BIG 25 Berlin 2012: a new World Record!

/ Ale Santuz / 2 Comments
The 10478 runners at the start of three different races (25 km, Half Marathon and 10 km), were the perfect scenery for the seventh world record in the history of Germany’s oldest city road race: with an astonishing time of 1:11:18, the Kenya’s 28 year-old newcomer Dennis Kimetto broke into  the legendary Olympiastadion after a brilliant race. Caroline Chepkwony (Kenya), was the women’s winner, with an amazing time too (1:22:56).
Coming back to the ordinary people, the 10 km (my race) saw the French Adam Pardoux (winner of the 6th Berliner Airport Run) winning with a time of 00:34:25, while Susanne Hahn (German National Team) won the female race with a marathon-pace time of 00:35:12. The finishers were 1148 men and 954 women.
The first 10 male results of the 10 km are listed below. For the complete results go to http://berlin25km.r.mikatiming.de/2012/.
Keep on training, people!

Pl.
N.
Name
Team
Time
1
11307
» Pardoux, Adam (FRA)
34:25
2
10728
» Schnipkoweit, Ivo (GER)
LT OSI Berlin
35:00
3
11080
» Krause, Lars (GER)
http://www.schloss-trebsen.com
35:13
4
10118
» Deboy, George (GER)
SC Potsdam
35:31
5
10801
» Sprung, Robert (GER)
Lupus Team Zehdenick
35:54
6
11183
» Kreidner, Helmut (GER)
SC Siemensstadt Berlin
36:02
7
10678
» Rüdenburg, Moritz (GER)
SV Friedrichstadt Berlin
36:17
8
10047
» Berg, Ivo (GER)
LTC Berlin
36:24
9
10757
» Schwarz, Klaus (GER)
Nokia Networks Networks
36:32
10
10690
» Santuz, Alessandro (ITA)
Silca Ultralite Vittorio V.to
36:38
The first 10 male results of the 10 km race.

A beautiful shot of the start. © Thomas Wenning

Sprinting in the Olympiastadion.

The beautiful atmosphere in the legendary Olympiastadion.

The altimetry of the 10 km course: a tough one!

Here you can find a list of my running-related posts. Now shut down the notebook and have a run! 
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BIG 25 Berlin – Preview.

/ Ale Santuz / Leave a comment

One of the most famous Berlin’s road races has now an official Half-Marathon course. The start will be in front of the Olympic Stadium; the course then will lead the runners through the city centre of the capital, passing Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße, Gendarmenmarkt, Potsdamer Platz, the Memorial Church at Kurfürstendamm and the TV tower (the Half-Marathon and the 10k runners will pass through a shorter version of the route). The finish will then be on the glorious blue track of the Olympic Stadium (a very rare opportunity to trample on the legendary track). Did you train for the event? You could check your condition with a simple Conconi-test, or refine your preparation using the Hypoxic chamber! For the most scientific race-enthusiasts: have you ever thought about Amino Acids supplements?
More than 10000 entries are expected and after the recent record set by the 6th Berliner Airport Run (3972 runners at the start) it’s not difficult to predict a great race!

The time limit to accomplish the race for 25k is fixed in 3h 15min and for 10k in 1h 30min. Anyone not reaching 12.5k within the time zone of 95 min after the start is kindly asked to end the race. These runners will be brought by bus to the Olympic Stadium.
BIG 25 Berlin has produced five world records in total over the years: Kenneth Cheruiyot 1:13:58 (in 1997), Rodgers Rop 1:13:44 (in 2001), Paul Kosgei 1:12:45 (in 2004) and Samuel Kosgei 1:11:50 (in 2011). The course seems to be very fast: every runner looking for a PB should think about the participation to this spectacular race.
Meanwhile…keep on training, people!
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About avoiding supplements – The Amino Acids.

/ Ale Santuz / 2 Comments
Running is sweat, fatigue, sacrifice. The systematic nature of training has always fascinated me: being just you, your body and your mind looking for the next limit it’s a kind of magic. But between what you can actually do and what you potentially do there’s a “Thin red line”, nowadays very easy to overcome: the line dividing the world of supplements by everyday’s world. I won’t write about doping and I’m not a Physiologist, a Doctor or a Nutritionist; I simply like to study those subjects that can be useful for the understanding of our body’s kinematics and dynamics (maybe it’s a professional bias, since I’m a Race Engineer; see my posts about Conconi-test and Hypoxic chambers).
Taking into account the RDA* indications of BCAA** provided by FAO***, what you can find in specific literature is that a runner (or any other athlete) doesn’t really need an amino acid supplement to increase his performance: “Research on healthy subjects does not provide convincing evidence for an ergogenic effect of regular intake of amino acid supplements on hormone secretion, training responsiveness, or exercise performance. In studies with appropriate design and statistical analysis, oral supplements of arginine, lysine, ornithine, tyrosine, and other amino acids, either singly or in combination, produced no effect on […] all-out running performance at V̇O­2max.”[1].
Using the values reported at the end of the article, one can easily build a spreadsheet to calculate the real need of BCAA. The basic athlete’s data are listed in Table 1.
 
Table1 – Athlete’s data.
 
In Table 2, for the above-mentioned athlete’s data, you can find an example of the RDA and equivalent BCAA contents in various kind of food: it’s easy to deduce how the equivalent BCAA found in normal quantities of food can be sufficient to satisfy an athlete’s need.
 
Table2 – Example of RDA and equivalent BCAA contents in various kind of food.
 
The main assumptions that regulate the calculations carried on in the two tables are the following:
“The indispensable amino acids are leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, phenylalanine and histidine. The requirements estimates in the 1985 FAO/WHO/UNU […] report were taken directly from the 1973 FAO/WHO report. […] since 1985 concerns have been expressed about the derived values, and all now agree that they were certainly too low. […] Finally, it must be recognized that these new values have not been validated in any entirely satisfactory way, i.e. in long-term studies at the requirement intakes with measurement of body weight, body composition and well-being. […] However, while these studies provide useful information on the adequacy of one intake level, they do not enable a requirement intake to be defined.
[…] total branched-chain amino acid requirements ranging from 110 mg/kg per day to 134 mg/kg per day depending on outcome used and taking into account an initial 10% overestimate. […] the three branched-chain amino acids […] 39 mg/kg per day for the leucine requirement, […] 26 mg/kg per day for valine and 20 mg/kg per day for isoleucine.
[…] Whereas some uncertainty remains over the adult indispensable amino acid requirements, the best current estimates are: […]
  • Mean nitrogen requirement of 105 mg nitrogen/kg per day (0.66 g protein/kg per day).
  • Assuming a mean total protein requirement of 0.66 g/kg per day, intakes of about 0.18 g/kg per day […] of indispensable […] amino acids, […] should be sufficient to maintain body nitrogen homeostasis in healthy adults.

 

[…] There is no information on the variability of requirements for individual amino acids. Therefore, approximate values were calculated on the assumption that the inter-individual coefficient of variation of the requirements for amino acids is the same as that for total protein, i.e. 12%. On this basis, the safe levels of intake for the indispensable amino acids are 24% higher than the values for average requirement shown […]”[2]
Tired? Bored? Or interested? Whatever…keep on training, people! And if it’s not enough, try this amazing motivational videos! 

_____________________________

* Recommended Dietary Allowance.
** Branched-Chain Amino Acids.
*** Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

References

[1]
W. D. Mc Ardle, F. I. Katch and V. L. Katch, “Exercise Phisiology – Energy, Nutrition, & Human Performance,” in Exercise Phisiology – Energy, Nutrition, & Human Performance, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007, p. 572.
[2]
“Protein and amino acid requirements in human nutrition : report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU expert consultation,” in Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation on Protein and Amino Acid Requirements in Human Nutrition – Geneva, Switzerland, 2002.
Here you can find a list of my running-related posts. Now shut down the notebook and have a run!
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6th Berliner Airport Run – Preview.

/ Ale Santuz / 2 Comments
In Berlin there are now two airports: Tegel (the main international airport) and Schönefeld. On 2 June 2012, at 10:50 pm, an Air Berlin Boeing 737-800 operating a special 50-minute sightseeing charter flight over the city will mark the end of more than half a century of Tegel’s commercial use.
Schönefeld is being prepared with the construction of another landing strip and the big news for pro and amateurs runners is that we’ll have the last chance to walk (or run) on the airstrip’s tarmac by participating to the “6th Berliner Airport Run”, on 22 April 2012. Around 3500 participants are expected, with an increase of 50% over last year (2125 starters).
The track is a 10k course (which is to be run twice by half marathon runners). It’s going along the construction side of the new Airport Berlin-Brandenburg BER, on the new runway and by the new terminal.  This is the map of the course:
It should be a good chance to make a new Personal Best, since the course seems to be very flat and fast (even if a windy day could change the plans of people looking at the chrono).
The current competition records are the following:

  • 10km M: André Pollmächer (Rhein-Marathon Düsseldorf) 31:15
  • 10 km F: Veerle Dejaeghere (Belgien)34:41
  • Half Marathon M: Joseph Kiptum (Kenia) 63:32
  • Half Marathon  F: Sylvia Renz (OSC Berlin)82:52

For more informations visit the official website: http://www.berlin-laeuft.de/airportrun/index_e.php.
Meanwhile…keep on training, people!

IAAF World Indoor Championships 2012 – Istanbul.

/ Ale Santuz / 1 Comment

Here we are! Today, March 9th, until Saturday March 11th, Istanbul will be the home of he 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships. I’ve listed a couple of useful links to follow the event (there’s a live radio service, too!):

  • the LIVE RESULTS are available HERE;
  • the FULL RESULTS are available HERE;
  • you can listen to the LIVE RADIO HERE.
Good luck to all the athletes! Keep on training, people!
.

MAMMUT® presents: the biggest peak project in history – "The Zuitas™" wait for better conditions.

/ Ale Santuz / Leave a comment
These are bad days for Italy. The weather has something insane: the South is totally at the mercy of the weather, tons of snow are falling since the beginning of February and thousands of people are in serious troubles. Up North, though, the conditions are embarrassingly dry and the low quantities of snow are not a suitable aid for a winter ascent of Monte Civetta (for the forgetful or the new followers, here you can find the description of the tour). Our Mammut official guide explained that “the weather forecast for the next two weeks and the current conditions (windy snow and ice) do not permit the climb in a safe way”.
Total amount of snowfalls @ 1900 m – Monte Civetta.
The snow amount is really poor, but the risk of spontaneous avalanches remains considerable in the exposed areas over 2000 m (never forget to take a look at the avalanche survival curve in any case).
Air temperature @ 1900 m – Monte Civetta.
It seems that we can’t do anything else but waiting for better conditions (and hoping for some additional snow to help us in the ascent). The team will continue his training in any case (have you ever tried to run at 4000 m?) and all the updates will be published here.
In the picture below you can find today’s weather forecast for the next 15 days: the red line shows the mean temperatures in the last 30 years at around 1500 m, while the other lines show the various predictions of  the different mathematical models (left “y” scale, [° C]); the very low curves are the predictions of the precipitations (right “y” scale, [mm] of rain or [cm] of snow).
Weather forecast for the next two weeks (GFS model).
Don’t forget to take a look at the official team’s page for further details.
The Zuitas™
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Motivation for training: two inspirational speeches by John Doman.

/ Ale Santuz / Leave a comment
When the weather is cold, or the crucial race seems to be too distant, or simply if you keep on making questions to yourself, instead of giving answers, these two inspirational speeches by John Doman could be really helpful for your motivation, whatever your favourite sport is.
The first one is about second places and here’s my favourite quote: “Knock knock, who’s there? The guy that finished second. The guy that finished second who? Exactly…”.
Enjoy.
–
The second one may be a bit more intense, if possible, even if too resonant in certain passages. My favourite quote is: “The only thing, the only thing you can count on at any given moment is you! It’s you versus them. You versus no. You versus can’t. You versus next year, last year, statistics, excuses! […] You versus the odds. It’s you versus second place. Clock is ticking, lets see what you got.”.
Again: enjoy.
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Here you can find a list of my running-related posts. Now shut down the notebook and have a run!
Science and Training:
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The hardest 400 m of the World: the "Red Bull 400".

/ Ale Santuz / 2 Comments

Have you ever tried to run a “full throttle” 400 m? It’s bloody difficult. But…what if your quarter mile race included a sensible climb? Let’s say something like 37° of maximum slope. Let’s say half on slippery grass and half on the glassy concrete of a…Ski Jump! Pretty weird, isn’t it? Well, this is the “Red Bull 400”, a race held in Tauplitz/Bad Mitterndorf’s Ski Jumping facility.

With an average gradient of 45% and a nickname of “Highway to Hell” given by the athletes, this is probably the most difficult 400 m race in the World! Take a look at the video: aren’t you curious to give it a try?

We could organize a bus for next year’s race! Take a look at the official website, it’s an interesting collection of news and articles (they discuss, for example, the difficult choice of the right shoes for this strange competition). Just to let you know, the 2011 winner was the “Turkish chamois” Ahmed Arslan, with a time of 5’04″58. Keep on running, people!

Here you can find a list of my running-related posts. Now shut down the notebook and have a run! 
Posts about training:
Posts about races:

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Trail running in the dark: 4^ Notturna di Sant’Antonio – Miane (TV), Italy.

/ Ale Santuz / Leave a comment
Shhh…silence, please. I’m in the woods. On a trail. It’s completely dark except from the light emanated from my headlamp. Shhh…silence, please.
Can you feel it?
This race is organized from a small group of running enthusiasts, there’s no promotion, no advertising. It just happens every year, since 2008, and if you know it, you do it. Simple. As simple as the route: 500 m of positive slope, 500 m of downhill, 8.3 km the total distance; a gift for no more than 50 lucky runners, choosing a different way to spend their Saturday night.
The trail to discover during the race, meter after meter, is a typical “troi” (“trail” in local dialect), with a mixture of hard and soft slopes and a stunning panorama on the “Valsana” (“Healthy Valley”): it’s difficult to find such dark places and hence seeing so many stars. Something that makes you feel lucky and erases all the pain. But the idyll is roughly stopped by a silence-breaking voice, right in the middle of the second climb. A man that convinced his wife to come and run this charming race, suddenly says with a sort of dyspnea: “after this climb my wife will ask for divorce; I must enjoy these moments as much as I can”. It’s a good training to improve your VO2max: running uphill and laughing as a child! Give it a try!
As usual, for the record, I post the results, the GPS track of the race and some pictures of last year’s start. Keep on training, people!

1
Ivan GERONAZZO
38’30”
–
2
Daniele CASTELLI
39’07”
+37″
3
Paolo GRAVA
39’11”
+41″
4
Guido BUSETTI
39’14”
+44″
5
Maurizio FURLAN
40’06”
+1’36”
6
Alessandro SANTUZ
40’33”
+2’03”
7
Alberto FURLAN
41’30”
+3’00”
8
Denis MENEGHEL
41’50”
+3’20”
9
Marco BORTOLOTTO
42’40”
+4’10”
10
Carlo BOSCOLO
45’19”
+6’49”