Thanks to Isamu Murakami, Irvine Invitational photos here. The blonde in the CLU uniform, wearing #40, is Toccoa, formerly a varsity runner at Saugus.
Ventura Invitational results. Note Katie Dunn's margin of victory. Like Shannon and Baxter, she trained with Saugus this summer.
It's Sunday, etc., and maybe time to review the Seven Deadly Sins. After the religious and moral context, consider same as sins in your running life.
The Daily News reports on the Saugus girls
Good reading: Dilert Blog
FYI. I ran this morning beyond the gate in Haskell Canyon, located about a mile past the movie ranch. As I was coming back through the gate a Forest Ranger told me the area beyond the gate was closed to the public. I didn't argue or ask any questions. There are no signs about the closure, and I'd assumed it was closed to motorized vehicles only, as did a cyclist I met coming up the hill. I also saw another Forest Ranger truck heading up towards the gate. It's been so long since I've seen any Forest Rangers in the area, I can't even guess how long, and today I see two. What gives?
SCVAA Warriors link here. Our friend Doris Walker (Billy's mom) adds: . I wanted to send a hello your way and also share the Warrior XC link with you. We have an amazing group of kids (approximately 58 at last count) and parents, that have been working extremely hard over the last few weeks as we prepare for our first XC meet on September 20th. Warrior XC Director, Darren James, has produced several videos, which are accessible via the link, that are wonderfully motivational and show the hard work these kids have put in over the last few weeks. These kids are amazing, and watching them grow and excel in the sport is very rewarding. If you have a few minutes, check out the videos which are a tribute to the hard work of our kids. ...Also, a plug for the Valley Youth Conference (VYC)...Next Saturday, September 13, 2008, the VYC will be sponsoring an ALL-COMERS RACE at Pierce College. It is open to everyone, all ages welcome. There will be two separate races a 2k and 5k. It's a minimal $5.00 fee to participate; and the proceeds will go towards travel expenses for the VYC post-season athletes who will be competing in the AAU XC National Championships on December 6, 2008, in Decatur, Alabama. The All-Comers event flyer is available on the Warrior XC website under "Fundraisers."
Rieti results Lagat runs impressively. Symmonds had a tough race. Why aren't more American distance runners competing in Europe? They need that international experience.
Tom Lang (neighbor boy's dad) was at Irvine and sent us some pix. See here The blonde CLU guy in the final picture is Brian, Toccoa's brother, a soccer player when at Saugus.
Saugus had an early workout session - cruise intervals - this morning at Central Park, start time being 5:45 a.m. Variously by experience and ability, the girls and boys ran 6 to 9 mile repeats at, maybe, 80% effort. The rest interval was only 60 to 90 seconds. The gang looks incredably lean and fit, with Coach frequently telling the top doggies to dial it back a bit, some running 15 to 20 seconds faster than desired pace. ...This is one dedicated, swift pack of racers. Watch out! ...Along with most other Foothill schools, Saugus' season starts Friday, September 12, at Seaside. ...See pix in photo gallery. Will try to resize later.
Craig Chambers memorial video
Consider quinoa I like it.
Irvine results: women
and men Mike Kent says it was hot and sticky.
Pre's Trail video
Remember Eric Liddell
There is something Darwinian about the Saugus program, the competition to compete on the varsity being so keen. But what surprised me today is how individualized the coaching has become. There were about 40 runners out there and Coach Paragas and Katherine Nelson had an eagle eye and a watch on every one. (Katherine was wearing two watches and looking to add a third. Really amazing to see their focus, to make constant adjustments and provide direction to each. The kids work very, very hard, but the fine-tuning prevents injury and allows for the easy-hard so necessary to get to the next level, understanding that over-training is counter productive.
Eight American Olympians of yore remember. Link
Rome 1960
Thanks for the updates on all our SCV friends now racing at the college level. Clearly, we are cheering for all of them now, notwithstanding the uniform they once wore at high school. Please favor us with regular updates.
Overtrained? Story
Kara Goucher to run NYM? Speculation
Underwear Man
Doctors unlikely to tell us we're fat. Story
Before Coach took over the Saugus girls program, he started his Saugus career coaching the boys (five, I believe), which included Machine, Hector, tlew, and Joe Dunn (not related to...). Joe is now at UC-Irvine and writes: I'm doing Biology major, but I am still deciding whether or not to attend medical school or just to continue on with a Master's degree. I am also considering double majoring in Chemistry, but I haven't made that decision yet.
Santa Clarita Living Magazine was delivered on my porch today. Page 17 has a story on Shannon and Amber Murakami. ...Cary Osborne has a good one, The Search for Anthony Ervin on page 47. ...Ervin's gold medal race video
I'm back. Thanks, trackbeat, for the super job as guest host.
Terremce Mahon, the Running USA coach, blogs
About this time yesterday, I was jogging around the track at Hayward Field. Vin Lananna had a few dozen thoroughbred Ducks on the track. The track is available to the public so long as it doesn't conflict with UO needs. Vin gave me a mildly courteous nod. He's a handsome and well dressed fellow, and in hearing snatches of his talk to his runners it is easy to see he is charismatic and compelling. Hayward Field is awesome. Pix later.
Jamaicans received drug shipments. Story
Another thought on Hayward, probably the most famous and best track in the United States. And yet the public can use it. Not so long ago, a relative was in town and we decided to play tennis, which I assumed could be done at Saugus High. Nope. Even on the weekends, it is securely locked and obviously off limits to the taxpayers. ...BTW, the Hart District has yet another bond measure on the ballot. Good luck with that!
Runner killed by drunk driver. See Read More.
Gov. Sarah Palin has always been a runner. Story
Teg reflects on his Olympic experience. Story
On the cruelty of football. Link
Masters' & Open Track Meet, 10/04/08, flyer
Duck poop ...Eugene is far smaller in population than SCV, but the Register Guard is twice as thick as the Signal. It's like a choice between thin gruel and a slab of fresh salmon.
Free speech controversy. Story I'm with the cyclist on this. There is a long and unfortunate history of arrogance and cluelessness of sports officials and politicians.
Inspiring! A Lousiana coach on running after being forced to evacuate. From Lets Run.
State Divisional Rankings. Saugus girls #1 in D2. No other boys or girls Foothill team ranked.
Have you been eating your yams? Usain Bolt does.
Lausanne recap. Asafa Powell's 9.72 was the second fastest 100 meters ever.
The Signal reports that the cross-valley connector is moving forward. Does that mean that the cross-valley bike path will be soon to follow?
In honor of Don, I offer this article on hill training from Runners World.
No news on the girls ranking front on DyeStatCal. One of these days, the top 10 will magically appear.
For many of the Foothill League teams, the regular season begins with the Seaside Invitational on Friday, September 12. Canyon, Hart, Saugus, Valencia and West Ranch all open on the speedy beach course. It looks as if Golden Valley opens with a dual meet with Camarillo a day earlier.
According to the registered teams list, Hart, Golden Valley, Saugus and Valencia will be running at the Woodbridge Invitational on September 20. Check out the Best All Time link on the left side of the page and you'll see some local individuals at the top of various of the lists. For instance on the girls side, Lauren Fleshman has the third best time ever run at Woodbridge. And the Saugus girls have run the top two team times.
US 20K results.
Saugus girls at #3 in Mile Split National Rankings. Only California girls team among the top 15. Dana Hills and Buchanan are ranked among the top 15 boys teams. NY schools occupy 4 of the top 10 girls slots.
The Daily News notices Mile Split's ranking of Kaylin Mahoney.
Lausanne results. Powell, Bolt, Merritt and Rowbury in action. The biggest surprise may have been in the 110 hurdles.
Woodbridge Invitational Sweepstakes Entries. On the girls side, three teams ranked in The Harrier Top 25 - Saugus, Trabuco Hills and The Woodlands of Texas - along with almost all of the top teams in California and many of the fastest individuals. Saugus is also entered in the boys Sweeps Race.
Here's one of the perks of being national #1 two years in a row - a cover story in Running Times magazine. So far as I can tell, no link is available to the actual article.
Gateshead recap, including Bernard Lagat's explanation that an achilles injury affected his Olympics performance.
US 20K championships in New Haven today. Preview of a race that will also honor Ryan Shay.
COC Fullerton results. As Mike Kent displayed in Comments yesterday, two locals brought home some hardware. A number of others also ran the Carbon Canyon course, which must have been tough and hot.
Gateshead webcast is on Universal Sports, but it appears to be on in three hours at 9:55 rather than five minutes at 6:55. Sorry for the confusion.
Okay, I'm still confused, but the Gateshead meet is starting right now at 7:00 am. You may have to jump some hoops to hook up but it wasn't too much trouble.
Here's a cross country video that Don may have linked to last year, but I don't remember seeing it before. SS Finals on Flotrack. Pretty sure it's a different view than the video on DyeStatCal. Just click on the 3000 on the left side of your screen to see a list of all the races. D1 girls features Saugus and Canyon. Last year's State Meet video is elsewhere on the site.
The Signal Online has a new feature - The SCV Sports Show - a video look at local high school sports. This week's first edition features a quick look at the Saugus girls and boys cross country teams, starting at about 2:45 into the video.
Weltklasse results and web video replay (for all Golden League meets).
For early birds who aren't running tomorrow morning, the Gateshead meet in the UK will be webcast live at 6:55 am. Meet preview. Shannon Rowbury, Bernard Lagat and Nick Symmonds are slated to run. If your cable/satellite system includes the Universal Sports channel, then you should also be able to watch on television.
Official SS rankings are supposed to appear next week. Here's a sneak preview on the D2 boys side.
Ever had a coach chew you out after a bad performance? Apparently, screaming at athletes doesn't actually work. Science at the Olympics suggests a more positive approach reaps better results.
For everyone readying their Labor Day BBQ, the LA Times offers the ultimate barbecue. Of course, you'd probably spend most of a day and far too much gas driving to all these shops.
For anyone looking for some good chili today, there's still time to catch the Sheriff's Department Chili Cook-Off, which started this morning at 11 and runs until 4.
Weltklasse on ESPN Classic slightly tape delayed at 1 pm today.
Did they tell this to Jordan Hasay when she was nine? Youth league pitcher is too good to play.
Not only is the Saugus team ranked third in the country but Kaylin Mahoney has been placed high on two preseason individual rankings. On Dyestat's national Top 25 she's ranked 13th, and on Mile Split's West Top 12 she's ranked 8th.
Mile Split also has a state by state breakdown of the top contending boys and girls cross country teams.
Ryan Hall post-Olympic blog.
Don here. Charlie Hoover's eulogy for Craig Chambers is here.
