Boston Marathon Women (More in our special section)

FridayGood News/Bad News for Desi and Shalane’s American Chances  We break down the women’s press day in terms of good news/bad news for the American women. Mare Dibaba is ready to go, so is Buzenesh Deba and nearly everyone we spoke too. And some words of wisdom, “Life is today. Tomorrow is a dream.”

LRC2016 Olympic Trials 2015 Boston Marathon American Women’s Preview: Can Flanagan, Linden Or Cragg End The American Drought? It’s been 30 years since an American woman won Boston. Can Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Linden or Amy (Hastings) Cragg follow in Meb’s footsteps and take the laurel wreath? We break down this preview of the Olympic Trials.

LRC2015 Boston Marathon International Women’s Preview 2014 Chicago champ Mare Dibaba leads the field, though she’ll be challenged by fellow sub-2:20 woman Buzunesh Deba, who would have set a course record last year if not for drug cheat Rita Jeptoo. World junior record holder Shure Demise Ware and former champs Caroline Kilel and Sharon Cherop will also be on the start line.

Let’s Put This Guy In Charge Of The Sport’s Marketing

World Indoor Champ Richard Kilty Challenges Arsenal’s Theo Walcott And Hector Bellerin To £30,000 Race “(The media claims Hector Belleri) can run 4.42 over 40m. Absolutely no way. Are these journalists complete morons?”
*MB: Soccer player faster than Usain Bolt at 40m??

Words Of Wisdom From Shot Silver Medalist Christina Schwanitz

We Knew It’d Been Too Many Days Without A Doping Ban

• MB: Spanish XC Champ Mohamed Marhoum Tests Positive For EPO The Moroccan born runner pulled out of World XC Champs last month saying he was “sick,” but in reality had failed an out-of-competition test. *Google Translated Article
• South African Sprinter Simon Magakwe Gets 2-Year Ban For Failing To Provide A Urine Sample

Olympic Spots Will Be On The Line At World Relays The top 8 finishers in the men’s and women’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 will qualify for the 2016 Games.

Upcoming Action

• Kenyan Patrick Terer Will Return To Defend His Title At The Prague Marathon On May 3rd The 2:08:07 man will face Peter Kirui (2:06:31) and three other sub-2:08 men. The women are led by Ethiopians Yebrqual Melese (2:23:23), Tadelech Bekele (2:22:51) and Ashete Bekere (2:23:46).
• Tyson Gay Will Compete In The 100 At The May 9th Jamaica Invitational Gay took the place of Justin Gatlin who recently withdrew. Other confirmed athletes are Walter Dix, Ryan Bailey, Nesta Carter and Nickel Ashmeade.
• Mutaz Essa Barshim Will Face Stacked HJ Field At 2015 Pre Classic Includes Olympic champ Ivan Ukhov, Olympic medalists Derek Drouin and Erik Kynard and 2011 World champ Jesse Williams.
• France’s 2-Time European Heptathlon Champ Antoinette Nana Djimou And Russian Euro Indoor Champ lya Shkurenev Added To Fields For Hypo Meeting In Gotzis On May 30-31 Previously announced include Ashton Eaton for the men and a stacked women’s field of Jessica Ennis, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, Dafne Schippers, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Morgan Lake.
• Jessica Ennis Will Return To The Olympic Stadium For Sainsbury Anniversary Games In July She hasn’t decided which event(s) she’ll compete in, but could end up facing fellow BritKatarina Johnson-Thompson.

Boston Is In Less Than A Week

• Stacked Fields Set For BAA 5K: Molly Huddle Is Defending Champ And Ben True Goes For His Third Win True faces Sam Chelanga, Stephen Sambu and Lawi Lalang while Huddle is up against BAAA Distance Medley champ Mamitu Daska.
  *Past Boston Champs – Morio Shigematsu (JPN, 1965), Jaqueline Gareau (CAN, 1980), Geoff Smith (GBR, 1984/85), Greg Meyer (USA, 1983), Lorraine Moller (NZL, 1984), And Lisa Rainsberger (1985) – Will Also Run BAA 5k Joan Samuelson, Gelindo Bordin and Amby Burfoot will run the full 26.2.
• Morgan Uceny, Heather Kampf, Gabe Grunewald Lead Field For BAA Invitational Mile Uceny is a three-time champ. Chris O’Hare leads the men’s field.
• 2:16 Marathoner Tyler Andrews Attempting Treadmill Half Marathon WR On April 19th At Boston marathon Expo Andrews is trying to break his own 67:18 WR to raise money for educational projects in Peru. *Website
• Q&A With Former Marathon WR Patrick Makau Ahead Of The Boston Marathon Makau says his favorite workout is 10 x 2,000m in 5:40 with 1 minute recovery (200m jog).
  *Video With Makau Talking About His Strength/Interval Training
• BAA And Abbott Anounce Multiple-Year Sponsorship Of The Boston Marathon Sponsorship complements Abbott’s title sponsorship of the World Marathon Majors.

Women Distance News

• Recommended Read:84-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Says Running Saved Her LifeSylvia Weiner was the only one in her family of 10 to survive the Holocaust and was in a concentration camp together with Anne Frank. Weiner went on to become the first official Boston Marathon masters winner.
• RRW:Flashback To Paula Radcliffe’s 2:15:25 World Record At The 2003 London Marathon 2003
  *MB:April 13, 2003 – Guess what happened 12 years ago today? Where were you/what was your reaction?
• IAAF “Personal Bests” Q&A With Emma Coburn Coburn shares her top achievement and disappointment, favorite venue and greatest indulgence.
• Shalaya Kipp Signs With Oiselle The 2012 Olympian is part of the group with Emma Coburn who train under Mark Wetmore in Boulder.