I went searching for where I could watch tomorrow's London Marathon live on the internet. Universal Sports seem to be one option. It is not clear from the website but I think it's about $5-7 to watch. BBC seems to be the other option. However, the internet option seems to be available only for those in the UK.
At the time of searching, I also came across this article about how Virgin (the main sponsor) has started a charity site based on open source technology (MySQL, Apache, etc.). If they can use free technology, why can't they have a free live feed on the marathon website? As it is, they already have ads on that website. Putting in a live feed would not only bring in several thousand hits but would make thousands of runners outside the UK very happy. Thus, not only would they earn several thousands of pennies but also the love and admiration of many running fans worldwide.
I would have sent them an email regarding this but all they have on their "Contact Us" page is a UK phone number. If you know of a way to reach them via email, please let me know.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
What is more popular - jogging or running?
Running vs jogging is a surefire way of sparking a debate, especially online. As for the difference, there are many theses out there, some of them particularly humorous. I decided to see what the search engines had to say by putting in some search words. These are the number of results I came up with:
Google:
Google:
- running - 379 million
- jogging - 12.6 million
- runner - 53.8 million
- jogger - 3.4 million
- running - 265 million
- jogging - 10.6 million
- runner - 35.8 million
- jogger - 3.4 million
Sunday, April 11, 2010
2010 Carlsbad 5000 - The 25th anniversary
Click on any picture for a larger version.
Earlier today I went to see the Carlsbad 5000. This year was the 25th anniversary of the race which bills itself as the "World's Fastest 5K" and the home of 16 world records including the current 5K road race record. The main events started early in the day at 7 a.m. with the Masters races (40 and above age group) followed by the 30-39 age group races a couple of hours later and then the 29 and below races another hour or so later. All this is the build up towards the main event - the elite invitational run.
The men's race started at 12:20 p.m. It was supposed to have started at 12:15 p.m. but got delayed, apparently due to some high winds. I guess they were hoping for it to get better. Here are a few pics of them warming up. That's Marcos Geneti of Ethiopia (on the left) talking to Eliud Kipchoge on the right. Kipchoge was the pre-race favorite.
That's Alistair Cragg with his boar (?) tattoo. Kipchoge is next to him in the background.
That's eventual women's winner Meseret Defar on her way to the warmups. I got lucky that all of them passed by on the side of the road that I'd picked for my spot.
The national anthem was sung. A few seconds later, the men burst out, faster than jack rabbits. Apparently, there was a (real) pace rabbit but the winds were not too kind.
The women followed less than two minutes later. The three tiny women on the right in the picture were the eventual winners.
The finish line was only a couple of blocks away so that we could walk faster than the elites could run. Needless to say, they took a slightly longer route than we did. On the way we passed by the beer garden which is for all runners who participated. They get two free beers. If you thought beer doesn't smell, you haven't passed by a beer garden. This is when you truly understand the meaning of the old adage - "the sum of the parts is greater than the whole." It Stank and that's an understatement. The runners, however, seemed to be having fun and it was a warm and cloudy day.
Unlike the start which seemed bereft of spectators, the finish was packed tighter than the seals you can find near the Carlsbad coast. I was not able to get a good finish line picture of the winners.
That's the men's winners in the pic above. Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia (2nd), Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya (1st), and Bekana Daba of Ethiopia (3rd) from left to right. The winning times were 13:11, 13:18, and 13:24.
Kipchoge seemed like a very nice guy. Here he's with someone important (I think). The announcer said something but it was hard to hear the words with all the crowds. He must have given a couple of hundred autographs easily. Below is one of him giving yet another autograph in the background while they were doing the women's presentations.
Above is the secret to running a 13:11 5K - a pair of Nike Zoom Air's with Chinese symbols for speed on it. This particular one belongs to Kipchoge.
The women's race was slower than expected. In the pic below, that's Aheza Kiros (2nd), Meseret Defar (1st), and Meskerem Assefa (3rd) - all from Ethiopia. The times were 15:04, 15:26, and 15:55. I tried to match the faces to the names using the website but it is difficult since the website has bib numbers number 101, 102, etc. whereas the runners were actually wearing bib numbers F1, F2, etc.
Defar became the first three-time champion at the Carlsbad 5000.
That's Simon Ndirangu of Kenya in the Superman T-shirt. This was after he finished. I don't think you'd want to run in a Superman T-shirt unless you are running a Halloween race. Ndirangu seemed like a very nice guy with a very big smile. I got this shot during the 7% of the time that he wasn't smiling.
Carlsbad was a fun outing. The traffic coordination and other logistics seemed to be well taken care of. Parking was not much of a problem, though we didn't go for the 7 a.m. races. Weather is usually nice at this time of the year. Making our way out from Carlsbad, we stopped the Carlsbad Flower Fields about 3 miles further south on the I-5. Here's one shot of the fields with the Pacific ocean in the distance.
Earlier today I went to see the Carlsbad 5000. This year was the 25th anniversary of the race which bills itself as the "World's Fastest 5K" and the home of 16 world records including the current 5K road race record. The main events started early in the day at 7 a.m. with the Masters races (40 and above age group) followed by the 30-39 age group races a couple of hours later and then the 29 and below races another hour or so later. All this is the build up towards the main event - the elite invitational run.
The men's race started at 12:20 p.m. It was supposed to have started at 12:15 p.m. but got delayed, apparently due to some high winds. I guess they were hoping for it to get better. Here are a few pics of them warming up. That's Marcos Geneti of Ethiopia (on the left) talking to Eliud Kipchoge on the right. Kipchoge was the pre-race favorite.
That's Alistair Cragg with his boar (?) tattoo. Kipchoge is next to him in the background.
That's eventual women's winner Meseret Defar on her way to the warmups. I got lucky that all of them passed by on the side of the road that I'd picked for my spot.
The national anthem was sung. A few seconds later, the men burst out, faster than jack rabbits. Apparently, there was a (real) pace rabbit but the winds were not too kind.
The women followed less than two minutes later. The three tiny women on the right in the picture were the eventual winners.
The finish line was only a couple of blocks away so that we could walk faster than the elites could run. Needless to say, they took a slightly longer route than we did. On the way we passed by the beer garden which is for all runners who participated. They get two free beers. If you thought beer doesn't smell, you haven't passed by a beer garden. This is when you truly understand the meaning of the old adage - "the sum of the parts is greater than the whole." It Stank and that's an understatement. The runners, however, seemed to be having fun and it was a warm and cloudy day.
Unlike the start which seemed bereft of spectators, the finish was packed tighter than the seals you can find near the Carlsbad coast. I was not able to get a good finish line picture of the winners.
That's the men's winners in the pic above. Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia (2nd), Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya (1st), and Bekana Daba of Ethiopia (3rd) from left to right. The winning times were 13:11, 13:18, and 13:24.
Kipchoge seemed like a very nice guy. Here he's with someone important (I think). The announcer said something but it was hard to hear the words with all the crowds. He must have given a couple of hundred autographs easily. Below is one of him giving yet another autograph in the background while they were doing the women's presentations.
Above is the secret to running a 13:11 5K - a pair of Nike Zoom Air's with Chinese symbols for speed on it. This particular one belongs to Kipchoge.
The women's race was slower than expected. In the pic below, that's Aheza Kiros (2nd), Meseret Defar (1st), and Meskerem Assefa (3rd) - all from Ethiopia. The times were 15:04, 15:26, and 15:55. I tried to match the faces to the names using the website but it is difficult since the website has bib numbers number 101, 102, etc. whereas the runners were actually wearing bib numbers F1, F2, etc.
Defar became the first three-time champion at the Carlsbad 5000.
That's Simon Ndirangu of Kenya in the Superman T-shirt. This was after he finished. I don't think you'd want to run in a Superman T-shirt unless you are running a Halloween race. Ndirangu seemed like a very nice guy with a very big smile. I got this shot during the 7% of the time that he wasn't smiling.
Carlsbad was a fun outing. The traffic coordination and other logistics seemed to be well taken care of. Parking was not much of a problem, though we didn't go for the 7 a.m. races. Weather is usually nice at this time of the year. Making our way out from Carlsbad, we stopped the Carlsbad Flower Fields about 3 miles further south on the I-5. Here's one shot of the fields with the Pacific ocean in the distance.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Busted for peeing on a run
The next time you feel the urge to go pee while out on a run, keep this story in mind. It's from a poster on the Letsrun.com bulletin board:
Bike cop with too much time on his hands? Ridiculous, to say the least. Anyway, just this week, the poster reported back with somewhat good news:
I don't know what to do, this is awful.
I am a 35 year old man with a good job, wife and kids. I volunteer with about 8 local charities and consider myself a pretty decent person.
Last night at like 6:30 pm, I was about half way through a 10 miler and I had to go to the bathroom (#1). I was nowhere near a bathroom, but on a local paved trail that meanders through forest, neighborhoods, etc.
I was at a very secluded part of the trail, no one anywhere in sight. It was dark. I would say the closest house or street was at least 800 meters away. So I stop, step off the trail and begin to pee into the bushes.
Suddenly, a cop on a bike rounds the corner and literally treats me like I am trying to run from him after robbing a bank. He make me put my hands behind my back, get down on my knees and everything. I thought he was going to cuff me.
I tried to explain that I was just on a run, but he wouldn't listen.
Anyway, I got a fat PI ticket and I have to go to court. Is this something that is going to haunt me? My wife laughed at me, but I think it could end up being serious.
Yes, I finished my run with the ticket in my key pocket.
Bike cop with too much time on his hands? Ridiculous, to say the least. Anyway, just this week, the poster reported back with somewhat good news:
Well, I am happy to report that while I do have a misdemeanor offense and will have to do some community service, I was not charged with a sex crime.
The judge seemed to understand the situation. I ended up hiring a lawyer due to the severity of the charges, and I do not know if it was needed in retrospect. Better safe than sorry though, so it was well worth it in my opinion.
The cop showed up and was visibly upset with the decision to not charge me with something more substantial.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Running on the boardwalk
Every time I go to the beach, I see runners on the boardwalk pounding away merrily, chugging along at a leisurely pace which, in part, is influenced by the speed restrictions on the boardwalk. Every time I see them, I wonder, how much does the pounding on the boardwalk hurt in the long run? The slow speed definitely makes it easier on the legs but overall you're still pounding concrete and I think that has to hurt over a period of time. When I was in my 20s, I could run anywhere and the next day would still be the same. Now that I'm in my 30s, where I run and how long I run can and does affect how I feel the next day. Indeed, if I run on concrete and/or tar roads, I am more likely to have sore legs the next day than if I run on dirt trails. Especially, if I run hard.
The other problem with concrete running is the monotonicity of the surface. Over time, this can lead to weaknesses in muscles. Variety, as that found in trail running or running on other uneven surfaces, gives the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other assorted unpronounceable parts, a chance to work out and in the process, strengthen themselves. Running on the boardwalk fails to provide this variety, unless of course, the boardwalk is covered with potholes or little sand dunes from overnight tides.
Nonetheless, this is all still anecdotal evidence. I wasn't able to find any studies on the effects of running on concrete for several years. A proper research study would definitely make for a stronger case. If you do know something like that, please drop me an email.
The other problem with concrete running is the monotonicity of the surface. Over time, this can lead to weaknesses in muscles. Variety, as that found in trail running or running on other uneven surfaces, gives the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other assorted unpronounceable parts, a chance to work out and in the process, strengthen themselves. Running on the boardwalk fails to provide this variety, unless of course, the boardwalk is covered with potholes or little sand dunes from overnight tides.
Nonetheless, this is all still anecdotal evidence. I wasn't able to find any studies on the effects of running on concrete for several years. A proper research study would definitely make for a stronger case. If you do know something like that, please drop me an email.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
iPod on the run?
Is it a good idea? Listening to your iPod while out for a jog? Two incidents in the last week bear mention. First, the female runner who apparently was killed by wolves while out for a run in Chignik, a remote part of Alaska. Second, the beach jogger who was killed by a plane making an emergency landing in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. In both cases, they were apparently listening to an iPod.
Now, it's hard to make a definitive statement that without the iPod, they might still be alive. The runner in Alaska was 4'11" and probably weighed less than a single wolf, much less a pack. Regardless of whether she was running with an iPod or not, if they had attacked, she probably would have stood no chance. In the beach case, apparently the plane had cut its engine and was gliding. Combined with the sound of the waves and wind, one can see how it's possible to not hear it come. Again, it's not clear how much of a difference the iPod would have made. On the other hand, it's possible that someone else saw the plane coming down and started yelling but the jogger didn't hear it because of his iPod. You can never know for sure unless you were there yourself.
Personally I never listen to music while out for a run. Safety being the first factor, but also because I don't like having things in my ears. Even if I did, I don't think I would do it while out on the streets. Maybe on trails.
Music might be helpful and in some cases, maybe even essential, for some people to go out and run. However, one should be aware of the fact that he/she is taking a risk while doing so. How much of a risk? It depends on the person and the environment. Some people have a tendency to get lost in music so much so that they lose track of what else is happening out there. That definitely puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to dealing with any unexpected turn of events.
The environment makes a big difference too. For example, city streets are definitely not the place to run while listening to music. Some people might argue that city streets are not the place to run. Period. Even out on trails, one needs to exercise caution and weigh the risk factors. A couple of years ago, I was in Katmai, Alaska which is another remote part of the country and a great place to see grizzly bears. Even though it was beautiful and very tempting to go for a run, I chose not to mainly because I didn't want to go alone. On the other hand, I've gone running in Yosemite out in the wilderness by myself. These were on plains where I could see the terrain far into the distance and it was in the middle of clear and sunny day.
In the end, it is a choice you make for yourself. Just be aware of your choices and the associated risks. Happy running and stay safe.
Now, it's hard to make a definitive statement that without the iPod, they might still be alive. The runner in Alaska was 4'11" and probably weighed less than a single wolf, much less a pack. Regardless of whether she was running with an iPod or not, if they had attacked, she probably would have stood no chance. In the beach case, apparently the plane had cut its engine and was gliding. Combined with the sound of the waves and wind, one can see how it's possible to not hear it come. Again, it's not clear how much of a difference the iPod would have made. On the other hand, it's possible that someone else saw the plane coming down and started yelling but the jogger didn't hear it because of his iPod. You can never know for sure unless you were there yourself.
Personally I never listen to music while out for a run. Safety being the first factor, but also because I don't like having things in my ears. Even if I did, I don't think I would do it while out on the streets. Maybe on trails.
Music might be helpful and in some cases, maybe even essential, for some people to go out and run. However, one should be aware of the fact that he/she is taking a risk while doing so. How much of a risk? It depends on the person and the environment. Some people have a tendency to get lost in music so much so that they lose track of what else is happening out there. That definitely puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to dealing with any unexpected turn of events.
The environment makes a big difference too. For example, city streets are definitely not the place to run while listening to music. Some people might argue that city streets are not the place to run. Period. Even out on trails, one needs to exercise caution and weigh the risk factors. A couple of years ago, I was in Katmai, Alaska which is another remote part of the country and a great place to see grizzly bears. Even though it was beautiful and very tempting to go for a run, I chose not to mainly because I didn't want to go alone. On the other hand, I've gone running in Yosemite out in the wilderness by myself. These were on plains where I could see the terrain far into the distance and it was in the middle of clear and sunny day.
In the end, it is a choice you make for yourself. Just be aware of your choices and the associated risks. Happy running and stay safe.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Can you get a running injury while driving?
That's what I asked myself a few times after I picked up an injury earlier this year. Internet sleuthing led to the conclusion that it was some kind of tendonitis of the foot. Funny thing is I had been running a consistent 35-45 miles a week for about two months. Then one week I couldn't run much at all. Instead there was a lot of driving, especially of the slow, stop-and-go type, where you're constantly rocking the gas pedal and the brake with your foot. The next week I went for a run and by the time I got back I could feel a niggle under my driving foot. Sure enough, another run confirmed there was something wrong.
I ruled out a bunch of factors. There was no ramp-up in mileage. I'd been at a consistent 35-45 mpw for over two months. Running terrain was the same. Shoes were in decent condition. That pretty much narrowed it to the driving. In retrospect, the other thing that I neglected to do was stretching. Usually, I do. However, this time I didn't.
For the past couple of months, I've been babying the foot. Lots of rest, icing, and a bit of compression. Also bought a new pair of shoes and an arnica-based gel to apply. Cut down running. Restricted myself to around a 9 minute pace. Been doing some walking. All this seems to be helping. I've been able to get some decent running in for the last couple of weeks. Just have to take it slow and steady.
Frustration is the enemy and patience is the weapon in this game of recovery.
I ruled out a bunch of factors. There was no ramp-up in mileage. I'd been at a consistent 35-45 mpw for over two months. Running terrain was the same. Shoes were in decent condition. That pretty much narrowed it to the driving. In retrospect, the other thing that I neglected to do was stretching. Usually, I do. However, this time I didn't.
For the past couple of months, I've been babying the foot. Lots of rest, icing, and a bit of compression. Also bought a new pair of shoes and an arnica-based gel to apply. Cut down running. Restricted myself to around a 9 minute pace. Been doing some walking. All this seems to be helping. I've been able to get some decent running in for the last couple of weeks. Just have to take it slow and steady.
Frustration is the enemy and patience is the weapon in this game of recovery.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Prefontaine Classic 2010 - tickets and lineup
Tickets went on sale yesterday for this year's meet. In about half an hour the best seats were gone. Sounds like a concert, doesn't it? Actually, it's better. Much better.
Interestingly, Section U was marked "unavailable". This is the one that is right in front of where the finish line for most track events is. You get a front facing view of the athletes breaking the tape as they finish. I have a feeling that this section is probably reserved for season ticket holders or someone; the website didn't make it clear.
As per a news release on their site, released much after the tickets went on sale, this year's athletes include Kenenisa Bekele, Yelena Isinbayeva, Tyson Gay, and Sanya Richards. Should be exciting.
Interestingly, Section U was marked "unavailable". This is the one that is right in front of where the finish line for most track events is. You get a front facing view of the athletes breaking the tape as they finish. I have a feeling that this section is probably reserved for season ticket holders or someone; the website didn't make it clear.
As per a news release on their site, released much after the tickets went on sale, this year's athletes include Kenenisa Bekele, Yelena Isinbayeva, Tyson Gay, and Sanya Richards. Should be exciting.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
PreClassic 2010 tickets on sale this week
Tickets for the Prefontaine Classic 2010 will go on sale on March 5. From personal experience, the best seats sell out on day 1. So, haste is the name of the game. Here's a map of Hayward Field. You want to try and get something close to the finish line.
The only little complaint I usually have is that they don't have a list of athletes announced by the time the tickets are on sale. It's like Priceline, in a way. But you can think of it as booking a 5-star hotel on Priceline. You know it will be good - the athletes are guaranteed to be of top most tier. I've been going to the Pre Classic for the last three years without knowing (at the time of booking tickets) who I'll get to see. So, who have I seen so far? Alan Webb, Kenenisa Bekele, Craig Mottram, Maria Mutola, Bernard Lagat, Sanya Richards, Jenny Barringer, Nick Symmonds, Kara Goucher, Matt Tegenkamp, Dathan Ritzenhein, Asafa Powell, Jeremy Wariner, Asbel Kiprop, Gelete Burka, Jen Rhines, Pamela Jelimo, Saif Shaheen, Shalane Flanagan, Shannon Rowbury, Meserat Defar, Nick Willis. Needless to say, you will not be disappointed.
Moreover, this year marks the first year of the IAAF Diamond League, and of the 14 worldwide meets that are part of this, Eugene and New York are the only ones from the United States. So, there is no better way to spend your July 4th weekend this year than this. Mark the date.
The only little complaint I usually have is that they don't have a list of athletes announced by the time the tickets are on sale. It's like Priceline, in a way. But you can think of it as booking a 5-star hotel on Priceline. You know it will be good - the athletes are guaranteed to be of top most tier. I've been going to the Pre Classic for the last three years without knowing (at the time of booking tickets) who I'll get to see. So, who have I seen so far? Alan Webb, Kenenisa Bekele, Craig Mottram, Maria Mutola, Bernard Lagat, Sanya Richards, Jenny Barringer, Nick Symmonds, Kara Goucher, Matt Tegenkamp, Dathan Ritzenhein, Asafa Powell, Jeremy Wariner, Asbel Kiprop, Gelete Burka, Jen Rhines, Pamela Jelimo, Saif Shaheen, Shalane Flanagan, Shannon Rowbury, Meserat Defar, Nick Willis. Needless to say, you will not be disappointed.
Moreover, this year marks the first year of the IAAF Diamond League, and of the 14 worldwide meets that are part of this, Eugene and New York are the only ones from the United States. So, there is no better way to spend your July 4th weekend this year than this. Mark the date.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
How long can you wear a merino wool shirt without washing?
I had read about people trying this on backpacking forums. So, I decided to try it out for myself. How many times did I wear my merino wool shirt without washing? The answer - 10.
10 times and yet no odor. No itches either. It was as if I'd picked up a fresh shirt each time I went for a run.
Could I have gone longer? I think so. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperative. The winter rains set in, which means less time in between runs for the shirt to dry out completely. I could've let it dry out over a few days but I didn't happen to have too many extra shirts to alternate. Moreover, if you don't let it dry out completely, there is a little bit of a funky odor. Maybe next time, I'll shoot for over 10.
10 times and yet no odor. No itches either. It was as if I'd picked up a fresh shirt each time I went for a run.
Could I have gone longer? I think so. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperative. The winter rains set in, which means less time in between runs for the shirt to dry out completely. I could've let it dry out over a few days but I didn't happen to have too many extra shirts to alternate. Moreover, if you don't let it dry out completely, there is a little bit of a funky odor. Maybe next time, I'll shoot for over 10.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Prefontaine Classic - now in July
Just checked out the website for the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. Looks like they moved it to July starting this year. July 3th, Saturday. They used to have it in early June. This is great news. Moving it to the July 4th weekend is definitely a great move. Oregon usually has a bunch of other activities in the summer and more so in July than in June. This way it becomes easier to clump them together with a visit to Hayward Field to check out some of the greatest athletes in the world.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Watching the New York Marathon live online
Found a link yesterday on the letsrun.com message boards for watching the New York marathon live on the internet. The main site is channelsurfing.net. Universal Sports also had it online but for some reason, my Ubuntu machine wouldn't display it.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Are you ready for the marathon?
A funny take to help you decide whether you are ready to run a marathon. An item from the checklist:
Your freezer contains two packets of Bird’s Eye peas, NEITHER of which for are for consumption.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
How to measure a marathon course
Here's an interesting read on how to measure a marathon course. An excerpt:
He says he approximately covers 10km in about one hour – meaning measuring marathon courses can take upwards of four hours, often in the early hours.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
marathonguide.com - older than the Internet itself?
www.marathonguide.com is a good site if you want to get a listing of marathons in the US as well as as international. Apparently, it's been around for a long time, longer than the Internet itself. Check out this listing below - you can still run a marathon in Yugoslavia - a country that hasn't existed for a few years now.
But, below is the proof that marathonguide.com is older than the Internet. Check out Mumbai as shown by the black arrow in the screen capture below. It is listed as "British Indian Ocean Territory." Given that India gained independence in 1947 and that the Internet didn't exist back then, there is only one logical conclusion you can draw.
However, strangely enough, Bangalore is listed under "India".
But, below is the proof that marathonguide.com is older than the Internet. Check out Mumbai as shown by the black arrow in the screen capture below. It is listed as "British Indian Ocean Territory." Given that India gained independence in 1947 and that the Internet didn't exist back then, there is only one logical conclusion you can draw.
However, strangely enough, Bangalore is listed under "India".
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Disposable version of ChampionChip?
Ran a 5K race today. Came through in 20:39. Splits was 6:43, 6:50 (1.1mile - 6:12 pace), and 7:04. Just over two minutes slower than my PR back in April. Got some work to do ahead of me.
One interesting aspect was this electronic tag that they gave us. We had to tie it to our shoe and it would register the time as we crossed the finish line. This is what it looks like from the front:
and the back:
Pretty neat stuff. Small, unobtrusive, and disposable. No more worrying about losing your tag and having to shell out 20 or 30 bucks.
I was able to make out "UPM Raflatac" on the back. A web search took me to this company that makes RFID devices: http://www.upmraflatac.com/northamerica/eng/. Wonder how this will affect the usage of ChampionChip tags? On one hand, the ChampionChip tags cost money, but on the other hand, they are environment-friendly in that that they can be used multiple times.
One interesting aspect was this electronic tag that they gave us. We had to tie it to our shoe and it would register the time as we crossed the finish line. This is what it looks like from the front:
and the back:
Pretty neat stuff. Small, unobtrusive, and disposable. No more worrying about losing your tag and having to shell out 20 or 30 bucks.
I was able to make out "UPM Raflatac" on the back. A web search took me to this company that makes RFID devices: http://www.upmraflatac.com/northamerica/eng/. Wonder how this will affect the usage of ChampionChip tags? On one hand, the ChampionChip tags cost money, but on the other hand, they are environment-friendly in that that they can be used multiple times.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Running in Yosemite
The last weekend, we stopped by Yosemite National Park on our way from Death Valley. We came in through the east entrance (from Tioga Pass) and stopped for a hike to Gaylor Lakes. The trailhead is right there at the entrance. It took about half an hour to get to the lakes from the trailhead. Once up there, the weather was perfect and I just had to go for a 5-mile run even though I hadn't really planned for it. Absolutely beautiful. It's just a different feeling running in the grandeur of Yosemite, at 10,000+ feet with not a single soul in sight. Top it off with dipping your feet in the lake and you have a great run. The best thing is that since the hike is less than half an hour, you could just get a water bottle and get up there and go running to your heart's content. No need to lug your heavy backpack up there. On the way down, you can see a bunch of lakes/ponds on the other side of the road. We saw at least half a dozen.
Mark this as one of those hidden beauties of Yosemite.
Mark this as one of those hidden beauties of Yosemite.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
How much can premature celebration cost - part 2
This weekend was the World Athletic Championships in Berlin, Germany. The women's 10,000m final was very interesting if you read this post at letsrun.com. Meselet Melkamu started celebrating a bit too soon (6 inches according to letsrun) and Linet Masai squeaked by for the win - by 0.1 second. Gold medal gone, just like that.
A couple of years I posted a link to another case of premature celebration. That one made the difference of bragging rights to the Chicago Marathon and an extra $60,000.
Moral of the story - unless your last name is Bolt, you better not start celebrating until after you've crossed the tape.
A couple of years I posted a link to another case of premature celebration. That one made the difference of bragging rights to the Chicago Marathon and an extra $60,000.
Moral of the story - unless your last name is Bolt, you better not start celebrating until after you've crossed the tape.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Prefontaine Classic 2009
We went to the Prefontaine Classic a couple of weeks ago, on June 7th, 2009 in Eugene, Oregon. This is our third consecutive year enjoying this event. The day was beautiful albeit a bit warm to permit any world records from falling. Below is a shot of Hayward Field, from Section A which is right in front of the finish line for the races. You get a side shot of the winners as they break the tape. Last year, we were in Section U, which provides you with a front-side shot as they finish. (Click on any of the pictures below for a larger version.)
The national anthem was the first item on the menu. This was followed by antipasti of a medley of field events - men's pole vault, men's long jump, women's discus, and women's hammer throw. Then started the main course, aka the track events, the first of which was the men's 400m hurdles. At this point, the announcer told us that we were now live on NBC TV, which was greeted by loud cheers all around. Bershawn Jackson comfortably won the hurdles in 48.38. This gave way to the highly anticipated women's 1500m with a field that read Gelete Burka, Nancy Lagat, Anna Willard, Jenny Barringer, Shannon Rowbury, Shalane Flanagan, Erin Donohue, among others.
The race didn't disappoint. Burka barely beat out Barringer by 1/100 of a second - 3:59.89 to 3:59.90. That's them finishing. Barringer had a great run down the homestretch where she almost caught up with Burka. You should've seen the expression of overjoyed surprise on her face - she was elated.
Then came the men's steeplechase with last year's winner Paul Koech being the favorite. That's him (below) winning in a comfortable time of 8:13.44, almost 8 seconds ahead of the second place.
It must have been an exhausting race, judging by these runners below. This is right after the race ended.
In the background, the field events contined to progress. The shot below is that of Dwight Phillips finishing his 8.74m jump that ultimately got him the first place. This broke the Hayward Field record of 8.49m set by Irving Saladino in 2007, who finished second this time with 8.63m.
Then followed the men's 3000m race with a field of Eliud Kipchoge, Bernard Lagat, Saif Shaheen, Alistair Craig, Matt Tegenkamp, Chris Solinsky, seen in order from right to left below. (There were others but they are not in this shot below.)
Lagat and Shaheen fought it out in the last couple of hundred meters. Shaheen pulled into the lead around the 200m but soon Lagat switched gears and with around 100m to go, he took the lead. He won in 7:35.92, almost a second ahead of Shaheen.
All this while, the field events continued. At some points, you could see three or four athletes in action simultaneously - someone running, someone jumping, someone throwing. It was pretty exciting, almost like a fast-paced video game. The above picture shows the lineup for the men's shot put, with a guy getting ready for the high jump in the immediate background, and another guy getting ready for the pole vault in the far background.
I don't mean to downplay the field events vis-a-vis the track events. Indeed, they have their own unique, inimitable moments. Below, Irving Saldino shows how to chat with the photographer while still jumping an 8.63. Perhaps that was the reason he lost to Phillips.
Or better yet, take the woman jumper below. She seems to be from the kung-fu school of long jump, unveiling here, for the first time ever, the soon-to-be-famous Flying Dragon style. This esoteric style is a few centuries older than the Fosbury flop technique in high jump. Unfortunately, I don't remember who the athlete is. If you do, please drop me a note.
Reese Hoffa won the men's shot put with a 71ft 10in throw. Here he is on his way out of the stadium, with a smile that seems to fit a persona of a gentle giant. The announcer reminded us that Hayward Field is the home of the 70-foot throw, there have been more such throws than anywhere else in the world. Adam Nelson, who won last year, fouled on all six of his attempts.
Sanya Richards (below) won the women's 400m easily in 49.86 seconds. Later she was in the Nutrilite tent signing autographs.
The men's 800m was won by Nick Symmonds in 1:45.86 beating last year's winner Alfred Yego. That's Symmonds in the pic below with Elijah Greer, a Oregon high-schooler following closely. Though he finished last here, he's supposed to be one of the up-and-coming stars with a lot of potential. A few days after the race, I was talking to someone in the little town of Tillamook, Oregon and he knew about Greer.
This was followed by the women's 800. Maggie Vessey, pictured below, won comfortably, beating out the favorite(?) Pamela Jelimo who finished dead last. The expression on her face after she won was worth a Mastercard commercial, though Visa being the main sponsors of this meet might not take too kindly to that. Check out this video; you can hear her say "Oh, my God!" She's the one behind everyone else at the completion of the first lap.
Then followed the women's 2000m with a field consisting of Vivian Cheruiyot, Maryam Jamal, Linet Masai, Kara Goucher, Jen Rhines, Sara Hall, among others. Cheruiyot won in 5:31.52 beating Mary Slaney's Hayward Field record and better yet, setting the fastest time ever on US soil.
As the winner started on her the victory lap, out came the athletes for what is arguably the grand finale - the men's Bowerman mile. The field - Asbel Kiprop, Alan Webb, Lopez Lomong, Leonel Manzano, Belal Mansoor, Shedrack Korir, etc. Kiprop won in 3:48.50 barely missing out on the Hayward Field record of 3:48.28 by Daniel Komen. If had hadn't done a Bolt by waving kisses to the crowd more than 50 meters from the finish, he might have had the record. Below is a picture at some point in the race, with all but the guy on the left with their feet in the air. Incidentally, that guy on the left went on to win.
Here's Kiprop doing a Bolt, albeit a bit restrained in comparison to Bolt.
The results showed up one by one on the scoreboard. They were hoping for a sub-4:00 finish by all. It looked good as the screen below shows. Alas, as the results scrolled by on to the second screen with more 3:XX.XX's, the last one burst the bubble - 4:01.09. Nevertheless, it was pretty exciting - 13 sub-4 finishers.
That was it for the races. The final event was the presentation of the Maria Mutola award. Last year was the inaugural one - won by pole vaulter Brad Walker. This year it went to long jumper Dwight Phillips. Here he is below, after being presented with the award by Mary Slaney.
A great end to a great meet. Best of all, it didn't rain! I think the announcer said something like 12,000+ was the stadium attendance, which if I recall correctly is slightly lower than last year's record of 14,000+. Everything was well-organized. The bib numbers that the athletes had, matched those in the booklet that we bought, which made it much easier to follow the races and also to compile this post. Though, I still don't understand why they have a hip number in addition. Nutrilite, one of the sponsors, had a tent set up and a little kiosk with cool stuff. We even got free T-shirts, energy bars, energy pills, and a carry-sack. There were a bunch of athletes signing autographs in the Nutrilite tent - Sanya Richards, LaShawn Merritt, Bryan Clay, etc.
We then headed out the gates and took a hop, skip, and a jump across the street to some absolutely fantastic ice-cream at Prince Pucklers.
(If you're interested, here's a link to my post from the 2008 meet and the 2007 meet.)
The national anthem was the first item on the menu. This was followed by antipasti of a medley of field events - men's pole vault, men's long jump, women's discus, and women's hammer throw. Then started the main course, aka the track events, the first of which was the men's 400m hurdles. At this point, the announcer told us that we were now live on NBC TV, which was greeted by loud cheers all around. Bershawn Jackson comfortably won the hurdles in 48.38. This gave way to the highly anticipated women's 1500m with a field that read Gelete Burka, Nancy Lagat, Anna Willard, Jenny Barringer, Shannon Rowbury, Shalane Flanagan, Erin Donohue, among others.
The race didn't disappoint. Burka barely beat out Barringer by 1/100 of a second - 3:59.89 to 3:59.90. That's them finishing. Barringer had a great run down the homestretch where she almost caught up with Burka. You should've seen the expression of overjoyed surprise on her face - she was elated.
Then came the men's steeplechase with last year's winner Paul Koech being the favorite. That's him (below) winning in a comfortable time of 8:13.44, almost 8 seconds ahead of the second place.
It must have been an exhausting race, judging by these runners below. This is right after the race ended.
In the background, the field events contined to progress. The shot below is that of Dwight Phillips finishing his 8.74m jump that ultimately got him the first place. This broke the Hayward Field record of 8.49m set by Irving Saladino in 2007, who finished second this time with 8.63m.
Then followed the men's 3000m race with a field of Eliud Kipchoge, Bernard Lagat, Saif Shaheen, Alistair Craig, Matt Tegenkamp, Chris Solinsky, seen in order from right to left below. (There were others but they are not in this shot below.)
Lagat and Shaheen fought it out in the last couple of hundred meters. Shaheen pulled into the lead around the 200m but soon Lagat switched gears and with around 100m to go, he took the lead. He won in 7:35.92, almost a second ahead of Shaheen.
All this while, the field events continued. At some points, you could see three or four athletes in action simultaneously - someone running, someone jumping, someone throwing. It was pretty exciting, almost like a fast-paced video game. The above picture shows the lineup for the men's shot put, with a guy getting ready for the high jump in the immediate background, and another guy getting ready for the pole vault in the far background.
I don't mean to downplay the field events vis-a-vis the track events. Indeed, they have their own unique, inimitable moments. Below, Irving Saldino shows how to chat with the photographer while still jumping an 8.63. Perhaps that was the reason he lost to Phillips.
Or better yet, take the woman jumper below. She seems to be from the kung-fu school of long jump, unveiling here, for the first time ever, the soon-to-be-famous Flying Dragon style. This esoteric style is a few centuries older than the Fosbury flop technique in high jump. Unfortunately, I don't remember who the athlete is. If you do, please drop me a note.
Reese Hoffa won the men's shot put with a 71ft 10in throw. Here he is on his way out of the stadium, with a smile that seems to fit a persona of a gentle giant. The announcer reminded us that Hayward Field is the home of the 70-foot throw, there have been more such throws than anywhere else in the world. Adam Nelson, who won last year, fouled on all six of his attempts.
Sanya Richards (below) won the women's 400m easily in 49.86 seconds. Later she was in the Nutrilite tent signing autographs.
The men's 800m was won by Nick Symmonds in 1:45.86 beating last year's winner Alfred Yego. That's Symmonds in the pic below with Elijah Greer, a Oregon high-schooler following closely. Though he finished last here, he's supposed to be one of the up-and-coming stars with a lot of potential. A few days after the race, I was talking to someone in the little town of Tillamook, Oregon and he knew about Greer.
This was followed by the women's 800. Maggie Vessey, pictured below, won comfortably, beating out the favorite(?) Pamela Jelimo who finished dead last. The expression on her face after she won was worth a Mastercard commercial, though Visa being the main sponsors of this meet might not take too kindly to that. Check out this video; you can hear her say "Oh, my God!" She's the one behind everyone else at the completion of the first lap.
Then followed the women's 2000m with a field consisting of Vivian Cheruiyot, Maryam Jamal, Linet Masai, Kara Goucher, Jen Rhines, Sara Hall, among others. Cheruiyot won in 5:31.52 beating Mary Slaney's Hayward Field record and better yet, setting the fastest time ever on US soil.
As the winner started on her the victory lap, out came the athletes for what is arguably the grand finale - the men's Bowerman mile. The field - Asbel Kiprop, Alan Webb, Lopez Lomong, Leonel Manzano, Belal Mansoor, Shedrack Korir, etc. Kiprop won in 3:48.50 barely missing out on the Hayward Field record of 3:48.28 by Daniel Komen. If had hadn't done a Bolt by waving kisses to the crowd more than 50 meters from the finish, he might have had the record. Below is a picture at some point in the race, with all but the guy on the left with their feet in the air. Incidentally, that guy on the left went on to win.
Here's Kiprop doing a Bolt, albeit a bit restrained in comparison to Bolt.
The results showed up one by one on the scoreboard. They were hoping for a sub-4:00 finish by all. It looked good as the screen below shows. Alas, as the results scrolled by on to the second screen with more 3:XX.XX's, the last one burst the bubble - 4:01.09. Nevertheless, it was pretty exciting - 13 sub-4 finishers.
That was it for the races. The final event was the presentation of the Maria Mutola award. Last year was the inaugural one - won by pole vaulter Brad Walker. This year it went to long jumper Dwight Phillips. Here he is below, after being presented with the award by Mary Slaney.
A great end to a great meet. Best of all, it didn't rain! I think the announcer said something like 12,000+ was the stadium attendance, which if I recall correctly is slightly lower than last year's record of 14,000+. Everything was well-organized. The bib numbers that the athletes had, matched those in the booklet that we bought, which made it much easier to follow the races and also to compile this post. Though, I still don't understand why they have a hip number in addition. Nutrilite, one of the sponsors, had a tent set up and a little kiosk with cool stuff. We even got free T-shirts, energy bars, energy pills, and a carry-sack. There were a bunch of athletes signing autographs in the Nutrilite tent - Sanya Richards, LaShawn Merritt, Bryan Clay, etc.
We then headed out the gates and took a hop, skip, and a jump across the street to some absolutely fantastic ice-cream at Prince Pucklers.
(If you're interested, here's a link to my post from the 2008 meet and the 2007 meet.)
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Another step closer to a sub-18 5K
Ran a 5K race in 18:38 this weekend. That's a new PR. Old one was 18:59, set exactly a month ago. No idea about mile splits; didn't see any mile markers. It was an out-and-back course and the splits were 9:29 and 9:09. I've been running a pretty consistent 30-35 mpw and a couple of tempo runs a week. I had been planning to start speedwork after last month's PR, but a friend in an online newsgroup suggested that mitochondria generation in response to increased mileage can last up to six weeks. (Which reminds me I still need to read up more on that.) So, I postponed the launch into the world of speed then. It got me 21 seconds. At this point, I think I'm sufficiently overconfident to make a sub-18 5K my next goal. I do plan to sit down and craft a good long-term plan, however, I'm leaning towards starting fartlek and/or hill workouts now.
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