Even if you can't be at the finish line up near Folsom Reservoir this Saturday, you can still watch runners finish this 50-mile endurance race, thanks to modern technology.
A camera set up at the finish line will stream continuous live video of runners coming across the line.
To access the feed, visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/americanriver50. The show begins about 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 7.
The ultra-marathon begins at 6 a.m. at the Guy West Bridge near Sac State and finishes up near Newcastle.
For more information, visit http://www.ar50mile.com/.
Get the latest scoop on California's Central Valley running scene, including race insights, training tips, new products, calendar of events, and musings from the author.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Buena furtuna a Jon Olsen in Italy
Congratulazioni to Modesto's Jon Olsen for being named to the U.S. World Cup Team running in the IAU World 100K Championships, April 22, in Seregno, Italy.
For non-metric types, 100K is about 62 miles.
The announcement came less than a week after Olsen narrowly missed three-peating in the Modesto Marathon.
Olsen was more than 6 minutes behind the leader and eventual winner Clyde Behunin of Utah at the marathon turn-around.
Olsen made up time and was only 2 minutes behind just before the over-crossing with less than 2 miles to go.
He lost to the eventual winner by just 15 seconds, clocking a 2:33:01, a new PR for Olsen.
Behunin won with 2:32:46.
Olsen also plans to run Western States 100-mile Endurance Run June 23-24. The race starts in Squaw Valley, goes over the Sierra and ends in Auburn, Calif.
For non-metric types, 100K is about 62 miles.
The announcement came less than a week after Olsen narrowly missed three-peating in the Modesto Marathon.
Olsen was more than 6 minutes behind the leader and eventual winner Clyde Behunin of Utah at the marathon turn-around.
Olsen made up time and was only 2 minutes behind just before the over-crossing with less than 2 miles to go.
He lost to the eventual winner by just 15 seconds, clocking a 2:33:01, a new PR for Olsen.
Behunin won with 2:32:46.
Olsen also plans to run Western States 100-mile Endurance Run June 23-24. The race starts in Squaw Valley, goes over the Sierra and ends in Auburn, Calif.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Adventuring must be in their genes
The two sons of Adrian Crane, the man who has never met a mountain he didn't like, have their own claim to fame when it comes to adventuring.
Chris and John were part of the four-person Team Epoch that rowed across the Atlantic Ocean.
It took them 56 days to row the boat, dubbed Limited Inteligence, from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
They landed on terra firma on Jan. 31, greeted by father Adrian.
Adrian, by the way, will be attempting to summit Mt. Everest a year from now. Twice before bad weather turned him away before he reached the top.
Read more about the Crane brothers in the Modesto Bee.
Chris and John were part of the four-person Team Epoch that rowed across the Atlantic Ocean.
It took them 56 days to row the boat, dubbed Limited Inteligence, from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
They landed on terra firma on Jan. 31, greeted by father Adrian.
Adrian, by the way, will be attempting to summit Mt. Everest a year from now. Twice before bad weather turned him away before he reached the top.
Read more about the Crane brothers in the Modesto Bee.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Computer error aside, Modesto's Jon Olsen wins
100-mile Rocky Road
If you were following Modesto's Jon Olsen online at the Rocky Road Endurance Run, you would have thought he went from first to fourth during one of the laps of the six-lap race.
Blame a computer error on Olsen losing a lap in the Southern California race.
He actually took the lead early in the Coto de Caza race and maintained it until he finished in 13:14:44. That's roughly a 7:56 pace for 100 miles of hilly terrain.
The 13:14:44 also is one of the fastest times on record for a 100-mile trail run.
Recently Olsen received word that he gained entry into the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run, kind of the Super Bowl of ultra-runs.
Olsen, a middle-school teacher, also is defending champion of the Modesto Marathon, having won it the past two years. The marathon is March 18.
Blame a computer error on Olsen losing a lap in the Southern California race.
He actually took the lead early in the Coto de Caza race and maintained it until he finished in 13:14:44. That's roughly a 7:56 pace for 100 miles of hilly terrain.
The 13:14:44 also is one of the fastest times on record for a 100-mile trail run.
Recently Olsen received word that he gained entry into the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run, kind of the Super Bowl of ultra-runs.
Olsen, a middle-school teacher, also is defending champion of the Modesto Marathon, having won it the past two years. The marathon is March 18.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Valley Sporting Goods calls it quits
The economy and increased competition finally caught up to Valley Sporting Goods, an institution in the Modesto area for more than 65 years, closed its doors at the end of 2011
The sporting goods store had been located in McHenry Village since 1994 until mid-2011, when it moved out on Carpenter and Kansas roads.
The move to a smaller store with cheaper rent was prompted by Capter 11 bankruptcy filings.
In addititon, several suppliers have file suit against the owners, Darren and Crystal Daily, for failure to pay bills, according to court records.
The couple had purchased the store for $1.5 million in 2007, before the economy went south.
Since then, Dick's Sporting goods has moved into town, and Sports Authority has waged an aggressive campaign to lure customers.
Read the complete article in the Modesto Bee.
The sporting goods store had been located in McHenry Village since 1994 until mid-2011, when it moved out on Carpenter and Kansas roads.
The move to a smaller store with cheaper rent was prompted by Capter 11 bankruptcy filings.
In addititon, several suppliers have file suit against the owners, Darren and Crystal Daily, for failure to pay bills, according to court records.
The couple had purchased the store for $1.5 million in 2007, before the economy went south.
Since then, Dick's Sporting goods has moved into town, and Sports Authority has waged an aggressive campaign to lure customers.
Read the complete article in the Modesto Bee.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Globe trotting around the country
A handful of companies have created destination races, such as the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon.
But you can create your own destination event by running a race during your travels.
It's fun to show off t-shirts that you've earned in races outside of your home region.
Some race directors also have a whole lot of fun with their prizes, too.
Take the Hit the Bricks 5K in Fort Worth, Texas. They give out bricks—with a name plate attached—to age-group winners.
The Rhino Romp 3K at the Brevard County, Fla., Zoo gives out stuffed rhinos to age-group winners. They also have great Brooks tech shirts with a cute rhino on the front.
With the Web, it's easy to find lists of races for just about anywhere in the United States.
RunningInTheUSA is a good site to begin your search, since you can click on a state to find more local races.
If you don't see anything that appeals to you there, try a google search, using words such as, "Naples, Florida, running race calendar."
Google typically pulls up local running clubs and timing companies and their race schedules.
So the next time one of your friends calls you a globe-trotter, they just might be right.
But you can create your own destination event by running a race during your travels.
It's fun to show off t-shirts that you've earned in races outside of your home region.
Some race directors also have a whole lot of fun with their prizes, too.
Take the Hit the Bricks 5K in Fort Worth, Texas. They give out bricks—with a name plate attached—to age-group winners.
The Rhino Romp 3K at the Brevard County, Fla., Zoo gives out stuffed rhinos to age-group winners. They also have great Brooks tech shirts with a cute rhino on the front.
With the Web, it's easy to find lists of races for just about anywhere in the United States.
RunningInTheUSA is a good site to begin your search, since you can click on a state to find more local races.
If you don't see anything that appeals to you there, try a google search, using words such as, "Naples, Florida, running race calendar."
Google typically pulls up local running clubs and timing companies and their race schedules.
So the next time one of your friends calls you a globe-trotter, they just might be right.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
World Masters Athletic Championships—all but ignored
The World Masters Athletic Championships, held July 6-17 in Sacramento, is kind of like an Olympics for slightly older runners.
(In track and field, masters is anybody 35 years or older.) They even have a participant who is 101 years old.
As you walk around, you hear a multitude of languages, from the Portuguese of Brasil (as they spell it) to Norwegian from Norge.
But when the runners step on the track, any difference in languages disappear.
They're here for one thing, and one thing only—to do their best with the hopes of bringing home a medal.
What's sad is the event attracted more than 5,000 participants. Yet many of the businesses around Sac State University and Sac City College didn't know about it.
Sure, nearby restaurant employees wondered why they saw more customers and more customers who spoke different languages. But they didn't know why.
During the morning distance events one day at Sac City College, the stands were nearly empty except for a few friends who had come to watch.
The local television stations had a blurb or two at the beginning of the events July 6. But coverage was scant to non-existant after that.
You'd think with the football and basketball lock-outs going on, local t.v. sports would clamor for stories about inspirational athletes.
Take Ed Whitlock, the 80-something runner who continues to shatter age-group records. Whitlock, who calls Canada his home, ran a sub-3-hour marathon when he was 70.
If this is the type of reception that a major sporting event draws in Sacramento, it's no wonder why they have a hard time attracting events.
(In track and field, masters is anybody 35 years or older.) They even have a participant who is 101 years old.
As you walk around, you hear a multitude of languages, from the Portuguese of Brasil (as they spell it) to Norwegian from Norge.
But when the runners step on the track, any difference in languages disappear.
They're here for one thing, and one thing only—to do their best with the hopes of bringing home a medal.
What's sad is the event attracted more than 5,000 participants. Yet many of the businesses around Sac State University and Sac City College didn't know about it.
Sure, nearby restaurant employees wondered why they saw more customers and more customers who spoke different languages. But they didn't know why.
During the morning distance events one day at Sac City College, the stands were nearly empty except for a few friends who had come to watch.
The local television stations had a blurb or two at the beginning of the events July 6. But coverage was scant to non-existant after that.
You'd think with the football and basketball lock-outs going on, local t.v. sports would clamor for stories about inspirational athletes.
Take Ed Whitlock, the 80-something runner who continues to shatter age-group records. Whitlock, who calls Canada his home, ran a sub-3-hour marathon when he was 70.
If this is the type of reception that a major sporting event draws in Sacramento, it's no wonder why they have a hard time attracting events.
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