Training for Colorado and thinking about London

Got up early this morning so that I could run before the latest snow storm arrived.  No such luck.  The snow began before I had gone a mile and picked up in intensity as I went.  By the time I finished (4.5 mile maintenance run plus a one-mile cool-down walk), the snow had begun to accumulate on the streets.  But, I got the run in without slipping and sliding and that's always a good thing.  Winter is one day closer to being over and Ft. Collins (Colorado Marathon) is one day closer!

Tomorrow is cross training, i.e. a brisk 4/5 mile walk.  My next long run--17 miles this time--is Sunday. Right now the Weather Service is forecasting mid-30s for Sunday.  Hooray!

I got an email this morning from a friend who was visiting Houston last weekend and saw the Marathon Trials.  She reported that the enthusiastic spectators--estimated at 500,000--were rewarded with two competitive and entertaining races.  Awesome, indeed.

My biggest takeaway from the trials is the upside potential of women's winner Shalane Flanagan.  In only her second marathon, Shalane ran an event record time of 2:25:38.  Given her background at 5000 and 10000 meters and six months to prepare for London, she has a chance to surprise.  And, surprise in a big way.  A big golden way.  As in gold medal.

Congrats to Meb Keflezighi, two-time winner of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 and local Hog Heaven favorite, on his win in the men's race.  Despite Meb's win, the U.S.'s best hope among the men to medal at London is likely Ryan Hall, who finished second at the trials.  Meb is now 36-years-old and his marathon PR is 2:09:08.  Consider that Kenyan Patrick Makau ran 2:03:38 last September in Berlin.  Berlin is known as a fast venue, but still . . .

What to watch for in London this summer besides the men's and women's marathons: 1) I'll be watching to see how Michael Phelps, the undisputed king of the Beijing Games does.  He's four years older and his competition is stiffer.  Has fame, fortune, and the occasional toke slowed MP down? 2) In the pool on the women's side, I'll be rooting for Centennial, Colorado, high school student Missy Franklin, a sixteen-year-old phenom.  If you've seen Missy interviewed, you already know that she's a breath of fresh air. 3) Has motherhood slowed the queens of the sand: Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, 2004 and 2008 Gold medalists in Beach Volleyball.  Following the Beijing Games, Kerri took some time off to give birth.  Twice.  I'm not much of a fan of beach volleyball, but during the Beijing Games, I found that I couldn't not watch these two dynamos. Okay.  The bikinis didn't hurt.  4) Can anyone stay with Usain Bolt?  Gold medalist in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meters at Beijing, Usain holds world and Olympic records in all three events including a ridiculous 9.58 in the 100.

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.