Latest Running Stories

A new research review suggests that weakness in the muscles that support the hips may be a common contributor to many overuse injuries in runners, Reuters reported.Overuse injuries like chronic knee pain, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis and pain in the sole of the foot are common ailments for many runners. However, a review of previous research findings published since 1980 found that weakness in the hip muscles may translate into a higher risk of such lower-leg injuries over time.Lead...

Three Athletes Three-Peat in the Half Marathon ATLANTA, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- After days of drought-relieving rain left Atlanta with cool and windy conditions on Sunday, James Boitt felt like this might be his day. Boitt, a Kenyan living in Peachtree City, Ga., switched from the half to the full marathon on race day and went on to win the ING Georgia Marathon with a time of 2:22:16, for his first major marathon victory. The combo distance running event sold out with 15,000 runners and...

HENRY RONO AND TWO-TIME SULLIVAN FINALIST PHIL RASCHKER to compete tomorrow LANDOVER, Md., March 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first-ever Olympic Women's Marathon Gold Medalist in 1984, broke the American women's 50-plus 3000 meter record at the 2009 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships at Prince George's Sports and Learning Center in Landover MD, today. Benoit's event was on the opening day of the meet, taking place Friday-Sunday, March 20-22,...

New research suggests men who want to keep their bones strong may want to add running to their exercise routine, Reuters reported.Researchers found in a study of 42 athletic men between the ages of 19 and 45 that running seemed to have even bigger benefits for bone mass than strength training. Data showed that both runners and weight trainers had greater bone density in the spine compared with road cyclists, however, much of the benefit in weight trainers seemed to stem from their greater...

An Australian research group has disclosed evidence which scientifically disproves assertions that high-tech running shoes advance athletic performance or reduce injury, the AFP reported.    Since the 1970's, the supremacy of the running shoe has been a popular misconception that has sky-rocketed into a vast industry, said Craig Richards, a physiologist at Newcastle University.  However, a study of sports medicine literature since 1950 found there was no substantiating evidence to...

2008 Chicago Winners, Olympians, and Additional Talent Join the Elite Team to Challenge Defending Champions BOSTON, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Financial today announced that the top contenders for the Boston Marathon this year include an elite group of Olympians, top Americans and international marathon winners. These athletes will challenge four-time winner Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya and defending women's champion Dire Tune of Ethiopia at the 113th running of...

Bernard Lagat, who suffered through a disappointing Olympics last summer, won the Wanamaker Mile in New York Friday for a record-tying seventh time. Lagat captured the feature event of the 102nd Millrose Games by running a 3:58.44 mile, edging New Zealand's Nick Willis, who won the Olympic bronze medal over 1,500 meters. After winning both the 1,500 and 5,000 meters at the 2007 world championships, Lagat finished first in both events at the American Olympic trials prior to the Beijing Games....

Four-time Boston Winner and 2007 World Marathon Majors Champion Robert K. Cheruiyot and 2008 Boston Winner Dire Tune set to defend their titles on April 20 BOSTON, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Financial, in its 24th year as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, today announced the return of four-time champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya and women's winner Dire Tune of Ethiopia for the 113th running of the race on April 20. "I'd like to thank John Hancock for...

The full parking lots at gyms everywhere tell the story. People have decided to make fitness a part of their New Year's resolutions. Taking precautions before you start an exercise program can ensure that your workout is helping rather than hurting, said an expert at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "Exercising and losing weight are good steps to improving overall health and important for treating several medical conditions. However, just like any other lifestyle change, a workout plan...

Ethiopia's Deriba Merga says he's shooting for a time of 2:05 flat in the Houston Marathon Sunday, which would be a North American record. Merga's personal best for a 26.2-mile marathon course is 2:06:38. He placed fourth in the marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics. When a reporter asked Merga what time he hopes to run in Houston, he replied, two-oh-five, The Houston Chronicle reported. If Merga achieves a 2:05 time he'd beat the North American record of 2:05:42 set by Khalid Khannouchi in...