Putting on the Ritz in Holyrood

[EPelle]

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=61552007

Ritzenheim, who was fourth in the men's long race last year, was delighted to learn on his arrival that event organisers Nova International had decided to turn the course round this year: "I like the course and it means it's going to be harder this year with a steep slope and a lot of little quite steep inclines," he said.

"I hope it'll even it up a bit although the good runners will still come through."

One of Ritzenheim's main reasons for choosing Edinburgh for his first outing since finishing 11th in the New York Marathon in November was that he hopes to be back here next year for the World Championships: "I could have run a road race somewhere but I wanted to see the course again - it's great timing," added the man who lives and trains near Edinburgh-born Scottish internationalist Kathy Butler at the Mecca of US distance running.

[SQUACKEE]

Ya gotta like Kipchoge after his road 26:54

[EPelle]

Fabiano Joseph has replaced Boniface Kiprop, who couldn:t get a travel visa.

[gh]

Ya gotta like Kipchoge after his road 26:54

Why, is Edinburgh way downhill too?

[EPelle]

Tough crowd these days... 59 onlookers, and two votes.

[gh]

Polls have pretty much proved to be a waste of time; we should probably just kill the function.

[bad hammy]

Polls have pretty much proved to be a waste of time; we should probably just kill the function.

Isn't it a bit late for the Grinch role???

[tafnut]

Polls have pretty much proved to be a waste of time; we should probably just kill the function.

I agree . . . and the emoticons just ain't working out as well as we had hoped :shock: . . . and that whole BOLD, italics, underline, font color, font size, image



etc. thing is disappointing.

[EPelle]

Bekele produced one of the most amazing displays ever seen in a race at this level when with three laps remaining, he switched into top gear and left his global opponents flatfooted.

The 24-year-old Olympic and World 10000m champion, extended his winning sequence of cross country victories to 26 since last losing to his mentor Haile Gebrselassie in December 2001.

Bekele won in 28.14. Zersenay finished 2:nd in 28.24, with Kipchoge third 28.51.

http://www.onrunning.com/onrunning/news ... sp?id=3727

[SQUACKEE]

Ya gotta like Kipchoge after his road 26:54

Why, is Edinburgh way downhill too?

Yes of course and just like the all down hill track when Kipchoge beat a couple of nobodies in the world 5000 champs. Let me see if i can remember the slobs he beat? Ahh... Bek-something and ahh... El Garage i think?

[EPelle]

Top 20 from home page results link:

KENENISA BEKELE 00:28:14 1 1 ETHIOPIA
ZERSENAY TADESSE 00:28:24 2 3 ERITREA
ELIUD KIPCHOGE 00:28:51 3 2 KENYA
FABIANO JOSEPH 00:28:52 4 5 TANZANIA
GEBRE GEBREMARIAM 00:29:00 5 4 ETHIOPIA
DATHAN RITZENHEIM 00:29:02 6 6 USA
SIMON BAIRU 00:30:34 7 8 CANADA
ANDREW LETHERBY 00:30:35 8 7 AUSTRALIA
COLM ROONEY 00:30:43 9 19 CLONLIFFE HARRIERS
THOMAS ABYU 00:30:51 10 18 SALFORD
JASON WARD 00:30:53 11 14 ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT AC
GAVIN THOMPSON 00:30:54 12 15 CRAWLEY
RICARDO RIBAS 00:31:00 13 9 PORTUGAL
ANDI JONES 00:31:05 14 13 SALFORD
PABLO LOPEZ 00:31:10 15 11 SPAIN
TOM PAYN 00:31:12 16 26 BIRCHFIELD HARRIERS
GARETH RAVEN 00:31:18 17 25 SALE HARRIERS
JOSH GLAAB 00:31:19 18 10 USA
MIKE COLEMAN 00:31:25 19 21 MEDWAY AND MAIDSTONE
MARK KENNEALY 00:31:37 20 76 CLONLIFFE H

[Daisy]

First time I've seen Bairu's name for a while. MJD what's he up too these days, any idea?

When I was a student at Edinburgh, Sandy Sutherland was the Scotsman athletics writer. Good to see him still at it.

[kuha]

The T&FN staff on a typically fun-filled workday...