News: Running

About 12 month ago, I wrote a post (Run in the foot steps of Lawrence of Arabia) in this blog about a new marathon that had been created in Morroco . This year, thanks to B. E., founder of the race, we will have a clearer view of the marathon. 1) Hello, on March 22nd 2009 you’ll be organizing the International Marathon of Ouarzazate. Can you tell us where it is located? The city of Ouarzazate is a striking mix of oasis, kasbah and flowery valleys. It is located on a vast desert plateau that draws tourists from many different countries. Under the shades of the palm trees, lies Ouarzazate, leaving behind her a tremendous rocky desert swept up by all the winds from Sahara. Several film studios are located here, giving to Ouarzazate the nickname of African Hollywood city …. 2) It’s the tenth edition of the race. Why was it created in the first place? Our simple goal for the second edition of the International Marathon of Ouarzazate is to do a better job than last year. We wish to provide to our attendees both a sportive and human pleasure. Additionnaly, we would also like to have an even larger mobilization from Ouarzazate citizens, in order to increase the growing reputation of our city, well beyond the Moroccan borders, as the African Hollywood city, its warmth and friendliness. 3) What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The route is made of 8km of road and 22 km of desert trail. It goes through mountains, dry wadi, Ouarzazate palm groves, sandy places, some oasis, along with film studios, where famous films have been recorded such as Kundun, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Astérix et Obélix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile from Lewis Teague, The Sheltering Sky from Bernardo Bertolucci, and long time ago Ali baba et les 40 voleurs from Jacques Becker and of course Lawrence of Arabia. 4) How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? We are expecting more than 2,000 male or female amateurs and professionals runners. 5) Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? No. 6) At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? Beautiful weather with a temperature between 18°C and 26°C (64°F to 79°F). 7) Have you planned festivities around the marathon? A great musical party will take place animated by local traditional bands. The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Sommacampagna before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? After the Marathon, runners will be invited for a meal in the unforgettable PETITRIDE restaurant. After that, I would advise to visit some shops in the Souk, behind the historical Kasbah to find gifts for your family. Do not forget to visit the films studios with their prestigious sets. And to finish your visit, I would suggest a walk to see the largest pedestrian square of the city. In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Maratona Internazionale del Custoza ? Our Super International Marathon of Ouarzazate is beyond the sportive adventure. It is the discovery of new territories and rare places. Enjoy your run ! The route has been chosen to give pleasure to runners, to let them discover untouched landscapes, an authentic city and share together the true value of sport. This marathon has to be yours, you will have the opportunity to discover, taste and appreciate Ouarzazate with all its outstanding sites, without moderation. Thank you very much B. For more information: Official site for the International Marathon of Ouarzazate International Marathon of Ouarzazate on 42k195.com

Theo Peters, accepted to answer my 9 questions to present the Spark Spijkenisse Marathon. Theo is fifty and has been living in Spijkenisse since 1983. He ran the Spark Marathon Spijkenisse in 2006 and 2007. And now has joined the organisation. 1) Hello Theo, on December 7th, you’ll be organizing the Spark Marathon Spijkenisse. Can you tell us where it is located? The marathon is located in the city Spijkenisse, 12 km west of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The start and finish are at the athletics court of Spark. 2) How old is the marathon? Why was it created in the first place? It’s a rather new marathon. It was first organised in December 2006 as part of the celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the athletic club Spark. Because of the enthusiastic comments after the first edition, Spark decided to keep the marathon on the calendar. 3) What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The route is one round through the polder land around Spijkenisse, with the last 10 kilometres through Spijkenisse itself. The landscape is diverse and almost free of traffic. It takes you alongside the water of the Bernisse and there is a nice view over the river ‘Oude Maas’. §staticmap(12830,5,800,200) 4) How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? We expect some 800 runners on the different distances. About 200 will run the marathon. Many of the runners are ultra-runners and masters. We don’t invite athletes for a fee, but there are money prizes for the winners in a variety of categories. 5) Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? The club organizes different races, especially in the months before the Rotterdam Marathon that takes place in April. On the fifth of October there’s a run over 5, 10 and 15 km and on the 16th of November a run over 5 and 10 km and 10 miles. In June there is Rondje Voorne, a beautiful race over 50 km with start and finish in de historical city of Brielle and organised by our neighbour athletics club Voorne (www.rondjevoorne.nl). 6) At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? In the first edition there was a lot of wind and a temperature of about 7°C (45°F) and a some rain. In the second it was again a bit windy with a temperature of 8°C (46°F), but now it was dry. In spite of the wind many of the runners did run their fastest race of the year in Spijkenisse! 7) Have you planned festivities around the marathon? There are no festivities around the marathon. 8 ) The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Spijkenisse before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? The Maasboulevard is a nice place: it’s the 36th kilometer of the marathon. You have a view over the busy river the Oude Maas. This river is an important connection of the Rotterdam Harbour with the European hinterland. You can eat in the Chinese Indonesian Restaurant Angkasapuri which is located there. In the centre of Spijkenisse there are several other restaurants. I particularly enjoy dining at café Merz. 9) In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Spark Marathon Spijkenisse ? If you want to complete your races of 2008 with a well organised marathon with a beautiful track, then Spijkenisse is a good choice! Thank you Teo.

Julien Hatton accepted to answer my few questions about the Laguna Phuket International Marathon a few days ago. Julien is a member of the Go Adventure Asia team who is organizing the marathon. 1) Hello Julien, on June 15th, you’ll be organizing the Laguna Phuket International Marathon. The marathon will celebrate it’s 3rd anniversary this year. Why was it created in the first place? How has it evolved the past 3 years ? This project came up a few years ago from Go Adventure Asia which was approaching Phuket island resort owners to encourage them to be involved in a marathon. Actually the Phuket Triathlon has known a steady success in the past years and is now considered as Southeast Asia’s premier triathlon event, but a marathon was missing. The marathon has been established and welcomed by Laguna Phuket a bit after the Tsunami disaster as en event to revive its famous tourist destination attractiveness and attract a new target of customers via sports tourism. Celebrating its 3rd anniversary, the Laguna Phuket International Marathon is increasing and growing up through the years, from about 2 000 participants in the first edition to over 3 000 runners the year after, this event is really getting on a good track after this successful start. For this next edition, we expect more than 4,500 participants including 2,000 international runners from more than 45 countries. 2) What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The marathon course is an out and back course with a loop for the last 7km. The course is flat for the first 11 km with some rolling hills up ahead in the distance, between km 11 and km 15. km 23 and km 28 and again between km 35 and km 37. The half marathon follows the marathon course and turns at km 9 of the marathon course. It the follows the marathon course back to the finish line, so except between km 14 and km 16, this race is flat. The 10.5 km Run and 5 km Walk are flat loop courses looping around Laguna Phuket. 3) Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? As noted above we will offer different races in order to satisfy in most of needs and integrate different types of runners. The Marathon will start first and will be followed with a Half Marathon, a 10.5 km Run, a 5 km Walk and a 2 km Kids Run. 4) How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? We expect about 4,500 runners participating in the different races of this event. This event has a charity-oriented and green environment purpose, the level of runners is quite diverse and all members of family can subscribe and participate at this enjoyment so as to promote a comprehensive and open event. 5) At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? June is the beginning of the green season so rain showers may occur especially during the night. The air at this time of the year is quite humid with temperatures ranging from 23 C in the morning rising to app. 30 by noon. 6) Have you planned festivities around the marathon? The festivities and different kinds of activities have been planned to develop a large event with all types of enjoyment. The expo will take place from Friday to Saturday before the race and will hold a conference where the Japanese eco-marathoner Hajime Nishi will share his ‘Slow is beautiful’’ philosophy. He will also introduce a photo contest to which all participants are welcomed to join during the race day. Moreover the Laguna Phuket International Marathon has nominated HOPE Worldwide as its official charity. HOPE Worldwide in Thailand is dedicated to helping needy children and underprivileged girls and will encourage people to contribute by raising money through their participation. The Pasta Party and Farewell Party will complete the program to bring together participants and give a chance to talk to other competitors while enjoying delicious dishes at a five star location. 7) The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Phuket before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? Phuket Island is now famous and well-known for beautiful spots and marvellous sightseeing activities, Nevertheless I would suggest two fancy restaurants which should let an unforgettable taste of heaven in mouth. Puccini Restaurant at Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket is considered one of the best Italian restaurants on the island. For some of the best Thai menus on offer check out the Ruen Thai at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket which offers a wide range of sumptuous Thai food. 8) In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Laguna Phuket International Marathon? Run Paradise ! Thank you Julien. For more information : Official site of the Laguna Phuket International Marathon Laguna Phuket International Marathon on 42k195.com

Credit : Beekse Marathon In order to present the Beekse Marathon, in Netherlands, I had the opportunity to interview Marlou van Oevelen. Marlou has been an active member of Achil’87 for 13 years, the running club organizing the race. She describes herself as a recreative runner on Sunday mornings, married to René a marathon runner. They both have children. She is also a member of the Achil committee in charge the results of the race, the website, the registration and the public relations of all the races during the year. Hello Marlou, on September 21st, you’ll be organizing the Beekse Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located? The 29th Beekse Marathon starts and finishes at the Vrijthof, the historic centre of Hilvarenbeek. The full marathon covers 5 laps over most metalled roads mainly in the countryside and through the villages Hilvarenbeek and Esbeek. The marathon will celebrate it’s 29th anniversary this year. Why was it created in the first place? How has it evolved the past 29 years ? The first Beekse Marathon was organised by a group of friends becouse one of them became 40 years old. The friends gave him a marathon as a present. Later on it became more professional and more runners came to Hilvarenbeek.What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The route of the marathon is beautiful. No big marathon but a regional happening. It is possible to accompany the runners by bicycle after the first lap.You run along cows and farmhouses and along the woods. Credit : Beekse Marathon How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? Totally we expect about 500 runners for several distances. We hope runners will come who love the countryside. No fast runners who come to run for cash. Just local known runners. And a lot of runners from Belgium, our town is only 1 km away from the Belgium border. Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? On the 21th September we have 6 different distances: 1km kidsrun, 5, 10, 21, 30 km and the marathon. Achil’87  also organises four official races during the year: on Queensday the ‘Torenloop’ (Tower Run), in the summer vacation the ‘Vakantieloop’ (Vacation Run), in September the ‘Beekse Marathon’ and on the last day of the year the ‘Oudejaarsloop’ (Old Year’s Run). Furthermore Achil’87 organises in November the ‘Beekse Bosloop / Run For Fun’. At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? The weather in September will be warm but nice. About 20° celcius (68° F). But we start early, so good running weather. Have you planned festivities around the marathon? For the children we have some activities to keep them bussy while mom or dad run their race. Some firms will have a booth at the Vrijthof. All café’s and restaurants will have their terraces outside and the speaker will tell them everything about the runners. Of course there is also live music. Credit : Beekse Marathon After the race there is first the ceremony: for all different distances there are 3 prices for men and women. For the marathon distance those who win the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prices get a cup and there are also money prices for the marathon participants for each category  and all runners get a surprise. Then the runners can go to the changingrooms to take a nice hot shower at the gym of Basisschool de Driehoek, Papenstraat 96, about 500 meters from the start/finish. You can walk there by following the signs. Then they can sit at one of the terraces in the centre where are also nice restaurants. For tourist information they can visit the local tourist information shop or visit the website: www.vvvhilvarenbeek.nl. Our little town is beautifull and nice for a walk or bicycletour.We also have good hotels, private guesthouses or campsites. We also have the Beekse Bergen nearby, the safaripark and recreationpark. For foto’s of last year marathon visit our website: www.achil87.nl. In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Beekse Marathon? Athletics club Achil ’87 Hilvarenbeek is a social club with about 200 members. We keep ourselves busy with running, nordic walking and rollerspeed skating. You find us in the most beautiful village of the south of the Netherlands: Hilvarenbeek. On the marathonday everybody helps to make this marathon a perfect race. We have a good electronic system for time-registration with a running-chip in your startnumber. The marathoncommittee is a group of 15 people in our club who is organising everything during the whole year. At the marathonday al lot of volonteers help us. Thank you very much Marlou

For my first interview about a marathon located in Oceania, I had the opportunity to contact Phil Coakes, the race director of the Moro Marathon. The bonds that link him to the Moro Marathon are very strong since he ran his first marathon there in 1980. The same year, he also joined the Caversham Harrier and Athletic Club which 5 years later took the responsibility of organizing the race. In 1990 he joined the Marathon Organizing Committee and 2008 will be his 19th year as Race Director. A role he finds very enjoyable and rewarding. To him each and every runner is a winner. Credit : Moro Marathon Hello Phil, on September 14th, you’ll be organizing the Moro Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located? The Moro Marathon takes place in Dunedin, a city with a population of around 125,000, situated in the lower part of the South Island of New Zealand. The marathon will celebrate it’s 30th anniversary this year. Why was it created in the first place? How has it evolved the past 30 years ? The first Marathon held in 1979 was organized by the Otago branch of the New Zealand Federation of Sports Medicine. Their aim was to promote exercise and a healthy life style. The Caversham Harrier & Athletic Club became the organizers in 1985 and 2008 marks their 24th year. What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The coarse is point to point, the start is close to the Royal Albatross Colony on the Otago Peninsula and runs around the beautiful Otago Harbour before finishing in Port Chalmers.It is mainly flat with slight undulations over the last 10km with a sharp but brief rise at the 39k mark. How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? In 2007 we had 132 take part in the marathon,there was a drop in numbers in the 80’s and 90’s but increasing numbers over the past 5 years indicates that the record of 156 which was set in 1979 will be threaten. The Marathon incorporates the Otago Open and Masters Marathon Championships. We attract runners from through out New Zealand, Australia,also from Canada, Japan and England.We cater for both the experience and novice competitor. Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? The Moro Marathon event includes a Half Marathon Run and Half Marathon Recreational Walk. It starts close to the half way mark of the Marathon course, finishing along with the marathon runners at Port Chalmers.Two week before the event we provide a free ‘Marafun’ 10k Run and 5k Walk, a chance for competitors to test their fitness. Since 2001 overall numbers have increased 75%, in 2007 the event attracted 1754 entrants over the three events At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? Early spring weather, 12-16 C, any wind will create either a head wind or tail wind, or vice versa. We usual experience perfect conditions for marathon running. Have you planned festivities around the marathon? Everything happens on the day, each competitor has set their goals,we are there to help them archive them. We also cater for their supporters, last year we introduced a Supporters Train, this enable them to view the runners as they made their way to the finish, we called it a ’Moving Grandstand ’. The train stopped next to the Finish area and all supporters were able to view the finish of the race. he marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Dunedin before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? Come and experience what the Moro Marathon and the City of Dunedin has to offer, warm and friendly people,and if there is any fuel left in the legs, a walk up the World’s Steepest Street or a visit to Cadbury’s World would is a must. We are the gateway to Central Otago ski fields,bungy jumping and river jet-boating. In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Moro Marathon? Affordability, pollution-free air and the scenery should never be underestimated by runners for runners. Is rated in the top 10 Marathons in New Zealand. Thank you very much Phil

Here is a brief interview I made with Ron Hayden. Ron has been the director of the Tri-Cities Marathon for the past ten years. Being a runner himself, he has always tried to make the marathon a race ‘for the runners’, giving individuals all the attention they need. The Tri-Cities Marathon may be a smaller marathon, it definitely is a friendly place to run. Photo by nicora Hello Ron, on October 26th, you’ll be organizing the Tri-Cities Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located? The Tri-Cities Marathon starts in Richland Washington and runs through Pasco and Kennewick also. How old is the marathon? Why was it created in the first place? This is the 28th annual race. It was created in 1980 because South-Eastern Washington did not have a marathon. What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The course runs through all three of the Tri-Cities and is run entirely along the Mighty Columbia River. The course crosses the river four times across three bridges. The course is flat except for the rises and drops associated with crossing the bridges. How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? 150+ runners. Most of our runners come from Washington State. We get some from Oregon, Idaho, and BC also. Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? In addition to the full marathon we have a marathon team relay. Up to four individuals can make up a team. We split the course into four segments and the runners exchange at the pre-established transition points which are about each 6.55 mile points. At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? Weather is usually 445-55 degrees with light variable winds. WE have it at this time of year because the weather is usually perfect running weather. Have you planned festivities around the marathon? We have an award ceremony after the marathon usually held at the finish line area. The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Richland before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? Shilo inn is our sponsor hotel. We start and finish in their parking lot – so stay there. They usually have a pasta dinner for the runners the night before. In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Tri-Cities Marathon? With our marathon having relatively small numbers it allows me to cater to individual runners needs and questions. The entire course is very spectator friendly so family members can get to many points of the race during your run to cheer you on. Our volunteers make it happen!!! Thank you Ron. If you need more information : Official Website of the Tri-Cities Marathon Tri-Cities Marathon on 42k195.com Book a hotel room in Bellevue

As for every interview I do on this website, I asked Jared to introduce himself. Here is what he replied I am a 25 year old working in a field I have a strong passion for. I started right out of college and learned a great deal from my predecessor on what runners enjoyed in a race and what was needed to create a successful event both from a participants point of view as well as an event producers point of view because after all a successful race is only successful if the participants had a good time, not if the race meets its goals. When starting here over three and a half years ago I was a sports nut but didn’t enjoy ‘running for fun.’ I actually started running on a bet with a co-worker that I couldn’t finish a marathon in under five hours without training. I ended up running that event in four hours and twenty minutes. After that I became hooked. I’ve now ran four marathons in the past 3 years and close to 20 half marathons and love getting home each day after work and winding down with a run. I graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in Business and a concentration in Marketing. I just love hearing passionate people ! And Marathon running seems to attract them all. Credit : James Brooks Jared, on June 29th, you’ll be organizing the VM Team Medicine Seafair Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located? The VM Team Medicine Seafair Marathon is located in Bellevue Washington just minutes from Seattle. The start of the marathon is located in Seattle Washington at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium. The route goes through 7 jurisdictions along the marathon course including Seattle, Hunts Point, Clyde Hill, Medina, Kirkland and Bellevue giving participants a true feel of different areas around Lake Washington. I heard you designed a new route for the 2008 edition. What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? (I would very much like this question towards the top or top to highlight the new course!) Since after the 2007 race we at Seafair tried to figure out what our race was missing and what would bring a larger number of ‘tourist’ runners (Those runners that set a vacation around a running event) to our destination event because the Northwest is one of those hidden tucked away regions of the United States that if you as a traveler don’t have a reason to visit it typically gets overlooked. We realized this and wanted to give people a reason to come out west and visit everything the northwest has to offer during a beautiful time of year. So, to answer the question route specific we have changed our course and if I was the judge and jury I would tell you it is one of the most scenic and beautiful courses in the United States, if not the most scenic! Race participants will start in Seattle for this brand new point to point race at the University of Washington’s famed Husky Stadium then crossing over the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. We are very excited to give participants this opportunity as it is the first time in over 20 years that the bridge will be shut down for a road race. Participants will then traverse nine miles of picturesque waterfront neighborhoods in Kirkland and Bellevue finishing the marathon or half marathon adventure at Bellevue Downtown Park in the heart of downtown Bellevue. This new route shows off the beautiful lakes, majestic mountains and tree lined streets the northwest is known for. My goal was to bring the beautiful views of Lake Washington to participants at every scene, and I think it was accomplished! How old is the marathon? Why was it created in the first place? The Seafair Marathon was created in 2005. June 29, 2008 will be the fourth annual running of the race. The marathon was created as an addition to the half marathon Seafair had been producing the previous two years. With the cool climates in the summer time here in Seattle it is one of the only places in the United States that can have a race of this magnitude and not have to worry about the threat of over heating. Historically the temperature at the start of the race is in the mid 50’s and when 85% of participants have crossed the finish line at 11:00am the expected temperatures will be in the low 60’s. It truly is the perfect time of year for a marathon here in the Northwest. How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? For the past three years we have held pretty steady at about 3,500 participants. With all the buzz this year the race is getting here in the Northwest I anticipate this number to grow exponentially. With the new marketing campaign and promotion of the new route I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see attendance reach over 4,000 for the 2008 race. At Seafair we are known for putting on a fun festive race that attracts many different people from the elite athlete to the first time participant looking to have a good time. I don’t expect this to change at all with the new course, in fact, I expect more first timers that wouldn’t typically participate in a full or half marathon to come out and give this race a shot because of the ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to cross the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge on foot. You always hear about a runner’s first experience in a race and how they’ve become ‘hooked’ on running after it. If this race with the scenery and exciting elements installed doesn’t turn a lot of people into runners I would be very surprised! Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? On Sunday June 29, 2008 we offer multiple events for the whole family to take part in whether you are 9 years old or 99 years old there is an event for everyone. We start off the day with our Full Marathon at 7am, but we also offer a half marathon run and marathon team relay (4 person relay, each leg consisting of 6.55 miles) that will start at the same time of the marathon. Then, at 7:05am, we offer a half marathon walk & half marathon nordic walk division for the participants looking to take in the scenery of the northwest. All courses are open for 6 hours for participants to enjoy the day and not worry about rushing to the finish line. At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? In late June it is perfect conditions for a marathon or half marathon. With the cool climates in the summer time here in Seattle it is one of the only places in the United States that can have a race of this magnitude and not have to worry about the threat of over heating. Historically the temperature at the start of the race is in the mid 50’s and when 85% of participants have crossed the finish line at 11:00am the expected temperatures will be in the low 60’s. It truly is the perfect time of year for a marathon here in the Northwest Have you planned festivities around the marathon? Seafair is a 59 year old summer festival here in Seattle with events happening every weekend including the marathon, a triathlon, 8K torchlight run, torchlight parade and hydroplane race and air show. Each year we looks to add events and add to the events to keep everything very fresh for northwesterners as well as everyone that comes to visit. If interested there is plenty more information about the festival as well as dates of each event at seafair.com. As for marathon specific festivities everything we plan revolves around having fun and creating an enjoyable experience for participants. One of the very unique things about our race is the Seafair Pirates that start the race, participate at water stations at the finish line handing out medals to finishers and award winners and running with the kids during the mini marathon. The event starts at Bellevue on Saturday June 28, 2008 at the First Tech Credit Union Health & Fitness expo that will have over 30 exhibitors for participants to shop through as well as a pre-race pasta dinner offered by our host hotel The Hilton Bellevue. Sunday, after the race we hope participants will stay in the park and relax enjoying the free food and drink samples offered in the park as well as live entertainment, music and a post race awards ceremony for finishers of all events. Not to mention the best part of the day, the Kids Mini Marathon that starts at noon and runs around the outskirts of the festival area in Bellevue Downtown Park. The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Bellevue before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? After relaxing in the park enjoying your accomplishment I would recommend walking across the street to Bellevue Square Mall and having a meal at one of the many fine restaurants there is including PF Changs, Manzana Grill and The Cheesecake Factory. After a nice meal and your looking to do a little site seeing Bellevue has many parks to offer along with some famous breweries and pacific northwest wineries. If you venture back over to Seattle, only 9 miles away, there is plenty to do including a the underground tour seeing the subterranean passages that were once Seattle’s roadways and first floor storefronts of old downtown. A ride to the top of the Space Needle, a visit to Experience Music Project, or a Ride the Ducks land and water tour of Seattle. And, if you’ve traveled this far and want to get out in the Puget Sound and Pacific Ocean there are daily whale watching excursions! In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of ahotu Marathons to make them register for the Virginia Mason Team Medicine Marathon at Seafair? The VM Team Medicine Seafair Marathon race course and time of year provides runners of all abilities the perfect combination of an extremely scenic road race and the beauty of the pacific northwest for runners and families. Thank you Jared. The Seafair marathon has been replace by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon.

Steve is a Peace Corps Volunteer living for the next two years in Pacasmyo, Peru. There, he works with artisans, assists in tourism, works in an orphanage, teaches a weekly exercise class to senior citizens, and in March will start coaching athletes in Special Olympics. Hello, on July 6th, you’ll be organizing the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo. Can you tell us where it is located? Pacasmayo is located on the northern coast of Perú, S.A. in the department of La Libertad, about 100 Km north of Perú’s third largest city, Trujillo. How old is the marathon and why was it created in the first place? This is the inaugural year of the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo. Although Pacasmayo is well known throughout the international surfing community for its world class waves, it is less known for its world class off-road running and biking. Our goal during the next two years is to begin the process of turning Pacasmayo into the sports capital of Perú. Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo was created as the first step in achieving that goal. Therefore, we have created a safe venue in the northern part of Peru where runners can achieve a personal running goal. In addition, we wanted to bring recognition to a society of local artisans known collectively as Pakastone. These talented artisans make animal figurines and other products out of marble. In fact, the Pakastone artisans have generously volunteered to make and donate one-of-a kind hand-marble trophies to be presented to the first place men and women finishers in each of the races. The Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo is also unique in that any profits that we earn will go to purchase products for the special education school in Pacasmayo. No one associated with the marathon is accepting any money for their involvement. As any race director will tell you, starting a marathon requires an incredible amount of time and energy. Fortunately, we have a tremendous staff. Hugo Cortez is from Pacasmayo and has been involved in all phases of organizing and acquiring sponsors; Ashley Toombs, a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, is marketing the marathon to the world; Melissa Atchley, a friend and consultant from the United States, has generously donated countless hours in designing our website, and our other committee members have made significant contributions in order to make the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo a reality in record time. What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? First, I will refer the reader to our website as all four off-road courses are described in detail under race information. But, in general, we like to use three words to describe the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo; exciting, exotic and exceptional. We feel those three words sum up the uniqueness of this maratón. The participants will be running on desert roads and paths that are composed of hard packed sand and dirt which makes for a fast off-road running surface. The course is flat and never more than 100 feet above sea level with the exception of a couple of hills: Heartbreak and “No Mas”. And, the natural beauty of the Pacific Ocean is almost always in view. Throw in the usual blue sky and you have the ingredients for an exceptional marathon setting. How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? Since this is our first marathon in Pacasmayo, it would only be a guess if I gave you an answer. However, I can tell you what our goals are in terms of numbers. We have set our goal to be a total of 101-200 runners for all four events in the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo. There will be four major cities in central and northern Peru that we will draw from; Lima, Trujillo, Chiclayo, and Cajamarca City. In addition, there are approximately 145 Peace Corps volunteers serving in Peru. About 25% of the volunteers have expressed interest in running in the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo. In fact, several of the volunteers have started running groups in their towns and are using the trip to Pacamayo as an incentive for their young athletes to stay committed to their running goal. Moreover, we have already received inquiries from participants outside of Peru who want to run a marathon in South America. So, we are optimistic about achieving our goal of 101 – 200 participants. That being said, long distance running has never been very popular in Peru. In Lima, a city of about 9 million people, I am told that their annual marathon only attracts about 500 runners. So, whether or not we achieve our goal of 101-200 participants will be decided in the next four weeks. It depends on how effective we are in marketing the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo in the last two weeks of February and the first two weeks of March. I have great confidence in our staff and I believe we are up to challenge. I want to thank www.42K195.com for doing their part in helping us publicize the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo to their audience worldwide. What formalities do international runners need to fulfill to run your race? International runners need to contact me directly at scambridge@gmail.com. As an incentive in participating in the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo, we are waiving the entry fee for all runners living outside of Peru. Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? Yes, there will be a total of four events all taking place on July 6th, 2008. At 8:30 a.m. we will start the 42Km. That will be followed by the 21Km at 8:35. At 8:45 the 10Km will begin and at 8:50 a.m. the 5Km run / walk will start. At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? July is considered a winter month for the coast of Peru. We should have ideal running conditions. The temperatures normally average between 55 degrees F. and 65 degrees F. in the morning. And, you can leave your rain gear at home. We receive less than 1 inch of precipitation each year. Have you planned festivities around the marathon? Yes, on Saturday there will be an artisan’s fair during the day. The Pakastone artisans will be displaying their products along with several of our sponsors. At 5 p.m., the runners, volunteers and artisans will be part of a parade that enables the local residents to show their appreciation and welcome the participants to Pacasmayo. In the evening, following the pre-race information meeting, we will have a drawing for prizes that have been donated by running companies and stores in Pacasmayo. After the drawing, several restaurants will be offering the customary pre-race pasta dinner as part of their menu selection. On Sunday, following the awards ceremony, there will be a post-race party for all participants and volunteers. The marathon finished what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Pacasmayo before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? The Estación Hotel is located on the ocean, and has an excellent menu at very reasonable prices. For fish, it is hard to beat Tabaris restaurant. And, the El Gallo Pinto caters to tourists and oftentimes has live music on the weekends. Our marathon committee will provide a list of restaurants to the participants when they pick-up there race packets on Saturday. As far as sightseeing goes, I think the view that the runners have when they approach the little town of Milagro is the best view of the weekend. That being said, the participants will want to walk up the hill near the cemetery and catch a view of the sunset while overlooking Pacasmayo. It can be breathtaking! In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Marathon Internacional de Pacasmayo? If running a marathon in South America is on your life’s list of “things to do”, then I invite you to the sports capital of Perú in order to participate in one of the most exciting, exotic and exceptional off-road marathons you will ever experience; Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo. Thank you Steve and good luck for the first edition. If you need more information : Official Website of the Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo Maratón Internacional de Pacasmayo on 42k195.com

Petri Huhtala is a 44 year old freewheeling civil engineer and a member of YMCA of Oulu which is organizing this marathon. He used to participate in this event as a runner but for past 3-4 years he has joined the organization committee too. Over the past decade he has run 21 marathons, in seven different countries, and each time he says he has received the same wonderful exhilaration at the end of the race – even without looking his finishing time – He has become aware that reaching the finish line in a marathon is to enter a top-notch group: only about one-tenth of one percent of the population does it. After the many marathon experiences he warmly recommends everyone to finish at least one marathon – it surely will leave you feeling like a champion – that how he has felt every single time! Hello, on May 24th, you’ll be organizing the Terwa Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located? Our event is arranged in Oulu which is Finland’s sixth largest city with population of ~130,000. Oulu was founded in 1605 and it locates on the shore of the Bay of Bothnia, along the Oulu River. Oulu has transformed itself from a city built around an economy of pine tar (terwa in Finnish) and salmon into a modern forerunner of high technology. How old is the marathon and why was it created in the first place? In late 1980’s there was a growing demand for road races in Oulu region and finally in 1989 a group of local YMCA runners joined their forces and arranged the first Oulu Marathon which included also quarter and half marathon distances. The first event attracted about 300 runners and through the 1990’s the turnout remained quite stable from 300 to 400 participants. It was not until 2002 when event started to grow in popularity. That year event was renewed and renamed to Terwa Run and Marathon. YMCA of Oulu has been and is the event organizer and year 2008 is special because we celebrate event’s 20th anniversary. What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The route is 21.1 km long and marathon runners loop it twice. The race start and finish are at the same place – few steps onshore from Bay of Bothnia. The course is relatively flat and fast: the difference between the highest and the lowest point of the course is 16 meters. This course is perfect to improve your personal best time and is an easy course for first time marathon runners. It safely runs along paved pedestrian and bicycle ways in very scenic waterfront, over several bridges and through peaceful neighborhoods of Oulu. Terwa Marathon course is measured by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) certified measurer. How many runners do you expect on Saturday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? We expect about 2000 participants: ~500 runners for the marathon and ~1500 for the shorter distances (including children’s Minimarathon). Last year we had 378 marathon finishers and 1556 finishers in shorter distances. We want to attract all kind of runners. Running is everyman sport. It doesn’t matter who or how old you are, or what you look like, or how much you weigh – you are warmly welcome to our event, be yourself and become a runner, just as hundreds and thousands of others have done too! Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? Besides the marathon we organize three other races during Saturday: simultaneously with marathon 10K and half marathon distances and on the morning, before the main event start, we organize free Minimarathon for children (age 0-13 years). At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? Late May is probably the best time of the year to run a marathon in Oulu. It may be little windy but the average maximum temperature on Race Day is around 15 degrees. (2007 provided soft rain, calm wind and a maximum temperature of 12 degrees). Have you planned festivities around the marathon? On Friday evening, day before the main event, we arrange a pasta party in Holiday Club Oulun Eden which is our event headquarters. After the finish line each runner receives a finisher medal and has free admission into Holiday Club Oulun Eden Spa which offers unique ways to recover from the achievement: different types of saunas, plenty of water fun along with many types of other relaxing water treatments. An award ceremony is arranged late afternoon on Saturday: trophies and prizes are handed to overall top five winners and to the first three age division winners. There are many drawing prizes too. Nightlife of city is very vivid and versatile, so surely everyone who desires will find suitable place to celebrate their personal achievements at Saturday night. The marathon finished what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Oulu before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? For first timers I recommend to study LOOK at OULU brochure which helps to discover Oulu or visit the Oulu Tourism website. Race headquarters itself, Holiday Club Oulun Eden, is good place to stay, eat and relax. In downtown of Oulu is ‘Rotuaari’, a lively pedestrian street, which invites you to enjoy the pleasant and relaxed atmosphere year-round with good shopping, cozy cafes and restaurants with their patios. Top three personal favorite restaurants in Oulu are Istanbul, Pannu and Sokeri-Jussin Kievari. Top three personal favorite Bubs & Bars are Gloria, Jumpru and Leskinen. In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Terwa Marathon ? Life is short, but a marathon stretches it out for a little while, giving you enough time to realize that life is good … you have the good health to move, the heart to know you can do it, the endurance to get there, and now you have good opportunity to do it in our beautiful and friendly event – life is short, so run long and enjoy – welcome to Oulu! Thank you very much Petri

Jeff Fultz has worked with the Indian Health Service and lived on the Navajo Nation since 1991 which has been a wonderful experience according to him. He has served as Race Director for the Shiprock Marathon & Relays for five years now. Hello, on May 3rd, you’ll be organizing the 25th Shiprock Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located? The Shiprock Marathon & Relays take place entirely on the Navajo Nation. The races begin nearby Red Valley Arizona, and conclude in Shiprock, New Mexico. The marathon is now 25 years old. Why was it created in the first place? Events began through the efforts of several individuals in the nearby city of Farmington, New Mexico. They wanted to “give back” to the native community of Shiprock through developing the races. These original organizers were all active runners themselves, and a race passing nearby the famous Shiprock seemed like it would be an awesome experience. Credit : DR Ranch What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The Marathon course is a point to point road race. It begins out near Red Valley Arizona at an elevation close to 6000’. The race passes through some beautiful high desert scenery on rolling hills towards the city of Shiprock (elevation 4800’). The 1800’ volcanic cinder cone of Shiprock itself is passed at about the halfway point of the Marathon. The last 6 miles of the course are flat or on a slight downhill grade, which adds to the appeal of the course. The first 20 miles of the Marathon course will have the road closed to through traffic. Only event vehicles will be out on this part of the course. The final 6.2 miles will have a lane closure of the Hwy 491 to provide a nice buffer between traffic and all participants (and volunteers supporting events). How many runners do you expect on Saturday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? With the advertisements in Runners World and the good coverage throughout numerous websites, I expect to fill all our competitive events. In the past few years we have had runners coming from most of the United States, Canada, England and parts of Europe. We have even had a runner join us from Asia. Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? We have a Marathon (capped at 150 runners); Marathon Relay – 5 person Coed (capped at 150 teams); and a Half-Marathon (capped at 300 runners). At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? Weather is quite unpredictable in the 4-corners region of the United States at any time of year. In 2007 we had snow flurries at the start of the races, the year before it was in the low 40s (Farenheit scale) and warmed up to the low 80s by the afternoon. Have you planned festivities around the marathon? We will have Navajo artisans and vendors selling goods nearby our finish line area at Navajo Community College. Music will be provided as well as many various refreshments, massage services, etc… The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Shiprock before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? There is a great deal to see in the 4-corners area of the United States. We are close by Monument Valley Utah; Canyon de Chelly Arizona; Durango Colorado (beautiful cowboy town with Rocky Mountains all around); The Grand Canyon is a couple hundred miles away on a scenic high desert drive across the Navajo Nation. In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Shiprock Marathon ? This is the only Marathon event of its kind on the Navajo Nation, and the course goes by the ancient Shiprock monolith, called Tse bi Tae -”Rock with Wings” by the Navajo.

Today, I’m publishing an interview with Sandi Heal the Administrative Manager of the Royal Victoria Marathon. Sandi Heal was born and raised in Victoria, BC. She has been with the Royal Victoria Marathon since the 2004 event and has a background in event planning, administrative services and acute-care nursing. Sandi Heal and Race Director, Rob Reid Hello, on October 12th, you’ll be organizing the 29th Royal Victoria Marathon. The marathon is now 29 years old. Why was it created in the first place? A local running club, the Prairie Inn Harriers started the Royal Victoria Marathon in 1980 from the simple premise that Victoria lacked races of provincial or national importance and therefore needed its own marathon. The event was to promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle through participation in physical activities, especially running. What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The route starts in beautiful downtown Victoria, near the Inner Harbour, Fairmont Empress Hotel. It follows a scenic waterfront route through the communities of James Bay, Oak Bay and Fairfield. The Marathon and Half Marathon pass a memorial statue of Terry Fox and our cruise ship terminal before finishing in front of the and BC Legislative Buildings. The route has some mild undulations but no big hills. The marathon can be used to qualify for the Boston Marathon. How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract? We expect to attract 10,000 runners on race weekend. It’s a wonderful impact on our city. Our event is walker and runner friendly. Participants of all fitness levels are welcome. Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? We host a Marathon (42.2km), half marathon (21.1 km), 8km Road Race and 1.2km Kids Run. At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? Perfect weather to run a fall marathon in. The average high temperature on race day is 14°C, or 57°F. Typically it will be between 6°C and 10°C at 8:30 a.m. when the marathon starts. Rain is unlikely, but not out of the question, so we recommend that participants be prepared in the event of showers. Have you planned festivities around the marathon? Race weekend kicks off on Friday, October 10 at the Victoria Conference Centre. We have a Race Expo for participants and the general public. It’s free! Saturday, October 11, the Expo is still open but we also have Course Tours, Pre-Race Massage, and a Carbo Gala Dinner (seats 300). The marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Victoria before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? veErywhere we go to promote our event, the one common comment we receive from people that have been here for our event before is: “We LOVE Victoria!” We have a whole host of exciting attractions. Butchart Gardens, the Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria Art Gallery, high tea at the Empress Hotel, local golf courses, spas, salons, shopping and dining. A great restaurant to visit is Milestone’s on the Inner Harbour or the Bengal Lounge in the Fairmont Empress. Tourism Victoria is a wonderful resource for those looking for accommodation, attractions, packages and things to do. Visit www.tourismvictoria.com. In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of 42k195 to make them register for the Royal Victoria Marathon ? A top notch, destination marathon event that has a personal touch; great for first timers one and for returnees. Thank you very much Sandi for your time and good luck for the organization of the marathon. If you need more information : Official Website of the Royal Victoria Marathon Royal Victoria Marathon on 42k195.com Book a hotel room in Victoria