Run-Down Forums

[Micah Ward]

The US middle and distance runners didn't do too bad so far. Kara Goucher with a 3rd in the 3000 and Matt Tegenkamp with a 3rd in the 5000. And His Goofiness The Gabe takes 4th in the 1500.
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[Dan]

That 1500 was so slow, it took a 49 second last lap to eke out the win. That sort of race favors a kicker like Gabe, so I'm not surprised he was able to place well.

Dan
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[Micah Ward]

I just ran across something interesting. Gabe ran the 2005 California International Marathon finishing 2nd in a time of 2:19:32. I have no idea how serious he took it or what training he did for it. In the same article he said he was planning on running the White River 50 Mile (which is one of the major ultras of the year) but his travel plans didn't work out.
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[Dan]

It's tough to travel to all those meets on a bike.

I had no idea he'd been doing stuff that long. Interesting.

Dan
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[Micah Ward]

The bike....I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He said in the same article that his Indian heritage is calling him to run one of the 100 mile races. So let's see what he can do at Western States.
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[Dan]

I always wondered what his cultural background is. I've seen his parents a number of times, and they definitely have a Native American look to them.

Dan
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[Micah Ward]

It would be interesting to see what Gabe would do if he really concentrated on an ultra but I doubt we will see him or anyone else of his caliber do it. Another thing he said in the article was that there wasn't enough money in the ultra world to attract him. Kind of sounds funny coming from him though....he is one of the last I would have thought would be that concerned with money.

But the money thing is a factor. Someone who is good enough to make a living from running marathons and shorter races isn't going to step up to ultras because the money isn't there. There have been some ultrarunners with impressive credentials at shorter distances though. Ann Trason had a marathon PR in the 2:30's and Frank Bozanich who won several ultra national championships in the 70's and 80's had a sub 30:00 10K and a marathon in the 2:20's. Ted Corbett, the father of American ultrarunning made the Olympic marathon team in the 1950's. And of course Alberto Salazar won the very prestigious 56 mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa in his one and only ultra attempt.

So we may see some guys that can run 2:15 marathons and women that can run 2:30 marathons move up to ultras I doubt we will see the sub 2:10 guys or sub 2:25 women move up.
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