There’s always been a Boston Marathon versus New York City Marathon rivalry going on. But things are a lot more heated now that both city’s teams are headed to the Superbowl.

Universal Sports’ Joe Battaglia is reporting that New York Road Runners’ CEO, Mary Wittenberg, has made a friendly wager with Boston Athletic Association executive director Tom Grilk. Apparently, if the New York Giants win, Grilk will put on an Eli Manning jersey during the 2012 NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K on Saturday, November 3, which takes place during ING New York City Marathon weekend.

And if the Patriots win, then it will be Wittenberg’s turn to wear a Tom Brady jersey at the 2012 B.A.A. 5K on Sunday, April 15 during Boston Marathon weekend.

The inspiration behind the wagers stems from a similar bet made between the governors of both states.

If the Giants lose, New York Governor Mario Cuomo will donate New York-made yogurt, bagels, and cheesecakes to a Massachusetts food bank.

For More: Universal Sports

World-record holder Patrick Makau is on the short list to represent Kenya in the Olympics this summer. Photo: IAAF

On Tuesday, the Kenyan Athletics Federation named 12 athletes who stand a chance at representing their country at the 2012 Olympic Marathon. Not surprisingly, world-record holder in the marathon, Patrick Makau is one of them. On the women’s side, world champion Edna Kiplagat has been named.

The Federation also announced that the final six runners (three male and three female) will be selected after the spring marathon season on April 30.

Other males chosen include Boston and New York champion, Geoffrey Mutai, double world champion, Abel Kirui, and Chicago winner Moses Mosop. Additionally, Frankfurt champ Wilson Kipsang and Emmanuel Mutai are on the provisional roster.

“Arriving at the names was not easy since 150 men and 50 women made the A-Standard qualifications,” said Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat . “Selectors looked at consistency, the ability to win without pace making, discipline and commitment to represent the country when deciding the names.”

Abel Kirui expressed his pleasure at making the first cut.

“I had a vision that I would run the Olympics in 2012 and I’m really ready for it and my mission is to be in the mix for the final squad in April,” he said.

For More: IAAF

The famous five-borough race will once again be televised live. Photo; Health.com

By David Monti

(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

NEW YORK (09-Jan) — New York Road Runners officials released here today the details of a new five-year television deal struck between the nation’s largest not-for-profit race organizer and WABC-TV and ESPN.  The basic framework of the deal, which includes live national television coverage of the ING New York City Marathon, had been reported last week by reporter Ken Belson in the New York Times.

“The ING New York City Marathon is one of the greatest spectacles in all of sport, and today’s announcement is a huge step forward in bringing all of the event’s passion and excitement into homes, live, across the country,” said the Road Runners’ president and CEO Mary Wittenberg in a media release.

The marathon, the world’s largest, will be televised live nationally on ESPN2 and available through WatchESPN from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, and in New York on WABC-TV and 7online.com from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., officials said.  That same afternoon, the ABC network will broadcast nationally a two-hour Marathon highlight show.  The agreement begins with this year’s race on Sunday, November 4.

Moreover, the partnership will also feature coverage of ING New York City Marathon-weekend events and other marquee NYRR races throughout the year, as well as quarterly public service announcements on WABC-TV that highlight the Road Runners’ efforts to encourage running as part of a child’s healthy lifestyle. The deal reunites NYRR with ABC, which carried the first live national broadcast of the Marathon in 1981 and where it aired until 1993.  In recent years, the broadcasts had been on WNBC-TV locally, and on the NBC network nationally via tape delay.

Written by: Sabrina Grotewold

Meb Keflezighi is hoping he can bounce back from his blister blunder at the New York City Marathon and make the Olympic Marathon team. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Is it possible for Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the marathon who most recently finished sixth in a personal best 2:09:13 at the 2011 ING New York City Marathon, to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic marathon team at the Olympic Trials just 69 days later, where he’ll face competition like 2008 Olympic Trials winner and American marathon record holder Ryan Hall, Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, who finished ninth in the Beijing Olympic marathon, and the American 10,000-meter record holder Galen Rupp, who qualified via his first gutsy half marathon but whose intent remains unconfirmed?

He certainly can—he did it in 2004 when he followed his Olympic silver medal in Athens with a runner-up finish at the New York City Marathon 70 days later—and he will. After lowering his personal record to 2:09:13 in New York on Nov. 6, 2011, despite suffering from digestive problems due to the blistering pace, Keflezighi confirmed on a Jan. 5 conference call that he will depart from his home in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., next Thursday to toe the line at the trials in Houston on Jan. 14.

“The key is preparation,” Keflezighi said. “If you do the preparation, you can recover and bounce back well.”

But an absent-minded mistake before the New York City Marathon, followed by an unlucky streak in the weeks following the race, has hampered the 36-year-old’s preparation for the trials race next Saturday. In New York, much like the other 40,000+ runners did, Keflezighi packed his pre- and post-race essentials into his race bag so he wouldn’t forget anything or feel rushed on race morning. The marathon veteran tucked Breathe Right nasal strips into his left racing flat and went to bed. The following morning, when he approached the first mile marker on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, he felt something rubbing in his left shoe—it was the Breathe Right strips. Accustomed to far worse pain than a little rubbing, Keflezighi didn’t stop to remove the strips and ultimately suffered a foot infection—twice. He tried to train after the race anyway and developed a compensation injury in his left knee; he couldn’t even cycle because it put too much pressure on the blistered foot. Keflezighi spent three weeks on the couch with his feet propped up. On top of the freak injury, he caught a cold.

“I wish I had more time, but as any experienced runner knows, you don’t start back from scratch,” Keflezighi said. He says he’s covered the marathon distance, has completed tempo runs and interval workouts and has spent the last several weeks running in the morning and cycling in the afternoon. Still, it’s not lost on Keflezighi that the majority of the trials field are men who are in their prime running years, which is when Keflezighi won the Olympic silver medal and pulled off the double. But Keflezighi isn’t planning to slink away on account of some bad luck. He’ll remain at altitude as long as possible before flying to Houston with the hopes that his fortune might shift.

If he doesn’t make the team in the marathon, Keflezighi will try to make the team in the 10,000m at the track trials this summer. “My plan is to have Skechers make track spikes for me,” he said.

[sig:SabrinaGrotewold]

Written by: David Monti

(c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Geoffrey Mutai ran the fastest marathon in history last year in Boston, breaking the tape in 2:03:02. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Reigning champions Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel will return to the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 16, to defend their titles, organizers reported Thursday.  The race, held every year on Patriots’ Day from Hopkinton to Boston, will be contested for the 116th time this year.

Without the aid of pacemakers Mutai, 30, the #1-ranked marathoner in the world for 2011 by Track & Field News, swept to victory at Boston last year in an improbable course record of 2:03:02, the fastest marathon ever run on a certified course. The self-coached athlete who is sponsored by adidas, followed-up his Boston victory by winning the ING New York City Marathon last November, also setting a course record there (2:05:06).  He became the first man ever to set Boston and New York City Marathon course records in the same year.

“I want to return to Boston to defend my title,” the Kenyan explained through a statement. “I very much liked the race in 2011, because I made the best time ever run in the marathon.”

As part of his training, Mutai will ready himself for Boston by running the San Blas Half Marathon in Puerto Rico on Feb. 5. He will return to Kenya after that to complete his training for Boston.

Kilel, also a 30 year-old Kenyan, earned her Boston victory in a three-way sprint against American Desiree Davila and compatriot Sharon Cherop. She set a personal best 2:22:36, just two seconds up on Davila and and six seconds ahead of Cherop, then tumbled to the pavement in exhaustion.

“I have chosen the Boston Marathon because, of course, I had a good experience by winning in 2011,” said the adidas-sponsored Kilel, who wears her hair in intricate braids. “I hope I can do the same this year.”

The 2012 edition of the Boston Marathon, America’s oldest, will mark the 27th year of financial sponsorship by John Hancock Financial, whose investment in the race makes the participation of the professional athletes possible. With $150,000 going to the race winners, Boston has the highest first place prize in marathon running amongst the five commercial events of the World Marathon Majors, and the largest overall prize purse.

“Throughout our more than quarter century sponsorship of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock has each year honored its commitment to bring the world’s top runners to the race, and knowing the defending champions will return in 2012 is an excellent start to the new year,” said Rob Friedman, head of sponsorship and event marketing at John Hancock.

Boston was the third-largest marathon in the United States in 2011 in terms of finishers (23,879), and according to the independent Association of Road Racing Statisticians the race had the most competitive mens’ field of any marathon in the world last year with 844 quality points, just edging the ING New York City Marathon by five points. Boston’s women’s field was ranked third with 847 points, behind only the Virgin London Marathon (919) and the World Championships (851).

Mayor Bloomberg has no problems with the new event security costs. Photo: WYNC

With the price of the ING New York City Marathon rising $60, many angry runners are asking the question: just what is driving this steep increase? According to the marathon’s governing body, the New York Road Runners, the price change was driven by new costs levied by the New York City Police Department for event security.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is offering no apologies for these costs.

“We would like to have more big events, but at the same time, with a limited budget, the police department’s first priority has to be making sure that we keep terrorists from attacking us and keep street crime down,” Bloomberg said. ”Our objective is to get it to zero.”

Bloomberg went on to add that these new costs are an additional source of revenue for the city. He said that the city only levied costs on organizations that can sustain them.

The New York City Police Department did not respond to WNYC’s request for comment about the new costs.

For More: WNYC.org

Meb Keflezighi is optimistic about his chances at the upcoming U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Photo: PhotoRun.net

The 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the marathon, Meb Keflezighi, is one of the favorites at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, Texas later this month. Keflezighi, who is an Eritrean-born U.S. citizen, recently ran the ING New York City Marathon, where he was the first American to cross the line.

“I’s always a challenge to push your body to get ready for a marathon, and it’s even tougher just 69 days after your last one,” he said of the short span between the Trials and New York. “It took a little while to get back into it, but things are good now. I’m OK with how training has been going.”

Despite the course’s flat and fast nature in Houston, Keflezighi maintains a grounded approach when it comes to expectations at the Trials. “No matter how it’s run, whether it’s uphill, downhill, or flat, a marathon is 26.2 miles, and you have to respect the distance,” he said. “There are a lot of guys who are going to be in great shape…You do all your training to prepare the rest of your body, but coach Joe Vigil used to say what counts on race day is the nine inches above your shoulders.”

For More: Runner’s World

The New York City Marathon will cost approximately $2.29 more per mile next year. Photo: AP

If you find yourself on a tight race budget, you may be shocked to find out that the ING New York City Marathon just got more expensive. Next year, the cost to enter one of the most famous races in the world will rise by $60. In terms of increase-per-mile, this works out to $2.29.

Hardly chump change.

So what’s driving this steep increase? According to an article posted on the Crain’s New York Web site, the main reason for the change is driven by increase costs incurred from the New York City Police Department to shut down the city’s streets and manage traffic.

In terms of specific numbers, members of the New York Road Runners will pay $216. Americans not in the club will pay $255, while non-U.S. citizens will shell out a mind-blowing $347 to race through the five boroughs.

In the same press release, officials from the New York City Marathon indicate that two events introduced this year will return next year: the Marathon Opening Ceremonies and the New York Roar Runner Dash to the Finish 5K.

For More: Crain’s New York

Mary Keitany will have a difficult time repeating her win in London next year. Photo: PhotoRun.net

This year’s third-place finisher at the ING New York City Marathon, Mary Keitany of Kenya, will be returning to the Virgin London Marathon next April.

The news was announced by the marathon’s organizers on Monday. The London Marathon, one of the world’s fastest, comes just three months before the 2012 Olympics, taking place in the same city. Keitany will return as the defending champion. She set the world half-marathon record earlier this year.

A repeat win for Keitany will not be easy. Joining her are fellow Kenyans Edna Kiplagat, Priscah Jeptoo and Florence Kiplagat.

Edna Kiplagat won the 2010 edition of the ING New York City Marathon. Jeptoo was the Paris champion, and Florence Kiplagat won the Berlin Marathon three months ago.

“This has to be one of the most talented women’s fields we’ve ever had and with numerous Olympic places up for grabs I’m sure we’ll see a fantastic race,” said race director Dave Bedford.

For More: Reuters

Both Emmanuel Mutai (left) and Geoffrey Mutai (right) are in contention for Kenya's third Olympic marathon slot. Photo: Getty Images

For the upcoming Olympic marathon in London next year, Kenya sits in a really nice position. Though, it can be argued that its athletes don’t necessarily feel that way. Competition to make the team is unbelievably tough.

How tough?

This tough: of all the 2011 marathon majors, Kenyan men have captured the top spot in every one.

With Berlin Marathon champion and world-record holder Patrick Makau and multiple World Marathon Champion Abel Kirui already selected for the team by Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman Isaiah Kiplagat, the big question is more importantly who will be the third athlete to be chosen?

The list of contenders for this third billet is incredible. At the top of the list is this year’s New York City Marathon champion, Geoffrey Mutai, and the London Marathon champ, Emmanuel Mutai.

“Several of us have run very fast times this year and are not even in the team,” said Emmanuel Mutai.

Also in the mix is Wilson Kipsang who’s 2:03:42 clocking at the Frankfurt Marathon made him the second-fastest official marathoner in the world.

For More: AFP

Three of the Team Challenge members prepare for the half marathon this weekend. Photo: APP

Ten years ago, after watching the memorable ING New York City Marathon, New Jersey runner Todd Katz got inspired. A father of four, Katz bought a treadmill, running shoes, and a training book. His goal: run his first marathon in a year.

He did just that–and more.

Katz has now completed six marathons. Were he a completely healthy runner, Katz’s feats would be impressive in their own right. However, there’s a wrinkle to this story: Katz suffers from ulcerative colitis, known as Crohn’s Disease, a condition that affects the small intestine and results in stomach aches, weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stool, joint pain, and fever.

There are many support groups for those with Crohn’s, but perhaps the one best tailored for runners like Katz is Team Challenge, a division of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). This weekend, 40 members of Team Challenge will be taking to the streets of Las Vegas in the Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon.

“Not everyone in the group is affected by the disease, and our runners and walkers range from total beginners to advanced marathoners, but all are motivated by a desire to do something for a cause and to make a difference in their own or other people’s lives,” says Ashley Chandler, the Manalapan (New Jersey)-based Team Challenge endurance manager.

For More: APP.com

From: Running USA

NEW YORK – New rules for guaranteed entry into the ING New York City Marathon, beginning with the 2012 event, have been announced by New York Road Runners officials.

Due to the increasing worldwide popularity of marathon running, in recent years the ING New York City Marathon has experienced a significant increase in applicants for guaranteed entry, reducing the number of non-guaranteed entries. Analysis shows that if this trend continues, within five years New York Road Runners will no longer be able to offer non-guaranteed entry.

“NYRR believes that non-guaranteed entry is an essential element of the democracy of our marathon, and it enhances the diversity of the marathon field,” said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

In order to preserve non-guaranteed entry to the race, NYRR is changing some standards and policies. The following guaranteed-entry methods will change:

Qualifying by cancelling entry: In the past, applicants to the marathon who canceled their entry according to cancellation guidelines were eligible for guaranteed entry to the following year’s race, and could continue to cancel and receive guaranteed entry in subsequent years. The new policy preserves the guaranteed entry following cancellation but prohibits guaranteed entry by this method following a second consecutive cancellation.

Qualifying by being denied entry three consecutive times: In the past, applicants to the marathon have been eligible for guaranteed entry if they have been denied entry three years in a row. This policy will be eliminated; however, applicants denied entry for the three years 2009-11 will be eligible for guaranteed entry in 2012.

Qualifying by finishing 15 previous New York City Marathons: The ING New York City Marathon offers eligibility for guaranteed entry to runners who have finished 15 or more New York City Marathons, including the previous year. NYRR will discontinue this policy, though all runners who have already accumulated 15 or more finishes as of 2015 will be grandfathered in. Qualifying with a fast marathon or half-marathon time: The ING New York City Marathon has always had time qualifying standards. The time qualifying standards will be tightened to 75-percent age-graded times in five-year increments; for details, go to: www.INGnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/Guaranteed_Entry_Guidelines.htm. Because the 2012 race-qualifying period is already open, this new policy will take effect beginning with the 2013 race.

For additional information regarding the changes to guaranteed entry, visit: INGnycmarathon.org

Ejigu Sentayehu Merga celebrates has he breaks the tape in France on Sunday. Photo: IAAF

Ejigu Sentayehu Merga narrowly won the 5th edition of the “Semi-Marathon Christian Granger Boulogne-Billancourt”, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, last Sunday afternoon.

Nicolas Manza of Kenya’s course record (1:00:12) that was set in 2008 was not under threat as Merga broke the tape in 1:01:38. However, the race was exciting with Merga sprinting ahead of Eritrea’s Estifanos Tewelde who finished a second behind. Tewelde’s second-place finish was a one-second PR and an improvement from his fourth-place showing last year.

Alfred Cherop of Kenya ran 1:04:19 for third place. A month earlier, Cherop had won the Nancy Half Marathon in 1:01:48.

In the women’s race, Goitetom Haftu Tesema took home the title for Ethiopia. Her winning time was 1:10:57–a PR. Haftu Tesema had taken second in the Rome Marathon earlier this year, making her a pre-race favorite. Still, her time was not close to the existing course record held by this year’s ING New York City Marathon Champion Fireiwot Dado (1:09:26).

Adhina Tsehay Desale of Ethiopia and Lucy Macharia of Kenya finished second and third respectively.

For More: IAAF.org

High-paying customers can now see what it's like first-hand to run like a Kenyan. Photo: ESPN

Watching the great Geoffrey Mutai make the arduous ING New York City Marathon look like a cakewalk may have some people pondering how Kenyans like Mutai do it.

The company Micato Safaris is now offering people the chance to see what it’s like to really run like a Kenyan. For a measly $10,255 a person, you can sign up for their “Elite Running Safari”.

According to an article about the safari posted on Forbes.com, “The [elite running safari] program combines visits to high-performance running camps operated by Nike, Adidas and Fila, a tour of the famed Iten High Altitude Training Center, and plenty of running, including training runs with an elite group of world record holders and Olympians, such as Paul Tergat, who held the NYC record from 2003 until last week.”

So if you aren’t a 2:03 marathoner like Mutai, don’t worry, the program isn’t for elites only.

In fact, it’s geared toward runners of all abilities. Along with Tergat, other hosted athletes include three-time Olympic silver medalist Patrick Sang. Tourists will also have dinner at Olympic Champion Kipchoge Keino’s house.

For More: Forbes

NYC marathoner Charles Petraske regrets not brining his parking garage ticket with him. Photo: Parking Armor

It’s the big-city marathon runner’s worst nightmare: forgetting where you parked your car. This nightmare came true for 34-year-old Charles Petraske. He drove his car into midtown Manhattan the Sunday of the ING New York City Marathon, took the bus to the start, and then completed the race in a very respectable time of three hours and 16 minutes.

When he had parked his car, Petraske left the ticket on the dashboard and decided to take $40 and a key with him to the start.

Still sweating after the race, he hailed a cab to Bryant Park and then looked around.

Nothing looked familiar.

The only thing Petraske could remember about the garage was that it was near a a flashing billboard that displayed ads for Coke Mini, New York State Lottery and MasterCard.

The police said they couldn’t help him until the car was towed. Calling random garages didn’t work.

“Nobody could believe I drove to Manhattan and couldn’t remember where I parked,” Petraske said.

Petraske ended up calling his wife from a hotel. She had to drive down from near Albany to pick him up.

For More: Fox Sports

Zoe Koplowitz comes across the finish line on crutches. Photo: Blisstree

It took her well over a day, but she did it. Coming across the finish line of the ING New York City Marathon on Monday was Zoe Koplowitz who suffers from multiple sclerosis. Her official finish time was 31 hours and 20 minutes.

She says she couldn’t be happier.

“It doesn’t matter how long it takes me to finish, it’s that I finish and I finish from the heart,” she said.

Koplowitz is a 63-year-old author and motivational speaker. She owns the world record for the slowest female marathon finishing time. She has suffered from MS since she was 25 and has completed every New York City Marathon since 1987.

A writer for the Blisstree Web site, Deborah Dunham, recalls the first time she witnessed Koplowitz come across the finish line.

“It was 1994…When I walked over there [to the finish], I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was a woman, on crutches, still doing the race. I listened to the crowd marvel over the fact that she had been out there all night and was still going strong, determined to cross the finish line even though she had MS.”

For More: Blisstree.com

Participants in the ING New York City Marathon should try and finish in less than 8.5 hours. Photo: New York Daily News

By the time these ING NewYork City Marathon competitors come through Central Park, it’s dark. The fans are gone. The streets are still littered with squished cups. Workers are dismantling signs and hurrying to get home.

And for these competitors, those who come across the line at  8 1/2 hours or more there may be some bad news: No official time for you.

“Publicly, we have to have a deadline, because we don’t want to encourage people to still be out there running when the roads are reopening, and it just may not be their day,” said Mary Wittenberg, director of the race. “Better to have them come back and try to finish another day.”

According the New York Road Runners, timing and scoring stops after 7 p.m. This is 8 1/2 hours after the start. The marathon’s roads begin to open 6 1/2 hours after the start.

Though their time may not count, they still receive a finisher’s medal. The conclusion of the race is staffed well into the night. 

For More: New York Daily News

ING New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai thinks a sub-two-hour barrier is possible. Photo: AP

Geoffrey Mutai’s incredible performance at the ING New York City Marathon this past weekend (he took a full two minutes off the course record), has many people asking the following question: is a sub-two-hour marathon going to happen soon?

The Washington Post’s Elizabeth Flock writes about this topic and notes that Mutai himself thinks a sub-two-hour marathon is possible. He thinks it depends on the weather conditions and the shape of the runner.

The top American at New York, Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi agrees with Mutai, saying “of course” it’s possible.

An interesting report was posted on Discovery.com that says the mark will be most-likely broken in the next 25 years on a flat and fast course like Berlin or London. Discovery’s report is based on a 1991 scientific paper by Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist and exercise researcher Michael Joyner.

Joyner concludes that it’s theoretically possible for someone to run the race in 1:57:58. A follow-up paper suggests this may happen in the next 12 to 25 years.

For More: The Washington Post

The answer is most likely different for everyone.

Kiki Homer, who lost a brother on 9/11, uses running as a form of therapy. Photo: BBC Sport.

An article posted on BBC Sport’s Web site asks the question many of us ponder when we see a solitary runner: Just what is that person thinking about?

Celebrated Japanese author Huraki Murakami may have put the answer to this question best when he wrote, “I run in a void, or maybe I should put it the other way: I run in order to acquire a void.”

Many people use running to help them recover from tragic events. At this past weekend’s ING New York City Marathon a group of family members who lost loved ones in the 9/11 terrorist attacks ran to commemorate their departed family member. One of these runners was Kiki Homer who’s brother died on that tragic day. He was aboard Flight 93.

“When I’m out there running on Sunday, I know there are going to be moments when I won’t want to continue but I’ll think about my teammates and the 40 passengers on board,” she said.

Homer took part in the first race in 2002, a year after the tragedy.

For More: BBC