New York City Marathon Magnificent
Inspiring performances on November 4, 2007 contributed to a classic New York City Marathon. Run on a crisp autumn Sunday, a record 39,085 runners took their positions on Staten Island.
The NYC Marathon began in 1970, a result of the vision of the New York Road Runners, who continue to stage it. The initial race was contained to Central Park. This evolved into the present course, which runs through the five boroughs of New York. There’s a buzz throughout these locations each year in the weeks leading up to the event.
This year’s race saw Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain emerge as the winner in the women’s division. Martin Lel of Kenya was the men’s winner. Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland won the women’s wheeler division; Kurt Fearnley of Australia won the men’s wheeler race for the second year in a row.
Paula Radcliffe’s story is particularly noteworthy. She lives in Monaco and on January 17 of this year she gave birth to a baby girl there at the Princess Grace Hospital. Less than ten months later, Radcliffe, 33, crossed the finish line in New York as victor in this race. A late race explosion of energy propelled her ahead of Gete Wami of Ethiopia. Wami had taken the lead earlier from Radcliffe. Radcliffe’s winning time clocked in at 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 9 seconds.
The men’s race had no lack of drama itself. Martin Lel battled step for step with Abderrahim Goumri well in to the last stage in Central Park. Lel’s strong finishing power led him to a 12-second win over the Moroccan. His first-place winning time was 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 4 seconds.
In the women’s wheeler division, Edith Hunkeler, 35, broke her previous record for the course in a time of 1 hour, 52 minutes, and 38 seconds. It was a wonderful comeback for her; having severely crushed her leg in a racing accident in 2006.
Kurt Fearnley, 26, won the men’s wheeler race in a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 58 seconds. He broke the course record in New York City in 2006.
The New York City Marathon was not without heartfelt emotion and disappointment this year. Aside from the struggles every competitor faces and the fact that some entrants do not finish there were other concerns.
A day earlier, in New York, the U.S runner Ryan Shay, 28, collapsed and died at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Men’s Marathon. This resonated with the runners as they learned of this tragedy in their running fraternity.
Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa could not race in the wheelers division. He had the misfortune of having his chair not arrive on the flight to New York. The world record- holder watched the race from the sidelines instead of participating.
Marathons, in general, are a test of the human spirit. To run 26.2 miles and have enough kick at the end to fight off a competitor is an accomplishment. In the case of the New York City Marathon, it’s an even greater accomplishment. The prestige and surrounding hype contribute to its ability to play on the runners’ emotions. Add to that the high-caliber athleticism of the contestants and you have a dramatic script already in place. Once the players take the field, an intriguing story develops every year.
In a race that ends in beautiful Central Park the electricity is apparent. That’s why it captures the imagination of runners worldwide. In 2006, 93,000 plus applications came in for the race – much more than the slots available.
This year’s race was no exception with throngs lining the streets. The weather cooperated as did the staff and volunteers of the New York Road Runners.
From Staten Island, through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx and then to the thrilling finish in Manhattan, the marathon continues to inspire.
Runners worldwide, as well as 2 million spectators and estimated 315 million television viewers look forward every year to autumn in New York and the November running of the New York Marathon.
Information about Monaco can be found at http://www.yourmonaco.com
What Is The Best Running Shoes?
When you visit shoe shops to purchase running shoes, chances are you’ll be faced with a wide variety of sports shoes. It’s a good thing though that most markets today have provided labels that it’s easy to identify which are especially made for running or for what sport. But often times, even if you’ve located the displays of running shoes, you’re still faced with the dilemma as to which pair you should choose. It is a given fact that the purchasing part can be very intimidating to both beginners and serious runners. Thus, here are some advices you can follow that will aid you in buying the best running shoes.
Don’t be scared to ask for help and ask questions. You should not be embarrassed, let alone afraid in asking for help. Besides, that’s what a shoe salesperson is for. However, if you feel that the salesperson gave insufficient answers to your questions, it is best that you go to an adept shoe store. An adept shoe store has all the answers and would even be willing to give you proposals as to what running shoes is best for you.
Assess what you require. Since you’re looking for running shoes, it is essential that you buy shoes especially made for running. True, they may not look that different compared with other shoes such as the ones for basketball and tennis but take note that it isn’t the sport you’re going to wear the shoes for. Buying shoes designed for anything other than running may be uncomfortable to wear and may hinder your running capacity.
Always try them on with socks. Since you’re going to be running with socks, it is best that you try the shoes with socks before buying it. Make sure that the socks you’re wearing, though, are of the same type that you will be wearing for running. This way you would be able to feel if it is the right fit for you.
Shoes should be comfortable and of the desired size. Don’t just merely try them on. You must put them to the test. Try to take a walk with them on maybe inside the store. Do you feel comfortable in them or are you feeling pain somewhere? To get the right fit, make sure there is enough room for your toes to move. If you feel like your feet couldn’t breathe then maybe the shoes are just too tight for you. If you can’t make up your mind as to which to choose between two sizes, pick the bigger one.
James Brown writes about http://www.sportfootwearstore.com
Choosing Sporting Good Shoes Is Important Task
Getting the hot body that you want doesn’t only involve dieting. You have to exercise, too. There are a lot of ways to exercise. Walking from your house to the office or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator are just some examples of exercises.
But if you have more time to spare, why not take up a sport? Finding the right kind of sport will take a lot of time and effort. But all you really have to do is think of what’s best for you. It has to be fun for you to become happily healthy while doing your favorite sport. With a healthy diet and a fun sport, there is no doubt that you’ll have a leaner body after weeks of maintaining it.
For starters, finding the correct pair of shoes is the most crucial part. You should always have to match your shoes with your sport because if you don’t, it could cause injury or worse, accidents could happen. To give you some important factors to look for when looking for the shoe, here is a list of characteristics.
Size. Shoe size should fit well and snug since shoes tend to stretch after strenuous workout. Also, never forget that proportion is important. Always check the mirror for your silhouette. If you’re petite, avoid chunky shoes since it adds weight to your height which will only make you look smaller.
Quality. Without a doubt, this is the most important factor. The quality of the fabric and details matter so much. You wouldn’t want quirky designs falling off and fabric tearing apart with just a little stumble. Usually, the branded ones have the best quality since their company is holding a valuable reputation hence the informative advertisements complete with the scientific breakthrough discoveries just to get your money’s worth, so to speak.
Color. Neutral colors are your best bet. But choosing a crisp white pair will add points to make you look more professional and well-trained. For the adventurous fashionistas, who never fail to impress random people with their style, you can opt for punchy colors, too. Just make sure you have track suits with compatible colors to match them with.
Durability. This need not to be questioned since this is definitely what we need. A durable pair of shoes will help you get through the different vigorous activities that you’ll encounter during your workout session, especially when you have set your eyes on mounting climbing.
Comfort. Comfort is essential since you’ll need a lot of it. What with all the backbreaking and arduous exercises, an uncomfortable pair of trainers will be the last thing you’ll ever need. You’ll be standing on your toes most of the time unless you’re going for Pilates and yoga. So better be ready and get the best shoes that could pamper your feet while you sweat it out.
James Brown writes about http://www.sportfootwearstore.com
Avoid These Common Training Errors When Running and Your Body Will Thank You
Running is one of the most heavily participated sports and recreational activities in the world. However, from a young age we are told to go out on the streets and run until we are tired. This may be alright for a while but further on down the road you will be likely to sustain an overuse injury that takes away your passion for running.
In order to make running a lifetime activity you need to be aware of some of the contributing factors that lead to common running injuries. Once you acknowledge these injury causing factors then you can develop the right plan for you. This applies to both the recreational runner as well as the competitive runner.
To ensure that you gain the most out of your training sessions while also reducing the risk of sustaining an injury be sure to take note of the following mistakes made by many athletes and coaches.
Excessive hill running that can often lead to excessive demands placed on the calf muscles (possible shin splints). Shin splints are an absolute nightmare for a runner. This type of injury can put you out of running for months.
Excessive down hill running can lead to increased stress on the quadriceps muscle. Most athletes say that running down hill is easier, however, it is just as tough on your body as running up hill.
Running in one direction all the time (if doing track work or running around the tennis court, football field etc.) can cause excessive pronation on the inside leg. Once again this can be easily fixed by alternating directions in which you run.
Running on unforgiving surfaces such as street running (high impact). Asphalt is not an appropriate running surface. This is one of the major causes of knee and hip injuries for runners. Roads are made for cars and not for runners! If you must run on asphalt then add in some runs on a grass surface.
Lack of variety in your training sessions can lead to overuse injuries as well as mental boredom. Select different workouts each week. Do you always run the same route in the same direction each time? If so vary where you run, the distance you run as well as the intensity of the run.
Running on an uneven surface such as a grass field. Often athletes try to avoid the hard surface of the streets so they decide to run on uneven fields which can lead to injuries of the feet. I love running on ovals as they are more friendly on my body but I choose not to run on a football ground as I know that the surface is likely to be uneven and full of holes. Most recreational parks are better.
Increasing training volume too quickly (allow for individual progression). This is a tough one for highly driven individuals who thrive on pushing themselves. Have a plan and follow it. Even if you feel that you can push yourself and run that extra mile hold back!
Increasing the pace or speed at which you run too quickly (can be achieved slowly through Fartlek training). Try to stick to your plan and run at a similar speed before you get into your next phase. As we improve we often want to run faster. Increasing both the speed and distance of your run at the same time can lead to injury.
It is important to wear the proper footwear when you run. Encourage your athletes to change from their normal sports shoes (eg. tennis shoes, basketball shoes) to running shoes prior to starting their run. Wearing tennis or basketball shoes while running long distances will lead to injuries. They don’t provide the required support for the feet.
Recognize that each individual will have their own pace and level of endurance so set individual goals for each athlete. When running in a group at a set pace, that pace may be comfortable for some runners, but too fast for others. Divide your athletes into two even groups. This is often a big flaw for many coaches of sports teams. We have all been guilty for doing this in the past but you must allow for individual abilities of athletes.
Running long distances in extreme weather conditions such as freezing temperatures, hot and humid conditions or even when there has been a high pollution alert level given by the weather bureau. My tennis coach in college would often make our tennis team run at 7:00 am in the morning in the middle of a winter in North Carolina. As you could imagine we would often suffer from bronchitis and other common respiratory ailments. Unfortunately mine developed into pneumonia so make sure that the environmental conditions are appropriate for running.
Be smart when you run and your body will thank you for it!
David Horne is a former professional tennis player who has created several online sports web sites including http://www.globalsportszone.com which is the Ultimate Sports Directory for all sports fans! Visit the global web site for Tennis Coaching at http://www.globalsportscoaching.com