Great April Read from "RunTex Flyer"

Jeff Galloway on Running the 10K -- Jeff Galloway, who was a 10,000-meter Olympian in 1972, and is now one of the most popular running authors and coaches in the nation, has some sound advice for runners on how to run a 10,000-meter race.

Sprunt Posts 2:58 in Marathon Debut -- Austin runner Elsa Sprunt made her marathon debut a great one, posting a 2:58:41 at Freescale. Things went well, but that has not always been the case.

Woo Finds France’s Club System Very Competitive -- Grenoble, France is nestled at the foot of the Alps, and is best known for hosting the 1968 winter Olympics. It’s a city of ancient and modern history, and could not be more different from Austin, Texas nearly 5,000 miles away. Except that both boast vibrant running communities. Grenoble may even have a more competitive racing scene than Austin.

Rooney Tops Age Group at SunMart 50-Miler -- Patience and hard work are the hallmarks of distance training, and they are two lessons Austin’s Shan Rooney has learned well. A relative newcomer to ultrarunning, she did not even place at her first two attempts at the SunMart 50-Miler in Huntsville. But this year, it all came together and on December 10, she cut an hour and 20 minutes off of her previous best, and won her age group (30-34), finishing 27th overall in a field of about 200.

Johnson Improving at All Distances -- There are several Austin-area women on the roadracing scene that can win just about any race on any given day. Desiree Ficker comes to mind, as does Chris Kimbrough and Liz Shelton. Add Meredith Johnson to that list.

Gazelle Training Helps Sapp Set PR in Chicago -- Before joining Gilbert's Gazelles, long runs just never worked for Carrie Sapp. But after training with the Gazelles, the pieces began to fall into place. One Sapp’s passions is humor—the 32-year-old account manager for Marketing Matters often performs stand-up comedy around town.

Prescription for Tired Legs: Run the Half-Marathon -- Tired of building up for the marathon? Legs weary, nagging injuries, no time for the family? Why not train for the half-marathon? It’s a great distance for a number of reasons.

Stride A Key Component to Running Economy -- Although Frank Shorter, the last American man to win Olympic gold at the marathon distance, had a VO2 max (maximum oxygen uptake expressed in ml/kg/min) of “only” 71, he had superb running economy, and was able to cover the 26.2-mile distance with great efficiency.

Prusaitis Finishes Fifth Hardrock 100 -- Running 100 miles in a month is average for many Austin area runners. Elite runners pack that much into a week. But ultrarunners cover that distance in a single race—often over some of the most difficult terrain possible.

You’re Fit, But Are You Heart-Healthy? -- Over and over again, the age-old argument rears its head: which is better for health and weight-loss: diet or exercise?

Dowland Still a Threat at 50 -- Keith Dowland remembers winning Chuy’s Hot to Trot 5K when he as in his 30s, back in 1990. Now, 15 years later, Dowland was happy to run further back in the pack on Saturday at the 22nd annual edition of the race.

Never Underestimate the 5K -- Runners often comment that they’d rather run a 10K or a half-marathon than a 5K. “The 5K is an intense, non-stop effort for all three miles,” I’ve heard.

Don’t Give in to the Years -- While the general population dreads the major hallmarks of aging, like turning, 40, 50, or 60—runners tend to see it a bit differently. Entering a new age division is a fresh chance to hit the races and see how you stack up against the rest of your peers. It’s an opportunity to excel.

Behind the Scenes at Freescale with Race Director John Conley -- It’s the day before the Tangamanga Marathon, and from his post in the lobby of the hotel Caravelle in the high desert air of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Freescale Marathon Race Director John Conley spots Kefah Keraro, a Kenyan runner he knows. The two chat, and plans are made for Keraro to come run Freescale.

Keep Track of Your Miles in 2005 -- One of the easiest running resolutions you can make for 2005 is to keep a daily training log. It doesn’t matter if you use an online log such as the free RunTex log here, or a regular spiral bound book; what matters is that you note your daily runs in it.

Ultrarunner Castillo Sticks With It -- Ultrarunner Carmen Castillo of Austin has run the SunMart 50 Miler in Huntsville for the past three years. But the 2004 race on December11 was different for the 29-year-old brand analyst at Dell.