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Quote of the Day:

"I genuinely believe this momentum can be built on if other countries, and indeed other sports, are forced to adopt similarly stringent practices. The tide can be turned. Cheats will always look for a way to win but as the playing field starts to level out again, they will stick out like sore thumbs and if the records set stretch the levels of belief they will be investigated fully, and will know that will happen well in advance."

-Steve Cram writing about the doping problem in sport. He is right about turning the tide, but only if  world sport starts putting about $20-30 million a year (which is a drop in the bucket) towards drug testing research

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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

Jamie Astaphan, Doctor Who Helped Dope Ben Johnson Dies at Age 60
*Marion's Coach Steve Riddick Says She Must Have Been Framed

*Diack says credibility of track and field hurt by drug cheats

*
Double European Champ Kim Gevaert Upset With Jones' Positive

*Marion Jones' Career at Golden Crisis Point
Independent
*
Anti Doping Success of US Needs to Be Repeated in Eastern Europe Times of London
*
American Sprinters React to Jones' Positive Test
*Lagat Doesn't Want to Condemn Marion as He Knows B Test Can Clear an Athlete

Weekend Road Action:
Italy:
Former London and New York Marathon Champ Martin Lel Wins 10k in Italy as Gebrselassie's Plane Doesn't Make it
Minnesota: McGregor Reigns Supreme at Guidant Heart of Summer 10K

San Diego: Chebet, Chulakh Win America's Finest City Half Marathon, Briftontaine 3rd

Marion Jones Defiant Despite Doping "A" Positive

Marion Jones Tests Positive for EPO
 CJ Hunter
(reportedly) and Victor Conte said she was on a host of drugs back in 2000. We're pleased to see her get busted but also feel her positive shows current drug testing capabilities are lacking on a number of fronts. 1)  She only tested positive for EPO (designer steroids and HGH are even more beneficial drugs for sprinters) and not something else. 2) Her  test result was leaked to the media before her B test has been tested. Drug testing needs to catch more cheats but it also needs to be done in a 100% professional manner.
Message Board: Marion Jones Tests Positive
*How to Stop Drug Cheats
*Why I Believe Asafa Powell is Clean

More Marion:
*Marion Jones Victor Conte Photo
*Rumors as Marion Jones Pulls out of Zurich BBC

More Drug News:
The Guardian Reports on USATF Replacing Dennis Mitchell With Dennis Mitchell

Thursday's Action:
*
Celtic
Cup RecapTyree Washington and Darren Campbell brought down the curtains on their impressive careers and Alan Webb won the mile.
*Darren Campbell Wins 100 at Celtic Cup and Calls it Quits Guardian

*Alan Webb Talks About His Present, the Past and the Future www.theherald.co.uk

WADA Medical Director Criticizes Doctors Who Dope Athletes USA Today
*
European Athletics Chief Wants US Athletes to be Suspended after "A" Sample is Announced

Doping News: Floyd Landis' Father in Law Commits Suicide
*
Flo
yd Landis Wants Open Doping Hearing
Message Board Post: Dick Pound the Most Dangerous Man in Sport?
We don't agree with the poster but see the point he's making. We're as anti-doping as anyone out there but feel a bit unnerved when Pound, the man who helps sets the rules in doping cases, comments on unresolved cases dismissing the arbitration process, seeming to be both the judge and the jury.
*Golf Still Refuses to Drug Test Ever hear of beta blockers?

US-GBR-Russia: Dwain Chambers and Darren Campbell to Race at US-Great Britain Meet BBC
*
Team USA Taking on Britain and Russia This Weekend
And they'll be coached by Dennis Mitchell, not the drug cheat, who USATF had quitely take the place of Dennis Mitchell the drug cheat.
*UK Team for Meet

Great Editorial:Sue Mott of The Telegraph: Embracing a drug cheat is no way to combat the curse
The Guardian Editorial: Campbell's Anti-Drug Stance Should Be Praised
Video Campbell wants Chambers to expose cheats
*
Campbell Ready To Retire

European 10k Bronze Medalist Juan Carlos de la Ossa To Make Marathon Debut At Berlin Against Geb
The Spaniard who has a 27:27 10k pr has a clear goal - to break the 2:09:13 pr of his coach Antonio Sanchez-Serrano

We admire his courage
Darren Campbell Quit Sport Briefly When He Was 21 When He Was Told To Be A Good Sprinter He Needed To Be On Drugs

Europeans: Results or Go Here To See Video Highlights
More On Darren Campbell/Dwain Chambers Feud
*Darren Campbell Says He Would Have Forgiven Chambers If He Had Ratted Out Those Behind His Drug Supsension Campbell Lost 2 Medals Cause Chambers Was A Cheat
*Long Standing Animosity Between Linford Christie/Darren Campbell Played Role In Feud


If We Were Coaching Him, We'd Tell Him To Pass (But then again the $$ would be nice) Stefano Baldini Invited To Compete In 2006 ING NYC Marathon

*Olympic Champ Stefano Baldini Captures 2nd European Marathon Title
The Italian ran a tactically brilliant race and took the lead after 40k to prove he is the greatest championship runner of his era..
*Former UTEP Runner Ulrike Maisch Wins Women's Marathon In Big Upset Like Baldini she took the lead past 40k in the race and won in a PB of 2:30:01.She is big proof you don't have to be the biggest college star to be a success.
*Alistair Cragg Forced To Drop Out With Less 1200 To Go as Spain's Jesus Espana Wins 5k
Cragg had the lead before his achilles flared up. It's not quite clear if it ruptured or not. John McDonnell took some of the blame as he said if Cragg had been training in America he would have noticed the seriousness of the injury.
*Britain's Mo Farah Gets Silver and Has Bright Future
He was pipped near the finish but was pretty happy with silver and his season in general.
*Brits 4 x 100 Gold Turns Bizarre As Darren Campbell Refuses To Do Victory Lap
Apparently he was upset that drug cheat Dwain Chambers was included on the squad. We applaud him for feeling that way (but disagree with him also being upset that drug cheat Linford Christie was criticized for being a coach).
*More On Campbell's Fit
*Radcliffe Questions Christie's Role
*"Pitiful" Drug Cheat Dwain Chambers Ripped in British Media
A great read as the columnist rips into drug cheats who come back to competition.
*Dave Collins Analayzes Britains Efforts
*5 Pluses/5 Minuses For Brtain

Preview Of Sunday's Final Day Of Action at Euros
*Favorite Alistair Cragg Pumped And Ready For 5k Final The Irish Examiner gives us an in depth look at the former Arkansas great. Famed coach John McDonnell is at Cragg's side for the 1st time as an international and Cragg says he'll do 100% what McDonnell tells him.
*Another Great Article On Cragg
*Heading Into 1st Round McDonnell Said He's Not Worried About Craig's Sub-Par Buildup Cragg's been struggling with some blook sugar levels since running 13:08 in NY and hasn't finished a 5k and wasn't great in 3 1,500s..
*Britain's Mo Farah Is Threat In 5k He has run 13:09 this year and beat Cragg at 1,500 last month.
*More On Farah: David Moorcroft talks about the 2001 European jr. champ who someday may break his British record.
*Women's Steeple Recap/Men's Marathon Preview Alesia Turava won the steeple in 9:26. The men's marathon features Olympic champ Stefano Baldini and Spain's Julio Rey, who ran 2:06:52 earlier this year.
*Marta Dominguez Defends 5k Title
The Spaniard closed in 63.1 (and 2:12) to get the win. Britian's Jo Pavey did a lot of the work but finished 4th.
*Pavey went into the race expected to win gold by many in the press.
*The IAAF's Recap Of Saturday's Action reveals that Dominguez wasn't even planning on running the race but was convinced by the head of the Spanish federation after she finished 7th in the women's 10k (in a fine national record performance of 30:51).

Brits Continue To Struggle (No Golds) And The British Press Is Having A Field Day Analyzing The Failures
Dave Collins: Innovative or Buffoon?
*Duncan Mackay: Brits Can Do Better and Collins Says They Will
*Brendan Foster: "Ridiculous."
The former great British distance runner absolutely lets Collins have it and we have marked this as a must read piece as its rare to see someone actually say what they mean nowadays.
*Collins Defends Decision To Have Sprinter Train W Gatlin
*UK Athletics Director Dave Moorcroft's Job May Be In Jeopardy
UK Athletics is in great financial footing but that may not be good enough. We liked this article because it talked about how track is the "flagship sport" of the Olympics

*
Unheralded Jukka Keskisalo of Finland Captures Country's First Ever Steeple Gold At Euros In other action, the men's 800 semis saw former Nebraska star Dmitrijs Milkevics advance. In the women's 1500 semis, the Russian women dominated as Commonwealth gold medalist Lisa Dobriskey failed to advance.
*Britain's Struggles Continue For the first time since 1938, Britain had zero people on the track for a night of finals. It's so bad that the Brtish press is having to take solace in determining it's not the worse performance ever by a British squad.
*IAAF Recap of Day 5 (All Events)
Previous Action
*Portugal's Francis Obikwelu Completes First 100-200 Sprint Double Since 1978
*Becky Lyne Wins 800m Bronze For Britain The Independent Last winter she was reduced to riding bike due to an achilles injury. Click here to see a great photo of Russia's Olga Kotylyarova. *Day 4 Preview of Europeans BBC
*More On Jan Fitschen's Stunning10k Gold The 28 yr old is a part-time student as he's still running but is hoping to finish his degree after 10 years of college. Click on the article and see an amazing picture of pure joy.
*Video Highlights of Day 3 of European Champs (Including Men's 1500) BBC
*
Mehdi Baala Defends His European 1500m Title Baala's sub 53 last lap (probably close to 151 flat last 800) gave him his second straight victory. Known closer Heshko was 2nd.
400:
Marc Raquil Runs 45.02 to Win 400 at Europeans
100: Kim Gevaert Wins European 100m (With Link to Video of Race) First ever gold for Belgian woman.
Javelin: Greatest Jav Thrower In History Jan Zelezny Will End Career With No Euro Titles
The 40 yr old has done it all, (won 3 wchamps amd 3 Olympics) but win at Euros. He did get a bronze at age 40 as well as a masters WRecord.
400h: Russian Yevgeniya Isakova Wins 400m Hurdles at Europeans BBC
*
Jan Zelezny and Merlene Ottey Defying Father Time

Previous Action:
*German's Jan Fitschen Runs 28:10 PB To Shock FIeld/Win Gold At Euros
Heptathlon: Hottie Carolina Kluft Wins In Front Of Hometown Crowd *Photos can be found here
100:
Francis Obikwelu Wins in 9.99 as drug cheat Dwain Chambers fails to medal
LJ: 19 Yr Old British Long Jumper Greg Rutherford Proves He May Be Future Olympic Hope By Grabbing Silver
4 Yrs ago he was trying out with Aston Villa
UK Athletics Performance Director Dave Collins Under Fire: Lets see what he's getting ripped for - 1) Naming A Drug Cheat As Mentor to Young Athletes 2) Stating 70 people skipped drug tests and 3) Rating all the British Performances on a scale of 1 ot 10
Monday's Action: Exciting Women's 10k Highlights Day 1 of European Champs
*Photo of women's 10k from Europeans

100: Mark Lewis Francis, Dwain Chambers Struggle to Make 100m Semis at Europeans

Heptathlon: Brits Sotherton and Ennis are 2-3 in Heptathlon Behind Kluft
BBC

*Eunice Barber out of Heptathlon With Injury
Other; Germany's Ralf Bartels Wins First Gold at Europeans in Shot
*Jan Zelezny Looking for Elusive European Javelin Gold
*Day 1 British Recap
BBC

Christine Ohuruogu, Poster Girl for London 2012, May Have Her Olympic Hopes Dashed with 3 Missed Drug Tests Guardian

Seb Coe Wants Drug Cheats Banned from Major Events for Life Guardian

Drug Scandal:
*Patrick Arnold Man Who Invented the Clear Gets3 Months Behind Bars

*Gatlin's Mother Says He Was Not Asked to Withdraw from USATF Champs

*IOC President Jacques Rogge Sees Positives to Doping Scandal
BBC

*Court Ruling May Make it Difficult for WADA to Ban Cheats in Europe
Sorry we don't believe athletes have a civil right to cheat.
Previous:
*ESPN Talks With Those Who Support Chris Whetstine
Clearly whatever happened there was some bad blood as Nike rep Llewellyn Starks beat up Whetstine pretty bad.
*Trevor Graham Goes Into Detail About His Accusations Against Chris Whetstine

Post of the Week: Demographics of Dopers by Coach, Agent and Shoe Company

John Smith's HSI
group getting some negative attention, plus of course Trevor Graham.
*USATF Wanted Gatlin to Skip Nationals
*Asafa Powell Upset He No Longer Has a Rival With Gatlin's Drug Positive
*Harry Aikines-Aryeetey Cuts Ties to Trevor Graham
BBC

AT&T US Nationals
*
LetsRun.com 2006 Nationals
Homepage

*Results
*Start List
Sunday: LetsRun.com Recap Lagat Outlasts The Return of Jennings and Manzano's Magic, Khadevis Robinson Puts on an Exhibition, Hazel Clark Dives For the Finish, and Lincoln ThreePeats This year's nationals was a great track and field meet. Day 4 saw a $100,000 and a world leading run by Lashinda Demus in the 400m hurdles, world leaders by Torah Harris in the high jump, Walter Davis in the triple jump, Khadevis Robinson in the 800, Dominique Arnold in the hurdles, and Wallace Spearmon in the 200. But you want to read about Gabe Jennings return, Khadevis Robinson's domination, and the emergence of Nick Symmonds. Plus you learn how stupid all the guys who give out shoe contracts are.
*Final Day Recap from USATF

*Lagat Becomes First to Complete 1500-5k Double .indystar.com

*Final Day Recap from Indianapolis Star

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)

Sunday's Action: Summer or Tegenkamp Continues:
*
Herculis Monaco Recap IAAF
*Herculis Monaco Results (Tegenkamp 7:34 for 3k) While others get the fanfare, Tegenkamp has put togetehr an incredible 2006 to be the brightest young hope in American distance running.
*Mbulaeni Mulaudzi Wins 800 in Monaco

UK: USA, Russia, Great Britain Recap IAAF

*USA, Russia, Great Britain Results (Gabe Jennings Wins Mile in 4:10)

More Weekend Action:
Ricardo Williams Gets Sprint Double in Switzerland IAAF
*
Lauryn Williams Gets Sprint Double in Switzerland IAAF

Russia Leads After Day 1 of US, UK, Russia Meet

Zurich Golden League: *Results
Asafa Powell Ties World Record Tyson Gay came in second running 9.84, while the 3 other Golden League contenders Tirunesh Dibaba, Sanya Richards, and Jeremy Wariner all won. IAAF

Yelena Isinbayeva Back on Form for US, Russia, UK Meet Yahoo UK

Carolina Kluft Out for Season With Thigh Injury BBC

World Juniors: *Results
*
World Juniors Day 4 Recap
*World Juniors Day 3 Recap
IAAF
*Caroline Chepkurui and Remmy Limo Get Gold at World Juniors

*Trinidad and Tobago Win Gold in 4*100 at World Juniors
The best young talent in track and field broadcasting, Ato Boldon, is proud no doubt.
*Britain's Matryn Rooney Gets Silver at World Juniors in 400

Previous:
*
World Junior Day 2 IAAF
*
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey Wins 100 at Junior Champs BBC
*
China Has Strong Tradition in High Jump
On the boards: World Juniors is NOT a Free Vacation?

Mark Lewis Francis to Have His Olympic Ban for Marijuana Positive Lifted Guardian

Drugs/Drugs/Drugs
Judge Says SF Chronicle Reporters Must Name Sources
Thee reporters said they would protect their sources who leaked Barry Bonds testimony and other elite athletes in the Balco scandal. We still don't know why the gov't blacked out all the names of athletes in the released Balco documents. One major source is already believed to be Victor Conte himself.

Twist In European Drug Controversy
*The Materials May Have Just Been Vitamins - We Won't Know For Two Weeks -
Whether those items were vitamins or not, we say keep a close eye on the Russians (as does the Spanish federation head) as the Russians won 50% of the medals
*Bag Full of Syringes and Supsected Illegal Drugs Found In Trash Outside Hotel At Europeans


*No Way Gatlin Will Avoid Lifetime Ban If Guilty

World Jrs. Started Tues - Coverage Here - Live Results Here
Heats in the 800s, men's 1500, wsteeple and the final of women's 5k occurred. Rebekah Noble, the top seed in the women's 800, easily advanced but no American men did, AJ Nation was eliminated but Bumbalough squeaked into the men's 1500 final.

*Pre-Race Feature on Noble
*Ugandan Abraham Chepkirwok With 1:45.0 PR Is Favorite For World Juniors
The article was right on the money as the phenom ran a 1:45.97 by himself in the prelim.
*USATF Recap of Day 1's Action
*Fei Xu Gives China Upset Gold In Women's 5k
(IAAF Recap of PM Session) She passed Kenya's Florence Jebet Kiplagat in the fnal 10m as the top two seeds going into the race from Ethiopia failed to medal

*IAAF Recap of Morning's Non-Distance Action
*Athletics: New Zealanders struggle at Junior Worlds
*
With Age Cheating Scandal Behind Them, Kenyan Athletes Ready For World Jrs.

Favorites Brian Sell and Hiromi Ominami Win LaSalle Bank Distance Run
Sell described the race as a 'training run' as he supposedly was trying to run marathon pace, wel that's great as he ran 64:25. Former Olympic Trials marathoner Jenny Crain was 2nd in the women's. Top 15 Results *Pre-Race Profile of Sell

Falmouth Road Race (One Of America's Finest)
*Gilbert Okari Joins Bill Rodgers and John Korir as Only 3 Time Champions as Russian Alevtina Inova Defeats Ndereba
*Okari Thrilled With Victory Says He May Shut It Down And Prepare For Cross Country
This is a must read article as it along with a different race preview article shows a true champion listens to his body. Last week, Okari was going to win Beach To Beacon but felt a twinge in his hamstring so he backed off and got 4th. Now he's overraced so is most likely shutting it down til xc.
*Amy Rudolph Is First American (5th) and Wins $5,000
*
Top 25 Men's and Women's Results - Jorge Torres first American male in 10th.
*Carrie Tollefson Runs Fastest Mile In World For 2006 And Wins $1,500 at Falmouth Mile In 4:27.95

Tiffany McWilliams
took it out hard as usual (212 and 3:21) and hung on for third as Erin Donohue got 2nd*Amy Rudolph Ready For Falmouth Debut

Sunday Mail Scottish Champs

*46 Yr. Old Merlene Ottey Wins In Record Time (11.34)
*Full Results
*American Alan Webb Finishes 3rd In His Heat In 1:51.59
We're pretty sure he advanced to Sunday's final. Webb will run a mile on Thursday in Ireland.
*Preview of Scottish Champs

*Catherine Ndereba To Run 2006 ING New York City Marathon The reigning Olympic silver medalist has won Chicago and Boston but never New York. She's never lost to anyone in the field and must be considered the favorite.

Drugs

*Trevor Graham Tells Washington Post He Makes All His Athletes Sign An Anti-Doping Pledge


The New York Times Explores The Obvious
Does Testerone Make You A Better Athlete?
The article (despite the stupid headline) is actually prety good and asks really whether testosterone would help you in the short term like on one stage for Landis.
A Detailed Look at the Synthetic Testosterone Test www.mercurynews.com

*Kenenisa Bekle Outsprints Mike Kigen to Win Tactical 5k at African Champs We'd like to see a video of this exciting race as the winning time was 14:04.
*Bekele Says He'll Go After His Own World Record in 10k On August 19th in Zurich The problem is the Zurich meet is August 18th and there is no 10k at the meet. Perhaps he's going for the 5k record (thanks malmo for alerting us to this)

*Moses Kipsiro of Uganda Pleased With 5k Bronze, But He Wants to Defeat Bekele in the Future www.newvision.co.ug


We Agree WADA's Dick Pound Urges Sports To Clean Up Their Acts
Pound: Recent big name positives may only be "tip of iceberg"
*Linford Christie Brushes Off Criticism That Former Banned Runner Should Coach Team
Christie: "Have you ever stopped for one minute and thought I could be innocent?"
*Linford Christie Defends Christine Ohuruogu for Missing Doping Tests
BBC
*
Trevor Graham Says He Passed Lie Detector Test That He Hasn't Doped Athletes so Let Him Backin USOC Facilities msnbc.msn.com
*
Justin Gatlin to Present 'Exceptional Circumstances' Defense to Drug Positive

LRC Story: Drug Cheat Dennis Mitchell Bows to Pressure That We Helped Create and Does Right Thing And Steps Down As US Coach For British Meet Instead of focusing on whether there was or wasn't a coverup, we'll be positive and give USATF the benefit of the doubt and state that we are pleased that a convicted drug cheat isn't leading a US team. We're also pleased to hear they are trying to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Chinese Champs: Liu Xiang Wins Hurdles For 6th Straight Time. The real story may have been the performance of some of the juniors who may medal at world jrs. next week like Lin Xiangqian who won the men's steeple in 8:29.

*African Champs Are Loaded In Distances: The 10k and 5k were switched so Bekele would compete
*Olympic Champ Ezekiel Kemboi Guarantees Medal Sweep in Steeple The competition should be fierce however for 1st as a World Cup spot is on the line. Kemboi: "We will be dancing all the way...It is going to be a walkover for us and there is no doubt about it."
*
Botswana Officials Are Irate They Had To Pay Custom Duty on Free Kit They Got From Puma

Justin Gatlin's Legal Team Submitting Its Documents to USADA Legal Panel

Share Your Input: Road Race Management Survey on Drug Testing

Jonathan Wyatt Wins Another Mountain Event IAAF

Beach to Beacon: Tom Nyariki and Alevtina Ivanova Surprise at 2006 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10k Nyariki's win is a great story as the former 12:55 5ker was carjacked in 2003 and lost an eye in the carjacking. The 1997 bronze medallist at 5000m got the win at age 34 and picked up $10,000 for his efforts.
*Results and photos at link above

And What New Drug Will They Have Moved on to By Then? "There will be a test (to detect blood doping) within the next six years. ... I'm just not saying how much sooner it may be"
-scientist Michael Ashenden on how long it will take for anti-doping authorities to develop a test to detect blood doping

A Good Step, But You've Got to Catch the Cheats First: World Marathon Majors to Ban Drug Cheats for Life
More Doping News: Test to Detect Blood Doping May Take 6 Years to be Developed
*Editorial: Dick Pound is Undermining His Own Credibility

Study Shows Compression Tights May Really Work

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.

Our apologies for not being able to update the homepage yesterday

Tergat Out, Meb Keflezighi and Tom Nyariki Join This Weekend's NYC Half Marathon Field The race lost its biggest star, Paul Tergat, as his wife gave birth this week. NY fans will get to see him defend his ING NYC title in November.

Boston Marathon to Start 2 Hours Earlier

Tariku Bekele Gets Junior Gold in Beijing IAAF

Grete Waitz in the Race of Her Life as She Fights Cancer

Road Race News:
*
World's Second Fastest Marathoner, Sammy Korir, To Take on Haile Gebrselassie at 2006 Berlin Marathon
NY Next Week: Alan Culpepper, De Reuck Join Abdi Abdirahman, Paul Tergat at NYC Half Marathon
Still no word on the fall marathons for Culpepper and Abdirahman. Chances for an American record are out as the race has a fairly difficult first 7 miles and is point to point so a record will be unofficial, but Abdirahman did run 27:22 for 10k this year becoming the #3 American All-time. The NYC race will prevent him for going after the American 10k record in Brussels as the Brussels meet is two days before.
*Ed Torres, Jason Hartmann Running Chicago Marathon
*Haile Gebrselassie in Italy for 10k as He Prepares for Real Berlin Marathon
IAAF

Wariner Still in Golden League Hunt IAAF

Former Swedish Stars Used Cocaine at Party after Europeans

Tatyana Lysenko Sets Hammer World Record BBC

Moses Kipsiro
Ugandan Paper Praises 19 Yr. Old Moses Kipsiro For Brilliant Double At African Champs
Imagine if an American college sophomore-to-be won gold at 10k and bronze at 5k.
*African Champs 10k Champ Moses Kipsiro Sticking To 5k Despite Win

Switch To Women's Steeple Paying Off For Kenya's Jeruto Kiptum
Last year's world champs bronze medallist missed the 2000 and 2004 Olympics because she didn't have a qualifying time.

*Lysenko Sets World Record In Women's Hammer In Estonia Former Nova runner Adrian Blincoe shows up in 1500 meter results *Tallin Full Results

SwedishAmerican State Street Mile (Rockford, Ill.)
Klint Wescom (4:06.2) and Colleen Newhart, (4:41.8) Win Titles


Famed Ct. And Manchester Road Racer Charley Robbins Dies At 85
Robbins ran Manchester 50 yrs in a row and was one of Uconn's first ever All-Americans. He lived a minimalist lifestyle and was an Olympic alternate.

Former HJ World Reocrd Holder Patrik Sjoberg Admits To Doing Cocaine At Party At Europeans

Triumphant Kenyan Athletes Return Home From African Champs And There Is Talk of Govt. Rewarding The Medallists

*2006 African Champs Results
*
Kenyan David Kimutai Rotich Adds 1500 To 800 Crown as Compatriot Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei Defeats Maria Mutola
*IAAF Recap of Final Day
*Day 4: Edith Masai Leads Kenyan Sweep of Women's 10k
The article also talks about the women's 800 final as being a great battle between
Maria Mutola and Janeth Jepkosgei.
*IAAF Recap of Day 3
(Men's Steeple)

*Kenya's Alex Chipchirir Wins Men's 800 By .03
It was a tight 3 way battle as Olympic silver medalist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was 6th. In the steeple, Paul Koech got the easy win (as Olympic champ Ezekiel Kemboi who predicted a Kenyan 1-2-3 sweep finished second but was DQ'd for a trail leg violation (never heard of this in the steeple) and the third Kenyan was 7th.
*
Kenya's Mike Kigen Enthused After Narrow Lost To Bekele The 20-year old seems to have all the characteristics of a future star - great results as well as a champions attitude.
*
Kenya's Edith Masai Ready For 10k Battle The 39-year old credits her strong faith for much of her success.
Day 2 Recap: World Record Holder Meseret Defar Edges Tirunesh Dibaba By .04
For Gold Coming into the race Dibaba had won 5 straight 5ks including at least two Golden Leagues meets over Defar. Check back later Friday for an article
.

Moroccan Born Runner Who Set French 1500m Record Test Positive Of course, Nordine Gezzar, says she's innocent

A Wall St. Journal Reporter Takes A Good Look At Landis' Positive Test He tries to answer the tough questions like why anyone would take steroids in the middle of the tour and why it would only show up on one test.

LetsRun.com Will Add $10,000
California Man Offers Floyd Landis $100,000 To Take a Polygraph Until the public or athletes take the initiative, sports will never be drug free. If Landis takes us up, we want to pick the polygrapher.

Dumbest Offer Ever
*
Gatlin's Lifetime Ban Will Be Reduced to 8 Yrs. If He Rats Out His Coach We'd love for a drug cheat (besides Cathard Lombard - the most honorable drug cheat we know of) to come clean and tell all but the offer of an 8 year ban is just ludicrous.

Hiromi Ominami and Brian Sell to Headline Sunday's LaSalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic Half MarathonSell finished 4th in Boston, Ominami has run 68 for the half.

*Felix Limo Back to Defend at 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon After winning Chicago, Limo also won in London so let's just say he's currently regarded as the best in the business.

Road to Eugene Meet Recap and Results (sorry for not having this up earlier):
*
AP Recap: Toby Stevenson Wins Vault at Road to Eugene Meet, Shawn Crawford Wins 100
*IAAF Recap: LaShawn Merritt Sets Sea Level Best for 300m
*
Race by Race Recaps (Matt Tegenkamp Runs 3:36 to Dominate Field Including Gabe Jennings)
*
Photo Gallery
*
Athlete Quotes
*Results
*
AJ Acosta Profile
On the boards: Was the meet a flop or a success?

Kenyan (and Bahrain) Age Scandal Escalate Famed coach and LetsRun.com poster Renato Canova says that several World Youth Champs from Bahrain lied about their ages

Floyd Landis Offers Yet Another Excuse: Early this week, Landis had been appearing pretty smooth on a slew of American television shows but may blown it when he offered yet another possibility to Jay Leno: Maybe I ate something. News to Floyd: If you ate it, that's your problem, it's still doping. Your only bet to save face in America is to a) blame the French or b) claim sabotage or c) admit it as it's a forgiving country

More on the Amazing John Woodruff from Arizona Republic: "I'm most proud that I was able to do what I did in track and field in order to bring a good name for the Woodruffs."- John Woodruff
-NY Times Article on Woodruff
*
There is a Race in Woodfuff's Name in PA

*Canadian Champs Results
*Reid Coolsaet Defeats Paul Morrison by 4 Thousands of a Second at Canadian Champs
*Perdita Felicien Win Titles at Canadian Champs
Nate Brannen won the 1500. Events Challenge:
*US Wins Nike Combined Events Challenge The 110 degree temperatures and a German athlete having an ashtma atacked helped the US team.
*44 People Attend Nike Combined Events Challenge
*Bryan Clay Calls it a Season after Pulling out of Multi Event in Kansas

Runnersworld Turns 40

"I avoid posting on these boards like I would avoid the plaque. But I never said I don't read them. So after many moons away, I only return to give a HUGE congrats to Daniel Lincoln. One of the nicest, more humble athletes in the sport these days. I am very happy that he finally got the AR, because there is no one else I can think of who deserves it more. I only hope he gets a chance to lower it even more in the coming season. Congrats to a classy guy, and to the new American Records holder! :)"
-Marc Davis (an 8:14 steepler himself) commenting on Dan Lincoln breaking Henry Marsh's 21 year old American record in the steeplechase

On the Boards:
*
College Coaching Salaries Exposed
If you're in it for the money get a job teaching high school. It pays better.

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