There was a shootout in Houston, Texas yesterday and after the smoke cleared, only six remained. Say hello to your 2012 USA Olympic Marathon Team: Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall, Abdi Abdirahman, Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher.

American distance running has come a long way in the “second running boom” and that was evident in the streets of Houston. In two of the fastest races in USA Olympic Marathon Trials history (four men under 2:10 and five women under 2:30), these six set the pace for what could be a very promising summer in London.

From the outset, it was pretty obvious that two of the three slots for both the men and women would be filled by the favorites, barring some unforeseen incident (Meb and Ryan; Shalane and Desiree). The only question left was who would get the coveted third slot on London. While the American running scene is not nearly as deep as say the Kenyan or Ethiopian teams, there was a strong contingent of runners that really had a good shot at it.

I wasn’t totally sold on Abdi Abdirahman halfway thru the race. I’ve watched him in big races before start strong but finish off the pace (I will give him this though, Abdi does have a badass nickname: the Black Cactus). Was Dathan Ritzenhein going to come back after falling back of the lead pack? Would another young runner throw his hat into the ring and barge onto the American marathon scene? All of these seemed moot after Dathan fell way back but did make it interesting at the end coming up just 8 seconds short of catching Abdi.

The women’s field was more stout halfway thru the race with a dozen women leading the way. While Shalane and Desiree did most of the work, we had some interesting names in the lead pack. Kara Goucher, Amy Hastings and Deena Kastor were still in the hunt for the third spot. Deena fell back towards the end (finishing in sixth) while Kara held on and Amy had to settle for disappointing fourth place.

Overall, I think USA Track and Field should be fairly optimistic about the marathon team they’re sending across the Atlantic. While I don’t think the men will be able to knock off Geoffrey Mutai and Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya or Tsegaye Kebede or Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia, I do think they will at least give the USA a fighting chance at a couple of top tens and maybe…just maybe sneak onto the medal stand. The women are a totally different story altogether. I could absolutely see Shalane, Desiree and Kara competing for the top spot. You’re looking at three young runners with a ton of potential. Especially in Shalane’s case. She’s only run in two competitive marathons and the future is looking very, very bright.

Congratulations Team USA!!! We can’t wait to see you shine.

RMFR

What do you get when you combine 44,000 runners, 40-degree temps and the world-famous Las Vegas Strip…at night?

A little bit of craziness.

A whole lotta fun!

Despite the harsh reviews I’m reading on the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and ½, I give the event an “A.” Why? For starters, the marketing behind this operation is pure genius. It is a well-oiled, send-you-an-eblast-with-everything-you-need-to-know machine. The expo was crowded, which added to the excitement, but extremely organized. And hey, any race that gives me a women’s technical shirt that fits (finally) gets two thumbs up from this runner. Race-day logistics were smooth, and could have only been slightly improved at the Finish Village. If participants would have followed directions a bit better (that is, marathoners to the left, halfers to the right, walkers in the way back), I’m sure there’d be less noise on the official Facebook page. And to those who scoffed at the unofficial volunteers handing out plastic cups of beer downtown…lighten up, it’s Vegas baby! Here we had rodeo cowboys, caged tigers, running Elvi (male and female), erupting volcanos, naked runners, Sponge Bob Square Pants running, a downtown Transformer cheering and elite athletes competing all in the city of sin and glitz. Frank Sinatra and the boys would have been proud…

Here’s my color commentary in 13.1 bullets:

1. Brrrr. It was in the 40s at race time. Nippy. But then, it is December and we could be in Buffalo. Thanks Mother Nature, for keeping the rain at bay until the very end.
2. Cars. When you have runners and cowboys (NFR time) jockeying for hotel-casino parking slots, it’s going to be dizzying in the garages. We parked at MGM and hoofed it to Mandalay Bay. With the exception of the biting cold against our soaked clothes on the return trip, it was a good move. We were outta there in no time.
3. Cheap Trick. Just cool.
4. Course bands. Just so-so.
5. Wheelchair racers. WOW. Talk about inspiring! I thought of you just as I was about to whine at mile 10.
6. Fans (and tourists who stepped out of casinos to an unprecedented sight). Running partner Mike Myers and I didn’t have a support posse, but gratefully accepted cheers from every bundled up fan we passed. Best sign: “I like your stamina. Call me.”
7. Volunteers. No volunteer should ever be criticized. Whether they’re handing out water or asked to clap, I admire and appreciate them. Thank you for keeping us safe and hydrated. You looked cold.
8. Neon. You couldn’t beat the novelty factor, but I’d prefer a morning run. There really is nothing like racing up and down the middle of the most famous street in the world under the neon. I’ll never forget it.
9. Runners. The racers (I encountered) did Little Miss Manners proud. I didn’t eat one elbow and no one yanked off my shoes or running skirt. Best runner: the guy who ran with a transistor radio in hand and rocked the Strip old-school style.
10. Metro. In force. Friendly. Impressive. Even taking photos of the runners…nice hometown touch.
11. Medal hander outers. They were smiling, congratulatory and personal. After 13.1 miles and in a haze, I slipped past Joe Volunteer to have Miss UNLV drape bling around my neck. What can I say. I thought she might let me wear her tiara.
12.  Bananas. They were green. They were plentiful. They were piled high. Did you know you can fit 24 of them in your post-race foil wind cape? Perfect…lunch for the week.
13. Finish Village. 44,000 exhausted runners within a few acre parking lot…difficult to manage and keep happy…glad we weren’t in charge. You did well in our opinion.13.1 Vegas Baby. Pretty sure none of the other Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons have a caged tiger at the start. Grrrrr….

RMFR

- By Tara Maras

Please gobble responsibly.

With a race shirt slogan like that, how can you not strap on a turkey leg hat and trot smiling to the finish line in pursuit of Turkey Day 5K bragging rights?

That’s exactly what we did. Well. Sort of.

Cool as the shirts were for the inaugural Lifetime Fitness Turkey Day 5K in Vegas, running partner Mike Myers was an ORB loyalist and sported his logo shirt. (The hand resembles a turkey, don’t you think?). I debuted a running skirt that was heading for the Goodwill bag. Turns out, it’s an easy, breezy way to run. And hey, Thanksgiving Day calls for a skirt! We opted for beanies in the crisp 44-degree air, but we’re definitely eyeing turkey hats for 2012.

But enough about fashion already.

As downtown residents, we jumped at the chance to kick off Thanksgiving weekend in our own backyard. Fremont East was the place to be for packet pickup, and though it lacked organization (they’ll do better next year), there was excitement in the air. More than 700 moms, dads, kiddos, stroller goers, dogs dressed as turkeys and yes, even real runners, happily awaited a delayed starting gun. Actually, it was a starting gobble, which really made the wait worth it.

And then, we were off. Our slow-going, chatty, crowded first mile was followed by a now-we’re-running-I-can’t-talk-I’m-breathing mile two. By the final mile, after trading our standard “you good?” we kicked it to the finish line situated between Don’t Tell Mama (our favorite piano bar) and The Beat (Las Vegas’ best coffeehouse). We clocked in at 24:50 and earned “first couple to cross holding hands” rights, as announced by the commentator. No trophy for that, but a great way to start the holiday in our neighborhood race filled with community spirit.

Kudos to Lifetime Fitness for bringing the Turkey Day 5K to Vegas, and specifically to downtown. Gotta love the Web site, logo, t-shirts, volunteers, post-race bananas and bagels, plus quickly posted results. I would have loved a little turkey bling in the form of a finisher’s medal, but with a slogan like “please gobble responsibly,” all is easily forgiven.

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ORB is excited to announce that the first “official” Team ORB rocked the shirts and the Women Run the Cities 10 mile and 5K today in the Twin Cities. Congratulations ladies and we’re proud of you!!!

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Badwater “the world’s toughest foot race” starts tomorrow (July 11) and I’d like to personally wish Ed Ettinghausen the best of luck. I’ve been reading a bunch of books about Badwater lately and it sounds like an amazing experience for both runners and support crew. Living only 3 1/2 hours from the race, I’d love to attend one of these day but until then, you can view live videos and updates by clicking HERE.

Good luck to all of this year’s participants!!!

RMFR

Unfortunately, my string of Disneyland Half Marathons has come to an end and it’s absolutely killing me!!! What had become a family tradition (where else can you get a race in AND be in the happiest place on earth) stopped suddenly when this year’s race sold out in record time. To rub it in, Disney announced a new medal for this year’s race which is pretty cool if I may say so myself.

While we’ll still be going to Disneyland this year, it will be another time of year. We could have gone the same weekend but I would have gone nuts being with all those runners and not be actually running.

It’s great that so many people have adopted the running lifestyle. Getting off the couch and eating healthier will make future generations better off. For the rest of us though, this means that race are only going to become more crowded and sold out quicker than we’ve been accustomed to.

Take it from me, register for your favorite race now. If you wait, it will be too late!!!

RMFR

I don’t like 5K’s*. OK, I’ve said it. Prepare your insults and fire away!

I have a hard time justifying paying money to run a training run. Sure, it’s cheaper than your longer distances and you can find one to run every weekend but I still don’t like them. Yes it’s cool to be part of the throng at the start, get goosebumps and add another t-shirt to pile but I still don’t like them.

Oh wait…there’s an asterisk? I don’t like asterisks either but let me clarify. I don’t like running 5K’s alone. Since I’ve started running, I’ve saved 5K’s for family time. If I can’t run a 5K with a family member, I won’t run it. The distance is short enough that my kids and wife can cover the mileage by running/walking and still able to have fun.

My youngest son (8) joined me a couple of weeks ago at the Las Vegas Susan G Komen event. It’s always a joy to watch my kids take in the surroundings of each event and push themselves to their physical limits. As parents and runners, we carry the responsibility of passing the torch to younger generations. While they might not take to sport right away, our actions can sometimes speak louder than words.

My father was one of those crazy runners when I was young. He never pushed me to join him during his mega mileage weeks or even to join him on a cool down. The memories of his running lifestyle though still stick with me today from his glued shoes to his white cotton shirts. While I may not have run by his side then, I do now because of the example he set so long ago.

RMFR

McDonald’s.

For some, Happy Meals come to mind. Others smell French fries at the mere mention of Mc… Many see the golden arches in their mind’s eye. Me…I think 25:47. That’s what I clocked in last year’s Ronald McDonald House “Runnin’ for the House 5K.” Today was the 2011 version, and I had my sights set on bettering my time and possibly claiming third place in my division. Last year I was 4^th.  Blah.

I was race ready. Had my pasta. Talked a little Hamburglar smack to get myself pumped up. Slept well. Ate my banana. Marveled at the perfect weather. Enjoyed the pre-race fanfare. Stretched with the man of the hour – Ronald McDonald. Limber, loose, relaxed…check, check, check. iPod, blue hat, timing chip…check, check, check. Let’s get this party started!

The USATF Certified 5K Course is flat and fast. Not tricky stuff. If you can get over the fumes coming off cars on Sahara, Jones, Oakey and Decatur, you’re back to Ronald McDonald House on Potosi in no time celebrating with pancakes and happy folks.

My strategy: run mile 1 in 8.5 minutes, mile 2 in 7.5, mile 3 in 7 and then crush it to the finish line. Having just come off some personal milestone finishes in the Summerlin half-marathon and Red Rock half-marathon, I felt solid and good to go.

Then I started running.

The gun went off. Through the balloon arch I sailed.  I was doomed. I was running WAY faster than I intended…leaping curbs and small children, cruising past vehicles and the best male runners. By the time I began to adjust, it was too late. I hit the one-mile mark in 7 minutes.

And then…the chainsaw. Vrrrrrrrrrr….(can you hear it?)

A side stitch ripped into me like a Mack Truck. I couldn’t breath or move, let alone run. I tried sucking air into my diaphragm. No use. I was TOAST. The pain was so intense I thought I might collapse and get trampled. Knowing that would make for a bad start to the weekend, I abandoned my “c’mon Maras, DIG DEEP” attitude and accepted reality. This is one race I wouldn’t finish.

I slugged to the nearest parking lot, recovered in the employee of the month’s spot, and then…what the heck…listened to a few soothing tunes. Why not? I had a great view of the race and nothing but time. After all, I had to wait for the runners, walkers, strollers and designer dogs to pass before I could run in the opposite direction to my car. Twenty minutes later, I peeled off my race bib and ran mile 1 in reverse. I must have looked ridiculous getting in my little morning jog on Sahara Avenue.

Getting a friendly wave from the motorcycle cop helped.

So did focusing my lobe on the next race, and smiling at the fact that this was my most interesting “finish” to date!

This is going to seem a little out of place. It wasn’t a race and I wasn’t running – well sort of.

This past weekend was the 10th annual Tour de Summerlin, a non-competitive bike ride in Las Vegas with bike routes of 40- and 80-miles. For the last several years I’ve volunteered at this event (I work for one of the companies that puts the event on: TeamAMC) but I’ve never really been able to get into cycling – until now.

Over the past year our company purchased an ElliptiGO that we take turns sharing. As I’ve put more miles on it, we thought it would be fun to bring a runner into the cyclist world by having me ride in the event. Although I hadn’t had a lot of time to train, I eagerly accepted the challenge. There’s always been that tension between runners and cyclists and I wanted to see if I could bridge that gap a little by proving my mettle out on their course.

The event started/finished at the Trails Community Park in Summerlin. Here nearly 500 riders gathered with temps in the high 40º with winds gusting to 25 mph. Not the ideal conditions for a bike event but making my way thru the crowd, I heard few complaints. The 80-mile riders took off at 7 am while the 40-mile participants would leave the start area at 8:30 am to bring both groups to the finish a little closer together.

To say the ElliptiGO garnered a little attention among the cyclists would be a gross understatement. When at all possible, I was able to bow out of photos but was not able to escape all of them. Even during the ride, I would have cyclists pull up beside me and want to get the lowdown on the bike and pose for pictures (mid-race). The funniest moment came when a car nearly slammed on its breaks, pulled a u-turn and then scrambled out of the car with no less than 3 people getting out to take photos of me on this crazy machine. The start line was pretty cool with a truss system provided by sponsor, Land Rover of Las Vegas. They also had a pretty tricked out vehicle providing music as well.

Even though I was there to ride, I was still wearing my volunteer hat. I was asked to lead the 40-mile group out (with a head start) so I could hold traffic at the first traffic circle early in the route. To the older woman who rolled down here window to curse me out for a full 3-minutes…I love you!!!

Anyone who has rode the Red Rock loop and State Route 159 knows there are some climbs out on the course. I have run out here hundreds of times so I wasn’t too concerned about riding these same hills. The ElliptiGO has 8 gears so hills aren’t too much of a problem – they can be leg burning though and that was definitely the case this Saturday morning.

The ride out to the turnaround point (the Blue Diamond Bike Outpost from our friends McGhie’s Ski Bike and Board) was aided by the fact that the wind was at our back. Just like Boston, my record speed of 33 mph is null and void. The Outpost was cool. Imagine running a marathon and then at the halfway point there was a party with tons of food from Trader Joe’s, music and people milling about just having fun and enjoying the day…that’s what this was like.

The rest of the ride (for me) was a fight to the finish. Not being aerodynamic by having to stand erect made it extremely difficult battling the wind. Even on the downhills I had to keep the legs going to continue moving forward. I have to admit that after returning closer to where we started, I had serious thoughts of cutting the ride short. Remembering that I was here to prove myself and not one to quit easily, I don’t think it was ever really a serious thought…just one of those mental roadblocks we have to overcome.

At the start of the ride, I was worried about what the true cyclists would think of me out on the roads with them. At the finish, I was sincerely grateful for all the positive support and comments I received from them during the ride. Not only were the generally interested in the bike but they were truly supportive in getting me to the finish. By mile 25, my glutes and upper hamstrings were nearly numb from the wind and climbs. Using the adage “just keep moving” was the only thing that kept me going. Knowing I was ever nearer the finish a regained some feeling and was able to put in a solid effort in the last climbs at complete the 40 miles in 3 hours and 31 minutes.

The finish area food was out of line!!! How many races do you know of that you can get a steak burrito from Qdoba? It’s not all about the food but after 3 1/2 hours, it is!!!

Without the impact of running, my muscles were exhausted but not sore. One of the best workouts I think I’ve ever had running/ellipting and there’s already talk about me doing the 80-mile route next year. Time will only tell about the mileage but oh yeah…I’ll be there again next year!!!

RMFR

Charles Krupa/AP

The 2011 Boston Marathon was one of the more historic races in recent history. The men’s wheelchair division was decided by a mere 1 second, the woman’s marathon by 2 seconds and the men’s marathon by 4 seconds. Are you serious?

The men’s marathon champion, Geoffrey Mutai, shattered the course record and shaved :58 seconds off the marathon world record (Haile Gebrselassie in Berlin 2008) there is now a storm brewing.

The Boston Marathon is not considered a a world record qualifying course because the marathon route is “downhill” and too “straight.” Throw it a predomently tailwind and all hell has broken loose. The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) is asking the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to certify Mutai’s performance as the world record.

As fellow Lobe, Troy Schrenk can attest, Boston is no walk/run in the park. Besides the net loss of elevation, there are many rolling hills that make the race one of the more difficult marathons on the major marathon circuit.

There’s a reason that elite marathoners opt for races like the Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and London Marathon to attack world records. They’re easier. Also, Boston (along with the New York City Marathon) don’t allow pace setters. This means that the athlete has to actually get the record based on their own talent and determination.

TANGENT ALERT!!! I don’t have any problem with pace setters. They make for a less tactical race and make the elites throw it down from the start. What I do have a problem with is the fact that the pace setters are contractual obligated to bow out at a specific point of the race. If a pace setter can lead a pack out on record pace and then hold that pace for the entire race…I say let them go for it!!! During the Rotterdam Marathon, Sammy Kitwara set the pace for the marathon field. He was constantly egging the field to keep up with him during his reign at the front of the pack. He should have been allowed to throw down the hammer and finish the race. From the look of it, he could have wiped the rest of the elites out that day.

The majority of the running community is standing by Mutai’s record and I for one hope that the IAAF certify’s it as one of runnings great accomplishments.

RMFR