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2014 Boston Marathon elite fields announced

January 22, 2014 / News/Elites / 2 minutes of reading

This article was originally posted by Ryan at the original HillRunner.com Blogs.

Just when you think London pulled in all the top runners, you see the Boston field. Not as star studded as London but hardly a field of pushovers.

Men

Moses Mosop	2:03:06 (Boston, 2011)	KEN

Dennis Kimetto	2:03:45 (Chicago 2013) CR	KEN

Lelisa Desisa	2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013)	ETH

Gebregziabher "Gebre" Gebremariam	2:04:53 (Boston, 2011)	ETH

Markos Geneti	2:04:54 (Dubai, 2012)	ETH

Wilson Chebet	2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2011)	KEN

Tilahun Regassa	2:05:27 (Chicago, 2012)	ETH

Shami Dawud	2:05:42 (Dubai, 2012)	ETH

Eric Ndiema	2:06:07 (Amsterdam, 2011)	KEN

Frankline Chepkwony	2:06:11 (Eindhoven, 2012)	KEN

Micah Kogo	2:06:56 (Chicago, 2013)	KEN

Adil Annani	2:07:43 (London, 2012)	MAR

Paul Lonyangata	2:07:44 (Xiamen, 2013)	KEN

Dathan Ritzenhein	2:07:47 (Chicago, 2012)	USA

Joel Kimurer	2:07:48 (Gongju, 2013)	KEN

Lusapho April	2:08:32 (Hannover, 2013) CR	RSA

Mebrahtom Keflezighi	2:09:08 (Houston, 2012)	USA

Brett Gotcher	2:10:36 (Houston, 2010)	USA

Jeffrey Hunt	2:11:00 (Beppu, 2010)	AUS

Jason Hartmann	2:11:06 (Chicago 2010)	USA

Nicholas Arciniaga	2:11:30 (Houston, 2011)	USA

Vitaliy Shafar	2:11:52 (Frankfurt, 2013)	UKR

Jeffrey Eggleston	2:12:03 (Chicago, 2012)	USA

Kimetto was very close to the world record on a course that, in recent years, hasn’t been considered a world record caliber course (though it was the site of world records and near misses just a decade or so ago). Mosop’s time comes from that very aided Boston of 3 years ago but a 2:03:06 is solid regardless of conditions. Desisa, Gebremariam, Geneti and the rest add some solid depth to the field.

Women

Mare Dibaba	2:19:52 (Dubai, 2012)	ETH

Rita Jeptoo	2:19:52 (Dubai, 2012)	KEN

Jemima Jelagat Sumgong	2:19:57 (Chicago, 2013)	KEN

Meseret Hailu Debele	2:20:48 (Chicago, 2013)	ETH

Eunice Kirwa	2:21:09 (Amsterdam, 2012) CR	KEN

Sharon Cherop	2:22:28 (Berlin, 2013)	KEN

Caroline Kilel	2:22:34 (Frankfurt, 2013)	KEN

Desiree Davila Linden	2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)	USA

Flomena Chepchichir Chumba	2:23:00 (Frankfurt, 2013)	KEN

Buzunesh Deba	2:23:19 (New York, 2011)	ETH

Tatiana Petrova Arkhipova	2:23:29 (London, 2012)	RUS

Aleksandra Duliba	2:23:44 (Chicago, 2013) NR	BLR

Yeshi Esayias	2:24:06 (Frankfurt, 2013)	ETH

Philes Ongori	2:24:20 (Rotterdam, 2011)	KEN

Belaynesh Oljira	2:25:01 (Dubai, 2013)	ETH

Shalane Flanagan	2:25:38 (Houston, 2012)	USA

Yolanda Caballero	2:26:17 (Boston, 2011)	COL

Amy Hastings	2:27:03 (Los Angeles, 2011)	USA

Lanni Marchant	2:28:00 (Toronto, 2013)	CAN

Serena Burla	2:28:01 (Amsterdam, 2013)	USA

Noriko Higuchi	2:28:49 (Tokyo, 2011)	JPN

Adriana Nelson	2:28:52 (London, 2008)	USA

Adriana Aparecida da Silva	2:29:17 (Tokyo, 2012)	BRA

Three runners who have gone under 2:20, 9 at 2:23:00 or faster. Another solid field with good depth.

2014 London Marathon elite women’s field announced

January 22, 2014 / News/Elites / 1 minute of reading

This article was originally posted by Ryan at the original HillRunner.com Blogs.

Another stellar field:

Priscah Jeptoo (KEN) 2:20:14 2013 London Marathon champion

Tiki Gelana (ETH) 2:18:58 2012 Olympic marathon champion

Florence Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:44 2013 Berlin Marathon champion

Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50 2011 & 2013 World marathon champion

Aberu Kebede (ETH) 2:20:30 2013 Tokyo Marathon champion

Feysa Tadesse (ETH) 2:21:06 2013 Paris Marathon champion

Tetyana Hamera-Shmyrko (UKR) 2:23:58 2013 Osaka Marathon champion

Jessica Augusto (POR) 2:24:33

Kim Smith (NZL) 2:25:21

Ana Dulce Felix (POR) 2:25:40

Nadia Ejjafini (ITA) 2:26:15

Diane Nukuri-Johnson (BDI) 2:29:54

Amy Whitehead (GBR) 2:33:44

Emma Stepto (GBR) 2:35:05

Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) Debut

Gemma Steel (GBR) Debut

Lyudmila Konavalenko (UKR) Debut

Just like the men’s field, full of big names. Jeptoo, Gelana, both Kiplagats. Plus another highly anticipated debut with Tiru Dibaba. This will be a very fascinating race, just as the men’s race will be.

Keep your goals in front of you

January 20, 2014 / Training / 3 minutes of reading

This article was originally posted by Ryan at the original HillRunner.com Blogs.

This weekend, I did something with every runner I’m coaching that I think surprised at least a few of them. I asked them to think about and send me two primary goals for 2014. I was looking for not just time goals but everything associated with running. Why did they hire me as a coach? If it was just for time goals, then let me know those goals specifically. If it was for more, what else was it for? To avoid injury? To find a running/life balance that would allow them to do certain things in both running and the rest of their lives? To learn more about training theory? To take their training to the "next level" in whatever way they may think it’s been lacking?

Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t overlooked talking about goals previously. It’s something I’m always thinking about and it’s one of the first things I ask a runner about when the runner contacts me with an interest in coaching.

What I was looking for were two short, precise points of focus for 2014. I am adding these to a private page I keep with links to training logs so, every time I go to look at someone’s training log, I’d see that person’s goals also. I’ll be constantly reminded of the end result we’re going after.

Why does this matter? Sometimes, when in middle of a long block of training, we get so focused on today, tomorrow, next week that we forget to think about the big picture. We forget the ultimate target. While it’s important to focus on the process, it’s also important to ensure the process is pointing us toward where we want to go. It’s easy to get away from that when you’re too focused on the moment.

For the record, I also performed this exercise on myself. One of my goals is not a race time. It’s to be running strong in September and October. In recent years, I too often found myself peaking in July or August and just hanging on as the fall races rolled around. This year, I’m going to have that "Run strong in September and October" goal in my face every week as I lay out my week’s training plan. I’m not going to overextend myself in May and June because I’m going to be reminded that I want a more sustainable training approach that leaves me running well in the summer but even better in the fall.

Seeing this goal every week is going to keep me honest. It’s going to help me ensure I plan sustainable workouts that will build fitness without breaking me down prematurely. It’s going to help me be honest with myself in those workouts and not run them harder than I should. It’s going to leave me running my best during my favorite time of the year to race. I’m hoping I have enough left in the tank to even consider expanding my fall racing schedule.

As for the runners I coach, I will have their top priorities in mind every time I’m developing long term training plans as well as every time I’m sending them short term plans. It will allow me to better tailor their training plans to their specific needs and desires.

So what do you do? First, think seriously about what your goals are. Not just racing goals but your overall running goals. What do you want out of your running this year? Then come up with two specific goals that you can express in short, concise sentences. Finally, keep those goals in front of you. Always be thinking about where you want to go. Focus on what you’re going to do today but in the context of how it’s going to get you to where you want to be three, six or twelve months from now.

Meg’s Miles

January 17, 2014 / News/Elites / 3 minutes of reading

This article was originally posted by Lighty at the original HillRunner.com Blogs.

I would like to share these stories if you have not yet heard about them. Meg Cross Menzies was runner with the Richmond Road Runners Club. She ran a 3:05 marathon and was training for the Boston Marathon. On Monday morning, January 13th, at 8:15am while on a training run she was hit by a drunk driver and killed. She leaves behind her husband and three young children. A friend of hers started Meg’s Miles https://www.facebook.com/events/489458451159627/ to run in her honor and raise awareness of drunk driving, texting and driving, and overall safety of runners and cyclists everywhere. As of right now there are over 72,000 people running all over the world for Meg.

This story really struck a chord with me because I have three children and more than once I’ve had to jump to safety to avoid being hit by a distracted driver. I never gave those things much thought except to be grateful to have escaped intact and irritated at the driver. I suppose I take for granted I’ll come home after my run to take care of my family, my children. Meg never came home after her run. Her kids will never get another hug or good night kiss from their mom. There’s no explanation they can understand why their mommy couldn’t come home anymore. That just breaks my heart. The worst feeling in the world is not being able to take care of and comfort your children. I know Meg does not feel that pain anymore, but we all feel it for her. I think that’s why this story is getting so much attention.

Mark Remy wrote this article in Runner’s World under The List.

http://www.runnersworld.com/fun/the-list-friday-january-17?page=single

He says, "It’s a sad fact that pedestrians, including runners, are hit by cars way too often. Many of them fatally. So why is this case getting so much attention? Why is it affecting so many people, including me, so deeply?

I’ve been thinking about that all week, and I’m no closer to an answer than I was Monday morning. Maybe it’s because Meg was doing everything right, and still got killed. Maybe it’s because she’s left a husband and three beautiful young children behind. Or maybe not everything we want to know is "knowable." Maybe life really is just that capricious."

Sadly, Meg is not the only runner killed on the road this week. Someone posted this article on the Meg’s Miles facebook page.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/cops-jogger-james-callaghan-hit-by-two-vehicles-killed-in-laurel-1.6811493

I’m sure Jim Callaghan also a family and friends who are trying to cope with his loss.

Please be careful, watch out for cars and please tell these runners’ stories. Maybe hearing these stories will stop someone from getting in a car drunk or texting and driving. And if you haven’t signed up yet, please do and dedicate your run tomorrow to Meg and Jim and anyone else who has lost their life to a drunk or texting driver.

2014 London Marathon elite men’s field announced

January 14, 2014 / News/Elites / 2 minutes of reading

This article was originally posted by Ryan at the original HillRunner.com Blogs.

Here’s the field. Comments below.

Wilson Kipsang (KEN), 2:03:23, World-record holder

Emmanuel Mutai (KEN), 2:03:52, London Marathon record holder

Geoffrey Mutai (KEN), 2:04:15, 2013 New York City Marathon champion

Ayele Abshero (ETH), 2:04:23, 2012 Dubai Marathon champion

Feyisa Lilesa (ETH), 2:04:32, 2011 world bronze medallist

Tsegaye Kebede (ETH), 2:04:38, 2013 London Marathon champion

Stanley Biwott (KEN), 2:05:12, 2012 Paris Marathon champion

Marilson dos Santos (BRA), 2:06:34, Two-times New York City Marathon champion

Martin Mathathi (KEN), 2:07:16, 2013 Fukuoka Marathon champion

Stephen Kiprotich (UGA), 2:07:20, World and Olympic marathon champion

Samuel Tsegay (ERI), 2:07:28

Mustapha El Aziz (MAR), 2:07:55

Amanuel Mesel (ERI), 2:08:17

Scott Overall (GBR), 2:10:55

Ryan Vail (USA), 2:11:45

Mo Farah (GBR), Debut, World & Olympic 5000m & 10,000m champion

Ibrahim Jeilan (ETH), Debut, 2011 World 10,000m champion

Chris Thompson (GBR), Debut

Ben Livesey (GBR), Debut

Wow. That’s about all I can say. This is a loaded field. With the usual stipulations that this race is still 3 months out and the field will change before that time, right now, this looks like an amazing field. You have the world record holder, several major marathon champions, two Olympic champions, course record holders galore. Then, of course, you have the hometown hero. Assuming this field keeps its general form, this could be a great race.

Of course, this also makes me feel even more strongly that Kenenisa Bekele was wise to not run London as his debut. Look at this field and tell me where you think he’d finish. Again, assuming this field remains intact and remembering that this would be his debut marathon, I have trouble seeing a route to the top 5 for him in this kind of race. I would have pegged him around 7th or 8th in this field at best.