Sacramento Running News

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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You’ve got to plan ahead–Waaaay ahead!

Today’s lunchtime run was easily the hottest run of the year and the crisp training days of autumn still seem like an impossible dream.

With that in mind, it is difficult to come to terms with the fact I need to be deciding, right now, whether or not to register for a December marathon.

Difficult or not, that is what we are faced with as the folks at the California International Marathon are reporting they are about 90% full, as of today.

The CIM continues to fill way faster than last year! Marathoners entered as of 8/9/2012 = 7,026; marathon entry limit = 8,000. Although the entry fee increase deadline was a reason, we had more than 800 people enter last week alone! Daily entries continue to be higher than last year… so… dare we say, “Do the math.”? We will say, “Enter sooner than later to avoid disappointment!”

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Kim Conley (Photo courtesy of the SRA)

Former UC Davis standout Kim Conley, who now runs for the Sacramento Running Association’s Elite Team, ran a personal best Tuesday in the first round of the women’s 5,000 meters at this year’s Olympic Games, but failed to advance to the final.

Conley finished 12^th in the second heat with a time of 15: 14.48–well ahead of her 15:19.79 previous best set six weeks ago at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene.

Conley’s teammates Julie Culley and Molly Huddle both advanced to the final, which will be run on Friday and shown at some completely random time on NBC.

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Is this a waste of time? (SRN photo)

Recently, we learned that dehydration and electrolytes may not be the culprits behind cramping during races. For those of us who have been running for many years, this was difficult to digest.

A couple of years ago, word got around that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (AKA NSAIDs, AKA ibuprofen, etc.) might actually be interfering with the healing process so we all became ice bath officionados.

Now, we learn that maybe icing isn’t such a great thing to do, either!

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I know we were all focused on the women’s Olympic Marathon and Saturday’s phenomenal 10,000 meters (Rupp!!), but there were some local people actually out there running their own races this weekend.

If you wanted to run with (or without) your dog, the Kaleo 5K looks like the place to have been. Michael Carlone took the overall win in 18:36. Jamie Styles and Justin Flowers rounded out the top three men in 19:01 and 20:07, respectively.

The top woman was Kristi Capello, in 20:29. Following her in for second and third were Katie Madaus and Christina Applegate in 21:46 and 21:50.

There is no word in how the dogs finished. Complete results are here.

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