Sacramento Running News

Could this be a threat to your running career?

Many years ago, a co-worker of mine was seriously mauled during a run by two dogs. He survived, but suffered serious injuries and endured a couple weeks in the hospital and a long recovery.

After that experience, he recommended that his running friends always carry pepper spray, and insurance information. And for a long time, I did.

I never needed the insurance information, but I did use pepper spray a couple of times and I was glad to have it. I’ve been more slack lately, but after reading this story about a dog attack in Southern California, I might get more serious about being prepared again.

They were running on a dirt road that ran parallel to Lake Wohlford Road just south of the middle school when the dogs —- five of them, possibly pit bulls —- appeared. They dragged Richard to the ground and he started screaming, she said.

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It looks like the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is taking a closer look at masters athletes, having suspended nine already in 2011.

The Associated Press has a story on the USADA’s new focus on masters athletes. As a masters athlete myself, I am personally pleased to see this new scrutiny of my fellow competitors.

Obviously, there are other opinions. Some athletes feel that it doesn’t matter what masters athletes do because there isn’t any money in masters athletics.

All the same, if I’m out there busting my butt in the hunt for an age group placing, I’d like to assume the other guys I’m racing against are all playing from the same rule book.

Since I’m not above naming names, I took a peek at the USADA’s press releases for 2011 and extracted the following list of master track and field athletes who were sanctioned for some doping violation. (more…)

The website for Sacramento’s Mix96 (Soft Rock!) today includes a short post on 10 Tips for Staying Motivated to Exercise During the Holidays.

They say:

The average weight gain during the holiday season is 8 – 12 pounds.  Yikes!  That’s probably not the gift you want to give yourself this year.  If you’re getting to the point where you’d rather nap than exercise maybe these tips can help.

I especially like tip #2: “Sign up for a fun-run with your family. For a list of events check out SacramentoRunning.com.”

Great advice! Now, if we can just get all those race directors to update their websites for 2012!

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Your last chance for an OT qualifying time

Next weekend’s California International Marathon is pretty much the last chance for runners to earn an Olympic Trials Qualifying time.

Today’s Bee includes some pretty decent coverage of local marathoners gunning for this magic time at next weekend’s CIM.

Dec. 11 is the last day to qualify for the 2012 Trials – scheduled for Jan. 14 in Houston – which means those attempting to qualify at the CIM most likely will be taking their final shot. The men’s standard is 2:19; the women’s is 2:46.

Check out the article, it’s definitely worth the read. In the Sports Section, no less!

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Time to plan for 2012!

Dear Race Director,

I know it’s still 2011, but based on the traffic I’m getting to the Race Calendar on this site, people are already planning their races for next year.

If you can’t get around to a complete update of your website for the 2012 race, please put a note on the old page about the date. Or you can always send me an email.

Happy Holidays!

John

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Kevin Pool at the 2010 San Diego Half (Photo courtesy of Kevin Pool)

Local speedster Kevin Pool stormed Philadelphia this weekend and wound up taking 2nd overall in the Philadelphia Marathon–just 6-seconds behind Ethiopia’s Folisho Tuko.

Tuko’s winning time was 2:19:16.

The winning woman was Mariska Kramer, of the Netherlands, in 2:35:46.

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You wake up on Thanksgiving morning and realize it’s only a matter of hours before you’ll be forced to endure another retelling of your father-in-law’s story about that time in college when he and his drunken buddies carried the Volkswagen beetle into the physics lecture hall.

Or maybe you’re dreading your aunt Murtle’s terrible political opinions and her even worse lime jello salad, as well as your annoying vegan cousin and her endless muttering about “meat is murder.”

Perhaps you’re lucky, and looking forward to a house-full of wonderful people and great food, but would like a bit of exercise to start the day.

There are many reasons to join your  friends and neighbors for an organized run on Thanksgiving morning. Fortunately, in this region, there are so many Thanksgiving Day races you have no excuse not to run one.

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Looks like the American River College cross country team is wrapping up another good season!

They won the NorCal meet and are off to Fresno for tomorrow’s State Championship meet.

Read more about it in the Bee.

A bit of the Parkway Trail

It looks like there is some levee repair work going on along the South Side of the American River between Watt Ave and Larchmont Park.

The Army Corps of Engineers says the trail along the top of the levee will be closed until approximately November 30th.

This probably won’t affect traffic much along the Parkway, since the trail ends at Larchmont and there is very little through traffic anyway.  (Most Parkway users will be on the North side of the river.)

Be sure to plan accordingly!

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Most of us who like to train have been asked from time to time by our non-running friends or relatives, “Isn’t all that running hard on your body?”

We assure them that no, it’s great. We might even confess that if we weren’t able to run, we would likely find some less healthy way of shaking off the bad moods, anxiety, and general craziness.

The fact is, that while there is good science showing the benefits of high volumes of exercise in general, the data regarding the impacts of ultra-distance training is muddled.

You now have the opportunity to help inform the debate with your in-laws about the impact of all your running.

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