1. One final reminder: The site of the Freedom 5000 race tomorrow has been shifted from Cesar Chavez to Austin State School (2202 W. 35th Street). About 500 runners are expected for this second annual race which will begin at 8 a.m. The course is flat and consists of two loops around the school grounds.
2. Bernard Manirakaza is expected to run the Freedom 5000 tomorrow, but he won’t have to deal with Derek Yorek. The two have had several mano-a-mano battles, but Yorek is opting to run the Peachtree 10,000 in Atlanta tomorrow. Yorek, who won the Keep Austin Weird 5-K on Saturday night, is hoping to run in the low 29-minute range in Atlanta against a world-class field. The drought in Georgia has necessitated a course change for Peachtree which will be unable to utilize its traditional finish in Piedmont Park because of the extreme conditions in the region.
3. Kelly Handel, who won the women’s division of the Freedom 5000 last year, won’t be running either. She’s in Durango, Colorado taking a training holiday in the mountains after her fine fourth-place showing at the Buffalo Springs 70.3 Triathlon last weekend. But don’t look for Handel to move up to the Ironman distance anytime soon. A great swimmer and competitive runner, Handel’s cycling still isn’t strong enough to match up with the top pros. And in a 112-mile cycling leg of an Ironman, cycling is key. Handel has qualified for the World 70.3 Championships.
4. Brandon Marsh also had a big race at Buffalo Springs with his fifth place finish among the pros. Marsh has been making a gradual transition to longer races and Buffalo Springs was his best overall finish in a half Ironman. He’s also taking a training break and probably won’t race again until the Austin Triathlon on Labor Day. “I was a lot more beat up by Buffalo Springs than I thought I’d be,” says Marsh, who like Handel, is a coach at Source Endurance Training. And just like Handel, Marsh doesn’t feel ready to tackle an Ironman—yet. “Maybe next year, but I definitely won’t do one this season.”
5. Amy Marsh, Brandon’s wife, has been troubled by plantar fasciitis in her left foot for the better part of a year. That foot’s better, but now her right foot’s bothering her. Amy did the first two legs of Buffalo Springs, but only ran the first 5-K of the half-marathon course before pulling out—as had been planned.
6. Call Dick Beardsley the Reluctant Triathlete. The one-time world-class marathoner hasn’t been on a bike in 20 years (and isn’t even sure where his feet go on the pedals), but he has a bet with his wife Jill that he can beat her this Sunday in the Howdy Du. Of course, he’s giving her an eight-minute head start Winner gets a foot massage. Next weekend, the Beardsleys are going to tackle the Couples Tri.
7. Leonel Manzano and Sanya Richards will be on the USA TV coverage tonight (10-11 p.m.) of the Olympic Trials. Manzano is running the first round of the 1500 and Richards will be the overwhelming favorite in the 400-meter finals. So will Jeremy Wariner in the men's 400 tonight. (Jake Morse of UT is also running the first round of the steeple tonight, but I doubt it will be on TV.) Manzano is considered one of the four top contenders for the three Olympic spots, along with Bernard Lagat, Alan Webb and Lopez Lomong. Lagat’s a lock, but Webb—the American record holder in the mile--isn’t. He’s had a terrible spring, while Leo has been on a roll. Lagat wants a fast race to take some of the kick out of Lomong which should play right into Manzano’s hands. Expect an honest time in the 3:35 range—and you heard it here first—Manzano is gonna steal it.
8. Advanced Rehabilitation is opening its fourth location. In August, Advanced Rehab will open up in Cedar Park at 715 Discovery Boulevard (suite 510) where it will offer massage, physical therapy and chiropractic services.

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