Runnerville

A full debrief of the Olympic Trials with special guest Coach Vin Lananna (co-chair of the Eugene ‘08 organizing committee and director of track & field at the University of Oregon). Toni and Matt kick off the show with their assessment of the Trials - the highs and lows, surprises and disappointments - before bringing on Coach Lananna, who gives a candid recap of the show.What lived up to his expectations? What can be improved for 2012? How do we make the sport more professional? Can USATF succeed in Indianapolis? This and more on the Toni & Matt Show.

USATF board member Stephanie Hightower discusses the state of of our sport AND our governing body. The LA Marathon is sold; Chris Devine apologizes. Tiger Woods does it again. Meb is ready. Athlete values rise and fall at NCAA Champs. It’s all on today’s episode of the Toni & Matt Show.

The Big Story - Stephanie Hightower joins us in the “studio” from Ohio. The four-time U.S. 100m hurdles champion and 1980 Olympic Team member, Hightower currently serves on the board of USATF and is the chair of USATF’s Women’s Track and Field Committee. In today’s discussion she responds to the demand from USOC for USATF to restructure. Is this a chance to split the organization into different governing bodies (e.g., race walking, track & field, youth, masters, ultra, etc)? Yes, but no. We find out where things stand in the CEO search. Will we have a new one by June 27th, the start of the US Olympic Trials? Sounds doubtful. And Matt digs in about the presentation of our sport on television and in person. What happens in the board room - are their conversations about what the fans want? A great conversation, and some great insight into the challenges facing USATF in this CEO-less Olympic year.

Quick News: The LA Marathon is sold. Tiger wins on Monday, which Toni loves. But Matt argues that the US Open got really, really lucky. Toni puts an end to the LetsRun rumors - Meb is healthy and ready to go, according to his brother and agent, Merhawi. And what athletes gained and lost value at this year’s NCAA meet?

Major Russ Stewart calls in from Tikrit, Iraq. If you listen to only two-minutes of the show, these are the two minutes you want to listen to. The Tikrit Running Club is up and running (who wants a t-shirt?), Russ roots for Webb and laments people who don’t consider Bernard Lagat an American. Thanks Russ. Stay safe!

What do you think? Call us at 206-888-0346 or email to comments (at) runnerville (dot) com.

[Music is “Keep on Running” by The Trojans.]

Abdi, Ed Eyestone, your comments, and the Pre Classic. It’s all on this episode of the Toni & Matt Show.

The Big Story - The Prefontaine Classic:Brad Walker gets the American Record in the pole vault. Bekele, running at 9:30 in the morning, goes after, but misses, his own World Record at 10,000m. The fans are back in Eugene, but the TV coverage hasn’t changed.

Abdi Abdirahman joins us in the “studio” from Tucson, Arizona. On his 27:16, just 3 seconds off the American Recrod: “I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t thinking about the record.” Is he willing to push the pace at the Trials? Will he go after the American Record there? GMC Denali’s and XM Satellite radio - it’s all here.

You Talk. We Respond. Joe from South Jersey thanks Tegenkamp for responding personally. He also points out that we need a winner and more team-based events on the track. Brett wants team scoring at the Olympic Games. We couldn’t agree more. Imagine the interest in a tight battle for 8th place in the 5,000m if it meant the difference between team gold and team silver. Besides, who cares about total medals? Billy from Portland calls in with his thoughts of the Pre Classic…and high praise for the Toni & Matt Show: “Your show is my favorite.” And Ben Olson writes in: I am an 8 year old runner from Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Alan Webb is my sports hero. My buddies that I play hockey, baseball and golf with don’t know who he is, but they will this summer. Everyone will know who he is with his olympic gold medal. He will dominate in August.

Ed Eyestone joins us in the “studio” after his appearance in the NBC studio at Hayward Field. Ed talks candidly about his opinions of the Pre broadcast (his first with NBC), explains why the 5,000m and 10,000m races weren’t shown, describes his preparation for calling a meet, and tries to give an answer to Matt’s question: What the hell happened in the men’s 800m?

Bislett Games in Oslo: The baby-faced assassin reigns supreme and Andrew Baddeley gives Brits another great white hope.

What do you think? Call us at 206-888-0346 or email to comments (at) runnerville (dot) com.

[Music is “Super Duper Love” by Joss Stone.]

Gearing up, the world comes tumbling down. With the Olympic Trials and the Games in sight, the athletes have stepped fully into the spotlight. Okay world, try harnessing Usain Bolt, who electrified NY, Jamaica, and even ESPN with a 9.72 WR in the 100m.  In California teen sensations German Fernandez and Christine Babcock continue to re-write history.  We’ll talk with Dyestat.com’s Rich Gonzalez, and USATF President Bill Roe joins us live for a penetrating interview about the sport and the search for a new CEO.  It’s all on this episode of the Toni & Matt Show.

The Big Story - USATF President Bill Roe joins us in the studio. We find out where USATF is in the CEO selection process (hoping for an announcement before the Trials), what types of candidates are still in the hunt (ones from the running industry and ones from outside the industry), and whether Hilary Clinton is a candidate (he never really answered, did he?). Bill also talks about the current challenges facing USATF (attendance, drugs, non-profit vs for-profit) and gives us his ideal TV deal.

Fernandez and Babcock on Fire - DyeStat.com’s Rich Gonzales joins us in studio to discuss the historical performances by German Fernandez and Christine Babcock. We get the inside scoop on their training and what races are up next.

Usain Bolt is the World’s Fastest Man - With his blistering 9.72, Usain Bolt becomes the world’s fastest man at the age of 21. A phenom at age 15, Bolt has finally reached what many saw coming. A new breed of sprinter for sure. But more importantly — one with a personality. Matt goes on a rant about the drug suspicions.

What do you think? Call us at 206-888-0346 or email to comments (at) runnerville (dot) com.

[Music is “Jammin’” by Bob Marley.]

The future of running revealed. Tennis squabbles; is running listening? Haile hops back on the Olympic track. Tegenkamp responds to your questions. Listener comments. And from the Runner’s Digest archives, Fred Lebow, running’s greatest impresario, talks about the state of the sport . . . in 1982. That and more on the Toni & Matt Show.

The Big Story - The future of the sport stakes their claim, all in one weekend. Chanelle Price runs 2:02:90. Next up? Running with the big girls at Pre Classic. Does she have a shot to make the Olympic team? German Fernandez with one of the most impressive doubles in high school history - a 4:07 followed two hours later by a 8:45. And Christine Babcock doesn’t just break the 4:40 barrier; she buries it with a 4:36. These three athletes - and the many other talented prepsters - got next.

Make your voice heard. Call the comment line at 206-888-0346 and join the podcast.

Listener Comments: We read and respond to your comments. First, Shannon Rowbury’s high school coach from Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep responds to Toni’s Runnerville Weekly piece about Rowbury’s emergence on the world stage. He also shares with us this great article on Shannon. Second, regular commenter Felice sends us this article to make the point that running’s “in” with the media might be through print journalism. All athletes, race directors, and agents should read the article. And third, our guest from Episode #10, Nate Jenkins send us a Scientific American article about Game Theory as it relates to doping. An intellectual read for those looking for great cocktail chatter.

Quick News - Haile and Hengelo kick off the Golden League. Is Haile washed up? Paula pushes on with marathon plans.

From the Runner’s Digest Archive: 1982 with Fred Lebow - Running’s great impresario talks about the running movement - he calls it a boomlet, not a boom - and the rise of women’s running. Lebow predicts the boomlet not with stats, but with his subjective observation of running shoes worn in other countries. In 1982 - Korea ranked near the top. And he looks at the rise of running as a sport, not a fad. Sadly, that outlook was a little too rosy if you look at running today.

USTA vs ATP - Professional tennis finds itself in a situation familiar to running. The ATP wants to put their logo on the nets of their events. The only problem is that the ATP tour includes several USAT events and the USTA says no way to the logos. It’s similar to the NYRR or BAA hosting the Olympic Marathon Trials where they couldn’t use their existing race sponsors for the Trials because the USATF, beholden to the USOC, wouldn’t allow it. We should all pay attention to see how the situation plays out in tennis.

Matt Tegenkamp Responds to Joe - After Teg appeared on Episode #11, we received several comments, including an audio segment from Joe. Teg had mentioned sitting out events to get race organizers and the USATF to take notice. Joe said, “Why wait until 2010. Sit out the Olympics.” Teg’s response is played. He also puts forth some great ideas and even gives USATF and Wasserman Media Group the tagline - You don’t know who I am, but you will.

What do you think? Call us at 206-888-0346 or email to comments (at) runnerville (dot) com. And check out next week’s show with USATF President Bill Roe.

[Music is “Herculean” by The Good, The Bad, And The Queen.]

Today, we look back at last weekend’s Adidas Track Classic in Carson, California. Great track meet. Terrible theater. We’ll re-visit the Healthy Kidney 10K in NYC’s Central Park. Great Run. Little competition. We welcome as our guest the woman who created the largest grassroots running series in American history. And the segment you don’t want to miss - Runner’s Digest Flashback with Bob Bright. Now that’s some serious trash talk. That and more on the 12th edition of the Toni & Matt Show.

The Big Story - What happened at last Sunday’s Adidas Track Classic? Though Jenn Stuczynski set an American record in the pole vault, Tyson Gay doubled in the 100m and 200m, and new middle distance sensation Shannon Rowbury ran the fastest women’s 1500m by an American in six years, only 3500 people were on hand to witness one of the top track meets in the world this season. Why can’t track succeed in drawing a crowd? Toni & Matt analyze the impediments to track viability in a new era of sport promotion.

Quick News
1. Matt’s hometown of Pittsburgh to resurrect its marathon after an absence of five years. Matt begins training regimen.
2. Chicago Marathon signs NBC5 to a three-year contract as exclusive broadcast partner for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
3. Nike takes on Foot Locker for high school cross country supremacy.
4. The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, set for Sunday, October 5, announces it has reached its entry limit of 11,000 runners. The race reached its limit in just one month’s time, even though the entry cap being raised by 500 runners to help meet high demand.

Cathy Griffin joins us in the “studio” from an undisclosed Apple Store. Cathy created the largest grass-roots running series in the nation, the Diet Pepsi series. Beginning with just 26 events, she grew the Diet Pepsi series to 265 events across the country, including the national championship race held both in New York City and at Pepsi headquarters in Purchase, New York. Following her work with Pepsi, she worked for Sports Illustrated, working with ad clients to maximize their association with the magazine. Then in the early 1990s she began working for World Cup Soccer, helping bring the World Cup to the United States, which, FIFA, the international governing body of the sport, hoped would kick-start a greater interest in the game in the U.S. historically a minor player in world soccer. Currently, Cathy is an executive recruiter and career coach. We break down the sport with one of the more knowledgeable minds.

USATF CEO Search Fact Sheet - With Craig Masback’s retirment from USATF, the governing body of track and field and road running is without a CEO. Though she was unable to talk about it because she has been hired by USATF to conduct the search for Masback’s replacement, Cathy Griffin did distribute a CEO search fact sheet. What qualities, skills, and attributes are being sought to fill one of the most important jobs in running? Toni & Matt discuss the issue, led by the CEO Search Fact Sheet, a primer on the job which USATF hopes to fill by the end of June.

From the Comment Line - Joe and Seamus weigh in on the conversation. Last episode Matt Tegenkamp discussed the need for athletes to be more organized and off-handedly mentioned 2010 as a year to do it. But Joe says the time is now. What better leverage than the Olympics Games. And Seamus loves Toni’s Hot House idea from Episode #10 to start a half marathon series within the Rock ‘n’ Roll fall races, and expands it by suggesting a performance cap. What do you think? Call us at 206-888-0346.

Runner’s Digest Flashback - We close today’s Toni & Matt Show with our Runner’s Digest Flashback segment. From the archives of Toni’s 1979-1988 Boston-based radio show, Runner’s Digest, we go on the run with former Chicago Marathon race director, Bob Bright, perhaps the most flamboyant race director the sport has ever known. In the Star Wars Years of the mid-1980s when the Chicago and New York City Marathons were heated rivals, Beatrice Foods poured millions into America’s Marathon/Chicago, and gave Bright the key to the bank. A former Marine captain and Viet Nam vet, Bright recruited the likes of Steve Jones, Rob de Castella, Carlos Lopes, Joan Samuelson, Ingrid Kristiansen, and Rosa Mota. In those years Chicago and New York were run one week apart, and the rivalry between Bob Bright in Chicago and Fred Lebow in NYC was every bit as much fun as the competitions they staged on the streets of their two respective cities. In this Runner’s Digest flashback we are on the run with Bob Bright the day after Steve Jones set the world record in Chicago with his 2:08:05, taking down Alberto Salazar’s 2:08:13 mark from New York 1981 (then still considered the world record). Now these are the rivalries this sport is missing. Mary, Carey - Let’s get it on!

Join the discussion. Call our comment line at 206-888-0346.

[Music is “Summertime” by Brother Love.]

Today we welcome one of America’s top distance stars, special guest Matt Tegenkamp from the wilds of Wisconsin. We preview this weekend’s Adidas Track Classic in Carson, California. We share highlights from our comment line (206-888-0346), including a report from Major Russ Stewart in Tikrit, Iraq. All of that, plus the big story, race results, and more on the Toni & Matt Show.

The Big Story - Kenenise Bekele announces that he’ll make his American debut at the June 8th Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. Then quickly adds that he’ll be making a World Record attempt at 10,000 meters (a record he already owns at 26:17.53). Great news, right? Wrong. Bekele’s agent Jos Hermans and meet director Tom Jordan decided the best time of day to make a World Record attempt is 9:30 . . . in the morning . . . on a Sunday . . . three hours before the rest of the Pre Classic gets underway. (shaking heads everywhere)

Matt Tegenkamp joins us in the “studio” from Madison, Wisconsin. The American Record holder at two-miles tells us that he’s ahead of where he was at this time last season (and we all know how that ended), claims that Jerry Schumacher is the best coach in the country, and explains how his wife Michelle cracked the whip. Matt also puts forth this week’s Hot House Idea (hint: think soccer in Europe) and we get our first major scoop on the show - Teg to sit out the 2010 season in protest. (kidding . . . sort of)

Quick News:
- Dathan Ritzenhein withdraws from Saturday’s Healthy Kidney 10K - a serious injury with implications for the US Trials, or just being cautious?
- Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor announced as Team Leaders for this year’s Bolder Boulder 10K International Team Challenge. Not a surprise to us; we had BB10K athlete recruiter Don Janicki on the show last month where he announced his goal of getting Hall and Kastor to Boulder.
- Brian Sell defends his USATF 25K Road Title at the Fifth Third Bank 25K in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The race has always been a good indicator for Sell, which should get all those Hanson-Brooks fans excited for Beijing.
- The London Marathon is losing it’s buttery taste. Race Director Dave Bedford will announce a new title sponsor (to start 2010) at the Tower Hotel this Friday. We can only hope for Crisco!
- The 97th ING Bay to Breakers initiates a gender challenge called The Battle to the Breakers. The first athlete to the line takes home the $25,000 bonus. There’s also a $5,000 bonus for the first man and woman to crest Hayes Street Hill at the two mile mark. One of the more entertaining races just got more entertaining. More races should take note.
- Barack Obama jumps Hillary Clinton in the super delegate count, then jumps a hurdle at the Oregon Twilight Meet thanks to Vin Lanana. Publicity stunt? Of course. Good for the sport? Of course (thanks to the fact that he didn’t fall over the hurdle . . . go ask the Bowling folks how participation has tanked since Obama’s 37!)

EPO, Mice, and Mustard Oil: An article in the San Diego Union Tribune cites a study that claims the skin can trigger the body’s production of EPO. In other words, an athlete could sleep with his/her body in an altitude tent set for 19,000 feet, but with his/her head out of the tent (because you couldn’t live at that altitude). If this works in humans (as it did for the lab rats) it could have enormous consequences for the sporting world.

Highlights from our comment line:
- Major Russell Stewart calls in from Tikrit, Iraq where he reports good running conditions, forms The Tikrit Running Club (Hey Russ, we want T-shirts!), and asks for your help to bring running to Iraq.
- Dan Lilot ponders the decision to split the 1500m at the Cardinal Invite into two heats. Once again track shoots itself in the foot.
- Jeremy Mosher enjoys Perrier while nudging you to get involved. We took your criticism about being too negative on the show; now it’s your turn to join the conversation.

You can do that by calling the comment line: 206-888-0346

[Music is “Run On” by Moby.]

Welcome to our 10th episode, a small milestone and definite turning point for the show. We’d like to count the first 9 episodes as practice - our time to learn the medium and find our voice. We’ve received great feedback from you; please keep it coming by emailing us at comments (at) runnerville (dot) com. But don’t just email us - join the community, join the discussion. Send us your audio comments by calling 206-888-0346. That’s the only way we’ll make the influencers and decision makers of the sport take notice - with many voices.

Okay, on to today’s show:

[3:55 - 21:15] The Big Story - The Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University.
Shalane Flanagan and Kim Smith save the night with their epic duel over 10,000 meters, both setting national records in the process (30:34.49 for Flanagan to 30:35.54 for Smith). Without that race the meet would have been a let-down. Expectations were so high going into the weekend, but fast times did not materialize, especially at 800m and 1500m. Of course there were some impressive results, but the winning times were not as anticipated. Other stories included: Brent Vaughn, Scotty Bauhs, Shannon Rowbury impress, Fasil Bizuneh just misses the A standard, no Rupp or Gouchers, and why in the world would they split the 1500m into two “equal” heats? Not what the fans want . . .

[21:15 - 1:05:45] Nate Jenkins joins us in the “studio” from Lowell, Massachusetts, home to Toni’s first radio gig. Nate finished 7th at last year’s US Olympic Marathon Trials in NYC, setting his PR of 2:14:56. We asked Nate to be on the show after receiving a great, if not long, audio comment. His comment had some constructive criticism for the show, some positive feedback, and some great ideas to improve the sport. Instead of playing his comment on the show, we thought it would be better to open up the conversation and invite him on the show. What a guest! We discuss the complexity of our sport, the sad state of television coverage, USATF’s lack of financial support, and uniform rules. We ask Nate if the athletes should unionize. And Toni unveils our newest segment - The Hot House - to incubate ideas for the sport. He presents his first Hot House idea to Nate - making a half-marathon series with teams - who’s a big fan.

[1:07:22 - 1:18:00] Listener comment from Kevin referencing an Tim Layden article in the May 5 edition of sports illustrated titled: Once They Were Giants - After years of drug scandals, track faces its future as a minor Olympic sport. A sad look at the decline of track’s position on the Olympic stage. This year swimming and gymnastics will take center stage. A real eye-opener for the powers that be. Layden’s best point: the danger for our sport is not outrage, it’s apathy. Amen!

Listen in next week for Episode #11. We’ll be joined by Matt Tegenkamp and we have audio call ins from Dan Lilot and funny-man Jeremy Mosher. You can add your voice to the conversation by calling us at 206-888-0346 - just leave your comment after the beep.

[Music is “Same Old Drag” by Apples in Stereo.]

The greatest time ever to be a distance running fan? London, Boston, Drake, Penn, Olympic Marathon Trials, and Stanford on the horizon. All in an Olympic year. Get the rundown on the Toni & Matt Show Episode #9:

So many great races (see above) and story lines (Olympic year), but can the average fan keep up? With no organization orchestrating the whole show, everything gets lost. And as a result, during the sports segment on the show Morning Joe, they covered Alicia Follmar, the athlete from Stanford who fell and got spiked in the head. She finished her leg of the relay with blood rolling down the side of her face. Courageous? No doubt. But it’s only happenings like this (also see Cheruiyot’s fall at the line in Chicago) that get us on national television.

The Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston - a complete success. So why won’t the BAA bid for the event again? Will NYC host every marathon Trials from here on out? Can USATF put their foot down and demand the USOC sponsors pitch in to cover the cost? (Don’t count on it.) One thing is clear - putting the trials in a major city the same weekend as their major marathon works. (And Boston fans are the greatest running fans in the country.)

Drake takes it to the fans with an indoor pole vault. Hats off to them, but will anyone follow their lead? Imagine the London and Boston Marathon fields racing over the US Women’s Olympic Marathon criterium style course in Boston? Or imagine the Olympic Marathon Trials where anyone can enter . . . for a $200 entry fee. Instead of 180 participants, you’d have 30,000.

Have we reached the greatest period in American distance running? Toni says no. Matt is non-committal. But one thing is clear: man, have we come a long way the last 5 years. Remember 2000? Yikes.

This weekend’s Stanford meet will be totally off the charts. Look at these heet sheets! You’re going to see (err, read about) some incredible performances and some that leave you shaking your head. Why is this not on television? Note to NBC: Wake Up! This is where you’ll get all the backstories you need for the Pre Classic, the Olympic Trials, and the actual Olympics.

We touch briefly on athlete contracts and how they actually hurt the sport from a fan perspective. They’re structured around two things - fast times and making National teams. There’s no incentive to run off distances (e.g., two-miles) or to race strong competitors when not 100% fit. As a result, we rarely get the match-ups we (fans) want to see. The one exception: Stanford this weekend.

What do you think? Call us at 206-888-0346 and leave your comment. We’ll play it on the show. Thanks for listening.

Live from Boston, a roundtable with LetsRun.com’s Weldon Johnson. Toni, Matt, and Weldon preview the Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials and the 112th Boston Marathon as a tune-up for the LetsRun Boston 2008 Party hosted by Puma. Enjoy the show.