What do Zach Wims, Rodrigo Orneles, Chelsey Totten and Samantha Ortega have in common? Answer. They're the only Foothill distance runners in California Leaders List. All in the 3200. With some notable outliers (Alysia Johnson, Aly Drake, Shannon Murakami, Chris Low), why is it almost always in the 3200?
Scottish runner Lynsey Sharp believes doping in athletics is a “huge problem” and plenty of athletes are cheating without being caught. Story.
Bill Bolden's Prelims pix here, and here, and here.
Threshold Repeats. Consider doing this at Central Park (or the like) on dirt and grass. COC is in two months. BTW, there might be seven or even eight races in the COC Summer Series.
One week, no food. Maybe wearing knee high socks would be safer.
Remember that incredible story about the lost guy at the Mount Marathon race in Seward, Alaska, The Last Man Up? Some race pix here.
100 mile racers are different. View.
More NF-kB? I'll pass, thanks. Link. And maybe keep racing 20 years longer.
Alan Garcia's Prelims pix here.
LetsRun: The Week That Was In Running
Lauren Fleshman: The Athlete's Guide to Ethical Sport. Includes wisdom and pix of Dave DeLong.
The Education of Jordan Hasay
Favorite books in April:
Bringing Up the Bodies
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Place in the World
Mad River
The Longest Race
War and Peace
Actually, I'm reading W&P on a Kindle, and precisely 41% through with it. Dennis Olsen, who hounded me into Les Mis, saying it was the greatest book ever (other than The Bible). Turns out he might be right. W&P is terrific and friendly to most, not all that difficult, but -at this point, anyway- not as good as The Brothers Karamazov.
Tomorrow it's off to Bend, Oregon for a long weekend, three hours away. We're promised Wi-Fi. Will stay in touch.
We gottcha Prelims results right here.
Finals qualifiers after scratchers declared. Link.
Signal Prelims story.
Daily News Prelims story.
Prelims pix by Bob Binnie.
Bro: 2013 Foothill Bests Updated today.
Brando: Foothill League Championships All-Time Lists
Must read. The Underdog. About that killer last lap in the Olympic 1500 by silver medalist Leo Manzano, and a lot more.
Now This Is How You Cheer For Someone Racing. It's not just "ya gotta go now!"
The foul mouthed Angry Jogger: 15 White Lies That Most Runners Tell Themselves Over And Over
11 Guys You Don't Want To Be
Bro: Prelims pix
Stay in shape. Saugus All-Comers on May 10 at Saugus High School. Free. For distance runners of all ages.
And don't forget the Assistance League will have the Operation School Bell 5K Run/Walk on May 5, Newhall Park. It's an excellent charity and a good race, formerly known as Footsteps. Details.
We're looking forward to the May 4 Oxy Invitational. It has a long and rich history. The Master's will be there in force. Tune-up for the NAIA championships in Hickory, Indiana.
Especially for you Foothill finalists. Alysia Montano: How to be less of a mess and dress to impress after racing.
Will Bernie "The Beast" Montoya be the next prep sub four miler? Flotrack has him in a sub four ladder video.
Saugus three-sport athlete Rachel Eaton found her calling in track and field. Story.
A.J. Acosta is living the dream, sorta. Story. He's coached by Vin Lananna, but scrambling to find some free kicks.
Sean Hartnett is known as Professor Marathon for his phenomenal all-around knowledge of the 26.2-mile distance. Read.
Creepy. About a zap to the brain. Don't blame your body if you tire out. Picture Alberto, the mad professor, at the track with a channel changer.
Stress and Running.
Is peaking psychological? Link. One reason why we should race more is to get use to the pain.
Sad thought for the week. I'm guessing half of the senior Foothill tracksters will never race again.
Running Times headlines Leona Divide.
School-age athletes who focus on one sport have higher injury risk. Link. Why limit the advice to the young? You're courting injury if you do too much of anything, such as only running on asphalt, and no other physical activities.
What's The Solution to Anti-Cyclist Road Rage?
Good stuff. True holds off Jager and Estrada in the Payton Jordan 5000. Video.
Even better. The dudette's 5000 at the Payton Jordan. Video.
Hey kids! You can use some world-class advice from Kareen Abdul-Jabbar. Though as a runner, whether a Foothill League or even NCAA champion, you're probably destined to be looking for free kicks at age 25. But again, though a runner, you're probably a nerd and otherwise destined for the big bucks.
2013 Foothill League Track & Field Results (thanks, Bro):
Boys Varsity League Standings
Canyon 4-0-1 Co-Champs
Golden Valley 4-0-1 Co-Champs
Saugus 3-2
West Ranch 2-3
Valencia 1-4
Hart 0-5
Boys Frosh/Soph League Standings
Canyon 4-1 Co-Champs
Saugus 4-1 Co-Champs
Hart 4-1 Co-Champs
West Ranch 1-3-1
Valencia 1-3-1
Golden Valley 0-5
Girls Varsity League Standings
Golden Valley 5-0
Saugus 4-1
Canyon 3-2
Valencia 2-3
West Ranch 1-4
Hart 0-5
Girls J.V. League Standings
Saugus 5-0
Canyon 3-2
Valencia 3-2
West Ranch 2-3
Golden Valley 1-4
Hart 1-4
Fire on the track at Payton Jordan Invitational. LetsRun has results and recaps for women and men. Pix here.
Spikes provides the weekend in numbers.
Is Your Injury Caused by Pace or Distance? Don's 50 year study indicates it's about too-much-too-soon, stupid-macho workouts, worn/wrong shoes. And bad form.
One in five cyclists are invisible to motorists. Link.
RunBlogRun has a comprehensive report on the U.S. and world developments in track over the weekend. Here. Good to see Bryshon Nellum's PR in the 200, the fastest in the NCAA so far this year. He's our pick for Olympic gold in the 400 at the 2016 Olympics.
Enjoy the Eugene Marathon story and pix in the Register-Guard.
Santa Clarita Storm v. Northridge Pacers results.
Harry Marra: The Art of Coaching
Five Mustang track athletes earned eight Golden State Athletic Conference championship titles, More.
Alysia Montano, U.S. women set American record in winning 3200 relay. Story.
UCLA beats USC in dual meet. Story. Complete results.
Steep peep. Link. You? The Master's has three --Matt Chrichton, David Eller, and Ryan Freeman. Merissa Kado took second yesterday in the UCLA v. USC meet.
Are you a serious runner and track fan? Today is the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, and most of the best (see here) will be racing on a glorious, sun-splashed day. If such was held at COC, would you attend or insist on watching the Lakers to the bitter end, inside and alone and bitterly bummed?
Q&A with Bernard Lagat.
Fix Your Running Form
Today is the Eugene Marathon. Course flyover here. We live about a 100 yards from the Willamette River and mile 22, about six minutes into the video, and cheered on the runners for about an hour. Some observations:
Many wore Boston rememberances, shirts and black-tie ribbons.
20% wore calf or high support hose.
Odd to see how two people running the same speed can look so different, in form and expressions.
Turkey vultures were flying over mile 22 and down to the finish at Hayward Field.
Runners finishing in the low threes are hauling enough goo, potions, and liquids to last them 100 miles.
It's cool to run with music, but not to be holding the gizmo in your hands.
Women are invariably more colorful and appreciative of positive feedback.
Ya gotta keep those arms up and working.
No interest in doing another. Might do another ultra, such as a trail 50K.
Alysia Montano etches her name in stone. Story.
The Huskies have a new stadium with a purple track. Link.
Castaic Dam 10 Miler:
1. Tyrus Dementer 1:05:47
2. Wes Hinson 1:06:58
5. Ray Reyes 1:26:00
6. Kelley Schranz 1:28:42
8. Erin Wade 1:35:13
9. Carl Pantoja 1:35:13
10. Frank Schranz 1:36:14
Kelley Schranz, 62, was the first woman and sixth overall! If you're not impressed by that or the race times, understand the race starts in the park, ascends to the top of the dam, crossing the dam, and then returning to the park. Not a cream puff PR course.
Two Santa Clarita Runners ran Leona Divide 50 miler yesterday. Chrissa Rabe returned after a ten year hiatus to run 10:22, a one hour and forty seven minutes PR. Jon Morse ran his first fifty and came in a minute or so behind Chrissa. Crystal clear skies, dry as a bone, and temps in the low 90s. ...Complete results. ...Really tough course in the Lake Hughes area with a 8900' elevation gain, all on dirt, some fire roads, but mostly coyote trail. Dave Park has the best time by a Santa Claritian, a 7:28. Don's next with a 7:36. Dennis Olsen 3rd with a 7:56. All done before 2000. ...Yesterday's winner, Robert Krar smashed the course record with a 5:53. Unreal. It's not a coincidence the top three studs live at altitude, top two in Flagstaff, and third in Boulder.
Wall Street Journal on Alysia Montano: Flower Child Has Roots In Football
ESPN: Mary Cain finds her stride with a coach
Impressive racing by Jenny Simpson and Mary Cain at the Drake Relays. Link.
Top distance runners flock to Jordan Invitational
I have devoted much of my work as a writer and speaker to the argument that running is more important than anyone has yet noticed. ~Roger Robinson. More.
Toni Reavis: Time For Running To Get Media Wise
Bill Bolden has West Ranch v. Valencia photos. Boys. And girls. It looks like the scoreboard has the race time in progress. Very cool and spectator friendly.
Great Oak's Nick Ponzio launched a "holy shit" shot. Video.
Flotrack: "That was a good race," said Mary Cain. "Now I have a workout." Video.
Joey Gulino/Signal: Golden Valley High School is arguably the capital of area track and field.
Daily News: Historial sweep by Golden Valley against Saugus.
Canyon at Hart results. And photos.
West Ranch v. Valencia varsity boys results. And Bob Binnie's photos.
On the corruption of the International Cycling Federation. Link.
Pre-race anti-inflammatories are ineffective and lead to more heart and gastric problems. Link.
Canyon's Madison Hills will attend and run for UCSD in fall.
The Castaic 5K, 10 mile dam run, and kiddie K on Sunday. Story.
Brando: Top 6 Greatest Girl Performances at Foothill League Track Championships. ...Good stuff, bman, but shouldn't Aly Drake (state champion) get a bouquet or something?
Brando: Foothill League Track Championships All-Time Lists
Wall Street Journal: "Boston Billy" Won't Stop Running
Q&A with mountain and urban hiker Liz Thomas.
Latest issue. Free. California Track & Running News.
Stages Of Plantar Fasciitis In Runners
A Lesson From Fred
LetsRun: The Week That Was In Running
The New Yorker: The Running Site And The Bomb Photo
Complete West Ranch v. Valencia results.
The Master's competes today and tomorrow at the GSAC Conference Championships. Schedule, results, and video details here. Go 'stangs!
Brando: 2012-2013 Foothill League Track Leaders
Why Women Should Not Run. And a contrary view.
A Danish study finds higher resting heart rate predicts mortality risk, independent of fitness. Link.
Malcolm Gladwell proposes that cycling should allow its athletes to use scientific advantages in a similar way that Formula One racing teams do. Video.
Brando: SCV All-Time Men Records. ...What about Peter de la Cerda? He ran for Gene Blankenship at Hart, as did his brother Paul and sister Jessica.
Brando: SCV All-Time Women Records
For more (pre)historical SCV running times, see here.
Flotrack: 5 mile temp with Diego Estrada. Smooth, eh? In Flagstaff, elevation 6,910. ...Rich Burns and Daren Stonerock attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
Four West Ranch tracksters, including Pierce Miller, sign college commitments to compete. Link. Pierce will be joining big sis Bailey, now a sophmore, at UCSB.
Blown off his feet by explosion, Bill Iffrig, 78, got up and finished his 45th marathon. Bomb blast couldn't keep him down in Boston.
Back in Eugene. And there was Vin Linanna to greet me, or maybe jump on the flight continuing to Portland.
New York Times: Do We Have To Cool Down After Exercise?
One of the better race around, the Fillmore 5-10K Run is on May 18, 2013. Back when, at least 25 SCV racers would compete at this annual event. Good vibes. The Race Director is trying to get Santa Clarita Runners to participate. The cost is only $25 if people register as a team. The Race Director is hoping to get bags of avocados from the packing houses in Santa Paula and oranges from Fillmore packing houses as prizes but there is no guarantee. Back when, age group winners would get a bag of premium oranges. I love oranges, but I'd make it the goal race of year if I could win a bag of avocados. ...The course goes up Goodenough Rd. and along the Sespe River bike path and amongst the orange groves. Lovely. Register at active.com.
Galen and Mo: "More than a pair of lungs on legs," says Alberto Salazar. More. If they do cool downs... With 27 photos.
You can walk but you can't run at three national wildlife refuges in Oregon. Link.
Dean Lofgren has some amazing Mt. SAC photos here.
Tomorrow:
Canyon @ Hart
Valencia @ West Ranch
Golden Valley @ Saugus
Both Saugus and G.V. girls are undefeated, but G.V. hugely talented and appears to be the likely winner and Foothill champs.
On April 30, Foothill Prelims at Valencia High School. Link. Finals on May 3 at Valencia. Link. God save Valencia, and all that, but what happened to COC?
Foothill League records.
Recipe for road rage. BMW driver in Beverly Hills. Link.
Fillmore 5-10K details and registration on active.com
Lauren Fleshman talks about Boston.
How Footsteps Can Reveal Speed
Study indicates physicians less likely to bond with overweight patients. Link. And maybe if your sick or hurt?
New York Times: Double The Workout, Double The Benefit?
If a tree falls in a forest, can you sue it? Link. If it falls on a lawyer, should we...?
Erik Boal/Daily News: Track & Field Notebook. About Sarah Baxter, Simi Valley, Saugus girls, etc.
Is Santa Clarita at altitude, and should runners be awarded better race times? Consider.
How Steve Jones pitstopped his way to victory in the 1985 London Marathon. Link.
Reindeer shit? Don Kardong (in Running magazine, Jan/Feb, 1981 edition) has the poop on Grete Weitz, Lasse Viren, rookie Alberto Salazar and the 1980 NYC Marathon. The previous day, 50 m.p.h. winds were blowing down tent shelters and the world's longest urinal. On race morning, it continued cold and windy (up to 30 m.p.h. gusts), and the elites huddled in their tent trying to stay warm, including liberal applications of analgesics (probably Ben Gay). The Finns were especially diligent, even stripping to their jocks for the process, with an odd aromatic mixture. Was it the Lasse Viren (with four Olympic gold medals) secret formula for success? What was that stuff? "Reindeer shit" he said in Finnish. Curiously, Grete also appliied the mixture to her legs. Whatever. Lasse dropped out around the half way point, his last race ever. Grete won easily with a 2:25:41. Salazar, a brash University of Oregon track runner, won his first marathon in 2:09.41, then the second best time by an American.
Saugus v. West Ranch results.
