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I'm running because this is UN-acceptable. Please help me out with my fundraiser
Want to run the world famous ING NYC Marathon 2013? Be a part of a small team that is stepping up to build East Africa's first ever public kid's hospital. Run with Team Shoe4Africa.05/21
Talking to the incomparable John Ngugi - Olympic Gold in what many experts call the greatest ever Olympic 5000m final of all time: 1988. That after finishing in last place in the 1987 world champs! John also won 5 world XC champs.
I've been a coach of many teams, I have ran for many teams... I can tell you honestly that being a part of Team Shoe4Africa may e one of the most memorable parts of 2013 that you remember.
When I was younger there was a nice man, as I grew I started to resent this man. Partly because he always used to ask me, "What did You do this year?" I felt it an intrusion. I mean what did he do? He was once interviewed in the press that I recall and he started the conversation, "I am not a Guru..." I mean no one was lining up saying that he was... so why did that one line, "What did you do?" haunt me? Almost like the John Lennon, "And what have you done" in the 'and so this is xmas, and what have you done, another year over...' song.
Anyway... Let me tell you that just the other day I was walking the pups, and Puppa Pegleg was pulling ahead to a old couple who were sitting by the Bethesda Fountain. As I got close I heard they were Italian. Some people wear rich, others are rich. These peeps were the mega rich. They were trying to take a picture of themselves with the fountain in their rear with a beautiful Hasselblad camera. So of course Pegleg wanted to see the fountain in-between them.
Instead of being annoyed Mrs. I'm dressed in Gucci picked up Pegleg (much to his delight as he wants to get adopted) and Mr. that-gold-watch-on-my-wrist is worth more than this park picks up Puppa-distra who is trotting two steps behind the bold pegleg.
Now they throw the Hasselblad at me, "take-a the picture, please-a, oh, it willa look a sooo nice..." and before you know it the Pups are posing in the arms of these tourists. Tomorrow I will be standing outside Tiffany's with a polaroid...
See I was sent there to run for a Swedish Club and I shared a room with a Moroccan runner. I forgot to pack everything. So when I realize I am sitting in the hotel room with him saying "wow, I have no warm ups, no running gear..." and I don't know whether it was personal, or he just wanted more money (we were paid with position/time etc) but I do remember him pulling out extra clothes saying 'too bad...'
So the race comes and I am running in borrowed gear (not from him) for racing in. Shoes that aren't my size, shorts and a singlet from a club mate, and I am warming up jogging around the start in a Calvin Klein T-shirt & Jeans that I own.
fast forward, at 16km Richard N. is gone, I mean this guy is the English (not British) record holder in the marathon. But in a group we are "three" Swedes going for a greater prize money for the Champs - Ake and think Bjarne Thysell are 200-meters ahead so there is only ONE more $$-placing for the Swede Champs. Coincidentally it is also the last open money for the race. Suddenly a wild dog comes running at us. Now I love animals - he heads straight for my Moroccan hotel room -mate. The dog is wuffing and barking. My friend runs freaked. I was about to leave him there, but even though he never helped me, I can't... Rama-Karma: so this is Xmas, what have you done. I shooed away a dog, but scooped up all the left prize money. Geez that was a long story for what I wanted to say...
But after sitting for six hours staring at a list of prices for every item that is supposed to go inside a hospital... well y'know it is fun.
Had a great meeting at Cafe Euro in mid town, great - more on that later but I'm smiling in the charity world today.
Rita is back in the USA, she really wants to go and visit those wounded when she won her second Boston... if you are a philanthropic travel agent that can lend a hand then give me a buzz.
After loading NOOK's with Books! I have a 1,000 books, e-books, imagine, can you? I can't!
Some more, experimenting, putting an extra book, another author - amazing things! My childhood house would have been a lot easier to get around in NOOK's had been invented! These days I keep a slim bookshelf...
I got soaked as I did my best Miguel Indurain impression down 5th Avenue flying at what felt like 100-mph wondering if my phone, held in my hand, was rain proof... I got to the startline beat. Now I know what triathletes feel like... now having minutes to spare I checked my messages, a new message popped up - my friend canceled! Sigh...
Anyway it was very nice to be out there as the Sunshine, once I got off the bike appeared, and the day perked up.
I was off to Le Pain Q. for breakfast with Kev who is on a mission to run a PR in NJ in June. Good coffee at Q. but they need to increase the calorie amounts of the food they serve. it is one of the those places that lists each food with a calorie number. Bizarre. I mean the less calories the less energy you are going to have. More is better!
Caroline back in 2006... at a Shoe4Africa event.
And five years later, here is Caroline at the SHOE4AFRICA pasta party for our NYC marathon team, along with Geoffrey Mutai who two days later broke the course record, and Caroline Kilel who had won Boston that year, among others. Speaking of which - we still have spots for this year's TEAM.
Here are the ladies making food for the last feeding program! If you are up in Turkana, north Kenya, and can rent me a 4x4 please let me know! I need to do another feeding!
We had dinner with his family on Central Park West and I tell you he has the balcony!
However I would like to add that every member there of the team DID get the award for being an All-American with the grade part (don't really understand it how it works), but the top two - MVP, Kelsey had a 4.0 (absolute max) and Abegail, VIP, had a 3.76 - super smart.
TGV sent me a pic of his dog, asked me to walk to San Diego and walk it; I might, I like this new career. Dog Walker.
I discovered that the Pups & I have something in common; we both dislike loud motorcycles. Why do motorcycle owners cut their exhaust pipes? It is not for better performance. Do you Really think that we want to hear you? You want to make a statement and that is the best you can do? C'mon, raise the bar above the curb level. We were walking along Mad Ave & two guys on those Motorcycles (that were engineered so badly they can't go round corners like a motorcycle should) with what is known as Shotgun pipes (hacksawed short). Obviously, as I can't think of any other reason, they must love the idea of people 'looking at them'. But have they ever thought what people are thinking whilst looking at them?
In rural Kenya you stop the car, open the door and the next minute you can't find the steering wheel. #wherearetheseatbelts?
In one word... thanks [vibram].
In Runner's World Michelle H. writes about nutrition - nothing new here, I think the majority of the running world believe that nutrition will be the lever to get toward the two hour marathon run, but the story talks about Kenyan elite runners being carbo-depleted - is this for real? Ugali is the staple of all Kenyan runners, of the country, and it is the highest form of carbs one can get. Walk around Iten at meal time and you will not see any table without a huge slab of carbs. I am also very skeptical when I see research with 'elite' Kenyans without any names being mentioned... [link]
Speaking of races please do sign up for the Achilles Hop & Possibility, June 30th sponsored this year by Chevrolet! It is without a doubt the feelgood race of the summer and a great reminder that disability is not inability.
I was at the races yesterday at one of my favorite events, the RUN AS ONE that was started by a friend of mine, Tom Lebreque, and now in its tenth edition. It is a must-do race and has the best T shirts in the park (that's both my view and that of the feedback we get).
Whilst I am recruiting we are now up to FORTY for the Team Shoe4Africa '13 - get on the winning team, come run with us. In fact I met Jon who is helping us with coaching this year on Saturday and we went on a stroll in the park that was long... in fact when I got home I realized I had been out 3' 15-min and the pups went straight to the couch and passed out, finally I got their breaking point.
Are you a meat eater? Facts from rodale [LINK]
At a random fruit stall, in Nairobi. A Shoe4Africa moment.
I could stop doing the work in Kenya today and be content. Just any time I look at a photo and get so many memories of what was done on that day... I've got so many memories now.
And she is still helping. Here's box she sent.
Speaking of fast runners - Daniel Komen, the only man on the globe to run two consec sub 4-min miles is in the USA right now and talking for free - go see him [link]
Meanwhile I am now a tri-run, bike, walker! Puppy walking is turning into a tiring exercise. I am dead tire these days and I suddenely realized that along with my daily biking, my jogging, that the added hour of pup-walking is... yup, strenuous!
The man of April! Little credit is given to this humble man. He lives in Kenya and rises before his athletes, he sets the workouts, he watches the athletes preform the workouts continually tweaking the workouts. When the athlete needs massage treatment he overlooks & monitors. He drives his pick-up (Albeit a very bling bling one) from dawn to dusk following athletes footsteps no matter how boring the task... day in day out. Perhaps that is why Claudio Berardelli is Mr. April - In Rotterdam his athlete Jemima won, in Boston his athlete Rita won, and yesterday in London Priscah won! What a stunning record! (pic: Here is Claudio helping at the Shoe4Afria project at the schools).
You see it all started with a friend called Joe. for the last year and a half Joe's been helping with S4Africa getting his friends to raise funds; their key race was this half down in the middle of nowhere...
So I located a friend, Valdi, who happened to be going and he told me be at my house at 6-am. All well and good but Valdi lives in Hoboken and I live in Harlem... so the night before I was pedaling the streets of Hobo land looking for madison street...
You see I wanted to surprise the team, be at mile three and cheer like a mad man, as the runners ran by I would scream, "You're not the pope, you can't quit!" Okay - really, "Thanks and Go Team U!" What I did not want was to be stuck on the highway running back and forth. Tehn I had the good luck that I saw a runner who looked fast, he was looking for Mile one to help a friend. So we joined forces (did I tell you I can get lost going round a block). Well we continued to ask and the first two marshals did not know, I asked them, "What will you do if a mass of 3,000 runners start coming your way?" Perhaps remembering my own story of leading 3,000 runners through someone's front garden when I was in the position of leading a race with no adept marshal...
Luckily on the third ask we got it... To cut a long story short (again) I screamed "The hard three are done, now comes the easy ten!" and smiled as all the runners drifted by looking great with that GREAT team of Team U runners. After the very last person had walked by I jumped in the race and caught up Valdi and we ran in together (Valdi was one of my athletes in the Runner's World Coach makeover stories)... and I am happy to say we ended up at La Isla, a Cuban restaurant in Hoboken drinking Cuban Coffee and eating omelets before popping into a place called 'Choco pain'... Back to NYC before I took the pups to Central Park for nearly two hours solid walking (I can tell you they did not have much energy when we got home - that's what happens when you are six inches off the ground) - they even refrained from attacking every dog on the way home picking on the pigeons instead...
Please help the running community stand as One--"One Fund Boston, Mayor Menino, and Governor Patrick Call for Moment of Silence at 2:50 p.m. ET on Monday Afternoon One Minute of Silence Followed by Ringing of Bells Across the Region. BOSTON - Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Governor Deval L. Patrick, and One Fund Boston are calling upon Boston and all communities across the Commonwealth to join together in a Moment of Silence on Monday afternoon, exactly one week following the Boston Marathon bombings.
The minute of silence will take place at 2:50 p.m. ET to honor the victims of the attacks and their families. It will be followed by the ringing of bells throughout Boston and the Commonwealth. Mayor Menino and Governor Patrick are humbled by the support shown by the public and the business community, and they continue to encourage everyone to visit onefundboston.org to make a donation to help the victims of this tragedy."
Buy one at adidas.com for 100% support of the Boston Marathon victims.
image-running Boston in 1998 in the Saucony uniform that Starbucks designed. Called a small world! 
Glad to say joining me is a team from the NYRR board in Boston '14 - John L., Michael G., Raul, Eric, George, former Boston winner Nina K., Bryant, and Tom -- our show of support!
Speaking of which the best race of the year for the marathon is coming up as far as 'fast running' and that is London on Sunday.
My thoughts go out to all affected by this horrid and unnecessary travesty.
I was going to go to Boston, I was supposed to be giving a talk about Shoe4Africa up there but canceled due to excessive travel... and would have been sitting at the finish line cheering as I would not have ran. Horrible.
Anne handing out football kits to Kamariny primary school in Kenya
In Rotterdam it was Kenya 1, Ethiopia 1 as the marathon battles continue after Paris. I know today Kenya will strike again in Boston... and good luck to all my friends who are running there - keep on getting text messages from peeps there. But back to Rotterdam, and in a way Boston...
Sadly last year Jemima Jelagat Sumgong took cortisone and was wrongly banned. Although FULLY cleared by the IAAF who stated she should never have been banned Jemima was not invited back to Boston. In a rather odd move she was told the field was full at the same time other (slower) females were being recruited and asked to run there! So Jemima was forced to find a race elsewhere and literally had to last minute jump into the Rotterdam field. Other notable Hilda Airlines came third, the best Dutch result - in the men's race Holand had two men in the top ten with strong showings from Iten resident Koen and also, in 10th, Michel Butter who is the pingpong champ of Iten -- look for stronger performances from these two as they peak for the World Champs in August. Further up the field the man everyone thought in Kenya would lead the world in marathoning, Geoffrey Kipsang, failed to shine, finishing fourth and second Kenyan behind Sammy Kitwara as two relatively unknown Ethiopians stole the show...
Elsewhere Gebrselassie continued his usual trait of running a low key race and winning in a world class time. This has been the trade mark of his road success having set world records but never having beaten the road kings. Of course his real legacy comes from dominating the track when he used to race against all and everyone. Good to see his countryman Kennenisa winning in Ireland over a 10km race, just breaking 29-minutes (Which says nothing as maybe the course was tough)... what it does say is probably we will see Kennenisa move to the roads from now on as I don't think he's able any longer to run like he used to ten years ago. He'd be Mo-tored out of lane one.
Now for politics - two runners who have now been elected Counselors in the Elgeyo Marakwet district of Kenya. One is a 2:08 marathon runner, the other is a former world record holder - any guesses to who these former athletes are?
Nanzi (Ajuma) & Elsie: Buying fruits for the Shoe4Africa food handout for the Kids at the Cancer Ward of Kenyatta Hospital. We had a fun day moving the feeding program to its third stage. We went shopping first for fruits, we bought bananas, apples, oranges, mangoes, biscuits (cookies), fruit juices, flavored milk, candies etc, loaded up the car, and went for coffee... Then Logosh came along, and we headed off to the Kenyatta children's cancer ward. Taking the kids out to a playing field we had games - guitar playing, skipping donut eating, and wheelchair racing. I am very sorry to say I lost in that division, but I gave good chase before getting thoroughly beaten by a girl. Leaving the hospital we got lost in the passageways, thought we'd never get out! This wrapped up the fun series! Whilst I am on lists - I went to the best school in Kibera yesterday - put together by a lady called Lilly. The School is called Little Rock and it is head and shoulders, head and shoulders better than any I have seen. Amazing, she has really gone far getting funding from Britain and now has a fab school. If Kibera interests you, and education (and she has a big focus in looking after disabled kids) then this place is the place for your support. Pics will be coming... On the blancony with Abel Kirui, with his new building in Iten. In those houses in front of you are a mass of world class runners. Going to Eldoret today for more Biz, bank stuff, hospital stuff, accounts, blah blah... and lunch with Claudio! Heavy rains hit last night as we move into the season of rains here. They were so heavy last night it felt like the roof was falling in. Today however is bright sunshine. Speaking, writing of which Time magazine has no comment on the Pirates of Somali scam video... but you have to laugh at the last quote - makes such sense - guys pretending to be pirates for the Western media and one of the actors points out the obvious, "Why would pirates with hoards of money waste time making interviews on documentaries about themselves?" Egg on the face and at least some of the Western media admit it. [link] Edna Kiplagat addressing the public of Iten and the new Governor asking for the area to support its athletes. Just back from Lodwar, Turkana. That is up north in Kenya and I had a great time doing a feeding program that was in two parts. Part one was with Kids. I was staying in the Women's Conference Center, the best place to stay up there as you support a women's empowerment group. This is an area of Kenya that needs help! It has been projectville and busy days. Right now I am trying to catch up - this morning was back to the hospital where things are progressing nicely. Then there was Vibrams give out DAY 2 - this time at the Shoe4Africa Janeth Jepkosgei school. I have some great photos from that. Will post tomorrow... Kenya continues to be good for me. lots of more great projects - please let me know if you want to be a part! Young ladies all running around in Vibrams Great fun today in Iten town. We went out to the community to give out Vibrams donated kindly to us after an outreach by our friend Marco. We had a fun day with some laughing and singing, and the kids were very receptive to trying these new shoes out. They loved them. Well that was the morning project. In the afternoon I jumped back in the car and drive to Eldoret to meet Michael Greven who is being a great help to go over the contract for the construction part. It was also great to see the fabulous progress they have made with the Cancer Unit there. Things are moving! Also great news for us is we can co-use their newly built project office that will have hi-speed Internet! Great to have good friends. Brother Colm visited last night, good to see him as always. A famous resident and feature of Iten town. You must watch 'Man on a Mission' if you have not already... Dickson Chumba is my Boston Marathon pick, the race is three weeks away and I am picking him for Gold. Another Boston Man, Wesley the winner from 2012, was in Iten yesterday too... in a running capacity. He is now juggling two jobs - one as a full time runner and one as a Member of Parliament for his district. I hope he gives enough time to both vocations.... Lots going on in Kenya with hospital meetings, a food program, shoe drives hand outs, soccer uniforms giveout, tons of stuff! Expect me near to the Sudan border in a few days... speaking of travel - yesterday I was a mechanic, well I changed the Upper Stanchion bushes which is as good as I can get to be a mechanic! I must remember to take Adharanand Finn's book to Chris - if you have not read it, buy it - Running with the Kenyans. A great book and written here in Iten no less. A picture of sorting out Vibram shoes from the shoe boxes with my Shoe4Africa workers. Thanks to Marco Lui & Yuliana. We'll be doing an event at Janeth Jepkosgei's area later this week most likely. Driving in Kenya; of late it has been mad cows jumping around the road. You are bombing along the road watching out for all the potholes, pedestrians and on coming cars that on-come in both lanes often, also sheep, sometimes zebras... but of late it has been cows. I was coming from Iten driving to Eldoret and this mad cow goes dashing, I mean sprinting, across the road. I missed her by mere inches. Great to see Emily Chebet win the ladies with Viola in 7th! The Kenyan ladies dominated the team comp. over rivals Ethiopia. Emily won one of our S4A races back in 2006, Viola always runs and helps our events in Iten. PS: A few months ago I tipped Faith to win the Juniors, and she did but I never guessed it would be that close! No comment about Gebrhiwet's 'junior' win, 18-years. hm. Here is a picture of him last year (17?).LINK I bet $200 he'll never get to the master's division! Other highlights - the road near Burnt Forest is being dug up - it took 90-minutes to drive 5km! That for me sounded quite different from what we often hear from the West. When I was younger the media told us China and India were the third world. Africa was the third world. I think the West is in for a shock... a series of moves are seeing infrastructure, business, and trade opportunities that were always there sprout up, yet maybe maybe the West did not wish for them to be developed because one could argue the work that China is now putting in could have been done by a number of other countries. I started to hear good things about the Boost, but also that it is gluey - what does that mean? Stepping into the shoe feels too good to be true. Great, first class cushioning, so I was convinced that it would be a floppy ride. Mizuno have a great ride but the firmer cushioning dies pretty quick and I always fine that I know the shelf life is a month or so. The Boost Energy is definitely something new, let's see how it is after a few runs (and I will be testing it in the foothills of Iten, Kenya) but I was shocked. Whatever they have built the midsole out of is like nothing I have ran in before because it gives a great ride, with support, and rolls-royce comfort. Too good to be true? Let's see! I was talking to Kipsang and this is "his" shoe. He told me that the longevity is top notch; you get the same feel after 600-miles, in fact 700 and counting. Hard to believe, but as I say I promise you this is a shoe that you have never seen before. The upper has a glove feel, again it is a rolls. Let me get back to you in a week. Chubbs at Urban told me about these, they are selling like Hotcakes and I can not see, and feel, why. Let me know what you think; but I am guessing you won't be disappointed. Pretty sure it is the shoe of the year... IF it lasts as long as the peeps are promising me (and they have no reason to say otherwise). Three thumbs, out of two - UP! Sara Richburg, who runs to help a variety of groups, and was running yesterday in memory of Thomas Richburg. Thanks to all the S4A runners who turned out on a cold icy day with brutal winds. Our flying Doctor Jean-Pierre ran 1:32! More than that I have not got anyone else's results as yet. It was fun to be out there and I can say I was happy to read later that it was a Kenyan Double with Wilson Kipsang & Caroline Rotich. Not only a Kenyan double but both have helped and supported Shoe4Africa in different ways. More nasty weather on Saturday when snow hit NYC - triple yuck. We had taken the pups to go the race expo and am now learning things like "Dogs aren't welcome" thus we were in and out in less than three minutes and back onto the NYC streets full of drunkards (all looking 15-yrs tops) dressed in Green. What a shame all that is great about Ireland is lost by an overwhelming wash of teenagers busing themselves in from NJ and ending up wrecked by noon on the streets of our Golden City. Giving out London Marathon jackets and getting pics last year in Ndalu, near Kitale. Always happy memories from Kenya. PS: always easy to spot me too at events. The legacy of Jomo Kenyatta will be an amazing goal for Uhuru to set himself up for.... I was talking with Isaya today and he gave me the actual facts: Kenya during Kenyatta's time was the fourth most powerful country in Africa. During Moi's time, urm.... and Kibaki has been pulling the country back up the rankings. Bright days ahead for Uhuru! More animal talk. The talk in the supermarket line today was how long does it take a NYC cockroach to starve to death? Delightful. Guardian: 'President Bill Clinton's administration knew Rwanda was being engulfed by genocide in April 1994 but buried the information to justify its inaction, according to classified documents made available for the first time. **And now is the time, at no time in the future will there be a better time. I wonder what issues President Obama will end up looking back upon and wishing that he had "made his mark" as with, say, Lincoln. My friend Wendy ran a marathon this past weekend, as if the miles were a hurdle enough... Very sad, and one of the long, long line of sad notes in our history of the stupid way some people treat others. Yet history has a great way of highlighting those pioneers who did stand up - Like Martin Luther King. Does any one have sympathy or love for those who stood against King? Life is short; if you statement is to walk over other people that will be your legacy. Talking watching so yesterday I went to the ABC studios on the West Side. I went with Tony and his Publicist Mandy. We were put in a make up room and as Tony waited for makeup I went looking around. One stroppy lady stopped me looking from in the rooms by shutting all the doors and continually asking me what I wanted. Then we moved to the Green Room where we met nicer people Molly & Brittany who I felt I knew after some email exchanges. Then I got put in the audience and they kicked a lady out of her seat (Poor dear), so I chatted to the lady next to me, in fact on either side - Chicago & New York, before I got moved again. Then boom the show started, The Katie Couric Show. All about Girls/Women around the world - watch it, I think, on Thursday in the afternoon, on a TV. Kind've nice having a driver outside waiting for you (the life I could get used to) although I was already volunteering that we'd walk over the park to get home... Speaking about goods I watched the Ben Carson story - what an amazing story, what a life, incredible story. I highly recommend it if you have not seen it. We went to a a cafe called The Hub and let me tell you do not order the Cheesecake. Before that we went to a Hotel, don't order the coffee - go to a cafe called The Tunnel. It is a University town and let me tell you it is snowing up there it is so north... Was I in Canada? Meanwhile the Hague trial, ICC, has been postponed till August - will it be done within a decade we ask? I see pictures like this and think how lucky people are in the West for the treatment they get, and how unlucky the people are in Africa for the home made remedies they have to apply (in many cases). Reading that my zipcode in HARLEM gives on average 14% away to charity! And my last income, on the Upper East Side, 10128 gives a measly 7% once again proving it is the person not the generalization... Check out your ZIP Good luck at Tokyo for Jonathan Maiyo, a 2:04 runner, here running with his school kids (left). School partner/training partner Abel to the right.
At Blaggards - let me tell you there is a big problem when you hire a waitress who does not understand English. Asking, in an Irish Pub, for a start salad and the main dish for the Salmon does not mean getting a big green salmon with a half portion of Salmon thrown on the top of the Greens. It was a bewilderment that she got the Guinness right. 3/10 on 38th ST A letter from Kanga (center) "I have to give credit to Rosemary Wanjiru for staying at the camp for 6 weeks of her school holidays. A 42 second win for her in the Chiba International was well deserved. Having watched the Women's 6k XC in Nairobi I have no doubt she would have been at least top 3 had she competed. The photo attached is of Rosemary (right) and her sister Margaret (left). Margaret
at 15 is talented..." Me thinks they both are. Amazingly good half is on the cards this weekend: New Orleans Rock n Roll. The big heavyweights are Marvelous Mo Fire Farah taking on Lel the gazelle. The Gazelle has not yet lost a half and he has a record stretching back over ten years... but then again he has not raced Mo' Fire Farah as yet. Am guessing he'll be against Geoffrey Kipsang in 2014.
THE STORY ABOUT TRAIN HARD, WIN EASY. THE BOOK OF KENYAN RUNNING. Wiki on the Shoe4Africa 5km link [here]
Am going round yawning all the time right now - was up last night at 02:30; it is called still living in Kenya time but a body in New York City.
Central Park is so crowded right now with the good weather, I was out strolling with the pups and it looked like a minor city marathon so many peeps out there jogging along.
PS: reminder - please sign up for the Achilles 5-miler on June 30th - do something to help the less fortunate athletes of NYC and be inspired as they overcome their disability, "One of NYC's most inspiring race days." Prince Harry's done it, Jon Stewart's done it, why not you?
04/10
Back in the United States. I always seem to get perspective stepping back into the West, from Africa. The first headline I read in Britain is about a "bored" ballet dancer who took cocaine because of that boredom... #lifeissohard.
Straight back to Central park and coached the Flyers but it was a night that everyone was out on - tons of peeps. Good to see them all.
Unpacking - seems like a continual theme these days, sure will be back to normal soon... on the plane I saw Django Unchained. A good movie, fun to watch. I thought it was pretty similar to the 'Inglorious Bastards' film. Certainly nothing has been made better than the original cowboy classic 'the good, the bad, & the ugly' and this film borrows heavily from those old spaghetti films.
I saw an ad on the plane for a $50 if-your-cellphone gets wet kit. Actually all you do is put your cellphone under a 500gram bag of dried rice.... much cheaper. Works, done it!
04/08
Good funny story about a foreigner running a race in Kenya by Anjali Nayar. [link] I met Anjali in 2008, and again this past weekend.
Peter Some ran the race of the weekend at Paris Marathon winning in 2:05:38 - his father was Some Muge; Kenya's first ever winner of a World Cross medal,and he comes from the Nandi district, very, very close to where I built the first Shoe4Africa school.
In fact a lot of fast running around the world this past weekend, nothing new.
Good to see Uchumi is again Kenya's cheapest supermarket, Nakumatt was at the top of the list.
It is a brilliant Sunny Monday in Nairobi. I am ashamed to say for the whole time I have been in Nairobi (both now and before) I have only been for one single run. Not my fave place to go running... mind you if I lived in N'gong it would be another story.
Congrats to Mary Keitany for giving birth on Saturday to Samantha Jerop. No doubt, like a typical Kenyan lady she'll be back to her normal routine today. I never forget the time I went to see Ruth and two hours after she'd given birth she was in the car park going home. Not like the West...
Wow, sad to hear Margaret Thatcher died, 87-yrs old. The passing of a lady who certainly made a mark.
Restaurant reviews - in Nairobi I go to the cheap places, and nothing is better than Smart Village on Elgeyo Marakwet road. This place is a sleeper, can't believe more people don't go there. Superbly authentic, very cheap and great - check it out... In Adams Arcade a new Indian - Mughals (Upstairs). Hm, I asked for medium spice and it was as mild as sand in a coffin. No kick, little taste, and bland. Other Nairobi news is the rains; heavy! Luckily they come when I am asleep, but around the country 28-people have died in rain-related causes of late.
04/05
Drove to Nakuru today from Eldo. So I was asking "What is the best route?" as my usual route via Burnt Forest has major delays. The other route via Kabarnet has bad memories as my radiator blew up on the last journey, but I heard of another route, "Just go straight through Eldama." Any turns I asked? "No, straight. There is only one patch where the road is bad." -- the trip usually takes me two hours. So I am driving, then boom a T-junction. A left or right? Then huge pit holes and bumps, half the road missing... Nothing over took me, it was not like I was not making progress but it took me three hours! I could not believe it! In Nakuru I met my friend Gerard and we went to look at a garment manufacturer. Then it was to Naivasha and stopping at Delameres coffee shop of course, before hitting Nairobi! A long trip!
04/04
A view with a room:
All the marathoners are getting ready for their spring races and it is interesting to hear that it is not Wilson who appears to be the favorite for London from the Kenya camp. Again, I have done my tips already, so I am not changing anything. Boston first - Dickson & Rita. Rita is sentimental but I still think she'll win again.
PUMA drop Uganda athletics team - maybe they would like to support a hospital wing instead in Kenya?? [link]
Melbourne track coming up, journalists often "fix" a quote and this one looks like a fix from japhet Korir, the new XC Champ, who does not talk like this (seen on the IAAF) - "The 5000m will by my focus this season and the Qantas Melbourne World Challenge is my first chance to race across the distance (this year). It would be good to get the year started well."
04/02
Yes, I got got on April 1st by Starbucks. I am already planning the revenge for April 1st 2013. As usual I was out of the loop and even oblivious to the date as my phone was a day behind the rest of the world so I was not even on the look out.
03/29
The new track is coming along, still shocked that it can not have more than a 3mm variance in height and must be within 18mm in length for IAAF certification... I will never go into track building that is for sure! Yikes.
In Kenya this week it is all Supreme Court talk with Raila appealing the voting decision. Our old friend Katwa Kigen is a prime player for the Uhuru team.
03/28
Greets from Kenya! Today was a momentous day as the Governor's were sworn into office, for the first time in Kenyan history. Down on the location field Chris Cheboiboch, as I mentioned, and former world record holder Wilson Boit Kipketer were also introduced. Iten is now the center for the administration of Elgeyo-Marakwet and will be elevated in importance. The new Gov is called Engineer Tolgos. The MC told us he had been criticized in the national newspapers for a "lack of experience" but he pointed out as this is the first time in Kenyan history that they get a Governor who is experienced??
Was talking to Daniel Komen on the phone, he called up from Nairobi. He is coming to America soon, and should be at Boston - still the only man on the planet to run two consec. miles under 8-mins.
Tomorrow a philanthropy day - giving out sportswear! Always fun, I must remember to take my camera.
All people who fund raise we ask that you continue to use our fund raising platform - this means 2.9% of your donation goes to process your donation. Please DO NOT use crowdrise - they take up to TEN per cent as a processing fee. this means if you donate $100 we get only $90 JUST for swiping your card. Companies who skim charities like this should not be endorsed. There is a moral obligation and no reason why it should cost just a high percentage just to process your money. it really annoys m how many people try to make profits from other people's goodwill.
03/27
A Chinese man smuggling 439 pieces of Ivory is caught in Nairobi. He is fined... about $325. What kind of message does this send? #Poor Elephants!
In Iten - a small world; just met an Israeli runner who used to come to AlbQ back thirteen/fourteen years ago! he looks just the same.
Chris Cheboiboch gets sworn in today on the Iten location field, he called me up to say come and bring a camera... he's being made a counselor for Elgeyo Marakwet district - big honor.
I drive a lot in Kenya as getting around needs private transportation when you are carrying 200-pairs of shoes etc... luckily the cows remained calm today though one crazy pickup truck did the unthinkable - we were zooming along dodging potholes and it literally came to a dead stop with no brake lights either (those are optional extras it seems up here).
03/26
We hear Stanley Biwott is in great shape, watch out for him in London. We heard that he ran his long run at a super-dooper pace this morning and is looking great.
Abel Kirui and Jonathan came by today, Abel is also training for London.
03/25
Big waves in Iten Kenya as the men's team get relegated to third, behind the USA(!) and Ethiopia. The runners sigh, "At least we got the individual men's win" but I can tell they are more than a bit bothered about the excellent performance of the Flying Americans.
Driving in Kenya today, crazy as always, barely missed being in a couple of road accidents. One of which a truck suddenly decided to exit a highway at a right angle, me and another car were stuck between that truck and an 18-wheeler behind us!
Glad to see Ezekiel Kemboi pumping Shose4Africa. Thanks to Nancy for sending.
Just had a look in the shoe store - thanks to those who sent, will look for names later but I saw DJ from Holland (aka the NY Flyers)... just been sorting through some of the boxes of shoes. Some boxes have no names, other have labels I can not read but I want to thank (some that I am able as labels get destroyed etc)the following people: Tomoaki Uchiki of Japan, Urban Bettag of the UK, Koja Sports of Belgium, Duncan (first/last name?) of East 89th ST,NYC, Emily Taylor of Chasewood, Canada, Joyce Ray of zipcode 17202 (can't read the address), Kathleen McCormack of West 62nd St, NYC, Setterlund of S. Yarmouth, MASS, Taisuke Nakashima of Tokyo, Alexander Burch from North Dakota (sending school supplies), Will Hebbes sending soccer boots, UK, Kelly McClure of Denver, Colorado, Wasson of I am guessing Hauula, Hawaii, (very colorful newtons)... Also Gurpreet Mand for a big, big parcel. Also we have vibrams from China so I will be doing a hand out at a school event coming very soon.
03/21
More on China: the West accuses China of being the new colonialists. China says untrue. China says the West's only interest is in oil, oil, oil. China says trade. The West says China is using Chinese equip instead of using African, and using Chinese workbase, whereas China says that it never uses more than a 15% ratio of its own workforce and often it has to as it is introducing new skill ideas, language barriers and 'all' of its projects have that 85% African growth workforce rising upward, not downward. The West says China is pushing its products on Africa... What country is not pushing its products... China says the West came into Africa in the name of religion and came out as the land owners, but China made it clear from the getgo it came in as business partners. China says it looks at Africa as a partner not like the West as a poor continent in need of band aids. China says it has built road, bridges, schools and hospitals in Africa - done a lot in a short time.... these are floating comments of course, but I always remember one of the first comments I heard about Chino-Africa, the one of a Chinese man saying, "We see the African continent of a super power of the future. We are excited, and we want to be a part of it. We're coming here to develop parallels for the future..."
However, on the flip side we have the claims of Human rights records, we have the claims of pollution, what China is doing to the environment. As I say, I am in the middle only observing, listening, looking...
The latest in the Kenyan presidency fight.... [link]
A classic case of Hillary Clinton not studying her African history - LINK to a nothing less than bizarre article. She 'warned of a creeping "new colonialism" in Africa from foreign investors and governments interested only in extracting natural resources to enrich themselves.' Remember Zaire & Mr. Reagan? Mobuto had an awful, awful human rights record, but sigh, he was a 'good friend to America' and you wonder why... Mr. Clinton expressively did not go into Rwanda to stop a known genocide because 'it was not in the interest of America.' One can only reflect on a comment like this and wonder if one can not see the forest for the trees. I googled 'fair trade africa' and look what came up... By the way talking Zaire there is a good documentary called Lumumba, about the too short life of Patrice Émery Lumumba that is worth watching...
More bad news from Kenya - and conclusive proof that EPO does work on Kenyan runners. I have heard a few times people pout that EPO has zero effect on H-Altitude runners - I think the woman who has just been caught and her sudden ten minute improvement silence that one. [link] As for that Pokwot runner, it is a shameful story. I wish these athletes would actually explain how they got the drugs. My idea is a lifetime ban if they are silent, a four year ban if they talk.... otherwise as the Skinny Kenyan says, "Stop using words like Zero tolerance."
03/20
News & previews of the world XC this weekend [link]
(update)-- some Q's that have come in - Yes, I tried the Adidas shoe on and off road - superb on both, I am the least efficient runner I know but relatively light (for a westerner) - 148-lbs. My feet are normal and I usually run in the Asics Kayano or GT, or Mizuno's (a variety). Never knew being a tester required these things - sorree! How many miles a week? Not enough. 5-miles six times a week? Last run: today - 7-miles at below 43-minutes. (I only looked at the big hands).
To be honest I have not stepped into a pair of adidas running shoes for a decade or more. I had a bad experience with the shoe that had two eyelets and a big open space and a cantilever bar under the foot (that picked up a ton of melted tarmac one hot running race). So a review of the Adidas Energy Boost was one I was a little skeptical about to say the least. Beckham's foot is not that of a runner, and Haile, well Haile is Haile.
03/19
Wish her luck! Shoe4Africa Ambassador helping us with a pencil and pens hand out at a local school in Iten. "Sleepy" Sylvia will be running her first half marathon this weekend in Lisbon! Go Sleepy! Considering in the last two world champs she's plucked two silver medals we are hoping for a Mo Fire performance!
Talking Shoe4Africa we have an alumni of over 250 runners now! So after the NYC half I sent out an alumni thank you letter... Jean-Pierre Reinhold who has just ran a great race for us is in the airport lounge and emails me... "Hi Toby, another really peculiar incident. We are just sitting in the airport lounge and here is also Hugh Jackman another S4A supporter." It is a small world in Shoe4Africa land.
Snow, more snow in NYC, so thick I can barely see the steps outside my door - where are all the Winter lovers now huh? One sad part is every one I have heard from finished the race on Sunday and RAN home as fast as they could - that is why I like the warm weather; it is friendly.
Doing a Shoe review -- the New Adidas Energy Boost. I got a pair today, they are black, look great and I can highly recommend them on first feel. They are unique. But hold on, I have not run in them yet... first impressions are amazingly well cushioned and support-ride feel for a light shoe. If you are the runner who likes the minimal beliefs, feel, yet requires adequate cushioning, comfort and ride.. then these shoes might be for you! The running part takes place tomorrow - IF there is no snow.
03/18
The night before I was out with a group at John's Pizza on the East Side and sat thinking what interesting people runners tend to be. A great positive sport to be involved with in many ways. My own personal focus has totally shifted in a fashion that I would not have guessed these days but really that is the wheel of time, we move on, do differing things. Today I like the Human Interest stories the most, and what running can do to improve lives.
Still running great, an athlete Starbucks discovered and brought down to elite level: Helena Kirop (KEN) 2:24:40 winning Rome. Getachew Negari Terfa (ETH) 2:07:56 took the men's. I ran the Rome course, well the old Rome course, the one that went on the cobblestones and up and down Rome's 7-hills. A great marathon and I hear the New Course is much faster these days.
03/15
Kudos to Steve Spear, Volunteer Running Ambassador, RUNNING for WATER...LA to NY for Hope in Africa. Steve is off and running in 25-days! Amazing and so nice he is doing this to help thousands upon thousands get access to water. Something I for one takes totally for granted. Learn more at Team World vision - running for water.
Last night I was at the homecoming for Shay - she looked fabulous. It was also a homecoming for George too who has been at the hospital most of the time with her. Onward, as she says!
Saw a newsclip that baby Faced has withdrawn from the London field and thought, woo, she could debut in NYC... but sigh, Hugh Brasher has nailed it and she won't run a marathon until London '14 when the Mo-run-athon will have the city on fire. However, that said, even with Tiru's withdrawal London still has the line up of the last calendar year ready to take up the reins... and maybe Melkamu can cover for Tiru. She is certainly not the fastest on paper but she is 1/1 in marathon running and one of the all time greats. One thing is for sure Boston, Rotterdam, Anydam race all put together can't match the London field!
Walking the dogs in the park today I met James, a former runner who was walking his little dog. "Is this what it has now become?" The answer is yes and I am loving it! We ran a mile and walked two today on the bridle path and ended up on Central Park South. Pegleg challenged three dogs six times his size to a battle and one horse... never one to lack in courage.
Hoping for good weather on Sunday, I am going to be out for there for quite some time!
03/14
Britain downscales its facilities and up scales its coaches: Pumping more money into coaches and closing down one of Britain's major tracks - where Jessica Ennis's trains, in the Steel City. Sebastian Coe actually grew up training in this city until he moved as a student to Loughborough, but did not train at this track as it was built after he left. Sad that is it not 'financially viable' and a blow for Northern Athletes who pretty much have been the best of British male distance running for a long time going back to Coe, Cram, Foster, McLeod, Elliot etc...
More doping problems - I think everything needs to be much more transparent. I would like to see lists of athletes who miss drugs tests matched up against certain managers - say for example Mr Blob misses one test, then misses the second, then appears for the third (legal and will not get banned) this is a big time window that allows certain traces of drugs to be out of the system. Then I would like an independent tester, Doctor, to test for any allowed performance enhancer with a "doctor's note". All of this should be monitored and assessed by an independent board. LINK
I would also make it mandatory for teams to be sent to the World Cross if the country will send teams to the Track & Field - that is something entirely different of course, just trying to save a dying competition which I think is the one of the absolute best.
03/12
In an amazing turn of events Kibaki will be handing over the presidency to his Godson, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Best article I have seen yet? LINK is here. [link]
Went for a jog in Central Park today, took the pups. We got 1.5-miles and met Kimka & Chris so we stopped and chatted. A lady stopped by with a dog, "Are yours friendly?" I must profess I said yes. Pegleg, feeling a foot taller than he actually is, took a snap at this other dog's nose.
03/11
I am not from the DRC, I have never been there. I truly wish for the people of DRC that President Obama would work with the UN to end the daily atrocities. It took a lot of courage for Bill Clinton to stand up and admit his blunder in dealing with Rwanda...
Senior officials privately used the word genocide within 16 days of the start of the killings, but chose not to do so publicly because the president had already decided not to intervene.
Intelligence reports obtained using the US Freedom of Information Act show the cabinet and almost certainly the president had been told of a planned "final solution to eliminate all Tutsis" before the slaughter reached its peak.
In Europe it was Mother's Day yesterday. I found out the history of Mother's Day - thanks to my mother. In the olden days Maids were given one day off to go home and visit their Mother's.
Running: Edwin Kipyego wins the ever quick CPC half in Holland in 60:05, the women's result was outside 70-mins (guessing no Kenyan/Ethiopians). Speaking of the Half it is one week to go till the NYC Half. I would like to thank the members of the Shoe4Africa Team who have signed up to help - it is my dream that one day everyone will raise money to help a charity through running by the means of signing up, registering to help ANY cause, whether it is $10 or $1,000.
My theme for this week; MLK--"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." And would that not be a dream come true? And why are we so far from achieving this? What are the "united" states priorities?
03/08
Lunch at the Harvard Club yesterday, though we were not allowed in the main dining area as we were wearing jeans. Apparently jeans wearers had to go up to the gallery - A tuna fish salad and tomato soup - the soup was good the coffee was so so... but I must say I do like the club. President Obama's old school, in fact there is a picture of him in the lobby.
The Katie Couric clip is now on line. Very nice of the show to give us some air time, there are so many good charities out there it must be hard on who to pick and who not to pick. You can watch here [link]
Just got home before the snow (yup) started falling!
A reminder NOW is the time to get the early bird price for the Hope & Possibility 5-miler. Under the NYRR system the 'cheap' price is only available for the next two weeks, despite this being a June race, then the price increases. I hope you take full advantage of the online entry asap - June 30th, come and support the Achilles by running 5-miles.
03/06
There is an excellent Netflix called 'I am a Slave' that you an stream about Slavery & Sudan & a journey to Britain. There are more slaves today than at any time in history; did you know that? Shocking.See the trailer
03/05
I was forwarded a youtube video today, by a few different people. So I decided to watch it. Economics - 1% of America has 40% of its wealth. the bottom 80%, yes and this is what I found startling, only has 7% of the nations wealth. The video's underlying message is to awaken people's thoughts [link] so it can be seen as a motivator. In a country like America there is opportunity for change. I believe it must be one of the few countries where through hard work you can make a quick jump through the ranks. Not like a lot of Europe where progressed is too often marred by the bogmire of having to spend years in certain stations before advancement regardless of talent. Just a thought and I certainly am not a financial wiz but it did make me think of that John Lennon song, "You say you want a revolution..." and it did make me think of the great Gandhi, Be the Change you want to see in the world, or should that be rephrased to Your world?
Less than a week till the clocks go forward... I like the Kenyan system that stays on one time zone. Speaking of which yesterday was peaceful voting in Kenya. from a running POV Wesley Korir becomes the first reigning Boston Marathon winner to enter the House of Parliament following in the footsteps of a man, who as a former athlete and Boston winner was elected in 2008; Elijah Lagat. Furthermore Chris Cheboiboch, a man I have known now for close to twenty years, became the County Rep for the Elgeyo-Marakwet district; quite an unexpected result... the main result is expected soon.
Going to watch a Katie Couric show today, being picked up to boot as my buddy Tony is on the show. To be aired on Thursday, I do believe.
An email from a great long time supporter of S4A, Wendy:
"My kid is so cute.
she was talking to her teacher about taking the SAT (exit exams) and the teacher said she might be able to get a waiver at the office for the exam fee (it's 50$ i think). kiddo got all guilty and sad no, no, my parents make too much, and teacher goes, well, it's not likely that they make TRUCKLOADS of money (she's in public school, the rich kids go private :-D) and these are vouchers left over from after the kids w. financial needs get theirs.
so she got one. and now she wants to donate the 50$ to s4a. how precious is that. i told her she could give it to you when we see you in june!" Thanks so much - I wish I was like that when I was a kid, quite the opposite, sadly!
03/04
Biting cold continues to hit NYC, so much so going up to 168th to cheer on the runners was out of the question. This continues to be indoor weather!
Sad to read reports on Mother Teresa where people appear to be doing studies to see if she was a good person or not. I think the article should have had some first hand accounts. The few people I have met who knew her said she was an amazing person, and that is the story I am believing. Not that of people who never even met her - [link]
To something quite different: I had a meeting talking about getting the new possible Mayor to this year's Hope & Possibility race (june 30th remember) in a restaurant called Claw and the owner, or manager, came across and was saying that the place hasn't picked up since it closed for reno's and he did not know why... leaving this nice clean, fresh, lobsteresque place I saw the joint next door had a used toilet in the street (this in Chelsea) to use for cigarettes with a sign "Used Butts" - how gross. Well Claw should clean up its neighbors as the next time I am walking down that street I am not wanting to walk near that dirty toilet. Odd.
Lots of racing this weekend; at the ever-fast Rome Half Wilson Kiprop ran a 59:15 and Filomena Cheyech (KEN) 67:39 (spell check??) won the women's, whilst Vincent Kipruto won lake Biwa in 2:08 for Kenya (again) with our Baker friend Viktor in a fine 8th (though I doubt he'll be happy), but the race that I was most interested in was the European Men's 800m finals in Goteborg, Sweden. I do not know who won the race but I was super-dooper happy to see that although Mukhtar left Iten a beaten man at both pingpong and Ludo he did win the bronze medal, his first senior championship medal (I think). Fantastic and I am tipping this young man for Rio!!
The other night I went to the ADIDAS launch of a new shoe, called the Boost (I thought Boost was a cheap telephone carrier better only to SimpleMobile). And wouldn't you know it was like the old days starting line of a NYRR race - Chubbs was hosting, Partime Pam was on the light beers, Herb the Verb was dropping the tactfully wrong lines... anyway, I had a night of good meets and conversations, and in fact before that I was at another meeting in regards to a new book I am thinking of writing. It was a meeting, as often is, that actually has given another new project up in the air which might see a big new move for me in regards to charity work. More to be disclosed after more frozen lemon pie at Chez Lucienne (three thumbs up on Lenox & 125th)... but needless to say, I am excited at the thought.
03/01
Totally missed that the author of Three Cups of Tea, David Oliver Relin [Not Greg Mortenson who wrongly insisted to be listed as a co-author but did not write anything) killed himself in December. How sad, I thought that was a well written book.
Terrors down in South Africa - a taxi driver was accused to obstructing traffic, was handcuffed to the back of a police van and dragged off down the road(!) Later found dead in his cell - careful if you drive to work this morning. Very sad.
Interesting debut in Boston will be that of Micha Kogo, a Kenyan 59:07 road ace.
Coogans locally this weekend; was going to run it but my one run per week would probably not even get me from my home to the start line... that is a favorite race for many locals.
So I finally got my four pin circular light bulb 32watts cost-a-bomb but will last four years. Got it home, plugged it in and... darkness, then some flickers! Geez, what a drag... I have to go all the way back to Home Depot now!
02/28
Great pictures of Prince Harry doing the work he loves to do [in Africa]. Thanks Wendy
Up at Williams, MASS, we went to the next town and saw this fantastic art sculpture. An amazing, incredible piece of work from Xu Bing: Phoenix at Mass MoCA through October 2013. Do go and see it if you are close as the phoenix's are inspirational and the story of building them too. [link]
02/27
Standing in the cold or an hour in Central Park when a wild wind blew and then ice rain fell meant Joe n I froze whilst coaching the NY Flyers. riding home I could hardly feel my hands or feet - when does this weather end?
Just heard from Sleepy Sylvia - she's running Lisbon Half Marathon Not NYC - boo, not good. We were hoping she'd come here& run. Am guessing 68-high for Sleepy!
Less than a week away from the Kenyan elections. I remember the last time around. At this stage you knew there would be trouble, in the fashion I think this time round there will be peace. Besides in 2009 at the Referendum vote to change the constitution there was no probs so all is on the cards for a Peaceful Monday in Kenya. However it is looking clear that there will not be a new President announced for some time as the new rules say there will be a run off unless one candidate gets over 51% of the votes - and there are a few parties running; not like America where it becomes a two horse race.
Glad to read on the IAAF-"Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Defending IAAF World Cross Country Championships senior men’s champion Imane Merga, four-time World Cross Country Championships gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba, and two-time junior women’s winner Genzebe Dibaba have been included in Ethiopia’s provisional squad for the 2013 World Cross Country Championships in Bydogszcz, Poland, on 24 March" Dibaba's legacy is beyond amazing. Then all eyes on London where I am guessing she'll sit, kick and win in the last kilometer.
Today it is a road trip up to Williams College. All I know is it is quite some way as we are leaving super, super early.
Wiki pedia on the Shoe4Africa 5km link [here] Like to remember who's in the top ten.
02/26
Meanwhile at the World's Best 10k (self proclaimed no less) Sammy Kitwara took his fourth title, and the Shoe4Africa course record holder Joyce Chepkirui got her first win. Sammy is racing Rotterdam next month...
02/25
Great progress as Starbucks & Simba push on with her namesake track;
I was correct - Mo Farah and Gebre made the New Orleans half their own, with Mo, of course winning.
In Tokyo the men's race was won by the new top marathon runner Kimetto in 2:06, a course record. As that race was what they call a Major he now looks like the man of the season, after the 'second' place in Berlin.
I have never been a fan of Age-Graded performances; a recent post by Urban shows why they are useless; "Well done Mr Singh - 101 years old and still running strong. Cool that he promotes the sport and he has done a lot for charity.
His 10k performance in Hong Kong must have been the highest age grading recorded ever. His 10k of 1:32:28 converts to 155.45%, this means his age graded 10k time would be 17'16''"
If the recent posts in the British Post are true about Oscar's girlfriend's skull being battered in with a cricket bat, not the bathroom door, then that is truly sick. A gun and a cricket bat?
02/22
Whilst I am moaning - do not get Simple Mobile as a phone carrier. I am soon to switch. They might be super cheap but the service is far and beyond the worst I have ever had, in any country and that is scraping the bottom of a big murky barrel. An upgrade for Simple Mobile would be yogurt pots with pieces of rope. Wanna phone long distance? Well let's hope you remember everyone's number by heart as you have an in-house calling card number as long as the Texas borderline that you must call, then dial in without being able to view your contacts and that is then linked to a garbage room exchange where voices are barely audible... I asked thee Simple Mobile Tech guy (after 49-minutes on hold because my phone call was so important to them - hate to think how long the 'not-so important' calls are) if there was away round this... His answer? "I find it best to write all my numbers down on a piece of paper."
Nice BBC doc on Iten by Steve Cram on Mo Farah who is of course commandeering all the Britpress these days [link]
Those of you who want somethign else? Here's Sweden's latest star and if you can't understand Swedish, or Amharic, then at least there is great video footage! [link] PS: Last night, in Sweden, she JUST missed the world 1500m record...
great night in Swedish with an astonisging AR inthe men's 3000m by Galen Ripping up Rupp 7:30 and an equally awesome women's 3000m with Mini Dibaba: Genzebe Dibaba 91 ETH 8:26.57 MR PB WL
behind was Eilish McColgan 90 GBR 8:49.31 who has just returned from a stay at Starbucks & Simba's Camp in Kenya... do you see a trait? Just go there yourself and see!
And Mukhtar Mohammed was #7 in the Men's 1000m stepping up in distance for his season starter - another Athlete who was living in Iten - nice guy. Good Ludo player too but sadly not on the Ludo podium in Iten!
02/21
Meanwhile the very best of luck to all runners competing in the Central Park Marathon! Amazing to think this is the first Co-ed marathon in the park since 1975. Kudos to Steve Lastoe... oops I wrote Lebow by mistake. I hope to be out there (cough) in the cheering mode of course.
02/20
Back from England... Good to see my Fam again. Glad to feel the weather in NYC was not as cold, even if it was raining on touch down. I dived out to coaching, on Cotton Lloyd's Chinese Snake night.
Jet lag; never adorable, never forgettable either. Am I back to NYC, or is my body but my head is over the Atlantic? In a couple of days I will be back to normal - till then, checking out.
02/18
Kenyan World Cross Team - great to see Emily & Viola in the women's team. [link] And Faith continues on her way as the hot tip the whole year to win the Juniors.
England is cold, very cold, I had forgotten how cold it is, and how fat the pigeons are; pretty scruffy condition too - not like you see on the Trafalgar Sq postcards. The cars are smaller than NYC, smaller houses, narrower lanes, and less colors (aka Colours).
Went for a run in England with Adharanand Finn, the author of Running with the Kenyans. He is working on a new running book, starting in August when he again takes off for a 6-month stint, but not to Africa this time...
In six days it was the only run I did - the rest of the days became... rest(?) days. Not so enthused about running these days... out of Africa.
But Runner's Needed: Rock the Ridge, the 50-mile challenge and fundraiser taking place May 4, 2013 at the Mohonk Preserve, sign up and support - relay options are available.
Sad, bizarre, findings with the BladeRunner and a killing...[link]
When I was in Kenya Mo told us he'd running London 2014, and the news is now out - smart marketing... it will be talked of from now till 2014! Go Mo. A 2:05 would be a solid debut but Mo will be a 2:03 runner for sure... and why not Mr 2:02. Who knows, maybe he feels great in 2013 and can't resist... stranger things have happened.
02/14
thanks to Sarah Bliss of NZ-land for posting a blog write up about Shoe4Africa [link].
Once upon a long time ago I used to like traveling. One day soon I am going to burn my passport.
sad to see the Olympics turn more [and more] commercial and less true to its original form. I think there needs to be a reshuffle of seats - this is a community property and the people running the IOC are definitely off course if they think that Wrestling should be dropped... but let's add Golf. Why does the world have to be about trying to make as much money as possible in every revenue? Life is short, life is more important than building up piles and piles of bank accounts. What about the Olympic ideal, wrestling is a cornerstone event Grecian wrestling - get it?
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