California International Marathon

Fetterman: With eye on Trials, coach goes for fourth SF Marathon victory

The San Francisco Marathon has become Andrew Cook’s summer marathon.

On Sunday, the Flower Mound High School coach will be aiming for a fourth title in as many appearances.

Cook races in the summer and winter. He spends the fall guiding his cross country athletes. Track season consumes his spring.

In 2006, he picked the San Francisco Marathon because its late July date gave him time to train and travel without conflicting with his coaching duties. It also featured cool temperatures and a beautiful, challenging course.

He won in 2 hours, 26 minutes, 46 seconds. He won again in ’07 in 2:25:57, setting a course record since the course added the Golden Gate Bridge out and back. In 2009, he won in 2:26:32.

“It seems like every time I have more pressure, not from myself, but from family and friends and athletes,” he said. “I’m going to go out and enjoy the cool weather. If I win, it’s an added bonus.”

Cook said he hopes Sunday’s marathon will help mentally and physically prepare him for his Dec. 4 marathon. He hopes to run under the 2:19 qualifying time to earn an Olympic Trials qualifying spot at the California International Marathon.

He qualified for but didn’t race the 2008 Olympic Trial. It was his first year as the Flower Mound coach. His girls team qualified for the regional cross country meet, which was scheduled the same day as the 2008 men’s Olympic Trials in New York.

“To me, it was a no-brainer,” said Cook, a standout at Flower Mound Marcus and Texas A&M. “My team had worked so hard. My super athlete days were gone. My team has always come first.”

This year, the 2012 trials are Jan. 14 in Houston the day before the Chevron Houston Marathon.

Cook said he knows he’s capable of running sub 2:19. He said he’s been on pace to run a 2:16 and 2:17 marathon, only to fade late in races.

“I’m hoping I can be smarter and pace myself and sneak under 2:19,” he said. “It’s something I want to try to go for.”

Cook won the Too Hot To Handle 15K in 49:28 earlier this month. He surprised himself in March when he clocked a 1:07 to win the Rock ’n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon.

“That motivated me to try to give one last push, to try hard and see what I can do,” he said.

Great Race of Agoura Hills Taps Ultima as On-Course Drink | NEWS MAKER

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 24, 2010

This Saturday in Agoura Hills, CA, the more than 2,200 runners in the Pacific and Chesebro Half Marathons—the flagship events in the 25-year-old Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills—will replenish on-course with Ultima Lemonade. The all-natural, sugar-free drink helps runners go faster longer by supplying the precise balance of eight electrolytes their bodies require.

The announcement marks a big step forward for Ultima. The Great Race of Agoura is one of the most prestigious races in the U.S., and has been voted Best Running Event in LA for six years. In all, six events comprise The Great Race—the Pacific Half Marathon road race, the Cheseboro Half Marathon trail race, the Old Agoura 10K, the Deena Kastor 5K, the Kids 1 Mile and the Family Fun Walk 1 Mile. Ultima will be supplied on-course for the half marathons, and will be available for sampling at the Race Expo, booth C19, on Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26.

“This is a huge honor,” said Seth Bovio, president of Ultima Health Products. “The Great Race is a pre-eminent event. There is no better place to showcase Ultima.”

Using Ultima on-course makes a statement on health. The Great Race joins a growing list of races choosing an all-natural, sugar-free sports drink. Ultima also supplies the California International Marathon and the B.C. Bike Race in Canada as well as the Carlsbad Marathon and the Boston Vegetarian Food Fest, to name a few.

“Ultima matches what we stand for,” said Heidi Creed, Expo Director of The Great Race of Agoura Hills. “We’re an extraordinary race and Ultima is an extraordinary drink. It jibes with the community and family spirit of this event because it is wholesome.”

About Ultima

Marketed by UHP, Inc., in New York City, Ultima Replenisher (http://www.ultimareplenisher.com) electrolyte drink mix is the choice of retailers and races with the highest standards for health and performance—including the Portland Marathon, Trans-Rockies (Canada) and California International Marathon. It is a top-selling electrolyte drink mix stocked by natural foods industry leader Whole Foods, whose standards for purity are the highest of any retailer worldwide. While originally formulated for elite athletes—who need to replenish fast without engaging digestion—Ultima is proven effective in everyday conditions ranging from airplane travel to hangovers to dieting to pregnancy. It is also used as a hyrdation aid in the treatment of such diseases as cancer and Crohn’s.

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