After reading this press release that the San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon just sent out I think I may run a marathon. Ok, I've run plenty but this one sounds pretty fun.
On Sunday, June 1, 2008, the original Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego begins a new decade as one of the world's premiere marathons. Produced by Elite Racing, Inc., the 11th annual event is known as a 26.2-mile block party with a live band at every mile along the course, hundreds of cheerleaders, themed water stations, and a post-race concert, which featured Seal in 2007.
Now is the time to set training plans and begin preparing for the entertaining fitness experience. For 20,000 runners and walkers, race weekend offers a unique opportunity to take an active vacation, accomplish personal goals, team up with friends and family, raise funds for charity or race like the King.
Rookie Marathoners Welcome
Running or walking a marathon is a great lifetime achievement and the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon's miles of scenery, entertainment and extensive on-course support has made it a favorite race for runners of all abilities, including first timers.
First-timer Facts:
- About half of the participants running the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon are running their first marathon. Rookies are bound to meet many people with the same experience.
- Over 90 percent of the first-time marathoners said their experience at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon encouraged them to return to run another race in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series.
- The national number of runners has increased to 40 million. Now has never been a better time to join a race that is charged with group support and energy.
- More than 50 percent of Rock 'n' Roll Marathoners are female, making race weekend an ideal girl's getaway.
Registration and additional information is available at the race website.
The field for the 2008 Grandma's Marathon is nearly three-fourths full. Since registration opened eight days ago, 6,900 runners have signed up for the event’s 32nd annual running. The race was half full just 24 hours after registration opened.
The marathon field has reached its capacity for 13 consecutive years and is limited to the first 9,500 participants. Runners looking to secure one of the remaining 2,600 spots should visit the race website.
Cheruiyot setting Boston course record
Robert Cheruiyot, winner of the 2007, 2006, and 2003 Boston Marathons, will be back again to race on April 21, 2008. Cheruiyot is seeking to join the ranks of only 3 other four-time male winners, Canadian Gerard Cote and Americans Bill Rodgers and Clarence DeMar.
Cheruiyo set the Boston course record, 2 hours 7 minutes 14 seconds, in 2006. His win last year helped him lay claim to the World Marathon Majors series and a $500,000 prize.
Cheruiyot said in a press release, "I have had much success on the Boston course because the more difficult and competitive a race is, the more I commit myself to do my best."
Update: Cheruiyot won the 2008 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:07:46, taking home the $150,000 purse.
Expectations had been set high for Gebrselassie this week. Along with the world record, a ton of money was on the line. Fueling the fire was Gebrselassie himself. In a time when most people give the "If I have a good day, there is a chance I could break the record" answer, he replied with a "I should break this" type. There's nothing wrong with confidence, but as we all know in running, you can't have your best day each and every day.
Amazing to me is the fact a man runs a 2:04 marathon and there is a feeling of disappointment in the air. Here is the official report of the race :
Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie won the Dubai Marathon on Friday and prize money of 250,000 dollars, although he failed to beat the world record time of 2:04:26 he ran in Berlin in September.
His failure by 27 seconds to better that record meant Gebreselassie, a former double Olympic 10,000m gold medalist, missed out on a bonus of one million dollars.
Kenyan duo Isaac Macharia and Sammi Korir netted 100,000 and 50,000 dollars respectively after finishing in second and third positions behind Gebrelassie on the flat course around the streets of Dubai.
There was an Ethiopian clean sweep of the podium in the women's race, with Birhane Adere finishing first in 2:22:42 to also scoop the winner's pot of 250,000 dollars.
Adere, a two-time Chicago Marathon winner who has one world gold and two silvers over 10,000m, also missed out on the women's world record currently held by Britain's Paula Radcliffe.
