The Global Telegraph - November 2004

NOVEMBER 2004 - VOL. 4, N. 11 (N. 40)

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: Algeria, Bhutan, Maryland (Usa), Ohio (Usa), Russia, United Kingdom.  

FEATURED WORLDWIDE RUNNING NEWS

• MARYLAND (USA) / First time marathoner research
Bea Carson, doctoral student at The George Washington University, is embarking on her dissertation research. The intent of this research is to measure non-physical changes that are experienced by individuals completing their first marathon. These changes focus on how the individual approaches new tasks. Participants to this research are needed. To be part of this study you must have signed up for (or started training for) a marathon no more than two weeks ago or be planning to sign up for a marathon within the next year. Anticipated completion time is not a consideration for eligibility to participate in this study. As part of the study you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. This should take less than 30 minutes. After your marathon date, you will be sent another copy of the questionnaire to complete. This will need to be filled out 2 to 3 weeks after you complete your marathon. Surveys will be sent to you via e-mail. The first will be sent within a few days of signing up for the study. The second will be sent about two weeks after your marathon date. You will be asked to return the completed surveys via e-mail. There will be a third optional phase, in addition to the first two phases. This will be a short interview that should last less than 30 minutes. You can choose to participate in just the first two stages of this study, or all three. If you choose to participate in the follow-up interviews they can be done either in person or by phone. To sign up go to www.bke-associates.com and select Research. If you have any questions feel free to contact bea@bke-associates.com or call 410-353-4722.

• RUSSIA / From Pushkin to St. Petersburg
Here are the results of the 78th edition of the race "Pushkin-St-Petersburg", held on a 30 kilomters course on September 19, 2004: (men) 1. Alexei Sokolov 1.30.45, 2. Mikhail Minyuhin 1.32.34, 3. Sergei Aleksandrov 1.33.29, 4. Airat Kashaev 1.33.30, 5. Alexei Veselov 1.34.33; (women) 1. Larisa Malikova 1.46.46, 2. Olga Bilinkina 1.47.31, 3. Natalya Belova 1.48.15, 4. Olga Glok 1.48.42. Source: www.arrs.net

• UNITED KINGDOM / Belgrave Harriers win the AAA Road Relay Championships
On October 23rd in Sutton Coldfield, England, the AAA Road Relay Champs men's race (6x5.847 kilometers legs) had the Belgrave Harriers (Nash, Blackledge, Barden, Sharp, Anderson, Miles) taking the team title in 1:44:35, with Aldershot Farnham & District second in 1:45:55, Birchfield Harriers third in 1:46:49, Bristol & West fourth in 1:47:29 and Morpeth Harriers fifth in 1:47:37. Fastest legs were by Chris Thompson (16:39), Nick McCormick (16:41), Keith Cullen (17:01), Mark Miles (17:02), and Zack Kihara (Kenya, 17:10). The women's edition (4x4.314 kilometers legs) had Bristol & West (Stiles, Gray, Hasell, Reed) first in 57:46, with Windsor, Slough, Eton & Harrow second in 59:20, Wakefield Dh third in 59:59, Liverpool Harriers fourth in 60:22, and Bedford & County fifth in 60:43. Fastest legs were by Kate Reed (13:59), Hayley Yelling (14:03), Julia Bleasdale (14:14), Amy Stiles (14:22), and Helen Lawrence (14:25). Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• BHUTAN / A remarkable running event in the last Shagri-La
On November 13, in the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, the "Bhutan International Marathon" will be held to support the Olympic development program in Bhutan. Bhutan is a quiet nation perched in the Himalayas between India and Tibet, just east of Nepal. Even though a trickle of tourists has been allowed into the country each year since 1974, Bhutan remains isolated. Only 8000 foreign travelers visit Bhutan annually. The Bhutanese have a broad commitment to the preservation of their cultural, the well-being of all Bhutanese, the protection of Bhutan's environment and the sanctity of the Himalayas. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck speaks of the "gross national happiness" instead of the "gross national product". The King's birthday is a three-day national celebration, held on 11-13 November each year. Schools and government offices are closed. There are formal celebrations with great pagentry plus special activities like achery contests and concerts. The "Bhutan International Marathon" is held on the final day of the King's Birthday Holiday. All finishers will receive medals. International participants will receive a finishers "gho" or "kira" (the national dress for men and women). Bhutanese winners will receive cash prizes. For more details log on to www.BhutanMarathon.com.

• OHIO (USA) / Masters star Hosack passes away at 102
Masters track & field star Everett Hosack died July 29 in North Carolina, UsaTF has learned. He was 102 years old. Hosack was an iconic figure at Usa Track & Field masters meets since he joined the Over The Hill Track Club (Lake Erie Association) in 1980, setting scores of national and world age-group records even into his second century. The 2003 Usa Masters Indoor Championships were his final national championships, where at age 101 he competed in the weight throw, 60-meter dash and shot put. He competed regularly at the Usa Masters Outdoor Championships and Penn Relays, as well as local and regional competitions. Hosack also was a pop culture star, having appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno in 2003 and being part of Penn Relays telecasts. On the "Tonight Show", Hosack demonstrated the winning personality - as well as record-setting shot put form - that made him popular with fans and fellow competitors. Hosack was born and raised in Ohio. In the 1920s, he attended the University of Florida, where he competed in track & field for the first time. He returned to Cleveland before settling in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Source: www.splittimes.com

• ALGERIA / The Pan-Arab Games in Algiers
Between October 4th and 8th in Algiers were held the "Pan-Arab Games". The first day's men's 10,000 meters went to Khaled El Amri (Morocco) in 29:51.46, and women's 5000 meters to Souad Ait Salem in 16:02.14. On October 6th the women's 10,000 meters had Ait Salem doubling back to win in 33:27.58. The following day Khoudir Aggoun claimed the men's 5000 meters in 13:24.73, with Abderrahim El Goumri (Morocco) second in 13:25.53, and Hicham Belani (Morocco) third in 13:32.41. The final day's half marathon had Abdellatif Meftah (Morocco) winning the men's in 65:33, with Said Belhout second in 65:45 and El Mustapha Mohamed (Bahrain) third in 66:57. The women's race had Souad Ait Salem winning her third event in 76:32, with Fouzia Zoutat second in 77:23 and Nadia El Djoufaini (Bahrain) third in 78:08. 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.