Mo Trafeh - Pre-Gate River 15k Interview Chris Kelsall Mar 09, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

Mo Trafeh is the defending two-time (consecutive) champion of the Gate River 15k. He is back for a third consecutive attempt on Saturday, March 10th. During the 2010 and 2011 races Trafeh, won in the identical time of 42:58. The  course record of 42:22 was set by Todd William in 1995. Williams won five times in six years. Trafeh, 26 has spent parts of the previous three years training in Flagstaff, Arizona as well as Morocco.

Bazan Bay 5k - Two course records smashed Chris Kelsall Mar 05, 2012

 

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UPDATED: March 5th, 2012. 4:15 PM PST.

Sidney, BC - Sunday, March 4th 2012 - Two course records were smashed in a competitive race today at the Synergy Health Management Bazan Bay 5k road race in Sidney, British Columbia.

The new course was positively received by the athletes.

Team McMillan set for U.S. 15k Championships - Gate River 15k Chris Kelsall Mar 01, 2012

Adidas-McMillanElite is entering a men's team into the 24th running of the Gate River 15k, to compete for the Ten Broeck Team Cup competition as well as the US 15k Team Championships. The race will happen Saturday, March 10th in Jacksonville, Florida. McMillanElite are expecting to win for the second consecutive year. The team includes, Nick Arciniaga, Scott Smith, Danny Mercado and the team's newest member Ben Bruce. The top three team finishers score using the team average time to determine the winner. The top team earns $10,000.

Nicholas R. Powell - The Mind Game Chris Kelsall Feb 27, 2012

 

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To what extent are the very best athletes mentally stronger than their competitors?

Without the physical talent and proper training methods an athlete’s fate is determined by physical standards: clocks, scores and performance; measurable factors we can easily identify with. However, possessing physical talent and the dedication to train does not necessarily complete the athlete. Without the right mental toughness or confidence, it may not be possible to achieve the competitiveness we strive for.

Lake Biwa for Wykes and Osaduik - Olympic Games Last Chance Qualifier Chris Kelsall Feb 25, 2012

 

© Copyright - 2012 - Athletics Illustrated

UPDATE: March 1st, 2012

Japan Running News latest Lake Biwa Marathon update

Canadian Marathon runners Dylan Wykes and Steve Osaduik, are preparing for their final opportunity to qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games Marathon by taking on the stacked (see men's elite list below) Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon (or “Biwako,” as the race is known in Japan) on March 4, 2012.

Run in Kelowna British Columbia Chris Kelsall Feb 21, 2012

 

On the Run in…Kelowna, B.C.

November 9, 2011

 

 

Cradled in south-central British Columbia between the Columbia, Rocky and Cascadia Mountain ranges on Okanagan Lake, Kelowna sits on the northern tip of the Sonora Desert. Kelowna’s name is loosely derived from the native Okanagan language meaning “Grizzly Bear.”

 

S**t Rob Watson said - (of Le Blog du Rob fame) Chris Kelsall Feb 17, 2012

 


About Rob (in his own words):

Born and bred on the mean streets of Old South London Ont. At some point in my life I figured out that I like to run a lot. Ran in university whilst pursuing a degree in History. History degrees are useless, so kept running after Uni. I’ll  run kinda fast every so often. I dig this sport, it’s fun and ya meet cool people along the way. Fueled by cookies, beer and pretty girls.

A few minutes with Greg McMillan Chris Kelsall Feb 06, 2012

 

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Greg McMillan is into his fourth year running adidas-McMillanElite - a post-collegiate program for runners who compete over distances from 5k to the marathon. McMillanElite, Inc. is a non-profit Olympic development running team based in Flagstaff, Arizona. The team is a collaboration between adidas and McMillan Running Company. 

 

When Sheldon Disappeared on our Run Chris Kelsall Feb 04, 2012

 

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From our rural offices, Sheldon and I would toil on our daily lunch runs. We would often go on this one particular seven kilometre route through farm fields, along roads and paths. The surfaces throughout are a mix of asphalt, dirt and gravel and sometimes - at least this one time - a grassy berm.

Nick Symmonds - OwnYourSkin Chris Kelsall Jan 26, 2012

 

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Nick Symmonds is one of the fastest middle-distance track and field athletes in America, specializing in the 800m and 1500m distances. He won seven NCAA Division III titles in outdoor track. In 2007, he won the 800m race at the Prefontaine Classic. On June 30, 2008, Symmonds won the 800m event at the U.S. Olympic Trials that took place in Eugene, Oregon. He finished in 1:44.10 and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games........

Fasil Bizuneh - The Other Side, A Novella Chris Kelsall Jan 23, 2012

 

 

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Fasil Bizuneh, who owns a 10,000m personal best time of 27:50.48 and a few 62-minute half-marathons will be racing the Jacksonville Gate River 15k in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, March 10th. His personal best on the Jacksonville course is 43:52. He has twice competed in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, once as a junior and as a senior.

Brett Gotcher - US Olympic Trials: 2:11:06 Chris Kelsall Jan 17, 2012

 

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Brett Gotcher raced the US Olympic Marathon Trials Saturday, January 14th in Houston, Texas. He finished in a near personal best time of 2:11:06, 30 seconds off of his debut result that he achieved at the 2009 Chevron Houston Marathon, 2:10:36 - the fourth fastest American marathon debut......

Dylan Wykes is all Action Chris Kelsall Jan 16, 2012

 

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Canadian marathon runner and London Olympic hopeful Dylan Wykes, is all action – he is less about conjecture and prefers the results to speak for themselves. For example, during his recent half-marathon result January 15th at the Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon in Tempe, Arizona, he raced alone from the start. He finished first overall in a near-personal best time of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 38 seconds, proving he can go it alone. When asked what his half marathon in Tempe indicates for his marathon prospects he said, “I can talk about it all day, but I've got to go out and actually do it before there is something worth talking about.”

Greg McMillan - 2008 Chris Kelsall Jan 13, 2012

 

This interview was written in early 2008, edited and truncated January, 2012.
 
~ 2008
 
Greg McMillan who operates adidas-McMillanElite in Flagstaff, Arizona - a post-collegiate training group for runners -McMillan started the adidas-McMillanElite program in 2007....

Lydiard Basics Chris Kelsall Jan 06, 2012


 

 

© Copyright - 2012- Athletics Illustrated
 
Arthur Lydiard of New Zealand was a pioneer in the sport of distance running. His coaching and his training principles were revolutionary during the 1950s and now are standard practice for most coaches today. For example, Greg McMillan of adidas McMillanElite - a post collegiate running program located in Flagstaff, Arizona - coaches almost exclusively by the Lydiard method.......

Stefano Baldini's training before Athens Olympic Games Marathon Chris Kelsall Jan 04, 2012

 

Stefano Baldini's Training Leading up to Athens Olympic Games Marathon - Original and Translated
 
Country - Italy
 
Born - 25/05/197
 
Coach - Luciano Gigliotti
 
Baldini_training (1) - Translated to English PDF
 
Baldini Italian original slideshow PDF
 
Personal bests:
 
3000m - 7:43.14
 
5000m - 13:23'43
 
10,000m - 27:43'98
 
Half Marathon - 1:00:50
 
Marathon - 2:07:22, 2:07:29, 2:07:56, 2:07:57
 
Athens Olympic Games 2004 - Gold Medal, Marathon - 2:10:55

Trail Therapy Chris Kelsall Dec 31, 2011

© Copyright - 2011 - Athletics Illustrated

"Cross-country has always been a vital part of my training program. You can develop fine muscular endurance and suppleness in your stride by running cross-country. It also develops good running form and strengthens your muscles. In cross country the pressure is put on your muscles because of hills and uneven and slippery footing, your overall general conditioning can be developed without taxing your body too much anaerobically. So cross-country is one of the best forms for general conditioning." ~Arthur Lydiard

INTERVIEW: Clifford Childs Chris Kelsall Dec 29, 2011

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University of Victoria Vikes cross-country and track athlete Clifford Childs, in his fifth and final year of eligibility, helped his team to their ninth, tenth and eleventh Canada West cross-country titles in the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport). They placed third nationally, with 82 points finishing behind Guelph (20) and Windsor (49), respectively on November 12, 2011.

The Power of the Foot Chris Kelsall Dec 21, 2011

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One of the most over-looked pieces of the training puzzle by runners that compete over a range of distances up to ultra-marathons is the strengthening of the foot and lower leg, as well as strengthening and flexibility of the ankle.

The foot, lower leg and ankle areas contribute much more to a runner's racing and training performance than many coaches and athletes realize. There is an incredible amount of power that can be developed there, in a relatively short period of time. For those who haven’t yet added work to address this area, should benefit by doing so.

Simon Bairu - Chasing the Olympic Standard Chris Kelsall Dec 06, 2011


© Copyright - 2011 - Christopher KelsallCanadian 10,000m record holder Simon Bairu (27:23), will make his second attempt at challenging the marathon and the Olympic qualifying time of 2:11:29 when he races the Chevron Houston Marathon, Sunday January 15th, 2012 in Houston, Texas (he dropped out of NY). But qualifying is only part of the incentive to run well.Bairu will also need to have one of the top-three times in Canada to ensure his position on the team.

 

Hairscapade Chris Kelsall Dec 01, 2011

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Note: I originally wrote this in 2008. I didn't think it was that funny, but now reading again, I laughed my head off, enjoy: