Fund Set Up to Help Erik Skaggs

The Rogue Valley Runners blog has an update about Erik Skaggs, who is doing better. The blog mentions a Fund set up to help him with the mounting medical bills associated with his treatment for renal failure.

One of the great things about our community of ultrarunners is when we rally to help those in need. I put my check in the mail today - please consider doing the same when you have a chance. Here's where to send it:

"Many friends throughout the ultrarunning community have already asked how they can help. One of Erik’s biggest concerns is the mounting medical bill. Erik does not have health insurance. He may be eligible for some assistance through his membership with USA Track and Field, but will no doubt require monies for the deductible and for the expected costs well above the coverage. An Ashland runner and friend of Erik’s has opened a bank account at Umpqua Bank in Ashland, Oregon to receive donations that will be used to help defray these medical expenses. You can contribute by sending a check to Umpqua Bank, 250 N. Pioneer Street, Ashland, OR 97520 made out to the “Erik Skaggs Medical Fund.” Any assistance that you could provide would be much appreciated by Erik. Please note that the Fund name should be on the outside of the envelope."

Thanks for your support!

- SD

Ultrarunning Jumps The Shark With Madonna Tabloid Mention

When has ultrarunning gone too far in the mainstream? When it becomes tabloid material.

(photo courtesy of wenn.com)

Mark Tanaka saw the story first - "Madonna Prepares for Ultra Marathon", a tabloid citing that she will be toeing the line at the grueling six-day Marathon des Sables. But her publicists soon issued a statement of their own to rule it out.

Either the tabloids are seriously devoid of material ("jumping the shark"), or the PR team at MdS are geniuses.

SD

Erik Skaggs Hospitalized for Renal Failure After Record Run at Where's Waldo 100k

This just in - two days after his epic course record run at the Where's Waldo 100k, Erik Skaggs was admitted to a hospital for renal failure in Medford, OR. Those at the race said he looked good at the finish and was in good spirits. The symptoms apparently kicked in over the following 48 hours.

(Erik Skaggs at the finish of Where's Waldo, photo courtesy of Rogue Valley Runners)

Send your good karma thoughts his way, and let's hope he has a speedy recovery.

- SD

Erik Skaggs and Joelle Vaught Break Course Records at Where's Waldo 100k

Erik Skaggs and Joelle Vaught took advantage of the 80 degree weather at Willamette Pass, OR, to set new course records at the Where's Waldo 100k yesterday. Both led from start to finish, winning the USATF 100k National Championship and Montrail UltraCup opener in 9:11:05 and 10:23:32 respectively.

Top results from Craig Thornley's blog:

Men -
1st - Erik Skaggs - 9:11:05 (CR)
2nd - Zach Miller - 9:39:35 also under the old course record.
3rd - Jason Bryant - 9:49:08 also under the old course record.
4th - Neil Olsen - 10:02:39 also under his old course record. First Master.
5th - Sean Andrish - 10:03:36, also under the course record.
6th - Mark Lantz - 10:15:49
7th - Yassine Diboun - 10:16:16
8th - Matt Lonergan - 10:16:34
9th - Jace Ives - 10:55:54
10th - Sander Nelson - 11:04:46
11th - Geoffrey Donovan - 11:15:08
12th - Victor Ballesteros 11:16:03
13th - Lewis Taylor - 11:34:44
14th - Rafael Arceo 11:47:43
15th - Kurt Lindermuller - 11:56:08
16th - Bill Montgomery - 12:05:37
17th - Lucas Cramer - 12:18:10
18th - Joe Lee - 12:27:16
19th - Co Jones - 12:29:06
20st - Scott McLelllan - 12:30:50
21st - Andre-Paul Michaud - 12:33:10

Women -

1st - Joelle Vaught 10:23:32 (CR)
2nd overall and 1st Masters - Bev Anderson-Abbs - 11:01:59
3rd overall and 2nd Masters - Meghan Arbogast - 11:07:36
4th - Alison Bryant - 11:34
5th - Shawna Wilskey - 12:00:52
6th - Amy Sproston - 12:04:35
7th - Monica Ochs - 12:26:55
8th - Wendy Wheeler Jacobs - 13:06:11

Looks like the early results for the Leadville 100 are also posted. Colorado's Timmy Parr (17:27:23) and Leadville local Lynette Clemons (20:58:01) ran to victory, with top 10 performances from Garret Graubins, Andy Jones-Wilkins, and Bryon Powell. Anton Krupicka's DNF is a good read too; I love that he so graciously shares his successes and defeats.

SD

Didja See? Usain Bolt lowers 100m AND 200m World Records (video)

(Usain Bolt goes 9.58 seconds in the 100m, photo courtesy of Kerim Otken/EPA)

Usain Bolt lowered his Men's 100m world record by an astounding .11 seconds in the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, then dominated the 200m four days later with a 19.19 second world record. Seventeen years had passed between Carl Lewis running the 100m in 9.86 seconds in 1991 and Usain Bolt going .14sec faster in May 2008, but he's already chopping it down by huge amounts. The scientists who predicted man couldn't run that fast for another 20 years are going back to the books.



How fast can he go? Usain thinks 9.4's is possible. Some say he might need some assistance from technology (luckily he and all the sprinters tested negative for doping). But one thing for sure, he's in a league of his own.

Check out the video. It sure is cool to be alive at a time when others can show us the limitless potential of the human spirit.



[update] - Usain Bolt extended his domination by running 19.19 for 200m, .11 seconds faster than his previous world record. Video above. Wow!

- SD

The New Runner's World iPhone App

Today, Runner's World announced the availability of their new iPhone App that allows you to see their 100+ shoe reviews, find the closest running specialty store that has it in your size, and even put it on hold to come in and try on. In addition, they have some great videos to help you understand what kind of shoe is right for you, how to properly tie your shoes (apparently I've been doing it wrong for years), and more.

If this sounds a little bit like my company, NearbyNow, that's because it's based on our technology. In one of those star-aligning moments my work and passions have collided! Now I'm blogging about it to make the trifecta complete. ;-)

The free Runner's World Shoe Shop iPhone App has some pretty cool features. You can:

Search all the 100+ shoes from their Shoe Guide, or search by brand or price range:


Check out their videos to learn about pronation, find the right shoe for you, and even the proper way to tie your shoes (which is surprisingly enlightening):


Browse shoes by category:


Find the closest store to you that has the product, buy online, or forward to a friend so they can find the shoe near them:


Read the Runner's World review:


When you find the closest store, you can enter your size and the NearbyNow Concierge team will confirm your size is available and e-mail/text you back:


Cool, huh? I'm already finding it helpful to scope new shoes, find stores in new areas, and (ahem) learn to tie my shoes correctly. A handy free App for runners.

If you're a blogger, please do me a favor and steal these pics to blog about it yourself! If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, download it and let me know what you would like to see next. Thanks in advance for spreading the word...

Happy running!

- SD

How Robots Run (Video)

Mark Remy @ Runner's World posted this crazy video of a Japanese robot that can run 7km/hour. Check it out!



Note the slow motion capture...looks like this robot has a great barefoot running style. Pretty crazy.

- SD

Help a Brotha Out

My most super-favorite running store of all time, Zombie Runner, is "in the running" for a Top 50 Stores award from Competitor Magazine. It's reader-vote driven, so you can help!

Head to http://competitor.com/top50/ and vote for Zombie Runner (located at 429 S. California, Palo Alto, CA, 94306).

Thanks for your help! If you haven't been, you should. It's a trail running mecca.

SD