The Global Telegraph - February 2004

FEBRUARY 2004 - VOL. 4, N. 2 (N. 31)

Publisher: Run The Planet., Seattle (Usa/Washington). Editor: Indro Neri. Associate editor: Jennifer Walker. All correspondence and suggestions are welcome. Unsolicited articles will be considered. To advertise on "The Global Telegraph", contribute to or reproduce its content please contact us via e-mail at info@runtheplanet.com. "The Global Telegraph" is published 12 times a year. The next issue will close the last day of this month. © by Run The Planet Inc., Seattle.

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This month we feature running news from: Brazil, California (Usa), Florida (Usa), India, Netherlands, United States of America, Wisconsin (Usa).  

FEATURED WORLDWIDE RUNNING NEWS

• NETHERLANDS / Rabobank Goed Beter Best Loop results
Here are the results of the half marathon "Rabobank Goed Beter Best Loop" held on Sunday January 25, 2004 in Best, in the south of Holland: (Men) 1. Sajji Bouazza 1:03.50; 2. Jamal Baligha 1:03.52; 3. Dmitri Safronov 1:04.41; 4. Aziz Bougra 1:05.16; 5. Gino van Geyte 1:05.17; (Women) 1. Nadja Wijenberg 1:15.03; 2. Katja Merlin 1:16.53; 3. Miranda Boonstra 1:17.47; 4. Anne van Schuppen 1:19.30; 5. Connie van den Ouweland 1:19.46.

• INDIA / Africans dominate the Afro-Asian Games
On October 28-30 in Hyderabad, the first Afro-Asian Games distance races, not surprisingly, were dominated by Africans. The men's 5000 meters was won by Haylu Mekonen (Ethiopia) in 13:49.06, with Markos Geneti (Ethiopia) second in 13:49.61, Daniel Kipkurui Keter (Kenya) third in 13:50.41 and John Yuda (Tanzania) fourth in 13:54.30. Sileshi Sihine (Ethiopia) topped the men's 10,000 meters in 27:47.80, with Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam (Ethiopia) second in 28:08.79, Boniface Kiprop (Uganda) third in 28:12.67, and Dejene Berhanu (Ethiopia) fourth in 28:47.57. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / New false start rule adopted
Effective January 1, the United States Track & Field association has amended its false start rule to conform with those introduced last year by the IAAF. The new rule calls for the first false start in any race to be charged to the field, with subsequent false starts resulting in the disqualification of the athlete committing the false start. Approved at the 2003 UsaTF Annual Meeting in Greensboro last month, the rule (Rule 162.12) now reads: "No penalty shall be imposed for the first false start in a race. The competitor(s) responsible for the false start shall be warned with a yellow card placed on the respective lane marker(s). At the same time, all the other competitors taking part in the race shall be warned with a yellow card raised in front of them to notify them that anyone committing further false starts will be disqualified. This last mentioned basic system will also be followed in case lane markers are not being used. In case of further false starts, the competitor(s) responsible for the false start shall be disqualified and a red card shall be placed on the respective lane marker(s), or raised in front of the respective athlete(s)". The rule will apply to all Golden Spike Tour and UsaTF Championship events, including the 2004 Usa Indoor Track & Field Championships February 27-29 in Boston (Usa/Massachusetts), and the 2004 Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field, July 8-19 in Sacramento (Usa/California). This change will not affect Youth Athletics, Masters, or Combined Events competitions, all of which will continue to follow the rule that provides that an athlete is disqualified only when he or she commits a second false start. For a complete listing of rule changes approved at the 2003 UsaTF Annual Meeting, visit www.usatf.org/about/annualMeeting/2003. Source: www.splittimes.com

• BRAZIL / Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo cebelebrated their special dates with road races
Brazilian largest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, celebrated their most special dates with road races. The "Marvelous City" honored San Sebastian, his patron saint, with the "São Sebastião 10k" road race. The winners were Ednalva Laureano (34:09) and Franck Caldeira (29:08). Just five days later São Paulo celebrated its 450 years with the "Troféu Cidade de São Paulo 10k". The event put together 10,000 participants and the winners were once again Ednalva Laureano (34:15) and Franck Caldeira (29:31). Source: www.copacabanarunners.net

• CALIFORNIA (USA) / The City of Los Angeles Marathon will offer The Challenge
The March 7th edition of the "City of Los Angeles Marathon" could see either a male or female winner going home with prizes worth at least U.S. $ 101,400. Included in a purse which has been increased by 41% will be U.S. $ 25,000 and a Honda Accord worth U.S. $ 26,400 for both the first place man and woman. But mirroring what has been done for many years at "Dam tot Dam" (Amsterdam to Zaandam) in Holland, the "City of Los Angeles Marathon" will offer "The Challenge", a U.S. $ 50,000 bonus to the first person to cross the finish line. That could be either a male or female, depending upon a starting time differential determined by past marathon times of the elite starters. The women will start approximately 20 minutes ahead of the men. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• WISCONSIN (USA) / Four new events every year
Midwest Sports Events is a new non-profit fitness organization originating out of Wisconsin that has just launched the website www.midwestsportsevents.com. This organization will be introducing new events in the Midwest area as well as training programs. Executive director Gloria West states "This is a fabulous grass roots endeavor as this organization will exclusively be operated by a board of directors who are fitness enthusiasts". The organization will again direct the "Waupaca Triathlon" and "Fifth Third Bank Half Marathon" in Chicago. One of the new events is for the former "Fox Cities Marathon" director, Bret Younger who died suddenly in a car accident last spring. It is entitled, the "Bret Younger Memorial 10k". In addition to the "Bret Younger Memorial 10k", Midwest Sports Events will also introduce more new events this year: the "Valentine Day 5k", "Aurora High Cliff Triathlon", "Pewaukee Triathlon", "Green Bay Duathlon" and the "Lo Carb Turkey Trot 15k Run". When asking Ms. West about the new events she replied "Our next major event is the Aurora High Cliff Triathlon which will be held on June 20. The event will include both a sprint distance and a half Ironman distance focusing on some of the best scenery in the state of Wisconsin". The organization plans to introduce approximately four new events every year. Craig Congdon, a local marathoner will be developing a variety of training programs. He states "Many of the training programs and education we put together will be race specific. We will implement virtual training programs on the actual courses themselves, which will help assimilate race day experience". The organization's goal is to put on top-notch events along with top-notch training programs. Midwest Sports Events plans to enhance youth through their kids running programs and will share any of the marketing supports they have. For more information visit www.midwestsportsevents.com.

• CALIFORNIA (USA) / Online networking website for athletes
AthleticMeet.com has launched an online networking service focused on matching athletes and fitness enthusiasts for dating, friendship, workout partners, and more, across North America and around the world. The website facilitates introductions in a fun and easy-to-use forum. AthleticMeet.com has developed relationships with various sport organizations (clubs, leagues, gyms, teams, sports events, etc.) to extend benefits to these groups and their members. Members may post detailed profiles presenting their physical appearance, sports/fitness interests, personality, values, and background as well as photos of themselves. The website offers comprehensive search functions including searches by key criteria, list of favorites, and saved searches. "We are thrilled with the initial success of AthleticMeet.com" said president Nick Gardner. "Our site is attracting a high percentage of first-timers, and we already have some nice success stories about people meeting through our site. We are excited to watch our network grow larger and larger". AthleticMeet.com, which officially launched its website in October of 2003, is aiming to be the premiere online people-matching network for athletes and fitness enthusiasts in the North America and worldwide.

• NETHERLANDS / Egmond aan Zee half marathon
The thrirtysecond edition of the "Egmond aan Zee half marathon" - held on Sunday January 11, 2004 - was one of the most difficult in its history. After three kilometers through the village near the North Sea the nearly 10.000 competitors had to fight a very strong wind during the 7000 metres over the beach. After that followed 11 kilometres through the dunes. During most of the race the runners were also plagued by rain. Temperature around 8 degrees Celsius. The mens race was won by William Kipsang of Kenya in 1:04.51, who outsprinted his compatriots Luke Kibet (1:04.54) and Francis Kibiwott (1:04.58). Jane Ekimat also of Kenya was the womens winner in 1:17.41. She was just ahead of Petra Kaminkova (1:17.43, Czech Republic) and Dutch-based Hilda Kibet (1:17.46, Kenya).

• WEEKEND RUNNER'S RETREAT
Nancy Clark will be joining Jeff Galloway at a Weekend Runner's Retreat on Friday March 12th through Sunday March 14th, 2004. The retreat takes place in Blue Mountain (Usa/Florida), a small settlement that is a three minute jog from the beach and 20 miles east of Destin. The weekend with be invigorating but relaxing - the perfect time to chat with Nancy and Jeff, answer your questions about ways to enhance your running enjoyment and performance, and just have fun with new friends. For more information, see www.jeffgalloway.com/retreats.