We're Number 3! We're Number 3!

Well Boston is over, and American hopefuls Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher did not win. BUT THEY BOTH CAME IN 3rd!!! 3rd place at Boston! How killer is that? They trained their asses off, they ran hard on race day, and they both came in 3rd.

Now, we here at Supervictory would've been stoked if either of them had won, but at the end of the day we really don't care. We're just stoked that we still have underdogs to root for. And in all seriousness, let's have a big SV hats off to men's winner Deriba Merga of Ethipia (2:08:42), women's winner Salina Kosgei from Kenya (2:32:16) and everybody else who went out and helped make Boston one of running's most legendary events.

Rock on.
-SV

The Boston Punk Scene

Boston has always been punk.
And I'm not talking about Slapshot or SS Decontrol.
Think way back, to the three-cornered hat wearing fancy boys who started the place.
They were fearless hardcore bastards who told England to suck it before going off and starting their own damn country. Which is about as punk as it gets.

So it's perfectly fitting that, in two day's time, a small handful of American runners will try to pull another coup and throw off the yolk of East African supremacy that has dominated the distance running scene in recent years. You see, an American hasn't won Boston since Greg Meyer in 1983. But on Monday, April 20th 2009 four Americans in the elite field will try to change that. They are Ryan Hall and Brian Sell on the men's side, and Kara Goucher and Elva Dryer in the women's field. All are at the forefront of a small movement dedicated to getting America's fat, slow ass back into a seat at the table of international distance running contenders.

And whether they win or not, let's give a big Supervictory salute to these American asskickers for going out there and trying their hearts out. Oh, and while we're handing out SV salutes, let's not forget the other 25,000 motherstompers who've logged long months and many miles working their asses off to qualify for Boston. The punkest marathon around.

Gettin' The Band Back Together

Welcome back SV diehards.
It's been a few months, and we here at Supervictory are very glad to be back.

Basically 2009 got off to a fucked up start and the zine had to go off the airwaves for a few months. First the Brown House got shut down by the cops, then Squirrel's parents took him away and tried to put in the loony bin, and Mel got busted for running bandit at a 10k in Carlsbad. As for me, I needed some time to regroup and heal after royally messing up knee while training for my first marathon, which I had to sit out.

The good news is spring is here, my knee is better, and we've got a whole mess of new editorial talent ready to bring you the best in punk rock running.

Stay hydrated.
Stay punk.

-SV

Happy New Year!

Let's have a good 2009 out there people.
Stay warm, stay positive and run your balls off.
Love,
Supervictory

Questions for Henry Rollins

Why did you choose weight-lifting over running?
Running is such a better way to leave all those awful feelings of low self-worth behind. Lifting weights just packs on the bulk, bulk borne of hate and rage, that you then have to carry around with you all the time. Talk about baggage. Sounds heavy.

Will you ever own up to being a total jock?
Everybody knows you've made some kickass music over the years, and nobody is doubting your status as one of punk rock's monster action-hero gods.
But c'mon, all that angry weight-lifting can only be the result of having your ass kicked by jocks so many times that you seek revenge by transforming yourself into a bigger, meaner jock so you can out-jock the jocks who made you feel so small. And there's nothing wrong with that. We're just saying that in this day and age, and on this blog, it's perfectly OKAY to be both punk, and a jock.

Where can I get some of those sweet Dolphin running shorts?
Did you and Richard Simmons team up and go on a Dolphin running shorts buying spree in the 80's? Because I can't find them anywhere.

Fred Lebow

Forget about all the doctors, lawyers, professional overachievers and millions of marketing dollars that make it easy to think that running isn't punk. There was a time when the only people who hit the pavement for exercise were boxers, who called it "roadwork." Beyond that, there were little pockets of nutjobs here and there who knew they were on to something good.

One such pocket was a small group who ran in NYC in the late 60's.
If the Sex Pistols' legendary first show in Manchester can be pinpointed as the cradle of punk rock music, this crew of weirdos can be credited for birthing the punk rock running scene.

Of these, there was one dude named Fred Lebow. A Transylvanian Jewish immigrant born Fischel Lebowitz, Fred wanted to get the word out, and turn people on to running. So he fought long and hard, battling city officials at every level until finally he got this little project called The New York City Marathon off the ground. Oh, and in the process, he helped launch a worldwide movement that to this day attracts doctors, lawyers, professional overachievers and millions of marketing dollars.
If that's not punk, I don't know what is.

NYC Hardcore

Yesterday's NYC Marathon was beautiful.
Unfortunately Supervictory's travel budget didn't allow for on-the-scene coverage, but hopefully we'll be there next year.

Sweaty mesh hats off to British badass Paula Radcliffe for going out strong and dominating the race the whole way through for her 3rd NYC victory.

And can I get a "hell yeah" for Brazilian Marilson Gomes dos Santos for running a smart strategic race and going in for the kill in the final mile.

And lastly, much respect to every last runner and wheelchair competitor who filled out the roughly 39,000 strong crowd.
Each and every one of you rocks.