ct&rn July–Aug 2013
800m specialist Duane Solomon posted a world leading 1:43.27 at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines. See comments on page 6.
California Track & Running News www.PhotoRun.net
VOLUME 39 NUMBER 3 $3.95
ASSOCIATION UPDATES www.caltrack.com
LEGACY: WOMEN IN MARATHONING RACING SHOE REvIEW
Includes the Runner’s Schedule Calendar!
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Sponsored By One of the most unexpected running performances in 2012 featured Meb’s victory and new PR at the Houston Trials on January 15, 2012, and his fourth place and fastest American finish at the London Games on August 12, 2012. Meb is an elite runner who always races best under the most difficult conditions. Coached for 18 years by Bob Larson, he finds strength in his ongoing relationships.
Engineered to promote a midfoot strike.
Meb forged a new partnership with the Skechers Performance Division as he was training for the 2011 New York City Marathon. He worked with the footwear company’s design team on the development of Skechers GOrun and leveraged his experience to fine tune the design of Skechers GOrun 2. When I interviewed Meb in November 2011, he told me that after using Skechers GOrun he no longer had to wear orthotic inserts in his shoes — something that amazed him. Skechers asked Meb to answer a few of our training questions below. Check out what he has to say and make sure you follow the Skechers Performance Division’s advice and give Skechers GOrun 2 a try at your local running store to see how they work for you! Find a dealer near you at: SkechersPerformance.com or roadrunnersports.com.
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Meb earned a silver medal at the 2004 Athens games and won the 2009 New York City Marathon. We caught up with him in early February, while he was training for the 2013 Boston Marathon. Proprietary lightweight injection-molded midsole
Q: Meb, you’re a top world-class marathoner, but while the vast majority of the runners in most marathons take their running seriously, they’re not serious competitors for the podium or anywhere near it. How should they train?
Minimal heel lift keeps the foot in a nearly neutral position.
MEB: The first thing I’d say would be, “What race are you getting ready for?” That’s what you should train for. That’s the reason for every workout. Now, if you’re running a halfmarathon in a couple of weeks, as part of your preparation for a full marathon, say, two months from now, then your training for the half is part of your
marathon training. Use it (the half) to experiment: for example going out at a hard pace and seeing how long you can keep it up. Or see if you can run exactly even splits for the half, or even go for negative splits. Learn what you can or can’t do. The point is that every workout should have a purpose, even if it’s just to recover from a hard workout the day before. Make a plan for each workout and each race. Then execute your plan. Q: Any other advice?
6.6 ounces (Men’s size 9) 5.2 ounces (Women’s size 7)
MEB: Find somebody you can train with on a regular basis – it can be an individual or a group. Having a training partner or partners makes it easier to get out the door on those days when you’d really rather not. And one more thing about the marathon. In the first half of the race, it’s better to be too slow than too fast. That’s a luxury I don’t have; I have to stay with the leaders to have a chance to win the race. But you can – and should – run your own race. The race you’ve planned.
skechersperformance.com Facebook: SkechersPerformance Twitter: @skechersGO
in this issue Pam Wendell
July–Aug 2013
Publisher’s Letter
Brian Pilcher of the Pacific Association bettered the current U.S. M55-59 8K record (en route) at the Marin Memorial Day 10K. Story on p. 27.
6
Association News Pacific San Diego/Imperial Central Southern California
8 29 30 30
Runner’s Schedule Calendar Event Listings
10
Legacy Women in Marathoning
12
Gear Racing Shoe Reviews
19
Training Summer Mileage Program 21 California Track & Running News is a magazine for members of the California and N. Nevada associations of USA Track & Field. Contact your region regarding changes of address and missing issues. Central California Association — lawrencewatsonus@yahoo.com — www.central-california.usatf.org Pacific Association — 916.983.4715 — heikemansoor@aol.com — www.pausatf.org San Diego/Imperial Association — 619.275.6542 — sdi_trackandfield@sbcglobal.net — www.sdusatf.org Southern California — 562.941.2621 — info@scausatf.org — www.scausatf.org
welcome
California Track & Running News
L
ast year, when Duane Solomon finished fourth in the London Olympics, some people were surprised. They shouldn’t have been, as Mr. Solomon is one of our most persistent and consistent 800-meter performers. Last year, Duane
www.caltrack.com www.facebook.com/CalforniaTrackRunningNews Twitter handle: @caltrackrn www.runblogrun.com
dropped his times from 1:45 to 1:42.82. This year, Solomon set a shortlived 600 meters indoor AR record in January. In February, while focusing on Nick Symmonds over 600 meters in the Millrose, Erik Sowinski caught Solomon by surprise. That was a wake up call for Mr. Solomon. I finally met Duane at a dinner for the Saucony athletes hosted hosted by Mark Bossardet and Brian Mahoney at the Millrose Games. Duane is affable and with a sense of fashion that exudes a quiet confidence, could be a model in GQ. And his race at the USA Championships was also all about confidence. Running from the front the entire way, Duane Solomon led three Americans under 1:44: he ran 1:43.27, Nick Symmonds finished in 1:43.72, and Brad Johnson following almost immediately in 1:43.97. Solomon’s time was the world leader. And then, on July 1, Duane Solomon ran the second-fastest time ever for 600 meters, a time of 1:13.28. Duane’s victory at the USA Championships came on his ninth visit to the outdoor track & field championships. Like his coach and mentor, Johnny Gray, the 1992 Olympic silver medalist, Duane Solomon wants to be the next American male to medal at 800 meters. The last one to do so was Rich Kenah at the 1997 World Championships, 16 years ago. Solomon could medal in Moscow in August 2013. Mark my word.
Vol. 39, No. 3 July–August 2013
SHOOTING STAR MEDIA Group Publisher Larry Eder Group & Coordinating Editor Christine Johnson christinej.ssm@gmail.com CTRNeditorial@gmail.com
CT&RN Contributing Editors Cregg Weinmann Apparel, Footwear Reviews Dave Shrock Community Colleges Mark Winitz Northern California Photographers Victor Sailer www.PhotoRun.net Mitchell Garner, Arturo Ramos Rebecca Trahan, Thuc Tran, Pam Wendell www.supersportsphoto.com Association Consultants John Mansoor Pacific Lawrence Watson Central Wayne Joness, Rebecca Trahan Southern Mike Rouse San Diego/Imperial
Regards,
Larry Eder
Proofreader Red Ink Editorial Services Madison, WI
6 ct&rn • July–August 2013
Pre-Press/Printer W. D. Hoard & Sons Co. Fort Atkinson, WI California Track & Running News (ISDN #10986472), incorporating Pacific Athlete, is the official publication for the four USA Track & Field associations in California and Northern Nevada. It is produced, published, and owned by Shooting Star Media, P.O. Box 67, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. All ad materials and insertion orders should be sent to Shooting Star Media at the above address. Publisher assumes no liability for matter printed. Publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for content of paid advertising and reserves the right to reject paid advertising. Publisher expects that all claims by advertisers can be substantiated and that all guarantees will be honored. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Publisher. Copyright © 2013 by Shooting Star Media. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher. California Track & Running News is solely owned by Shooting Star Media.
Publisher recommends, as with all fitness and health issues, you consult with your physician before instituting any changes in your fitness program. Let Us Hear From You! We welcome your suggestions, comments, and questions. Direct them to: Christine Johnson, Group Editor Shooting Star Media/CTRN 608.239.3787 CTRNeditorial@gmail.com Address Changes/Missing Issues Third class mail is not forwarded. Contact your local USATF association about address changes, duplicate mailings, or missing issues. See page 5 for contact information. Member of:
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pacific assn
Election Results, Updates
Irene Herman
lherman49@yahoo.com
VP’s Message
8 ct&rn • July–August 2013
Me and Max
Going, going, and still here … Guess you can’t get rid of me that easily, so here’s one more article for our members. I’d like to introduce you to your new executive board: David Shrock, president; Irene Herman, vice president; J. R. Heberle, secretary; Fred Baer, treasurer; and George Kleeman, past president. John Mansoor remains our CEO. Just a reminder that our Board of Athletics meetings are open to all members. The September meeting is usually the most heavily attended because it’s when the committees find out if their budget requests have been approved. For instance, the Youth Committee may be requesting funds for equipment repair and maintenance costs, clinic expenses, and facility rental fees; the LDR might request $25,000 for the Grand Prix circuit; and officials could request expenses for clinic costs and rulebooks. The majority of our income derives from sanction fees. Our income has increased over the past few years because there have been new races on the roads. If you know of any new races that haven’t been sanctioned, please direct the event managers to our website (www.pausatf.org) to learn about sanctions and insurance. We have about the most competitive insurance policy on the market. Sanctioned races directly benefit our athletes because a sanctioned race with a certified course is eligible for national recognition. Community Steps Up: This year, the Bay to Breakers almost didn’t happen because it lost its sponsor. Fortunately, a local San Francisco company—craigslist.org—stepped up to the plate as primary sponsor. The bombings at the BAA Boston Marathon had occurred just a month previous, so security at B2B was tighter than usual this year. B2B is famous for its many costumed runners, and this year a number of them ran as unicorns, the BAA’s logo. Thanks to craigslist.org for being the major sponsor of B2B, one of the top five most popular races in the U.S. And it’s particularly fitting this year to note that the craigslist logo is the peace sign. Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: In the last several issues of CTRN, I’ve written
about the long-deferred maintenance of San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium’s track facility. A few months ago, at least 22 San Francisco schools, the SF Track Club, and PA clubs signed a petition to the San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, Rec and Park, and Mayor Ed Lee, and the petition was covered by the San Francisco Chronicle. The upshot is that the Kezar Advisory Board renewed its push on this project, which has been on its “to–do” list since 2007. S.F. Rec and Park submitted a $2M renovation plan to the Capital Planning Committee and it was approved in May. It was next on its way to the Budget Committee for the final approval, so listen for the buzz. As you read this, the project should be in the planning stages. Look for a new track at Kezar in the middle of 2014. Thank you to all the coaches, PA members, and officials who helped champion this project! On the topic of will, have you been following the Academy of Arts, SF? It’s an NCAA Division II university that doesn’t have its own sports facilities and still they took the NCAA D-II women’s track & field championship title. Read the article here: www.ncaa.com/sports/trackfield-outdoorwomen/d2 Our association is collecting data on area track & field facilities. Bob Thompson, one of our at-large officials, has taken on the responsibility of forming a chart of various facilities used and those that are available for our youth clubs and adults. It will have information on safety, parking access, rental use, etc. The 2015 Club National Cross Country in Golden Gate Park will be upon us soon. A suggestion from a club is that they want to buy a mile on the cross country course. This will certainly help our sponsorship. The biggest challenge is finding a place that can hold 800+ runners for the awards ceremony. And if you know of a beer sponsor, please let me know. We plan to reserve the Holiday Inn at Fisherman’s Wharf for lodging. Doyle Drive will be opening in 2015 so that the trip from the Fisherman’s Wharf to GGP should be very fast. We want to make this the best-ever National Club cross country experience. We have plans to have food trucks at the south parking lot of the Polo fields so that all the athletes and spectators can purchase food during the races. In all of the previous XC Club national races, there has been minimal, if any, food for purchase. Again, I welcome your ideas and questions. Even though I’m now your vice president instead of president, I remain your membership chair, and I want to hear from you. Please email me at iherman49@yahoo.com continued on page 25
ct&rn
California Track & Running News
runner’s schedule calendar Presents The
July–August 2013
YOUR GUIDE TO RUNNING, WALkING, TRAIL AND MULTI-SPORTS IN CALIfORNIA containing events through December 2013
25,000 Copies Distributed!
Check Inside for:
Tom Sturak
• Event Listings • Legacy: Women in Marathoning • Gear: Racing Shoe Reviews • Summer Mileage Program
You can also find this calendar at www.caltrack.com
Women in Marathoning: Jacqueline Hansen (left) and Nina Kuscsik competing in the first Women’s International Marathon Championships in Waldniel, West German in 1974. Renowned Californians Judy Ikenberry, Joan Ullyot, and Ruth Anderson also competed. Hansen finished 5th overall and first American in 2:56:25, her first sub-three hour marathon. See story on page 12.
calendar Event Listings
Disclaimer Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided. However, the publisher is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication. You can save yourself time, money, and frustration by preregistering for events (especially before making any travel plans). You may wish to confirm by telephone with organizers the date, time, and location just prior to the event. Listing Your Event For $75, your listing will be in print and online through the event date. Changes may be made at anytime at no additional charge. If you purchase advertising space, a listing is included in the cost. Contact Dave Parham at dparham@runningrace promotions.com An up-to-date version of these listings is online at www.caltrack.com ©2013 Shooting Star Media. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without consent of the publisher.
Sun., 8/11 Water to Wine Half Marathon, Lake Sonoma to Healdsburg Water To Wine Half Marathon is a point-to-point event in Sonoma County, starts at the Lake Sonoma Visitors Center at 7:00 am and will finish at Alderbrook Winery in Healdsburg. This may be one of the fastest half marathon courses on the west coast. Sun., 8/18 America’s Finest City Half Marathon & 5K, San Diego The Half Marathon begins at historic Cabrillo National Monument, with its majestic view of both San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, follows scenic San Diego Bay and Harbor Island along the Embarcadero to The Star of India, winds through downtown San Diego, and ends in beautiful Balboa Park in front of the Hall of Champions. Starts at 7:00am. 5K Run/Walk - Fast loop course run completely within Balboa Park. Starts at 6:45 a.m. All participants (HM & 5K) will receive a special technical fabric t-shirt (gender specific). www.afchalf.com Sat., 8/24 Wild Duck 5K, Guajome Park, Oceanside San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event. On this course, you’ll run through all of Guajome Park. There are some rolling hills (no “big hill”), fields of grass and views of the lake and ducks. This is a unique crosscountry course; it is made for speed and negative splits with its fast downhill sections and a flat, fast finish. Masters 8:00 a.m.; Open 8:30 a.m. Contact Joe Crosswhite at 760.723.3257.
10 ct&rn • July–August 2013
Sat., 8/31 Balboa 4-Miler, San Diego San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event. Masters 7:30 a.m.; Open 8:10 a.m. Trails, grass, and sidewalks. Start/finish just north of 6th and Laurel in Balboa Park. Contact Paul Baumhoefner at 619.200.4792. www.SDTC.com
Sat., Sept. 21 69th Aztec Invitational 5K, Balboa Park, San Diego San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event. 8 a.m. Contact Rick Reiser, 310.227.5534 Sat., 9/28 Bonita 8K Stampede Sweetwater Regional Park, Bonita San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event. 8 a.m. Contact Antonio Melchor at 619.370.1184 Sat., 10/5 Presidio Challenge, San Francisco PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. The race will start and Finish at Paul Goode Field. Enter by foot through Julius Kahn Playground which is located at Presidio’s southern border between Arguello and Presidio Gates (at Pacific Ave. and Spruce St.). Course subject to change due to possible trail closures. Hosted by New Balance Excelsior RC. Contact Chikara Omine at 415.269.1022 or email chikaranese@yahoo.com Sat., 10/12 Ursula Rains Balboa Boogie 5K Morley Field, Balboa Park, San Diego San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event. Masters 8:00 a.m.; Open 8:45 a.m. Contract Nancy Morris at 858.874.8784. Sun., 10/20 Healdsburg Half Marathon An epic adventure through California’s award-winning wine region. Start in historic downtown Healdsburg, located only one-hour north of San Francisco. The first mile runs through the residential area past 100-year-old homes along quaint streets. Just outside town are miles of vineyards and dozens of wineries waiting for your viewing pleasure along nice, gently rolling roads with breathtaking views of Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley. Start/finish in Downtown Healdsburg at Healdsburg City Hall (401 Grove Street). This the final event in the Run Wine Country trio of events. www.runwinecountry.com
Providing quality care for more than thr three ee dozen Olympic trials qualifiers and more than one dozen Olympians in 2012.
Sun., 10/20 Humboldt Redwoods Marathon Half Marathon, 5K, Weott PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. Come run along the Avenue of the Giants in the scenic Humboldt Redwoods State Park. PA/USATF half marathon championship In all divisions. Hosted by Six Rivers RC; thanks to media sponsor KHUM. www.redwoodsmarathon.org Sat., 10/26 Cougar Challenge 5K/8K, CSU San Marcos Track San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event. Women’s 5K: 8:00 a.m.; Men’s 8K: 8:45 a.m. Contact Steve Scott at 760.750.7105.
Sun., 11/24 PA Cross Country Championship Golden Gate Park, San Francisco PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. USATF championship medals in open and 10-yr age groups. Start in Lindley Meadow, 30th Ave and JFK Dr. (East end of JFK Drive is closed on Sunday, so use Fulton.) 9:00 a.m.–4.0 mi; 11:00 a.m.–6.0 mi; 9:45 a.m.–6.0 mi. Contact Tim Wason at tim@sfrunning.com or call 415.823.2276. Volunteers greatly appreciated! Thurs., 11/28 Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot 5K, San Jose PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. www.svturkeytrot.com
Sat., 10/26 Aggies XC Open, Hidden Valley Park Martinez PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. Grass and dirt trails, some hills. 9:00am–3.0 miles; 10:30am–4.0 miles; 9:45am–4.0 miles. Hosted by Asics Aggie RC. Contact J.T. Service at jt@soulfocussports.com or call 408.406.6490.
Sun., 12/8 California International Marathon Sacramento PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. A very fast, point-to-point, net-downhill marathon with a spectacular finish in front of the California State Capitol. Sanctioned and a Boston Qualifier. www.runcim.org
Sat., 11/2 Cuyamaca College 6K, Lindo Lake Park Lakeside San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event. 8:00 a.m. start. Contact Patrick Thiss at 619.660.4518.
USATF Association Schedules on the Web
Sat., 11/2 John Lawson Tamalpa Challenge China Camp State Park, San Rafael PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. Back to old China Camp course (Miwok Meadows), a 4.25 mile eye-loop course, rolling with lots of single track. About 1/4 mile of road. Beer mugs to first 325 finishers. Park off the roadway. 9:00am–4.25 mi; 11:00am–4.25 mi; 10:00am–4.25 mi. Hosted by Tamalpa Runners. Contact Ken Grebenstein at kengreb@comcast.net or call 415.927.3664.
Our race listings are updated regularly so check them out at www.caltrack.com You can also visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ CaliforniaTrackRun ningNews
Central www.central-california.usatf.org Pacific www.pausatf.org San Diego/Imperial www.sdusatf.org Southern California www.scausatf.org
Sun., 11/10 Clarksburg Country Run Half Marathon PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. www.pausatf.org Sat., 11/16 SD-I/USATF XC Championship Rohr Park, Chula Vista/Bonita San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event. Women 6K: 8:00 a.m.; Men 8K: 9:00 a.m. Contact Paul Greer at 619.388.3704.
RoadsLessTraveledRelays.com Benefiting
13
Sun., 11/17 Ancil Hoffman Challenge, Ancil Hoffman Regional Park, Carmichael PA/USATF Road Race Grand Prix event. Course: grass field with hay bales and horse trail with 3 short hills. First 1300m and final 1k on grass field. 9:00am–6 km; 10:30am–6 km; 9:45am–6 km. $5 parking fee in the park. Hosted by Golden West Athletics Club. Contact Carla Kehoe at Rennur4life@gmail.com or call 916.390.3495.
Saturday - Sunday August 24 - 25, 2013
July–August 2013 • ct&rn
Sat., 11/16 SD-I/USATF XC Championship Rohr Park, Chula Vista/Bonita San Diego–Imperial USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series event.
Donner Pass to Lassen Nat'l Park
legacy:
I
By Mark Winitz
12 ct&rn • July–August 2013
L-R Marathon icons and pioneers Lorraine Moeller, Jacqueline Hansen, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Nina Kuscsik discussed “Women in Marathoning” the day before the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon in March.
n 1984, when Joan Benoit Samuelson won the gold medal at the first-ever Olympic Games marathon for women in Los Angeles, the world’s eyes were opened to what pioneering female runners had long known: Women are just as capable at running long distances as men—often more so. The first Olympic marathon was conducted in 1896—but only for men. It wasn’t until Bobbi Gibb challenged the prevailing misconception that women were incapable of running long distances by jumping into and unofficially finishing the “men’s only” Boston Marathon in 1966 and Katherine Switzer by unofficially—but very visibly—finishing the 1967 Boston Marathon that the issue caught the attention of the general public. The rules began to change, though slowly. Three quarters of a century after the first Olympic marathon, in 1971, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the U.S. governing body for track & field at the time (which later became The Athletics Congress, and eventually, USA Track & Field, as it’s known today) relented and allowed women to officially compete in marathons. In 1972, nine women officially entered the Boston Marathon, and on June 23, 1972, the groundbreaking Title IX legislation became law. In 1974, fifty-seven women participated in the first AAU National Marathon Championship for women in San Mateo. Since then, women’s involvement in longdistance events has grown, and later boomed. According to Running USA’s 2012 “State of Sport” report, there were more than 7 million female U.S. road race finishers in 2011, a record high. Among an
Arturo Ramos
Women in Marathoning
estimated 487,000 U.S. marathon finishers in 2011, 42 percent were women. By comparison, in 1980— before the first women’s Olympic marathon was held in 1984—only 11 percent of finishers in U.S. marathons were women. The Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon honored “Women in Marathoning” at last March’s race via a panel discussion at the event’s annual “Marathon College,” held the day before the race. The discussion, emceed by longtime running writer/editor Joe Henderson, featured the four panelists, all of whom were female icons/pioneers in various eras of the marathon from the ’60s to the ’90s: Nina Kuscsik (1972 women’s Boston Marathon champion), Jacqueline Hansen (1973 women’s Boston Marathon champion), Lorraine Moller (1992 Olympic Games marathon bronze medalist), and Joan Benoit Samuelson (winner of the inaugural women’s Olympic Marathon in 1984). Appropriately, women comprised 51% of the 2013 Napa Valley Marathon’s race field, a race record. CTRN’s Mark Winitz was on hand, capturing the vivid, colorful, and educational comments from these women about the struggles and emergence of women in long-distance running. Part 1 of this series features Kuscsik and Hansen. Part 2, in our next issue, will focus on Moller and Benoit Samuelson. We think that all long-distance runners and their coaches—regardless of their gender or age—who may not be familiar with the challenges that female runners encountered in their fight for “running equality”will find these articles enlightening.
Joe Henderson: Nina, you started running in the ’60s when there weren’t a lot of women running. What triggered your desire to become a runner?
Nina Kuscsik: I was an athlete anyway. In 1960, I was the New York state champion in bicycle racing, speed skating on ice, and roller skating. Then I started to have children. In 1967, Bill Bowerman [a track & field coach and cofounder of Nike] came out with a book called Jogging, and it cost $1. I opened the book and saw women running in their raincoats who looked like they were in their 40s. I thought, “If they can do it, I can do it.” I’d been running anyway as training for speed skating on ice. My husband and myself and two other guys from speed skating [Charlie Blum and Bob Muller] got our first issue of the Long Distance Log [a monthly publication that carried results and articles of interest to distance runners] in 1968. It showed Elaine Pederson jumping into the 1968 Boston Marathon from the sidelines. I’d never heard of Katherine Switzer, but I knew women weren’t officially allowed in the Boston Marathon. It didn’t matter to me at all. We trained for, and ran, the 1969 Boston Marathon. From there, we met the New York Road Runners, got involved, and I increased my mileage and lowered my times. Then I thought, “Why can’t we be official?” I went to the AAU national convention in 1971 with some resolutions in mind. As a result of Kuscsik’s proposal, the AAU resolved that “certain women,” without further definition, could participate in marathons; however, they were required to start 10 minutes before or after the men or on a different starting line.
Tom Sturak
NINA KUSCSIK In 1970 at the AAU annual meeting, a high official on the AAU’s Women’s Track & Field Committee said that women’s long-distance running wasn’t worth bothering with because those involved were largely bored housewives. Two years later, the Boston Marathon saw the light, and Nina Kuscsik—who had run in the race unofficially in 1969— became the first official women’s winner. Kuscsik also won the 1972 New York City Marathon after participating in a sit-down strike with five other women at the starting line in protest of the separate women’s start imposed by the AAU to prevent them from competing with men. Kuscsik, a true rebel with a running cause in the early days of women’s marathoning, had neither a high school or college distance-running background. At the time, there were no programs for women in the discipline. Kuscsik, now 74, still lives on Long Island, NY, where she was born. She is a vocal member of USATF’s Women’s Long Distance Running Committee, Law and Legislation Committee, and Rules Committee. Last year, Kuscsik was inducted into the New York Road Runners Hall of Fame on the 40th anniversary of her New York City Marathon victory. She was inducted into the USA National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1999.
Nina Kuscsik (#204) and Jacqueline Hansen at the first Women’s International Marathon Championships in Waldniel, West Germany in 1974.
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Doug Schwaub
That might make sense now—for many women, maybe it’s better to start separately— but [at the time] we felt it was women’s discrimination. So at Boston [the following April 1972] we painted a separate starting line for ourselves on the sidewalk. Then [at the 1972 New York City Marathon] we [six women entered in the race including Kuscsik—Editor] had a sitdown strike at the starting line [to protest the rule], which created so much publicity that in 1972 at the AAU convention everything changed. From then on, it was moving ahead to get women into the Olympics marathon.
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Hansen won the 1975 Oregon Track Club Marathon in a world record 2:38:19, the first sub-2:40 marathon ever run by a female.
JH: Before I ask about your involvement in the effort to win women a spot in the Olympics, I want to ask you about a race in 1971. At that time, no woman had [officially] broken 3 hours in the marathon. You ran a race in New York [NYC Marathon] which welcomed women, and you were running against Beth Bonner. Tell us about that race. NK: That race gave me such room to run. It was wonderful. I think Beth was ahead of me from the 9th mile on. She had a nice stride and rhythm. I got a little closer to her at the last big hill in Central Park. I think she beat me by about 44 seconds. We both broke 3 hours for the first time, so it was a celebration for both of us. (Editor’s Note–Bonner, age 19, finished first female in 2:55:22 and became the first official winner of the women’s division at NYC. Kuscsik was second in 2:56:04.) JACQUELINE HANSEN A pioneering female marathoner in the early to mid-1970s, Jacqueline Hansen was instrumental, as a political and social activist, in gaining women the opportunity to compete in long-distance races. She is, perhaps, best known for winning the 1973 Boston Marathon while a student at California State University, Northridge. She was instrumental in successfully lobbying the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to add the women’s marathon, and later the 5000 meters and the 10,000 meters, to the Olympic Games at a time when young women had little or no opportunity to compete in athletics. During her career, Hansen won 12 of her first 15 marathons. She set two marathon world records: in 1974 at the Western Hemisphere Marathon (a race she won three times), where her 2:43:54 was the first sub-2:45 ever run by a female, and at the 1975 Nike/OTC Marathon in Eugene, where she ran 2:38:19, the first sub-2:40 by a woman. She is a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Hall of Fame Inductee. In 2012, she was inducted into the USA National Distance Running Hall of Fame. Born in Binghamton, NY, Hansen moved to Southern California at age 8. She began her career in track & field at Granada Hills High School, where she excelled. Today, Hansen, age 64, resides in
Topanga Canyon and works at Loyola Marymount University as an administrator and instructor. She was a volunteer coach for Team Diabetes for seven years and has coached the “See Jane Run” (today known as “The Janes”) all-women’s running team to multiple USA Cross Country championships. Hansen recently published a book, A Long Time Coming: Running Through the Women’s Marathon Revolution, which was published at our editorial deadline for this issue. Visit www.jacquelinehansen.com for details. Joe Henderson: Jacqueline, you started as a track and cross country runner with a famous coach. Tell us about that coach and his encouragement or discouragement as far as you becoming a marathon runner. Jacqueline Hansen: I got my first start with a high school coach. When I was in high school, we only ran up to 400 meters. I only went out for track because the team didn’t have to choose you. If you saw me standing, I’m not basketball material. That woman, [track coach] Dixie Griffin [at Granada Hills High School], opened the door for me. Otherwise, my life would be different today. For example, she didn’t take me to the City Meet [LA City Section of CIF Final Championships] because she knew I was no sprinter. I discovered in college—where [at the time] they really didn’t have women’s track coaches or teams—a man named Laszlo Tabori. He was a Hungarian Olympian and the third man in the world to break the 4-minute mile, after Bannister. And he trained us [at the Los Angeles Track Club where he coached–Editor] as middle-distance runners—not as men or women. He took everyone. He considered himself an underdog, so he wasn’t opposed to taking underdogs like me. I didn’t know his reputation, or I might have been too intimidated to ever show up. But he was so intimidating I was afraid not to come back even though the first workout was more than I’d ever run at once in my life—and it was just the warm-up. So, I was really a greenhorn. But I think I thrived under his disciplinary coaching style. I do not coach the way I was coached [because] I think it’s survival of the fittest. But for me, it was adaptation: Being allowed to run 400 meters, which increased during my junior college [days] to 800 meters, which increased during my four-year college to 1 mile. I’d already discovered Laszlo by that point, so I was the national collegiate champion at 1 mile in the same year that I was the Boston Marathon champion. So I had a range. I know that all Laszlo ever wanted was another sub-4-minute miler, like him, and all he ever got was a lot of strong women. That’s because he coached us after the [women’s] break [into longdistance running]. So I have Laszlo to thank. He’s been my coach for life. We’re still friends. I still see him on a weekly basis. JH: You had a teammate named Cheryl Bridges.
Culver City, and then my second the next year— the first sub-2:40—which was the most important one. Joe [Henderson], Nina [Kuscsik], and myself were on the International Runners Committee, a 13-member worldwide lobbying committee for getting the women’s 5000 meters, 10,000 meters, and marathon into the Olympic Games. The committee was sponsored by Nike. [Hansen was the executive director of this committee—Editor] I had just set two world records in the marathon with no Olympics to go to—unlike when I was a 1500-meter runner, and I knew I could go to our Olympic Trials and move on. I bumped up against a glass ceiling with nowhere to go. I was naïve enough to think in ’74 that a letter-writing campaign, petitions, calling Nina [who was involved with the AAU, would change this]. I didn’t know it was going to take 10 years of lobbying and that it would culminate in a lawsuit against the IOC, IAAF [International Association of Athletic Federations], the USOC, the AAU/TAC/USATF, and even the Los Angeles Organizing Committee where the Olympics were going in ’84. At least we had anti-discrimination laws in California, so we had our best chance [for winning a lawsuit] here—as opposed to Moscow [1980 Olympic host] or Seoul, South Korea [1988 Olympic host]. Without going into the details, [in 1981] the marathon for women was successfully lobbied in [to the Olympic Games via the IOC]. But the orphaned events were the [women’s] 5000 and 10,000. The president of our international [track
Tell us how she inspired you. JH: Lazlo Tabori had been coached by Mihaly Igloi [who defected to the U.S from Hungary at the same time as Tabori]. Igloi is considered the grandfather of interval training. So my workouts were all intervals. Cheryl Bridges, one of my LA Track Club teammates, didn’t train with me. She lived in the San Luis Obispo area and was coached by her husband, Larry Bridges. We had just finished our cross country season, and for whatever reason, she came down to run the [1971] “Western Hemisphere” Culver City Marathon, the second-oldest consecutively run marathon at the time to Boston. I thought that anyone crazy enough to run 26.2 miles deserved a cheerleader, so my teammates and I went out to cheer her on. And Lazlo was there because he lived on the course. It was the first marathon I’d ever seen. I watched Cheryl become the first woman in the world to break 2:50. She ran 2:49:40 [bettering the mark of 2:55:22 set by Beth Bonner several months prior at the New York City Marathon]. I looked at Cheryl and I thought, a little bit precociously, “I can do that.” I could beat her sometimes in the 2-mile on the track. Sometimes I could beat her in cross country. Right there, I made a vow that the next year I wanted to do that [run a marathon]. That was like fun. It wasn’t about speed workouts. I vowed to run the Culver City Marathon the next year [1972], but I had to ask permission from Lazlo, figuring I’d get yelled at. So after the [1972] cross country season, I told him, “I just had the best cross country season ever. I finished 8th in the nationals. I want to run this marathon in two weeks like Cheryl did last year.” He didn’t say no. He said, getting a little philosophical, “There’s some things we need to find out for ourselves. I think you’ll go far.” And I thought, “Does he mean I’ll run about 18 miles and drop out?” For 20 miles, I was zipping off 7-minute miles like it was nothing. Then, it was a whole other race. The Culver City course is very cruel. It brings you by the finish line at 20 miles, and then sends you out again. I was tempted to drop out, but I finished. I crawled in and, since Cheryl didn’t show up that day, I won. I crossed the finish line and said, “Never again!” But the minute they put that medal around me I said, “Next year, next time.”
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Courtesy of J. Hansen. Photographer Unknown.
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JH: Tell us about what happened to you in 1984 at Boston, the approval of the women’s [Olympic] marathon, and your chance to run in the first U.S. women’s Olympic Marathon Trials. JH: The most dramatic moment of my running career was qualifying for those Olympic Trials. I did set the world record at Culver City in 1974 after going to Waldniel [West Germany] for the first Women’s International Marathon Championships for women. [Hansen placed 5th overall and 1st American–Editor]. I came back with all the confidence in the world to run my first world record at
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Hansen (center, bib #1) competing in the 1976 Women’s International Marathon Championships in Waldniel, West Germany.
NIKE salutes
Bernard Lagat Galen Rupp 3,000m Indoor, 7:30.16 American Record Stockholm, Sweden February 21, 2013
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2 Mile Indoor, 8:09.50 American Record New York, New York February 16, 2013
NIKE salutes
Lopez Lomong 5,000m Indoor, 13:07.00 American Record New York, New York March 1, 2013
Evan Jager Steeplechase, 8:06.81 American Record Monaco July 21, 2012
nike.com
continued from page 15 & field and distance running] federation [Primo Nebiolo of the IAAF] told me to my face that they were of no value. They were garden events, they wouldn’t sell tickets to the Games, and they were never going in. So the marathon had been lobbied in and the most important thing in my life at that point was to qualify for [the first-ever U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials in 1984]. Unfortunately, I had compartment syndrome in my left hamstring and in November of 1983 I had surgery. The Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials were going to be held in May of 1984 [in Olympia, WA] and … my last chance [to qualify] was Boston in April. I got to mile 25 [in Boston], and there was a clock saying
ing. I had to finish. It was the most important thing in my entire life. So I woke up on a hospital cot with an IV bottle and a dog tag around my neck, a wool blanket, and no clothes. My watch was still running. I looked at the doctor and said, “Did I finish and what was my time?” A nurse came back and told me 2:47, 14th place. So, over the last mile I gained 4 minutes and lost four places. I must have looked like I was running in place. [Editor’s Note: Lorraine Moller won in 2:29:28. Hansen’s 2:47:48 was under the 2:51:16 women’s qualifying standard for the 1984 Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials.] In fact, there were two television crews following me around all day because our lawsuit was
L-R Joan Benoit Samuelson, Jacqueline Hansen, Nina Kuscsik, Lorraine Moeller on the panel in Napa.
that my projected finish time was 2:44 and my place [at that point] was 10th. That was the last thing I remember. I had tunnel vision and was fighting to keep myself upright. I started chanting a mantra in my head: “I deserve to finish this race. I have 1 mile to go.” I didn’t work 10 years for noth-
in court for the first time that day in Los Angeles. I couldn’t be there [because of Boston] but my lawyers could take care of court. So I called home and said, “Get those tickets for Olympia. We’re going!” I got a call back from Julie Cart at the Los Angeles Times. [She told me] we lost [the case for a women’s Olympic 5000m and 10,000m] in court that day. I went from the highest high to the lowest low in a moment. That’s why it’s the most dramatic day in my entire running career. n
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Arturo Ramos
The women’s 10,000m officially became part of the Olympic women’s track & field program in 1988, just 25 years ago. The 5000m for women was added in 1996.
Tune in to the next issue of CTRN for Joan Benoit Samuelson’s and Lorraine Moller’s personal insights about women’s emergence in marathoning. Mark Winitz is a USATF Master Level Long Distance Running official and serves as the LDR officials coordinator for the Pacific Association of USATF. Since 2001, he has officiated at and served as a USATF referee at hundreds of road running and cross country races. Recently he added a track & field specialty to his USATF officials credentials so he can also officiate at track meets. Contact him winitz@earthlink.net or at 650-948-0618.
Racers Spring/Summer 2013 This spring a new crop of racing shoes has come in from eight different brands, and more are promised for the latter half of the year. We feature four new and four updated models for your consideration. Many have significantly lower profiles and much less material than traditional running shoes which is precisely why you should consider them if your goal is to run faster than you are now. They may be the difference between those last few seconds you need or just missing a personal best. Remember to allow time to adapt to their stripped-down level of protection and use them only for your fastest running.
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ASICS’ new Blazing Fast is a replacement for the Pirhana SP. Like its predecessor, it’s very light, only 4.4 ounces in a men’s size 11. The upper is a thin minimesh supported by a welded film midfoot cage and synthetic suede overlays at the heel. The toe support is an extension of the sueded tongue. The midsole is a low-profile, molded layer of Solyte foam that’s flexible and responsive, with a measure of cushioned protection. The outersole is formed in three zones: lateral forefoot and medial heel of toughened Solyte; lateral heel arcing to the medial toe of carbon rubber; and a section of DS polyester/polyurethane centered under the metatarsals to provide increased traction and cushioning. The result is a feather-light racer that works equally well for the track or faster road races. NEW Sizes men 7–12,13,14 (unisex) Weight 4.4 oz. (men’s 11) Shape curved Fit snug throughout For medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics Range efficient runners: up to half marathon; heavy strikers: up to 8K or a bit beyond
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Mizuno has had a strong connection to road racing via its well-designed racing shoes available at multiple performance and price levels. The Ekiden is named for one of Japan’s iconic events, a road racing relay of Super Bowl proportions. This shoe enters Mizuno’s line with a combination of new features and some borrowed from its racing heritage. The upper is a minimesh weave with soft synthetic suede overlays that are cut out to minimize the weight while still providing support. The midsole has a soft foam layer on top of a stiffer foam, a combination that provides a responsive, yet protected ride, along with a low profile and a 4mm heel-to-toe drop. The outersole is toughened EVA over the low-wear portions and polyester backed polyurethane in the high-wear areas, and provides both traction and durability. Bottom line? The Ekiden is a lightweight, protective racing shoe that delivers performance. NEW Sizes men 5.5–12,13 (unisex) Weight 5.4 oz. (men’s 11) Shape semi-curved Fit snug heel, roomier forefoot For medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics Range efficient runners: up to 30K or beyond; heavy strikers: up to 10K
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UPDATED Sizes men 7–13,14,15; women 4–13 Weight 6.9 oz. (men’s 11); 5.6 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Fit snug heel, roomy forefoot For medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics Range efficient runners: up to marathon or beyond; heavy strikers: up to 20K or a bit beyond
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The 1400 reaches its first update with proof that the original was so well done that it received only minimal tinkering in this update. Minor tweaks have been made to the midsole, though visually and functionally the Revlite foam remains as it was: a well-cushioned, responsive performer that retains the effective geometry of the original. The outersole also continues with the thin, grippy rubber that worked effectively on varied surfaces, on both roads and natural surfaces. The upper has gone to a micromesh—a bit stiffer and more supportive—with the same welded, no-sew overlays in the midfoot and forefoot, and stitched overlays in the heel and ankle collar. A stretch mesh in the tongue allows better flexion and a more conforming fit. Its fit, comfort, and performance make for an unbeatable combination.
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Nike successfully delivers cushioning and stability with all of its lightweight Lunar running shoes; the Luna Racer is no exception. Version 3 takes the upper in a different direction while maintaining the sole unit. The upper is now a traditional open mesh (both earlier rounds opted for a thin, gauzy mesh) and the internal supports from Rounds 1 and 2 have been eliminated in favor of an external lattice of Flywire that hugs the foot and provides much of the actual support. The best feature of the Luna has been the midsole—the lightest of the Dynamic Support configurations—with a soft feeling that provides stability. The minimal rubber on the outersole is employed only in the areas of highest wear, where, on contact, they deflect into the midsole like tiny trampolines. If the Lunar shoes have been your training shoe preference or, if you like a well-cushioned racer, give the Luna Racer+ 3 serious consideration. The combination of fit, cushioning, and innovation earned the Luna Racer+ 3 our Best Racer Award.
RACER SPRING/SUMMER 2013
UPDATED Sizes men 6–13,14,15; women 5–12 Weight 6.9 oz. (men’s 11); 5.7 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Fit snug heel, roomy forefoot For medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics Range efficient runners: up to marathon or beyond; heavy strikers: up to 25K or a bit beyond
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On Running produces shoes with a unique feel and its Cloudracer is the lightest iteration of the Cloudtec technology. While not the lightest of racers available today, it’s aimed at providing protection and energy return, and it’s best suited to longer races. The upper is a gauzy but closed mesh that’s lightweight yet tough, with a suitable fit. On’s outersole technology needs a touch of extra cushioning so it relies on a midsole of a relatively thin, molded EVA (sheet EVA would be too thin). This combination really allows its unique technology to shine. The outersole is a series of lugs covering the whole sole. The lugs, which have a side profile that looks like oval loops, compress under the force transmitted by the footstrike and provide cushioning on impact. Though the lugs add a little weight, they greatly extend the shoe’s effective range and provide assistance in recovering from longer races. The Cloudracer is a solid shoe for faster running and racing. NEW Sizes men 8–12; women 6–10 Weight 9.6 oz. (men’s 11); 7.9 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Fit snug heel, roomy forefoot For medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation Range efficient runners: marathon or beyond; heavy strikers: up to 30K or a bit beyond
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The Fastwitch has been a racing staple in Saucony’s line for nearly a decade. Round 6 continues to focus on racing while zeroing in on some specific features. The midsole retains the high-quality EVA and dual-density design, along with its low-profile geometry from Round 5. Its profile and cushioning are aided by the co-molded ESS shank for a touch more support and stability. The outersole setup is unchanged, though minor tweaks—cosmetic, though perhaps also with a technical purpose—are apparent. The upper has received the lion’s share of the attention, as is often the case in racer updates. The closed mesh has been replaced with an open mesh of small ovals, combined with a saddle of FlexFilm and stiffer, closed mesh that hold the foot securely. The good news is that the Fastwitch 6 is a stable, protective racer with a broad size range that’s suitable for faster races. UPDATED Sizes men 7–13,14; women 5–12 Weight 8.2 oz. (men’s 11); 7.0 oz. (women’s 8) Shape semi-curved Fit snug heel, roomy forefoot For medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation Range efficient runners: marathon or beyond; heavy strikers: up to 30K or a bit beyond
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The Race Rocker brought the AeroFoam midsole into Scott’s lineup. Its effectiveness as a light, tough, and responsive foam formulation has fueled its permeation from Scott’s racers to its training and trail offerings. The midsole remains unchanged, thanks to the effectiveness of its low profile, resiliency, and durability. The outersole, likewise, was a dialed-in combination of carbon rubber over most of the medial side and a foam-backed polyurethane region on the lateral forefoot, here very slightly reconfigured with chevron-shaped elements for improved traction. The upper trades the round, open mesh of the original for a closed mesh with welded overlays. It’s still breathable but more secure and stable. The ankle collar foam has been beefed up slightly, trading a slight weight increase for added comfort. Round 2 continues to deliver protection, cushioning, and an effective racing profile.
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The Charge RC introduced a new upper construction and midsole to Under Armour’s running line, and now its sibling, the Charge RC II Racer, does the same for its competition line. The upper has two parts: a supportive, closed mesh in the split rearfoot that locks down the foot, and a stretchy forefoot of closed mesh with no-sew overlays that moves with the foot. A well-padded tongue rounds out a monosock construction and works well because of the split upper design. The midsole is a low-profile CM-EVA that’s responsive, and the geometry maintains effective contact with the ground to take advantage of racing biomechanics. The outersole is thin but effective for traction, though best suited for the road. The result is a surprisingly nimble and supportive road racer that cushions well, has a snappy feel, and doesn’t get in the way.
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UPDATED Sizes men 5–13 (unisex) Weight 8.1 oz. (men’s 11) Shape semi-curved Fit snug heel, roomy forefoot For medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation Range efficient runners: marathon or beyond; heavy strikers: up to 30K or a bit beyond
UPDATED Sizes men 5–13 (unisex) Weight 6.7 oz. (men’s 11) Shape semi-curved Fit snug throughout, stretchy forefoot For medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics Range efficient runners: marathon or beyond; heavy strikers: up to 20K or beyond CREGG WEINMANN is footwear and running products reviewer for Running Network LLC. He can be reached via email at shuz2run@lightspeed.net. Copyright © 2013 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of Running Network LLC. Reprinted here with permission.
Summer training is the key to success, not only in cross country next fall, but also the following spring track season. The keys are to build yourself up, both physically and mentally. We at AT&F met with the folks at Saucony to help promote this program. Here’s what we're going to do: We’ll provide you with 12 weeks of summer and fall training, taking you through the first month of your season in this training program. We'll also provide you with fine-tuning suggestions each and every week on www.atf-athlete.com starting the week of July 1. We’re publishing this piece in American Track & Field, Athletes Only, and California Track & Running News. After your track season, you need to take a couple weeks’ break. The break can be a complete departure from running and your regular schedule. If you want to run, then no more than four runs a week of about 40 minutes. Your body and spirit need a break. Pick some books you want to read this summer. Pick the movies you’ve not yet seen. Do some summer vegging. Remember, your summer training program is to build you up and prepare your body and spirit to handle the hard racing and training that come in the fall. This can only happen if you allow your body to rest and find outlets from the training regimen. # # 1. Make sure you have two pairs of good training shoes. We suggest that most training shoes can last about 12–16 weeks with your level of training. Take your time when you go to your local running store to purchase training shoes and remember to go at the end of the day (your feet swell during the day). Bring a clean pair of socks and be prepared to check out 5–7 pairs of shoes to find the right shoe for you. Also check socks, shorts, and tops (although you probably have enough t-shirts to keep you going for months!). 2. Make sure you’re hydrating yourself. Eight to 10 glasses of water a day plus sports drinks and juice are a good start. Drink coffee, tea and carbonated soda sparingly. 3. You need to fuel the engine. To do that, you have to get the proper amount and proper types of food into your system. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pasta, and modest amounts of fish, chicken and beef make sense. For snacks, try an apple and peanut butter. Nuts are good. Pizza, tacos and a trip to fast food places are fine, as long as you're not doing it every day! 4. Sleep. Yes, sleep is important. I know that at 17 or 18 you can text all night or check out the newest game on Xbox, but it will affect your training. Get 8–10 hours of sleep and, if you can, try for a nap (yes) on a few afternoons. 5. Get your training group down. Some people like to train by themselves, but find a group helps with the hard days or long runs. Find what works for you and your training style.
7. Goals. Do you want to make the top 7? Do you want to improve your times at your league and section meets? Do you want to race better over the second half of the course? Think about these things now, write them on a card and prop them in your room where you can read them each day. continued next page
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6. Inspiration. Find some good books (Once a Runner, The Irishmen Who Ran for Britain, The Lonely Breed, A Cold, Clear Day, Self-Made Olympian) that can inspire you. Find music that inspires you (Outkast, Disturbed, Hurt, Counting Crows, Led Zeppelin, ACDC). We will post our partner’s, the Shoe Addicts, running music lists to inspire you!
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# ! In this week, we get you on the road to a good summer of training. You will run a long run, a tempo run and some moderately paced runs each week. Don’t worry about pace the first two weeks, just get out there, have some fun and get in the habit. Workouts always start with warmup, some gentle stretching major muscle groups, light jogging. Do the same for cool down. Monday: Warm up; 35–40 minutes easy running; cool down. Tuesday: 1-mile warm up; 20-minute tempo run; 1-mile cool down. To determine your tempo run pace, add a half-minute to your present mile pace for a 5K. For example: if you currently run 19 minutes for a 5K, that’s 6:10 pace. Add 30 seconds and your tempo run pace is 6:40-per-mile. Wednesday: Warm up; 35-40 minutes easy running; cool down. Thursday: 1-mile warm up; 2 Hill Repeats (run 200 yds uphill, turn, jog downhill to start. Repeat one more time, no rest); 1-mile easy cool down. Friday: Warm up; 35–40 minutes easy running; cool down. Saturday: Off. Walk, bike, see Man Of Steel. Sunday: Long, easy run, 45 minutes, on grass or dirt.
"" " " " " Make sure that you’re doing your runs on a variety of surfaces—dirt, grassy fields, sand, road, track. It's good for the feet, and lets you use your feet in a healthy way.You’ll be a little sore this week as your body adjusts. Drink your liquids, sleep, eat well and hang out with your friends. Monday: Warm up; 40 minutes easy running; 2x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Tuesday: 1-mile warm up; 20-minute tempo run; 1-mile cool down. To determine your tempo run pace, add a half-minute to your present mile pace for a 5K. For example: if you currently run 19 minutes for a 5K, that’s 6:10 pace. Add 30 seconds and your tempo run pace is 6:40-per-mile. Wednesday: Warm up; 40 minutes easy running; 2x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Thursday: 1-mile warm up; 3 Hill Repeats (run 200 yds uphill, turn, jog downhill to start. Repeat twice more, no rests); 1-mile easy cool down. Friday: Warm up; 40 minutes easy running; 2x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Saturday: Off. Walk, bike, watch a movie. Sunday: Long, easy run, 50 minutes, on grass or dirt.
22 ct&rn • July–August 2013
"! You will begin running 6 days a week. Juniors and seniors can being 7 days a week. For college athletes, add a 35–40 minute session of easy running on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Monday: Warm up; 40–45 minutes easy running; 3x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Tuesday: 1-mile warm up; 20-minute tempo run, 1-mile cool down. To determine your tempo run pace, add a half-minute to your present mile pace for a 5K. For example: if you currently run 19 minutes for a 5K, that’s 6:10 pace. Add 30 seconds and your tempo run pace is 6:40-per-mile. Wednesday: Warm up; 40–45 minutes easy running; 3x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Thursday: 1-mile warm up, 4 Hill Repeats (run 200 yds uphill, turn, jog downhill to start. Repeat three more times, no rests); 1-mile cool down. Friday: Warm up; 40–45 minutes easy running; 3x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Saturday: Easy 30-minute run or a walk. Sunday: Long, easy run, 50–55 minutes, on grass or dirt. Hang with friends.
"! # By now, you should be running at a better pace than when you started and noting that your tempo runs are more fun. You’re getting into a groove. Do the tempo runs and hill runs with teammates. The hard workouts are easier this way. Monday: Warm up, 40–45 minutes easy running; 4x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Tuesday: 1-mile warm up, 20-minute tempo run, 1-mile cool down. To determine your tempo run pace, add a half-minute to your present mile pace for a 5K. For example: if you currently run 19 minutes for a 5K, that’s 6:10 pace. Add 30 seconds and your tempo run pace is 6:40-per-mile. Wednesday: Warm up, 40–45 minutes easy running; 4x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Thursday: 1-mile warm up, 5 hill repeats (run 200 yds uphill, turn, jog downhill to start. Repeat four more times, no rests); 1-mile easy cool down. Friday: Warm up, 40–45 minutes easy run; 4x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Saturday: Find an all-comers meet and run a 2-mile or 5K. Warm up, run strong, and then cool down. Sunday: Long, easy run, 55–60 minutes, on grass or dirt, with friends.
"" You are getting on track. Make sure you remain focused on your goals. You are starting to get fit, you run faster, you feel fitter. Stay focused. Monday: Warm up, 45–50 minutes easy running; 5x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Tuesday: 1-mile warm up, 20-minute tempo run, 1-mile cool down. To determine your tempo run pace, add a half-minute to your present mile pace for a 5K. For example: if you currently run 19 minutes for a 5K, that’s 6:10 pace. Add 30 seconds and your tempo run pace is 6:40-per-mile. Wednesday: Warm up, 45–50 minutes easy running; 5x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Thursday: 1-mile warm up, 6 Hill Repeats (run 200 yds uphill, turn, jog downhill to start. Repeat five more times, no rests); 1-mile easy cool down. Friday: Warm up; 45–50 minutes easy running; 5x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Saturday: Easy 30-minute run or a walk. Sunday: Long, easy run, 60–65 minutes, on grass or dirt with friends.
$ % # # This is a tough week. Check your shoes and make sure they aren't too worn. Consider getting some racing shoes for the fall and use them for tempo runs.
July–August 2013 • ct&rn
Monday: Warm up; 45–50 minutes easy running; 6x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Tuesday: 1-mile warm up, 20-minute tempo run, 1-mile cool down. To determine your tempo run pace, add a half-minute to your present mile pace for a 5K. For example: if you currently run 18:50 minutes for a 5K, that’s 6:05 pace. Add 30 seconds and your tempo run pace is 6:35-per-mile. Wednesday: Warm up; 45–50 minutes easy running; 6x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down Thursday: 1-mile warm up, 7 hill repeats (run 200 yds uphill, turn, jog downhill to start. Repeat six more times, no rests); 1-mile easy cool down. Friday: Warm up; 45–50 minutes easy running; 6x150 yards relaxed strideouts on grass, jogging back to the start after each, no rest between; cool down. Saturday: Easy 30 minutes or find a hilly 4-mile race. Sunday: Long, easy run, 65–70 minutes, on grass or dirt with friends.
23
PHOTO CREDIT: RICH CRUSE
Sacramento, CA - October 27, 2013 Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
continued from page 8
Mark Winitz
At the SACTOWN 10, Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Alemayehu defended his title and was crowned men’s open PA/USATF 10-mile champion.
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Credit Union SACTOWN Ten-Mile Run Sacramento; April 7 Strong winning performances by the defending men’s champion and by a female 2012 Olympian, plus two U.S. age-group record-breaking performances, highlighted this third annual race organized by the Sacramento Running Association that benefits the Children’s Miracle Network. Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Alemayehu pushed hard
from the start (about 4:42 pace) on the flatand-fast loop course that starts and finishes in front of the California State Capitol, tucking in behind fellow native Ethiopian Shadrack Biwott (Eugene). At about 6 miles, Alemayehu made a move and proceeded to successfully defend his 2012 men’s title in 47:42. Last year, he won in 47:37. Biwott garnered second place in 48:30. Jameson Mora (third, 48:52, Arroyo Grande) followed. Alemayehu, who resides in Antioch, was crowned the PA/USATF open men’s 10-mile champion. 41-year-old Kevin Castille (Nicholasville, KY) finished fourth overall in an exemplary 48:57, bettering the existing U.S. M40–45 10-mile record of 49:34 set by Paul Pilkington in 1998. Kim Conley (West Sacramento) was a bit of a surprise entrant in the women’s field, given that the 2012 Olympian had primarily stuck to racing distances of 10K and shorter to that point. The 27-year-old UC Davis graduate captivated the track world last year with a stirring, come-from-behind effort to finish third in the women’s 5000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene and earn a trip to the Olympic Games in London. After grabbing a spot on this year’s U.S. team for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Poland, her aim became to make the U.S. track team for the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Moscow this coming August. Conley treated the 10-mile race in Sacramento as a strength workout, taking a longerterm view as she prepared for her track season and a world team-earning performance at the U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championships (June 20–23). She was accompanied by two of her Sacramento Running Association Elite team members, Alia Gray and Lauren Jimison, for the first half of the race before proceeding to victory, timed in 56:21. Gray (Santa Rosa) finished second in 56:52. Jimison (El Dorado Hills) was third in 56:56. “We’re still trying to build up a little strength coming off the cross county season and transitioning to the track,” Conley said. “This really fit into my training week well. I’ve been running between 85 and 90 miles per week. This is definitely the farthest I’ve ever gone in a serious way. In some ways it felt really good, but there were also some hard moments out there where I questioned if I ever want to move up in distance.” In age division ranks, Melody-Anne Schultz (age 71, Ross) recorded a sparkling 1:20:16—a pending U.S. W70–74 age-group record. Schultz’s time bettered the currently listed record of 1:20:33 set by Hedy Marque (a USATF Masters Hall of Fame member) in 1991. “I was really pushing for a sub-1:20 today,” Schultz said. “I really didn’t know what the record
July–August 2013 • ct&rn
Emerald Across the Bay 12K San Francisco; March 17 On a picture-perfect day for running, Sergio Reyes (Los Osos) won the 30th Annual Emerald Across the Bay 12K for the fifth time, and Maggie Conley (Portola Valley) captured the women’s title. The oldest race over the Golden Gate Bridge took place on St. Patrick’s Day, the date that marks the race’s origin. There were over 2,600 finishers. “I was determined to make it a good race from the start, and I opened up probably quicker than I ever have before,” said Reyes, who also won this race in 2012, 2010, 2008, and 2007 and came in second in 2011 and 2009. “My mile split was 4:36, on race-record pace. Nobody was with me, so I just ran by myself the entire way.” The 2010 U.S. marathon champion finished the challenging point-to-point course from Fort Baker near Sausalito to Aquatic Park in San Francisco in 36:36, shy of Bill Donakowski’s men’s race record of 35:48 set in 1987. “I don’t know where you lose [time] on this course. Maybe it’s the climb up to the bridge, or the hills on the way,” Reyes mused. Brian Medigovich, a 2010 NCAA Division II 5000m national titlist for Adams State (CO), finished 6 seconds behind Reyes, capturing the runner-up spot. Conley dominated the women’s race while scoring her first PA/USATF Road Grand Prix individual win with a time of 43:39. “I’m strong on the hills, so I planned to get out aggressively so I could use my strength to my advantage,” Conley said. “I was surprised that I was able to take the lead. I was running scared most of the race since I knew that Tania [Morimoto] was close after seeing her behind me on the out-and-back section at Fort Point [4 miles].” Said Morimoto: “Maggie was within a reasonable distance, but she also looked extremely strong. Plus, I know how well she works out, so I knew she still had more in her.” Conley crossed the finish line near San Francisco’s Aquatic Park in 43:39, widening the gap over Morimoto (her New Balance Silicon Valley teammate), who finished second in 44:29. Reyes and Conley led their teams—ASICS Aggies (men), NB Silicon Valley (women)—to the PA/USATF open team titles. 58-year-old Christine Kennedy won the PA/USATF women’s 50+ age division in a superb 48:08 (95.8% age-graded score).
©FreePlayMagazine.com l Sean Dulany
PA/USATF LDR News
26 ct&rn • April–June 2013
was. I paid in the last mile where I kind of lost momentum, but it really doesn’t matter.” Schultz, Brian Pilcher (55:57, age 56, Ross), Iain Mickle (58:42, age 52, Sacramento), and Janice Kesterson (1:09:54, age 59, Oakdale) all turned in age-graded performances bettering 90% (which is considered “world class”). The race had over 1,100 finishers and offered a $15,000 prize purse.
Jaime Heilpern, 43, in 15:55. Despite the challenging course, age-group winners Hans Schmid (age 73, 20:18, 90.4% age graded), and Melody-Anne Schultz (age 71, 24:29, 92.4% age graded) turned in notable performances. Schultz’s 24:29 bettered the current U.S. W70–74 age-group record (for a mixed men/women’s race)—that is, until she improved upon her mark two weeks later.
Zippy 5K Brisbane; April 21 A venue change to Brisbane (from the Golden Gate Park course where this race has traditionally been held) greeted approximately 300 participants with a moderately hilly “keyhole”-configured course and a pleasant venue that included a postrace festival in Brisbane Community Park. The 14th annual race yielded two first-time Zippy 5K champions: Former Cal Berkeley AllAmerican Giliat Ghebray (Oakland) and New Balance Silicon Valley’s Maggie Conley (Portola Valley). Plus, Melody-Anne Schultz (71, Ross), continued her U.S. age-group record-bettering streak. In the women’s contest, a tight pack composed of NBSV and Impala Racing Team athletes proceeded conservatively from the gun until Conley decided to make a break at 1 mile. “I’m better at the hills,” Conley explained. “I wanted a buffer specifically between me and [NBSV teammate] Kris Paaso because she has very long legs, and I didn’t want her to get me on the downhill. After that, I was hoping that I wouldn’t get caught.” The strategy worked as Conley proceeded to the women’s victory in 17:15, well off the women’s race record of 16:15 set last year by Clara Peterson on the more forgiving Golden Gate Park route. “Now I’d like to get a really fast 5K in somewhere and break 17:00,” said Conley, who owns a 16:36 5K PR [on a downhill course]. Paaso, age 42, was second overall in 17:17 and earned the PA/USATF 40+ women’s division title. Stephanie Pancoast finished third in 17:29. Among the men, Jameson Mora used a similar strategy to Peterson’s, making a move on a pack of five leaders around the mile point. “I thought my best chance of winning would be pushing hard early because I felt that Giliat Ghebray would have a much better kick than me,” said Mora, who finished second to winner Chris Chavez at last year’s race. Ghebray, however, had his own strategy in mind: “I wanted to do as little work as possible and make a late race move,” he said. “The course is difficult and Jameson threw multiple moves at me. I have a decent kick and was confident in my ability to finish strong.” Indeed, with about 300 meters remaining, Ghebray struck and crossed the finish line first in 14:38. Mora (second, 14:40) and Brandon Shirck (third, 15:07) followed. Chris Chavez, who won last year and set the men’s race record of 14:24 in 2010, was fourth. The men’s masters winner was
Pacific THERx 5K4Play Portola Valley; May 5 The second annual Pacific THERx 5K4Play offered PA/USATF road racing Grand Prix competitors the second opportunity in two weeks for racing the 5K distance. About 260 competitors turned out to test themselves head-to-head over a USATF-certified course that demands smart racing tactics. The out-and-back route has a gradual 128-foot drop over the “out” leg which, after the 180-degree turnaround point, becomes a moderately challenging uphill charge over the final 1.5 miles. Giliat Ghebray (29, Union City) scored a second PA/USATF men’s victory in a row while 42year-old Kris Paaso (Menlo Park) turned her Zippy 5K runner-up performance into an overall women’s win here. In addition, Melody-Anne Schultz (71, Ross) improved on her pending U.S. record-breaking performance for age 70–74 women (in a mixed gender race) that she recorded at Zippy. Schultz finished in a sterling 24:22. Ghebray earned his win by taking an early lead, gaining a cushion by the 1-mile mark and holding it to a 14:48 finish. He gapped last year’s men’s winner, Chris Chavez (2nd, 14:59), and recent Brown University grad Matt Duffy (3rd, 15:06), who was the first scorer on the ASICS Aggies PA/USATF championship open men’s winning team. “I ran aggressively to get away from my competitors because I haven’t felt that great in training this week, and I didn’t know how I’d feel,” Ghebray said. “I wanted to pull away and kind of relax. I’m tuning up for Bay to Breakers (where Ghebray finished fourth on May 19. —Editor) and, hopefully, for the U.S. half marathon championships [June 22].” In the women’s contest, Paaso was accompanied by her New Balance Silicon Valley teammate Stephanie Pancoast until the turnaround. From there, the fast master used smart running tactics and her ingrained discipline to advantage over the gradual uphill to the finish as Pancoast dropped off the pace. “I knew I had to start working coming uphill,” Paaso related. “It’s nice to have a [mixedgender] race where you have guys you can tuck in behind. There was a little headwind coming up the hill. I’m really happy with my race.” Paaso crossed the finish line in 17:13, grabbing both the open women’s and masters women’s victories. Liza Hitchner (second, 17:35) led the ASICS Aggies to the PA/USATF open women’s team crown. Lauren Centrowitz (third, 17:43)—
Dave Waco
the daughter of two-time Olympian Matt Centrowitz (and sister of Matthew)—competed in her first PA/USATF championship event. And what did Melody-Anne Schultz have to say about her pending W70–74 record-breaking performance, which bettered the 24:35 mark (set by multiple age-group record-holder Barbara Miller at this race last year) by 13 seconds? “I thoroughly enjoyed the race,” she commented. “I liked the downhill going out. By the time I got to the ‘supposedly’ uphill section, I was ready to start racing. When you’ve trained for races like the Dipsea, that uphill doesn’t seem like much.” (Editor’s Note-—Schultz won the age- and sex-handicapped Dipsea race over Mt. Tamalpais in 1991, 2003, and 2006). Thanks to race director Dena Evans and New Balance Silicon Valley for hosting a superb firstyear event to benefit Playworks Silicon Valley, a nonprofit organization that provides safe, healthy and inclusive play and physical activity to low-income schools.
Chelsea Reilly and Brian Pilcher each set records at the Marin Memorial Day 10K.
Melody-Anne Schultz added a title in the women’s 70+ division at the Marin Memorial Day race. Pam Wendell
July–August 2013 • ct&rn 27
Marin Memorial Day 10K Kentfield; May 27 Chris Chavez successfully defended his men’s title at this popular 36th annual Memorial Day fixture, where he has finished among the top five in the past six years. But the really big stories on a sparkling spring morning punctuated by a few clouds were a new women’s race record by Chelsea Reilly and a U.S. record-bettering performance by age-group ace Brian Pilcher. “I love the Marin Memorial Day 10K because it’s well organized and draws a lot of good competition from the PA/USATF [road racing] circuit,” said Chavez (Menlo Park), reflecting the feelings of many racers who have competed at this venerable event organized by the Tamalpa Runners. “That quality could be seen again this morning when we toed the line.” A front pack of about half a dozen men proceeded through the initial miles in tactical fashion over the flat-and-fast course that proceeds through tidy Marin County neighborhoods in Kentfield and Ross and finishes on the College of Marin track. At about 31⁄2 miles, Chavez took a tentative lead, hoping to string out the pack. They covered his move. “My goals weren’t too lofty going into the race. I just wanted to be competitive,” Chavez related. “My running has been consistent since the LA Marathon, but I’ve been sidetracked the last few weeks completing my MBA at UC Berkeley.” Chavez placed eighth at the ASICS LA Marathon last March 17 in 2:19:21. 2012 Cal Poly SLO graduate Brandon Shirck took the lead just before 4 miles on the Corte Madera Creek bike/pedestrian path. Chavez took the lead again at 4.5 miles, proceeded through the 8K timed split at 24:21, and held on for a 30:15 victory, identically matching his 2012 winning time. Alex Varner (second, 30:29, San Rafael) and Shirck (third, 30:38) were next. Todd Rose (age 40, San
Francisco) won the masters 40-and-over age-group crown in 33:04. Chelsea Reilly (Berkeley) is off to a great season in her second year as a professional since graduating from UC Berkeley, where she was an NCAA AllAmerican and set the school’s indoor mile (4:48.89) and indoor 3000m (9:00.86) records. Last year Reilly won the USA 10K road title in 32:41 at the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women in her debut at the distance. Last March she won the women’s national 3000m title at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships and also achieved the “A” standard at 5000m for this summer’s IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships by running a 15:13.24 at the Stanford Invitational track meet. “I see races now as opportunities to show the hard work that I’ve been putting in,” said Reilly, who’s coached on her Bay Area Track Club team by 2008 Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy-Boulet. “I used to be very nervous stepping on the starting line, but because I have so much confidence in the training that Magda’s given me and so much trust in our program, I just have no fear when I start a race, and I know I wouldn’t be there unless Magda prepared me.” Reilly jumped into the Marin Memorial Day race as a training run and proceeded to an unaccompanied win. Her victorious time of 33:08 broke the women’s race record of 33:26 set by April Powers in 1988. In the process, Reilly won a $1,000 race record bonus offered by the event, on top of her PA/USATF championship prize check of $250. Anna Bretan (Menlo Park) was second in 35:04. Kris Paaso (age 42) followed her overall winning performance at the Pacific THERx 5K4Play with a third place here in 35:48, also capturing the women’s masters age 40-and-over title. “I wanted to go out and run a controlled race today, a tempo run at 5:20 pace,” Reilly said about her race. “So it worked out well. We’ve been training really hard the last few weeks, so this was a good opportunity to gauge my fitness. I was very pleased.” The age group competition in Marin was equally impressive. Brian Pilcher (56, Ross) recorded an official 8K split of 26:40, smashing the currently listed U.S. M55–59 8K age-group record of 27:00 set by Norm Green in 1990. (USATF allows U.S. records to be set en route to longer distances provided specific timing requirements and documentation are met.) Pilcher proceeded to a 33:47 10K finish, capturing the men’s 50-and-over age
group crown, but well over the current U.S. M55–59 10K record (32:27, Jim O’Neill, 1993). “I’ve tried for the 8K record many times, but I’ve always had to travel. It was freezing cold in Philadelphia, too much wind in Virginia. So I got the record on my course,” said Pilcher, who competes for the Tamalpa Runners and lives near the course in nearby Ross. “I was dying after I went
through 8K to finish the 10K. My last mile was slow.” Melody-Anne Schultz—another Tamalpa runner who lives in Ross—finished in an outstanding 49:04, capturing the women’s age 70-and-over title but coming up slightly short of the current U.S. 70–74 age-group record (48:55, Libby James, 2009).
Mitchell Garner
CA Prominent at RRCA Convention
28 ct&rn • July–August 2013
Albuquerque, May 2-5 (L-R) Californians Rich Benyo, Christine Kennedy, Jeanine Holmlund, Len Goldman, Karen Allen, Kevin Lee, and state rep George Rehmet.
Californians were a strong presence at the awards banquet for the 55th Annual Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) national convention. Of the 16 national awards, 5 went to Californians (3 of whom are members of the Pacific Association of USATF). The convention had a strong PA/USATF presence in other ways, as well. Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders/Tamalpa Runners member Len Goldman was awarded the Browning Ross Spirit of the RRCA Award for an unsung hero, someone who champions the RRCA tirelessly and enthusiastically with lifetime volunteer service to the running community for many years. Goldman was instrumental in the success of the RRCA national convention when it came to San Francisco in 2009. Christine Kennedy of Los Gatos was the second Californian in two years to receive the RRCA Female Masters Runner of the Year. Last year, Linda Somers-Smith of San Luis Obispo won this prestigious award. In 2012 Kennedy won her agegroup division in commanding ways at the Boston and Chicago marathons. She also won three USATF national championships: the 8K, 10K, and cross country. That same year, she was named 2011 Masters Athlete of the Year by USATF’s Masters Committee. On the awards stage, Kennedy recounted how she started running when she was inspired by the Dublin Marathon and how her successes are attributed to setting goals each year. On accepting the award for Road Race of the Year on behalf of the Kaiser-Permanente Napa Valley Marathon, Rich Benyo (David Hill was codirector) thanked the RRCA for its support of the race. He attributed the race’s success to the cooperation of fellow race directors. (At the convention, the Napa Valley Marathon was selected as the
RRCA National Marathon Championship for the second year in a row.) The Napa Valley Marathon is the third Northern California race in four years to win this prestigious award. The San Francisco Half Marathon, which is put on by Pamakid Runners, won in 2009 and the Presidio 10-Mile, which is put on by the Guardsmen, won in 2011. Kevin Lee of San Francisco’s Dolphin South End Running Club (DSE) was awarded Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in Honor of Rod Steele. It’s worth noting that he puts on a race nearly every weekend of the year and volunteers in almost all of the them. New this year was the Road Runner of the Year–Challenged Athlete which honors a runner with disabilities who inspires other disabled athletes and races to include this population. The inaugural award winner was Kerry Kuck, a visually impaired runner from Denver. This award was developed by RRCA California state pepresentative and PA/USATF Disabled Athletes chair George Rehmet and fellow RRCA CA state representative, PA/USATF member, and disabled athlete Simone Adair. Earlier in the day, Meb Keflezighi was presented with the RRCA Male Runner of the Year award for his 2012 race performances and he was the keynote speaker at the convention luncheon. In introducing him, Rehmet related a story about how Keflezighi was able to get running shoes donated for at-risk students at the school where Rehmet works, calling Meb a true champion who uses his status to make a positive difference for others. During his talk, Keflezighi related his experiences at the London Olympics. The next day, the Run for the Zoo 10K, which was a RRCA national championship, several PA members performed well despite the mile-high altitude. Christine Kennedy not only won her age group, but was the fourth female overall and earned the title of RRCA 10K Grandmasters Female. Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders’ Jeanine Holmlund claimed honors as RRCA 10K Masters Female. Len Goldman took first, and Rehmet (representing Pamakid Runners) took second in their respective age groups. Rehmet enjoyed seeing a high number of his nominations win RRCA national awards because “Northern California, especially with its strong Pacific Association, has a lot of depth with its athletes and races. I predict that we will see more national winners from our region.”
san diego assn
Q&A with 2012 XC Champ Stuart
The 2013 edition of the SDIAC Dirt Dog Cross Country Series commences this August. In anticipation of that, Peter Stern interviewed Laura Stuart, last year’s overall women 40–49 champion. PS: In last year’s series, did you have any goals other than being the first Master? LS: In last year’s series, I didn’t really have any goals. I was racing on the JH Cohn Open team because we couldn’t field enough runners for a masters team. It was challenging because in several of the races the masters runners run a separate race from the open so they based our place on time. I think I would prefer to have the races just be all men/all women rather than split open/masters. My main goal during cross country was to win my age group at the National Masters Cross Country 5K Championship in October at the Ursula Rains race, so I was using the series to help me get used to cross country racing/training. I had run in the National Masters Track & Field Championships in Lisle, Illinois the summer before and got hooked on USATF masters racing. PS: What did you think of last year’s races? Which was your favorite course and why? LS: I enjoyed last year’s races. I have a love/hate relationship with the Balboa 4-miler because I have done it so many times and it has such history, but it is soooo hard. I also like the Wild Duck. I like the park there and I like how close it is to where I live in Encinitas. I love their creative awards. PS: In response to feedback that there were too many races last year with too little rest, the number of races has been decreased this year. Do you favor that change? LS: Yes, I do prefer fewer races because I have found as I have gotten older that if I try to race too much I get hurt and kind of burned out. I felt like last year was just right. I also don’t like it when they put the very last race of the series the weekend
PhotoRun.NET
before the championships because it is not enough recovery time for me. PS: Do you plan to defend your title this year? LS: As of right now, I am planning to do the series next year, but I am also tempted to maybe run a fall marathon to try to qualify for the Boston Marathon. It also depends on if I can stay healthy. I have found that the older I get, it is more about making it to the start line without any injuries than it is about being super fast! PS: What do you think of the races in this year’s series in general, and moving the championship race to Rohr Park from Mission Bay in particular? LS: I like the races picked out for this year. They are a nice mix. I am also happy that the championship race has moved because I was not fond of running all those loops at Mission Bay. It was so hard to get momentum going. My favorite championship course is the old one from the Kinney Cross Country Championships. I love the steep climbs. PS: As a younger runner, you qualified for the Olympic Trials. How would you compare running as a Master to your days as an open runner? LS: Running as a Master is completely different. It is so much more important now to do all the little things like get a weekly massage, stretch, eat right, get enough sleep, recover properly, do strength work, etc. It is also a lot harder to fit all those things in when you have a job and a family. The hardest part is that in my mind I am still 30 and I forget that my body can’t handle that kind of workload anymore without getting hurt. I have learned to appreciate being healthy and able to participate in races. The sport of running has given me so many great opportunities and I have met so many great people along the way. I feel like it is my turn to give back to the sport and so my next endeavor is to hopefully start assistant coaching middle school cross country.
Laura Stuart running the Carlsbad 5000 in 2006.
2013 USATF/VS Athletics Dirt Dog Cross Country Series Sat., Oct. 12
Ursula Rains Balboa Boogie 5K, Morley Field Masters 8 a.m.; Open 8:45 a.m. Contract Nancy Morris, 858.874.8784
Sat., Aug. 31
Balboa 4-Miler, Balboa Park Masters 7:30 a.m.; Open 8:10 a.m. Contact Paul Baumhoefner, 619.200.4792
Sat., Oct. 26
Cougar Challenge 5K/8K, CSU San Marcos Track Women’s 5K: 8 a.m.; Men’s 8K: 8:45 a.m. Contact Steve Scott, 760.750.7105
Sat., Sept. 21
69th Aztec Invitational 5K, Balboa Park, 8 a.m. Contact Rick Reiser, 310.227.5534
Sat., Nov. 2
Cuyamaca College 6K, Lindo Lake, 8 a.m. Contact Patrick Thiss, 619.660.4518
Sat., Sept. 28
Bonita 8K Stampede, Sweetwater Regional Park, 8 a.m. Contact Antonio Melchor, 619.370.1184
Sat., Nov. 16
USATF Cross Country Championship, Rohr Park Women 6K: 8 a.m.; Men 8K: 9 a.m. Contact Paul Greer, 619.388.3704
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Wild Duck 5K, Guajome Park Masters 8 a.m.; Open 8:30 a.m. Contact Joe Crosswhite, 760.723.3257
July–August 2013 • ct&rn
Sat., Aug. 24
central ca assn July (weekly) Run for the Dream All-Comers Meets (youth, open, masters divisions) at Lemoore HS and Hanford HS. Contact napva@hotmail.com
Thurs., Oct. 10 USATF Central CA Annual Meeting, Coco’s (955 Oak St., Bakersfield), 6:30 p.m. Contact lawrencewatsonus@yahoo.com, 661316-8357.
July 5–7 Region 14 Track & Field Youth JO Championship (Pacific Association hosts)
Sun., Nov. 24 Central CA Association XC Youth JO Championship, Fresno Contact Lawrence Watson
lawrencewatsonus@yahoo.com
President’s Message Lawrence Watson
event schedule
July 22–28 USATF National Junior Olympic Youth T & F Champs at Greensboro, NC Aug. 14 Samansky Championship (youth, open, masters divisions) Location: TBA. Contact coachpalavicini@yahoo.com *Level 1 Coaching School 2013, Location TBA Contact coachpalavicini@yahoo.com *Race Walk Clinic 2013, Location TBA Contact lawrencewatsonus@yahoo.com
so cal assn
Sun., Dec. 1 Region XC Youth JO Championship, Fresno. Contact Lawrence Watson 2014 Sun-Mon., Feb. 16–17, Run for the Dream Indoor Championship (youth, high school, college, open, masters) at the Savemart Center, Fresno. Contact napva@hotmail.com Feb. 22 Central CA Association Officials Training and Certification, Bakersfield Contact Jerlene Powell at Jusmejeri@aol.com
bundlolafs@aol.com
For info on our events and to race in one of them, friend me at www.facebook.com/ rebecca.trahan.714 or visit www.scausatf.org/ events/roadrunning.htm
This year we welcomed two new runs: the Newport Mesa Spirit Run Race for the Schools and the El Segundo Run for Education Celebrating 30 years, the Newport-Mesa Spirit Run took place Mar. 3 in the Fashion Island area of Newport Beach. A major fundraiser for El Segundo’s K–12 schools, the El Segundo Run for Education was a fun, slightly hilly race that took place in the heart of the city. Both races were scenic and fun for all, and we look forward to having them on our schedule again in 2014. Also on our 2013 Grand Prix Schedule was the ASICS LA Marathon. While many things changed this year with this race, it was still a great event. Among the runners we were happy to have represent our association was Deena Kastor, who placed third. We attended the pre-race expo and added a number of new members to our association! Race Report: Magic Shoe 5K (May 18) Sponsored by Orange County’s Cal Coast Track Club and spearheaded by Coach Bill Sumner, many throughout Southern California showed up to run for a really great cause: the Cynthia Hol-
comb Magic Shoe Foundation. Not only did Southern Californians show up to PR, but they also showed up to donate shoes to help the needy. An exciting and nail-biting race to the end, Jordan Chimpangama won the overall race (0:14:24) while Belainshe Gebre won the women’s race (0:15:55). Definitely a don’t miss race miss for next year! n El Segundo Run for Education men’s top finishers (l-r): Juan Morales (3rd), Ken Ernst (2nd), and Gabe Hernandez (1st). All are member of the Cal Coast Track Club.
Rebecca Trajan
30 ct&rn • July–August 2013
Rebecca Trahan
LDR Update
Š2013 Brooks Sports, Inc.
Break Speed Limits in the Wave Sayonara
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