- the women’s team are doing fine in Tenth place (there is no A or B league for La Femmes). One of the scorers was Christine Janssen whom we heard from today, “I ran a PR, improved my time by 14 minutes. So I'm psyched about that. The bad news is I went out too fast, then struggled at the end. My goal was 3:45 so I could qualify for Boston, but I logged in a 3:48:06. Gosh darn close! J” Hey well done Chris -- hope to see ya soon.
11/23
Alberto Juantorena was the official starter as Aguelmis Rojas won his fifth title at the Havana International Half Marathon (Marabana) on Sunday (20 Nov), setting a Cuban record of 1:03:40 from Norbert Gutiérrez (1:06:10)
Mariela González, who was a 9-time champ won in 1:17:33 from Yeilén García (1:19:40) and Yudileisis Castillo (1:19:43). And the legendary Ana F. Quirot ran an easy race to win her age group category.
I found out today that the battery on an Ipod runs much quicker when the unit is submerged under a gallon of water drops falling down like lead pipes from a church roof. I was most disgruntled as I did not want to run in the first place but had decided to go anyway…
Man of the moment - Fab Fabiano of Shoe4Africa/Team Timmax - world champ in the Half 05.Two T-Giving races to recommend - The first in Prospect Park, if you scroll down there are details somewhere, if not visit PPRC.org, and the second is run by Randall White, a great race too -
Dick Meighan Memorial 5K Run
Thanksgiving Day, November 24th at 9am
Upper Saddle River, NJ
Mitchell, Gene
2:28:16 was first ’local’ at Philadelphia in a fine #7, the winner in 2:21:02 Nderitu, Joseph & 2:43:07 Kroshus, Emily
$499 -- 7-Night Cruise from L.A. w/FREE iPod http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?id=100216028 Source: Travelocity
Nich from Chelsea Piers Running Club asked “Have you seen this?” On Tergat, which I had not.
Good report from the Tom LeBreq Classic Washington race that looks like it will be a four city concept in a couple of years including Boston & Philadelphia.
11/22
Last night, at a restaurant on 56th Street between 5th & 6th Avenue there was a celebration dinner hosted by Mary Wittenberg, held in honor of Bernie Cooper, the Chairman of the NYRR for the past eight years. Bernie, when walking across the room, happened to utter a telling sentence amongst other things, “I did my best, no one can say I didn’t try!” Well the funny thing is that Bernie is one of those people who does not have to try -- Bernie was a natural for the job. Bernie, my hats off to you-- keep on doing what you do best -- Being there, making the running community a better place. The good news, as I am sure y’all know, is that Bernie has put the baton in to the more than capable hands of George Hirsch (age group winner of the race this past weekend and the fastest American 70+ this year, plus the builder of the Runner's World Empire).
Congrats to Kyomi who was in the Tokyo Women’s Invitational Marathon, her goal was to run under 3:15, and improve on her PR at 43, -- she ran 3:13:34
So anyway now that I have trained every single pigeon on the UES and persuaded them not to jump under my feet when running apart from near The Ruppert Park I now have a new gripe. The taxi cruiser… The lights are changing to red, so you get a chance to cross the street, and a taxi approaches, merely puts on its hazard warning lights and slowly crawls over the crossing(!)
Thanks to Jeff for the BBC forward, “Edwards was awarded the world 100m gold medal from last year after Kelli
White, another US sprinter, was stripped of the title in June.
White has been suspended from competition for two years after admitting using
steroids and several other banned substances.
Edwards moved from third to second in the world 200m finish when White also
lost her gold medal in that event.
The woman who was awarded the gold medal after White's ban, Russia's
Anastasiya Kapachinskaya, also subsequently tested positive for a banned
substance and is now serving a two-year ban.
Edwards' positive test means that the every athlete on the podium in that
world 200m has now failed a dope test.” Last Wo-man standing!
The
Khannouch Vs Felix Limo at the Wincaton Montferland 15km Heerenberg, The Netherlands on Sunday, Dec. 4. The Khannouch is going there to see a Doc called Peter to try and sort out his injury.
Calling all Ultra runners - the 60km Knickerbocker. Good luck! I remember one year LQD did this race… for the trophy!
I was watching the DVD of Chicago - useful fact - Einsteins Bagels Bros at 9-miles. It was like a display of the marching of the Kenyan Army in the men’s race.
Paula Radcliffe has recovered from a bout of bronchitis and will indeed be in the Team for Britain in Wednesday's Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan.
From Kurt Le Vert, “I won a turkey yesterday in the local turkey trot - haha I'll send you a shot with my winning 17 pounder haha they gave a turkey to all the age group winners - I placed second over all to a HS kid.” Well done Kurt!
11/21
Hot conditions in
Lagos, Nigeria - Fabiano Joseph of Shoe4Africa/Team Timmax won the MTN Lagos Half-Marathon in a new course record of 1:02:20. John Korir, 63:05, and John Yuda finished third in 1:04:21. Millicent Doadi of Ghana winning $3000 for the women’s first place, in 1:16:31
Big Congrats to Rick P of the NY Flyers who trains with us on Wednesday’s. In the spring he came to me with small goals of improving his 4:08 marathon PR. But as he started to train he began to believe, every time we discussed the training the goals would rise, and rise, and instead of Boston ‘07 it became why not Boston ‘06 -- well yesterday in Philadelphia he ran 3:04, and the latest news Jeff, from the wedzar group too, ran a 2:58
Tokyo Women's Marathon 1. Naoko Takahashi (JPN) 2:24:39
2. Zivile Balciunaite (LTU) 2:25:15
3. Elfenesh Alemu (ETH) 2:26:50
4. Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) 2:26:55
5. Mara Yamauchi (GBR) 2:27:38 -- Second fastest Brit of the year. Now the big Japanese story is Noguchi Vs Takahashi! The Euro equation is throw in Paula Radcliffe, and why not Catherine Ndereba for Africa… what a match up that could be.
Soria, Spain -Women (6 km)
1. Rose Jepchumba (Ken) 19:47
2. Simret Sultan (Eri) 19:55
3. Sally Barsosio (Ken) 20:01
4. Fernanda Ribeiro (Por) 20:08
Men (9km)
1. Boniface Songok (Ken) 26:23
2. Tesfayohannes Mesfen (Eri) 26:28
3. Eshetu Gezhagne (Eth) 26:31
Name of the week -- he was fifth place in Tegla’s Peace 10k race; William Todoo of Kenya.
KrazyKibet in the air today, all the way back to Kenya…On that subject I felt my usual self at 4:30-am self (dead to the world) on First Avenue on Friday morning setting off to LGA airport for the trip to South Carolina. Amazingly we all made it to the airport in one piece, My job was to keep every one entertained at the airport… Luckily the camera flash managed to wake em back up. The change at Washington, and into Spartanburg without a hitch! Finding somewhere to breakfast was a challenge - the only request was ‘No fast food places’ -- well Spartanburg’s glue is fast food places. We tried the waffle house as the first place with a name not recognized but it was a corrugated iron shack with formula pins holding the thin wafts of grease from flowing into the surrounding winds….
We had to settle on a place that looked kind’ve okay from the outside but was pretty yucky on the inner side of the building-- Taking the buffet option I had pancakes and pineapple. It tasted like it looked. Though we hung around the pancake platter as Rod (the girdle man) seemed in no hurry to bring them out at any warmth keeping speed, and the size of the patrons gave hint that if we did not move quickly (As they looked unable to do) nothing would be left.
I asked the lady at the counter -- what does your coffee taste like, and she replied, “Well if y’all take a nice ride down the I-85 for a few miles…” Enough said. I was wishing we’d stopped off to discover what this place was!
Proud that we’d achieved so much we followed the directions to the hotel and tried to check in; but the woman at the desk says, “I don’t think you’re checking in….” and it appears she was right -- we had made the unique mistake of simply taking the directions to a Marriott hotel, but not the one we were going to stay in.. cough cough.. Shuffle shuffle outta there (good job too as we had a big upgrade).
The pre race banquet (with included prayers of some ‘Oh Lord‘s peppered with some ’Hallelujahs’ was a 6k calories feast for the non runners as I had to try every single dessert)… but at least the food was good
The day of the competition was freezing cold--The race course was the toughest I have ever seen, huge ups and downs the whole way, there simply was hill after flippin’ hill -- plus the poor runners had to run without the cars being stopped on the roads! See how crazy it was? Whilst the race was being run we went to Krispy Kremes and had what has to be the worst hot chocolate in the world -- tasted of nothing. Not a big donut fan I was disappointed to see they did not have a bagel sideline.. But I tried something with pumpkin in it or on it.
The ladies did great -- all finished with smiles and war stories-- Steph, “I had to ask people on the way which way to go” Ashley, “Police cars were whizzing past at 70-mph, if I’d tripped over I’d be…” The race photos did not turn out so well, as every angle we had was directly into the sun! Adri pumping her arm And Steph finishing. The rays were actually powerful despite the cold, as I got sunburn, in November!
Following the race I wanted to do something interesting, so we set off looking for ‘Kulture’ after eating pizza for lunch and spending time wandering in the center looking for non existent bakeries & coffee shops… Saturday afternoon and it was like a ghost town. Three times I asked people, “What is there to do in Spatanburg?” to get the same reply, first a laugh, then “We-ye-ll, no-thing really.”
So it a drive to anywhere, and after driving for miles upon miles seeing nothing but trailer parks, car lots and fast food places we settled for Brusters Home made Ice Cream house, and we sat out in the sun eating ice cream… I went for the Blueberry cheesecake. A prelude to the raspberry topped cheesecake I had in the evening (had to be double as I asked the waitress if it was a slice worth eating, and when it arrived she said, “Sorry it is usually bigger than this’ and seeing my dejection she kindly upgraded with a second slice). After the race, when everyone went to watch football games, I decided to go for a swim… Forgetting that at 10-am it was 38-degrees and that it might not be a heated pool , and that the sun was setting ,and it was nippy, I ran and jumped in because the water looked so very beautiful -- Wow, it was colder than the Atlantic on New year’s day -- and yes I can say that with verification! It was friggin freezing, so cold my legs locked up and I could hardly get back to the ‘shore’ I nearly had a heart attack, but managed to revive myself reading the gossip in ‘New York’ Magazine in the heated Jacuzzi whilst eating chocolate covered raisins and a fig rolls.. My healthy apple I took rolled away somehow… Strange I had the whole patio to myself--kool.
We had a slight scare on Sunday morning at 5-AM driving to the airport when we somehow could not see any signs to the airport… then another one arriving at the United Airlines check in and finding nobody there with 40-mins to go before our flight. So I climbed over to the wrong side of the counter which always succeeds in bringing someone out very quickly (and it did).. I learned this trick as a little nipper aged 16 hitching in France one time-- I would stand on the highway and stick my thumb out -- typically the very first car that would come along would screech to a halt and the window be wound down (old days) and they would say, “Hey, don‘t you know, you are not allowed to be standing on the highway!” Followed by, “Jump in quickly.” Although I don’t advice trying this method it really works well! So all in all a great weekend. Back to NYC I met up with Bay Guerlain (cappuccino) for coffee at La Negrita (French Roast, 6/10) but the ambience there makes up for the slight lack to coffee taste, I also tried the blueberry scone (do Americans say Scone or Scon? I never remember) and a muffin of cranberries of something (5/10).
At the 7-hills 15k race in Holland - Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopië won in 41:57 with Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea second in 42:15... Berhane Adere 47:46 for the women
With Hilda Krazy-Kibet Kenia in 4th 50:37.
11/18
This report is brought to you on the wings of plane -- We’re in South Carolina.. Could it be fine-ah!
"I am looking forward to facing a great competition on a fast course. Everybody wants to be there," Tergat was quoted by newspaper Kenya Times as saying.
The new Mizuno Elixer Gold Shoe! Available now at the Uptown Store on Madison Ave, a mere 160-meters away from the main entrance of Central Park.
Another Shoe4Africa/Timmax man in action this weekend --
Fabiano Joseph of Tanzania, winner of the recent World Half Marathon Championships race, takes on defending champ John Korir of Kenya (course record of 63:05 in winning last year) and Paul Rugut who won the Delhi Half Marathon in 61.55 a month ago, and amongst a thousand others Charles Kiama (61.34 win @ the Nairobi Half Marathon) at the Lagos Half Marathon.
A scant few hours after posting we get the winner, Urban from London, “Is it the 1983 NYC Marathon winner?” For the whoshoe quiz -- twas Rod Dixon. Huh, I thought it would be hard! Just my luck it is an overseas winner! Answers rushed in, and Starbucks will be pleased to hear that someone thought it was him-- although he is an Adidas man these days.
I was at Cafe Gitane on Mott Street in NoLIta yesterday drinking what has to be NYC’s finest coffee from a café (try it if you don’t believe & save the Belgian choco for me), and eating a toasted cinnamon salmon tartar sandwich. The sun was so bright and warming, and the street was empty & fresh, bar bicycles and scooters, that it meant we had waltzed to an outdoor table, (well Stephan is good friends with the owner anyway which helps in these matters), and in fact it was he, the owner, with a three day stubble, brown tortoise shell shades, a French moped and beat up jeans who interrupted, in the nicest of ways, our talk about the next project 2006 moving from the European cities to the Subcontinent of M’Africa. The waitress, from California, who works out at the gym up and across the street was the next to come and talk with a wink of her eye-- past the talk of the table of course, and then a lady from a French something or other who spoke nothing but French and had a face that looked like nothing but a French came and asked about the events of the past year giving away the fact she was obviously not a familiar figure in the life of little circle of the French who milled around the outside of that little café -- all the trendies? but of course they were all inside, being Yicks and listening to The Moon of Alabama.
Titus Munji, 2:06:15 & Margaret Okayo of Kenya headline the Las Vegas field for next month -- what a line up they have!
From Jeff, “This is a necessary step, I think, to eliminate the 'tainted supplement' defense. Click here for the NY Times article.
Last link of the day to Jesse’s site -- he’s inviting people round if they are fast enough on the Turkey Day next week. He is talking about the race in Prospect Park and we are glad to read that they are offering home made pies, because I got one from this race and it was about as homemade as the moon. Reminds me of the race where the top three got turkey‘s and then at the prize ceremony they gave you a gift voucher for $10... Enough of being stuffed.
Getting married this weekend -- Our congrats to The Senator, Meb Keflezighi.
Basketball -- Look at Tim Duncan trying to pull a Ben Wallace with the locks. Already S.A. are looking a dead cert for the last few places of the season.
11/17
Tough quiz this one --
Who does stand in these shoes?Need a great running coach in NYC? We can recommend Alem Kahsay - 212.316.6288
Shoe4Africa/Timmax’s World Silver marathon man Christopher Isegwe of Tanzania is in the Seven Hills race this weekend, running against Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse & Ethiopia’s Haile. Well we’re supporting Krazy Kibet in the women‘s race!!!!
Did anyone tape the NYC Marathon? The coverage from NBC4 - please let me know if you can do me a copy.
In the park #11 was running like a demon, and we saw Chubby returning from a Ten miler -- he was going to do strides, but when I said I’d give him style marks he went up and away down the road -- he’s committed to do Chicago 06... He said, “Didn‘t I see you on the reservoir running fast?” Yeah, right! It is his birthday on Sunday and he‘s having a party downtown somewhere -- get directions from phoning the store if you know him and want to go.At the NYRR Palace we bumped in to Krafty Krebs wearing a snappy shirt no less, then I popped upstairs to say a good luck to Alison W of the fast-women fame.
Speaking of fame we hear from Eldo Lise, “My only claim to fame is being recognized at Home Depot these days by the staff- the exciting life of a new homeowner. just great.” Yarr, as if I am supposed to feel sorry for a Canadian home owner!
PS -- a clue for today’s quiz -- not Tegla! The prize for the first correct answer is a Free Nike T Shirt! Answers on an email.
Flippin McGhastus weather last night in the park -- kudos to The Commander Kevin who flew through the storm, Richard, Trackman Dave, Shawn (both doing early spring marathons), Robin, Queen of the Harriers Diane Doing London), and Risa (you can listen to my ipod whilst you're coaching if you want)... I also bumped into Team n Training & Senor Ramon! Danny the Dollarman is apparently not doing Philadelphia this weekend -- unlike Francis, Rick, Jeff, and who am I forgetting -- and over in Tokyo - Go Kyomi!! The British woman with the Japanese surname, who I have forgotten now, is also running there -- she used to live in Japan and met a husband there. Urban tips her for a sub 2:30.
10/16
Kudos to Jesse getting the special mention from RW-online, and deservedly too - defo bookmarked.
Jeff sends this Tim Monty’ story - lost millions.
Speaking of which -- no surprise that last week Sun Yingjie’s 'B' sample was also EPO-ed positive. Thus she’ll be out till… Beijing?
I was coaching the Flyers last night, and standing at the bottom of the transverse, and after 25-minutes of intervals, before part two of the training, they disappeared --the whole group bar one! I don’t know where they went, this has never happened before, they must have all ran off -- even when I sent Rich to find them and bring them down -- what rebels. They missed the strides and boot camp. Anyway the good news was that Rapido dropped by.
I thought 2005 was going to be the year of little travel for me, however to Europe five times, and Africa once (If I get there) is Moving Feet. Speaking of which I passed three people on the reservoir yesterday-- though one probably did not count as they were taking a photograph. I actually felt like I was running for once… I am building up, planning on two loops in the near future.
Good for Tegla. A nice move form the Bank supporting her race. I can tell you though that list of participants is not going to happen - some are injured, and some are not running right now. Tulu, from the last report in Boston, is doing no running this month.. Tanui is not running full stop, Joyce is injured blah blah…
It is going to be interesting to see how Mombasa handles the World Cross next year but one in 2007 -- they should have an open championships -- the Kenyans run like crazy in their national championships, you get 300 runners who would fill & jam pack the first 50-spots in the world champs… Should be a ball.
11/15
Who lives in a shoe like this?
Tis of course the fleet footed Mizuki Noguchi, soon to be running in Osaka, with a beady eye on what Takahashi does this Sunday in Tokyo.
Congrats to Attila who won up at VCP at the NYRR XC Champs, his first race after Ramadan - no other results as yet known to me, but Attila grabbed it in the sprint -- the victory that is.
Paul Tergat back in the USA next month! Not for a race though -- he’ll be in the South
Simba & Starbucks airborne today, flying South to Kenya.
Anders Szalkai running Milano next month, we really hope he gets the qualifier needed for the Euro Champs next summer to be held in Sweden! And we hear from Lorenzo Nesi in Sweden too who was working for Eurosport along with Anders for the NYCM -- he was nice enough to credit his research for the commentary on the marathon to the Runner’s World online stories we did… a large shoe company just wrote and said the said thing--
Talking shoes -- Our Shoe of the month available at the store - The Elixer! It is a snappy looking shoe, and I was hoping to link this to a picture, but the web site Mizuno does not have the shoe up yet, so it looks like we’ll have to get out the camera.
From TGV, “Its now been 17 days ?? on Zone Chefs. I can't believe it. Well 13 pounds have been shed and I still have 20 to go. The food has been pretty good and I am getting very used to the routine. Running without that extra weight is bliss and I really like seeing the strips on the side of my singlet hang down in a straight line. My suits fit better now and I am no longer a slave to caffeine. I am wide awake in the AM (5 AM!) and wide awake when I drive home from the office. The toxins have left my body and I feel great. No sugar, no alcohol and no caffeine for 17 days.” Go Marty Go! But hey when you come to NY next month does this mean we’re not going to Starbucks?? Fuggedit, you can sit in the street!
Balco beginnings? Thanks to Jeff for the link.
Jose, the Basque of Brooklyn forwards -- Car-A-Mile Marathon and Midland 15k and 5k Races Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:30 AM Beautiful horse country Somerset County , NJ additional information Brief Description: Forget all that prize money for the elite runners! In the inaugural car-a-mile marathon, every runner will have the chance to drive away in one of 26 cars! We will randomly select 26 winners from the starting field. Don't miss your chance to win! Fees: $90 until 12/31/05; $105 from 1/1/06 to 5/15/06; $120 on site on Saturday, May 20
Paula Radcliffe’s appearance from the Seven Hills Run next week in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, has turned into appearance for Haile Gebrselassie and Zersenay Tadesse. Fingers crossed for Krazy Kibet in the women’s race!
Vyacheslav Shabunin, 36, of Russia, won the Richmond 8k in 23:03 -- we tip him to be the winner at the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving. You heard it here first, he’ll win in the last 80-meters of the race… Fifteen secs back in #4, and fully recovered from that PR in Berlin - the whiz of Oz; Andrew Letherby. Even more recovered, after racing NYC Marathon last week was the winner of the women‘s from Ukraine - Tatiana Gladyr
Milan, Italy -
8km XC --
1 William Chebon (Kenya) 21:54
2 Alex Kirui (Kenya) 22:02
3 Mark Bett (Kenya) 22:06 Women (4km):
1 Fatima Maraoui (Italy) 14:04 (sister of Rakyia Maraoui who is running for France -- both sisters born in Morocco). 2 Vittoria Salvini (Italy) 15:02 -- we are guessing the course is not accurately measured or that would be a new men’s WR… Chebon has been a tip of Paul Tergat for quite a while.. One of three emerging Tugen stars.
Meanwhile distances and ages(?) in the Amora Portugal 10k XC -- 16yr old 1. Adam Ismael (BRN) 28:41 beat the old legend 2. Paulo Guerra (POR) 28:48 and in the women - 1. Leonor Carneiro (POR) 16:51 from 2. Beatrice Rutto (KEN) 17:04... Mr. Israel is of course one of the imports.
And on RW -- “Jill Vollweiler of the Westchester Track Club won her third consecutive marathon in a span of 56 days…” The new Stephanie Hodge!
A weather report from Amelia, “London is cold enough
for hat and gloves while running.” Yikes -- here in NYC it is a dream November, so far… shorts & a T shirt yesterday at 59-degrees,and ABBA on the ipod.
Wanted, for the GB team - Jon Brown has still to decide whether he will run in the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg. One thing is for sure The Simba will be there running for Holland in the 6k race.
11/14
News from the Tokyo 10km -- Kyomi won the race as her tune up for the marathon! So huge congrats there! And speaking Japanese...So I went to the post office on Friday, and it was Veterans day, so I had to walk all the way home again with my parcel -- I was sending some kids stuff to my sister’s nippers. So the next day when I returned, waited for 26-minutes in the queue and finally got to the counter I was not a happy camper when the lady told me they would not accept the shoe box I had packed the things in, “When you send things overseas there can’t be any advertising on the box, it must be a plain brown paper covering the box.”
I am like “What?? I have never heard this before” but a moment before I said it I changed my tune, “what do you mean? Mizuno is the name of the Japanese postal service, I am merely using a Japanese packing box.” She looks at me with a half not-trusting glance of a gleaming bumbling eye, so I continue, “See that little logo (the run bird)? That is their logo see -- fly through the post faster!” he he, well it worked!
So Lyubov Denisova winner of LA Marathon 05 said, “Never again” on returning to the race but as Jimmy Bondo says, “ever to Never say heather” she’ll be back at the Los Angeles Marathon next year in 2006.
The world is a flippin small place -- but life never ceases to amaze me -- so I was on the phone to my blind friend Helen Cherono who happens to be a fast runner from near Nakuru in Kenya. I was supposed to meet her in New York when she came up for the marathon, but time was so busy it did not happen… so she phoned last night and we are yada yada yadaring and she says “Well you’ll have to visit me one time down here.” So I said “yeah right, if I am ever in Georgia…” and she says, “No, I’m in South Carolina.” So I said, “Well would you believe I am there next weekend!” So she says, “No kidding, Toby you are fooling me!” So I say, “Have you heard of Spartanburg?” Hellen says, “That’s where I live!” -- Go figure she lives eight minutes from where I am staying!I met up with Doctor John the other day, we went for lunch at a place called JR Melons, a bar on Third Avenue, we walk in and everyone is half drunk, John’s like, “God, doesn’t anyone have jobs in this city?”
After that I passed by Kimka Mansions, Kimka would be a good candidate for my Omelet Athletic Club (along with the Monsieur) as we were trading times to which who has the slowest tempo run these days -- I won, she’s too fast -- but most importantly she‘s got the motivation, “I haven‘t given up!”.. Then it was off to Starbucks with the Russian Rocket and my first Apple Fritter in months -- the Rocket had a caramel Mari..something (the same drink that starbucks has when he’s done the calorie burning) and just would not let me get away with just having a drip, “You must have something” so I went for the sugar buzz in a bun instead of the cup. He’s off to Moscow today.
I went to Vico on Madison with Rick on Saturday noon -- he’s getting ready for his race next week, and going to pop a good one. We saw Costanza who was lamenting the knicks less than ace start to the season -- “Ever since Patrick Ewing…” And then I met a 70-yr old blind runner from the Achilles who works 70-hrs per week in the Riverdale Kiosk, he gets stiff as he has to stand up the whole time -- runs marathon too!
Cool jacket of Jelena's -- will she run in Puerto Rico's World Best 10k? She says no as of now...
How did you feel after beating one of your mentors Gebrselassie? Nice interview with Boniface.
Trackman Dave sends us this report on 6th ST, “I was at the track this morning and actually spoke to the Park Supervisor, Hector Sauri. He was in his office. He said the lights at the north-west end are working, but that the timer that turns it on and off needed adjustment (the light was on this morning & wasn't supposed to be) The light at the south-west corner is to be fixed. He said an electrician was scheduled to come and make the repair. He didn't say when, but I got the impression it was within the next few days. He also mentioned that the lights are considered "security" lights rather than actual field lights. He understood, however, that they are needed by people using the track after dark & said that there had been a number of questions and complaints about the need to restore them. The lights on the east side of the track were, of course, removed during the construction along the river. Thought you might be interested to know.” Thanks.
AP Press, “Spin the radio dial in the nation's largest city, and the choices are dizzying. Talk shows in English and en Espanol. Smooth jazz and heavy metal. Nonstop hip-hop and 24-hour news. Classic rock and all-sports..” But no Country & Western. Cool, leave that to Nashville -- Patsy died, and along with it the Sweet Dreams.
From the Greater NY Racing Team, “The November issue, just out, of Track & Field News lists the 2005 High School All-American team for outdoor track. Five athletes are listed per event. Dan was chosen as the fourth best performer at 800 meters
based on his pair of 1:51 times at states and his win at the Golden
West Invitational. Dan competed at Nyack High School and is now
training as a freshman with the track team at Auburn University.” Fast!
the Millar comeback in June. Vows to comeback clean.
Nordic Cross Country
- Women, 4.5km:
1) Louise Pil Mörch Denmark 15:37, 2) Runa Bostad Norway 15:38, 3) Minna Kauppi Finland 15:38 Denmark won the team honors, and for the men - Sweden -
Men, 9km:
1) Henrik Ahnström Sweden 27:00, 2) Öystein Sylta Norway 27:06, 3) Jussi Utriainen Finland 27:08,
Yesterday I went to Rye, I was going to see a Kenyan preacher called Carter who talks in a place in White Plains. However I got stood up, well Sunday is of course his busiest day - like an office guy’s Monday morning (I expect). But anyway the good news was that meant more food for me as we were having dinner out there at a friend’s house (who has a mansion with a beautiful pool, split levels emphasis on plurals and a superb kitchen). The flip side was that a massage therapist came to the house who was a specialist in T'ai Chi Chuan - so not only did I get a good massage but also the most interesting lecture in Chinese yoga, the body and its workings -- the only downside was that I left at the desserts time, and came out after the clean-up….the flow of qi -- anyway talk about the flow Costanza came up with a classic idea the other day with the idea of something with Keith Richards -- but how to get in touch with the guy? I mean I know he has a house out at Westport, so I happened to be talking about this idea and the woman who owned the house says, “Oh, I have a good friend who lives in the same apartment building as him on the Upper East” (like all good rock artists he has a pad in the smoke)….
11/11
Happy Birthday to the Achilles Track Club, formed on this day back in 1982.
Today’s photo is entitled, how to give a $130,000 winning smile - the fabulous Yelena!
I really want to take my electric guitar to Kenya, can’t be doing with no Hendrix boost to the dizzling strings.
Elite athletes including 3-time Reggae Marathon champion and course record holder Pamenos Ballantyne are to compete in the fifth anniversary staging of the Reggae Marathon and Half-Marathon event to be held in Negril on December 03, 2005.
Albert Omboga, Denise Knickman, Joseph Nderitu, Michael Wardian and Ballantyne will all be participating in what promises to be an exciting and highly competitive race attended by non other than Mrs. Marley herself.
I have this yoga type tape of music right now that I am listening -- makes me feel like I am a zenaholic healthy person, 40-minuters of listening and you are the real deal without the stretches -- in fact I retract, the music bends the mind.
Organisers of the Great Ethiopian Run remain hopeful, despite civil unrest, that the race will happen later this month -- Event Coordinator Richard Nerurkar. “We are naturally concerned at what has been happening throughout the town, but we hope that the situation will calm down in the coming days.”
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Paula Radcliffe will be the starters at the ‘Marathon de Monaco et des Riviera’ this weekend.
SA Distance runner caught with drugs:
'She did not hold anything back and was totally honest'
Hey, we did contact Shawn before posting this email about her… from a NYCM runner, he emailed in, “There was a chick in Brooklyn (nice!) on a corner wearing a red UA t-shirt and beating a pot with a woodenspoon, shouting Go Urban Athletics. Was great.”The same guy also sent me a picture from Eurosport who showed the marathon and they filmed the press conference and you can see the Intrepid Reporter sitting back and listening in… I had already got my story… Funny, also NBC showed a clip during the race of when Ludmilla won the race in 2000 running through Harlem on 5th Avenue and there I was too, dying a death plodding along.
Another winning smile - From the lady with the fast legs!From a woman who has not seen the famous Bob Kemp. Clip that nike used as a commercial,
" No one can vomit the way I did and go ahead to finish the race in second place,"
Tarrytown 4M Pilgrim Run
Sunday, November 13th at Noon
Hackley School, Tarrytown NY
Post race, I should not write this as the journalist is a local guy and might read.. Nah… This ‘writer’ asks Tergat, “What did you do after the marathon?” To which he responds, “I did not realize it was another marathon…” meaning of course the long list of obligations.. The journalist asks, “Where was it? What time did you run?” Ha ha, got that one on tape!
Marathon to Athens
1. James Saina, KEN 2:16:05
2. Sammy Chemweno, KEN 2:16:15
3. Paul Kanda, KEN 2:16:58
4. Gebre Gebremariam, ETH 2:17:38WOMEN
1. Sisay Measo, ETH 2:38:39
2. Hiruet Areba, ETH 2:41:30
3. Georgia Ambatzidou, GRE 2:42:50
Asics Bolt @ Noosa, in Queensland Oz 5K --
1. Martin Dent, AUS 14:04
2. Peter Nowill, AUS 14:05
3. Scott Westcott, AUS 14:09...
6. Alastair Stevenson, AUS 14:22
7. Steve Moneghetti(40+), AUS 14:22
8. Lee Troop, AUS 14:23& the Sheila’s -
1. Sarah Jamieson, AUS 15:51
2. Kerryn McCann, AUS 15:56 (who is running Tokyo next Sunday, 20th)
3. Sonia O’Sullivan, IRL 16:10
I came back from the supermarket with bananas, buttermilk, cottage cheese, and coffee -- how healthy can you get? Funny when I was an avid (and I mean avid) smoker I never ever ran out of cigarettes, even at the most impoverished moments of my life (and let me say I have been to the depths, and then kept digging)… and nowadays I never ever run out of coffee -- my new drug? I think so. I wish they‘d invent coffee in a pill - with the same taste. I wish they‘d invent a way that a man did not have to shave too -- I mean what a waste of time, dragging a blade, or two, or three, across your noggin. How productive is that? China men will use their last dime to have a shave rather than do it themselves -- that‘s me with the coffee.
11/10
Grete acknowledges the cheers of the crowd, with Joanie by her side.
Very little change to the Kenyan team for the Ekiden --former world junior 5,000m champion Philip Mosima, Martin Mathathi, Josphat Machira, Onesmus Nyerere, Job Megubo, John Kariuki and Daniel Mwangi.
former world 8km cross-country bronze medalist Jane Gakunyi, Lucy Kabuu, Phyllis Ongori, Mary Wangare, Evelyn Kimwei and Evelyn Wambui.
As usual another classic quote from the Flyers,
“The winner of the men’s race – world record holder Paul Tergat – finished 10 minutes ago. C’mon people, let’s pick up the pace.”—Race marshal on the Polaski Bridge (mile 13), during the 2005 NYC Marathon.
NYRR Cross Country Championships (5K) Van Cortlandt Park. This Sunday, check out the webbo for details.
It always amazes me that people bother to complain if a typo appears on this page.. Y’know after five years you’d think… but in the blogsworld of the traveling foot and the jippity fingers does anyone think bloggos are proofread? Man, it‘s a wonder…
From Centuryman, “I think my only mistake of the day was rushing up & down 59th street bridge, legs paid the price later on.
I figured all I had to do was get on the other side of the bridge and it would be like that fun "Last Ten Miles"
An email from Jaime Costanza who attended one of the lectures, “Dear Toby,
I am proud to let you know that I finish my favorite marathon in the whole
wide world in 3:46:13. Remember my first email to you ? does it make sense
to start training for the marathon on Sept 22 ? Thanks for all your support
and help.” And if you think the timing was crazy then this woman ONLY decided to runthe marathon three weeks before the race! Wow! I was in the park today with Denise (#11 for the Volume) who was cheering at Mile 23 and this guy walks over in a brown trench coat and a marathon T shirt - he is wearing his finisher’s medal, just coming over to say thank you for the Lecture series because he felt he learned a lot going to them to help him get through the race -- I should have told him Feb 15th 2006 it all starts again! At the P.S. on 76th Street!
Today Lornah, The Simba, gets a celebration party in Holland for the World Champs Silver, and Paul Tergat has a brief holiday before beginning the campaign for the World Cross delegation.
Last night in a lightning, thunder and rain storm - Dan, The Commander Kevin, Kurt Le Vert (And don’t go confusing the vert with vegetables in his diet judging by a display of shall we say surplus flesh half way though the session), Shawn, and Richard killed the hills in the park. Monsieur Mileage dropped by -- The park was deserted hardly a soul in the entire 860-acres! We were laughing about comebacks; I am now in the phase one stage -- reach the lowest stage you can in running --thus when you start off anything is good, even a mile a day. Stage number two is pick a race to train for, then get a conflicting event on the same date -- done that. Now looking at stage three, set yourself an achievable goal -- To weigh less than two times Tegla Loroupe before Xmas.
Good luck to Kyomi who leaves for the Tokyo Invitational Marathon!
Runner‘s World Stories 2005
Anne Kugler --
Lornah Simba Kiplagat --
Lyubov Denisova --
Past Winners --
Derartu Tulu --
Paul Tergat --
Matt Downin --
Panel Of Experts --
Call of the Kiplagat --
Hailu Negussie --
Int’L Friendship Run & Noguchi --
Women’s Race -- Locals Story
11/09
Mizuki & Kyomi (pictures album below updated)
Goodbye to Starbucks, Simba, and Crazy Kibet of course took place in Starbucks -- They just made the plane. The bus was late, in fact so late that a taxi had to be pulled over, plus they had so much luggage it had to be a van cab… scary, but Starbucks texted in a message that they just got there.
Ethiopia’s team for the International Chiba Ekiden is a winner on paper --
MEN
Gebregziabher Gebremariam
Abebe Dinkessa
Markos Genetti
Tariku Bekele
Solomon Tsege
Ali Abdosh
Gebo Burka WOMEN - include two young stars --
Meselech Melkamu 2004 World Junior Cross champion, Gelete Burkacurrent World Junior Cross champion…
Paula withdraws officially from the Seven Hills today -- we knew that already from Liz Yelling in NYC, but the official news came out today - Adere, Crazy Kibet, and Rose Cheruiyot will race each other instead… Will Paula make the Ekiden? Hm, Catherine Ndereba will be there.
London confirms Tergat vs Ramaala vs Gebrselassie for 2006 -- early early as yet, no doubt many other big stars to be named, but the women’s field already has six very big names.
In the mail bag from Eric, “Thanks for the great coaching down at the Dark Park... I had never done speed work before joining your Wednesday group this past summer, and all the time, effort and training sure paid off. I finished Sunday with a 3:32:22, which is a PR of over 25 min. Quite satisfied with it for my second
marathon.
News from Urban in London -- "Liverpool Lucas" Dave has arrived in London and just lives in front of Regent's Park, mini Central Park! Will try to arrange Hyde Park route at some stage. He has committed to Boston.”Congrats to all the team of Urbanoso’s In NYC -- Annie Kugler 2:43:16
Paul Curtis 2:49:53
Daniel Campos 2:55:07
Christopher Stewart 2:58:34
Urban Bettag 2:59:12
Adam Mulia 2:59:56
Christian Collins 3:01:19
Ron W Romano 3:05:40
Shawn Williams 3:07:34
Ethan Zlotchew 3:15:53
Kieran R. Hooks 3:20:29
Larry A Glazer 3:24:24
Paul Kavanagh 3:24:26
Kavan Greene 3:25:15
Bob Alderson 3:28:11
Dave Goodwin 3:36:00
Robin Madell 3:40:59
Paul M Cannella 3:42:00
Christine Janssen 3:48:06
Jonathan Bohrer 3:57:39
Monica Saavedra 4:02:53
Amelia T Torode 4:06:27
Karen McIntyre 4:11:12
Lee Shufro 4:18:59
Toni Curtis 4:37:05
Henry Roman 4:44:16
Christine E Summerson 4:47:19
David Pultz 4:56:48
Larry J Yee 5:03:46
Thomas Cheslik 5:25:41 -- and all others too that run with us. A question from Chubby -- who had the large positive split? Was it OzPaul? The one person we thought would go out conservatively did not -- Ozpaul opened with a 1:13, pretty much the same time he ran at Grete‘s for a half on a day with no humidity! Paul Tergat opened with a 64 - and that from a 59-guy. Tulu opened with a 1:13, and three weeks ago she ran 1:07... Go figure, as Leonard Cohen says, “My hair is gray.”
I have four new training partners - super cool! I have to get fit now as I promised the Simba I will train with her in December… When I used to train in Kenya a decade ago we used to run through the N’gong jungle and the incentive to stay with the pack was the leopards…. I don’t think there are any leopards in Iten, but I can imagine there are. I have promised Crazy Kibet that I am going to cook for her village -- bring it on! I am packing my big ugali stirring spoon!
Glad to say I heard from Michelle Bleakley who is settling in to Life in Oz-land, doing great and soon to race again we hear-- she‘s going to do the Zatopek Track Classic 10,000m.. Speaking of which, fast, I bumped into Lete last night who had an atypical race in NY on Sunday due to a hamstring problem poor thing -- I hate to see runner’s limp…And finally I got to an Achilles Track Club post (post) party at Go Fish -- Yvonne, who won the Avis Award was there, Hakan showing off his new fiancee from Turkey, Nell from Australia with her team…. Ken and Danny, and coach Jimmy…
A letter from Trackman Dave, “Greetings to all my friends in Urban Athletics and Wed. track nite,
“Some of you already know about the two year + legal battle that Elizabeth and I and all our neighbors have been waging in our fight against eviction. In order to continue, we're having a benefit screening of the very powerful, Academy Award winning documentary "Harlan County, USA." (See below for details) You may have read about our building in a long article by Dennis Hevesi in the Real Estate section of the Sunday New York Times on June 25th.("Everybody Out?") We're still very optimistic about our prospects of winning this battle, which we strongly feel is not only for ourselves, but for the future of affordable housing throughout New York City.
We cordially invite you to this important event, which takes place on Saturday, November 12 at 4:00 PM at the Two Boots Pioneer Cinema, 155 East 3rd St., (Between Aves. A & B) Hope to see you there!
Dave Pultz
elizabethdavid.nyc@att.net
P.S. If you can't make the screening but would like to send in a donation, please make your check out to "47 East 3rd St. Tenants' Association" and mail it to Dave Pultz at 47 East 3rd St., Apt. 2, New York, NY 10003Details --
HARLAN COUNTY USA
Screening to benefit the Legal Defense Fund for the 47 East Third St. Tenants’ Association.
East Village tenants at 47 East Third St. have been waging a legal battle against mass eviction for the past two years against a landlord who claims to want to turn their 15 unit apartment building into a mansion for himself. The landlord is using a loophole under the rent stabilization law for "owner use" in an attempt to empty out the entire building. The tenants believe this move is a scam and an illegal assault on affordable housing in New York City. The tenants have so far shouldered the legal costs almost entirely themselves. This screening is in support of their struggle to keep their homes.
“Winner of the 1977 Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary, this film chronicles the bitter and violent struggle waged by coal miners during a strike in 1973 in Eastern Kentucky against the Eastover Mining Company. The story focuses on the miners and their families’ fight for decent living standards in an area where many still live in shacks with no indoor plumbing and work at jobs with little security and dangerous conditions. The film was named by Congress to the National Film Registry, designating it an American Film Classic. Directed by Barbara Kopple. 1976. Color. 103 min.
Harlan County, USA
Saturday, November 12 @ 4 PM
TWO BOOTS PIONEER CINEMA
155 EAST 3rd St. (Between Aves. A&B)
Donation at the door $10.00.” So there you go, and I hope You go!
11/08
"Don't take a picture with that yellow drink in there!" The Simba.
"Why not? I will tell people it was not a martini but a candle!" Tha papazzi.Wrapping up a tremendous week - The New York Photo Album.
updated --
“I knocked 18 minutes off my PR.!” Adam nearly catching his nemesis, Alexander ran superb - 50-mins off her PR, Amelia said she started too fast, and met the wall -- nice to see her flying over from Britannia for the greatest street race. Danny dollar man - shooting for 2:35 landing in at just sub three -- must’ve had a rough ride, no story to date though Chubby tells me he was sprinting at the finish(!) Ozpaul - 1:13 half?? Opto Oz! Finished near Danny.
Kool kudos -- “I did it.” Patricia aka Mrs. Mulia… From Paul C. “I feel great. I finished in 3:42 (goal was 3:40)… Anil, “I did some 12-minute miles, and that’s when my sister passed me, I had a 30-minute lead on her a bit earlier in the race.”I met Abdi at the post race party when he came up to me to say something, he then asked, “Did you run the race?” I said no, he said, “That’s okay -- because without running fans like you out there cheering there would be no race…” Although I was not exactly ’out there’ I am a huge fan of the race.. And can’t wait till 2006.. Although I hope it takes its time getting here!
JoongAng Seoul Marathon, Seoul, Korea -
1 William Kiplagat KEN 2:08:27
2 Asfaws Gashaw Melese ETH 2:09:31
3 James Rotich KEN 2:11:57
4 Pavel Loskutov EST 2:12:12
5 Wilson Onsare KEN 2:13:12
6 Rodgers Rop KEN 2:13:25 & 1 Kwon Geun-Young KOR 2:49:09
Last night it was out at Rue 57 on, yep 57th ST -- With Crazy Kibet drinking Martini Mango concoctions, Simba & Starbucks on the red wine (“but don’t be putting that on the web site” said the Simba, “AS I am not drinking much”), and some friends of theirs from Holland & South Korea Kuen, Vincente, & Peter -- a very nice evening. Prior to which I had wanted to get to both the Achilles TC post marathon party and the NYRR thing on Amsterdam, but in fact I made neither as Stephane Diagana was in town and I needed to meet up with him -- the 400m H world champion in 1997... A very nice guy who lives in East Paris. It had been a bisu (the new way to spell busy) day, in fact week -- imagine, they will think I croaked at the gym as I have not be able to get there in an age!But back to 57 -- The Simba was telling me she has a guitar in Iten, and she promised to dance on the street if I play the guitar, so if Starbucks goes round with a cup and Crazy Kibet smiles we might make a few shillings! Epo Berk & I made 320 last time, in twenty minutes!
Anyway befpre that I had to do something at a bookstore and whilst I was there a lady was giving a reading about a book she’d just written about Gram Parsons, “Gram’s father shot himself in the head with a…” I heard in the background as the author was reading to the granola club, albeit without the crunch…
Well at this point I was so tired when wandering out I nearly got hit by a car -- and it was 100% my own fault as I was sleeping walking across an avenue, not to be advised… But earlier that day, going down Cat Hill trying to get to a press conference with the winners my brake on my bike became dismantled -- not so much fun going down a hill trying to fix the one good brake I had before I (literally) hit the bottom! AS luck would have it it was a good job as at the bottom of the hill was Zoe still going a day later on the marathon course with the Guardian Angels -- It was the second time I nearly bowled into her.
The first was the year when I first came to NYC and was running with Krafty Krebs and we were dodging the de-construction of the finishing line on Monday noon as she was trying to get under it….
Anyway prior to all that I was checking out the Spira Shoes for a thing for Metrosports -- they have a spring in them, they’ve been banned, and now have a $1-million challenge…more on that ltare -- because a better plug for Mizuno -- in the middle of the day I met Mr Mizuno, the founder’s, grandson - Mr Hidatu Mizuno who is briefly in town (who is not!) Glad to say so where a tray of petit pains au chocolats, my weakness on the diet front -- and don’t ask me how many pounds I have gone up this week -- yuck! Bring back the mighty carrot.
Congrats not only to the pictured winners, but to everyone who had the courage to make the trip to Staten Island yesterday!
Paul is already talking about London, and when asked about this time next year he says, "one race at a time.. what I am hungry for now is winning, I need more wins..." The Prop is also looking to Loondon and a head to head with Paula... The Simba, who has had two training runs since finishing the marathon is of course hungry to and is still a winner in our books, she of course as very disappointed with tenth place.
11/07
Of course more marathon news to come, including many pics, but for the next few hours….. As Leonard Cohen would say, “When they said….” Hey Ramaala 4;17 on First Avenue? The greatest Avenue in the world -- wow! I loved the post race quote, “I did not know whether I fell or dived, all I knew is that I had nothing in me so I could not remember what was going on.” And Tergat, “I went deep, I went really deep.” At the post race celebrations you could see the respect each other had for their race.
The amazing Ed Whitlock, WR 70+ sub-3 marathoner.
The fabulous Deena
The Khannouch!
Lauren Williams & Justin Gaitlin
The Runner’s World party was great -- you get to see everyone there in a short space. John Bicourt was there, and whilst I was standing there somebody says, “So you don’t have any athletes any more right?” John answers, “Ah, I’ve got this guy Ramaala at the race…”
Lisa Buster was there talking to David Bedford, and Lisa’s sister was fixing up an appointment for a massage therapist for John Bicourt. All the RW team from England were there - I saw Nick Troop who has been with the magazine since at least 1990 when I met him at a race in Europe. Khalid Khannouchi was of course there, just by the door which of course delayed everyone’s exit as tons of people wanted to say Hi -- he was saying at Chicago he wanted more minutes, not on his running times but on hic commentating, and also that he has kept his weight down despite not running -- He said, “Do you think I don’t like Sandra’s cooking?” I told him it was more like Ramadam to thank.
Grete Waitz was there getting her award, Simba was giving one, as was Deena who said her marathon choice for the spring is down to two -- I would name them but just in case I am not allowed, let’s just say whichever she chooses will be a fab race. I did not talk to but Lauren Williams & Justin Gaitlin were there - Justin saying, “I’d like to thank my fans (pause) and my critics too for what they said, so I could prove to them…” Ed Whitlock telling, “I don’t eat any supplements, I don’t have a manager, I shuffle along…” -- what an amazing guy, and in fact as he came off the stage Frank Shorter rushed up to him and said, “You’re my hero!”
Running in Central Park this morning and listening to Earth, Wind, and Fire at Volume 11.. this Kenyan guy runs up next to me. I look across, and ther is something familiar about him. I look forward and run on , and he looks across again... then I recognize him, "Solomon? Bush man?"
"Yes it I Solomon, I recognised you from behind." I was shocked, because I did not even know he was running on Sunday - but indeed the Bushman is! Listening to the last few days I am not sure he'll be running at anything more than 80%, but this guy is a talent and a half -- World Junior medals, Very fast Half times, placings at some major races -- watch out for Solomon Busendich, or the Bush man as we used to call him.
11/04
A crazy day -- in the morning it was press pizzeria’s with the Americano’s met with Local, and indeed National, star Matt Downin.. Caught up with Fred Treseler, the Boston man, Alan Culpepper was in town, as was Abdi, Meb, and all the rest. David Bedford doing the negotiations, and signing up of some big names for London ‘06. Ray Razor Flynn was there too -- the 3:49 miler and Eamonn King of the Boards 3:49-too too!
I met Lisa Buster coming in to town -- always nice to see her, and she was bringing in John Kagwe and another runner. Nearly all the athletes are here now who will be running.
The afternoon I was part of the All Star New York Marathon Advisory clinic, I was sitting with Steve Jones and that was a laugh - a most entertaining guy (English humor). Dr. Maharam was heading the show (And yes he was mis-quoted in the NY Times recently! The Penguin chappie was the MC -- the most informed guy was In the audience, “I was the Doctor at the 1992 Barce’ Olympics.” So John next to me asks, “Doc, how many positive drug tests did you discover?” There you go. Steve was talking about the days he set the record for the marathon - interesting stuff
This weekend why not Run the Manhattan XC up at VCP - details here on the $$ & event.
Wow the expo was a buzz. We saw Rice n Beans, Chubby and Costanza working hard at the expo - “I dropped nine pounds with that plague!” Yelled out Chubby.
In the evening it was the Flyers Pasta night at a restaurant in mid town -- my night was made all the more pleasant by having such nice table guests. So I did my carbo loading anyway!
Abdi in a quizzical mode
Ray Flynn and Alan Culpepper
The Penguin, Dr. Maharam, Jenny from Chicago (best selling running author), and Steve Jones -- a side shot of our panel.
11/03
Click for Anne Kugler story
Click for Susan Chepkemei
Luba Denisova story
Lornah story
Click here for the FIVE pages long -- The Full Tergat Story. Or the Odyssey as I called it. Watch out later this year as Paul and I begin a project that is flippin’ ace, a winner! We first talked vaguely about ’it’ in 1995, but it is shaping into something much better now!
Thanks Michael, a nice letter, “Dear Toby,
We have not met, but I write to applaud your article on Paul Tergat. I
agree that his ideals and accomplishments are inspiring in and of
themselves, but your writing in that article embraces the positive
world-view that Mr. Tergat espouses and tells the reader : "We might not
run a marathon faster than Tergat, but we can all strive to do our best
in whatever we attempt and MUST also contribute in a concrete way to
humanity." Asante sana for an amazing article about an amazing man.
“For me, whether I attain my 3:50 goal or not on Sunday, I'll always be
able to say I ran my first marathon with Paul Tergat and that, like
Paul, I am committed to making the world a better place.
Best Regards,
michael rooney.”
Dear Michael,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write that email to me; the article was a gamble as it is much longer than the assigned wordspace usually given, but I feel he is such an inspiration-- as people like yourself -- making this world a great place to be in through our shared passion of running!
The very best of luck to you! Toby
From Kyomi,
“P.S.... The bonus news from today's long run in the park is that I saw Mr.
Igarashi, a Japanese elite runner, and Italian runner, Genovese, the winner
of 2004 Tokyo! Let's see who I will see tomorrow in the park.”Tergat, Chepkemei, Simba, Hilda, and Starbucks - all running in the park together--though not together(!) Simba, “Starbucks had a sweat we ran him so hard.” Starbucks, “What Simba did not know was I had a double expresso a minute before we set off, I was burning.” What Hilda said, “Can you believe these two that I have to train with, one day he‘s my manager and she‘s my cousin, the next I am the cook for the family,” whilst stirring a pot of Ugali…. And Starbucks answered, “Hey your job is to run and get the coffee, I never said anything about cooking!” To which the Simba said, “Food, is there fiid I am always hungry -- all the time.” To which Starbucks said, “yeah I heard last night when you woke me to make pancake at 03:00-am, to which Hilda said, “Hey, you had pancakes and did not call me?” And so it went on.
OzPaul, "Jesus Toby, can you not put a picture of this girl Lornah on your website? I mean…” Yep, this is the Lornah Kiplagat unofficial bandit fan club! He's joking -- he loves her like the whole of NYC! Okay, a change -- here‘s the Simba‘s Cousin;
Coming on the next pic….
My dream to be a paparazzi press man is taking a nose dive-- yesterday I forgot my camera, then today I was sitting down waiting for Lornah to finish talking to Kathrine Switzer, whilst chatting with Hilda, and up walks Paul Tergat -- “Hey man, we were supposed to meet, you never left your phone number!”
The truth it was As I got nattering to his wife, Monica, and forgot about leaving such things… talk about a blunder!
Well I did get the insight on the mystery Lel story, did hear the plans for the big names -- who is going to which Spring marathons etc etc, but until I become a successful paparazzi…
Really nice night at the store tonight -- seeing every one ready for the big race -- and old faces like Amelia in from Britain coming in… Trackman Dave uptown from 3rd ST, OzPaul & Toni, Danny the Dollarman looking ready, Anil with a Hernia, “My club thinks I‘m quitting at mile 16-- that‘s where our post race party is…” Randi looking ready. Anne G with smiles, and Michelle flying round but running the M. Rich doing his tempo, Stan, on nerves, Carrie set for CA, Ivan “I was way off pace today, should I be nervous?” Lynn silent, Yuen as ready as she can be. Paul C, Paola and Mike, Parks -- the troops! Tracey and Mary -wow, memories over the sessions….Jonathan, Eric, man it was like a going to war night! I felt a part of me was dying when each runner left the store for the night. I mean Luiz -- I was there with him last year on 5th Ave, before he blew me away, feels strange this year not to going with the troops -- My fingers are tightly crossed!
11/02
Guess who is town, “Please warn Starbucks, we are on the way !!“ Mr. Starbucks, “I was there already at 7 this morning, really needed one, I only take, like you, the regulars and not the "bad stuff" anymore.” Pleased to hear it, we were talking the calories the other month and how some of the Starbucks drinks have more cals than a Russian breakfast with caviar.
I can not tell you how nice it was yesterday to go into the Press room and see Paul Tergat again after all these years. I have been his fan for so long now -- check out the story on RW EST time noon. I hope it will reflect some of that, to portray a 100th of what a man he is is impossible. In an uncanny way he has many of the attributes that Paula Radcliffe has. Paul, in 1995 before fame & fortune, was himself, and that has been true from every moment -- a genuine guy. He proves himself over and over with the little things he says and remembers
The ceremonial completion of the painting of the ING New York City Marathon blue line, which traces the 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs will take place today outside the Tav.
From Chrisy inBoston, “I lectured today & ended with a feature of your Shoe4Africa program. My students seemed really excited about it and we described how your work is a model for creating NGOs which serve many worthy purposes!” Thanks Chrisy!
What is the “Bikini Bottom Track Club,”?? Go to the expo and find out with Bob Squarepants.
Such a night, what a day -- Central Park was a buzz, great weather and everyone out there, everyone -- even people from Australia! Simba, Starbucks, and Hilda Kibet are all in fine spirits, so with Rapido we went out to eat in midtown (on Pap. Photos - I forgot my camera)-- Three zippy women -- all I know will fly on Sunday, and two lazy gypsy’s who’ll have the coffee ready on the finishing line.
11/01
November already! -- The New York Marathon Press Week begins -- so keep checking the site for great stories, news and updates… their site that is. For instance this week - Yesterday and till Noon there is Jen Rhines, Today at noon there is The Simba…
All the athletes are arriving now -- so your celeb spotting on the Bridal Path will increase.. Well the Russians use the roads… Starbucks, who ran today is arriving and he‘s recognizable because he always runs in the direction of a starbucks coffee shop.
“A white suit belonging to John Lennon that he wore on the album cover of "Abbey Road" sold for $118,000 at an auction, while the Austin Princess he drove in the movie "Imagine" went for $150,000.” Gosh, I mean what can you do with the white suit? Charge admission for people to see it and hope for 118.000 visitors?
“He started to feel the pain about three weeks ago, and in the last 10 days the pain became stronger and stronger, but today he went for training and the situation looks better,'' Lel's manager, Federico Rosa, says of the U-turn decision; Lel’s back in, could this be a ruse? If Lel is there after mile 24 then watch out.
At the Duke City Half in Albo’ --Simon ’Sigutz’ Gutierrez, 39, Alamosa, CO, 1;10:02 and Maria Portilla, 33, PER, 1:20:13 were the winners with
Joseph Grindstaff, 27, of neighboring Los Alamos, NM, 2:40:19 and Susan Brozik, 38, Albuquerque, NM, 2:55:46 won the big haul.
Anyone who signs up for UATH at races please do not do so if you have ran for another club within the last 90-days. We are experiencing the oddity of having people sign up for the club without knowing who they are -- One for the spaghetti plate me thinks. Bang a Gong as the trexsters sung.
On the Urban news - on our group emailer we recieved, “ah the last-minute pre-marathon spaz attacks...don't miss that.
thanks for the coffee, by the way.” So not understanding the message I replied to the sender and asked what was meant, to get the reply, “whaaaa??? p.s. unless you're six, halloween is just annoying.” What to make of that I don’t know, but if somebody was giving out coffee why was I not informed? But anyway it was Halloween here last night, another excuse for people to buy candy -- reminds me of SaladGirl at Halloween, She bought tons of candies and hated kids, she said she had a greedy ginger cat, but I didn’t believe it. Hey Rodney’s website is cool! Like the guy himself -- the best clipper from Oz. I was thinking of getting my head clipped so I was checking out the address (maybe I could go with a curl reducer)-- must get round to giving him a ring, and for how many years have I been saying that? Well I think since Thanksgiving 2000 when we were coming back from a race in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park and I had eaten too may bagels before going to a thanksgiving party up on 135th St in Harlem with a family who ate like a blender going through a lettuce head.
Emailing Monsieur Mileage, “Hey I am getting back in form -- I passed somebody in a local club singlet today and he tried to speed up to hold me off ha ha, I think we broke a 7-minute mile..”
To which Monsieur replied, “not bad, I could hardly pass an overweight guy the other day on the reservoir…” To which I admitted to the Monsieur, “That was me!”
Well next year we are going to form the Omelet Athletic Club, an upgrade from the Fat Tuesday‘s. I‘m feeling inspired, I read an article called ‘Three Weeks to your best ever body‘ in Shape magazine -- I‘ll be on the plan after the marathon has finished that is.
10/31
Lornah's victory in Holland this year 10 km Dutch National Championship in
her own village of Groet, and the Simba and (see below next pic) Mr. Cees Pronk after the race in the press conference.
“Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts and the directors of the Falmouth Road Race have announced that SBLI will not return as the presenting sponsor of the 2006 Falmouth Road Race.” If I was a large corporation I think this would be a great event to take over…. Anyone who has ever been to the race, and it sells out every single year months before he day, would see this as a great marketing gain…I be;lieve they are accepting offers now.
In the park on Saturday Morning talking to some of the Achilles’ athletes who will be running next week, then Stan came by revved up for the event too, and along came Stef - our Ultra Hero back from the Kalahari with blisters the size of the state of Kansas, “I’ve deferred from NY…” phew, though she is off to run another Ultra soon in either the Dominican or Costa Rica. Then came along my friend from Madrid, Hela. It was the morning that preceded the clocks turning but brought the winter cold traveling in to the city. Loadsa people running the last miles of the marathon course - for once the clockwise killed the counterclockwisers. Saw Mike Frankfurt, the Mayor of VCP, returning from a run and a huge number of Queens club runners. This week starts a great time in Central Park, marathon fever brings out the best in everyone.
In mid town the other day, or what I call Downtown, I had arranged to meet my friend Chris from Europe and like all good tourists we had St. Patrick’s steps as the meeting place.. Well I should add that he is a teacher and was traveling with a group of Catholic girls from a private school. So I am standing there and I soon became Mr. Yes I can -- give directions, take photos of you standing in front of the church… I don’t actually go in churches very much myself but in a way I wondered if this was ‘good enough…’ if I was scoring points by doing all these helpful things… you never, never know -- One thing I did notice is that it is mostly women who go in the building (is that something to do with Yoga?) and as far as the tourists go mostly it was Italians… well that could be that the Versace store is on the next block….
The IAAF’s request to add the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase to the program of the Olympic Games already in Beijing 2008, has been accepted.
Mizuki Noguchi, the 2004 Olympic marathon gold medallist & recent Berlin Winner in a new Asian record, one of only six women to run a marathon in under 2:20, has been named the 2005 Abebe Bikila Award winner by the NYRR.
Race field --
Martin Lel - dropping like flies! He was my fave.. Okay, alright I have to shift my pfennings to another, and it is Hailu N.
So I went out with the Russian Rocket the other night, “Tob, don’t tell anyone about this restaurant on your web site, I don’t want anyone coming here.” Ha ha as if it would make a difference! So I ask, ‘What is the restaurant called anyway?’
“Don’t know Tob.”
That good huh? Actually it was a very nice place. Only Japanese people which is usually an excellent sign of getting authentic food. The Rocket somehow succeeded in getting all the waitresses and the Chef to come to our table every five minutes the entire evening to do shots of Saki with him… and some other drink with cranberries and something that the Chef preferred. The Rocket left the establishment in a near horizontal fashion but that‘s another story that won‘t be told. 
Sad news --
“World women 3000m-steeplechase champion Dorcus Inzikuru was on Tuesday injured in a motor accident in her Arua home town. She is admitted to Kuluva Hospital with a soft neck.”
Congrats to Anne K who has TWO times in the USA top eight best times of the year for the Half Marathon!
I must say I don’t like their new Dunkin Donuts ‘Try something different’ commercial, boring, “That’s something different for you Sir..” Well that’s going to be a catch phrase right? Not… Anyway, was reading my fave magazine at the gym, W, (ha W @ the Y) and I saw Uma Thurman is now a model for the watch Tag Heuer, The caption runs, ‘Uma and her Tag.’ Well it should be Uma and her airbrush.
We hear from EPO-Berk, still shaking a leg and back from his hols with Shirl the Pearl, “Just back from Oz myself, 3 weeks surfing on Manley Beach. Dylan (his baby son) is almost one & trying to write lyrics. And Bobby 2 is on the way ... life goes on & on.”
Eldoret 10k road race A 10km on dirt roads, in heat, and at altitude -
Men
1. Barnabas Kosgei 31:56, (#3 in WJXC)
2. Nathan Naibei 31:58
3. Salem Jamal 32:17 Women
1. Rose Cheruiyot 37:21 (the legend is back! Second from the right on the shoe4africa poster)
2. Ednah Kiplagat 37:23
3. Rita Cheptoo 38:08 (as They say in Kenya, ‘You’ve never raced, unless you raced in Kenya’).
Meru 12km, also in Kenya --
1. John Korir (33:01)
2. Edwin Koech (34:12)
3. Fares Irungu (34:25)
8km
1. Magdaline Syombua (26:08)
2. Naomi Mugo (26:23) (And if you scroll down the page to the Shoe4Africa poster you’ll see Naomi Mugo on the bottom row, third from right -- another legend).
3. Emma Muthoni (26:41)
At Frankfurt Marathon -- 1 Alevtina BIKTIMIROVA RUS 2:25:12
2 Marleen RENDERS BEL 2:26:26
3 Tola ROBA ETH 2:29:30 & the men, top three High Altitude Training Centre!! - 1 Wilfred KIGEN KEN 2:08:29 (HATC)
2 Jason MBOTE KEN 2:08:30 (HATC)
3 Wilson KIGEN KEN 2:08:34 (HATC) And brother to Wilfred,…. #5 Leonid SHVETSOV RUS 2:10:05 (another fine result by Leonid, he has a huge number of Sub 2:15‘s)... #8 Matthew BIRIR KEN 2:12:41 Olmpic Champ of 1992 Steeple fame.
At the Poland Springs race; Congrats to Gareth Turnbull 26 NY 24:39 and Anne Kugler 37 UATH NY 27:31 (*Nearly THREE minutes ahead of #2*)- overall winners. Although it says NY I can tell you that Gareth is not an American at all, he’s a Belfast Runner I think.
Congrats to Urbanites --
PEREZ JACOBO KUGLER ’rápido estupendo’ ANNE MACARI JERRY R MULIA ADAM % COLLINS CHRISTIAN ROMANO RON QUINTANILLA MANUEL ZLOTCHEW ETHAN KAVANAGH PAUL DARCY DAVID MARGULIES DENISE LABINER NANCY PULTZ DAVID CORAN RANDI B CHESLIK THOMAS MADELL ROBIN SUMMERSON CHRISTINE E CHIN DENNY YOUNG SHAWN
Some awesome age group results, led by a stunning Vinyl Jim immediately making his mark as he enters a new age group --
Jim Stemm 45 WS NY 27:20 Alfonso Polania 43 WSX NY 26:44 Paul Mascali 53 Sidney Howard 66 CPTC NJ 34:26
NYAC NY 28:18 Witold Bialokur 70 WIT NY 34:15 2 George Hirsch 71 CPTC NY 38:06 William Fortune 77 MILL NY 43:48 And the top three from the women’s 40-44 1 Stephanie Hodge 40 NYH NY 30:40 2 Lilian Kroner 40 WSX NY 31:31 3 Kyomi Parente 43 NY 32:58. (“I made my PR for my 5 mile race! 32:49, and my pace was 6:33MM. Toby, I had never made the pace of 6:33 before... EVEN IN A 5K RACE.”) - Well done!! And from Adam, “2 minute PR! Feel great. Thanks for the encouragement to go for it! -Adam.” And from Rick, (I told him he had to run a PR), “As per your schedule I ran a pr today at 30:36, which is 1:54 ahead of my previous pr.” - Simple as that, well done! Denise M too hit a PR - thanks for the nice answering machine message, I never knew the tape recorded past three minutes!
It was inspiring to watch every one fly by - Matt Downin looked like he was out for a jog in the park just three seconds back at three miles to the overall winner -- I am sure he‘ll be a 2:14 on Sunday, and in third Orest Babyak of Warren St & Felipe Garcia both flying along….
When I saw the Chubster coming along I saw death in his eyes, like he was hanging from a cliff, then I saw rápido estupendo on his shoulder! I should not mention it but I did overhear the Chubbs saying this was not going to happen -- well I did warn him it was going to happen whether he wanted it to or not, and it did…. Not that Rápido has Chubbs on her hit list when she passed him after mile three….
I was flippin’ pancakes and wondering if they have any pancake races here in the States -- it may be a chance for me! I remember many years ago when I was at this race in Sweden they asked all the invited athletes to take part in a waiter race -- you had to run with a tray and a glass of water… my partner was Ake Eriksson, who is not only a really nice guy but super fast -- he won Chicago Marathon one year, and ran 2:10 there another time…. So I was sure we were going to win -- but Ake spilled too much water and we got disqualified! Strange actually because a few years later I was in Albuquerque with Ake and we were again on the same team in a Bar on Central, except this time the competition had something to do with swallowing the liquid -- let me tell you Team Sweden rocked on that day.
**********The Race of January 2006 -- 100% Free**********
10/30
10/28
Some captions don’t need words, but as you can tell The Simba and Hilda are stupendously hard at work, getting ready to rock in the city of New York.Wanna meet the Simba -- Get to the Expo on Friday, at 11-AM at the Orange ING booth.
Thanks to George H. from England who sent me some mail that arrived at the Store the other day all the way from Sunderland -- nice magazine your club has for its 100th anniversary, super impressed and glad to hear you are thinking of sending over some runners for the NYRR races in the park! Please tell them they can use the store as a training locale when they come. Brian Rushworth was a star, I remember, and from reading I am glad to see that he is still racing strong too.
Starbucks yesterday, “Had a great run today, only 45' but it felt great again! Guess I was ‘overtrained!’” And he did an hour today! Just to beat me -- though I can claim I did pass one runner on the reservoir, albeit they had stopped at a bench, but that feeling of moving… mind you I only ran twice round the rez so I am not claiming any mileage records yet.
Speaking ING I went to the Mayor’s house last night -- saw Stephen & Toby from ING, nice guys. And I always like greeting & meeting a fellow Toby -- as we‘re a rare breed. Kind‘ve like a joke name… a good name for a Mutt… All the NYRR folks/guys, and Mayor Dinkins, and it was good to see Henry Stern again -- after seeing him every week in the parks with Boomer from 2000 to 2002... anyway then I zipped up to coach with the Madison Mob because I wanted to be there for one of the last sessions… carrie off to the Big Sur, Alex seeing Dr. Dan and improving in leaps and bounds, Todd hanging with Chris inthe woirkout, Ivan pushing on, Chubby now slimster, and Rice n Beans remembering the locals -- saw some awesome results from CPTC in Chicago that I missed... what else -- Toni, and Kathy, and Lynn moving well... cold night, God help us in November! Freeze.com.
Sad to see Margaret Okayo will not start the marathon this year. Because of a long-standing tendon injury.
Damn, I missed the UPS guy today because I was listening to Dylan at volume eleven. Nothing worse than waiting for a delivery and realizing you were in when they called!
The United States Olympic Committee is ordered to return to the IOC the medal and diploma awarded to Mr Young for the 4x400 men's relay event. Sydney Olympics - luckily the other members of the squad can keep their medals.
10/26
A good, good friend of mine is over from Europe this week -- who I have known since I was a teenager. He can’t believe what awful luck he has had with the weather, this week has been nothing less than terrible! This morning with a ¾-inch more rainfall needed we were on course to break a 124-year old rainfall record!
Six Doctors -- a lesson in perseverance, she should have gone to Doctor Dan first! ‘The surgery was done at Schenk’s clinic in Schrums…’
Met Anil who has his hair clipped, “I have a wedding to go to Saturday.” That’ll do it!
From the NYRR, “Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff! Please note that this five-mile race is now starting at 8:55 a.m. from Central Park’s West Drive at 69th Street, north of Tavern on the Green. Don’t forget to set your clock back one hour the night before this race, as standard time resumes on race morning.” Wow, how soon the year flips huh.
Selling well are albino aka Ghost pumpkins, Snowballs, Luminas or Caspers — good for drawing on apparently, no word about the taste.
Cycling down to the track, in lane number one of second avenue. This woman pulls out from a parked position straight into my path, so I swerve round, fly into lane number two, ducking my head under a truck wing mirror and cycle on… fine. The next stop light she pumps her horn, so I turn the bike round and go up to her window. She winds it down, “You should be careful!” I’m like, “say what? What was I doing wrong -- you pulled out without looking!”
She pumps her bubblegum, looks sideways as she puts down her cellphone, “Well I didn’t see you, did I (dramatic pause to emphasize the excuse)?”
At this stage I realized we were standing on different planets. She took my silence for mixed up confusion, “Bicycles shouldn’t be allowed on the roads.”I used to argue with these people, now I just cycle on and smile. It took me a few years to reaslize in life you gain nothing by communicating with some people, and they gain nothing from talking to you -- save my breath.
Anyway my mind was preoccupied wondering whether the lights would be on, not in this woman‘s head, but on the track - niet!
the Session seemed amazingly short after some of the humzingers! So short, 3 x 1-mile, that Charlotte missed the whole enchilda! Ali was down with his friend who won Staten Island, Peter2 “Getting nervous“, Chuckychina, Anil, Kevin the Commander in cruise control, Eric, Lissy leading her group with Michelle, Cristina telling us that Vanessa is in India dodging Monsoons, Jonathan “been away for a while - Got engaged and 1,000 other things, Trackman Dave, Michelle truly flying with ease - and planning our Winter Party (Yee!), AmexLee with his Sam Mussabini‘s, Cruiser pushing on, Robin, Ozpaul hanging on to the SI runner, MasterBlaster digging out the reflective wear, Luiz faster and faster, and Shawn spotting the road accidents and offering marathon handouts.
Funny I was on the dog n bone with the Russian Rocket, then I went jogging in Central Park and who did I see but him, funny because it was a shock to see him after talking a few minutes before, almost spoky, on that note we hear from robin, “I can think you can read my mind…” actually I think that is one of my spooky gifts… but I was supposed to meet Minnesota for coffee at lunch time and she was ten minutes late, so I left,a dn she walked in, so if I had been a mind reader I would have remained seated…oh well! Meanwhile Chubbs tells us he is ready to Rock and Roll this weekend, “Back to being King of Urban!” He declares for the Poland Springs…
10/26
Happy Birthday to Chrisy up in Boston!
Christopher Toroitich wins the Guadalajara International Marathon in 2:17:16
Gotta hate those Umbrellas -- the East Side is full of people walking in every direction bar straight with a head hidden under an umbrella -- in the road, they are headed, in your path -- there too, sideways, upwards, downwards -- do people think Umbrellas are accident proof shields? Good job I was sooperdooper alert after swallowing a gallon of Expresso to niftily thread myself from one block to the next! Humming Black Diamond Bay to keep my mind off the dreary weather we are having here -- not in the mood for a run… Starbucks over in CO wasn‘t either, he gave himself the day off.
Surinam’s Letitia Vriesde, who has been based since the 80’s in the Netherlands, and has competed in seven IAAF World Championships, from Tokyo 1991, to Helsinki 2005, and a mind boggling five Olympic Games, from Seoul 1988 to Athens 2004, has announced that she will move to the Steeplechase event bringing her 800m speed to an event that is full of development right now. She has a 1:56 PR in the 800!
Concerning the dark track, from Trackman Dave, “I called 311 about the lighting. They told me to call the park office directly. I haven't had a chance to do so, but the number is 212-529-7185.
. Maybe you can call them also. I'll try later.”
This weekend - the Poland Springs 5-miler.. Always super popular with the marathoners as it traditionally kicks off the week with the force of a cannon for the marathon week… can’t believe it is here already. Great race, fab distance, and fall weather. The same morning the NY Flyers are having their last ten mile run along First Avenue to the finishing line… they then go on to a brunch nearby -- I went last year, twas nice. Last night -- with the Flyers in the park I was telling Eduardo to not race so much, and to pick his events carefully. Especially not to do every single half marathon that comes on the calendar, race better by competing less. So he says, “So how many races did you do when you came to New York?” O-kay, Bad example, 75 in 2001, slightly less in 2000, but a decade earlier I did far less and ran faster for it.--
10/25
In Nairobi, later this year, Shoe4Africa will be holding a Press Conference to which Y’all invited. Hope to see you there!
Chubbs was supposed to give me an update of what happened at the weekend race up at VCP, but being sick he did not go, “Well at least I lost a couple of more pounds, that made me happy when I was lying on the floor groaning like death in a tin can under a crushing machine.” Costanza was more focused on the upcoming chances of the Knicks this year - apparently they have a sleeper who is 6’ 10” -- My bet is that they won‘t make the play-offs this season… I am thinking Phoenix are going to have a good year…
South African 10k Champs - 1. Shadrack Hoff 28:34
2. Richard Mavuso 28:38
3. Tshamano Setone 28:39 and women - 1. Poppy Mlambo 33:48
2. Lena Lotter 33:51
3. Lebogang Phalula 34:23
Sweden’s World High Jump champion Kajsa Bergqvist of the Tureberg Athletic Club & Monaco City was named as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador earlier today - congrats, or Grattis!
Coming out of a coffee shop on Madison, just South of the NYRR on (bad coffee) I bumped into Priscilla who has the huge task on putting on a benefit at the Tavern the day or two before the Marathon, and she is also running the actual event as a guide for a Blind Runner - how nice of her. She has three hundred people and forty plus coming and is looking hard at how to fit them all in!
At the Detroit Press Marathon -
Andrey Gordeev, 32, BLR 2:14:59 & Wioletta Kryza, 37, POL 2:40:46Then up in Canada -
Nicole Stevenson, Toronto, ON 2:46:42 & Matthew McInnis, Toronto, ON 2:21:47 in the full, and ING NYC warm up for Lyubov Denisova, RUS 1:15:13, a win for Danny Kassap, Toronto, ON 1:05:36 in Toronto.
More closer to home -- IN CT, Mystic -
Alene Emere Reta, 23, ETH 2:25:5 & Abeba Tola, 28, ETH 2:46:21 winning the marathgon, also in CT the great race director Marty S’s Great Pumpkin Classic 4 Mile had Bryan Kovalsky, 26, Peekskill, NY 20:21
2. Oscar Gonzalez-Barreto, 41, New Haven, CT 20:29
3. Joe LeMay, 38, Danbury, CT 20:47 and the women - Mary Dolan Zengo, 40, Wilton, CT 23:27
2. Heather Crosby, 32, Danbury, CT 24:45
3. Helen Merkle, 38, Trumbull, CT 24:56 at the 25th anniversary run.
Great Running shot from Alison W. of Alemtsehay at Boston.
Never far from the news - Paula Radcliffe, She and Jason Gardener are named Athletes of the Year by the British Athletics Writers' Association. Quite write too.
10/24
The 2006 Flora London Marathon Sunday, April 23 will have the biggest name in the sport of marathoning - Paula.
The week’s understatement, "This is great news and a bonus for London to have Paula confirmed early," said race director David Bedford.
We had great weather for the Last Ten miles run on Sunday -- athlete of the day was Peter “The Charger’ Farago who flew like a fireball round the ten miles looking like a 5th Ave mile entrant as he stormed round the final curves. Great to see so many out there - we had a wide spread from Danny The Dollarman running a 57 tempo, to others just making the distance. All participants of the Last Ten received a voucher for a free Mizuno Winter Hat! Cool huh? Rick running strongly after a 20-miler the day before, Kyomi looking ready for Tokyo, Centuryman leading the rock, DavidP taking no prisoners, Denise racing along like a demon, and Michael completing the double - 20! Randi on track, and Robin M too - dead on pace -- all in all we had a count of over sixty people, and doubling back I think all finished - fabulous!
This is how the web site used to look in 2002 - wow I had forgotten all about this design. Just for fun.
The 6th South African Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon - Stef came in second overall (first woman). 31-hours of racing!! She rocks, awesome, I can not believe it, second overall; huge, huge congratuloso to you!
The Xinhua News Service reported today that Chinese distance star, Sun Yingjie, failed a doping test at the Chinese National Games and was stripped of the silver medal she earned in the 10,000m.
I finally went West, to visit Pierre after four years or so of saying I’d go there. Didn’t regret it either. Went West Again to visit Bay Guerlain, didn't regret that either... nice part of town.
I stopped by the store on Saturday morning on the way back from my run to get someone’s telephone number -- Costanza was in a pensive mood apart from the moment (I kid you not) he stood up and pulled his pants down in the store -- well he was showing someone that he wore basketball shorts underneath, Todd had shaven his goatee off, because Chubby had offered him $100 to do so(!) I advised him to re-grow for another $100. The guy has a crew cut and Chubby has offered him $250 to shave his head… I’d go for it, in fact when Chubbs rolled in, in his jeans and casual look, I asked him how much he’d pay me to shave my head -- I only got $80... I am considering it! Danny the Dollarman comes in -- he was testing the Nike measuring watch for accuracy, “Well it is only about 90-seconds per mile out from what I was doing…” that‘s about 25% inaccurate, not bad in Athletics… On that point Anil asks, ‘When is the great-debate predictions for the marathon coming?” Soon. Prediction Number One -- Chubby will be drunk by 10-AM… no kidding, we mean the runners!
We heard the amazing achievements of Adrian Broca, a blind athlete, at the Long Beach Marathon. “Although I did not reach my ambitious goal for
Sunday's race, I‘m definitely happy and grateful for
many things. First, yesterday's result of 3:05:08 was
my best time this year. Second, I was blessed with
excellent guiding assistance every step of the way.
Running with Philip, Marty, Rich, Martin, and Eric
made me feel as if I were fully-sighted once again and
capable of achieving anything. Lastly, this marathon
was another learning opportunity which motivates me to
work on my weaknesses and to do even better next time.” Wow, what an incredible athlete!! Well Done to Adrian, and nice one Martin Muoto for helping him! Martin is a good guy on the local circuit -- I did actually coach him for a while, and he also gave me a bundle of stuff for Shoe4Africa. Last seen at the Paper Express café in midtown.
Listening to a great CD from Pierre, it is called Jazz for a Rainy Afternoon -- one of those misty drifty CD’s that send you on a soft woolen Angola ride into the never nevers. Speaking Jazz, another style - Shirley Horn died this past weekend… 71.
Here’s a lesson in how to speak Irish, or Oirish as EPO-Berk calls it,
‘Colcannon: Mashed potatoes, cabbage or kale & butter, served at Halloween’.
"It is a poisoned record, a false benchmark," Frau Geipel. Simon Turnbull writes a great story in the independent on the East German doping sagas. However I think it unrealistic to presume that every single record run was drug enhanced too. However Mrs. Geipel’s tongue speaks, rightly, for itself.
Cool map of the New York City Marathon course taken from Jesse’s site. I liked the hybrid version to zoom in to where I live.
Venice Marathon 1. Mubarak Hassan Shami, Qatar, 2:09:22
2. Paul Lokira, Kenya, 2:10:18
3. Francesco Ingargiola, Italy, 2:10:25
Women:
1. Emily Kimuria, Kenya, 2:28:42
2. Leila Aman, Ethiopia, 2:31:10
3. Helena Javornik, Slovenia, 2:32:13
At the Nairobi Marathon - Samson Barmao, 23, won in a new CR of 2:12:15, Ben Kimondiu was second in 2:12:38, followed by Chelimo Kemboi, who clocked 2:13:40.In the women‘s race -
Caroline Cheptanui set a new course record of 2:36:08, second - Irene Cherutich (2:37.52) with Pamela Chepchumba third (2:41:12)… #6 Dellilah Asiago (2:48:01)
In the ancillary 10 km race - William Chebon won in 30:18.1, ahead of Moses Masai (30:38.6) and Johnstone Chepkwony (30:44.8).
Women's race; Penina Wanjiru the winner in 35:34.8, Monica Wangare (35:44.4) and Sally Barsosio (35:53.3)
News from Urban UK, “Very delighted for Kassa. He
got Commonwealth selection and got selected to run in the Chiba Ekiden. Things are definately brought on a silver plate for him (joke). He works in Sainsbury's on the check out as far as I know, lives in Brixton, not really South Kensington and last week we went shoe shopping and gave him my Serpie discount card! Reality of a distance runner in Britain! Though he has time for everybody and is most helpful.” The English Squad for Melbourne and the marathon - Dan Robinson, Kassa Tadesse, Liz Yelling, and Debbie Mason.
Just in - Westchester Track Club won the Women’s Team at Boston in the Mayor’s Cup with Alemtsehay Migsanaw winning overall - the men’s teams Westechester were second with Kabiso placing third overall, and Central Park placed third in the women’s comp - awesome!
This Sunday come and run the last ten miles of the marathon course at 8:30 (leaving, meeting 8:20) on First Avenue between 59th & 60th ST. Just turn up and run! Everyone welcome. It will help on race day!10/21
Starbucks training in Boulder more and more -- every time I hea from him it is more miles, and more! “I am starting to like running ! Pretty scary.” A demon is being created! He has actually ran the NYC Marathon before. “I know you love the paparazzi stuff. herewith exclusive photo from our meal last Sunday in Boulder. Ugali, Chapati, beef stew and veggies ! Can it be more healthy ?? 
On the photo: Mike Sandrock, Anna ( the woman behind the Shoes for the World thing ), Hilda, Gerard and Simba. Well sorry Mr. Starbucks himself did not get into the picture as he is oft asked about by the readers, “Is that his real name?” Of course.com… Mike S wrote the most excellent book, Running with the Legends - a classic.
I used to have a gold bracelet -- I dated it from its hallmark, it was made in 1905. Anyway as the fates would have it it fell off my wrist the other night, at least 50% of it (on a hinged clasp). Although it had value, its greater worth was its sentimentality, I had had it since the 1980’s. I kept on losing it, but it would always turn up. I was not particularly upset, and in fact did not bother to turn round to see if I could find the other half.. Everything in life is transitional and in moments…. Never more true than that same evening where I would later be saying goodbye to a dear friend. Some people slide into your life, and like a leaf from a tree they gently float out of it. Others leave, and suddenly you feel a little empty - knowing and realizing that their presence in your life made you a better person. What to say -- losing Michelle Bleakley to Melbourne is this City’s loss. Always cheerful, upbeat, and truly herself. Flying to the land of Oz today - wishing you all the best! 
Here’s Anne, Amy, Michelle, and Lilly.
Stef continues to Rock the Kalahari -- She remains in second place with 23-hours of running done! She is only trailing one person in the entire comp. -- A South African phenom called Bruce! Inspiring! She writes, “Yesterday was a long stage and I woke this morning a bit blistered and battered but it was good fun and today’s a rest day alongside the Orange River. This is a stunning country. The landscape and saturated with amazing rock formations and last night’s sunset and moonrise super special.”
Talk today at the gym I go to, in the locker room -- So the conversationalists are a Physiologist and a scientist. The Scientist is asking, “Why don’t you want to know about people’s dreams?” The Shrink answers, “Are you kidding, more work? Be scientific -- what is the use of discussing something that is entirely non-quantifiable?” To which the Scientist replied, “Well I was only trying to help, you know make a suggestion, help you be a better Shrink!” And he replies, “Do you think I want to be better? What’s the use in that? Then I’d lose all my patients!” Reminds me of a Doctor I know!
10/20
NYRR Announces - Wow, flipping wow!! Unbelievable boon to the race! -- “Trio of Ethiopian Stars Added to Field for the ING New York City Marathon 2005
Boston champion Negussie joins reigning London and New York City champs
Multi-Olympic medalists Tulu and Wami enter women’s field
New York, October, 19, 2005—Reigning Boston Marathon champion Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia will run the ING New York City Marathon 2005, it was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO and race director Mary Wittenberg. Negussie joins a men’s field that is the deepest and fastest in the history of the race, including world record-holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of the United States.
“Individually they are all stars, but together they make a galaxy of greats,” Wittenberg said of the men’s talent assembled for the 36th running of the race on Sunday, November 6. “This is as good as it gets.”
Tergat, 36, set a world record of 2:04:55 at the 2003 real Berlin Marathon, a mark that stood up to a challenge by the legendary Haile Gebrselassie in Amsterdam on October 16. Keflezighi, 30, won the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon, then finished second at the ING New York City Marathon in 2:09:53 just 10 weeks later.
Also in the New York field are defending champion (2:09:28) Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, 2005 Flora London Marathon winner Martin Lel of Kenya (also the 2003 ING New York City Marathon champ), and New York course record-holder and 2001 champion (2:07:43) Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia.
Negussie, 27, joined that trio of “Big Five” marathon champions with his victory at Boston this year. In the biggest win of his career, Negussie outlasted the field in warm conditions to win in 2:11:45. His victory was the first by an Ethiopian man in Boston since Abebe Mekonnen won in 1989.
Derartu Tulu and Gete Wami are two of the most decorated athletes in Ethiopia’s rich tradition of distance running. Both will be making their ING New York City Marathon debuts.
“Tulu, 33, won three Olympic medals at 10,000 meters—gold in 1992 and 2000 and bronze in 2004—and was the 2001 Flora London Marathon champion. She finished fourth in a personal best time of 2:23:30 at the IAAF World Championships Marathon in Helsinki in August. Wami, 30, won Olympic medals at 5000 meters (bronze, 2000) and 10,000 meters (bronze, 1996; silver, 2000) and is the Ethiopian marathon record holder (2:22:19, Amsterdam 2002).
New York Road Runners officials also announced that reigning two-time men’s world marathon champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco has withdrawn, citing difficulty in recovering completely after winning his second world marathon crown in Helsinki in August.
“In an e-mail to race officials, Gharib’s manager, Gianni Demadonna, wrote, “The training is not going how he and his coach would like, and they were forced to take the decision to cancel his participation. He is very sad because he was very confident after the World Championships but now that the marathon is approaching he feels day after day that he cannot be ready, and as a serious professional runner he doesn’t want to spoil his name with a bad race.”
Finally after a couple of years on the job I went to the metrosports offices in mid town, should have gone earlier I left with a box of Balance Bars! We also went to the local (Mad Sq Gardens) Starbucks with the upstairs! Remember the song, “Constant Craving”? Anyway the Editor says, “You should have brought your bike up, it is not safe in the street.” Then later as we walk past my bike, “Oh, yeah, it is okay on the street!”
French News - MARSEILLE (Reuters) - Le co-détenteur du record d'Europe du marathon, le Français Benoît Zwierzchiewski, a été placé en garde à vue mardi après la découverte à son domicile de produits dopants, annonce à Reuters une source judiciaire.
La source a expliqué que Zwierzchiewski, 29 ans, avait été placé en garde à vue dans les locaux de la brigade des stupéfiants de Marseille mais n'a pas pu préciser s'il avait remis en liberté ou non.
Zwierzchiewski, 29 ans, a égalé le record d'Europe du marathon en 2003 en deux heures six minutes et 36 secondes.If this is true it is very sad. I remember his first trip to the USA when he was the Junior European Champ. I trained with him throughout the spring and was amazed at his boundless energy yet encouraged by the fact that he did not have fast leg speed…. I also have the airport world record with this guy -- we got to the airport by speeding down the hard shoulder, parking actually on the curb with the nose of the car opening the automatic doors, throwing the bags over the desk at check-in and running to the gate.. Well that was him -- I had to talk to the check in people and tell them where the bags were headed… amazingly he got on the flight…… he was also the person I had the monster pizza eating competition with 8-years ago, but that is another story.
I never saw hiom again after 1999 until last year at the NYC Marathon.
Balco founder Victor Conte is given a four-month prison sentence for his part in a doping scandal.
If you are running the marathon and you go through a bad patch then hear some pick up music…. From Tahari Ferrari,
“I was able to buy a cassette tape of “Gonna Fly Now” the Theme from Rocky 1 so I’ll be out there with my player on Marathon Day. I’ve always wanted to do that as a spectator. I remember what a lift it gave me the first time I heard it coming off the 59th street Bridge.” What a nice gesture by a nice man!
Great news to the sport -- L.A. Marathon Increases Prize Purse by 32%: That brings this year's purse to $417,600, the fourth highest purse in the country.
Down on a very dark track --ps phone 311 and ask why every other non used athletic field down there looks like Las Vegas, and the in-functioning 6th ST track is PITCH black! Go figure - Luiz on a roll, OzPaul -OMG, the 18th in 66? Jeff and Anil, Ali, Alec -all getting it together. Ali pushing like a bandit, & Anne (speechless -- wow, a shockingly good sess, out of the socks and into Hong Kong on the old train). Lissy, Michelle & MasterBlaster stepping outside themselves and jumping up and down into the waves of cyber-zooming. The Nancy Grapefruit, AmexLee, and Peter2 group - awesome also… this was a tough night and people were making a move(!) Shwn fighting the cramps well, as AnneG was too the remnants of SI running….The Basque boil was boiling.. And Suneet (thx for the Ribena) and Dan had a great duo working the laps. Cruiser as usual buckled down to the task, and Rick too - flyers mvp surely. Queen of the Harriers Diane now has Istanbul & Baltimore out of her legs… Trackman Dave shakiing his head at the head zipped through the session.. Eric hung in like the last trooper, Kurt Le Vert made a welcome return -- we got a surprise visit from the Staten I. Winner who arrived in NYC on Friday and ran the race on the Sunday, for the WSX team was it?
Last but not least from the MTC - “The entries have been flying in the last few days and the field is looking very good. We extended the early registration but we will be closing the early registration for the Brooks Bad Boy II in just 4 days. If you have not signed up, now is the time. It is also a good time to secure you team entry and get the team discount. Runners of all abilities are welcome and USATF membership is NOT required to run. It is only required if your team wants to participate in the Metropolitan Association Championship scoring. It is also NOT required that you run with a team. There will be Team and Individual results. The race results will be posted at the race and online. You can sign up on our website http://www.manhattantrackclub.org/pages/news/badboyII.html. We fixed a couple things with the registration form so any problems we were notified of have been fixed.” Go for it! Sounds fun.
10/19
Putting up the signs for the ING New York Marathon course. Getting close, under three weeks, it’ll be here in no time! 26-miles of agony and 0.2 -miles of bliss (the first 365-yards of the race when you feel great)… Kidding -- it will be a fab experience for 99.9% who are there, doing it!
Another Jewish holiday - another exposure. This one was bad expose-infidel as I walked into the gym in my street shoes, so I had to turn around go all the way home, before setting out for a run… tested my commitment I can tell you, I was “is this a message from the God(z)telling me I should not run today?” Glad I did, twas nice, I crossed paths with the Chubby Boss who was moving -- of course I could not keep up with him, well even though he was running in the other direction. As Bob Dylan sings, “You go your way, I’ll go mine, and time will tell.. Blah blah…”
10th Chinese National Games in Nanjing; Women’s 10,000 Xing Huina, Olympic Champ 31:00, Sun Yingjie 31:03, and Zhou Chunxiu 31:09... Chen Mingfu won the men's in 28:16 -- the shocker -- less than two days after both the 2nd & 3rd placed women ran 2:21 marathon!
Oranges battle bananas in Kenyan charter campaign.
A big race this weekend; The Boston Mayor's Cup at the Franklin Park, Boston park that was host to the 92 World’s.
WOW! Inthe Kalahari; After 13-hours in to the Comp Stef is now into second place overall! Just behind a guy called Bruce. Stef says, “Tough racing – great people - beautiful place. Having lots of fun.”
From Starbucks in Colorado, “Still great weather here, 76 degrees ! Sitting outside in shorts drinking coffee!” That’s the life! The Simba and Hilda were chasing a lone bagel round the room. “It is hard to get anything done with Hilda, she laughs the whole day long, and that is the problem.” said the Simba who had just popped out the bath. That is Hilda who needs a nickname -- let‘s see, I‘d call her ‘Sea Level‘ myself after the famed story of Hilda on a training camp in Portugal…..
From Judith, “Toby, did Bob (Alderson) tell you that he and David, and Ethan, ran Chicago really well? Bob set a PR (his previous one was at age 20!) and David set a huge PR. And they were following a 14 week program provided by you some years ago! So, you can take some credit too. They were very pleased.” Cool, happy to hear it -- Bob’s PR must have been then from the early 1980’s!
10/18
Last night was Mgee’s surprise birthday party - he was in great spirits having just returned from a week in Florida, and BethG was sublime as always.. It was very nice to catch up with a lot of people I have not seen in a while - Like Kim Mannen as I once knew her, McConville and with a nipper on the way now, Frank is looking for a new job, Steve C of the Harriers - no triathlons this year -- a shame as he waqs pretty nifty on the bike last year, Diane back from Baltimore with sore legs and no sleep, Mike A & Hailee down from Burbs - poor Mike is till injured which is a shame as he can run like the wind when trouble free. There was Vinyl Jim & Jean, “I was working at Marshalls when Elvis died…”Great as always to see RLX and had a good natter with him. The Russian Rocket was there and Kimka -- and I had a good chat for the first time in a long time with her - now a tennis aficionado no less, still running, and still smiling, Caroline an owner of a thoroughbred no less…. Mark P & Deidre, Off skiing after the marathon, John Nelson now married, and Nick to be…Paul Fetscher who is going to be turning 60 in 60 days…. Everything spinning.
See what I mean -- the only constant was seeing Monsieur Mileage & Madame -- they were still doing the same thing that they were yesterday. The waitress was Swedish from Lund, in the South, so it was nice to talk to her too -- in fact what a really nice evening -- then as coincidence I got this picture 
from Snapper don which shows Mgee in his Warren Street Blue on the starting line at the HomePlate 5k - a race he has indeed won at least once.
Starbucks training well in Boulder - he did 75-mins!! Way to go! I wish I could do half that!
Go Stef!! Stefani in Africa - Going great in the Kalahari desert race, after day two she’s third overall! Men & Women!!
Just missed this race, as It goes in the Bois De Boulogne - 20k of Paris -
1. Evans Cheruyiot, KEN 57:19 2. Kiwole Kimutai, KEN 57:31 3. Girma Tola, ETH 57:42& women -- 1. Dire Tune, ETH 1:08:17
2. Florence Jepkurui, KEN 1:08:18
3. Teyba Erkesso, ETH 1:08:20
Spotted by Tahri-Ferrari, “Bono was walking with another guy toward the Dakota. He was leaving the park when I saw him. We were sitting on the benches. That line the west 72nd street entrance. He was pointing to the Dakota.
He was wearing a Black leather jacket with a black hooded sweatshirt. He had the hood up. He had black sunglasses and black jeans with black platform shoes.” So there you go!
Rocky is back - VI coming soon! From the AP,
“In the new installment, Rocky, lonely and retired in Philadelphia, comes out of retirement, intending to fight a few low-profile local fights. He's approached to fight a match with reigning heavyweight champ Mason "The Line" Dixon, and soon his comeback ignites a media firestorm.
"'Rocky Balboa' is about everybody who feels they want to participate in the race of life, rather than be a bystander," Stallone said in a statement. "You're never too old to climb a mountain, if that's your desire." Eye of the somewhat wrinkled Tiger, sure it‘ll make millions.
John Lennon on living in New York, “Hang on let’s stay -- isn’t it great?” I saw the Tomorrow Show, very interesting indeed. Funny to see the interviewer smoking a cigarette.
10/17 - MetroSports article - on running --
Here.
Linford Christie, former Olympic, World, Commonwealth, European Games Champion,
"You can't stage the Games in London in 2012 without people like myself involved. It's ludicrous." -- Good job we got him for the Soundwalk project huh? "I coached Darren Campbell and Katharine Merry to Olympic silver and bronze. If my work doesn't speak for me, nothing will. With my experience I have a lot to offer, but I'm not a tie guy.” Few could argue with that.
New 007 --
The first blond Bond, British actor Daniel Craig, who is the current star of crime thriller 'Layer Cake', Never heard of him.
Urban’s latest runner, finishing #5 in Hartford, Kefah Keraro of Kenya, Pic (click cancel when asked) of the Rainathon as Terry called it!
Heard from Randy, in Chicago, “I was at about mile 15 when someone
came up behind me and said, "looking good Urban". I don't know the guy, but he was tall and really short hair and he said, "I got an email from Toby today from Paris". So that was a good distraction for a bit.” Wondering who that could have been??
Westchester Marathon -
Ryan Cleary New York 2:53:10 & #2 Overall and first woman - Jill Vollweiler WTC 2:57:43 - 6:47 pace.
Steff is off and running in the Kalahari Desert. The week long Race officially began on October 15th.
On the BBC, “Announcing Radcliffe's decision to join the British team in Japan, UK Athletics director of development Zara Hyde Peters said: "The organisers of this prestigious (Ekiden) race always invite the world's leading endurance runners.” In relation to Britain sending a full men’s & women’s team -- in the same grain of thought could not the same be said of the ’prestigious world half marathon championships in Edmonton where there was not a British man?” Sounds very much like, ‘Yes we promote the up-and coming runners in Britain’ to ‘Well actually if the ones who are now performing are not performing to the standard we want them to be…’ That in light also with a conversation Urban had with Kassa Tadesse who is a naturalized Ethiopian running in a British vest….Olympic marathon and world silver medallist Catherine Ndereba will lead a team of 14 Kenyans to the Ekiden scheduled for November 23 in Chiba-City, Japan. Philip Mosima is in the men’s team, a name from the past.
Closing out from Wendy, “Two termites walk into a bar. One asks, "Is the bar tender here?" And finally, there was the person who sent ten different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.
I was running with Shiney and Anne on Saturday morning and whilst standing at 90th St this guy says, “I saw you running earlier. Those other two looked much better than you.” Thanks Mate, and have a nice day to you too! Wow, there’s some encouragement!
Mykola Antonenko, Ukraine, won the Batimore Marathon 2 hours, 15 minutes and 39 seconds. La femmes -- Ramilya Burangulova, Russia won in 2:41:59.
Saturday afternoon I went over to see Monsieur & Madame Mileage, in heir new apartment on the Upper West Side - cool! And great hospitality too! Funny Madame had the sound walk idea three years ago -- she had thought about some of the techniques we actually used… like certain sound effects etc! Strange huh? What else -- strange, I ate 1.75 quarts of chocolate chip mint ice cream and shivered like mouse in a cat house. My body fat is down right now (from a non-scientific standpoint), too bad not from a running reason.
Over in Boulder the Simba did her last long run this weekend… over in Kenya Tergat has one more….. Talking fast running I was watching a DVD of the world half and the men ran the first KM in 2:38! Fabiano had the same stride from the gun to the tape(!) And the Simba’s sprint is something else - she pulls away like Gail Dever! Speaking of which whatever happened to her in 2005?
USA Track & Field has awarded the 2008 Olympic Trials to the city of Eugene, Ore., called the home of USA-track.
Haile Gebrselassie misses the WR @ Amsterdam. He still runs the world’s leading year time of 2:06:20, (half marathon 1:02:03), Daniel Yego of Kenya was second in 2:08:59 Kutre Dulecha won the women‘s race in 2:30:05
"The last five kilometres I was not pushing. I need more training," said Haile, "I am not so happy."
From Urban, “Did the Cabbage Patch 10m today and the PBs are still falling out of my Mizunos. Another PB 56:16, just behind 50 year old Dan Schlessinger (3rd NYC in the 80s). Mara Yamauchi (world 1/2) was a bit ahead mid 55s, but I was told she ran already 10 miles BEFORE the race. Sitting in the pub (Cabbage Patch) with Mo Farrah and Kassa Tadesse, watching Haile running in Amsterdam and guess who sits next to Mo: your mate, John "The Bull" Downes!” Thanks Urban. Indeed -- John I met in June of ‘94 on the starting line of a 5000m race, Silvio Guerra and Noel “EPO‘ Berkeley were also in the race -- John won in 13-something, Noel was fourth, can‘t remember what position Silvio ran, but I out kicked my training partner John Lori of Tanzania, as we both ran under 14-minutes…. Those were the days… who else was in that race? I remember Jonny Danielson, who was tenth in the Olympic Games 5000m final when Ngugi won in ‘88. Jonny was a great person, a real genuine soul.. I wonder what he is doing these days… he had cancer as a nipper, nearly died, his brother was a great athlete too - in Xcountry skiing.
Run London Nike 10k in Hyde Park. Paula Radcliffe clocked a time of 32 minutes 19 seconds, Keith Gerrard won the men’s race in 31:08
Marathon of Beijing - Benson
Cherono finished in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 55 seconds, 5:20 ahead of runner-up James Moiben of Kenya. Yet he ran short by 800m as was mis-directed en route.
Sun Yingjie of China won the women's race as she did in the last two editions. She covered the 26.2 miles in 2:21:01
Well done to all Urbanos at Staten Island --STEWART CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS SHAWN GREENE KAVAN MULIA ADAM GOODWIN DAVID MCINTYRE KAREN KAVANAGH PAUL MADELL ROBIN LABINER NANCY CORAN RANDI YOUNG SHAWN.I missed the race, I was out at some NCJAA cross country race - where my dazzling runners zabbadabbered their way round the nether-regions and placed exceedingly well against some serious looking athletes from schools with coaches who yelled and shouted like a building was on fire!
Back to Staten Island - Congrats to the winners -Fouly Salem 1:11:14, & Hermela Romero 1:22:20... Agee group winners Felipe Garcia 23 NY 1:11:14 (same time as the winner), Hector Rivera 34 RUNC NJ 1:14:36, Peter Allen 45 CPTC NJ 1:19:26 Julio Aguirre 59 GNY NJ 1:28:54 Stephanie Hodge 40 NYH NY 1:27:07
In India - 1. Philip Rugut, KEN 1:01:54
2. Duncan Kibet, KEN 1:02:30
3. Martin Sulle, TAN 1:02:42 Wilberforce Talel and Julius Sugut followed in, and women - Irina Timofeyeva, RUS 70:35
2. Inga Abitova, RUS 70:41
3. Helen Kimutai, KEN 70:43 -- All at the Delhi Half, wins worth $20,000
10/14
Charlotte Dale (Gbr) debuts over the marathon distance in Amsterdam this weekend, she was dubbed as the next Paula with her performances in the junior ranks, yet to make the transition…. And also Annemarie Sandell (Fin) whose PR of 2.35.12 set in Boston will surely be bettered; the girl the Kenyans used to call The White Kenyan. A great set of pacers for the men’s 'Gebrselassie race,' within the race, which will of course take the center stage @ 4:46 per mile pace:
Paul Kimugul (Ken)
Shadrack Hoff (RSA)
Abeba Dinkessa (Eth)
Larbi Zeroual (Fra)
Francis Kiprop and also our friend from Holland -- Hugo v.d. Broek (Ned)
We hear from Urban that top Brit, Kassa Tadesse has pulled out of Amsterdam, he got some Achilles problems in the Great South Run.
Can’t believe I forgot to post this one --Tufts Health Plan 10K U.S. Women's 10-K Championship
#1 Katie McGregor, 28, Minneapolis, MN 32:26
#2 Marie Davenport, 30, Guilford, CT (IRL) 32:28
#3 Aster Demissie, 22, Chapel Hill, NC (ETH) 32:40... #8 Sylvia Mosqueda, 39, Los Angeles, CA 33:12...#11 Jenny Crain, 37, Milwaukee, WI 34:06 & #12 Anne Kugler, 37, UATH, NY 34:19
More from Wendy, A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says: "A beer please, and one for the road." And…Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe you," says Dolly. "It's true, no bull!" exclaims Daisy.
Meanwhile
Tergat talks NYC, "Here the course is tough with many corners. The best we can do is to win," he said. Good interview about Geb’s chances of taking his record.
Letter from terry who was at Hartford, preparing for NYC, “Agreed with Jorge from CT about the Hartford Mara/Rainathon. The 18-mile mark was amid a 3/4-mile stretch along the Connecticut River, and the asphalt park path was completely covered in water. I ran on the grass to either side, but it was impossible to not get the feet soaked...although everyone's feet were already soaked a long way before this point. As the 20-mile mark passes right by the finish, several people dropped out at that stage. I am getting ready for NYC by doing nothing between Hartford and then, perhaps a short run nearer the day. England beat Poland 2-1 to reach the World Cup 2006 finals in top position in their group. Sweden qualified by beating Iceland 3-1; Iceland do not make the finals.” thanks.
This weekend -- NYRR HALF-MARATHON GRAND PRIX: EMERALD NUTS STATEN ISLAND.
Sunday, October 16, Staten Island, 13.1M: 9:30 a.m.
Finish up your half-marathon tour of the five boroughs with 13.1 miles through scenic areas of Staten Island. If you've done at least four of the five races in the grand prix, you'll earn a commemorative patch. And if you're a speedster from Staten Island, take note that the top finishers from Richmond County will receive special awards. Everyone will receive Emerald Nuts samples at race check-in and at finish.
And another good event to look ahead to --
“Eat without guilt on Thanksgiving. How? By starting your day with a five mile run in Prospect Park. It's the Prospect Park Turkey Trot. Cool medals to the first 1500 finishers and a 2005 backpack as race souvenir. You can read all about it on our website. Here's is the direct link. http://www.pptc.org/upcoming/index.php?race=2005_turkeytrot Anne Perzeszty President, PPTC”
10/13
From the NYRR, “The coaches of world record-holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of the United States declared their athletes healthy and ready to go at the ING New York City Marathon 2005 in statements released today by New York Road Runners officials.
“Both Tergat, 36, and Keflezighi, 30, had been sidelined by leg injuries since the summer, calling into doubt their fitness for the five-borough race on Sunday, November 6.
Tergat suffered a slight hamstring injury last month that forced him to withdraw from two scheduled races in England. From his training site in Kenya, however, Tergat’s coach, Dr. Gabriele Rosa, said Tergat is on schedule with his training for his ING New York City Marathon debut.
“The problem of Paul Tergat now has been completely overcome,” said Rosa. “He’s okay now. He feels very good, and he’s training together with [fellow ING New York City Marathon entrant] Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot.
“For New York, he will be ready to run at a very high level, performing like everyone knows him,” continued Rosa. Tergat set the marathon world record of 2:04:55 in Berlin in 2003.
“Keflezighi suffered a tightening of his right quadriceps muscle during the 10,000-meter final at the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki on August 8. He withdrew from the race and has not competed since. Early last month Keflezighi resumed training with his coach, Bob Larsen, in Mammoth Lakes, California.
“Meb is completely recovered,” said Larsen. “He is now training hard in Mammoth Lakes. Meb’s training is progressing very well. He anticipates being very competitive in his third ING New York City Marathon.”
Track Night a la waterlode… in lane four; OzPaul ignoring the conditions, like the shark eh, the Commander, Ali, Luis “what a day,” Indeed! Chucky China - 8 x 800m with a minute rest, how the heck did he manage to run the last repeat 10-secs faster than all the rest? Diane Queen of the Harriers - bringing back the Turkish coffee thx(!), Anil stronger and stronger, and David G bringing the English winds, Peter2 bouncing back from a 22, Cruiser just lovin’ the wind, Kathy running like a missile and Trackman David.
Hair tools; so I thought I had come out with this fab design for holding a pony tails band - clip it on the watch strap between the buckle and the flap that holds in the strap…. Then the other day at the flyers workout someone asks, doers anyone have a spare hair band? And Eilee says, “Yes I have a few spare!” And I watch as she simply takes an extra one from her head! Obviously the better place - oh well, another invention bites the dust!
Jorge from CT, “Now talking about the Hartford Marathon, weather was bad, heavy rain during the whole race, and flood around mile 18 near the Connecticut River. Many runners from NY area here. In the Half, John Henwood 1:06:44.winner, Felipe
Garcia #4 1:11:42.
“In the Marathon, the winner and new record in Hartford Moses
Kemboi 2; 16:33, Jorge Eliecer Real 7th in 2:29, and 13th Felipe Vergara 2:44. Sorry that no pics because I was running, and also too much rain.” Thanks Jorge, and good luck for you in NYC.
Apres Paris and now there is talk about Tokyo as the next city - Roll on!! Chubby loaned me his wheel for measuring (thanks) and I had it up against a tree whilst I was eating a croissant & drinking coffee at une petit cafè when this Chinese lady came up and started to wheel it away, she thought it was garbage, a broken food trolley!
I kept on forgetting that the motorcycle was not my bicycle with cut handlebars, very lucky to squeeze through some skinny gaps -- luckily there are very few SUVs over there - everyone drives like crazy though. I will miss my local cappuccino cafè, also I was surprised how cheap everything was over there - rent & food type of thing.
Great South Run in Britain: Derartu Tulu set an Ethiopian record of 51:27 with John Yuda winning in 46 minutes 45 seconds.. That after he went longer than needed too by running off course…
Got an invite from the Chocolate Chic today for a Halloween party -- too bad it is in Colorado! I bet the food will be sublime!
10/12
By the luck of the demons - back in the USA. Talk about missing the alarm... -- Two flights, there and back both nearly missed. I overslept like a nunce so I have only myself to blame! However luckily a girl having boarded the plane decided that she did not want to fly, so they had to disembark her and find her baggage causing -- a delay. The measuring wheel did not make it through the metal detector and was deemed to be, by the French authorities, a deadly assaulting possibility weapon - “It is Amerique, you know, they are strict…” I tried to explain that I had no problems with any other trips.. Did not work… ah well. The only bad news was that assistant I had, who was as useful as a bag of marbles is to a Shoe horn, gave me a cold -- hopefully not a bad one but I feel like a dumper truck has parked on the side of my head right now.. When I met her at the airport she told me, “I ‘ave the sick, ‘Ow you say it?.” Things could be worse! I could be at an Air France desk in Paris pleading to be put on a flight back!
The Office, note the surf board leaning up against the wall - there was one in every room, including the bathroom. The cycling, got left behind. The Bike - a Yamaha Bulldog, preferred transport for Paris.
7-Eleven goes Afrique - Kenyan AA coffee is now being served under the company’s new World Roasts brand. Here’s a thought, though I am sure they have them, I did not see one starbucks in Paris!
Groningen 4-miler - Wow, Eliud Kipchoge, KEN 17:09 WR, and a former Olympic Champ in #11 Million Wolde, ETH 19:17 who used to train up in the Rockefeller - Women - 1 Gelete Burika, ETH 19:50 and from the HATC(!) Hilda Kibet, KEN 19:58
We heard from Rikard, the coach to Lena G. (Swedish record holder),who was supposed to be coming to race NYC Marathon, sadly she is now injured. Rikard was in Amsterdam and met up with Mr. Haile who is of course running the marathon there on Sunday. From the IAAF, Haile, “I am good shape and with no injury worries,” he says. “I have handled my training very well and everything else in my preparations has gone smoothly. The weather is extremely important”
Disney Cross Country Classic - Chris Williams of GNY wins the Collegiate HS (Ny) 5k in 16:03.93 - a name for the future.
Paula Radcliffe RoadShow, bringing pizazz to road racing will compete in her first Dutch road running event at the Seven Hills Race in Nijmegen on 20 November 15k - watch out for a blazing time, but before that - this Sunday's she’ll be at the Nike Run London 10-kilometre race in London's Hyde Park.
10/11
Still in Paris. Getting to know the Bois de Boulogne very well indeed now. I keep on buying things by mistake; my inability to ask for the right products, or my lousey french. Well what this means is I am sampling many, many nice things from the boulangerie. Today I went to a famous cafe called the red something -- it is best known for the rude waiters who try their best to ignore you; so much so that when they pour your drinks they look in the other direction... I tried to move the glass, but he caught me. The measuring wheel continues to be the great talking point as everyone wants to know what one does.... A runner asked me if I could follow him to measure his fave loop(!) The run starts near the race track where Hemingway used to gamble on saturdays. Anyone remember the actor Belmondo? He was by the lake with his little chien. As I type this there is a woman in the room opposite the window who is reading a book and waving her arms; maybe she wants to be a film star too - or maybe she is!The weather continues to be brill & I am getting rather envious of the lifestyle of my host. He tells me that his life is too much work & now he only wants to surf... he is meeting with Victoria Secrets to have Talika products in their stores; then he is off to Brazil... Ah the life
10/10
Jared Culotta: last year he came to one of my lectures; drove from out of town. He told me he had ran 30-marathons, thought he was past his prime at age 48, but had always wanted to break 3:30 - so we put him on a plan, and low & behold, congrats, 3:26!! Michelle Bleakley, congrats too - 2:45! Am off to search for other results right now... night time here in Paris & somebody is at the door, can not tell what the heck they want, sounds like soup-hay... Hope Chris broke 3...Dans Paris -- French keyboards are not like American ones. It is taking an age to write stuff; but all else is fab. Sorry for the lack of news but today is the first day I have had internet -- the socket on my laptop does not go into the phone jack here.
And here is... I am staying at a superb place -- My host is non other than the founder and owner of Talika! A parisian beauty line. The apartment is on a private road - Rue General du Langlois and is huge; the offices qre here too so in the rooms are all the products and twelve foot high pictures of models... He loaned me his wheels; that happen to be a Yamaha 1100cc motorcycle so I am getting round the city with speed! Today we had lunch at the Paris Polo Club -- Everyone I met there owns some company to do with fashion or watches... I could easily get used to this life. I have the best of luck with these projects. As for the running bit; got lost in the park for two hours as expected....
Jut heard Limo won Chicago - my tip was Ivuti, he got number five! Fab run by Deena!!
Big news hopefully coming for Shoe4Africa, twofold, over the next two months. The first of which, at the start of next month, it will become an official company. The second bit of news is being worked on right now, so hopefully news will be forthcoming next month!
The fifth Avenue start.
10/07
Good Luck to all runners doing Chicago. Have a blast, and run (groan)… I will be in Paris, but will eagerly hurry back to NYC next week to hear all the war stories. I have not been to the marathon there since ‘99 when The Khannouch took the world record but I remember when I was there thinking ‘Flipping cold, and breezy too -- no records today!’ We had to chip frost from the windscreen of the car. The good thing about the course is that the buildings are wind blockers, when the wind would be head on. Well I did not run the marathon, I was scooting round the course… I did the 5k race that they held as an ancillary event, and was helping my friend Patrick at the Team Stick booth for the expo days which is a marathon job in itself. You get as stiff as a rock, or stick.
‘Lady Laistee’ is going to be the subject runner/star for the Paris run -- she is a rap star (I hear) and the park that we are setting the run, Bois de Boulogne, is known as not a safe place after dark… “Full of prostitutes!’ Tells Monsieur Mileage, who is currently in Paris! Personally I wanted it to be in the Chateau Versailles, but it has to be more central to fit in with the theme…. The release date is supposed to be Jan now, but as it was October before they decided to add Paris I am having my doubts… Should be a little different from Hyde Park and Linford Christie. In Berlin we used an actress (up and coming they tell me) called Jessica Schwartz, and of course New York was Zoe Cassavetes. Here is a link to the cover of her latest CD. Apparently she is a really enthusiastic runner… not like Edith Piaf, who sadly is dead. I phoned the French Master extraordinaire Dominique Chauvelier yesterday, he doesn‘t speak English, wow -- I had forgotten how bad my French actually is…. The first thing I am going to do is go to a café and eat a dozen petit pains au chocolat, I think I‘ll pass on the gauloises…
I ran into John Henwood on the Bridle yesterday, just before he leaves to run Hartford, just the half, for his NYC preps.
Syracuse Festival of Races 5K - Flying! 1 Mohammed Amyn 29 13:49 2 Joseph Koskei 24 13:50 3 Linus Maiyo 22 13:53... #10 Elarbi Khattabi WTC 38 14:47 And Olga Romanova 25 16:00 2 Alemtsehay Misganaw WTC 25 16:17 3 Allison Carr 26 17:12 4 Lete Berhe WTC 26 17:21
I am thinking of going to Kenya this winter, I was checking out the ticket prices -- wow… a month in Tahiti is cheaper!
Got an email from Dan, “Those of you not running the marathon this year -- On Saturday you should go up to VCP and partake in: The 2005 USA Track & Field - Metropolitan Open and Masters Cross Country Championships will be contested at the Brooks Bad Boy II on Nov 5th - news of this can be found on the Manhattan TC’s website. Gotta love that sleepy time start -- coming from racing in Sweden where races start on the flip side of noon I have never got used to this early stuff with single digits. And talking digits for the speedsters - $200 first prize! And team money for $500 for the best team!”
10/06
Are you a master runner (40+ in years) and in NY? Are you a member of the USATF? Are you aware of the opportunities offered? Since I am now the Chair for the Women & the Men master’s I am trying to bring up the profile…. The benefits of membership are many, including national championship races, hotel discounts for race travel, and more -- get involved. Sign up and let’s raise the level of performance in NY State. Note sponsored by Iceland Spring Water! The best water in the world.
A question in the mailbag, “Is this the Lornah Kiplagat appreciation website??” -- Yudelpop they say….
Paul Kibii Tergat of N‘gong town, 36-yrs young, gets the World with an Oneness-Heart Award next month in New York. The award is given for inspiration and dedication to souls who have contributed beyond the norm. A letter from the organization to the press said: "It is with tremendous admiration and respect for your historic achievements and humanitarian undertakings that I am extending an invitation to you to receive the award from Sri Chinmoy."
The 32nd annual Jersey Shore Half Marathon -- Jay McGovern won the race in 1:15.19. With Rumson resident, and a star bucks regular in that neck of the woods, Dorian Meyer, 45, in 1:22.49.
Here’s a non running picture of my Triumph Bonneville, the best motorcycle ever built, well perhaps not, but…. Marlon Brando rode a triumph in that rebel film. Slow in comparison to the Japanese bikes, but fast enough…
Starbucks sends a report from Boulder, “Rained like crazy yesterday, today nice weather, sun but chilly.”
Further into the Istanbul field I saw a friend of mine, she finished #7. Lale Ozturk (Turkey) 2:43:24 -- she looked after me when I was in Turkey the last time. Kind of funny how the world spins -- I keep in tune with old friends by seeing their names pop up in race results. She took me to the Mosque, to the bazaars, running in the city parks… etc…. thought I’d keep in touch, but I never did…. Oh well…
Track night -- we learn something with Heather’s absence, “Alas, I will not be at track practice tonight because I will be in Pennsylvania, land of Crayola Crayons and Larry Holmes.” Meanwhile Jamie did the workout in the water -- super impressive as it was a tough workout to do - 48-minutes of pain! A fast trio leading the night with Danny the Dollarman, OzPaul, and An Egyptian runner who was passing through. OzPaul pushed on with Monsieur Egyptio and even ran the last five minutes at 5 min mile pace! Tom down planning his 20, Lissy Miss Early hours -- I‘ll probably see her at 5:30 this morning, Peter2 back from DC, Eric - ran a 4-minute PR in the half, and praising but cursing the speedwork , Ali hanging in there, Trackman David - no lights as yet, Kevin the Commander reeling in Ali on the hard portions like a killer salmon fisher, Anil with one weak foot, Jeff powering towards a PR in Philly.The Basque from Brooklyn zipping nicely & the Senora with the good form, Camille who dropped by to say hi, Vanessa working well and hanging in with Michelle on the up & up, & Lissy, Robin stuck in lane two, Cruiser, Paul K, Michelle, AmexLee “Who came up with this crazy workout”, Grapefruit Nancy, Shawn working those elbows, and Alec on form for a Boston qualifier after a solid run in the Jersey Shore….
Funny thing I was standing on the infield and this girl kept on running by, to her left was me, and to her right was 50-yards of open grass… lap one, she brushes my arm as she passes… I tut as loud as I can, lap two ditto, and then on the third lap as I was talking about Grete and gu’s - bam she runs into me! Golly gosh…. Also the bicyclists are multiplying - you see all these new bikers wobbling on the roads now, the gas prices are making the bike-world expand.
10/05
The call of the Kiplagat story on Runner’s World. If you read the story then you better understand the picture at Times Square (on yesterday's news). Personally I thought it was hilarious and could hardly stop laughing, but I think the others were.... "urm, really, what?"
Exposed as an infidel -- I stumbled into the gym yesterday morning like an omelet in a whisking bowl (blame that on trying to follow the Dolphin Runner) on the way home from a particularly arduous morning‘s run, “It’s closed today, it is Rosh Hashanah.” Yeah, I knew that, not.
“I'll probably go out at a pace to run 2:28.” Another good Peter Gambo interview with Colleen DeReuck for her Chicago plans... As we say, our prediction is Ivuti. And seem as we are on a predictaroll, let's guess Colleen 2:31:24
“Keep on running.” advises former world record holder Steve Cram. I was once on a track trying to do a session, which happened to be 20 x 800m, when Steve Cram was there filming Paula Radcliffe, who wasa also training on the track. Steve kept on standing in lane number one with the crew which I thought was most odd for a former athlete.. And most annoying for me having to swerve round him each lap.
At Boston for the Half - Jen Rhines, and Valentina Yegorova of Russia, who won gold in the marathon at the Barcelona Games in 1992 and silver at the Atlanta Games in 1996. Top men - Catherine’s brother Samuel Ndereba and Linus Maiyo, the fave.
More groans from Wendy, "Doc, I can't stop singing ' The Green, Green Grass of Home.'"
"That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome."
"Is it common?"
“Well, ‘It's Not Unusual."The last one for the day, What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh. Too much.
With the Flyers - the school that we use for leaving the gear was shut too, for the Jewish New Year…. However a good number did turn up to whiz round there park, and we met Mike Keohane whose daughter ran a 4:21 in the Troll Stroll! Eduardo was on fire tonight, Erin too. Eileen and Eileen #2 too… Even Cotton Lloyd was in the mood!
Oct. 18 hearing is coming up for Victor Conte… probably will be no decision…
10/04
Susan Chepkemei the Pokwot, Margaret Okayo the Kisii, and Muscovite Ludmilla Petrova sign up for the ING-NYC Marathon!
For more on the Simba check Runner’s World Tuesday Noon edition’s Feature Story.I nearly broke my back today; I took the back support from the chair I use at the computer out as it was giving me a witchy grind… and forgot later when I leaned back… on a wooden floor the wheels scooted, I went back, and it took a Bubka-esque movement to keep me upright. (Ed‘s note; the most energetic thing he did in a week).
Corp Challenge - 1 Enos Matalane 15:21 TRANSWERK 2 Johannes Ndala 16:22 TRANSWERK 3 Motsehi Moeketsana 16:23 TRANSWERK 4 John Honerkamp 16:31 RUNNING COMPANY & First La Femme from Blighty’s Royal Mail Claire Martin in 19:04
The Queen of the Harriers, @ the Istanbul marathon DIANE KENNA USA UNÝTED STATES 40 F B3 3:26:58 first US finisher in the race, 20th overall female and 4th in age group. Having ran that race twice myself I can verify it is a tough one! Others - 1. Joseph Mbithi, 29, KEN 2:15:13
2. Hillary Koech Kipkering, 32, KEN 2:15:47
3. Benson Mbithi, 27, KEN 2:16:07... 8. Belay Wolashe, 36, ETH 2:19:09... #13. Tumo Turbo, 36, ETH 2:20:59.…#19. Stephan Langat, 42, KEN 2:25:28 (won one of the years I ran). Wimmin - 1. Madina Biktagirova, 41, RUS 2:34:25
2. Natalia Volgina, 28, RUS 2:36:42
3. Zhanna Malkova, 37, RUS 2:37:33
Mailbag from Suneet, “Greetings from Newark airport. Did you run today - I didn't spot you? Had to let you know...I posted my best time ever - 1:22:52! And this was after going out on the town last night and rolling into bed at 2am! Go figure - maybe I need to include more partying in my training schedule J” Francis N. also with a new PR… despite no sleep. Michael M. ditto the PR…
From Judith, “Also, some of us yesterday after Grete's went to the Pain Quotidien (the one on 64th and Lex, I understand there's more). Do you know of it? Coffee's good, served in French type cups, bread's good too. Not cheap, a couple of people had big fancy coffees and/or cakes etc., which brought the bill up to seven bucks each(!!) but I think it gets a recommendation.”
Also at twin Cities from WTC, #17 Philippe Rolly, 33, Fairfax, VA 2:26:48
10/03
Twin Cities Joan Samuelson 48 2:46:26. The story of the day. And the results; #1 Mbarak Hussein 2:18:28
2 Ben Rosario 2:20:43
3 Wynston Alberts 2:21:42
#1 Nicole Aish
2:40:21 from Susan Loken 42 F Phoenix, AZ 2:43:10
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So.. I am in the jacuzzi the other day talking to my fashion designer friend, -- Michael Kaye, (and his label is Michael Kaye Couture), and I have not seen him in an age. He has a tremendous green card story, about the trials & tribs it took him to get it, and also he is trying in NYC to become a fashion name (need I say competitive market). Starting off on the floor of someone's apartment... Well I am glad to report things are going extremoso well for him -- we were nattering about this and that and he says, “Yes, I have a dress in W magazine this month, and town & country…” and I am like, back up, back up, in the magazine?” And he says, “Town and Country?” Nooo, “W?? Which issue?” And he is in the latest edition, December’s (which of course I had and ran home to check out the pic -- now scanned, see Green!)… He also told me to google him, and I did to find, “And last but not least, fashion ‘star’ Patricia Field ended the proceedings by giving the ‘Women’s Apparel’ award to Michael Kaye of Michael Kaye Couture. In her little speech prior, she noted that Michael was honored by having one of his tartan plaids selected to be a permanent part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.” (the cece cord credit refers to the handbag in the pic, not the dress). 
Life was tough when I first moved to America.. Sigh…
Here‘s a photo from the last time I was at this race. I think the year was 2002 if my memory serves me right.
The SIMBA WINS!!!!!!!!!! We hear, “Lornah got it the last lap, she strode out and moved away from Sabrina Mockenhaupt. Mocki really moved nice around the
course with many corners.” Simba took off the shades and throw away her head band and got down to business in the last lap.” Well done!!
Ah the bank; I as sitting in the safe deposit room down in the basement talking to Mrs. Whoever when some of the staff came walking by -- not only do they now know me by name, but also were asking questions about why I had omitted my middle name on the forms I filled in last week! And that is testament to how much time I have had to spend there trying to open this box! I know everyone there now, I feel like family.
I heard yesterday from Milena Glusac over on the West Coast -- a very nice person and great runner. I still remember her pushing the pace in the lead of the NYC Marathon the other year at the 16-mile point -- great attitude.
A pic from my friend Chris Stewart (who was the Brit 5000m champ a few years ago, and placed #3 in 2:13 twice in NYC Marathon, here he is in Sri Lanka with the Tamal Tigers.
Peter & Ula in the NYC Marathon.