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RUNNER'S NICHE
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Vol. 1 No. 7 October, 1996
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NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
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RUNNER'S NICHE continues to get new subscribers from far and wide.
We have a good number of European subscribers, several from South
America and Africa, New Zealand and Australia are represented, we
even have a subscriber from Singapore.
What is becoming more and more clear as I get comments from our
subscribers, is that there are as many reasons to run as there are
runners. We have elite racers, novices, young and old represented in
our subscribership. Some folks want more training articles, others
want more news, and others would prefer more anecdotes from
individual runners.
RUNNER'S NICHE will continue to try to print a wide variety of
articles, and we hope there is something for everyone. This month,
though, I'd like to draw your attention to an article written for us by
a high school runner. It is the shortest article we have ever printed,
and yet I think it says a great deal to anyone who runs. I know it
was refreshing for this old runner, perhaps a bit jaded and worn out,
to read this refreshing piece. If you read nothing else this month,
please make sure to read "Why I Run" by Alison Powell.
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Why I Run
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By Alison Powell
Northwest High School, Ohio
I'm a high school Junior and I started running 5 years ago. When I
first started running, I thought I was crazy and so did my friends,but
for some reason I was drawn to it. So I stuck with it and that's how
things are. I run both Cross Country and Track, both are demanding
sports. I still ask myself why I do it and deep down I know the
answer. I love running. I love blisters, cramps, pain, heat, spikes,
long bus rides, flooded courses, and everything about being a runner.
The pride lasts longer than the pain and I have EVERYTHING to gain.
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BLAST FROM THE PAST:
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*1988 FALMOUTH ROAD RACE*
By Woody Green
Falmouth. The name means a traditional rolling 7.1 mile race to
runners. It is only incidentally the name of the Cape Cod town in
which the race is run. Always featuring top world class runners, the
race has a long tradition of excellence. 1988's race featured a
$70,000 purse and top runners such as Wilson Waigwa, Mark Curp,
Steve Jones, Keith Brantly, Steve Spence, Anne Hannam, Joan
Samuelson, Judy Chamberlin, Betty Geiger, and Nancy Tinari.
There were some odd twists to this year's race before it even started.
Joan Samuelson, taking a boat to the event, nearly missed the start
when the captain was headed to the wrong port. A course correction
was made and she made it to the starting minutes before the race.
Several top runners were left well back of the starting line when the
starter fired the gun 5 minutes early, thus Wilson Waigwa and Judy
Chamberlin were out of the race from the start.
The women's race saw up and coming New Zealander Anne Hannam
take the lead early and lead virtually the whole race. Betty Geiger
made a late surge and caught her, but then she misjudged the finish.
Hannam then pulled away for the win. Her time of 36:36 was the
forth fastest in Falmouth history. Samuelson, who owned the three
fastest times on the course, could manage only forth on this day.
The men's race featured mid-race surge by Curp, who pulled away
from a group of four top runners. He managed to lead to the finish, in
32:22. Steve Spence, who had been in many show downs recently
with Curp, lost this one, getting second in 32:27.
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THE REAL OLYMPIC COVERAGE?
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The following was plagiarized from the internet by contributor
Andrew Crook. We thought you might get a chuckle...
ATLANTA (KRT) -- And now for NBC's impression of the Olympics on
TV:
TRUMPETS: BOM! BOM! BOM-BOM BOM BOM BOM!
BOB COSTAS: Good evening, and as you can tell by the sound of the
Olympic
Theme Song that we play almost as much as we show Kerri Strug's
historic
vault, it's time for our broadcast of The Recently Videotaped Olympic
Games
Featuring Americans. We're going to start by taking you right to the
track-and-field stadium, where the men's 100-meter dash is about to
get under
way, despite the fact that it actually happened four hours ago.
TRACK COMMENTATOR: Bob, this promises to be an exciting race,
featuring
Americans.
COSTAS: And what are the obstacles that these Americans have
overcome to
create a Human Interest Factor for our broadcast?
TRACK COMMENTATOR: Bob, from left to right, they have overcome
psoriasis,
vertigo and a bad allergy to vinaigrette dressing.
COSTAS: We'll come back to the men's 100-meter final, but right now
we're
going to replay the video of Kerri Strug, an American, overcoming
her ankle
to make her courageous vault.
(Kerri Strug vaults.)
COSTAS: What a human moment! Time for a commercial.
ANNOUNCER: We're IBM. We're a giant corporation with vast
computer expertise.
That's why we're in charge of keeping track of all the statistics for
these,
the Olympic Games of 1953. Thank you.
BOM! BOM! BOMBOM BOM BOM BOM!
COSTAS: Now we're going to take you to women's beach volleyball,
where the
sun is shining brightly despite the fact that it is now 10:37 p.m. on
the
East Coast.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMMENTATOR: Thanks, Bob. This is Holly
McPeak, an American,
and as you can see in this digitized, computer-enhanced, ultra-slow-
motion
Beach Cam closeup shot, she has overcome cellulite.
COSTAS: I'll say. When is she going to serve?
BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMMENTATOR: She'll be serving in about 4
seconds, Bob.
COSTAS: I'm sorry, but we don't have that kind of time, because we
need to
show this Heartwarming Moment.
(Kerri Strug vaults.)
COSTAS: Now let's go out to the cycling competition, where I believe
we have
a race involving an American.
CYCLING COMMENTATOR: That is correct, Bob. We have an American
shown here
pedaling furiously in 637th place, with a solid chance to move up to
636th.
COSTAS: What obstacle has this American overcome?
CYCLING COMMENTATOR: Bob, he is overcoming one hellacious case
of
hemorrhoids.
COSTAS: We'll have more on that exciting cycling race, but right now
we're
going to return to the Olympic track stadium for an update on the
men's
100-meter dash.
TRACK COMMENTATOR: Bob, the race started about two seconds ago
and should be
over in about eight more seconds. None of the Americans has fallen
down.
COSTAS: We're going to break away from the men's 100-meter dash
at this
point, but we will be covering it throughout the course of the
evening.
Right now, however, we want you to see this moment, captured by
our NBC
cameras.
(Kerri Strug vaults.)
COSTAS: Now let's head out to the pool to check on the progress of
the
American swimmers, all of whom have overcome asthma.
SWIMMING COMMENTATOR: Bob, here we see an American swimmer
winning a race.
This happened earlier.
COSTAS: How much earlier?
SWIMMING COMMENTATOR: Twenty-four years, Bob. This is Mark
Spitz.
COSTAS: Time for this commercial.
ANNOUNCER: We're the Nike Corporation. We pay famous athletes
millions of
dollars to wear our shoes. Because of this, you, the public, pay
absurdly
high prices for these shoes. Is that stupid, or what? Thank you.
BOM! BOM! BOMBOM BOM BOM BOM!
(Kerri Strug vaults.)
COSTAS: OK, right now there are exciting live gold-medal
competitions going
on in archery, shooting, rowing, kayaking, table tennis, softball,
volleyball, team handball and judo, so right now we're going to take
you to
beach volleyball, recorded earlier today.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMMENTATOR: Bob, as you can see, American
Holly McPeak is
bending over.
COSTAS: I'll say.
BOM! BOM! BOMBOM BOM BOM BOM!
(Kerri Strug vaults.)
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MAKE HILLS YOUR FRIENDS
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By Woody Green
Many runners feel that hills are the enemy. Folks are always
searching for that FLAT fast course. Heartbreak hill is Boston's
infamous killer landmark. Cuss words often spew forth from runners
mouths as they attempt to climb that dreaded incline in the middle
of their training run.
Hills certainly do slow you down. That thing called gravity makes
sure of that. And, the sad fact is that the laws of physics make it
impossible to gain enough advantage running downhill to make up
for the uphills.
Still, hills should be your friend. Everyone has to run them, so why
not use them to your advantage?
Incorporating hills into your workout is a lot like doing weight
training without need of a gym. By overloading the legs, you actually
gain strength. This is especially true if you run hard uphill repeats.
An example would be to use a 2-600 meter uphill stretch that you
can accelerate up several times with a slow jog back down for rest.
This workout helps you both with strength and leg speed. Just
running a course with rolling terrain on your daily run will help your
strength, too.
Many runners have a habit of getting stuck in a particular rhythm on
their runs. This translates to being a one dimensional runner.
Varying terrain will help you learn to "shift gears" and run well at
different stride rates. That's important when you want to race past
another runner in the last few yards of a race, but it is probably
even more important in maintaining optimal pace in the middle of a
race, regardless of the terrain, weather or competition you might find
out on the course.
For those reasons, hills are really your friend. Don't avoid them, seek
them out! Embrace them, love them, and remember they make you a
better runner!
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THIS MONTH'S LIST
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Not a funny list this month, but a list none the less:
*LARGEST AMERICAN ROAD RACES FOR 1995*
1. Bay to Breakers 12 K (San Francisco) - 55,258 participants
2. Lilac Bloomsday 12 K (Spokane) - 54,154
3. Peachtree 10 K (Atlanta) - 50,000
4. Bolder Boulder 10K (Boulder)- 33.075
5. Crescent City Classic 10 K (New Orleans) - 28,500
6. Great Aloha Run 8.2 Mi. (Honolulu) - 28,000
7. Honolulu Marathon (Honolulu) - 27,008
8. New York Marathon - 26,754
9. Race For The Cure 5K (DC) - 18,112
10. Chemical Corporate Challenge 3.5 Mi. (New York) -17,100
Compiled by the Road Running Information Center
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WEB SITES OF INTEREST
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The Sutter Home Napa Valley Marathon is now on the World Wide
Web (http://www.napa-marathon.com). You might want to take a
look.
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ODDS AND ENDS
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*THUGWANE DEATH THREATS*
Josia Thugwane, the recent Olympic gold medalist in the Mens
Marathon, has been receiving death threats. The South African
runner has received thousands of dollars for his Olympic victory, and
now jealous and greedy criminals are want to take his life or his
money.
"Everyone is talking about the plan to kill me," Thugwane said in The
Star newspaper of Johannesburg. "I do not know who these crooks
are, but if they say they will kill someone, they always do."
Thugwane is understandably worried about his family.
Earlier in the year, a gang attempted to steal a car he had won in a
road race. Thugwane was grazed by a bullet in that attempt. He now
has full time security around him, including a personal body guard.
*BRITISH INCENTIVE PLAN*
British officials, displeased with their Olympian medal haul in
Atlanta, are considering a plan that would pay about $320,000 to
athletes winning a gold in Sydney...
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RUNNER'S NICHE IS ON THE WEB!
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RUNNER'S NICHE has a web page! We have some cool links, and past
issues can be downloaded there. Also, we have a Macintosh training
log program for free download. Features are continuously being
added. If you'd like to visit, the URL is:
http://members.aol.com/woodyg3/web/runiche.html . Pass the
address on to your friends!
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