Cycling: Armstrong training in New York as marathon nears

Friday, October 20, 2006 - 10:22 PM

NEW YORK — Running in his first New York Marathon will be a challenge for Lance Armstrong, but just training for it has been an adventure, too, especially in the Big Apple.

In Manhattan's Central Park, the finish for the 26.2-mile race on Nov.5, Armstrong has encountered onlookers shouting encouragement, unexpected running companions from the Columbia University cross country team and a preview of what the big day will be like that keeps his spirits up.

"There are days when I say I'll never do it again," Armstrong said in an interview Wednesday. "Then I run through and I see all the bleachers and everything and I'm like, 'I'm doing this every year.' "

The participation of the seven-time Tour de France champion has created an even greater buzz around the annual event and has prompted speculation about how well Armstrong will do when his feet are pounding pavement instead of pushing pedals.

Speaking at his Manhattan hotel overlooking Central Park, Armstrong said his goal remains to finish the marathon within three hours, even though he has found it hard to find time to train amid a busy travel schedule. He said he has yet to run beyond about 14 miles in training, although he plans an 18- to 20-mile run on Sunday after returning to Austin.

"Quite honestly, it's a little risky because that's two weeks out," he said, saying his first priority is avoiding injury.

"It's safe to say I won't do many bike rides between now and the marathon."

But cycling is never far from his thoughts.

On the news that Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso left the Danish CSC team on Wednesday, Armstrong said his former team, Discovery Channel, had long sought him as a strong addition.

"We've always been after him. I think he would be a good fit," Armstrong said.

Armstrong also assailed a new book going on sale in France today as "another baseless attack" against him.

The book, "LA Official", by Pierre Ballester and David Walsh, who wrote "L.A. Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong" in 2004, is based on testimony given in a legal dispute between Armstrong and Dallas-based SCA Promotions that had a bonus contract with the cyclist.

"This latest attack will be no different than the first — a sensationalized attempt to cash in on my name and sully my reputation by people who have demonstrated a consistent failure to adhere to the most basic journalistic standards or ethics," Armstrong said.





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