The Global Telegraph - November 2005

NOVEMBER 2005 - VOL. 5, N. 11 (N. 52)

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), Ecuador, Florida (Usa), France, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America.  

FEATURED WORLDWIDE RUNNING NEWS

• UNITED KINGDOM / A triumphant Jesper Olsen arrives in London
After running for a 661 consecutive days, covering 26,232 kilometers or about 15,800 miles (give or take a couple) and crossing four continents, a triumphant Jesper Olsen arrived in London, England on Sunday October 23 at 2:30 pm Greenwich, achieving what most deemed impossible and no body before him has done. Here is a letter from Jurgen Ankenbrand: Dear Jesper-Viking, the common clichés of "Good job!", "Well done!" and "Congratulations!" seem not to do you justice to tell you what we, the ultrarunning community feel at this moment. All of us who had the pleasure to meet you in person or followed your progress on the Internet have learned to love and admire you as a person and a runner. Few people, including ultrarunners, can remotely appreciate and know what you must have gone through while navigating your way around the globe. Having been the one person to run/crew you on your first and last day in the United States, I feel especially proud to have played a tiny part in your success. Sure, the running you have done is phenomenal. The physical demand on the body must be extreme indeed and only a runner like you who has started running at the early age of fifteen, could adapt his body for such an extreme feat. Yet I believe this was only the smaller part of your accomplishment. It is almost impossible to fathom what dedication and will power it must take to get out of bed knowing you have to run another 40 or so kilometers, regardless of how you feel or what the weather is like. And to do this for 661 days is indeed incredible my friend. We had many deep and involved conversations during the days I crewed you along the California coast, exchanged many e-mails and text messages and had a chance to talk some more on your last day in New York. Because of this I feel I know you fairly well as a human being and as a runner. Only because of that can I say that I have a minute understanding of what you must have gone through, what kept you going and what makes you tick. I know, you did the running, but all ultrarunners know that no large event ever will be possible without volunteers and sponsors. These are facts of life and I am sure nobody is more aware of this than you, now that you have reached your goal. Few of us can even remotely know what it must have taken to plan and prepare for this record-setting adventure run around the world. For that reason I am sure that you value all the sponsors (especially one in particular) and the many active volunteer runners that have accompanied you, plus the many generous souls that have provided you with lodging and other help along the way. I am sure that many thousands have followed you on the Internet via your great website at www.worldrun.org that had been created and so professionally maintain and updated by your brother in-law Kasper. This was your link to the world where you shared your daily activities and feelings with us who have followed your progress. Jesper, you have brought much joy and inspiration to all of us runners and none runners alike, and for that we will always be grateful to you. As a matter of fact, I am still so inspired and motivated by what you did, that on my last four mile beach run in Huntington Beach I have made a decision. On Thursday, January 19, I will turn 65 years young and will run 65 miles around a local park to celebrate my birthday, and life itself. I could not think of a better way to do this and invite any and all runners in the Orange County (Southern California) area to contact me at Ankenbrand@aol.com to possibly join me for a few miles of very slow running and or walking. Your friend - Jurgen, the Ultra Kraut

• JAPAN / Highlight of Kobe women's distance meet
The 2005 Kobe women's distance meet was held at the Universiade stadium, the venue of the 1985 World University Games in Kobe, on the rainy Saturday October 15. Although five sections of women's 5000m races were contested in the Kobe women's distance meet, the best runners in the meet contested the last two sections, races 4 and 5. The race 4 turned into a race of attrition soon after the start. After passing 1000m in 3:07, four runners led by Yukiko Akaba passed 2000m in 6:19. By 2400m the lead pack was reduced to two runners, and then by 3000m (9:27) Yukiko Akaba was running completely alone. Akaba, the 1999 World University Games half marathon silver medalist, continued to push the pace and passed 4000m in 12:35. Akaba won the race 4 by nearly 15 seconds with 15:44.28. The race 5, the final 5000m race of the meet started at 6:40 pm, and it immediately turned into a duel between two Kenyans both running for the Japanese corporate sponsored track teams. By 600m, Evelyn Wambui and Ongori Phyles broke away from the field. Earlier in the year, Wambui ran 15:16.69 for the 5000m while Phyles covered the same distance in 15:09.49. They ran together for the next 1800m, passing the 1000m in 3:03 and 2000m in 6:06. Then at 2400m, Wambui surged and covered the next 400m in 70 seconds. Wambui shook off Phyles and soon she was all alone. Wambui passed 3000m in 9:06 and 4000m in 12:07 and went on to win by nearly 20 seconds in 15:06.74. Finally the main event of the meet, 10000m was started at 7:05 pm with 12 runners. However, the main protagonists of the race were expected to be Kayoko Fukushi and the Kenyans living in Japan. By 1000m (3:07) Fukushi, Japanese national record holder at both 3000m and 5000m, led from Evelyn Kimwei who runs for Sunix team based in Fukuoka. Fukushi ran 31:03.75 for the 10000m while Kimwei ran 15:14.15 for the 5000m earlier in the year. Fukushi and Kimwei ran together, passing 2000m in 6:16, 3000m in 9:26 and 4000m in 12:37. Around 4400m, Kimwei surged and covered the next 400m in 73 seconds. She thus broke away from Fukushi. Kimwei passed 5000m in 15:44. With each lap Kimwei increased her lead over Fukushi. By 6000m (18:53), Kimwei was 8 seconds ahead of Fukushi. The gap increased to 12 seconds by 7000m (22:05) and then to 19 seconds by 8000m (25:18). Kimwei won the race by more than 20 seconds in 31:42.51, while Fukushi finished second in 32:05.60. Source: www.arrs.net

• FRANCE / St. Denis Half Marathon results
On October 2 the "St. Denis Half Marathon" was won by Denis Ndiso (Kenya) in 61:59, with Joseph Maregu (Kenya) second in 62:00, Fekadu Degefu (Ethiopia) third in 62:14 and John Kanda (Kenya) fourth in 62:38. Josca Obare (Kenya) topped the women's list in 72:20. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• ARIZONA (USA) / Winter training in warm-weather Arizona
Do you want to get a jump on the season with a boost to your fitness or looking to get out of the snow for some warm-weather training? Team Biovail will be holding three training camps in January, February and March of 2006 in Arizona. Camps that have ran in the past have been focused primarily on cycling but with the increasing popularity of triathlon, Team Biovail has decided to offer a triathlon-specific camp. If you are planning an early season "Ironman" or simply want to get your triathlon season off to a great start, the January training camp is the one for you. The first camp will start January 15 through to the 21st. The second week is February 12-18 and the last one is March 12-18. During the camp you will learn how to train effectively, prevent injury, and gain an understanding of what you need to do to meet your triathlon goals. Information on nutrition will be provided by Team Biovail's resident expert, triathlete/cyclist and doctor. Source: www.transitiontimes.com

• FLORIDA (USA) / Registration opens for Disney's Minnie Marathon weekend
Registration is open for Disney Sports Attractions' newest event: the "Disney's Minnie Marathon weekend". The first-ever "Disney Minnie Marathon Weekend" will take place May 5-7, 2006 at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando as an effort to promote women's wellness and a lifestyle that includes physical activity, health, fitness and a positive self-image. The weekend will include three separate races of varying lengths and an expo featuring educational opportunities and products specifically for women. The three races, a 1 mile run and walk, 5k run and 15k run, are offered to allow women of all abilities to participate in the weekend. The 1 mile and 5k will take place on Saturday, May 6 with the "Women Run the World 15k" occurring on Sunday, May 7. With the debut of the event, a new medal designed in the shape of Minnie Mouse will be awarded to those who complete the long run. The weekend will benefit the American Heart Association, and while the weekend is designed for women, men are welcome to participate on behalf of the women in their lives. Athletes can register online by visiting www.disneyworldsports.com.

• USA / Individual & Team Grants and Community grants
Balance Bar is committed to helping people enjoy a healthy active lifestyle. Whether you are an individual, member of a team or part of a community organization, Balance Bar wants to help you lead a healthier, more active life while pursuing your goal. The Balance Bar Individual/Team Grants provide financial support to enthusiasts and amateur athletes who passionately pursue activities that enrich their lives. Individuals and teams can apply for a grant amount ranging from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $10,000 U.S. dollars. The application deadline for the Individual/Team Grants is March 15, 2006. Balance Bar Community Grants provide financial support to enable communities and organizations to passionately pursue physical activities that enrich their lives. The grant must be dedicated to a project that will provide organization members, as well as community residents, with opportunities to lead healthy, active lifestyles. 501(c) organizations can apply for a grant amount ranging from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000 U.S. dollarsi. The application deadline for the Community Grants is August 30, 2006. You can find all of the details at www.balance.com/grants/.

• ECUADOR / Guayaquil Marathon results
On October 2nd the "Guayaquil Marathon" was won by Juan Carlos Cardona in 2:20:05, with Silvio Guerra second in 2:20:57 and Hugo Jiménez third in 2:21:48. Sandra Ruales earned the women's title in 2:41:40, with Iglandini González second in 2:52:37. Reprinted with permission from "Running Stats" (www.runningstats.com)

• FREE WEEKLY PODCAST FOR RUNNERS ONLINE
"Phedippidations" a new thirty minute weekly Internet radio show is now available for downloading to computers, iPods or other mp3 audio players. "Phedippidations is all about running" said show host Steve Runner, a self described "middle aged, middle of the pack average distance runner" who has completed ten marathons, including the "Boston Marathon" which he has run four times. "Phedippidations" is a podcast of thoughts, opinions, observations and rambling diatribes composed during distance long runs. "I record much of the program on the road while I'm running", said Steve. Each episode is dedicated to a specific theme covering topics such as: training, injury, gadgets, nutrition, and race strategies. Recent programs have discussed: running shoe evolution, dodging traffic while running, the importance of rest, and coverage of the 2005 "Falmouth Road Race". Future shows will include audio tours of the marathons and road races that Steve will be running, as well as biographical tributes to running legends such as Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter. Produced weekly and made available for weekend long runs, "Phedippidations" can be downloaded for free at SteveRunner.com and subscribed to via iTunes (www.apple.com/itunes), iPodder (http://ipodder.org) or any of the other free podcast subscription programs available on the Internet by using the RSS link http://feeds.feedburner.com/Phedippidations. "Phedippidations" can be found in iTunes under the Health and Fitness podcast category. A promotional announcement for the show can be heard at www.steverunner.com/PodCasts/Phedippidations_Promo.mp3. Podcasting is a method of publishing audio programs via the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed of new files (usually mp3s). Most podcatching software enables the user to copy podcasts to portable music players. Any digital audio player or computer with audio-playing software can play podcasts.