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Athletics

Marathon Runners

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I run because long after my footprints fade away, maybe I will have inspired a few to reject the easy path, hit the trails, put one foot in front of the other, and come to the same conclusion I did:  I run because it always takes me where I want to go. — Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Runner 

Since the ancient Egyptians, there has been long distance racing, and today, countless marathons take place around the world each year.  In 2017, more than 18 million people ran in organized competitive road races in the USA, and millions more participate in social, non-competitive organized running events.

Why run a marathon?  Some people run a marathon for the physical exercise or the challenge. Others for the competition. Then, there are those that run for very personal reasons.

Johnnie Jameson, a Vietnam War veteran and US Postal Service employee, runs to heal, and he’s been running the LA Marathon since 1986, earning him the title of ‘Legacy Runner’.  Mr. Jameson shares his story and explains his unusual backwards running style in Mile 19, a short documentary video by Big Pup Film.

English long distance runner and marathon world champion, Paula Radcliffe, finds beauty in running, and believes it’s a gift as well as an art– a way of expressing yourself.  Take a run with Paula, and listen as she shares her thoughts about running.

And, there are those that just love the feeling of that runner’s high and get hooked on testing the limits of their bodies.

An ultramarathon (aka ultra running & ultra distance) is any foot race longer than a traditional marathon distance (26.2 miles/42.2 kilometers).  There are two types of ultramarathon events: distance (the winner runs a specific distance in the shortest amount of time) and time (the winner runs the most distance in a specific amount of time). Ultra distances are typically 50 kilometres (31.1 mi), 100 kilometres (62.1 mi), 50 miles (80.5 km), and 100 miles (160.9 km), but distances as well as race courses and terrain vary.  Timed ultramarathon events range from hours (6, 12 & 24 hours) to days (known as multi-day or stage race events).  Self-supported ultramarathon stage races where each ultrarunner must carry all supplies needed to survive the race, including food, are considered the most demanding.

If you’re serious about this extreme sport, the training requires intense dedication.  In the short video Ultra Man, Robbie Britton talks about his mindset and why he does it.

Paddy O’Leary grew up in Ireland, but didn’t do much running until moving to San Francisco.  Watch his return to Ireland to take on the ultramarathon challenge of self-navigated 115 kilometer Wicklow Round, and rediscovery of his home through running in the short video ‘Coming Home’.

 

“If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.” — Kathrine Switzer, Marathon Runner

Information/Resources:
Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS)
Find a Running Club in USA, Road Runners Club of America
How to Start Running by Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times Well (why run, how to train, and tips on picking your gear, fueling your body, hydrating, and preventing injury)
Why Stretching Might Not Make You a Better Runner by Richard Gray, BBC Future (March 28, 2019) – Research provides some surprising findings and tips on how runners can improve performance
Training Programs for Marathons and Half-Marathons (beginners-intermediate-experienced), Chattanooga Track Club
International Association of Ultrarunners – promotes and develops long distance running worldwide by encouraging events and activities and sanctioning competitions
10 Things No One Tells You Before You Run an Ultramarathon by Damian Hall, The Telegraph (May 4, 2017) – Take it slow, eat a lot, and enjoy the sport of ultra running.

Run Mama Run is an inspired story about an athlete's determination to train and not give up on a dream despite obstaclesFollow Sarah Brown as she trains for US Olympic trials in the short video documentary series, Run Mama Run.  You’ll be inspired by her story of determination and family.

 

 

 

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Feature photo is courtesy of Martins Zimlickis, Unsplash CC0

Jump Rope

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You might think you know all about jump rope, but think again.  

There’s the basic, easy jump rope kids learn at a playground with some cool tricks requiring more skill and experience.  It’s also a great workout as professional trainers and fitness experts often recommend jump rope as an aerobic exercise alternative to running or riding bikes.  And, during these days of lock-down and stay-at-home orders, it’s a great way to get moving with limited space using low-cost equipment when you can’t get out of the house.  

Elite jump rope athletes and competitive teams, however, take the technique of the sport to remarkably high levels in single freestyle, single speed, pairs, three person speed (‘double dutch’), and three person freestyle (double dutch freestyle).  Watch them all go like crazy in this 2017 World Jump Rope Federation promo video, and be inspired!

 

Information/Resources:

Learn Basic Jump Rope Skills & Tricks – 3 Way to Jump Rope Wikihow

Find yourself a rope & start jumping ⇒  Shop for Jump Ropes   (If you make a purchase directly through this link to Amazon, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.)

USA Jump Rope, The United States Amateur Jump Rope Federation offers unique experiences and educational opportunities through its sanctioned jump rope workshops, camps, seminars and tournaments at the state, regional and national levels.

 

A yo-yo changed a young man's life, and now he's a master of his art.THROW – It seems to be a simple toy, but a yo-yo changed a young man’s life.  Watch Coffin Nachtmahr’s story and his masterful skills with a yo-yo.

 

 

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Feature photo is courtesy of DOD News, PD (sourced via Wikimedia)

Vertical Pursuit LIVE

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It’s like no other jumping competition!  Thousands of cheering spectators watched close-up as 20 world-class athletes competed on June 8, 2019 in pole vault and long jump at this year’s Golden Roof crossfire competition in the heart of Innsbruck, Austria Old Town, marking the 500th anniversary of Emperor Maximilian’s death, the man who built the famous landmark ‘Golden Roof’ (Goldenes Dachl) royal box above the square in the Middle Ages to watch as knights jousted in tournaments.

If you missed the live stream broadcast of the 2019 Golden Roof Challenge, there’s still time to watch a video recording of this exciting competition.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button located on the media player below.

The Long Jump Women was a really close one, as Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk from Ukraine won the competition by just 8cm.

The Long Jump Men was dominated current #1 in the World Ranking and 2018 Indoor World Champion– Juan Miguel Echevarria (CUB).

Angelica Bengtsson of Sweden set a new Golden Fly Series record in the Pole Vault Women with a height of 4,61m.

In the Men Pole Vault competition the defending champion Konstantinos Filippidis (GRE) took home the Golden Roof Challenge title again this year with a height of 5,61m.

 

 

Darn, did you miss it? Pole vaulters from the US, Canada and New Zealand took over Federal Street in Central Auckland, New Zealand in the SKYCITY Vertical Pursuit pole vault competition on Saturday night, March 17, 2018.  There’s still time to watch a video recording of this exciting and fun competition.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓

 

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Feature photo by Flickr user, Texas Eagle, CC BY-NC 2.0

Triathlon Challenge LIVE

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If you missed the live stream broadcast of 2018 IRONMAN® World Championship and IRONMAN® Louisville, there’s still time watch video recordings of both marathon competitions.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media players below ↓  

 

 

Athletes experience the best Cascais has to offer at the IRONMAN® 70.3, starting with a one loop swim of 1900 meters in front of the Fortaleza da Cidadela, the most spectacular bay in Portugal.  The single 90,1 km loop cycle course runs alongside the ocean, through to Oeiras, Algés, Belém and returning in Alcântara, a fast and flat part of this beautiful landscape.  The course also covers stunning natural scenery in the Sintra forests, returning to Cascais along the Guincho Beach road “where the land ends and the sea begins.” The two loops of the 21,1 km run course start in the Hippodrome, taking athletes through Cascais Village, Marginal road and returning to Cascais Bay.  If you missed the live stream broadcast of the race, there’s still time to watch a video recording.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓

 

 

The 2018 IRONMAN Maryland®, also known as Chesapeakeman®, begins with a 2.4 mile swim in the fresh water of the Choptank River on the Delmarva Peninsula.  The 112 mile bike course is flat, fast and scenic, taking athletes through Dorchester County and into a wildlife refuge.  The day finishes with a 26.2 mile run on flat country roads with several straightaway– good spots that allow athletes to size up their competition.  If you missed the live stream broadcast, there’s still time to watch video recordings of the race.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media players below ↓

 

IRONMAN® Chattanooga begins with a point to point, 2.4 mile swim in the Tennessee River. The 116 mile bike course heads south of town and takes two loops in North Georgia with scenic farmland and mountain views. The two-and-a-half loop, 26.2 mile run course showcases beautiful downtown Chattanooga, Riverview and the North Shore.  If you missed the live stream broadcast, there’s still time to watch video recordings of the race.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media players below ↓

 

In 1978, fifteen men participated in the first IRONMAN® triathlon on the streets of Honolulu, Hawaii.  It has since evolved into the annual IRONMAN® World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN® North American Championship Texas event, an early-season race held in The Woodlands (located 27 miles north of Houston, Texas), serves as one of its many world qualifying events.

If you missed the April 28 live stream broadcast of the 2018 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN® North American Championship Texas, there’s still time to watch video recordings of the bike, run and finish.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button or select from the video posts located on the media players below ↓ 

 

 

 

Exciting ironman racing can be watched On2In2™ live streamingWatch a live stream broadcast (April 14-15) and video recordings of the 2018 Ironman African Championship

 

 

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Feature photo is courtesy of Flickr user, M.G.N – Marcel, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Beauty and Strength

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The word “calisthenics” comes from two ancient Greek words:  kallos (which means beauty, perfect, or good) and sthenos (which means great strength, courage, and determination).

In late 19th century, calisthenic exercises were introduced in Australia as a means to keep people fit and healthy, and these exercises gradually morphed over the decades to choreographed theatrical performances involving music and dance.  Calisthenics (aka Australian Calisthenics) as it is known today is a unique team-based competitive performing art with elements of rhythmic gymnastics and ballet that’s practiced in all Australian states except Tasmania.

If you’ve never heard of Calisthenics, the “Skills Syllabus – Gold Medal” video demonstrates some of the movement skills.  It’s a good example of the flexibility, strength, balance, precision and grace required of competitors in the sport.

 

Calisthenics competition includes a variety of ‘items’ performed on stage:  Figure March, Club Swinging, Free Exercises, Rod Exercises, Aesthetics as well as a few ‘fancy items’ that focus on theatrical performance: Song and dance, Calisthenic Spectacular, Rhythmic (similar to Aesthetics), Stage Presentation and Calisthenics Revue.  Competitors wear beautiful costumes and theatrical make-up to emphasise expressions on stage.  The video below is a short demonstration of “Free Exercises” Calisthenics competition.

 

While team competition is the main focus, solo competition is also a part of Calisthenics, and one of the highlights each year is the elite solo competition category “Most Graceful Girl”.  The video documentary, Graceful Girls, follows school teacher Brianna Lee’s final attempt to fulfil her dream to win the ‘Most Graceful Girl’ title.  This short video was the 2012 video pitch for funding the documentary, and it provides a brief description of the sport of Calisthenics as well as it’s history.  The funding campaign was successful, and Graceful Girls was released in Australia (2015).  DVDs are still out there and available → HERE*; however, a multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is required to view it. *[Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a purchase you make via this link to Amazon.  This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.]

 

Feature photo ‘Aesthetic’ was sourced from the Australian Calisthenics Federation website where you can find more information about this very unique sport from the Land Down Under.

 

Watch an aerial dance performance Live & Free On2In2™WATCH Aerial Dance and experience the magic of an upside-down/vertical dance performance.  It’s amazing!

 

 

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IRONMAN Africa LIVE

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The Ironman Africa Championship is held each year at Port Elizabeth, South Africa on the Nelson Mandela Bay, and is a favorite of the European race circuit.

The race begins with a one-lap, 3.8 km swim course beginning on Hobie Beach.  Athletes head out parallel from the pier and turn left after 300 meters. Then, the course continues past Humewood Beach all the way to Kings Beach before turning and heading back to Hobie Beach. The water temperature is usually in the mid-70’s and the water is usually calm.

The bike course takes athletes out on two flat, fast laps of 90 km on a spectacular bike course along the coast with sweeping ocean views and rugged coastline before moving slightly inland through a scenic countryside.  Athletes return along the coast to a transition area for the run that is four loops along Marine Drive to the finish


If you missed the 2018 IRONMAN AFRICA CHAMPIONSHIP live stream broadcast on April 14, there’s still time to watch a video recording of the race.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓  You can find a list of race results → HERE

 

If you missed the live streaming of weekend ironman triathlons, there’s still time to watch the video replay of the 2017 Ironman African Championship here. 

Starting off with a one-lap, 3.8km swim course beginning on Hobie Beach, the race then continues on bikes with two flat and fast laps of 90km through rugged coastline, scenic countryside and spectacular ocean views before ending with a run course along Marine Drive.  See all the results → click/tap HERE.  

 

Watch Ironman competition Live & Free On2In2™

Watch triathlon athletes compete in IRONMAN Europe events

 

 

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Feature photo of iron man race start, by Flickr user, Kris Fricke, CC BY-NC-ND

Track & Field Championships

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New Zealand’s best athletes compete this weekend for national titles at the 2017 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field Championships, Porritt Stadium.       

If you missed the live broadcast, there’s still time to watch video recordings (Click/Tap “Watch Again”)  Here are links to the event program schedule and official 2017 competition results.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Feature photo is courtesy of Unsplash CC0