John Korir of Kenya becomes second five-time Bellin Run champ

A record-breaking 18,398 people registered for the 34th annual Bellin Run held earlier today in Green Bay, a race won by John Korir of Kenya with a time of 29:12.

With Saturday’s victory, Korir, who took second place last year after four consecutive victories, became the Bellin Run’s second five-time champion. Ed Eyestone is the only other five-time winner, having claimed the top prize from 1991 to 1995. James Carney of Boulder, Colo. placed second with a time of 29:23, while Mike Morgan of Lincoln, Neb. took the third spot with a time of 29:56.

Bellin Run newcomer Jelliah Tenga of Kenya led the women’s field, capturing her first championship in the women’s division. Her time was 32:27. Hilbert native Dot McMahan finished second, posting a time of 34:05, while Ann Alyanak of Bellbrook, Ohio, finished third. Her time was 34:17.

The race set a record for total registrants for the sixth straight year, outpacing last year’s total by 1,652 people, for a grand total of 18,398 participants in 2010. The total includes all runners, walkers, wheelchair and hand cycle racers and children’s run participants.

The race also saw nine course records fall. Those records were:

•    Male ages 75-99: Chuck Merry, Appleton: 56:22
•    Female ages 65-69: Irene Stock, Green Bay: 49:26
•    Female ages 60-64: Kitty Thomas-Ciciora, Hobart: 48:18
•    Female ages 45-49: Sue Pierson, Neenah: 38:02
•    Female ages 19-24: Jelliah Tenga, Kenya: 32:27
•    Female ages 15-18: Allie Woodward, De Pere: 35:52
•    Female ages 13-14: Rose Hoffman, Green Bay: 42:47
•    Males ages 10-12: Tyler Nault, Peshtigo: 38:20
•    Males ages 1-9: Brody Olson, Pulaski: 44:18

The overall course records, however, did not fall. Joseph Kimani holds the men’s course record with a time of 27:46 set in 1997. Tegla Loroupe holds the women’s course record with a time of 31:48 set in 1999.

Other elite runners invited by the Bellin Run had the following times:
•    Uta Pippig, Boulder, Colo., 40:12, 2nd in the 40-44 age division
•    Richard Kandie, Kenya, 30:05, 5th overall
•    Luke Humphrey, Sidney, Mich., 30:16, 6th overall
•    Shadrack Muteri, Kenya, 30:34, 7th overall
•    Joan Samuelson, Freeport, Maine, 36:47, 1st in the 50-54 age division
•    Bill Rodgers, Sherborn, Mass., 43:04, 1st in the 60-64 age division

Another notable, Dan Held of Pewaukee, the overall champion in 1996 and the last U.S. runner to win the Bellin Run, posted a time of 33:50 and took second in the 40-44 age division.

Local notables include Tyler Sigl of Seymour (29:56; 4th overall); Matthew Mroczynski of Pulaski (31:14; 8th); Jason Ryf of Oshkosh (31:24; 10th); Jessica Scott of Kiel (36:24; 5th overall); and Krista Cornelius of Green Bay (37:11; 9th overall).

All results are preliminary. Official results will be posted online.

Weather conditions offered overcast skies for the start of the 8 a.m. race. The temperature was 62 degrees.

Complete Bellin Run results are available through the Bellin Run web site at www.bellinrun.com.
 

Marc Hershfiled of Duluth, Minn., shared with us via e-mail the reason why he participates in the Bellin Run year after year. This is a slightly edited version of what he wrote:

“Thanks to the generosity of my Aunt Mary Ann, I was wearing Bellin Run T-shirts long before I ever crossed the finish line. As children, my brothers and I would receive the T-shirts as neatly wrapped gifts for Christmas or our birthdays from Aunt Mary Ann. Perhaps it was the power of the shirts, but as a young adult I took up running and have participated in about a dozen Bellins over last three decades, earning the shirts myself. 

Aunt Mary Ann has since retired and I’ve mellowed a bit, so instead of bashing it all night at Bayfest like we used to, it’s now a soak in the city’s municipal pool after the race and ice cream. The real reasons I return to Green Bay in June are to delight in my aunt’s company, enjoy the hospitality of the community and maybe catch a glimpse of running legend Uta Pippig. Running the Bellin and running in general has also contributed to my positive lifestyle, interesting travel, a connection with nature and inner growth.

And to top it off, this year my Aunt Mary Ann gets my Bellin Run T-shirt!”

Marc Hershfield, Minnesota

Elite runner John Yuda will not be able to defend his 2009 Bellin Run title due to delays with his visa.

A native of Tanzania, Yuda was training with members of his running team in Kenya. The details of the travel delay are unknown, but Yuda remains in Kenya and will not be able to attend Saturday’s 10K (6.2-mile) event.

Yuda claimed his first overall Bellin Run title in 2009 with a time of 28:05, unseating four-time champion John Korir, who arrived in Green Bay earlier today for the event.

Race officials have no plans to replace Yuda with another elite runner, having already assembled what was considered to be one the Bellin Run’s most talented rosters of elite runners in recent years.
 

Five first-timers and one Hilbert native are among the 12 elite athletes set to compete for the top spot during Saturday’s 34th annual Bellin Run.

The elite runners are 2009 champion John Yuda of Tanzania; second place finisher John Korir of Kenya; fourth place finisher Luke Humphrey of Michigan; Hilbert native Dot McMahan; and Bellin Run first-timers Mike Morgan of Nebraska, Shadrack Muteri of Kenya, Richard Kandie of Kenya, Ann Alyanak of Ohio and James Carney of Colorado.

Bellin Run veterans and former champions Bill Rodgers of Massachusetts, Uta Pippig of Colorado and Joan Samuelson of Maine round out Saturday’s elite field.

The elite athletes should make for an exiting race, said Bellin Run executive director Randy Van Straten.

“These athletes are some of the best we’ve fielded,” he said. “I’m really excited to see how things play out. John Yuda had a great, strong finish last year. We’re pretty sure he’ll have a few contenders looking to steal his thunder this time around, in particular four-time winner John Korir and newcomer James Carney. It’ll be a good one to watch.”

Humphrey is running his third Bellin Run. He placed fifth overall in 2008 and fourth last year.

McMahan ran the Bellin Run in 2003 and 2004 taking fifth and third place overall, respectively. She makes a return trip this year after posting a personal best record in the 25K National Championships in May.

Morgan was fourth in the U.S. Marathon Championships in 2008 and recently won the 2010 Virginia Beach Half Marathon.

Muteri has been running since childhood. He began running competitively in 2003. He returns to Green Bay for the Bellin Run after placing first at the 2008 Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon.

Kandie is running his first Bellin Run, but he is no stranger to the Green Bay area. He placed third at the 2008 Cellcom Green Bay Marathon.

Alyanak, the 2008 Run Ohio Runner of the Year, finished fifth in this year’s competitive Cleveland Rite Aid 10K race.

Carney, the 2009 U.S. 15K champion, will compete in his first Bellin Run. He was the U.S. champion in both the 20K and half marathon in 2008.

Rodgers, a fan favorite, helped cement the Bellin Run as one of the nation’s marquee races when he first participated in 1978 fresh off his victory at the Boston Marathon. He has since returned over the years and claimed three divisional titles.

Pippig, another fan favorite and a former Bellin Run champion, returns to the race for the fourteenth time. She is now focused on sharing her passion for running with others.

Samuelson’s Bellin Run course record of 31:59 stood for 13 years before being broken. She is a four-time Bellin Run champion and is still going strong on the runner’s circuit. In 2008, she set a new U.S. marathon record for the 50-plus age division. She also holds the U.S. 50-plus record for the 5K.

The 34th annual Bellin Run will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 12. Last year’s event drew 16,746 registrants, a record for the fifth consecutive year.

Strategizing your plan of attack for a great experience at the Bellin Run starts long before you lace up your running shoes.

Bellin Health running professional Nate Vandervest – he did this year’s Green Bay Marathon in 3 hours and 5 minutes so he knows a little about running – offers tips on how to get the best out of your Bellin Run experience.

First, pick up your bib. The night before the race, make sure you set out your running attire along with your bib attached to your shirt and timing chip already fixed to your shoe.  Eat a normal meal the night before – don’t try anything new. Like always, make sure to hydrate properly throughout the day. Go to bed at a normal time; maybe even get some shut-eye a bit early.

On race day morning. Get up early and go through your typical morning routine. This tends to keep your nerves down a little. Eat something for breakfast and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Once again do not try something new. Get dressed and double-check your bib and timing chip and out the door you go. Try to arrive at the run event a little early so you have time to park, use the bathroom and warm up before the race. Find your corral and line up. Stay loose as best you can.

Bang! And they’re off! Chances are you’ll experience a short delay before you can really start running. That’s normal for everyone. Be patient. Do not weave in and out of people or run up on anyone’s heels. Not cool. Stay calm and conserve your energy for later. Eventually the race will thin out and you will have all the space you need. Find your stride and get into your game plan. Enjoy the people, places and music as you fly through the course.

Huh, that wasn’t so bad. You make the turn back onto Webster Avenue and you are giving it your all. Wave to the cameras, my friend. It’s your time to shine. After you cross the finish line the first thing that you will want to do is stop. Don’t.  Keep moving through the chute. Refreshments await you down the road on the way to Astor Park.  Meet up with your family and friends and re-live the race with all of them.

Congratulations on a job well done. Savor the moment and start thinking about next year’s event.
 

So you’ve trained hard for the Bellin Run and you’re coming to the last couple of weeks. What do you need to do to make sure you’re going to have your best race?

You need to taper properly. In other words, you need to cut back on how much you’re running/walking.

For this year’s race, your biggest mileage week should be the last week of May. The first week of June you will want to cut back on your total weekly mileage by up to 15 percent.  Keep in mind that your intensity for any tempo or interval runs should remain the same. 

The week of the race, cut your total weekly miles by an additional 10-15 percent (make sure to include the 6.2 miles you’ll be running on race day). 

Do only one intense workout the week of the race and do it preferably on Monday or Tuesday. 

By tapering, your body will have the time that it needs to heal any little aches and pains, not to mention, it will leave you feeling rested and pretty speedy come race day.
 

You don’t have to let the recent stifling hot temperatures (or future sweaty days) melt your training plans for the upcoming Bellin Run. There are a number of ways you can stay on track with your training regimen.

Nate Vandervest, a strength and conditioning specialist at Bellin Health, offers five tips for hot weather training for your next road race:

Replenish your fluids – frequently: Drink before you head out on a training run. Drink while on the training run. Drink after your training run. Keeping hydrated is critical when training in hot weather. Water is great for replenishing your fluids and staying hydrated, but don’t forget to chug down some of your favorite sports drink for the carbohydrates and sodium, which aid in your body’s recovery and in restoring lost electrolytes. And remember, being thirsty isn’t the best indicator of hydration levels. If you’re out running and you feel pretty thirsty, your body’s probably already dehydrated. Be careful.

Run early in the morning or late in the evening: Running early in the morning typically means you’ll experience the coolest temperatures of the first half of the day but also more humidity. Running later in the evening usually means the temperature is a little cooler but the humidity tends to be less. Overall you should avoid running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on hot days.

Slow down: If you aren’t used to the heat you need to give your body a chance to acclimate to it.  Slow your pace down. If it’s really hot out, consider training indoors –activities like cross-training, core work or flexibility training.

Ditch the cotton T-shirt: Wicking material is the in-thing now. Most running attire is made of some form of moisture-wicking fabric. These fabrics keep sweat away from your skin and help keep you cool. Cotton retains the moisture, gets heavy, and isn’t going to cool you down as well as these new wicking materials can.

Protect your eyes and skin: Wear sunscreen and sunglasses, they’ll help protect your skin and your eyes, respectively. Also, try wearing light-colored clothing or get a tech shirt that has UV protection already in it. That will help reflect some of the sunlight on a bright, hot day.

Listen to your body: The heat can be dangerous so listen to your body. If you start to experience the signs of a heat-related illness – dizziness, clammy skin, nausea, sudden headache, confusion, etc. – stop and immediately get out of the sun or into the shade, take a cool (not cold) bath or call your doctor for further advice.

Jared Fogle – the man made famous after losing weight by eating Subway sandwiches – is the latest celebrity to share plans to join the Bellin Run.

Fogle joins local celebs Kristin Steede and Cathy Skell of “The Biggest Loser: Couples” as nationally-known celebrities that have shared plans to participate in the 34th annual Bellin Run scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday, June 12.

Fogle first gained national recognition in 2000 after losing 245 pounds by eating Subway sandwiches for lunch and dinner every day.

Bellin Run executive race director Randy Van Straten says the inclusion of celebrities like Fogle in the annual event makes it a more unique and enjoyable event for all who participate, volunteer or spectate.

“It becomes a more memorable and exciting event when someone like Jared happens to run past you, or you run past him, during your Bellin Run experience,” he said. “That’s something that’ll keep you taking about the day’s events long after you cross the finish line. And in the larger scheme of things, it’s all part of what we hope will be a positive experience for all of our participants.”

Fogle will visit THRIVE students within the Green Bay Area School District – Kennedy, Chappell and Lincoln elementary students – and give presentations on health, nutrition and fitness. He also will address students, parents and school staff at a noon-1:30 p.m. event on Friday, June 11, at Southwest High School. About 1,500 students have been invited. Fogle also will visit Bellin Run Corporate Challenge participant LaForce, Inc.

Fogle is dedicated to issues surrounding childhood obesity and has developed the Jared Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating childhood obesity and encouraging children to adopt life-long healthy eating and physical exercise habits. The foundation strives to educate children, parents and caregivers about the importance of a balanced meal plan and regular physical exercise, as well as encourage children, support families and motivate communities to become involved and take action.

“Having Jared – and Kristin and Cathy – take part in the Bellin Run really helps our efforts to emphasize among our participants the importance of healthier living and fitness,” said Van Straten. “The Bellin Run is a fun event, but training and preparing for it has positive effects for our overall healthiness. We’re glad that Jared will help us spread that message through his firsthand knowledge of fitness, nutrition and health.”

The Bellin Run drew 16,746 registrants in 2009. It was the fifth consecutive year the event saw record registration numbers. This year, race organizers have planned to welcome at least 17,000 registrants. As of Friday, May 21, there were 11,454 people registered for this year’s Bellin Run.

“We’re not actively growing the Bellin Run,” Van Straten said. “But given our recent growth trends, we’re prepared, at a minimum, to cater to 17,000 participants.”

About Subway
Subway offers a great-tasting, healthier alternative to fast food as well as a tasty way to meet your goals. Whether it is weight maintenance or weight loss, Subway is a great option to individuals aspiring to live a healthier lifestyle and now you can build a better breakfast. As with the entire Subway menu, all breakfast sandwiches are made to order, right in front of the customer and can be customized to include all available condiments and fresh vegetables. While customers build their better breakfast at Subway restaurants, the full menu will also be available.

Subway is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc.

About the Bellin Run
The Bellin Run, a 10K (6.2 mile) run/walk in Green Bay, Wis., is among the 10 largest 10K races in the nation with 16,746 registrants. Established in 1977, the Bellin Run features elite runners, a children’s run, Corporate Challenge, running expo, all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner and a number of other events and activities for runners and their families.
 
This year’s 34th annual Bellin Run is June 12.
 

New Blood Aplenty This Year

Veterans at the 2010 Bellin Run will have a lot of fresh, new company joining them this year. That’s because so far, registration numbers for the 34th annual event have revealed 4,498 Bellin Run first-timers.

According to figures released just this morning, total registration for the 8 a.m. Saturday, June 12 Bellin Run is at 11,454 people. On this date in 2009 – which saw record-breaking registration for the fifth-consecutive year – the Bellin Run had 9,326 registrants.

Organizers have said they are prepared for a sixth-consecutive year of record registration. Last year the Bellin Run drew a record 16,746 registrants.

Two key programs have been instrumental in boosting Bellin Run registration. The programs, Bellin Run Kids for Running and the Corporate Challenge, have thus far funneled 2,500 school-age students and 5,996 area employees, respectively, into the growing numbers of Bellin Run registrants.

Combined, both programs have drawn 3,427 first-time Bellin Run registrants.
 

If you’re an avid runner or walker, chances are you occasionally have some tight muscles.

Many runners don’t devote enough time to stretching because they’d much rather log an extra mile than put themselves through the pain of stretching. However, a tight muscle is a weak muscle so if you’re aiming for an all-around positive Bellin Run performance, you might want to consider including stretches in your training regimen.

The Bellin Run is Saturday, June 12. The race – which drew a record-breaking 16,746 registrants last year – will start at 8 a.m.

Strengthening those weaker muscles and stretching your overworked muscles can lead you to a body better equipped to handle the upcoming Bellin Run 10K, as well as other road race events during the course of the year. Such strengthening will lead to better performances. That being said, let’s check out three techniques that are sure to enhance your Bellin Run race-day experience.

Dynamic stretches: The goal of the dynamic stretch is to put your body through the different ranges of motion that mimic the activity you are preparing for. Trainers and coaches have used dynamic stretching to help athletes increase their flexibility and lessen the likelihood of injury. Slow, controlled arm swings or torso twists are examples of dynamic stretches.

Static Stretches: These stretches are meant for post-workout or if your muscles are extremely tight in a specific area before you participate in a sporting or physically active event. These are your classic “touch your toes and hold it” stretches. Hold your stretches for at least 30 seconds and do multiple sets depending on how tight you are.

Foam Roller: Although most people use this tool when trying to recover from injury, we’re advising you to use it all the time. It’s basically a self-massager and works wonders for getting the knots out by stretching your muscles and tendons.

In general, work diligently on your flexibility. You’ll recover faster and become a more efficient runner. A combination of all three of the aforementioned stretching techniques is best, but be sure to work on your flexibility. You’ll see your running and walking improve.

As always, if you need professional guidance, consult a fitness expert to help you get on the correct flexibility program.