Here are some of the news items of note that I found interesting over the last couple of days. Enjoy!
Amazing Marathon Record – 10 Marathons in 10 Days
I have long admired Michael Wardian, a mega-marathoner/ultramarathoner. He has crushed it in numerous running endeavors, including setting an impossible record at the World Marathon Challenge two years ago (running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days at an incredible pace). His average marathon time then? 2:45 per marathon!
Well, he returned to the World Marathon Challenge this year and, of course, won it again. But, he did not stop. He ran three more marathons (certified course) to break the record for the fastest cumulative time for 10 marathons in 10 days. Yeah, pretty incredible.
Oh, and the week before he left on the World Marathon Challenge trip, he ran the very technical HURT 100 mile race. Yeah, just a normal taper! 🙂 Congrats, Michael!
Just one more little tidbit – his fastest marathon of the 10 was his last at a 2:44 pace! And the last 5K of that marathon was under a 6 minute-per-mile pace!
Link: Article about Michael
Chinese Marathons are Big Business
Read the article here for it all but get this – they are expecting there to be over 1,900 marathons in 2020 in China! That will include 10 million runners starting those marathons and the industry itself bringing in $19 billion per year! Not bad for an individual sport!
There Is a 50K Event at the Marine Corps Marathon This Year
There will be a cap of 500 runners and registration will open on February 27. If you want a shot at running in the Marine Corps Marathon, doing it as the 50K may be your best bet!
Link: Marine Corps Marathon 50K Event
Book Your Reservations for the TWA Hotel at JFK
Starting on February 14, you can book reservations at this long-awaited opening of the TWA hotel at JFK. Reservations will be from the May 15 soft-opening on at rates starting at $249 per night. Check out their website here.
747-400 on Display
Speaking of aviation and hotels, there is retired KLM Boeing 747-400 airplane that will be available to check out at a hotel in Amsterdam. With the 50th anniversary of this majestic aircraft this past weekend, it is always nice to see these beautiful airplanes around!
No More Mars One
A few years ago, a company said they were going to pick volunteers to fly to Mars (one-way) to set up a community there. They had picked their initial round of volunteers and said they would start sending them to Mars in 2023. Well, that is no longer happening as the Mars One mission has officially gone bust.
