Two times half champ / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, April 21, 2008

Fort Hays State coach repeats as winner

Lawrence's Kathy Sanders finishes the Therapy Works Lawrence Half Marathon. Sanders said she started running in preparation for the race, which started and finished Sunday at Haskell Stadium. Sanders said she discovered the term "wogging," a combination of jogging and walking, on the Internet and it has worked well for her.

By Jason Elmquist

April 21, 2008

Lawrence hosts half marathon and 5K

The race is on again, as runners took off for the second Lawrence Half Marathon and 5K run. Enlarge video

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Runners enjoy weather, city tour (04-21-08)

Jason McCullough had no excuses not to try to defend his Lawrence Half Marathon title.

McCullough, track and field coach at Fort Hays State, had already been in town for the Kansas Relays.

So a day after the Relays' conclusion at Kansas University's Memorial Stadium, McCullough headed across town to Haskell Stadium for the start of the Lawrence Half Marathon.

"Last year, we had a change in our meets, so I had to go straight to Emporia (after running the half marathon), but this year we were at the KU Relays so I just stayed here in Lawrence," McCullough said. "It worked out great. I actually got two good races in - I ran the 10K at the KU Relays and jumped in here at the half marathon and made a running weekend out of it."

The Fort Hays State coach placed second in the 10K at the Relays, but Sunday there was nobody in front of him - or close behind for that matter.

McCullough finished the 13.1-mile race in 1:09:27, improving on last year's winning time of 1:10:16.

"That was my goal - to come back and defend the title," McCullough said. "I know the record is 1:09:11. It was on a different course, but it's actually the meet record. I was hoping to maybe get under that, but I at least ran about a minute faster than last year, so I'm happy about that."

McCullough competed against a tough field, with many former and current college athletes - including one of McCullough's runners at Fort Hays State, Elias Diaz.

Diaz, who finished in 1:17:09, said competing against his coach is a lot different than facing him in practices.

"He pulled away at the right time," Diaz said. "He knew where the hard parts were, and he knew how to use them toward his advantage, which made him pull away pretty far and drop the other guys. He ran a real smart race, actually."

The competition also included former Olympian and KU track star Charlie Gruber, who competed in the 5K event last year.

"I usually run more in the mile, so I definitely stepped up in distance today," said Gruber, a five-time All-American. "I did fine. I didn't train too serious, just casual, fitting it in between work and stuff. Work is my top priority now. Running was my first priority for many years, and now it's just kind of second. If I have time, I fit it in, but I don't stress it any more like I used to. I do miss the competition. I don't miss all the work, though."

Gruber lives with his wife in Lee's Summit, Mo., and works for a software company in Prairie Village.

Whitney Pilkington of Wichita was the first female to cross the finish line of the half marathon.

Half marathon

Men: Jason McCullough, 1:09:27.

Women: Whitney Pilkington, 1:26:13.

Men: Eric Graham, 15:57.

Women: Megan Manthe, 19:11.

Discussion

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21 April 2008
at 8:30 a.m.

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Marty_Ackerman (Anonymous) says…

I like how the lady in main picture is clearly wearing headphones from an mp3 player when it's clearly written that 'New USATF regulations prohibit the use of audio devices/headphones in road races.'
21 April 2008
at 9:24 a.m.

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myvotecounts (Anonymous) says…

I disagree with the “no headphones” rule because I think it is overkill. From what I've seen, the rule is widely disregarded.
21 April 2008
at 10:08 a.m.

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inatux (Anonymous) says…

Whether you disagree with it or not, it will still in the rules for that race.If the winner is allowed to “break” the rules, then they should either a.) strip the runner of the win, or b.) get rid of the rule.How many other runners didn't bring their headphones because they were trying to follow the rules?
21 April 2008
at 12:44 p.m.

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RonBurgandy (Anonymous) says…

Several runners had headphones. I don't think that people who were actually “competiting” for the win wore them. It was mainly people who were just running for the fun of it. It is not much of a regulated rule, but it probably is watched more in higher profile runs.
21 April 2008
at 2:51 p.m.

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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…

yes, lots of the runners were wearing headphones, and they were playing loud enough to be heard by people nearby. This person had hers turned down very very low so she could hear traffic and instructions.Way to go Kathy!!!
21 April 2008
at 7:44 p.m.

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justbcause (Anonymous) says…

I think that this i-pod rule is a little ridiculous and taking some of the fun and enjoyment out of racing. Some people prefer music and others don't, but I think it should be a personal choice to have during a race or not. I think that if they want to require those runners competing who may actually win the race and possibly a monetary prize to not wear headphones, because it may influence their performance, than so be it. However, for the rest of us who run races for fun, recreation and health who perfer to have music to make our exercise and race experience more fun, who pay to run the race, and aren't winning any prizes, who cares if we are listening to an ipod, who is it hurting? It is our responsibility to keep our music low enough to hear traffic and other things in the enviornment and we are all adults, so I think that everyone should relax a little bit and realize 90% of the people who are racing are doing it for enjoyment, recreation and health, so if they want to listen to a little music more power to them. Way to go Kathy, I am so Proud of you!!!