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Happy Labor Day
It's a holiday in the USA, Canada and many countries around the world. We want to wish all of our visitors a wonderful holiday - and encourage you to get out for a run! Note also that a number of marathons are being held on Monday this week, so results will be continually updated as we receive the latest results.

Focus On... Chuck Engle
Three Top Three Marathon Finishes This Weekend...

One of MarathonGuide.com's sponsored runners - and one of our favorite marathoners anyway... Chuck Engle fashions himself the Marathon Junkie - addicted to marathons. With over 60 wins and over 100 top three finishes since 2003, Engle has accounted for more podium appearances than any other marathoner of the millenium. With a personal best of 2:31:01, Engle regularly runs races in the low 2:30s week in and week out - sometimes doubling up on a weekend.

For the Labor Day weekend, Engle decided to try a "triple" - three marathons in three days - with plans to win all three. At the first race of the weekend - Pocatello, where he was the 2006 champion - Engle had to settle for the runner-up spot despite running a time (2:38:40) that was two minutes faster than the previous course record as local runner Kory Wheatley turned spoiler by setting a huge personal best to beat Engle. That fast pace undoubtedly affected Engle's strength for the next two days... On Sunday, Engle visited the Tupelo Marathon where he was the six time defending champion and course record holder and had no trouble winning that race in a conservative 2:47:17. On Monday, Engle ended his three day weekend unable to defend his title at the Heart of American Marathon, but putting in a very respectable second place finish in 2:54 on a hot and humid day...
79 miles of racing marathons, 4400 miles of flying, 1400 miles of driving... three marathons, a win and two second places... that's a busy weekend...

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

New Mexico Marathon - Aug 31 - Albuquerque, NM
Jae Yung Hyung, 37 of Albuquerque NM, won the 2008 New Mexico Marathon in 2:28:07. Matt Colbert, 30 of Edmond OK, the winner of the 2008 University of Okoboji Marathon and runner-up at the 2007 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, finished second in 2:54:40. Talentino Angelosante, 49 of Albuquerque NM, who was third in 2003, was third in 3:00:18.
In the women's race, Stefanie Tierney, 29 of Albuquerque NM, who was third in 2006, was the winner in 3:14:14. Defending Champion Randi Simon, 34 of Prescott Valley AZ, finished second in 3:15:55. Lisa Rex, 31 of Scottsdale AZ, was third in 3:23:23.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Pikes Peak Road Runners and ENT Federal Credit Union American Discovery Trail Marathon - Sep 1 - Colorado Springs, CO
Daniel Goding, 32 of Loveland CO, the runner-up of the 2008 Estes Park Marathon and third place finisher at the 2007 Fort Collins Old Town Marathon, won the 2008 American Discovery Trail Marathon in 2:52:33. Gerald Romero, 37 of Colorado Springs CO, the runner-up in 2004/2007 and third place finisher in 2006, finished second in 2:55:00. Chris Repka, 25 of Greeley CO, was third in 2:57:50.
Heather McWhirter, 30 of Colorado Springs CO, was the first female finisher in 3:08:03. Connilee Walter, 35 of Colorado Springs CO, finished second in 3:11:38. Elizabeth Watkins, 25 of Colorado Springs CO, was third in 3:18:37.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Idaho State Journal Pocatello Marathon - Aug 30 - Pocatello, ID
Defending champion Kory Wheatley, 37 of Pocatello, completed the Pocatello Marathon fifteen minutes faster than he needed for his 2007 victory, setting a six minute PR and a new course record by four minutes, in order to win the 2008 Pocatello Marathon. Chuck Engle, 37 of Columbus OH and the 2006 champion, ran four minutes faster than his 2006 winning time and also surpassed the previous course record, but it was not enough for 2008 and Engle's time of 2:38:48 gave him the runner-up spot. Engle, using the Pocatello Marathon as the first of three marathons in the weekend, told MarathonGuide.com that he was just caught unaware by Wheatley. John Liccardo, 37 of Rock Sprints WY, was third in 2:51:37 nearly thirteen minutes off the second place finish.
Angela Treasure, 36 of Pocatello, knocked nineteen minutes off her 2007 fifth place finish in order to finish as first woman in 3:11:17. Sarah Skeem, 26 of Pocatello, was second woman in 3:18:59. Penny Parrish, 26 of Pocatello, was third female in 3:25:53.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Tupelo Marathon - Aug 31 - Tupelo, MS
Todd Hagadone, 23 of Mt Solon VA, would break out from the gun at the start of the 2008 Tupelo Marathon. Hagadone crossed the 13.1 mile point in 1:18:57 - nearly four minutes ahead of defending champion and perennial favorite Chuck "MarathonJunkie" Engle. The heat, hills and humidity of Tupelo seemed to have wreaked havoc on Hagadone as Engle would catch him at mile 16 and surge on to capture his seventh title in 2:47:15. Hagadone would have to settle for a DNF. Leonard Vergunst, race director for the Gulf Coast Marathon in Mississippi would run with Engle for several of the early miles and finish in third with a time of 2:55:29. Israel Melendez, 40 of Plantersville MS, would nip Vergunst in the final miles of the marathon and finish second with a time of 2:55:01.
In the women's race Leah Thorvilson, 29 of Little Rock AR, was the winner in a new course record time of 2:53:22. Thorvilson was second at the half-way point but eventually caught Laura Wells, 24 of Sterrett AL, who would finish in an impressive 3:04:33 for second place. Sandy Lynch, 39 of Florence AL, held on to the third spot in 3:27:23.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Heart of America Marathon - Sep 1 - Columbia, MO
Matt Laye, 27 of Columbia MO, won the 2008 Heart of America Marathon in 2:47:27. Running his third marathon in three days - Defending Champion Chuck Engle, 37 of Dublin OH, finished second in 2:54:51. 2007 Runner-up Tom Whalen, 42 of St. Louis MO, the runner-up in 2002 and third place finisher in 2005, was third in 2:57:00.
In the women's field, Destiny Thomas, 31 of Columbia MO, was the winner in 3:38:41. Nicole Jarvis, 32 of Willard MO, finished second in 3:43:08. Laura Girard, 35 of Kansas City MO, the winner of the 2006 Eisenhower Marathon and runner-up at the 2006 Kansas City Marathon, was third in 3:46:45.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Turtle Marathon - Sep 1 - Roswell, NM
Marathon took place on Monday, September 1, results and writeup will be posted when available.

Monster Trail Marathon - Aug 31 - Virgil, NY
Christian Byler, 24 of Harrison Valley PA, the winner of the 2008 God's Country Marathon, won the 2008 Monster Trail Marathon when he crossed the finish line in 3:31:15. Yassine Diboun, 30 of Ithaca NY, finished second in 3:46:36. Defending Champion Michael Wunsch, 31 of Ithaca NY, the winner of the 2006 Fort Collins Old Town Marathon, was third in 3:57:48.
Shannon McHale, 38 of Marcellus NY, the winner of the 2006 Rochester Marathon, was the first female finisher in 4:21:35. Katherine Metzger, 28 of Phoenix AZ, who finished third at the 2008 Palos Verdes Marathon and second at the 2008 Whiskey Row Marathon, finished second in 4:48:05. Molly Reidy, 31 of Pulaski NY, was third in 5:21:21.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

International Results

Asics Adelaide Festival City Marathon - Aug 31 - Adelaide, Australia
Justin Creek, 30, won the 2008 Adelaide Festival City Marathon whe he crossed the finish line in 2:44:29. Darren Morris, 34, who was third at the 2007 Shepparton Marathon, finished second in 2:55:20. Leon Sargeant, 28, was third in 2:56:36.
In the women's race, Eliza Mayger, 35, the winner in 2005 and 2006, was the first female finisher in 2:55:38. Katrina Tucker, 27, finished second in 3:07:24. Nicole Butterfield, 27, was third in 3:14:27.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Professionals Hawke's Bay Marathon - Aug 30 - Napier, New Zealand
Warick Brenan, the 2005 Hawke's Bay Marathon, was winner of the 2008 edition of the race in 2:47:18. Alastair Kenworthy, the 2006 runner-up and fourth place finisher in 2005, took the second spot in 2:55:02. Shaun Cooper, the 2005 third place finisher, was third in 2:58:14.
Sandra Bird was first woman in 3:13:44. Ewa Wystepek was second in 3:19:04. Ingrid Frost, the 2007 runner-up and 2006 third place finisher, was third in 3:27:57.
Complete Searchable Results Here!

Hokkaido Marathon - Aug 31 - Hokkaido, Japan
Mararu Takamizawa, the runner-up at the 2007 Hokkaido Marathon, took the lead at the halfway mark of the 2008 Hokkaido Marathon and ran alone to win in a new personal best of 2:12:10. Kentaro Nakamoto was second in 2:15:21 and Masaya Shimizu was third in 2:15:29.
Nineteen year-old Yukari Sahaku won her debut marathon in 2:31:50. Hitomi Niiya, the 2007 Tokyo Marathon champion, finished second in 2:32:19. Kaori Yoshida was third female finisher in 2:33:37.

Older News

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?

---- 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...

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...
Marathon & Beyond is truly one of our favorite magazines. The only running magazine targeted specifically to Marathoners and Ultra-Marathoners - it is a must-have or a must-give - really! Each bimonthly issue is set out in a format that looks more like a book than a magazine - so it can sit on your shelf and be read and re-read - and is filled with articles, profiles, training - everything for the distance runner (experienced or novice). We started to write a description of the magazine, but decided that they describe it best themselves on their website - so, if you don't know Marathon & Beyond, check them out. Then, if you like what you see, use the link below for special subscription pricing starting at $32.95 for one year.

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