Heck of an interesting fundraiser by Peter Symonds College in Winchester in the UK to support Louise Damen‘s (adidas) Olympic ambitions. Great stuff to hear of support like this! Louise will compete in the April 22nd Virgin London Marathon aiming at the final spot on the UK women’s Olympic Marathon team. Last year, Louise debuted in an sterling 2:30:00 in London. Click here for the Hampshire Chronicle article.
Former World Recordholder Steve Cram offers his opinion on the UK’s Olympic marathon selection process and standards, citing Lee Merrien (ASICS) as a candidate. Lee will race the Virgin London Marathon on April 22nd seeking his spot on the UK team.
John Beattie and Luke Cragg Miles Workout Nice Flotrack piece on John Beattie (adidas) and his buddy Luke Cragg putting in a session of 10 x mile @4:40 27 days out from the Virgin London Marathon.
Athleticos article on Freya Murray (adidas), who is currently training in Boulder, Colorado, in preparation for her marathon debut next month at the Virgin London Marathon. Freya chats about her recent Kenyan training camp, coach Steve Jones, and her return to form after several injuries in 2011. Freya will race the New York City Half-Marathon this Sunday, March 18th. Click here.
Breaking news from our friends at the Virgin London Marathon. No comment on the appearance fee or other conditions of the invitation, which were likely to be quite generous. It is almost certain the media actually will “leave the athlete alone,” as Dave Bedford requests in this interview. Left out of the report were Bedford’s comments that “having observed this athlete’s recent altitude-training in Iten, I believe he has a world of potential; at the same time, is a safe bet to say he is the most biomechanically-challenged athlete we have ever added to the elite men’s field. How he generates a pace of 2:55 per kilometer with that arm carriage is beyond me, but I believe he can get the job done.” Click here for full video report.
The 2012 Virgin London Marathon takes place April 22nd, eight weeks to go from this Sunday.
In the midst of his altitude training camp with UK Athletics in Iten, Kenya, Lee Merrien (ASICS) has confirmed he will return to the Virgin London Marathon this Spring. The BBC reports on Lee’s plans. Last year in London, Lee earned the Jim Peters Trophy as the top British finisher, with a PB 2:14:27 effort. The London course and sure to be rocking this April as the British men, including also John Beattie (adidas), compete for the remaining two spots on the Olympic marathon squad.
Constantina (left) with 2004 Olympic champ Mizuki Noguchi (center) and 2000 Olympic champ Naoko Takahashi (right) on a chilly morning at the Boulder Reservoir last week (Photo by Boulder Wave, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Reigning Olympic marathon champ Constantina Dita (ASICS) arrived in Osaka today for her final fine-tuning before the January 29th Osaka International Women’s Marathon. Accompanied by her sister/coach, Elisaveta, Constantina wanted to do her final training at sea level, after preparing in her US hometown of Erie, Colorado, throughout the past three winter months. “The preparation has been good, and I feel it is better than anything I have done the past two years. In Osaka, the main priority is to make my qualification for the Romanian team for this summer’s London Olympic Games. I have heard the lead group in Osaka will go about 71 minutes for the first half; to be honest, this is a bit too fast for me. I hope to run 2:28-2:30 and make the top eight in Osaka. Before the Beijing Olympics also I made my final training in Osaka, so I am comfortable there. I am planning the same pattern this year as I did in 2008: Osaka in January, the Virgin London Marathon in April, and then the Olympic Games.”
Greetings from Bangalore, India! Constantina Dita (ASICS) and Edna Kiplagat (Nike) were featured in today’s activities and media events for the TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) World 10K Bangalore, which takes place this coming Sunday morning. Over 20,000 runners are expected for the race day events, which include the elite race, a people’s race, and also a fun run. TCS has put up a very attractive prize purse, featuring $21,000 for both the men’s and women’s champions on Sunday, going down to $1,000 for 10th place on each side.
Constantina is on hand as the Event Ambassador for this year’s race. Race organizers Procam have put her up in a beautiful two-room suite at the host ITC Windsor hotel in Bangalore. Her press conference yesterday was widely reported in the today’s Indian newspapers. This afternoon, she visited Shree Kenteereva Stadium to help V.D. Wadhwa, the Managing Director for Timex Group India, unveil the official timing clock and watch for this year’s race. Following this unveling, Constantina met about 100 athletes and coaches of the Bangalore youth track programs who were training at the stadium. In addition to the kids’ enthusiastic requests for autographs and photos, they also gave her numerous gifts, with earrings, necklaces, and a nifty new hat!
Coming off her ING New York City Marathon win and 2:20:46 in April’s Virgin London Marathon, Edna is one of this year’s featured invited athletes. She arrived early this morning after a circuitous travel route of Eldoret to Nairobi to Doha to Bangalore. After a well-earned nap, Edna also had a press conference at the stadium, and then stayed on hand to meet the young Indian athletes and their coaches.
Tonight’s featured event will be the Official Welcome Party at the beautiful colonial host hotel, the ITC Windsor, and the Kingfisher Fashion Night, during which Constantina will also strut the catwalk in an outfit created by the show’s top designer just for her.
