RUNNERS PUSH THE ENVELOPE : KENYANS RISK OLYMPIC SUCCESS WITH BOSTON.Byline: Mike Fish Atlanta Journal-Constitution Running a marathon is a grueling test of body and mind. Running two in the space of 3-1/2 months is almost too cruel and inhumane in·hu·mane adj. Lacking pity or compassion. in  hu·mane ly adv. to wish on anyone. Still, many competitors in Monday's Boston Marathon Boston marathon famous 26-mile race held annually for long-distance runners. [Am. Pop. Culture: Misc.] See : Endurance will try it again this summer in the Olympics. As for men's winner Moses Tanui Moses Tanui (born 20 August 1965 in Nandi District, Kenya) is a former Kenyan long-distance runner who won the gold medal over 10000 m at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo. of Kenya: ``No way.'' ``I do one, maybe two (marathons) in a year,'' said Tanui, who plans to concentrate on the less taxing 10,000-meter run in Atlanta. ``I physically can't do it. It's too much.'' Uta Pippig Uta Pippig (born September 7, 1965 in Leipzig) is a female long-distance runner, and the first woman to win the Boston Marathon three consecutive times (1994-1996). She also won the Berlin Marathon three times (1990, 1992 and 1995), the New York City Marathon once (1993), and she of Germany, who won her third straight Boston on Sunday, hoped to also step down to the 10,000 in Atlanta but probably will stick with the marathon. Women's runner-up Tegla Loroupe Tegla Loroupe (born May 9, 1973 in Kapsait, Kenya) is a long-distance track and road runner, and a global spokeswoman for peace, women's rights, and education. Loroupe holds the world records for 20, 25 and 30 kilometres and previously held the world marathon record. of Kenya is almost certain to run the 10,000 this summer. The Kenyans, who used Boston as their marathon trials, named an Atlanta Olympic men's marathon trio of Boston runner-up Ezekiel Bitok, three-time Boston champion Cosmas Ndeti Cosmas Ndeti (born November 24, 1971) is a three time winner of the Boston Marathon. He was the winner of the 1993, 1994, and 1995 races. He set the course record in 1994 with a time of 2:07:15. (third) and Lameck Aguta Lameck Aguta (born October 10, 1971) is a former Kenyan marathon runner. He was the winner of the 101st Boston Marathon in 1997 with a time of 2:10:34 hours. Aguta's personal best time in any marathon is 2:10:03 hours, achieved at the 1996 Boston Marathon. (fourth). Two women were selected - Salina Salina (səlī`nə), city (1990 pop. 42,303), seat of Saline co., central Kans., on the Smoky Hill River; founded 1858 by settlers opposed to slavery, inc. 1870. Chirchir (12th) and Angeline Kanana (didn't run) - with a third to be named later. Tanui and Loroupe question the logic of holding the Olympic trials so close to the Games. In the 100-year history of the Boston race, no winner has ever won the Olympics in the same year. And until 1990, when Gelindo Bordin and Rosa Mota won respective men's and women's crowns, no one had won Boston after having previously won the Olympic marathon. ``I can't see the same people winning both races,'' said Bill Rodgers, three-time Boston Marathon champion. ``It's just so hard to win a big race today.'' The American marathoners will enjoy more rest, having suffered through their trials in mid-February. Here's how the three U.S. men see challenging Atlanta on the heels of Boston: Bob Kempainen: ``That course beats you up, but the Kenyans keep doing it every time. It leaves them a little tight on time. I ran Boston just once (1994), but I didn't do another marathon for 11 months.'' Mark Coogan: ``We have a big advantage having our trials in February. I remember the first time Ndeti won Boston (1993), he couldn't recover in time for the World Championships (in August).'' Keith Brantly: ``It's going to be very difficult for people to come out of Boston and run well in Atlanta. I know people who have taken three months off and never really recovered.'' Ndeti, who has taken long layoffs after previous Boston races, plans this year to rest for just three weeks before resuming training. In 1993, with a similar short turn-around period, he injured his Achilles in training and dropped out of the World Championships after 20 miles. ``I just wasn't fit,'' Ndeti said. ``This time, I'll be OK. I'll just keep training, not relax much.'' |
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