Sacramento Running News

Some of us seem to be outrunning Father Time!

There are a few “age related” running stories for you today.

At Sunday’s Toronto Marathon (flat, fast and festive!), 100-year-old Fauja Singh became the first  centenarian to finish a marathon. His 8:25:16 wasn’t a particularly speedy time, but I think by the time you reach his age (You should be so lucky!), you’re a winner just by making it through your training! See a video of him finishing here.

Meanwhile, at that same race, while Fauja Singh was still working his way to the half-marathon mark, Ed Whitlock was wrapping up his marathon in 3:15:54. What makes this spectacular is that Whitlock is 80-years-old. You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that he won his age group. It was also a new world record. Of course, the record he broke was his own that he’d set six-months prior.

Incidentally, Whitlock was in Sacramento this summer for the World Masters Championships, where he set new age-division world records in the 1,500 and 10,000 meters. His times were 5:48 and 42:39, in case you are curious (Wow!).

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Hopefully, you didn’t put off registering for this year’s California International Marathon.

Race management is reporting that the event has filled to capacity.

However, as of last night, there were 300 special charity entries available for the low, low price of $250. Don’t expect these to be around very long!

Lloyd Levine

By Lloyd Levine, Special to the SRN

Ryan Hall seemingly draws more criticism than praise with each successive marathon he completes.

At the press conference after the 2011 Chicago Marathon, Phillip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune touched a nerve by saying to Ryan Hall, “Just being the best in the U.S. doesn’t mean much anymore.”  It seems that Hersh was feeling a bit let down by Hall’s performance in the race.

While Hersh’s question was uncalled for and unwarranted, I can understand why he, perhaps, felt let down.  Ryan Hall teases us with his results, talent and reports of his training exploits. Based on all of that people expect him to win, or at least contend for a win every time he runs.

Hall is the most talented U.S. born marathon runner in decades (and to a degree, being U.S. born matters in this discussion as the running community seems desperate for a U.S. born runner who can compete with the Africans).

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The leaders of the open men's race at around 1.6 miles. (Photo by Craig Newport)

In Folsom last Saturday, the hills were alive with the sound of running. The weather was ideal for a day outside, so why not a little cross country?

The 3rd Annual Buffalo Chips’ Willow Hills XC Open saw runners from all over northern California join local racers for this Pacific Association of the USA Track and Field Grand Prix event.

There were three 5K races making up the event: Women (for open and masters women), Masters Men, and Open Men.

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We are in the heart of the fall marathon season and there are many stories to choose from! Here is a sample from around the world.

Major

This past weekend was the Bank of America Chicago Marathon where Ryan Hall was due to a) win, b) set an American Record, and/or c) set a course record.

Unfortunately for Ryan Hall, there were some other fast guys out there on the course, too.  After hanging with the lead pack for 14 miles, Hall faded to 5^th (no small thing there!) and Kenyan Moses Mosop was the one to (barely) set a new course record of 2:05:37.

Liliya Shobukhova of Russia was the women’s three-peat champion, with a smoking fast 2:18:20. This is the 4^th fastest marathon time ever by a woman.

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In a recent “Things You Should Know” piece, I mentioned the squirrelly decision by the IAAF to only recognize records set by women in women only competitions.

This decision seems odd to me and more than a little 19th century.

So-far, I have yet to see any really good argument for the IAAF decision. All the ink I’ve seen (real or virtual) has been critical of the IAAF decision. Has anyone seen any writing in defense of the IAAF? I’d be interested to see it.

I recently stumbled on  a nice editorial the Chicago Tribune’s Philip Hersh wrote on the decision.  (Okay, scathing is probably a better word than nice, but I enjoyed it.)

In it, Hersh asks the all important questions:

Why not have a women’s marathon world record category for days with 39 percent humidity?

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I’ve noticed that when people “Like” a post here the graphic that Facebook pulls off the site to include with the link is completely random.

I’ve seen ad graphics, random buttons, and other odds and ends. I apologize for this and am working on a solution. Hopefully it will stop soon.

In the mean time, thanks for the “Likes!”

Folsom’s Kevin Pool, 28, ran a personal best at the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday  but his 2:19:34 finish time was a tantalizing few seconds shy of the sub-2:20 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time he was looking for.

It was good enough for a 12th place overall.

Auburn runner Brad Poore, 33, was also a top finisher, coming in 17th overall with a 2:22:05.

Rumor has it that local running empresario Michelle La Sala also ran a personal best at Twin Cities, in 3:06:31. La Sala is better known to many of you as the Race Director of the SacTown 10.

La Sala was the fastest Sacramentan listed in the results.

The overall race winners were Kenyan Sammy Malakwen in 2:13:11, and Ethiopian woman Yeshimebet Bifa with a 2:28:24.

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Austin Weaver with a comfortable lead before the levee road (SRN photo)

Around 5,000 runners converged on Land Park this morning for the 7th annual running of the Urban Cow Half Marathon and 5Km.

Sacramento’s Austin Weaver took advantage of the cooler weather to put the hurt on all comers, getting the win and a course record with a 1:07:47 finish.

Chad Worthen, also of Sacramento, was the next in at 1:14:37, followed by Carmichael’s Mason Myers in 1:15:24.

Myers was the top masters runner for the men.

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Jen Pfeifer on her way to the win at the Half Moon Bay Marathon (Photos by Cary Craig)

A couple months ago, I was running with Jen Pfeifer, who told me that they were putting a marathon together that would run through the neighborhood she grew up in.

It was to be the Half Moon Bay International Marathon, and she was really looking forward to running it.

This past Sunday, the race was on and Pfeifer ran it in grand style–winning the women’s race and finishing 6th overall in 3:05:57.

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