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Featured Stories

Houston Chosen to Host 2012 Men's and Women's USA Olympic Marathon Trials
USA Track & Field, the governing body of running in the USA has selected Houston to host both then men's and women's 2012 Marathon team trials. The trials will be organized by the Houston Marathon Committee and will be held on January 14, 2012, the day preceding the Chevron Houston Marathon. In a statement by Doug Logan, President of USATF, Logan cited the success that the Houston Marathon has had in annually hosting the men's and women's half marathon champinships. The decision to hold both the Men's and Women's trials in the same location marks a departure from past years when the two events were held in different locations. By all accounts, the selection of Houston and the mid-January date will be ideal for runners and the sport. The combination of both events in one location can be expected to maximize press coverage and exposure; the mid-January date is just over six months before the Olympics allowing the event to select runners close enough to the race date to ensure the best selection and early enough to ensure that runners can fully recover and peak for the Olympics; and the profile of Houston - flat - well matches what the runners will find in London.
Read the Press Release

America's BEST Men to run Boston Marathon 2010
Keflezighi and Hall to run Boston
Finally! We've been getting tired of watching the best of the USA heading over to London for their Spring Marathon, but not this coming year - now we have something to talk about...
Meb Keflezighi is not the fastest marathoner in the world, but he is one of the greatest and most consistent champions. Keflezighi's heart, spirit, attitude and goodness combine to let him gut out podium finishes as great as a Silver medal at the olympics and national championship titles. Before the 2009 New York City Marathon, Keflezighi had never won a marathon (but had multiple impressive major runner-up finishes), but with his win in New York in a Personal Best - and New York should not be a personal best course - Keflezighi jumped into the ranks of the great champions. And we hope he'll repeat that in New York.
Ryan Hall IS the fastest American marathoner currently running and has the second fastest American maraton time ever behind just Khalid Khannouchi. Hall proved his mettle in an impressive and overwhelming win at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials Marathon, but has yet to gain a major win on the International stage and was disappointed with his third place finish at the 2009 Boston Marathon...
With Keflezighi and Hall both running the Boston Marathon, there is a real chance that an American could win a race that has not seen an American champion since Greg Meyer won in 1983.
Read the Press Release

Recent Press Releases...
If you aren't checking out the Press Release page on a daily basis, you're missing out. We'll do our best to highlight the most important items - but often we can't write about everything on the home page... Don't forget this page...
Press Release Page

Your Favorite Tool - The Pace Band Creator
With Marathon season upon us, the most common question to MarathonGuide.com is: "where can I find your [famous] pace band creator." You [the reader] asks: "What's That?" We answer: "one of our coolest tools creates wearable pace charts for the marathon (or ANY distance) for ANY pace - in miles or kilometers." If you have a marathon coming up (or even a shorter race), check it out and print one out.
Visit MarathonGuide.com's Pace Band Creator

Weekend Results
USA/Canada Results | International Results

USA and Canada Results

Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon - Mar 7 - Napa, CA
Michael Arnstein, of New York NY, the runner-up in 2008, won the 2010 Napa Valley Marathon in 2:31:26. Arnstein, who also has won the 2007 Hamptons, 2007 Hudson Mohawak, 2009 New Jersey, and 2009 Harrisburg Marathons, took the lead for good after the tenth mile on his way to the victory. Ken Burgess, of Piedmont CA, finished second in a new personal best time of 2:40:16. Donald Courter, of Mountain View CA, the runner-up at the 2009 Marathon-to-Marathon, was third in 2:44:19.
In the women's race defending champion Mary Coordt, of Elk Grove CA, who also won in 1997 and 2005, successfully defended her title - winning in 2:46:08. Coordt, who competed in the U.S. Womens Olympic Trials Marathon in 2000/2004/2008, took the lead for good after the 23rd mile. Meghan Arbogast, of Corvallis OR, finished second in 2:46:42. Yiou Wang, of Mill Valley CA, was third in 2:55:00.
Complete Searchable Results Here!
Read the Press Release

Little Rock Marathon - Mar 7 - Little Rock, AR
Moninda Marube, 31 of Keller TX, won the 2010 Little Rock Marathon in 2:29:40. Benny Rodriguez, 33 of Laredo TX, finished second in 2:33:59. Kiplimo Chemirmir, 26 of Flower Mound TX, the runner-up at the 2010 Cowtown and Miracle Match Marathon and winner of the 2009 Fort Worth Marathon, was third in 2:34:51.
Defending Champion Leah Thorvilson, 31 of Little Rock AR, faced little serious competition enroute to successfully defending her title in a time of 2:48:28. Thorvilson, the 2005 and 2008 runner-up also holds the course record from her 2009 finish of 2:44:23 which she followed up with a runner-up PR at the 2009 Green Bay Marathon (2:37:56 PR. Michelle Didion, 41 of Laporte IN, the winner of the 2008 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon and a third place finisher at the 2009 Detroit Free Press and Quad Cities Marathons, finished second in 3:07:32. Betsy Meacham, 45 of Little Rock AR, the runner-up in 2003 and 2004, was third in 3:10:16.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Marathon - Mar 6 - Albany, GA
Jynocel Basweti, a Kenyan who resides in Santa Fe NM, the winner of the 2009 Richmond and Memphis Marathon and the 2010 Mississippi Blues Marathon, won the 2010 Snickers Energy Bar Marathon in 2:20:55. Andrey Bryzgalov, of Hebron KY, who won the 2010 26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer just two weeks prior, finished second in 2:21:57. Geoffrey Kiprotich, of Kenya, the winner of the 2009 Green Bay Marathon and 2008 Des Moines Marathon, was third in 2:29:34.
2008 Champion Janet Cherobon, of Rome GA, continued her winning ways and her string of 2:37 marathon finishes - recording her fourth consecutive win and fourth consecutive 2:37:something finish (2009 Green Bay Marathon - 2:3:53, 2009 Rocket City Marathon - 2:37:56, 2009 Missippii Blues Marathon - 2:37:44). Mary Akor, of Lomita CA, one of the most prodigious American marathoners and a three time winner of the Grandma's Marathon and two-time winner of the Vancouver International Marathon, dropped off the pace after ten miles to accept second in 2:44:40. Liliya Yadzhak, of Russia, who was third at the 2005 Edinburgh Marathon, was third in 2:49:40.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

B&A Trail Marathon - Mar 7 - Severna Park, MD
Jeff Shadley, 41 of Idaho Falls ID, the winner of the 2009 Pocatello Marathon, won the 2010 B&A Trail Marathon in 2:40:18. Serge Arbona, 44 of Parkville MD, the runner-up in 2002, finished second in 2:44:00. Karsten Brown, 35 of Front Royal VA, who won four marathons in 2009, was third in 2:48:01.
Dorothy Beal, 27 of South Riding VA, the third-place finisher of the 2009 Freedom's Run Marathon, was the first female finisher in 3:21:07. Joanne Fenninger, 44 of Manassas VA, the winner of the 2005 Marshall University Marathon and runner-up of the 2005 and 2006 Louisville Marathons, finished second in 3:27:46. Erin Burudpakdee, 26 of Cherry Hill NJ, was third in 3:29:22.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon - Mar 7 - El Paso/ Sunland Park New Mexico, TX
Edgar Trillo, 34 of Cd Juarez Mexico, outsprinted Richard Gonzalez, 29 of El Paso TX, to win the 2010 El Paso Marathon in 3:07:41. Gonzalez finished second in 3:07:44. Branlio Rodriguez, 23 of El Paso TX, was third in 3:14:35.
Larisa Pitchkolan, 40 of El Paso TX, the winner of the 2009 Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon, was the first female finisher in 3:17:40. Crystal Chinea, 20 of Arlington TX, finished second in 3:23:08. Marysol Varela, 24 of El Paso TX, was third in 3:36:04.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Umstead Trail Marathon - Mar 6 - Raleigh, NC
Erik Johnson, 33 of Hillsborough NC, won the 2010 Umstead Trail Marathon in 2:54:17. Wayne Crews, 41 of Cary NC, finished second in 2:56:13. George Linney, 34 of Durham NC, the runner-up in 2009, was third in 3:08:01.
Anne Riddle Lundblad, 43 of Swannanoa NC, the winner of the 2009 Black Mountain Marathon and 2007 Dupont Forest Trail Marathon, won the women's race in 3:13:58. Mila Harris, 30 of Aberdeen NC, finished second in 3:42:33. Laura MacLean, 41 of Willow Spring NC, the winner in 2006 and third place finisher in 2007, was third in 3:51:31.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Red Rock Canyon Marathon and 1/2 Marathon - Mar 6 - Las Vegas, NV
Brian Summers, 23 of Draper UT, won the 2010 Red Rock Marathon in 2:54:35. Dan Kuch, 35 of Lake Havasu City AZ, the winner in 2008 and runner-up in 2009, finished second in 2:54:51. Daniel Bishop, 19 of Salt Lake City UT, was third in 3:02:19.
In the women's race, Kirsten Kolb, 34 of Anchorage AK, the runner-up at the 2009 Mayors Marathon and winner of the 2009 Montana Governor's Cup Marathon, was the winner in 3:47:56. Holly Fearnbach, 33 of Cardiff by the Sea CA, who was third at the 2009 Coeur d' Alene Marathon, finished second in 3:49:04. Julie Bertoia, 32 of Henderson NV, the winner of the 2010 Running from an Angel Marathon, was third in 3:51:51.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Greenway Trail Marathon - Mar 6 - Damascus, MD
Defending champion Mark Hoon, 45 of Kensignton MD, who also won in 2004 and finished second in 2008, successfully defended his title - winning the 2010 Greenway Trail Marathon in 3:57:03. Michael Rebuck, 42 of Mechanicsburg PA, finished second in 4:17:47. Gene Gignac, 54 of New Cumberland PA, was third in 4:24:54.
In the women's field, Cassy Crouse-Rizoul, 28 of Middletown MD, was the winner in 5:07:41. Laren Rusin, 32 of Takoma Park MD, finished second in 5:10:02. Minika Backmann, 43 of Comus MD, was third in 5:22:04.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

International Results

Marathon Catalunya - Barcelona - Mar 7 - Barcelona, Spain
Kenyans swept the top spots in the men and womens races at the 2010 Barcelona Marathon. Jackson Kotut was the winner in 2:07:30. Felix Kenya finished second in 2:07:36. Samuel Woldeamanuel Grebremischsel was third in 2:08:45.
Debele Wudnesh Nega was the first female finisher in 2:31:50. Roman Gebre Gesesse finished second in 2:32:28. Serkalem Bist Abrha was third in 2:33:52.

photo credit: Victah Sailer

Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon - Mar 7 - Osaka, Japan
Yemane Tsegay, of Ethiopia, broke away from the field at the 22K mark and went on to win the 2010 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon in 2:09:34. Tsegay, who finished fourth at the 2009 World Championships Men's Marathon, has now run four straight sub-2:10 marathons. Tomoyuki Sata, of Japan, finished second in 2:10:07. Abraham Tadesse, of Eritrea, was third in 2:10:46.

14^ Placentia Marathon for Unicef Piacenza Marathon - Mar 7 - Piacenza, Italy
Philemo Kipkering Metto, of Kenya, won the 2010 Placentia Marathon in 2:20:31. Ey Alemu Woldegiorgis, of Ethiopia, finished second in 2:20:53. Hicham El Barouki was third in 2:22:40.
Federica Ballarini was the first female finisher in 2:47:19. Marija Vrajic was the runner-up in 2:51:59. Stefania Satini was third in 2:54:15.

Bayleys Mountain to Surf Marathon - Mar 6 - New Plymouth, New Zealand
Grant McLean, 42, the winner in 2002 and third place finisher in 2006, won the 2010 Bayleys Mountain to Surf Marathon in 2:31:35. Johan Van Hoovels finished second in 2:32:20. Duncan Smith was third in 2:45:27.
Ingrid Frost, who finished second at the 2007 Hawkes Bay Marathon and third at the 2006/2008 Hawke's Bay Marathons, was the first female finisher in 3:15:02. Nelda Hazelhurst finished second in 3:16:13. Debbie Robinson was third in 3:17:10.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Cornwall Athletic Club Duchy Marathon - Mar 7 - Cornwall, United Kingdom
Oliver Gibson, the winner in 2008 and runner-up in 2007, won the 2010 Duchy Marathon in 2:42:17. Lazloe Boden, the runner-up at the 2006 Fairlands Valley Challenge Marathon, finished second in 2:48:23. Adrian Ball, the runner-up in 2008, was third in 2:48:44.
Defending champion Heather Foundling-Hawker, who also won in 2007, successfully defended her title as the first female finisher in 3:06:20. Diane Roy, who was third in 2009, finished second in 3:20:18. Trinity Booth was third in 3:26:04.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Maratón Internacional LALA Maraton Lala - Mar 7 - Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
Writeup in Progress.

Saipan Marathon - Mar 6 - Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Masaharu Kijima won the 2010 Saipan Marathon in 2:53:15. Masahiko Nagasaka finished second in 2:58:11. Seijiro Satake was third in 3:02:37.
In the women's race, Mayu Mochizuki won in 3:10:03. Two-time defending champion Mamiko Berger finished second in 3:16:14. Kimberly King-Hinds was third in 3:34:53.

Older News

Honda LA Marathon Nearly Full
The newly revamped LA Marathon - to be held on March 21st - is nearly at capacity, according to race organizers. The 2010 race - while not being marketed or called an inaugural event, nearly is. The race features a new course from Dodgers Stadium down to the oceanfront in Santa Monica. And while the race was under new management starting in 2009, in that year management was forced due to time constraints to simply continue what had been put in place in previous years. The 2010 LA Marathon is essentially brand new... and we're expecting big things.
Read the Press Release

photo credit: Victah Sailer

Berhane Adere Runs Fastest Half Marathon Ever on US Soil: 1:07:52
Berhane Adere - who we might best know as the two-time Chicago Marathon winner (2006, 2007) - ran the fastest Half Marathon ever run on American soil, as she crossed the finish line at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in 1:07:52. The time marks Adere's second fastest half marathon, just a bit slower than the 67:32 she ran at the BUPA Great North Run (a slightly aided/downhilll course) in 2003. Deena Kastor had been the previous holder of the distinction of the fastest half marathon in the USA with her 1:07:53 which she had run at the Philadelphia Distance Cassic in 2005. Finishing second to Adere in New Orleans, Kim Smith of New Zealand ran the third fastest half marathon on USA soil in 1:07:55.
Read the Press Release

photo credit: Victah Sailer

RAK Half Marathon Posts Fast Times
The RAK Half Marathon has emerged as one of the fastest - if not the fastest - half marathons in the world, attracting the best talent to a fast course. The 2010 edition of the race was expected to highlight Boston Marathon winner Deriba Merga in his chase to prepare for his defense of Boston and Elvan Abeylegesse who was touted as possibly making a run for a new world record... Through the race, Merga worked in the front pack, but left the course just before the eleventh mile, leaving the way open for Geoffrey Mutai to win in 59:43, followed by three other men under one hour. Abeylegesse, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, stated that she started the race too slowly and could have run faster, but nevertheless ended in a new course record time of 1:07:07. Seven other women finished under 69 minutes in the fast field.
Read the Press Release

Keflezighi To Run NYC Half Marathon Joined by Abdirahman, Famiglietti, Rohatinsky + Geb
The New York Road Runners have announced that Meb Keflezighi, the 2009 New York City Marathon winner, 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist - and so much more - will be running the March 21st NYC Half Marathon. For Keflezighi, the run will be a tune-up for his run at the April 19th Boston Marathon. Also announced for the NYC Marathon are Abdi Abdirahman, Anthony Famiglietti and Josh Rohatinsky, joining Haile Gebrselassie who was previously announced. Gebrselassie was the winner at the 2007 NYC Half Marathon where Abdirahman was the runner-up.
Keflezighi and Americans Press Release
Gebrselassie Release

Boston Marathon Announces Lineup
The Boston Marathon had previously announced that Meb Keflezighi and Ryan Hall would be running the 2010 marathon, but now the marathon has also announced the list of past champions who will be returning to run. On the men's side we'll see the following Boston Marathon champions: Deriba Merga (2009), Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (2003,2006-2008); and the women's race will include: Salina Kosgei (2009), Dire Tune (2008), Lidiya Grigoryeva (2007) and Catherine Ndereba (2000,2001,2004,2005). This will be a [another] Boston Marathon to remember.
Read the Press Release

Revised: Marathoning Alive And Well in USA - 2009 Shows Unprecedented Growth
As we complete our year-in-review reports There were nearly 468,000 marathon finishes in the USA in 2009 - an increase of approximately 9.9% over 2008. That's the largest year-to-year growth in finisher numbers since MarathonGuide.com began keeping industry records in 2000 and surpasses even the year-to-year growth seen in the abnormal year of 2001 to 2002 when travel and finisher numbers were down in 2001 after 9/11, leading to the unrealistic growth percentage in 2002. As has been the trend, women continued to make up a higher percentage of the total finishers, reaching a record 40.5% of finishers in 2009. We're finishing up our reports and will have the full report before the end of January.
And, because the year is over... The complete list of "best Boston Qualifiers" (a proxy for fastest marathons):
2009 Boston Qualifiers Recap

2009 - A Great Year for Marathoning
2009 was a great year for marathoning. While the year ended without a new world record (we were getting used to that!), the year saw everything else we could possibly ask for. Another resurgence in American running, new heroes, the unexpected and repeated heroics from some old favorites (and we apologize for using the word "old" - it's just relative)... Here, MarathonGuide.com recaps some of what we think was the best of 2009.
Most Inspirational Marathon Moments of 2009

Congratulations Meb and Yordanos Keflezighi!
We love to write about one of our favorite heroes: Meb Keflezighi. We often write about what a great runner and inspiration he is: silver medalist at the Olympic Marathon, multiple USA record holder and champion, and most recently the New York City Marathon winner. We also write about what a nice guy he is - always an undertatement. But less often do we get to remind people of what a great family man he is...
A baby girl, Yohana, was born to Meb and Yordanos Keflezighi at 8:32PM PT on Sunday January 17th at Mammoth Hospital in Mammoth Lakes. Meb was in Houston attending functions for the USA Half Marathon Championships and had not yet headed home when word came that his wife was beginning labor. Originally, the Keflezighi's believed they had another week or ten days until their child might be born. Travel options from Houston and a weather storm approaching Mammoth Lakes meant that Meb did not reach Mammoth until 18 hours after his daughter's birth. Meb and Yordanos are already the proud parents of two other daughters: Sara and Fiyori.

Other Items

Our Favorite Running Products
From time to time, people ask us for recommendations on products or books, so we've gathered together some of our favorites in a new section. Everything from The Stick (which will make your muscles feel great) to a Watch/Speedometer to measure your speed and distance to lotion and scrub for your skin to books galore.
Check out our favorites in MarathonGuide.com's Recommended Products

Great Magazine:
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