October 31, 2008 - When Paula Radcliffe celebrated with 10-month old daughter, Isla, after crossing the finish line in Central Park to win last year’s New York Marathon, the image established her as the “marathon mom.”

Great Britain’s Radcliffe, who won New York in 2004 and 2007, owns a world best at the 26.2 mile distance with a time of 2:15:25. Her daughter, now 21 months, seems a lucky talisman. Radcliffe looked in fine form last weekend as she won the 10-mile Great South Run in a British record time.

Throughout her pregnancy Radcliffe trained, in fact she trained until the day before she delivered Isla and she started running again 12 days after giving birth in January 2007. After her win there was a lot of debate about how much one can or should exercise during pregnancy but clearly an elite level athlete is different from the general population.

Radcliffe’s target now is a third victory in New York, the most by any woman after Grete Waitz’s nine triumphs between 1978 and 1988. Approaching her 35th birthday next month and coming off a 23rd-place finish at the Beijing Olympics where injuries hampered her preparation, Radcliffe hopes she is fit enough to defend her New York title.

Radcliffe insists she has nothing to prove this year. Even if she did win in New York in 2004 to rebound from Olympic disappointment and last year in her first marathon as a mother.

Seeking another New York marathon revival, Radcliffe’s husband and manager, Gary Lough, said she was her old self three weeks after the Beijing Games and is doing her customary preparation, averaging between 130 and 140 miles a week.

 According to Mary Wittenberg, the New York race director, being a “marathon mom” is now all the rage.

Wittenberg said: “I can’t stress enough how important Paula is to get people interested in running. Paula’s win after having Isla only 10 months before had a ripple effect throughout New York City and beyond.“

It’ll be interesting to see see how many more moms are running this year over previous years.

Mother or not, Radcliffe faces a deep field that includes last year’s runner-up Gete Wami, and another Ethiopian, Dire Tune, who is seeking her second major marathon victory this year after winning in Boston.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, coming off a silver medal in Beijing, chases her ninth major marathon title but her first in New York and American Kara Goucher is a bright spot running in her first marathon. A bona-fide star on the track and in cross country, Goucher has run few road races—but last September, she upset Radcliffe in a half-marathon.

So after New York, what’s next for Radcliffe? She hasn’t counted out a possible run at the London Olympics yet.  Radcliffe believes passion, rather than age, will determine whether her Olympic career is over.  The long road to London may well begin in New York.

See mommy run.

(Editors Note: Radcliffe successfully defended her title at the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2 2008 to become the second woman to win the race three times. Her time: two hours, 23 minutes, 55 seconds.)

Filed under: Marathon, Profiles, Running by jane
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October  31, 2008 - A little over a year ago, we did a post about cyclist Tara Llanes who was badly injured in a race. Her road to recovery has been long and hard fought and her many friends and fellow cyclists have teamed up on numerous occassions to help her out.  The latest event to get Tara back on her feet is a race next weekend at the Sand Hill Ranch Bike Park in Brentwood, California.

Check out the Road to Recovery race:

Filed under: BMX, Charity/Cause, Cycling, Mountain Bike by jane
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October 31, 2008 - This Sunday, over 100,000 runners will race 26.2 miles across five towering bridges through New York’s five unique boroughs in the 39th ING New York City Marathon.

The mega-marathon that began with 55 finishers in Central Park in 1970 and moved to the five boroughs in 1976—starts at 9:10 a.m. Sunday (Eastern time) when the elite women get under way.

The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the more than $600,000 in prize money (male and female winners each receive $130,000) , but also for the chance to excel before two million cheering spectators and more than 300 million worldwide television viewers.

Last year’s winner Paula Radcliffe, along with Gete Wami , Catherine Ndereba and Kara Goucher are among the pros competing for the prize purse.

But the majority of participants are amateur runners who have two primary goals: to experience the different neighborhoods across New York by foot and to cross the finish line.

The runners come from all over and include more than a few celebs. Last year, Katie Holmes ran while hubby Tom Cruise cheered her on. This weekend, Beth Ostrosky,  a supermodel and the wife of media giant Howard Stern, is one of the celebs on the run.  Like many other celebrities, the 36-year-old beauty will be running to raise money for charity. She is the spokesperson for the North Shore Animal League of America, an organization advocating pet adoption. To date, Team Go Beth O has raised over $283,000 including $50,000 pledged from friend Rachel Ray.

The starting line will also see it’s share of Olympians. Former soccer star Brandi Chastain and former gymnastics sensation Kerri Strug are trading in their old Team USA uniforms for orange running jerseys as they take on their next athletic challenge. The two will Go for the Orange as they serve as ambassadors for the ING Run for Something Better.

All the runners can rock out this year as the marathon is expanding its course entertainment for participants and spectators with the Miles of Music Presented by New York Road Runners, featuring dozens of live bands.

For those who have more than a passing interest in the race, Runner’s World provides this preview of the women’s pro field:

1. Paula Radcliffe, PR, 2:15:25 (the world record). Prior to the Beijing Olympics, where she ran a brave 23rd despite injury-induced severe under-training, Radcliffe had never lost a marathon she finished.

2. Gete Wami, PR, 2:21:34. Wami won the 2006 and 2007 Berlin Marathons, then finished second to Radcliffe at New York last year less than two months after her Berlin triumph.

3. Catherine Ndereba, PR, 2:18:47. Arguably the greatest marathoner of all time, right up there with Radcliffe, but how many strong races can she run in a year? Ndereba’s coming off a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics, her second straight marathon silver in the Olympics.

4. Dire Tune, PR, 2:24:40. Tune has already run three major marathons this year, winning Houston (her PR) and Boston (2:25:25) and finishing 15th in Beijing (2:31:16). Just 23, she’s 10 years younger than her countrywoman Gete Wami. Making her debut in New York.

5. Rita Jeptoo, PR, 2:23:38. Jeptoo placed 4th in the 2006 NYC Marathon, her only previous appearance in New York. That spring she had won Boston, where she established her PR; she was third at Boston last April in 2:26:34. Five weeks ago, she set a course record at the RTP Lisbon Half Marathon, running 1:09:48.

6. Kara Goucher, first marathon. Goucher is making her marathon debut in New York after two years of sensational running. In 2007 she took home a surprise bronze medal from the Osaka World Championships ahi,000, and then scorched Radcliffe and everyone else with a winning effort in the Great North Run Half Marathon, 1:06:57. .

Also worth watching: Kim Smith, Magdalena Boulet,  Katie McGregor, Lyubov Morgunova,  and Ludmila Petrova.

Additional profiles of women runners can be found on the NYRR site.

If you’re not running the marathon, the race offers a great chance to celebrate those who can, and do. So if you’re in New York, join the party on the sidelines and salute the runners effort. 

Those not able to be in NY, can watch the race live online.  You can also preview the route in a great interactive tour. Share the experience and celebrate the triumph of each excruciating mile.

Runners, on your mark…

Filed under: Marathon, News Bytes, Running by jane
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October 30, 2009 - Gymnast Nastia Liukin turns 19 today!

Liukin, who won five medals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, including gold in the individual all-around, is on a roll. And much of her success is due to her parents.

Both her mother and father (who is also Liukin’s coach) captured Olympic gold medals and world championships as stars of the former Soviet sports empire.

In Columbus this weekend to headline the 2008 Tour of Olympic Gymnastic Superstars, the birthday girl talked to the Columbus Dispatch about her parents: 

“There was never any pressure to be a gymnast,” Nastia Liukin said. “They just wanted me to be happy.”

It looks like Liukin grew up to be both. Happy Birthday Girl!

Filed under: General, Gymnastics, News Bytes by jane
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October 30, 2008 - A 10-name shortlist for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award has been published, including Arsenal’s Kelly Smith and Brazil’s Marta, who is aiming to win the award for the third year running.

Other female nominees include Canadian Christine Sinclair, Birgit Prinz of Germany and Americans Hope Solo and Shannon Boxx.

On the men’s side 23 players are in the running for the accolade including front-runner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Three finalists for each award will be named in December, before the winners are announced at a gala event Jan. 12 at the Zurich Opera House. Voting is done by head coaches and captains of men’s and women’s national teams.

Full Women’s List: Nadine Angerer (Germany), Shannon Boxx (United States), Cristiane (Brazil), Daniela (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Christine Sinclair (Burnaby, B.C.), Kelly Smith (England), Hope Solo (U.S.), Ingvild Stensland (Norway).

Filed under: Int'l Soccer, News Bytes, Soccer by jane
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October 29, 2008 - Woot hoot! After ongoing discussions with various women’s sports organizations, ESPN finally announced that the X Games will include equal prize money for men and women. We’ve come a long way, baby!

Press release from ESPN:

“ESPN is proud to announce that the X Games and Winter X Games will feature equal prize money for both men and women in 2009. ESPN has been a leader in promoting and programming women’s athletics, and this recent action sports prize purse increase is the latest example. This past summer saw the X Games feature women’s motocross for the first time, and the upcoming Winter X Games will feature a host of female Olympic medalists from several different countries. Starting with Winter X Games 13 in January, 2009, men and women athletes at all X Games events will compete for equal cash awards. –John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president”

Much of the credit for the equal prize money goes to the Action Sports Alliance, a nonprofit organization that provides a voice for women skateboarders that lobbied ESPN executives as early as 2006 before X Games 12. In the current corporate and economic environment, it’s great when companies do the right thing.

The next Winter X Games,  set to remain in Aspen through 2010, will take place Jan. 22-25th.

Filed under: Action, Motocross, Skateboard, X Games by jane
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October 29, 2008 - No costume? No problem - we’ve got you covered.

If you don’t have a costume yet you could go to your local mall and buy something but chances are that by this time, most of the good costumes are sold out, your size is gone or they’re way too expensive.

Not to worry. No matter what  your age, we’ve got loads of suggestions - just add a little attitude and you’ll make quite a statement.

Athlete
Dress up in your fave sports uniform and go as a famous softball, basketball, or soccer player. Whether it’s picking up a WNBA jersey to be Diana Taurasi or hanging figure skates around your neck in the image of Michelle Kwan, it’s easy to be a superstar for a night! And don’t limit yourself to individual sports - get your team together and go as the USA softball team or your favorite pro team.

Sports Fan
If you don’t think you can pull off dressing as a real athlete, go as your favorite team’s biggest fan. In this case, a little face paint can go a long way.

Body Builder
Paint or quilt muscles onto the front of a flesh-colored sweatshirt. Stuff arms to make biceps look big. You can also paint or quilt leg muscles onto flesh-colored pants, and wear a pair of shorts over it. For a barbell, attach two black balloons to a cardboard paper towel roll or gift wrap roll painted black.

Ninja
Dress in black pants, black hooded shirt, and grab a red sash to wear around your head. Wear soft black shoes. Carry a fake ninja sword, ninja stars made out of foil, and num-chucks made out of construction paper and black cord.

Race Car/MX Driver
Don a jumpsuit & racing helmet and zoom off into the night.

Superhero 
How ’bout Wonder Woman or Sugergirl? For Batwoman, wear a black faux leather shirt and skirt, black boots, yellow belt and black gloves. Make a yellow bat insignia out of cloth and attach it to your chest. Wear a black cat mask, and a black cape.

TV & Movie Characters
Lara Croft: Wear a tank top and a pair of shorts or a pair of camouflage pants. Put your hair in a braid. Carry a fake gun. 

 Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wear a blue and yellow cheerleading uniform with blue tights. Paint your face pale white and carry wooden stakes.

Referee
It’s your turn to call the game. Find yourself a pair of black pants or shorts, a striped shirt, and a whistle. Don’t forget your red and yellow cards - you can call the fouls tonight.

Sports Trading Card
Find a poster of a famous athlete (the face should be approximately the size of your face). Glue it to a large piece of foamcore or cardboard and cut a hole for your face to stick through. Attach straps so it hangs over your shoulders. Add your name and team name. If you want you can add another piece of cardboard to your back with statistics.

(more…)

Filed under: Entertainment by Pretty Tough
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October 29, 2008 - It’s not just Michael Phelps and Nastia Liukin who are raking in athlete endorsement deals. Tennis icon Billie Jean King has been starring in a string of  recent TV commercials.

Check out this WSJ interview with one of the winningest female players in tennis history.

Filed under: Profiles, Tennis by jane
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October 29, 2008 - From Women’s Hoops Blog -  doing an awesome job right now covering college ball - comes some great stuff:

Purdue’s Lauren Mioton isn’t just a Boilermaker guard; she’s also the Homecoming queen. 

Yesterday, Mioton became the school’s first female athlete to be coronated. The Louisiana native,  a Rhodes Scholar nominee, stepped out of her comfort zone to pursue the honor and her teammates stepped up to help her campaign.   Her coach, Sharon Versyp, believes Mioton is the perfect representative for the university. We think she’s the Pretty Tough girl of the week!

And this link: Gators get out dancing shoes

When fans got their first glimpse of the 2008-09 Florida women’s basketball team, they got  to see how the team performs - at dancing. The women’s team joined the men’s in Shooting with the Stars, a program that lets fans find out a little about the players before the season begins. UF staked its claim in TV’s version of Dancing with the Stars when former Gator running back Emmitt Smith was named the winner of the show in 2006.  Now, the men’s team gets to dance with the Dazzlers while the female player  showcase their abilities by dancing with the male cheerleaders. What fun!

WHB also points out an article about the soon to be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer, Ora Mae Washington :

Her name had a certain buoyant lilt to it.
Ora.
Ora Mae.
Ora Mae Washington.
The finest athlete you never heard of.
In the opinion of those who were there to see her and to those to whom tales of her deeds were passed on, she was, and remains, the greatest black female athlete ever.

Thanks for all the great info!

Filed under: Basketball, College Athletics, College Basketball, Student-Athlete by jane
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October 28, 2008 - Ever wonder how you can make a living as a gymnast? Just ask Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson.

With the Olympics still fresh on many minds, a number of brands are trying to leverage the appeal of the two medal winning gymnasts.

Both Liukin and Johnson were heralded for their skills in the Beijing Olympics, turning in elegant performances that showcased their athletic physiques. Now both gymnasts, who each won Olympic medals, are the latest darlings of sports marketing. 

Liukin and Johnson signed a deal with Covergirl before the Olympics (along with Alicia  Sacramone) and they wore custom-made makeup during their events. It’s the first time female athletes have been named as the face of CoverGirl and it’s a very different direction for the cosmetic company to go.  Keep your eyes peeled because these champions will be in ads seen on magazine newstands very soon.

Meanwhile, Nastia Liukin is also designing her first clothing line in collaboration with Vanilla Star Jeans. Nastia’s collection, which will hit all major department stores for the holiday season, will be titled the Gold Collection. Check the site for in-store appearances in your area.

“My style is very casual and relaxed so my ideas fit perfectly with the designs of Vanilla Star. I can’t wait to see my new Vanilla Star Gold Collection in the stores and be able to wear it too!” Nastia said in a press statement.

The collection will feature T-shirts and jeans designed by the gymnast. If you can’t wait until the holidays, the brand has come out with an “Inspired by Nastia” line that is in stores now.

In addition to her deal with Covergirl, Liukin has appeared on a Wheaties box and has sponsorships with Adidas, American Athletic, AT&T, GK Elite Sportswear, Visa, Longines and Sega. And she’s appearing in a guest role on “Gossip Girl.”

Johnson found gold even before heading to Beijing to compete for Olympic medals according to her hometown newspaper The Des Moines Register.

The petite 16-year-old has a slew of endorsement deals from major corporations like Coca-Cola, Adidas, McDonald’s and Hy-Vee and appears in television ads and on Coke cans, ice cream boxes and orange juice containers. She drives a 2008 Land Rover LR2 and is outfitted in Adidas and GK Elite sportswear. And ABC cast her in a cameo role on ”The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” 

These gymnasts’ endorsements are worth more than $1 million each. And that was before they even won a Olympic medal.  Maybe time to pay their parents back for all the classes, travel and leotards.

Be sure to support the girls - and the brands that support them!!

Filed under: General, Gymnastics by jane
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