Welcome to the July 2017 issue of California Track & Running News' monthly e-newsletter!

Welcome to the July 2017 issue of California Track & Running News' monthly e-newsletter!
Your Monthly News & Updates
Welcome to the July 2017 issue of California Track & Running News' monthly e-newsletter! 

Note that we only send issues to USATF members or paid subscribers. USATF members will receive both the print and digital publication, sent to you via email. We will also be sending an e-newsletter around the middle of each month which will contain news of interest about the sport in the Golden State and beyond.
 
Please visit our website www.caltrack.com your guide to all things running in California. 
--------------------------

FIND OUR MOST RECENT ISSUE HERE:

California Track & Running News, Spring 2017
https://issuu.com/fortius_media/docs/ctrn_spring_2017

2017 Spring Shoe Review
https://issuu.com/fortius_media/docs/ctrn_spring_2017
Check out our daily HOKA ONE ONE Postal Nationals cross country training program, which can be found weekly at www.runblogrun.com.

FIND THE LATEST EDITION HERE:
Thursday, July 13, 2017. warm up, 45 minute fartlek, two minutes uphill, three minutes easy, nine time, cooldown then, cooldown

As you begin running again, please consider the HOKA ONE ONE training shoes.

To learn about our sponsor, please go to 2017 HOKA ONE ONE Postal Nationals

Want some inspiration? Then, check out the video below, which highlights the 2016 HOKA ONE ONE Postal Nationals. It should inspire you to ask coach if your team can compete in it. All teams are welcome and it is free! See how your team ranks across the U.S! Here's the video. READ ONLINE
2017 USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Best Performances at the USATF Outdoors? Come on! Ryan Crouser vs Joe Kovacs!

By Larry Eder

You know, there are weekends of track and field and there are Wonder weekends. Last weekend, dear readers, was a wonder weekend. Each day of the US Champs had great moments, but consider the shot put. Consider the sixth round and the last two throws.

Joe Kovacs was sitting in second place, with a throw of 21.93 meters. Ryan Crouser had been leading since attempt one, where Ryan had thrown 21.82 meters. In attempt three, Crouser cranked a 22.02 meters, and in round five, threw 22.01 meters. He was looking pretty darn good. Joe Kovacs had thrown 21.93 meters on his fifth attempt.  READ MORE
  
 
Steve Ritchie is a fine journalist hailing from Oregon. I met him over the last three Olympic Trials as he represented various media groups. I enjoyed his writing and our conversations. I asked him to cover the various media covering the 2017 US Champs, from June 22-June 25. Here is his first column, on NBC sports gold. Why do we review media coverage, as we have since 2004? Because we want to see our sport thrive and we believe that providing a critical review of media coverage is key to improving that coverage.

Day 1 Coverage Review
I didn't immediately sign up for the NBC Sports Gold track and field annual package when it was announced earlier in 2017. My hesitation was partly due to the $69.95 cost, when I am already paying a monthly cable bill that includes the NBC Sports Channel, which covers all the Diamond League meets.

Frankly, however, it was also because I wasn't sure how many hours I wanted to spend at my computer watching track meets, as well as marathon and road races. But when I decided not to travel to Sacramento for the USATF Championships, I knew I had to have some way to see ALL of the meet or I would go crazy.

So, a couple days before the meet, I signed up. It was, without a doubt, a very good decision. Had I been content to just check twitter and event results, I would have missed some incredible viewing. More on that in a bit.

READ MORE HERE:
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/676-nbc-sports-gold-coverage-of-us-championships-review-of-day-1

Day 2 Coverage Review
The second day of the U.S. Championships started for me at 4:50 pm, watching the commercial-free coverage on NBC Sports Gold for the first two and a half hours. I then switched over to the live coverage on NBC Sports Network for the last two hours of the meet.

At the halfway point of the meet, I'd have to say it is a draw between the online coverage and the cable network coverage. Pros and cons on both sides.

I really love watching track and field coverage without commercial interruption. Who doesn't? The three minute commercial breaks between races are tolerable, though just barely, but going to commercials during the 5K is outrageous and totally unacceptable. To make matters worse, NBCSN used the first half of both the men's and women's 5K races to do their field event recaps, which could have been done at any time. The pre-race graphic showing the women's 5K records had a whopper of an error, listing Helen Obiri holding the American record at 14:18.71!

READ MORE HERE:
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/677-nbc-sports-gold-coverage-of-us-championships-review-of-day-2

Day 3 Coverage Review
It is called American Track & Field, but many days, it should be American Field and Track. On Day 3, Steve Ritchie focuses on the increased coverage and quality of the field events, and provides some compliments plus some worthwhile critique.

Saturday at the U.S. Track & Field Championships was another day of marvelous performances, incredible drama and surprising finishes. The kind of day that reinforces our love for the sport.

It was also a pretty strong day for coverage of the events at Hornet Stadium, especially the streaming meet coverage on NBC Sports Gold.

READ MORE HERE:
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/678-nbc-sports-gold-coverage-of-us-championships-coverage-of-field-events-improves-on-day-3

Day 4 Coverage Review
The U.S. Track & Field Championships wrapped up a four-day run at broiling Hornet Stadium on Sunday with another exciting day of top-flight performances and a number of surprising upsets.

On this final day of competition, I decided to watch only the coverage on NBC. No streaming coverage. No checking results online. Only an occasional glance at twitter. I wanted to see the final day as most viewers at home would see it.

I have written in past days about the poor coverage for the field events on NBC and NBCSN, and Sunday was no different. The women's hammer throw recap was a total of 35 seconds which gave time to show one throw. Ditto for the men's high jump - a total of 30 seconds which included one jump and an extended celebration by winner Bryan McBride. Shot put got two throws, while pole vault and long jump had four attempts each. Very disappointing.

READ MORE HERE:
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/679-nbc-sports-gold-coverage-of-us-championships-review-of-day-4
Lessons from the 2017 USATF Outdoors
     
By Larry Eder

Lessons from Day 1: Want to Win a 10,000m? You Better Have a Killer Finish!
The 10,000 meters were the two big finals that kept the fans in the stands late into the evening, as the 10,000 meters were moved back one hour to keep the temperatures under 40 degrees Celcius/100 degrees Fahrenheit. Hotter than the temperatures were the finishes of winners Molly Huddle and Hassan Mead.

READ MORE HERE:
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/681-day-1-of-us-outdoor-champs-want-to-win-a-10-000m-have-a-killer-finish


Lessons from Day 2: In the 100 meters, Run Your Race
The two 100-meter races on Friday night were very different. Both races, were examples of the quality of American men and women in the sprints. They also show that sprint skills are developed, and that experience wins out, in many cases.

On the women's side, Tori Bowie has finally come to believe in herself. Staying focused, Ms. Bowie has tremendous talent over 100 meters, and exceptional skills over 200 meters. In the 100 meters, Torie Bowie had an adequate start, and moved into contention with half of the race, and dominated the last 40 meters, running strong through the finish.

READ MORE HERE:
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/682-day-2-at-the-us-champs-in-the-100m-run-your-race


Lessons from Day 3: Big Kicks, Fast 400 meters
Day Three brought the temperature even more, and a temperature around 100 felt so much nicer than 110. Sam Kendricks used that tepid weather to clear six meters, his first time over that classic pole vault height. Sam was one of the fine performances on Saturday, June 24. Here's some of my other observations.

READ MORE HERE:
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/683-day-3-at-the-us-champs-big-kicks-fast-400m


Lessons from Day 4: We Have Some Amazing Athletes (but you knew that already, didn't you?)
On Saturday morning, I was doing a short piece for BBC Five Live. They had an exceptional interview with Delilah Muhammed. When asked about Delilah, I called her the 'Edwin Moses' of women's 400m hurdling. I have seen Dalilah as exceptional for some time, and her Rio win made me a believer. Her run in Sacramento just added to the respect I have for Dalilah Muhammed.

Day four was exceptional. In the women's 400 meter hurdles, six finishers under 54 seconds, with three under 53 seconds! Delilah Muhammed ran from the front the entire race and was rewarded with her run, with a victory and 52.64. Shamier Little showed her talent, running her best at 52.75. In third, Kori Carter lived up to her talent with a 52.95, putting three women under 53 seconds for the first time. Ashley Spencer, 53.11, Georganne Moline, 53.14 and Sydney McLaughlin, 53.82, a World Junior record. With six under 54 seconds, this is one of the finest, if not the finest 400 meter hurdles for women ever.

READ MORE HERE:
http://caltrack.com/ctrn/index.php/features/684-day-4-of-the-us-champs-we-have-some-amazing-athletes-but-you-already-knew-that-didn-t-you 
What was the USATF Outdoors' Highlight of the Meet? Easy, Paul Chelimo!

By Jeff Benjamin

What was the meet's highlight? Easy. Paul Chelimo. TOTAL Dominance and NOBODY expected this-except Chelimo.

For the NBC Sports Crew of Lewis Johnson, Rick Allen, Ato Bolton, Sonya Richards-Ross & Craig Masback, expertise has always been their standard trademark. As the men's 5000 was ready to go, the duo of Allen and Masback, along with spectators both in the hot Sacramento stadium and watching in TV, definitely expected a slow tactical race. As Masback said, "It's not about time it's about being in the first 3" to qualify for the London World Championships.

  READ MORE HERE
Salinas Valley Half Marathon Returns Aug 5th After 2016 Cancellation Due to Fire Conditions
It's been two years since the running of the Salinas Valley Half Marathon, a scenic 13.1-mile run through the vineyards and rich agricultural lands of 'Steinbeck country. The event was canceled last year just three days before race day due to unhealthy air quality in the region from the nearby massive Soberanes fire. Runners are now amped and ready to run this August 5th.

Registration is still available for the Salinas Valley Half Marathon at a fee of $95. For more info and to sign up, visit www.salinasvalleyhalfmarathon.org.   READ MORE
Qualifying Standards Announced for 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Marathon; Selection Procedures in Place for 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Champs

USATF/INDIANAPOLIS -- USATF announced on Tuesday the qualifying standards for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, as well as the selection criteria for Team USATF who will compete in the 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia, Spain on March 24, 2018.

The qualifying standards for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon are:
 
Men:         Marathon A = 2:15:00; B= 2:19:00; Half 1:04:00.
Women:     Marathon A = 2:37:00; B = 2:45:00; Half 1:13:00.

The proposed qualifying window for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon is September 1, 2017 - January 19, 2020 for marathon qualifying times and September 1, 2018 - January 19, 2020 for half marathon qualifying times.

READ MORE
Videos by The Shoe Addicts

Conversations with Larry: 2017 USATF Track & Field Championships
These videos last about two minutes, and it is really hard for me to speak ONLY for two minutes. Adam Johnson-Eder, my progeny, times the event by putting up a finger for each minute. Mike Deering tries not to laugh as he manages to film me. No animals were harmed in the filming of this film.

Day One: Considering Heat Stroke in Sacramento
http://video.runningnetwork.com/index.php/categories/12-track-field/486-conversations-with-larry-intro-to-usatf-championships-2017

Day 2: Fast and Furiously in Sacramento
http://video.runningnetwork.com/index.php/categories/12-track-field/485-conversations-with-larry-day-2-of-the-usatf-championships-2017

Day 3: Big 1,500m, Kendricks, Huge Upset in the Women's Shot Put
http://video.runningnetwork.com/index.php/categories/12-track-field/484-conversations-with-larry-day-3-of-the-usatf-championships-2017

Day 4: Big Shot put, Big Long Jump, and a Fine 800 meters!
http://video.runningnetwork.com/index.php/categories/12-track-field/483-conversations-with-larry-day-4-of-the-usatf-championships-2017
CHECK OUT YOUR ASSOCIATION
SHOE REVIEWS

2017 spring shoe review


Top !0 Shoes of 2016

Trail Shoe Reviews, Fall/Winter 2016

2016 Fall Spring Shoe Review and award winners:
http://issuu.com/fortius_media/docs/2016_fall_shoe_review_no_bleed

Cross Country Racer Reviews, Fall 2016
https://issuu.com/fortius_media/docs/xcshoesfall2016final

Summer Shoe Reviews, June 2016

Racing Shoe Reviews, Spring 2016

Trail Shoe Reviews, Early 2016

2016 Spring Shoe Reviews and award winners:
PREVIOUS ISSUES OF CTRN


California Track & Running News, Spring 2016

California Track & Running News, Fall 2015

California Track & Running News, June-August 2015

California Track & Running News, April-May 2015

California Track & Running News, Jan-March 2015

STAY CONNECTED: