| Running USA wire 29, April 20, 2006 |
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Kastor Gunning for London Victory Supremely confident and in the best shape of her
life, 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor goes into Sunday's
Flora London Marathon aiming to improve upon her U.S. record
of 2 hours, 21 minutes, 16 seconds. That performance made her the 7th
fastest woman in history (11th now) and was also set in London three
years ago. "I am pretty excited," Kastor said during a trans-Atlantic telephone call Thursday. "I love London and the course they have here is my purpose for coming back. Also they put together a great field. Paula Radcliffe dropped out at the last minute, but we still have a pretty good field, and I want to use the talented field to run a good time." "My preparations leading up to this weekend have been fantastic. I couldn't have asked for better preparations as far as my workouts have been going. The half-marathon in Berlin is proving that my fitness is good. I am pretty excited." In Berlin, she finished the half-marathon distance in 1:07:34 beating her own U.S. record by 19 seconds. Along the way she set three more pending U.S. records at 12K (38:24), 10 miles (51:31) and 20K (1:04:07) formidable performances by anyone's standard. The following day she and her husband Andrew Kastor and her training partner, Jen Rhines, flew to London and set up a training camp in nearby Teddington, a favorite location for scores of international middle distance runners. Comfortable in the knowledge she is in the best condition of her life the Team Running USA athlete is reluctant to offer a marathon time that equates to her Berlin performance. "I don't think anything translates to the marathon," she says laughing. "I think the day just has to unfold well. Right now I feel like I have prepared myself the best I can for this weekend. "I feel the most confident I have ever been going into a marathon. As the marathon unfolds you are always posed with decisions to make along the way. I do feel prepared to run the race of my life, but you never know what happens on race day. I am preparing the best that I can and feel confident of running a personal best out there, but we will see how the race progresses." Kastor admits that Radcliffe's absence changes things immensely. The media focus on Britain's favorite runner has gone elsewhere. Nevertheless, she denies she is feeling added pressure being thrust into the favorite's role. "It doesn't put any more pressure on me, but it does change the race strategy significantly," she explains. "I mean when Paula is in the race you can pretty much guarantee that it's going to be swift and aggressive from the start. But now it will prove to be more of a tactical race. But I am here not only to try to win the race, but also to post a good time. So hopefully the other women have the same thoughts. I am hoping that everybody goes into this race aggressively and looking for fast times and that we can help each other out doing that." Typical in these days of global trotting, Kastor hasn't seen her Mammoth Lakes, Calif. for about a month. She and Andrew have lived there for the past six years. The region offers an exceptional training environment for many top U.S. runners including teammate Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist, who was third in Boston last Monday. "It's where our Running USA group has their high altitude training camp. My husband and I have lived there for the past six years and right now it's breaking records for snowfall with over 600 inches of snow," she says, "and there was an avalanche just the other day. Luckily, no one was hurt. They are still very much in winter, but we haven't been home in the past month." Having tapered her training to be at her best for London she has been filling her days with other activities to prevent boredom or complacency. "I have been engaging in some card games with my team here, my coach [Terrence Mahon] and training partner and husband," she explains, laughing again. "Jen Rhines and I play card games and sudoko challenges. We only moved into the hotel Wednesday so now things are getting busy as far as press obligations and photo shoots but (I'm doing) pretty much just the same, training and napping and walking into town to get a bite to eat. The days get filled up pretty quickly." A London victory Sunday would be fitting for this unassuming American heroine who also won the 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and who keeps her Olympic bronze medal in a basket by the telephone rather than in a trophy cabinet. The winner will receive $55,000 prize money and there's another $125,000 for a world record. Kastor sees a bright future. "I have no plans of stopping. I still have so many goals and things that I want to do in the sport. So I definitely don't plan on exiting any time soon; I still want to win marathons, run faster. I still want to run faster on the track," explains the two-time Olympian. Indeed, she has some pretty impressive track credentials, too including the U.S. 10,000m record at 30:50.32. "I am sure I will appreciate the medal after children come into the picture and a few years after retiring. But it seems that immediately after the Olympic Games I was already focused on other things I wanted to do. I always look forward and get excited about striving for the next goal I have written down as well as my next training session." 26th Flora London Marathon Notes At Thursday's press conference, Deena Kastor, the
pre-race favorite, commented: "I take every race as it comes and with Paula
out it changes the dynamics of the race. Without Paula in the race it
will be little bit more of a tactical race and now I am thinking much
more about tactics. In addition to Kastor, London, the world's second largest marathon, again has a formidable international field including: WOMEN MEN World record holders Paula Radcliffe (GBR) and Paul Tergat (KEN) recently pulled out of London due to injury. Find more race information at: London-Marathon.co.uk For the first time to the U.S., the Flora London Marathon will be broadcast live via internet video streaming (same as TV broadcast). The Sunday, April 23rd race broadcast will be hosted by the BBC. For more information, go to the link below: www.bbc.co.uk/london/sport/marathon/index.shtml The U.S. broadcast times are: Return to top / Return to main page After Boston Wins, Cheruiyot, Jeptoo Lead World Marathon
Majors Series BOSTON - (April 17, 2006) - The 110th Boston Marathon, held Monday over the celebrated course from Hopkinton to downtown Boston, was also the first event in the inaugural World Marathon Majors Series. Comprising five events - the Boston Marathon, the Flora London Marathon (April 23), the real,-Berlin Marathon, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and the ING New York City Marathon - the series spans a two year period and offers $1,000,000 in prize money to be split between the male and female grand prix champions. With their victories in Boston, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (2:07:14, course record) and Rita Jeptoo (2:23:38) accumulated 25 WMM points each to sit atop the standings. Points in the series are awarded five deep and based on Boston's results, the standings are as follows: MEN WOMEN The World Marathon Majors Series is the product of two years of discussions among the world's five most celebrated marathons. Qualifying competitors score points in each race they contest over a consecutive two-year span, with points from their best four races used to determine final placings. The first year of each two-year cycle overlaps with the second year of the previous cycle, meaning that the World Marathon Majors series rotates as follows: 2006 / 2007, 2007 / 2008, 2008 / 2009, etc. The prize money, therefore, will be awarded at the end of each scoring period. The World Championships and Olympic Games are also part of the series in the years in which they occur. Meb Keflezighi, the third-place Boston finisher commented, "This [the World Marathon Majors Series] is very encouraging for us, because we got points at the beginning without waiting until next year. Boston was the first one. Definitely, all of us here are delighted to be among the initiators of that." Alan Culpepper, the fifth Boston finisher added, "I just think it's good because it [the WMM Series] brings more exposure. We were talking about it right now, there are going to be things written about it. It's going to bring a heightened level of exposure to our sport as a whole." Standings, breaking news and further information about the World Marathon Majors can be found at: www.realbuzz.com/clients/wmm/index.php Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Glenn Kass, (309) 269-3634 Bill Wundram to be Immortalized in Bronze DAVENPORT, Iowa - Quad-City Times Bix 7 officials have announced that a bronze statue of long-time Quad-City Times columnist Bill Wundram will join Bix Plaza in advance of this year's race, the 32nd edition slated for Saturday, July 29 on the streets of Davenport. Wundram, a 62-year employee of the newspaper, will have his life-size likeness residing with statues of Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke. The statues have all been created by area artist Ted McIlhiney. Rodgers and Samuelson were previously honored for contributions to the race. Beiderbecke, the late Davenport native whose jazz stylings have influenced generations of fans and musicians, lives on thru the music festival and road race held the same weekend that bear his name. As a Davenport native and life-long resident, Wundram has served in numerous positions at the newspaper which celebrated its 150th Anniversary in October 2005. He currently serves as Associate Editor. In addition, Wundram writes a daily column, the only seven-day columnist in the country, and has long been a chronicler and supporter of the people, places and things that make up his hometown in particular and the Quad City Area in general. In that role, he is the biggest cheerleader the Bix and the Quad Cities has ever had. He has authored or co-authored six books including a successful local series of children's books. The Bix Plaza, which graces the front of the Quad-City Times and has the aforementioned statues, is also home to the Bix 7 "Volunteer of the Year" recognition plaques. For more race information or to register for the Quad-City Times Bix 7, go to the race website at: Bix7.com Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Monica Bridle, (808) 792-2611; Monica@xterraplanet.com XTERRA's "Scramble"® Mixes It Up, Bringing Runners Back to Nature HONOLULU, Hawaii - (April 19, 2006) - XTERRA, the most illustrious name in off-road triathlons gives the pavement a vacation by offering the XTERRA Scramble® - a fun and challenging series of trail runs, staged across the nation with distances ranging from 5K to 10K. New for this year are regional series within the schedule, providing more race opportunities within a region, including the 10-race Ohio Valley Series, four-race Southern California, Utah, and Chesapeake Bay Series' and the three-event Midwest Series as well as single events in Knoxville, the Bay area and Athens, GA. Some races are integrated in the Nissan Xterra USA Championship Series of events. The new points series concept allows trail runners, for the first time, the chance to compete for XTERRA supremacy. Why just run, when you can Scramble®? Dirty, dusty, crooked, muddy and gutsy, the XTERRA Scramble® is good, "clean" fun for all ages and athletic abilities. Whether you are a seasoned runner or a self-proclaimed couch potato - this is the perfect opportunity to amplify your health and happiness. Smiles prove to be contagious as competitors hurdle over rocks and roots, duck under trees and blaze across rivers; pushing both body and mind, all while having a blast! Even spectators benefit from the electric atmosphere and vibrant spirit that exudes from this outdoor adventure. The scenic venues that host the XTERRA Scrambles are idyllic places to bring the whole family. "XTERRA Scrambles give road runners a new reason to run," said TEAM Unlimited President Janet Clark. "In much the same way we lured triathletes off-road with the popular Nissan Xterra USA Championship Series, Scrambles are adventurous running experiences that take runners off the road and into natural environments where Mother Nature will be their greatest competitor." Each race is partnered with and benefits a local non-profit organization or the XTERRA Foundation. The XTERRA Foundation is aimed at making the world a better place by infusing hope and opportunity into underprivileged and "at risk" youth. It provide opportunities for quality education, introduces kids to sports, teaches the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and shows them how participation in sports can help with life's challenges. ABOUT XTERRA The Nissan Xterra USA championship Series is the home and foundation for the XTERRA Scramble® Trail Run Series. In 2005, the XTERRA Scramble® Series grew beyond the USA Championship Series to include 15 additional races through the country. In 2006, the XTERRA Scramble® Series begins another year of growth with the addition of 27 events for a total of 34 races nationwide. The XTERRA Scramble® Series sponsors include Paul Mitchell, XTERRA Gear, GU and Gatorade. Upcoming XTERRA Scramble
Series Races The rest of the 2006 XTERRA Scramble Series schedule can be found on-line at: xterraplanet.com Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232 |