This yearâââ‰â¢s Vienna City Marathon will mark a special occasion: When the race will be started on 27th April a couple of hundred thousands of spectators will witness a jubilee event in the capital. It will be the 25th edition of Austriaâââ‰â¢s biggest and most prestigious road race. This is one reason why entry figures are soaring. So far about 9,000 runners have registered for the race, which includes a half marathon, a relay event plus three races for juniors and children. Another reason for the growing popularity of the Vienna City Marathon is that the event has established itself as a major international marathon. The elite fields in recent years were much stronger than before. Additionally the race can offer a unique combination of sports and culture: ,Run Vienna âââ‰â¬Å Enjoy Classicâââ‰â¢ is the motto of the Vienna City Marathon.
When the first edition of the race was started on 25th March 1984 organisers were proud to register 794 finishers at the Heldenplatz, which is still the site of the spectacular finish today. ââ∠âWe will see times in the future when we will have ten times as many participants,âââ¬Ã said Helmut Zilk after he had started the first race 24 years ago. At that time the words of the Austrian minister for education and art may have sounded a bit exaggerated. But the development of the Vienna City Marathon proved that the minister was right.
There was a difficult period though: After a couple of years enthusiasm for Austriaâââ‰â¢s first big city marathon seemed to get lost with entry numbers stagnating. It was then in 1989 when former steeple chaser Wolfgang Konrad took over as race director. Konrad, who at that time was the Austrian steeple record holder (8:17.22 minutes) and a prominent athlete, guided the race into a prosperous future. This yearâââ‰â¢s event will also mark a personal jubilee for Konrad, because it will be his 20th Vienna City Marathon in charge as race director. In 1995 his race was the first one which used chip timing for the entire field of runners. Five years later Konrad started another technical innovation, which became very popular in many races worldwide: The sending of text messages with finishing times.
I was searching for some programs and came across yours. I'd like to do the sub-50 min. program but I'm not sure if I should do some kind of build up phase first. My last race was a 1/2 marathon in November and since then, I haven't done a formal program. Just making sure that I was running 2-3x/week, a combination of regular runs and intervals. I'm 28 years old.
Can I jump into the program or should I do some other base building first? Is there other information you need to know?
As the world counts down to the Beijing Olympics, 21 nations will be represented at next weekend's Sydney Grand Prix with Kenya and China confirming their athletes to compete on our shores over the next three weeks.
They will join the worldâââ‰â¢s fastest man Asafa Powell, and reigning world and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner, who will commence their Olympic campaigns at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre on Saturday, February 16.
In other news, John Steffensen has entered the meet in Sydney, however he has informed Athletics Australia that he is still concerned about his troublesome hamstrings and would like to delay a decision on lining up for the 400m until closer to the event. Steffensen would require an exemption from the selectors if he were to miss the crucial Olympic qualifying event.
The distance fields will be boosted by the inclusion of four quality Kenyan runners, who will also compete at the World Athletics Tour in Melbourne (February 21) and at the National Championships in Brisbane (February 28 âââ‰â¬Å March 1) - Leonard Kibet (800m/1500m), Bernard Kiptum (1500m), Shadrack Kosgei (1500m/3000m/5000m) and Collins Kosgei (3000m steeplechase/5000m).
With a personal best of 8:14:32, Collins Kosgei (pictured winning in Melbourne in 2005) will be branded with the tag of favourite in the 3000m steeplechase in Sydney, with Youcef Abdi (NSW), Martin Dent (ACT) and Peter Nowill (QLD) all providing strong competition.
The three other Kenyans are expected to give Collis Birmingham (VIC), Jeff Riseley (VIC), Ryan Gregson (NSW) and Jeremy Roff (NSW) a run for their money in the 1500m.
The Kosgei boys will inject another dose of African might in the much-anticipated 5000m clash between Craig Mottram and Ethiopians Tariku Bekele and Abreham Feleke in Melbourne.
All four Kenyan runners hail from the Eldoret region, the scene of the ethnic revenge attacks set off by Decemberâââ‰â¢s presidential elections which caused hundreds of fatalities and provoked thousands to flee their homes.
Australiaâââ‰â¢s 2006 3000m steeplechase champion Youcef Abdi, who will also compete in Sydney this weekend, travelled to the riot-engulfed town in early December to benefit from the altitude training at 2500m and was fortunate to escape unharmed.
Lucas Sang, a member of Kenyaâââ‰â¢s 1988 Olympic team, was attacked and killed when walking home in Eldoret on January 1.
Team China rarely leave their shores to compete overseas, and in an Olympic year when the spotlight will be firmly focused on their capital city, will send a nine-member contingent to compete in Sydney and Melbourne.
Xiaoxiao Huang, who finished fifth behind Jana Rawlinson at last yearâââ‰â¢s world titles, headlines the team and the contest over the sticks between the 23 year-old and Jamaican Melaine Walker will provide one of the highlights of the Sydney meet.
In Melbourne, Aimin Song (PB - 65.33m) and Taifeng Sun (PB - 64.98m) are expected to push young gun Dani Samuels (PB - 60.63m) in the discus, whilst in the womenâââ‰â¢s 3000m steeplechase, Zhenzhu Li (PB âââ‰â¬Å 9:32.35) and Yanmei Zhu (PB - 9:32.36) will provide valuable competition for Tassieâââ‰â¢s golden girl Donna MacFarlane (PB - 9:25.05).
Sydney Athletics Grand Prix
Date: Saturday, February 16, 2008
Time: 6:45pm
Venue: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre
JOHANNESBURG, Wednesday, 06 February 2008: Defending champions Poppy Mlambo (Central Gauteng Athletics) and Bethuel Netshifhlefhe (Athletics Gauteng North ) are convinced they can set their career best performances at the Nedbank Durban City Marathon this coming Sunday.
The race has added significance as it is both the South Africa Marathon Championships and a qualifier for the Beijing Olympics. Competing in only her third marathon, Mlambo reckons she has what it takes to break new grounds.
ââ∠âMy basic aim is to improve my personal best of 2 hours 39 minutes 19 seconds (2:39:19) which I achieved when I won my maiden marathon at the Nedbank SA Marathon Champs last year, in Port Elizabeth. My goal is to achieve the Olympics A standard qualifier of (2:36). I have not run a marathon since the World Championships in Osaka Japan last August, so I should be in my best form this weekend,âââ¬Ã Mlambo revealed.
Dimakatso Menong (Athletics Gauteng North) and Eunice Nhlapo (Athletics Gauteng North) are expected to be Mlamboâââ‰â¢s main challengers in her title defence. The presence of Lesothoâââ‰â¢s Mamarolla Tjoka and Beata Naigambo of Namibia will provide the pace Mlambo needs to break new grounds in her fledging marathon career.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
An encore presentation of Spirit of the Marathon has been added in select US theatres.
February 21, 2008 7:30pm
NCM Fathom, in partnership with Active.com and Wasserman Media Group, is proud to present ââ∠âSpirit of the Marathonâââ¬Ã on the big screen in high-definition with Cinema Surround Sound on Thursday, February 21st at 7:30PM (local). Donâââ‰â¢t miss your chance to see the Chicago International Film Festivalâââ‰â¢s ââ∠âAudience Choice Awardâââ¬Ã winner!
A ââ∠âBehind-the-Scenesâââ¬Ã featurette produced specifically for this event includes interviews with the director and producers as well as marathon veterans reminicscing about their first marathon experiences. The featurette highlights deleted scenes, dramatic race footage and previews the upcoming 2008 Olympics with a Q&A session with Olympians Deena Kastor and Ryan Hall.
ââ∠âSpirit of the Marathonâââ¬Ã is the first ever non-fiction feature film to capture the drama and essence of the famed 26.2 mile running event. Filmed on four continents, the production brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon luminaries. As six unique stories unfold, each runner prepares for and ultimately faces the challenge of the Chicago Marathon. More than a sports program, ââ∠âSpirit of the Marathonâââ¬Ã is an inspirational journey of perseverance and personal triumph; a spectacle that will be embraced by runners and non-runners alike.
Four years in the making, ââ∠âSpirit of the Marathonâââ¬Ã is the collaborative effort of three-time Academy Award winner Mark Jonathon Harris, Telly Award winner and marathon runner Jon Dunham and producer/marathoner Gwendolen Twist.
Please note: this event is at participating US locations only and will only be shown at select theatres.
Have anyone seen this great documentary which will be screened
on February 21st 2008 in select US theatres.
Here's a brief summary of the movie:
"Spirit of the Marathon is the first ever non-fiction feature film
to capture the drama and essence of the famed 26.2 mile running event.
Filmed on four continents, the movie brings together a diverse cast
of amateur athletes and marathon luminaries."
Anyone know how to get rid of my back pain...it usually comes when i am playing for my wings in the gym..it just hurts me a lot and i am in a mood of stopping my workout.so please do send me opinions and suggestions.thanks in advance..
OTTAWA âââ‰â¬Å Athletics Canada announced today that the 2008 Canadian Half-Marathon Championships will take place in Montreal on April 20, 2008 as part of the fifth annual Scotiabank 21k & 5k at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Alan Brookes, Executive Director of the Canadian Running Series on Montreal hosting the event; "Canada Running Series and Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal are delighted to be hosting the Half-Marathon national Championships as well as partnering with Athletics Canada to promote the revival of Canadian distance and marathon running. Montreal is a great city - our event offers a flat, fast course in beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau. It is perfectly timed for both elite and recreational runners going onto the national marathon championships in Ottawa."
The winners at the Half-Marathon Championships will be going to Rio to represent Canada at the 2008 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships in October 2008.
The Half-Marathon Championships are one of seven events on Athletics Canadaâââ‰â¢s Canadian Championship Series schedule.
2008 Championship Series
Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running, road running and road racing.