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Keflezighi Leads Huge Elite Field At Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose

Meb Keflezighi, left, and Deena Kastor, right, will both be chasing fast times this weekend in San Jose. Photo: PhotoRun.net

(c) 2015 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi leads a big elite field at Sunday’s 10th annual Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half-Marathon in Northern California.

Keflezighi, 40, will try to break Mbarak Hussein’s U.S. masters half-marathon record of 63:23 on the flat, USATF-certified course. Although Keflezighi, the 2014 Boston Marathon champion, has run faster than that mark since turning 40 last May (he ran 62:26 at the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon on May 31), that mark didn’t count for a record because the course had too much elevation loss. Keflezighi, who has won the San Jose race three previous times, will also be using Sunday’s race to tune-up for the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, where he is the top American entrant.

“He’ll drive directly to Mammoth (Lakes) after the race to finish his altitude training for New York,” said Dan Cruz, a spokesman for the Competitor Group, which organizes the race.

RELATED: Meb Aiming For Half Marathon Masters Mark In San Jose

Behind Keflezighi, literally dozens of men will be trying to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials scheduled for next February in Los Angeles. A 65-minute clocking is good enough to gain entry for the Trials under the “B” standard.

“In total we have 55 male athletes with sub-1:08 PRs aiming for the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier,” said Cruz.

Ten men on the start list have personal best times below 64 minutes, and a total of 15 have broken 65:00. Besides Keflezighi, the top men seeking the podium include Zambia’s Jordan Chipangama (62:24 PB), Canada’s Dylan Wykes (62:14), Ethiopia’s Dereje Abera Ali (62:44) and Tesfaye Alemayehu (61:36), and American Stephan Shay (62:26).

The women’s race will also be very competitive. Kenya’s Aliphine Tiliamuk-Bolton, with a personal best of 69:16, has been given the #1 bib. The two top Americans are Adriana Nelson (69:59 PB) and Lindsey Scherf (71:46), and Canadian Dayna Pidhoresky (71:46) is the other sub-72-minute performer.

Deena Kastor, who will be running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11, will also be in San Jose for the weekend. She’ll race the 5K on Saturday—breaking Colleen De Reuck’s USA masters record of 15:48 is certainly possible—then on Sunday she’ll run with the masses, leading the 2-hour pace group.

The course records are 60:22 by Kenya’s Duncan Kibet in 2006 and 69:17 by Russia’s Silvia Skvortsova the same year. Keflezighi’s personal best—61:00—was set in San Jose in 2009.

“The course is flat, fast and the weather is generally perfect in Northern California this time of year,” observed Cruz. “I’ve long said this is the most underrated event in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series and it’s truly one of the premier 13.1-mile races on the West Coast.”

Here are the top elite entrants in the race by bib number:

Men’s Elite Field

1 Meb Keflezighi, 1975, USA, 61:00

2 Dylan Wykes, 1983, CAN, 62:14

3 Jordan Chipangama, 1988, ZAM, 62:24

4 Dereje Abera Ali, 1979, ETH, 62:44

5 Tesfaye Alemayehu, 1984, ETH, 61:36

6 Stephan Shay, 1986, USA, 62:26

7 Nicholas Hilton, 1989, USA, 63:23

8 Justin Young, 1979, USA, 63:25

9 Malcolm Richards, 1982, USA, 63:26

10 Daniel Tapia, 1986, USA, 63:52

11 Danny Mercado, 1987, USA, 64:02

12 Andrew Epperson, 1990, USA, 64:04

13 Jarrett LeBlanc, 1990, USA, 64:19

14 Anthony Solis, 1990, USA, 64:35

15 Juan Paredes, 1990, USA, 64:45

16 Eli Rodriguez, 1983, USA, 65:16

17 Jonny Wilson, 1987, USA, 65:20

18 Sean Gildea, 1991, USA, 65:31

19 Kenneth Foster, 1986, USA, 65:32

20 Jonathan Mott, 1987, USA, 65:47

21 Jovanny Godinez Rodriguez, 1991, USA, 65:49

22 Benjamin Zywicki, 1988, USA, 65:57

23 Paolo Natali, 1980, ITA, 65:59

24 Curtis Begley Jr, 1987, USA, 66:00

25 JP Slater, 1990, USA, 66:03

26 Steve Chu, 1982, USA, 66:07

27 Anthony Costales, 1988, USA, 66:36

28 Ryan Miller, 1991, USA, debut

29 Aaron Thomas, 1992, USA,

30 Alan Cuevas, 1992, USA,

Women’s Elite Field

F1 Aliphine Tiliamuk-Bolton, 1989, KEN, 69:16

F2 Adriana Nelson, 1980, USA, 69:59

F3 Lindsey Scherf, 1986, USA, 71:46

F4 Dayna Pidhoresky, 1986, CAN, 71:46

F7 Dawn Grunnagle, 1977, USA, 74:56

F8 Jenna Boren, 1977, USA, 75:10

F9 Silvia Del Fava, 1987, ITA, 75:32

F10 Tori Tyler, 1987, USA, 75:36

F11 Heather Tanner, 1978, USA, 75:51

F12 Zoila Gomez, 1979, USA, 73:11

F13 Olivia Mickle, 1991, USA, 76:19

F14 Catherine Watkins, 1971, CAN, 76:47

F15 Liza (Hitchner) Reichert, 1987, USA, 76:48

F16 Lavenna Kubatzky, 1987, USA, 76:54

F17 Rachel Jaten, 1975, USA, 77:11

F18 Joanna Thompson, 1992, USA, Debut

F19 Maor Tiyouri, 1990, ISR, Debut

F20 Alma Rosa Padilla, 1988, USA,

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105-Year-Old Japanese Sprinter Breaks 100-Meter World Record

Japanese masters track and field competitor Hidekichi Miyazaki set a new age-group world record for the 100-meter dash on Wednesday at the Kyoto Masters Athletics Autumn Competition in Kyoto, Japan. Miyazaki, who is apparently known as “Golden Bolt,” ran the 100m in 42.22 seconds. He’s been setting records for years, but apparently he can run much faster in the 100. “I wanted to shave off a few more seconds as I got 36 seconds while training,” Miyazaki told a TV reporter.

 

 

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Ask the Experts: Tabor Stevens Talks Recovery, Pre-Race Routines

In this video, ASICS elite runner Tabor Stevens answers a variety of reader questions, from recovery tips to pre-race rituals.

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Fall 2015 Trail Running Shoe Guide

Some of this season’s trail shoes aim to keep you running despite rain, snow, sleet and other fall/winter hazards; others are set to become your year-round chargers.

Our roundup of trail running shoes runs the gamut from low-to-the-ground, minimal-feeling shoes that fit like socks with teeth underfoot, to beefy cushioning that absorbs trail impact of all sorts. Read on to find the pair that’s right for you.

RELATED: 4 Tips for Buying the Right Pair of Trail Running Shoes

RELATED: 10 Running Shoe Terms You Need to Know

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4 Reasons to Love Autumn Running

This article first appeared on Women’s Running.

For many runners, autumn is the best season for the sport. And for good reason—from the Goldilocks-perfect temperatures to the spectacular scenery, running feels a little more enjoyable and effortless this time of year. But in case you need a little extra convincing as you mourn the end of summer, here are four more reasons to fall for fall running:

Food fest

From the Labor Day barbecues to the never-ending Christmas cookies, the next few months are a gauntlet of holiday treats. Running is the perfect way to burn off the extra calories (not to mention the holiday stress). And when you are in the mood to indulge, is there any better way to fuel up for a chilly fall run than with a pumpkin spice latte, or to cool down after an Indian summer run than with a pumpkin beer? I think not.

Fun races

Though many runners keep their fall race calendars full of serious events, this is also the time of year for some seriously fun runs. For every holiday there are countless themed races—think: October zombie runs, November turkey trots, and early December Santa/ugly sweater/jingle bell dashes galore. So circle your favorite fall holiday on the calendar and get to work on your training (and your costume).

Free time

If you’re a parent, the end of summer signals the return to school for your kids and the return of (some) free time for you. Of course you’re still busy, but you likely have a little extra room in your schedule once the littles are off learning. If you stay at or work from home, consider starting or ending your run at the bus stop drop-off or pick-up.  Or if you’re in the office workin’ nine to five, take advantage of playdates or after-school activities to sneak in a quick post-work workout. PS: When you make lunches in the morning, feel free to make an extra PB&J for yourself for a delish post-run snack.

Finally, some space

If you felt like running was a bummer in the summer because of all the sunshine-seeking joggers crowding your usual routes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the extra elbow room you’ll find in autumn. Lots of fair-weather runners head inside during the cooler temps of the fall so there should be enough room for you to swing your arms and stretch your legs to your heart’s content. Fingers crossed none of those summer runners are reading this list and getting any ideas…

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Out There: Backing Off a Bit

“You’re not really going to wear that during the marathon, are you?”

Neil gasped at me, visibly hurt. “What’s wrong with this? It’s a nice hat.”

“It has wings, babe.”

I’ve been running interference on Neil’s fashion sense for years. He’s emerged from our closet wearing a multitude of endearing/embarrassing ensembles: socks indented at the big toe by flip-flops, running shoes for “business casual” functions, tech tees tucked in to khakis for wedding rehearsals. I once had to explain to Neil why, though his rationale of “it’s a black shirt!” was solid, an Oakland Raiders polo was not appropriate funeral attire. If I die before him, a trusted friend has been designated to dress him before he attends my wake in an Ironman finisher shirt.

But his latest wardrobe acquisition was beyond comprehension: a bright red cap flanked by two giant, puffy wings that fluttered with every step. This, Neil decided upon laying eyes on the monstrosity, would be the official headgear for his race the following day.

“Wings!” he giggled as he plopped down his Visa card at the checkout. “This is the best hat ever!”

I could only shake my head and laugh. Despite my initial shock, this was one style selection I could approve.

You see, over the last few years, Neil’s perspective on racing has changed. When we first met, he was an ambitious athlete with a laser focus on his goals. If a race went well, his inflated invincibility would lead to new, harder goals of PRs and podium spots; if it went poorly, he’d declare a failure on his part and throw himself into the process of correcting his weaknesses before the next race.

One can only maintain that level of intensity for so long. The more he obsessed, the more he struggled. He became tired and grumpy. He’d throw time and money at solutions in hopes one would lead to the breakthrough race he so desperately wanted. If I suggested he pick a fun race for a change, he’d snap angrily:

“I AM having fun!” he’d growl.

As you can probably imagine, he was a freaking delight to be around.

Neil eventually became disgruntled and disenchanted with competition. One day after yet another lackluster race, he sat down on the grass outside the finisher’s chute and sighed dejectedly:

“I have officially run out of shits to give.”

To some, that declaration would be seen as waving the white flag of surrender. In a way, it was—Neil had finally realized something that had once brought him joy and satisfaction had become a burden. Caring too much had fizzled out to not caring at all.

It was this very sense of apathy that led to the red hat with wings. Everything leading up to his next race was approached with flippancy, from his piecemeal training schedule to his cheesecake-centric nutrition plan. He went into his race that morning with a shrug and a floppy-winged hat.

At mile 3 of his run, I spotted him (with that hat, how could I not?) coming down the street.

“Feeling good!” he yelled.

At mile 10, he gave me a thumbs up. As he disappeared into the distance, someone in the crowd yelled out “Nice hat, bro!” and he waved with pride.

At mile 18, he laughed: “Races are really fun when you don’t give a shit!”

Out of habit, I spent the next eight miles waiting for the wheels to fall off. They never did. For the first time in several years, Neil crossed a finish line with a genuine smile on his face.

His time wasn’t a PR. He didn’t secure a podium spot. And he simply didn’t care. The real victory was in remembering the primary rule of race day: it’s supposed to be fun.

“That was a good day,” he said as he leaned in for a celebratory kiss at the finish line. I tapped the brim of his ridiculous hat and laughed.

A volunteer came by to wrap a mylar blanket around Neil’s shoulders. As he escorted escort Neil to the post-race buffet, he chuckled and pointed at the hat.

“So did the wings help?”

Neil smiled. “You know, I actually think they did.”

****

About The Author:

Susan Lacke does 5Ks, Ironman Triathlons and everything in between to justify her love for cupcakes (yes, she eats that many). Susan lives and trains in Salt Lake City, Utah with three animals: A labrador, a cattle dog, and a freakishly tall triathlete husband. She claims to be of sound mind, though this has yet to be substantiated by a medical expert. Follow her on Twitter: @SusanLacke.

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Andrew Hamilton Caps off Amazing Summer on Colorado 14ers

Andrew Hamilton climbing up Mt. Elbert during his 14er record earlier this summer (Photo: AndrewHamilton.com)

On Tuesday afternoon, just before 1 p.m., Andrew Hamilton put a cap on a summer that will go down in history.

Coming into the parking lot of the Fish Hatchery outside of Leadville, Colo., only a few friends, some chips and some homemade margaritas were there to witness an unprecedented feat of endurance and fortitude. Hamilton had just shattered the famed Nolan’s 14 record, completing the almost 100-mile route with 44,000 feet of elevation gain in 53 hours and 39 minutes. Not only was this a new Fastest Known Time (FKT), but Hamilton completed the entire route solo and unsupported.

But that is only the finale of an incredible summer for Hamilton, a 40-year-old stay-at-home father of four who lives in Denver with his wife. Earlier this summer he also destroyed the record for climbing all of Colorado’s 58 named 14,000-foot mountain peaks, taking a full day off the previous record held by Ted “Cave Dog” Keizer.

RELATED: Inside the FKT Trend

Most people who know Hamilton saw this coming—just not in the style or magnitude that it happened. He previously held the FKT on the 14ers in 1999 before losing it to Keizer in 2000, and has been working on breaking Keizer’s record ever since.

Last year, after almost breaking the record, Hamilton had to stop just a few summits shy as he had developed a terrible case of compartment syndrome in his shin, which ultimately led to rhabdomyolysis. After recovering for a month and a half, Hamilton set off on the Nolan’s 14 course, which covers 14 peaks exceeding 14,000 feet in Colorado’s Sawatch Range. Many were not sure if he would make it—and talking with Hamilton it was clear that he wasn’t sure if he would either. But he endured immense pain, blocked out the suffering, and conquered the sleep demons—finishing the Nolan’s line just over the 60-hour cutoff.

“I was a little disappointed with that, since I had made the summit of Mt. Massive in 57 hours. But when I came down, I took a wrong turn and that cost me the 17 minutes. I considered it a failure, but since I had gone solo and unsupported and Matt Mahoney told me that the time was to the last summit, I guess it counted.”

This year, after setting the 14er FKT time in a staggering 9 days, 21 hours, and 51 minutes (which involved over 140,000 vertical feet of climbing and 270 miles of high-altitude hiking and running) Hamilton had two other goals in mind: The Elk Traverse and another go at Nolan’s 14.

Starting at 7:05 a.m. Sunday at the Blank Cabin trailhead, Hamilton set off for another solo, unsupported attempt of Nolan’s 14, making his way up the slopes of Shavano, the first of the 14 peaks. Fifty-three hours later he trotted into the Leadville Fish Hatchery, breaking the previous Nolan’s record by John Robinson by over an hour.

In the course of just three months, Hamilton has established two of the hardest mountain running records out there. The 14er FKT record had stood for over 15 years, and many thought that it would be impossible to break. The Nolan’s 14 FKT record was similar, standing for 13 years. Yet in just a short time, Hamilton broke both of them, and in a style and magnitude unheard of in the mountain running world.

When asked about his 14er record, Hamilton noted that, “I’m really happy with it. Keizer set the bar really, really high, and I was able to take what he did and add in the Elk’s in a single push. That was my contribution, which allowed me to take a day off of his time.”

Now, on setting the Nolan’s 14 FKT, Hamilton has done it again, taking what others have done in terms of the route, and adding in his own contribution—going solo and unsupported. “I’m really good at sleep deprivation and pushing through pain.”

That is not all, and as many have commented online after his achievement, Hamilton is the “King of the 14ers”–and he has the records to back that label up.

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5 Places to Run In…San Diego

Get a great ocean-view run on the trails within the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Photo: Shutterstock.com

With year-round sunny climate and oceanfront views, San Diego is every visiting (and local) runner’s dream. Although America’s Finest City may be known for its endless summer beach runs, experience mountainous desert trails, semi-urban paths and long highway stretches along the coast as well. Plus, an avid and friendly community of runners and endurance athletes will make you feel right at home, making it even harder to leave.

Extending across and up this vast county, here are the five must-do trails and paths in SoCal paradise:

Balboa Park

Within San Diego’s famed park sprawls 65 miles worth of trails that range from casual and short to long and strenuous. Some routes provide a tour of the park’s art galleries and museums, including the San Diego Zoo, while others consist of dirt trails run in the more secluded parts of the park and along the CA-163. Conveniently located near downtown and the San Diego airport (about a 10-minute drive), the park has five different entrances that make it easy to access the network of trails. 

Crown Point Park/Mission Bay Inner Loop

For a quick yet scenic run along Mission Bay, take this 3.5-mile paved path around the Crown Point Peninsula. It starts at a mini grassland park and then runs behind bayfront homes beside sandy beaches, giving it a tucked-away feel until it ends in front of Belmont Park. Double back to get a longer run in or make a detour at the beginning of the run by turning left onto Ingraham Street, and making one big 8-mile loop via Sea World Drive, through Mission Bay Park, past De Anza Cove and onto North Mission Bay Drive. Both routes are relatively flat with few streetlight interruptions.

Coast Highway

Hitch a ride on the train from Solana Beach to Oceanside and run down the coast or run down the coast from Oceanside to Solana Beach and then hitch a ride back up; either way you’re covering 16 miles along the Coast Highway. This nonstop route cruising the coastline makes for a great practice long run while training for a marathon. Although you may have to pay for the train ride, the ocean views and quick tour of North County’s beaches is worth the experience.

Mission Trails Regional Park

Away from the coast and city, San Diego also offers some prime trail running opportunities. This 6,000-acre open space preserve contains 40 miles of trails, including the flat 1.2-mile Grassland Loop, the moderate 4-mile North Fortuna Trail, and the 6.5-mile out-and-back Fortuna Saddle Trail with 1,600 feet of elevation gain up Fortuna Mountain. Although the latter is quite challenging, the summit overlooks the rest of the park and provides distant views of Scripps Ranch.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Just off of North Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla sits a 2,000-acre natural reserve overlooking Torrey Pines State Beach. Six main trails wind their way through the sandstone bluffs, and although the trails are short—1.5 miles being the longest—each can be linked to one another for a longer run. There are two ways to gain access to the trails: Most people park at the lower entrance by the state beach and run up a steep asphalt road to the trailheads. Locals take the stairs further down the beach during low tide, gaining access to the main Beach Trail. Some trails are more technical than others, but all provide breathtaking views of Torrey Pine trees, chaparral, manzanita and sagebrush set against an ocean backdrop.

RELATED:

– 5 Places to Run In…Washington, D.C.

– 5 Places to Run In…San Francisco

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Training Plan: 4-Week Half-Marathon Peaking Plan

Photo: istockphoto.com

The final four weeks before a goal race is equal parts excitement and nervousness. Many runners begin to doubt their training when they should be dialing in their confidence. Use this 4-week half- marathon tapering plan created by Mario Fraioli, Competitor senior editor, Olympic coach and author of The Official Rock ‘n’ Roll Training Guide, and arrive to the start line rested, sharp and confident in achieving your goal.

Free Half Marathon Training Plan

Click here for the printable PDF: 4-Week Half-Marathon Peaking Plan

RELATED ARTICLES:

— Workout of the Week: 3-2-1 Sandwich

— Coach Culpepper: Shifting Your Half Marathon Training

— 3 Training Ingredients for Your Fastest Half Marathon

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Shoe Of The Week: Altra Impulse

The all-new Altra Impulse is unthinkably light, softly cushioned and stable enough to offset mild to moderate overpronation.

What?! A true stability shoe that’s this light, low to the ground and energetic? Pick up the Impulse and you’ll be in disbelief too, at least until you start running in it. With the creation of the Impulse, Altra has developed a featherweight and uber-flexible, performance-oriented training/racing flat that serves up a smooth, stable and absolutely sublime ride.

The shoe incorporates Altra’s three-point StabiliPod stability system—three firmer foam pods spread across the midsole/outsole, combined with a cantilevered varus wedge built into the midsole and a wider-than-typical footprint, help offset overpronation, while the foot-shaped forefoot gives toes plenty of room to splay for maximal forefoot energy transmission. The midsole foam is a combination of a lightweight/absorbent EVA foam and a more energetic responsive foam Altra calls A-Bound. (The Impulse is lighter, softer and slightly lower than Altra’s Provision 2.0 stability shoe and perhaps more similar to Altra’s neutral-oriented Torin 2.0 and Instinct/Intuition 3.0 in how it runs.) It also features an asymmetrical lacing pattern that, although looks completely unique, our wear-testers were unanimous in their approval of the snugged-down fit and feet of this shoe.

As with every Altra shoe, the Impulse has a flat or “zero-drop” profile, meaning the heel is the same height off the ground as the forefoot. The thinking is that if a foot is positioned naturally without an elevated heel (as it is when it’s barefoot on the ground), it can function naturally through the entire gait cycle. If you’re used to running in shoes with a low drop or flat profile, this lightweight, performance-oriented stability shoe with a low-to-the-ground feeling might be an ideal race-day tool for your quiver. “This shoe was a real surprise,” says wear-tester Chris Ball. “The design is entirely different than what I typically run in, but I really liked how fast and light it feels and runs.”

This is the shoe for you if … you’re an Altra and/or zero-drop devotee and want a super-light performance shoe for fast training and racing.

Price: $120

Weights: 8.6 oz. (men’s size 9); 6.5 oz. (women’s size 7)

Heel-Toe Offset: 0mm; 23mm (heel), 23mm (forefoot)

Info: AltraRunning.com

RELATED: Shoe Of The Week—Nike Lunarglide 7

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