Running_Times_2013-10-11.pdf

Wear-Test Report For the Newton-curious, the Energy NR is less expensive and more conventional than other Newton offerings. It also makes for an easier stride adaptation, courtesy of lower-profile lugs. Our testers appreciated the Energys arch support and balanced feel. They typically used it to supplement their runs in everyday trainers by working the Energy NR into their shoe rotation, providing encouragement to run more toward the forefoot. As in other types of Newtons, landing on the midfoot to forefoot rewards you with a bouncy feel and energy return. Testers who landed on the heel reported that cushioning was notably soft. Some mentioned upper fit issues, and those familiar with Newtons should be aware that the fit differs from the standard feel.

Wear-Test Report Solid cushion is how one tester described the E:Motion N1s crowd-pleasing midsole that gives a firm, responsive feel underfoot while providing plenty of buffer from the road. The lightweight neutral racer/trainer shows that Pearl Izumi has gotten serious about building faster performance shoes, and the N1 had our test team abuzz with gen-erous compliments. Extremely comfortable, one tester said. Another commented, I love how light it is, and a third said, Great weight, cushioning, and good look. A final tester added, Enough padding to make this shoe good for training and [encouraging] quick turnover. The team recommended the N1 for its seamless upper, foot-hugging fit and versatile performance. The only real gripe was that the outsole wore down quickly.

FLEXIBILITY:

HEEL CUSHIONING:

FOREFOOT CUSHIONING:

FLEXIBILITY:

HEEL CUSHIONING:


Performance Profile Performance Profile

SIMILAR MODELS IN PERFORMANCE: ASICS GEL-Speedstar 5, Brooks Green Silence 2, Under Armour Spine RPM

SIMILAR MODELS IN PERFORMANCE: K-Swiss Blade Foot Run, Pearl Izumi EM Road N2, Newton Distance Neutral

LOW LOW

LOW LOW

LOW LOW

HIGH H IGH

H IGH H IGH

H IGH H IGH91 13

49 23

62 26

SIMILAR MODELS IN FIT: Saucony ProGrid Peregrine 2, Under Armour Micro G Split, Nike Zoom Vomero+ 4

SIMILAR MODELS IN FIT: Mizuno Wave Rider 13, New Balance MR840, Mizuno Wave Nexus 4

MENS MEN SWOMEN S WOMEN S

T IGHTER LOOSER T IGHTER LOOSER

Fit Profile Fit Profile

HEEL HEIGHT 32.4 mm FOREFOOT HEIGHT 25.4 mm = HEEL-TOE DROP 7.0 mm HEEL HEIGHT 25.4 mm FOREFOOT HEIGHT 20.4 mm = HEEL-TOE DROP 5.0 mm

Newton $119 Pearl Izumi $115 Energy NR EM Road N1

Weight / M 8.8 oz / W 6.9 oz Weight / M 8.1 oz / W 6.7 oz

Phot

os:

Tyle

r Be

ckw

ith

(2)

60 / RUNNINGTIMES_OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna January 8 12, 2014

Experience a weekend of running like nowhere else with the magic of Disney at every mile. Race through all four Theme Parks in the unforgettable Walt Disney World Marathon. Be one of the first to enjoy the all-new Walt Disney World 10K and Dopey Challenge. Or catch the fun and excitement of the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, Goofys Race and a Half Challenge, Disney Family Fun Run 5K or the kids races.

Registration fills quickly. Visit runDisney.com.

Theres only one race like it in the world. And its in our World.

Disney S&R-13-24665

Wear-Test Report Combining the lightweight performance of a racing flat with the cushioning of an everyday trainer, the Faas 500 S is an interesting mashup that pleased most tes-ters. With its smooth heel-to-toe transition, the neutral ride of the 500 S felt right for higher-turnover running, especially when bare-bones, pure racing flats wouldnt suf-fice. Testers reported the midsole felt stiffer than other Faas models, and some felt the cushioning was too squishy to provide necessary proprioception. One tester had issues with the tongue sliding to the side, yet the comfort and efficiency of the Faas 500 S were enough to win over most testers.

Wear-Test Report Although the drop is only 6 mm, the Cortana 3s prominent medial post and pillow-like cushioning push this high-mileage trainer squarely outside of the minimalist category. The redesigned third version of the Cortana felt wider in the toe box, without forfeiting snugness and upper security, and felt sturdier than its prior versions. It was too much shoe for the neutral and more fleet of our testers, but those who wanted some bouncy plushness and impact absorption, particularly in the forefoot, enjoyed the Cortanas lightweight package. The Cortana is a good option for those wanting more stability than the Kinvara while still reducing their heel-toe drop.

FLEXIBILITY:

HEEL CUSHIONING:


FLEXIBILITY:

HEEL CUSHIONING:



SIMILAR MODELS IN PERFORMANCE: ASICS GEL-Lyte 33 2, Nike Flyknit Lunar1+, Scott eRide AF Trainer SIMILAR MODELS IN PERFORMANCE: ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 18, Saucony Kinvara 4, New Balance 890v3

LOW LOW

LOW LOW

LOW LOW

HIGH H IGH

H IGH H IGH

H IGH H IGH61 61

79 62

89 85

SIMILAR MODELS IN FIT: Mizuno Wave Elixir 5, New Balance MW928, adidas adiStar Salvation 3 SIMILAR MODELS IN FIT: Brooks Addiction 8, adidas ClimaCool Xtreme, Puma Complete Itana





Puma $80 Saucony $150 Faas 500 S Cortana 3


Phot

os:

Tyle

r Be

ckw

ith

(2)


ingnycmarathon.org #ingnycm

26.2 MILESMAKE IT A RACE.YOU MAKE IT THE MARATHON.

Clear Channel Media + Entertainment, Coors Light, Dove Men+Care, Dunkin Donuts, Gatorade Endurance, Grana Padano, Hospital for Special Surgery, NY Apple Association, Philips, Poland Spring, PowerBar, Runners World, Snyders of Hanover, Sports Illustrated, Tiffany & Co., Unilever, UPS

Wear-Test Report Kinvara fans normally groan when Saucony changes its shoe, and while our test team joined that chorus on the switch from 2 to 3, they felt the 4 moved in a positive direc-tion. The retooling of the upper made the shoe fit better, with a secure heel and roomy toe box, and the midsole felt slightly more responsive. The Kinvaras neutral, flexible, light and resilient ride makes it race worthy, especially for those who want some cush-ioning over the distance of a full or half marathon. It does especially well for forefoot strikers, although its a bit squishy underfoot for those wanting more road feel. Note also that Saucony places its durable rubber outsole material on the medial side, leav-ing the lateral exposed to wear for supinators.

Wear-Test Report Skechers made a racing version of their GOrun for Meb Keflezighi, and now anyone can enjoy these quick kicks. The responsiveness of this race machine got our testers attention. Although the upper fit was a little off for some of the test team, the firm yet resilient and protective midsole got rave reviews. Testers reported that it felt faster than you might expect from the relatively thick midsole, and some said that the shoes promoted good form for those who land toward the middle or front of their feet. If the fit is right, the GOrun Meb Speed makes a superb marathon racer, although neutral and efficient runners will want to train in it, too.

FLEXIBILITY:

HEEL CUSHIONING:


FLEXIBILITY:

HEEL CUSHIONING:



SIMILAR MODELS IN PERFORMANCE: Saucony Mirage 3, K-Swiss Blade-Light Run II, ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 18

SIMILAR MODELS IN PERFORMANCE: adidas adiZero Rocket, Under Armour Charge RC 2, Nike Free 3.0 v4

LOW LOW

LOW LOW

LOW LOW

HIGH H IGH

H IGH H IGH

H IGH H IGH50 23

78 75

82 37

SIMILAR MODELS IN FIT: adidas Supernova Glide 2, Mizuno Wave Rider 16, ASICS Patriot 4 SIMILAR MODELS IN FIT: Merrell Mix Master Tuff, Reebok Realflex Speed, adidas adiStar Salvation 3





Saucony $100 Skechers $110 Kinvara 4 GOrun Meb Speed


Phot

os:

Tyle

r Be

ckw

ith

(2)


REACH YOUR RUNNING GOALS!

T

Take the first step and subscribe today! Running Times is the go-to source for advanced training and racing advice written by and for serious runners like you to keep you in the know and on the go with the latest:

Training Advice

Racing Strategies

Proven Workouts

Elite News and Insights

Performance Shoe Guides

Subscribe today at: RUNNINGTIMES.COM/2SUBSCRIBE 202267

60

1

BY MATT MCCUE

pringtime in Alaska means snow. On a weekday morn-ing late last March, the flurries werent limited to a

light dusting, but rather 15 heavy inches that coated the ground in thick white frosting and made driving a slip-pery mess. The puffy, low-hanging clouds reflected their shades of gray onto Anchorages Knik Arm bay and turned the frozen blue water the color of ink. Howling subarctic winds gusted with such force they pierced a down jacket. Though vast sightlines extended for miles in every direc-tion, the storm blocked any views of the horizon. Even Mt. Susitna, the striking series of ridges and glaciers rising from an island west of the city, had disappeared in the fog.

I had trekked to Anchorage to visit the students on the Grace Christian cross country team, a program that has dominated the state for a decade. The girls have won nine of the last 13 state championships, including the past five in a row. The boys have taken first at state every year since 2006. Each team is currently on the cusp of Alaska

cross country history. If either squad wins the title this fall, Grace Christian will set a new record for the most consecutive state victories.

What does this team, living on the edge of the west-ern frontier, have to teach about the core value of cross country? Toughness? Is their environment a horrible place to run, or is it ideal? The harsh conditions can disrupt practices and meets, make footing treacherous, require constrictive insulating layers and generally make run-ning long distances a brutal grind. But if success in cross country is determined by toughness, could this grueling place be perfect?

No one on the Grace Christian track team was griping about a little springtime snow. On my first day in town, the schools rickety bus lurched out of the 6-inch snow-pack that cemented it in the parking spot and bumped down the road to the Hilltop Ski Area for the teams after-noon workout. While downhill skiers rode the chairlifts to Clo

ckw

ise

From

Bot

tom

Lef

t:

Robe

rt A

rnol

d (2

) Ke

vin

Lane

Pho

togr

aphy

(2)

RUNNINGTIMES / 67

the summit, we headed to the adjacent Nordic ski park where 27 miles of trails weave in and out of the evergreen forest. The undulating terrain was freshly groomed, perfect for slid-ing across on waxed skis but less than ideal for running. The majority of the Grizzly team wore ice grips on their running shoes to give them extra traction for what was supposed to be a breezy 5-mile run. Other than the shoe grips, each member looked severely underdressed in sheer tights and thin wind-breakers, ankle socks and headbands. I felt compelled to echo my dad and ask these teenagers if they should put on a second layer of long underwear.

Maybe, though, I should have let them instruct me. I quickly began to learn what the team calls the Alaska Factor. There is an asterisk applied to every race time, every run, account-ing for the elements. On this day the slippery, uneven footing felt like running in quicksand. Each choppy step amplified my heart rate, and I began panting 5 minutes into the run. As we jumped onto a winding singletrack trail, I had to concentrate to avoid the low-hanging branches hidden under snow. Half-way through the run, the clouds parted to allow the sun to peek through, though it did little to relieve the deep freeze. It was then, as I began to feel sorry for myself, that I learned this was Grace Christians second run of the day. The first had been done in subzero darkness. And still no complaining.

They didnt even consider this unusual. The average monthly temperature in Anchorage is 36 degrees, and snow generally falls from September to May. The relentless blizzard continued through April this year, forcing some outdoor meets to be run indoors. It even snowed at the state meet in mid-May.

The Grizzlies baseline for what constitutes a difficult train-ing day is defined best by one key session they did before the state cross country meet last September. During the workout at nearby Storck Homestead Park, they fought off a howling 55 mph wind, heavy sleet, and icy, foot-soaking puddles to finish their staple 1,000m repeats. An Anchorage Daily Newsphotographer on his way home from work stopped to take pictures of the team in motion. One image showed a pack of wiry boys fighting off a powerful blast that blew them side-ways and forced them to finish the interval at an angle rather than straight on.

Head coach Nate Davis, in his dry, understated fashion, told the reporter the workout would serve as a good memory for the kids. Its one they wont soon forget. The times were way off, but it was about building character, says upperclassman Luke McLaughlin. His teammate, Daniel Serventi, who placed third at state last year in 17:19, agreed. It was helpful to have a ridiculous practice the week before state, he says. When it snowed at the state meet, we knew that we could race well no matter what the conditions.

And they did handle it: The boys team gutted out a late-race surge to eke past rival Seward High School by 12 points, and the girls scored 20 points to trounce the runner-up, Homer, by 57, keeping their streaks alive.

On my second day in Anchorage, I met with Davis at the com-pact two-story school building that houses grades K12 and sits in a residential neighborhood at the southern end of Anchor-age. Despite not having a track, roughly 25 percent of the 207 students who attend the private, faith-based school compete on the cross country team.

Davis, who has coached six different sports at Grace Christian, has led the motivated herd for the past four years. He is a power-fully built man with a strong chin and a deep, commanding voice. Davis guided the boys basketball team to back-to-back state titles in 2000 and 2001 and then gave up hoops to spend more time with his wife and four children. He took over the cross country team in 2009 after the former coach, Chris Gionet, began the current streaks with three straight boys titles and one girls championship.

Coach Davis leadership style is rooted in his run for joy philosophy. The mantra comes from a Bible verse: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Its a glass-half-full way of looking at the pain and pressure of long-distance running. The joy, Davis explains, is about the trials and the process, but not necessarily about victory. Kids who really, really want to win lose that joy, and then they cant reach their potential because they are so concerned about winning, he says.

He faces a coaching challenge unique to Alaska. The two-month cross country season begins in August and culminates in late September. While summer running is important in every state, its truly essential in Alaska, he says. The first challenge is trying to get my athletes to their potential in eight weeks and the second is to get them there healthy.

Davis modifies Jack Daniels program to fit the short time frame. On Mondays the team usually do 25 x 200m on trails with a 30-second rest between surges. Every Tuesday and Thursday they go for 6070 minutes at conversational pace. Wednesdays are anchored by 1K repeats at 5K race pace across tall grass. Each interval is followed by a 2-minute jog; the upperclassmen tackle seven reps, and the underclassmen get in five. The rest of the 50-mile week usually includes a pre-race shakeout on Friday, race on Saturday and day off on Sunday. Hills are never a workout focus because Alaskas rolling landscape provides that stimulus on practically every run.

The three areas we focus on are team, talent and toughness, Davis says. That third piece, one that most coaches dont rec-ognize, is spiritual, mental and physical toughness. I believe the more difficulties that you can intentionally put your run-ners throughthat dont break themthe better they will be for it. The Alaska Factor puts as much stress on an athletes brain as it does his legs and lungs.

Alaska has long held a romantic place in the American psyche. Mans battle against the states rugged, untamed wilderness lies at the center of that fascination, dating back at least to 1903, when Jack London published The Call of the Wild. The book fol-lows Buck, a domesticated ranch hound who is kidnapped and shipped to Alaska to work as a sled dog in the Yukon Territory. Buck must adapt to the ethos of the wild to become the leader of the pack. As Bucks primordial instincts take over and he transforms into his primitive self, London describes him as Ph

oto:

Ke

vin

Lane

Pho

togr

aphy


a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, sur-viving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survive.

Cross country is a way to answer that call of the wild today. When an aspiring champion finds himself on an isolated stretch of the course, trying to break the will of his competitor, he does not think of sunny training days or picturesque runs on the beach. He remembers the worst possible conditions he practiced in and how he suffered and survived that hostile environment, which made him strong. Davis isnt unique in believing in building toughness in runners, he just has a harsher environment than most to use as a tool toward that endthe original, untamed wild of literary lore.

At 6 a.m. the following day, members of the Grizzly track team walk into the Dome, Anchorages new indoor sports facility that includes a 409m track, and begin to peel off their sweats. Today theyre working out indoors, as they do on Tuesdays and Thurs-days throughout the winter and early spring. Without a coachs prompt, the 35 boys and girls ease into their 1-mile warm-up around the outside lanes. Another 15 athletes from a local pub-lic school are also practicing this morning, so the oval quickly turns into a human version of pinball. The Grizzly runners break into small packs for a 20-minute threshold run followed by six 200m sprints. Its a minor miracle that the 50 athletes, in var-ious stages of aerobic debt and recovery, somehow manage to avoid any season-ending collisions.

Running in the climate-controlled space might not fulfill the stereotypical image of a Stotan, but the team knows its the more prudent training choice for intervals than the city streets. Dur-ing the winter, I always tell my athletes to go where they can get in the best speed work, says Jason Karp, author of the coaching manual 101 Developmental Concepts & Workouts for Cross Country Runners. Going inside will make them fitter, and going outside

will make the workout suffer. The success formula isnt all about misery; they also work speed and specific fitness.

Every Grizzly cross country athlete is not in attendance this morning for track practice, but that doesnt mean anyone is playing hooky. Davis, who doesnt coach track but has still shown up for the workout, encourages his athletes to participate in a range of sports throughout the year, whether thats Nor-dic skiing in the winter or soccer instead of track in the spring.

Doing other sports stresses different muscles while continuing to build our endurance, says John Thomas, the fourth runner on the team, who is also a member of the soccer team.

Its not uncommon for some athletes to view cross country as their second-best sport behind Nordic skiing. A handful of those sprinting intervals in the Dome, however, aspire to run in college, and several have successfully made the jump.

Anna Trujillo finished eighth at state cross country in 2012 and is now running at Carleton College in Minnesota. Coach Davis helped me make a running rsum, and at the bottom he put an asterisk for the Alaska Factor, Trujillo says. It talked about how we had hilly courses, severe weather and a short season.

The team considers a 16:40 5K for a boy and a 20-minute 5K for a girl all-state-caliber times, considerably slower than top times in the lower 48, which dip into the low 15-minute and Fro

m L

eft:

M

arc

Lest

er/M

CT/L

ando

v (2

)

17-minute ranges. Alum Jacob Kirk won the 2008 cross country state championships in 15:43, but even his time is slow relative to his track marks of 4:22 for the mile and 9:16 for the 2-mile, both school records, which he set the following spring. Kirk now competes for Montana State in Bozeman and earned 2012 Big Sky all-conference honors in cross.

We thought that Jacob and the many others [from Alaska] who have found their way to Montana have not done specific running training year-round, but most of these kids Nordic ski in the winter months and therefore are doing some aerobic train-ing, says Kirks coach, Dale Kennedy. The athletes are often fitter than they appear and, given their seasonal breaks from running, ripe with potential. We factor in the short season and the harsh climate as an upside, says Kennedy.

Ashley Mortensen competed for the Grace Christian team from 1998 to 2002 and famously finished second individually at state cross country four years in a row. Her senior year she wanted to see how she stacked up at Foot Locker but had dif-ficulty peaking twice in two months. This was BTD, or Before the Dome, and she ran her mile repeats up and down flights of stairs at school. Youre just trying not to break your teeth, she says. Mortensen never placed high at the Foot Locker West Regional, but she still went on to compete at Division II Malone College in Ohio. My first cross country meet in college was on a golf course at Penn State, recalls Mortensen, who was used to rutted trails. I thought it was hysterical that they called it cross countrythe course was on a manicured fairway. Illus-trating the Alaska Factor, Mortensen improved from a 19:59 5K that placed her second at the 2001 Alaska state cross country meet to a 18:39 PR on the track in college.

This season, the Grace Christian boys return their top five runners and the girls five of their varsity seven from 2012. Both are perfectly positioned to make state history, with one excep-tion. They will be competing without Coach Davis. After 17 years

at Grace Christian, he has taken the principals job at the pub-lic high school in Port Alsworth, a 160-person community on a lake where his family has a summer cabin. In his absence, Tara Edwards, the cross country assistant coach for the past 10 years, will take over. Im very excited and a little nervous, she says.

I do feel pressure, but not from parents or colleaguesjust internal pressure to continue an excellent program.

Can Grace Christian make state history with its third coach in eight years? Yes, because the nucleus of the team is not anchored by any one individual but by its culture. Coach Davis has managed to turn Alaskas inclement weather into a posi-tive and convince his athletes that September snowstorms and gale force winds are the best things that could happen to them. In turn, the team has developed a collective belief that what-ever race day throws at them wont be any more difficult than what theyve already experienced in practice.

As I prepared to leave Anchorage, I ventured out for a last run on a morning when the forecast said the temperature feels like minus 6, and the wind violently whipped the hotel flags around. A curtain remained down on the skyline, blocking all views and reducing even the sun to a tiny orange glow no brighter than a nightlight struggling to break through the darkness.

I considered what Id learned. Alaska might not be the most comfortable place to train, but that difficulty feeds the blue-collar mentality of the long-distance runner and builds the ironclad resolve necessary to excel in cross country. As in many other elements of life, the runners perspective turns the con-ventional wisdom of perfect conditions on its head.

I turned back toward the Sheraton into a surge of frosty air that bit my cheeks, but I no longer felt the chill. Nothing about this morningthe hour, temperature or distancewas as bad as I had imagined. Back at the hotel I added on an extra min-ute. Run for joy. Depending on how one defines perfect, this just might be.

RUNNINGTIMES / 71

RACE WITH THE EDITORS!SEMINARS RUNNING MOVIES PRE-RACE DINNER INSPIRING SPEAKERS KIDS RACES

HALF-MARATHON 10-K 5-K

BETHLEHEM, PAOCTOBER 18-20, 2013

RUNNERS CELEBRATE AT THE RUNNERS WORLD HALF FINISH LINE NEAR THE HISTORIC BETHLEHEM STEELSTACKS.

REGISTER NOW AT RWHALF.COM

HURRY, BEFORE THE RACE SELLS OUT!

Phot

o:

Mic

hael

Sco

tt

Let it be known that the fiercest competition in U.S. cross country isnt necessarily reserved for the 21-and-under crowd. For a significant number of more seasoned athletes, the fall doesnt neces-sarily default to marathon training. Instead, the spikes come out when the leaves start changing, all

in preparation for the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in December.

The numbers of adults competing in cross country have grown, says Bill Quinlisk, USATF masters long-distance running vice chairman, cross country representative and championships coordinator. Theres more prize money, theres better competition, and club cross has grown into a big production that people look forward to every year.

In 2001 only 83 men and 24 women took part in masters national club cross. A decade later, the masters champion-ship races fielded 356 men and 152 women. Quinlisk says the

entire open and masters prize purse in 2005 was $20,000. Now adults vie for a piece of a $40,000 pie.

Whats the allure? For those who embrace the dirt, grass and mud, racing cross country brings them back to their roots. Many started long running careers by joining the high school cross country team, progressed to collegiate com-petition, graduated and experienced a void. Gone were the team support, the racing schedule and the outlet for rivalry.

Tania Fischer, a 47-year-old from Santa Monica, Calif., founded The Janes Elite Racing Team two years ago to try to recapture what she enjoyed as a UCLA cross country and track scholarship athlete in the mid-1980s. The Janes club won the 2004 and 2005 open club cross country titles and over the years have sent highly competitive teams of varying ages. The Janes took second in the 2012 meet in the 40-plus age division,

Team EffortAdult cross country competition takes runners back to their youth. BY ERIN STROUT

Cross country isnt just a kids

sport. The masters men compete at

Februarys USA cross championships.

Theres more prize money, theres better competition, and club cross has grown into a big production that people look forward to every year. BILL QUINLISK

RUNNINGTIMES / 73

RACING

where the top five runners are scored. (In age groups begin-ning at 60-plus, the top three runners on each team score.)

I think the draw is the camaraderie, the uniforms, the bonding, Fischer says. We train together with the same goal and the focus on these events. Theres extra incentive to stay healthy when you have teammates who rely on you.

THE RAMP-UPThose aiming for the club cross championships, which will be held in Bend, Ore., this December, can find plenty of tuneup races along the way. The Janes, for example, compete in the

Southern California Association USATF Cross Country Grand Prix, a series of six races throughout the fall, culminating in a championship race in November.

Fischer, who coaches the elite team as well as the Santa Monica High School boys and girls cross country teams, took the Southern California womens masters title in 2011.

Im not a big racer, because most Saturdays Im getting on a school bus with the high school team, Fischer says. But during the fall, we are really focused on cross country as opposed to a lot of road races.

Other areas of the country may not offer a ready-made

It shows how very competitive cross country can be for everybody I mean, how cool is it to compete for a national title at 70 years old?

MALCOLM CAMPBELL

Masters men is

always a hot race at

USA championships.

RACING

Valley to the Sea5th Annual

HALF MARATHON & 5/10K

March 22, 2014 . 7am . Maui, Hawaii

Running in paradise has never been so much fun!For more information: ValleyToTheSeaHalfMarathon.com . (808) 280-5801

Phot

os:

Mic

hael

Sco

tt (2

)

ramp-up to the big show, but it doesnt stop the cross coun-try faithful from seeking opportunities to break in the spikes during the season by jumping into college meets. Eric Stabb, a 45-year-old from Athens, Ga., also competed in college, but before connecting with the Atlanta Track Club (ATC) he found it difficult to stay motivated on the road-running scene. As a member of the teams 2009 club cross championship team, he now tackles the fall season with a little more zeal, seeking out a few local NCAA Division III events to test out his fitness during training. In some areas, high schools allow adults to race in a meet after the kids are finished, too.

My year revolves around the club nationals meet, Stabb says. I try to get in about two meets before that. The Uni-versity of Georgia always has a home meet on Labor Day weekend, which they allow us to run in, for example.

MAKING THE TEAMFor some clubs, the championships have become so popular that they now field A, B and C teams to accommodate the interest. Stabb says at the ATC, each 10-year age division block has a captain and organizes its own squads.

When I got into it a couple of years ago, the guys were actively recruiting people specifically for nationals, he says.

Now we have more teams. Theres not another masters event that comes close to the depth of competition at club nation-alsbeing in the top 50 there really means something.

Stabbs teammate Malcolm Campbell, 42, who is the 2011 and 2012 national masters cross country champion, remem-bers last year during his cool-down he ran into the ATCs

Samantha Hamilton (599), Ann Detmer (515) and Sarah Boyle (594), compete in an open race at the 2012 club cross championships.

runottawa.com

THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF CANADAS LARGEST

MARATHON

MAY 25, 2014 OTTAWA, CANADA

Mar

atho

n //

1/2

Mar

atho

n //

10K

//

HTG

Spor

ts 5

K //

2K

// Y

Kid

s M

arat

hon

Phot

o:

Cour

tesy

of T

ham

es H

are

and

Houn

ds

70-plus mens team. They quickly reported they had taken first, second and fifth in their age group.

Their excitement was incredible, and it shows how very competitive cross country can be for everybodyI mean, how cool is it to compete for a national title at 70 years old? Campbell says. It gives me hope that Ill be doing the same thing in 30 years.

Personal bests and titles on the roads and in the mar-athon might be a thing of the past for this demographic, but cross country offers a more even playing field, where times on the varying terrain dont mean as much as places and runners compete head-to-head with their peersnot to mention the cash awards for age-graded performances. For Campbell, who also typically trains for a fall marathon, the cross country season offers more space to set new goals. As the ATC team became a powerhouse, he began focusing more on his aspirations of winning the individ-ual title as well.

Im going for three in a row this year, he says. The stakes are a little higher, but Im really going after it.

CROSS-TRAININGThe training season for Campbell last year was actually geared toward the Twin Cities Marathon in October, where he ran a 2:22:14. The preparation for the 26.2-mile road race was his way of building strength. When it was over, he took two weeks of recovery, then went straight into a sharpening phase that took him all the way to the February USA Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colo.

Campbells key workout for cross country includes a 2-mile speed session, which he usually does in the afternoon, fol-lowing a morning 10-mile run. He targets 5 minutes flat for the first mile, then tries to run faster in the second mile. He usually does it on a trail that offers turns and some hills. The combination of the terrain and the need to pick up the pace closely simulates what hell encounter in cross coun-try competition.

The last mile is a grinderI do it as fast as I can, and it is not comfortable, he says. In cross country, though, you really need the finishing speed.

Fischer tries to fit in two harder workouts per week between September and Decembera speed session on Tuesdays and a longer run on the weekend. For speed, she mixes a 3-mile tempo at 6:25 pace with intervals like 6 x half-mile on/half-mile off at 3:00 pace. Longer runs of 8 or 9 miles include a route that takes the team up a 3-mile hill.

We dont really touch the track during training, Fischer says. We hit the grass, trails and dirt for our workouts.

And when December finally hits, Fischer and many other club teams keep fingers crossed that the hard work hasnt just prepared everybody for the big race, but has also kept everybody injury-freea concern that becomes more crit-ical as the years pass by.

We really look forward to a girls weekend together while were competing at a high level, Fischer says. Its hard to get three masters to be fit and healthy on the same day, but to compete on a national level at this age, with work and family, you need a team to bring you strength and camaraderie. Ph

oto:

M

icha

el S

cott

RACING

XC Through the AgesA sampling of cross country races open to all.

Northampton 5K XC Race SeriesCommunity Gardens, Northampton, Mass.April 2Sept. 2426-race series; events held every Tuesday eveningwww.sugarloafmac.org

Pacific Association USATF XC Grand PrixCaliforniaAug. 17Nov. 2412-event series with six divisionswww.pausatf.org

USATF New England Grand PrixMassachusettsAug. 24Nov. 10Five-event series with four divisionswww.usatfne.org

New York Road Runners Fall SeriesVan Cortlandt Park, Bronx, N.Y.Sept. 15Nov. 24Six events for runners of all ageswww.nyrr.org

Nassaney InvitationalBryant University, Smithfield, R.I.Sept. 6, 2013Open to post-collegianswww.bryantbulldogs.com

Paul Short InvitationalLehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.Oct. 5, 2013Open 6K for women, open 8K for men, and team raceswww.paulshortxcrun.com

Watertown Rochambeau Run 5K Cross Country RaceVeterans Memorial Park, Watertown, Conn.Oct. 5, 2013Awards for the top three placers in all eight age groupswww.watertownct.org

COMPILED BY LAUREN KENNEDYMattie Suver (421) pushes forward

on her way to a 6K open womens

victory at club cross, while Jamie

Cheever (571) runs to seventh place.

RUNNINGTIMES / 77

Join us for fast running on aflat course as the AlbanyMarathon hosts our eighthannual marathon and halfmarathon. Bring your familyto enjoy the music festivaland other activities indowntown Albany Georgiawhere the race starts andfinishes.

albany marathon & 1/2TOP BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFIER

#!

866-750-0840 www.albanymarathon.com

March 1, 2014

LEADING EDGE

Theres a first time for everything. In Pam Smiths 20 years of running, she had never once vomited. But soon after she took the lead in the 2013 Western States 100 on June 29, just past mile 40, the Ensure she had chugged started to feel heavy in her stom-ach. My ultra-barf, laughs Smith. But the thing

was, my legs still felt great, and once I threw up, my stomach felt great. There were no lingering effects at all.

It was the only hiccup on the way to the finish line. On a blazing hot daytemperatures topped at 102 degreesSmith, 39, a pathologist and mother of two, came seemingly from nowhere to win the legendary race in 18:37. She was 44 minutes ahead of the second woman, Nikki Kimball, and ninth overall in a talented mens and womens field. Fur-thermore, she knocked more than 10 hours off her time at Western States in 2012, a performance that had left her doubting her capabilities as a 100-mile runner.

Smiths running goes back to high school and her days on the varsity cross country team at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., a perennial Division III national contender. She con-tinued running road races during medical school and tried her first marathon in 1999. It wasnt until after she had her chil-dren, now 8 and 6, that she moved into ultras. In 2009 she finished second at Hundred in the Hood, her first 100-miler, and she began competing at Western States in 2010. Her results there55th in her first attempt, then 47th, and 272nd last year through rain, snow, sleet and hailleft her hungry for better. It was the desire to prove that I could do it, to not give up on it, Smith

A Long Road to VictoryPam Smith drew from her losses to win the 2013 Western States 100.BY LAUREN KENNEDY

says. I just thought, This isnt how I want people to see me as a 100-mile runner. More importantly, that wasnt how I wanted to see myself.

During the months leading up to the race, Smiths alarm went off at 4:20 a.m. on weekdays to accommodate the 20 percent increase in weekly mileage to 90100. She hit her hometown Salem, Ore., roads by 5 a.m. From there it was straight to work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Smiths husband, Mac, also an ultrarunner and stay-at-home dad, gets the kids to school and makes her training possible. Its not a sacrifice for me to support her in the way that I do, he says. If I was that good, Im sure shed do the same for me.

Still, Smith dedicates evenings to familyno running allowed. As soon as I come home from work, I try to be there for the kids and for dinner and not worry about run-ning anymore, she says.

Smith reduced her carbohydrate intake, cut out all fatty, processed foods, and began eating meat again after 17 years of vegetarianism, referring to her diet as partial-paleo. She focuses on eating healthy proteins at breakfast and lunch and allows herself complex carbs like rice, polenta and pota-toes at dinner.

Smith wasnt among the majority of athletes wishing for cool, forgiving temperatures on race day. I was dying for a hot race at Western States, she says, not because Im a

great hot weather runner, but I think of myself typically as keeping my wits about me and problem-solv-

ing and coming up with good strategies to deal with different things. Smith was confident that she would cope with heat better than

most. When the day dawned the second-hot-test in the races 40-year history, she got her wish.

She took a conservative approach for the first 24 miles, but she used the uphill sec-tions of the rugged course to her advantage,

choosing to run rather than hike the steep inclines. After the ultra-barf, crew mem-bers at each aid station gave her reports: 8

minutes ahead, then 12, then 25, then 37.As the finish line loomed, Dennis

Gamroth, Smiths pacer and running buddy from home, held her back: She

was running so well and we were gaining time; all we could do was lose time by pushing too much in the wrong spot, he says. In the last 15 miles,

he instructed Smith to revert to hiking the hills and run at a more conservative pace in the harsher, hotter sections of the race. Mac joined Smith for the last mile on the streets of Auburn, and their daughter, Megan,

trotted alongside during the final lap on the Placer High School track.

I think what I really want to inspire my kids for is not necessarily the running part of it, but just to give them this idea that they dont have to have any boundaries, Smith says. If they can think that all of these things are possiblelike running 100 milesthen maybe theyll set lofty goals for themselves as well.

I just thought, This isnt how I want people to see me as a 100-mile runner.

More importantly, that wasnt how I

wanted to see myself.Ph

oto:

Fa

cchi

no P

hoto

grap

hy


RACING

Lets Race! For just $275, you can announce your race early in Lets Race.FOR MORE INFORMATION: CONTACT JACKIE CAILLOUET AT 214.252.9971 OR [email protected]

Sat, 11.16.13RICHMOND, VAAnthem Richmond MarathonMarathon, Half Marathon & 8KCONTACT: Race Director, 100 Avenue of Champions, Richmond, VA [email protected]

SOUTH

Sat, 10.19.13BOWLING GREEN, KYThe Medical Center 10K Classic10K Classic,10K Wheelchair Race, 5K & 1.5M Fun WalkCONTACT: Ines Dugandzija, P.O. Box 1175, Bowling Green, KY 42102.270.796.2141themedicalcenter10kclassic@yahoo.comthemedicalcenter10kclassic.comRRCA State Championship Race: 34th Annual of The Medical Center 10K Classic; The Race For Everyone!

Sat, 11.09.13COLUMBIA, SCLexington Medical Center Governors Cup Road RaceHalf Marathon, 8K, 4M Walk & Kids RunCONTACT: Marie Queen, 1215 Anthony Ave., Columbia, SC 29201.803.731.2100info@carolinamarathon.orggovernorscupsc.orgTotal Purse $7,500

Sat, 11.23.13COTTER, ARWhite River Marathon For KenyaMarathon, Half Marathon & 5KCONTACT: Laurie Kasinger, 445 CR 1008, Mountain Home, AR [email protected]

Thurs, 11.28.13ROSEMARY BEACH, FL30A Thanksgiving 10K & 1 Mile Fun RunCONTACT: Karen Meadows, P.O. Box 613651, WaterSound, FL [email protected] & Flat, Out-and-Back Certifi ed 10K Course Oceanside.

Sat, 12.07.13SAVANNAH, GAEnmark Savannah River Bridge Run10K, 5K & Double PumpCONTACT: Robert Espinoza, 3405 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31405.912.355.3527robert@fl eetfeetsavannah.comsavannahriverbridgerun.comBeat the Bridge and Conquer Cancer.

Sat, 12.14.13HUNTSVILLE, ALRocket City MarathonMarathonCONTACT: Suzanne Taylor, 2722 Carl T. Jones Drive, Suite 2B, Huntsville, AL 35802.256.650.7063suzanne@fl eetfeethuntsville.comrunrocketcity.comFlat, Fast, Boston Qualifi er.

Sat, 01.11.14JACKSON, MSMississippi Blues MarathonMarathon & Half MarathonCONTACT: John Noblin, P.O. Box 321330, Flowood, MS [email protected]

Fri-Sun, 01.17.14-01.19.14BATON ROUGE, LALouisiana MarathonMarathon, Half Marathon, 5K & KidsCONTACT: Craig Sweeney, 70380 Highway 21, Covington, LA 70433.888.786.2001craig@thelouisianamarathon.comthelouisianamarathon.com

Sun, 01.19.14KEY WEST, FL16th Annual Key West Half MarathonHalf Marathon & 5K RunCONTACT: Barb Wright, P.O. Box 1681, Key West, FL 33041.305.240.0727bwpromo3@bellsouth.netkeywesthalfmarathon.comGreat Finisher Medals.

Sun, 01.19.14NAPLES, FLNaples Daily News Half MarathonHalf MarathonCONTACT: Perry Silverman678.777.5622psilvrman@aol.comnapleshalfmarathon.netSelected by Runners World as one of the BEST Half Marathons in the U.S.!

Fri-Sat, 01.31.14-02.01.14TYBEE ISLAND, GACritz Tybee Run Fest5K, 10K, Half Marathon, 2.8 mile beach run, 1 mile=26.2 milesCONTACT: Robert Espinoza, 3405 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31404.912.355.3527robert@fl eetfeetsavannah.comcritztybeerun.com2 Days, 5 Races equaling the Marathon Distance of 26.2 Miles. A One-Of-A-Kind Event with a World-Class Race Atmosphere for Every Fitness Level and Age.

Sun, 02.02.14TALLAHASSEE, FL40th Tallahassee Marathon & Half MarathonMarathon & Half MarathonCONTACT: Nancy Stedman850.545.7074tallahasseemarathon@gmail.comtallahasseemarathon.comSpecial Guest Bart Yasso. Cash & Age Group Awards.

Sat, 03.01.14ALBANY, GAAlbany Marathon & Half MarathonCONTACT: Rashelle Beasley, 112 North Front St., Albany, GA [email protected]

Sun, 03.30.14KNOXVILLE, TNCovenant Health Knoxville MarathonMarathon, Half Marathon, Relay & 5KCONTACT: Jason Altman, P.O. Box 53442, Knoxville, TN 37950.865.684.4294info@knoxvillemarathon.comknoxvillemarathon.com

MIDWEST

Sat, 04.26.14CHAMPAIGN/URBANA, ILChristie Clinic Illinois MarathonMarathon, Half Marathon, Relay, 10K , 5K & Youth RunCONTACT: Jan Seeley, P.O. Box 262, Champaign, IL 61824.217.369.8553director@illinoismarathon.comillinoismarathon.com

Sat, 05.03.14INDIANAPOLIS, INOneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (13.1 miles) and Finish Line 500 Festival 5KCONTACT: Eric Rowles, 21 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, IN [email protected] the Nations Largest Half Marathon and Lap the World-Famous Indy 500 Track. Register at the Early Bird Rate by Nov. 30, 2013 and Save $15!

Sun, 05.18.14CLEVELAND, OHRite Aid Cleveland MarathonMarathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K & Kids RunCONTACT: Ralph Staph, 29525 Chagrin Blvd., #215, Pepper Pike, OH 44122.800.467.3826info@clevelandmarathon.comclevelandmarathon.com

PACIFIC

Sat, 03.22.14WAILUKU, HIMaui Valley To The Sea Half MarathonHalf Marathon, 10K & 5KCONTACT: Rudy Huber, P.O. Box 1024, Wailuku, HI 96793.808.280.5801huber_rudy@yahoo.comvalleytotheseahalfmarathon.com

CANADA

Fri, 11.22.13CHURCHILL, MB, CANADAPolar Bear MarathonMarathonCONTACT: Albert Martens, 408 2nd St., Steinbach, Manitoba R5G [email protected]

Sun, 05.25.14OTTAWA, ON, CANADAOttawa MarathonMarathon, Half Marathon, 10K , 5K, 2K & Kids MarathonCONTACT: Susan March, 5450 Canotek Rd., Unit 45, Ottawa, ON K1J [email protected] Over 44,000 Runners In Canadas Capital!

RUNNINGTIMES / 79

FOOTSTEPS

The first anniversary of Superstorm Sandy reminds us that fall marathon weather is not always gold and mellow. Chicago, Twin Cities, New York and other fall marathons have been afflicted by extreme adverse conditions often enough to warn every runner to be prepared for anything. At New York alone, that

includes 100 sweltering degrees in 1974, drenching rain in 1983, and snow flurries at 40 degrees in 1995.

But running marathons is about overcoming adversity. Bad weather can be the stimulus for great racing. That was never more true than at New York City in 1984, when the race was almost stifled by freak humidity.

They ran through a kind of hot fog. There was so much mist that the skyscrapers were invisible. On YouTube, you can see

Falls Freak Marathon WeatherOrlando Pizzolato triumphed over the hot fog of New York City in 1984. BY ROGER ROBINSON

the damp smear on every camera lens. When the sun came out, the streets steamed. The sensation for the runners was of enervating, enveloping heaviness. If you doused yourself in water and kept to a training pace, you could survive. As soon as you pushed, you became physically sluggish and mentally apathetic. Every runner contemplated dropping out. At least 2,000 did. In the last miles through Central Park, they looked like the wounded after a battle, sweat-smeared and misera-ble, shuffling soggily along.

Orlando Pizzolato, an almost unknown Italian, achieved the astonishing feat of winning New York in 1984 after stopping eight times. It looked more like 1908. You almost expected a swarthy attendant on a bicycle to pedal alongside and serve him chianti and tapioca pudding. Pizzolatos 2:14:53 is the slow-est New York winning time since the race moved out of Central Park. But he was the one who survived best.

He was also the one who turned a cautious training run into a real race. At 12 miles he decided to risk a pace close to 5:00 miles that no one else would even contemplate. Marty Liquori, commentating on television, kept predicting his col-lapse. Dave Murphy or Rod Dixon will come through. In two miles it will be, Ciao, Orlando, he said.

When the wiry Englishman Murphy began to whittle down Pizzolatos lead, it looked like an ordinary contest between hunter and hunted. But suddenly it became something extraor-dinary. Pizzolato stopped. He stopped! He shook his head as if he felt dizzy, then moved back into running action.

To stop once while youre leading the New York City Mar-athon is risky. To stop eight times is competitive suicide. Yet thats how Pizzolato got through the last draining 3 miles. Each time he stopped, he took a quick look back, seeming to gather his strength and his wits from the brief respite. Then he forced himself to run againeight times.

For Murphy, the greatest prize in world running was like a $100 bill lying on the sidewalk, his for the asking. All he had to do was pick it up. But he, too, was on the edge of survival, his elite reflexes muffled, and every attempt to attack ended in frustration.

Murphy said in an April 2013 interview, When he went away, Dave Edge and I looked at each other to ask who he was. It seemed too risky to go with him in that heat. Later I moved away from the group and a friend and my wife in a press vehicle told me I was closing and that he had even stopped. At 24 miles I could see him stop and thought it was my race. When I saw him running again, and I wasnt clos-ing fast enough, I knew I had to move. But when I picked up the pace, suddenly I felt utterly dead. It was so frustrating. I felt capable of going faster, but the humidity meant I simply couldnt. It was such a fine line. I was totally disappointed to be second at the end.

They were like two exhausted men trying to fight, neither able to throw a punch. Sometimes the marathon is like that, even for the very best runners.

Pizzolato proved it was no fluke by winning New York again the next year and earning the silver medal in the 1986 European championship marathon. His best was 2:10:23. But he is remembered most not for his speed but his stubborn-ness. On some days what the marathon demands above all is courageous perseverance. And being ready for any kind of weather.

Phot

o:

Duom

o Ar

chiv

e


RACING

Fast TrackQUALITY. VALUE. INFORMATION.

California

THE TRIATHLETE STORERunning, Triathlon, Swimming, Bicycling, Hiking & Walking Apparel And Gear. US & International Shipping.

14037 Midland Rd. Poway, CA 92064 (858) 842-4664www.thetriathletestore.com

Canada

GORDS RUNNING STORE LTD.A Step Ahead In Fitness In Providing Running Shoes, Clothing And Accessories.

919 Centre St. NW Calgary, Alberta T2E 2P6 (403) 270-8606www.gordsrunningstore.com

Advertise your store here and reach committed runners who are looking for

the best Running Stores in America.

CALL, FAX OR EMAIL JACKIE CAILLOUET

P: 214.252.9971 // F: [email protected]

WILD!Myrtle Beach

Marathon

17th Annual

February 13 15, 2014

Myrtle Beach Marathon - Dasani Half Marathon New Marathon Team Relay

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Register Early Our Events Sell Out Months in AdvanceRunners Expo

Thursday & Friday, February 13-14, 2014

PNC 5K & Ripley's Aquarium Family Fun RunFriday, February 14, 2014

WildVideo

FLAT, FAST and

Unleash your inner beast along the beautiful coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This weekend of wild animal encounters, sandy beaches, thousands of restaurants and world class shopping is sure to make you roar! Join us in supporting the Rare Species Fund for international wildlife conservation.

www.MBMarathon.com

6th ANNUAL

.BSBUIPO)BMG.BSBUIPO.BSBUIPO3FMBZ,,:PVUI3VO'VMM*$IBMMFOHF)BMG*$IBMMFOHF.JOJJ$IBMMFOHF

'MBUGBTU#PTUPORVBMJGJFS 4JYSBDFTBOEUISFF*$IBMMFOHFDBUFHPSJFT

5FDITIJSUGPSGVMMIBMGSFMBZ,BOE, .FNPSJBM4UBEJVNGJOJTIMJOF

"13*-

$)".1"*(/63#"/"

C-U There!

*--*/0*4."3"5)0/$0.

PHIDIPPIDES AWARD

USATF MastersLong Distance Running

Participation Award

Free to USATF Members

Details at:http://www.usatf.org/

Resources-for---/Masters/LDR.aspx

Address inquiries to:[email protected]

RUNNERS MARTCL ASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION

TO ADVERTISE: Contact MICHAEL AUSTRYp. 214.252.9971 // f. 630.578.1331 // e. [email protected]


why weve spent the last 28 years the fit of our pants. We offer moreffff

d lengths than anyone else ensuringget the perfect fit on every run.

Fit Matters

y g g

Save the Frozen Peas for Dinner!

RunnersRemedy.comUSAMADEUNDER $20

COMPRESSIONT A R G E T E D

+ ICE = RELIEF

ARCH

CALF

SHIN

ACHI

LLES

800.452.0631

Plantar Fasciitis Achilles Tendonitis

Visit www.TheSock.com for a list of stores. 800.452.0631

Dave Strassburg

Now Available at Your LocalRunning Specialty Store.

RUNNINGTIMES / 83

mcmillanrunning.comADVERTISE IN RUNNERS MART

CONTACT MICHAEL AUSTRY AT 214.252.9971

NEW

Available at a running store near you!(800) 779-3372

Phot

o:

Cour

tesy

of t

he C

orbi

tt fa

mily

Ted Corbitt leads a 1957 10-mile race over Gordon McKenzie and John Steiner in Van Cortlandt Park. McKenzie eventually won the race. Corbitt placed second.

Corbitt, a 1952 Olympic marathoner, held U.S. records at 25 miles, the marathon, 40 miles, 50 miles and 100 miles during his run-ning career. He was co-founder and first president of the Road Runners Club of America and the New York Road Runners Club. He led efforts to accurately measure road races and popularize the sport of road running. Corbitt, who passed away in December 2007 at age 88, will be inducted into the New York Road Runners Hall of Fame this fall.


ART OF THE RUN

Running_Times_2013-10-11.pdf

Documents

Transcript of Running_Times_2013-10-11.pdf