Travel The Running Groupie

    The Running Groupie

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    Parick Makau London 2011Most runners are fascinated with running times. While some of us get excited about seeing or meeting movie stars, I get excited about being in the presence of really fast runners.
    Based on that premise we are all elite runner groupies. I know I am.
    Because you are reading this in a running related vehicle you probably understand what I am talking about.
    For all you other running groupies out there, I was awarded the chance of lifetime when I was granted media accreditation for the Virgin London Marathon in April 2011. Thanks to Alan Brookes, the Race Director for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (and the man who brought road racing to Toronto many years ago) He also of the Canada Running Series fame. He ran a 2:47 marathon in his prime.
    While I missed the elite Women’s press conference, I attended the men’s on Thursday April 15.
    In the media centre I was literally rubbing shoulders with the elite runners, their agents, and managers of the elite men. On stage was :
    -defending champion, Tsegaye Kebede from Ethiopia (PB 2:05:18),
    -the world champion, Abel Kirui , the the fastest marathon runner in 2010(2:05:04) He also won the World Championship Marathons in Berlin 2009 (2:06:54) and Daegu in 2011 (2:07:38)
    -Patrick Makau (PB 2:04:08) and the third quickest man of all time – now the World Record Holder (2:03:38),See the above photo
    -Martin Lel (2:05:15) one of my running heros was there too. Martin won London 3 times (and came in second this year 2:05:44)coincidentaly he won the sprint to the finish line against Patrick (2:05:45)
    I had my picture taken with Kirui, Makau, Kebede, and got an autograph from Martin Lel.

    During the upcoming posts I will share my meetings with other runners. This blog writing is new to me so hopefully you will find these stories to be entertaining.

    These posts will be short stories of my quest to meet and talk to the fastest marathon runners in the world. One by one.
    I will be running the Berlin Marathon in 2012 (which will complete my own personal World Marathon Majors career) The elite runners have not yet been announced.
    But they know I will be right behind them !