Dateline” San Francisco Chronicle October 21st 2008

There were over 20,000 competitors in Sunday’s Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco. And 24-year-old Arien O’Connell, a fifth-grade teacher from New York City, ran the fastest time of any of the women.

But she didn’t win.

It doesn’t get much simpler than a footrace. All it takes is a starting line, a finish line and a clock. You fire the gun and the first person to the end of the course is the winner.

However, as the marathon officials said to O’Connell - not so fast.

While O’Connell had the greatest run of her life and covered the course faster than any woman, she was told she couldn’t be declared the winner because she didn’t run with the “elite” group who were given a 20-minute head start.

So what could have been a lovely Cinderella story about a young woman rising above her expectations in a race that bills itself as all about empowering women turned into a strict the-rules-are-the-rules edict. That’s not the image we’re trying to promote here.

San Francisco has become one of those destination locations for the new breed of distance runner. Between the San Francisco Marathon in July and the Nike race - billed as the largest women’s marathon in the world - over 40,000 runners will visit this year.

It is great that these events are held here, but they are also representing the city. What we are hoping is that they leave town talking about the terrific location, the great restaurants and the perfectly organized event. Instead, we look like we don’t know how to operate a stopwatch.

“That’s pretty weak,” said Jon Hendershott, associate editor of the authoritative Track and Field News magazine, based in Mountain View. “Think of the PR they could have had with this girl coming out of nowhere. It sounds like they got caught totally off guard.”

O’Connell, who describes herself as “a pretty good runner,” had never managed to break three hours in five previous marathons. But as soon as she started at 7 a.m. Sunday, she knew it was her day. In fact, when she crossed the finish line 26.2 miles later, her time of 2:55:11 was so unexpectedly fast that she burst into tears.

“I ran my best time by like 12 minutes, which is insane,” she said.

At the awards ceremony, the O’Connell clan looked on as the top times were announced and the “elite” female runners stepped forward to accept their trophies.

“They called out the third-place time and I thought, ‘I was faster than that,’ ” she said. “Then they called out the second-place time and I was faster than that. And then they called out the first-place time (3:06), and I said, ‘Heck, I’m faster than her first-place time, too.’ ”

Just to make sure, O’Connell strolled over to a results station and asked a race official to call up her time on the computer. There it was, some 11 minutes faster than the official winner.

“They were just flabbergasted,” O’Connell said. “I don’t think it ever crossed their minds.”

No one seemed exactly sure what to do. The trophies had already been handed out and the official results announced. Now organizers seem to be hoping it will all go away.

“At this point,” Nike media relations manager Tanya Lopez said Monday, “we’ve declared our winner.”

O’Connell said some race officials actually implied she’d messed up the seeding by not declaring herself an “elite” runner.

“If you’re feeling like you’re going to be a leader,” race producer Dan Hirsch said Monday, “you should be in the elite pack.”

So this is her fault? O’Connell was just being modest.

“I’m a good, solid runner,” she said. “I never considered myself elite.”

Jim Estes, associate director of the long-distance running program for USA Track and Field, did his best to explain the ruling. He’s had some practice with the issue. The Sunday before last, at the Chicago Marathon, a Kenyan named Wesley Korir pulled off a similar surprise, finishing fourth even though he wasn’t in the elite group and started five minutes after the top runners.

In that situation, and in this one, Estes made the same ruling: It didn’t count. O’Connell wasn’t declared the winner and Korir didn’t collect fourth-place prize money.

“The theory is that, because they had separate starts, they weren’t in the same race,” Estes said. “The woman who is winning the elite field doesn’t have the opportunity to know she was racing someone else.”

Estes admits that giving the elite runners a sizable head start may not be the best policy.

“These are things this race and other races need to look at,” Estes said. “It comes down to what a race is, and who is racing who.”

Nonsense, said Track and Field News’ Hendershott. He said O’Connell took her best shot, ran the fastest and should have won.

“What’s she supposed to do, lay back because she’s not an elite runner?” he asked. “If the elites are going to lay back, that’s their fault.”

As for O’Connell, she’s not bitter. After all, she got her best time ever, had a nice weekend in San Francisco and comes home with a story.

But she didn’t win. Maybe the best way to explain that is to say it is just another case of the elites in San Francisco giving the city a bad name.

C.W. Nevius’ column runs Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail him at cwnevius@sfchronicle.com.

Tower of Terror 13K Race Grows in Popularity

Running Orlando and More than 3,200 Runners Already Set for a Scary Fun Time

At the 2^nd Annual Nighttime Race at Disney

Building upon the success of the inaugural The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror 13K, the second annual race on Oct. 25 will host hundreds of additional runners. With time remaining to register, more than 3,200 runners – roughly 200 more than entered last year’s 13K race – already are set to participate in the nighttime event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The race kicks off at 10 p.m. with a dazzling fireworks display lighting the sky above the famous The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror attraction as runners begin the 8.1-mile journey across the Walt Disney World Resort. Runners venture off to Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, then head back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios where they run through the set of Lights! Motor! Action! Extreme Stunt Show and past Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. At the finish, each participant will receive a medal shaped in the image of the Tower of Terror .

There will be an exclusive post race party for runners at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. that features live entertainment plus exclusive ride opportunities on Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, the Great Movie Ride, and Star Tours.

Go to 2007 Tower of Terror 13K to view a video of last year’s event.

While online registration has ended, runners can sign-up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios package pickup on Oct. 24-25. Race registration is $85 and includes a Tower of Terror 13K Champion Tech T-shirt. Additional race party tickets can be purchased for friends and family – $30 for ages 10-up and $20 for ages 3-9 – before the race online at www.disneyenduranceseries.com or at the package pickup area on race day.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K is part of the Disney’s Endurance Series, which gives recreational athletes of all ages and abilities the chance to walk, jog, run, bike and swim their way “around the world.” From marathons to road races to triathlons, athletes from across the country and around the world compete to stay in shape, achieve personal-best times and raise donations for charitable causes.

About Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex

Opened in 1997 at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex is a leading sports and entertainment venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States . The 220-acre, state-of-the-art complex features The Milk House, a 165,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,500 for basketball; the 9,500-seat Champion Stadium ballpark; Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; and Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport field house. In addition, the complex has 11 tennis courts, including a stadium court, and a track & field complex. The complex is home to more than 180 amateur and professional sports and entertainment events each year, including the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, the Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves spring training, a Tampa Bay Rays regular-season series, the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, Chelsea Football Club events, the Special Olympics Florida Summer Games and the AAU National Championship events. Visit www.disneysports.com for more information

Using a Pace Calculator is a great tool for any runner. Just Enter Distance & Time to Calculate Your Pace.  Active.com has a very easy to use pace calculator. In fact the site has several Fitness Calculators you may find helpful.

Running Orlando posts videos helpful to runners of every level. There is nothing more important than stretching and you will find a stretch for everything in this section.  The first video below shows a few simple calf stretches and achilles stretches. The other videos are on a rotation so just click to see what you like.  There are plenty tips and stretches to keep you busy.

Enjoy Other Running Related Videos from Running Orlando.

Disney Race for the Taste 10K Race Results

What a great event today at Walt Disney World. I hope everyone had an awesome time.  Send in your photos and we will post them. Now go take a look at the Disney Race for the Taste 10K race results.

The Race for the Taste 10K Results are in!

Disney Race for the Taste 10K Course

Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K is your opportunity to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Epcot® International Food and Wine Festival as you run through the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort. There’s no better place to find incredible food from around the world than at the finish line of Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K.

Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K features:

• Ceremonial toast and fireworks at the start line
• A unique race course through Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ and the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival complete with on-course Disney entertainment
• Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K Post-Race Picnic including Taste Stations from the Epcot International Food & Wine festival and fun for the whole family!
• New for 2008! With the purchase of the Picnic Ticket, friends and family can now visit the Taste Stations at the Post-Race Picnic with you!
• Canned food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank
• Athlete refreshments at the Finish Line
• Chip timed event with online results
• Awards presented to the top three male, female, military, and age group winners and male and female champions in the masters and wheelchair divisions

Each participant in Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K will receive:

• Collectible Pint Glass
• Goody Bag
• Personalized bib (must register before September 1)
• Race for the Taste 10K Finisher medal
• Food samplings from the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival at the Post-Race Picnic

Restaurant Challenge
Restaurants are invited to join in the fun of Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K by registering a team for the Restaurant Challenge. Awards will be presented for overall best time and highest team participation.

Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival
After you run through the World Showcase at Epcot® during Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K, we invite you to embark on an epicurean adventure as the 12th Annual Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival (open at 11:00 am, park admission is required) showcases the flavors of the world. Explore marketplaces featuring regional foods and wines.  Learn from renowned chefs and winemakers at special programs and demonstrations and sample the finest cuisine from around the globe.  Plus, be sure to savor the sizzling sounds of the “Eat to the Beat” concert series that stars a stellar line-up of popular musical acts!

Race for the Cure Orlando

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Orlando event was awesome. Over 6,000 people showed up to Race for the Cure. With support like that I hope a cure is close. Running Orlando had and awesome time at the event with the following exceptions:

1. Parking
2. Parking
3. Parking

Next Year I’m just gonna run from my house in Lake Mary down to Disney. It will be quicker.

Here are the Susan G. Komen Orlando Race Results
courtesy of Track Shack

Orando Running Events

Race entry fees vary depending on the event you wish to participate in. From now until September 24th, the 5K fun run/walk and 1 mile walk are $25 and the 5K Competitive Chip Race and Sleep in for the Cure events are $30. Fees will increase by $5 from September 25th through October 4th. The Kiddie Dash race is $15 from now until Saturday, October 4, 2008.

Online registration will end on September 30, 2008; but you may still register in person on Saturday, October 4th or Sunday, October 5th.

On Sunday, October 5th registration fees will be $35 for the 5K fun run/walk and 1 mile event and $20 for the Kiddie Dash race. Please note, registration for the 5K Competitive Chip Race will end on Saturday, October 4th.

RACE INFORMATION

PACKET PICK-UP WILL BE HELD
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008 from 10 AM – 4PM
at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex.

RACE DAY INFORMATION

Technorati Profile

October 04, 2008 The Greater Maitland 5K, Maitland, Fl

October 05 2008 Central Florida Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Lake Buena Vista Florida

October 11, 2008 Christian Stafford’s “Feel the Force 5K” Clermont, Fl

October 11, 2008 Avalon Park Husky Trot 5K, Orlando, Fl

October 11, 2008 Donnadine Miller Memorial GPA 5K, Daytona Beach, Fl

October 12, 2008 Disney’s Race for Taste 10K, Lake Buena Vista, Fl

October 12, 2008 Publix Family Fitness Weekend 5K, Cypress Gardens Theme Park

October 18, 2008 Faith Lutheran Church 5K, Eustis, Florida

October 19, 2008 U Can Finish 5 Miler, Orlando, Fl

October 25, 2008 28th Annual Dick Batchelor Run for the Children 5K, Orlando, Fl

October 25, 2008 Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fl

October 26, 2008 Inaugural Daytona Beach Half Marathon, Daytona Beach Fl

Orlando Running Events

5K: Orangewood is proud to present the 4th annual Greater Maitland 5K. This years event represents milestones in growth of the annual 5kevent and the debut of the new educational and ministry additions to the campus. We are also happy to announce the addition of Shepherd’s Hope as an additional beneficiary for this years event. Come join the community and help build the foundation for giving to those in times like these that need it most.

Start: Race start time is 7:30 am at the back entrance to Orangewood on Sandspur Rd. The course: winds through the neighborhoods of Lk Sybelia for a grand finish at the grounds of the new Maitland Community Preschool.

Register online at Fleet Fleet until 10/02/08 11:59 PM

You will not find this race at Track Shack so It will probably be a small one. The first 300 People get a Tech-T

See You at the Finish Line!

runningorlando.com