Marathon You Can Do It

The 2010 London Marathon has just finished. The Men’s winner was Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede while the ladies event was won by Liliya Shobukova.

Kebede had untroubled victory, the Kenyans today didnt turn up! Samwel Wanjiru was left behind at mile 18, followed by Kibet at mile 20. Kirui tried to Keep up with Kebede and I could see he was giving it 110% while Kebede looked like he could notch a gear anytime. At mile 22 Kebede just went for it, he crossed the finish line in 2:05:12! Missing the course record by 2 seconds.

As for the Ladies, my athlete for the race has to be the second place finisher, another Russian (sorry, cant remember her name) At certain point she seemed to be far behind, but she just kept going and going! She was also thrilled with her performance because she was all smiles at the finish.

I watched the race Live via Satellite TV and I have to say It was another beautiful London Marathon! Loved it!

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 2010 London Marathon, 2010 London Marathon results., Athlete, Beautiful, Finish Line, Kebede, Left Behind, london marathon, London marathon results, Marathon Race Results, Marathon Results, Place Finisher, Satellite Tv, Smiles, Sorry Cant, Victory, Wanjiru

About 12,000 marathon runners took part in 2010 Salt Lake City marathon that is according to the local press.

Photos from the marathon are proving hard to come across but I found some here

Flickr Salt Lake City Marathon page

Buy Your Photo

If you are interested in buying your photo as you crossed the finish line check marathonfotos

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: City Photos, City Pictures, Finish Line, Lake Photos, Local Press, Marathon Photos, Marathon Pictures, marathon runners, Photo, Photos Hard, Photos Pictures, Press Photos, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City Marathon

In my 5 years of marathon running I have seen some awesome Slogans written on runners T-shirts. The best are those slogans written on the backside of runners T-shirts. If you are behind a runner with a slogan written on his backside, the message can either inspire you or piss you off!

Slogans On running T-shirts that inspire

1. Pain is only temporary

2. Lets kick some ASSSSSS

3. Just do it

4. Its a piece of cake

5. I will let my running do the talking

Running T-shirt Slogans that can piss you off

1. You are now last

2. If you cant keep up with me, be a spectator

3. At least am not last – from a runner who beat you to the finish line.

4. I dont know what shit you drunk this morning

5. See you at the finish

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Assssss, Backside, Finish Line, Marathon Running, Piece Of Cake, Piss, Runners, Slogan, Spectator, T Shirt Slogans

“Run Austin Love Austin”that is one of the best marathon slogans have heard

According to race officials, 4,500 marathoners and a record number of 9,000 half-marathoners participated in 2010 Austin Marathon.

The race having fell on valentine day there was alot of roses at the finish line.

I found 2010 Austin Race photos at Flickr. The photos were awesome, the type you would love to keep in sports photos library or sports photos books.

Check out more photos at flickr andrew photo stream

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Alot, Austin Love, Austin Marathon, Finish Line, Library Books, Marathon Photos, Marathon Pictures, Marathon Race, Marathoners, Photos Books, Photos Pictures, Photos Sports, Race Officials, Race Photos, Roses, Slogans, Sports Books, Sports Check, Sports Photos, Valentine Day

I was going through my google reader when I noticed the following news item in the Guardian UK newspaper The story made my day!!

FROM CHINESE MARATHON : Almost a third of the runners who finished in the top 100 have since been disqualified for cheating in the race in the southern port city of Xiamen.

The reason given for cheating has something to do with the University entrance examination. In China those who finish in the marathon in under two hours and 34 minutes can add extra points to their score in the University entrance exam.

Methods used for cheating

Some of the methods the cheaters used were the good old method of taking short cuts, the now familiar one of hiring an impostor to race with your race number and the old classic of hiking a lift on a vehicle part way through the route. Taking a lift enroute was made famous by Rosie Ruiz when the unknown madam came in first at the finish of 1980 Boston marathon. It emerged that she had ridden the subway almost all the way, joining the route barely a mile before the finish line.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Boston Marathon, Cheaters, Cheating, China, Extra Points, Finish Line, Google, Guardian Uk, Impostor, Madam, News Item, Rosie Ruiz, Runners, Score, Short Cuts, Subway, University Entrance Exam, University Entrance Examination

The last runner to cross the finish line at the 2010 Chevron Houston Marathon was Diane Kassab (56) her finish time was 6 hours, 1 minute and 5 seconds.

When asked by houston chronicle why she took so long to complete the race, this was her reply

It was fun. The spirit is tremendous,” said Kassab, of Houston. “I danced to every band. That was probably my mistake.

Another interesting observation was that the former US president George H. W. Bush was at Mile 19 to give all runners a hand shake. I think that was brilliant of him.

I tried to find photos from houston marathon 2010 and I found them at Flickr, see all pictures at stratblues page.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Chevron, Chevron Houston Marathon, Finish Line, Finish Time, George H W Bush, Houston Chronicle, Houston Photos, Images Pictures, Kassab, Marathon Photos, Marathon Pictures, Mistake, Observation, Photos Images, Photos Pictures, President George H W Bush, Reply, Runners, Spirit, Us President George

Nipples bleeding when running is a common running problem among male runners. The bleeding happens when your running T-shirt rubs against your tender nipples.

This is how the bleeding happens

When you run your t-shirt moves up and down, that movement rubs on your nipples. The friction on your nipples makes them tender. Open wounds form and blood starts to flow out. When the salt from your sweat rubs on the open wounds you start feeling pain. Experts call this Nipple Chafing!

How to Avoid Bleeding Nipples

1. Apply a layer of vaseline over your Nipples, some marathons even offer Vaseline enroute.
2. Put a bandage over the nipples. This will prevent direct contact.

Another funny solution that I found at a Runners world article on this topic was this one:

Here is an easy solution, although a slightly embarrassing one… wear a ladies sports bra. They hide easily under a t-shirt and stop the chafe! Go ahead and laugh it up… I’ll see you at the finish line… bloody nipple free!

Posted by: Male Runner

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Bandage, Direct Contact, Easy Solution, Finish Line, Friction, Male Runner, Male Runners, Marathons, Nipple, Open Wounds, Runners World, Running, Sports Bra, Sweat, T Shirt, Tender Nipples, Vaseline, World Article

The following funny marathon signs were spotted by Jim, a spectator / volunteer at NYC Marathon.

- Don’t stop–we’re all watching you

- Who needs Toenails…Keep Running!

- You’re Almost there (They love this at mile 3)

- I got a bar of soap for you at the finish line

- Have to pee? Next rest stop 5 miles

Have you seen some funny marathon signs? please feel free to share your funny marathon race signs in the comments section!

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Comments Section, Document Write, Finish Line, Funny Signs, Marathon Race, Nyc Marathon, Race Signs, Soap, Spectator, Volunteer

“I want to beat Oprah!” That is the goal of many runners. Oprah Winfrey finished 1994 Marine Corps marathon in a time of 4 hrs,  29 mins, 15 Secs.

If Frank Shorter inspired the first (1970s) running boom across US, Oprah Winfrey inspired the second, by running the Marine Corps Marathon. If Oprah could run a marathon, shame on anyone who couldn’t.

How Oprah ruined the Marathon.

While race directors across US were happy to welcome the new generation of runners or is it marathon walkers, the hard core runners were not happy. Edward Mccleland writing for salon.com thinks :-

America’s competitive spirit has been wrecked by feel-good amateurs like Oprah whose only goal is to stagger across the finish line.

I totally agree with him! The marathon is a race, the goal should be to finish it and to finish as fast as you can.

Read the fantastic salon article here

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 1970s, Amateurs, Boom, Finish Line, Frank Shorter, Hard Core, Marathon Time, Marathon Walkers, Marine Corps Marathon, Marine Marathon, New Generation, Oprah Winfrey, Race Directors, Runners, Running Marathon, Salon Article, Secs, Shame, Spirit, Time Marine

In a New York Times article it was reported that in 2008 NYC marathon 46 runners were disqualified for having taking a short cut to the finish line and an untold number of runners escape detection, marathon officials said.

Mary Wittenberg, the race director, called the number of cheats shocking.

Shortcuts methods at NYC marathon

According to the organisers the two most common form of cheating are

1. Stepping off the course and rejoining it closer to the finish, often sneaking into Central Park once they enter Manhattan near Mile 16.
2. Participants running with someone else bib. According to 2008 records, a 19-year-old in the field gave his bib to someone five years older, and that person posted the best time in the 18-19 division.

The biggest reason or motivation of taking a short cut is to secure a coveted qualification time for the Boston Marathon

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Best Time, Bib, Boston Marathon, Central Park, Finish Line, Manhattan, marathon runners, Motivation, New York City, New York City Marathon, New York Times, Nyc Marathon, Organisers, Participants, Qualification Time, Race Director, Shortcuts, Wittenberg, York City Marathon, York Times Article