Athletics federation of Kenya named six marathon runners to represent Kenya at 2012 London Olympics marathon. The picking of marathon runners has been a controversial issue because Kenya does not hold a marathon trial instead the selection is like election of the Pope. A secret committee meets in a back-room and decides. The criteria they use is anyones guess.
Kenya Mens Marathon Team 2012 Summer Games
Abel Kirui – A two time World Marathon Champion. The guy has never won a major marathon and has a PB of 2:05:04 but he seems to produce the goods when it comes to major Championships.
Wilson Kipsang – He is the second fastest marathon runner in the world. He has won the Rotterdam Marathon plus he just won 2012 London marathon.
Moses Mosop – He is the winner of 2011 Boston marathon and 2011 Chicago marathon.
Kenya Womens Marathon Team 2012 London Olympics.
Mary Keitany – She has won the last two editions of London marathon. That alone was enough to guarantee her a place. I think she is so used to the London course and she may even run it blindfold.
Edna Kiplagat – She took Gold at 2011 Daegu World Championships.
Priscah Jeptoo – She was second at 2011 Daegu World Championships.
The major casualty was Patrick Makau, the 42Km World Record holder was left out after he got a DNF at 2012 London marathon.
I normally watch marathon races on Satellite Tv but heavy rains affected my outdoor dish and I have been disconnected for the last two days. I followed this years 2012 London Marathon via a UK Internet Radio station(Talk sports) and the experience wasn’t bad.
2012 Virgin London Marathon Results
Wilson Kipsang, (the second fastest marathon runner of all time) won the race in a time of 2:04:44. I just smile when I heard the announcer say “looks as if he’s just been on an effortless Sunday jog.” The leading group of Kenyans and Ethiopians had ran the whole race on recording breaking pace and when the commentator said they were averaging under 5 minutes a mile I thought the world record time was on the line.
Martin Lel who has been fading in the last few years, turned back the clock, he lurked on Tsegaye Kebede’s shoulder and overtook the Ethiopian for a Kenyan one-two, with Ethiopia’s Kedede having to settle for third. Lel, a conqueror of London streets so many times, had been gunning to make into Kenya Olympics Marathon team but he needed to win 2012 London in a World record Time to be considered.
2012 London marathon results from the Womens Race.
It was another Kenyan affair (Damn the Kenyans! they never share the win) Mary Keitany won the race in a time of 2:18. That was her personal best and fourth fastest time in history. Keitany was two seconds ahead of Edna Kiplagat. Priscah Jeptoo was third to complete a Kenyan top three. Incredible!
Patellar tendon is the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. Patellar Tendon is prone to injury. The pain in that area is referred to as Patellar Tendinitis it is also known as Jumpers knee.Runners experiencing Patellar Tendinitis complain of knee pain.
It affects runners with a BMI of 25 or higher or who have a history of playing basketball and have suddenly increased their weekly mileage.
The patellar tendon helps your leg extend during running or jumping, but that repeated motion can create small tears in the tendon. After years of activity and then a sudden increase in mileage, your body may struggle to repair those tears.
Patellar Tendon Strengthening Exercises
To prevent Patellar Tendinitis keep your weight in check. Do squats to strengthen the patellar tendon and stretch your quads and hamstrings. Avoid increasing mileage by more than 10 percent per week.
The Patellar Tendon Strengthening Exercises are also good for those who are doing rehabilitation of Patellar Tendon.
Watch this video of Knee Exercises to Strenghen Muscles around the Patella to Avoid Knee Pain
I was just checking the results from 2012 Paris marathon and results of South African Runner Hendrick Ramala caught my attention, I will get back to that later.
Kenyan runner Stanley Biwott won the men’s 2012 Paris marathon on Sunday in a record time of 2hrs 05 min 12 sec. This was a second win this year in the streets of Paris by Biwott. He also came first in Paris Half marathon.
Biwott broke away from the leading pack at the 30km mark and crossed the finish line more than a minute ahead of Ethiopian duo Raji Assefa and Sisay Jisa.
Women Winner 2012 Paris Marathon
In the women’s race Ethiopia’s Tirfi Beyene came motored home first in a new record time for the Paris renewal of 2hrs 21min 39sec. Beyene came home ahead of Turkey’s Sultan Haydar (2hr 25:09.) and Ethiopia’s Makda Harun (2hr 26:46).
Paris Marathon Runner Motoring In Streets of Paris.
Hendrick Ramala Paris Marathon
The 40 year old South African long distance runner was gunning for a place in South Africa Olympic squad but his goal fell apart when he finished 33rd in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 57.
“It’s all over, I was messed up by the weather.
It is extremely cold here,” said Ramaala soon after crossing the finish line.
“I’m not disappointed because I gave it my best shot – it was worth trying.
“But this is not the end of my athletics career, I will continue running to support my family. Athletics is my career.
“I have decided to take a week’s break before I can go back to the road,” said Ramaala. Story from Sowetan
I think Ramala is pushing his luck too far. Younger and faster runners are coming from Kenya and Ethiopia and it is now impossible for a 40 year old compete with them.
I was watching 2012 Rotterdam marathon on Satelitte and the race has just ended. As a Kenyan it was a bad day in the races because our Ethiopian rivals swept the podium.
Winner 2012 Rotterdam Marathon
Ethiopia’s Yemane Adhane Tsegay was the first to cross the finish line in 32nd ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam in a personal best of 2:04:47. Yemane won a spirited battle with compatriot Getu Feleke who finished second in 2:04:50. Both men set personal bests.
Kenya’s Moses Mosop tried bravely to catch the two Ethiopians in the final kilometers, but finished third in 2:05:02. His compatriot Peter Cheruiyot Kirui, another pre-race favorite, dropped out of the race.
Video Yemane Wins Rotterdam Marathon.
This is a BIG BIG improvement for Yemane, I remember at 2012 Dubai marathon the man ran his best marathon to finish in a PB of 2:06:2 but this was not good enough because eight other Ethiopians and two Kenyans ran faster than him. He was placed 10th.
Women Winner 2012 Rotterdam Marathon
Tiki Gelana won the women’s race in a new record time for the Rotterdam event of 2hr 18:57. Gelana has become a specialist in women marathons in Netherlands. I remember she also won last years Amsterdam marathon.
The reason why so many runners set a new PB is because Rotterdam marathon has a near flat course and if the weather is ideal like today then the stage is set for fast times.
After running a Half Marathon you should first replace the fuel you used, and that’s mainly carbohydrates—that’s primarily what the body uses as its fuel source at an event like that. Most of us first reach for water at the finish line but we drunk enough water during the race.
I normally have a Chocolate bar and an energy drink in my bag, and the first thing I do after crossing the finish line is, pick up my bag, chew the Chocolate bar and drink the energy drink. These are not real carbohydrates but sources of energy that restores my energy levels before I move to the next stage of recovery.
Carbohydrates
Not all carbohydrates are equal. White Bread is a carbohydrate but it is low on nutrients. In fact, one piece of banana is better than eating half a loaf.
List of quality carbohydrates that should be in every runners diet.
Fruits
Vegetables
Oatmeal
Whole Grain Cereal
Whole Wheat Bread
Buckwheat
Brown Rice
Sweet potatoes
Protein & Fat
The body also use fat and protein during a grueling half marathon. It is also a good Idea your post race meal to include some small amount of protein as well, and that’s going to help the body recover from that long duration work.
Some Quality Protein that every runner should eat
Steak
Chicken
Fish
Grains
The rule of thumb is that the ratio of Carbohydrates to protein should be 4:1
Another awesome drink am planning to include in post race refueling drink is Flavored milks; many runners swear chocolate milk in particular is a great refueling source.
Beer and running never go hand in hand but there is a world wide running club of runners called Harriers who have combined running and boozing for decades. Now booze is being brought to 2012 Boston marathon. The Boston Beer Company is partnering with the Boston Athletic Association in creating a commemorative beer for the 2012 Boston Marathon, the brewery announced on Tuesday.
The newly minted brew is called Samuel Adams Boston 26.2 Brew. It will be sold only in kegs, according to a post a few days ago on mybeerbuzz.com.
The Boston Beer Company’s marathon concoction will have a slightly lower alcohol level and lighter body than most other Sam Adams beers. It’s made with Coriander and SALT (presumably to restore your electrolytes after a long run.)
The number 26.2 refers to the number of miles in a marathon, not the new beverage’s alcohol content. Boston Beer Co. is using the phrase Boston 26.2 as part of a partnership with the Boston Marathon’s nonprofit producer, the Boston Athletic Association.
Should runners expect beer + Gatorade at water points at this year’s Boston marathon?
It will be available at race-related events as well as “select pubs and restaurants along the marathon route and around Boston,” the company said in a news release emailed to news media, Tuesday. The drink will be available to spectators and any slow runners who will not mind a stop over in “select pubs and restaurants along the marathon route and around Boston,”
The 2012 Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place Monday, April 16.
Traveling by air to races is part of marathon experience. Runners fly from around the world to participate in popular destination marathons such as London marathon, New York Marathon, Boston marathon and even to some remote marathon in world life park in Kenya, Lewa International Marathon.
Air travel may help explain clots in marathoners
The assumption is the only risk is Jet lag, but I have just read an article that claims, Marathon runners who travel by air to the race may end up with higher blood levels of molecules that have been linked to clots. Source Chicago Tribune Health Article.
In the new study, published in the American Journal of Cardiology, Parker and her colleagues took blood samples from 41 healthy non-smokers who participated in the 2010 Boston Marathon.
Twenty-three of them lived more than a four-hour plane flight away, while 18 participants — the comparison group — lived within a two-hour drive of Boston. The researchers collected blood after the runners landed in Boston, immediately after the marathon, and again when the participants were back home the next day.
After returning home, six people in the air travel group had elevated levels of a substance called D-dimer, which has been used as a sign of possible blood clots. By contrast, none of those who lived close to Boston did.
Air travel is known to double or triple the risk blood clots in the veins of the legs, called deep vein thrombosis
Don’t Start Panicking
None of the athletes showed actual symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, such as leg pain or swelling, shortness of breath or rapid heart rate.
Travel Tips for Runners Traveling By Air
The researchers recommended staying hydrated, wearing loose clothes, and not cross your legs for long periods of time. Walking around the cabin every one to two hours and wearing compression stockings can help too.
Authorities say 9-year-old Savannah Hardin died after being forced to run for three hours as punishment for having lied to her grandmother about eating candy bars. Severely dehydrated, the girl had a seizure and died days later.
Signs of Excessive Running
Witnesses told deputies Savannah was told to run and not allowed to stop for three hours. An autopsy report showed the girl was extremely dehydrated and had a very low sodium level, which is a sign of too much running.
Running for 3 hours is hard enough for an adult, I have run marathons for 3 hours and the pain you feel in your feet, chest and lungs is breaking. I can’t imagine the pain this 9 year old girl went through.
The goal of every runner is to run faster, the conventional advise on how to achieve that is clock hundreds of miles per week. A new breed of running coach is challenging that by saying you can run faster by running less.
According to Peter Lavelle, a certified personal trainer and co-founder of Boston-based Ultimate Bootcamp, runners should not run every other day. He talks of mixing up things:
Taking Active Rest Days During Marathon Training.
Some marathoners get by on just one long run and another shorter run per week, he said, by mixing in other workouts like swimming, circuit training with weights, spinning, or, heck, even Zumba. “It’s good to mix it up,” said Lavelle. “Cross training leads to less injury and lets you work out harder between runs by working different muscle groups.” This, in theory, can help runners cut minutes from their marathon times. From Boston Globe article.
Lavelle, claims his Boston Marathon time decreased from 3:53 down to 3:29 after began running less. He operates a boot camp which in addition to running, consist of jumping rope, step-ups on park benches, stair-climbing at T-stations, lunges, squats, push-ups and other exercises straight from military basic training.
Remember, Rest is just as vital as running when it comes to increasing marathon performance.
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