Distance Running -- Back Porch FanHouse

New York Marathon Winner Meb Keflezighi Is Real American

Posted: Nov 3rd 2009 9:30 AM ET by Michael David Smith (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Distance Running

In a big step forward for U.S. distance running, the men's winner of Sunday's New York City Marathon was an American, Meb Keflezighi -- the first American winner since 1982. He's been saluted across the country, including getting an invitation from David Letterman to do the Top 10 list.

For most Americans, watching an American win a major sporting event is a source of pride. And yet some American writers are claiming that he's not really one of us.

More on the Back Porch: Usain Bolt's New Cheetah | Nantz's Alimony Payments
The Daily Show: NY vs. Philly | 'Curb' Debates Jeter

Bank of America Chicago Marathon Tracking: Sammy Wanjiru Wins

Posted: Oct 11th 2009 12:09 PM ET by Michael David Smith (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Distance Running

0 COMMENTS

Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya won the men's race in the 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, running in 2:05:41 for the fastest marathon ever run in the United States.

Run, Forrest, Run: Why I Hate Jogging

Posted: May 21st 2009 5:53 PM ET by Clay Travis (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Distance Running, Endurance, Outdoor Sports, Track and Field

6 COMMENTS

I hate jogging. Passionately. Every couple of years I get fat and I have to start jogging again. Now is one of those times; I'm up to 186 pounds, about 11 pounds above my playing weight. Recently I saw a picture of myself in a wife-beater and I looked like a beached whale. Well, a beached whale in a wife-beater. Traditionally I loathe every moment that I spend jogging, but this time around it's worse than it's ever been before.

Why? Because I live in a majority black neighborhood in downtown Nashville where no one ever jogs. No one. When you jog here, people look behind you to see who you're running from. Once they confirm that you've chosen to run on your own and aren't being pursued, they make fun of you. "Run, Forrest, run!" my neighbors call from the shady comfort of their front porches, from the insides of their air-conditioned cars, from the jungle gym in the neighborhood park.

Yep, I'm white, I have a beard, and I jog. This makes me Forrest Gump to everyone in the neighborhood.

Boston Marathon: Ryan Hall, Kara Goucher Both Finish 3rd for U.S.

Posted: Apr 20th 2009 1:18 PM ET by Will Brinson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Distance Running, Endurance, Action Sports, Current Events

3 COMMENTS

The Boston Marathon -- a Patriot Day staple -- took place Monday and the results were, well, both shocking and encouraging for the U.S. Ethopia's Deriba Merga and Kenya's Salina Kosgei were the winners of the men's and women's races, respectively, but America managed to place third in each division as well, as Kara Goucher and Ryan Hall led the way for the U.S.

Perhaps third is not what most competitors strive for, but America's finish is the best in quite some time, considering that no American has won the event since 1985 when Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach took home the women's title.

Philadelphia Marathon Results: Ukrainian Pair Runs Away With Race

Posted: Nov 23rd 2008 7:25 PM ET by Tom Herrera (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Distance Running, Endurance

1 COMMENT

There were about 18,000 runners in the Philadelphia Marathon, but two Ukrainians outran them all on a frigid Sunday. Andriy Toptun won in 2 hours, 19 minutes, 58 seconds over the 26.2-mile course, while Vera Ovcharuk clocked in at 2:44.03 in her marathon debut.

"I had to run alone and it was cold, so the time is not too bad," Toptun said through an interpreter.

[American runner Fred] Kieser lost sight of Toptun early in the race.

"I thought I might have a chance at the eight-mile mark, but he just had too much left in the tank," said Kieser, who coaches a high school girls cross country team.

The Philly Marathon, founded in 1954, awards $3,500 to the first-place finishers.

Even if I had a remote shot to win that kind of money in a marathon, I still don't think I'd venture into 30-degree weather for such a grueling race... which is why I give these long-distance runners, like FanHouse's very own This Suit Is Not Black, so much credit for having that kind of will.

Men's Results:
1. Andriy Toptun, 27, 2:19:58 (Ukraine)
2. Fred Kieser, 37, 2:22.45 (Cleveland)

Women's Results:
1. Vera Ovcharuk, 27, 2:44.03 (Ukraine)
2. Abby Dean, 37, 2:48.52 (Philadelphia)

Pasadena Marathon Canceled Because of Air Quality Concerns

Posted: Nov 16th 2008 10:30 AM ET by Tom Herrera (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Distance Running

0 COMMENTS

Those expecting to see or participate in the very first Pasadena Marathon today will have to turn right back around. The marathon was canceled at the last minute due to heavy smoke and ash from the wildfire burning in Los Angeles County.

Race organizers said Sunday that they decided at the last minute to scrap the event out of concern for the health and safety of the 8,000 people who registered to participate.

The announcement at 4 a.m. came two hours before the marathon and bike tour was set to begin.

John Parks, a member of the race management team, says organizers will meet over the next several days to reschedule the event.

As the fire in the San Fernando Valley continues to blaze and destroy homes, I'm sure a marathon was not really on the forefront of everyone's minds there anyway.

Even though it was on short notice, this was the right decision to make, especially in light of how taxing a marathon can be on the respiratory system -- it was just too dangerous.

Did You See That?

The field clears a fence during the New Season Handicap Steeplechase during the at Ludlow Racecourse on September 16, 2008 in Ludlow, England.

Emanuele Canonica of Italy helps his caddie in the rescue of a pigeon from the water around the 18th green during the first round of the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 16, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

A multiexposure image showing Britain's Andy Murray returning to Croatian Marin Cilic during a last sixteen tennis match at the Madrid Masters in Madrid on October 16, 2008. Andy Murray won 7-5, 7-6.

English football fans dressed in armours and tunics play in a friendly match against Belarus fans in Minsk on October 15, 2008 before the start of the Belarus vs. England 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European group 6 match.

Travis Brigley (R) of Hamburg fights with Matt Keith (L) of Ingolstadt during the DEL match between Hamburg Freezers and ERC Ingolstadt at the Color Line Arena on October 14, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to US Robby Ginepri during a second round tennis match at the Masters in Madrid on October 15, 2008.

A golf ball which has been enveloped by the tree over many years is pictured during the pro-am for the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 15, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Andy Murray of Great Britain plays football during his training session prior to his thrid round match tomorrow at the Madrid Masters tennis tournament at the Madrid Arena on October 15, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.

Samuel Peter from Nigeria gets a punch from Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine during their WBC heavyweight boxing world championship fight in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Klitschko won the fight after round nine due to technical knock out.

Herbert Knosowski, AP

Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi (lower) fights with China's Hong Yan (red) during the semi-final of the 72kg class of the Women's Wrestling World Championships in Tokyo on October 13, 2008. Hong defeated Hamaguchi and will face Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva in the final.

Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP/Getty Images

FanHouse TV: A Visual Account of a Blogger Running the NYC Marathon

Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:00 PM ET by Kristine Blinn (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Distance Running, FanHouse TV, Featured Stories, The Word

0 COMMENTS

I ran the New York City Marathon on Sunday, surprising no one more than myself. It wasn't something I imagined I'd ever do. It wasn't something I even had any inclination of doing for most of my life. But it's something I've never been happier to have done.

I took some video of the event and edited it together for you here. Trust me, if you ever get a chance to do something like this, you would be wise to take it.

My video, and some more thoughts, after the jump.

Marathoner Wins Race, Loses Toes

Posted: Jan 25th 2008 11:10 AM ET by Irishoutsider (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Distance Running

0 COMMENTS

Reason #11 why we don't run marathons, frostbite induced amputation. This was the case for runner Andrew Wells of Davenport, Iowa after running a 64 mile race in frigid conditions. Wells, running an ultra marathon at 14 below, discusses the aftermath with Iowa's KWWL.com :

"I knew that something was wrong, so we got some warm water and we put my feet in a bucket and tried to get them to warm up for a couple of hours and after that I still had some pretty bad purple color in my feet," Wells said. "My feet were sweating and the sweat soaked through my wool socks and it got trapped between my wool socks and my waterproof socks and when I took my waterproof socks off I realized I had some snow and ice built up around my socks."

Now, Wells is waiting at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to have at least two toes amputated. "He has six of his ten toes that do not have normal blood flow. We know two for sure are going to be gone. Three more, I'm concerned about," Dr. Barbara Latenser said.

One of the two toes to be amputated is the big toe on his right foot. "They say 70% of your balance comes from your big toe and 30% from the other toes. I think it'll be an adjustment to get my balance back, before I can get back on my feet normally. It's definitely something I can live with, and still compete with," Wells said.

Not to be deterred by something as small as losing most of his toes, Andrew hopes to run again, this time in warmer climates. Das FanHaus wishes him the best of luck.