Marathon You Can Do It

Just before 2009 NYC Marathon, American marathon runner, Ryan Hall was interviewed by a Chicago paper. Ryan was asked the following question;

What’s your go-to, night-before-the-race meal?

Ryan Hall : Pasta, olive oil and Cytomax Muscle Milk Protein Shake.

Another interesting question from the interview was his answer on his strategy for Boston Marathon

What’s your strategy for those Boston hills–and downhills?

Ryan Hall : My strategy for the hills in Boston are to run the same effort level whether I am going up, down or flat, which means I will obviously slow down going up the hills and fly down the back of them. I think that energy management is one of the keys to running a good marathon. The better I can keep it locked in at the right effort level, despite the terrain, the better I will run.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Boston Hills, Boston Marathon, diet, Effort Level, Energy Management, Fly, Marathon Runner, Muscle Milk Protein, Nyc Marathon, Olive Oil, Pasta, Right Effort, Ryan Hall

When Meb Keflezighi won 2009 ING New York marathon, he was proclaimed to be the first American to have won the NYC marathon in 20+ years. But murmurs started going around saying that Meb wasn’t American Enough.

The truth is he immigrated to the United States when he was 12 years old from Eritrea, and even though the 34-year-old spent most of his life in USA, he isn’t being considered a true “American runner.” Some Fans and commentators consider Keflezighi just another elite East African runner.

Meb Keflezighi true birth Place

But it is not just Americans disputing about his heritage, some Ethiopians are even claiming Meb is an Ethiopian not Eriterian.

I found this hilarious thread from you tube

It was a civil discussion on Mebs win until a contributor posted this;

Actually he was born in Ethiopia. Eritrea used to be a colony of Ethiopia at the time he was born.?

Not so fast, from an Eritrean came this quick response

Go and screw urself you worthless ethiopian tree hugging moron…he? is eritrean and he blongs to the people of eritrea…..does he look like he is begging or asking for a handout???ethiopian worthless monkeys.

Ouch!!!!!

Read the you tube thread here

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Birth Place, Commentators, Contributor, Elite, Eritrea, Ethiopians, Heritage, Ing New York Marathon, Meb, Monkeys, Murmurs, New york marathon, Nyc Marathon, Quick Response, True Birth, Truth, United States

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: 20bt, 2b, 2c, 3b, 3d0, 3e, 7b, 7d, Charat, Charcodeat, Comments Section, Document Write, Finish Line, Funny Signs, Marathon Race, Nyc Marathon, Race Signs, Soap, Spectator, Substring, Volunteer

I just came across this interesting fact about New York City Marathon in the NY times.

In 1977, Wesley Paul, a child from Columbia became the youngest person ever to complete the New York City Marathon with an incredible time of 3:00:37. In the early years of the race several children competed.

Paul still ran a 2:38 personal best at 15, in the Houston Marathon. By the age of 16 he had 40 marathon under his belt.

At 16 he fractured his knee when a car backed into him while he was running. He never recovered!

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Columbia, Houston Marathon, Interesting Fact, New York City, New York City Marathon, Ny Times, Nyc Marathon, Wesley Paul, York City Marathon

The following groups are eligible for guaranteed entry to the ING New York City Marathon.

• Members of New York Road Runners, who completed at least nine NYRR-scored, qualifying races, and who have volunteered for one event, during the calendar year.
• Entrants in the ING New York City Marathon the previous year who canceled prior to the race.
• Those who have completed 15 or more New York City Marathons.
• Those who have applied but been denied entry for the last three years in a row
• Runners who meet the following NYC marathon qualifying time standards.
• Charity runners : Runners who commit to raise money for charities listed by organisers.
• Guaranteed entry for overseas runners, (For those who live outside the United States) Guaranteed entry along with the purchase of a marathon package may be available through an Official International Travel Partner [ITP] in your country or territory.

Source ; ING New York Marathon Official Site

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Calendar Year, Charities, Ing New York City Marathon, Ing New York Marathon, International Travel, Itp, marathon runners, New York City Marathon, New York City Marathons, New york marathon, New York Road Runners, Nyc Marathon, Nyrr, Overseas Runners, Previous Year, Qualifying Races, Time Standards, Travel Partner, York City Marathon, York Road Runners

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

The 2009 New York Marathon was as colorful as always. Although we celebrate the runners we forget the spectators who equally do a magnificent job of taking photos.

For me, two Images stood out from the 2009 NYC marathon.

This Frenchman who came along with the Eiffel tower.

I hope it was made of fibre glass!!!…….From Jim @ Flickr

And this one,

Serious Men at Work

Image courtesy of Randy Lemoine, See his flickr collection by Randy lemoine

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Effel Tower, Eiffel Tower, Flickr, Frenchman, Images Pictures, Job, Magnificent Job, Marathon Photos, Marathon Pictures, Men At Work, New york marathon, Nyc Marathon, Photos Images, Photos Pictures, Race Images, Race Photos, Runners, Spectators, Taking Photos, Work Image

ING New York Marathon is held on the first Sunday of November. With 37,000 entrants who get a place based on a lottery, the number one tip should be apply for registration early.

New York Marathon Training Tips

1. Train hard but remember to take a rest.
2. If a day or two of training is missed due to injury or illness or other reason, don’t try to cram two days of training into one. Lost days are simply days.
3. Train at your projected marathon pace.
4. Try to train at the time of the day the race starts and in the predicted weather condition as much as possible.
5. Do the long runs.
6. Remember to stretch
7. Do speed works round a track, it just makes your legs feel better.
8. Listen to your body, If you feel tired take a rest, if you feel pain go easy, if the pain is too much stop running.

The good thing about NYC marathon is that it si held in November which means you can have a whole year for marathon training. 10 months of marathon training is more than enough to get you ready to finish a 42 marathon with a descent time.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 10 Months, Ing New York Marathon, Legs, Lost Days, Lottery, Marathon Pace, Marathon Training, New york marathon, Nyc Marathon, Time Of The Day, Train, Weather Condition