The Global Telegraph - September 2004

SEPTEMBER 2004 - VOL. 4, N. 9 (N. 38)

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: Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Japan, New York (Usa), Sweden.  

FEATURED WORLDWIDE RUNNING NEWS

• EGYPT / Run for them
The International Alexandria Marathon will be held on October 8, 2004 with the support of the Egyptian Minister for the Sports, and the Alexandria city. It is the only world sport event of this scale in this city, a race in Alexandria and its history, an unforgettable day. The marathon associate this year a humanitarian action: to help the children. The organizers decided to transfer a part of the registration fees and the donations of generous subscribers to specific hospitals. The hope is to be able to save about 1000 children, either while allowing them to access to too expensive care, or by allowing them to go under surgeries. Philippe Remond, one of the most famous French runners, has accepted to be the godfather of this edition of the "Alexandria Marathon:, and to put his notoriety at the service of such a cause. The entry fees are 45 Euro for the marathon, 60 Euro for the ekiden (relay marathon). For more details visit www.alexmarathon.com.

• JAPAN / Masako Chiba and Laban Kagika win Hokkaido Marathon
"I felt that fans cheering me on from the sidewalk turned the strong head wind into the tail wind," said Masako Chiba, who won the 2004 Hokkaido Marathon in Sapporo on Sunday August 28. Chiba, the marathon bronze medalist at the 2003 World Championships in Paris, completed the course in near record time of 2:26:50. For Chiba, who was an alternate for the Athens Olympic marathon team, it was her second win at the Hokkaido Marathon, having also won the 2001 edition. The race started at 12:10 pm under the unseasonably cool weather and the pack of twelve women including Chiba passed 5Km in 17:41. The pack was reduced to eight runners by 10Km and as the race progressed, by 20Km (1:09:56), the women's lead pack was further reduced to five runners - Masako Chiba, Eri Okubo, Irina Timofeyeva (Russia), Mai Tagami and Zebenay Moges (Ethiopia). After Timofeyeva of Russia lost contact with the leaders, four runners stayed together until 27Km at which point Moges was the next runner to lose contact with the leaders. "I did not mean to surge, but when I saw other runners falling behind, I knew it was the time to pick up the pace," said Chiba, who ran the 5Km segment between 25Km to 30Km in 17:14. And thus she was soon running alone. Chiba ran the next 5Km in 17:16, followed by 17:03 for the 5Km between 35Km to 40Km. Although Chiba won by nearly three minutes, she fell short of the record 2:26:11 recorded by Chika Horie in 2002. On the men's side, Laban Kagika, a Kenyan who lives in Japan and runs for corporate team, JFE, won in 2:12:20. After a huge pack of around 25 runners passed 15Km in 46:52, invited runner Frederick Cherono of Kenya surged ahead to string out the lead pack. Out of the chase pack Laban Kagika of Kenya and Degene Guta of Ethiopia attempted to cover Cherono's move and they were able to stay within the striking distance. Four kilometers later, at 19Km, Kagika and Guta caught up with Cherono and three Africans passed 20Km together in 1:01:24. The 5Km split from 15Km to 20Km, 14:32, was the fastest of the race. Three continued to run together until 29Km, at which point Kagika, who said, "if I went with the flow, the time would be slow," surged away from Guta and Cherono. At 30Km, Kagika was 8 seconds ahead of Guta and Cherono. With every step Kagika increased his lead over the second place. Kagika, whose notable performance prior to Sunday was 4th in 2001 Fukuoka Marathon and 5th in 2003 Tokyo Marathon, won the 2004 Hokkaido Marathon by more than two minutes in 2:12:20. "Now that Athens Olympic is over, it is time to start thinking about Beijing," said Kagika who hopes to be running in the Olympics in four years time. Source: www.arrs.net; article by Ken Nakamura with assistance from Akihiro Onishi

• BELGIUM / Meeting d'Athlétisme de Cabw
On August 14th in Nivelles, the Meeting d'Athlétisme de Cabw women's 3000m was dominated by Veerle Dejaeghere in 8:55.43, with Sigrid Vanden Bempt second in 9:17.06 and Nathalie De Vos third in 9:28.17. Spaniards finished 1-2 in the men's equivalent, with Alvaro Jimenez leaving Pablo Villalobos behind during a 7:56.92 to 8:11.84 win. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• CANADA / Marathon ambassadors needed
The 5th annual Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (plus Half Marathon and 5k) runs September 26th, 2004. In 2003 two world records were set there: 72-year-old Ed Whitlock ran 2:59:10 and 92-year-old Fauja Singh ran 5:40:04! They return again. This course is flat, fast and scenic as it traverses Toronto's beautiful waterfront. It is a Boston qualifier, and, in fact, one of the best qualifying races anywhere because it is flat and fast and weather at this time of year is perfect for runners. Toronto has hundreds of fantastic attractions and entertainment in the downtown core, great eating and great shopping. For those who attend: free 20-week "Marathoning for Mortals" training schedule; huge race expo featuring the latest and greatest products plus a big retail section; waterfront marathon runners will get an Adidas Climalite technical shirt; marathon and half marathon finishers get a unique medal; the race hotel, the Skydome Hotel (beside the CN Tower), and other downtown hotels are within walking distance of hundreds of restaurants and attractions; John Bingham, the Penguin, of Runner's World fame, will host a friendship run and speak at the pasta dinner; great group rates on Blue Jays tickets at Skydome; assistance to groups available (finding hotels, maps, services, etc.). Run details, travel info and on-line entry at www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com. Race organizers are also looking for runners to be Ambassadors this spring to visit some races in their area to hand out Toronto Waterfront marathon race forms. Contact them at info@torontowaterfrontmarathon.com.

• NEW YORK (USA) / Keflezighi to run the New York City Marathon
Meb Keflezighi, 2004 Olympic Games men's marathon silver medalist, has announced his intention to run the New York City Marathon 2004 on Sunday, November 7. Keflezighi finished just 34 seconds behind the winner, Italy's Stefano Baldini, in 2 hours, 11 minutes 29 seconds. His medal is the first for an American male at the marathon distance since 1976, when Frank Shorter claimed the silver at the Montreal Games. Keflezighi will continue to follow in Shorter's footsteps as he becomes only the second man to medal in the Olympic marathon and run the New York City Marathon in the same calendar year. Keflezighi's Olympic teammate Deena Kastor also will compete in New York after winning the bronze medal in the women's marathon in Athens (2:27:20). Keflezighi will toe the line with an outstanding American field at this year's New York City Marathon, including 3,000m and 5,000-meter national record-holder Bob Kennedy as well as fellow Olympians Dan Browne and Abdi Abdibrahim. Source: www.splittimes.com

• SWEDEN / Swedish Championships in Karstad
Between August 6th and 8th in Karstad were held the Swedish Championships. On the 6th during the women's 10,000m Lisa Blomme stepped off the track at 7000m. Meanwhile five were still together before Lena Gavelin, returning from injuries, took off for a 34:41.09 to 34:57.96 win in front of Anna Rahm. Hometown favorite Claes Nyberg led all but the last 700m of the men's equivalent. When Nyberg slowed, Erik Sjöqvist took advantage to pass and win in 19:18.01, with Nyberg second in 29:21.59, Alfred Shemweta third in 29:59.85, and University of Texas Arlington student Erik Petersson... fifth in 30:40.00. After winning the steeplechase on Saturday, NCAA 3000m steeple champ Ida Nilsson of Northern Arizona University doubled back Sunday, August 8th to take the 5000m in 16:42.23. Rahm came back from the 10,000m to lead the first 4000m before claiming second in 16:47.73. With the temperature hovering at 30 °C, Swedish Olympic steepler Mustafa Mohamed after a progression of increasingly faster kilomters used the last 200m to win the men's 5000m. Mohamed was timed in 14:17.27, with Henrik Skoog second in 14:19.09, and Sjóqvist and Nyberg doubling back to third and fourth place 14:24.48 and 14:25.21. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• NEW PENGUIN APPAREL
John Bingham has partnered with John Stanton and The Running Room to help you find everything you may need or want to enjoy the "Penguin lifestyle". His new apparel line combines fit and function. These products have been designed by John Bingham and The Running Room to provide a comfortable fit but at the same time provide cutting edge technical fabrics. The Penguin apparel and accessories will help you reach maximum performance. The jackets offer water-resistant, windproof, breathable fabrics. It provides great protection from the elements during every day activity. The tops, in long sleeve, short sleeve, and singlet styes, will help you reach maximum performance! They are made from Cool max Alta Mesh, a moisture-transport fiber that is unsurpassed in providing wicking capability and breathability. The four-channel fibers helps to keep you drier and maintain proper body temperature. The soft texture of the fabric and flat lock stitching alleviates chafing. They are machine washable and resist shrinking, odors, and mildew. Made from Coolmax this sock will wick moisture and is breathable. Cordura nylon on the heel and toe reduces blisters. Available in black or white, the hat offers great protection from the sun and has an adjustable back strap. John Bingham writes: "We've waited for years to find a partner who understands both the importance of high quality, technical running apparel and the Penguin philosophy. In John Stanton, and the team at The Running Room, we know that we've found the perfect partner". For more info about the whole line visit www.johnbingham.com.