Cuanruns

CONFIRMED: Samuel Wanjiru to run Chicago Marathon

cuanruns — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:34:47 +0000

Samuel Wanjiru

The Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya will headline the Chicago Marathon in October in a potential attempt to set a world record.

Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win the Olympic marathon in Beijing last summer, taking the gold medal in 2 hours 6 minutes 32 seconds. He prevailed in conditions so hot and humid that many people consider his victory the greatest marathon ever run. His time was an Olympic record but not a world record.

In April, Wanjiru, 22, won the London Marathon in cooler conditions, setting a personal best and a course record of 2:05:10 — the ninth-fastest time ever run — after running at world-record pace for the first half of the race.

Chicago’s flat course could produce a searing time when the marathon is run Oct. 11, but weather could be a determining factor. The race has been run in extreme heat the past two years. And even in the best conditions, the aggressive, front-running Wanjiru must still chop 72 seconds off his personal best to break the world record, 2:03:59, set by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia last September in Berlin.

“You have an athlete at a point in his career where he is very aggressive and very athletic,” Carey Pinkowski, the race director of the Chicago Marathon, said in a telephone interview. “On a course like Chicago, hopefully those things come together and we see something historic. Obviously, he’s got to have an excellent buildup in training and preparation. The weather and everything has to go right. Some things out of our control have to contribute, but it’ll be fun.”

Four world records have been set at the Chicago Marathon. Two were set by men, Steve Jones of Wales in 1984 and Khalid Khannouchi of the United States in 1999; and two by women, Catherine Ndereba of Kenya in 2001 and Paula Radcliffe of England in 2002.

Challenging Wanjiru in the fall will be the past two men’s winners at Chicago, Evans Cheruiyot and Patrick Ivutu, both of Kenya.

“My plan for the fall is to lower my personal record, and the Chicago Marathon course is the best opportunity for me to achieve that,” Wanjiru, who has done much of his career training in Japan, said in a statement.

This week, the New York City Marathon is expected to announce that Ryan Hall of the United States will participate in this year’s race, which will be run Nov. 1. Hall has a personal best of 2:06:17, set in a fifth-place finish at the 2008 London Marathon. He finished 10th at the Beijing Olympics and third at the 2009 Boston Marathon. Hall holds the American half-marathon record, 59:43.

It’s official – Gebrselassie VS Kibet – Berlin Marathon

cuanruns — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:31:52 +0000

BERLIN — Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie will race against Duncan Kibet in what is expected to be an exciting contest in the Berlin Marathon.

The September 20th event which features the two fastest performers over the distance, will take place on a fast course that could very well present another super time.

Gebrselassie, who has been dominant at this category in his career, won the race last year with a world record performance of two-hours 3mins 59 seconds to break the previous world mark of 2:04:26. Kenyan star Kibet will definitely be around after proving he is talent with a 2:04:27 personal best and Kenyan National record to win the Rotterdam Marathon in April of this year. The time is the third fastest ever behind Gebrselassie’s two bests.

Earlier this year, Gebrselassie announced that he will try to break his own world marathon record again.

The fast course through the German capital has seen six world records since 1998.

Racing shoe review

cuanruns — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:42:39 +0000

Nike Zoom Marathoner

Shoe originally designed for Paula Radcliffe. Responsive shoe, very good for racing the marathon distance. As worn by Martin Lel winner of London last year in 2:05:15 and James Kwambai, joint Kenyan Marathon record holder, 2:04:26.

How It Fits

Sizing: Fits small; purchase 1/2 size larger than standard running shoe size
Heel: Average to narrow
Midfoot: Low to medium volume
Forefoot: Narrow to medium
Toe-Box height: Low to medium
Arch structure: Low to average

Sizing is based on the men’s scale. Women should subtract 1 and a half sizes from their women’s shoe size. Example Women’s 8.5 equals size 7.0 for this shoe

Weight: 8.4 oz (size 9)

Pronation Control Technology

Designed for neutral pronation

Midsole: Phylon midsole
Shape: Curved
Construction Last: Slip lasted heel and strobel lasted forefoot

Cushioning Technology

Midsole: Phylon
Heel: Zoom Air unit
Forefoot: nothing added

Upper Materials

Lightweight upper with mesh panels, minimal seams for great long distance comfort

Outsole Technology

Thin, full-length BRS 1000 carbon rubber for durability

Adidas Adizero Adios

The exact shoe that Hailie Gebrselassie ran his 2:03:59 world record in the marathon last year in Berlin.

How It Fits

Sizing: Standard running shoe length
Heel: Average width
Midfoot: Medium to low volume
Forefoot: Medium width
Toe-Box height: Medium
Arch structure: Medium height

Sizing is based on the men’s scale. Women should subtract 1 and a half sizes from their women’s shoe size. Example Women’s 8.5 equals size 7.0 for this shoe

Weight:7.4 oz (size 9)

Product Lifecycle

Release date: December 2008
Discontinued: Unknown
Heritage: adiZERO CS

Pronation Control Technology

Designed for neutral pronation & supination

Midsole: Single-density lightweight compound
Shape: Semi-curved
Construction Last: strobel

Cushioning Technology

Midsole: Lighweight compound
Heel: Adiprene insert for added cushioning and durability
Forefoot: Full Adiprene+ for excellent cushioning and responsiveness

Upper Materials

Clima cool upper for great breathability and weight reduction

Outsole Technology

adiWEAR in high wear areas, Blown rubber and QuickStrike provide great flexibility and reduce weight

Nike Lunar Racer

Worn by Duncan Kibet when running a 2:04:26 at this year’s Rotterdam Marathon. The lunar racer is a shoe designed for fast running from 10km up to the marathon but don’t be fooled. Although it is a racing shoe, there is enough cushioning in the lunar foam to go longer as seen at this years Comrades Marathon (89,3km). Fusi Nhlapo finished 4^th in the shoe as well as another two athletes who finished in the top 20. As to how Fusi felt after the race with the shoe, : “It was wonderful. It is very light but there is still cushioning that you can feel. I will definitely be using the lunar racer again and in many other races.”

How It Fits

Sizing: Standard running shoe length
Heel: Medium to narrow width
Midfoot: Snug fit for medium to narrow feet
Forefoot: Medium to narrow width
Toe-Box height: Shallow
Arch Structure: Medium height

Weight: 5.7 oz (size 9)

Pronation Control Technology

Designed for neutral pronation & supination

Midsole: Low profile Phylite carrier
Shape: Semi-curved
Construction Last: Full-length strobel last

Cushioning Technology

Midsole: Phylite carrier with LunarLite Core
Heel: LunarLite Core
Forefoot:LunarLite Core

Upper Materials

Highly breathable upper utilizes Flywire technology for targeted support and is very light

Outsole Technology

Kibet Stalks Marathon World Record

cuanruns — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:11:22 +0000

The talk in distance running has been multiple world record holder Haile Gebrselassie’s bid to dip under the two-hour-three-minute mark in the marathon and Kenya’s Olympic champion Samuel Wanjiru’s drive to go one better than the Ethiopian. Scant mention is made of Duncan Kib

Duncan Kibet - Rotterdam 2009

et. The 30-year-old runner thrives behind the scenes and could well surprise pundits by shattering Haile’s world record of 2:03.59. Kibet is not your typical Kenyan long distance runner.

Easy to pick out of the crowd thanks to his expensive jewellery and flashy dress code, Kibet is confident he will smash the world marathon record at September’s Berlin Marathon.

Gebrselassie and Wanjiru will be in the classy field in the German capital, both having opted out of the World Championships in Athletics that will be hold in the same city next month.

Kibet caused a stir when he ran a joint Kenyan marathon record of 2:04.27 with James Kwambai in winning the Rotterdam Marathon in April in a course record time. Tergat held the previous national record at 2:04.59, which he clocked at the 2003 Berlin Marathon. Based in Eldoret, Kibet also holds the Milan Marathon record at 2:07.53.

“Jamaica” or “Rasta”, as his peers call him, has a unique training programme. Unlike most road racers who do their training in the open, especially along the roads, Kibet goes for the “guerilla” training style. Inside his car, he has training kits and the bottled mineral water.

He will drive to the rugged Kaptagat Forest road where he parks his sleek vehicle at the roadside, in the middle of the forest, to launch his long runs.

Eventually, he will go down to a nearby stream in the forest to take a bath before getting back to his car for a change of clothes. Resplendent in a hip-hop dress code, Kibet will then return to Eldoret town where he will spend the better part of his day taking sodas with friends in a prominent three-star restaurant.

Running siblings

The second born in a family of five, Kibet’s personal best times stand at 27:45 (10 kilometres), 1:00.22 (half marathon) and 2:04.26 (marathon). His siblings are runners too.

Luke Meto, their first-born and a Korea-based marathoner, finished fourth at the 2007 edition of Jonghang Marathon in Seoul Korea while Shadrack Biwott, his younger brother, is a Kenyan track scholar in the United States. Kibet says lowering his personal best would be easier should Gebreselassie set his sights on breaking his own record.

“I will stand a high chance of attaining the feat if Haile Gebrselassie goes for the world record. The Berlin course is fine. I need good pacemakers, like those we had in Rotterdam,” he said. Kibet is less interested with the Berlin World Championships due next month as the absence of pacemakers there will deny him a lower time.

“The best time is unattainable at the World Championships. Whether I win or not, I need the time and Haile is my only challenger,” said Kibet, who lives in Kesses Division, 30 kilometres from Eldoret.

The Berlin Marathon also sets the ideal stage for Kibet and London and Olympic marathons winner Wanjiru, who also wants to be accepted as the world’s leading marathon runner, to clash. Wanjiru banks on a personal best of 2:05.09, which he set this year in London. Kibet said: “I need to cross the 35km mark at between one hour and 40 to 57 minutes to attain my dream at this world record pace. I think my debut at the Berlin Marathon will credit me with the best time in marathon.”

Kibet trains under the Rosa Associati stable that is managed by Italian Federico Rosa, son of Gabriele, who is associated with great Kenyan runners among them Paul Tergat and Moses Tanui. Tanui, a two-time Boston marathon winner, is confident Kibet can make it.

“Kibet is still young and is in a fine shape. Whoever runs under 2:06 in any marathon race has the potential to claim honours,” said Tanui

Comrades Marathon training programmes

cuanruns — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:42:27 +0000

The Comrades Marathon Association have now provided training programmes for runners wishing to take part in next years Comrades Marathon. There are various different programmes which cater for:

Sub 9 hour finish
Sub 11hour finish
Finishers programme
A programme designed for runners also taking part in Ironman
The Bonitas novice project programme aimed at novices looking at running next year

For more info log onto www.comrades.com and click on the training link on top

Mokoka defends and huge PB by Van Schalkwyk – Nedbank SA 21,1km Champs

cuanruns — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:19:24 +0000

2009 Nedbank SA 21,1km Champs

Stephen Mokoka defended his title in the SA Nedbank Half Marathon Championships in Port Elizabeth utilizing the perfect conditions to double the prize money winning in 61:26 whilst Annerien Van Schalkwyk smashed her PB to win in 71:49.

After Pietermaritzburg-based Sibonela Duma led the race out at two minute 50 seconds for the first kilometer, a large group of over forty runners driven primarily by the experienced Hendrick Ramaala settled into a rhythm.Although there was a gradual degradation of numbers little changed as the leaders steamed past the kilometers hitting 5km in 14:26 and 10km 29:30.

On the long straight towards Uitenhage, Mokoka, Lusapho April, and fellow marathoner from the ASA Altitude training camp, tested the competition pulling a group of ten free from the field.

By 18km it was still anyone’s race with Ramaala, Mokoka, April and Zimbabwean Wirimai Juwawo shoulder to shoulder clocking sub 2:50 kilometers. Mokoka upped a gear with Juwawo and Western provinces Lindikhaya Mthangayi running well above himself, in the slipstream.

Mokoka’s time was the first of a barrel-load of personal and seasonal bests produced on the flat single-lap course around the Motherwell township which is arguably the fastest in the country. Unquestionably the performances benefited from the windless conditions and the large financial time incentives that were introduced in the final build up to the race.

Mthangayi, out kicked the Zimbabwean Juwawo on the track for second place in 61:32 and a late surge by Lesotho’s Sechaba Bohosi secured fourth with Ramaala taking fifth overall.

Ramaala’s 61:43 is one of his fastest 21km of recent years and only just slower than his 61:30 half way time in this year’s London Marathon.

Lusapho April finished seventh overall and third in the SA championships in 61:49, carving 35 seconds from his previous best, and showing good form in his preparation towards next month’s World Marathon Championships in Berlin.

In addition to his second SA title, and the prospect of a place in the team to the World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham, UK in October, Mokoka left with R50000 for his time and overall win.

“It was very tough out there. The guys are very fit. I never expected so many to be with us at 15km” said the 24 year old representing Gauteng North. “It was a struggle, but my training had been going very well. After 19km I thought I could take it and made my move. I’m very happy”

The talented trio of Annerien Van Schalkwyk, Rene Kalmer and Zimbabwean Tabitha Tsatsa ran the first 17km together with Van Schalkwyk initiating the drive for home on the final three kilometer descent to the finish.

Kalmer, who arrived back from racing on the USA road circuit last Sunday, was unable to maintain the surge pace allowing Van Schalkwyk to open a telling lead to cross the line for the SA title in 71:49. Tsatsa tried to hang onto Van Schalkwyk’s shadow as they entered the track but had to settle for second in 72:16.

In addition to being the only women to benefit from the Nedbank and ASA time incentive of R8000 for breaking 72 minutes, Van Schalkwyk carved an impressive 4:11 from her personal best.

“I was troubled with my ITB (knee) from around half way. It was a great run by Annerien” said Rene Kalmer, who hopes that the performances will be good enough to have a women’s team compete in the World Championships in October. “This is my second fastest time ever, so I’m pleased especially after arriving back from the States so close to the race”

Poppy Mlambo finished fifth behind Lesotho’s Mammorolla Tjoka in 74:41, recording another personal best, and taking the Bronze in the SA Championship.

Mlambo was followed by her training partner at the Potchefstroom training camp, Tanith Maxwell who reduced her 21km time by 1:00, whichmakes her look well for her performance in the Berlin World Marathon Championships where she is South Africa’s sole women representative in the Marathon.

Although Van Schalkwyk took the individual honors, Kalmer led the Central Gauteng quartet to the team award in four hours 59 minutes 55 seconds only two minutes 51 seconds ahead of the Gauteng North team, with Western Province third.

The men’s team prizes duplicated the provinces and order with Xolisa Tyali (5th), Coolboy Ngamole (8th), Jeffrey Gwebu (10th) and Sibusiso Nzima (13th) giving Central Gauteng top position in four hours nine minutes and three seconds.

Deeper results will be posted on the results section of this website….

Goals… what are yours?

cuanruns — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:29:02 +0000

Everyone in life has goals, whether it be in life, work or sport. What are your goals? Sporting wise that is.

My goal is Comrades Marathon 2010. As I type this, there are 331 days, 14hours and 19minutes until the gun is fired and I am on my way with 20 000 other runners, all with the same goal. To get to Durban. Some fast, some slow, others running with others to pull them through on their first, and others running for loved ones or personal achievement.

My goal is to get their as quick as I can. Im a very competitive person and couldn’t simply just go out there and run for fun. The goal is silver, the time? Well that will depend on the training. Im fortunate enough to get advice on training, nutrition, planning, etc from the best of the best of Comrades athletes. From Russia, to France to South Africa and Zimbabwe, I am able to get advice and I aim to use it to the fullest to run well in the ultimate human race, the Comrades Marathon.

What are your goals? Leave a comment or start a discussion.

Happy running everyone!

Top Kenyan coach showing SA Marathon runners the way to Berlin

cuanruns — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:13:31 +0000

Athletics South Africa is leaving nothing to chance in the preparation of the marathon athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming IAAF World Championships in Berlin in August. The squad has for some time been training at altitude under the guidance of experienced Kenyan former head coach Danson Muchoki and according to reports from the athletes this initiative by ASA has been a great improvement from past preparations.

“It’s been a brilliant opportunity to make use of the international acclaimed training set up at Potchefstroom’s High Performance Institute (HPI),” says Tanith Maxwell, the only female Marathon runner representing South Africa in Berlin. “The initiative by ASA has put marathon training and marathon running on a new level with exciting prospects for South Africa. In saying that, I must admit that it is challenging being the only female representative. The men have developed into a very strong and positive team and they have been brilliant in their support towards me.”

Meanwhile, Coolboy Ngamole who took three months leave from work in prepartion for Berlin and who recently came up tops in the Southern Region half-marathon championships in Comores in April said, “So far so good no problem everything is perfect. Environment, training, facilities and food are perfect. I am aiming for a 62:00 in Port Elizabeth. If it’s my day, I’ll win.”

“The Kenyan coach knows what he’s doing and he knows how to take us where he wants us to go,” said Norman Dlomo. “It is just unfortunate that I am not going to the SA Half Marathon Championships. I was expecting a good performance there but I have a knee injury.” Dlomo will be hoping to recover in time for Berlin. Running 2:10 last year, Dlomo represented South Africa in the marathon in Beijing and will want to do his country proud with a good showing in Berlin.

First time incentives up for grabs this weekend

cuanruns — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:43:28 +0000

Athletics South Africa (ASA) today announced a very first offering of an incentive scheme aimed at South African runners taking part in this weekend’s Nedbank South African Half Marathon Championships being held in Port Elizabeth.

Apart from the prize money at stake in the Championships, Athletics South Africa has announced that lucrative incentives totalling R480 000 will be available for South African men and women runners. This is over and above the customary position prize money which is payable to all runners irrespective of their nationality. A new South African record for men (60:07) or women (66:44) will be rewarded with an extra R150 000 while men running a sub 61:00 time will net the first runner R75 000 the second R50 000 and the third R30 000. For women runners to earn these incentives a sub 68:00 time will be required. A sub 61:30 time for men will earn the first three runners R25 000, R15 000 and R 10 000 while a sub 62:00 will earn the first three runners R8 000, R6 000 and R4 000 respectively. Women will have to record times of sub 70 minutes and sub 72 minutes respectively to qualify for these incentives.

“ASA is geared towards motivating its athletes to be top performers. We believe that our athletes possess the talent to be amongst the best in the world. It is therefore our hope that these incentives will help in breaking the monotony of foreign athletes dominating local races,” said ASA President, Leonard Chuene.

The Championships also serve as trials to select a provisional team that will represent South Africa at the IAAF World Half Marathon in Birmingham on 11 October 2009.

ASA host courses to produce top level coaches

cuanruns — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:51:13 +0000

JOHANNESBURG, Monday, 29 June 2009: Athletics South Africa (ASA) is hosting two coaching courses which started yesterday and will run until 11 July 2009, as part of its commitment to develop top level coaches in the country. The IAAF level II and III Coaches Courses are currently under way at the Bekker High School in Magaliesberg. The courses are conducted by experienced coaches in Magda Botha and Satrick Bampton from Namibia who are in charge of the level III component, whereas Lux Gordhan and Elna de Beer are responsible for the Level II. All of them are IAAF accredited course lecturers. The Level II course is an equivalent of the former IAAF Level I CECS course and covers a general scope of coaching. The level III course is a speciality programme that focuses on coaches who are already coaching athletes in Sprints & Hurdles. Forty four ASA coaches from around the country with relevant credentials, and who have produced athletes at both provincial and National levels are in attendance at the course. It is hoped that the coaches will take back the new skills that they will learn at the course to assist the provinces in identifying talented athletes and assisting them to come through the ranks of the sport. . “More specialised courses will follow later in the year and early next year to cover other areas of middle & long distances, Throws and Jumps in order to give our coaches opportunities to upgrade themselves. ASA has in the past qualified a lot of coaches in the then IAAF level I and it is only natural to assist them in developing their skills further. All these efforts are taken to ensure that the coaches can be able to match their athletes growth and stay with them for a long period as part of realising the long term athlete development”, added the General Manager.