Ryan Hall's Blog, page 177

Tracksmith To Open First Retail Store Near Boston Marathon Finish

A sneak peek at the new Trackhouse space on Boston's Newbury Street. Photo: Courtesy of Tracksmith

In the final days leading up to the 2017 Boston Marathon, local running brand, Tracksmith, will be opening their first retail store, the Trackhouse, on April 13. The still young yet rapidly growing brand, launched in 2014 by founder and CEO Matt Taylor, has become the epitome of classic New England running culture that makes it only fitting for the store’s grand opening to coincide with the region’s most iconic and historic marathon.

RELATED: Why The Boston Marathon Is So Special

Just steps from the Boston Marathon finish line, the Trackhouse will permanently (in the past, Tracksmith has built temporary pop-up stores during race weekend) reside at 285 Newbury Street, and become a community hub for runners. Alongside the brand’s full collection of athletic apparel and accessories, the Trackhouse will feature a runner’s lounge, live race streaming, training groups and a library.

“We want to create the running store of the future, embodying the energy and zeal of the great hangouts that originally made Boston a world class running city,” Taylor said in an announcement about the store opening. “Runners are often thought of as solitary athletes pounding out their miles at dawn, but there’s a huge community aspect as well, bound by the shared experience of training and racing. With the Trackhouse, we hope to provide a physical and experiential platform for runners to connect and celebrate the world’s greatest sport.”

In the hopes of providing more resources to an already thriving running community in Boston, The Trackhouse will offer runners several services, including product testing, bag check, a racing library stocked with performance-based literature, and free beverages. Runners will also have the opportunity to interface with the brand’s product team and to join them for daily runs.

To kick off the store’s grand opening, the Trackhouse will also host several events throughout marathon weekend—from an exclusive sushi dinner with renowned Olympian and sushi chef Michael Stember, to shakeout runs and informational panels with special guests in between, to a final Boston Marathon viewing party that includes prizes for first-place marathon finishers. For more info on attending these events, visit: tracksmith.com/trackhouse.

Not only will the Trackhouse be a new experiential community space for runners, though, it will also be home to the new Tracksmith office headquarters, which used to reside in Wellesley, Mass.

“After three years in Wellesley at the halfway point of the marathon, it seems only fitting that our next move would be 13 miles down the course,” said Taylor.

RELATED: The Expert’s On-The-Course-Guide To Spectating the Boston Marathon

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Joyciline Jepkosgei Breaks Four World Records At Prague Half Marathon

The two overall champions of the 2017 Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon, Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia and Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya, with the two top Czech finishers, Eva Vrabcova and Jiri Homolac. Photo. David Monti

(c) 2017 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei not only ran a pending world record for the half marathon of 1:04:52 at the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon on Saturday—becoming the first woman ever to break 65 minutes—but also unofficially broke the IAAF-ratified records for 10K, 15K and 20K along the way. On this flat, IAAF/AIMS certified course, with the start and finish at Jan Palach Square in Old Town, Jepkosgei split 5K in 14:53, 10K in 30:04 (previous record 30:21), 15K in 45:37 (46:14) and 20K in 1:01:25 (1:01:40).

“I didn’t know even at the finish line,” Jepkosgei said of the half-marathon world record, shaking her head in disbelief. “Even now I am surprised about it.”

It’s fair to say that Jepkosgei, 23, was both pushed and pulled in today’s performance. Pulling her were two male pacemakers, Ismael Motosio and Edwin Kiplagat, who ran closely with both Jepkosgei and her main rival Violah Jepchumba, the race’s defending champion and previous course record holder. The four ran in a pack through 10K where Jepchumba was only one second back. Jepkosgei said the hot pace didn’t scare her.

“The pace was high, but my body was very comfortable with my pace,” she explained.

Carrying her arms high, and twisting her upper body more than most runners, Jepkosgei kept pressing the pace, and Jepchumba began to slip back, slowly.  By the 15K point, Jepkosgei was running side-by-side with the pacemaker Motosio, and the pair had a three-second lead over Jepchumba and Kiplagat. Jepkosgei ran 15:48 from 15K to 20K, while Jepchumba could only manage 16:10, effectively putting the race away. Jepkosgei powered her way back to Jan Palach Square, but said that she was relaxed, at least in her mind.

“I thank my manager (Davor Savija) for not giving me much pressure,” Jepkosgei said. “He told me to relax. Before yesterday, he told me no pressure about the race. Run your own race, and I ran like that. I am very grateful.”

Jepkosgei earned a big payday. After the receipt of drug testing results and IAAF ratification of her half-marathon record, organizers will pay Jepkosgei  a total of €71,000 ($75,711): €60,000 for the record, €6,000 for the win, and another €5,000 for the course record.

Jepchumba’s second place performance was also remarkable. She ran 5K splits of 14:53, 30:05, 45:40, 1:01:50, then finished in 1:05:22. That makes her the #5 performer of all-time on record-quality courses. She earned €24,000 ($25,592) in prize money and bonuses.

Down the finish order, there were more strong results throughout the top 10.  Kenya’s Fancy Chemutai finished third in 1:06:58, followed by Kenyans Valary Aiyabei (1:07:50) and Gladys Chesir (1:07:51). American Jordan Hasay finished sixth in a personal best of 1:07:55, a mark which made her the #3 American woman of all time, behind only Deena Kastor (1:07:34) and Molly Huddle (1:07:41).

“I felt very controlled and comfortable,” Hasay told Race Results Weekly. “The plan was to run smooth until 10 or 11 miles. I found a nice rhythm and ran pretty evenly. Then the last two miles I was able to close well. I’m pleased with the effort and excited about my fitness going into Boston!”

Four-time Olympian Eva Vrabcova was the top Czech finisher, coming home 11th in 1:11:45.

There was less drama in the men’s contest. Reigning Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia got restless after the 10K split was too slow for his liking (28:31). So the 2:04 marathoner dropped the hammer, and ran 13:55 for the next five kilometers to give himself a 33-second lead. Running tall and showing no signs of fatigue, he breezed through the second half alone to finish in 59:37, a new career best and his first sub-60:00 clocking.

“I’m happy for the race because it is my personal best time,” Tola said. He added: “I not think we were at world record (pace). I think for my personal best, (instead).”

Tola earned €6,000 ($6,398) for the win plus a €15,000 ($15,995) time bonus for breaking 60:00.

Josphat Tanui was the surprise runner up, clocking 1:00:38 in his debut at the distance. Another Kenyan, Geoffrey Yegon, finished third in 1:00:41.

American Galen Rupp, who was using this race as a rust-buster in advance of the Boston Marathon on April 17, ran with the leaders in the early stages, but was 17 seconds adrift of the leaders by the 10K mark (28:48). He would finish 11th in 1:01:59, the last man to break 1:02:00 in the race.

“Unfortunately, I felt some discomfort in my foot during the race today,” Rupp told Race Results Weekly. “It was a great event and I hope to come back here in the future. Hopefully, my foot will be OK for Boston.”

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Adorable Scenes From The 2017 Junior Carlsbad Run

The 28th annual Junior Carlsbad took place this morning kicking off a weekend of family-friendly fun and fitness. Kids from diapers to 12 years old ran through the streets of Carlsbad, Calif., in a series of races ranging from one mile to one block. Elite runners, Paul Chelimo and Heron Lagat were onsite handing out medals and congratulating the kids on their finishes.

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2017 Junior Carlsbad: Photo Gallery

The 28th annual Junior Carlsbad took place this morning kicking off a weekend of family friendly fun and fitness. Kids from diapers to 12-years-old ran through the streets of Carlsbad in a series of races ranging from one mile to one block. Elite runners, Paul Chelimo and Heron Lagat were onsite handing out medals and congratulating the kids on their finishes. Both will return tomorrow for the Carlsbad 5000, the World’s Fastest 5K, where some of the fastest elite runners in the world will take their turn on the 3.1 mile course.

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Olympic Silver Medalists Duel Expected In Men’s Carlsbad 5000 Race

Paul Chelimo won an Olympic silver medal in the 5000m in Rio last year. Photo: Photorun.net

Road races are always exciting affairs, but the action in store for the men’s race at the forthcoming Carlsbad 5000 will be nothing short of electric. This storied race, a Rock ‘n’ Roll signature event, kicks off on April 2 in the beautiful seaside down of Carlsbad, Calif. It is, hands down, the world’s fastest 5K course where 16 world records have been set since its inception back in 1986.

At this year’s edition, all eyes will be on a thrilling head-to-head match-up between Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia and American Paul Chelimo. The 27-year-old Gebremeskel has completely dominated this race in the past, having won on four occasions and being the only four-time champion in the race’s 32-year history.

“I’m excited to be coming back to Carlsbad to race over 5000m,” said Gebremeskel, who won an Olympic silver medal in the 5000m on the track back in London in 2012. “It’s one of my favorite races in the world and I have won there many times.” Gebremeskel is realistic about his chances, however. “As always it will be tough as the competition is always strong but I hope that I can add another title to my collection,” he said.

Expected to give the star Ethiopian a run for his money is another Olympic silver medalist, Paul Chelimo of the United States. Chelimo, who was born in Kenya, but became an American citizen by enlisting in the U.S. Army, won his medal more recently at last year’s Summer Olympics in Rio. “I’m really excited and ready to compete at Carlsbad 5K,” said the 26-year-old. “It’s a good preparation for a big outdoor season, hoping to do great and get some confidence to propel me to the World Championships in London.”

Besides the Gebremeskel-Chelimo duel, there will be plenty of other top-notch talent that will be lined up at the race’s gorgeous start line along the Pacific Ocean. Australia’s Brett Robinson, who raced Carlsbad back in 2013, will return to better his 13:42 mark that he set back then. Fellow countryman Collis Birmingham, a two-time Olympian in the 5000m will also be lacing up his flats in Carlsbad. The 32-year-old has finished this race twice in the top five throughout his career.

Not to be overlooked, in the front pack is another top-seeded Ethiopian, Debeli Gezmu, who took third in Carlsbad last year. Gezmu has been enjoying a great start to his racing year, having set a new personal best in the indoor 3000m in Boston back in January.

Two other American runners are also expected to be in the hunt for the win on April 2: Will Leer and Jordan McNamara. Leer barely missed the podium at last year’s race, finishing fourth in 13:36. Leer has represented Team U.S.A. at two World Indoor Championships. Meanwhile, McNamara who hails from Eugene, Ore., has run 13:49 on the roads for 5K and has blazed a 3:52.42 mile.

The Carlsbad 5000m kicks off on April 2 at 6:50 a.m. when the Masters Men division starts. The elite men’s race will start at 11:53 a.m. as the final event in the ultimate “Party by the Sea,” where all eligible runners will receive a free beer at the iconic Finish Line Festival.

RELATED: American Olympians To Take On International Rivals At Carlsbad 5000

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Salomon TV’s New Trail Running Video Is Enchanting

Too often we go through the motions of our runs, forgetting to be mindful about our surroundings. Trying a new route or taking on a new mindset is a great reminder that running is a joyful experience. This spirit is perfectly captured in Salomon TV’s new episode titled “Wonderland.”

In the short film, running is treated like a fairy tale. A charming story is woven in with a run in the woods. Salomon’s goal was to show that all it “takes is just a small step into the unknown to explore an infinite playground of possibilities and wonder.” Whether running through a forest or just down our own street, we should never lose our sense of wonder.

RELATED: Salomon Running TV—The Forest

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Q&A With Neely Spence Gracey On Her First Carlsbad 5000 Appearance

Neely Spence Gracey won first place in the women's race at the 2017 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon. Photo: Photorun.net

Neely Spence Gracey impressively debuted at the marathon last year, finishing ninth in Boston (first American) in 2 hours, 35 minutes. Proving it was no fluke, she came back seven months later to place eighth at the New York City Marathon in 2:34:55. Come Sunday, Gracey, 26, drops down to the 5K at the Carlsbad 5000. Spence Gracey says it’s been her bucket-list race to run the world’s fastest 5K and it will be her first 5K race in nearly two years. Her 5K PR on the road is 15:34. On the track it’s 15:25.34. Before leaving her home in Boulder, Colo., on Friday to head to Southern California, Spence Gracey sat down for a chat with us, sharing her running goals for 2017, her favorite foods and pre-race superstitions.

You’re no stranger to San Diego, racing twice in the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships in your high school days. What are some of your favorite San Diego memories?

“I loved the zoo. The zoo would be cool even if there weren’t animals there. It’s definitely a must view if you’re visiting San Diego.”

What are your running goals in 2017?

“I would like to PR in the marathon and half marathon, and I’d like to win a national title. I’ve never won a national title as a professional athlete.” (Spence Gracey’s half-marathon best is 1:09:59. She’ll compete in the half marathon national championships on April 29 in Columbus, Ohio.)

What’s your favorite workout?

“Anything speed related would be my least favorite. Anything on the track, 800 or mile repeats. I really like the long, hard runs. It’s a strength of mine. I think that’s when I gain a lot of mental fortitude. I’m more confident in my fitness when I can nail a solid long run.”

Who’s your favorite all-time runner?

“My dad. (Steve Spence won the bronze medal at the 1991 Track & Field World Championships and won the 1992 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Neely was born on the day her father ran the 1990 Boston Marathon.) He taught me everything about the sport. I’m eternally grateful for him showing me that this is possible.”

We know elite athletes are strict about their diets. But give us a guilty food pleasure.

“Ice cream, hands down. Every time after a race, that’s my treat. I have to find a great ice cream place.”

Do you have a favorite flavor?

“I don’t do a favorite, but usually it’s chocolately.”

Favorite guilty TV pleasure?

“Anything HGTV. (Home & Garden TV.) We’re building a house, and I’m obsessed with the show, how to decorate, color schemes.”

Would you give us a little-known Neely Spence Gracey fact?

“One of my pre-race superstitions is I always like a Kombucha the day before my race. I’ll search whatever city I’m in to find Kombucha.”

RELATED: American Olympians To Take On International Rivals At Carlsbad 5000

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5 April Fools’ Day Pranks To Play On Your Running Buddy

Photo: Shutterstock

This year, everyone’s least favorite holiday, April Fools’ Day, falls on Saturday. This opens up a great opportunity for playing tricks on our favorite running buddies. We thought of five different pranks you can try. All of these are good-natured and relatively harmless—the perfect way to have a laugh and still complete a successful run.

Group Run Surprise

If your running group meets tomorrow, tell every friend except one to arrive 5 minutes early. Find a few great hiding places. Then wait for that final running buddy to wonder where all of their training partners are. Bonus points if you yell “Surprise!” when jumping out, which will make your friend even more confused. The reveal will be so funny and so worth it.

The Water Bottle Swap

Tell your running partner that you will take care of the hydration for this run. Instead of water, put something in their bottle that they would not expect—their least favorite sports drink, iced coffee, milk, etc. If you’re feeling extra devious, wine or beer would be a huge shock, but maybe not unwelcome. (Tip: make sure the bottle is opaque, of course.)

The GPS Mix Up

If you can get a hold of your running partner’s GPS watch, there are a ton of settings you can adjust. Change miles to kilometers. Set up a workout that makes their watch beep if they go above or below a certain speed. Change all their display settings. Just maybe don’t tell them that you are the one who messed up their watch. Those things are a pain to change back, so be prepared for complaining!

RELATED: 7 Times The Onion Poked Fun At Runners

The Race-less Spectator

Head to your local park or running trail with a sign, a cowbell, or just a ton of enthusiasm. Shout encouragement like “You’re almost at the finish!” or “You’re in the lead!” It may confuse your fellow runners and look silly, but everyone appreciates a cheer.

The Celebration Shoe

This one is best if you live with another runner. Take the shoes they are planning to wear and fill them with confetti. If they ask you why you did something that makes such a mess, just tell them that every run should be a celebration.

If you try any of these, the best thing you can do is video the reveal and send it to us! Tweet us at @runcompetitor to share your running pranks.

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Rupp and Hasay To Run Tune-Up Race In Prague Ahead Of Boston

Some of the elite athletes who will run the 2017 Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon. Back row, left to right: Daniele Meucci (Italy), Galen Rupp (USA), Barselius Kipyego (Kenya), Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya), Violah Jepchumba (Kenya). Front row, left to right: Jiri Homolac (Czech Republic), Eva Vrabcova (Czech Republic), Jordan Hasay (USA). Photo: David Monti

(c) 2017 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

Tomorrow may be the 1st of April, but there will be no fooling around in the elite section of the 19th Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon. About 11,000 runners will be treated to beautiful spring weather which should be conducive to fast times and compelling races. Sixty-two elite athletes from 13 countries are expected to answer the starter’s gun in Jan Palach Square in Prague’s Old Town at 10:00 a.m.

“I look forward to tomorrow’s race,” said Jana Moberly, the event’s elite athlete coordinator, in an interview. “I expect in the ladies that they will try to be on our race record, which is very high. If they succeed to make new race record I will be absolutely happy.”

That record, 1:05:51 by defending champion Violah Jepchumba of Kenya, is an impressive mark. That was the fastest time run in the world in 2016, and made her only the sixth woman to break 66 minutes for the half marathon. Of course, it was also the fastest time ever by a woman on Czech soil.

Jepchumba, 26, leads this year’s elite women’s field, just one of three women with sub-67:00 credentials. The other two are her Kenyan compatriots Joyciline Jepkosgei (1:06:08) and Gladys Chesir (1:06:57). In addition, another five women have broken 1:10:00 during their careers, including American Jordan Hasay who will be running in her second half marathon. For Hasay—whose father’s family comes from the Czech Republic—tomorrow’s race is part of her preparation for her marathon debut in Boston on April 17.

“I’m really excited,” Hasay told Race Results Weekly in an interview yesterday. She continued: “I’d certainly like to PR (set a personal record), and that would be a good tune-up for Boston.”

In addition to the flat course, the women should benefit from four make pacemakers, two of whom will shepherd the lead pack.

The men’s contest features three sub-60:00 Kenyans: Barselius Kipyego (59:15), Geoffrey Yegon (59:44) and Vincent Yator (59:55). Kipyego was second at this race last year in 59:30, and he told reporters today that he expected to run at least as fast this year. Moberly certainly hoped so.

“Men, I hope, it is our target to run under one hour,” she said. “We have guys for it. If they competed together, we can also see really nice time under one hour.”

If the race sets up as Moberly has envisioned, it will give American Galen Rupp an excellent chance to better Ryan Hall’s 10-year-old USA record of 59:43 set in Houston in January, 2007. Rupp has only run two half marathons, and his best time of 1:00:30 was set at the NYC Half back in 2011. Given that he’s broken 27:30 for 10,000m on the track eight times and that his best time is 26:44.36, breaking Hall’s record is a definite possibility. Rupp could also break the USA 20K record of 56:48 set by Dathan Ritzenhein during the IAAF World Half-Marathon in 2011. Organizers here have certified the 15K and 20K marks, which are both record eligible under IAAF and USATF rules.

But yesterday, Rupp played down his chances for the record and said that his main objective was to just get in a good race prior to the Boston Marathon. Rupp, 30, hasn’t raced in over four months.

“I just have to get a race in,” Rupp told Race Results Weekly here yesterday. “It’s been a long time. Prague presented itself, and it’s a great opportunity. They always have great fields here. The competition is second to none. In looking at the schedule, it worked out really well.”

RELATED: Galen Rupp Makes His Boston Marathon Debut Amid A Storm

There are other top men hoping for good performances here. Italy’s Daniele Meucci (1:01:06 PB), the 2014 European marathon champion, is now fully recovered from a severe foot injury he suffered during the Rio Olympic Marathon. He is just back to Europe after a training stint in Eritrea, and did a “rust-buster” at the Stramilano on March 19 (1:03:43). Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola (1:00:06 PB), the Rio Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist, is running his first race after recording a world-leading time in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon last January. There he ran a career best and course record of 2:04:11. Jiri Homolac is the top Czech entrant. He said today that the work he did at a recent training camp in Kenya should help him significantly lower his 1:03:43 personal best.

There will be good prize money and, more importantly, time bonuses on the line tomorrow. The men’s and women’s champions will pocket €6000 ($6,415) each, regardless of finish time. But running fast would significantly lift the top runners’ paydays. The winning man will earn another €25,000 ($26,728) if he breaks 59:00, plus another €5000 ($5,345) if he goes under Atsedu Tsegay’s course record of 58:47. The winning woman can earn €25,000 for a time faster than 1:06:30, with the potential for an additional €5000 for breaking Violah Jepchumba’s course record of 1:05:51. There are additional time bonuses for lower-placed finishers and for Czech athletes.

RELATED: American Olympians To Take On International Rivals At Carlsbad 5000

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How To Prepare For Your First Race Of The Year

It’s still early in the year, and many of us are shaking off the cobwebs and trying to remember what it feels like to run hard. Maybe some of us are getting ready for our first big race ever. That requires practice and preparation.

“Racing is a skill,” says Joe Rubio, head coach of the Hoka Aggie Running Club. That means it’s something you get better at the more you do it. So consider these early season races a chance to figure out what works for you. Test warm-up techniques, shadow more experienced athletes, figure out if you’re someone who likes a little more or a little less rest in those final days.

“Keep track of what you have success with,” says Rubio, even if it means writing it down in a log. And then all your preparation will leave you very prepared when it comes time for your big race. Here are guidelines on how to prepare in those final weeks.

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