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American track & field legend Carl Lewis claims to have never run longer than 4 miles at one time. Lewis, as quirky and eccentric now as he was during his multi-medal winning Olympic prime, is publicly stating that he plans to complete a full marathon (26.2 miles).

I say ‘complete’ because Lewis makes it clear in the interview, with Rodale’s David L’Heureux, that he only plans to complete the race. Carl even jokes he will give the city his credit card to keep the lights on for him to finish.

So look for Lewis to do walk/run/walk his way to the finish line.  Carl makes it clear this will be  the only marathon he will ever do.

Lewis has been making this claim to run a marathon for a couple of years now. He wants to do it this year because he is turning 50 years old.

Carl seems to indicate that he doesn’t even really play to train for 26.2 miles. But boasts that he will find someone near the end of the race, challenge them to the finish, and beat them.

Lewis has not stated what marathon he plans to run yet, but Bank of America Chicago Marathon Race Director Carey Pinkowski has already printed up Carl a bib number with his name on it and invited him to the ‘Windy City’ for his marathon cherry.

The last time Carl mentioned running a marathon, about a year ago, he stated he would run the Houston Marathon.

Carl fired the start pistol at the 2006 Fiora London Marathon.

He has always believed that his track & field success could be parlayed into other walks of life.  Lewis has provided us with the one of the worst National Anthem renditions (at an NBA game) and ‘First Pitch’ at a Major League Baseball game….ever!

And earlier today we learned that Carl plans to run for the New Jersey State Senate.

“When I run – as you see from my record – I run to win,” Carl boastfully told reporters at the kickoff for his political career.

His awkwardness with the media and gold medal ego to match always kept Carl from cashing in on his Olympic success as much others with his success would have.

Carl Lewis won 9 Olympic Gold Medals and 1 Bronze Medal over the course of four Olympics.  He is considered the greatest track and field star of all-time.

[hat tip to Navin Sadarangani]

Here are few random photos I took during the 39th annual Andrew Jackson Marathon that took place on April 9, 2011 in Jackson, Tennessee.

It was an unseasonably hot day as temperatures started in the high 70’s and reached about 90 degrees for some of the finishers.

The AJM also hosts a half marathon and 5K during the same time.

The 26.2 mile race takes place on gentle rolling hills in the beautiful western Tennessee countryside.

Official Andrew Jackson Marathon Website

Here is the finisher’s medal from the 2011 Greenway Marathon that took place in Nashville, Tennessee on March 27, 2011.

The race was won by Chris Herren (2:33:39).

Solid bling for just $20 bucks from a small marathon.

Greenway Marathon Website

Greenway Marathon (Joshua Holmes, Jeff Matlock, Chris Estes, Trent Rosenbloom, Tom Smith)

Mt. Juliet’s Chris Herren won the 2nd annual Greenway Marathon on Sunday with a winning time of 2:33:39.

Meredith Smith, of Ashland City, was the top female with a time of 3:21:09.

The 26.2 mile marathon is held along the Greenway in Nashville, Tennessee.

Greenway Marathon Top 15 Finishers

1. Chris Herren (Mt. Juliet) – 2:33:39
2. Meredith Smith (Ashland City) – 3:21:09
3. James Barnard (Oak Ridge) – 3:23:47
4. Gary Adcock (Springfield) – 3:27:23
5. Sue Scholl (McMinville) – 3:29:14
6. Charlie Taylor (Gallatin) – 3:29:45
7. Chris Estes (Murfreesboro) – 3:35:24
8. Trent Rosenbloom (Nashville) – 3:49:21
9. Jeff Matlock (Ashland City) – 3:49:21
10. Mark Payne (Brentwood) – 3:54:26
11. Tom Smith (Nashville) – 3:58:18
12. David Etheridge (Paducah, Kentucky) – 4:04:12
13. Joshua Holmes (Jackson) – 4:12:50
14. Sulaiman Seriki (LaVergne) – 4:16:46
15. Jennifer Whitley (Murfreesboro) – 4:21:14

Greenway Marathon Race Website

RELATED: The 10 Best Marathons in Tennessee

Ethiopian Markos Geneti won a soaked 2011 Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday with a speedy 2:06:35 finish.  Geneti won $125,000.00 for finishing first and winning the gender challenge.  The women were spotted 17 minutes.

Remarkably Geneti had never run a marathon before.  The 26 year-old Ethiopian complained of a side stitch throughout but none of it seemed to matter as he set a record for the fastest California marathon time….ever!

Defending champion Wesley Korir finished back in 4th place with a 2:13:23 finish.

Korir hit a massive wall at mile 21 and thought he was done, for good, “”First of all, I’d like to thank God that I’m still alive,” said Korir, smiling. “I thought it was the end of my life.”

Top 5 Male Finishers

Top 5 Female Finishers

Look Up L.A. Marathon Results for All Finishers

Congrats to all runners who braved the extreme conditions to complete the L.A. Marathon

Related Los Angeles Marathon Links

10 Best Things About the Los Angeles Marathon

Markos Geneti Wins 2011 Los Angeles Marathon in Debut (Results)

Flea Runs Los Angeles Marathon in 3:53:00 (pic)

List of 2011 Los Angeles Marathon Elite Runners

2011 L.A. Marathon Finisher’s Medal

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Michael ‘Flea’ Balzary started running about 6 months ago.  He decided to run the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon to help raise money for his Silverlake Music Conservatory.

Flea completed the extremely rainy, windy, cold marathon with a great time of 3:53:00.

Silverlake Music Conservatory: “The mission of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a non-profit organization, is to facilitate basic music education. Our primary focus is on the youth of the community but all are welcome and encouraged to participate. The Conservatory offers private music lessons at a reasonable cost and grants scholarships to children in need, providing free lessons and instruments. The study of music enriches the life of the student as well as the community and society.”

For those keeping score at home, Flea was wearing the Saucony Kinerva running shoes.

[photo: We happened to bump into each other immediately under a tent as I was trying to make a call. He was looking for some Gatorade and his buddies. He seemed extremely tired, spent, and exhausted (Me too!) but was still gracious enough to stop long enough for a quick iPhone pic].

Related Los Angeles Marathon Links

10 Best Things About the Los Angeles Marathon

Markos Geneti Wins 2011 Los Angeles Marathon in Debut (Results)

Flea Runs Los Angeles Marathon in 3:53:00 (pic)

List of 2011 Los Angeles Marathon Elite Runners

2011 L.A. Marathon Finisher’s Medal

Here is a quick rundown and list of the top elite runners lacing them up at the 26th Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 20, 2011.

It should be a battle royale between Kenyans Wesley Korir and Benson Barus.

2011 L.A. Marathon Elite Men

Wesley Korir – (Kenya, Age 28) Best L.A. Marathon 2:08:24 – 2009 Los Angeles Marathon

Benson Barus – (Kenya, Age 30) Best Marathon 2:08:34 – Milan Marathon

Getu Birbo – (Ethiopia, Age 26) Best Marathon 2:10:51 – Paris Marathon

Shadrack Biwott – (Kenya, Age 26) Best Marathon: Debut Marathon

Gebo Burka – (Ethiopia, Age 23) Best Marathon 2:10:18 – Cannes Marathon

Jonathan Cheruiyot – (Kenya, Age 27) Best Marathon 2:12:42 – Madrid Marathon

William Chebor – (Kenya, Age 28) Best Marathon 2:10:13 – 2010 San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

2011 L.A. Marathon Elite Women

Mary Akor – (United States via Nigeria, Age: 34) Best Marathon: 2:33:50 – Twin Cities Marathon

Julia Arkhipova – (Kyrghizstan, Age: 27) Best Marathon: 2:32:09 – Baltimore Under Armor Marathon

Magdeline Chemjor – (Kenya, Age: 32) Best Marathon: 2:28:16 – 2007 Amsterdam Marathon

Buzunesh Deba – (Ethiopia, Age: 23) Best Marathon: 2:27:24 – 2010 Twin Cities Marathon

Mare Dibaba – (Ethiopia, Age: 21) Best Marathon: 2:24:27 – Commerzbank Marathon (Frankfurt, Germany)

Amy Hastings – (United States, Age: 27) Best Marathon 2:43:16 – Twin Cities Marathon

Leah Kiprono – (Kenya, Age: 30) Best Marathon 2:43:16 – 2010 Twin Cities Marathon

Related Los Angeles Marathon Links

10 Best Things About the Los Angeles Marathon

Markos Geneti Wins 2011 Los Angeles Marathon in Debut (Results)

Flea Runs Los Angeles Marathon in 3:53:00 (pic)

List of 2011 Los Angeles Marathon Elite Runners

2011 L.A. Marathon Finisher’s Medal

[source: L.A. Marathon Runner & Spectator Guide]

I ran the Los Angeles Marathon for the first time last year.  It was the 25th anniversary running of the marathon in Los Angeles (outside of the Olympic games).

Last year was also the first year for the ‘Stadium to Sea’ course that takes runners from baseball’s Dodger Stadium, throughout all of the high points and tourist attractions of Los Angeles, to a beautiful finish at the beach in Santa Monica.

I’ve returned to run the L.A. Marathon again this year and thought I’d quickly list 10 of my most favorite things about the Los Angeles Marathon.

10 Best Things About the Los Angeles Marathon

1. Getting to stretch and get loose before the race on the outfield grass of Dodger Stadium
2. Skipping the long porta-potty lines to pee on the Chavez Ravine hillside
3. Following the tweets of the L.A. Marathon @lamarathon throughout the year
4. Running down Hollywood Boulevard by Grauman’s (Mann’s) Chinese Theater where thousands of movie premieres have taken place over the past 100 years
5. Struggling down Sunset Boulevard thinking of all of the celebrities and great rockstars that have had just as much difficulty making it up and down this strip in the wee hours of the morning
6. Sprinting down Rodeo Drive
7. The opportunity to run with all of the local kids and citizens of Los Angeles who train all year just to run this race.
8. Finishing at the Santa Monica beach near the boardwalk & pier
9. The finisher’s medal is always top notch (see the 2011 version).
10. The crowd support throughout all the different areas of Los Angeles is top notch and extremely encouraging throughout the entire 26.2 miles.  The crowd the last half mile before the finish line in Santa Monica makes you feel as if you were finishing an Olympic marathon with the gold.

Best of luck to all of those running the Los Angeles Marathon this year and for years to come!

Los Angeles Marathon Website

Related Los Angeles Marathon Links

10 Best Things About the Los Angeles Marathon

Markos Geneti Wins 2011 Los Angeles Marathon in Debut (Results)

Flea Runs Los Angeles Marathon in 3:53:00 (pic)

List of 2011 Los Angeles Marathon Elite Runners

2011 L.A. Marathon Finisher’s Medal

27-year old elite marathoner Sally Meyerhoff was tragically killed on Tuesday when she was cycling and was hit by a semi-truck at an intersection in Maricopa, Arizona.

Sally, who had won the 2011 P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in Phoenix back in January, was instantly killed in the crash. The pick-up driver was not impaired, but the police is still currently investigating the accident.

The runner was allegedly happy and excited because she had just qualified for Olympic trials. Sally was also considered to be one of the Top 10 marathon runners in the country.

From Marathon Guide who sponsored Sally:

Sally’s running credentials were impressive and promising: a fifth place finish at the 2009 USA Marathon Championships in 2:35:49 and her victory at the 2011 Rock N Roll Arizona Marathon – among other marathons – confirmed her skill and potential at the marathon; she was recognized by the RRCA for her potential and awarded the “Roads Scholar” in 2008 and 2009; and at Duke University Meyerhoff had earned a number of ECAC titles including the 5000m outdoors in 2004 (16:22.94); 5000m indoors in 2007 (16:11.57); 3000m indoors in 2005 (9:19.88). Meyerhoff was also an accomplished triathlete and was training for the Ironman World Championships as well as the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon where she had achieved the A-Standard on multiple occasions.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sally’s family and friends!

[image: sportscasm]

BREAKING: The Rock N’ Roll running series announced tonight that the annual Las Vegas Marathon (and Half Marathon) will be run this year under the lights of the Las Vegas Strip…at NIGHT!

The Zappos’ Rock N’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon was run the previous two years in the morning at the break of dawn.

RNR claims it will be the largest nighttime race in the United States.

The race takes place December 4, 2011.

For the next 48 Hours you can sign up for just $121. Early Registration will close March 10 at 5:45pm PST. Price then jumps up to $140 and eventually $175.

Sign Up Here at Las Vegas Strip at Night

I have no clue what they are smoking when they say the cut off for the full marathon will be 4 hours and 30 minutes when the half cut-off is 4 hours and starts 90 minutes later. Surely that is going to change. If any of you have any insight then please drop it in a comment below.

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