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Quote of the Day:
"You got to take every chance you get because you don't know what's coming tomorrow"

-Jennifer Barringer, just a freshman at Colorado, who won the NCAA steeplechase just a day after what Mark Wetmore said was perhaps his most disappointing day ever at NCAAs. Barringer gave an enthusiastic interview afterwards on live tv where she said hi to her parents who planned a vacation because they assumed their daughter wouldn't even qualify for the meet.

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Book Review: Running Within
Want to improve your mental outlook on running? Then Running Within is the book for you. Read our review of this excellent book.
Recommended Reads
Looking for a good running book ? Read our mini-reviews and suggestions

We interview one of our own:
LetsRun.com's Rojo talks about coaching at Cornell

NCAAs Underway:
*Live Results
Day 3 Recap
Chris Solinsky
showed he is the man as he ran a 4:01 last 1600 to finally get the outdoor 5k title to go with his 2 indoor 3k titles. Mary Cullen blew away the field over the final mile to win the 5k. Virginia Powell improved on her NCAA record to run 12.48 to win the hurdles, while Aries Merritt ran a meet record and world leader 13.21 in the 110 hurdles. Destinee Hooker took the high jump to help Texas' chances as they won the 4*100 as well.

*Boit Gets 2nd in 5k Day After Winning 10k He was the only athlete to attempt the double as the 5k was moved up a day so it wouldn't be on CBS' coverage today.
*Audio Interviews With a Lot of the Winners Trackshark.
Day 2 Recap:
*ASU's Victoria Jackson, Arknasas' Josphat Boit Wins 10k
link fixed If you train in Phoenix year round, Sacramento is chily.
*Trey Hardee Pulls a Dan O'Brien at NCAAs
He's the NCAA record holder and finished 9th as a result. #1 ranked Shaun Smith failed to qualify in the 800 and #1 time Stephen Pifer was tripped in the 1500.
*Colorado Has Maybe It's Most 'Disappointing' Day Ever at NCAAs according to Coach Mark Wetmore
Day 1: Virginia Powell Gets World Leader, NCAA Record in Hurdles, Texas Women, Florida State Men Falter
Galen Rupp failed to qualify for the 5k final. Message board thread on Rupp
*Sacramento Bee Coverage of Powell's Record
PreMeet:
*
NCAA Men's Start Lists
*
NCAA Women's Start Lists
*Texas Women, UTEP, Florida State Men Favored at NCAAs For once Arkansas is not favored on the men's side as Florida State or UTEP is supposed to win. (form charts here). Texas is favored on the women's side even without Marshavet Hooker. And while the team battle is always interes

More on Freifoher's:
*Regan In Monday's Paper: "We don't want athletes to know when they're going to be tested" is his reason for not testing every year. But then he seems to come around to possibly testing every year by saying "My position and the position of this race is that we don't accept drugs in sports. We don't want them. And we'll do whatever we can to stop them". Lornah Kiplagat says she likely won't come back to the race without drug testing.

*Editorial Criticizing Regan in the Albany Times Union
*First Article in Albany Times Union in Explaining the Lack of Testing: "This was like an open invitation for people to come and cheat" -Peter Langerhorst, husband of Lornah Kiplagat on the lack of drug testing at the Freihofer's Road Race after the race director promised their would be testing. The director then passes the buck and says in competition testing is ineffective (if he feels that way then perhaps Freihofer's should donate a sum of money every year to WADA for out of competition testing)

Marion Jones To Race in Europe Before Nationals, Justin Gatlin to Rest Up

Bislett Games:
*Results

*Recap
Kenensia Bekele's
shot at a share of $500,000 is gone as Isaac Songok upset him quite convincingly in the men's 5000m.. 16 or (18 year old according to this story) Abraham Feleke broke 13 minutes for 5k. Asafa Powell ran 9.98 to beat Shawn Crawford's 10.02 in the 100m.
*Rebecca Lyne is Britain's New 800m Hope Yahoo UK
*
Recap of British Runners in Oslo

Doping News:
(More on these things soon)
*
Independent Report Criticizes WADA, Says Armstrong Can't be Positively Linked to Positives at 1999 Tour de France The New York Times does a better job than most of explaining the situation.
*Major Doping Scandal Hits Cycling This is a big scandal.
2 years ago, Jesús Manzano, a cyclist who nearly died because of what he said was doping,came forward with doping allegations against one of the doctors involved, but the 'investigation' was eventually closed because of lack of evidence. Guardian

Lengthy Look at Frank Shorter and His Desire for Drug Free Sport

World Half Marathon Champs
LetsRun.com Coverage:
LRC Exclusive!!!!! 3.5 MB Quicktime Video of Crazy Men's finish.
*Results

A Legend Passes: "I don't train never have. I don't think of running as training. I just go out and run each day, and let the racing take care of itself"- Jack Foster of New Zealand, who ran a 2:11:17 marathon at the age of 41 to win silver at the Commonwealth Games in 1974. He died in a bike accident yesterday at the age of 72.

In case you missed it:
Todd Williams Hangs them up

In our lengthy 3 part interview, Todd Williams, the premier 10,000m runner in the US, talks about his illustrious career and the sport of running in general.
Part I he
re, Part II here, Part III here
Also take a look at Amby Burfoot's look at Todd Williams' incredible American record at 15k in 1995, the same year he finished 9th at World Cross Country.

More isn't always better:
"I had over-trained. I put too much pressure on myself because I wanted that gold medal too much. If I had trained 15 per cent less, I would have won. I was training like a crazy person. There was a lack of self-confidence and a lack of maturity. An athlete does not only train with his body. He trains with his mind."

-Hicham El Guerrouj on why he didn't win Olympic gold in 2000

JK Speaks: Progressing To Peak Fitness LetsRun.com coaching guru John Kellogg talks about progression runs and the art of the sport versus the science of the sport.

LetsRun.com Book Reviews 2 Good Reads on Milers 50 years apart:
Sub 4:00 and The Perfect Mile

"Paul Maurer, in The Gift, not only presents an interesting and captivating story, but he explores the deeper questions of why runners run, why we compete, and what makes such a simple sport, running, so rewarding to those of us who do it. The Gift is one of the best running books I have ever read. "
-LetsRun.com's Weldon Johnson on a new Running novel,
The Gift
(The Gift is now available from Amazon.com)

Spain: Merlene Ottey Runs 11.94, Hopes to Compete At European Champs at 46
*Spanish Results
Lille, France: Results
Mehdi Baala
runs a 2:14.99 1000m, Fasuba beaten in 100m.

Gateshead Preview: Isaac Songok in 3k, Lagat in 1500, Asafa Powell in 100 IAAF
*
Bernard Lagat Excited to Be Racing 1500 at Garsehead on Sunday

A Lot of Money for Worlds at Kenya Has Been Misappropriated (75 Million Kenyan is About $1 Million US)

Kenyan Armed Forces:
Final Day: Sammy Kipketer Prevents John Korir Double at Kenya Armed Forces Champs

Day 1: John Korir Wins 10k, Jeruto Kiptum Wins Steeple at Kenyan Armed Forces Champs
IAAF
Harry Jerome:

*Harry Jerome Recap

*
2006 Harry Jerome Results

Drugs:
*
SI's Tim Layden Writes About HGH, Drug Testing
*Slate Continues to Look at Drugs in Sports
And explains why HGH is hard to detect.

After World Record Meseret Defar Still Has Big Plans in 2006 IAAF

USATF Gives Out Foundation Grants

John Steffensen Criticizes Craig Mottram Getting Australian Athlete of the Year

Weekend Road Action:
Rock N Roll Marathon:
Ambesse Tolossa Wins Rock n Roll Marathon on His First Trip to the US, Alice Chelangat Wins her 2nd Rock N Roll Title
Freihofer's:
Benita Johnson Picks Up $10,000 at Freihofer's Run for Women in Battle With Natalya Berkut and Lornah Kiplagat
Kansas City: Annie Bersagel Wins US Half Marathon Title in 1:14
Salt Lake City: Joseph Nguran and Ilona Baranova Pick Up Salt Lake City Maratho
n Titles and $12,000

Athletics Kenya Investigating Coach for Not Giving Funds Due to Athlete Caroline Cheptanui
*Some are Questioning Nike's Apparel Contracts With Athletics Kenya
Nike pays roughly $600,000 a year to both Athletics Kenya and to the Kenyan Olympic Committee according to the article.

Unbelievably Good Reebok Grand Prix
Meseret Defar 14:24.53

Justin Gatlin Runs 9.87, Abraham Chebii Runs 13:04
*Results
link fixed
*IAAF Recap
*AP Recap
*NY Times Recap

The meet in NY had it all. A world record in the women's 5k (Meseret Defar ran a 61 second last lap to break the old record by .15), the fastest men's 5k ever in the United States (Abraham Chebii 13:04.56), and great 100m sprints with wins by Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin with Gatlin running one of the best 100m races ever (Gatlin ran 9.87 meters into a .1 wind (fastest time by an American on American soil) which is a virtually identical performance to the world record time he ran a few weeks ago with a 1.7mps tailwind). Yet New Yorkers (who for some reason are supposed to save our sport) could not even pack Icahn Stadium. (Our apologies for missing the meet ourselves)

*Gebrselassie Inspired Defar to Record

On the boards:
*Alistair Cragg is back He ran 13:08 at Reebok.
*Famiglietti Continuing to Run Well

Married Thanks to LetsRun.com:
"I don't want to say it. It sounds crazy but it was a dream come true"

-John Stiner, on getting married to his wife, Sarah, who he met on the LetsRun.com message boards. Read about their incredible story.

"Everybody in Kenya is trying to come to America. I had no dream about coming because I knew this was impossible. It was a miracle," Kiplagat said. "That is why I take advantage of every opportunity. I came here, graduated in three years, and count myself blessed"- Richard Kiplagat who graduated from Iona in 3 years and had a 3.75 GPA

"This is not coming out of retirement, this is just me showing that if you just enjoy what you are doing and stay in there and set little goals. I do a lot of speaking, I've spoken to every group in Australia and I tell them back when I ran I set little goals and I think here I am telling these guys, but I've got to do it myself and tonight was really a chance to walk the walk"
-Steve Moneghetti, who at age 43, broke the world best for the 1 hour run for master's, averaging sub 5 minute pace the whole way as Ron Clarke, John Landy, and Robert De Castella watched him run.

Paul Tergat
*"As the holy scriptures say, 'for whoever much is given, much is expected,' it is, therefore, my duty and privilege to help in any small way in giving back to society."
-Marathon world record holder, Paul Tergat, speaking after founding a sports foundation that will help disadvantaged youths.
*Tergat's hamstring injury has healed and he says he's ready to go at NYC: "I expect good results as I am in good shape" but he's out of next week's Half Marathon in Britain, but interestingly Gezahegne Abera (remember him, formerly the greatest marathoner in the world) is running. www.registerguard.com

And the winner is:
Best Running Movie of All-Time: Fire on the Track
After sitting on the results for months, we're proud to announce that the best running movie of all-time as selected by our viewers is a not an academy award winner, Chariots of Fire, or a highly publicized film produced by Tom Cruise (Without Limits), but rather a running documentary, Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story. Read all about the voting and see the 10 best running movies of all-time as selected by our viewers.

Training Advice:
Advice from the pros
.Top 10 Training Tips
LetsRun.com's Weldon Johnson gives his top 10 training tips. They helped him run a 28:27 10k and will definitely help you too.
No Shortcuts
LetsRun.Com coaching consultant John Kellogg outlines his basic coaching approach and gives the four principals to correct training for elites. LetsRun.com co-founder Robert Johnson translates Mr. Kellogg's approach so that it is beneficial for the masses.
Marathon Training Program
Do you want to run a successful marathon? Sign up for our marathon training program. Let our experts show you how.
High School Section
Interviews
Turn Back the Clock:
Interviews With Today's Stars on Their High School Careers

Rod Dehaven: U.S. Marathon Champ
Juli Henner: U.S. Olympian
Todd Reeser: Top Road Racer Wrestled in High School
Many more
Training Advice
Learn how LetsRun.com running guru, John Kellogg, made a tiny private school in Texas one of the best teams in the state.

Albert Pujols Personal Trainer Involved in HGH Probe in Baseball?

Carl Lewis is Having a Birthday Bash

Also This Weekend:
*
NY Circle of Friends Mini: Lornah Kiplagat, Benita Johnson Headline Circle of Friends New York Mini This Weekend A very strong field.
Orange Classic:
Meb Running
Orange Classic 10k This Weekend
Edinburgh: Kenyans Augustus Kavutu and Monica Kibet Favored at Edinburgh Marathon

Runners You Want to be Like:
*
UCD's Joel Bosserman A Man of Principle Won't Race on Saturdays "I think there are many things more important than athletics to define a person. Although running is one of the most important things in my life, I think a person's character is more important. I think a person's character defines who they are and what they do"
*3:48 1500m Runner Loses Part of His Leg in a Bike Accident James Ortiz And he apologized to his coach and tells him to give his scholarship to someone else.

Baseball Drug Probe Expands

Suzy Favor Hamilton Wonders What If About Drug Cheat Regina Jacobs

Dwain Chambers Expected to Race This Weekend Guardian

Another Baseball Drug Scandal?

Mid Week Action:
Turin:
Tatyana Lebedeva World Leader in Triple Jump In Turin BBC
*
Prague Recap: Paul Koech Runs 8:17 World Leader in Steeple

Garret Johnson is Such a Stud he Gets His Own Section. He's the favorite in the shot put and a Rhodes' Scholar to boot.
*
Garrett Johnson, Rhodes Scholar, Wants NCAA Outdoor Shot Title After Failing to Qualify for Finals Last Year Sac Bee
*
Jeb Bush Says Garrett Johnson Can be Governor
*Garrett Johnson A Stud on and Off the Track San Francisco Chronicle

Haile G Running Real Berlin Marathon

Craig Mottram Picks Up Athlete of the Year Awards in Australia

"Friday night saw the first Golden League meeting held at the Bislett Stadium in Oslo in front of a far from sell-out crowd...While the international federation continues to expand territories and products it seems to be blind to the decline in interest in the sport's traditional heartland Europe."
-Steve Cram on how the sport of track and field is in trouble in Europe

Zaragoza Spain Results 9.84 in the 100 but with a huge wind.

AJ Acosta Defeats Michael Coe at California State Meet

On the boards: Who's the Best Ringer You've Ever Seen Show Up at an Obscure Local Race?

Track and Field's Apocalypse? Bislett Games Not on TV in Much of Europe

Wheelchair Racer Who Sued to Race Alongside Her Teammates Costs Her Team a State Title She paced her teammate who won states but got DQd. Hard to believe a court said she had to be in the race.

Fernando Cabada, Using His Rage for His Running "It wasn't even about the time. It was about who I beat and how I beat them. I took them out with a mile to go. I won with an iron fist."- Fernando Cabada on beating Robert Cheseret and Simon Bairu at 10k (good read)
More Cabada
: Fernando Cabada Interview at MensRacing.com MensRacing

On the boards:
*Marathonguide.com Stealing from LetsRun.com and other Running Websites
*
Who's the oldest person on the message boards?
*Should Deena Be Able to Run the Men's Olympic Trials?

So True: "Eight years ago, Yesalis and UCLA labratory chief Don Catlin were asked independently how much money it would take for research to really fight doping, and both said the figure would be in excess of $50 million. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency spends roughly $2million a year on research."-New York Daily News writer

Arthur Lydiard Quotes:
"
Train Don't Strain"

-famed distance coach Arthur Lydiard
Friday's Lydiard Quote:
"Americans arrogantly want it all now, this is why they finish last. Speed must be used in proper proportions. Build and build like the Afrikans. This is the only way to realise your potential."
-famed distance coach Arthur Lydiard


'Suddenly I got to the age of 36, and one day I realized I can't ever run any quicker than I'm running at this moment"
(Coe reportedly stopped midwork and never ran another competitive step)

-SebCoe,
2 time 1500m gold medallist and former 800m world record holder, according to Frank Deford in an audio essay on the doping scandal.

Great Advice:
"I am glad that because I chose to focus on a personal goal, pursued passionately and today I bear testimony of what it can yield, even beyond my wildest expectations. I hope that this will somehow encourage someone here today as well, to pursue his dream and vision...Usually, I get quite enriched whenever I have an opportunity to positively touch the life of someone. Such opportunities to show concern enable me, and indeed all of us, to share what God has placed into our hands."

-World Record Holder in the Marathon and Humanitarian Paul Tergat in his acceptance speech for his honary degree from Bloomfield College in New Jersey.

More Great Advice for the Greatest Distance Runner Ever:
Haile Gebrselassie says work hard, be patient, and take your recovery days seriously.
Good Read.

Great Read/Advice: Such a Simple Sport:
"I train twice every day except on Sundays and on Christmas Day."

-the great Haile Gebrselassie, on his training over the holidays. He says his New Year's resolution is to win the gold medal at 10k and break the 10k world record. And Gebrselassie is still young as it is only 1996 in Ethiopia (we swear).

Great Read: "...there would be days I would run 70 km (43 miles) and then there are days I would run 20 or so. I just mentioned that figure (70) to state that there are days I would actually run up to 70 or so. The fact that I can run that much gives me confidence and makes me believe I am doing a good job."
-former world record holder in the marathon Naoko Takahashi in Part I of a fascinating interview with Japan Times on her training

*Part II Here

Inspirational Running Poem

You know you're a runner if....... (our reader's fill in the blanks with some hilarious responses on the message boards)

Is it the VAAM?:
"I thought for a few minutes my legs would be sore. But my legs weren't heavy at all. I went jogging and felt as good as ever."
-Naoka Takahashi won won the Berlin marathon and reportedly went for a "long run" the day after. Takahashi credits some of her success to VAAM, the sports drink from made from stomach acid of killer hornets that she drinks.
If you want order VAAM
click here

Runnersworld.com apologizes to letsrun.com