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RUNNER'S NICHE
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Vol. 5 No.7 September 2000
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NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
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The Olympics are coming up, and that means that we can all scream
at the TV as the network "pros" show us 10 seconds of a 10,000
meter race and a half hour of 100 meter preliminary heats. I hope
we get a peek at how the distance races go, there should be some
great ones. If you've never been a fan of track and field, the
Olympics are a great time to get to know the sport.
-----
This month we have several guest columnists, and I think you will
enjoy the variety of topics covered. Enjoy this issue, and have
fun with your autumn training.
- WG
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MARATHON & BEYOND MAGAZINE - Marathon & Beyond, the only magazine
that focuses on the specific needs of marathoners and
ultrarunners. M&B offers in-depth articles on training, race
strategies, injuries, nutrition, race profiles, running history,
and more. Visit their web site at:
http://www.marathonandbeyond.com
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RUNNER'S NICHE / MARATHON & BEYOND TRIVIA CONTEST
**************************************************
Congratulations to last month's trivia winner, Rich Castro. Rich
receives a free issue of Marathon & Beyond Magazine and FAME!
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:
The theme this month is popular music with a running theme.
(Okay, so sometimes it is a bit of a stretch.)
1. The rock and roll anthem "Born to Run" was performed by what
New Jersey based musician?
2. Perhaps a counter running culture album, "Walk, Don't Run" was
an album by what famous surf band?
3. The lyrics: "I wonder what went wrong with our love, a love
that was so strong," were sung by Del Shannon in what hit song?
4. (A 2-part question.) The song "The Long Race" was on a 1986
album by what well-known keyboard player? What was the name of
the album?
5. What was the title of a song about a girl who "goes out with
other guys" in a 1961 hit song by Dion? (Hint: The song is off an
album of the same name.)
6. The song "Run Like Hell" is off of which Pink Floyd album?
7. "Run, Devil, Run" is a 1999 album by which former Beatle?
8. The song "The Long Run" was a hit by what popular country-rock
band?
9. Country singer Pam Tillis sang a song about equine running on
her 1992 album "Homeward Looking Angel." What was the name of
this tune?
10. "Running on Empty" has been the theme song of many marathon
runners at mile 25. Who wrote and sang this song on an album of
the same name in 1977?
11. The group Yes first performed the song "Long Distance
Runaround" on which of their albums?
12. What well-known guitarist has an album titled "Marathon?"
13. "Street Thunder" was the title of the marathon theme song on
the 1984 Official Olympic album. What group performed this song?
14. Who composed "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" from the same album?
15. "Run For The Roses" was released on a double album entitled
"The Innocent Age" in 1981. Who wrote and performed this song?
Last Month's Answers:
Match each athlete (past and present) to their home country:
1. Liz McColgan - Great Britain (Scotland)
2. Lynn Williams - Canada
3. Benji Durden - USA
4. Libbie Hickman - USA
5. Xiao Hongyan - China
6. Carla Beurskens - Holland
7. Tony Sandoval - USA
8. Belaine Densimo - Ethiopia
9. Andres Espinosa - Mexico
10. Gabriela Szabo - Romania
11. Jason Stewart - USA
12. Tegla Lourupe - Kenya
13. Carlos Lopez - Portugal
14. Haile Gebrselassie - Ethiopia
15. Junko Asari - japan
16. Tomoe Abe - Japan
17. Antonio Silio - Argentina
18. Yelena Romanova - Russia
19. Tarzan Brown - USA
20. Herb Elliot - Australia
--- --- --- --- ---
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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PIGS FLYING... AND FAST THIS TIME!
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By Rich Sands
Occasionally, I get e-mail from a running friend who has taken
the time to send everyone they know a note describing in the most
minute detail every facet of their latest race. While I approach
these writings with the same caution I would utilize with ripe
mule carcass, I almost always read them and send back some
relevant comment like, "must have been fun," or "sounds like you
did well."
Most recently I participated in the Cincinnati Flying Pig
Marathon. Having what I would describe as a successful outing, I
feel obligated to share it with all of you who choose to read on
from this point.
My goal for this outing was threefold: 1) to run under 3 hours
and 25 minutes and qualify for the Boston Marathon; 2) to spend
time with my sons and see their track meets; and 3) spend time
with my Mother on Mother's Day weekend. Goals number 2 and 3 are
easy and all always enjoyable experiences. Goal number 1 however
has been elusive over the past eight years.
Since moving to the Boulder area, I have run nine marathons,
finishing eight of them. The fastest was in Pueblo back in 1992,
a 3:22:21 at a time when my Boston qualifying time was 3:20. In
two of those marathons (Long Beach and Albuquerque) I was running
extremely well only to meet with a rather untimely injury. Two
(Denver and New York 1994) I would classify as easy mostly
because I ran so slowly that it didn't matter. I felt adequately
prepared for half of them.
Last year I ran the Inaugural Flying Pig in 3:34:08. I had run
985 miles in the four months prior to the race and had tuned up
with a disappointing 34:20 five mile at the Cherry Creek Sneak.
This year I had prepped with 1159 miles in the same four months
and had run 31:55 at Cherry Creek on a less than ideal day. The
biggest difference, however, was that last year I weighed over
200 pounds at the Pig (what do I mean AT the Pig? I WAS the Pig),
this year I was a svelte 175. But, I digress.
Race day was sunny, moderately cool but breezy. My day started
poorly with my watch alarm not activating and me awaking only an
hour before race time (and I was fifteen minutes from downtown).
Through the patience of my Mom and sons and some fancy footwork I
was at the start line with five minutes to spare. My plan was to
run in the 7:30's for the first 20 miles and then see what I had
left for the final 10K. The plan appeared faulty as I cruised
through the first mile (thinking I was around 7:30) at 6:53.
YIKES! Too fast! Luckily, the second and third miles were all
uphill and so with a 7:30 and a 7:50, I was back on track.
Then an odd thing happened; something that I wasn't necessarily
expecting but wasn't surprising just the same. I began to run
between 7:13 and 7:24 without any major discomfort. As my watch
recorded each mile split I was constantly telling myself "I have
to slow down. I'd better slow down." I didn't.
At 18 miles I began running with a 22-year-old named Nicholas,
from Knoxville. He was whooping and having all kinds of fun so I
figured he'd make a good diversion for a few miles. We passed the
twenty mile mark in 2:27:09 after I'd run pretty even five mile
splits of 36:49, 36:59, 36:47 and 36:34. At twenty, three things
happened: I passed my sons who were yelling and screaming "Go
Dad!" I turned my hat around (indicating that I was now serious
and reminding myself that I was almost done) and I started
counting how many people I was passing.
After averaging 7:21.6 per mile, I had one of those rare marathon
moments, I actually began going FASTER at the twenty mile mark.
My next three miles were 7:06, 6:50 and 6:49. By 23, I was
confident that I would crash the sub 3:25 barrier and while my
right hamstring was catching and very tight, I danced the injury
tightrope through final miles of 7:03, 7:00 and 7:07. My final
time was 3:10:33.4! I'd passed 59 people. I'd qualified for the
Holy Grail of marathons: Boston.
I'd run negative splits (the second half faster than the first)
for the first time ever in a marathon: 1:36:44 for the first
half, 1:33:49 for the second. I'd also run the last 10K in 43:23.
My average was slightly over 7: 16 and except for the hamstring
nursing, I had run comfortably most all of the way.
While I'm happy with the objective result of my run, I'm elated
about how I was able to share it with my sons. They've made me
proud of them since they were born and it was nice to do
something that allowed them to be proud of me. It was SO COOL
seeing them yelling for me during the final stretch to the finish
line. I thank them AND my Mom for their love and support during a
very hectic weekend of track meets and extra stresses.
Well, the man behind the camera is motioning that my acceptance
speech for "Runner of the Week" is getting long. I best end this
saga. Go ahead, say it: "Must have been fun. Sounds like you did
well." See you in Boston, April 16, 2001!
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RUNNER'S NICHE BOOKSTORE - Learn more about your sport by
reading. Go to: http://home.netone.com/~woodyg3/bookstore.html
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RUNNING FORWARD - LOOKING BACK
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Book Review By Woody Green
Lynn T. Seely is the author of a new and somewhat unique book on
running. "Running Forward - Looking Back" is technically a
running book, but it is really a multi-faceted look into the
lives of several people who happen to run. Each chapter is a
different short story. The topics range from humorous to life and
death drama, and all are true stories collected by the author
through her years as a runner.
Some of the serious chapter topics include overcoming life-
threatening disease, surviving in the wilderness, avoiding an
abusive spouse and the bravery of a runner's dog in protecting
his master. Humorous topics involve everything from a mysterious
pumpkin to an older woman runner with a "magical" hat.
To say that this book is an easy and enjoyable read would be
quite an understatement. The pages and chapters fly by and Seely
writes in a compelling and empathetic manner. It is easy to
imagine yourself in the dramatic situations described, and
impossible not to laugh out loud at the keen humor.
To put it simply, this book is way cool. Go out and buy it!
Runner's Niche Book Rating: 4.95 out of 5 Winged Feet.
(Thanks to Running Delights for arranging for a copy of this book
for review.)
RUNNING FORWARD - LOOKING BACK by Lynn T. Seely
ISBN 1-58112-759-6
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PERSONAL GOALS
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By Lynn Rudinsky
We each run for different reasons, in the hopes of achieving a
different goal. During "the big race," a runner might set his or
her sights on being a winner or running a three-minute mile. In
1999, before the start of a 26-mile marathon in Dublin, Ireland,
47-year-old runner, Ken McCann, set two personal goals for
himself:
1. Run the complete marathon
2. Don't let rheumatoid arthritis stop him from achieving his
goal
Ken McCann is not your typical athlete. For over a decade, he has
lived with the suffering and immobility caused by rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), and only recently, has been able to regain his
active lifestyle. RA, one of the most common forms of arthritis,
is a chronic, debilitating autoimmune disease, which can lead to
pain, deformity and disability that can be permanent. What makes
the disease even more devastating is that it typically affects
people in the prime of their lives.
"RA changed my life overnight," said McCann. "Waking up in the
morning became a major chore. It took over an hour for my joints
to unstiffen enough to face the day."
McCann tried numerous medications for his condition but had
little success. It wasn't until he started taking a newer
medication called Arava, that he began to notice a difference.
Finally, after 11 years, his new treatment enabled McCann to feel
like himself again. As a result, he decided to test his physical
strength and began to run recreationally.
"I started out running slow and kept going," said McCann. "I ran
a full mile and felt great. I continued to run, gradually
increasing my distance. I hadn't felt that good in over a decade.
It was a joy to have my body and my health back, and running was
and is the perfect way to rejoice."
Running allowed Ken to celebrate himself as an athlete and it
proved to be a turning point in his battle with RA. After
entering and finishing a series of 5K's and a marathon, Ken set a
new personal goal for himself, to complete one of the most
grueling competitions in modern athletics: the Ironman. Ken
participated in the July 30th Isuzu Lake Placid Ironman
Competition in Lake Placid, New York. The race took place in the
Adirondacks region and featured over 1,900 of the fittest
athletes in the world. The average participant, like Ken, trained
for seven months, three hours each day. The competition consisted
of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and finished with a 26 mile-
run.
For Ken, competing in the Ironman was not about achieving a
qualifying position; it was about finishing the race, which he
did. Ken's participation allowed him to rekindle his spirit and
embrace his newfound physical freedom.
"Running has become my main motivation and passion," said McCann.
I feel like I am running from RA and this gives me a great
boost."
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FERRUM STUDENT-ATHLETE SHARES EXPERIENCES IN TIBET
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Amy Hayes Serves 15-Day Medical Mission
Ferrum, Va. -- Ferrum College graduate, and former cross country
student-athlete, Amy Hayes recently returned from a 15-day
medical mission to the Tibetan Plateau. The trip was a medical
expedition/overland journey to the shores of Tso Morari, located
on the Chang-Thang Plateau near the Indo-Tibetan border. The
trip was orchestrated by Dr. Glenn W. Geelhoed, professor of
surgery and international medicine at George Washington
University.
After arriving from various international US gateways, the
journey began in New Delhi June 16 with a flight from Leh (11,
495 ft), the capital of Ladakh. Leh and Ladakh are the heart
and soul of Buddhism. This is the land where Padmasambhava
introduced tantric Buddhism and the theory of Dharma, still
preserved today in its purest form. Leh has some of the oldest
Buddhist monasteries, dating back to the 9th century A.D.
After rest and acclimation to the wide variety in the daily
temperature range, the group set up its medical camp at the
local health care facility in Leh and began providing free
medical care to patients. Services the group rendered include
health clinics, primary care, as well as treatments for
tuberculosis, acid reflux, and common western illnesses. At Tso
Morari, they even diagnosed a case of leprosy.
The trip also included a chance to see breathtaking sights.
Hayes and the group journeyed toward the Chang-Thang border in
four-wheel drive vehicles, visiting the famous monasteries of
Shey and Thikse. Shey was the former palace of the upper
kingdom of Ladakh. Inscriptions on the rocks below Shey date
back to the time when Buddhism was first introduced into the
western Himalayas.
Other sites the group set up medical camp at included the Valley
of Puga and the village of Karzok. Tata, an Indian-made jeep-
style vehicle, made travel to all areas possible. Many of the
roads had restricted driving speeds of 15-20 miles per hour.
This was particularly important on the trek from Puga to Tso-
Morari, which is 50 miles of some the roughest terrain in the
western Himalayas. This 50-mile portion through rivers and
canyons took over 12 hours to traverse.
The final leg of the group's journey took it south to the
village of Tandi, then along the river Chenab/Chandra to
Gramphoo where the road ascends to the famous Rohtang Pass
(13,054 ft). This pass is popular with climbers who come to
acclimatize before making an attempt to ascend Mount Everest or
K2.
Hayes competed in cross-country for Ferrum this season,
participating in every race on the schedule. Upon graduation,
she earned numerous honors from the College, including being the
class of 2000 valedictorian. She also earned the Sydney
Sullivan Award for spiritual leadership, Pre-professional
Science Award, and the Spanish Award.
Ferrum College, a four-year, private, liberal arts college
affiliated with the United Methodist Church, offers bachelor’s
degree programs in 34 major course areas at a cost below the
national average for four-year private colleges. Bachelor’s
degree programs include religion, international studies,
environmental science and teacher education.
For more information, please contact the Ferrum College sports
information office at (540) 365-4306 by phone, or
gholden@ferrum.edu by e-mail.
Here are Amy's top performances.
2nd place, Hampden-Sydney College Invitational, Oct. 23, 1999
6th place, Ferrum College Invitational, Oct. 16, 1999
6th place, Methodist College Invitational, Sept. 11, 1999
*************
THIS AND THAT
*************
*Sunday, September 17, 2000
9 a.m. 5K Run and 1-mile fun walk supporting the Veterinary
Hospital at the Detroit Zoo. For more info e-mail Scott Trudell
at strudell@dzs.org.
*AATRA and Tiberland team up.
The All American Trail Running Association (AATRA), the nation’s
leading central resource for the sport of trail and mountain
running, announced that is has signed on with the Mountain
Athletics by Timberland brand. Launched in 1999 by The
Timberland Company, Mountain Athletics is a new brand of
technical, performance footwear, apparel and gear dedicated to
the specialized needs of outdoor athletes -- the fastest growing
segment of the outdoor recreation market.
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LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
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*Team Peloton
Dear Runner's Niche,
We are writing to ask for your assistance in a worthy and
exciting project. We have committed to raise money for the Lance
Armstrong Foundation as 2nd year Peloton Project members. Having
been deeply affected by friends', loved one's, and champions like
Lance Armstrong's battle with cancer, we have devoted our time to
make a difference in the fight against cancer. In addition to
personal satisfaction, participating in the annual Ride for the
Roses 100 mile charity bike ride and weekend events on April 6,
7, and 8 in Austin, Texas will reward us for our effort.
By now many people are familiar with Lance Armstrong's inspiring
story. In the early to mid-nineties, Armstrong was America's top
cyclist and on his way to international fame. He won the 1993
World Championships, the 1995 and 1996 Tours DuPont and multiple
stages in the Tour de France. He also competed in the 1992 and
1996 Olympics. On his climb to the top of his sport, however,
Armstrong was nearly bested by his toughest foe - cancer. The
25-year-old gifted athlete was diagnosed in 1996 with advanced
testicular cancer that had spread to his abdomen, lungs and
brain. His chances were fifty-fifty at best. With focused
determination and the help of dedicated medical professionals,
Armstrong beat the disease and vowed to return to his former life
as a professional athlete. He returned to cycling in 1998, which
was in itself a remarkable triumph. He tasted the sweetest
victory, though, when he circled Paris'
Champs Elysees as the 1999 Tour de France champion.
Lance continues to be an inspirational survivor, by defending his
Tour de France championship in 2000.
Long before the Tour de France, however, Lance achieved his
greatest accomplishment when he formed the Lance Armstrong
Foundation to help people everywhere manage and survive cancer.
The LAF raises money to support its mission with events such as
the Ride for the Roses Weekend, which takes place annually in
Lance's hometown of Austin, Texas. We will be a part of the
Weekend through the Peloton Project. A peloton is the main group
of riders in a bicycle race and is noted for its ability to
travel substantially faster than individual riders are able to
go. The Peloton Project emulates the power of the peloton by
motivating people to raise a significant amount of money for the
LAF. In 2000, the Weekend grossed more than $6,000,000 with 230
Peloton members contributing an astounding $1,100,000.
Please support us in our effort as proud Peloton Project members
to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Any amount will help and is
deeply appreciated. Remember that all charitable donations are
tax-deductible by law. You may send a check payable to "The
Lance Armstrong Foundation" to:
LAF Peloton Project
Attn: Mallory
16450 Winding Creek Rd.
Plainfield, IL 60544
Web Site: laf_peloton_member@yahoo.com
*Dog Letters
The debate about dogs and running with them on or off leash
continues. Here are just a few of the letters from readers on the
subject:
Dear Runner's Niche
I have enjoyed your newsletter for some time, but I must respond
to the dog/leash topic. The letter from "Alexa" left me
incesnsed.
I too run with my dog. She stays right with me, leash or not,
but she is always on a leash if we are anywhere near other people
and cars. She is a well trained, intelligent, and eager to
please Collie who responds instantly to my commands. But I love
her too much to take the chance, as remote as it may seem, for
her to be hit by a car.
Now, we are constantly running into other loose dogs, and have
had several frightening encounters. I carry a small pepper spray
just in case, but I would hate to spray a dog- they are doing
what comes natural. I would rather spray the owner. Watch out,
Alexa.
- Karen
-----
Dear Runner's Niche,
I have come to a conclusion about people that own menacing dogs;
they are the least to be able afford the liability of having the
dog. My conclusion came following an early morning run last week
when I was silently stalked by an unleashed, large Rottweiler. I
halted the animal with a direct firm order and my friendly
"pepper spray" in hand. But, was amazed to witness the owner
shouting obscenities at the dog and his two very young children,
but never a concern for my fright or safety. At that point
I was not feeling any animosity towards the animal, just the poor
excuse for a human that raised him. Maybe we should leash some
humans as opposed to their pets.
I will have to add that I ran one of my best times due to a
drastic increase in adrenaline.
- Lisa
-----
Dear Runner's Niche,
I've really enjoyed your newsletter! I had to laugh out loud
about the woman who wrote you and said that she had a "fantastic"
dog-all it did was run hell-bent at people and scare them half to
death. Here in St. Paul, MN, there is a dog ordinance that all
dogs must be leashed. Hah! Some folks seem to think that the
ordinance does not apply to them. I have 2 big dogs, and when an
unleashed dog comes running towards mine, it's all I can do to
hold them back. I've been yelled at, cursed, and of course,
never apologized to from owners who think that my dogs should be
more friendly-and these owners are breaking the law! This
woman's dog is out of control? Then keep it on a leash!! It
needs to run? Save your pennies, buy an acre of land and fence
it in. She has no right to terrorize people with her dog who
"knows" who likes dogs and who doesn't. This letter was so
ridiculous I almost thought you had made it up!
My final answer-keep your dogs on a leash, unless you absolutely,
positively, know 100% of the time that your dog will come to you
on your first call. And if it's the law-obey it!
Thanks!
- Jan
Ed: Apologies to the rest who sent letters on this hot topic, I
couldn't print them all.
*********************
WEB SITES OF INTEREST
*********************
*Around the World Runner
http://www.runningman.org
(Thanks, Andy, for this link.)
*Crosstrak
CrossTrak is a Windows 95/98/NT based program that can be
downloaded from the CrossTrak web site for FREE
(www.crosstrak.com) and has been selected as the official
training tool of the LA Road Runners.
*Trinidad and Tobago Racing Team
Women on the move - CB Pacing Team
http://www.fortunecity.com/olympia/lipinsky/1050/
--- --- --- --- ---
Fine 14K and Sterling Silver jewelry for runners. Call/write for
catalog. Creative Sports Jewelry, 6525 Gunpark Dr. #150-422,
Boulder, CO 80301. 303/527-1130 or 800/606-8887. E-mail
SprtJewlry@aol.com Website: www.ontherun.com/sportsjewelry
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