Virgin London Marathon


Freya Ross’ Comments on Withdrawing from the Virgin London Marathon

Freya Ross in action at the 2012 NYC Half-Marathon (Photo by PhotoRun, Inc. All rights reserved)

As reported earlier by the Virgin London Marathon organizers, Freya Ross (adidas) has had to withdraw from this year’s race. It was a tough decision for Freya, who debuted in London in a wonderful time of 2:28:10, and then followed up by being the top UK finisher in the Olympic Marathon, despite being called in to replace Paula Radcliffe just a week before the race.

Freya’s comments on the decision:

“I’m really disappointed I’ve had to withdraw. Training had been going well for the last few weeks and I was looking forward to running in London. The injury problem started last Monday with a niggle in my right hip, it seemed insignificant and I didn’t think it would affect me. However, over the next few days it worsened and I now can’t run pain free. Between myself, Steve [her coach Steve Jones], and the Physio I’ve been seeing, we had to make the decision yesterday that I would not be able to run the marathon. The Physio thinks it is probably a small strain around the top of my hamstring/glute. She thinks that it will improve quickly with rest.”

Maybe it is better, because I don’t want to get hooked on Buy Alprazolam pills, and it hasn’t turned out so tragically.

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Virgin London Marathon

Mai Ito (Otsuka Pharmaceutical/ASICS), Edna Kiplagat (Nike), Bunta Kuroki (Yaskawa Denki/Mizuno), Patrick Rizzo (Mizuno), Freya Ross (adidas), Irvette van Zyl (adidas)

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Athletics Weekly Article on Freya Ross and Her New Training Partner, Susan Patridge

Freya in the closing stages of her 2:28:10 marathon debut at last year’s Virgin London Marathon, which ultimately put her on the UK Olympic team. (Photo by PhotoRun, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The UK’s Athletics Weekly highlights Freya Ross (adidas) training in Boulder with Susan Partridge as they both prepare under Coach Steve Jones for the NYC Half-Marathon, the Virgin London Marathon, and ultimately the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

 Click here for full AW article.

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Freya Murray Added to UK Olympic Team!!!

Freya Murray Added to UK Olympic Team!!! July 30, 2012 – For immediate release   Scotland’s Freya Murray was today officially named to the UK Olympic Marathon team, taking the place of the injured world record-holder, Paula Radcliffe. While reports have surfaced on and off the past fortnight about Radcliffe’s condition, she did not make …

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Edna Kiplagat Interview with Xinhua: ‘No secret to success’

Edna Kiplagat en route to her 2:19:50 second-place finish at the Virgin London Marathon last month (Photo courtesy of PhotoRun, Inc. All rights reserved)

The Xinhua News Service has posted an interview with World Champion Edna Kiplagat (Nike) and countrywoman Mary Keitany on the possibility for a Kenyan gold medal in the women’s marathon this summer in London. In it, Edna dismisses any notion that Kenyan athletes are somehow gifted or their accomplishments are any easier to attain than those of any other athlete:

“Kiplagat says there is no secret to success other than training hard and motivation, self-esteem and discipline.

‘Many people have come up with theories that Kenyans run better because of a special gene in us. I don’ t know what gene they are talking about because we have reached where we are as a result of hard work. If such genes existed then I presume there is one among Brazilian footballers.'”

Full article here.

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John Beattie: Final VLM Long Run

Ryan Mcleod of Athleticos has sent along a video of John Beattie (adidas) and Luke Cragg doing their final long run (24 mile tempo run) a couple of weeks ago in preparing for the Virgin London Marathon. Click here. A bit over 60 hours until the gun goes off Sunday morning in Greenwich Park.

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Louise Damen Chats with RunnersLife

RunnersLife of the UK chatted with Louise Damen (adidas) a week out from the 2012 Virgin London Marathon. Click here.

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“Lee Merrien in best ever form ahead of London Marathon”

BBC article on Lee Merrien (ASICS). Click here.

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Lee Merrien video interview on Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon

Had dinner last night with Lee Merrien (ASICS), Constantina Dita, and Tokyo Marathon director Tad Hayano. Lee looks ready to roll. Here is a TV interview he did Channel Online TV just before flying over to London. Click here. UK athletes have their press conference at the Tower Hotel later this morning.

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Kalmer gears up for Olympic marathon

South Africa’s Super Sport website writes about Rene Kalmer‘s (adidas/Nedbank) Olympic prep in the aftermath of her win at Saturday’s Old Mutual Two Oceans Half-Marathon, where Irvette van Blerk (adidas/Nedbank) took 2nd place. Rene’s next run will be pacing the 2:28 group at the Virgin London Marathon on April 22nd, where Irvette will make her marathon debut with an eye toward joining Rene on the SA Olympic marathon squad. Click here for the article.

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