Sacramento Running News

Earlier today, we wrote about questions being raised regarding Congressman and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s marathon PR.

Nicholas Thompson at The New Yorker gets the scoop and so, at last, we can stick a fork in this story.

Evidently, the folks at the New Yorker stay up later than those at Runners World. It kind of makes sense, seeing as how all those literati cocktail parties in Manhattan don’t really get cooking until after 24:00 EST, and all the runners are planning to get up early and knock down some mile repeats before it gets too warm.

Anyhow, this epic story of political intrigue ended pretty much how I expected it would end: It was all a mix-up.

“The race was more than 20 years ago, but my brother Tobin—who ran Boston last year—reminds me that he is the owner of the fastest marathon in the family and has never himself ran a sub-three. If I were to do any rounding, it would certainly be to four hours, not three. He gave me a good ribbing over this at dinner tonight.”

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The start of the women’s race at last year’s Rebels XC Challenge. (SRN photo)

While I didn’t need arm warmers, this morning’s run was considerably cooler than the heat we’ve been laboring in over the past few months.

Could fall be around the corner? Why it certainly can be!!

How can I be so sure? (I mean, besides looking at a calendar?)

I know autumn is here because it’s cross country season!

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In a recent interview with Hugh Hewitt, vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan indicated he’d run a sub-3:00 marathon.

Running wasn’t the focus of the interview, which was mostly a fawning  “How can I help you get elected?” sort of affair.

But along with some questions about his history in athletics, Hewitt prodded him about his running.

HH: Are you still running?

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I fell in love with the Race for the Arts 5K when it was run downtown from Crocker Park and along the Sacramento River, on a Friday evening in late summer.

Over time, originally because of construction issues, the race was moved to Land Park–but still run in the evening.

Now, it’s just another Saturday morning 5K in Land Park, but still a good time and still a local favorite. The course is flat and shaded. There is plenty of grass to set up a team tent or run your kids around on after the event.

In today’s race, local speedster Kevin Pool ran alone for the win in 15:13. Following him in for 2nd and 3rd were Hector Miranda in 15:52, and Camron Shahmirzadi in 16:15.

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Running related news in small, bite size pieces.

First off, to follow up his 5th place finish in the final of the Olympic 800 meters, Nick Symmonds ran a 5:19 beer-mile this week. This is apparently a new American Record.

If you are not sure what a beer mile is, you can watch the video. It makes my stomach lurch just to watch.

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I hope you got in!

The California International Marathon announced today that they have reached their 8,000 runner registration cap.

Last year, the race filled in October, so it looks like there is increasing demand for this popular race.

Fortunately for you fence-sitters, there are still a couple of ways to sneak into the event. (Not including actually sneaking in.)

If you are somewhat speedy, there is a guaranteed entry program for folks who meet the CIM Guaranteed Entry Standards–which are five minutes slower than the relevant Boston Marathon qualifying times.

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Map of the detour courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers (click to enlarge)

The Army Corps of Engineers is working on a levee improvement project between the Campus Commons Golf course and the Northrop Avenue access (approximately between miles 6 and 7).

Because of this work, starting this week, the main trail will be closed and trail users will be detoured along the old Lower Loop trail.

Additionally, access to the Parkway via Northrop Avenue will be closed. (This is where we get to the trail from the Howe Avenue Panera Restaurant.)

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We’ve all watched a lot of Olympics over the past couple of weeks. It is apparent that while the US may not be dominant in running, especially distance running, we are dominant in gymnastics.

After watching this video, I’ve decided it’s because the parents of US gymnasts are so much better than the parents of runners.

Next time you’re at a high school cross country meet, notice the parents quietly sipping coffee and cheering as their kids toil past. Perhaps if these same parents were a bit more intense the kids would try a little harder.

It’s just a theory.

You may have noticed it gets hot during the summer in Sacramento–and the rest of interior California. For the most part, you can adapt to running in the warmer weather.

It gets more challenging when the air is still, or there are wildfires upwind, and the air quality in the Valley begins to degrade.

This summer, we’ve been fortunate to have so few bad air days–with only a handful of Spare the Air Days, so far.

What, exactly, is air pollution and what does it mean for me?

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Mizuno Wave Ascend 7

Some have theorized that there is a perfect trail running shoe. Is this possible? They would be nimble yet sturdy, soft and grippy in the mud but stiff enough to protect from the assaults of sharp rocks.

It would be a miracle to find all this in one shoe, and that is probably why I keep several in rotation.

I have kept a pair of the Wave Riders on hand for the past year or so, but I was unfamiliar with what Mizuno has to offer for the trails. I was recently offered a free pair of Mizuno shoes through their Mezamashii  Project, so I decided to try something I hadn’t run in before—like the Wave Ascend 7.

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