Is it the steeplechase or a marathon? (Photo courtesy of Randy Wehner Photography)
When we look back on the California International Marathon of 2012, what will first spring to mind is the Atmospheric River.
Over my decades of running, I have experienced some pretty intense weather. My one run at Boston was in the infamous nor’easter of 2007.
I ran most of the stormy 2001 CIM before crapping out and slinking away in my wife’s car at mile 17.
If you are an older runner (50+), recent studies suggest that running more than 20 miles per week, or faster than 7:30 minutes per mile, is going to wreck your health.
The Wall Street Journal published a story yesterday–with the not at all hyperbolic headline of One Running Shoe in the Grave–about the research, which indicates that runners who log more than 20 miles a week lose the health benefits of running.
Most critically, some research points to extreme training damaging the heart tissue. You should not be surprised to learn that not everyone is convinced.
Critics of the newer research say that the idea that running can harm the heart is based on research showing only an association—meaning that exercise may not be the cause of the problem. They note that in any large group of runners, high-mileage and high-speed athletes may be too few in number to be statistically significant.
There is no escaping the inevitable!
Thursday morning’s Bee included one of their all time best running stories.
Ostensibly, the story is about Theresa McCourt and Paul Thomas, the winners of the inaugural Run to Feed the Hungry. But really, the story is a good discussion about the life-long practice of running and what to do when you are no longer at your physical peak.
Their paths illustrate the options facing fast runners post-racing-prime – to doggedly maintain near-peak fitness as long as possible in hopes of staying competitive, or to throttle back and run for the sheer joy of it.
There is, of course, a third option: not to run at all.
For as long as most of us can remember, you could count on a couple of things for about this time of year: the first of the Tule Fog and a long road race in Clarksburg.
The distances have changed a bit over the years (20 mile, 30 Km, etc.) but the Clarksburg Country Run has remained a Valley fixture.
Over those years, race distances have been added and there are now 5K, 10K, half marathon, and 20-mile races. Currently, the most competitive race is the half marathon. It is one of the Pacific Association USATF grand prix events and draws fast runners from throughout Northern California.
Winning the half marathon in a pretty speedy 1:05:40 was Daniel Tapia, 26, who is running for the SRA Elite. About 90-seconds back, also running for SRA Elite, was Kevin Pool, 29, who finished in 1:07:14. Miguel Nuci, 33, finished third in 1:07:31, making it a clean sweep for the SRA Elite men.
While her time at the Nike Women’s Half Marathon isn’t likely to get her an entry to the 2016 Olympic Trials, it was nice to see that Roseville native Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Summer Sanders has taken up running.
Watch out ladies!
The Bee’s Bill Lindelof has the story.
Lindsay Tolefson on her way to the win. (Photo credit: Camron Shahmirzadi)
The Rebels XC Challenge kicked off the local adult cross country season yesterday in Granite Park, and competitors enjoyed picture-perfect weather and a challenging course.
The winding trails through Granite Park do not yield a particularly speedy course, but as typical for a PAUSATF cross country race the times were fast and the competition fierce.
The event stuck with the usual PA cross country format, with separate races for women, masters men, and open men, with the women running 5K and the men 7K.
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.
Masters runners heading to the finish of the marathon (SRN photo)
I’ve already had the good fortune to enjoy running for more than 30-years. I hope to enjoy another 30.
Each year brings some new challenges, occasional frustrations, and successes. I get to enjoy things I’d never consider doing if I hadn’t kept myself in decent shape all these years.
I still gripe about aches and pains, but it only takes a quick look at my age group peers to reinforce my dedication to running.
World Masters Athletics Championships, 2011 (SRN photo)
Wouldn’t it be fun to put on a pair of track spikes? Why not try something a little different this summer?
If you are not running for a school, it can sometimes be hard to find a track meet in the area. Fortunately for us, there are at least a couple of options in the Sacramento region.
If you are at least 35 years old, you should check out the Western States International Invitational. It’s held in Davis and runs from June 29th through July 1st.
If you are looking for something a little more low-key, the Sacramento Running Association is hosting a series of All-Comers meets starting on June 14th.
Meghan Arbogast on her way to a new American age group record for 50 miles. (SRN Photo)
If you were looking for a top finish at this weekend’s Jed Smith Ultra Classic, you’d better have brought your “A game” because some of the country’s top talent was there throwing down.
There are many (many!) ultras in California and they are all, for the most part, pretty long. Some of them are known to be beautiful. Others are popular, mountainous, hot, sadistic, and sometimes famously hard to get into. Jed Smith has always been about speed.
The Jed Smith Ultra Classic, put on by the Buffalo Chips for the past 34 years, includes three events–a 30km, a 50km, and a 50 mile race. They are all run on an accurately measured, 4.85 mile loop course along the American River that is ideal for setting records and running 100k team qualifying times–as long as the weather on the first day in February is fine.
