Debate – President Obama Names Winter Olympic Delegation – ‘Genius’ Move or Big Blunder? You Decide

• Alan Abrahamson: A Big Blunder By Obama In an open letter to the president, Abrahamson respectfully criticizes President Obama for naming an Olympic delegation with no first lady, VP or Cabinet members on it. He says the decision is insulting to Putin and the IOC and has jeopardized US’s 2024 bid. Abrahamson say it’s wrong to play politics with the Olympics in Russia just like Jimmy Carter did in 1980.
• Christine Brennan: Inclusion of Lesbian Icon Bill Jean King Is A ‘Genius’ Move by Obama Brennan is thrilled the US is expressing disapproval for Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law.
• ESPN’s Bonnie Ford: Make no mistake, Billie Jean King’s Olympic inclusion is a protest
• MB: 2014 US Sochi Delegation – A genius move or a blunder? How about both?

• RR #1 Former World Record Holder Marathoner Khalid Khannouchi talks about the new era of marathoning and how quickly things have gone from 2:05 to 2:03 “It’s not a mystery event anymore…..It’s a different world, you can’t compare. Kenyans and Ethiopians don’t have anything to lose.  They can take risks.  Americans are afraid to take a risk.”
• RR#2: 5th and final series on Oklahoma State’s 2013 XC Season by Running Times/Noah Gallagher Shannon: Losing Sucks and ‘still feels like a nightmare’ Farrell: “Could we call ourselves a cross country powerhouse if we could only win when it’s flat and firm?” Lockhart: “We had an average day, across the board.”

Doping News

• 2005 and 2007 US World Championship Team Marathoner Mary Akor Gets 2-Year Doping Ban For Clenbuterol When you are PRing at age 37 and racing a lot, that’s a red-flag. Akor had won Pittsburgh in May.
  MB: Marathoner Mary Akor fails test – gets 2 yr sanction
• WADA announces names of members of 2014 Expert Groups There are expert groups for the following subjects – the Prohibited List, laboratories, ethical issues and the hot topic of late – therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) and the hot topic of the future – gene doping.

Move Over, Edward Cheserek And Abbey D …

LRC's ChampionsThe Winners Of The LRC NCs XC Prediction Contest Powered By RunFanShop.com

Exercise Science

• Study: Exercise Can Help Libido In Women Taking Anti-Depressants
• Some Experts Say Vitamin Supplements Don’t Improve Health And Are A Waste Of Money
• Study Reaffirms Older Athletes Struggle More In The Heat The decline in ability to handle the heat can start as early as age 40, and gets more significant with age.

Year End Award News: Bowerman Award Tonight

• Spikes-Magazine: 20 Awesome Track Pictures Of 2013 Usain Bolt‘s lightning photo from Worlds tops the list.
• Jesse Owens Awards Webcast Is Tonight On USATF.tv At 8PM ET And it’s free.
• Who Will Win? Bowerman Award Will Be Presented At 7PM Tonight
• NCAA’s Top Relay Teams Of 2013 Recognized At USTFCCCA Convention Includes list of top teams for the 4 x 100 through the DMR for DI, DIII and DIII.

Distance News

• IAAF Weekend XC Round-Up: World 5,000 Silver Medallist Mercy Cherono Wins In Spain Over 30:35 10K Woman Sub-60 half runner Cyprian Kotut won the men’s race. Other highlights included world 1,500m bronze medallist Hellen Obiri winning the fourth leg of the KCB/AKXC Series.
• Belgium Team Of 12 Beats Guinness World Record For 100K On Treadmill The team of 12 ran 100K in 5:01:20, which is 4:51 pace.
• Video Interview With Foot Locker Girls Champ Tessa Barrett
  *MB: Footlocker Winner Tessa Barrett Does 200 Push-Ups & 90 Chin-Ups EVERY DAY
• Stephen Kiprotich Voted Ugandan Athlete Of The Year Again
• Book Out About Danish Woman With MS Who Ran 366 Marathons In 365 Days

LRCGrant Fisher Wins Epic Battle With John Dressel - Becomes Just 2nd American 11th Grade Foot Locker Champ!

• San Diego Paper Recap: "Rarely do you get the kind of footrace drama."

• DyeStat 2013 Boys Foot Locker Recap

LRCPennsylvania's Tessa Barrett Goes Out Hard, Gets Caught, Kicks Away Late To Win 2013 FLers

• 2013 Footlocker National Thread

• Tessa MF Barrett

• Footlocker Boys Race - Now that was a race - Grant Fisher over John Dressel

• Slowest Winning Foot Locker Time in 4 Years. Footlocker RIP

• Foot Locker 2014 Is Going to Be Legendary

Random

• Video: Usain Bolt Races Against A Bus In Argentina It wasn’t much of a race; Bolt jogged to the win.
• Barcelona Track Club Selling Sexy Calendar To Raise Money For Uniforms For Club’s Youth Athletes
• Nick Symmonds Launches PETA Campaign To Speak Out Against Animal Testing
• Germany’s World Shot Put Champion David Storl Financing His Training With An Apprenticeship Working As A Police Officer

Merry XMAS – A Whole Album About Running

LRCA Whole Album Of Songs Specifically About Running - Download/Play For Free