RunBlogRun

Elaine Thompson, photo by Diamond League

This is the second piece by Stuart Weir, on the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea 2020...

The movie, Without Limits, came out on my son's birthday, in Madison, Wisconsin, and was in the theatre for a couple days. It was the second Pre movie to come out in six months, and it was the best. My son, 12, was most annoyed about having to see a track movie on his birthday. I think I made it up to him by getting him a new Apple computer.

Pre meant alot to me. I raced in the Nike Pre Montreals, because Pre had them. I ran my first 10,000m in them (no socks) and my first hour champs, (no socks, lots of blood). He was rock star, athlete and political activist all in one. He was, well, unique.

The movie was quite good.

You can buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Without-Limits-Billy-Crudup/dp/0790739291

The movie company actually advertised with the running network, spending $100k over 3 months in print and on the web. Ah, the good old days.

This is the trailer:

The week begins. Monday is funday. Keep the idea of the easy day strictly. Well, only do it if you want to improve. The body is not mysterious. It gives you absolute lines in the sand. Push too hard and you will get hurt. Use your brain for a place holder, and you will end your career. More is not always better.

Easy day means easy day, even if you are the next Steve Prefontaine.

Frank Shorter, Steve Prefontaine, Steve Stagberg, 1969 AAU, photo should be attributed to Jeff Johnson, (an amazing photographer)

Monday, 21 September 2020: warm up, an easy 50 minutes, 6 x 150 m stride outs, cooldown

Long runs give meaning to Sunday workouts. Long runs are the special sauce, the verde sauce that makes that breakfast burrito truly supreme. Enjoy the long run. Embrace the quiet and solitude on the trails, roads or the loop you have designated. Stay safe.

Shelby Houlihan, Karissa Schweizer, photo by Cortney White

Sunday, 21 September 2020: Long run, 75-90 minutes

Sean Ingle is one of the finest journalist in sports.

There, I said it.

Sean Ingle writes for the Guardian UK. His writing is clear and crisp. He does his homework. He has a cadre of supporters who understand, that, while they might not agree with Sean Ingle's comments, he does give both sides of the story and lets the audience think for themselves. When someone wants a story to be told with honesty and clarity, Sean Ingle is one on the short list.

Great journalism is a painful, laborious process. One can not assume anything, and surprises come around each and every corner.

Lamine Diack, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations from 1999 to 2015, was found guilty of corruption in a Paris court.Photograph: Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

Such is the case on the following piece regarding Lamine Diack and the foul smell he added to the sport of athletics. Sean Ingle, in the article noted below, lets the reader see how the corruption changed the sport.

How should one think of Lamine Diack and his son, Pappa Masatta Diack?

LIke additional characters in a Joseph Conrad novel, the Diacks smelt of old school croneyism, under the cover of a global athletics federation, and introduced a level of corruption that almost sank the sport. They have not been the only ones, but their actions were the most egregious. They were so bad that many did not comprehend the level of corruption.

Perhaps, there was just too much easy money.

I recall working in the Berlin Hilton during the 2009 World Champs, and noting that Pappa Diack sure was busy, meeting perhaps 30 people in 5 hours while I edited copy at the bar, enjoying endless espressoes and tomato juice. I noted that he knew everyone in the sport.

In London in 2012, the whispers on the payoffs began. By 2015, many thought that the time of the Diack's were over, but the investigations had just begun.

In 2012, Pappa Diack attempted to sell the sponsorship of the Kenyan athletic federation to Li Ning, taking a $4 million payment. Just one issue, an American brand had a long term, paid contract with Athletics Kenya, and a cadre of lawyers. Was this the Keystone cops? Nope, this was the greedy son of Lamine Diack, who reluctantly returned the money to a very confused Chinese brand.

The mess is not over, and one wants to know when Pappa Diack will sit in a french prison, content to make athletic equipment. In the prIson system in the 5th republic, many prisoners make athletic equipment while being incarcerated in the République française. How much karma is too much karma?

I can only dream.

This is a tough workout. With the air clearing on the West Coast, you may be able to do this one. Always put health in the top position.

Yem Crippa sets Italian

Saturday, 19 Sept 2020: warm up, Fartlek: 5 minutes at 5k pace, 5 minutes easy, 4 minutes at 5k pace, 4 minutes easy, 3 minutes at 5k pace, 3 minutes easy, 2 minutes at 5k pace, 2 minutes easy, 30 minutes, steady state, cooldown, or,

20 x 1 minute, 5 k pace, 2 minutes easy, 20 minutes, steady state, cooldown.

Yemane Crippa, photo by photo by Giancarlo Columbo / FIDAL

An exciting Golden Gala, and Stuart Weir did a nice job on the Rome Diamond League meeting on 17 September 2020!

Mondo Duplantis, photo by Giancarlo Colombo/FIDAL

Mondo Duplantis, photo by Giancarlo Colombo/FIDAL

Mondo Duplantis, Mondo Duplantis, photo by Giancarlo Colombo/FIDAL

This is the Mondo 24 hour channel, now with his 6.15m jump!

RunBlogRun presents

Socialing The Distance

with Larry Eder

Featuring Geordie Beamish

Geordie Beamish is a New Zealand athlete, who, via Northern Arizona University, was coached by Mike Smith and developed into a promising middle distance runner.

Geordie Beamish's biggest challenges has been injuries. Light on mileage, Geordie has gone 13:31.58 at 5000m outdoors (May 2, 2019), and 3:56.90 at the indoor mile (8 Feb 2020). In 2019, Geordie surprised all by he and his coach, with his NCAA indoor mile.

I enjoyed speaking with Geordie Beamish. He is a straight shooter, thoughtful and knows that he has been fortunate in his relationships with coaches. Mike Smith at NAU, and now, Dathan Ritzenhein.

Our discussion was relaxed, and I was intent on learning about Geordie Beamish and his move to Boulder with the OAC.

My take? This young man has wheels and he will take his place among the amazing Kiwis in athletic history.

Thanks Geordie Beamish.

Thanks Mike Deering/The Shoe Addicts on producing this interview.

We love Zagreb, 15 September 2020, photo by Zagreb meeting

Daniel Stahl, Zagreb, 15 September 2020, photo by Zagreb meeting

Wilhem Belocian, Zagreb, 15 September 2020, photo by Zagreb meeting

Thanks to our constantly observant Stuart Weir, we have these pictures to accompany the EME news piece on Zagreb.