Colorado Runner

When Aaron Braun lines up for Thursday’s 10,000m at the USA Championships in Des Moines, he’ll be putting everything on the line to try to make his first-ever USA team for an IAAF World Championships. He was fifth at last year’s Olympic Trials in Eugene, has a 27:41.54 personal best, and definitely has a shot of making the team with other favorites like Galen Rupp, Dathan Ritzenhein and Chris Derrick. “My big goal for the whole season is to do USA’s, just like in the Trials last year,” Braun told Race Results Weekly in a telephone interview last Sunday. “All [...]

Growing up in Marblehead, Mass., about 20 miles (32 km) north of here, Shalane Flanagan saw herself running, and winning, the Boston Marathon. Different scenarios ran through her head, especially how she would react if she actually broke the tape on Boylston Street. “It’s funny. In any sport, someone winning NBA championship they visualize what they do,” Flanagan told reporters here this morning at a press gathering. “Will it be a fist pump? What would they do? I’ve been thinking, if I were to win what would I do? You don’t know until you’re in that moment.” Flanagan, 31, is [...]

One month ago, when Race Results Weekly spoke with Jason Hartmann prior to the NYC Half, the 6′-3″ (191cm) American was primed and focused on April 15th, the date of the 117th Boston Marathon. On that morning, the 32-year-old said he would determine whether his professional running career would see another starting line. Now, less than 72 hours from the start of the race –or test, as Hartmann once referred to it– the Michigan native who lives and trains in Boulder remains cool, and confident in his philosophy. “The one thing I have focused on is training,” said Hartmann, who [...]

At home in Golden, Colo., Brianne Nelson’s two daughters just want to run with Mommy. Riley, 4, and Reese, 2, get their “fast shoes” and beg Nelson, a contender at today’s USA 10 mile championship, to run with them. “I swear, people in the neighborhood think I’m training my kids at two and four,” said Nelson, in an interview with Race Results Weekly here today. “They put on what they call their ‘fast shoes,’ their little tie-shoes, and they take laps. I tell them they can run with me when I come home, and I’ll jog with them around the [...]

It’s hard to believe that Nicole Chyr didn’t get into distance running until her college years.  What’s possibly even more surprising is that Nicole has a 6-year old son, works a full-time job, and still has time to put in 75-mile weeks and garner top honors in Colorado’s top races. Maybe it’s Nicole’s Colorado nativity, or possibly the incredible support she has from her family, but after reading through Nicole’s interview, I tend to lean towards her positive attitude and raw approach to running: hard work, healthy living, and a deep determination to the sport she loves. Quick Stats Name: Nicole [...]

Post originally appeared on RunBlogRun. Sarah Brown is one of the top milers in the U.S. That, is a fact. In high school and college, Sarah Bowman was one of the top middle distance runners in the country. As an elite middle distance runner for the Team New Balance, Sarah Brown has raced across the country, indoor and outdoor, as well as in some of the major meets around the world, chasing fast times and looking to run that perfect race. Her best at 800 meters is 2:02, for 1,500 meters is 4:05 and for the mile is 4:29. In [...]

On March 24, 2013, Ben True (@bentrue) put together one of those dream races in a distance runner’s life, and took sixth in the World Cross Country Championships. On a tough course, with cold, snow, a tough hill and terrible footing, True, along with Chris Derrick, finished in the top ten and lead the US team to the silver medal, and a huge upset of the Kenyan WC team, which finished third. Ben True is a distance coach’s dream, with a background in cross country skiing, cross country running and track and field. Last year, in 2012, Ben ran Personal bests [...]

Post originally appeared on the RunBlogRun site; review for RBR by Jeff Benjamin. Bill Rodgers is one of the most iconic of figures in modern American distance running. Between Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers, the modern running booms began, were cultivated and flowered into a huge global business covering running footwear, running stores and the global road racing boom. In the early 1970s, runners were few and far between. In 2013, runners and walkers are everywhere and road races are part of the local cultures, in cities big and small.    Bill Rodgers, the clown prince of road running, was one [...]

Post originally appeared on RunBlogRun.   It was mid-August of 2010, on windy walk in London, I believe, that I met Molly Huddle. I had seen her at many events over the years, but, with an introduction from Mark Bossardet, VP of Sports Marketing at Saucony, I met Molly after her race at the AVIVA London meet. She was a little frustrated, knowing that she could run fast, but things just had not been working out. So, she decided to spend another two weeks in Europe to get in a fast 5,000 meters.    I had noted that Molly Huddle [...]

American Jason Hartmann finds himself in an interesting position coming into the NYC Half tomorrow and the Boston Marathon on April 15. Unsponsored and in the latter part of his career, the 31-year-old knows the clock is ticking on how much more time he has in the sport. “For a guy at my level, it’s very difficult to stay in the sport,” said Hartmann, who has a marathon personal best of 2:11:06. “It’s a top heavy sport and the gap is starting to grow a lot more. Unfortunately you’ll probably see less guys sticking around in the sport just because [...]

Release provided by: Nicki Thomas. While man’s best friend can be the sweetest pal around, there’s no denying that when the sun goes down they can get into trouble. Luckily,Nite Ize has developed a whole line of dog-centric products focused on keeping those furry friends, safe, seen, and entertained once the sun goes down. Feel confident while taking Fido out on his nighttime constitutional with the Nite Dawg LED Collar Cover. Unlike some other products, there is no need to change out his collar and tags. Simply slip the lightweight, low-profile cover over almost any dog collar and close it with the two [...]

This post originally appeared on Running Product Reviews. In this review, our third annual look at minimalist shoes, we examine this growing category and feature seven new shoes and one updated model for you to consider – with another eight minimalist shoes coming a bit later.  In deciding what a minimalist shoe is, we use the following ranges: a minimal heel-to-forefoot drop (5 millimeters or less); minimal support (can fold down the heel of the upper or pinch the sides of the heel together) and little sole structure (should be able to twist torsionally with little resistance); and light in [...]

When the career of a track and field athlete comes to a close, few can accurately state they ever performed at a world-record level. It’s as exclusive of a group as you will find in the sport and Libby James has been able to place her name next to elite company well into her 70s. Age-grading is popular among masters distance runners. A process similar to a handicap in the sport of golf, age-grading evens the playing field by combining a runner’s age and performance to determine a final number that is an athlete’s age-grade percentage. That percentage indicates the [...]

Running aficionados will see a new name among the top ranks of distance runners these days, as elite speedster Michele (formerly Suszek) Yates recently tied the knot.  Her familiar face and top finishes, however, will stay the same. Upon initial review of Michele’s recent accomplishments (2012 USA 50 Mile Trail Champion, 2013 USA 100K Trail Champion, 2011 USA Mountain Trail Teammate, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier, to name a few), it was clear that this dominating road, trail and ultra runner had something up her sleeve. That something, after further review of Michele’s interview, was a clear list of goals set [...]

Release provided by: Nicki Thomas. Keep your new year’s resolution to be more active or take up a new sport with the help of Nite Ize. Their Action Armband is made for more than just running on the beach, it’s an all purpose product that allows you to stay connected and motivated hands-free. When it comes to leading an active outdoor lifestyle, keeping an organized home, or tackling tasks head on, Nite Ize has the perfect tool to get the job done. They’re dedicated to creating innovative products that help make life easier in ways one might never have expected. Take for [...]

Release provided by: Melissa Valentino. Creative and innovative fitness classes are popping up everywhere, but some days, there just isn’t time to get to the gym.  The March 2013 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from Consumer Reports, features exercise apps that allow users to get in all types of workouts anytime, anywhere. “Sticking to fitness goals can be a challenge,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “Having access to workout guides on a smartphone can help you stay on track no matter where you are.” Here are five apps that can help amp-up a workout: CrossFit Travel is designed to help users stay on [...]

Release provided by: Devin Johnson. Designed with the sports enthusiast in mind, while still maintaining a laid-back, dynamic look, the Deewhy sunglasses are Rudy Project’s newest edition to its casual line. Think golden sand, warm sun, water, surf, relaxing – named after the famous Australian beach, Deewhy gives an unmistakable and stylish sport style to those carefree moments. The full, wraparound frame completely protects the eyes from direct and reflected sunlight, with lenses 100% guaranteed for protection against UVA and UVB. “We’re thrilled to introduce the world to Rudy Project’s newest casual sunglass – the Deewhy,” said Paul Craig, President [...]