Thread: Marathons

• Pune : MILIT Lake View Half Marathon Held On February 4 in Khadakwasla

Air Vice Marshal Vivek Blouria, Commandant MILIT flagged off the first ever MILIT Lake View Half Marathon on 04 Feb 24.

The Marathon witnessed an overwhelming participation by over 1 K individuals from Defence, Academia, Private, public and Govt sectors and all walks of life in various age groups. MILIT Half Marathon featured multiple race categories including a 21 km Half-Marathon, a 10 Km & 5 km run.

Runners ran stride to stride with Defence officers and their families in the picturesque MILIT campus at Girinagar.

The Military Institute of Technology (MILIT) in Girinagar, Pune over looking the scenic Khadakwasla lake, is a unique and prestigious Tri-Services training institution under the aegis of HQ IDS. It is the only Tri-Service Technical Training Institute established to meet the training aspirations and needs of the three Services in contemporary and futuristic technologies.

Established in 1952 as IAT and renamed as MILIT in 2012, it stands as a beacon of excellence in defence technology education for the Armed Forces. Commandant MILIT and President DWWA(L), Anjali Blouria ran the Marathon in 5 Km Category encouraging the participants.

• Jury awards marathon-running octogenarian $2.3M after nursing home neglect

A Beverly Grove nursing home must pay a marathon-running woman more than $2.3 million after she was abused and neglected while in the facility’s care, resulting in permanent injuries, the woman’s attorneys said in a press release.

Betsy Jentz, 84, has finished 27 Los Angeles Marathons, most recently in 2019, but when she had hip surgery in 2020, she was admitted to Country Villa Wilshire Healthcare Center for her recovery.

“Instead of receiving the necessary care and support, Betsy experienced a harrowing ordeal, including at least ten falls that led to a fractured and dislocated shoulder and a fractured pelvis, causing her excruciating pain and permanent shoulder damage,” said Lanzone Morgan LLP, the firm representing her in the lawsuit.

Further complicating Jentz’s stay were instances where “Betsy’s call light was out of reach and her phone was unplugged, severely delaying or even preventing timely assistance from staff,” a problem “underscored by … the facility’s understaffing issues,” the attorneys said.

In total, the jury found Jentz’s rights were violated 132 times, resulting in a verdict of more than $2.34 million in medical expenses, pain and suffering, and damages.

• Athlete Kim Baglietto says 'incredible feeling' to set new national record for marathon

Athlete Kim Baglietto says it was incredible feeling to set a new national record for the marathon.

The 31-year-old completed the course in Seville in 2 hours, 59 minutes and 50 seconds.

The Zurich Maraton de Sevilla is considered a fast marathon course, attracting some of the world’s best long distance runners.

Despite injuring her calf 6km in, Kim knew she had to push through the pain. The hearty support from family and friends certainly helped.

National record in first marathon attempt

Emma Montiel previously held the national record for the women’s half marathon.

Kim’s time is five minutes and 39 seconds faster!

This despite it being her first time covering a 42.1km course. She says she never found the long race appealing.

Kim Baglietto is now a Gibraltar national record holder in the 800m (indoors and out), the 1500m - (indoors and out), the 5000m, the 10,000m, the half marathon, and the marathon also.

The 3000m is the only middle and long distance race that she does not hold the national record for.

She says, for the time being, she has no plans to target that distance. For now, an ice bath, a sauna and the sofa must be a much more attractive proposition!

• Runners take part in Binational Marathon from Laredo to Nuevo Laredo

For the first time ever, the start and finish line for a Laredo marathon went from one country to another.

It was bright and early Sunday morning when plenty of people braved the weather for the early morning run.

The race began in Laredo at Jarvis Plaza and ended in Nuevo Laredo at El Palacio Federal.

The first-place winner in the women’s category was Maria de la luz Rodriguez and first place in the men’s category was Erick Mose.

The first winner received $2,000, the second-place winner received $1,000 and the third place winner received $500.

• Newcastle friends to run Barcelona Marathon in memory of mums

Best friends to run marathon in memory of mums

A pair of best friends who lost their mothers to cancer within a week of each other are taking on a marathon challenge.

After supporting each other through heartbreaking loss, Ben Gallon and Olly Jones are now hoping to support others.

The Newcastle teenagers are preparing to run the Barcelona Marathon in memory of their mums.

The pair are raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Care, as well as awareness of how important it is for boys to be able to share their feelings.

Opening up

Olly, 18, and Ben, 19, met when they were six and both playing football for Newcastle City Juniors.

Ahead of travelling to Barcelona to take part in the marathon with two other friends, they say they hope to make their late mothers proud.

Olly's mum Lorraine was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2022 and died last November.

Just a week later, Ben's mum Samantha, who had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2022, died after 16 rounds of chemotherapy.

Paying tribute to Lorraine, Olly said: "If I was to describe my mum, I'd talk about how strong she was.

"She was always the funniest person in the room and would always put me before her."

Ben's mum knew her cancer was incurable, but he says it did not stop her from remaining positive.

He said: "She was always trying to make other people happy and sending me nice messages.

"Just seeing her get ill was awful for me."

Throughout their grief, the boys were there for each other.

They believe the stereotype of men and boys being unable to speak about their feelings needs to be "overcome".

Exercising together allowed Ben and Olly to share their experiences and they are now encouraging others to open up.

Ben said: "We need to make sure we are talking.

"When we started running, it was easier to because you can just let everything out."

Olly and Ben initially hoped their marathon efforts would raise £3,000 for the charity that helped their mothers - but they have raised more than three times that amount.

Thoughts of their mothers and how proud they would be will help the pair get through the gruelling race, they say.

Olly said: "The first ten miles will be a bit of a laugh and as soon as I hit that wall, I'll be thinking of how much my mum fought for me, my sister and my dad.

"I think that will motivate me to get to the finish line for her, and beat the marathon like she tried to beat cancer."

• 18th Annual Combos Marathon returning to Albany, looking for volunteers

The Combos Marathon is returning to Albany for its 18th year.

Executive Director of the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau Rashelle Minix the marathon is looking for volunteers for this year’s marathon.

“Yes, Sir. We are looking for volunteers where we can never have too many. Our race goes throughout the entire town and we are always looking for people to be able to stand at the corners. We have so many turns on our race route that we need help with traffic control through the neighborhoods. And so we’re looking for just volunteers to stand on the corners, cheer on the runners, as well as to help direct traffic during that time.”

And the city is definitely made for a road race, there’s no doubt about that. It’s a great place, and the runners always have great times. So the volunteers will be handing out water or anything else you need to do besides, you know, when you’re directing traffic, it’s not hard. It’s just pointing in a different direction. So you know, anything else the volunteers can do?

“We have, you know, where the finish line, helping with the finish line, helping you know at the start line. We have we do have water stations throughout. We don’t mind if people set up their own water stations, you know, in front of their houses or those types of things. Runners, you know, they like as many water stations as possible. But we organize 16. So those are, you know, already taken by organizations such as Albany Tech and First Baptist Church and Doughty County, City of Albany. They have all stepped up to help with water stations, and Phoebe has several. So our main concern is really just road marshalls. Now we can never have too many of those, and plus the runners like to have people out on the route cheering them on. It helps them get through those 26.2 miles a little bit easier.”

• Hopkinton firefighter laces up for Boston Marathon to support Respite Center

In just eight weeks, tens of thousands of runners will lace up their running shoes to take on the 128th Boston Marathon, including everyday athletes from every town along the iconic route.

Hopkinton fire Lt. John Krauss is taking on the 26.2-mile trek to Boylston Street on behalf of the Michael Lisnow Respite Center in his hometown. Krauss first learned about the center when they requested an emergency medical services detail.

"I was fortunate enough to get the detail," Krauss said. "While working, I just kind of listened to the stories, listened to the families and the love that everyone had for one another and it was kind of inspirational for me to kind of get out there and challenge myself."

Inspired by her son, Sharon Lisnow started the Respite Center in his name. Michael was born 16 weeks premature, leaving him blind and with cerebral palsy. He lived 10 beautiful years before passing away just a year before the center opened.

"His heart and his soul and his laugh live on in this building," Lisnow said.

Sharon Lisnow connected with the Boston Athletic Association early, before the center even opened. The B.A.A. then asked the facility to house wheelchair athletes before the marathon.

"We were brand new. No one had ever come into the respite center yet," Lisnow said. "We opened that weekend for the wheelchair athletes who stayed with us."

Now the Respite Center is one of the Boston Marathon's official charities. The money raised supports their programs, benefiting everyone from infants to adults.

"We've raised enough money to have over 183,000 hours of free service just because of the Boston Marathon," Lisnow said.

This year, Krauss is among a group of about 70 runners who will take to the starting line in Hopkinton to raise money for this incredible cause.

"Some people say the fundraising is the hardest part," Krauss said. "But the money that's raised goes toward the center and all the time the center gives up out of their day. It truly is an eye-opening experience."

• Kenyan Athlete Bernard Sang Wins Lagos City Marathon

Kenyan athlete Bernard Sang on Saturday, February 10 won the 2024 Lagos City Marathon, clocking 2 : 16 : 49.

The 42-year-old, who was trying the World Athletics Gold Label Marathon for the third time, finished 9th in 2020 and 3rd in 2023.

“I am very happy and grateful to have won this race. Last year, I came in third, but this year is different because I won the race,” Sang stated.

Finishing second and third in the race at Eco Atlantic Victoria Island, were Silas Cheprot and Godfrey Birger, who crossed the finishing line in 2 : 16 . 54 and 2 : 17 . 43 respectively.

• Why we disqualified 5,000 runners from Lagos City Marathon

Yusuf Alli, the Technical Director of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, says no fewer than 5,000 runners who failed to pick up their kits on time were disqualified.

Alli disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

Alli noted that the last minutes rush by the intending runners after the expiration of the deadline for picking the kits would affect getting the accurate record of runners.

According to him, it is important that those who register for the marathon are timely in their online registration and in picking their kits for the race, to keep to the World Road Race’s standards.

“There were fewer runners in this year’s edition because many runners came late for the collection of their kits and we have to turn down about 5,000 that came on Thursday.

• End of the road for 58 runners accused of flouting Comrades Marathon entry rules

Fifty-eight athletes hoping to run this year's Comrades Marathon have had their entries squashed after they were found to have cheated.

In a statement on Monday, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) said subsequent to the running of the 2023 race, the CMA identified 58 athletes whose entry to the 2024 marathon were rejected after they violated CMA race rules.

"The entries of 16 athletes have been rejected after it was discovered that they had asked another athlete to run their 2023 qualifying marathon on their behalf, while three athletes were found to have ran the qualifying marathon, used by another entrant, to enter the 2023 event and 27 runners lied about their qualifying times when they either didn't run or finish the marathon or ran slower than the qualifying time," the CMA said.

Further more, one athlete ran last year's race wearing another athlete's race number and five athletes allowed others to run the 2023 race wearing personal numbers.