In 2012, the ODDyssey Half Marathon is proud to announce that Sly Fox Brewing Company is the official beer sponsor of the ODDyssey Half Marathon.  Sly Fox plans to double the size of the finish line beer garden and, of course, all adult finishers of the race will receive a free Sly Fox beer to toast their accomplishment.

But, that is not all.  Sly Fox is asking all runners to help select which Sly Fox beer will be the official post race beer with a free beer tasting!  Sly Fox will be at the ODDyssey Half Marathon booth at the Endurance Sports Expo in Oaks PA on February 25-26, 2012.  Runners will be able to taste two select Sly Fox beers and vote for which one would be the most refreshing beer to drink after a beautiful 13.1 mile run.  The winning beer will be the Official Beer of the ODDyssey Half Marathon.

The ODDyssey Half Marathon is Philadelphia’s spring half marathon.  It boasts a USA Track and Field certified course, professional photography, cash prizes and the most sophisticated timing system in the world – allowing runners to cross the finish line and immediately look up their results on touch screen kiosks.

But, the ODDyssey also is the most fun half marathon you will ever run.  It features live music along the course, optional quirky elements like water balloons and costume contests, and free post race massages from Phila Massages.  To register and get more details about the race or the beer, please go to www.ODDysseyHalfMarathon.com.

Sly Fox Brewing Company is one of the originators of the craft beer movement in Philadelphia.  Founded in 1995, Sly Fox continually produces award winning beers year after year and has been recognized as one of the best brew pubs in the nation.  2012 marks a huge milestone for Sly Fox Brewing Company as they open a new brewery in Pottstown Pennsylvania that will more than double brewing capacity.

www.slyfoxbeer.com

Men
Keflezighi’s performance (Mammoth Lakes, Calif) came only 69 days after his last marathon, where he also ran a then personal best time of 2:09:13 to place sixth at the 2011 ING New York City Marathon. The 2009 ING New York City Marathon winner and 2004 Olympic silver medalist became the first man to win both the U.S. Olympic Trials and the New York City Marathon in his career. At nearly 37 years old, he is the oldest man to win the Olympic Marathon Trials.

Defending Olympic Trials champion Ryan Hall (Flagstaff, Ariz) led much of the race en route to securing his second Olympic berth. Hall set a torrid pace early, with a projected finish of 2:06 that held up through the half-marathon mark. Wind and leg fatigue slowed Hall’s pace, as he shook his arms out regularly, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from again making the Olympic marathon team as finished second in 2:09:30.

Abdi Abdirahman (Tucson, Ariz.) turned heads in the lead pack. Entering the Trials with the 14th-fastest qualifying time, Abdi hadn’t run under 2:14 since setting his personal best of 2:08:56 in 2006. Soldiering through a year and a half of injury, Abdirahman finished third in 2:09:47 to clock his fastest marathon since 2006 and make his fourth Olympic Team at age 34.

Dathan Ritzenhein (Portland, Ore.), the top American marathoner at the 2008 Olympics, knelt at the finish with his head in his hands as he was 4th in 2:09:55. Ritzenhein had fallen off from Keflezighi, Hall and Abdirahman at approximately the 18-mile mark, and at one point lost sight of the leaders, but he rallied to finish only eight seconds behind Abdirahman.

Brett Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.) led the chase pack through much of the race and held his position as other men fell off the back of the pack to place fifth in 2:11:06.

Women
Flanagan (Portland, Ore.) bettered the women’s Olympic Trials Marathon record by two minutes and forty-seven seconds in her Olympic Trials marathon debut – just the second marathon of her career. Flanagan was in the lead pack throughout the race, but did not step forward as the clear leader until the 21st mile once the lead group of three was clearly set. Flanagan exchanged the lead with Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) several times before surging ahead at mile 24 to run away with the lead. Her winning time was a personal best by nearly 3 minutes.

Davila on Saturday added the word Olympian to her growing resume. Davila led portions of the race from five miles on before dueling with Flanagan in miles 22 through 24. Once Flanagan took the lead for good, Davila held on to finish in 2:25:55, only 18 seconds back.

The 2007 World Championships bronze medalist at 10,000 meters, Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.) claimed her first spot on the Olympic Marathon squad by finishing third in 2:26:06 After not competing in 2010 due to maternity, this is Goucher’s second marathon in nine months after her 2:24:26 showing at the 2011 Boston Marathon.

Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) appeared to be the last runner dropped by the top three as she fell back around 16 miles, but moments later she charged ahead to take the lead. However, by mile 20 she could no longer hold her position and fell back for good to finish in fourth in 2:27:17. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom finished fifth in 2:29:45, a nearly eight minute PR.

Notables:
Today’s race was the first time ever four men ran under 2:10 in the Olympic Trials. It was the first time five women ran under 2:30 in the Olympic Trials. The women’s top-three all have medaled in either New York, Boston or both. The men’s top three also boast experience as the oldest Olympic bound trio Team USA has ever sent on the men’s side with an average age of 33 and have a combined 9 Olympic appearances among them.

Quotes
Meb Keflezighi: “It’s an honor to be on the Olympic Team for the third time. The race started great. It was tough getting it down to as few people as possible. We got it down to five people and then said hey, let’s be on the team. With 3 guys with four or five miles to go, it was all about being on the team. It’s not about being first, second or third. I’m just delighted to be part of these guys to go to London. I’m honored to win this race but a lot of guys would be glad to be in our shoes and be on this team.”

Ryan Hall: “I was telling them after the race, I watched you guys making the 10k (Olympic) Team when I was in high school! They make me feel very young, and I’m 29. You realize what an honor it is to be on this team and what it takes to get here. The potential we have to go win medals is great. He (Meb) is going to be a great leader for us. The pace car was getting me riled up when I saw 2:06 up there for projected finish, and it got down to 2:05 once. It got increasingly windy and the concrete was kind of brutal on the quads.”

Abdi Abdirahman: “It has been a long journey for me. The last year and a half I struggled with injury. I’m also honored to be sitting here with these two great guys. I’ve been friends with Meb close to 20 years probably. Ryan took it out at 63 high (half marathon) pace and I felt good. Meb and I said let’s work together and make this team. Meb felt a little better these last two miles. This is going to be my fourth Olympics.”

Shalane Flanagan: “It was a huge day, I think one that all of us will remember. The last mile was a cross between savoring the moment and just being really grateful that I was almost done. I knew Desi was charging hard and I told myself I had to have one last gear if she came up on me. I tried to view it as a track race for the last mile. I didn’t really enjoy that last mile. It felt really long. I’m just grateful to be on the same team with these women.”

Desiree Davila: “Going into the last mile it was kind of this internal conflict where I really wanted to make a push and see what I had left. At the same time I knew Kara was right behind me, and Amy had made huge surges throughout the race. I couldn’t assume she had been dropped. My calves were just cramping up and ultimately I was like, finish it off and get the job done. I didn’t have enough confidence in being able to catch Shalane and I didn’t want to lose the spot I had.”

Kara Goucher: “I never really imagined myself winning this race based on my short period of training. I definitely ran outside of my fitness for a few miles trying to get away from Amy (Hastings). The last miles I was just hanging in there basically. I was really happy with the slow start.”

Amy Hastings: It was pretty solid through 20, then they just pulled away. I didn’t have quite enough left. I tried to fight back but it wasn’t there. It was an emotional last mile for sure.”

Two years ago, filmmaker Barry Walton learned of Rajat Chauhan, an Indian sports medicine physician and runner, and his race, La Ultra – The High. Chauhan was determined to establish the toughest and highest altitude ultra race in the world. Walton was determined to make a film about it.

Since 2012, Walton has been researching, filming, traveling to India, and now editing, structuring and working on getting his film finalized and ready for viewing. He has set up a Kickstarter fund raising campaign with the goal of raising $5,000 in 40 days in order to help with recreations, further interviews and editing. If he falls short of his goal he will not receive a cent. If he succeeds, his film is expected to be ready later this year.

La Ultra is a 222km (137 miles) race which takes place in Northern India at an average elevation between 12,000-14,000 feet above sea level. The race is invite-only and open to 20 runners. There are certain criteria runners should have under their belt to be considered for this race such as Western States, Badwater, or a Leadville 100 completion. Other races include Spartathlon, The Yukon Arctic Ultra and Ultra Trail Du Mont-Blanc, among others. Each runners as 60 hours to complete this grueling course, battling an oxygen content that is around 66% less than at sea level.

Play the video (above) to learn more about the project and the race.

The High (official website)
La Ultra – The High (race website)

Race Reports from past participants:

Molly Sheridan
Mark Cockbain

The course record is held by Sharon Gayter (UK): 37hr 34min 37sec

Ray sanchez (US), 2011

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Allentown’s charming West End will host the fourth annual West End St. Patrick’s Day 5k, Sunday, March 18, 2012, starting at 12:15 p.m. The race precedes the 55th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and benefits the not-for-profit West End Alliance.

Online registration is available at westendstpats5k.com for $24 through February 11 and $29 until registration closes on March 11. No race-day registration will be available. Runners are encouraged to register early, as the race will be capped at 550 participants. The West End St. Patrick’s 5k was named Runner Up “Best Local 5k” in the 2011 Runners Choice Awards by Lehigh Valley Running Scene.

Runners may pick-up their bib and packet beginning 11 a.m. at Memorial Hall, Muhlenberg College, Liberty Street between 23^rd and 24^th streets. The 5K will begin promptly at 12:15 p.m. at the corner of Berks and Liberty streets and loop through a course bounded by 19^th and 25^th streets and Liberty and Tilghman streets. A course map is available on the website.

After the race, participants can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of Allentown’s longest-standing traditions and the largest of its kind in the region. Live music, marching bands, and other local groups and entertainers will start parading at 1:30 p.m. from 19^th and Liberty Streets, passing Memorial Hall at about 2 p.m. so runners might join hundreds of others in celebration.

Race amenities include post-race food and hydration, a commemorative t-shirt or imprinted beer mug, and indoor restrooms, bib and packet pick-up. Awards will be given for the top three male and female open and masters (age 40+) finishers as well as the top three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+ .

Race proceeds will benefit the West End Alliance, a not-for-profit organization comprised of neighbors, merchants and stakeholders dedicated to Allentown’s resurgent West End Theatre District. Home to more than 100 businesses, restaurants and taverns, the West End Alliance aims to promote smart growth in a walkable, urban neighborhood.

I wanted to give a bit shout out to Leigh Mallonee who is running her very first half marathon this weekend at the D&L Heritage Half Marathon this weekend!

And to Chris whom I met at VegFest this year. He is running his second marathon this Sunday at the D&L Heritage Marathon!

Also running are Kimberly Nagosky, Lori Flamisch George, Diana O’Brien, Courtney Merring Landau, Debra Bednar, Jim Diehl, Beverly Siegfried, Michael Postorino and Kimberly Moyer Bachman.

Also taking place this Sunday is the Oktober Lauf Fest down in Pennypacker Park outside of Philly. It is a beautiful park to run in as well, I was down there for the Half Sauer Half Kraut race this past summer. Good luck to all those running that trail half marathon as well!

Run strong and break a shoelace!

Singh began running marathons at the age of 89. Huh? Incredible in itself, he hasn’t stopped since. Singh has been known to credit his success to “being happy”, ginger curry and cups of tea for his stamina. He runs at least 10 miles a day to keep in shape. His secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free.

If there’s something you can’t change then why worry about it? Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running.

The 5-foot-8 Singh said he’s hopeful his next project will be participating in the torch relay for the 2012 London Games. He carried the torch during the relay for the 2004 Athens Games.

Singh is all smiles after completing his 8th marathon on Sunday. Photo: AP

19th Women's 5k Classic Race Begins

The 19th Annual Women’s 5k Classic took place this past Saturday on a brisk but sunny morning. Lehigh Parkway in Allentown slowly awakened to the sound of 11,000 feet plodding the ground in the name of stamping out women’s cancers.

This year’s events had the most registrations in it’s rich 19 year history, a number which organizers were excited about, and understandably so. Over $200,000 was raised from the race this year, all of that goes directly to help fund programs in the Greater Lehigh Valley area.

Young And Old Alike Run To Stamp Out Cancer

Women of all ages and abilities participate in this event each year, and this year was no different. Young girls marched and ran with their mothers, their grandmothers. Babies were pushed in strollers. Women as old as 85 participated in Saturday’s events. This year there was a 5k run, 5k competitive walk, and a more leisurely paced 5k walk in the park.

Imagine if you will, men dressed in tuxedos escorting cancer survivors through the crowd on the Survivor Walk. The DeSales University Men’s Lacrosse Team lines up the waves of runners and walkers at the starting line. Tuxedo-dressed cyclists lead the packs of women through Lehigh Parkway.  Despite this being a female-only race there are hundreds of men helping from the starting line to standing along the course and shouting words of encouragment and slapping high fives to the women participating in the race.

Friendship. Love. Support.

The day is both inspirational and emotional for attendees. Whether they walk or run in remembrance of loved ones, or in celebration of the obstacles that life has thrown them, everyone becomes a part of a special sisterhood on this day. From first-timers to those who have been a part of this event for the past nineteen years, everyone takes away with them an awakened enthusiasm for reaching their goals, whether that means continuing to fight their cancer or becoming a bigger part of the struggle.

Congratulations ladies, keep up the fight!

More photos are available in the LVRS Photo Gallery (http://lvrunningscene.com/gallery/2011-women-s-5k-classic)

The Lehigh Gap Nature Center is located in Lehigh Gap at the foot of the Kittatinny Ridge. The center is situated between Slatington and Palmerton, a very beautiful area just north of the Lehigh Valley. This year marks the inaugural Lehigh Gap Nature Center Trail 10k, a race conceived by race director Mike Martinez.

Mike has been hiking and running this ridge for years, often with his dog, Ruby. He wants to share the unique beauty of this area with others which is the whole reason he put this race together in the first place. If you have been looking for new and exciting places to run in the area, especially on the trails, this is one race you should seriously consider.

Mike’s idea is to create a new race course each year as a way to teach runners the Lehigh Gap trail system and encourage them to explore the trails throughout the year. Each year the courses will be “more or less” a 10k distance.

As an outdoor lover, this race director is going the environmental route and offering a paperless registration system. All registration will take place online.

The Director’s Challenge is a unique race incentive. For anyone who completes the 10K course faster than the race director and his dog, Ruby, he will buy you lunch and a beverage at the Palmerton Hotel after the race.

You still have time to register for this race. As of today, online registration is still open.

Race Date: Saturday, October 8
Time: 9:00 am for the 2 mile scamper; 9:30 am for the 10k
Location: Lehigh Gap Nature Center, 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington PA 18080
http://www.lgnc10k.com/

Then, you have your Ultra relay team. These teams are comprised of 6 members who will run, on average, 33 miles each which is longer than a 50k. It just so happens that there will be an ultra team running Ragnar Relay PA this weekend under the guise of Lehigh Valley Running Scene.

The LVRS Ultra Team includes:
   
   

These guys are all accomplished ultra runners in their own rites and have been preparing for months. For some, this is one of several ultra length races they will complete this fall. The team will travel together in one van as they each take turns running their legs. The team met two months ago to examine the race route and decide who would run each leg. What would normally be broken into three legs per runner is doubled for the Ultra teams. Each leg is rated for the level of difficulty, mainly because of elevation changes.

The race day checklist looks more like a camping list than a race list: sleeping bags, pillow, first aid kit, head lamps. With 202 miles looming in front of you there is a lot to think about such as fueling between your race legs, catching some zzz’s, taking turns driving the van, and running 33 miles over a 24 hour period. In races like this friendships are forged, memories are created, and plenty of unexpected craziness is sure to abound.

Honestly, I’m jealous. I can only imagine all of the laughter and antics, sore muscles and fun times that will take place. I know that there are several others from the valley who will be participating in the inaugural Ragnar Relay PA. Best of luck to all of you! Leave a reply below and let us know who you are and what your team name is. We’d love to hear from you.

KNBT Halloween in Emmaus 5k
Saturday, October 15
7:00 pm
This year marks the 5th anniversary of this event. Everybody in the race runs in costume and the race takes place just before the infamous Emmaus Halloween Parade, a local Halloween tradition. People line the streets and cheer on all of the racers, making this event a really fun experience. Prizes are awarded to the top 3 male and female racers, top 2 age group winners, top 3 runners wearing a costume, and the top 3 runners in “Best” costume. The race is capped at 350 runners and in the first week of registration the race was 25% full. Learn more at http://www.emmaus5k.com/

Run Like Hell 5k
Saturday, October 29
6:00 pm
Run Lehigh Valley brings you this fun and unusual distance for the Halloween season. Each runner receives a t-shirt, glow stick, 2 FREE Beers (for 21+) PIZZA and candy (while supplies last!) T-shirts are guaranteed if registered by October 22. The race takes place at Cedar Beach in Allentown. There is a costume contest with prizes awarded for funniest, scariest, most original and best group. Age group awards will also be awarded and to the top 3 AG winners. Learn more at http://www.runlehighvalley.com/races/run-like-hell-5k/.

Bethlehem Halloween 5k
Sunday, October 30
1:00 pm
Here is another opportunity to dress up in your favorite costume! The Bethlehem Halloween 5k takes place just before the city’s Halloween Parade and you’ll get to run past plenty of cheering fans. Runners must be able to complete the course in 35 minutes due to the start of the parade. Besides the usual top 3 male and female overall winners receiving awards, and top male and female runner in age groups, there are some really unique costume categories you can win: Best couple or group costume, Best look alike, Best pun, Best political-themed costume, Costume most difficult to run in. That should get you thinking! More info at http://bethlehem5k.com/

Image: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/JadeGordon
Feature Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net