There are all too few decent books on track and field and its practitioners. But Haile Gebrselassie, the greatest long distance runner in history is fittingly getting another volume to sustain his legend; and one in which he has had a hand.

You have probably noticed that the sun is setting much earlier these days and in some areas our running routes may be snowy or icy. Winter is the season for runners to be extra vigilant to ensure their personal safety. Based on the results of our October web poll, over 40% of our web visitors brave the cold and run outside when the weather is at or below freezing. So during these winter months, please keep these important safety tips in mind.

Former world 5,000m record holder David Moorcroft, has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer of UK Athletics, after nearly 10 successful years at the helm of the world's richest national athletics federation. Duncan Mackay looks at his legacy.

As 2006 closes, it is time to recognize and celebrate the "Best Moments" in U.S. distance running, and this year, there were plenty of exciting and historic individual and collective moments (and some disappointments). 2005 was a good year for the sport and 2006 was even better as the Top 10 moments below attest.

Monte-Carlo - In the sixth part of their end of year review, statisticians A. Lennart Julin and Mirko Jalava continue with their appraisal of this year, here concentrating with the highlights of the LONG DISTANCE running races which took place in 2006. MEN – Long Distance - 5000m Prior to winning his fifth World Cross Country Championship double, this time in Fukuoka, Japan, Bekele won the 3000m title at the World Indoor Championships in Moscow. Yet the 24-year-old 5000/10,000m World record holder took an upset defeat in his first outdoor track race of the season. Isaac Songok (KEN), who had finished a very close second in the short cross race in Fukuoka, clearly beat Bekele in the Oslo 5000m. But Songok didn’t build on this win to jump to the spot as number one long distance runner, but he did record a world leading 3000m time of 7:28.72 in Rieti in August.

Competitiors from Armenia, Australia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, and the USA took part in the second Antarctic Ice Marathon & 100km races. These are the only footraces held within the Antarctic Circle and take place in 24-hour daylight at 80 degrees South.

Monte-Carlo - The respected track and field statisticians, A. Lennart Julin and Mirko Jalava continue their end of season review, with the 2006 competitive highlights of the road events, the Road Running and Race Walks – It was another fast year for men’s half marathon as seven athletes recorded times under 60 minutes. 33-year-old Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, having already achieved everything on track including multiple World records, two Olympic titles and four 10,000m World titles, broke the World record for the Half Marathon just two weeks into 2006

The surprise for the real live Christmas goose “Joggy“ was perfect: At the 8th “Burn off the Christmas Goose“ Run organized by BERLIN-MARATHON, the traditional Santa (Wolfgang Paech) arrived at Mommsen Stadium with a goose under his arm, but two other geese (stuffed, however) were there competing with the goose star, as well!

Voting takes place on the EAA website until 31 December from a shortlist of 25 men and 25 women. Included on the shortlist are all 41 individual European champions plus other athletes who performed exceptionally in 2006.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Double World cross country bronze medallist Meselech Melkamu continued her impressive cross country season with victory in the 8km long course race at the MOHA Jan Meda Addis Ababa Cross Country Championships in Addis Ababa (December 23-24’ 2006).

You can burn off calories in the Grunewald Forest on the day after Christmas, on December 26, 2006, at the 8th Berlin “Burn off the Christmas Goose“ Run. Bernd Hübner invites you to join in the ultimate running recreation in the forest. The Christmas goose traditionally joins Santa Claus in the run.