by Larry EderThere are many New Years Eve Races that have great histories. The Emerald Nuts NYRR New York Midnight run, started by the late Fred Lebow and team, the Sao Paulo, Brasil is in its 85th!
I had personal experience with the RW Midnight Run, which, in the 70s, 80s and 90s, was a highlight on the West Coast. Some may remember, Craig Virgin, Rudy Chapa and Alberto Salazar, all in college, dueling to a world best of 22:08 ( I think Alberto was third then). This was about 1975.
Bob Anderson, the founder of RW, had a National Running Week, and as one of the 1000 or so geeks, I got to meet the likes of Herb Elliot, Rod Dixon, George Gandy, et al. There was always a 15k-20k world record attempt on the track that week as well.
In the 1980s Peanut Harms, then head coach at Foothill College, brought the event to the Los Altos campus, until it passed a slow death in the late 90s. I do remember working with Joe Mangan about 1994-95, and having a lot of fun encouraging the 500 to 1000 runners to run the three miles around the campus! The cold air, with a hint of eucalyptus in the air (the trees were all over campus!).
Enjoy your New Years Eve with those you love, but do it safely! Happy New Years to all!
NEW YEARS EVE RACES
During the last day of the year thousands will run on the streets throughout the world. Sao Paulo in Brasil is one of the most classical and traditional races. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot is there the top favorite with Olivera Jevtic and Margaret Okayo in women section for the 85th edition. In Bolzano, Italy in the 35th edition Edwin Soi, Sergiy Lebid, Mo Farah, Imane Merga and Andrea Lalli are the top male names. In women category Hayley Yelling, Utura Sule, Aniko Kalovics, Cristelle Daunay and Elisa Cusma are the ones to watch. In Trier, Germany at the 20th edition of the race Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie will run for him short 8 km and in women category great German duel Irina Mikitenko against Sabrina Mockenhaupt. Also in Germany the races in Bietigheim (29th edition) and Berlin are having top tradition. In Austrian Peuerbach one of the best European runners home Gunther Weidlinger is the main favorite with African junior 5000 m champion Abera Kuma of Ethiopia, in the women race the best Austrian female athlete Andrey Mayr is the number one to watch. Several runs will be staged also in Spain (mainly Barcelona and Madrid the top ones). In Madrid´s San Silvestre Vallecana will celebrate its 45th edition with world champion Marta Dominguez and fresh European CC champion Alemayehu Bezabeh as the top Spanish names. But Kenyans Moses Masai and reigning 5000 m world champion Vivian Cheruiyot are the top foreign names. The most important Dutch race is in Soest with European CC medalist Adrienne Herzog.
Happy New Years from Runblogrun.com!
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