Merging Women Running & Domestice Violence To Sell Sport Bras...WTF?

Canada's largest specialty Runner's Shop, "Running Free" - is under fire and for good reason - it's best summed up by the blog Adland and I will let them take the stage, "Back in Noverber ad agency DDB Canada approached Nick Capra, co-owner of Running Free, a Markham, Ont. athletic apparel store, with an offer to do a pro bono ad campaign - meaning they figured that they had an awesome idea they really wanted to do. The idea was to show what happens when us girls don't have a decent running bra, portraits of women with black eyes and broken noses and the line “Support bras, now available.” Nick Capra didn't like the ads, but sought the opinions of his co-workers anyway: “I do things by consensus, so I showed them to everybody at the shop and they all had the same reaction, which was quite negative...They looked like a domestic violence campaign.” Capra then told DDB he didn't want to use them, and that was that, right? Wrong. However, according to Andrew Simon, senior vice-president and creative director at DDB’s Toronto office, Capra gave the agency the go-ahead in writing to produce the ads, though Simon declined to show the Marketing copy of Capra’s approval. But the ads were sent to adblogs and have thus cause quite a stir on the net, so finally Capra has posted a statement on Running Free’s website calling the ads a “hoax,” “tasteless and offensive” and saying he never authorized the use of the company logo. DDB now wants to apologise and are asking all adbloggers to take the ads down. [END] There's a pretty good discussion on this going on at Feministing.com and a news report claiming Capra gave the green light on exploring this is here. My comments: Think about it, people that have some measure of education, general awareness of the world, culture, etc. not only came up with this, but ran it up the flag pole thinking they had a "winner" on their hands. What are the only words available to characterize their thinking ? I don't like characterizing people as "ignorant" or "dumb" - however unfortunately there are times & people responsible for things so plainly offensive....the shoe fits, this is one of those times. It makes me want to scream....just as I am screaming about Tony Reed & the National Black Marathoners Association and their logo & slogan:1865:Free To Run. I know, I said I would not but I had to illustrate this analogy. Tony Reed and the Black Marathoners are out of Texas, a state where 27 Jim Crow Laws were passed up through 1958. It's a fact Black people like Tony Reed & his members were not "Free To Run" in State Parks in Texas (and hundreds of city parks): It was a violation of law Texas put on the books in 1950 (at best you were arrested, at worse lynched -people were both). If you do not see ignorance & offense in DDB Canada/Running Free/Nick Capra/Tony Reed/Black Marathoners - something is wrong with you. Have a great day!

NYC Half Marathon July 27, '08 - Register Next Week!

I see the '08 NYC Nike Half Marathon is set for July 27 - set the date, registration starts next Week, March 5, they claim it's a "lottery" - however I am sure there will be earmarked guaranteed entry qualifying times too. This is the second largest race hosted by the New York Road Runners - it's been ran twice - I've done it both times - years from now this will be the #1 Half-Marathon in the world (attracting world class runners, etc.). The thing you have to be aware of for this race is NYC heat & humidity - it's ran early but it can still wear you out. It's a big race - a loop of Central Park and run through Manhattan Time's Square just like you see in that photo on the right and on down the West Side. I am sure the New York Road Runner$ are going to get about $75 or so for each entry - life in NYC - it's expensive. However if you're not in the NYC Marathon - and curious to get a feel of a big NYC race - this is a pretty good one to try and get in - it will have it all - a world class field, crazy fanfare, live TV, etc....it will be "New York City". I will be running it looking to PR at about 1:25 or so. Have a great day!

1. 
   

The 50 Best Running Shop Stores In America

The 50 Best Running Stores in America and none are in Harlem? I'm shocked! The Running Network, LLC and Footwear Intelligence announced the 2007 list of the 50 Best Running Stores in America. They do this every year - this is from 2 months ago I thought I would share it with my readers - I rip on running shops a lot - just giving fair and balanced "air" to the topic. Now though I've never been there - my idea of a great running store is Bob Roncker's Running Sport, truly woven into the community in their area - a myriad of running information separate and away from spending a buck with them, etc just looks like a great place. Locally I am surprised my favorite, Urban Athletics did not make the list - and I am pleased Super Runners Shops did not as they suck. The announcement of the list capped off a near year-long search that took into account more than 2,000 nominations from consumers, the mystery shopping of more than 120 stores, and input from leading running vendors. The criteria to select the stores was changed from last year based on feedback from stores and vendors. However, a Mystery Shopper Rating conducted by The Franklin Resource Group, the sport industry's leading merchandising services company, still counted for a strong percentage (50%) of the overall grade. "The Mystery Shopper Ratings were way up this year over 2006," said Mark Sullivan, editor of Footwear Intelligence, which administered the program. "Last year, if a store scored in the high 60s out of a possible 100, it had a good chance of making the list. This year, we had stores that scored in the mid 70s out of a possible 100 and yet they did not make the 50 Best list."

Midwest
Athletic Annex / Big River Running / Elite Feet, Kansas City / Fleet Feet Chicago / Fleet Feet Cincinnati / Fleet Feet St. Louis / Garry Gribble's Sports / Gazelle Sports / Hanson's Running Shop / Movin' Shoes, Madison / Naperville Running Co. / Playmakers / Runners High'N Tri / The Running Spot / The Running Company, Indianapolis

The West
A Snail's Pace / Bandanna Running / Boulder Running Company / Fleet Feet Davis / Fleet Feet Tucson / Heart & Sole Sports / Napa Running Company / Runner's High, Menlo Park / Ryan's Sports Shop / Salt Lake City Running Co. / See Jane Run / Skinny Raven Sports / Super Jock'n Jill /

The South
1st Place Sports / 9th Street Active Feet / TAF Raleigh / Big Peach Running Co. / Fleet Feet Huntsville / Fleet Feet Tulsa / Luke's Locker / Metro Run & Walk / Pacers Running Store / Potomac River Running / Roger Soler Sports / Running Zone, Melbourne / Run On / Runner's Depot / Track Shack / Virginia Runner

The Northeast
Bryn Mawr / Elite Runners & Walkers / Fleet Feet Adams-Morgan / Fleet Feet Syracuse / Flying Feet Sports / Georgetown Running Co. / Marathon Sports / Medved Sports / Jack Rabbit Sports / Whirlaway Sports

Finalists for Store of the Year
9th Street Active / Bryn Mawr Running Co. / Fleet Feet Huntsville / Luke's Locker

How The 50 Best Was Selected

There were new criteria for selecting the 50 Best Stores in 2007. Last year the results were based largely on a mystery shopping rating of each stores that was conducted by The Franklin Resource Group, the leading store merchandising company serving the sporting goods industry. This year, the mystery shopping accounted for 50% of the total evaluation. A community involvement rating accounted for 25% and credit scores and evaluation from vendors accounted for the remaining 25%.

Rating Criteria for The Mystery Shopping
* How promptly were you greeted? * How knowledgeable and helpful was the staff OVERALL? * How many choices of items in your size and price range did they bring you to try on? * Were they polite and respectful? * Did they offer additional information beyond your question(s)? * Were you thanked and given incentive to visit the store again in the future? * How would rate the overall experience? * If you were shopping with your own money and interested in running, would you return to this store? * Did the sales person measure your foot? * Did the sales person measure your gait for specific needs? (ie - overpronation, underpronation or neutral) * Were try-on socks available? If so, were they clean? * Did the sales person help you beyond the shoe selection? (ie - discussed apparel or accessory items, etc) * Did the store carry a wide range of sizes, colors and brands of running shoes? (refer to brand list above in report instructions) * Was your size available in the shoe(s) the associate suggested initially? * Were all of the prices clearly marked? * What kind of range of accessory products does this store carry? (socks, insoles, water bottles, hats, watches, etc) * Was the store well-lit, clean and easy to maneuver? (rate overall) * Was the merchandise presented in a way that was easy to understand and shop? (rate overall) * Was the fitting room for apparel comfortable, well lit and clean? * Was the checkout procedure quick and simple? * Rate the sales associates on their attire. Were they readily identifiable? * Please add anything (positive or negative) that you experienced during your visit:

Total evaluation was worth 100 points

The First Black American Marathon Runner : My Boycott of The National Black Marathoners' Association

Many consider that man on the left, Arthur Newton to be one of the visionaries in distance running, and to a degree, he was. I would not dispute that assertion, however, what I would dispute is Arthur Newton's assertion that - "Blacks would never run distance. They just don't have what it takes to do the distance." Yes, that cut and dry, plain and simple - fortunately, Black American Ted Corbitt responded to that assertion and eventually towered over Arthur Newton as a running visionary in ways Newton could not imagine. The first distance runners in America were Native Americans who have a rich running history. Running was a means of transportation, as it facilitated trading and sending of messages in addition to hunting and warfare. I can't prove but I have no doubt slaves escaping the South and heading North were essentially in many cases ultrarunning. Note, this whole distance running endeavor as an "event or sport" is a progression of what in the 1800's was called "Pedestrian Multi-Days" (power walking over hundreds of miles for days) - this was a huge sport drawing crowds, fans, great prize money, etc. A superstar of the sport and the first African American distance athlete I know of was named Francis Smith - a "pedestrian" great of the 1830's. Now before there was Ted Corbitt, there was Black American Fred Hitchborn, a grocery store clerk in Boston who set a goal to become a professional pedestrian for the prize money to be won - and that he did. He entered his first race at age 20 in 1879 at the Boston Music Hall. As is stated per the record, "He was the favorite and followed by many at races because of his color, a Black Man and he walked with some of the most prominent names in the walking world; Charles Rowell, Edward Weston, and George Guyon. Fred Hitchborn later changed his name to Frank Hart (he was also known as "Black Dan)" (there he is on the right showing a championship pedestrian belt). At races no one would shake his hand at the start, he received racial taunts and threats of violence from spectators. Once a spectator gave him some soda water he became severely ill and it was determined that he was poisoned. Even being ill-stricken he managed to beat Weston and Guyon. He won the Rose Belt race by completing 540 miles, one mile short of the world record. Hitchborn then cracked the world record at the 1880 O'Leary race by successfully running 565 miles". Click here & here to learn the history and check out Multi-Days.com. I've never met a Black person who ever heard of Fred Hitchborn/Frank Hart and most all African American historic archives neglect mentioning him - however thanks to Quintard Taylor & Blackpast.org & Charles B. Kastner - you can click those links and learn about "Black Dan". We Black Americans have a problem - it's ourselves, it's exemplified & worsened in distance running by people like Tony Reed & The Black Marathoners Association. Arthur Newton, Ted Corbitt, Frank Hart, and Delores Cross (former President of a Black College and only Black American to write an autobiography paralleling life and marathon running, below on the left) should be found on the website of any organization characterizing itself as "The National Black Marathoners Association". On their site the only book Tony Reed gives voice and attention to is his. The National Black Marathoners have no room for Delores Cross, only Tony Reed. Consequently he fosters and preserves a collective ignorance within the organization, inarguably illustrated in their logo and slogan. Let's be clear, Tony Reed co-opts the words National, Black, Marathon, & Association and all they imply and markets the identity of the authoritive source and bastion of American Black distance running. His press releases leverage his ethnicity and organization name to establish the appearance of legitimacy, this is his "currency" to promote himself, sell his books, and secure bookings as a speaker. In sum, Tony Reed exploits a history and legacy in name for his own promotion (while excluding giving that legacy any "air"). Have you seen The Great Debaters? The film, based on a true story, revolves around the efforts of Black debate coach (Denzel Washington) at historically Black Wiley College to place his team on equal footing with whites in the American south during the 1930s, when lynch mobs and Jim Crow laws abounded. The Wiley team eventually succeeds to the point at which they are able to take part in a debate with Harvard University. The pursuit of Black excellence need not only be in film, it should be in all quarters wherein we (Black People) present ourselves as national organizations and entities. Last week Tony Reed ran Marathons spaced 5 days apart, he assured himself the less than mediocrity he achieved finishing 645th out of 701 (inside runner talk, Tony's AG grade was 40.4% - no marathoner of this level could be in Runner's World - however Tony markets himself to Runner's World using his ethnicity and organization name and receives a type of "Negro Affirmative Action"). Tony's strategy is to promote himself, say he ran 100 marathons, use and exploit a legacy (Black Distance Running) while not paying tribute to it - and indeed insulting it with his logo and slogan of ignorance. I've chosen to be a contrary voice to the fraud that Tony Reed & the Black Marathoners Association is, for the reverence and dignity I hold to the legacy - the footsteps I run in. I will not be mentioning it again going forward on this blog - however I am boycotting the National Black Marathoning Association until such time that they 1) change their degrading logo and slogan and 2) incorporate some exposure to the legacy inherent to the name they co-opt. (I email reference a lot of people to them all the time). How does it work? Google the words Tony Reed Marathon and you tell me what you get?....an unmanageable situation for Tony Reed and the Black Marathoners going forward - and will remain until they institute change and dignify the words they've chosen to co-opt. Have a great day.

Serge Girard: French Ultramarathoner Ran Across 5 Continents Without a Day Off: Enjoy this GORGEOUS Video Footage (U.S. in '97 hence the WTC)

Register for the '08 NYC Marathon!

Look at that - wow, the start of the NYC Marathon....want to join the fun? Seriously, why not...if you've never ran the NYC Marathon - it's hard to really describe...2,000,000 fans screaming on the course in a frenzy beginning to end, nonstop. Well just click here to give it a shot, the entry lottery registration process is open! You never know, you just might get picked, secure a slot, remember - come late October people on Craig's List and Ebay commonly sell entry bibs for $300 - $500 a pop. Come the Fall everybody wish they could be in it - and it's possible that you can! Why not give it a shot? And local NYRR members, did you see the new policy where to qualify for the NYC Marathon - in addition to completing 9 races in a year - you now also have to volunteer at at least 1 race event. I'm good with that - I did that any way. However I must tell you and be honest - NYRR events are becoming almost too "corporate machine driven", "too big in scale, etc.". Between the TV show production, the multiple starts for even basic 4 mile races, everything - it's starting to feel like you are corralled and more so part of a parade or something - than a race. I'm glad the events are getting popular....but...there is "hassle" factor now connected to many of the events. Oh Well...also note - the Chicago Marathon is also open for registration too - and it will be closing very soon...so if you want a flat fast course, something ideal to PR or qualify for Boston, check out the Chicago Marathon site here. I still hope one day to run a small town Marathon....something I've never done...perhaps I'll show up at the '09 Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth, TX...who knows. Have a great day!

National Black Marathon Association & Tony Reed the Negro PT Barnum : The Blind Leading the Blind

Harlem in the Roaring 20's - a couple of blocks up Lenox Ave from where I live was the legendary Savoy Ball Room - there you could have found Casper Holstein who became a millionaire running, running a numbers racket that is... in Harlem. He also presented Black distance runner Toby Joseph Cotton Jr. (there below on the left) with a diamond studded gold medal for his historic “Bunion Derby” run, the nickname for the first footrace across America in 1928 - Toby averaged running 40 miles / day and finished in 35th position. Then there's Black distance runner Samuel L. Robinson who finished 45th.....and of course a man I've blogged about before, Eddie Gardner (there below on the book cover and the adjacent larger photo). Thanks to Blackpast.org [Quintard Taylor] and the writing of Charles B. Kastner, you can click those links and learn about these historical Black distance runners (Charles B. Kastner is the author of the must read "Bunion Derby" - telling the story of these and other runners). However, what you can't do is go to the "National Black Marathoners Association" site and learn this...or well...anything (other than that Tony Reed, co-founder, has got a book for sale). Why is that? How is that? There is so little writing(s) of Black American runners, that all which is out there should be heralded, no? I illustrated the dysfunction and non-function of the Black Marathoners earlier this week and was going to cut them some slack.....until I read the scolding I received in the comments from one of their people - no more slack - the truth will here & now be revealed. Tony Reed (founder) is Negro P.T. Barnum - the Black Marathoners an embarrassment. They truly embody a "collective ignorance", starting with Tony Reed and I am baffled. That NBMA logo & slogan (1865: Free To Run). I know Black people (runners) that are ALIVE today that were not "Free to Run" in their lives. One is named Thomas Brooks, he's a friend of mine, a current US Olympic Committee member, a former Olympic teammate of Ted Corbitt, ...hell Ted Corbitt was not "Free To Run" - Tony Reed and the Black Marathoners are so poorly educated - they apparently are not aware Jim Crow laws and the like made it illegal for Black people to run in all sorts of races for a very long time. This is one of the reasons I am insulted and annoyed with Tony Reed and the Black Marathoners - they simply don't know much about the history of Black Americans - and make it their business "not to know" and - that logo and slogan is an insult to Black people that are alive today, and Black people that are dead - it runs counter to their reality, their experience, their lives (you really should read Charles B. Kastner's book). The Black Marathoners have that horrible "Scarlett Letter" of a logo rooted in history - yet how is it..... why is it,....they offer no history of Blacks & running on their website? Tony Reed and the Black Marathoners' choice is to look back and brand themselves in a remembrance of slavery, my choice is to look back and connect myself to Black runners like Ted Corbitt, Eddie Gardner, Alice Coachman (the Tuskegee Flash) - there she is at the bottom far right in that 1941 photo of the Tuskegee Tigerettes National Champion Track & Field Team, or how about U Penn Quarter Miler John Taylor (there below the Tigerettes) - In observing, it's clear that Tony Reed is about promoting Tony Reed first and foremost.....and the media swallows it up - and why? They have no where else to go. Black Americans & marathoning is a vacuum - devoid of anyone who can speak with the slightest authority on the topic. A couple of years ago a National Black Marathon Assoc. member Gregory Evans made a film called "Black Americans & The Marathon Distance". I've only seen the trailer but it looks awful, incomplete and void of historical context - is there any reason to have a trailer for such a topic not mention Ted Corbitt? Do they even acknowledge Ted in the video? Out of concern of the possible omission of Ted Corbitt not being duly recognized and appreciated, I sent the filmmaker an email telling him I could probably arrange for a telephone interview with Ted - and he can "Ken Burns" style publish a photo, re-edit the DVD - and release it with some measure of legitimacy. This was a year ago - to date I've gotten no response. These are the type of experiences I've had with the Black Marathoners. Go to Tony Reed's organization's website - they do not speak to the story of Blacks & marathoning in any way whatsoever. None, zero, it does not exist. Added to this, I have never once, not a single time, ever seen Tony Reed speak of Blacks & distance running in a historical context. Someone told me of a podcast where he was questioned and said something - look, I've read a lot of his interviews - yet never heard of him electing to bring forward his place in the greater context of the history. Tony Reed's always been about Tony Reed. The problem with that is two fold: (1) If you can't go to the "National Black Marathoning Association" website and learn about your yourself, your culture, of Ted Corbitt and Eddie Gardner, Charles B. Kastner's book, etc. how does one even know where to go? This is history that's stumbled upon, not sought and; (2) It reflects the shame & disservice the National Black Marathon Association is today - simply put, when your organization labels itself as, The National Black Marathon Association.... you assume an obligation and duty to all of society to archive and place in distance running context the contributions and accomplishments of African Americans, period - is that too damn much to ask for? For Tony Reed the answer is "yes" this he cannot do, but you know what he can do? He can dedicate space on the Black Marathoner's website to promote and sell his book - oh...no problem, no excuse, no omission there, no sir. Isn't it funny how we can somehow get done things that are important to us...have you seen this? Tony Reed's book is an "OFFICAL NATIONAL BLACK MARATHON ASSOCIATION AUTHORIZED PRODUCT" Negro please, the ultimate in chutzpah to say the least. There are so few Black Americans that run distance - the media defers and recognizes the few that are able to be spotted as "voices" speaking for the whole. Tony Reed does not speak for me, neither does Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson or any of these Negro figureheads that assume the stage as an authoritative voice. Judging by Tony's 5 Hour & 53 Minute performance last week in the Lost Dutchman Marathon, his taking the stage in any way on any matters "marathon" is rather befuddling in my honest opinion - don't get me wrong, I want to congratulate Tony on breaking 6 hours and not to worry, media's Marathon Affirmative Action will bestow credence to his voice - and no doubt when it does, he will talk about himself, not Ted Corbitt, Eddie Gardner, Jim Crow laws denying Blacks the right to run ...that kind of stuff does not rise to the priority of being on the Black Marathoners website, but Tony's book? Oh that is "front and center". And today Tony is running in another Marathon, 5 days between races - mediocrity holds no bounds I see. Negro PT Barnum's back at it, Tony Reed, his formula? Compile numbers, performance be damned, the marketing of the feat being the real goal anyway - get more interviews by saying you ran 100 marathons - he's like the first Negro in Space after all - and brand himself "First Negro" too...... no one's the wiser on the foolishness of running marathons 5 days apart, no one will ask about how well he ran, or the guaranteed mediocrity inherent in his choice to run marathons 5 days apart - just keep promoting yourself. This is the indisputable earmarkings of a marathoning huckster. There are feat accomplishers, and then there are marathon runners who take it seriously, respect the endeavor, go 100%, and that is not Tony Reed. Have you ever considered that Tony Reed and the Black Marathoners in many ways reflect a very unfortunate aspect of much of Black America, the acceptance of mediocrity. Think about it...straight up - if you ran a 6 hour marathon on Sunday - you've got no damn business running another marathon on Saturday - you are not strong when you do that, - what you are is a serious mediocrity-embracing person. You get out of things what you put into them. Tony Reed puts nothing into his Marathons - his Saturday Cowtown Marathon result of 5 hour 51 minutes shows he got less than mediocrity out of it (the event). The American low to no expectation Negro is one of our problems y'all. We should expect more of ourselves, we can do better - it starts with someone who can lead by example, that is not Tony Reed. Have you seen Tony's other self-published books, "The Power of Personal Accountability" and "The Achievement Equation Your Formula To Success". And did you all see the comment section of the blog wherein I illustrated the lack of dynamsim & leadership of the Black Marathoners?....with lots of examples... & the commenter who demanded I apologize to Tony Reed? They spoke of Tony Reed like he was a god, who could do no wrong, is in all cases right, above reproach, and not accountable for anything blah blah blah. After reading their response, I really considered for a minute the Black Marathoners were really some kind of Negroidian Cult and how dare I speak of Negro-untouchable Tony Reed..then the person went on to say >I think it's important to remember that 100% of the organization's costs are paid for out of the pockets of the Board of Directors. (I'd like for you and your "friends" form a national organization and fund it yourself.) And there are no sponsors. My reply to them was, You're illustrating my point exactly, "What's Wrong With You Negroes?" The Black Marathoners lack anyone, including Tony Reed, with vision & talent at the leadership level. You on your own are supposed to be savvy & smart enough, to have the skill set to secure sponsorship. Take a look in the mirror, take a look at Tony Reed, ask him why you don't have Nike sponsoring you with great running gear and discounted shoes? The Central Park Track Club here in NYC does, what's your excuse? I say it's a lack of executive talent. I am dishing you tough love. Would you like a list of the running clubs in America with sponsorship? There are HUNDREDS! I can send it to you, you can ask Tony Reed, "why don't we have sponsorship"? My god you're Black Marathoners, securing Fortune 500 sponsorship should be a slam dunk - no trouble at all. But you don't want to do that, do you? Personal responsibility for your organizational poor and or non-performance? Look at your leaders, look at Tony and ask fair grounds & valid questions - that reveal and reflect.....a lack of organizational dynamism? I suggest you take this spoonful of tough love and as an organization. When reading that person's statement about Tony Reed, they scolded me and demanded from me twice to apologize to Negro PT Barnum aka Tony Reed. However, they completely avoided all the points I raised in that blog, then cried about not having sponsorship - with the backdrop of Tony Reed authored books titled, "The Power of Personal Accountability" and "The Achievement Equation Your Formula To Success"assumingly being cornerstones of their organizational culture, no? Is Tony Reed and the Black Marathoners not pathetic top to bottom? Am I supposed to not characterize it for what it is because their Black? Lower my standards and expectations? At the end of the day, we're all family, and family's fight. If you read the blog - I spend a heck of a lot of time profiling every day people, runners just out there trying - I celebrate that - I've done that for a long time, everybody knows that - and it truly saddens me to have to characterize and illustrate Tony Reed & the Black Marathoners as I have. But I am not going to feed them bullshit and tell them that they're great - when at least on my standard they are not. Even they, upon reflection, should have no problem seeing their very logo is an insult, shame, and embarrassment to ALL of Black America reflecting true ignorance of fact & the Black American experience. They can do better, YES THEY CAN! I don't want them to accept mediocrity from their leaders, from themselves, but rather, I want them to get sponsorship, strategically align with major sponsored marathons - just work the hell out of the running scene with the Road Runners Club of America. Tony Reed's just gotta get his shit together on an executive level and make it happen. YES HE CAN...to the Black Marathoners....get your numbers together of who's committed and I guarantee you I will get every one of you guaranteed entry in the NYC Marathon for those who want to run it - with you entering as the NBMA - however PS, tell Tony to leave his damn book at home and don't show up in Harlem with that fucking logo and....oh yeah - tell Tony Reed it's a 6 hour cut off. Have a great day.

Running into Hoda, Komen, & Pink

Wow, I Dierdre Cox Baker has written a piece about a jogger I see in Central Park and at races with the NYRR all the time, if you run in Central Park or watch NBC news shows, you see her too, Hoda Kotb, that woman on the left. Dierdre wrote, "Hoda Kotb wears a pink ring embossed with one word: “Forward.” Forward, explains the co-host of the NBC-TV “Today” show’s late-morning segment, is also a word she writes daily in a personal journal to remind herself of the direction in life she chooses to take. Kotb, 43, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2007, underwent a procedure to remove three lumps from her breast and reconstructive surgery during an eight-hour operation. The year 2007 was an eventful one for the personable Kotb, she fought breast cancer for several weeks in the spring, returned to work on NBC’s “Dateline” news program, was chosen in August to co-host the new “Today” fourth-hour segment that begins at 10 a.m. in the Quad-Cities and decided in October to go public with her breast cancer experience. To say goodbye to 2007, Kotb took part in the Midnight Run in New York City’s Central Park. Dec. 31, she says, “was one of those epiphany days, with cold weather, fireworks, everyone running. It struck me that in 2007 I got rid of everything that was bad. And I started to think that 2008 will be great for me, and tears started running down my face.” New life view. The breast cancer diagnosis put Kotb’s life in perspective for her. She is in a five-year Tamoxifen program where she takes the prescription medicine daily to reduce her estrogen activity and the chance of the cancer spreading. One downside is that the drug probably will prevent her from ever giving birth. “Some days I think: Is this fair?” she says. Kotb has exercised and eaten a healthy diet her entire life. She has long had an interest in wellness and has anchored the syndicated TV series “Your Total Health” since 2004. “There are times you really have to choke down those pills. ‘Beat the cancer but also stop my reproductive life,’ I think to myself. ‘OK, take this damn pill,’ I say, and I do it,” she says. Kotb is focused and, she explains, has become almost fearless. “You know, some people are in a bad mood every day just because they are, always cranky and itchy. And some people are far worse off than me. “I made it through breast cancer and I think, ‘What’s better than that?’ [END]. I see Hoda jogging & speed walking all the time...and next time I think I'll give her the "thumb's up" & Holla at my girl! - if you see her - give her a shout too! This all reminds me of the Susan G. Komen movement - which is pretty great - you see it - everything all "pink'ed out".....with survivors and activists in 125 cities and communities, more than 100 Komen Race for the Cure® events in the United States and three International Affiliates, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the most progressive grassroots organization fighting breast cancer today. Not matter where you live in the U.S. there will be a race near you - check out the schedule here. It's pretty cool to see the cause & movement all "pink'ed out" isn't it?.......I've seen the pink running shoe laces...well Newton Running is making its way to New York City big time, I am seeing more and more Central Park Runners in Newton shoes - the shoe I can only assume is the ultimate running shoe (I'll have to check that out for myself one day...), I've yet to be so fortunate to get a pair - however if I were to be so fortunate....the pair I would get would be the Newton Cure Distance Shoe, that's it there. The Cure Distance running shoe, limited edition, was created to support prostate cancer research. Newton Co-Founder, Jerry Lee battled with prostate cancer since 2005 and is now a survivor. Professional athlete and official spokesperson for Athletes for a Cure, Michellie Jones is fighting the fight with Newton. Designed with Michellie's signature color pink in mind (their words) Newton is donating $10 from the sale of every pair to help find better treatments and a potential cure for prostate cancer. C'mon Newton Running, should perhaps $5 of that donation go to Susan G. Komen? Even I initially thought the shoe was Susan G. Komen affiliated due to the pink...another bone to pick for another day. I've not ran in the snow all year - we've got about a foot or so falling right now - I'm going running in Central Park. Have a great day!

Picking the Perfect Running Shoe - From A Running Shop

In the video above meet Gloria Rios from Future Track Running Center in California - watch her approach on how to pick the right shoe - it's slightly over 1 minute - to her credit what you see above is about as good as it gets in terms of service at a typical running shoe store. However - even after this experience - it's still "crap shoot" - and never stops being a crap shoot with a shoe until you break it in and settles, etc (between 25 - 50 Miles). Not all running shops have video gait analysis systems, this one appears not do. Is a running shop not equipped with technology less capable of serving you? I say no and the technology is bullshit anyway. People get video gait analysis done all the time and still end up in the wrong pair of shoes for them - it never stops being a crap shoot. At the NYC Marathon Expo I received Mizuno's "total analysis" for running shoe fitting - their analysis process involved no treadmill running, zero none! They had room for it however the Mizuno rep told me video gait analysis via treadmill is insufficient and often ineffective (in determing the shoe for you). To fit for a running shoe Mizuno has you walk on a straight line for about 50 feet, turn around and walk back - while their system is doing a musculoskeletal modeling / mapping (of the motion & alignment of your entire lower body joints). They then have you stand on a scanner, feet placed parallel to shoulders - you apply pressure on the balls of your feet, stand on one leg, balancing, etc. (more modeling of your musculoskeletal legs/knees/hips alignment/walking gait / foot scanning & pressure mapping of the bottom of your feet). Again - running is not part of their analysis to determine the best running shoe for you - and even after all this....they suggest a shoe....and it's still a crap shoot real world. The point? Video gait analysis is little more than a sales mechanism used by running shops and shops that have them are no more a capable of serving you than running shops that don't. The tactic of using gait analysis service is little more than "Snake Oil" - wherein the consumer assumes and accepts the technology = accuracy, something that's false. A good shop and professional will tell you to go home and bring back to them a shoe you've walked in or ran in for awhile. A pro can look at your other running shoes or even walking shoes that have some good miles on them - and guide you on that just as well if not better than video gait analysis. But they won't do that because when you step in the store, they are there to sell you a shoe while you're there. For example, go into your local running shop and ask them, "How can you properly fit me without musculoskeletal analysis of my joints and pressure mapping my foot?" Try it. You see you can flip the whole necessity and value of technology right back at the running shoe shop. You don't need that technology - hell you don't need that running shop if you want to get right down to it..... and even after all this - you still have the fundamental nonsense of the whole business anyway: "It's silly & nonsensical to claim, promise, and sell the notion that you can find a perfect fit in an off the rack world". There are so many variables to your foot, stride, gait, musculoskeletal structure, spine, weight, etc. - to expect an off the rack shoe to be perfect is unrealistic. If a shoe store claims a technology solution for you?....it better be a foot analysis lab like Profeet in the UK - shy of that - they are unnecessary sales tactic devices to give the consumer a false sense of security. This sales woman in the video above? I think she's good and knows her stuff. My only criticism of her is her failure to speak to the perfection point - as I always say, you get a "serviceable" shoe with a pretty decent fit - however you on your own make the fit perfect for you with devices (insoles, gel heel cups, forefot pads, etc.). The very first thing I do when I get a brand new pair of shoes is remove the stock / factory insole and replace it with a SofSol Sport insole - changes the fit entirely. There you have it - and this is the fallacy of the running shoe shop. Sans a full blown serious lab analysis that might cost $200+ or so, they sell a false notion on a false premise. You on your own, flying blind, can perform your own wet foot test and see what kind of arch you have (support you need). Just step out the bath tub on paper, simple enough? Roadrunnersports, The Running Warehouse, Holabird Sports, are just a few of the places where you can get great running shoes - expansive inventories - at a great value. Have a terrific day.

National Black Marathoners: What Is Wrong With These Negroes?

Well it's Black History month and last week I had a blog entry aptly titled, "The Ignorant Negroes of Harlem"....in the spirit of the month I ask the question: The National Black Marathoners' Association (NBMA), What is wrong with these negroes? Yes, there is such an association - glad to see it, - very much needed. It's co-founded by an impressive guy there on the left below, Tony Reed. Tony's ran for 25 years and all over the world - in that photo he is running in last weeks "Lost Dutchman Marathon" the event where the Black Marathoners held its annual gathering. Tony & I have corresponded - I am not speaking out of school here - this is going to get ugly y'all. The NBMA estimates that a little less than 2 percent of U.S. marathoners are Black. I say the NBMA does not know the demographics of marathoning in America. Note Tony Reed is the unofficial spokesman of Black American Marathoning. I get emailed and asked about Blacks (American) and marathoning - invited to participate in books on the subject, etc. - I am sure Tony does too - Tony gets interviewed far more than me. White people (Runner's World) basically defers to Tony the recognition as being the leading authority on the subject - though Tony's accomplished at marathoning - he does not know much on the subject, at least I've never seen hints of knowledge in interviews - he's never once said the name Ted Corbitt - and you all know how I am when it comes to Ted, right? On the Black Marathoners website.... , I have never seen mention of Ted, Eddie Gardner, Oscar Moore, Jr, Lou White, I can go on and on and get turn of the Century on you in a nano-second [Historical Black figures in distance running]. But you know what I do see on the Black Marathoners website?...a tribute to the 1865 Emancipation Proclamation - their logo. A remembrance to Slavery? That's your fucking logo? Tony Reed, is this the best you can do? Would it be too much to ask for a logo that is more forward thinking, more celebratory, something that suggest fitness, health, movement of the human body? A contemporary " joie de vivre" spirit (joy of living)....? No, the Black Marathoners go with a logo that looks like a Generic License Plate. Anytime I need to be reminded I am an "ex-slave" in heritage I look at the Black Marathoners logo that brands and keeps Slave Stigma alive and well. Congratu-fucking-lations on self-ghetto-izing yourself. I ask you, what is wrong with these Negroes? Back to the point, since about 425,000+ people completed marathons last year, the Black Marathoners are saying a little more than 8,000 Black Americans ran marathons in '07. That did not happen. How do I know - I just know. Where did they run them? I live on the NYC Marathon route - I know how many Black people I see......seriously, I've seen this 2% number floated around - to my awareness there is nothing supporting it. You will not see 100 Black people (2%) in a NYRR Half Marathon of 5,000. I would guess somewhere between 0.5% - 1% at the very most of marathon finishers in '07 were Black, closer to 0.5% in fact, certainly not 2% or 8,500 or so - no way. In response to the question of why don't Blacks run distance, Tony Reed said, "With a lot of Americans, it's easier to take a pill or a shot than to get up off the couch and become active," Reed said of what he calls the diseases of inactivity. Is this Tony Reed nicely saying, "Negroes are lazy"? Funny - I say the same thing about the Black Marathoners - his ogranization. In that linked article Tony Reed said in 2005, about 15 runners ran the inaugural Black Marathoners event at the Louis & Clark Marathon. Tony Reed said he anticipates more than 150 black runners converged in Phoenix last Sunday for the Lost Dutchman Marathon . (note some ran the Half Marathon and lesser distance events at the same venue). Fort Worth's Cowtown Marathon will be the 2009 venue. Membership in the Black Marathoners has increased to 800. Tony's compiled his race memories in a new book titled Running Shoes Are Cheaper Than Insulin: Marathon Adventures on All Seven Continents. It's a collection of stories chronicling his 25 years of running. Reed, always goal-driven, now aspires to finish 100 marathons. He ran No. 92 at the Lost Dutchman and No. 93 in 3 days at Cowtown Marathon . He plans to run No. 100 at Cowtown 2009 with his fellow NBMA members on hand. Tony, Tony, Tony....why are you running marathons spaced 5 days apart? I know lots of people who do this - they run a marathon every single weekend, week after week. They even have an organization I've mentioned before, the Marathon Maniacs. That's their logo on the left. What Tony is doing is "compiling" - that's all, it's not hard. Worse, it marginalizes and depreciates the whole marathon event for yourself - which is cool, if that's what you want to do. Lots of people enter marathons, proceed to basically use them as long slow distance training runs, get the medal, etc. and that's it. When you race a Marathon at your best effort, you need time to ramp up & train, taper, run the event, and recover. That's a process of months to do it anywhere near your maximum potential. When you run marathons week after week, you're not racing, you're compiling miles at a 75% or 80% effort at best. I have a different orientation to marathoning. Compiling stats, numbers, does not appeal to me - I marathon for performance. I don't half-ass it - and perhaps I am not a member of the Black Marathoners because I am convinced it's a half-ass organization content with being insular. If you're into marginal efforts.....or groups, clubs, hey...whatever, that's not me. The Black Marathoners ? I don't even know where to begin to illustrate this.... The logo is awful, they don't know marathon demographics, and they make no effort to expand, progress, or be a dynamic organization. How do I know? I reached out to them, and all the ancillary affiliated running clubs connected to them. There's 1 in Atlanta I think, a chapter in Chicago, Cleveland, there in Texas where it's based out of with Tony. I contacted ALL OF THEM in email, making an effort to bond, network, etc. 1 of these chapters got back to me - never heard from ANY of the rest... this was at the beginning of last year - and they need some presence in NYC for goodness sake - they have none here - with the biggest running club in the world, the NYRR. I can get them at least 100 earmarked set aside entries in the NYC Marathon with little trouble - I am sure of that. But we don't network or have dialog....I got them figured out (very insular thinking). The Black Marathoners know shit about how to build a dynamic organization - just look at their model now. What the fuck is the Black Marathoners Association doing having their annual event in Apache Junction, AZ? The organization needs to grow - most Black runners in NYC never heard of the organization - for real. Their 2009 event is the "Cowtown Marathon" - well that's nice and convenient for Tony Reed (it's where he lives)....but awful for the growth of the Black Marathoners. What is wrong with these Negroes? I understand they want to summit at events that have multiple race lengths other than the marathon distance so more can participate - fine, I get it. Still....the Georgia Marathon also has a Half Marathon Race; the LA Marathon has a 5K Run/Walk event, in Washington DC there is the National SunTrust Marathon and Half. Atlanta, LA, DC. Major metro city events with in place Black communities justifying more people to go because it's quite likely they have friends & family they could also visit on the trip - it just further justifies participating in the event for a typical Black person. Plus there are other Black professional organizations robust in size - in these cities (accountants, engineers, physicians, sororities, fraternities etc.) to tap into, promote and recruit from & with. In sum, an ideal infrastructure is in place to conjure a ground swell of promotion, word of mouth, interest and participation with the Black Marathoners - in the held annual event /venue. The Philadelpia Marathon also has a Half, 8K, and a Kids Run - perfect for all. Strategically locate - that's how you grow & expand - further your goal and mission - it's called "optimizing" your charter - you have events in Vegas & Orlando for "value added" reasons - there are other attractions for all - reasons to go....but what does Tony Reed & the Black Marathoners do? They have their summit in Apache-fucking-Junction, Arizona? And in '09 it's the Cowtown? I ask you, what is wrong with these Negroes? There's no organizational dynamism, no strategic thinking. For example, when you hold these events in major cities - there's media in place (print & TV), these events have major sponsors - Verizon's affiliated with the Philadelphia Marathon, well Verizon also has all sorts of foundations, programs, scholarships, etc. aimed at African Americans - there is all sorts of synergy to be conjured for the NBMA in recognizing, valuing, and leveraging alliances with marathons that have in place programs & connections serving African Americans - promoting education, health, fitness to Black communities. The Black Marathoners seem to be hell bent on holding their summit in February? Why? Black History month? Dumb, think bigger please, broader...... Black professional organizations hold their annual summit meetings at all sorts of times during the year, they do not confine themselves to February annual meetings for the sake of Black History month. In sum, the whole mindset of the Black Marathoners? - sorry, I just can't get down with it, too insular, too small. I am not just criticizing - I've offered some solid paths to improvement in this blog entry - I hope they take my words and run with them - #1 revise the logo for starters, hell it looks more like a mug shot number/ID plate that you are forced to hold at your chest when arrested and booked, #2 network in all cities (don't stay insular) reach out to people - market online, hell it ain't that hard, create a blog for crissakes, the Black Marathoners are basically non-existent on the East & West coasts. #3 align with major sponsor events in major cities, etc. hence align with ING / Atlanta - Georgia for that event, etc. - in sum, become relevant, that means bigger than Tony Reed. Right now the Black Marathoners is all about Tony Reed - and when he places the '09 event in his backyard for the Cowtown race - looks to me he's preserving insular think, c'mon Tony....be bigger - something he should have no problem doing....Sadly I am not a member of the Black Marathoners, isn't that something?.....and really does not make sense - until you digest my reasons why in this blog - a lack of dynamism....and they don't want to hear from me - I do more to promote the awareness of Blacks & marathoning than that whole organization ......and I would not be a member of any organization with such a fucked up logo that reflects backward to your slave heritage. "What is wrong with these negroes"? Have a great day!

Running to Burn Fat

I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things - may clock a whole 40 miles this week. I can stand to lose 7 .lbs before racing - time to go into Fat Burning runner mode. I buy a lot of stuff at my local GNC - but I know ZERO, not a damn thing about these "Fat Burning" products (pills, etc.) other than they seem to be expensive. We are such a "take-a-pill" for this and that culture - just eat sensibly and go out and run...if for nothing else - to get, have, and enjoy a great ass. Now those are some great asses there on the left below aren't they? In fact they're almost right up there with the kind of asses Black people commonly have - and I know I sure do.... and with a solid month of training my ass can easily give that guy's ass a run for it's money! I'm not say'in - I'm just say'in. One reason women are better runners then men?...they tend to burn less carbohydrate and more free-fatty-acids for fuel, which equals more efficiency. On average, women also tend to make better high-mileage runners than men because of utilizing more FFA's for fuel and having a higher long-term pain tolerance. But on the contrary - I will be able to get to fat-burning stage whilst running faster than a woman - hence I can snap my ass back in tip top shape in 3 - 4 weeks. Researchers found that men were significantly more likely to report hitting The Wall than women - which supports the view that women might be better suited to the demands of endurance running. Levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones that stimulate glycogen mobilization, rise significantly more in men than in women during exercise. These sex differences in fuel metabolism have led some scientists to speculate that men might deplete their glycogen stores more rapidly than women - and start relying on fat for fuel as the first fuel source used is glycogen. Because glycogen is continually replenished, it will continue to be the fuel used until the cell cannot supply enough for the demand. Once this happens, the body becomes aware of it and begins to draw energy from free-fatty acids that are being metabolized from adipose (fat) tissue stores on the body. Basically you get to a point in going for a run wherein you're glycogen depleted, breathing harder and the intakes of oxygen due to exercise and increased blood flow in the fat tissues begin to stimulate the fat burning process. When the body reaches this point, more calories will be burned from fat than from carbohydrates. The point of burning fat faster than carbohydrates? If you jog at an average pace of 9-11 minutes per mile, it will required about 40 minutes of jogging before your body begins to burn more fat than carbohydrates. If you run 6-7 minutes per mile, you’ll reach this point in about 20 minutes or one-half the time of the slow pace. Have a terrific day!

Happy President's Day to Our Fearless Leader!

On this President's Day I pay tribute to our fearless leader, It's incredible that George W. Bush got elected to the presidency....not once but twice! You know people around the world think we're idiots - and who's to say otherwise? My favorite Bush Quotes?

"Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?"
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we".

• "Too many good doctors are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."
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• "Families are where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
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• "This is still a dangerous world. It's a world of madmen and uncertainty and potential mential losses."
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• "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literary test"..

• "Childrens do learn."
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• "There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."
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• "We have got a bigger enemy than name callers. That is Al-Qaeda or people losing jobs."

I don't know about you all, but I'm going to miss this dumb son-of-a-bitch. There he is in that photo above, second in from the left, his form looks solid to me, he's a runner and I'm good with that! Have a great day!

No Headphones Get's a Logo: Sooner Or Later the NYRR Will Be Sued

I see the RRCA (Road Runner's Club of America -of which the NYRR is part of) has joined the USATF (USA Track & Field) in banning headphones in events and asking Race Directors to adopt the use of this new NO HEADPHONES symbol on race entry forms & race materials. Jim Gerweck just up the road in Ct. created it. Jim, the RRCA, they've got it all wrong - and that's a dumb looking icon Jim. Nike is sponsors lots of these major events and I highly doubt the RRCA or NYRR will penalize or crackdown on a single runner for wearing a Nike + iPod device - And even if joggers are not using this device - they're listening to their music on an ipod or the like. You can't promote races as "come one, come all', corral as many entry fee paying people as you can into them - and then be shocked when you see 25% of the field or more is wearing headphones. These events will not promote "No Headphones" or enforce "No Headphones" as that will reduce the gross income & produce unhappy customers - once at the event. So what will they do? Nothing. It is high risk for people to wear these devices in crowded events blunting their awareness of their surroundings and the first one of these headphone wearing runners that causes another runner to trip and or be injured (and I see these accidents now) - well the NYRR should be sued. The NYRR comfortably assumes this risk making no effort whatsoever to police it. That little fine line in the entry form will not get them off the hook. People are going to wear headphones - accept that - however have a user tax to cover the added insurance cost to assume hits - not to everybody - exclusive to the runners choosing to assume this potential liability - hence a race might cost you $5 or $10 or $100 or whatever more if you want to run it wearing headphones. Let the market determine the added costs - Let people do whatever the F they want - as long as they're willing to pay for it. It's up to the NYRR to license runners to run w/this hazard - since they allow it in the first place. This all can be sorted out, quantified and monetized - We fix problems in America via litigation. You know these ipods and the like contribute to many runners being hit, some killed by vehicles, happens all the time. That woman on the right's Marathoner Ashyln Dyer, - about a week before she was going to run the Los Angeles Marathon - on a morning training run in San Francisco she was hit and killed - the iPod contributed to her awareness being marginalized of the approaching car that hit her. America's fascination with White blond women helped this incident be one of the more publicized.....but I assure you - runners of all shapes, ages, sizes, and colors are hit by cars all the time while they were wearing iPods. Happens all over the world too - An interesting print campaign by NSW Police in Australia initiated to raise awareness of the increasing number of dead teenagers as a result of listening to iPods while they cross the street. That's one of the ads on the left. In America though people receive things as "raining on their parade", they "don't want to know" - anything that's not congruent with having a good time - they'd rather not bother with that reality. Nobody wants to be taken down by coming to terms with a couple of Americans, usually kids that are killed daily in Iraq for example. Runner's World and the Industrial Running Complex & Apple and Nike - no one wants to be connected to the downside of "their thing". Perhaps it's categorized as an "accepted loss" ....we move on, Wall St.'s expecting us to hit a certain target next quarter - press on..... I suppose runners want to be anesthesitized too. Runner's World would NEVER publish a photo of a Nike + iPod runner - dead in the street in a pair of Asics & with Adidas running gear on for example. That's a realistic image - however not one to come to terms with - it's rain on the parade. Never portray the hand that feeds you in such a light - though it's real. Of all the shit I talk on this blog - if I can reach runners with one thing - it would be to never run in the street - and dump the headphones. Enjoy this Sunday - it's going to be a cold, a nice day in New York - I'm off to Central Park.