Hot Topics: Running Trendsetters, Pension Boom and a Microsoft Tell-All

Running Role Models: In the 1970s and early 1980s, long-distance running was considered a man's sport, but two women helped change that: U.S. runner Joan Benoit Samuelson and Norway's Grete Waitz. While still a novice, Samuelson won the Boston Marathon in 1979 and five years later took gold in the first-ever Olympic women's marathon in Los Angeles, with Waitz coming in second. Waitz, 57, died this week after a six-year struggle with cancer. "She was an inspiration, especially to women and to girls -- like me -- because she ran right past preconceived limits," Linda Robertson writes of Waitz in the Miami Herald. Samuelson, 53, is still running. On April 18, she competed in her first Boston Marathon since 1993, winning her age group with a time of 2:51:29.

Microsoft Co-Founder Publishes Tell-All: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's autobiography, Idea Man: A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft, is out this week. In it, Allen, 58, recounts overhearing co-founder Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, now Microsoft's CEO, talking in 1982 about cutting him out of the company. Allen, an avid sports fan and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trailblazers, says being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2009 prompted him to share his life story. "This is my own shot at getting it right. It was unclear if I was going to see the publication of the book when I was first diagnosed," Allen tells the Oregonian. "Fortunately, I had a great response to the chemotherapy regimen and took a turn for the best, but I didn't know that when I started."

From Sidekick to Star Turn: For four years, actor Bruce Campbell has played the stubbly, beer-drinking sidekick on the popular TBS spy series Burn Notice. But the 52-year-old actor gets top billing for this week's TV movie prequel about his character's past, "Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe." To portray his younger self, Campbell ate more vegetables, shed 20 pounds and hiked the mountains behind his home in Oregon every day. "I'm a middle-aged man now. I never thought of anything until I was 50," he tells USA Today. "It just got me thinking I might almost be mortal. I started taking care of the old frame."

What 50 Looks Like: As baby boomers reach middle age, more Americans than ever will be celebrating their 50th birthdays in 2011, including some of the giants of entertainment, politics and sports. Check out some notable newcomers to the club, including Barack Obama, Meg Ryan and George Clooney.

Spending it Before They Go: When it comes to their money, more wealthy boomers would rather spend it on travel or fun than save it for the kids. According to a new report from Bank of America N.A.'s U.S. Trust division, 49 percent of 457 high-net-worth adults (with more than $3 million in assets) surveyed said leaving a financial inheritance is personally important. Two-thirds also said they want to use their wealth to travel, and 36 percent just want to have fun. In addition, 49 percent said "making a positive impact on society or leaving a lasting legacy of contribution to society were important to them in the way they want to use their wealth" -- proving that you don't have to be Warren Buffett or take the Giving Pledge to make a difference.

Public-Sector Pensions Rebound: The value of public-sector pension funds rose sharply in 2010, leading supporters to say they are healthier than expected, retirement expert and SecondAct contributor Mark Miller writes in a Reuters column. State and local pension fund assets rose 35 percent from a March 2009 low and stand at a two-year high, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA) and the National Council on Teacher Retirement. According to an NASRA official, the gains are due to investment returns and changes plans made to pension benefit levels and contribution rate structures.

Employers Expect to Alter Retiree Prescription Benefit: Under health-care reform, employers that offer prescription drug plans to Medicare-eligible retirees won't receive a tax deduction after 2012, leading nearly three quarters of companies to consider altering what they provide, according to a new survey. Of 334 companies included in the Aon Hewitt Inc. survey, some said they may contract directly with a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan; others are considering giving retirees a fixed amount they could use to buy drug coverage; and 9 percent expect to stop offering the benefit, according to a Business Insurance report.

I Can See Clearly Now: Forget your reading glasses at home? Use your iPhone. The NetSoft Eye Reader app turns the iPhone 4's 3.5-inch widescreen display into a magnifying glass that makes text appear up to five times larger. According to The Atlantic, the program -- $1.99 at the iTunes store -- is the first of a string of boomer apps the company plans to introduce this year.

Last Word: "I do not believe anybody gives service in their encore career to be recognized, but when it happens it is very rewarding and satisfying." -- Farm to Family founder and 2007 Purpose Prize winner Gary Maxworthy