Returning to my home from home: Iten, Kenya

By Myles Edwards

At 6pm last night I returned to my home from home.  Not that I needed any extra enthusiasm towards my return to Iten, Kenya but a phone call from Cambridge athletics legend, Mike Turner on the eve of my arrival sent my excitement and determination levels through the roof.

A hero of mine and close friend and inspiration of my father’s, the former English Cross Country Captain and GB Team Manager at the 1988 Soul Olympics has sadly experienced some ill health in recent months.  However, his granite-like grit and trademark resolve are shining through more than ever as he embarks on the recovery process.  To hear a double British Universities and double Inter-Counties Cross Country champion say – “Myles, you’ve never lacked ambition and have all the attributes to be a top athlete” – has given me an incredible buzz and increased determination to make this 3 month spell of altitude training as successful as possible.

The journey from London to Nairobi consisted of sleep, sleep and more sleep.  A hectic week with work and catching up with friends followed by the English National Cross Country 7.5 mile race on Saturday had clearly taken its toll as for the first time in my 23 year career, I declined a meal.

With only 2 flights leaving Nairobi to Eldoret each day I had missed the first one and was not hanging around Eldoret Airport all day until evening.  This left me one option – a 500 mile journey by matatu. For those of you who are not familiar with the matatu, count yourself lucky.  Packed in like sardines is an understatement.  The 14-seater mini bus at one point had 22 passengers and this was including my two 20kg bags taking up two of the ‘seats’.  Safe to say my backside and I were relieved and jubilant when the ordeal finally came to an end.

As soon as I set foot on the famous red dirt roads of Iten, I felt at home.  Within seconds a couple of locals, whom myself and training partner Dan Mulhare had made friends with on our previous trip, recognised me and came running over to greet me.  Local children refused to take no for an answer as they fought to be the one to carry my bags for the 5 minute walk to our place, secretly hoping that they would be full of goodies from the UK.

I write this after waking up on my first morning back in our compound owned by Moses and Linet Masai.  It has been absolutely fantastic to see everyone again.  Either Linet has transformed into a very annoying Rooster who seems hell-bent on disrupting my sleep or the feathered creature awaits her as a gift to mark her return from a fantastic 3rd place finish in Puerto Rico’s World’s Best 10km.

I cannot wait to get stuck into some serious training over the coming weeks but plan to be careful in the next few days to acclimatise and not risk injury.  As many of you know my previous trip to Kenya, whilst being truly inspirational, was unfortunately marred by a shin injury which stopped me doing almost any running.  Thanks to Aberdeen-based Physiotherapist, Ron Coutts, I am confident that I have the tools to manage the injury this time around and make this trip a springboard to future success in the sport.  I am hugely grateful for the unwavering loyalty, support and enthusiasm from my parents.  My father, Mel Edwards, has been an inspiration throughout my life and in particular during the times I have spent on the sidelines due to injury.  Grant Smith’s guidance, advice and coaching played a huge role in my success last season and solid training over the last 3 months and I look forward to carrying out his sessions in Kenya.   The trip would also not have been possible without the support of Body Helix, Fugro Subsea Services, Petrofac and in particular Paradigm Flow Services who have shown great faith in me as an athlete – something which makes me all the more determined to achieve my goals and repay their loyalty.

In half an hour or so I will be heading out for my first run of the trip and hopefully my first pain free run on African soil, with the words of Mile Turner ringing in my ears.  Iten is a truly magical place where you can witness athletes achieving their dreams all around you.  Who knows, I may even be on the shoulder of Olympic 800metres champion, David Rudisha in years to come. Sorry, it seems the altitude has gone to my head already.

Kwa heri for now and thanks for reading.

Myles

Masai and Merga strike gold in Spain

Linet Masai stormed to victory in the Atapuerca Cross country in Bilbao, Spain with Ethiopia´s Imane Merga clinching the mens title.

Masai (left) struck at around the halfway point (approx at 3.9km) and powered home 42 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, Ethiopia´s Belayne Oljira who overtook 3rd place finisher Priscah Jeptoo over the final kilometre. Genzebe Dibaba, the younger sister of Tirunesh, came home in 5th behind her Ethiopian counterpart Ayalew Hiwot.  Masai said she was very pleased with the win a felt strong throughout.

The mens race was much closer to call. A lead pack consisiting of Merga (below), Kidane Tadese, Mesfin Alemu, Vincent Chepkok and Mark Kiptoo dominated the race from start to finish and only 8 seconds seperated them in the end. Merga unleashed his trademark fast finish to strike gold ahead of Tadese, with Alemu out-kicking the 2 Kenyans to take bronze.

Men (9807m)

1. Imane Merga (Ethiopia) 27:21

2. Kidane Tadese (Eritrea) 27:22

3. Humegnaw Mesfin (Ethiopia) 27:24

4. Vincent Chepkok (Kenya) 27:25

5. Mike Kiptoo (Kenya) 27:29

6. Tariku Bekele (Ethiopia) 28:01

7. Ayad Lamdassem (Spain) 28:18

8. Adhanom Abdallah (Eritrea) 28:19

9.  Kiflom Sium (Eritrea) 28:37

10. Carlos Castillejo (Spain) 28:45

Women (7839m)

1. Linet Masai (Kenya) 24:20

2. Belaynesh Oljira (Ethiopia) 24:42

3. Priscah Jeptoo (Kenya) 24:52

4. Ayalew Hiwot (Ethiopia) 25:09

5. Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia) 25:23

6. Fiounnala Britton (Ireland) 25:32

7. Rebecca Cheptege (Uganda) 26:08

8. Hanna Walker (United Kingdom) 26:20

9. Marta Tigabea (Ethiopia) 26:33

10. Analia Rosa (Portugal) 26:42

World record the goal for Wilson in Frankfurt Marathon

By Myles Edwards.  Reporting from Iten, Kenya.

Thousands of Kenyan athletes regard the world marathon record as the potential pinnacle of their career, the Holy Grail, the ultimate goal.  It is why, just like clockwork, at 6am, 10am and 4pm you will see an abundance of runners churning out mile after mile on the red dirt roads of Iten and other Kenyan towns.  Only a handful will reach such a level. 

The sheer depth of Kenyan talent over the marathon distance is perhaps most comprehensively demonstrated by the fact that Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich is officially the 9^th fastest ever man to run 26.2 miles, and only the 8^th fastest among his countrymen.  On the streets of Frankfurt on October 30^th, the world record is a realistic possibility for the popular and charismatic, ‘Kipsang’:

“We as athletes have aims and expectations which become higher and more ambitious as we achieve.  Now my ambition is the world marathon record.”

Wilson Kipsang winning the 2010 Frankfurt Marathon

Speaking at myself and Dan Mulhare’s place in Iten, Kenya, the reigning Frankfurt Marathon champion was in cheerful and confident mood when discussing how he plans to retain his title and become the fastest man in history in the process.

 

“Frankfurt is my favourite marathon.  The people are friendly and the hospitality is fantastic.  Due to Patrick Makau’s world record run inBerlinlast month (2 hours 3 minutes 38 seconds), my plan has now changed.  I do not intend to run like Makau did, at times he was running 2.03.10 pace and then slowed. 

 

“I aim to run around 2.03.25.  The final 5km should be about maintaining pace, not slowing down.  If I aim for 2.03.05 then I could easily die.  As long as it is under the world record time then I will be very happy”, he said followed by his trademark chuckle of ‘aye aye aye’.

Kipsang explains how his role as a pacemaker has played a big role in his success but goes on to attribute his sensible yet tough approach to training as the biggest factor:

“Being a pacemaker is a crucial part of the learning process.  It teaches you speed control and you have a free mind with no pressure.  I always felt good and it taught me to have no fear.

“You must be clever and sensible and not just run, run, run.  Training is important but training well is the key.  It takes discipline and hard work.  I am a very focused guy, when I want something I go out there and work hard to get it.  The main thing is to live positive, if training is not going well then do not worry, it will come.”

In three days time, the city of Frankfurt could be witness to a new world marathon record.  Whether or not Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich is successful on this occasion, you can be sure to see much more of this determined and personable athlete at the forefront of men’s world marathon running in the not so distant future.

An insider’s look at life on the ground in Kenya

ROGER ON RUNNING: A DIARY FROM ITEN

 

An insider’s look at life on the ground in Kenya

 

By Roger Robinson and Myles Edwards
As featured in the Web Only issue of Running Times Magazine.

 

My friend, Myles Edwards, a 23-year-old, national-class 800m runner from Scotland, is living and training in Iten, Kenya. The following are edited selections from the email diary he sent me in September and October. Not only do they give a glimpse of what a visiting runner encounters while training in Iten, Edwards’ entries also give telling insights to some of the world’s top runners.

Watching Dan Mulhare at the Ndalat Cross Country

My neighbor is Linet Masai! When she got home from the world champs, the celebrations went on until it was time for their 6 a.m. run. For such a slight lady, she has a huge amount of laundry – hogging five washing lines today with all her kit from the worlds and Zurich. Haven’t spotted the Daegu bronze medal hanging there! My room is basic — power comes on and off, no furniture, and it took three days to get a bed. But who cares? The people are terrific. Theo the taxi driver waited three hours at Eldoret when our plane was late.

Runners are everywhere. It’s like living in World Running HQ. I watched the world champs 800m on TV with Brother Colm, Rudisha’s coach. He was so relaxed! He just sat there. All he said was, “Easy, OK.”

Can’t wait to get back running. The shin is improving, and Lornah Kiplagat’s camp is great — this morning did gym, aqua-jogging, and a killer one hour on the exercise bike. Then at the physio, my appointment came between Augustine Choge and Mary Keitany. Jeroen, the physio, is a great guy, very modest, who has treated everyone from top soccer players like Robin van Persie to Mo Farah. My only problem is Simon, a neighbor, a 2:10 Ugandan marathoner, who laughs at me because I get up late in the morning. They have all run two hours or more before I appear at 8 a.m. But wait. I’ll show them.

It would have been impossible to have secured the place we have and had all these experiences without the help of Ciaran Fitzpatrick who is a school friend of my training partner out here, Dan Mulhare.  He lives and trains like an athlete but also coaches the Kenyan cycling team.

During my appointment with Jeroen today, Abel Kirui came in with Wilson Kiprop, and every one started dancing and celebrating Abel’s world champs marathon victory. I was on the table and he shook my hand as he danced round. That doesn’t happen every day!

The streets are like nothing I have seen before. Roads are pretty good, driving is appalling. The taxis drive on whatever side of the road they feel like. The people don’t have much in material things. I walked into a store called “Runners Point,” and it was like a charity shop, just shabby second-hand clothes, and some adidas apparel from before my time. The “London Marathon Shop” sells eggs and not much else. Some of the local runners, Kenyan and Ugandan, have begun to hang about asking for things. Very friendly at first, but now they seem to assume that we are wealthy and can give them everything from watches to food. But I didn’t work so many hours for this trip to give away my equipment to a full-time athlete with a manager.

Ran over 40 minutes yesterday, my longest run yet, because I misread a sign that I thought said “Iten 3K.” It was a fantastic loop. Until then, I’d run the same out and back on the road to Eldoret. Pretty sure some of the kids I passed have never seen a mzungo before. I gave them high-fives, said “Jambo,” and did my Usain Bolt imitation. Jogged down to the track, where there were around 150 athletes bashing out sessions of 400, 600, 800 and 1,000 reps, mighty impressive at that altitude. One European runner who has set up as a coach was loud and unpleasant to his athletes, who were “only” doing 1K reps in 3:06. The whole track heard him shouting at them, and he ended up sending two home. I felt like putting an arm around and saying don’t listen to him, well done, and stick to it.

Moses Mosop ran 45K today and went through 26.2 miles in 2 hours 16 minutes. At altitude! He plans to run Chicago but not try for the world record because he has some disruptions. Mary Keitany has been away at the Lisbon half, and will be doing New York. I’d better not say how she plans to run it. But she intends to win and won’t be waiting around. It looks likely she will be wearing my watch in NYC. I had dinner with Jeroen the physio and Mary’s coach, Gabriele Nicola, who is really helpful to me and incredibly knowledgeable, an absolute fanatic when it comes to knowing times and splits. He analyzed every split from Mary’s Lisbonrace to see where she can improve. He really cares about all his athletes. And Jeroen has become such a good friend I’m giving him my Aberdeen F.C. top. (The way they are playing this season, it might not count as a gift.)    

One really good friend is Enoch. I helped him set up an email and Facebook. He’d love to go to university but there’s no way his mother can afford it. Lornah and her husband, Pieter, have a great program that sends outstanding Kenyans to American colleges.   

The bad news is my running has stopped again, as the shin is far too sore. Did 100K on the gym bike yesterday, inspired by when Dad requested a treadmill in his chemo isolation room in 2007. [For Myles’ dad and his response to cancer, see “Roger on Running: Running Old and New.”] I hit the wall at 92K, but still did my 2-minute Ks target. No point in being down. I have a great physio who is far cheaper than home, and all the time in the world to work out and get mega fit. Bad things happen to everyone, it’s how you deal with them that sets you apart. 

Today I was sitting in the sun when Linet Masai shouted for my help. I ran over and in her living room a socket and extension cable was sparking. I made sure she was well away from it and got her to turn off the power. The plug had melted in the socket and snapped when I tried to pull it out. So I got a friend who was going to Eldoret to buy a new plug and socket, and dropped it off tonight after my stretching class with Jeroen, to Linet’s very shy sister Maggie. Five minutes later Linet came over, smiling but shy, asking how much she owed me, but I said nothing, it’s for a neighbor. When do you get opportunity to do a favor for a world-class athlete? Her smile went from ear to ear. It’s amazing to get to know her as an ordinary person at home, after reading about her, things like your magic description of her running, “Roger on Running: The New York Mini 10K.” I showed Linet her fan site on Facebook, which she had never seen. Some days I watch soccer with her and all her sisters. Linet supports Chelsea and her sisters support Man Utd, but no one is perfect.  I hope to one day take them to a West Ham United match.

Berlin and Chicago — wow! All Kenya is very happy. According to Canova, Mosop was only in 85 percent shape. Before the race, he said Moses would run “around 2:05:40,” not a bad prediction. [Mosop won Chicago in 2:05:37 on Oct. 9.] In the gym on the way to the shower I got chatting with a guy who after about five minutes casually mentioned that he was one of Patrick Makau’s pacers in his Berlin world record. I also talked to Wilson Kipsang. He told me, “As athletes we have expectations and aims. As we accomplish these, they change. Now my expectation is the world marathon record, and my aim is to do that in Frankfurt on Oct. 30.” Gilbert Kirwa will be at Frankfurt, too, and Agnes Kiprop could win the women’s. Then comes New York, with Mary Keitany. It goes on and on. This is an incredible place!

Three nights ago I picked up severe food poisoning and lost so much weight in 12 hours I was taken to hospital. Now I weigh the same as a Kenyan. Iten District Hospital was great, the staff were impressive and friendly. I was home in time to leave at 7 a.m. (see, I said I could do it!) for a local cross country race. Great trip, as Maggie and her friend Chemtai were running, and others from the Masai family came along. They are incredibly friendly and helpful people, and they laugh, laugh and laugh some more all day long. The race was like no event I have ever seen — kids everywhere, big fields, incredibly fast. Chemtai was 3rd in the Senior race and my training partner Dan ran 40:29 for 12.8K /7.95 miles, and only came 94th! He was first mzungo, and the kids had never seen a white man. I lost count of the number who asked me to sponsor them.   

Today I walked one hour, increasing the pace, and ran in the pool, which tests the breathing — and NO PAIN. Will try running again soon. My plan now is to get injury-free when I’m home, get a job to save some more money, and then come back here in March. I’ve made amazing new friends here, like Enoch, Jeroen and Linet. It’s opened up so many things I would like to do with my life, like coaching, and freelance journalism, and helping people find good therapists. I’ll do some of it here. This is a special country.

Roger Robinson has done many things in a lifetime in running, including racing for England and New Zealand, setting masters records at Boston and New York, and working as stadium announcer and TV and radio commentator. Most of his jobs involve finding words to describe or analyze running. The first of his successful books, “Heroes and Sparrows: a Celebration of Running” was reissued this year. Senior writer for Running Times he has won three U.S. running journalism awards. “Roger on Running” appears monthly on runningtimes.com. Read all of Roger’s articles here.

Keitany Express heading for London via New York

Winning London Marathon 2011. Photos courtesy of The Telegraph.

By Myles Edwards.   Reporting from Iten, Kenya

Interview published on runnersworld.com Thursday 13^th October 2011

Mary Jepkosgei Keitany, the 2011 London Marathon champion, ran her first race in 2006.  The Shoe4Africa road race, a 10k (but now a 5k) awarded prizes to the first 20 finishers. Mary was 21^st. It could be argued that this result provided the catalyst for the altitudinal heights which the 5 ft 1” Kalenjin’s career has now reached. However, it was evident when speaking with her in Iten,Kenya, on Saturday that her granite-like determination was engrained in her long before that race.

Coached by Gabriele Nicola, Keitany is now a multiple world record holder. Growing up as a child inKenya, Mary was not short of role models and she states Paul Tergat and Tegla Loroupe as her idols.  Having athletes such as these to look up to not only planted the seeds of inspiration but instilled a burning desire for Mary to try and match their achievements.

Photo by Victah Sailer

Her coach, Gabriele Nicola, provided great insight into the reasons behind her success:

“Mary is talented, she is light and she has a big engine.  Some people are born to run fast.  However, on top of this she has a professional attitude and great discipline.  There is no secret.  Talent is useless for people if they do not have the correct attitude.”

Speaking with both of them earlier this week, it was clear to see the huge amount of mutual respect and admiration they have for one another.  Mary said:

“Gabriele does a great job as our coach and his training is very good. The best thing is that he is always with us and is very supportive when showing us what exactly to do.”

(By ‘us’ Mary is referring to the elite group which contains Sharon Cherop, Helena Kirop, Agnes Kiprop, Lydia Cheromei, Peninah Arusei and Hilda Kibet. These athletes are coached by Gabriele Nicola and some managed by Gianni Demadonna.)

With already world records galore to her name, I quizzed Mary on whether she saw Paula Radcliffe’s world best of 2.17.42 as an achievable target.  She responded in her typical modest but confident manner:

“It is maybe possible.  Now that Florence (Kiplagat) has also run 2.19 there is competition there to maybe do it sometime.”

Mary was unsure as to whether Radcliffe’s world record should stand.  The time of 2.15.25 was controversially deemed ineligible by the IAAF last month due the presence of male pacemakers:

“I am not sure.  It is a good time.  What I do believe is that a male pacemaker does make a difference when you are looking to run that pace.  It will not be possible to get a woman to pace for 2.15.”

With her sights set firmly on victory in next month’s ING New York City Marathon, Mary feels that she has improved a lot since her third place finish in the race last year:

“I have worked very hard since last year. I want to go faster. I want to control the race from the start and make it quicker.”

Winning the 2011 London Marathon stands out as Mary’s favourite achievement to date, but she would not be completely drawn on whether it would be enough to guarantee selection for the 2012 Olympics:

“I will do New York first, that is what I am focusing on. After New York, I can think about the Olympics but until then it is very important to have complete focus on my next race in New York. If I run well there, then I think that the two performances will be enough.”

Gabriele elaborated on Mary’s thoughts regardingKenya’s 2012 Olympic selection:”The problem is not with selection.

“The aim is to be ready and stay free of injury for the Olympics. We hope that Mary will stay okay from now until then. You cannot predict what will happen between now and then but the three most likely to be selected are Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat, and Florence Kiplagat.”

Although the focus of this cheerful, pocket-sized rocket is firmly set on the streets ofNew York, be under no illusions that barring injury or illness, she will unleash her artillery of weapons on her favourite course in 2012.

 

Mary Keitany career record

In 2007, she made her mark internationally with a second place behind Lornah Kiplagat (who won in a world record half-marathon time) in the IAAF World Road Running Championships inUdine,Italy. Following the birth of her first child in June 2008, her first race back was the World 10km inBangalore,India, in May 2009, where she finished a very close second behind Aselefech Mergia ofEthiopiaand ran a personal best 32:09. Four months later she won the 2009 Lille Half Marathon inFrancein a time of 1:07:00–making her the seventh fastest ever over the distance. Next was the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships inBirmingham, which Keitany won, breaking the Championship record with a 1:06:36.

In 2010, she broke the world record for 25 kilometers inBerlin, winning in 1:19:53 and also scooped first prize in the Abu Dhabi Half Marathon.  This year she went on to break the world half marathon record in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE with a time of  1:05:50, breaking a record along the way for 20k (1:02:36) and setting world bests at 8k and 10 miles. Keitany then earned her emphatic win inLondonin April, covering the 26.2 miles in 2:19:19.

London 2012 plans and 2017 bid running strong

By Myles Edwards.

Today, the IAAF gave their seal of approval to London’s 2017 World Athletics Championships bid, as Sebastian Coe shrugged off the importance of Tottenham Hotspur’s attempts to prise the Olympic Stadium away from West Ham United.

Concluding their two day visit to London today, the IAAF Evaluation Commission for the 2017 World Championships spoke of the ‘passion and commitment’ shown by UK Athletics towards hosting their main event.

Senior Vice President Bob Hersh said:

“I would like to underline that we have all been very impressed by the passion and commitment of the UK Athletics team and the technical expertise evidenced in the presentation that was made to us yesterday.  It is also very heartening to see that the commitment of our IAAF Member Federation to hosting the 2017 World Championships is fully supported by the British Government and the City ofLondon.”

He went on to reiterate the importance that the running track will remain in place after the Olympic Games next year:

“It was extremely helpful to have the opportunity to meet with Lord Sebastian Coe, Hugh Robertson, Boris Johnson and Baroness Margaret Ford and to receive strong guarantees that a track will remain in the Olympic Stadium after 2012.”

He also ensured the IAAF were aware that The Hammers promise to keep the track was more than enough convince them that they had chosen the best resident.  Despite the attempts of Tottenham Hotspur FC to gain a judicial review on the decision which granted West Ham United the use of the Olympic stadium, Lord Coe said:

“The Tottenham issue is an irrelevance and it was made very clear to the IAAF that it was an irrelevance.  Not my words but the words of the chairman of the evaluation commission – as far as he is concerned this is a issue that has been resolved. The track is there to stay.”

Athletics Kenya could run into trouble

Kenyans training session: 10 x 1km. Kamriny Track, Iten. September 20th 2011

By Myles Edwards.  Reporting from Iten, Kenya

Athletics Kenya, this morning announced that all Gold medal winners from the recent World Championships in Daegu will be selected for the London 2012 Olympics. 

This would be standard practice for most countries and require virtually no announcement nor analysis.  However, look into this a little deeper and you see just how bold, and potentially foolish, this statement is.  World 5000m gold and 10,000m silver medallist, Mo Farah – barring injury or a catastrophic drop in form – will be selected for Great Britain at our home Olympics.  The same goes for Dai Greene following his impressive 400m hurdles gold medal in Daegu earlier this month.  The difference being that UK Athletics do not have to deal with the possibility that other athletes could potentially break world records between now and London. 

Kenya has a bottomless pit of talent at their disposal across all distances above 400 metres.  This is most comprehensively demonstrated in the marathon, particularly in the male event.  What makes the race inLondon even more special for Kenyan athletes is the tragic passing of current title holder Sammy Wanjiru earlier this year.  His run to victory in Beijing captured the hearts, not only of a nation, but the world as a whole as he won Kenya’s first ever Olympic marathon gold medal. 

Abel Kirui wins World Championships Marathon in Daegu. (reuters)

Each country is allowed to select 3 representatives for the 26.2 mile event at London 2012.  This morning’s announcement guarantees Abel Kirui one of those berths.  Along with his personal best of 2.05.04 (Rotterdam 2009) his impressive 2.06.54 to scoop gold in Daegu has cemented his place.   Also on the plane to London is newly crowned world record holder Patrick Makau who, on the streets of Berlin, took 21 seconds off Haile Gebreselassie’s previous mark to run a time of 2 hours 3 minutes 38 seconds.  Already Kirui and Makau have welcomed the decision saying that they will give Wanjiru a fitting tribute by regaining his title inLondon.  This leaves one slot up for grabs. 

• Speaking with Wilson Kipsang last week, he is in good shape to get close to the world record inFrankfurt, a month from now. 
• Emmanuel Mutai, the reigning London Marathon champion is due to run the New York City Marathon in November.
• Geoffrey Mutai recently clocked 2.03.02 inBoston to make him the fastest man in history.  Unfortunately the IAAF did not deem the course to meet their criteria for world record eligibility due to the percentage of downhill from point to point.  He will also runNew York.
• Finishing four seconds behind Geoffrey in Berlin was Moses Mosop who already this year has a world record to his name over 30km on the track, running 1.26.47.  Just last week, in preparation for the Chicago Marathon on October 9^th, he completed a training run of 40km in 2 hours 6 minutes.

Whilst today’s announcement undoubtedly contains an element of controversy, the selected athletes have come out in full praise, saying that it gives them ample time to prepare properly for the event.  However, in relation to the mens marathon it is far too early to make such a bold statement.

In the highly possible event that the world record was to be broken once or even twice in the coming months, it may force Athletics Kenya to reconsider their stance.  Whatever their final decision there will surely be complaint.  Standing by their announcement would potentially deny a man who has run quicker than the current world record the chance of becoming an Olympian.  Backtracking and picking the fastest people would look highly unprofessional and completely mess up the racing and training plans of Abel Kirui, a proven championship performer with a fast time of his own.  Their actions show a total disregard for the individual athlete.  In effect it may well not matter who they pick as they posess such strength in depth.  However, in effect all they are doing is forcing someone to run a world record time.

Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Danny Welbeck’s from gives him a selection headache.  Javier Hernandez just needs to work hard in training and bide his time, the World Marathon champion from Daegu may have to contemplate running another marathon and potentially break the world record in the process to solidify his place.

Popular rugby coach caught up in flooding

By Myles Edwards.  Published in the Evening Express 17th January 2011

A former north-east rugby coach has been stranded at his Brisbane home for days after severe flooding.

Damien Reidy and his family – wife Alison and 3 children, Annabelle, Bridget and Callum – were today trapped in their home.

And the family were running so low on food supplies that an emergency helicopter has been called in to drop off essentials in their area.

Mr Reidy (above) was a hugely popular figure during his six-year spell with the Aberdeen club, bringing a great deal of success during that time.

His brother-in-law John McCormack today said the family, like most other Queenslanders, faced the situation with a positive spirit.

John, 31, of Kenmore, Brisbane, said: “The whole family is fine, although they have been cut off and the road has still not been opened.  They are running very low on food and supplies are being dropped by helicopter.”

As the flood tore through the city, John and his pals went out to protect a friend’s motor dealership with sandbags and to move stock to higher ground. 

They fought the floodwaters until the early hours of Wednesday but as levels rose more than 8ft (2.4m), the business was wiped out.

John, his brother Steve and their friends have put all their efforts into helping those worst hit.

He said: “We took a drive around the streets of Kenmore helping where we could until the water peaked on Thursday morning.  We went to our friend Mick’s parents place who live right on the Brisbane River, moving belongings to higher ground. 

“Luckily the water stopped about 1 metre short of the house.  Wednesday night saw us take in 2 guys that had been stranded from the Mount Crosby area.  They stayed here for the night and joined us for a BBQ and a few beers.  We had a generator running at our place for fridges and TV, with most of the neighbours bringing down their perishables. 

“Some houses that are two hundred metres down the street from us are completely underwater.  Everyone who can help is putting in a massive effort but the cleanup will take months.  We will do it.”

Aberdeen nurse working round the clock during Brisbane floods

By Myles Edwards.  Published in the Daily Record 14th January 2011

Sarah at Sydney Harbour Bridge, 2010.

 

SCOTS nurse Sarah Leighton has been working round the clock as a result of Australia’s floods.

The 22-year-old has been stranded in Brisbane’s Wesley hospital where she has been putting in extra hours to treat patients.

Queensland premier Anna Bligh yesterday said the state was reeling from the worst natural disaster in its history and faced a reconstruction effort of “post-war proportions”.

Sarah, who moved from Aberdeen to the Queensland capital in October 2009, revealed she and her colleagues were going the extra mile to help those in need.

She said: “We were called on Tuesday night to say that anyone who could make it in had to come in first thing in the morning, before it was too late.

“The usual route to get into the hospital was flooded and when I eventually made it to the front door, a policeman had to escort me up to the ward.

“I worked a nine-hour shift, followed by a four-hour break and then had to work through the night again until 5am.

“We do not have enough clothes but the hospital bosses have been amazing. We have been given unlimited amounts of food and water and even some fashionable medical scrubs.

“There are four of us nurses staying in the ward, all in a room with two beds and two mattresses on the floor.

“We are unsure when we will get home as it all depends on when other staff can make it in.

“The only access to the hospital now is via a pedestrian railway bridge.

“There are numerous patients who are well enough to be discharged but unable to get home due to the floods.

“We hope to get home on Friday or Saturday but we don’t even know what state our house in Toowong will be in.”

For the first time since she started her epic shift, Sarah and her colleagues were able to venture outside yesterday morning – and were stunned by the impact the flood waters have had on Brisbane.

She said: “Until this walk we had been stuck in a bubble and unaware of what the city was like.

“The streets have an eerie feel to them. What was a lovely, beautiful city is now covered in inches of mud where the water has retreated and it has left an awful smell.

“During our walk we saw a restaurant and half of a car float by us, as well as a dressing table, DVDs and some shoes.”

She revealed her boyfriend, Australian John McCormack, was cut off from her as the surrounding roads at his home were flooded.

The clean-up operation will be a mammoth task but Sarah insisted her immediate focus is on making sure her loved ones are OK.

She added: “The supermarkets are all running low due to everyone stocking up prior to the worst of the floods, so people keep asking us what we will do for food.

“I really don’t care – the main thing is all my friends are safe and well and we will worry about everything else when the situation improves.”

As the deadly floodwaters finally began to recede, officials warned it could be days before people can return to 30,000 homes and businesses damaged in the disaster.

One man died in the city after being sucked into a storm drain by the muddy waters.

The discovery, plus two other bodies found yesterday, brought the death toll to 25 since late November.

At least 61 people are still missing, and the death toll is expected to rise.

Athletes can inspire stars of future, says legend Moorcroft

By Myles Edwards

Great Britain athletics legend Dave Moorcroft believes that Aberdeen’s athletics past can provide inspiration for athletes now and in the future.

The former 5000 metre world record holder and Commonwealth gold medallist feels that the success of Aberdeen’s past marathon greats – such as Fraser Clyne, Mel Edwards, Graham Laing and Alistair Wood – proves that anything can be achieved in the world of athletics, providing the correct attitude is adopted.

Moorcroft said: “You can be world class and not leave Britain.  You do not necessarily need to go to Africa or to altitude, but it helps if you have an ‘African’ mentality.  It has been done and can be done again.  Numerous people in places such as Aberdeen have proved that you can work full time and still be very successful.”

It was not so long ago that Aberdeen was home to a number of international class marathon runners.  The fastest being Evening Express contributor Fraser Clyne, who clocked an impressive 2 hours 11 minutes 50 seconds in the 1984 California International Marathon.  Colin Youngston and Donald Ritchie were others to make their mark in the long distances, with Ritchie still holding the world record for 100 km on the track.

Published in the Evening Express Saturday, March 27, 2010

Many of the current crop of athletes at Aberdeen AAC possess great potential and the club also has a number of excellent coaches for a wide range of events.    With the correct attitude and level of dedication these athletes have the capability of achieving great success.

Ian Garioch and Ellie Workman are two of these promising up and coming athletes.  Workman’s impressive improvement and Garioch’s 400 metre gold medal performance at the British Universities Indoor Championships last weekend indicate there are athletes in the Granite City capable of achieving great things.

Moorcroft says that it is essential for athletes to believe in themselves in order to reach their potential.  “You must believe that for that period in your life you are a serious runner and you shape your life around it.  Everything you do slots into making you the best runner you can be.  A lot of it is about making the choice that you will be tough, train hard and cleverly and developing a strong belief in your own ability.”