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We were asked about Walt Murphy's extensive Indoor Calendar! Here you go and watch for the upcoming out door Calendar as well.

Maggie Vessey is one of the most talented women in middle distance running. The folks at the NB Indoor Grand Prix caught up with her earlier this week! Here is what she had to say: (Remember, NB Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday, February 4, and watch in on February 5, just before that other game, the SuperBowl):

Kick It With Maggie

The Reggie Lewis Center, which has been the host facility for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix since its inception, has seen some amazing races. In our sport, it is really about the competition, not the records, but you would never know!

In the end, he or she who can put it all together, who can run, jump or throw, faster, longer or farther than the competition is the winner. Who can put it all on the line, with five thousand cheering, clapping fans, encouraging you to pull that extra bit of energy, that extra centimeter, that extra kick over the last lap to make the difference!


Consider the race between Meseret Defar of Ethiopia and Kim Smith of New Zealand over two miles in 2008. Meseret Defar and Kim Smith went at it, lap after lap, for sixteen laps. Defar could not shake the Kiwi, who, when she gets in her groove, is tough as nails. The crowd, knowing that the race was special, was encouraging the racers, and it was only, in the very last lap that Defar built some daylight, but not much. Meseret Defar was rewarded with the World best at two miles, a fine 9:10.50, and Kim Smith, just behind her, ran a 9:13.94, a new Zealand record!


Consider the height of the ceiling in Reggie Lewis! Jenn Suhr and Steve Hooker have tried to tough the ceiling during their vault performances! Jenn Suhr, the best American women vaulter was ranked number uno by Track & Field News (the bible of our sport) in 2011. Suhr cleared 4.82m in Reggie Lewis Center, or 15-09.75, a world record indoors in 2009! Only Yelena Isinbayeva had jumped higher at the time, indoors or out!


Then, look at Aussie Steve Hooker. Hooker was Olympic champ in 2008 and world champ in 2009, juggling injuries and the ability to soar near the clouds. In 2009, Steve Hooker cleared 6.06m, or 19-10.5, setting an Area record and American All Comers record. Only man who has jumped higher? Yep, Sergei Bubka!

The Reggie Lewis Center crowd loves all things track & field, but the mile, middle distances are the crowd pleasers! Lets see how 2012 fares, as the dozen milers line up for some fasting indoor miling. And when Jenny Simpson lines up, watch the 2011 World Champion get a strong applause for the biggest upset of the year, her victory in the 1,500 meters in Daegu, on that crazy September night!


See you in the Reggie Lewis Center for the 2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix! 

January 31, 2012            Contact: Larry Eder, larry@runningnetwork.com

Saucony Kinvara 2 Named Best Youth Running Shoe in Running Network LLC Shoe Review

FORT ATKINSON, WI - The Saucony Kinvara 2 took top honors in the Running Network LLC's first ever youth shoe review.

"The Saucony Kids Kinvara 2 by Stride Rite is proof that great running footwear is a commitment for younger athletes," said Larry Eder, the president of the Running Network LLC and group publisher at Shooting Star Media, Inc.

During the testing process, shoes are carefully matched to the foot strike and shape of wear testers who are pulled from a group of 350 potential testers. The testers report their initial impressions, then run up to 100 miles in the shoes, continually evaluating the shoes throughout the process on seven key performance characteristics. Their evaluations are entered into a software system created by Cregg Weinmann, the Running Network LLC footwear and apparel review editor, to produce a winner.

Saucony's Kinvara 2 brings minimalism to the children's running shoe by offering cushioning and a solid fit without adding anything extra. This keeps the shoes comfortable but also light weight to keep the wearer running faster for longer. The upper is stripped down, while the airmesh and minimal overlays keep the shoes light. The midsole is ProGrid Lite EVA, a responsive and durable material proven for its superb cushioning. The outersole is built for traction and to keep the weight down carbon rubber is used only in the necessary high-wear areas. With its combination of cushioning, light weight style and responsiveness the Kinvara 2 earned top honors as the winter 2011 Best Youth Running Shoe (Weinmann 2011).

"Our goal is to help the runner and their family on their search for the perfect shoe," said Eder. "With the quality of running footwear in 2012 and the competitive nature of the brands we track, consumers will have a great opportunity to find the right shoe for them."

To hear Richie Woodworth, the president of Saucony, talk about how Saucony is innovating running footwear visit: http://www.runblogrun.com/2011/11/richie-woodworth-the-rbr-interview-video-by-the-shoe-addicts-note-by-larry-eder.html.

To learn more about the Running Network LLC contact Larry Eder at Larry@runningnetwork.com.

Established in 1986, the Running Network LLC develops editorially independent content on footwear, apparel and key events in the sports industry.  The Running Network LLC represents 23 publications, 18 in print & digital formats, and five digital format-only publications plus 28 websites, social media and twitter channels, with just over 900,000 print subscribers and 3.5 million unique web visitors monthly. The goal of the Running Network LLC and its print, digital and web partners is to enhance the relationship between runners and walkers of all levels and their local and national running community.

Members of the Running Network LLC include: American Track & Field, Athletes Only, Athletics (Canada), AustinFit, California Track & Running News, Club Running, www.coachingathleticsq.com, Colorado Runner, Get Active!, Greater Long Island Running Club's Footnotes, www.latinoscorriendo.com, Michigan Runner, www.morunandtri.com, Running Journal, Racing South, RunMinnesota, RUNOHIO, Track & Field News, USATF's Fast Forward, USATF/New England's Exchange Zone, The Winged Foot (NYAC), The Winged M (MAC), Youth Runner and www.marathonguide.com.

 
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Silas Kiplagat is one tough miler. The 2010 Commonwealth champion at 1,500 meters, and in 2011, Silas rose to the silver medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, Korea, Silas has run 3:29.27 for 1,500 meters. Coached by Renuto Canova, famed coached of Moses Mosop, among others, Silas Kiplagat has the raw energy seen in runners such as the late Sammy Wanjiru. Silas wants to win, make no mistakes about that!

For example, last weekend, in his first indoor mile at Madison Square Gardens, Silas duked it out with Daniel Komen and Bernard Lagat. Komen is no newbie to the pushing and shoving that comes in indoor track & field, and Bernard Lagat, heck, the guy virtually owns the 145 meter track that inhabits the Madison Square Gardens.

The pace last Saturday night, in MSG, was, well pedestrian. But, the track, which is unique in terms of world class elite indoor meets, is like running indoor cross country. Usually, the runner who gets to the front first stays there and shuts down all competition. Bernard had won their 8 times, going from front, back, in between. It was only in 2011 that Bernard lost. This year, Bernard told us that he was planning on focusing on the 5,000 meters. " I will run 1,500 meters and miles for speed. " Bernard told us before the race.

The pace, was slow. The 400 meters was hit in 60.3, the 800 meters in 2:00.33, and Komen was in front. Komen, Lagat, Kiplagat were together at the lead through the 1,200 meter mark, hit in 3:03. Two laps from the end, Bernard Lagat took over, looking like the winner. With one lap to go, Silas Kiplagat took off and made this huge move, hurling himself into the lead, much to the astonishment of Bernard Lagat and Daniel Komen.

Silas Kiplagat was not about to give up. He want to win at Madison Square Gardens, and he wanted to beat Bernard Lagat, one of the greatest milers of all times, and a tremendous racer. The pace increased over the last lap, with the last 400 meters covered in 57 seconds, but close as Bernard Lagat might come, Silas Kiplagat kept about two meters between himself and Mr. Lagat.

Silas Kiplagat won the mile in 4:00.65. Bernard Lagat was second in 4:00.92 and Daniel Kipkichir Komen was third in 4:03.82.


This coming weekend, at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Silas Kiplagat will be moving up to the 3,000 meters to face Matt Centrowitz, the 1,500m world bronze medalist from Daegu, and Dejen Gebremeskal, the 5,000m bronze medalist from Daegu. Last year, Gebremeskal took Mo Farah to the final steps, before claiming victory over Farah. And Gebremeskal had only one shoe for most of that 3,000 meter race!

(Mo Farah and Galen Rupp are in the mile, doing a bit of speed work. Mo just won a tough 1,500m in Glasgow last weekend from Augustine Choge. RBR is only suggesting, but this could be a very fast mile. )


The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix should be a wonderful event, with three hours of tremendous track & field. Do not miss it, if you are in the Boston area! Otherwise, before the SuperBowl, turn your eyes to ESPN2 and enjoy two hours of indoor track & field!

Those of us who grew up running in the Midwest have iconic images of races stuck in our heads. From small town races to the big city races, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon not only opened the marathon up to the masses in the midwest, it opened midwest running to the world.

Who can forget Steve Jones running oh so close to the world record, and then breaking it? Khalid Khannouchi owned the city of Chicago for several years, due to his fearless running, and now, Liliya Shobukhova, who has won the women's race three times! And, how we miss the late Sammy Wanjiru, who ran with reckless abandon across the streets of the Windy City, showing his promise and his heart! Those are just a few of the stories of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. 

Chicago is a magnificent city, and its art treasures, architectural features, great shopping and wonderful restaurants rivals anywhere in the world. The continued growth of international runners each year at the Bank of America Chicago marathon shows how the city and marathon work well together. From Mayor Daley to Mayor Emmanuel, Chicago's mayors make it a point to note the contribution from the 40,000 plus runners and their families who visit the Windy City for one wonderful weekend in October.

The attention to detail, the late nights resulting, and the closeness of the teams who put on these events are no different in Chicago than in the Big Apple. From Carey Pinkowski, Mike Nishi, Jeremy Borling, Robyn Monsky and the many others who make the event a reality, the B of A Chicago Marathon is a stunner. From Bank of America and Nike, two of the major sponsors, the event brings together volunteers, and many of Chicago's finest (police and fire professionals) to insure a great event for those who have taken much of the last year, training for the chance run across the Windy City. 

Well, February 1, 2012 is the day when registration opens on this great event. Don't miss it! Carey Pinkowski and his team at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will make it worth your while!

And the Windy City will welcome you, for days afterwards, as you walk a bit slower, but enjoy the sites better, after your 26.2 mile sojourn through all that is Chicago.

So, this started as the beginning of Elliott Denman's piece on the U.S. Open, then I decided to rewrite and try and be more inclusive. I saw some good things at the US Open, and liked that Budweiser came in as a sponsor at end. I will be at NB, USA Indoor, World Indoor, and a few other events (Brooks PR invitational), writing about our sport and observing. Here are my observations so far, and my invitation for others to write about the sport that we all love, and want to see flourish.

The Armory NB Track & Field Center has given nearly 100,000 athletes a year a chance to run, jump and throw. Given the financial situation with many schools, indoor track & field is the sport for many kids in New York.

The Millrose Games will be sold out in the Armory, with an SRO crowd of probably 4,500. The Millrose Games will have some fantastic fields and some real chances at records. They are also now building for the future, making a deal with YouTube SPORTS, for track & field coverage of their events for years to come. The good news is that young fans will have a chance to see the meet. 

Face it, for sports marketers to make their dollars, get their eyeballs, terrestrial TV is still the way to go. You Tube focuses on 17-35 year olds like bees on honey. Young adults live on You Tube. It is a way to build into the future. And it looks like they have invested in a film crew and producer who understands the needs of sports TV in this day and age. One camera showing runners pass the finish line will not do it.

The Millrose Games, far from going away, is now investing in the future. At this time, terrestrial TV ( ESPN, ESPN2) has the reach and pull to gain viewers. You Tube Sports will become a player down the road, as more and more young viewers watch sporting events from their Iphone and androids.

The Millrose, for the traditionalists, will change. Perhaps, that was needed to shake things up. We are all looking to see how the Millrose does in its new home.