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Running: Bannister, barriers are two hot topics
By JOE SHAFRAN, For The Capital
We’re hearing about running records these days. The television networks have done a movie re-run on Roger Bannister, who almost 50 years ago, ran the sub- 4 minute mile and there I’ve been these past weeks predicting that this was the year that we would see a sub-two hour marathon at the recent Chicago 26 miler and that it would be run by a previous Chicago winner who had done it in about two hours and five minutes. That was Khalid Khannoucci now in his thirties and who had boasted that he would shave 5 minutes off his time. if the temperature were right and if the wind was to his back and I’ve been exhorting you to put your money on him. After all, we’ve seen the 2 hour 4 minute marathon done in Europe in recent years, and with his experience on the Chicago course, Khalid was a natural..Anybody who has run Chicago will tell you that it’s a fast track and would be the place for breaking the record if the temperature were in the forties and if the wind was at the runner’s back for a while . Well, the wind was at ones back and the temperature was just right, but Khalid didn’t run. The first of October, there were rumors that he would not run the race because of recent surgery. And about , about a week before the race, Kahlid announced on his website that he would not run but would be at the start line to encourage others. Forty thousand were signed up for the run. . The winner was Felix Limo of Kenya who did it in 2 hours and 7 minutes. But back to the sub-two hour marathon . I may be expecting too much. This comes from an expert on running, Ted Poulos of McLean Virginia whose exploits are well known in this area. In a taping for a soon-to-be shown sports television show, he was asked about the possibility of a record marathon and this was his response :.“ As for a sub -2 hour marathon I believe that will happen 5 to 10 years from now. It will take two individuals to push each other the whole way on a flat course with perfect weather conditions. I would expect it to be an East African from Ethiopia or Kenya, but anything is possible. It will also be somebody who will post tremendous track times (world records) in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, in the year or two before a sub-2 hour Marathon” In an op-ed piece in the recent Runner’s Gazette, we are told that Poulos , in his 20 year running career had participated in close to 4,000 races and has won a thousand of them. In the article it’s noted that Poulos has done races from a 2,000 Meter ( metric mile) to marathons. The winner of the Chicago this year was Felix Limo of Kenya in 2:07:04. Nine others from Kenya made the top ten, all under 2:12. As for locals, there was a group of midshipmen from the Naval Academy , members of the Marathon Club. I had predicted success for them and at least this turned out to be so. I said just about everyone in the Club would finish in a bit less than or a few minutes over three hours and and the results of the first ten that you’ll see below bore me out. . .
And on a clear day in Baltimore on Saturday October 15th, 33 year old Mykola Antonenko of the Ukraine won the marathon in 2:15;40. . There was a very good showing of locals in Baltimore. As a matter of fact, I was impressed with many female runners from this area whose names are not the usual you see in some of the shorter races that I suspect they pass up to prepare for the Baltimore. And I hear rumors that they might revive the Washington D.C. marathon. What town with a baseball team doesn’t have a marathon ?
And then there’s the upcoming annual 5K that makes my mouth water. One of the promoters of the race, an Annapolis lawyer, Jonas Legum, makes sure I am aware that they put out “ all you can eat” Krispy Kreme and Ben and Jerry’s after the race and walk, and although it is decadent, what runner who might not have eaten breakfast would pass up those treats ? This is the 8th annual Victim’s Fund 5K and 2 mile walk , starting at 8:15 ,Sunday November 6th at the Park Plaza Shopping Center on Rte. 2, at Severna Park. It’s put on by the State’s Attorney’s Office together with the Take Back Our Streets folks. Sunday morning, you have the parking lot to yourself.. Contact Shelda George. 410-222-1740 ext. 3829.
I do run into a lot of people locally who comment on this column, but never did I think that I would get comment from someone 600 miles away at our recent high school class reunion in Western Pennsylvania. I didn’t know this but one of my classmates has lived in Edgewater for years and while not into competitive running, she not only reads the column, but sends it to many of our classmates. I said I have to make mention of it but she made me promise I wouldn’t use her name. Hasn’t changed a bit in a few decades.
Race Results
Chicago Marathon, Oct. 9
Naval Academy Marathon Club results
(First 10 finishers with place and chip times)
Wallace Miller, 132, 2:38:39, Douglas Marsh, 243, 2:47,:22. Dermont Killian 269, 2:48:29.John Rashap, 272. 2:48:41, Timothy O´connor , 292, 2:49:27, Scott Wood, 337, 2:51:16, Michaeal Moorse, 358, 2:52:23, Jordan Adler, 398, 2:54:07, Patrick Johnsen, 512, 2:57:34, Brad Reed, 895, 3:05:01 and Nathan Nudelman (coach), 995, 3:06:36.
Baltimore Under Armour Running Festival Marathon, Oct 15
Robert Mosely, 50, of Arnold came in 50th at 3:07:28 and Bob Cawood, 27, of Annapolis was 65th in 3:12:07
Top local female finishers: 19, Jennifer Sullivan, 40, Annapolis, 3:23:36; 23, Marjorie Boyd, 44, Annapolis 3:26:03; 72. Mary Lang, 51, Pasadena, 3:45:09; 114. Kathy Cloyd, 31, Odenton 3:54:26; 129. Ali Hollander, 28, Annapolis, 3:57:51; 204. Bethany Lowe, 27, Odenton , 4:10:17; 246. Margaret O´conner, 48, Severna Park, 4:15:17; 420, Brenda Norman, 48, Annapolis , 4:36:29; 695, Shayne Sewall, 26, Annapolis, 5:26:12
Running Calendar
Saturday Oct. 29: Ocean City, 9 a.m., Inlet Parking Lot (South end of beach). 10 mile and 5K runs. Come in costume. (5K on the Boardwalk) .Call 1-800- OC- OCEAN.
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