ITEN, Kenya — In Iten, a village 8,000 feet above Kenya's Rift Valley, it sometimes seems that everyone can run the marathon in under 2 hours and 15 minutes. Elsewhere, this might be national record pace, but in Kenya running 11 minutes slower than the world record just isn't good enough. "You have to run under 2:10," said Edwin Letting, 33, while training to shave off three minutes of his personal best, 2:13, at Iten's dirt racetrack, which he shares with dozens of other runners, cows and sheep simultaneously.

BOSTON — Tiger Woods’ golf game has so many virtues that it is difficult to single one out. But if fans were forced to choose their favorite, I have no doubt it would be Tiger’s uncanny ability to hit recovery shots. Time and again, he finds himself in an impossible situation on the golf course and not only finds a way out of trouble, but most often winds up smelling sweet.

BOSTON — If there remains any doubt about the paramount importance of Champions League in Europe, this week’s games — in Champions League as well as the domestic leagues — left no doubt.