Washington DC - This just in from the the 35th running of the Marine Corps Marathon on Halloween morning...Jon Megeff runs 2:49, Mark Shalvarjian and Rich Gust run 3:00...these are unofficial chip times and may be adjusted as the day goes on. Mark says he never saw Rich in the race...Rich says it got hot at the finish. Megeff is probably out for a cooldown 10-miler, and could not be reached for this update...More later!
LISTEN UP! -- Congrats to all on a successful racing year...or a year of suitable frustration such that you are determined to make the next year better...
We are working on a club racing schedule to "motivate" you to race and improve. This would consist of several races, at differing distances, for you to compete against your peers, to expand your horizons, improve your times, get you off the couch, etc...
To make things easier, we probably won't launch this until January, but if there are races, distances, courses, etc that you think are unique, different from the typical road 5K or 10K, or offer something you want to share (or wreak) on your fellow club members, post the idea to send me an email, and we will build the schedule. Marty is leading the effort, and has a good start on this already. -- Coach Ed
The 2011 Boston Marathon had 22,000+ entrants in one day to run 26 miles in April 2011. Does this suggests changes (faster qualifying times or larger fields or both, and other things) are probably in store for 2012? This also means that you better have a qualifying time by October 2011 if you want to run Boston in 2012.
Runners were allowed to start signing up for the 2011 marathon at 9 a.m., and the registration window closed just after 5 p.m., meaning about 21,000 people filled out their forms in eight hours. That's 65 times as quick as last year and more than 200 times as quick as five years ago, when it took almost seven months to fill the same number of spots.
Here's how long it has taken, since 2006, for the Boston Marathon's field to fill up.
MARATHON REGISTRATION STARTED FILLED UP DAYS
2011 Oct. 18 Oct. 18 1
2010 Sept. 9 Nov. 13 65
2009 Sept. 3 Jan. 25 144
2008 Sept. 5 Feb. 26 174
2007 Sept. 6 Mar. 14 189
2006 Sept. 7 Mar. 29 203
Source: Boston Athletic Association from WallStreet Journal Article
Video courtesy of Mike Whitcombe and pictures from Rich Gust
Jon Megeff makes a great pass during the 1.20 mark of this video
SCA USATF 2010 Road Mile Championships El Toro Airfield - Highlights
USATF Southern California Announces 2010 Cross Country Grand Prix -- Kicks off Sunday
Correct Prize Money: Open - $350, $150, $100, Masters (40-49) - $200, $75, $50, Masters (50+) - $200, $75, $50. Detailed rules here.
The winning men’s and women’s open teams will earn a $500 travel stipend for travel to the 2010 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Charlotte, N.C.
The Grand Prix features $2,500 in prize money, to be awarded in three divisions: open runners, masters (40-49) and masters (50+). To be eligible for prize money, runners must compete in 2 preliminary races, and the final Association Championship race at Huntington Beach Central Park.
USA Track & Field Southern California Association is proud to announce the launch of a new 2010 Cross Country Grand Prix series. The five-race series kicks off this Sunday, October 17, 2010 at the Free Spirit Cross Country Invitational, at Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) in Walnut, CA.
With 62 years of history, the Mt. SAC Cross Country Course is one of the oldest and most famed courses in the world, challenging generations of runners against each other. This is a challenging course over asphalt and dirt trails with flat and rolling hill combinations, plus switch backs and tough hills.
The Open and Masters Cross Country race will start at 7:30 a.m. before the youth competitions. Medals will be given to 1st thru 8th place overall.
Athletes can register on race day for $10.
Mt. SAC is between the Pomona and San Bernardino Freeways and west of the Orange Freeway (57). Click here for directions to Mt. SAC.
The exciting Free Spirit Cross Country Invitational is the first race in the 2010 Cross Country Grand Prix series:
10/17 – Free Spirit Cross Country Invitational
10/24 – Will Rogers State Historic Park
10/30 – Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
11/06 – Elysian Park 5k Eco Trail Run
11/13 – USATF Southern California Association Cross Country Championships, Huntington Beach Central Park
Cross Country Grand Prix Information
The Grand Prix provides a total of $2,500 in cash awards to Open and Masters runners. To be eligible for Grand Prix prize money, runners must compete in a minimum of two preliminary races, plus the final Association Championship race on 11/13 at Huntington Beach Central Park.
The USATF Southern California Association Cross Country Championships (November 13) is part of the USATF Open Club Cross Country Travel Grant Program. The winning men’s and women’s open teams will earn a $500 travel stipend for travel to the 2010 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Charlotte, NC.
Contact:
Mike Mahurin
Chair, Open Athletics Cross Country Committee
USATF Southern California
Cell (310) 384-6974
info@scausatf.org
Alison Atkinson, Jake Courtney, Barb Brown Frank, Jon Megeff, Ed Avol, Nathalie Higley, Rich Gust, Jim Newman, Levi Shaw
Check out this video. You might see a few people you know...