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Tyson Gay in Split, by Alfons Juck, Note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on September 2, 2010 6:29 PM

Tyson Gay speaking with BBC, Aviva London, photorun.net.

All the stars are arriving in Split today. The Continental Cup is looking like a pretty good way to end a non championship year. Looking forward to some fun end of season matchups!

One more thing. I just read this stuff about Usain Bolt, in Huffington Post, noting that he runs for big races and Tyson Gay, "probably hates his guts?". Was it a slow news day? Both of these sprinters are supposed to be professionals. And they both comport themselves that way. My frustration, like all track fans, was that once Gay beat Bolt, Usain Bolt called it a season due to his sore back. The frustration is not about his sore back, but not seeing them race more in the early season.

The great thing about this sport is that, all is decided on the track. In 2007, Tyson Gay was on top of the world. In 2008, Usain Bolt was, as he was in 2009. In 2010, after two years of stunning running, Usain's body showed that, yes, he is human after all.

In 2011, when it comes to that hot, humid night in Daegu, when a billion track fans are watching the World Champs on TV, web or in the stadium, the tension will be felt. The finalists for the 100 meters and 200 meters will line up, wait for the gun, and put four years of emotions into under ten seconds for the 100 meters and 20 seconds for the two hundred meters. The key is being healthy then, and in London 2012.

Continue reading Tyson Gay in Split, by Alfons Juck, Note by Larry Eder.

Emerald Still Nuts About Running, from Rhodyco, note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on September 1, 2010 6:57 PM

Diamond Foods owns Emerald Nuts. Emerald Nuts has sponsored the Across the Bay 12k race for eight years now, and just renewed for 2011! The management team at Rhodyco, who have been around Bay Area running for centuries, have created strong events and renewed sponsorship in this day and age is something to celebrate! Congrats to Dave Rhody and Kathy Henning at Rhodyco, in their 27th year of event management!

Continue reading Emerald Still Nuts About Running, from Rhodyco, note by Larry Eder.

2011 Go! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend Reg opens today! release, note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on September 1, 2010 6:40 PM

I am from St. Louis. I have to admit that I am very proud of Nancy Lieberman and her team in putting on the Go! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness weekend. Growing from 2,500 in 2001 to 23,000 this past April, the event also gives runners and walkers a view of the history of St. Louis. From the Spanish to the French to those going West, St. Louis has so many eclectic neighborhoods and influences! Tying into that culture is why the race is so successful.

Go! St. Louis is an example of making a running and fitness event resonate with the local culture and community. We hope that they sell out even faster in 2011 than in 2010!

Continue reading 2011 Go! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend Reg opens today! release, note by Larry Eder.

Molly Huddle named USATF Athlete of the Week, by USATF, note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on September 1, 2010 6:25 PM

Molly Huddle, 14:44.76, AR, Belgacom Brussels, photorun.net.

Molly Huddle broke Shalane Flanagans' AR by .04 of a second, in the 5,000 meter
race in Brussels last Friday evening. Photographer Victah Sailer sent us a text that
he shot pictures of Molly, then, not knowing she had set the AR, rushed over to the
DL press conference. It was only on the way back to the hotel, on the bus, that Molly
and her agent quietly told Victah that Molly had set the 5,000 meter AR! " I would have
never known, Molly was so quiet..." . Congrats to Molly Huddle who set prs in the 5,000
meters two separate times, dropping 34 seconds this season (from 15:17 to 14:44.76)!

Continue reading Molly Huddle named USATF Athlete of the Week, by USATF, note by Larry Eder.

Yohan Blake over Justin Gatlin, by Alfons Juck, Note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on September 1, 2010 5:52 PM

Yohan Blake over Justin Gatlin, August 31, 2010, photo by PhotoRun.net.

The end of the season meets continue to draw attention to the sport. On Tuesday, it was
Rovieretto, Italy, where Yohan Blake finished first to Justin Gatlin's comebacking second.
Gatlin has been running a little better each race, picking smaller, more obscure meets, because, due to his drug positive, are some of the few places he can compete. The European
meet directors will not let an athlete convicted for two or more years to compete in their meetings. Gatlin continues his comeback, quietly and race by race.

I do try to appreciate both sides. I have listened to a prominent British meet director who does not want drug cheats in his races. I do also remember being told by a prominent coach that he hoped and prayed that Ben Johnson, clean, would run a 9.85. His reasoning was that people thought that drugs made the athletes, and this coach noted, "you can not make a race horse out of a work horse." Banned drugs do not make super humans, they allow athletes to recover faster and therefore get weeks, perhaps months more training benefit than their more human competitor in the next lane. Because so many athletes are talented, and the difference between first and seventh is perhaps, .2 of a second in the 100 meters, then an advantage like an additional month of training could make a difference in a final. That is why we have drug testing and that is the concept of an even playing field.

I do worry that, if an athlete has no way to go but out, the secrecy about illicit drugs gets harder and harder to break. Gatlin served his time, it will be interesting to see how he conducts himself, and how the sport, having observed how he served his time, determines how to bring him back into the sport.

Continue reading Yohan Blake over Justin Gatlin, by Alfons Juck, Note by Larry Eder.

This Day in Track & Field, August 31, 2010, by Walt Murphy, note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on August 31, 2010 2:12 PM

Continue reading This Day in Track & Field, August 31, 2010, by Walt Murphy, note by Larry Eder.

29th Hood to Coast Relays: Running with Last Legs, by Gary Morgan/Michigan Runner, note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on August 31, 2010 12:49 PM

Hood to Coast, Last Legs masters team, photo by Gary Morgan

Many who have read my blog over the last three years note that Gary Morgan is one of the global running travelers. Gary Morgan is an accomplished athlete; a 1988 Olympian at the 20,000m race walk. Since then, Gary has run and raced nearly every major marathon in the
U.S. and abroad. This year, Gary ran the Comrades Marathon, RNR San Antonio (he does pace groups at many of the marathons and half marathons). Gary also is part of my RN Running Network TV road show, and we have done shows in Berlin, Beijing,Boston, Des Moines, you name it, if we are in the same stadium, there is a video camera somewhere near!

Gary is literally at a race each and every weekend. He loves the sport and loves running. I believe his secret training aid is...yoga! He swears by it! Always a smile on his face, and a great story from his recent exploits, Gary is just fun to be around!

This is Gary's email plus photos from the Hood to Coast. He recently ran the Brooklyn Half Marathon as well! I hope you enjoy!

Continue reading 29th Hood to Coast Relays: Running with Last Legs, by Gary Morgan/Michigan Runner, note by Larry Eder.

The inside story on Tyson Gay's Spikes, courtesy of Flotrack.org, note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on August 31, 2010 12:30 PM

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

Nicely done video by Flotrack.org. Paul Astorino of adidas gave Flotrack.org the inside scoop on Tyson Gay's new spike and some fascinating history on the development of adidas specialty shoes. Make sure that you sign up on www.Flotrack.org to see their awesome coverage of the sport.

Another view of the Gay-Bolt Race in Stockholm, by Conway Hill, note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on August 30, 2010 4:29 PM

I was clearing out my emails in runblogrun and found this thoughtful commentary on how to
understand the Tyson Gay versus Usain Bolt race in Stockholm. Written by Conway Hill on his blog, The view from the Finish Line, this column, in my mind, puts the race in its' proper perspective.

Kimmons, Gay, Bolt, DN Galan 2010, Stockholm DL. photo by PhotoRun.net.

Continue reading Another view of the Gay-Bolt Race in Stockholm, by Conway Hill, note by Larry Eder.

Tyson Gay is Ready (For Zagreb): "Possible for faster than 9.69.." by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

By Larry Eder on August 30, 2010 12:21 PM

Tyson Gay, Gateshead DL, July 2010, photo by PhotoRun.net.

What a difference the month of August meant for Tyson Gay. On August 6, Tyson Gay defeats Usain Bolt. On August 12, Tyson runs 9.78 at AVIVA London. On August 22, at the Weltklasse in Zurich, Gay ran leg three on the fastest 4 x 100m of the year. And on August 27, a 9.79 victory in Belgacom Brussels, in the coolness of a summer night in Belgium.

Tyson Gay says he is ready. He should know. Good conditions in Zagreb on September 1, and
we might hear of a new American record!

Continue reading Tyson Gay is Ready (For Zagreb): "Possible for faster than 9.69.." by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder.

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