May 9, 2010
The Kenyans Samuel Kosgei and Mary Keitany wrote history in the 30th edition of the BIG 25 in Berlin. Never before a world record was set in mens and womens category in the same road race!
In the best 25K-race ever, the top athletes used the perfect weather conditions of 12-14°C with practically no winds and overcast sky.
In the mens race a big pack of around 20 athletes passed the 5K-mark in 14:29min. After that the pace remained high and the field was reduced step-by-step until kilometer 15 (43:05min). At this point the race was down to a battle between Samuel Kosgei and Gilbert Kirwa (both Kenya). At the end it was Samuel Kosgei who had the best legs and improved the previous world record (1:12:45h, Paul Kosgei in Berlin 2009) by almost one minute to 1:11:50h. Also Gilbert Kirwa broke the previous record by clocking 1:11:58h for second place. The podium was completed by Terefe Maregu (Eth) in 1:13:16h. Altogether nine athletes ran sub-1:15h.
The womens race was dominated by pre-race favorite Mary Keitany. The dominating female road racer of 2009 ran her own race and smashed the previous world record (1:22:13, Mizuki Noguchi in Berlin 2005). Led by two pacemakers she was on course for a sub-1:20h time all the way and crossed the finish line after 1:19:53h. Around five minutes later Alice Timbilili (1:24:38) and Pasalia Kipkoech (both Kenya/1:26:47) came home for 2nd and 3rd place.
Results were published already earlier here.
May 8, 2010
The Czech capital Prague will host one of the most important international marathons this weekend.
The marathon will be broadcasted from Czech television. An online stream will be available on this site. The coverage starts on Sunday, May 9th at 8.55AM local time (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2h).
April 16, 2010
The 27th Vienna Marathon 2010 will be streamed online by the Austrian broadcasting company ORF on this website here. The live coverage will start on race day (April 18th) at 8.40AM local time (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2h).
This year the Vienna City Marathon hosts the strongest field ever, after last year the race organisers only invited marathon debutants. This year the elite field consists of eight runners with PBs of sub 2:09h, including Luke Kibet (marathon world champ 2007) and Felix Limo (15K world record holder). The course record of 2:07:38h (Abel Kirui 2008) might be in danger.
Austrian Günther Weidlinger is trying to break the National Record (2:10:47h), which he set last year in Frankfurt and might well go sub-2:10h.
In the womens race, Austrian Andrea Mayr wants to defend last years victory in front of her home crowd.
April 11, 2010
The 30th Fortis Marathon Rotterdam on April 11th will be broadcasted live on the internet. The race will start ar 11.00AM local time (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2h). A live coverage will be provided online via the website of UniversalSports here.
A second option to watch live stream is the Dutch broadcasting company NOS here.
April 9, 2010
World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe announced that she is expecting her second child in September.
The 36-year old stated that she (and her husband) always planned another child before the 2012 London Olympics. After all an Olympic medal is the only thing that is missing in her great collection of victories, records etc. That’s also the reason why the comeback to racing is planned a bit slowlier this time, with the first competitions in 2011. Right now Paula is still in full training but will (of course) miss this years European Championships in Barcelona.
European Athletics published an informative article here.
April 9, 2010
With the following weekend, the marathon spring will be opened. A hot and fast spring can be expected and experience shows, that already on the first weekend fast times are on the road.
Especially the marathons in Paris and Rotterdam (both on April 11th) provide a lot of excitement with deep and fast fields. Other big marathons take place in Milan, Zürich, Linz
The marathon in Paris will be started on the Champs Elysées at 8.45AM (local time, i.e.CEST). Last year six runners ran sub-2:07h. In 2010 ten runners with PBs of sub-2:09h are on the entry list. The best chances for a victory have marathon-debutant Wilson Kipsang (KEN) with a halfmarathon-PB of 58:59min, Ethiopian Gelana Teshome (ETH, winner of last years Houston marathon with a PB of 2:07:37h on a rather slow course) and Kenyans James Rotich (PB: 2:07:12h) and Benjamin Kiptoo (last years Rome marathon winner)
In the womens race a duel between defending champion Atsede Baysa of Ethiopia and last years 3rd-place Frenchwomen Christelle Daunay (French record of 2:25:43 in last years race) is expected.
The marathon in Amsterdam will be started at 11.00 AM. Unforgotten is the 2009 finish with James Kwambai and Duncan Kibet both crossing the line in 2:04:27h. Kwambai also leads the entries of the 2010 edition of the marathon and wants to win this year. However, also last years Paris marathon winner Vincent Kipruto might be able to run under 2:05h on this super-fast course. Patrick Makau is another hot favorite. With his halfmarathon time of 58:52min he is the third-fastest man ever. Overall, eleven men have PBs of sub-2:09h in this race.
The womens race is not as open as the mens race it seems. Chinese Zhu Xiaolin (5th in the Beijing Olympics) might only be challenged by Kenyans Anne Kosgei and Irene Jerotich.
March 19, 2010
After several set-backs in the last 12 months (Pulmonary embolism in March 2009 and operation of his right heel in November 2009) Viktor Röthlin is giving his comeback at the Kerzerslauf in Kerzers/SUI. The Swiss marathon record holder (2:07:23h) decided on short notice to compete in the 15km-run on Saturday, March 20th.
After his heel-operation the 35-year old took bigger steps than expected and preponed his competitive comeback, which was actually planned for the GP of Bern (May 22nd). Röthlin stated that he is “extremely motivated” and “the fire is there”.
The big aim for 2010 remains the European Championships in Barcelona, where he wants to run the marathon on August, 1st. However, he wants to decide later in the season if he is in top shape to go for a medal. Currently, he is building up his running shape and is still doing alternative training, such as aqua-jogging and indoor cycling.
February 5, 2010
It took Thomas Dold 10 minutes and 16 seconds to earn his record-tying fifth consecutive win in the Empire State Building Run-Up to the top of New York’s tallest building.
Grimacing as he lunged across the finish line on the 86th floor observation deck, the 25-year-old from Stuttgart (Germany) beat fellow German Matthias Jahn (10:56min) up the 1,576 steps by 40 seconds. “I’m so tired … It was quite hard,” Dold said. He is the third person to win the race five times. His only loss was a photo finish in his 2005 debut.
First women was Melissa Moon, 40, of Wellington (New Zealand) in 13 minutes 13 seconds. She finished panting, but smiling. “Oh, look at that view!” she said at the top.
The unorthodox race has been run 33 times since 1978. Competitors start in the lobby, where they take just a few strides before squeezing through a doorway and into a stairwell for the long climb.
January 21, 2010
The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2010 will be broadcasted live by Dubai Sports Channel. Online streams might be accessible on this page or here. Starting time is at 6.30AM local Dubai time, i.e. 2.30AM GMT.
Let’s see if Haile can bring down the world record once again.
November 19, 2009
Two-time London Marathon champion Irina Mikitenko (GER) has confirmed her participation in the 2009 edition of the Great Australian Run. The 15K-race will take place in Melbourne on 29th of November and will also feature the past two Olympic Champions in the marathon on the mens side (Stefano Baldini/ITA and Sammy Wanjiru/KEN).
Mikitenko will compete against American Marathon Record holder Deena Castor and Australian World Cross-Country Champion 2004, Benita Willis (formerly Benita Johnson). For Mikitenko it will be the second competition “Down Under” after placing fifth in the 5.000m of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She stated that she is not thinking about times so much but rather wants to concentrate on providing an exciting competition with the other women.
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