The Day After

Yesterday's snow storm is headed east finally, but we're still cleaning up here in Hog Heaven.  We picked up six inches here in Bettendorf, Iowa.  The city has cleared the main streets, but many of the side streets are still snow-covered.  Plus, only about half of my neighbors have cleared their sidewalks.  So, this morning's one-hour run was more challenging than usual.  Slower too.  I usually cover c. 6 miles but logged only about 5 today.  Oh, well.  It's about "time on feet," right?  Not mileage. 

Tomorrow is cross training.   I've shoveled my sidewalk and driveway already, so I can't count that as cross training.  And, I gave up on cross-country skiing years ago.  Guess, I'll have to do the usual 4/5 mile walk. 

There's some good medical news for marathoners.  A new study finds that, contrary to media speculation, marathoners do not suffer more heart attacks than athletes engaged in other activities.  See here: http://news.discovery.com/adventure/marathon-running-heart-011112.html

Today is the eve of the Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, and I'm getting excited.  It would be nice if somebody was televising the men's and women's races live, but we'll have to be content with the two hours of taped coverage that airs on NBC from 3-5 p.m. E.T. 

I discussed the women's race in yesterday's blog entry, so today is the men's turn.  The favorites on the men's side include: 1) Ryan Hall, winner of the Marathon Trials four years ago and owner of the fastest qualifying time this year, 2) Dathan Ritzenhein, who was second at the 2008 Trials, and 3) Meb Keflezighi.  Both Hall and Meb have local connections having won the Quad-City Times Bix 7 race.  Meb is coming off an injury and has expressed cautious optimism for the Trials.

The race has an intriguing dark horse. He's Galen Rupp--a marathon virgin.  He qualified for the Trials on the basis of a 1:00:30 half-marathon finish in New York last March.  Rupp holds the American record for 10,000 meters and is a favorite to make the U.S. team in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.

Rupp's decision to enter the Marathon Trials brings to mind the late, legendary Czech distance runner, Emil Zatopek.  In Helsinki in 1952, Zatopek won the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters--both in Olympic record time.  Although he had never run a marathon, Zatopek decided to enter the event at the last minute and not only won but also set an Olympic mark.  Makes one wonder if Rupp is a student of history.