Got a call from my protégé of the last 30 years, Andre Lejeune. He of the fabulous wealth and grinding talent, at 49 years old, attempting to dip under 3 hours for the first time ever. Spot on for up to 30K, they always say the Race Starts at 20 Miles. New York City, Andre, If you can break it there, you can break it anywhere. Alas, not in the cards for this year’s edition of one of the best marathons in the world. And I have to say that the winning 2:10 and 2:24 were not the stuff legends are made of. Yawner in fact.
And just because I have to: Many years ago I was dinner guest with NYRR Executive Director and NYC Marathon Race Director Mary Wittenberg. Sat right next to her in the midst of what was then called the “New York Mafia”. David Monti, NYC Professional Athlete Coordinator; Sam Grotewald, heir apparent, all the usual USATF wigs. The next morning I would be standing on the finish line at Ichan Stadium, holding the finish tape, cat bird seat, as Deena Kastor set a new 8K AR. A few years later Wittenberg and her predecessor Alan Steinfeld would intersect with me again in Rio de Janeiro, ah the circles I’ve seen.
Stacy got the job done down in Tulsa, bringing home the 45-49 age group 15K National Championship. Better make room on that shelf next January Stacy! Linda didn’t run so great, and Bob Garcia seems to have suffered a similar fate. Hills, hills, hills.
The Good Life Halfsy was an erstwhile, ersatz LRC Racing exercise. The top three finishers all sporting Lincoln airs. Winner Eric Noel of San Luis Obispo, CA followed by Tom Nichols of Parker, CO and Tanner Fruit of Colorado Springs, CO. For the distaff side it was Boulder, Des Moines, and Westminster, CO taking the podium spots. Six podium places. Not a single bona fide Nebraska resident on the steps. My promise to Ben and Jason: NRGE’s Kevin Joerger will occupy one of those 3 respected tiers in 2016, sporting a local kit and zip code.
Nebraska Run Guru Elite, INC. Excellence.
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