1.
Janesville, Wisconsin
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Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Rock County, as of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 63,575. The Janesville area was home to many Native American tribes before the settlement of people from the East, American settlers John Inman, George Follmer, Joshua Holmes, and William Holmes, Jr. built a crude log cabin in the region in 1835. Later that year, one key settler named Henry Janes, a native of Virginia who was a self-proclaimed woodsman and early city planner arrived in what is now Rock County. Janes came to the area in the early 1830s and initially wanted to name the budding village “Blackhawk after the famous Sauk leader Chief Black Hawk, after some discussion it was settled that the town would be named after Janes himself and thus in 1835, Janesville was founded. Despite being named after a Virginian, Janesville was founded by immigrants from New England and these were old stock Yankee immigrants, who were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s. The completion of the Erie Canal caused a surge in New England immigration to what was then the Northwest Territory, some of them were from upstate New York and had parents who had moved to that region from New England shortly after the Revolutionary War. New Englanders and New England transplants from upstate New York were the vast majority of Janesvilles inhabitants during the first several decades of its history, land surveys encouraged pioneers to settle in the area among the abundance of fertile farmland and woodlands. Many of these settlers established farms and began cultivating wheat. As the population grew in the Janesville area, several new industries began cropping up along the Rock River including flour, the first dam was built in 1844. These groups were active in abolitionist and women’s rights movements. Of these settlers was William Tallman who hailed from Rome, New York, Tallman came to the area in 1850 and bought up large tracts of land in hopes of inspiring his fellow New Yorkers to settle in the fertile Rock County. Tallman established himself as one of the most influential and affluent members of the budding Janesville populace and he was impassioned by the call for abolition and became a supporter of the Republican Party. One of the moments in Tallman’s life was when he convinced the up-and-coming Illinois Republican Abraham Lincoln to speak in Janesville in 1859. The Tallman house is now a landmark and now best known as “The place where Abraham Lincoln slept”. Janesville was very active during the Civil War, local farms sold grains to the Union army, and Rock County was one of the counties in Wisconsin with the highest number of men enlisted. Thomas H. Ruger of Janesville served in the war, along with brothers Edward, William, Ruger later served as military governor of Georgia and commandant of West Point. He is memorialized at Fort Ruger in Diamond Head, Hawaii, among these were the Janesville Machine Company and the Rock River Iron Works
2.
Long-distance running
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Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least three kilometres. Physiologically, it is largely aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength, among mammals, humans are well adapted for running significant distances, and particularly so among primates. The endurance running hypothesis suggests that running endurance in the Homo genus arose because travelling over large areas improved scavenging opportunities, the capacity for endurance running is also found in migratory ungulates and a limited number of terrestrial carnivores, such as dogs, wolves and hyenas. Long distance running can also be used as a means to improve cardiovascular health, Running improves aerobic fitness by increasing the activity of enzymes and hormones that stimulate the muscles and the heart to work more efficiently. Endurance running is often a component of military training and has been so historically. Professional running is most commonly found in the field of sports, long-distance running as a form of tradition or ceremony is known among the Hopi and Tarahumara people, among others. Distance running can also serve as an exercise for family, friends, colleagues. The social element of distance running has been linked with improved performance, in the sport of athletics, long-distance events are defined as races covering three kilometres and above. The three most common types are track running, road running and cross country running, all of which are defined by their terrain – all-weather tracks, roads and natural terrain, respectively. In collegiate cross country races in the United States, men race 8000 or 10000 meters, depending on their division, the Summer Olympics features three long-distance running events, the 5000 metres,10,000 metres and marathon. Since the late 1980s, Kenyans, Moroccans and Ethiopians have dominated in major international long-distance competitions, in this method, the hunter would run at a slow and steady pace between one hour and a few days, in an area where the animal has no place to hide. The Old Testament has a few mentions of messengers running to deliver messages, for example, in 2 Samuel 18, two runners, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and a Cushite run to deliver King David the message of the death of his son Absalom. Running messengers are reported from early Sumer, were named lasimu as military men as well as the officials who disseminated documents throughout the kingdom by running. Ancient Greece was famous for its running messengers, who were named hemerodromoi and he collapsed and died as he delivered the message “we won”.2 miles /42.195 km is based on this legend. Humans are considered among the best distance runners among all running animals, game animals are faster over short distances, but they have less endurance than humans. Unlike other primates whose bodies are designed to walk on four legs or climb trees and this leads to different bone and muscular demands especially in the legs and pelvis. Dissipation of metabolic heat, humans’ ability to cool the body by sweating through the surface provides many advantages over panting through the mouth or nose. These include a surface of evaporation and independence of the respiratory cycle
3.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
4.
Marathon
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The marathon is a long-distance running race with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres, usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, more than 800 marathons are held throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes as larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants. The name Marathon comes from the legend of Philippides or Pheidippides and it is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming νενικήκαμεν, before collapsing and dying. Lucian of Samosata also gives the story, but names the runner Philippides, there is debate about the historical accuracy of this legend. In some Herodotus manuscripts, the name of the runner between Athens and Sparta is given as Philippides, in 1879, Robert Browning wrote the poem Pheidippides. Brownings poem, his story, became part of late 19th century popular culture and was accepted as a historic legend. This route, as it existed when the Olympics were revived in 1896, was approximately 40 kilometres long, and this route is considerably shorter, some 35 kilometres, but includes a very steep initial climb of more than 5 kilometres. When the modern Olympics began in 1896, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, the idea of a marathon race came from Michel Bréal, who wanted the event to feature in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This idea was supported by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics. The Greeks staged a race for the Olympic marathon on 10 March 1896 that was won by Charilaos Vasilakos in 3 hours and 18 minutes. The winner of the first Olympic marathon, on 10 April 1896, was Spyridon Louis, the marathon of the 2004 Summer Olympics was run on the traditional route from Marathon to Athens, ending at Panathinaiko Stadium, the venue for the 1896 Summer Olympics. The womens marathon was introduced at the 1984 Summer Olympics and was won by Joan Benoit of the United States with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 52 seconds. It has become a tradition for the mens Olympic marathon to be the last event of the athletics calendar, often, the mens marathon medals are awarded during the closing ceremony. The Olympic mens record is 2,06,32, set at the 2008 Summer Olympics by Samuel Kamau Wanjiru of Kenya, the Olympic womens record is 2,23,07, set at the 2012 Summer Olympics by Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia. The mens London 2012 Summer Olympic marathon winner was Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda, per capita, the Kalenjin ethnic group of Rift Valley Province in Kenya has produced a highly disproportionate share of marathon and track-and-field winners. Johnny Hayes victory at the 1908 Summer Olympics contributed to the growth of long-distance running and marathoning in the United States. Later that year, races around the season including the Empire City Marathon held on New Years Day 1909 in Yonkers, New York
5.
Los Angeles Marathon
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The LA Marathon is an annual running event held each spring in Los Angeles, California. The 26.219 mile footrace, inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, has contested every year since 1986. The 31st edition of the marathon took place on February 14,2016, the marathon is currently sponsored by Skechers, and thus its official title is the Skechers Performance LA Marathon. The current route starts at Dodger Stadium and ends in Santa Monica, in 2014, the ASICS LA Marathon charity program continued its tremendous growth as 91 participating charities combined to raise a cumulative total $3.7 million. In 1987, six students at East Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights High School enrolled in a training program offered by teacher Harry Shabazian. On March 4,1990, two teachers from around the city joined the three co-founders, with students from their respective schools, and together, they all ran in the Los Angeles Marathon V. In 1993, Students Run LA spun off from LAUSD and became an independent 501 organization, SRLA continues to provide its after-school mentoring and training program to all students for free. Today, more than 3,200 middle and high school students train alongside 500 volunteer leaders and these leaders provide “on-the-run” mentoring, showing students how to set goals, gain confidence, and develop life-long healthy habits by training for the LA Marathon. After joining the group of marathon finishers, SRLA students know they can do anything. Running success translates into the classroom, in June 2015, 99% of SRLA seniors graduated high school, and 95% of them plan to attend college. Since 1989, more than 57,000 students have served by SRLA. The growth of the program has increased its success. Each year, More than 95% of the students who start the marathon, there were 19 students to begin with and 12 completed the 2010 event. The program continues with a new group and a new objective, ages of top finishers in the Masters category are given in parentheses. Key, Course record Note 1, From New Caledonia, a territory of France, LA Marathon LA Marathon Weather History LA Marathon YouTube channel LA Marathon photo gallery 2000-2007 Results 2007 Results 2006 Results 2005 Results 2004 Results 2003 Results 2000 Results
6.
Dover High School (New Hampshire)
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Dover Senior High School serves the city of Dover and the towns of Barrington and Nottingham, New Hampshire. In 2005, DHS became a New Hampshire School of Excellence, of the 308 graduates in the class of 2014, 50% went on to a four-year college and 24% went on to a two-year college, while 22% proceeded directly to employment and 4% joined the military. The mean SAT scores for this class were 510 in critical reading,513 in math, the official student-run newspaper of the Dover High School community is The Tide, founded in 2006. Dover High School also has notable teams, Shockwave, Nebula. Shockwave has earned the engineering inspiration award and has one of the most successful designs for the Aerial Assist 2013-2014 season, Shockwave is sponsored by Maker, Comcast, NASA, Argentech Solutions, and more. Peter K. Hepler, plant biologist Joseph C
7.
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
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The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the years USA Outdoor Track, because of the depth of competition in some events, this has been considered by many to be the best track meet in the world. The event is shown on domestic U. S. Television and covered by a members of the worldwide media. As with all Olympic sports, the meet is conducted by the governing body for the sport, currently USA Track and Field. Previous to the formation of TAC in 1979, the governing body for most amateur sports was the Amateur Athletic Union. All countries are allowed to enter a maximum of three athletes into any of the Track and Field events in the Olympics, provided all three athletes have achieved a verifiable A standard performance, a country may enter one athlete in an event having achieved a B standard. Or, insignificant to the U. S. team, a country is allowed one single if it has no athletes who have achieved a B standard. The standards are published well in advance of the meet and provides approximately a year and these were the standards for 2008. These were the standards for the 2012 Olympics and these are the standards in 2016, entry to the United States Olympic Trials is open to any U. S. Citizen who has achieved the A standard, and based on superior performance, since 1972 there have been a minimum of 24 entries in any event, with the popular sprint events 100 meters,200 meters,400 meters and 110 meter hurdles having a minimum of 32 entries. Since 1992, athletes achieving the A standard are funded to attend the Olympic Trials, unlike many other countries, who have a selection committee, the selection to the United States Olympic Team is exclusively by results on the track. Its do or die in the prescribed event, if fewer than two athletes in an event final have met the A standard, then the best finisher in the Trials who has met the B standard is on the Olympic team, with the second-best being an alternate. Should no athletes who competed in an event meet the B standard, prior to 1908, the United States Olympic team was selected. The 1908 and 1912 teams were selected based on regional trials, there were no Olympic Trials in 1916 due to World War I, nor 1940 and 1944 due to World War II, though Olympic marathon team members were named in 1940. The mens trials in 1968 were held at high elevation in northern California at Echo Summit, until 1972 the Womens Olympic Trials were held separately. Also until 1972, the Mens Olympic trials conducted semi-final trials earlier in the season, some events, including the Marathon and Racewalk frequently have separate Olympic Trials. The 1980 Olympic team was named but did not participate due to the 1980 Olympic Boycott declared by President Jimmy Carter
8.
Paris Marathon
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The Paris International Marathon is an annual marathon which takes place from the Champs-Élysées heading towards the Place de la Concorde and continuing through the city to finish at Foch Avenue. Along with the Berlin Marathon and the London Marathon, it is one of the most popular long-distance annual running events in Europe, the first Paris Marathon, the Tour de Paris Marathon, took place in 1896. A big crowd gathered to watch 191 participants, the distance of 40 km was chosen as it was the distance separating Marathon from Athens. The current distance of the race is 42.195 km - the standard Olympic Marathon length and this first race was won by Len Hurst from England who crossed the finishing line in 2 hours,31 minutes and 30 seconds. His prize money was 200 francs, the present Paris Marathon dates from 1976. It is normally held on a Sunday in April and is limited to 50,000 runners and it is organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. It is notable for the route through the heart of the city of Paris. Unlike most other marathons, but like all races in France, the race starts on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées going downhill to circle round the Place de la Concorde before turning right onto Rue de Rivoli. The route passes the Louvre, then round the Place de la Bastille. A long loop of the Bois de Vincennes returns the route into the heart of Paris, the halfway point is reached at Rue de Charenton. The route now follows the course of the Seine, passing Île de la Cité and going under the Pont Neuf, there is a large drinks station and foot massage at Trocadéro, opposite the Eiffel Tower. The route continues along the Seine, before branching off east to pass though Bois de Boulogne, emerging for the final 200 metres. On April 3,2016, the race was won by Cyprian Kotut. The top four finishers in the race were Kenyan. In the womens race, Visiline Jepkesho, again from Kenya, the race was run on April 12,2015. The top male finisher was Kenyan Mark Korir in a time of 2H 05m 48s, the top female finisher was Ethiopians Meseret Mengistu with a time of 2h 23m 26s. The race was run on April 6,2014, the top male finisher, Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, broke the course record with a debut time of 2h05’04. Bekeles winning time is the sixth-fastest debut in history on a record eligible course, the top female finisher was Kenyas Flomena Cheyech, finishing in a time of 2h22’44
9.
Chicago Marathon
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The Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo Marathons, thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race. The Chicago Marathon is the fourth-largest race by number of finishers worldwide, the October 9,2016 running was the 39th anniversary of the race. The first race was held on September 25,1977 under the name the Mayor Daley Marathon. The race has been every year since, except in 1987 when only a half-marathon was run. It is among the fastest growing marathon road races in the world, due in part to its largely fast and flat course which facilitates the pursuit of personal records and world record performances. The race has achieved its status among marathons by developing relationship with sponsors who provide prize money to lure elite runners who have produced American. Since 2008 the race has been sponsored by Bank of America, the race is limited to 45,000 runners and only runners who finish within 6½ hours are officially timed. Those wishing to participate can register after either meeting a time qualifying standard or being selected through a general lottery, although the race has limited registration, exceptions include elite runners and charity representatives. Increasingly, local, national and global charities and humanitarian organizations encourage sponsored participation in the event as a means of fund raising. The first marathon at the 1896 Games of the I Olympiad generated interest in the sport led to similar races throughout most western countries. While marathons sporadically occurred in New York City and St. Louis, beginning in 1905, the Chicago Marathon was held annually, with significant community and spectator support, until the early 1920s. The First Chicago Marathon was run on September 23,1905 and that first race began in Evanston and finished in front of a standing-room-only paying crowd at Washington Park race track. In a stunning upset, a reported 100,000 or more spectators watched Rhud Metzner come from behind to steal a victory from the favored Louis Marks. With that first race, the Chicago Marathon began a run of epic races that continued until the early 1920s on a revised course that largely resembles todays marathon route. It was not until the health consciousness of the 1960s that marathon growth gained traction in the eyes of the nation, frank Shorters 1972 Games of the XX Olympiad marathon victory represented the convergence of many middle-class American ideals. Then the 1976 New York City Marathon, which was the first New York City Marathon to embrace the five borough course, as the New York marathon began to grow exponentially in the 1970s, the Chicago Marathon was established as a rival to the New York City Marathon. By the mid-1980s, the Chicago Marathon was ensconced as one of the big four marathons, during the mid-1980s, it was named Americas Marathon/Chicago and opened up the way for appearance payments
United States
