The Global Telegraph - July 2006

JULY 2006 - VOL. 6, N. 7 (N. 60)

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. 

FEATURED WORLDWIDE RUNNING NEWS

• MASSACHUSETTS (USA) / Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon Challenge
"Phedippidations", the weekly internet radio show for runners (www.steverunner.com), announced the organization of a 13.1 mile (21,097 kilometers) road race that listeners from every continent on Earth can participate in together. The "Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon Challenge" (www.worldwidehalf.com) is an open invitational event where runners from around the globe are committed to running 13.1 miles on the weekend of October 7th and 8th, whenever and wherever they choose to run. Some will take part in an officially sanctioned half marathon road race, while others will plot their own course using maps or GPS devices. "Everyone is a winner" says Australian co-race director and veteran runner Mal James, living (and running) in Israel. "We want to encourage everyone to run a half marathon with us". Mal conceived of the idea for a global half marathon event following the success of the "Simply Stu World Wide Triathlon" organized by Wisconsin PodCaster "Stu", host of the SimplyStu Triathlon PodCast (www.simplystu.org). Co-race director, Terry Higgins of Knoxville Tennessee has coined the phrase "Think Global, Run Local" to inspire new, novice and seasoned runners to join in the race. He will be providing entrants with training schedules for both beginners and veteran runners, to help them better prepare for the event. Another member of the race director team: Ben Deutschle from Columbus (Usa/Ohio), has created a registration database system for the half marathon. Runners from around the world are invited to sign up for free at www.worldwidehalf.com. As with a traditional race events, runners in the "Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon Challenge" will be able to create their own race T-shirts from a logo downloaded off of the official race website. An online "virtual goody bag" will be made available with "eCoupons" and downloadable literature from corporate sponsors of the event. "This is not a radio show publicity stunt" says Phedippidations PodCast host Steve "Runner", "You don't have to listen to Phedippidations to join us". Steve also stresses that this is not a money making scheme. "This is purely about runners, across the world, sharing an experience together". "The goal", says Steve, "is to encourage new runners who may never have attempted a half marathon, to do so in a very comfortable, supportive way. The reward will be in all of the race reports we hope to receive from around the world". Teams of athletes are being organized around the globe. Runners worldwide are already gathering groups of runners to participate in the race. Further information can be found at www.worldwidehalf.com.

• FRANCE / Raya Tadesse wins the French Outdoor Championships
On June 16th in Saint-Maur, the French Outdoor Champhionships were held. Raya Tadesse took the 10,000m in 27:52.54, with F. Kosgei (Kenya) second in 27:58.04, Driss El Himer the French champion in 28:12.76, Mokhtar Benhari fourth in 28:18.89, and Viktor Röthlin (Switzerland) fifth in 28:23.20. Teyeba Erkesso (Ethiopia) topped the women's equivalent field in 32:01.34, with Christelle Daunay the French champ in 32:18.19, Zahia Dahmani third in 32:27.99, Hana Farhoun fourth in 32:39.75, Fatiha Klilech-Fauvel fifth in 32:46.73, and Jenni-Moser (Switzerland) sixth in 32:51.03. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• JAPAN / Nephat Kinyanjui and Albina Ivanova win Nagano Marathon
The defending champion Albina Ivanova of Russia won the eighth "Nagano Marathon" in 2:28:52, while Nephat Kinyanjui of Kenya won the men's division with a personal best of 2:11:18. Georgiy Andreyev of Russia finished second for the second consecutive year, while the defending champion Isaac Macharia of Kenya finished third. By 2Km into the race under the sunny sky, Gidey Amaha of Ethiopia broke away from the pack. Amaha passed 3Km in 9:40 and 5Km in 15:35. However, even with such a modest pace, Amaha was 38 seconds ahead of the chase pack at the 5Km check point. Amaha continued to increase his lead over seventeen runners chase pack (counted at 9Km) and by 10Km (30:41), he was 70 seconds ahead of the chase pack. Although the pace stayed modest, in the next 10Km Amaha further increased his lead and by 20Km (1:02:03), he was a minute and 29 seconds ahead of the chase pack, which is now reduced to 15 runners. After covering the 20Km to 25Km in 15:32, Amaha started to slow down. He took 16:10 for the 5Km segment between 25Km to 30Km. Meanwhile three runners (Nephat Kinyajui, Georgiy Andreyev and Isaac Macharia) broke away from the chase pack and started to chase Amaha. Covering the 5Km segment between 25Km and 30Km in 15:15, Kinyajui, Andreyev and Macharia cut Amaha's lead substantially. By 30Km Amaha was only 23 seconds ahead of the trio. And at 31.5Km three men chase pack finally caught Amaha, thus forming four-man lead pack. Four ran together for the next few Km, but by 34Km, Amaha was unable to keep up with the leaders. A Km later, side stitch slowed the defending champion Macharia; he was gone from the lead pack at 35Km, and thus the race became a duel between Kinyanjui and Andreyev. They run together and enter the Stadium (site of the opening and closing ceremony at the 1998 Winter Olympics) together before Kinyanjui pulled ahead at the very end of the race to win by one second. The 2000 Olympic and 2001 World Champion Gezehegne Abera dropped out of the race just passed 10Km. In the women's race, Masako Chiba, 2003 World Championships marathon bronze medalist, led the lead pack of seven runners in a slow pace during the early part of the race. Seven runners passed 5Km in 18:05 and 10Km in 36:01. When Chiba, apparently not feeling well, gave up the lead, it was Silvia Skvortsova of Russia who took over the pacing duty. The pack of six runners (Silvia Skvortsova, Albina Ivanova, Atsede Baysa, Masako Chiba, Yoshimi Hoshino and Nina Rillstone) passed 15Km in 53:56 and 20Km in 1:12:08, but by 25Km Skvortsova and the defending champion Ivanova broke clear from the rest of the runners. They run together until 30Km, at which point, Ivanova broke away and won comfortably by 36 seconds. Yoshimi Hoshino, who was fifth last year moved up one spot to finish fourth this year behind Ivanova, Skvortsova and Rillstone of New Zealand. Chiba dropped out of the race after 22Km. Source: www.arrs.net

• VIRGINIA (USA) / Imagining world peace, three runners at a time
On Sunday, July 16, at 7 am, at Belle Haven Park, one mile south of Old Town Alexandria on George Washington Memorial Parkway, Arlington Cooperation Foundation presents "International Peace Half-Marathon", in collaboration with Imagine Peace Network. "We want to encourage competition on the playing field of peace", said event director Jay Jacob Wind. Sport is one of the five international languages, along with Art, Math, Music, and Science. So far, Americans, Eritreans, Ethiopians, Kenyans, Indians, Pakistanis, Israelis, and Palestinians are committed to run. The race follows the same course as ACF's overwhelmingly successful "Potomac River Marathon", but only half as long, so finishers get to the splendid international post-race picnic sooner. The course is entirely through a shady National forest, mostly flat but with two notable hills. Wherever runners holds citizenship - any U.S. state or another country - they are automatically members of their State's or country's team. Teams may be any size, top three score, cross-country style. Members of the top 5 men's and women's teams win cash prizes. Age-group winners win gift certificates to local stores. The day before the race, Saturday, July 15, ACF's Marathon Charity Partners training program meets at Belle Haven Park at 7 am, followed by a small picnic. Then from 1 pm to 5 pm, ACF and IPN host pre-race packet pick-up and a College of Running and Peace with guest speakers. On race day, runners can take advantage of 6:00 am limousine shuttle service from Courtyard to Belle Haven. At 6:30 am, the non-competitive Early Bird start goes off. At 6:35 am begins a parade of flags of all represented nations and their anthems as a warm-up, led by Velocity Sports Performance, followed by the American national anthem at 6:57 am. The competitive race goes off at 7:00 am, limited to the first 300 who register. To register for the race, or to become a sponsor to assist international runners to attend, please visit www.marathoncharitypartners.org/prrhalf, write to racedirector@att.net, or call 703-218-2726.

• MISSOURI (USA) / USA Triathlon partners with Prostate Cancer Foundation
USA Triathlon is pleased to announce an agreement with the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. To help PCF increase awareness for its cause - especially among the target age group of 40 and over - UsaT is placing PCF rubber wristbands in all participant bags at the Age Group National Championship in Kansas City. In return, PCF is providing trophies for the Masters male and female champions and the Grand Masters male and female champions recognizing their accomplishments; four round-trip coach airfares from New York to Lausanne, Switzerland or the nearest international airport as awards to the male and female Masters and Grand Masters USAT National Champions; an additional ticket to the World Championships for the person raising the most in pledges for the Prostate Cancer Foundation who finishes the race wearing a blue wristband. "In the 17 years I have been at UsaT, I have seen many of our male athletes lose the battle to prostate cancer", said UsaT Executive Vice President for Marketing and Communications Tim Yount. "This project is our way of saying we understand how devastating this can be to families across America and are now doing something to raise awareness". The PCF has a single goal: to find better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer. The PCF pursues its mission by reaching out to individuals, corporations and others to harness society's resources - financial and human - to fight this deadly disease. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised more than $260 million and provided funding to more than 1,200 researchers at 100 institutions worldwide. The PCF has been a pioneer in the grant making process, simplifying paperwork for grantees, leaving more time for researchers to conduct needed scientific research. The PCF also advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more governmental resources, resulting in a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer. For more information on the organization, visit www.prostatecancerfoundation.org. Source: www.transitiontimes.com

• MOROCCO / Khalid El Amri wins the CAA Grand Prix Meeting
On June 17th in Rabat, the CAA Grand Prix Meeting men's 3000m was taken by Khalid El Amri in 7:42.52, with Ahmed Baday second in 7:45.98 and Anis Selmouni third in 7:47.68. Ismael Khamis (Bahrain) claimed the 5000m win in 13:35.48, with Leonard Komon (Kenya) second in 13:37.34 and Tadesse Tola (Ethiopia) third in 13:52.05. Meryem Alaoui Selsouli captured the women's 3000m in 8:53.47, with Hanane Ouhadou second in 9:04.46 and Gladys Kipkemboi (Kenya) third in 9:08.22. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• USA / Nutrition & Exercise: an intensive workshop
"I was surprised to learn new information on a topic I thought I knew so well". Here is your chance to learn from two internationally known experts at this intensive workshop on Nutrition & Exercise. Sports nutritionist Nancy Clark MS, RD and exercise physiologist William Evans PhD will be offering a 1.5 day program that is designed to help coaches, athletic trainers, exercise physiologists, sports nutritionists, sports medicine professionals as well as athletes themselves find answers to their questions about eating for health, enhanced performance and longevity; balancing carbs, protein and sports supplements; managing weight and eating disorders. See www.sportsnutritionworkshop.com for more details.