Optimal Training

New: Men's American Records lens

After Dathan Ritzenhein's AR at 5000m last week, I got to wondering a few things: 

• What are the oldest ARs on the books? 
• Where does Ritz's performance rank compared to other ARs on the all-time lists? 
• How does it compare based on the IAAF Scoring Tables?
• Is there any place I can go to watch videos of AR performances?

Well, there didn't seem to be one place that provided those answers very conveniently, so I thought it was time to create another Squidoo lens.  My newest lens, Men's American Records (you can find it at http://www.squidoo.com/men-ARs) lists all of the track ARs, as well as answers the above questions.  In fact, I even threw in the US all-time top ten lists for each event.

You won't find any field events on there yet, since I haven't decided if I should make a separate lens for them or add them in.  Also, the relays aren't represented, but they will be.  So it's kind of a work-in-progress (as all good lenses are). 

I hope you'll check it out and tell me what you think.  Don't be shy about answering the poll or providing comments!  I'd like to make this a fan-friendly resource, so I'll take all the help I can get!

As for the women's ARs, maybe I'll tackle those next week!

New Luke Puskedra lens

I finally finished my new Luke Puskedra lens.  I'm at turns convinced that he will be the next great collegiate long distance runner, and that he will spend his entire career dominated by German Fernandez.  But he's already had a remarkable beginning to his career, and I'm sure it will only get more interesting.

A couple things I learned:

Luke was a two-time Utah Gatorade Boys Player of the Year
Luke ran the 3rd fastest indoor 2 mile ever by a high school runner (8:49.58)
His performance at the NCAA Cross Country meet was the best by an Oregon freshman since Steve Prefontaine finished 3rd in 1969!
And much more!

As usual, I'm publishing it because I think it's the best and most complete collection of information about Puskedra on the web.  But if you know of something I missed, please don't hesitate to let me know!

New Chris Derrick lens

I haven't made many lenses recently, as I've been busy working on a number of projects.  But after Chris Derrick's recent 13:44 5k indoors, I got to wondering just what his background was.  So I did a little research and some reading, and as I usually do, I put it all into a new biographical lens.  I could be wrong, but I think it's now the most comprehensive Chris Derrick bio online.

Check it out at http://www.squidoo.com/chris_derrick.

I will keep it up-to-date with all his running results, so check back often to see how Chris is doing.  You can also see my other running lenses by clicking here or on the links to the left!

Sammy Wanjiru: The Future King of the Marathon

I started doing some research into Sammy Wanjiru and decided to make him the subject of my most recent Squidoo lens.  You can read the extensive biography I've put together, as well as give your opinion on a number of interesting debatable topics.  Check out the lens here.

I've been convinced since Beijing that it's not Kenenisa Bekele or Martin Lel who will take the crown of "World's Greatest Marathoner" from Haile Gebrselassie.  It will be Sammy Wanjiru who will do it.  You all know about Sammy's Olympic marathon, I'm sure.  But did you know...

• Sammy ran 22:40 for 8,107.5 meters on the roads in the National High School Ekiden Championships in Japan as a 17-year old!
• Sammy ran 13:12.40 for 5,000 meters as a 17-year old!
• Sammy ran a world junior record 26:41.75 for 10,000 meters as an 18-year old!
• Sammy broke the half marathon world record as an 18-year old!
• Sammy ran 2:06:39 to win his debut marathon in Fukuoka!
• Sammy's run the two fastest half marathons ever: 58:53 and 58:33!

It's simply astounding.  So much of his career has been spent running for the Toyota Kyushu corporate team that we just don't see him as much as other runners.  I've tried to dig up Japanese results, even through Japanese websites, and been unable to find much of substance.  Yet you know he must have been running numerous races there.  I'll update the lens as I find the results.

I also found an interesting interview/article with Sammy at the Daily Nation.  If you feel like elite runners don't experience the same anxiety that we mortals do, you're absolutely wrong.  What they are often able to do is harness that anxiety to keep it from adversely affecting their performance.  Check out the article here for more.

Galen Rupp: America's Future 10k King?

I was reading about Galen Rupp's recent workout, and it got me to thinking, "How good is this kid going to be?"  So I did some research to check out what he's done so far and it's absolutely amazing.  As I always do, I compiled my research into a Squidoo lens: Galen Rupp: America's Future 10k King?

Here are some quick facts about Galen (much more at the lens):

• He set high school and/or junior records from the 2,000m to the 10,000m
• He won the USA Junior Cross Country Championships in 2005
• He is ranked 7th all-time on the US 10k list (27:33)
• He is America's distance running bridesmaid, having finished 2nd in an astonishing number of championship races
  • 2004 Footlocker Cross Country Championships
  • 2005 Pac-10 Outdoor 10,000m
  • 2005 NCAA Outdoor 10,000m
  • 2005 USA Junior Outoor 1,500m
  • 2006 Pac-10 Outdoor 10,000m
  • 2007 NCAA Outdoor 10,000m
  • 2007 USA Outdoor 10,000m
  • 2007 Pac-10 Cross Country Championships
  • 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships
  • 2008 Olympic Trials 10,000m

Of course, that list isn't completely fair.  It leaves out the one or two races he did win.  But if I didn't know any better, I'd say he's dangerously close to becoming the American Sileshi Sihine.

There is another thing I've come to believe, however.  Galen Rupp will be the first American (and white guy?) to break 27 minutes for 10k.  I used to think it would be Dathan Ritzenhein.  And Abdi Abdirahman is certainly closer than Rupp at this point.  But if I were a betting man, I'd bet Rupp will do it first. 

I'd also bet he'll finish 2nd in the race.

Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever...post-Beijing

Beijing is done and the results are in.  There were some surprises, some legendary performances, and some breakthroughs.  And of course, some disappointments.  As a result, there was some need to revamp my lens on The Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever. 

For those of you who'd never visited, the site ranks the best Olympic distance performers of all-time, based solely on their Olympic performances.  So for example, Haile Gebrselassie's 25 world record performances give him no bonus points.  He didn't run them on the Olympic oval. 

I've decided to focus on the top 25 performers of all-time, male or female.  But I've only identified the top 24!  There are simply too many candidates for that last spot, and I need some help deciding who it should be.  Should it be...

• Carlos Lopes, who won marathon gold in '84 and 10k silver in '76?
• Dieter Baumann, who won 5k gold in '92 and silver in '88?
• Douglas Lowe or Alberto Juantorena, who each won repeat 800m golds in '24/'28 and '76/'80, respectively?
• Svetlana Masterkova or Kelly Holmes, who each won the 800m/1500m double in '96 and '04, respectively?
• Or maybe Horace Ashenfelter, who won 1952 steeplechase gold in world record time?

It's hard to say, of course, until you've seen who's in the top 24.  But there are still more athletes who may be worthy, including some from Beijing, and I've included them all in a poll.  When we reach 50 votes, I'll put the leading vote-getter in the list!

Other changes to the lens were made as a result of what we learned in Beijing, including:

• Kenenisa Bekele is truly the best distance runner ever.  But is he the best Olympic distance performer ever?  No, but he's top-10 now. 
• Tirunesh Dibaba is probably now the best woman runner ever as well, albeit not the most entertaining!  She has now leaped into the top 20, joining countrywoman Derartu Tulu as the only women on the list.
• Haile Gebrselassie just competed in his 4th 10,000 meter final.  He's finished 1st, 1st, 5th, 6th.  Truly amazing, but his recent 6th was not enough to move him much up the rankings.
• Abubaker Kaki Khamis and Pamela Jelimo both looked poised to dominate their way into contention in Beijing, but after Kaki faltered in the semis, only Pamela Jelimo delivered. 
• Steeplers Brimin Kipruto and Gulnara Samitova-Galkina both made incredible arguments for inclusion, but does the steeple really count for as much as the other events?
• Bernard Lagat came in with a solid Olympic resume and hopes of winning the distance double, but struggled in his races and it looks unlikely that he will have another shot at making the list.
• Catherine Ndereba missed her chance at making the list as well, except she did it by failing to pay attention during her race! Sammy Wanjiru, on the other hand, did as much as possible in his first shot.  Another Olympic race like that one and he'll be on the list for sure.
• And what do we do with perennial silver medalists like Ndereba, Elvan Abeylegesse and Sileshi Sihine?  Are they destined, like Paul Tergat, to live in the void, receiving votes of support from fans but no love from the rankings themselves?  Actually, yes.

I hope you'll stop by and vote in the polls.  And don't forget to bookmark the page and tell a friend.  London's right around the corner, you know!

(More great lenses can be found to your left, too, or by clicking here.)

Michael Phelps vs Usain Bolt: who was King of Beijing?

The first week of the Olympics was the Michael Phelps story.  Not just in the US, but in Japan as well.  They covered every second he was in the pool.  To put this in perspective, this is the same country that didn't even show the 1500m final in track because there weren't any Japanese athletes in it.  For Phelps to transcend the natural disinterest in foreign athletes is impressive.  And he did it the world over.

He competed in 8 events: 5 individual races and 3 relays.  He won 8 golds.  He set 7 world records and 1 Olympic record.  And some were done in epic, unforgettable style.  He became the winningest athlete in Olympic history.  He was the defining athlete of the Games, not just for Americans, but for pretty much everyone.

But then week two started, and Usain Bolt broke the 100m world record with ease.  And then he danced, and everybody gasped.  He immediately transcended the Japanese media barrier and became the de facto man of the hour.  And then he broke the 200m world record, once thought to be virtually untouchable, and every person in Japan actually knew his name.  And he danced some more.  And when his Jamaican team broke the 16 year-old 4 x 100m relay record, it was over: he was an honorary Japanese. 

3 races.  3 golds.  3 world records.  Suddenly, Phelps' 15 minutes of fame were up and it was Bolt's turn to shine.  And just as suddenly, people started to ask, "Was Bolt's the most amazing performance of Beijing?"  (Gasp.)  Better than Phelps?  Could it be possible? 

(Note: this question isn't asked as much in the US, because we're too busy convincing ourselves that the sky is falling in US track...but blogsearch it and you'll see...)

So with the debate raging, I decided to make a Squidoo lens about the topic.  It has information about each athlete's amazing Olympic performances, and a spot for you to voice your opinion.

King of Beijing: Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt?

Seriously, who was the King of Beijing: Phelps or Bolt?  And why do you lean one way or the other?  Feel free to comment here, but I'd appreciate it if you commented on the lens as well.   Let's make this the de facto site for this debate!

(You can see more of my lenses in the sidebar to the left, or click here.)

Jordan Hasay - The best girls high school runner ever?

I meant to get this done before the Trials ended, but I was busy making a mockery out of my predictive powers during the meet.  And trying to be a good husband by running errands with my wife.  Optimal Training is all about priorities.  So are Optimal Marriages.

So here's my lens on Jordan Hasay.  It's a bit of a work-in-progress, as I didn't get to do as thorough a search on details as I'd have liked.  If you know anything I'm missing, by all means let me know.  I want it to be a Wikipedia-plus type of site.  Equal to better in terms of biographical info, with lots of videos, stats, polls, debates, interviews and anything else that a fan of Jordan would be looking for.

http://www.squidoo.com/jordan_hasay

Here's the ultimate question, though.  Is Jordan Hasay the best girls high school runner ever?  She's got the fastest 1500m time.  She's second in the 3200m.  She won Footlocker as a freshman, won two US Junior Cross Country titles (over college students) as a sophomore and junior, and has won a couple of US Junior 3000m titles.  Oh yeah, she's never lost a CA state final over 3200m either, winning all three she's raced. 

Maybe she's not yet, but she's got another year!

Flanagan, Goucher, Begley in the 10,000 meters

Shalane Flanagan outkicked Kara Goucher on Friday night to win the US Olympic Trials 10,000 meters, 31:34.81 to 31:37.72. Amy Begley finished third in what was perhaps the best race of the evening, however, as she ran a 16 second personal best to earn the Olympic "A" qualifier and finish third in 31:43.60. 

The three left the pack mid-race and opened a large gap, with Begley even taking a turn at the lead for some time.  In the end, however, it was Flanagan v Goucher until the final 300 meters, when Shalane Flanagan found another gear and sped off to victory.  I have to say, I admire Begley for being the only runner willing to take a shot at staying with Goucher and Flanagan.  I have no doubt that training with Goucher everyday helped give her the self-efficacy to go for it.

This was the fifth US title on the track for Flanagan, who has also won titles at 3,000 meters indoors (2003, 2007) and 5,000 meters outdoors (2005, 2007).  This also marked the third time Goucher has been the runner up at the US Championships.  She's still yet to win a title outside of college.

I put together two lenses about Flanagan and Goucher.  As always, they are the most comprehensive biographies on the web for each runner, as well as great resources for stats, trivia, and debating where these runners rank all-time.  I've included US all-time top 10 lists as well, so you can see how high they rank (hint: it's very high!).

Shalane Flanagan: America's Fastest Distance Runner
Kara Goucher: America's Fastest Half-Marathoner

One last comment, and that's about the TV coverage tonight.  I joked yesterday in my prediction post (that correctly predicted the top two...booyah) that I was sad the TV coverage would spend more time on the 100 meters than the 10,000 meters.  Well, they showed an awful lot of the 10,000 meters tonight.  And the 5,000 meter PRELIMS.  Awesome.  I take back my joke from yesterday.  A tip of my hat to NBC.

Great sources of track/running news

Based on a conversation with a friend at work about where I get all my ideas for posts, I thought I'd point out some of the places I check for up-to-date news and interviews with great runners.  You can find most of these at my lens on great running blogs.

Runner'sWorld Daily News:  By far the most comprehensive blog on what's happening in running.  They find almost every article out there on distance runners.

The Final Sprint:  It's been a little hit-or-miss lately, but I think that's because they're gearing up for the Olympic Trials.  They tend to cover the news, but sprinkle in some opinion pieces, too.  And the Elite Athlete blogs are very cool.

Science of Sport:  They cover a lot of running news, always with a focus on the underlying science behind what's going on.  It's turning into one of the best running sites on the web, in my opinion.

Less Than Our Best:  I don't usually go here for ideas.  Just chuckles.  But sometimes I get chuckles and ideas.  Which is nice.

Pre-Race Jitters:  I've started stopping by this site more and more often, as he's interviewing runners and people in the running community.  He covers a lot of news that gets missed by other sites, too.

Eight Lane:  This site is run out of England yet they link to a lot of different feeds on their main page.  You can stop by and scour the subjects and see if anything looks interesting.  You might even see my Optimal Training posts there!

Japan Running News:  Japan loves its distance running, and this blog covers it all.  If you've any interest in what's going on over the ocean--the one to the west, that is--then this blog will have it.  Plus he translates, which is very kind of him.

Anyway, these are the ones I'm consistent about reading.  I also occasionally get ideas from Runnerville and even The Sports Guy, who never actually covers running, sadly. (More like The Mainstream Sports Guy, if you ask me.)  I also find that when Seth Godin writes about being remarkable, his posts often relate to running.  Well, maybe not often.  But sometimes.

After that, much of what I write about is simply stuff that's been simmering on my proverbial backburner for years.  I have a lot of posts I plan to write about topics that aren't simply covering the news or analyzing a person's interview.  But those take more time, and that's something I've been lacking of late.  So I sprinkle those in when I can.

Are there any sites I missed?  Do you write a running blog I should check out more often?  Got a site about the mental side of excellence I should be reading?  Let me know in the comments!