Leonard Komen, Campaccio XC 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net

Tirunesh Dibaba, Olympic 5,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net

It is Saturday morning in Chicago. I am up in the Palmer Hilton, catching up on my writing. Busy couple of days in Chicago. The build up to the Bank of America Chicago marathon is always a good indication on the health of the sport. The expo at the McCormick center is just crazed on Saturdays, when I go over. I like to check in on the expo booths and speak to runners, seeing how they are doing and where they are at with the sport. Is the economy effecting their running?

This weekend, there are over 20 major marathons around the world. In MInneapolis, there will be the Medtronic TC Ten Mile and the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. And do not even county the 1,000 major cross country invitationals across the country!

One more point. Figuring out what is real and hyperbole in the sales of businesses is an art form. The Competitor group is up for sale, that is a fact.

Who will be purchasing the multi media company is anyone’s guess. The owners of Tour de France were mentioned, but, per keen observers, up to four different global companies have looked at Competitor. Time will tell who will be the new owners of Competitor.

DIBABA AND KOMON FOR 7HILLS

NIJMEGEN (NED): The 29th edition of the ABN AMRO Zevenheuvelenloop (Seven Hills race) on November 18 will have both 15 km world record holders competing. Leonard Komon (41:13) and Tirunesh Dibaba (46:28). She achieved her record mark in this event in 2009 and debuted last September at Half Marathon distance with 1:07:32. Komon got also the world record here in 2010. Another top name announced is the olympic marathon silver medalist and double world champion Abel Kirui.

TITLE DEFENDERS RETURNING

KOSICE (SVK): The oldest marathon in Europe the 89th edition of International Peace Marathon of Kosice is getting record participation numbers for this Sunday. For all races it looks like the participation limit of 7500 runners will be for the first time in the history achieved. Last year there were 6600 participants. More than 1000 will compete in the marathon and more than 2000 in the half marathon. Group of 12 elite male runners (10 Kenyans and 2 Ethiopians) will chase in expected good weather for running (it is forecasted that on Sunday will be colder than last days) the course record of Gilbert Chepkwony 2:08:33 from 2010. Six Kenyans have sub 2:10 personal bests. Koln winner 2009 Evans Ruto 2:08:36, experienced Laban Kipkemboi 2:08:38, the youngest from favorites Peter Kurui 2:08:56 followed by former Qatari Bellor Yator 2:09:21, Vincent Kiplagat 2:09:22 and Porto winner Philemon Baaru 2:09:51. But the best knowledge of the fast city course has the title defender Elijah Kemboi who has as personal best twice 2:11:15 from last year when winning in Kosice and Antverp earlier. Two Ethiopians in the race are Belete Gezu with 2:10:34 Carpi win last year and Mehari Baraki with 2:10:35 from last year Nice Marathon. Kenyans will be going for record 10th win in Kosice since 2000. In women race Belarus title defender Maryna Damantsevich returns with new personal best 2:32:28 from Vienna in April and aims to break 2:30. That would be for the first time here as the course record stands at 2:30:50 (Ukrainian Olena Burkovska in 2009). She will have 3 Ethiopian and 1 Kenyan rival. Hellen Mugo is the most experienced with 2:27:16 Carpi win in 2010 and 2:29:06 11th in Boston 2011. This year she clocked 2:30:01 while being 5th in Seoul. Also sub 2:30 PB for Shuri Diriba, she clocked 2:28:26 in Dubai 2009, Makida Wordofa and Ehitu Kiros got their bests in Roma this year (2:32:11 and 2:34:05). Prize money is based on winning time, in case of sub 2:07 the 1st place is 20 000 E, in case of new course record 15 000 and in case of sub 2:10 it is 12 000 E. On the women side 15 000 E is for sub 2:26 winner, 10 000 E for sub 2:30 winner. Also competing in his 28th marathon will be former prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda the only Slovak who appearaed in the Larry King Live CNN show after running the New York Marathon in 2001. In total now 283 sub 2:20 men times and 185 sub 3:00 women times are registered in the history of the race. This years edition is devoted to legendary Australian John Farrington who won Kosice 40 years ago in 1972 (2:17:34) and will be himself present. The weather forecast for Sunday is at 15 degrees with possibility of rain. Live stream at event websitewww.kosicemarathon.com.

OTHER NEWS

WEEKEND: Not only Chicago and Kosice with Brussels. Other top marathons will be staged this weekend. In Europe Zagreb, Budapest, Bucuresti Bila Tserkva in Ukraine, Verona, Bregenz. Overseas Twin Cities in USA, Portland, Victoria, Colombo, Buenos Aires.

CHICAGO (USA): Elite entrant of Sunday Chicago Marathon Raji Assefa of Ethiopia has withdrawn from the competition. At the request of the Ethiopian Federation, he will compete in the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday in Kavarna, Bulgaria.

BRUSSELS (BEL): This Sunday 9th Brussels Marathon is expecting in total 12 000 participants. Kenyan favorites are Kenneth Korir and Josh Mutai. Last year participation was 11 000 and winning Kenyan Paul Kiprop achieved 2:14:51.

WASHINGTON (USA):Paulmerca.blogspot.com is posting a note written by University of Washington grad, two time Olympian, former world indoor & outdoor champion, and American record holder Brad Walker on his Facebook page talking about the next chapter of his vaulting career. Upon reflection of the last four years, which included battling injuries that caused him to miss the 2009 world championships in Berlin, along with no-heighting i
n the Olympic pole vault finals in London in August, he’s come to the conclusion that this country â€žneeds a high performance center where we can take a more professional approach to jumping high.”

BERLIN (GER): Agent Gerard Van de Veen responded to Toni Reavis blog about what happened in last part of Berlin marathon and discussions about â€žcooperation” between Geoffrey Mutai and Dennis Kimetto: â€žTo be very clear: there was no ‘deal’ between Geoffrey and Dennis!!! Yes, the pacemakers were very disturbed by getting wrong information.”

LJUBLJANA (SLO): Slovenian steeple record holder Bostjan Buc (32) was suspended for one year by his national anti-doping agency because he three times did not provide correct information about his stay for the whereabouts system. His ban started on September 21 this year.

NAIROBI (KEN): Standard Nairobi International Marathon will have a record Sh123m sponsorship kitty with organisers aiming at achieving the highest ever participant number of 20,000 for the tenth edition on October 28. This comes after the bank that has set aside Sh80m for this year’s event pledged to renew their title sponsorship for another five years after the current deals ends on race day. All-Africa.com informs. Last year, the event attracted 17 000 participants and organisers are confident they will meet the challenge of accommodating 3,000 more this year.

BOSTON (USA): Race Results Weekly writes that the biggest non-marathon cash prize in road running will be on the line on Sunday when the inaugural three-race B.A.A. Distance Medley concludes at the 12th B.A.A. Half-Marathon in Boston. The overall male and female series winners–determined by the lowest total time from the B.A.A. 5-K, B.A.A. 10-K and the B.A.A. Half–will each be awarded 100 000 USD.

DONETSK (UKR): The preparations for IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk 2013 are running at high speed. All concerned authorities met and agreed that the proper coordination of all actions is necessary. It is overseen by vice Prime Minister Boris Kolesnikov.

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

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