Athlete of the Century, Jesse Owens award finalists, Tatyana Pozdnyakova, back stretches you can do at your desk, caffeinated sports gels, and weekend events.
Ah, November, when athletics executives' fancies turn to thoughts of gala award ceremonies. As the year draws to a close for nearly everyone but NCAA cross-country runners, national and international award ceremonies are popping up all over, and the impending calendar-number-rollover is prompting a number of "athlete of the century" nominations as well. USATF announced its finalists for the Jesse Owens Award, and the IAAF plans to award an Athlete of the Century along with its annual Athlete of the Year at this weekend’s gala.
- USATF announces Owens Award finalists < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/1999/November/991112.html >
- IAAF to honor Athlete of the Century < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/1999/November/991116.html >
- While the marathon season is unlikely to provide more New York-Chicago thrills this year, a few interesting results came out of the weekend, including yet another overall win for super-Ukranian master Tatyana Pozdnyakova (say "paused-NYA-koh-vuh"), this time at the Ocean State Marathon. The 44-year-old also won Houston in January. Other marathons this past weekend included Richmond on Saturday, Columbus on Sunday, and Mazatlan, Mexico, also on Sunday.
- Pozdnyakova wins Ocean State Marathon at 44 < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/1999/November/991115.html >
- Musta too much at Mazatlan Pacifico Marathon < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/1999/November/991117.html >
You can tape various recently recovered injuries to protect them during workouts and races. Ask your doctor or therapist to show you the proper wrapping for your particular injury, then follow those instructions carefully. Don't make up your own design: You can do more harm than good by taping your foot or ankle at the wrong angle. -- from Joe Ellis, Running Injury-Free, page 83. You can buy this book at: http://rodalepress7.cam-colo.bbnplanet.com:8080/Unity/UrlView/7/10/37/2/4141 .
To prevent low-back pain, try this stretch: Often throughout the day at work, contract your abdominals as you flatten your back against the back of your office chair. Now do the opposite by exaggerating a sway back. Then lift one buttock slightly, then the other. Your back will thank you.
Don't sweat the caffeine: Energy gels and sports drinks now come with caffeine, which can give you a boost during those long runs. But will that caffeine also increase urine production, or worse, relax your bowels? That depends on whether you drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages on a regular basis, says nutrition expert Ellen Coleman, R.D., author of Eating for Endurance. If you do intake caffeine regularly, the extra caffeine probably won't bother you. If you don't, you may be more sensitive to the caffeine's effects. If you want to give these products a try, consume them during a run where you have easy bathroom access
If you’re a new runner, don't fall for that "it's too cold to run" mentality. No way. You need to accept the fact that when you run in the wintertime it’s going to be cold. How can you stay motivated during those chilly winter days? Why not visit our Beginners Forum and start a support group. It's one simple way to motivate other beginners into getting out the door each day. And who knows - you just might enjoy those sub-zero temperatures. After all, it's beats treadmill running! < http://proxicom.rodalestore.com:8080/servlet/AppServer?t=login/login_rw >.
Jorge Torres, the 1998 Foot Locker high school national cross-country champion, is a freshman at the University of Colorado. Torres was the Foot Locker runner-up in 1997, placed fifth as a sophomore and 13th as a freshman. He’ll compete in the NCAA cross-country championships on Monday in Bloomington, Indiana. Runner’s World spoke with Torres: < http://www.runnersworld.com/dailynew/archives/1999/November/991118.html#chat >
Saturday, JFK 50-Miler, Boonsboro, Maryland. The biggest and one of the oldest ultradistance runs in America. Web site: < http://lib.allconet.org/jfk/ >.
Sunday, Fall Frolic 4-Mile, Hammond, Indiana. Flat, fast certified course, post race raffle for numerous running-related products.
Sunday, Philadelphia Marathon and Parkway 8-K. Fairly flat courses; last year's marathon attracted 3,294 runners. Web site: < www.philadelphiamarathon.com >.
Monday, NCAA Cross-Country Championships. The men's and women's Division I showdown takes place at the University of Indiana, Bloomington this year.
The week before a marathon, put fresh laces in your race shoes. This simple (and cheap) safeguard could save you a lot of grief on race day. – Mark Remy, RW senior editor
On the way to our goals in life, it's important to celebrate small victories. They help maintain our momentum, build confidence and keep us moving toward our objectives. If we only celebrate when we achieve our summits, we may be disappointed. -- excerpt from "The Power of Passion" by Alan Hobson and Jamie Clarke