The Ticker
No, this isn't just a "your momma's so fat" joke: A recent study, published in the journal Diabetes, suggests a mother's diet during pregnancy can impact her child's risk of obesity later in life… Desiree Davila, second-place finisher at Monday's Boston Marathon, is receiving a warm welcome back in Michigan, where she trains with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. This Tuesday, she'll throw the first pitch in the Detroit Tigers game against the Mariners… Two days after her breakthrough performance, Davila was named USATF Athlete of the Week… Last weekend, one British man completed the London Marathon in 3:47:45, then ran the 99 miles back to his hometown… This week marked the 22nd anniversary of the Central Park Jogger attack. The five young men who were convicted, then freed in 2002, still have $50 million lawsuits pending against the city of New York. Filmmaker Ken Burns has a project slated for 2013 to tell the story of the "Central Park Five"… We share this new piece on former NBA point guard Stephon Marbury if for no other reason than it allows us to revisit an old favorite: this YouTube clip of Starbury trail running… Sports Illustratedhas a lengthy profile on Team Hoyt–father Rick and son Dick–who have been on the road together since 1977… Should spitting in public be banned? Filthy habit or not, some of us runners would be in trouble if such laws were ever enforced… Perhaps the insanely high gas prices will cause a spike in running shoe sales. More drivers are hitting empty and getting stranded, says AAA of Oklahoma. But, if you don't have roadside assistance, you'd better have a comfortable pair of sneakers in the trunk of your car…
The Video
The Tweet @BartYasso: My fav tweet ever from Janice "I always thought running Yasso repeats stood for running Your ass Off"
The Quote
"I'm more nervous for this than I was at the Olympics."
–Wallace Spearmon, Jr., U.S. 100- and 200-meter sprinter, on the MythBusters episode, Running on Water.
Do you have a link, photo, or hot tip worthy of Runner's Digest? E-mail it to us: rwwebedit@rodale.com
Author: The Dragonfly Swimmer Published: April 20th, 2011
Yes! Okay!
Now that Boston is behind us — the good, bad, and ugly — join me, won't you, in turning our attention to a little race across the pond called the London Marathon.
London happened this past Sunday and, I'm afraid, was largely overshadowed by coverage of Boston, which of course happened Monday. This is a shame, because the London Marathon has a lot going for it.
I'm talking, of course, about runners in wacky get-ups.
London is sort of the Shangri-La of costumed marathoners — an incubator of cutting-edge imagination where running attire is concerned. How it got this way, I have no idea. I just know I love it.
And while Emmanuel "No Relation to Geoffrey" Mutai won the race in a course-record 2:04:40, a few other records fell that day.
For instance:
Fastest marathon in superhero costume (male): 2:42:46
Fastest marathon in animal costume (male) (ostrich), 3:04:00
Fastest marathon dressed as a book character (male) (Dennis the Menace): 3:02:30
Fastest marathon dressed as a cartoon character (Fred Flintstone): 2:46:59
Fastest marathon dressed as a jester: 3:11:57
Fastest marathon dressed as a fairy (male): 3:10:56
Fastest marathon dressed as a fairy (female): 3:20:52
Those are all real records, folks. And the list goes on: Fastest marathon dressed as Captain Kirk, in an animal costume (female), in a wedding dress, wearing a gas mask, in a police uniform, dressed as a Roman soldier…
And on: lifeguard, Viking, vegetable (female), astronaut, bottle (male), gingerbread man, Mr. Potato Head, sailor, nun…
What could possibly be left? Not much, I'm sorry to report. After an exhaustive search and cross-referencing all existing databases of marathon world records, I have determined that there is only a single new record left to tackle:
Yesterday i had a great 45 minute steady (!?) run with one of my old friends, and super marathoner, Lucy – who i met back in 2003 when i was training with the legendary coach Frank Horwill. We headed to Richmond Park, which is a stones throw away from both our houses. Richmond Park is a haven of tranquilly amidst the noise and chaos of London, and never ceases to lift my soul, even on a dull, rainy day. The Park changes each day and with the seasons – the sight and smell of spring is particularly heartwarming – as the landscape is coming alive with new growth, as well as athletes eagerly preparing for the triathlon season and the London Marathon in April. The multitude of trails criss-cross haphazardly through the park, and you never have to take the same path twice. They pass through grassland, scrubland, around ponds and lakes, up and down slopes and through copses of mixed woodland. The trees are amazing, like old grandfathers that have seen generations of athletes pass beneath them, and the deer that inhabit the Park are simply beautiful – seeing a regal stag silhouetted against the rising sun never fails to take my breathe away.
It would be amazing if the Park was closed to motorists for part of the day, like Central Park in New York. Motorists could still drive to the park by car, but be required to use the car parks closest to their point of entry – and then be free to explore this amazing landscape and facility on foot, on a horse or by bike. Alternatively, as with Central Park, vehicles could be allowed to go in only one direction around the park, leaving the other lane for cyclists, roller-bladers and runners to use.
But despite this small gripe re motorists, the Park truly is a fantastic resource for everyone living in south west London, and yesterday’s run with Lucy made me realise how lucky we are to be able to experience these special places, under own own steam (and with steam coming out of my ears as i struggle to keep up with Lucy and her ‘steady’ – aka superhuman- pace). Open your eyes and smell the flowers – and run happy everyone!
Yesterday i had a great 45 minute steady (!?) run with one of my old friends, and super marathoner, Lucy – who i met back in 2003 when i was training with the legendary coach Frank Horwill. We headed to Richmond Park, which is a stones throw away from both our houses. Richmond Park is a haven of tranquilly amidst the noise and chaos of London, and never ceases to lift my soul, even on a dull, rainy day. The Park changes each day and with the seasons – the sight and smell of spring is particularly heartwarming – as the landscape is coming alive with new growth, as well as athletes eagerly preparing for the triathlon season and the London Marathon in April. The multitude of trails criss-cross haphazardly through the park, and you never have to take the same path twice. They pass through grassland, scrubland, around ponds and lakes, up and down slopes and through copses of mixed woodland. The trees are amazing, like old grandfathers that have seen generations of athletes pass beneath them, and the deer that inhabit the Park are simply beautiful – seeing a regal stag silhouetted against the rising sun never fails to take my breathe away.
It would be amazing if the Park was closed to motorists for part of the day, like Central Park in New York. Motorists could still drive to the park by car, but be required to use the car parks closest to their point of entry – and then be free to explore this amazing landscape and facility on foot, on a horse or by bike. Alternatively, as with Central Park, vehicles could be allowed to go in only one direction around the park, leaving the other lane for cyclists, roller-bladers and runners to use.
But despite this small gripe re motorists, the Park truly is a fantastic resource for everyone living in south west London, and yesterday’s run with Lucy made me realise how lucky we are to be able to experience these special places, under own own steam (and with steam coming out of my ears as i struggle to keep up with Lucy and her ‘steady’ – aka superhuman- pace). Open your eyes and smell the flowers – and run happy everyone!
Yesterday i had a great 45 minute steady (!?) run with one of my old friends, and super marathoner, Lucy – who i met back in 2003 when i was training with the legendary coach Frank Horwill. We headed to Richmond Park, which is a stones throw away from both our houses. Richmond Park is a haven of tranquilly amidst the noise and chaos of London, and never ceases to lift my soul, even on a dull, rainy day. The Park changes each day and with the seasons – the sight and smell of spring is particularly heartwarming – as the landscape is coming alive with new growth, as well as athletes eagerly preparing for the triathlon season and the London Marathon in April. The multitude of trails criss-cross haphazardly through the park, and you never have to take the same path twice. They pass through grassland, scrubland, around ponds and lakes, up and down slopes and through copses of mixed woodland. The trees are amazing, like old grandfathers that have seen generations of athletes pass beneath them, and the deer that inhabit the Park are simply beautiful – seeing a regal stag silhouetted against the rising sun never fails to take my breathe away.
It would be amazing if the Park was closed to motorists for part of the day, like Central Park in New York. Motorists could still drive to the park by car, but be required to use the car parks closest to their point of entry – and then be free to explore this amazing landscape and facility on foot, on a horse or by bike. Alternatively, as with Central Park, vehicles could be allowed to go in only one direction around the park, leaving the other lane for cyclists, roller-bladers and runners to use.
But despite this small gripe re motorists, the Park truly is a fantastic resource for everyone living in south west London, and yesterday’s run with Lucy made me realise how lucky we are to be able to experience these special places, under own own steam (and with steam coming out of my ears as i struggle to keep up with Lucy and her ‘steady’ – aka superhuman- pace). Open your eyes and smell the flowers – and run happy everyone!
Yesterday i had a great 45 minute steady (!?) run with one of my old friends, and super marathoner, Lucy – who i met back in 2003 when i was training with the legendary coach Frank Horwill. We headed to Richmond Park, which is a stones throw away from both our houses. Richmond Park is a haven of tranquilly amidst the noise and chaos of London, and never ceases to lift my soul, even on a dull, rainy day. The Park changes each day and with the seasons – the sight and smell of spring is particularly heartwarming – as the landscape is coming alive with new growth, as well as athletes eagerly preparing for the triathlon season and the London Marathon in April. The multitude of trails criss-cross haphazardly through the park, and you never have to take the same path twice. They pass through grassland, scrubland, around ponds and lakes, up and down slopes and through copses of mixed woodland. The trees are amazing, like old grandfathers that have seen generations of athletes pass beneath them, and the deer that inhabit the Park are simply beautiful – seeing a regal stag silhouetted against the rising sun never fails to take my breathe away.
It would be amazing if the Park was closed to motorists for part of the day, like Central Park in New York. Motorists could still drive to the park by car, but be required to use the car parks closest to their point of entry – and then be free to explore this amazing landscape and facility on foot, on a horse or by bike. Alternatively, as with Central Park, vehicles could be allowed to go in only one direction around the park, leaving the other lane for cyclists, roller-bladers and runners to use.
But despite this small gripe re motorists, the Park truly is a fantastic resource for everyone living in south west London, and yesterday’s run with Lucy made me realise how lucky we are to be able to experience these special places, under own own steam (and with steam coming out of my ears as i struggle to keep up with Lucy and her ‘steady’ – aka superhuman- pace). Open your eyes and smell the flowers – and run happy everyone!
