The Global Telegraph - April 2005

APRIL 2005 - VOL. 5, N. 4 (N. 45)

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: Arizona (Usa), China, Cyprus, Italy, Japan, Pennsylvania (Usa), United Kingdom.

FEATURED WORLDWIDE RUNNING NEWS

• JAPAN / Invited runners for the Nagano Marathon
Here are the runners who have been invited to the next edition of the "Nagano Marathon": John Nada Saya (Tanzania, 2:08:57 Milano 2001), Moges Taye (Ethiopia, 2:09:21 Wien 1998), Isaac Macharia (Kenya, 2:11:26 Berlin 2004), Grigory Andreyev (Russia, 2:11:53 Hamburg 2004), Ryuji Takei (Japan, 2:08:35 Lake Biwa 2002), Seiji Kushibe (Japan, 2:11:22 Hofu 2002), Koichi Inagaki (Japan 2:12:25 Beppu 2003), and Tomonori Michikata (Japan, at his debut on the marathon distance, 1:03:13 Marugame Half marathon 2001). Among the women: Lidia Simon (Romania, 2:22:54 Osaka 2000), Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia, 2:23:57 London 2001), Albina Ivanova (Russia, 2:25:35 Chicago 2003), Tatiana Borisova (Kyrgyzstan, 2:30:39 Austin 2004), Gladys Asiba (Kenya, 2:35:13 Frankfurt 2004), Taeko Terauchi (Japan, 2:28:10 Osaka 1999), Yukako Goto (Japan, 2:34:12 Nagoya 1996), Yoshimi Hoshino (Japan, 2:37:48 Nagano 2004), and Hiroko Watanabe (Japan, at her debut on the marathon distance, 1:12:44 NG 2004). Source: www.arrs.net

• ITALY / Mayo wins the Brescia marathon
On March 20th in Brescia, Richard Mayo (Kenya) was hoping to follow his 2004 "Maratona d'Italia" runner-up 2:09:47 personal best with a course record at the "Brescia Marathon". To do so, Mayo had to beat Matthew Sigei's 2:09:17 set two years ago. Along with defending champion Hosea Kimutai (Kenya), Clement Kipbor (Kenya), and Peter Biwott (Kenya), Mayo reached the half in 64:45, still keeping the record within reach. Yet after 30K (1:32:40) headwinds slowed everyone. Kipbor made the first break, but was reeled in. Then at 35K Mayo, who trains in the same group as 2:04:56 marathoner Sammy Korir, broke from the others and was never again challenged. Mayo won in 2:11:47, Kimutai was second in 2:12:36, Kipbor third in 2:14:21, Biwott fourth in 2:15:15 and Vito Sardella fifth in 2:16:47. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• CYPRUS / Jordanian and Austrian runners smash the Pafos Marathon record
A cloudy morning and a temperature of around 15 degrees centigrade (with no rain) assisted in producing a festive atmosphere as hundreds of runners assembled on Sunday March 6, 2005 for the various events associated with the "Pafos Marathon". The president of the Pafos Municipality Sports Committee Stelios Lergios fired the starting gun for participants from more than 20 different countries. The Jordanian runner Alaqra Salameh won the "Pafos Marathon" in an amazing time 2:33:02. He smashed the previous course record (2:48:58 set by Belgian runner Pol Dekeirel in 2002) by 15 minutes and 56 seconds. Mohammad Alswaiti also from Jordan was second in 2:45:07. Sabine Hofer from Austria clocking 2:59:49 broke the women record (3:25:42 set by German Seidel Susanne in 2003) by 25 minutes and 53 seconds. Kym Wheeler (United Kingdom) came in second place with a time of 3:25:48. The South African runner Jack Visser with a time of 1:21:05 won the half marathon with German Manfred Huemmecke in second place (1:24:24). Charlotte Argent from the United Kingdom with the time of 1:36:15 won the ladies' race, before Jackie Webster from England. The male winner of the 10 kilometers road race was the German well known veteran athlete Herbert Steffny with a time of 37:21 and the female winner was Emma Middleton (United Kingdom) with the time 41:44. The Geroskipou Cultural Movement and the Pafos Dancing Group of Genethlios Stavrinou performed for all runners and spectator alike after the completion of the running events. It was a real running festival! Preparations have already begun for the 2006 edition, which will be held on Sunday March 12, 2006.

• CHINA / Asian Cross Country Championships
On March 12th in Guiyang the Asian Cross Country Championships men's 12K had Qatar first and China second, both with 16 points. The individual title was won by Hang Gang in 37:31, with Zhang Yunshan second in 37:35, J. Jaber (Qatar) third in 37:35, and Khamis Saifeldin (Qatar) fourth in 37:38. China won the women's 6K team title with 8 points, and Japan placed second with 16. Li Helan individually won in 21:12, with Rina Fujioka (Japan) second in 21:15, and Chen Xiaofang third in 21:17. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• PENNSYLVANIA (USA) / Three marathons on two continents in 36 hours
On April 17, 2005, two American women will run the "London Marathon" as fast as they can and then hop a plane to Boston (Usa/Massachusetts) where they will run the "Boston Marathon" the next day, April 18th. However, instead of taking the bus to the start line in Hopkinton, the women, Pam Reed and Laura Yasso, will run 26.2 miles there starting at the finish line in Boston early that morning. This big idea is the brainchild of Laura who lives in Pennsylvania. She originally planned to just run London and Boston but when she mentioned it to Pam, who lives in Arizona, it was Pam who suggested they find another marathon in Europe on Saturday, the day before London so they could run three marathons in less than two days. When no third marathon was to be found, they came upon the idea to run the marathon distance sandwiched in between the two official marathons and that is why they will be running to the Boston start line to get in another 26.2 miles. The two consider themselves ordinary women doing extraordinary things; a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The women do not have any sponsorship. They have decided to dedicate their runs to those less fortunate than themselves. Pam and Laura will "Run for a reason" and raise funds for a clinic and childrens' home in Piedras Negras, Mexico. Casa and Clinica Bethesda is the only residential/rehabilitation center in Northern Mexico for homeless individuals with mental and physical disabilities. It was established in 2000 by sister Andrena Mulligan, a Catholic nun working with a Mexican Baptist minister and his wife. Sister Andrena, a native of Ireland, is a runner herself. She will be running Boston as well. For more information about "Pam & Laura's Triple Marathon Adventure - Run for a reason" or how to contribute to Casa and Clinica Bethesda, contact runforareason@hotmail.com.

• UNITED KINGDOM / Royal Windsor Triathlon does the double
The "Human Race Royal Windsor Triathlon" has landed another major award, its second in three months, after the readers of "220 Triathlon Magazine" selected it as their "Best race of the Year", further securing its position as the United Kingdom's best multisport event. The award marks an extremely successful year for the Windsor race. The event gained the prestigious "BTA Event of the Year" at the annual British Triathlon Awards dinner in December, fighting off stiff competition from all other triathlons. Windsor's fantastic scenery and historic setting provides an impressive backdrop to this new and exciting Olympic sport. The 1500 meter swim in the river Thames, 40 kilometer bike and 10 kilometer run course take in the very best of Berkshire's historical landmarks, from the Castle and Eton College to the river Thames and the Great Park. From its initiation in 1991 as a small, low-key event, the "Human Race Royal Windsor Triathlon" has rapidly grown to be the best race in the Country. It now attracts over 2500 athletes, including British Olympians Tim Don, Andrew Johns and Julie Dibens, plus thousands of accompanying spectators to the town centre. The next Royal Windsor Triathlon will take place on June 19, 2005. For information visit www.humanrace.co.uk.

• ARIZONA (USA) / Inaugural Pat Tillman Triathlon
The Red Rock Company, in partnership with the City of Tempe and the Pat Tillman Foundation, is proud to announce that the first annual "Pat Tillman Triathlon" will take place on Saturday, May 8, 2005 in Tempe. The event will serve as a benefit for the Pat Tillman Foundation (www.pattillmanfoundation.org) with all proceeds benefiting the foundation. The race will take place at Tempe Town Lake and will feature a sprint-distance triathlon (750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike ride and a 5 kilometer run) and an Olympic-distance triathlon (1500 meter swim, 40 kilometer bike and a 10 kilometer run). All athletes competing will receive a Pat Tillman Triathlon Participant special event shirt with Tillman's number from the Arizona Cardinals (#40). The event is expected to feature upward of 1000 athletes. "It is fitting that people have a chance to compete in a triathlon in Pat's honor, as Pat had completed a half-ironman triathlon himself", said Foundation President and Pat's brother-in-law, Alex Garwood. Following his death in April of 2004, the Tillman family and friends created the Pat Tillman Foundation in an effort to carry forward his legacy by inspiring people to make positive changes in themselves and in the world around them. For more information on the event or to register, log onto www.redrocktriathlon.com. Source: www.transitiontimes.com

"Being safe when heading off the beaten path requires a different set of tools. Depending on the length of your runs, and degree of wilderness you travel into, there are a few products to consider". So says the article "Be Smart: A Guide to Running Safely" in "Running Times" magazine. According to Running U.S.A. there are approximately 36 million runners in the United States, 42% of which are women who run at least once a year; and 10 million who run more than one hundred days a year, 41% of whom are women. Whether we agree or not to carry a cell phone while exercising, there are 165 million cell phone subscribers using an average of 500 minutes per month; 60 million are ages 11-24, 20 million phones are GPS enabled, 38 million use text messaging, and 53% of teens have cell phones for security and emergencies. Cell phones are good proctection! There are times when a phone would come in handy! Perhaps when you are alone on a walk, a run, or a hike and something happens, you break a leg, or maybe you are being followed. Recent technological advancements in global positioning systems (GPS) already installed in most cell phones will now connect to the police department nearest the location from which a 911 number has been dialed, and no longer needs to be re-routed by a call center. New cell phones are being equipped with a GPS tracking device which will allow emergency agencies to physically track the precise location of anyone with a cell phone. The Hold-a-Phone cell phone holder has distinct advantages over other style holders because the Hold-a-Phone allows the user to send and receive calls, and have the caller ID clearly visible while the cell phone remains in the holder attached to your bag, belt, or arm. Unlike other holders, the Hold-a-Phone holds 95% of the phones on the market.