| Running USA wire 96, December 12, 2004 |
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In this Edition Wire 96, December 12, 2004(click)
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Return to top / Return to main page In Memoriam: Arthur Lydiard (1917-2004) Arthur Lydiard who revolutionized distance training passed away in Houston, Texas on Saturday night, December 11. The New Zealand native, 87, was in the final weeks of his U.S. lecture tour. In the 1950s, Lydiard developed a training system based on building a large aerobic base, hill bounding and anaerobic sharpening. Many so-called experts in the sport scoffed at his principles. At the Rome Olympics in 1960, three of his charges - Peter Snell, Murray Halberg and Barry Magee - won medals, 800m gold, 5000m gold and marathon bronze respectively. Snell later won two more gold medals (800m and 1500m) at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, while John Davies - also coached by Lydiard - won the bronze in the 1500m. The charismatic coach influenced (and will continue to influence) several generations of athletes and coaches throughout the world. In this era of over-hyped athletes and celebrities, Arthur Lydiard was a true Legend with a capital "L". Thank you, Arthur. Return to top / Return to main page Steidl Sets Course Record at
the Sunmart 50K Endurance Run HUNTSVILLE, Tex. - (December 11, 2004) - Ulrich Steidl, a former member of the German national track and cross country team, won his fifth consecutive 50 kilometer race in course record time at the 15th annual Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs at Huntsville State Park on Saturday. It was Steidl's first Sunmart victory. Steidl, who is a 32-year-old high school chemistry teacher from Seattle, Wash., covered the multi-loop 31 mile route through the park's trail system in 3 hours, 11 minutes, 45 seconds to eclipse the course record of 3:12:25 set by Rich Hanna in 1994. Dave Terris, 41, of San Antonio, the winner of the 50K in 2003, was second at 3:33:40. Jim Harrington, 39, of Negaunee, Mich., the runner-up last year, was third in 3:35:21. Steidl, a native of Erlenback, Germany, broke from a small field that included Terris and Harrington shortly into the first 6 mile loop and quickly forged a lead that none of his pursuers could match. "I took the lead after the first half-mile, and by mile ten I lengthened the lead to one and one half minutes," said Steidl, whose personal best in the marathon is 2:13. "I was able to do a negative split on the second lap, and I knew if I kept my pace I'd be close to the record." But neither Terris nor Harrington were willing to concede the victory, and kept Steidl in their sights for the first 18 miles of the race. "I was running about six-minute pace at the start, and I just decided to run my own race," Steidl said. "During the last six miles of the race, I knew I was close to the record, but I did have to push hard to keep my record streak alive." In the women's 50K, Chris Purslow, 37, of Waco, Tex., won in 4:05:06. Jean Herbert of Albuquerque, N.M., was second at 4:19:39. Anna Horne, 23, of Copperas Cove, Texas, was third in 4:21:47. Yiannis Kouros, 47, of Athens, Greece, who was the 2002 winner of the 50 mile race, repeated as the mens 50 mile winner in 6:11:28. Hal Koerner, 28, of Seattle, Wash., was second at 6:43:48. Ken Gordon, 39, of Albuquerque, N.M., was third in 6:52:42. Kouros, a music composer and professional runner, jumped into the 50 mile lead when Brazilian Marcio Oliveira, the 50 mile winner in 2003, took a spill and was unable to continue. "The whole race I thought I was second place, because I didn't know Oliveira had dropped out," said Kouros, who holds numerous distance records from 24 hours to 1,000 miles. "I only saw him (Oliveira) on the first lap, and I thought he was running too fast. I prefer hotter weather and races much longer, like 48 hours." Connie Gardner, 41, of Medina, Ohio, who won the women's 50 mile race in 2002, duplicated her victory with a time of 7:16:23. Tania Pacev, 45, of Littleton, Colo, the 2001 winner, was second at 7:23:34. Laura Nelson, 39, of Woodstock, Va., was third at 7:31:48. But Gardner set the early pace and maintained it to the finish line at Lake Raven. "Tania (Pacev) was closing in on me the whole way," said Gardner, who was the 2004 USATF Women's Ultra Runner-of-the-Year. "She (Pacev) was within two minutes of me for part of a lap, then I surged to about a four minute lead on her. But even with that, she looked like she could pull on me." More than 950 runners from 35 states and four countries make the Sunmart event the largest ultra-marathon in the United States. 15th Sunmart Texas Trails
Endurance Runs 50K WOMEN 50 Mile WOMEN For more results, go to: www.sunmart.net Return to top / Return to main page City of Los Angeles Marathon
to Celebrate 20th Edition in March LOS ANGELES - (December 8, 2004) - For two decades, the City of Los Angeles Marathon, presented by Honda, has led the world of marathoning in race-day innovations. Over the years, the list of firsts has included the use of ChampionChip transponders attached to runners' shoelaces to track individual start, course splits and finish times; the introduction of "The Challenge," a dramatic race-within-a-race pitting men against women on a level playing field for a cash prize; the availability of personalized bibs for runners and the introduction of the first ever pre-marathon bike ride. On March 6, 2005, the L.A. Marathon will turn 20 and the anniversary race comes with still more innovations designed to enhance the experience of the 25,000-plus athletes who will set out for personal bests. Among the highlights are a Fitness Training Menu program which the L.A. Marathon will launch on January 1, 2005 and continue through race day in conjunction with dozens of L.A. area restaurants. Included among them are five stars in the renowned Patina Group crown including Zucca Ristorante, Cafe Pinot, Nick & Stef's Steakhouse and Kendall's Brasserie & Bar in downtown L.A. and Pinot Bistro in Studio City, Calif. In partnership with OpenTable.com and the California Restaurant Association, the L.A. Marathon will point training marathoners toward participating casual- and fine-dining restaurants for carbohydrate- and protein-rich lunch and dinner menu selections to fuel their nutritional training needs leading up to race day. For marathoners who will start event day with the
11th annual Acura L.A. Bike Tour - an approximately 20-mile leisure
ride through the traffic-free streets of Los Angeles - a new "Spa
On Wheels" shuttle will transport an estimated 120 biathletes from
the bike tour finish line to the marathon start line on Figueroa Blvd.
at 6th Street. The shuttle will offer mini neck, arm, shoulder and foot
massages and will provide Sparkletts water, Gatorade and Clif Bars over
the three-mile transport. Secure storage for cycling equipment will
be provided. "The Challenge" returns for the second year and the stakes have been raised. In this unique format, the elite women start the race approximately 20 minutes ahead of the elite men and compete for a cash bonus of $75,000 for being the first person to cross the finish line. The bonus reflects an increase of $25,000 from the $50,000 cash bonus in 2004. Other cornerstone events of the L.A. Marathon also return in 2005. Thousands will take to the streets by participating in the Emerald Nuts 5K Run/Walk. The Los Angeles Wheelchair Race will gather one of the largest fields of physically challenged athletes in the world. The event is one of the most respected competitions for wheelchair athletes in the United States and more than 100 athletes are expected to participate. The Wheelchair Division follows the same course of the runners and offers one of the largest prize purses in wheelchair racing. Since its inception, the L.A. Marathon has raised more than $16 million for local charities by encouraging participants to run for a cause. Once again, the L.A. Marathon promises to deliver what has become known as the "Million Dollar Morning," as 50 charities will benefit from the anticipated $1 million raised by runners who complete the 26.2-mile run. The L.A. Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, is the largest marathon in the state, fourth largest in the country and seventh largest in the world. It is known among serious runners as one of the more difficult courses in the world, and yet it is expected to draw 30,000 runners in 2005. Runners from all 50 states and 80 countries are anticipated. Historically, 80 percent of all participants have hailed Southern California as their home making the race one of the city's most highly participated and defining events. The L.A. Marathon presented by Honda takes place Sunday, March 6, 2005. In addition to American Honda Motor Co., Inc., marathon sponsors include American Airlines, City of Angels Medical Center, NBC4, KVEA 52 (Telemundo), Saucony, Sparkletts and Emerald Nuts. To date, more than 350,000 runners and walkers have participated in the L.A. Marathon. For more information or to register for L.A. Marathon XX visit www.lamarathon.com or call (310) 444-5544. MEDIA CONTACTS Return to top / Return to main page For more information, contact: New Theme and Event Highlight 2005 Spirit of
St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend™ ST. LOUIS - (December 7, 2004) - Building upon four years of success, the fifth annual Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend™ on April 8-10, 2005 will offer a new theme and expanded line of events designed to encourage people of all ages and athletic abilities to engage in a variety of running and walking related fitness activities. The excitement and energy of the 2005 event will be captured in "Art and Sole," a visually stimulating theme. As soles pound the streets of St. Louis, runners and walkers, young and old, will enjoy works of art by local artists at every marathon mile. Also new is the Mature Mile, which challenges less active adults age 60 and older to train for a one-mile walk. In addition, the St. Louis Marathon Weekend will host the 2005 Missouri Marathon and Half-Marathon Championship with honors going to the top male and female Missouri runners in these races. Taking place over three days in St. Louis, the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend is Missouri's most comprehensive health and fitness event. Individuals have the opportunity to sign up for a variety of events ranging from a Diaper Dash to a full 26.2-mile marathon as well as attend a Health & Fitness Expo. Participation in the St. Louis Marathon Weekend has more than tripled since its debut in 2000 when slightly more than 2,000 entries were received. In 2004, runners came from 47 states and four countries. "An event such as the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend is invaluable because it encourages people to embrace a healthier and more fit lifestyle regardless of their level of experience. As a personal advocate of fitness, I challenge the citizens of St. Louis to embrace this Marathon Weekend by participating in one of the events," said St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay. "The weekend also provides us with a special opportunity to showcase our beautiful city and neighborhoods to regional and national participants." The St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend was created with a mission to promote the importance of fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Since its inception, organizers have launched the Read, Right & Run Marathon™, the nation's only fully integrated children's marathon. The event encourages children to become physically fit, reading proficient and community minded. The latest innovation comes with the addition of the Mature Mile. The program has already won support from many local organizations such as OASIS, Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, Lutheran Senior Services, area YMCAs and the Jewish Community Center. "While we're honored to recognize the elite runners in our state and region, it's equally important to acknowledge the everyday person," said Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend President Nancy Lieberman. "With so many health-related issues facing society, it is important for people to get fit, while enjoying the additional benefits of the Marathon Weekend such as camaraderie and fun." The 2005 weekend kicks off on Friday, April 8, with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Health & Fitness Expo at the Marriott Pavilion Downtown. The action moves to Forest Park on Saturday, April 9, with a variety of Fun Runs ranging from a Diaper Dash to a 1/2-mile run, the Energizer Read, Right & Run Marathon, a 5K race and the Mature Mile. Sunday, April 10, is endurance day as thousands of runners and walkers test their stamina for the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon, Blue Cross Blue Shield Half Marathon and a four-person Marathon Relay. The 26.2-mile course starts at Soldier's Memorial in downtown St. Louis then winds its way through the Soulard, Central West End, Forest Park, Clayton and University City/DeBaliviere communities before returning to Soldier's Memorial. A traditional pre-Marathon Pasta Party will be held Saturday evening at St. Louis City Hall. For more information about the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon Weekend & Family Fitness Weekend, visit www.stlouismarathon.com or call (314) 727-0800. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director (805) 696-6232, fax (805)
967-5958 |