The Global Telegraph - October 2004

OCTOBER 2004 - VOL. 4, N. 10 (N. 39)

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: China, Colorado (Usa), Latvia, New York (Usa), North Carolina (Usa), Pennsylvania (Usa).  

FEATURED WORLDWIDE RUNNING NEWS

• COLORADO (USA) / Run dressed up as a gorilla
The "Denver Gorilla Run" will be held in Colorado on Saturday October 23 to raise money for the remaining gorillas in Africa. The race is also organized in France and England, but this is the first year it has been organized in the United States of America. The race will benefit the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, dedicated to the conservation and protection of the endangered mountain gorillas, their habitat, and working with the people around the National Parks in Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda. The easiest way to describe the history and premise of our foundation is to reference the true story/movie "Gorillas in the Mist" starring Sigourney Weaver. The "Denver Gorilla Run" is a 7 kilometers race around the downtown streets of Denver. This run was a great success in London (England) last year when the sight of more than 500 gorillas racing over London's famous Tower Bridge brought traffic to a standstill. Everyone who takes part will be in fact wearing a full gorilla costume - from fluffy head to furry toe. Complete information at www.denvergorillarun.com.

• LATVIA / Daugavpils Marathon not long enough
Here are the results of the third edition of the "Daugavpils Marathon", also valid as Latvian Championship, held on September 11: (men) 1. Armands Buss 2.41.05; 2. Vjaceslavs Bambans 2.50.15; 3. Mareks Mikisko 2.58.33; (women) 1. Svetlana Ivanova 3.05.39; 2. Inita Bistrova 4.00.09; 3. Nadezda Kavtaskina 4.10.06. Due to technical error in Daugavpils men ran a bit shorter distance (minus 200 meters). Only the results of the women's race are valid for statistics. Source: www.arrs.net

• CHINA / Xiamen Marathon and Chinese Championships
On March 27th in China, the "Xiamen Marathon" contained the Chinese Championships. James Moiben (Kenya) won in 2:10:54, Li Zhuhong took the Chinese title in 2:11:43, Dewit Terefa (Ethiopia) finished third in 2:11:45, Antonio Peña (Spain) sixth in 2:13:17 and J. Kiprono (Kenya) eighth in 2:14:57. Athletics International reports that Zhou Chunxiu earned the women's win and national title in 2:23:28, with Li Helan second in 2:28:17, Ham Bong-Sil (Korea) third in 2:28:32, Wang Yu fourth in 2:29:27, Zhang Shujing fifth in 2:29:53 and Li Fenjin sixth in 2:31:21. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• NORTH CAROLINA (USA) / Only nine participants did not run naked
The fourth annual come-back of the "Take Pride in Your Hide" 5K cross-country clothing optional run and walk was a success. The morning of July 31 was just beautiful for a run/walk in nature and 132 were the finishers for the run and 21 for the walk. Only 9 runners decided they would run clothed. Medals were given to the overall and age group winners to keep with the Olympic theme of the year (the first-ever Olympic runners in Athens ran nude). Overall, Masters and Grandmasters males and females received medals plus cash awards and lots of other prizes. The Monroeton Volunteer Fire Department was out again with their spray to cool off the runners as they came in to the finish line. Researchers believe that each of us has an instinctive need called biophilia - a longing to be one with nature.

• NEW YORK (USA) / Olympic gold medalist Baird dies
Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder George Baird died on September 4 in Rhinebeck. He was 97. At the time of this death, he was the oldest living U.S. Olympic track and field gold medalist. Baird led off the U.S. world record-setting 4x400m relay team that won the gold medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. The U.S. squad won the race in 3 minutes, 14.2 seconds as Baird led off in 48.2. He was followed by Fred Alderman (49.4), Bud Spencer (47.8) and individual 400m champ Ray Barbuti (48.8). Six days later, Baird led off a U.S. 4x440y relay team that ran a world record of 3:13.4 in London. Other members of that team were Morgan Taylor, Barbuti and Spencer. A 1929 graduate of the University of Iowa, Baird posted his 47.7 personal best that same year. He placed fourth in the 1928 NCAA Championships as a junior. Baird was the subject of a segment on NBC's "Olympic Show" leading up to the 2000 Sydney Games. The segment dealt with George and sprinter Jimmy Quinn, who had won a gold medal on the 1928 4x100 team. At that time, they were the two oldest surviving U.S. Olympic track gold medalists. Quinn, who died this past July, was about six months older than Baird. Source: www.splittimes.com

• PENNSYLVANIA (USA) / Linus Maiyo wins the Great Race
On September 26th in Pennsylvania, at the "Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10k", Linus Maiyo (Kenya) commanded a 10-second lead by halfway (14:37). The Kenyan continued on to comfortably win in 29:10 and was followed by Kevin Doyle in 29:31 and Jason Warick (Canada) in 29:56. Teresa Wanjiku (Kenya) dominated the women's division in 33:16, with Heather Bury second in 34:08, Susannah Kvasnicka third in 34:57, Sara Raschiatore fourth in 34:58 and Mary Alico fifth in 35:24. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• THE GLOBAL FITNESS AND CHARITY CHALLENGE
"World Run Day", the international celebration of running and charitable giving now in its sixth year, takes place this year on November 7. Since 1999, thousands from around the world have participated in "World Run Day" by running - any distance, anywhere - in organized events, small groups, or individually in the "Virtual Run". In addition, the runners traditionally make a contribution directly to their favorite charity, distributing the proceeds to a vast number of worthwhile causes. From Seattle to London, Philadelphia to Sydney and anywhere in between, hundreds of charitable organizations continue to benefit from this annual event. "It's taken some time, but people really agree that we need an international day of running and an international day of charity", says Bill McDermott, president and founder of "World Run Day". In 2003, "World Run Day" featured group events in 19 cities in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, and Poland. A "World Run Day" 10k race was even hosted by American servicemen and women stationed in Qandahar, Afghanistan. Runners participated in everything from a 50-yard dash to a full marathon. In all, over 600 cities worldwide were represented. "In 1999 we had about 100 runners; last year we had over 3,000" McDermott adds. "Meanwhile, countries like Trinidad & Tobago have recently signed on to host a group event". Registration for this year's edition began in September and continues through November 7. For more information, contact Bill McDermott at (917) 626-9623, or browse the "World Run Day" website at www.RunDay.com.