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---- OLYMPICS! ----

Men's Marathon - Complete Coverage
What a Race! Five men took out the race at a blistering pace - at first below world record pace and then just plain old fast... After passing the halfway point in a blistering 1:02:34 , two Kenyans (Sammy Wanjiru, Martin Lel), one Morrocan (Jaouad Gharib), one Eritrean and one Ethiopian battled through the second half of the race to eventually end with a new Olympic record. Sammy Wanjiru outclassed the field to win in 2:06:32. Jaouad Gharib earned the Silver medal in 2:07:16 and Tsegay Kebede snuck in to take the Bronze in 2:10:00. We'll have our full write up later in the day with all of the commentary...
Complete Searchable Results
Men's Olympic Marathon Previews (post-race writeup soon).
including videos, up-to-date starter lists, previews, profiles, head-to-head comparisons, past performances, and more, more, more...

photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images Sport

Women's Marathon - Tomescu-Dita, Ndereba, Chunxiu
After a VERY slow start, Constantina Tomescu-Dita was the first to break away from the pack and built a lead of more than one minute at the peak. The lead pack broke down slowly to end with four women - two Kenyans and two Chinese - vying for the Silver and Bronze medals. Tomescu-Dita finished alone in 2:26:44, making her the oldest Olympic Marathon winner at 38 years old. The Silver Medal came down to a 400m sprint race between Catherine Ndereba and Zhou Chunxiu. At the line, Ndereba took the Silver Medal, her second, with a time of 2:27:06 and Chunxiu finished with the Bronze in 2:27:07. Favorite Paula Radcliffe appeared injured as she dropped out of the follwing pack and walked for a bit before beginning to run and finishing 23rd in 2:32:38. Blake Russell finished as first and only American in 27th place in 2:33:17 as Deena Kastor and Magdalena Lewy Boulet dropped out of the race.
Women's Olympic Marathon Post-Race Writeup
Complete Women's Olympic Marathon Coverage
including videos, up-to-date starter lists, previews, profiles, head-to-head comparisons, past performances, the history of the women's olympic marathon, and more, more, more...

Upcoming Marathon Registration Fee Increases
Following are some marathons that have price increases through the end of the month. If you plan to register for one of these races, you can save some money by registering now:
Erie Marathon + Half Marathon, 5K (Erie, PA - 9/14/08)
USAF Marathon + Half-Marathon, 10K (Dayton, OH - 9/20/08)
Denver Marathon + Half Marathon, Relay (Denver, CO - 10/19/08)
Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon + Half-Marathon, Relay, 5K (Detroit, MI - 10/19/08)
Mount Desert Island Marathon (Bar Harbor, ME - 10/19/08)
New Jersey Marathon + Long Branch Half Marathon, Relays (Long Branch, NJ - 5/3/09)

Neil Diamond as Marathoner?
Everyone loves Neil Diamond - don't they? And when an entertainer's career lasts more than 40 years and the first No. 1 album takes those forty years, we can call that a marathon career - but carbo loading, electrolyte levels, training? We read the Aug. 12 article about Neil Diamond and repeat this quote from the New York Times: "'I want to know what marathon runners do,' Mr. Diamond said in his dressing room, where the few items... included a bottle of Gatorade... 'Because I do the same thing. I run a two-hour marathon every time onstage. So I have my electrolytes kept at a certain level, and I do my carb-loading after the shows for the next night...'" We actually have no doubt that Diamond's workload is like a marathon and are impressed that he's a fan of the sport. Can an actual marathon be far behind for Diamond?

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

Weekend Results
USA/Canada Results | International Results

USA and Canada Results

SSQ Quebec City Marathon/Marathon des Deux Rives - Aug 24 - Quebec City, QC, Canada
Michael Njordge of Hamilton ON was the winner of the 2008 Quebec City Marathon in 2:23:46. Defending champion Amor Dehbi of Montreal was second in 2:31:42. 2006 Champion Fethi Oukid of St. Leonard was third in 2:30:31.
In the women's race, Suzanne Munger who was fourth finisher in both 2006 and 2007 took the win in 3:10:07. Valerie St. Martin of Quebec City and third finisher in 2007, was runner up in 3:12:04. Rachel Paquette of Victoriaville and fifth finisher in 2007 was third woman in 3:20:07.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Self-Transcendence Marathon - Aug 22 - Nyack, NY
Tristan Boyle - the 2007 fourth finisher and a top ten finisher from 2003 to 2007 who never made it into the top three, captured the win at the 2008 Self-Transcendence Marathon in a time of 2:49:56. Four-time (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) winner Gyula Szabo took the runner-up spot in 2:51:00. Jeromy Cheatham finished third in 2:53:49.
Agnikana Senkyrova, a four-time top 5 finisher and twice third finisher (2005, 2007), was the female winner in 3:09:47. Dhavala Stott, the 2004 and 2005 champion and 2007 runner-up, was again runner-up in 3:13:23. Olga Abramosvskikh was third in 3:24:24.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Park City Marathon - Aug 23 - Park City, UT
Nathan Hornok of Salt Lake City was the winner of the 2008 Park City Marathon. Defending (and 2000) champion Dave Spence finished in second place in 2:49:22. Ben Van Beekum who was eighth in 2007 improved to take the third place spot in 2:48:25.
In the women's race, Darcie Gorman of Salt Lake City was the winner in 3:17:29. Defending champion Keri Hatch of Alpine UT was second in 3:18:38. Ralee Eck, a past winner of the Ogden Marathon, was third woman in 3:20:57.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Mesa Falls Marathon - Aug 23 - Ashton, ID
Defending champion and 2006 winner, Pat Bragassa of Rigby ID, was the winner of the 2008 Mesa Falls Marathon in 2:40:44. Dan Bruner, of Pocatello ID, was second in 2:53:49. Beau Seegmiller, of Menan ID, was third in 3:00:48.
Alison Lomax, of Spanish Fork UT, finished as first woman in 3:25:54. Heather Thompson, of Afton WY, was the runner up in 3:30:38. Bessie Zobell, of Roosevelt UT, took home third place honors with a time of 3:42:44.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Green River Chamber of Commerce Run With the Horses Marathon - Aug 23 - Green River, WY
Matthew Lavine, of Crystal Lake IL, took top honors at the 2008 Run With the Horses Marathon with a time of 2:56:05. In his ninth marathon of 2008, Mark Ott, of Jackson MI and winner of the Ocean Drive Marathon and Med-City Marathon earlier in 2008, was second in 3:05:36. Dane Rauschenberg, of Salt Lake City UT, was third in 3:12:11.
Kay Evans, of Chocowinity NC, who was third at the 2008 University of Okoboji Marathon and winner of the 2008 Shiprock Marathon, grabbed first place for the women in 3:34:10. Erin Hammon, of Denver CO, was second in 3:59:17 and outlasted Tricia Perrine, who locked in a third place spot on the podium in 4:07:49.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

International Results

Longford Marathon - Aug 24 - Longford, Ireland
Sergiu Turea-Ciobanu, who was third at the 2006 Longford Marathon, ran nearly twleve minutes faster to capture the title in the 2008 edition with a time of 2:23:22. Noel Kelly was second in 2:29:21. Mick Byrne was third in 2:33:47.
Lucy Brennan, winner of the 2005 and 2007 Longford Marathons captured the woman's title for 2008 in 2:52:49. Helena Crossan ran ten minutes faster than her performance last year with the same results. She was second in 2:55:03 followed by Ann Marie Holland who was third in 3:04:56.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Mudgee Marathon - Aug 24 - Mudgee, Australia
Jonathan Blake, 43 of Illawong NSW Australia, was first in 2:45:11. Nick Kastelein, 45 of Mudgee NSW Australia, a constant top 3 performer at the Mudgee Marathon was second in 3:03:20. Brad Simmons, 43 of Orange NSW Australia , was third in 3:11:47.
Sally Gordon, 34 of Mudgee NSW Australia , was first in the woman's Mudgee Marathon with a time of 3:17:47. Emily Lamrock, 24 of Tharwa ACT Australia , was second in 3:22:14. Rosemary Brown, 52 of Gunnedah NSW Australia, was third in 3:49:47.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Older News

Where Will They Rock Next? Seattle...
The Competitor Group, organizers of the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon series has announced the location for their newest race: Seattle. The inaugural Rock 'N' Roll Seattle Marathon and 1/2 Marathon will take place on June 27, 2009 as part of Seattle's SeaFair festival. The Rock 'N' Roll Seattle Marathon will represent Competitor's first foray into putting on an event in the Pacific Northwest and will represent the company's eighth musically themed event.
Read the Press Release

What Can't Michael Wardian Do?
Wins 50Mile Trail Championships in 6:52:50
Even if you were just looking at his 2008 marathon successes - eight marathon starts with all 8 ending in top three finishes and four outright wins - you might think Michael Wardian was on a roll. But those results are less than half of the story for this man who is beginning to epitomize distance running in the USA. Besides the marathons, Wardian has captured three USA championships: winning the 50K and 100K US Championships and just this weekend, the 50 Mile championship. With hopes to compete well (and, we are sure, win) the Western States 100 Miler, Wardian was disappointed when that race was canceled for 2008 due to forest fires, so with a free weekend went after a world record for the fastest marathon run on a treadmill (which attempt failed due to technical problems with the treadmill). Wardian should inspire all of us to know that there might not be limits to what we can accomplish - so get out there and run. And let's see what Wardian is up to for the rest of the year...

Dreaming of California? New California Dreamin' Marathon/Half-Marathon Series...
Three top California Marathons/Half-Marathons have joined forces to create a running series and to share some marketing. The San Francisco Marathon/Half-Marathon, Surf City USA Marathon/Half-Marathon and Long Beach International City Marathon/Half-Marathon have created the California Dreamin' Racing Series. Runners who complete the three marathons/half-marathons in the group in a two-year period will receive a special commemorative medal and jacket for their achievement. Not to mention an opportunity to "conquer the bridge and cruise the beach..."
Read the Press Release

Branson/Virgin Sign a £17M (=$33M USD) Five Year Deal as London Marathon Title Sponsor
The London Marathon has announced that beginning in 2010, Virgin - and specifically Virgin Money, the financial services division of Virgin Group - will be the new title sponsor of the London Marathon through 2014. The five-year deal, valued at £17Million - which is the equivalent of over $33Million at current exchange rates - is a record for the industry. Flora, the current sponsor, had chosen not to renew its sponsorship after its latest five year arrangement comes to an end in 2009. At the same time, Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson has stated that he plans to run in the 2010 Virgin London Marathon. In what confuses us and must be a slap in the face to current sponsor Flora, the London Marathon has already supported the creation of a website for the new sponsor and press-releases and the current website encourage visitors to surf to www.VirginLondonMarathon.com for more information. We would normally expect an event to honor the final year of its sponsorship agreement by supporting that sponsor and not promoting other arrangements. While the new arrangement is certainly beneficial for the London Marathon - Virgin is an amazing company and the funds are substantial - we are disappointed that the London Marathon is, in our estimation, not standing up to what would be a commonly expected standard of treatment for an existing title sponsor.
Read the Press Release

New Feature: Best/Biggest Boston Marathon Qualifying Races
This IS NOT a list of the fastest marathons - but at some level it could be interpreted to be an approximation of that list. We're always asked which are the best Boston qualifying marathons - and while different runners will have varying degrees of success on various courses, there are some courses that just seem to do better than others (and/or do they just attract faster runners?). Here, for the first time is a year-by-year list of the marathons that provide the highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifying times and those that create the most Boston Marathon qualifying times. Statistics are interesing as always...
The Best/Biggest Boston Qualifying Races

2007 USA Marathoning - Growth Across the Sport, Despite the Weather
The Numbers are Here!
Highlights:
- The weather is the big story of the year...
- Total USA marathoning grows by 2.3% to nearly 407,000 finishers from over 397,000 in 2006.
- Percentage of women participants declines again. This is turning into a trend.
- Average Age of male participants decreases, meaning more young men are entering the sport.
Read it all: 2007 USA Marathon Annual Report

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:
Special Subscription Offer From Marathon & Beyond Magazine
Note: This is not an ad (paid or otherwise) - it's a special offer from our friends to our friends...
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