Quote Of The Day

"We work very hard to keep races affordable while ensuring a world-class experience for all of our runners. The increase (of roughly $60 per participant) in the marathon price reflects both rising costs for the New York Road Runners and the new fee instituted by New York City on organizations like ours."

- NYRR spokesperson Richard Finn explaining that because of increased police costs the NYRR is raising the entry fee for the ING New York City Marathon roughly $60 per person to $216 for NYRR members, $255 for non-member U.S. entrants and $347 for international applicants.

Remember, everything in NY costs way more than it does elsewhere. Cowboys stadium with a retractable roof cost $1.3 billion while MetLife stadium cost $1.6 billiion.

Help 2008 & 2009 NCAA 800 Champ Geena Gall Get A $100,000 Wedding By Voting For Geena & Jason Here You can vote up to 999 times per computer.

$347 Seems Absurd But We Think It's Worth It
New York City Marathon Organizers Raise Entry Fees By About $60 To Compensate For Increased Police Costs
The cost for 2011 will be $216 for NYRR members and $255 for non-member U.S. entrants, while international applicants will have to pay $347 this year. Remember, everything in NY costs way more than it does elsewhere. Cowboys stadium with a retractable roof cost $1.3 billion while MetLife stadium cost $1.6 billiion.
*NYTimes: New York Marathon Raises Entry Fee By Roughly $60, Citing Police Costs "Running the New York City Marathon is a great way to lose weight. It is also going to leave your wallet a little lighter this year. Largely because the New York Police Department has begun charging event organizers to recoup its costs, entry fees for the November race jumped about $60, or 24 to 39 percent, depending on the entrant."

New Year's Eve / New Year's Action

Kenyans Beware - Tirunesh Dibaba Is Back Dibaba got the win in Madrid in what was her first competitive race since August 2010.

Italy:
Double World Champ Vivian Cheruiyot And Former Bronze Medallist Edwin Soi Win Bolzano Races In Italy

Madrid: Tirunesh Dibaba And Teenager Hagos Gebrehiwot Win In Madrid

Sao Paolo: Tariku Bekele And Priscah Jeptoo Triumph In Sao Paolo On New Year's Eve

Angola: Zersenay Tadese Wins

Japan: Nissin Foods Wins Japanese New Year's Ekiden

NYC:
Stephanie Pezzullo And Landon Peacock Win Emerald Nuts Run In Central Park

Sad News

Frank Horwill 1927-2012 Horwill founded the British Milers Club and coached Tim Hutchings (most of you in the US know him as the the really good British announcer on track TV broadcasts; his real claim to fame was a 4th in the 1984 Olympic 5k). BMC Remembrances here.
*IAAF Remembrance Here

Chris Solinsky Passes Up Chance to Go To Monday's Rose Bowl Because He Doesn't Want To Be Surrounding By Duck Fans

The Trials Keep Generating Great Interviews

Teddy Tamgho Does A Rap In Response To His 6-Month Suspension YouTube video here.

Michael Johnson Says Bolt Can Break 400 WR Maybe not if he trains like this: TMZ photo gallery of Bolt partying.

Sarah Gillespie Runs First Sub-5 Of The High School Indoor Season

The Olympic Marathon Trials Are 2 Weeks Away: Good Interviews Worth A Read

US LJ Champ Marquise Goodwin Representing Track Athletes Well As Wide Receiver For The Longhorns

US News

2012 News

Not Much Going On In The Running World Right Now, But The Trials And Indoors Are Coming

The Running Story Of The Year

Japan Running News Recaps The Life And Career Of Sammy Wanjiru Barcelona Olympics marathon silver medalist Koichi Morishita: "The people who were supporting Sam were only motivated by the money flowing around him, not from the heart, and they didn't give him the kind of support he really needed. You hear a lot of disturbing things about his family too, his wife, and I can't help but think that he should have had more people around him who cared about his soul."

Did You Get Your Run In On Christmas?

On The Boards: Haile G trains twice a day, every day, except christmas. Who doubled today?
*Merry Christmas / How Far Are You Running Today?

More US Open And Millrose

LRC USATF Trying To Continue The 99-Year MSG Track Tradition Continues With The US Open USATF is attempting to put on a fan-friendly 2-3 hour meet (instead of 6 hours) with the promotional muscle of MSG behind it with a focus on the pros and a few select high school races. Since MSG is helping promote the meet there is a chance for success. Will the meet make changes to entertain fans once they get in the door to bring them back for year 100? See below.

LRC Emails Track And Field: Entertain Or Continue A Slow Death An email from an LRC visitor: "The Millrose Games as you knew it no longer exists. So what? Why should any track athlete or fan care?" got Wejo to think about our sports slow decline and what needs to be done to change it. Entertaining meets with good matchups. An another emailer who co-authored books with both Bill Bowerman and Bill Dellinger says why not have a pro Millrose (at the Garden) and a separate amateur one (at the Armory)?

"The Armory is just the symptom. Boring track meets with unexciting matchups is the disease."

More: Track & Field Superfan Responds To LRC Piece On Death Of Millrose Games At MSG  He basically says Millrose was already dead. "If Millrose died, then it was suffering from senility for years." We tend to agree but don't know why the name wasn't left at MSG. Take it up to the Armory only if a meet can't continue at MSG.

Yesterday: LRC How The Millrose Games As We Knew Them Died On October 2, 2009, steps were put into place to give the Armory the rights to the Millrose name. Considering the mission of the Armory and the declining attendance, it was only a matter of time before the meet moved.

Recommended Read Portland Tribune Writer Feels For Portland's Rob Conner As He Loses Trevor Dunbar To Supposedly Better Program (Oregon) The author points out that Portland has been better than Oregon at the West Regional 5 of the last 10 years and only two Ducks have run faster than the Pilots' best 5,000 man at 13:40 and concludes his piece by writing, "Doesn't seem right. That's life, I guess." Portland coach Rob Conner also says it doesn't seem fair to him and it's pointed out that Portland actually cares about the athletes' well-being and releases them, whereas Oregon doesn't return the favor.

Look Out

LRC Galen Rupp Enters The 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials The American record holder at 10,000m has only run one race over 10,000m but he's now entered in next month's Trials. The question is will he run? Our quick take on Rupp's entry.
On The Boards: Galen Rupp in Marathon Trials

Other OT News:
*
Over 300 Have Entered USA Olympic Trials Marathon Overall, the USATF has collected $16,150 in entry fees ($50 each athlete). Those do not go to the Houston Marathon Committee even though they pay the athletes' travel, lodging, and meal expenses. Does that make sense?

Saturday XC Action: Foot Locker *Boys Results *Girls Results *Boys Photos *Girls Photos *Full Girls Race Video *Full Boys Race Video

LRC Boys: Cheserek Outkicks Futsum For The Win This race lived up to its hype as the top 2 African-born stars went mano-a-mano until the final 100m. After a cat-and-mouse 9:50 opening 2 miles, their last 1.1 was run at a pretty quick pace (4:31 mile pace), but the winning time of 14:51.5 wasn't close to Reina's 14:36 CR.

LRC Girls: Molly Seidel Turns Back Tough Challenge From Erin Finn Seidel was the favorite, undefeated in 2011, but Finn was the top returner and Finn made it super-interesting as she opened up a big lead and even managed to regain the lead once Seidel caught her.

Recommended Read: Dyestat Recap: Cheserek, Zeinasellassie Forge Bond In San Diego

More Coverage: *Newark Star-Ledger Recap
Note the paper incorrectly reports their last 800 as being a 1:54. No chance.

*San Diego Tribune Recap Cheserek says he just wanted win - might go for Reuben Reina's record next year.

MB:
*Where would Cheserek have placed at NCAA XC? *Cheserek and Futsum's last 800 meters - 1:54? *Poll: How old are Cheserek and Futsum? *Will an American male ever win Foot Locker again? *Another FL Finalist Staying Home

2011 NCAAs Are History *Men's Results *Women's Results *Entire Race Video Replays

Men: LRC Wisconsin Badgers Take Control Early As Lawi Lalang Dominates Lawi Lalang waited until 5k before deciding it was time to crush the competition once and for all, while #1 Wisconsin showed no fear and put a stranglehold on the competition from the very beginning and held off a belated charge from Oklahoma State and a surprising Colorado team as the Cowboys tried to three-peat. American Chris Derrick took home individual runner-up honors to cap a brilliant career in style. *Discuss

More: Wisco #1: *Give 'em five: Badgers lay claim to program's fifth national title *Krause earns redemption as Badgers storm to fifth national title host.madison.com
OSU #2: *Dave Smith Calls Loss "Disappointing" - But Expected www.okstate.com
Colorado #3: *Wetmore Calls Medina Most Improved Runner In Country www.denverpost.com *CU Coach Mark Wetmore Pleased With Buffs 3rd Place Run
Individual: Coach Li - I Think Lalang Would Have Got Course Record If He Was Pushed www.arizonawildcats.com

Week That Was

LRC Geoffrey Mutai Amazes Again, Adam Goucher Retires, & Lukas Verzbicas Calls It Quits We go behind the scenes to take a look at the last two weeks in the running world, which included the NYC Marathon, Adam Goucher's retirement, and Lukas Verzbicas leaving Oregon mid-season. Plus we take a look at the Phil Hersh-Ryan Hall spat and compare Hall to Tim Tebow.

The Weeks That Were

LRC Tirunesh Dibaba Returns, Dunbar Follows In His Dad's Footsteps & Meb Tries To Make The Olympic Team On 41 Days Of Running In case you've been (like us) more focused on the Holidays than keeping on top of the limited action in the world of running over the last two weeks, we are here for you. From the return of Tirunesh Dibaba to Meb trying to make the Olympic team off of 41 days of running to some high-profile transfers, we've got you covered.

AOY

David Rudisha Is Surprise Men's Winner Of Track & Field News Athlete Of The Year

Vivian Cheruiyot Is Track & Field News Athlete Of The Year

Olympic VIPs To Get Special Treatment - Regular UK Visitors May Suffer As A Result
VIP treament of 25,000 Olympic athletes, coaches and officials will mean delays for other fliers, according to the UK Border Agency.

Sick: Hitler Filmed Irish Hammer Throwers To See What Made Them So Good

Oscar Ponce Doesn't Show Up For Scheduled Court Date; Police Still Searching For Him *MB: Ponce arrested

LetsRun.com Puma Marathon Trials Prediction Contest

LRC Puma Marathon Trials Prediction Contest The Trials in Houston are less than two weeks away and we're back with our world famous prediction contest. Shalane or Desi? What about Deena or Kara? Ryan or Meb? What will Dathan and/or Galen do? Pick the top 10 in the men's and women's races perfectly and you could win $250,000. Come out on top of the other LRC faithful and you could win some great Puma prizes as they celebrate the Feb. 1 launch of the first motional control shoe the in the Faas line, the Faas 800.

Got A Question For Puma? Now's Your Chance To Ask It

Got a Question On Running Shoes? Puma Wants To Hear It In part of Puma's effort to show its new Faas line is made for the LetsRun.com audience, Puma is making its designers and product managers of its new Faas line available for three days to the LetsRun.com audience starting January 10. They'll respond to your questions and educate you about the Faas line. They want to hear your questions now, however, so they'll know what you are most interested in in advance. So if you've got a question or comment about the Faas line, Puma, or running shoes in general, now is the time to ask it. Click here to submit your question.

Moscow's Lenin Stadium Holds Special Importance To Seb Coe It's where he won the 1980 Olympic 1,500 over Steve Ovett. Coincidentally we received an email informing us that Ovett's son, Freddy Ovett (1:52 800, 4:00 1,500) will be starting at Oregon next semester. *MB: Ovett's son off to Oregon

Goodbye, 2011: The Science Of Sport Story Of The Year: Fatigue And The Role Of The Brain In Regulation Of Performance/Pacing Strategy
*Prefontaine Classic Ranked 2nd-Best Invitational In 2011 Monaco was first.
*All-Athletics.com: US Ranked #1 Country In T&F For 2011 This obviously doesn't weigh the distance events, as Kenya (#2 overall) would easily take that.
*EAA 2011 Review: Women's Middle Distances/Steeple
*Best Hammer Throw Stories Of 2011
*Runner's Tribe Aussie Year Review

Junior College Cross-Country Champ Could Face Deportation Ayded Reyes is a top runner with a 3.5 GPA who has been offered scholarships to many universities (including an Ivy League school), but spent 5 days in prison when it was discovered that her parents brought her to the US from Mexico illegally when she was 2 years old.

Ciaran Ó Lionáird Talks Training Under Salazar And What Changes He's Made "Alberto is changing my arm carriage and posture and also I am spending a lot of work in the gym fixing the imbalances that caused all the injuries when I went to college."

Finishing Up 2011: Science Of The Sport Controversy Of The Year Award Goes To Oscar P With honorable mentions to Caster Semenya and Usain Bolt/the false start rule.
*
IAAF End Of Year Reviews - Sprints
*Review Of Jamaican Sprint Performances In 2011 Makes a couple of points defending Asafa Powell and shot putter Dorian Scott for missing WCs.

2 Recommended Reads

NCAA News: Neely Spence Goes Pro

US Olympic Marathon Trials Are Approaching Quickly

Sad News

Zithulele Sinqe, Who Ran 2:08:04 And 1:00:11 Half Marathon In Apartheid S. Africa, Dies In Crash This guy sounds like a legend and sadly until his death today and a reader email we had never heard of him. Way back in the '80s, he ran 2:08:04 and 1:00:11 in S. Africa. Because of apartheid and/or apartheid boycotts, he could never compete abroad.
On The Boards: South African Icon Passes Away

BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards

*World Road Race Champion And Tour de France Green Jersey Winner Mark Cavendish Beats Mo Farah For BBC Sports Personality Of The Year British Open champ Darren Clarke was 2nd, Farah 3rd.

*British Press Says Jessica Ennis & Paula Radcliffe Stole Show With Stunning Outfits At BBC Awards

TMFKAMG

LRC Wejo Speaks October 2, 2009: The Day The Millrose Games As We Knew Them Died Our very own Wejo did a little research and tells you why they Millrose Games as we all knew them died not this past spring with their announced departure from Madison Square Garden, but on Oct. 2, 2009, when plans were quietly put in place to give the Millrose Games to the Armory Foundation. Then considering the mission of the Armory and the state of track and field in America, it was not surprising that in only two years, Dr. Norb Sander, the head of the Armory, would go from saying, "This (the Millrose Games) is the flagship event of indoor track and field and its presence at the Garden is crucial" to telling Wejo, "I'm not sure we left it (the Garden) reluctantly. It's (the Armory) a better place to have the Millrose Games than the Garden for track." Fortunately, 98 years of tradition have not been completely tossed aside, as USATF is hosting the US Open at the MSG this year, the 99th straight year track will be at MSG.

Mo Farah Making News

Mo Farah Back In UK To Launch His Foundation And For BBC Sports Person Of The Year Awards He's the third betting choice to win Thursday's award as the top sportsman in Britain. Then Friday, it's off to a training camp in Kenya apparently without Galen Rupp or his family. Mo did the media rounds in Britain and said he still wants to do the Olympic double, went to Somalia this fall with his family and "it was like Beatle-mania." His foundation website is here and wants to help people in need in Somalia.

More Mo: Mo Will Go On Friday To Kenya For A Training Camp Sponsored By Virgin London
Mo Writes In The Telegraph: "I'd lost in the final of the 10,000 metres to Ibrahim Jeilan. We didn't have a clue who he was." It was the distance race in the year in our minds. Final lap here. The announcer even says "It's over, I think" with 300 to go.

LRC's Blue-Collar Hero Makes News Again

Week That Was

LRC Foot Lockers, Fukuoka Pulling People From The Course, Africans NOT Running To School, Chinese Dopers, And Sam Chelanga's YouTube Video It was the end of the US high school season, the beginning of the Australian pro season, and we take a look at it all, exactly one month before next month's Olympic Marathon Trials.

Week That Was

LRC Centro Goes Pro (Should German Have Too?), Kawauchi, NXN, And How Soft Are The Women's Olympic Marathon Trials Standards? We cover the big stories in the world of running in the last week, the ones above, plus the USATF convention and we take a look at the amazing depth of the Fukuoka marathon, where you can't compete unless you can run under 2:42.

2 Weeks And NCAAs In Review

LRC NCAAs Go According To Form, Chris Derrick's College Career Comes To An End, Tim Tebow = Don't Overtrain, Track Returns To The Garden, And Alan Webb Has Sex Now that we've got your attention with the Alan Webb headline, get your weekly read on the running world. After the Thanksgiving break, we're back with a good week in review if we must say so ourselves. Plus a little comedy if you haven't seen the Border Clash XC false-start video.

2011 NCAAs Are History *Men's Results *Women's Results *Entire Race Video Replays

Women: LRC Georgetown, Reid Win Tight Battles Six women kicked for home over the last 400m of the race but in the end it turned into the duel many expected and Sheila Reid of Villanova got the narrow win over Jordan Hasay. The big surprise was in the team's race, where the Georgetown women, who were only third at Big East, won by eight over Washington as #1 Florida State faltered and finished 4th. *Discuss

More: *Georgetown Gets Its First National CC Title GUHoyas.com
*Washington Comes Up 8 Points Short GoHuskies.com
*#1 FSU Finishes 4th & Coach Karen Harvey Pulls No Punches"I felt like I was watching a nightmare. I really thought there was no way this is happening." www.seminoles.com
*Wetmore Says 11th-Placed Colorado Women Purposely Peaked For PAC-12s, Not NCAAs www.denverpost.com
*The FSU women finished fourth and the men 12th at NCAA Cross Country Championships www.seminoles.com
*Lananna Says Hasay's Runner-Up Finish Was A Big Step Forward As She Didn't Get Antsy & Kick Too Early www.oregonlive.com

He Will Be Missed Adam Goucher Retires Goucher is having knee surgery on Friday and says his competitive racing career is over. We've always said that one way to judge whether a runner's career was a good one or not is simple: Were They Good Enough That They Could Retire Or Just Quit? Goucher certainly is retiring, as he had an INCREDIBLE career - Foot Locker champ, NCAA champ indoors, NCAA champ outdoors and NCAA champ in XC, USA champ in XC and track and an Olympian. Goucher is a runner at heart and we wouldn't rule out seeing him in the 2016 Marathon Trials.
*MB: Adam Goucher retires

2011 ING NYC Marathon *Men's Results *Women's Results *Viewing Info *Flash Yahoo Photos

LRC 2:05:06!!! Geoffrey Mutai Caps Year In Style An unbelievable year in men's marathoning had an appropriate finish, as the Kenyan man who had the most unbelievable of all years, Geoffrey Mutai, smashed the previous NYC Marathon record by a stunning 2:38 - that's two minutes and 38 seconds. If it wasn't the greatest 2nd-greatest men's marathon performance ever, you'll have to tell us what was. American Meb Keflezighi hung with the leaders for 20 miles after a blistering 63:16 1st half and ended up with a much-deserved PR. Mutai picked up $200,000 by winning, but the big financial winner was runner-up Emmanuel Mutai, who won $635,000 ($500,000 for the WMM title).

LRC
Mary Keitany Beats Herself The women's race was full of gut-wrenching drama, as Mary Keitany went out in a crazy 67:56. The problem was she came back in 74:42, as unheralded Firehiwot Dado (Rome Marathon champ) got the win.

LRC Post-Race Interviews: Meb And His Coach Bob Larsen Talks About His PR Despite Throwing Up Plus the winners - Geoffrey Mutai, Firehiwot Dado, men's and women's top 3, Ed Moran, Molly Pritz, Lauren Fleshman and Bobby Curtis.

DIII Represent (If You've Got A Darkhorse Runner You Want People To Know About For The Trials, Email Us)

Yearly Vote (Note: TMFKAMG = The Meet Formerly Known As Millrose Games)