Tuesday, May 20, 2008 04:32 PM The Golden League, drugs in our sport, boosting immunity through running, exercise helps back pain, collegiate running, a new site for women runners and Keith Brantly.
In 1998, the IAAF replaced the "Golden Four" Grand Prix meets with a larger "Golden League" of seven meets. The principle remained the same: win your event at all seven meets and you split a million dollars (in gold, no less) with any other winners. Well, the Golden Four is back: four athletes, two men and two women, remain in contention for the jackpot. Marion Jones (200m) and Gabriela Szabo (3000m) are the women, and world record holders Bernard Barmasai (steeplechase) and Wilson Kipketer (800m) the men. Two races remain for the runners in the special gold bib numbers.
There's still news outside these Golden Four: for instance, in the Zurich event, U.S. Champion Adam Goucher chopped 13 seconds off his PR at 5000m, running 13:11 to move up to third on the U.S. all-time list.
There's sadder news on the track circuit: positive drug tests from high jumper Javier Sotomayor, sprinter (and 1992 Olympic champion) Linford Christie, and news about Dennis Mitchell's case have reignited the storm of controversy about drugs in the sport.
Closer to home, a Saturday evening training run turned mysteriously fatal for a Wisconsin high school runner. Eric Kraemer, 17, was discovered shot to death after failing to return from his daily training run. "I can't fathom how somebody could do something like this," said his father.
All speedwork involves some variation of interval training, but not all speedwork is so precise. That's why interval workouts are best run on the track, where exact distance, pace, and recovery can be monitored. -- from Ken Sparks and Dave Kuehls's The Runners Book of Training Secrets, p. 31. You can buy this book
Boost immunity on three runs a week: Exercising just three times a week may be better for a beginning runner's immune system than training five or more days a week. Researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada asked 33 healthy but generally inactive men to exercise for 40 minutes either 3 or 5 days per week. Blood tests showed a 33 percent drop in antibody-producing immune B cells in those who did the 5 day regimens, while the 3 day exercisers had no drop in B cell count.
Exercise away back pain: A British study indicates that exercise eases back pain more than resting. Remember that with any back injury, check with a doctor first to determine the cause and severity. Back pain could mean just a sore muscle, but it can also signal more serious conditions, which might require treatment other than exercise.
Cross-country season is just around the corner. With camps starting next week, many collegiate runners are headed back to school this weekend. Before you say good-bye to summer, hook up with other college runners on our College Forum and find out how summer training has gone for some of your competitors. <>
Keith Brantly will run the marathon for the U.S. at the World Championships in Seville next weekend. He was third at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and 28th in the Games in Atlanta. Runner’s World spoke with Brantly: <>
Saturday, August 14: Bridge of Flowers 10-K; Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Course starts on the iron bridge adjacent to the world famous Bridge of Flowers in downtown Shelburne Falls, MA. Web site: <http://www.lapierre.com/civic.html>.
Saturday, August 14: George Sheehan Classic 5 Mile, Red Bank, New Jersey. USATF certified 5-mile course. Also: Two-mile health and fitness walk and Kids Classic races. Web site: <http://www.sheehanclassic.org>.
Sunday, August 15: America's Finest City Half-Marathon, San Diego, California. San Diego's most prestigious race is celebrating it's 22nd year. Web site: <http://www.afchalf.com>.
Sunday, August 15: Falmouth Road Race 7.1 Mile: Falmouth, Massachusetts. Defending champions Khalid Khannouchi of Morocco and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya are both expected to run. Both will be seeking their third Falmouth victories. Web site: http://www.falmouthroadrace.com.
Stick with what works. Sometimes runners have a tendency to want to try something new. Don't do it. If a training program, a running shoe or a coach is working well for you, there's no reason to switch. This can only lead to problems. - Bob Wischnia, deputy editor
Running is a gift I give myself almost every day. Even on those days when things haven't gone great, I can come home and give myself the accomplishment of a 30 or 40 minute run. -- Arthur Blank, businessman and runner
barry Tuesday, May 20, 2008 04:32 PM