The Biz Runner

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A 5K and MARATHON COURSE COLLIDE (December 8)

It’s not Pretty. In this case it will end up costing the organizers of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon an extra $11k. That’s what happens when the top four runners in your race are DQ’d.

Here’s what happened according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Due to cones that were inadvertently left in place from the previously run Memphis Grizzlies House 5K, Basweti and the next three runners
did not run the ''true course.'' After evaluating the distance ran by the three runners, it was determined that the distance they ran was 647 feet short of the required 26.2 miles, the standard length of a marathon.

It’s a bad mistake for organizers to make but to their credit they are stepping up and offering the best possible solution given the circumstances. Organizers are still paying the DQ’s runners their prize money, including paying out an additional $1,000 in bonus money for what would have been a course record. Unfortunately, that time will not be officially recognized because of the DQ. The new winners of the race will also receive prizes of $8k, $3k and 2k respectively. Kudos to the race organizers and taking the financial hit in doing their best to make everyone whole.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/dec/07/top-four-male-finishers-disqualified-after-st-jude/

Running Backwards (December 4)

Yesterday we told you about a great write-up of the running community in France, today we’re talking about runner - who teaches French.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Richard Strasbourg, a French teacher in New Orleans, will be attempting to set a record at the Ole Man River half-marathon by running the event…backwards!

"So, as I was browsing through the Guinness Book of World Records (2007), looking for a skipping marathon record (my friend Wanda skips on long runs) I found other records. Some were truly funny, like juggling and other stunt running records, spectacular but circus-like. And then I found a female backward running record, but no male record (for the half-marathon anyway). I went to the Guinness Web site and asked if they had one. They did not. I went to the track and gave it a try.

He’s not just hoping to set a Guinness World record, he’s also doing it raise money for charity. He’ll have two “witnesses” who will run the entire race with him – facing forward.

Good luck to Strasbourg. Here is his charity fundraising page:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=2593803&fr_id=17840&pg=personal

The Ultimate Runners Holiday Shopping List (December 4)

The Holiday season is upon us. If you’re shopping for friends or relatives you probably have a runner on your list. So what do you get the runner in your life? Or what do you tell Aunt Edna to get YOU instead of her traditional pair of cotton socks? The Biz Runner wants to help you out.

I have reached out to fellow runners and asked them for some suggestions. The following – in no particular order - are their answers:

Frayed Laces, Brooks ID runner and author of: www.frayedlaces.com

“I'm a poor grad student and am always asking for cheap things. I think a fantastic gift idea would be an assortment of new running gels. From my experience, runners tend to buy gels that they know work for them. Why spend money on a gel you may not like? But I'm always open to trying out new gels for free. So why not give your running friend an assortment of brands and flavors? I hear GU even launched a special gingerbread flavor for the holidays. And, if you're super cheap (like me) hit up a local marathon expo and try to grab samples of clif bars, gels, etc and give those as gifts. If there's one thing runners can't get enough of, it's food.”

http://www.guenergy.com/

Deena Kastor, (does she really need an introduction?) www.deenakastor.com

1. Matching ASICS beanie cap and gloves
2. Garmin FR60
3. The book Born to Run
4. USATF membership
5. Subscription to Runner’s World

Here’s a link to the specific matching set Deena recomended:
http://bit.ly/69gDiu

The Garmin:
http://bit.ly/6dIlFX

Born to Run
http://bit.ly/4oYi5S
http://www.usatf.org/MEMBERSHIP/

Runner's World
http://bit.ly/5on3R2

Theoden Janes, Entertainment Editor for the Charlotte Observer and author of the blog:
http://obsruntheoden.blogspot.com/

“I already have the GPS watch, a hydration belt, a Road ID, subscriptions to running magazines. I don't run with music so no need for a new iPod. I Like to pick out shoes and clothes myself. Not saying I don't want anything for the holidays, but what I'm ALWAYS in need of is ... moo-lah for races. Unfortunately, Active.com doesn't offer gift certificates (this is a real shame, by the way). So here's my suggestion: Hone in on a race you've heard your loved one talking about, write a check or assemble cash in the precise denomination, then dress it up a little according to what the race is. For instance, if it's the Peachtree Road Race, maybe present the check in a basket of peaches. If it's the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, you could slip the cash inside a Keith Urban CD. The gift of money is only as impersonal as you make it. Plus, remember that the idea behind gifts is to give people what they want -- and what a lot of us want is yet another shot at a PR.”

To look up races:
http://www.active.com/
http://www.marathonguide.com/races/races.cfm

Dane Rauschenberg, Lawyer, author and runner who ran 52 marathons in 52 weekends http://danerunsalot.blogspot.com/

“Two great gift suggestion are:

1. ROAD ID. No runner should be out and about without proper identification. When I was recently hit by a car while cycling I was 100% happy I was wearing mine.

2. A Race Registration fee. Find out a race someone you care about wants to run and pay it for them. It is a great way to show interest in their running career and also helps put them in motion to begin training for it. They do not want to let you down.

http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx
http://www.active.com/
http://www.marathonguide.com/races/races.cfm

Biz Runner Note: Another cool gift? Dane’s book about his experience running 52 marathon in 52 weekends: http://bit.ly/4Fa5zJ

Lindsay, Author of the Chasing The Kenyans blog:
http://www.chasingthekenyans.com/

1) RoadID bracelet/anklet/shoetag -- Safety first! The RoadID usually provides an extra strip of reflective material for added visibility on morning/evening runs and the contact/allergy information on the tag would be invaluable in case of emergency.

2) Running gloves -- It's cold (in most places) in the winter! It's nice to have a couple pairs of gloves in the rotation.

3) Compression socks -- Not only to help with recovery from a run, but also to keep a runner warm in general in the colder weather.

4) Arm warmers -- Moreso for fall/spring running in my opinion, but a fun craze recently.

Compression Socks
http://bit.ly/8DHMIw

Ryan Hall, (See Deena Kastors bio above)
http://www.thestepsfoundation.org/

A pair of Asics Arm warmers
http://bit.ly/6sgU8K

Biz Runner Note: another gift idea – how about a donation on behalf of your friend/relative to the Hall Steps Foundation (a charity that funds programs to create a better life for youth living in poverty in the United States and abroad)? http://www.thestepsfoundation.org/

Kristina Pinto, aka The Marathon Momma
http://www.marathonmama.competitor.com

“My recommendation to running moms is to stock up on "disposable gloves," those cheap knit stretch gloves you can get at Target for 1.50 for 2 pair. It's so annoying to dig around for gloves when you just want to get out and run, and you can get 8 pr of gloves for $6. That way you can get lots of colors, have gloves to ditch in a race when your hands get warm, and lose them here and there without having blown a lot of money. It's just one less thing to worry about as a running mom in the winter! I have one pair of expensive ASICS mittens that convert to gloves, which I wear when it's really cold, but otherwise, I go for those simple knit gloves from Target.”

http://www.target.com/
http://www.amazon.com/180s-Ultralite-Convertible-Running-Glove/dp/B001I90BEW/ref=pd_sbs_a_4

Thad McLaurin, aka Runner Dude
www.runnderdude.blogspot.com

“On the practical side, one gift I think most any runner would appreciate is a waterproof seatcover to protect their car seat from wet, soggy clothes after a hard run. On the inspirational side, an item that would make a great gift for any runner is the book, Once a Runner by John L. Parker Jr. This wonderfully motivating novel will make even a couch potato want to get up and run! On the wishlist side, I think any gadget-loving runner that doesn't have a Garmin Forerunner® 405CX, would love one. He/she would have to have been a really good boy or girl, cause these things are dang expensive. (I must have a little devil still in me, cause I still haven't gotten one.)”

Seat Cover:
http://www.jeffgalloway.com/detail.aspx?ID=1

Once a Runner:
http://bit.ly/5cUHzH

Garmin
http://bit.ly/8cpjm4

Val, aka, Marathon Val, a runner who loves to cook and author of the blog:
http://chicagomarathonval.com/

Running:
* iPod touch
* Spibelt - great to hold your cell phone, Gu's, etc.
* Under Armour - I love my Under Armour pants for winter runs

Cooking: it's soooo hard to just pick since I love everything in my kitchen! But, if I had to pick, the one item I couldn't live without is my food processors.

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/
http://www.spibelt.com/
http://www.underarmour.com/
http://www.consumersearch.com/food-processors

The Emerging Runner, author of: www.emergingrunner.com

I'd say my top pick for an inexpensive and useful gift for a runner is the SPIbelt. Under $30 and one size fits all. I use mine often to carry ID, money and a small phone. It really comes in handy for longer runs. On the higher end I'd say a pair of good compression running pants. They are typically priced from $50-$90 and they provide lots of benefits during the run (support, warmth) and after for recovery. I have Nike but any of the big brands would make great gifts.

http://www.spibelt.com/
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nike/en_US/

Jeff Galloway, (See Ryan Hall's bio) http://www.jeffgalloway.com/

The one gift that could be given to a running friend is a coupon for a run together. There is a bonding that occurs when runners run together. Long distance running friendships continue with a cell phone call once a week, when one of the "partners" is on a run.

Different types of runners would benefit from different gifts

* Beginners--a run-walk-run timer that vibrates when it's time to do one or the other.
* Time goal runners--coaching from someone who can understand the needs of the runner
*Runners over 50: a copy of my book RUNNING UNTIL YOU'RE 100

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/detail.aspx?ID=49
http://www.jeffgalloway.com/detail.aspx?ID=24

The Biz Runner

For those that like to run with music the standard ear buds that come with iPods can drive you crazy. No matter what you do, they don't fit very well in your ear. YurBuds is the solution. Unlike the engineers behind the iPod ear buds, YurBuds are actually DESIGNED to fit in your ear! You put them over your iPod ear buds and they transform your buds into something more comfortable and they actually stay in place. I came across these right around the time of the NYC Maraton and gave them a shot. I 'm still using them. They work great. Your recipeint will not be disappointed.

One last suggestion - I wrote about the book back in July and Deena also recommended it above: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I've said it before, it's impossible to overhype this book. If YOU haven't read it you should. Treat yourself. If you know a runner that hasn't read it, give them a copy. They will love you for it.

https://www.yurbuds.com/
http://bit.ly/4oYi5S

My thanks to everyone who took the time to respond and help out their fellow runners. Happy shopping and happy running.

Jerry Lewis, The French and Marathons of a Different Sort (December 3)

We can thank the French for their role in shaping or inventing a a number of things. High fashion, the baguette, modern art, cinema, pasteurized milk and French toast (kidding Francophiles I’m kidding). For all this, we gave them Jerry Lewis. I think its safe to say we came out way ahead.

But we can now add one more thing to the list…marathoning? Apparently so according to a terrific piece written by Peter Davy on FranceToday.com

Look back in history, for instance, and it was a Frenchman who gave us the competitive marathon: Michel Bréal's suggestion to the organizers of the first modern Olympics, in 1896 in Greece, that a marathon should be added to the program to commemorate the original run of Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens in 490 BC, was enthusiastically taken up. And a Frenchman, Albin Lermusiaux, was one of only four foreign runners to take part-alongside more than a dozen Greeks.

Davy provides a fascinating profile of the French running community. The French host over 5,000 races each year, the most of any country in Europe. He breaks down some of the best, including:

1) The Paris Marathon:

Starting right in front of the Arc de Triomphe, and continuing down the Champs-Elysées, the course checks off Notre Dame cathedral, Place de
la Bastille and the Eiffel Tower. You also get to run through both the woods, the Bois de Boulogne on the west and the Bois de Vincennes to the east of the city (as well as along the château there). There's a good stretch alongside the River Seine as well and the finish loops back to the Arc.

"The beauty of it is that you really hit all the landmarks in Paris," says Mark Offenberger, a French-American national living in Trémery, in the Lorraine region. He started running a couple of years ago to get back in shape and got hooked. "It really is a stunning route," he says. And for all that, it's not slow either; this year, Kenyan Vincent Kipruto finished in 2h 5m 47s, just outside the top ten fastest finishes for any marathon ever recorded

2) The Marathon du Médoc:

According to the organizers, the event is founded on four pillars: health, sport, conviviality and fun. In truth, however, that's probably in reverse order. Yes, it's a full-length marathon, officially measured, and there is a fairly respectable course record. However, 90 percent of the runners come in costume-this year's theme was the circus. Participants are known to stash bicycles in the hedgerows to help them make the finish line; and, in all honesty, how healthy can it be to
run over 26 miles while drinking wine at more than 20 pit stops and sampling the oysters, steak, cheese and foie gras on offer? Celebrations before the event, wine and food during it, and a huge ball and fireworks afterward ensure that few steam ahead on a course that meanders through more than 50 châteaux, including many of the big names in French wine.

3) Le Marathon de la Liberté

A marathon which passes through the 17 towns and villages lining the beaches targeted by Allied forces during the Normandy landings.

It turns out it was Frenchman who invented the Marathon des Sables:

It's probably no coincidence that the Marathon des Sables, generally
acknowledged as the toughest foot race on earth, was conceived by a Frenchman. Patrick Bauer, a former concert promoter from Troyes, created the race after he walked alone across the Algerian Sahara in
1984. Now each year, runners from around the world come to do the same for the 151-mile six-day race. Compulsory equipment includes an emergency distress flare, an anti-venom pump for scorpion and snake bites, 2,500 calories of food per day and salt tablets
Finally, with all the talk about the role of “plodders” in the US running community (the NY Times’ word not mine) the French have found ways to make sure people finish in a timely fashion – and I don’t mean the Oprah Line. (http://www.thebizrunner.com/2009/10/if-you-cant-outrun-oprah-should-you-pay.html)

On the Marathon des Sables, for instance, runners are disqualified
if they're overtaken by two camels that walk the course; in the
Marathon de l'Epine or the five-mile Foulées du Gois, both on Noirmoutier Island, you have to outrun the sea. If you're not over the causeway that connects it to the mainland at Beauvoir-sur-Mer before the tide comes in, you're out. And you get wet feet.
Here’s the rest of article – a great read.
http://francetoday.com/articles/2009/12/01/running_a_la_francaise.html

(December 2)

1. Does Running Need More Women? Yes, according to this columnist. Here’s a sample:

Right before we embark, someone makes announcements and then asks if there's anyone new to the group. Would men openly welcome newcomers? Not likely.

For the rest:
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2009/12/01/sports/6536843.txt

2.Plastic Surgeons have found what they say is a natural method of breast augmentation. Liposuctiong fat from another part of a women’s body and implanting it in the breast. Just don’t plan on running a marathon:

But the disadvantages cannot be discounted. It’s usually more expensive than implants, it takes a year to see how much fat survived, and breast volume can fluctuate with weight. Dr. Scott L. Spear, the chairman of the plastic surgery department at Georgetown University Hospital, has enlarged a patient’s breasts only to have the patient undo his handiwork by losing weight. “They decide to run a marathon and their breasts go away,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/fashion/03skin.html?_r=1

3. Organizers of the Grand Cayman Marathon are asking motorists to look out for runners on the marathon course. Yikes.

http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=10387565

4. Boxer Bernard Hopkins Runs the Philadelphia Marathon. Sorta.

Early on the morning of the Philadelphia Marathon two weeks ago, before the crowd got started, Bernard Hopkins got out on Kelly Drive and ran alone.

"I went out there without a number," the former middleweight champion said. "How often do you get to run in the middle of the street from Boathouse Row all the way to the Parkway? I cut through Fairmount Park, wound up at 33d and Diamond, toward the zoo. Hooked it all the way to the right and came back at the Parkway and went back to my condominium."

http://bit.ly/5d2a3y

5. Actor Anthony Edwards on his marathon and charity experiences
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthony-edwards/it-all-starts-with-a-step_b_375341.html

Speedwork: Optimist or Pessimist? Are you feeling optimistic or pessimistic today?

Optimistic: Could Running be the fountain of youth?
http://running.about.com/b/2009/12/01/could-running-be-a-fountain-of-youth.htm

Pessimistic: 40 or Over? Running too much may be damaging your knees
http://www.wbbm780.com/Warning-for-middle-aged-runners--your-knees-may-no/5780831

Running with man’s best friend…and man’s best friends poo:
http://blog.timesunion.com/outdoors/running-with-dog-poo/1610/

Completely non-running related but it was a link on another story and caught my eye:

Study suggests loneliness is contagious

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Is loneliness contagious? A new study suggests the answer is yes.The new study suggests those with a negative vibe spread it merely by being in regular contact with that person. Lead author of the study is Dr. John Cacioppo, a psychologist at the University of Chicago. He says “negative social interactions are more powerful and have a bigger impact than positive social interactions”. He adds that loneliness is “transmitted” through those social interactions.The new study suggests that, as people become lonely, they become less trusting of others, making it harder for them to form friendships.The study of more than 10,000 people is found in the new edition of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.More information at www.apa.org/journals/psp/

So, the answer to avoiding loneliness is … to avoid lonely people…leaving those people more lonely, which in turn would cause more loneliness in the people THEY come into contact with. I am so confused.

Sarah and Ryan Hall Named Humanitarian of the Year Congrats to Sarah and Ryan Hall. They have been named the Visa Humanitarian Athletes of the Year by USA Track & Field. It’s great recognition for the charity work the couple is doing.

In September they launched the Hall Steps Foundation, “which will fund programs to create a better life for youth living in poverty in the United States and abroad. The foundation aims to use running's lessons to encourage people to take "small steps" toward the goal of tackling issues like clean water, sex trafficking, and leadership development. Domestically, the foundation plans to create mentoring programs for at-risk youth to train for a race with an adult runner.”

Here is what Sarah Hall said in a press release announcing the honor:

"Ryan and I are very honored to receive this award, and wish we
could be there to accept it in person! Both of us hope through our charitable work, including founding The Hall Steps Foundation, to leave a positive mark on our sport and inspire lives along the way! Our goal through The Hall Steps Foundation is to engage the running community is social justice efforts, and we are excited to see the response of the running community so far! We are very thankful to Visa and USATF for providing us with events and a platform on which to compete, and it is great to give back with all we've been blessed with.
We will be using the funds from the award to go towards our social justice efforts through The Hall Steps Foundation. Thank you very much!"
The award will be given out this Saturday at the Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The full release is here:
http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUID=USATF_2009_11_30_18_47_59

For more on the Hall Steps Foundation you can go here:
www.thestepsfoundation.org

399,999…400,000…400,001 A first marathon is always a memorable experience for any runner - but you can be certain Judith Mosely won’t be forgetting her first anytime soon. She finished this years Marine Corps Marathon in 5:49:49 - which made this mother of three the 400,000th finisher in the history of the MCM. In honor of the occasion, she’ll be getting a special plaque from MarthonFoto and a MCM Vermont Teddy Bear.

It would be easy to just let this milestone go without much fanfare but I love putting a face on it. These aren’t widgets being produced. Releasing the name of the milestone runner humanizes the number. If I was the MCM, I would have sought out a larger sponsor and marketed the fact this was going to be a milestone year and promote the special prize given to whoever gets the honor. If I were Mrs. Mosely, I’d pass on the Vermont Teddy Bear and hold out for a lifetime MCM bib, with an honorary number of 400,000. Now THAT would be a way to mark the occasion.

Here’s a look at the MCM milestones through the years:

1976 first race
1990 100,000 finisher mark reached
1998 200,000 finisher mark reached
2004 300,000 finisher mark reached
2009 400,000 finisher mark reached.

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