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RUNNER'S NICHE
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Vol. 4 No.10 October, 1999
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NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
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In order to make the Runner's Niche web site a more useful
stop on the Internet highway, I have added a new feature.
Now we have the Runner's Niche Message Forum, a page
devoted to discussion of any and all running topics of
interest to you. This page will have some annoying
advertisements on it, and the page is actually run by a
company called Inside the Web, not by me. Still, it is easy
to use and should be conducive to discussion about topics
such as training, race results, injury questions etc.
The URL is: http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/mbs.cgi/mb790987
An easy way to get there is just to go to the Runner's
Niche site (http://home.netone.com/~woodyg3/runiche) and
click on the link from there.
I doubt this will ever rival the Runner's World Forum, but
it might have a less hectic and cluttered feel to it, and
your comment is not likely to be lost in the crowd.
I invite you to have a look and leave comments, questions
or information you'd like to share.
- WG
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MARATHON & BEYOND MAGAZINE - THE RUNNING PERIODICAL THAT
GOES THE EXTRA MILE.
Visit their web site at: http://www.marathonandbeyond.com
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RUNNER'S NICHE / MARATHON & BEYOND TRIVIA CONTEST
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Congratulations to last month's trivia winner, Monte Wells
of Amarillo, Texas. Monte receives a free issue of Marathon
& Beyond Magazine and FAME!
This month's winner will also get a free issue of the
running periodical that goes the extra mile - Marathon &
Beyond Magazine. Trivia contest entrants are limited to one
prize per calendar year.
When answering, email your answers with the subject "trivia
contest" and answer the questions in the order they appear
below. Mail to: woodyg3@netone.com. The FIRST person to
answer all ten questions correctly wins. If nobody answers
all ten correctly, we will award the prize to the person
who answers the most questions correctly. Good Luck!
This Month's Questions:
Stars of the 70s and 80s:
1. Top 800, 1500, Mile Runner, Steve Ovett was from what
county?
2. Distance Runner Kirk Pfeffer, an excellent University of
Colorado product, was from what country?
3. Two-time Olympic medalist in the marathon, Karel
Lismont, was from what nation?
4. Former 5000 meter world record holder Dick Quax was from
what country?
5. What country did 5000 meter specialist Brendan Foster
come from?
6. Perennial NYC Marathon winner Grete Waitz was from which
Scandinavian nation?
7. Boston Marathon champ Jacqueline Gareau came from what
nation?
8. Patti Lyons-Catalano, a top road racing athlete, was
from what country?
9. Joyce Smith was an excellent marathon runner from what
English speaking nation?
10. Marathon and road star Gillian Adams, who, among other
things was second to Grete Waitz in the 1979 NYC Marathon
was from what country?
Last Month's Answers:
1. Who just set a new world record at the World
Championships in the mens 400 meter dash?
Answer: Michael Johnson at the World Championships. (43.18)
2. Who was the first male to break 44 seconds in the 400
meter dash?
Answer: Lee Evans
3. Who held the world record for the mens 400 before this
year's World Championships?
Answer: Butch Johnson
4. Texas 400 meter runner Suziann Reid won the 400 meters
in this year's NCAA championships. In doing so she was the
first female 400 meter runner to accomplish a particular
feat in the NCAAs, what was that?
Answer: She was the first 3-time winner in the womens 400.
5. What team won the womens 4 x 400 meter relay in this
year's NCAA championships?
Answer: Texas
6. Clement Chukau of Eastern Michigan won the mens 400
meter crown at the NCAAs this year. What is Clement's
nationality?
Answer: Nigeria
7. What does a 400 meter runner mean if they say they
"rigged up" at the end of the race?
Answer: Rigor Mortis, dark humor representing the way a
runner tightens up at the end of a hard race.
8. Who holds the American record for the womens 400 meter
dash?
Answer: Valarie Briscoe-Hooks
9. Marita Koch set the world record for the womens 400 way
back in 1985. What country did she compete for?
Answer: East Germany
10. What Olympic 400 and 800 meter gold medalist was
nicknamed "El Caballo"?
Answer: Alberto Juantorena
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BOSTON QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
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Interested in running the 2000 Boston Marathon? If so, you
need to meet the qualification standards in order to
register. Those standards are listed below.
Age Group / Men / Women
18-34 / 3hrs 10min / 3hrs 40min
35-39 / 3hrs 15min / 3hrs 45min
40-44 / 3hrs 20min / 3hrs 50min
45-49 / 3hrs 25min / 3hrs 55min
50-54 / 3hrs 30min / 4hrs 00min
55-59 / 3hrs 35min / 4hrs 05min
60-64 / 3hrs 40min / 4hrs 10min
65-69 / 3hrs 45min / 4hrs 15min
70-over / 3hrs 50min / 4hrs 20min
For complete information on the best known of all marathons
take a look at their web site:
http://www.bostonmarathon.org
There is plenty of information about this years race, bur
also about the history of the BAA event.
Did you know, for instance, that in 1930 Clarence DeMar, of
Melrose, Massachusetts, won his seventh Boston Marathon
title? This came after his doctor told him to quite running
in 1911 because of suspected heart problems. Seems the doc
was a little off base, eh?
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RUNNING DELIGHTS - all occasion and holiday greeting cards,
novelty gifts, t-shirts, bracelets and many others items.
www.ontherun.com/runningdelights
Our entire catalog is now online with secure ordering.
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UFLASH TOP TEN LIST CONTEST
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First and Second place winners of the Top Ten List Contest
for September will receive a Uflash Sportbelt! And here
they are:
TOP TEN REASONS THE MARATHON IS REALLY TOO SHORT
First Place:
Submitted by Craig Zawada
10. Finishing a race in the daytime doesn't give you the
same flashbulb-induced blindness.
9. More people collapsing would attract additional Fox TV
coverage.
8. Archaeologists have now proven that 1 Greek mile = 10
kilometers.
7. Any race where you start after 5:00 AM is for wimps.
6. At present, hardly anyone is vomiting more than 1/2 hour
after the race.
5. Ironman entrants need more time to work out the "crotch
crickets" after the bike stage.
4. 26 miles, 385 yards too hard to remember ... let's round
it up to 100 miles, 385 yards.
3. The heck with endorphins... I want HALLUCINATIONS.
2. "DNF" is much easier to say than "Three thousand, six
hundred and forty-third place"
And the number one reason why the marathon is too short:
1. One word: "Oprah"
Second Place:
Submitted by Shirley Aycoth
10. I still have two toenails left.
9. I'm addicted to the taste of Power Gels.
8. Just hitting my stride around mile 24.
7. My orthopedist needs to repay his school loans.
6. More miles would just show what a slacker that
Phiddippides guy was.
5. Good test for my new "blister free" socks.
4. New slogan for t-shirts: Team In Agony.
3. I never liked fractions.
2. I own stock in Gatorade.
And the number one reason why the marathon is too short:
1. Would reinforce my insanity to family and friends.
AND FOR THIS MONTH'S CONTEST???
This month we will again have a top ten list contest. To
enter you will need to use your creativity and come up with
your own list. The title of this month's list is "Top ten
excuses after a poor race."
Email your entry with the subject "Top Ten List" to:
Woodyg3@netone.com
The top two entries will be printed in the next issue of
the Niche, plus they will receive a free Uflash Sportbelt!
(No profanity or questionable material, please, this is a
family oriented magazine.)
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http://www.uflash.com, your online night safety store is
now OPEN! Visit our website and give us your feedback! Be
Seen, Not Hit!
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THIS AND THAT
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*New Marathon Record*
Tegla Loroupe set a new womens world best in the marathon
at this year's Berlin Marathon. Her time of 2:20:43
supplants her own previous best. The Berlin race, held the
last weekend of September, is well known as a fast course.
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WEB SITES OF INTEREST
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*Belfast Marathon*
On May 1, 2000, you could be running the Belfast Marathon!
For more info:
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/marathon
*Another Long One*
The Las Vegas Marathon, Half-Marathon and Marathon Relay
will be on Sunday, February 6. For More info:
http://www.lvmarathon.com
*And Another...*
The California International Marathon in Sacramento on
December 5 might be of interest, as well. Their web site is
at:
http://www.runcim.org
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LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
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*Way Down South*
Dear Runner's Niche,
Regarding Running in Antarctica, as mentioned briefly in
the September Runner's Niche...
I can no longer write you from Antarctica, but I was there,
at McMurdo station, during two astral summer seasons, in
1995-96, and 96-97. Working for the primary contract-holder
in the US Antarctic Program, I ran pretty much every day
for 3 1/2 months the first season, 1 1/2 months the second,
which included two weeks at South Pole. While at South
Pole, I actually ran "around the world", circling the pole
in about 5 seconds.
In October it is pretty cold, and I have to admit I ran on
the treadmill most days. But in November it is typically no
colder than a winter day running in Nebraska: 5 to 15
degrees F., with a 15 miles-per-hour northwest wind. In
December and January there are usually a few days you can
wear shorts. Then it turns colder in February, with some
pretty rough weather.
On Sundays, me and my buddies (you cannot leave the station
alone) ran the "Castle Rock loop", which is probably 8 or 9
miles in length, climbs probably 1,000 feet, then drops
again back to sea level. It is a pretty grueling run, with
lots of long, tough hills. I ran four races during my stay;
one even had a T-shirt. That was the McMurdo Midsummer
Midnight Mile, which I did at just under 6 minutes.
Hydration is the most important health concern for everyone
in Antarctica, but more so for runners because the relative
humidity is usually below 5%. Of course as a long-time
runner, I am used to taking in extra water, and actually
did fine without changing my water-intake habits. But in
extreme environments there is a lot less room for error,
and a night of heavy drinking could leave you bone-dry the
next day.
Most of the people there were pretty hardly folks, and many
did some form of regular outdoor activity, including
running, Nordic skiing, rock climbing, some bicycling on
the dirt and walking/hiking.
Kenny Gilfilen
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