Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2022 i AW - Athletics Weekly Magazine

OCTOBER 2022 AW Editorial Director There is a calm to be found in running. Particularly on those sweet but all too rare days when nothing niggles, the going is easy and you feel like you could carry on forever, the metronomic sound of trainer on ground can be a reassuring and satisfying thing. Even the occasions when the struggle is a little more real provide a hugely welcoming distraction – and a particularly important one, too. Just as we thought the world might be heading back to some kind of post-pandemic stability, the curve balls have continued to come from all angles. Simply turning on the news can represent an act of bravery right now. Yet amidst the apocalyptic headlines, you can still find reasons to be cheerful – and…

It wasn't just Eliud Kipchoge who was managing to produce history-making feats of running endurance last month. Just as the Kenyan is edging closer to the fabled two-hour barrier at a big city marathon, Aleksandr Sorokin is also homing in on reaching a mark which many previously felt was out of reach. The Lithuanian is enjoying something of a purple patch right now and, in the last 18 months, he has been rewriting the ultra-distance record books. During that time he has set men's marks at 100km once and at 100 miles, 12 hours and 24 hours on two separate occasions. But it is his recent improvement on his already phenomenal 24-hour record that has certainly got people talking. Set at the IAU European 24-hour Championships in Verona, he travelled…

INTERVIEW ROGER BLACK You came very close to breaking the European 400m record. Why do you think it is still standing after so long? The European 400m record of 44.33 was set in 1987 by a great rival of mine called Thomas Schönlebe from East Germany. He never beat me and I only ran against him three or four times. In 1987 he became world champion. I'm surprised the record has stood so long. A few people have had a nibble at it, including myself, Iwan Thomas, Derek Redmond and most recently Matthew Hudson-Smith. I thought Matthew would break it this year and I think he eventually will if he stays fit. I guess it's stood so long because it's a good record but I think it's time for Europeans to…

It's a rare breed of athlete that can succeed at the top level at both 400m and 800m, but Samuel Reardon has done just that this year. At the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, he was the youngest member of the Great Britain team when, aged 18, he ran as part of the 4x400m relay side. He then finished fifth over 800m at the World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, during the summer. A prolific racer, with 34 competitions under his belt this year, he credits the National Athletics League for a lot of his development. “It's been a great opportunity to do multiple events on the same day – for example the 800m, 400m and 4x400m relay – which I think has helped me massively trying to go…

On the same day Eliud Kipchoge was rewriting the record books once again, the women's race in Berlin produced what was arguably an even more remarkable performance. Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa, a former 800m runner whose previous best had been 2:34:01, scythed almost 19 minutes off that time by clocking 2:15:37 to win in the German capital, the third-fastest women's time in history. The 2016 Olympian on the track, who had to switch to the roads due to an Achilles problem, had only returned to racing in March after not competing for around two-and-a-half years. She became the first woman to run under two minutes for the 800m and break 2:20 for the marathon.…

MARATHON LONDON The top British runners in the men's and women's races in London both had less than conventional journeys to the start line. Weynay Ghebresilasie might have finished outside of the 2:09:40 World Championships qualifying time after running a PB of 2:11:57 in coming ninth, but the Eritrean-born 28-year-old, who qualified to run for Great Britain last year, has his sights on reaching Budapest in 2023, as well as the Paris 2024 Olympics. Rose Harvey, meanwhile, did secure the world qualifying standard when clocking 2:27:59 as she continued what has been a rapid rise through the running ranks. Sporting the vest of his Glasgow-based club Shettleston Harriers given that he is still without a kit sponsor, Ghebresilasie could barely contain his pride, even in spite of hamstring problems in…

PERFORMANCE NEWS EXAMINING THE POWER OF PLANTS Plant-based diets and supplements are becoming increasingly popular with athletes, but how do they compare to dairy-based protein when it comes to supporting muscle health? Researchers at the University of Birmingham are partnering with manufacturer Myprotein to conduct a study that will investigate the effectiveness of THE Plant, a new performance-focused plant protein product. “In the case of plant-based proteins, there is concern that they will not effectively reproduce the complex range of proteins found in more traditional animal-based products,” says Dr Leigh Breen of the University's School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences. “The product we are testing here comes from a range of plant sources that may overcome those challenges.” Breen and colleagues will compare THE Plant with other protein powders, including…

PERFORMANCE PERIOD DRAMA “WE'VE GOT RESEARCH STUDIES RUNNING ALL THE TIME, BUT THERE IS A REAL RELUCTANCE AMONG TOP LEVEL ATHLETES TO TAKE PART Dina Asher-Smith grabbed the headlines at the European Championships as much for her comments off the track as her performances on it. After limping out of the women's 100m final with calf cramps, she later admitted it was “girls’ stuff” that had caused the issue and called for more research to be done on the menstrual cycle and its impact on performance. “We see girls that have been consistent have a random dip. Behind the scenes they are really struggling, while everyone is thinking, ‘What's that? That's random’. We just need more funding,” she said. “I feel like if it was a men's issue there would be…

FELL RUNNING English Schools Championships, Giggleswick, October 1 European under-18 3000m silver medallist Jess Bailey showed her versatility by adding an English Schools fell title to her cross-country success from March. Years 12/13 (5.95km/251m) Boys: 1 F Roden 25:50; 2 E Hobbs 26:49; 3 I Battye 27:08 Girls: 1 J Bailey 28:25; 2 E Gibbons 29:08; 3 A Lane 30:17 Years 10/11 (5.59km/247m) Boys: 1 J Sanderson 23:37; 2 F Goodman 24:16; 3 S Perry 25:03 Girls: 1 G Bell 27:17; 2 O Aldham 29:49; 3 S Cowin 30:28 Years 8/9 (3.96km/206m) Boys: 1 B Brassington 20:46; 2 H Berry 21:09; 3 T Kunicki-Holda 21:11 Girls: 1 C Mckee 21:05; 2 I-M Wilson 23:23; 3 B Buckley 23:29 Years 7 (283km/130m) Boys: 1 R Carter 13:46; 2 O Goodman 14:08;…

Mini marathon's maximum growth Plans by the London Marathon to grow the Mini Marathon field from 7000 to around 50,000 in eight years’ time are admirably ambitious. It would mean we would see just as many children as we did adult runners at this month's “main London Marathon” plus another 10,000! I wonder how London see this materialising, though. Would the kids go off in lots of waves through the day? Or would there be one mass run with 50,000 kids running presumably 2.6km? Aaron Brown, Manchester Unwelcome withdrawals Why so many drop-outs before the London Marathon this year? Are they all exhausted from an unusually busy year that had three major champs in the summer? Or are the super shoes causing more injuries than we realise? Elise Cadman, via…

DIGEST PICTURE THIS The start of a marathon is when runners are supposed to begin gradually easing into a steady pace, rather than flying off the line. One man opted to defy convention, however, and set off at a sprint at this year's London Marathon. Richard Lee-Wright, from Devon, said he had fulfilled a dream when he shot out into a shortlived lead, punching the air as he did so. “It all started about six years ago,” said the 38-year-old, who secured his place on the start line among the elites by running 2:37:34 at Newport last year. “A friend and me were watching the London Marathon and I told him I could lead it. He said there was no chance. “I'd told people for years that I was going to…

MY GREATEST RACE EAMONN MARTIN Bislett Games, Oslo, July 2, 1988 – 10,000m, first place, 27:23.06 I was still working for Ford at that point – officially as a testing and development engineer, testing all of the various components around the car. When I came back from the 1984 Olympic Games, the powers that be there met me and asked: “Is there anything we can do to help?” I'd gone to Europe after those Olympics and raced in Cologne and Koblenz, as did Dave Moorcroft, and I spent quite a bit of time with him. He told me that he'd tried full-time working, part-time working and being a full-time athlete. He found that by far the best balance had been working part-time and having a purpose each day so that he…

SPOTLIGHT VERITY OCKENDEN When I made my first tentative footholds as a resident in Italy, my foundations felt rocky. I'd waited so long and worked so hard to make my emigration possible that, once ensconced, I clung to my small house like my life depended on it. I felt a sense of trepidation with every repatriation that had to be made in order to race in the UK, as if everything I had gained might disappear again by the time I returned. I was so busy imprinting myself on my new home, that I didn't miss my birthplace at all. And yet, as the months went by spent on the road between altitude camps in Font Romeu and St Moritz, and I returned sporadically to my trusty Tuscany to find everything…

MARATHON LONDON The universe seemed determined to test the London Marathon organisers this year. It felt like the news cycle during the lead-up to the event revolved more around which athletes were no longer running than those who were. Whether it was the big British draw of Mo Farah having to step away due to a hip injury, the abandonment of Brigid Kosgei's anticipated women-only world record attempt through hamstring problems – even wondering where the stories might come from and who would sprinkle some stardust on the streets of the British capital. Every runner who toes the London start line has a tale to tell, though, and some great yarns were woven during this annual celebration of distance running.…

MARATHON LONDON While there might not have been any Brits competing at the head of the fields in the London Marathon, home athletes were still playing an important and valuable role in proceedings this year. The pacemakers certainly stood out this year, with striking cerise and gold singlets (the corporate colours of race sponsor TCS) having replaced the familiar black and white of Shaftesbury Barnet previously sported by those charged with leading the way. A strong British contingent was out in force, including Andy Butchart and Emile Cairess at the head of the elite men's group but also Marc Scott, Ben Connor and Ellis Cross, among others, while Calli Thackery helped pace Rose Harvey to 32km. “Having two Brits pace the lead group is an honour in itself,” said Butchart, who…

INTERVIEW CIARA MAGEEAN Pain is something of a constant in the life of an athlete. There's the physical agony which comes from pushing the human body to its limits in training and competition, but then there's also the accompanying anguish of a race which hasn't gone to plan, the lingering hurt inflicted by the dissenting voices of those on the outside or that nagging feeling of potential unfulfilled. Ciara Mageean has experienced all of the above and knows which variety she prefers. She has been at the heart of some of the most memorable moments of this summer, coming away with Commonwealth and European 1500m silver medals after going toe to toe with Laura Muir and then following that up by breaking Sonia O'Sullivan's Irish record at the Diamond League meeting…

GET THE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT RIGHT I began coaching in 1972, when I was teaching in Redruth and started a school cross country club. The school fields proved to be an ideal starting point for the young athletes. The perimeter of the fields gave us a mile circuit, on four levels, with three banks of different gradients and lengths separating each level. It was an ideal area to use with young athletes, encouraging them all the time, with scope for developing their ability to prepare for cross county in the winter and track races in the summer. I would recommend trying to keep adding numbers to your group. All runners improve general endurance with company, developing a competitive advantage in a more social setting. Developing club links with local schools provided…

PERFORMANCE APPLIANCE OF SCIENCE Nearly all athletes use weight training as part of their routines. However, the science behind how to get the most from it for direct athletic improvement is neither consistent, nor even fully understood. So many variables influence how successful a weight training programme will be. For a start, not all athletes will respond to weight training in the same way. Some may bulk up considerably in response to specific protocols, while others won't. Firstly, it should be noted that an increase in lean mass, although potentially allowing for the expression of more power, can also result in more weight to be carried on the athlete's body. An increase in muscle mass can slow all distance run times if the athlete's power-to-weight ratio is negatively affected. Secondly, weight…

PERFORMANCE I have a burning sensation and weakness in my quads (vastus medialis). What could the injury be and have you got any treatment advice? First of all, there are four quad muscles and the vastus medialis is the one that runs down the inside of the knee. Many people talk about the vastus medialis being a real controlling muscle within the quads and actually they've done all sort of studies which show that when the quads pull, they all pull, so there isn't a significant difference that you'll build up one muscle more than another. That said, people are still very keen to do specific exercises for the vastus medialis. What could the injury be? Maybe it's that your knee is just translating a little bit more to the…

OCTOBER 15 • Cardiff Cross Challenge cardiffcrosschallenge.co.uk • NECAA Cross Country Relay Championships Peterlee nemaa.co.uk/necaa • British Athletics Hill and Fell Relay Biggar carnethy.com OCTOBER 16 • TCS Amsterdam Marathon tcsamsterdammarathon.eu • TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon torontowaterfrontmarathon.com • Yorkshire Marathon runforall.com • Cabbage Patch 10 Twickenham cabbagepatch10.com • Great South Run Portsmouth greatrun.org • Oceania Trail Championships Christchurch worldathletics.org OCTOBER 22 • Northern Ireland International Cross Country Belfast athleticsni.org • Lindsays scottishathletics National Cross Country Relay Championships Cumbernauld scottishathletics.org OCTOBER 23 • Venice Marathon venicemarathon.it • Valencia half marathon valenciaciudaddelrunning.com • Leeds Abbey Dash 10km ageuk.org.uk • Area Cross Country Relays Various englishcrosscountry.co.uk • Cross Country Bydgoszcz Poland worldathletics.org OCTOBER 30 • Mainova Frankfurt Marathon frankfurt-marathon.com • Cross Cup van Mol Belgium sport.be NOVEMBER 3-6 • World Mountain and Trail…

THE MAIN EVENTS Brian Hewson (above right), who represented Great Britain at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics and won European 1500m gold, died last month aged 89. The middle-distance runner also claimed two Commonwealth silver medals over 880 yards in 1954 and 1958. His best place at the Olympics was fifth in the 1500m final at Melbourne 1956, after he had led into the final straight. Hewson was also one of the first men to run a sub-four minute mile, clocking 3:59.8 at the White City Stadium in 1955. Finishing third to László Tábori and Chris Chataway, he became the first person in history to run a mile in less than four minutes and not finish in the top two. Before that race, only Roger Bannister and John Landy had…

The 32 Diamond League champions for 2022 were crowned as the top-level track and field season came to a close last month with the final at the twoday Weltklasse meeting in Zurich. Seven world champions were among the athletes who had to qualify for the final by accumulating points at the 12 previous meetings. Winning the Diamond League title also brings with it a wild card entry to next year's World Championships in Budapest. Six winners were decided on the opening day of action at the city centre Sechselautenplatz, with American Joe Kovacs produced the throw of his life and the third-biggest of all-time – to win a spectacular shot put contest. The two-time world champion reached out to a remarkable 23.23m with his second-round effort to defeat the current…

DIGEST KATHARINE MERRY Retirement has felt like a recurring theme across the sporting world in recent weeks. Roger Federer and Serena Williams saying farewell to tennis have of course been the most high-profile examples but, even a little closer to home, Tom Bosworth and now James Dasaolu have stepped off the track for good, while Mo Farah's late withdrawal from the London Marathon heightened the discussion around how much longer he can keep going for. Former British Lion Brian O'Driscoll made a TV documentary recently, speaking to a number of former sports stars about how difficult it is to move on from that purpose which defined your identity. I can completely relate to that. It really isn't easy. In my experience, I've found that most track and field athletes don't choose…

Marketing professionals would call it “cut-through”. The rest of us would probably call it just being famous. Whatever term you choose, for such a slight man, Eliud Kipchoge is beginning to possess an extraordinary amount of power. The Kenyan, who has become king of all he surveys in the marathon running world, is bringing levels of attention to his sport in ways not really seen since the days when Usain Bolt bestrode the sprinting scene. He wasn't even running at this year's London Marathon, yet still Kipchoge's presence was the dominant one. Even if he hadn't been on hand to offer advice to runners at the pre-event expo, give out medals at the mini marathon and then the full showpiece event the following day, it was still his recent achievements…

MARATHON LONDON There might have been a lengthy period of calm in the men's and women's elite races, but both ended with mighty storms as big changes of pace in the latter stages settled the outcome. Yalemzerf Yehualaw's first name translates as “the edge of the world”. Certainly, when it comes to marathon running, the 23-year-old from Ethiopia has seamlessly joined the global elite. She became the youngest ever winner of the women's race when clocking 2:17:26, her victory coming despite stumbling briefly on a speed bump at around 20 miles and losing 20-30 metres to the leaders in the process. Picking herself up and dusting off minor injuries to her left hip and knee, she produced a ferocious 23rd mile of 4:43 to break clear from reigning champion Joyciline Jepkosgei…

SPOTLIGHT THAILAND The mountain of Doi Suthep on the outskirts of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is a well-known tourist spot thanks to the stunning temple which sits nestled on its tree-covered slopes. At the beginning of next month, however, this verdant area will welcome the arrival of a group of visitors who come in search of athletic success rather than a place of worship and peace. The inaugural World Mountain and Trail Running Championships will be held over the opening weekend of November and will combine mountain and trail events with classic up and down mountain races, plus uphill only contests. There will also be longer trail races over 40km and 80km. With off-road running enjoying a substantial growth in popularity in recent years, these championships represent the coming together…

Thinking differently has been cited as something athletics should be embracing across a number of areas of the sport. Mark Booth, for one, couldn't agree more and the Reading AC coach doing just that has led to the creation of a training group from which the athletes are enjoying increasing levels of success. He had noticed the alarming dropout rate of women from athletics once they have finished university and, upon trying to find out why, the most common answer he received was that athletes simply don't know where to go if they have changed location to join the workplace. It's not uncommon that, when women establish a place to start their careers away from the track, the search for a training squad only uncovers groups “just full of U17…

THE RACERS ASICS Asics.com NOVABLAST 3 £135.00 A little lighter, a little springier and a little more stable than the previous generation of this model, the Novablast 3 is an all-round improvement. Cushioning comes from the FF Blast Plus midsole, formed into a pattern which takes its inspiration from origami and geometric patterns. This new shape contributes to the increased stability of the shoe, making it more suitable for a wider range of runners as a daily trainer. The feel is enjoyable and energised, with a soft impact and spring-like toe off, with the overall shape and geometry giving the feel of a super-shoe racer but without the carbon plate and the often hefty price tag. The Jacquard mesh upper has a knitted design and feels durable, which is a…

Answers in the November issue of AW SEPTEMBER ANSWERS: 1 1986 and 1990; 2 Four faces: Jereem Richards, Paul Eldhouse, Laura Muir and Hannah Cockroft; 3 Tom Bosworth; 4 Lina Nielsen; 5 50.68 seconds; 6 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah; 7 9.14m. Start to first hurdle is 13.72m. Final hurdle to finish is 14.02m; 8 1891 at the AAU (USA) Championships; 9 Competition; 10 Steve Backley, Javelin. 1992 bronze in Barcelona, 1996 silver in Atlanta and 2000 silver in Sydney.…