New York Half Marathon 2011

The New York Half Marathon was held the Sunday just (yes, they hold other running events there apart from the marathon!) and competing for the first time over the distance were Great British hope Mo Farah and his new training partner Galen Rupp.

Mo had switched coaches from Alan Storey (of Britain) and transported himself, and his family, across the pond to join Alberto Salazar's rather elite group of athletes which included - in addition to Rupp - Alan Webb; Dathan Ritzenhein and Kara Goucher.  Alberto Salazar works for the Nike's Oregon Project and speculation was rife as to whether Mo, an Adidas sponsored athlete, would make the switch (back) to Nike.  This race was the first in which we saw Mo adorned with the Nike Oregon Project kit.

But the real story, was not Mo's defection, but as to what Galen Rupp was wearing on his face during most of the race.  Though shorn of it through the later stages of the race, once he had left Central Park (which in itself probably gives a good indication as to what it's purpose was), for the first eight miles he sported a rather fetching face mask.  Rather akin to something a ninja would wear, or a character off Mortal Kombat.  The whole black outfit, with black arm warmers, gloves and hat, certainly helped support the image.

Personally, whilst I do like the ninja look (as my video collection will attest to) I think he should have gone one step further and run dressed as a member of Altern 8.

(He is even rocking the Mo Farah race win celebration pose.)

But will the look catch on?  Will we all, up and down the land, take to wearing the Rupp Mask, in a desperate bid to improve performance, much like compression socks or BreatheEasy strips?  The jury is still out but watch this space...you never know, you may yet see a bunch of ninjas running along in a park near you!

People talking shit

Ah, yes!  People talking shit (not, me, you understand...as if I would!).  More specifically people talking shit about running.

I was in the gym the other day and overheard a conversation taking place between two blokes in the changing room.  The first chap had just told the other that he was going to do a run (on the treadmill) as his workout for the day.  The second chap then started going on about how running is BAD for you: buggers up your joints; you have problems when you are older; blah blah blah.  He used himself as an example and, as another example, used ex-runners that he had spoken to...runners who had been running for years and had completed thirty+ marathons.

Firstly, you have to picture the size of this bloke - he was big.  Very big.  I would have guessed at about seventeen to eighteen stone.  He had the build of someone who went to the gym big and fat, and then proceeded to do a load of upper body weights to make himself look even bigger and fatter.  That he had had problems with running would not surprise me, considering the about of weight he was carrying around.  Of course, it probably would have escaped his attention to go at it slowly, build up the distance, then speed, over time.  No, I am sure, like many newbies, he got on that treadmill and ran as fast as he could for as long as he could, and staggered off, ten minutes later, a quivering, sweating mess.  Probably emitted a few noisy grunts and exhalation of air whilst he was at it.

And as for his ex-runners...thirty marathons!?!  Well quelle suprise!  The body was not built to run thirty marathons - it is not a surprise, the impact on the body, when you consider just how many miles must have gone into not just running those marathons, but training for them also.

But this chap was not going to run thirty marathons, and he probably weighed at most twelve stone.  He was going for a run on the treadmill, probably for twenty/thirty minutes, to keep fit.  Probably not worth the doomsaying he got.

But the point is, people do talk a lot of shit about running, and it's effects - in particular, people who do not run.  Running is like anything else; do it in moderation and you will be fine.

Thought of the Day

I have been on Facebook now for a couple of years and what on there really makes me chuckle (HoHo!) is when someone gets fraped (which I assume stands for Facebook raped).  Reading the various different frapes, in itself, highlights the differences in the sexes.

If a girlfriend/wife/whatever frapes their partner, she will say something sweet along on the lines of "I love my girlfriend/wife/whatever very much".  The most risque thing that is written is proclaiming their partners love of washing up or baking cakes.  However, if the boyfriend/husband/yawn frapes his partner then he will put something like, "I like it up the bum".  All very amusing (assuming it is not true...and if it is, why not upload the video!) of course, but the one that got me thinking today was, if a bloke gets fraped by a mate of his then nine times out of ten the mate will write something along the lines of "I just wanted everyone to know I am gay.  O, it is so liberating coming out the closest".  Chortle, chortle!

But what I want to know is what if you actually are gay, and openly so...how do your fiends frape you then?  Do they say something like "I just wanted everyone to know I was only joking all this time, I really am straight"?

Not exactly running related, mind...but at least I know have proof that I do, despite the accusations, think about other things other than running.  I must go and tell Mrs McNude...she will never believe me.