Soldiers in Afghanistan Will Also Compete in Sunday, August 3 Race
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - (July 25, 2008) - When over 19,000 entrants line
up for The San Francisco Marathon(TM) and its companion two half
marathons and 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, August 3, San Francisco attorney
Tony Rossmann won't be among them. The 67-year-old, longtime Bay Area
runner from Oakland has already run his 26.2-mile marathon race over the
event's scenic route. In fact, motivated by special "solo runner" status
provided by the marathon's organizers, Rossmann completed his annual San
Francisco Marathon run a month ago for the 30th time, keeping his unique,
annual streak alive.
Neither will four members of the U.S. military stationed in Afghanistan
line up at the marathon's starting line on race day. Although they'd like
to join runners from all 50 states and 56 countries in San Francisco, the
soldiers have jobs fighting Taliban insurgents along the Pakistan border.
Instead, led by Loren Weeks (Sunnyvale, Calif.), a Lieutenant Colonel in
the California Army National Guard, they will run The San Francisco
Marathon "remotely" by covering 26.2 miles on a half-mile loop around a
cricket field at Forward Operating Base Fiaz in Asadabad, Afghanistan two
days before the San Francisco event.
For the past several years, Rossmann has faced the prospect of ending his
annual engagement with the race. Either that, or cancel his equally
traditional mid-summer family trek to a camp in the Adirondack Mountains.
So, the race granted Rossmann a "bye," allowing him to complete the run
before race day while recording an official finishing time. The tenacious
runner has more than earned the privilege as a race participant.
Rossmann completed his first marathon on his long running resume, which
now includes more than 300 marathon and ultra-marathon finishes, at the
inaugural marathon in San Francisco in 1977. In total, Rossmann has
completed 30 San Francisco Marathons, and has only missed one since the
race's inception.
His streak includes solo runs in 2007 and 2008, which he navigated
without the bolstering support of fellow runners, aid stations,
volunteers, or traffic control.
"The race is very special to me. Every year, I run wearing my original
race T-shirt from 1977," said Rossmann, who completed this year's solo
jaunt in 4 hours, 57 minutes, and 30 seconds. "There were 800 of us
(runners) the first year. Now, it's really inspiring to see that The San
Francisco Marathon has grown into its potential with a beautiful course
that showcases the city. It matches any marathon in the country in terms
of what they provide to their runners."
This year's expected 19,000-plus entrants (which includes the companion
half marathons and 5K Run/Walk) reflects a 20 percent increase from last
year.
In fact, word about the event is spreading in unexpected places.
Lieutenant Colonel Weeks, 43, has had the San Francisco Marathon in his
plans since he began competing in marathons last year while he was
stationed in California. But his military schedule didn't allow him the
opportunity. Now, he has it in Afghanistan.
Weeks registered for the San Francisco Marathon, contacted the race
organizers, and arranged to run the race "remotely." He put the word out
to other U.S. military posts in Afghanistan about his planned run, and
invited companion participants. Two U.S. Army soldiers took up the offer:
Robert Cortes (Miami, Fla.) and Alexander Tabayoyon (West Richland,
Wash.). So did U.S. Navy man John Rousseau (Grayslake, Illinois).
The four remote racers will complete the 26.2-mile marathon distance by
circling a half-mile cricket field, which is composed of hard-packed sand
and clay, over 50 times. They will carefully clock their finishing times
which will be recorded in the event's official marathon results. The
field, which is used by a UNICEF-operated school, is guarded by heavily
fortified watch towers. Taliban militia stalk the hills less than six
miles away.
Weeks said that their times won't be fast. Unlike San Francisco's ideal
mid-summer running conditions, it is hot and humid in Afghanistan, making
training and running difficult. The men tenaciously make running part of
their daily physical training regimen while combating border incursions
and squeezing in runs on short, confined routes or on treadmills.
"I've gone through two sets of shoes, and broke two treadmills, training
for this [marathon]," said Weeks. "My time is going to be very bad, but
it doesn't matter because at least I can say I ran a marathon in a combat
zone."
Photos and video segments of the remote San Francisco Marathon in
Afghanistan will be available on The San Francisco Marathon's web site
(RUNSFM.com), along with complete "mainland" results and information.
Six disadvantaged youth who compete on the Castlemont High School
(Oakland, Calif.) track and cross country teams have also faced adverse
conditions training for race day. Led by Castlemont junior Jaime Lopez, a
standout 2:05 half miler on the boys track team, the group has diligently
trained over the summer for The San Francisco Marathon's companion 5K
Run/Walk.
"Unless we drive them somewhere to run, these kids are running around
some pretty dangerous streets," said Castlemont's Head Track and Field
Coach, Charles "Chuck" Schneekloth, referring to the east Oakland
neighborhood where their high school is located. "Plus, there are a lot
of cards stacked against these kids in an [underprivileged] urban
setting. They often must work to help out their parents. They deserve a
lot of credit. This summer we decided we'd love to have these young
athletes get the experience of participating in a big event where there
are many people immersed in a healthy lifestyle. The San Francisco
Marathon invited us, and it's a perfect fit."
Almost daily, Schneekloth and Castlemont's co-Cross Country Coach, Miriam
Allen, drive the athlete group to locales in the Oakland hills, Golden
Gate Park, and Lake Merritt to train for the San Francisco Marathon's 5K.
They oversee a youth team, the Castle Track Club, for non-scholastic
athletic participation during the summer.
TOP ENTRANTS
Competitive elite fields will head this year's full marathon and 2nd half
marathon races. In the marathon, Chad Worthen (Sacramento, Calif.) and
France's Mustapha Berri have the fastest seed times entering the race.
Worthen, 34, has a marathon best of 2:22:03 recorded at the 2002
California International Marathon and he was a 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon
Trials qualifier. Berri, 44, a French biochemist, is one of the top
masters (age 40 and over) runners in the world. Berri's personal best is
also 2:22, and he was ranked the 31st fastest master man in the world
last year with a 2:26:53 marathon performance. The women's marathon field
is wide open after 2006 San Francisco Marathon women's champion Julia
Stamps-Mallon (a former Santa Rosa High School and Stanford University
standout) withdrew on pregnancy leave.
The women's 2nd half marathon field is a strong one. 1999 U.S. women's
marathon champion Kim Pawelek (age 34, Jacksonville, Fla.) owns a swift
1:12:48 half marathon best. Local contenders for the 2nd half marathon
title include 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Christine Lundy
(37, Sausalito, Calif.), Knox Bricken (32, San Francisco), plus former
Stanford University women's cross country coach Dena Evans (33, Redwood
City, Calif.). Ana Morales (26, San Mateo, Calif.), a track and field and
cross country standout at Burlingame High School who also competed for
the University of Notre Dame, is making her debut at the half marathon
(13.1 miles) distance. On the men's side, Leif Kohler (23, Redmond,
Wash.) owns a 1:09:23 personal record, set last year, which makes him a
formidable contestant for the half marathon title.
The San Francisco Marathon starts and finishes on the Embarcadero at
Mission Street, near Justin Herman Plaza and the Ferry Building. The
official starting time is 5:30 a.m. Top runners are expected to reach the
finish line at Embarcadero and Folsom at approximately 7:50 a.m.
REGISTRATION DETAILS and more information about The San Francisco
Marathon(TM), and all of the marathon's events, are available online at
RUNSFM.com.
About The San Francisco Marathon(TM)
The San Francisco Marathon enjoys success as the premier summertime
marathon in the U.S. San Francisco's blend of natural beauty, big city
charm, and perfect mid-summer running temperatures, make marathon running
in San Francisco a truly magical experience. Race events include a full
marathon, two half marathons (choose a half), 5K, and Progressive
Marathon. The event's unique Cause to Run program has raised $3 million
for local non-profit organizations since 2003. The San Francisco
Marathon's Youth Run4Fun running program allows San Francisco's
underprivileged youth, ages 7 to 17, to train for, and participate in,
the marathon's events without cost.
The 2008 San Francisco Marathon is sponsored by JetBlue, Saturn, Cytomax,
Organs 'R' Us, Headsweats, Smoothie King, Altrum Vitamins, CBS 5, and
Athletic Endurance.
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