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Monday, July 6, 2009

Bobbysez Blast 1


Bobbysez Blast

Every week or so I send out a Bobbysez Blast to a group of athletes & interested parties. It deals with mostly track & road running results. I have decided to place this in my bobbysez blog also, so that more people can have access to it.

Much of the information comes from my good friend Riel Hauman’s weekly results newsletter Distance Running Results, that focuses largely on South African running. I extract only international details mostly. Enjoy.

Thanks also to my regular readers of Bobbysez Blast, who have thus far not asked to be deleted from my circulation list; this of itself is a warm compliment! I sincerely hope that my blog will be added to your weekly reading on the world of running.

Here’s something you do not see in road running that often. At this weekend’s Peachtree Road Race (Atlanta, July 5, 2009) - An unsportsmanlike conduct protest was filed by Boaz Cheboiywo against fourth place finisher Tadese Tola. The Atlanta Track Club concluded that the protest would be upheld & disqualified Tola. Cheboiywo was elbowed by Tola in the last 30 meters to the finish.

Despite being a member of the 1500m elite (ran sub 3:30 this year) – Augustine Choge was again out-dueled at the Bislett mile by Deresse Mekonennen in a new Ethiopian mile record of 3:48.95. Watch this guy – he has phenomenal form – I picked him for the win in the 1st 200m just based on the ease with which he maintained an incredible forward lean.

Kenenisa Bekele – the man, stayed in the Golden League hunt by winning the 5000m, but he looked vulnerable & not in his best form.

Meseret Defar seems to be regaining her form after a poor showing in Beijing – she went 14:36.38 for the win in the 5000m at the Bislett Games.

The girls are flying in the steeple for the 1st year after an Olympics – our own Jenny Barringer will have her work cut out at worlds if she is to medal. 3 girls have already cracked 9:20, but with her new sub 4min 1500m clocking she has the wheels to win it on a good day, that would be spectacular for US distance running.

Carrie Messner-Vickers, whom I coach, ran a 30:05 5-miler at 8000ft. Here is her race report for a giggle: So my race went pretty well for not feeling totally up to par!! I won the women's side in 30:05 for 5 miles on a pretty stinking hilly altitude course. I was 6th overall. The first 2 miles were a gradual down hill...my first mile was 5:38, came through 2 miles at 11:17. I missed my splits from there. I ran the first 2 at what felt like a comfortable pace, then picked it up from 3 miles on. Of course that is where the hill started....and went until 1 mile to go. I definitely did not feel 100%, but am happy with the result. I was not trying to run all out and if I had I known I could have easily been under 30; I was pretty tired at the end. 8000ft is some tough alt to run in!!

Till next time – here’s to leg speed

Bobby

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