RUNNING INTO A GOLDEN AGE AT 50, TWO-TIME WINNER IS TESTING BOUNDARIES.Byline: Ramona Shelburne Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer Tatyana Pozdnyakova's 50th birthday celebration was more subdued than most. Out of town on a business trip, all she planned Friday was dinner with friends, birthday cake and a training run in the morning. Her official 50th birthday party will be held next weekend with friends at home in Gainesville, Fla., but the best present she could receive would be a third consecutive victory in the Los Angeles Marathon The Los Angeles Marathon is an annual marathon held in Los Angeles, California since 1986. It was inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. The race starts at about 8:15AM and runs through Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, the Crenshaw district, and . That's right, the L.A. Marathon - the fourth-largest marathon in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. - not some senior fun run. Plenty of 50-year-old women will run the L.A. Marathon this morning, but most are just trying to finish. Pozdnyakova is a favorite to win. ``I don't think about age,'' she said. ``My age is very high, but my head is strong. It is not about your body. It is discipline.'' The Ukrainian-born Pozdnyakova is running better, smarter and faster than women half her age. Along the way, she's challenging long-held beliefs about older athletes. ``She's pushing back the aging barrier in this country,'' said Katherine Switzer, the best-selling author of ``Running and Walking for Women over 40'' and the analyst for NBC's coverage of today's race. ``This is headline stuff and one of the burning issues in our country today.'' Pozdnyakova's accomplishments have made her a legend among former Soviet runners and gained the admiration of elite male athletes. Last year, she beat the L.A. Marathon men's winner, David Kirui, by 3 minutes, 54 seconds in the inaugural battle-of-the-sexes ``Challenge'' between elite male and female runners. Kenyan Simon Bor, who set the L.A. Marathon course record in 1999 - at 36, he probably is past his prime - merely shakes his head at Pozdnyakova's accomplishments. ``It would be nice to run at 50,'' he said. ``But it would be very hard.'' Compared to Pozdnyakova, 37-year-old Australian Kerryn McCann Kerryn McCann (born 2 May 1967) is an Australian athlete, and is one of Australia's most successful long-distance runners. McCann was born in Bulli, New South Wales in 1967. is a youngster. Like Pozdnyakova, McCann has enjoyed some of her best years after 30. ``I had my best year when I was 33,'' McCann said. ``I think it's experience, really. ... But, also, I had my first child when I was 30 and didn't take a step for about a year. So when I came back, I was just so much more determined.'' McCann calls Pozdnyakova an inspiration. ``I just can't believe it; it's amazing, isn't it?'' she said. ``I'm thinking my career is coming to an end in the next three to five years. But she's 50, so maybe I've still got another 12-13 years left.'' Pozdnyakova may have found the fountain of youth Fountain of Youth legendary fountain of eternal youth. [World Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 432] See : Unattainability , but she didn't emerge from nowhere. She's been an elite runner since the early 1980s. She was the Soviet 1,500-meter champion in 1981. Her 3:56.50 personal best in the 1,500 is better than American legend Mary Decker Mary Slaney (born Mary Teresa Decker August 4, 1958) is an American former track and field athlete, who holds seven American records in her sport. In 1981 she married marathon runner Ron Tabb. Slaney's personal best of 3:57.12. Outside of the running world, Pozdnyakova hasn't gained much notoriety. By winning last year's marathon, and the extra $50,000 for winning the ``Challenge,'' Pozdnyakova was able to buy her first house. Before that, she lived simply, renting an apartment in Gainesville. ``I love the house,'' she said, ``but we haven't got furniture yet.'' If she does well at the marathon this year, Pozdnyakova said it probably will be her last. If she runs poorly, she will run one more time. ``She's a very, very, solid runner who will not beat herself,'' said NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. announcer Toni Reavis, who will be calling his 20th Los Angeles Marathon. ``You'll have to beat her.'' The women's favorite in today's race is 33-year-old Russian Lyubov Denisova Lyubov Denisova is a Russian marathon runner that tested positive for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio — the same finding that derailed 2006 Tour de France champion Floyd Landis [1]. , who won in L.A. in L.A. In is a compilation of studio recording by Various Artists. It was originally released in 1979 as an LP by Rhino Records. Track listing Side One The Kats 2002, finished second at the New York City Marathon The New York City Marathon is an annual marathon foot-race run over a 42,195 m (26.2 mile) course through all five boroughs of New York City. It is the largest marathon race in the world, and with 37,866 finishers in 2006, was also the largest marathon race ever run. in 2002 and was sixth in last year's Boston Marathon. Denisova seemed a bit flustered flus·ter tr. & intr.v. flus·tered, flus·ter·ing, flus·ters To make or become nervous or upset. n. A state of agitation, confusion, or excitement. Thursday morning when race organizers announced the head start given to the elite women runners in the ``Challenge'' had been dropped to 15:50, down from 20:30 last year. Last year, the time was calculated using the average time differential between the men's winners and the women's winners at 18 previous L.A. Marathons. This year, the formula was changed to better reflect the individual runners in this year's field, using the difference between the median of the predicted times of the top three men and the top three women - in other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , the difference between the second-fastest man and second-fastest woman. ``Last year, I didn't think about the men,'' Pozdnyakova said. ``My mind is strong. I only think about running.'' Ramona Shelburne, (818) 713-3617 ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, box, map Photo: (color) Tatyana Pozdnyakova won her second successive L.A. Marathon women's title last year. John Lazar/Staff Photographer Box: 20TH L.A. MARATHON Map: CITY OF LOS ANGELES
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