Runner's World Extr@

for Friday, February 25, 2000

==== In this issue ====

On the road with the Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, new track records, good news for runners who paint their nails, how to test your running shoes, a chat with Deena Drossin and inspiring advice from Marty Liquori.  

==== News ====

While the road racing world waits  for the Women's Marathon Trials (Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina - have we mentioned that you'll be able to follow the race on www.runnersworld.com ?), the track world was talking records. 

In Birmingham, England, Wilson Kipketer, after stealing the 1000m record by .01 two weeks earlier, shaved a convincing three-tenths off his new record. Then the two-mile indoor record fell to an Ethiopian, but it wasn't Haile Gebrselassie: it was Hailu Mekonen, Geb's 20-year-old clubmate and world junior cross-country champion last year. 

• New records: Kipketer 2:14.96 for 1000m, Mekonen 8:09.66 for two miles. Kiketer, Mekonen tumble records < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/2000/February/000222.html  > 

Other records went by the boards in Pocatello, Idaho of all places, site of the penultimate Golden Spike Tour meet: the Golden Spike Invitational at Simplot Games. Jearl Miles-Clark took down the world best for the rarely-run 500 yard distance, promising to be a threat at both 400m and 800m at the U.S. Indoor Nationals; Stacy Dragila rose above the field (and the floor, and the track, and the bar) yet again to set a new indoor world record in the women's pole vault. 

• Miles-Clark in world best < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/2000/February/000222.html > 

And should we think that's all of it, Regina Jacobs is talking records again, and she's got the speed to back it up. Jacobs is planning a return to the Armory in New York for an attack on the world record for 1500m, but she won't stop with 4:00.27 (Doina Melinte's WR): she's trying to be the first woman under 4:00 for 1500m. Roger Bannister, Regina Jacobs... it has a nice ring to it. 

• Jacobs to attempt 1500m record < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/2000/February/000223.html >  

======= Training Tip ======

Light, cooling-down exercise after hard effort helps flush lactic acid from the muscles and the blood. As you cool down, your body gets busy refilling the muscles' oxygen stores and easing back on hormone and temperature levels. All this will eventually occur without a cool-down, but a proper one will make the process much quicker and easier. - from Scott Tinley and Ken McAlpine’s Winning Guide to Sports Endurance, page 52. You can buy this book at:  http://rodalepress7.cam-colo.bbnplanet.com:8080/Unity/UrlView/7/10/51/2/4141   

======== Health and Fitness ========

Polish away nail fungus: Doctors will soon be able prescribe a nail polish called Penlac Nail Lacquer. It contains the antifungal ciclopirox. You simply apply the polish to your nails and skin once a day for up to 48 weeks. In clinical trials, the nail polish killed fungus in 6 to 12 percent of people who used it. 

Test your shoes: Test your shoes periodically for wear, suggest physical therapists Bruce Wilk and William Gutierrez in the American Medical Athletic Association Quarterly. Place the shoes on a flat surface. Do the shoes remain flat or do they wobble? Do they wobble if you push down on the right or left side of the shoe? You want your shoes to hold your feet in a stable position as you run. If they wobble, it's time for a new pair.   

======== In our forums ========

Have your laces come untied? Are you in need of new shoes? Check out our forums and uncover hot news. Our shoe guy, Mr. Wish, is filled with advice; and not only that he’s pretty darn nice. So bring your comments and questions to our site, we’ll do our best to answer, we won’t even bite. < http://205.181.115.110/servlet/AppServer?t=login/login&s=rw >

======== Interview ========

Deena Drossin won her third-consecutive USATF 8-K Cross-Country title on February 12 (27:48), and the following day, she won the 4-K Cross-Country title in 13:30. Drossin will compete in the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal, March 18. Runner’s World spoke with Drossin: < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/2000/February/000214.html#chat >   

====== Coming this weekend =======

Saturday, US Women's Olympic Marathon Trials: Nearly 200 of the best American women marathoners will gather in Columbia, South Carolina to decide who will go to the Sydney Olympics. Web coverage on < http://www.runnersworld.com >. 

Saturday, Smoky Mountain Marathon: This Townsend, Tennessee 26.2 miler is a rugged test and counts among its past winners Bart Yasso, RW promotions director. 

Saturday, Cowtown Marathon: This Fort Worth, Texas marathon is not as big as its neighbor in Dallas, the White Rock Marathon, but gets an enthusiastic turnout each year. Web site: < http://www.cowtownmarathon.org >. 

Sunday, Cape Cod Times Marathon: Hyannis, Mass. Weather can be unpredictable this time of year, but this year a warm sunny day is forecast.  

======= Editor's Advice =======

Hold your stretches for 15 seconds or so to get the most benefit. This is about the length of time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. – Adam Bean, RW managing editor  

====== Words to think about ======

Anybody can train when he's psyched up, but it's the guy who can go out and force himself to run when he doesn't feel like it who is going to eventually succeed. - Marty Liquori  

====== Television Schedule  ======