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Ryan Cosens, Anna Corrigan Take Rock ‘n’ Roll L.A. Titles

The City of Angels turned into the City of Runners on Sunday as thousands donned Halloween attire and took to the streets of California’s most-populous city to celebrate the Rock and Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon and 5K.

Ryan Cosens, 26, of Santa Ana, Calif., was the first runner across the finish line in 1 hour, 9 minutes and 1 second. Jose Madera was second in 1:09:26 and James Lander took third in 1:09:49.

Near the 5-mile mark Cosens gave up his lead to Lander. “I thought he was gone,” recalled Cosens, who reeled him in at mile 10. “We ran together at that point. I kept with it though and was able to make a move in the last few miles. Once I got to the top of the last hill I knew it would be downhill to the finish and I said to myself that I think I got it now.”

PHOTOS: Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles

“I really liked the course,” Cosens said of the experience that offered runners amazing views of downtown Los Angeles. “The first half is similar to the Olympic [marathon] trials and I was scouting it out.” Cosens was happy with his win and said he was in Los Angeles to regroup after a disappointing showing at the Chicago Marathon a few weeks ago. “I wanted to end the season on a good note,” he said.

Twenty-four-year-old Anna Corrigan of Phoenix, Ariz, won the women’s race in 1:22:25. Corrigan said she comes to Los Angeles for work as an engineer, but rarely gets to sightsee. “Today was a fun and brief way to see the city,” she admitted. “I had no idea who was racing. I met some nice girls at the 5K and it was fun to run with them at the start.”

Corrigan said the crowds and the music carried her through to the finish. “These Rock ‘n’ Roll races are always amazing,” said Corrigan, who has won the full marathon in both Seattle and San Diego.

Second place went to Isabelle Oblom of Sweden in 1:30:02, while Kelly Wickstrom was third in 1:34:02.

Hugo Lombana (16:01) and Lidia Garcia (19:17) were the men’s and women’s winners, respectively, in the accompanying 5K.

For more information and results, please visit RunRocknRoll.com/Los-Angeles.

The post Ryan Cosens, Anna Corrigan Take Rock ‘n’ Roll L.A. Titles appeared first on Competitor.com.

Photos: 2015 Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Downtown Los Angeles was rocking on Sunday morning, as thousands of runners took the streets for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon and 5K. It was Halloween-themed and hundreds of runners wore costumes on the course, adding to the festivities.

In the elite races, Ryan Cosens of Santa Ana, Calif., won the men’s race in 1:09:01, beating Jose Madera by 25 seconds. Anna Corrigan won the women’s race in 1:22:25.

RELATED: Ryan Cosens, Anna Corrigan Take Rock ‘n’ Roll L.A. Titles

Here are photos from the race, taken by PhotoRun.net:

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Ryan Cosens, who's from nearby Santa Ana.

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Anna Corrigan, the eventual women's winner.

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

James Lander placed third in 1:09:49.

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Jose Madera placed second in 1:09:26.

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Isabelle Oblom of Sweden was the second-place woman.

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Cosens' winning time was 1:09:01.

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Ryan Cosens celebrates his victory. Photo: PhotoRun.net

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Anna Corrigan won the women's race in 1:22:25.

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Sir Mix-a-Lot headlined the post-race concert.

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

Credit: Andrew McCalanahan

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Paul Kimugul, Natasha Wodak Win Big In Vancouver

Natasha Wodak celebrates her half-marathon victory. Photo: Bruce Wodder

One of the North America’s most scenic cities did not disappoint on Sunday at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon. Thousands of runners lined up at the start of the race amid chilly fall temps and partly cloudy skies. But once the starting gun sounded, things warmed up as the music and crowds energized participants who were afforded a spectacular visual treat as they ran along Vancouver waterfront with stunning views of the mountains and the ocean.

Paul Kimugul broke the tape in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 25 seconds, beating second-place finisher Kelly Wiehe by 24 seconds. Third place went to Bernard Ngeno in 1:07:30.

“The race was good,” said Kimugul, who also won last year’s race. “I like the race—especially the fans all along the river—very fantastic. I love the Rock ‘n’ Roll races. I came here from Kenya and want to follow all the Rock ‘n’ Roll race cities.”

PHOTOS: Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Vancouver

Hometown favorite Natasha Wodak won the women’s race in 1:18:53, with second and third place going to Jane Ricardi (1:20:02) and Sabrina Wilke (1:21:04), respectively.

For Wodak, who was in Las Vegas on Friday, the last 48 hours have been a whirlwind. “I’m pretty tired,” Wodak said with a chuckle. “You know what? You only live once.” Wodak had been in Vegas with a friend and arrived home Saturday morning. “I got a little jog in and I was fine,” she said. “I can rally.”

For Wodak, 2015 has been a banner year. She represented Canada in the 10,000m event at the World Championships in August and says she’s been building her mileage up after a break in September. “Today, my coach said I could race as long as I took it more as a tempo. The goal was to try and run 1:20. I ran under 1:19 and I felt good doing it.”

“You can’t beat running here in Vancouver,” added Wodak. “I’m always happy to race at home with my friends and family.”

The diversity of participation at the Rock ‘n’ Roll races impressed Kodak, who said she was surprised to meet so many people from all over the world at the race expo the day before. Wodak is training for next year’s world half-marathon championships and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The 45th annual Cunnigham Seawall 10K was held on Saturday. Geoff Martinson, a local who runs for the B.C. Endurance Project, won the men’s race in 29:52.

“We had beautiful conditions,” said Martinson, finished second in the half marathon in 2014. “The 10K course is very scenic. It’s the best the city has to offer.”

Kimberly Doerksen, also a Vancouver resident, won the women’s 10K in 36:29. She was admittedly running scared from the start. “I ran what I expected,” she said. “I’m really happy with the effort.”

The John Volken Foundation, a non-profit organization that operates the John Volken Academy, a long-term residential drug and alcohol treatment center, returned as the official charity of the race.

For compete results, photos and more, visit www.RunRocknRoll.com/Vancouver.

The post Paul Kimugul, Natasha Wodak Win Big In Vancouver appeared first on Competitor.com.

Photos: Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

Thousands of runners took part in Sunday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon & 10K. Known as one of North America’s most-scenic cities, runners enjoyed spectacular mountain and ocean views as they ran along Vancouver Bay.

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon

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Photos: 45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon kicked off Saturday morning with the 45th annual Cunningham Seawall 10k, which is oldest race in British Columbia. More than 3,000 runners were experienced a spectacular waterfront course on a perfect Autumn morning.

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

Credit: Bruce Wodder

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45th Annual Cunningham Seawall 10K

Credit: Bruce Wodder

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Video: Women Runs A Marathon Without Talking About It

Admit it: As runners, we like to share our accomplishments with others—sometimes to a fault. In this hilarious parody, “Kim Novelle: The Secret Marathon,” the folks at comedy network Above Average share the tongue-in-cheek story of a woman who managed to run a marathon without talking about it to anyone in her life.

RELATED: Sumo Wrestlers Square Off In A Sprint Showdown

The post Video: Women Runs A Marathon Without Talking About It appeared first on Competitor.com.

A Second Life: Runner Returns to Rock ‘n’ Roll Vancouver With Doctor Who Saved Him

McGirr at Rock 'n' Roll Portland in 2014. Photo: MarathonFoto

Mark McGirr and Dr. Jack Jay will head out for a run Sunday morning. They’ll laugh. They’ll embrace. They’ll reminisce. And sometime during the 13.1-mile jog, McGirr will utter two words he has said often to Jay in the past year.

Thank you.

One year ago, about 15K into the first Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon, McGirr collapsed.

“Flopped flat on my face like a sack of potatoes,” says McGirr, 62, who lives in Beaverton, Ore. “My brain just stopped; my heart stopped. It turned the lights off. I was dead before I hit the ground, is what they say.”

Jay, a primary care physician who lives in Vancouver, was running a few feet in front of McGirr.

“I heard this guy go down,” recalls Jay. “I thought he tripped. When we went to help him up I thought he just twisted an ankle. Turns out he was unconscious, in cardiac arrest. No pulse. No breathing.”

Trailing McGirr was Sheila Finamore, a nurse at the same hospital where Jay works. Until last year, the doctor, nurse and McGirr had never met.

“Talk about fate,” says McGirr, who suffered a heart attack, “having the best of the best around you.”

Jay and Finamore alternated administering CPR to McGirr for 20 to 25 minutes. Because McGirr collapsed in a park that was difficult for emergency personnel to reach, a paramedic arrived by bike. McGirr’s pulse and heartbeat was revived with the use of an AED (automated external defibrillator.)

He was rushed to a hospital, a stint was implanted to clear a blocked artery and within six weeks after suffering his heart attack, McGirr was jogging on a treadmill.

“He basically came back from the dead,” says Jay.

Sunday morning, McGirr and Jay will run side by side in the second edition of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon. Joining them will be McGirr’s daughter, Kara, his son, Daniel, and Kara’s husband, Kirk. It’s McGirr’s first half marathon race since last year’s brush with death.

“I’ve been processing, thinking about getting past that spot where I went down,” says McGirr. “I think I know where it is. That’ll be an interesting journey in the race.”

McGirr runs a family-owned rug and carpet business. He has been running off and on since his college days at the University of Oregon in Eugene. At 6-foot-2, his weight ballooned to 225 in college.

“I kind of let myself go,” he admits.

Living across the street from the famed Hayward Field track and attending Oregon at the same time as Steve Prefontaine influenced his decision to hit the road, track and trails.

“I was a product of my environment,” he says.

He ran a leg in the first Hood to Coast relay back in 1982, and knocked off the Portland Marathon. He clocked a 3:30 marathon PR in his late 20s.

He would stop running for stretches but always return. He returned for good in 2006 when his weight swelled to 190 pounds. When he stepped in the corrals last October in Vancouver he weighed 172, thinking he was the picture of health.

“I remember going through the last water station,” he says. “We were about three or four miles into Stanley Park. After that, my memory goes blank.”

“He didn’t suffer any brain damage, which was really surprising to me given the length of time he didn’t have a heartbeat,” says Jay.

Jay and Finamore saved his life, pushing on his chest for nearly half an hour.

“They’re my two new best friends,” says McGirr. “They get the Christmas letter. It’s a bond you can’t imagine.”

The AED saved his life.

“Without that,” says McGirr, “I wouldn’t be here.”

McGirr and Jay met via Skype in May. Jay and his wife were in Portland last month to visit friends. McGirr and his wife hosted them for a barbecue.

“I’m forever indebted to (Jay and Finamore). They’re part of the family,” McGirr says. “They’re heroes.”

Jay scoffs at the hero tag.

“I’m a physician. I work in a hospital. It’s what I do.”

“To bring me back from the dead,” offers McGirr. “It’s a miracle.”

McGirr’s supervised rehab lasted two months. He has been running 25-30 miles a week for some time now. He logged a half marathon in training. He switched to a vegan diet, dropping 12 pounds to 160. His cholesterol numbers have tumbled sharper than a stock-market crash.

McGirr longs to leave a couple messages for everyone. Learn hands-only CPR. Go to the doctor and get lab work done.

Regarding CPR, Jay says, “You just push hard and you push fast. If you’re not tired after a minute, you’re not doing it right.”

McGirr refers to Sunday’s marathon as his first birthday. He’ll wear the same shirt he wore for last year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Oasis Vancouver Half Marathon, only like his heart, it has been mended, stitched where it had to be ripped open for the AED paddles.

“Every day is a bonus day for me,” says McGirr. “Life is a gift.”

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Funny Friday: Sumo Wrestlers Square Off In A Sprint Showdown

Watch as three sumo wrestlers take off down the track in one of the greatest sprint showdowns you’ll ever see!

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Meb Keflezighi Breaks Down the NYC Marathon’s 5-Borough Course

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Meb Keflezighi has run the New York City Marathon nine times. Photo: PhotoRun.net

On Nov. 1, 50,000 runners from around the globe will participate in the world’s largest moving block party—the New York City Marathon. Here’s how the race will unfold through the city’s five boroughs on the way to the iconic finish line in Central Park, along with some expert advice from 2009 NYC Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi.

RELATED: Meb Keflezighi’s Ultimate NYC Marathon Advice

Staten Island

The Verrazano Narrows Bridge

The longest suspension bridge in the United States at 4,260 feet, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge has served as the start line for the New York City Marathon since the race first adopted its current five-borough format in 1976. Devoid of spectators, runners must take an early morning ferry or a bus to the start line village on Staten Island. As the race begins, runners eagerly charge up the apex of the bridge and are rewarded with breathtaking views of New York Harbor and the city’s famous skyline in the distance.

“I love the excitement of the people, the energy and the focus of the runners,” says 2009 New York City Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi, who will return to race in the Big Apple for the tenth time on Nov. 1. “I like the uphill start because time is not a concern and the first couple miles are kind of laid back.”

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Academy of Music

After exiting the bridge just before Mile 2, runners descend upon energetic Brooklyn, where they’ll run amongst large, cheering crowds for the next 12 miles. At Mile 8, runners pass the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music—one of the most popular spots for spectators, where things are guaranteed to get a little loud! Creative signs, local bands and costumed spectators combine for a festive buzz along the course.

“The diverse culture, different costumes, flags and languages make Brooklyn unique,” Keflezighi says. “If you’re feeling good, try and take it all in. It’s much more relaxed here and you can interact more with the fans.”

Queens and Manhattan

Queensboro Bridge onto First Avenue

At the halfway mark, runners enter Queens—one of the course’s quieter stretches. The silence reaches a diminuendo just past the 15-mile mark as runners make their way onto the eerily quiet Queensboro Bridge. The silence dissipates at the end of the bridge when runners curl down the ramp and enter Manhattan for the first time, where throngs of rowdy fans line First Avenue, giving runners a much needed jolt with 10 miles to go.

“You know the excitement is waiting for you,” Keflezighi says of crossing the Queensboro Bridge. “You always hear about it, but to experience it is wild.”

The Bronx

Willis Avenue Bridge

Following their first taste of Manhattan, runners cross the Willis Avenue Bridge just before the 20-mile mark and take a short tour of the Bronx, the unofficial home of the mythical marathon “wall” everyone hopes to avoid. It’s sparsely populated with fans so keeping your focus during this stretch is super important. A little more than a mile after setting foot in the Bronx, runners re-enter Manhattan via the Madison Avenue Bridge and head for home in Central Park.

“You know that you want to feel good here,” Keflezighi says of crossing the Willis Avenue Bridge. “You want to be passing people here—not the one being passed.”

Manhattan

Columbus Circle

The final 5K of the race relentlessly undulates and weaves its way through scenic Central Park. For a short stretch between miles 25 and 26, runners exit the south end of the park at 59th Street before re-entering at Columbus Circle, one of the most densely packed parts of the course. From there, it just over a quarter mile to the finish line!

“Whenever you see green stuff, you know you’re almost home,” explains Keflezighi. “It’s make it or break it that last 5K, so save something for Central Park. It’s a challenging course, but the finish is amazing!”

The post Meb Keflezighi Breaks Down the NYC Marathon’s 5-Borough Course appeared first on Competitor.com.

Feeling Anxious? Research Shows Trail Running Benefits Your Brain

Running in nature can help decrease anxiety and negative thoughts more so than in an urban setting. Photo: Shutterstock.com

A growing body of research supports what so many trail running enthusiasts, myself included, have experienced themselves: logging your miles in nature does wonders for mental health. There’s something magical about the trails that promotes balance while seemingly melting angst and sadness away. Just last weekend, I went to Yosemite National Park on Saturday night with a racing mind. I returned on Sunday, 18 miles in my legs later, with a sense of calmness and clarity—something that previous runs in the city did not bring about.

A new article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on why this might be the case. For the study, Stanford University researchers set out to learn more about the impact of physical activity in nature on rumination, or an unrelenting cycle of negative thoughts and worry associated with increased risk of depression and other mental illnesses. (If you’ve ever gotten “stuck” in a vicious cycle where one negative thought leads to another, that’s rumination—and it’s not fun.)

One group of study participants completed a brisk 90-minute walk in a natural setting; the other group took their walk, of the same duration and intensity, in an urban setting. Upon returning to the lab, the nature-walkers not only self-reported decreased rumination, but fMRI scans of their brains also showed decreased neural activity in an area of the brain associated with mental illness (the subgenual prefrontal cortex). The walk literally changed their brain. The urban-walkers, however, experienced neither of these effects.

“It seems that there is something about physical activity outdoors, in a natural setting, that decreases worry, anxiety, and other negative thoughts,” says Greg Bratman, lead author of the study. He noted that thanks to new fMRI technology, “We could actually see these changes in the brain. It was fascinating.”

While Competitor has long documented the positive psychological effects of running in general, Bratman’s work suggests that trail running in particular may provide an extra boost. “Leaving the busyness and tumult of the city for more natural settings seems beneficial when it comes to psychological wellbeing,” he says. “A trail run may offer something [for mental health] that urban running does not.”

RELATED: 7 Essential Tips For Trail Running

Though we don’t yet know the exact mechanisms by which nature causes these changes in the brain (that’s the next phase of Bratman’s research), one working theory is that unlike urban settings—with their crowds, traffic, and unpredictable loud noises—natural settings make us feel less threatened and in doing so, help turn off our evolutionarily-rooted stress response.

The Stanford research couldn’t be timelier. Over the past two decades, a marked increase in urbanization has been paralleled by a marked increase in depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. What’s more is that even in the comfort of our own homes, many of us create “urban settings,” with multiple devices flashing, beeping, pinging, tweeting, and the list goes on and on. When we run in the city, we are simply moving from one urban environment to another. When we run in nature, we turn it all off.

Bratman’s work serves as strong scientific reminder to not underestimate the healing power of a trail run—particularly when it comes to quieting a racing mind and dulling angst. Though for many runners, the proverbial 45-minute drive (if you’re lucky) to a trailhead may seem like a hassle, the psychological benefits of a weekly trail run are probably worth it, especially if you are prone to rumination.

As refrained by Cheryl Strayed in the book and movie Wild, during periods of psychological distress, “Put[ing] yourself in the way of beauty” is often the best medicine.

RELATED: Is Running Meditation?

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About The Author:

Brad Stulberg writes about the science, and art, of health and human performance.  Follow him on Twitter @Bstulberg

The post Feeling Anxious? Research Shows Trail Running Benefits Your Brain appeared first on Competitor.com.