Running News Daily

Olympic Marathoner Ryan Hall Shared Things to Do the Night Before a Big Race

Ryan Hall made history as a runner, becoming the first American to break the hour barrier in the half-marathon. Since retiring from pro running in 2016, he has packed on the muscle and is now able to deadlift more than 500 pounds—while still holding onto his record as the fastest American runner of all time in the half and full marathon categories.

Hall's wife Sara, meanwhile, continues to kill it as an elite distance runner; she was the first American in over a decade to reach the podium at last year's London Marathon. Today, Sara is competing in a half-marathon race in Eugene, and in a post shared to Instagram last night, Hall broke down the seven most important things that they have both learned over the years about how to best prepare for a long-distance race.

First off, Hall recommends lying down rather than sitting wherever possible. "Sitting creates all kinds of tightness and kinks that you want to avoid pre-race," he says

Secondly: eat up. A common pitfall is to not consume enough calories to keep you going when the time comes. "Don't be afraid to eat," he says. "Remember that you are fueling today for tomorrow’s race." He also advises to "keep your food simple," suggesting white meat and egg whites as good sources of protein and white rice and pasta as simple carb sources, as well as to keep your electrolytes up, "as they are needed not only for holding water/hydration but also for your muscles to neurologically fire."

Ryan Hall made history as a runner, becoming the first American to break the hour barrier in the half-marathon. Since retiring from pro running in 2016, he has packed on the muscle and is now able to deadlift more than 500 pounds—while still holding onto his record as the fastest American runner of all time in the half and full marathon categories.

Hall's wife Sara, meanwhile, continues to kill it as an elite distance runner; she was the first American in over a decade to reach the podium at last year's London Marathon. Today, Sara is competing in a half-marathon race in Eugene, and in a post shared to Instagram last night, Hall broke down the seven most important things that they have both learned over the years about how to best prepare for a long-distance race.

First off, Hall recommends lying down rather than sitting wherever possible. "Sitting creates all kinds of tightness and kinks that you want to avoid pre-race," he says

Secondly: eat up. A common pitfall is to not consume enough calories to keep you going when the time comes. "Don't be afraid to eat," he says. "Remember that you are fueling today for tomorrow’s race." He also advises to "keep your food simple," suggesting white meat and egg whites as good sources of protein and white rice and pasta as simple carb sources, as well as to keep your electrolytes up, "as they are needed not only for holding water/hydration but also for your muscles to neurologically fire."

He also urges you to stay away from hot tubs as they can "leave legs feeling jello-y", and says it's perfectly normal to not sleep very well the night before a big race.

Finally, he says, be sure to enjoy yourself. "Reminding myself of this reality takes the pressure off and reminds me to soak it all in and enjoy every part of the experience," he says. "I’ve found, when I am having the most fun is when I’m usually performing the best."

The Most Common Running Pains, And How To Avoid Them

If you’re a runner, chances are you know a thing or two about pain. Whether it’s the pain of overtraining, the pain of a nagging injury, or the pain of missing a personal record (PR) by a few seconds, one thing is for sure: Regardless of its origin — your body, your soul, or you ego — it all hurts. The comforting news? You’re not alone. With running being the second most popular form of exercise in the world after walking, it’s no surprise that the prevalence of running injuries in the United States is between 19 and 79 percent. That’s a lot of people running around with some degree of “ouch” in their step!

While earning my Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree, a professor once told me, “Pain is a privilege.” While it may not always feel like it, pain is our body’s way of telling us that something isn’t right. Not everyone has the privilege of feeling this built-in warning system, so for those of us who are lucky enough to get the uncomfortable signals that something is wrong, I’d love to help you translate the message.

Despite all of us being unique snowflakes with our own imperfect biomechanics, here is a list of common running pains that unite us, and how to avoid them. Because, let’s face it: being hurt can be… uhhh… a pain.

Muscle Tightness.

The pain: An achy and/or tight feeling anywhere along the muscle. It can feel like one part of your body is being pulled more on one side of your body, or like your alignment is slightly "off."

Why it’s happening: When muscles are tight, they are shortened, which means they are tugging more than they should on one of their attachment sites, such as the bones of the hip or the knee. This pull at the bone causes a slight change in alignment of the joints that, with constant repetitive movements, can lead to bigger problems up or down the kinetic chain. Bottom line: if it’s tight, stretch it!

How to avoid it: Stretch! Consider adding some downward dogs to your pre and post workout repertoire. Maybe even schedule a weekly yoga class, or get acquainted with a foam roller — it may just become your new best friend.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS).

The pain: Unspecific, general and achy discomfort and/or irritation around the kneecap. Your pain gets worse with squats, descending stairs, and/or running.

What it is: Also known as “runner’s knee,” this pain is usually the result of muscle imbalances in your quadriceps. The pain occurs when the patella (AKA your kneecap) doesn’t track properly across the knee joint. It may be pulled a little more to the left, right, up or down, or is simply compressed into the joint in such a way that it is causing friction and irritation. Mild irritation, when not addressed, can feel more diffuse and become a generalized pain around the entire knee area —especially when running or going down stairs or a hill.

How to avoid it: Strengthen the quadriceps and hips (specifically, the gluteus medius muscles -- one of the most important "glute" muscles for runners because it helps stabilize your hips when you're standing on one leg (which is basically what happens most of the time when you're running). You can strengthen this special muscle with exercises such as side-lying straight leg raises or clamshells. And be sure to foam roll the heck out of your quads.

Plantar Fasciitis (PF).

The Pain: A dull ache, almost bruise-like. A feeling of tightness spreads along the bottom of foot, and you may feel pain at base of heel. Pain and/or stiffness is usually felt with the first few steps in the morning.

What it is: The plantar fascia is a band of fibrous tissue that runs from your heel to your toes. What most people with PF feel is a tightness along the bottom (or plantar surface) of their foot that gets worse with unsupportive shoes and/or long walks or runs. One often feels extra irritation at the heel, where the PF begins. The cardinal sign of PF pain is stiffness first thing in the morning. Note: Plantar fascia and achilles/calf tightness may go hand-in-hand.

How to avoid it: Stretch the calves using slant board or runner's lunge alternating 30- to 60-seconds with bent knees and straight knees to target both the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (AKA the "calf muscles"), and strengthen the muscles within your foot with towel curls (scrunch a towel using just your toes for a few minutes every day). You can also self-massage by rolling your foot over a tennis or lacrosse ball, and decrease inflammation with an ice massage by freezing a water bottle and rolling your foot over the ice cold bottle. Even if you're not injured, a massage plus ice is the perfect way to end a long, hot run!

Shin Splints.

The pain: A dull ache in the lower leg, along with extreme sensitivity to touch, pressure, and/or tapping along the line of the shin bone. During activity, you may feel a throbbing deep pain.

What it is: Shin splints occurs when the muscles around the “shin bone” (the tibia) are overused and under-rested, putting abnormal stress at their attachment site along the tibia. Small tears form along the border of the bone, which can cause a lot of pain in the lower leg, made worse with running. Shin splints are often the result of, “too much, too soon.” The dull ache anywhere along the lower leg tends to begin when a runner starts to increase his or her mileage a little too quickly. It can also be the result of weak hips (notice a trend?), tight muscles, or over-pronation of the foot.

How to avoid it: Stretch, stretch, stretch! Make sure those calves are nice and loose, but also make sure to keep them strong (with heel raises, for example). You should also strengthen your hips, make sure you have supportive footwear, and give your body the rest it needs. Shin splints tend to get worse with activity, so be sure to slow down and cut back on the running (temporarily!) before a small annoyance becomes a more chronic problem — or even a stress fracture. And consider buying new shoes -- sometimes, worn down shoes lose their ability to absorb shock, which causes extra stress along the tibia with each stride.

Annie Hughes and Adrian Macdonald win Leadville Trail 100

The world-famous Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva race returned to Leadville this weekend, the pinnacle finale event of the 2021 Leadville Race Series which is comprised of more than 15 mountain bike and trail running events each year. Event owner Life Time welcomed a field of 681 runners ranging in age from 19 to 78 years old, representing all 50 states and 13 countries, who toed the line at 4 a.m. with the ultimate goal of completing the 100-mile “Race Across the Sky” in under 30 hours. Of the 681 starters, 321 finished.

“I want to extend my sincere congratulations and thank you to every single athlete, spectator, and member of the community who collectively made this event so successful,” said first-time Race Director and previous Leadville Trail 100 MTB finisher, Tamira Jenlink. “As a Leadville resident, I understand first-hand how this event changes lives. The entire Life Time team is already looking forward to 2022!”

In the women’s division, Annie Hughes, 23, of Leadville, Colo., finished first with a time of 21:06:58. Genevieve Harrison, 34, of Eagle, Colo., finished with a time of 22:06:59. Third place was secured by Blake Wageman, 36, of Conifer, Colo., who crossed the line at 22:25:20.

Hughes noted about her win, “Living in Leadville, getting to experience altitude and having access to the course year-round was really helpful. I’m so thankful for my pacers and crew, who taught me so much.”

For the men, Adrian Macdonald, 32, of Fort Collins, Colo., finished first with a time of 16:18:19. Matt Flaherty, 36, of Bloomington, Ind., secured second with a time of 16:59:38. Two-time previous winner Anton Krupicka, 38, of Boulder, Colo., placed third with a time of 17:07:55.

Describing his first 100-mile race, Macdonald noted, “I felt great all day — my legs and breathing all felt good. It’s just sort of crazy and insane. I told myself I was just going to go out and run all day and I did.”

Proving themselves to be ultra-endurance champions, three women earned the incredibly respectful title of Leadwoman and 40 men earned the title of Leadman following the event after successfully completing five events within the Leadville Race Series throughout the summer including the Leadville Trail Marathon, Silver Rush 50-mile run or mountain bike race, 100-mile mountain bike race, and Leadville Trail 10K.

The famed course brings runners through 13,000 feet of net gain, topping out at 12,424 feet. Notably, 31 Leadville citizens proudly represented their hometown, for which the race series is well known and beloved, in the participant field.

This year, 66 athletes across the 100 MTB (Aug. 14) and 100 Run (Aug. 21) have exceeded the goal of collectively raising $150,000 for the Life Time Foundation, which will be allocated to Lake County Public Schools schools to keep highly-processed food out of meals, while increasing the amount of fresh and simply prepared foods for students. Additionally, Leadville local Rodrigo Jimenez, who started the race 2.5 hours after the official start, raised more than $72,000 for the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation after passing 660 of the 681 runners on-course, receiving fundraising pledges for each.

To view all of the Life Time athletic events after August, please visit: https://my.lifetime.life/athletic-events.html

The Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva is owned and produced by Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand. It is among more than 30 premier athletic events owned by the company, including the Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Garmin UNBOUND Gravel, Verizon New York City Triathlon, Chicago Triathlon, and Miami Marathon.

About the Leadville Race Series

Started with only 45 runners as the Leadville Trail 100 Run in 1983, the Leadville Race Series now consists of seven running events and four mountain biking events, plus six events in the Leadville Qualifying Series. The Race Series stretches across three months, and hosts thousands of racers on foot and on mountain bike in some of the world’s most iconic events. Endurance athletes worldwide now make the pilgrimage to Leadville, Colo., with the single goal of competing in “The Race Across the Sky.” Visit www.leadvilleraceseries.com for more information.

Athing Mu runs American record at Prefontaine Classic

Less than a month after winning the 800m Olympic gold in Tokyo, Athing Mu bettered her American record over the two-lap race at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday afternoon, stopping the clock at 1:55.04.

The 19-year old improved her previous American record by .17 seconds and set a meet record. Mu has won seven straight races since turning professional on June 19.

“I knew this was probably going to be a little tougher coming off the Olympic games and running a personal best there,” Mu said post-race. “I was not concerned about the time, I just wanted to run with whoever is there and to be competitive.”

Mu led from start to finish, covering the first lap in 54.60. She beat the field by 2.5 seconds as her fellow American Kate Grace finished second in 1:57.60 and Jamaican Natoya Goule was third in a time of 1:57.71.

Mu was not the only American who dazzled on the track. Noah Lyles, who fell short with a bronze medal finish in the men’s 200m in Tokyo, ran a world-leading 19.52 Saturday. 

Lyles had this to say on Twitter after the race:

Lyles’s brother, Josephus Lyles had a personal best performance of 20.03 seconds and finished third in the race, behind Kenny Bednarek (19.80) and above Canada’s Aaron Brown, who finished fourth in 20.12.

Canadian Jerome Blake made his Pre Classic debut, clocking a personal best time of 20.20 over the half-lap race and finishing sixth.

Charlie Purdue and Jake Smith enjoy Big Half victories

Around 12,000 runners took part in 13.1-mile event in London on Sunday

Charlotte Purdue and Jake Smith put in solid performances on the roads of London as they struck victory in the Vitality Big Half on Sunday (Aug 22).

In her third win in the women’s race, Purdue improved her own course record to 69:51, which bodes well for her chances at the Virgin Money London Marathon on October 3.

In the men’s race, Smith clocked 62:06 to beat Jack Rowe by five seconds and the Cardiff runner will hope to go quicker still when he lines up in the Great North Run on September 12.

Around 12,000 runners set off in various waves as part of the return of mass participation running following the pandemic. In the race to finish first woman home, Purdue ran with Samantha Harrison in the early stages before pulling away in the second half of the race. Harrison held on for second in 70:40 as Natasha Cockram was third in 72:46.

Next came Hannah Irwin in 73:24 followed by Naomi Mitchell in 74:24 and Verity Ockenden in 74:35.

“It’s good to be back running with a crowd,” said Purdue, who was racing for the first time since February 2020 due to injury. “I was happy with the time. I was more bothered about ‘racing’ it than the clock, though. I’ve been training really hard for London Marathon so wasn’t sure how tired I’d be, although I felt okay.”

On her build-up to the London Marathon, she said: “My main aim is not to get injured and to keep training consistent and get to the start line healthy.”

Smith was part of a group with Rowe, Mo Aadan and Phil Sesemann mid-way through his race but he broke away at around nine miles and held his advantage over the chasing Rowe despite multiple nervous glances over his shoulder in the latter stages.

Smith ran 62:06 with Rowe clocking 62:11, Aadan 62:28 and Sesemann 62:47.

In fifth Andrew Heyes ran 63:10, followed by Matt Clowes in 63:40, Jamie Crowe in 64:19, Ollie Lockley in 64:26, Doug Musson in 64:36, Calum Johnson 64:38, Jonny Mellor 64:44 and Josh Griffiths 65:11.

“I came into this race as the fastest and had the pressure to deliver so to come away with the win is amazing,” he said. “It’s the first race I’ve done when they bring you forward on the start line (to introduce you to the crowd). After that I just put my head down and tried to race it.

“My aim was to throw in surges throughout and then go hard with about 5km to go. I ran a negative split as well which I’m really happy about.”

Sam Kolek won the men’s wheelchair race in 50:37 as Nikki Emerson won the women’s wheelchair category in 67:38 after Shelly Woods punctured.

Kenyans Felix Kipkoech (58:57) And Joyciline Jepkosgei (65:16) Win Generali Berlin Half-Marathon

Joyciline Jepkosgei took the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON with a spectacular course record of 65:16. The 27 year-old Kenyan smashed the mark of Dutch double Olympic Champion Sifan Hassan, who had won the race with 65:45 in 2019. Second-placed Kenyan Nancy Meto was just five seconds behind, improving her PB by more than three minutes. With 65:21 she was also inside the former course record. Valary Aiyabei completed the Kenyan podium with 67:32 for third place.

Kenya’s Felix Kipkoech clocked a world leading time of 58:57. The 23 year-old improved his own world lead by 38 seconds. Fellow Kenyans Josphat Tanui and Philemon Kiplimo followed in second and third with 59:40 and 59:54 respectively.

A total of 15,096 Starters from 130 countries had entered the 40th edition of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. 14,508 of them were runners, 572 Skaters, 14 Handbikers and 2 wheelchair athletes.

The “Two-Hundred 100 Milers Club:” Sandra Brown and Ed Ettinghausen Rack Up Impressive Number of 100-Mile Finishes

In terms of ultrarunning milestones, Sandra Brown and Ed Ettinghausen are a few 100 milers ahead of the pack.

Brown, a 72-year-old woman from England, said she knew long-distance events were for her as soon as she completed her first 100-mile event, a linear cross-country course on an old pilgrimage route in Southern England finishing in Canterbury.

“I heard about the Centurions — those who have race walked 100 miles in under 24 hours — and I wanted to be a Centurion, perhaps all the more as these events had only recently been opened to women. So I entered and successfully completed that year’s UK 100 Miles Race Walking Championship, a Centurion qualifying event. I was on the slippery slope familiar to all ultra-distance athletes,” said Brown.

Not only did she join the Centurions, but she later went on to complete her own record-setting accomplishment. On March 30, 2019, Brown became the first person to join the “Two Hundred 100 Milers Club,” tallying her 200th 100-mile finish at the Dublin 2 Belfast 107-mile race.

“My 200th 100-mile plus event was a friendly event that [my husband] Richard [Brown] and I did together, and that felt very special. It was a milestone. But at the same time, when I finish every event, I’m also looking forward to future events,” said Brown.

She didn’t stop there. Brown most recently completed her 208th 100 miler on July 23, finishing the Kennet & Avon Canal 145-Mile Race which ran from London to Bristol. Brown, who does a mix of race walking and running, finished the event in a time of 43 hours and 55 minutes, which averages out to an 18:10-minutes-per-mile pace.

Not to be left behind, 59-year-old Ed Ettinghausen, who lives in Murietta, California and is known as the Jester for his colorful race-day attire, completed his 209th 100 miler on August 1 at the Southern Discomfort 30-hour race, edging into the lead over Brown for the time being. Ettinghausen was not far behind Brown in breaking the 200-mark, with his 200th 100-mile finish coming at the Jackpot Ultra Running Festival on April 23, 2021.

Ettinghausen, who said he got bit by the ultrarunning bug when he crewed for a friend at the Badwater 135 in 2010, has been chasing records since finishing his first Badwater in 2011. As he looked into the records, Ettinghausen set his sights on racking up one hundred and forty-five 100-mile finishes to beat the record which, at the time, he thought was held by German doctor Hans-Dieter Weisshaar.

“I reached that and thought I’d broken some record till someone said, ‘Wait, no, have you heard of Sandra Brown? She’s done so many more!’ I found out through [ultrarunning historian] Davy [Crockett] she’d done 180 or so at that point, so I had my sights set on catching her,” said Ettinghausen. “When I found out she had done 205 in 2019, that became my goal.”

As to who is keeping track and how all these 100 milers are tallied, Brown and Ettinghausen are in a league all their own where the numbers are so astronomical that keeping tabs falls largely to them and their fan base in the ultrarunning community. However, one major resource that tracks these endurance legends is the Ultrarunning History website, run by Davy Crockett.

Brown said that for her, keeping tally is more about personal achievement than holding the top place.

“I wish Ed, and all ultra athletes, all the very best in their personal quests and goals. I don’t feel and have never felt that this is rivalry or competition. For me, it’s a personal interest, and I do events for fun and the great satisfaction they give.” said Brown. “The challenge is a personal one – seeing what you can do. I was well over 100 completions of 100 miles or more, and so was Richard, before we even knew that Davy Crockett was keeping records of such completions. Davy does a fantastic job with his ultra-distance history website, which I love reading.”

Only 19 ultrarunners including Brown and Ettinghausen have joined the “100×100 club” with the achievement of running 100 or more 100 milers. Brown’s husband, Richard, is also part of this elite group.

And don’t think that the total mileage Brown and Ettinghausen have accrued is “only” 20,800 and 20,900 miles, respectively. Many of the events they are completing are over 100 miles, as evidenced by Brown’s 145 miler in July and Ettinghausen’s 105 miles at the Southern Discomfort.

When asked how their spirits (and knees) are holding up to the mileage, they had this to share:

“My knees are perfect, in better shape than ever, I did the right training and took care of myself,” said Ettinghausen. “I have a whole bunch of goals. To have 70 wins before I hit 60 years old. Then I have a whole ‘nother goal list.”

“I love every event and confess to complete addiction. I have been very lucky in avoiding significant injuries. I think that mixing race walking and running helps,” said Brown.

At present, both ultrarunners are the only two to break into the “Two Hundred 100 Milers Club,” though up-and-coming ultrarunners are sure to be inspired to chase after their achievement. Apparently, neither one is eyeing retirement after this milestone either, with Ettinghausen aiming at the Angry Owl Ultramarathons 24-hour race next.

“I have the Angry Owl 24-hour race coming up. Last year I took second at the race and hoping to take the win. It will be my 61st 100-mile win,” said Ettinghausen.

Brown, who noted her local events calendars is still recovering from COVID-19 cancelations, hopes to find one or two more events in the fall. “[I] look forward to what 2022 will bring,” said Brown.

Undoubtedly, 2022 will see both Brown and Ettinghausen adding a few more 100-mile finishes to their collection.

Trail Runner Philip Kreycik Found Deceased After Disappearing on a Run in July

On Tuesday, August 3, 2021, authorities announced that a body matching the description of 37-year-old trail runner Philip Kreycik was found in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, California. Kreycik went missing during a July 10 trail run at the park, located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. During a press conference on Thursday, August 5, the Kreycik family confirmed Philip’s death.

Also on Thursday, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office released preliminary autopsy results confirming Kreycik wasn’t a victim of foul play or significant trauma, which they said leads them to believe he likely passed away due to a medical event precipitated by hot and dry weather conditions. Full autopsy results are yet to be released.

The Berkley resident, husband, and father of two was last seen around 10:45 a.m. at the Moller Ranch Staging Area on the morning of July 10. Kreycik’s car was found at a trailhead where he started his hour-long run. His wife, Jen Yao, called the police around 2 p.m. that same day after he failed to check in. Kreycik, an experienced long-distance runner, had no known health conditions.

The Pleasanton Weekly reported that the Pleasanton Police Department organized and led the initial search efforts of the 50-square-mile area with 20 teams of law-enforcement members and community volunteers searching the park on foot, horseback, and electric mountain bikes. They also utilized canines, drones, fixed-wing aircraft, and heat-detecting technology.

The search for Kreycik quickly extended beyond local law enforcement. In the ensuing three weeks, Pleasanton residents and trail running community members stepped up in various ways to support the search effort.

Volunteers created a Facebook page dedicated to the search, and the public group grew to 12,700 members. An Instagram account dedicated to the efforts has also garnered more than 3,000 followers. The community supplemented official search-and-rescue volunteers, regularly filling calls for on-site search volunteers and heading up other support efforts.

Officials and volunteers established a likely route that Kreycik might have taken on July 10, based on a route that he had planned with his Strava app. Strava joined in on the search efforts by emailing all athletes who had activity in the area in the timeframe that Kreycik was thought to be on the trails. Strava asked that parties with any information reach out to the Pleasanton Police Department, although the effort did not turn up any leads.

Pleasanton police said the body was found by a search volunteer under a tree in a heavily wooded area in a remote part of the park approximately a quarter-mile off the trail that Kreycik was thought to be following. At the time of the August 3 press conference, it was unclear if the area had undergone previous search efforts.

“It’s not a designated trail,” said Police Captain Lance Brede of the East Bay Regional Police Department said in a press conference, noting that the area is not readily accessible or traveled by the public. “It’s an area that’s not designated for recreation. It would not be something that someone would come across.”

Brede added that undesignated game trails are common in the park, making it possible to get disoriented.

“We’re very heartbroken here today…” Sargeant Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said in the August 3 press conference. “We wanted to bring him home alive and safe, so this is disappointing.”

At the Thursday morning press conference, Philip’s family spoke, thanking the community for its support. “We can’t possibly ever truly express our appreciation and gratitude enough to really acknowledge what you have all done for us,” said Yao.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Kreycik’s family. The iRunFar family extends its condolences to the loved ones of Philip Kreycik.

SARA HALL RUNS FASTEST HALF MARATHON BY AMERICAN THIS YEAR, MISSES RECORD ATTEMPT

Hall clocks 68:44 in return to Cottage Grove as part of buildup for Chicago Marathon in October, now boasts three career-sub 69 performances

Sara Hall has produced two of the strongest half marathon performances in U.S. history during the past 13 months in Cottage Grove, Ore., but just like last year, Saturday’s effort along the Row River bike path came up short of her pursuit of the American record.

Hall, representing ASICS, clocked 68 minutes, 44 seconds, after she ascended to the No. 6 all-time U.S. competitor last year by running 68:18 along the Harms Park boat ramp parking lot in Cottage Grove.

Hall, who became the fastest American and No. 19 performer in the world this year, now has three career marks under 69 minutes. She also ran 68:58 at the Houston Half Marathon last year.

Molly Huddle still holds the record of 67:25 from the 2018 Houston Half Marathon.

Hall, 38, joined Shalane Flanagan, Jordan Hasay, Emily Sisson and Huddle as the only American women with at least three career sub-69 performances on record-eligible courses.

Hall used Saturday’s opportunity as part of her preparation for the Chicago Marathon, scheduled for Oct. 10.

Hall, who ran the second-fastest performance by a U.S. female with her 2:20:32 effort in December at the Marathon Project in Chandler, Ariz., will be again taking aim at the 2006 American record of 2:19:36 held by Deena Kastor.

How to Avoid Post-Run Pains

It's hard enough to finish a run and deal with tight calves or aching feet. Runners sometimes also have to contend with other nagging ailments that aren't so much related to muscles and joints--ailments such as a pounding post-run headache or a sour post-workout stomach.

These post-run pains can be enough to make you wish for a case of shin splints, but fortunately, many of them also have easy fixes that don't involve reaching for pain relievers. Add some of these tips to your training to see if they relieve post-workout pain.

Headache

A throbbing headache after a run is common for many runners. One theory is that running dilates the blood vessels in the skull, which can cause painful headaches. Headaches can also be made worse by dehydration. The rule of thumb is: If you're running less than an hour and it's cool outside, you don't have to hydrate during your workout, but you'll still want to be sure to fuel up before heading out.

As the weather heats up, stay hydrated with extra water breaks and electrolyte-rich beverages. sports drinks. Most experts recommend three to six ounces of fluid every 30 minutes. Many runners have found that replacing their sodium losses and electrolytes with salty snacks or drinks prevent the post-run headache.

Another possible cause of a headache after your run is that your blood sugar was low before you exercised. Up to two hours before a hot and/or long workout, you'll want to eat a small snack, such as whole-wheat toast or a small bowl of cereal. Then, after finishing your workout, follow it with a meal that's a 4:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein.

You may also be running with tightness in your neck and shoulders, which could eventually lead to that afternoon headache. Make time after you run to stretch out those muscles in your neck and shoulders, and relax them with a hot shower or heating pad.

Gastrointestinal issues

Sometimes the stomach keeps contracting after a sudden stop in exercise (like crossing a finish line). If this happens, you're likely to feel nauseated or even throw up. Cool down completely and avoid sitting after racing or a tough workout. This will help keep your stomach from cramping.

Like headaches, some nausea can be caused by dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance. Staying hydrated will help if fueling issues cause your nausea.

What you eat before your run also affects your stomach. Try to eat at least an hour before your run, unless it's a light snack. Test different energy bars and snacks to see what your stomach can handle.

Fatigue

While exercise gives you a boost in energy, it can make you consistently feel run down if you've hiked up your weekly mileage too quickly. The common rule is to increase your weekly mileage no more than 10 percent a week and to plan for shorter mileage weeks throughout your training to give your body time to recover. Take some time to let your body recover one or two days during the week.

No world record but Sifan Hassan claims a clear win in Eugene

A willing but weary Sifan Hassan fell short of the women’s world 5000m record she was targeting at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday (20) as she finished well clear of a stellar field in 14:27.89.

On the traditional Distance Night preface to the Prefontaine Classic that now forms the Wanda Diamond League meeting, the 28-year-old Dutch runner was clearly tired after an epic season, having won the Olympic 5000m and 10,000m titles in Tokyo earlier this month and added a 1500m bronze.

She had announced her intention of eclipsing the mark of 14:06.62 set by her Ethiopian rival Letesenbet Gidey in Valencia last year, but eventually finished outside her own European record of 14:22.12 set in London two years ago.

Had Hassan’s ambitions come to pass in a recently rebuilt stadium that had the welcome atmosphere of a live home crowd it would have been another blow to her rival Gidey, who in June this year ran 29:01.03 at Hengelo to better the world 10,000m record of 29:06.82 Hassan had set on the same track just two days earlier.

Hassan’s response in Tokyo was impressive as she beat the Ethiopian to the Olympic 10,000m title with an unanswerable sprint around the final bend.

But depriving her rival of one of her world records proved an aspiration too far on this occasion for a woman who already held world marks in the 5km road event, mile and one-hour race.

Within the first 1500m the race had become a time trial as Hassan was the only athlete left tracking the two pacemakers who were keeping pace with the blue guide lights on the infield.

By five minutes in there was only one runner ahead of her. And by the halfway point she was running alone with only the green lights of the world record pace for company.

At the 3000m mark, however, she was slipping behind that snake of flashing green, although she kept working.

With less than a mile to go, the snake was gliding ever further away from her, despite the efforts of the spectators sprinkled throughout the stands of an arena that will host the postponed World Athletics Championships next year.

A lap in 70.1 was followed by 71.83 and with three laps remaining she could see her latest ambition moving away from her, although she had already moved well clear of a stellar field at the end of a long and exhausting season.

As the bell rang it was clear how hard the Dutch athlete was having to work, and she grimaced as she set off for one final lap.

Hassan was followed home by two Ethiopian runners, as Senbere Teferi clocked 14:42.25 and Fantu Worku finished in 14:42.85.

The next four runners clocked personal bests as Kenya’s Loice Chemnung finished in 14:43.65, home runners Alicia Monson and Abbey Cooper recorded 14:48.49 and 14:52.37 respectively and Kenya’s Sheila Chelangat was seventh in 14:52.66.

Gidey had finished second in the previous event, the women’s two miles, clocking 9:06.74 behind Burundi’s Rio 2016 silver medallist Francine Niyonsaba, who finished in a meeting record and 2021 fastest time of 9:06.74.

Kenya’s double world champion Hellen Obiri was third in 9:14.55, ahead of Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen in 9:18.16.

When (and Why) to Train Below Aerobic Threshold

Run too fast some of the time, and you'll probably get slower all the time. Here's what aerobic threshold is, and how to train below it.

That is the running-training paradox- a paradox that has led to the downfall of countless motivated trail runners through injury, burnout and reduced aerobic efficiency.

How It Unfolds

The story plays out so often that it's like a horror movie running on a loop on a dysfunctional DVD player. A trail runner has success through consistent, moderately hard running. That trail runner thinks that his/her success comes from the moderately hard part, rather than the consistency. At that point, coaches and experienced runners usually start screaming "Don't run too hard!" and "Slow down!" just like a horror-movie watcher will scream "Don't go into that abandoned chainsaw warehouse!" But the trail runner keeps on pushing, venturing into the foreboding warehouse, oblivious to the chainsaws around the corner.

Often, that training horror movie does not have a happy ending. In the best cases, the trail runner starts stagnating. In the worst cases, the trail runner starts getting stress injuries or experiencing symptoms of overtraining syndrome.

Many times when professional runners reach out for coaching, they are at the inflection point, starting to feel run down and injury-prone from running a bit too hard, too often. But it's not just pros. Most trail runners seem to struggle with the running training paradox, especially early on in the running journey.

RELATED: Tempo Runs 101

Aerobic Threshold Defined

The most important physiological variable to understand to avoid being the star of your own training horror story is aerobic threshold. Aerobic threshold is the intensity range at which the body switches from primarily relying on fat oxidation for fuel to primarily relying on carbohydrates. Below aerobic threshold, the body has enough oxygen to function without producing significant amounts of lactate and other associated byproducts that build up with harder exercise. Above aerobic threshold, breathing rate increases and lactate levels begin to build up, plus there may be a bit more muscle damage. That is: above-aerobic-threshold training takes longer to recover from.

At even harder efforts, your body produces more lactate than it can use and waste products accumulate without being cleared. That tipping point is called Lactate Threshold.

For training purposes, it's not helpful to think of aerobic threshold as a specific point. Instead, think of it as a range of intensities that vary slightly over time, depending on age, psychological stress, weather and many other variables. Bottom line: it's when you transition from easy to moderate exertion, to a slightly harder effort with deeper breathing and a less-sustainable pace.

How to Figure Out Your Aerobic Threshold

The best way to calculate aerobic threshold is with a metabolic test in a lab. But there are a few other ways to approximate it. Coach Joe Friel estimates that aerobic threshold occurs at a heart rate of around 20 beats per minute below lactate threshold heart rate, which can be estimated easily (in my coaching experience, aerobic threshold is usually around 85 percent of LTHR, or 25 to 35 beats away, with the exception of very highly trained athletes or those 50+ years old, as discussed by Coach Gordo Byrn).

Dr. Phil Maffetone developed the famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) maximum aerobic function (MAF) formula, which ballparks "MAF" heart rate at 180 minus your age. This often gets close to aerobic threshold. The exact heart-rate number is less important; what's important is figuring out what truly constitutes an easy or hard effort for your physiology and background. Aerobic threshold should be a five or six perceived exertion on a scale of 1 to 10, or a mostly conversational effort you could hold for an extended period of time.

Why Aerobic Threshold Matters

Training too much above aerobic threshold can be a ticking time bomb for health and long-term aerobic development. First, the increased stress of training above aerobic threshold often causes an increase in the stress hormone cortisol; second, it can cause higher levels of muscle breakdown and forces your body to absorb more impact forces.

If your stress levels-physical or psychological-are higher than they should be on easy days, the body won't be able to recover from hard days. If stress keeps piling up without adequate recovery, the body often breaks down through fatigue and injury.

Even if break-down doesn't happen, too much running above aerobic threshold can actually cause you to get slower. High-volume aerobic training leads to increased aerobic enzyme activity; it also spurs your body to grow more capillaries to transport oxygen and fuel to working muscles, and more mitochondria, the cellular power centers that convert oxygen and nutrients to energy.

Train too hard too often, and you're neglecting the aerobic base necessary for reaching your performance potential at all distances, including shorter trail races. To run fast when it counts, you need to get comfortable running slowly.

There's an added peril for trail runners: uphills. Most runners find it difficult to stay below aerobic threshold on climbs. As a result, runners who spend lots of time on steep or mountainous terrain might break down sooner than someone training without big climbs, if they aren't careful to take some days easier.

Think of training like a big salad, with time below aerobic threshold being the greens, time closer to lactate threshold being the dressing and time above lactate threshold and VO2 max being the bacon. A salad with just greens isn't going to get a five-star yelp review; likewise, a cup of dressing and bacon might taste okay, but it's not a well-balanced meal.

3 Tips for Putting Your Aerobic Threshold to Work

1. Get an understanding of what your aerobic threshold feels like.

You can approximate your aerobic threshold using a heart-rate monitor or perceived exertion. The MAF test works for many runners, though it can be off for physiologies that vary from average. I often coach the athletes I work with to do a Friel Lactate Threshold Heart Rate test-a 30-minute time trial, averaging your heart rate over the final 20 minutes to get LTHR. Multiply that number by 85 percent to roughly approximate an effort cap for easy runs (though adjusting to a different percentage if you feel like that's a bit too hard or too easy).

You can also use perceived exertion to determine what your "easy" should be. Remember, "easy" does not mean the fastest pace you can go while finishing your run intact; it means truly relaxed and comfortable, talking mostly in complete sentences, with no urge to stop.

The goal isn't to run at your aerobic threshold all the time, but to use it as a general guideline to prevent you from going too hard. It's okay (and recommended) to do easy runs well below that number; it's also OK to go above that number sometimes. But you shouldn't spend lots of time above aerobic threshold without a training goal in mind.

2. Hold yourself accountable to aerobic threshold for most of your running.

Most of your training should be below aerobic threshold. A typical week for an athlete I coach is:

Monday: rest 
Tuesday: Run below aerobic threshold (often with short, fast strides) 
Wednesday: Interval workout (with warm-up and cool-down below aerobic threshold)
Thursday: Run below aerobic threshold (sometimes with faster finishes) 
Friday: rest or run below aerobic threshold 
Saturday: Long run or workout with time spent above aerobic threshold
Sunday: Run below aerobic threshold (often with short, harder strides or faster finishes)

The two days in bold are the days to play with truly hard efforts. All the other days are below aerobic threshold, with variation depending on the athlete. This approach lets you build aerobic volume while minimizing injury risk.

3. Listen to your body.

The body sends stress signals in a lot of different ways, from persistent fatigue, injury or insomnia to abnormal changes in sexual function. If you notice yourself feeling a bit worn down, consider spending more time below aerobic threshold to allow your body to recover.

5 Things To Know About This Year's Leadville 100 Run

After being canceled in 2020 for the first time in its 39-year history, the Leadville Trail 100, a,.k.a., "The Race Across the Sky," returns Aug. 21-22 with the same rugged, mountainous spirit it has had since inception. 

An eager field of 687 runners will toe the starting line in Leadville, Colorado, trying to survive the high-altitude, out-and-back course over 12,532-foot Hope Pass and back. There are a few minor changes this year - most notably the pre-race athlete meeting and the post-race awards ceremony will be held outside on the Lake County High School football field and no pacers or crew will be permitted at the 50-mile turnaround point at Winfield - but otherwise this fabled race born out of the hardrock miner vibe of the resilient 1880s mining town remains the same as it ever was.

"It's Leadville, so it's all about getting to Winfield in good shape and then it's all about guts and strength and toughness on the way back," says Don Reichelt, one of the top contenders in the men's race this year. "If you've blown your quads coming down the back side of Hope Pass and then have to deal with the mental aspect knowing you have to go back up and over it, it can be a make-or-break moment of the race. It will be fun to see how it all plays out."

Here are a few things you should know about this year's Leadville 100.

The Course

First things first, the race is officially 99 miles in length with 15,734 miles in elevation gain. The out-and-back course starts and finishes at an elevation of 10,160 feet in Leadville, dips down to a low point of 9,219 feet near Turquoise Lake and tops out at 12,532 feet on Hope Pass at the 45- and 55-mile points. It's a unique course with two rugged climbs in each direction (Hope Pass and Sugarloaf Mountain/Powerline) and a lot of flat, fast entirely runnable sections on dirt roads and paved roads, as well as epic singletrack sections on the Colorado Trail. The men's course record of 15:42:59 was set by Pikes Peak Marathon legend Matt Carpenter in 2005, while the women's course record of 18:06:24 dates back to Ann Trason's astonishing 1994 effort.

Women's Race Contenders

Among the top women in this year's race is North Carolina's Ashley Arnold, 34, who was the women's champion in 2013 and third-place finisher in 2010. Although she has raced sparingly since 2019, she's been staying in Leadville and Buena Vista for a few weeks and training on the course and should be a contender based on her experience and track record. Although she won three 50K races in 2019-2020, her strong third-place effort at the Power of Four 50K in Aspen on July 31 is a good testament of her fitness.

Vermont's Aliza Lapierre is coming off a fourth-place effort at the Catamount 50K (4:59:19) in June and a  win at the Infinitus 88K race in May (9:33:16) in her home state, as well as a victory at April's Ultra Race of Champions 100K (10:18:57) in Virginia. Leadville local Annie Hughes, 23, has only been trail running since 2019, but she's won a 50-miler each of the past three years (Jemez Mountain, Indian Creek, Collegiate Peaks) and has a third (Bryce Canyon, 2020) and a first (Mace's Hideout) in her two 100-milers. She also has a few high-mountain FKTs to her credit, including her 61-hour, 19-minute effort on the 167-mile Collegiate Loop in 2020.

There are several other top women from Colorado, starting with Maddie Hart, 24, of Boulder, who won the 2019 Tahoe Rim Trail 100-miler, and Kim Dobson, 37, of Eagle, a six-time Pikes Peak Ascent winner who has won all three of the 50K/50-mile races she has entered since 2018, including the Crown King Scramble 50K (4:31:44) in Phoenix in March.

Blake Wageman, 36, who has raced consistently at 50K and 50-mile race for the past several years (including a runner-up showing at the Silver Rush 50 on July 10 in Leadville); Carrie Stafford, who was fourth in the Leadville 100 in 2019; Becky Kirschermann, 48, a three-time top-five finisher at the Run Rabbit Run 100; Tara Richardson, 30, who is making her debut at 100 miles after running strong at Aspen's Power of Four 50K race in late July; and Becky Lynn, 28, who has been a strong runner at 50K and 50 miles.

On August 20 at 1 p.m. MT, Trail Sister's founder Gina Lucrezi will be emceeing a "Ladies of Leadville" roundtable discussion at the race expo with a diverse group of seven of this year's Leadville 100 participants - Arnold, Dobson, Lapierre, Grace Sims, Kate Tsai, Jolene Sandoval and Sawna Guadarrama. The goal of the event, which will be broadcast via Instagram Live, is to provide insight and inspiration from their unique perspectives and various backgrounds, to celebrate and empower women trail runners of all abilities and to promote diversity within the sport and longer ultra-distance races.

Men's Race Contenders

Among the favorites in the men's race is Ian Sharman, 40, of Bend, Oregon, who is a four-time Leadville winner (2013, 2016, 2017),  and the fastest finisher of the Grand Slam of Ultraunning (69:49:38 combined time for finishing Leadville, Wasatch, Western States and Vermont 100-milers in 2013). Sharman, who placed second in the McDonald Forest 50K on May 8 in Corvallis, Oregon, has numerous ultrarunning wins and podium finishes under his belt and a 16:22 personal best on the Leadville course.

Another top contender is Tyler Andrews, even though he hasn't raced this year and doesn't have a lot of ultra-distance race experience. However, the 31-year-old runner from Massachusetts has set some pretty serious FKTs on high-altitude trails in Chile, Ecuador and Peru as part of a journey he dubbed the Los 10 FKT Project. He's also a two-time U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier who owns a 2:15:52 personal best for 26.2 miles on the roads.

Colorado's Don Reichelt, 35 brings a lot of very good ultrarunning race experience with him, especially from the past couple of years. Most notable are a third-place finish at the Badwater 135 in 2018, a win at the Lean Horse 100-miler in South Dakota in 2019 and a blazing 13:16 third-place effort at the Tunnel Hill 100-miler in Illinois last November. Reichelt has continued to improve into his mid-30s and lives in Fairplay, Colorado, and regular trains in the mountains around Leadville.

Cody Reed, 30, of Mammoth Lakes, California, has said on Instagram he'll be gunning for the win in a course-record time. This is the third year in a row Reed has been registered for the Leadville 100 but he got hurt in 2019 and the race was canceled last year. After recovering from a knee injury in 2019, he went on to win the Ultra Trail Cape Town 100K in South Africa. He has a lot of good to very good results since 2016 and certainly should be a runner to watch. He tuned up for the race by winning the six-day TransRockies Run.

Although he has vowed to run more conservatively than in his previous five starts, Anton Krupicka is not only a Leadville 100 legend but also an icon in the sport of ultrarunning. The two-time Leadville winner (2006, 2007) was trail runner's first social media star, and, although he admits he doesn't love the gratuitous attention he can attract, he's still a legit athlete and should be among the top five in the men's race based on his stout summer of training on his feet and on his bike. 

Other runners to watch include David Kilgore, 29, New York City, a former University of Colorado runner and 2:27 marathoner who won the 340-mile The Speed Project multi-day race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in May; Hannes Gehring, 34, of Denver, who set the Never Summer 100K course record (11:47:06) and placed sixth at the Run Rabbit Run 100-miler in 2019;  Jackson Cole, 25, of Alamosa, Colorado, who has run several fast 50K races but hasn't raced anything longer than 38 miles; and Adrian Macdonald, 32, from Fort Collins, Colorado, who won the Antelope Island 50-miler in Utah this spring.

Leadman/Leadwoman runners and savvy veteran racers

There are 67 athletes remaining in the Leadman/Leadwoman challenge (of the original 109 starters back in June), but each one has to complete the Leadville 100 under 30 hours to become an official finisher. The Leadman/Leadwoman competitors have already completed at least four of the five Leadville Race Series events: the Leadville Trail Marathon, Silver Rush 50 Silver Rush run and/or mountain bike (competitors can chose one or both events), Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race and the Leadville 10K. Rodrigo Jimenez is currently in 8th in the standing and will start in dead last on Saturday, competing in the Back of the Pack challenge to raise money for the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation.

There are four runners over the age of 70 entered in the Leadville 100: Gordon Hardman, 70, Chuck Cofer, 70, and Marlin Weekley, 70, and Marge Hickman 71. Hardman has been running ultras since the late 1980s, has three previous Leadville finishes to his credit (1989, 1998, 2010) and is one of only 23 runners two have completed the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning twice (1989, 1998). Weekley has apparently only been running ultras in his 60s, but has more than two dozen race finishes over the past seven years. Cofer has 12 previous Leadville 100 finishes dating back to 1996, but is back for the first time since 2015. Hickman, a longtime Leadville resident, is one of the most accomplished women runners in the race's history. She's a 15-time Leadville 100 finisher who won the women's race in 1985 (26:57:50) and finished as the runner-up four times (1984, 1986, 1991, 1995). She also wrote an authoritative book on about the race.

Robbie Belanger's Endurance Feats

Robbie Belanger is a plant-based endurance athlete known for running across the U.S. in 75 days in 2019 and setting a world record for the Central Park Loop Challenge (16 laps, just under 100 miles) during the park's official opening hours. Most recently, he created a new challenge for himself focused on exploring Colorado and his affinity for the Leadville Race Series. In 2019 he moved to Denver and did the Silver Rush 50. In light of COVID, he started thinking about what he could do locally, within Colorado, so came up with the Colorado Crush Challenge, using the Leadville Race Series as a framework for his larger effort. His challenge started with the Leadville Marathon on June 19, followed by running the Colorado Trail in 11 days, and then completing the the Silver Rush 50 on July 10. Between Silver Rush and the Leadville 100 run, he reached the summit of all 58 of the Colorado 14ers, completing that epic feat on August 16 when he reached the peak of Missouri Mountain. That's 58 peaks in 38 days with nearly 300,000 feet of vertical gain.

Alan Webb Leaves Arkansas Little Rock to Take On a new Coaching Gig

Alan Webb, the American record holder in the mile, posted on Instagram that he is leaving Arkansas Little Rock (D1 school) to coach at the Catholic High School for Boys which is at a high school in Little Rock. "I am excited to announce that I am going to be joining the @catholic_high_school_for_boys cross country and track coaching staff along side the awesome @jendista I have had so many good memories that I will take with me from my time with @Littlerocktfxc and am grateful for everything I learned from @coachbehnke and all the incredible @Littlerocktfxc athletes. Really excited for Dustin Mettler, a rising star in coaching to be taking over my position. He is going to help take the Little Trojans to the next level. I am also going to pursue a Master of Arts in Catechetics and Evangelization from @franciscanuniversity “And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Luke 1:46-47

The benefits of your daily run outweigh the risks of the particulate matter in the air, study finds

Regular exercise, even in areas with high air pollution, can lower your risk of early death from natural causes, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). 

Though your risk of early death rises with exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air, you can reduce it through exercise, regardless of your levels of exposure to PM2.5.

Wildfires account for half of overall hazardous air pollution in the western U.S., and up to a quarter of PM2.5 exposure in the U.S. in general.

To go out for a run or not to go out for a run? That’s a question many runners in the U.S. (and beyond) increasingly must ask as wildfires happen earlier and last longer, billowing particulate matter (PM2.5) clear across the nation. Sure, it creates a backdrop for stunning sunsets, but it also makes the air worrisome to breathe and negatively impacts health. 

Though sucking in high levels of air pollution will never be good for you, new research shows that the benefits of exercising outweigh the risks of the bad air. The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), found that regular exercise, even when performed in areas with air pollution, can reduce the risk of early death from natural causes, compared to being sedentary.

Researchers examined the health records and activity levels of more than 384,000 adults living in Taiwan—where the annual air pollution levels of PM2.5 are 1.6 times higher than the World Health Organization-recommended limit—over a 15-year period from 2001 to 2016. The researchers looked at both levels of exposure to PM2.5, as well as the study participants’ activity levels. 

In terms of pollution, exposure levels were based on the two-year average concentration in the year of a medical examination and in the previous year, and were broken into the following categories. (The concentration of an air pollutant is measured in μg/m3, or micrograms per cubic meter of air.) 

Low: < 22.4 μg/m3

Moderate: 22.4–26.0 μg/m3

High: ≥ 26.0 μg/m3

PM2.5 is especially problematic for your health, according to the World Health Organization, because it can penetrate the lung barrier and enter your bloodstream. It raises the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as cancer.

The participants’ activity levels were assigned to a category corresponding with their reported METs (metabolic equivalent for task): 

Inactive (0 METs—the equivalent of sitting quietly)

Moderate (0 to 8.75 METs—runs at around a 12-minute mile pace or less)

High (greater than 8.75 METs—runs faster than a 12-minute mile pace)

In the end, those with both high levels of exercise and low levels of exposure to pollution fared best (no surprise there). But though risk of early death rises with pollution exposure, you can reduce it through exercise, regardless of the levels of PM2.5 exposure, says study author Xiang Qian Lao, Ph.D., an associate professor at the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shatin, Hong Kong.

“For example, among the people with high PM2.5 exposure—compared to inactive, moderate, and high exercise—can reduce [early] death risk 16 percent and 33 percent [respectively],” Lao told Runner’s World.

Among those with moderate PM2.5 exposure, compared to inactive, those performing moderate and high exercise can reduce their early death risk 13 percent and 29 percent respectively. And among those with low PM2.5 exposure, those performing moderate and high levels of exercise can reduce their early death risk 19 percent and 41 percent respectively compared to their inactive peers. 

That’s not to say you should ignore the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), which takes five major air pollutants—including PM2.5—into account and go bust out a long run when it’s code maroon (hazardous), but it’s reassuring to know that if you live in a place with increasingly imperfect air much of the year, your daily run still does your body good.

Sha'Carri Richardson to make track return at Prefontaine Classic

Sha'Carri Richardson will make her return to competitive athletics action on Saturday (August 21) at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

The American is back after serving a one-month suspension handed to her when she tested positive for a cannabinoid at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, where she had originally won the women's 100m race.

Her return will pit the world's third-fastest woman this year against the three Olympic medalists from Tokyo – Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson, all from Jamaica.

On July 1, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Richardson had accepted being suspended for "for an anti-doping rule violation for testing positive for a substance of abuse", having previously received a provisional ban on 28 June.

While competing at the Trials, Richardson provided a sample on 19 June that returned a positive test for a chemical found in marijuana, THC.

THC is a banned substance in-competition, although it is not prohibited out of competition, under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules which classify it as a substance of abuse.

Although Richardson consumed the drug out of competition, she returned an in-competition positive and was therefore sanctioned under USADA's own regulations, which state: "If an athlete tests positive for a substance of abuse during an in-competition test, but the athlete can establish that they used the substance out-of-competition and that their use of the substance was unrelated to sport performance, then the athlete’s period of ineligibility will be reduced to three months with no need to further analyse the degree of fault."

USADA added in handing out a one-month suspension: "Richardson’s period of ineligibility was reduced to one month because her use of cannabis occurred out of competition and was unrelated to sport performance, and because she successfully completed a counselling program regarding her use of cannabis."

The sanction meant her qualifying results at the trials were expunged.

Her suspension ended before the start of the athletics program at Tokyo 2020, but as USA Track & Field (USATF) selects its Olympic team based solely on results at Trials, Richardson was not considered for selection in either the 100m or 4x100m relay.

In Eugene, which was also the site of the U.S. Trials where Richardson had run 10.86 in the final, she and the three Tokyo 2020 medallists headline a world-class field in the women's 100m.

That start-list includes Tokyo relay silver medallists Teahna Daniels and Javianne Oliver of the USA and two other 100m finalists Switzerland's Mujinga Kambundji (6th) and Marie-Josée Ta Lou (4th) of Côte d'Ivoire. Briana Williams, the fourth member of the Jamaican 4x100m gold-winning relay team, completes the lineup.

Richardson ran a 10.72 at the Miramar Invitational in Florida in April, a time that made the 21-year-old the sixth-fastest woman ever over 100m and, at the time the world leader in 2021.

Since then this year, only two other women have gone faster – Richardson is surpassed by Fraser-Pryce (10.63 in June) and Thompson-Herah's Olympic record 10.61.

The clash between the young American talent and the Olympic medallists is tantalising after they were unable to race each other in Tokyo.

Indeed, the five fastest women this year will all be competing in the race – Jackson and Ta Lou are fourth and fifth respectively.

Richardson's last international 100m race was at a rainy Gateshead Diamond League in England in May, when she finished second in 11.44 seconds into a very strong headwind (-3.1 m/s). Earlier that month, the Texan sprinter also overcame a headwind to clock a rapid 10.77 (-1.2 m/s) at the USATF Golden Games.

The American is also down to race the women's 200m against the likes of Kambundji, Ta Lou, Olympic bronze medallist Gabrielle Thomas, relay silver medallist Jenna Prandini, world champion Dina Asher-Smith, and American track legend Allyson Felix.

Beat The Burn With These Tips for Running in Heat and Humidity

With summer in full effect, you may have noticed that your runs have begun to feel different. As in...why does my easy pace now feel like I'm running in mud and I'm working so hard to get nowhere fast?

Summer running can make it feel like you need gills rather than lungs. If you are doing heart rate training, good luck. The warmer the weather, the harder your body has to work to keep you cool. Your heart rate will be higher and breathing more difficult. The reason why is your body is directing blood to the skin to cool you off through sweating. That means there's less blood available to transport oxygen to your muscles. What would usually be an easy-paced run feels more like a max all-out effort.

If you don't like running in the heat or humidity, you don't need to retreat inside for the next few months. There are plenty of things to try to make it a little bit more comfortable. And if you do have to hit the treadmill, no biggie. Do what works for you.

Less Is Best

Wear as little clothing as legally possible. If you are the sports bra only or shirtless kind of person, do that. Stick to light-colored, loose, wicking materials. Now is not the time for wearing all black or cotton. No matter what fabric you are wearing, Body Glide can be a life saver for preventing chafing.

Don't Forget the Sunscreen

Even if it's early morning or partly cloudy, protect yourself from skin cancer and other skin damage by using sunscreen before every run. Just be sure it's sweat proof. No runner needs to feel the pain of sunscreen and sweat in their eyes.

Wear a Hat or Visor 

 A hat or visor will not only protect your skin from the sun, but it will also help to keep your face shaded. Soaking the hat or visor in cold water before heading out the door can help to lower body temp and feel cooler as well.

Start Slow and End Slow

A warm up prior to a run should always be done (try one of these dynamic warm ups!), but even more so when the temperatures are high. You want to gradually increase your heart rate rather than starting out too fast. Same thing for the end of the run. Do a gradual slow-down that includes some time for a slow walk. It will help regulate your heart rate and cool your body a bit.

Run Early 

Morning temperatures are usually the coolest during the summer. It also will give you a break from the strongest hours of sunlight. The humidity can sometimes be high in the morning, but at least you won't have the blazing sun on you. And you may even get the treat of a gorgeous sunrise. You want to be sure to avoid the middle part of the day, which will be the hottest.

Run Late

If you aren't a morning person, wait until the late evening when the sun is starting to set. The temps will be better than mid-day, and the humidity may dip, too. Just like running early, you'll probably get the treat of a gorgeous sunset.

Slow Down

Your body has to work extra hard in the heat and humidity running at a "normal" pace, and when you try to pick up the pace, even more so. Run for time and effort rather than distance and pace. Save the hard pace workouts for a day when the temp and humidity are lower or when you can go early in the morning when the day is coolest.

Hit the Trails

When the temperatures rise, asphalt and concrete absorb heat and radiate it back into your face. Trail running usually offers shade from trees unless you are going above the tree line. It also forces you to slow down. Bonus if the trail has the perfect place to jump in a lake or river post run!

Drink up

If you are running more than 75 to 90 minutes, carry a hand-held water bottle, hydration belt or hydration vest with you. Or stash water bottles along your intended route ahead of time if you don't like carrying anything in your hands. For an extra dose of cooling relief, freeze your water bottles before your run. By the time you need it, enough ice has melted for you to drink up some icy cold water. Planning your route along accessible drinking fountains is not a bad idea either. You may also opt for adding electrolytes to your water to help balance the extra sodium and potassium lost through increased sweating.

Ice It

Ultraruners use this trick all the time while racing in the heat. Stuff a bandana full of ice and tie it so the ice is at the back of your neck. Or fill up your hat with ice before putting it on your head. As the ice melts, it will keep you cool.

Run With Friends

Just like running on frigid cold mornings in January, having friends to commiserate with while you slog through the heat makes it more tolerable. If you are joining a larger group run, there's high probability that water, Gatorade or fuel will be out on the route. You won't have to worry about having enough water with you.

Take It Inside

If it's really hot and humid and your only option to run is during the hottest part of the day, take it inside to the treadmill, preferably to a treadmill in an air-conditioned room.

Olympic medalist Abdi Nageeye, Kibiwott Kandie and Kenenisa Bekele to clash in New York

World half marathon record holder, Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie is due for his maiden marathon at the New York City marathon on November 7 this year.

Kandie, the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships silver medalist, faces baptism by fire when he takes on Tokyo Olympic marathon silver medallist, Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands, and two-time Berlin Marathon champion, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele.

Kandie, who missed the Kenyan Olympic trials in 10,000m owing to an injury, holds the world half marathon record of 57:32 from 2020 Valencia.

Bekele has the fastest time in the star-studded field, having won the 2019 Berlin Marathon in 2:01:41, missing Eliud Kipchoge’s world record by two seconds.

Nageeye won the silver medal at the Olympic marathon in Sapporo this year, crossing the line in 2:09:58 behind Kipchoge.

The Somali-born Dutch runner was 11th at the Rio 2016 Olympic marathon and has finished in the top 10 at the Boston Marathon twice.

“For me, winning the silver medal in the Olympic Games was not a surprise,” Nageeye said. “There were many good athletes in the race, but I knew my preparation had been good. I was ready for the conditions, and most importantly I believed in myself.”

Nageeye said he will take that same focus into his preparations for New York, and that his belief and confidence in his abilities is even higher than it was at the Tokyo Olympics.

“There is nothing I want more than to bring a New York City victory back home along with my Olympic medal,” said Nageeye in a statement released by the race organizers on Thursday.

Bekele, a four-time Olympic medalist and 16-time world champion,  will make his debut in the men’s open division.

“I am proud of the many accomplishments in my career, but I have never had the opportunity to compete in the New York City Marathon,” Bekele said. “I am excited that 2021 will be the year for me to make my attempt in New York.”

Leading the American men will be Rio 2016 Olympian Jared Ward, who has finished as the top American in the last two New York City Marathons.

Great Britain’s Callum Hawkins will also make his New York City Marathon debut.

Hawkins is a two-time Olympian who finished fourth at both the 2019 and 2017 World Championships in the marathon.

 The 2019 New York City Marathon second and third-place finishers, Kenya’s Albert Korir and Ethiopia’s Girma Bekele Gebre will return in an attempt to repeat their podium performances, in addition to 2016 race winner Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea.

48th Edition of Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run to Feature Strong Men’s and Women’s Fields

It has been a long time coming — too long — and America’s finest distance runners are eager to toe the starting line at the 2021 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile (CUCB), to be held in our Nation’s Capital on Sunday, September 12. With $26,000 in U.S. championship prize money on offer as well as a $10,000 bonus for an American Record (the bonus will be split if both the male and female break the American records), road racing fans can look forward to hotly contested races among both the men and women.

“It has been nearly two years since the last time the U.S. Ten Mile Championships for men and women were held,” said event director Phil Stewart. “I know a host of talented Americans are eager to take an important middle-distance test as most of them prepare for fall marathons, of which there are plenty, with all six World Marathon Majors events taking place over a six-week period between September 26 and November 7.”

This will be the third time one or more of the USATF 10 Mile Championships have been hosted by CUCB alongside the traditional international competition: the women’s championships were part of the 2013 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, with Janet Bawcom winning the title in 53:28 while placing fourth overall. A year later in 2014, race organizers hosted both the men’s and women’s championships. Christo Landry (46:41) was the first American to cross the finish line—in sixth place overall—while Bawcom repeated as the U.S. women’s champion by placing second overall in 52:12. Both of Bawcom’s times established American records at the time.

Keira D’Amato broke Bawcom’s American Record last fall at the Up Dawg Ten Mile, running 51:23 in a small invitational race organized by the Cherry Blossom Race Committee specifically for her to chase Bawcom’s record. D’Amato’s effort was recently verified as a women’s only World Record by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians as well. (ARRS is the only organization keeping world records at the 10-mile distance.)

D’Amato will be joined on the starting line by two American women who have broken 53 minutes for 10 miles: Jordan Hasay (52:49) and Emma Bates (52:51). Three other Americans have run 54:00 or faster: Natosha Rogers (53:45), Diane Nukuri (53:56), and Annie Frisbie (54:00).

On the men’s side, Futsum Zienasellassie will be defending the USATF 10 Mile Championship he won in Minneapolis in 2019 (the last time American runners competed for this title, thanks to Covid-19). His winning time of 46:55 is one of four sub-47:00 marks among the American men entered in the race. Chris Derrick boasts the fastest personal best (46:53), which he ran at CUCB in 2018 when he was top American and fifth overall. Abbabiya Simbassa ran 46:57 to place second behind Zienasellassie in Minneapolis in 2019, and Kiya Dandena ran 46:58 in 2017 at CUCB. The current pending men’s American record is 45:54 set by Galen Rupp last fall. Rupp’s time bettered Greg Meyer’s time of 46:13 from the 1983 Cherry Blossom Ten Mile.

Here’s a complete listing of elite American athletes who have confirmed their entry into the 2021 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, with personal bests noted in parentheses:

Women:

Keira D’Amato (51:23)

Jordan Hasay (52:49)

Emma Bates (52:51)

Natosha Rogers (53:45)

Diane Nukuri (53:56)

Annie Frisbie (54:00)

Bria Wetsch (54:14)

Susanna Sullivan (54:22)

Bethany Sachtleben (54:42)

Grayson Murphy (54:51)

Carrie Verdon (56:57)

Danielle Shanahan (31:22.9 10K)

Amy Davis (32:13 10K)

Abbie McNulty (33:07 10K)

Stephanie Bruce (1:09:55 half marathon)

Nell Rojas (1:10:45 half marathon)

Men:

Chris Derrick (46:53)

Futsum Zienasellassie (46:55)

Abbabiya Simbassa (46:57)

Kiya Dandena (46:58)

Augustus Maiyo (47:05)

Elkanah Kibet (47:15)

Girma Mecheso (47:22)

Noah Droddy (47:28)

Louis Serafini. (47:35)

Emmanuel Bor (47:39)

Reed Fischer (47:50)

Shadrack Biwott (47:53)

John Raneri (47:53)

Tyler McAndless (47:56)

Dhruvil. Patel (48:37)

Frank Lara (48:37)

Joel Reichow (48:41)

Alex Monroe (48:57)

Willie Milam (49:10)

Robert Brandt (27:39.2 10K)

Brendan Gregg (44:25 15K)

Reid Buchanan (44:40 15K)

Emmanuel Roudolff (1:04:08 half marathon).

2021 Long Beach Marathon is back on

Oceanfront racing returns to Long Beach in a big way on October 9th and 10th with the Long Beach Marathon. This classic Long Beach race is more than just a Boston-Qualifying marathon with a downhill finish. There’s a distance for everyone! Choose from the marathon, the half marathon, the 20-mile bike tour, and the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K.

The marathon course starts in downtown Long Beach, passes the Queen Mary, runs the beach path and completes a 5K loop on the UCLB campus before heading back to Ocean Boulevard for its downhill finish.

Looking for something a little shorter? The half marathon course is seriously flat. The highest elevation on the course is 45 feet. Starting on Shoreline Drive, the course passes the Pike at Shoreline Village, crosses the Queensway Bridge and runs to the bow of the Queen Mary, circles back around the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Lighthouse at Rainbow Harbor, then back by Shoreline Village before heading down the beautiful beach path. You’ll close out your race running above the ocean along the bluff before closing out downhill into a cheering final straight of fans.

Not a runner? The Long Beach Marathon still has an event for you! Join the 20 mile Bike Tour. This event provides avid and leisure cyclists alike the opportunity to ride one of the most beautiful Bike Tours in Southern California. It is a safe, scenic and fully closed 20 mile course. Be a part of the marathon weekend experience with all the perks including a commemorative event shirt, finishers medal, complimentary beer and more! Enjoy the sights of Long Beach on the Bike Tour with your friends and family!

Don’t forget about Saturday’s race! The Aquarium of the Pacific 5k takes place on Saturday, October 9th and is the perfect distance for all running abilities. Run the 5k with friends and family or use it as a shakeout run for Sunday race events.

If you can’t decide on a single race, run multiples! In addition to receiving a unique shirt and medal for each distance, you’ll also receive the Long Beach Combo challenge medal.

For runners that aren’t ready to race in crowds yet or can’t make it to Long Beach on October 9th and 10th to participate in-person, there is the virtual run option for both the marathon and the half marathon. Best of all, the virtual run counts for those individuals looking to complete the Beach Cities Challenge or maintain their loyalty status.

For more information, and to register, visit RunLongBeach.com

What Is the Best Running Form?

If you want to elevate your running, it’s important to take a look at your running form and make any necessary adjustments and improvements. This will help reduce chance of injury, increase speed, and boost efficiency.

Your running gait plays a vital role in the many health benefits of running. It enables you to run longer distances at a greater intensity with less pain and discomfort.

There are specific form techniques to follow that may differ slightly due to variations in body mechanics. Take into account the distance and speed you want to run, as well as any relevant injuries or physical areas of concern.

Bear in mind that you may have picked up bad habits along the way that may be difficult to break because they feel familiar. That’s OK! It’s worth it to go through a bit of discomfort or unfamiliarity to get your form down and enhance your running experience.

Running form 

Below are a few suggestions for improving your running form to boost your running economy, improve performance, and lower your risk for injury.

Jogging

Jogging may have a slower pace than running, but it still boasts a range of health benefits. Here’s how to maximize your jogging workouts:

While jogging, maintain good posture, engage your core, and gaze forward.

Avoid tilting your head down and slumping your shoulders.

Broaden your chest, and keep it lifted as you draw your shoulders down and back.

Keep your hands loose, and use a relaxed arm swing. Avoid crossing your arms in front of your body.

To prevent injuries to your lower body, use a midfoot strike, and avoid hitting the ground with your heel. This allows your foot to land directly under your hip as you drive your body forward. A heel strike may cause your leg to slow down your stride and stress your knees.

Sprinting

The high intensity action of sprinting requires a lot of muscle activation and explosive force as you develop a powerful stride. Consider these tips:

Slightly lean forward from your waist while engaging your core.

Lift your chest, soften your shoulders, and draw them away from your ears.

Use short, fast strides to conserve energy.

To reduce your chance of injury, land softly and quietly with minimal impact.

Use a forefoot strike, and propel yourself forward from your toes. With each step, lift your thigh so it’s parallel to the ground.

Bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle and draw them straight back and forth, using an exaggerated movement and moving them through a wider range of motion than when you jog.

Raise your hands as high as your chin and back toward your low back.

Avoid rotating your torso and bringing your arms across the midline of your body.

On a treadmill

Running on a treadmill is an option if you want to reduce the impact on your joints and prevent overuse injuries.

A treadmill allows you to run at a smooth, steady pace without any hinderances or necessary stops. This allows you to focus solely on your form.

Consider these tips:

Draw your shoulders back and engage your core as you slightly lean forward.

Maintain an erect spine. Keep your shoulders directly above your hips.

Relax your arms, gaze straight ahead, and avoid looking down or at the monitor.

Use a short stride, and take small steps.

Running on a treadmill will force you to shorten your stride since overstriding will cause you to kick the front of the treadmill.

Unless you have concerns with balance, avoid hanging on to the rails as you run.

Your feet 

Use an appropriate stride for your running speed. Land gently; avoid pounding your foot as you land, which helps prevent injuries.

The correct foot strike will also help improve your running economy so you’re using less energy while enhancing your speed.

Here’s how to look after your feet:

Land with control, using a smooth, even foot strike.

To avoid lower extremity injuries, use a forefoot strike, which utilizes more muscle activation when you land.

A midfoot strike helps propel your body forward.

Avoid striking with your heels. This can slow you down and stress your knees.

Maintain normal or neutral pronation of your feet by rolling your feet inward slightly. This allows your feet to properly absorb the shock of landing while keeping your lower body in alignment.

Chicago Marathon organizers have required participants to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test

Chicago Marathon participants required to prove vaccination or negative test.

Organizers confirmed the move as part of updated COVID-19 guidelines published for the annual event.

Around 35,000 people have registered for the 2021 Chicago Marathon, which was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Registered participants are required to provide proof of a complete COVID-19 vaccination series or a negative COVID-19 test result to participate in the 2021 Bank of America Chicago Marathon," organizers said.

"Registered participants who are not fully vaccinated are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result for a test administered within 72 hours of attending the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

"The event defines 'fully vaccinated' as individuals who are two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose vaccine series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.

"Proof of vaccination (hard copy, photocopy or digital version of an immunization record) or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of attending the event is required for entrance to the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo.

"Individuals unable to prove full vaccination or negative test will be barred from entering the Health and Fitness Expo and unable to pick up the necessary race materials that allow for participation in the event."

Organizers say RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, lateral flow, and rapid antigen tests are approved.

Attendees will be required to wear face coverings while at indoor event venues, while participants are encouraged to wear face coverings in Grant Park prior to starting the race.

Ethiopia’s Getaneh Molla and Seifu Tura, Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich, and Americans Keira D’Amato and Emma Bates have become the latest elite athletes to join the start list for this year’s event.

Two-times Olympic medallist Galen Rupp and Sara Hall were announced earlier this year, with the pair expected to lead the United States’ challenge in the men’s and women’s events, respectively.

Molla has the fastest personal best in the men’s field as he clocked 2 hours 3min 34sec to win the 2019 Dubai Marathon.

Chepngetich is the reigning women’s world champion, with the Kenyan poised to make her Chicago Marathon debut.

She set the world record in the half marathon this spring in 1:04:02, while her marathon personal best of 2:17:08 makes her the fourth fastest woman in history.

Daniel Romanchuk and Tatyana McFadden are among the US stars set to feature in the elite wheelchair races, with Switzerland’s Marcel Hug also included on the start list.

Caster Semenya's lawyers demand World Athletics drop controversial testosterone rules that forced South African to abandon her attempts to defend her 800m Olympics Title

Caster Semenya's laywers have fresh hope that World Athletics' controversial testosterone laws will be ditched after the governing body's scientists admitted the findings that helped trigger the rules 'could have been misleading'.

Semenya was not able to defend her double Olympic 800m title in the Tokyo Games due to rules prohibiting athletes with differences of sexual development from competing unless they take hormone-lowering medication.

World Athletics are now facing calls to scrap the regulations after their scientists admitted some findings were 'on a lower level of evidence'.

The 2017 findings noted a performance increase in females with high testosterone levels. 

But the British Journal of Sports Medicine has now released a 'correction' to the findings, leading campaigners to argue the rules should be ditched.

In the new report, Stephane Bermon, director of World Athletics' Health and Science Department, and his predecessor Pierre-Yves Garnier, wrote: 'To be explicit, there is no confirmatory evidence for causality in the observed relationships reported. We acknowledge that our 2017 study was exploratory.'

They add: 'With this in mind, we recognise that statements in the paper could have been misleading by implying a causal inference.

'Specifically, 'Female athletes with high fT [testosterone] levels have a significant competitive advantage over those with low fT in 400 m, 400 m hurdles, 800 m, hammer throw, and pole vault.'

'This statement should be amended to: 'High fT levels in female athletes were associated with higher athletic performance over those with low fT in 400 m, 400 m hurdles, 800 m, hammer throw, and pole vault.' 

'This is very significant new information,' Semenya's lawyer Gregory Nott, of Norton Rose Fulbright, told Telegraph Sport.

'We are in the midst of the European Court of Human Rights case and will be discussing with our London QC and the whole legal team how to introduce the information into the proceedings.

'World Athletics have recently given notice of their wish to intervene in the European Court of Human Rights proceedings and we would hope that they will now support setting aside the regulations.

'It is more than surprising that World Athletics did not reveal this evidence before the recent Tokyo Olympics and allow Caster to defend her 800m title.'

Semenya spoke of her disappointment at not being able to compete in Tokyo after losing her appeal to Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court in September last year. 

'I am very disappointed. I refuse to let World Athletics drug me or stop me from being who I am,' she said.

Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel to run TCS New York City Marathon

Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel is one of several standout American women planning to run the New York City Marathon in November, race organizers announced Wednesday.

Seidel stunned even herself with a third-place finish in Tokyo this month in just the third 26.2-mile race of her career. An NCAA Division I champion at Notre Dame in the 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meter events, she is now the headliner for the NYC Marathon’s 50th running in her five-borough debut.

“Since the beginning of 2021, I’ve had two races circled on my calendar: the Olympic Games’ marathon on Aug. 7 and the TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 7,” said Seidel, 27, who grew up in Wisconsin. “Winning the bronze medal in Sapporo showed that I can run with the best in the world, and on any given day, anything is possible.”

Fellow U.S. Olympians Aliphine Tuliamuk, Sally Kipyego and Emily Sisson will also be in the field, along with 2018 Boston Marathon winner Des Linden.

Four-time champion Mary Keitany of Kenya won’t participate for the first time since 2013.

The men’s professional field has not yet been announced.

The 2020 NYC Marathon was canceled by the pandemic, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in June that the 2021 race would go on — albeit with a field limited to about 33,000 entrants, down from 55,000 in 2019.

Tuliamuk, who was born in Kenya, won the 2020 U.S. Olympic marathon trials in Atlanta four years after gaining American citizenship. She gave birth to a daughter in January 2021 but still competed in Tokyo. She dropped out near the 20-kilometer mark.

“I want to inspire people, most importantly my daughter, to chase their dreams,” she said in a statement released by the NYC Marathon. “I’m a different athlete and person than I was the last time I ran the TCS New York City Marathon in 2019, so why not fulfill one more dream on Nov. 7?”

Tatyana McFadden is pursuing a record sixth NYC Marathon title in the wheelchair division but hasn’t won since 2016. She won’t have to contend with two-time defending champion Manuela Schär, who is not listed among the competitors.

Nike wasn't 'giving me really what I needed,' U.S. Olympian says about jumping to LuluLemon

When her contract with Nike (NKE) was up for renegotiation, American Olympian Colleen Quigley chose to leave the athletic apparel giant for a different type of deal with Lululemon (LULU).

"I've been with Nike since 2015 when I graduated from Florida State University... and joined the team out here in Portland, then had a great five-year run with them,” Quigley said on Yahoo Finance Live. “But I think when I got to the end of that, I just decided that they weren't giving me really what I needed off of the track and not really seeing me as anything more than just a runner.”

Quigley — a 2016 U.S. Olympic 3000m steeplechaser who withdrew from 2021 Olympic trials — joins a growing number of athletes who were dissatisfied with Nike endorsement deals. Other top runners that parted ways with footwear giant include Mary Cain and Allyson Felix, who respectively spoke out about the company's allegedly toxic culture and lack of maternity protections.

“I started to see myself as more than a runner, and I like to do a lot of different things," Quigley said. "I have different initiatives that I'm working on, really focusing on young athletes and young female athletes."

Lululemon "values me as that whole person," she added, "which is really what drew me to them."

Colleen Quigley places second in women's steeplechase heat in 9:53.48 to advance during the USATF Championships Jul 26, 2019; Des Moines, IA (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

"You don't have to be on top of the podium to really send a strong message”

Professional athletes in sports such as track and field seek sponsorship deals for compensation since there are few leagues — particularly for women — that pay viable salaries. For college stars like Quigley, signing with a major brand represents the dream of taking one's running career to the next level.

When describing her contract with Nike, Quigley stressed that it was a “transactional relationship.”

“So you run this time, you qualify for this team, you place top three, and you get paid this amount, and if you don't perform and you don't make the team and you don't get a medal, then you don't get paid,” she said. “All of the traditional brands really just see you as a results machine and what you can perform, and what you can give them on the track is really the only thing that they value.” Nike estimated that it will spend $1.33 billion in endorsement contracts in fiscal year 2021, according to company filings. That figure varies based on how well athletes perform and doesn't include the cost of athletic gear provided to endorsers.

Despite the massive marketing machine, top women athletes are increasingly looking for sponsorships that go beyond rewarding athletic accomplishments.

In 2019, Olympic sprinter Allyson Felix departed from Nike after she said she felt pressure from the company to return quickly after her pregnancy and accept a significant pay cut.

“If we have children, we risk pay cuts from our sponsors during pregnancy and afterward," she wrote in an op-ed at the time. "It’s one example of a sports industry where the rules are still mostly made for and by men." (Nike updated its maternity policy to guarantee pay for pregnant athletes after Felix, as well as runners Alysia Montaño and Kara Goucher, went public with their pregnancy stories.)

Big Sur Marathon will return in 2022

The absence of the world-renowned Big Sur International Marathon for the past two years has left a void for the local running community. But while normalcy remains in the distance, organizers from the Big Sur Marathon Foundation have announced the event is returning on April 24, 2022.

“That’s our goal,” said Doug Thurston, race director and executive director of the Big Sur Marathon Foundation.

Registration for the race will begin Monday.

The decision to bring back the marathon was made with input from a health advisory committee the Big Sur Marathon Foundation formed in navigating through the pandemic.

“We looked at the current and projected data,” Thurston said. “We felt by April the pandemic would be a little more settled, and more importantly, the rate of vaccination use will be high enough for runners and volunteers to feel safe.”

The event has sold out in each of the past 10 years it has been held, bringing thousands of runners from all over the world to take part in one of the more grueling, but picturesque races on the globe.

“It is a bucket list event,” Thurston said. “More than 80 percent of our marathon competitors do it one time.”

All of next April’s events could come with strings attached. While nothing has been decided, it’s likely that proof of vaccination or a negative test for COVID will be required to compete.

“What we are saying at this point is runners and volunteers should all anticipate that they’ll need to show proof of vaccination or have a negative test three days before the race,” Thurston said.

Because priority for the marathon race will go to entrants from the canceled 2020 race, availability to the general public could mean fewer spots in 2022.

“We have not reduced capacity as much as we are providing priority to those that signed up in 2020,” Thurston said. “We don’t know how many of those 2020 entrants will return. But we think the number of available spots for the general public will be fewer.”

While there are several other shorter races going on along Highway 1 simultaneously during the marathon, the maximum entrees for the 26-mile, 385-yard event is limited to 5,000.

“Based on the interest we’ve gathered, we anticipated all the races to sell out,” Thurston said.

There will be another registration date in late November that will be called a second chance drawing, according to Thurston.

Because the Big Sur Marathon Committee doesn’t know how many spots will open up, it will have just two drawings this year.

“We have a supply and demand situation,” Thurston said. “Historically, we have more people that want to get in than we have space. So we’ve gone to a random drawing this year.”

The Monterey Bay Half Marathon, which is also organized by the Big Sur Marathon Committe and has traditionally been run in November, has been canceled the past two years because of the pandemic.

Thurston said the two annual races often raise more than $400,000 for 100 non-profit organizations in the county,

“We’re a nonprofit organization raising money for other nonprofit organizations,” Thurston said. “It’s been trying times for our organization to not give grants to the community. It’s why we put these races on.”

While the past 18 months have been challenging for the Big Sur Marathon Committee, Thurston said that the organization is looking forward, not backward.

“In some ways, it went real slow,” Thurston said. “But here we are getting ready for April, 2022. As the pandemic has taught us over and over again, it makes its own rules. Most of the plans you make are subjective to whatever is happening with the pandemic.”

Because the race day experience is primarily outdoors, Thurston is confident that the event can be held in a safe and healthy manner as runners flood scenic Highway 1, where often the only sounds are the shoes slapping pavement, the wind howling off Hurricane Point and the ocean waves crashing against the rocks below.

“We will follow whatever the federal, state and county health departments provide,” Thurston said. “We are a health and fitness organization. We feel April 24 will be a viable date to host the race.”

Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich and Galen Rupp will headline the elite field at the Chicago Marathon

A number of the world’s top distance runners will be at the 2021 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 10, organizers announced today, joining headliners Galen Rupp and Sara Hall. So far, there are no Canadians featured in the Chicago Marathon elite field.

Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya), Diane Nukuri (USA) and Keira D’Amato (USA) are among the names to watch in the women’s race for the 43rd running of the Chicago Marathon. Chepngetich, who dropped out of the Olympic marathon at around 30 km, is the reigning world champion and comes to Chicago as the pre-race favourite. Hall ousted Chepngetich in a sprint for second place at the 2020 London Marathon, but all eyes will be on their Oct. 10 rematch. Chepngetich is the only East African runner in an elite field that’s deep with American talent.

The men’s field features three athletes who have run under 2:05, as well Rupp, who won in 2017. Rupp is the only individual in the field with an Abbott World Major Marathons victory under his belt. Getaneh Molla (ETH) has won the Dubai Marathon, and Hassan El Abbassi (BRN) was the runner-up at the 2018 Valencia Marathon. Rupp had a sub-par Olympic Games, finishing a disappointing eighth in Tokyo (2:11:41) after many thought he would challenge Eliud Kipchoge for a medal. Rupp will enter Chicago as the pre-race favorite, thanks to his previous success on the course.

Past champions Daniel Romanchuk and Marcel Hug will battle it out in the elite wheelchair competition. Romanchuk is the defending two-time champion (2018 and 2019) and world record holder, while Hug won this race in 2016 and 2017. Hug and Romanchuk will compete on back-to-back days, in Chicago on Oct. 10 and at the Boston Marathon on Oct. 11.

With the cancellation of the New Jersey Marathon, larger mass races are putting together strict Covid protocols to avoid transmission of the virus, including face coverings at the start and finish and either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours of the race.

Karla Del Grande has added her sixth masters world record

A week after the end of the Olympic Games, our Canadian athletes are still making headlines on the track.

World Masters Athlete of the Decade Karla Del Grande set a new W65 300m hurdles world record at the Athletics Ontario Masters Championships on the weekend at Toronto’s York University. Del Grande had the W65 300m hurdles Canadian record, which she set in 2020 at 54.70. This weekend she dropped her time down to 54.00 flat.

Del Grande has a long history of success on the track at the masters level. She began competing in 2002 (when she was 49) and has held numerous Canadian records in the sprints in various age categories. She has been named the Ontario Masters Athletics’ Female Masters Athlete of the Year seven times. Del Grande has set the 100m and 200m world records in the W60 and W65 categories, and in 2019 she added a W65 400m world record.

Canadian Olympians Natalia Hawthorn and Lindsey Butterworth were in action at the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis, Tenn. Hawthorn said on Instagram that this was her last race of the season, as she went after the 2022 World Championship standard, which is 4:04. Hawthorn took home 2nd place in the women’s elite 1,500m in a time of 4:06.51, two seconds shy of the standard. Butterworth ran the 800m in a time of 2:01.57 for sixth, ahead of fellow Canadian middle-distance athlete Ashley Taylor, who finished seventh. Both Butterworth and Taylor also fell shy of the 1:59.50 800m standard for 2022 Worlds. 

In the men’s 3000m, Jean-Simon Desgagnés finished third and set a new personal best of 7:53.01 over 3,000m in his last race of the 2021 track season. This result is a sigh of relief for Desgagnés, who recently finished a month of training at altitude in Flagstaff. 

Hong Kong Marathon likely to be held in October, but only some 10,000 fully vaccinated runners can join

Hong Kong Marathon is tentatively scheduled for October 24 after being suspended last year because of the pandemic, Commissioner of Sports Yeung Tak-keung said, but the number of participants will be reduced to some 10,000, while all must complete Covid-19 vaccination.

Yeung said that the race has been discussed by the Associations of Athletics Affiliates and was believed to be likely to come true. The association is expected to announce a decision within this week.

"If the marathon is held successfully, the route will be changed and the number of participants is expected to limit to some 10,000, with the requirements of completing two doses of vaccines," he said.

Speaking in a radio program today, Yeung said that some local television stations are negotiating with mainland authorities to purchase the broadcasting rights of the National Games of China to be held next month and that Hongkongers "will definitely be able to watch the games on TV."

But he said it is unknown how many stations can broadcast the games.

On the Tokyo Olympics which closed on August 8,Yeung said the record high six medals were out of expectation, which was very surprising.

He pointed out that the government has significantly pumped up resources allocated to sports over the past five years, from about HK$400 million in 2015 and 2016 to nearly HK$800 million this year.

Apart from increasing the number of athletes, the government has also put more resources in professional support, strengthening psychological and physiotherapy services, as well as hiring more physical trainers.

2022 London Marathon pushed back to October

The 2022 London Marathon has been pushed back to October, meaning the event will take place away from its traditional spring slot for the third year in succession.

Last year’s race was initially postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and then staged as an elite-only event in October, being raced in laps around a course in St. James’ Park to ensure spectators could not line the streets in the usual manner.

On October 3 this year, the mass participation element is set to return with up to 50,000 runners competing on the traditional 26.2-mile course from Greenwich to The Mall, while thousands more will participate remotely.

Next year’s edition had been slated to be held in April, but event director Hugh Brasher today announced that it will be pushed back to October 2 in order to give the race the best chance of going ahead in its usual form.

“We are living in a hugely uncertain world – a world where different approaches to managing Covid-19 are being explored and executed,” he said.

“The London Marathon is an extraordinary and unique celebration of the family of humankind coming together. We believe that by moving the 2022 event to October we give ourselves the best chances of welcoming the world to the streets of London, enabling tens of millions to be raised for good causes and giving people the certainty that their hard work and training will allow them to experience the amazing crowds cheering them every step of the way from Greenwich to Westminster.

“We are extremely grateful to the Mayor of London, the London boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, the City of Westminster and the City of London, Transport for London, The Royal Parks, BBC TV and our many other partners for their support in confirming the  October 2, date for 2022.

“For 39 years, the London Marathon has been a spring event and we will return to our traditional slot in the calendar in 2023, when the TCS London Marathon will take place on Sunday April 23.”

Why should runners consider doing Pilates?

Protecting your body from the impact of running with Pilates can improve your performance, strength and mobility – and help you to run pain-free.

We all know that we should be cross-training, but finding time to go to a class or the gym when we’d rather be out running isn’t always easy. Online classes have never been more available and are ideal for us runners – they’re easy to fit in before or after a run and can be done from the comfort of our front room. But what should we be doing? Nicki Philips is the founder of niix, a fitness app for runners offering workouts, nutrition and lifestyle advice. She says that Pilates is a must for runners. 

“As an athletic discipline, running puts the body under huge amounts of pressure and impact,” Over time, this can cause our bodies to create irregularities, unbalanced muscle development and irregular postural alignment. This can lead to aches and pains – or worse, injury. Some of us may also find that we are unable to increase speed or performance,” she explains. The good news? Pilates has been shown to help with all of these things.

So, what is Pilates? “Pilates is all about making us move better,”. “It helps us to recognise our body as a complete system and create stability for better running technique. It offers increased flexibility and a focus on building the deep stabilising pelvic floor and core muscles, glute strength and joint stability and mobility. This creates a stronger base for athletic activity and balance throughout the body. As a result, athletes can withstand more rigorous training regimes and ultimately improve performance, injury free.”

This all sounds great to us – and there’s more. Nicki shares her 4 fantastic reasons why she thinks that all runners should be practising Pilates:

Better Posture

The key to having a well-functioning and strong body, is to have an aligned and neutral posture. Over time we pick up bad postural habits, create a weak or poorly aligned spine and pelvis. Muscle development is also affected and our body will compensate by favouring certain muscles groups over another. This is often seen with runners having larger quads with compromised glute muscle, tight hip flexors, hamstrings and pectorals, which can lead to low back pain or reduced performance.

Pilates aims to strengthen and mobilise muscles by isolating muscles groups but by identifying that the body works as a whole, with stability coming from scapular stability, pelvic floor and core connection. This means Pilates exercises can help strengthen particular areas, building muscle memory and a more balanced body.

Stronger core

Most of us know the importance of core strength – but this does not just mean the abdominals. Pilates strengthens the whole core; pelvic floor, glutes, back extensors, transverse abdominus, rectus abdominus and obliques, allowing the body to work in harmony. This leads to better alignment, balance and stability through the pelvis and spine, enabling the body to better receive, control and transfer forces during running.

Having an efficient core helps to support the pelvis and torso as you run, allowing movement to come from the hips, knees and feet and by better recruiting power from the legs and glutes.

Glute activation and strength

A weak core, paralleled with poor glute activation, will often lead to compression of the lower back. As impact is transferred through the body, the facete joints in the spine can knock together, which can cause lower back pain over time. The vertebral discs can also be compressed, which again leads to pain – none of which are what we want! 

By increasing glute strength and activating the posterior chain through targeted Pilates exercises, not only will help with better postural alignment and reducing lumbar compression but it will increase the transfer of power, improving performance. Women often have weaker glutes thanks to our natural postural positioning (anterior tilt of pelvis is very common), and a weak core or overuse of the quad muscles will only exacerbate things. Focusing on building strength in this area will improve running technique, helping us to use our glute muscles rather than relying on our quads, and subsequently improve performance.

Improves flexibility and range of motion

Pilates is renowned for helping improve flexibility and mobility through a combination of deliberate and controlled movements challenging large and small muscle groups. By strengthening and recruiting core muscles and bettering stability, we can challenge and develop joint mobility and power. Strength alone can leave you tight, stiff and immobile and can lead to injury. By balancing flexibility with strength, movement patterns are improved, correct muscle recruitment is achieved and the body can move more freely without pain.

Eliud Kipchoge says that one day his marathon records will be broken and he will be very happy

Marathon superstar Eliud Kipchoge has predicted that a "great runner" will one day shatter all of his records and he will be happy if they do.

The legendary Kenyan athlete retained his Olympic gold medal in Tokyo this month and is now recovering at his home close to the running centre of Eldoret in Kenya.

"I will be a happy man to see one of the great runners going below the two-hour mark in the marathon," he told Sky News.

"This is sport. It will show us that sport is to be enjoyed and it's you today and somebody else tomorrow. Breaking two hours in a normal marathon is a possibility."

Kipchoge holds the official world record with his time of 2:01:39 in the Berlin marathon of 2018, but he made history in Vienna the following year by becoming the first person to ever complete 26.2 miles in under two hours.

"I told all 40 of the other runners (his pacemaker team) 'let us go up to the moon and land together and make history'. It was like going to the moon and seeing what it's like there.

"There was no doubt. I didn't have any doubt. When I crossed the line my mind was blown. I was really happy to be the first human under two hours.

"That was the greatest day of my life. I had to share the happiness with my wife Grace, she has been such a good support, always supporting me. She takes care of the whole family and the children so she deserved a huge, huge hug."

His achievements have now been turned into a film, 'Kipchoge: The Last Milestone', by award-winning director Ridley Scott and can be watched on Sky Documentaries.

Kipchoge won't be in London for the marathon on October 3, but has a simple message for everyone taking part.

"Please enjoy running in London, let us make London great again. Let us bring hope again to the people in the UK, let us bring hope again to people around the world. This has been a tough time with COVID-19, but this thing will go away. Let us run as one!"

Kipchoge remained tight lipped about his future plans, saying that his focus right now is on recovering from his Olympic exploits.

"In a month or so I will sit down with my coach Patrick Sang and we will see what the future holds, what opportunities there are."

Kipchoge has won London four times and has only ever been beaten twice in his entire marathon career.

Sifan Hassan to Attempt 5k World Record at Prefontaine Classic

(The 46th Prefontaine Classic, member of the Wanda Diamond League of international track & field meets, will be held August 20-21 at Hayward Field.)

Double Olympic gold medalist Sifan Hassan will bring her unmatched distance skills back to the Prefontaine Classic with an attempt at the world record in the 5000 meters on the first of the meet’s two days.

Hassan’s race will conclude a distance-special session on Friday evening as the Pre Classic returns to the re-imagined Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus. Festivities are set to begin at 8:00 p.m. Pacific time.

This will be the first race for Hassan since her historic Tokyo Olympics, where she became the first woman or man to earn medals in the 5000, 1500 and 10,000 in the same Olympic Games. Her medal haul in Tokyo equaled the most individually by any track & field athlete with a pair of gold medals in the 5k and 10k that sandwiched a bronze in the 1500.

Hassan even avoided potential disaster, getting up from a fall on the final lap of her heat in the 1500 to not only catch the qualifiers but pass them all in finishing first.

The 28-year-old Hassan also made history at 2019 World Championships in Doha, becoming the first woman or man to sweep gold medals in the 1500 and 10k.

Hassan owns two world records on the track – in the uncanny combination of the mile (4:12.33) and the longest distance achieved in the one hour run (18,930 meters, just over 11¾ miles).

She added a third WR on June 6 in her homeland of the Netherlands, lowering the 10k best by more than 10 seconds at 29:06.82. At the time she matched American Mary Slaney as the only person to hold both the mile and 10k WRs simultaneously. Alas, Hassan’s 10k WR lasted but two days and she now sits at No. 2 all-time.

Hassan also owns the Wanda Diamond League record in the 3000 meters, achieved at the 2019 Pre Classic in 8:18.49 when it was held at Stanford. Just four days after her 10k WR she set the 1500 DLR at 3:53.63, but that was broken in July. Her PR in the 1500 is 3:51.95, a European record that makes her No. 7 all-time.

Curiously, the weakest of Hassan’s PRs is right in the middle of her fantastic range, as her 5k best is “only” 14:22.12, which puts her No. 12 all-time. The world record that she is aiming for 14:06.62.

This will be Hassan’s fifth Pre Classic, and she has PRed in three of her previous four appearances.

Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir has vowed never to betray her motherland for any cash incentives

Amidst the rising cases of Kenyan athletes seeking solace abroad after missing out on opportunities back home, the 2020 Olympic Games star insists her allegiance to her motherland remains firm.

“I'm loyal to my country. I can't be convinced to change my citizenship with money. We have so many Kenyans who represented other countries but never made it at the Olympics,” said Jepchirchir, who arrived in the country on Saturday morning before being accorded a rapturous welcome in her home in Eldoret.

“Some people change their citizenship to other countries so that they can get a chance to participate in the Olympics because, as you know, Kenya is highly competitive,” she said.

The 27-year-old withstood sweltering heat and humidity as she cruised through the streets of Sapporo – some 800km north of Tokyo – on her way to the historic conquest.

Jepchirchir led a 1-2 Kenyan sweep in the women's marathon. Her compatriot, Brigid Kosgei, emerged second while American Molly Seidel bagged the bronze medal.

“It had always been my dream to compete at the Olympics. It was unbelievable. I wasn't expecting (to perform) because this was my first time. I didn't expect to be the one to win gold,” said Jepchirchir.

“My time wasn't good enough because the weather affected my speed. I wish to improve on my personal time to 2 hours, 15 minutes because the current record is at 2 hours, 14 minutes.”

Jepchirchir clocked 2 hours, 27 minutes, 20 seconds, 10 minutes off her personal best.

“Because I had already run 2 hours, 23 minutes, my prayer was to run 2 hours, 17 minutes and then 2 hours, 15 minutes,” she said.

“I will not quit marathon because it helps me with speed. I wish to relax and see how the body will respond before I can think of something else."

“I wish to be among those representing the country at the next Olympics,” she added.

In response to murmurs reverberating across the country that the government gave the medalists a cold shoulder on arrival, Jepchirchir chose her words carefully.

“Let's not compare ourselves with other countries in terms of how we were received. We don't know about Uganda, it's another country it's another home," she said.

“Our home is Kenya and we have our own styles of doing things. The government gave us enough support during the Games. I believe they are planning to do something good to appreciate our efforts.”

She asked Kenyans to appreciate the athletes for their efforts even if they fell short of replicating the feats attained at previous events.

“We should thank God we actually even managed to clinch the ten medals, there are other countries that didn't get anything. We are proud of ourselves and we will work on our shortcomings,” she observed.

Jemal Yimer, Yebrgual Melese, Edna Kiplagat and Asefa Mengstu among Boston starters

Olympians, big city marathon winners and several former champions will contest the Boston Marathon on October 11, in what will be the first time the World Athletics Elite Platinum Road Race has been held in autumn.

Nine women who have clocked sub-2:22 lifetime bests will line up in Hopkinton, including Ethiopia’s Yebrgual Melese, whose 2:19:36 personal best makes her the fastest in the field. She’ll be joined by compatriot Mare Dibaba, the 2015 world champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist. Ethiopian 2:20:24 marathon runner Workenesh Edesa, winner of past Xiamen, Lanzhou, and Marrakech Marathons, will make her Boston debut.

Five of the top seven finishers from the 2019 Boston Marathon return, aiming to break the tape on Boylston Street: Kenya’s two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat, USA’s Jordan Hasay, Des Linden, Kenya’s Caroline Rotich and Mary Ngugi.

A trio of Kenyans with prior top-five finishes in Boston look to contend for the win in the men’s race, as Wilson Chebet, Felix Kandie, and Paul Lonyangata will use knowledge of the undulating course to their advantage. They’ll be up against a trifecta of sub-2:06 Ethiopians in Lemi Berhanu, the 2015 Boston champion, and Dejene Debela and Asefa Mengstu, who finished second and third at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. Both Debela and Mengstu will be running their first Boston Marathon.

After much success over the half marathon and in cross country, Kenya’s Leonard Barsoton and Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer will both make their long awaited marathon debuts in Boston. Barsoton earned a silver medal at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships, while Yimer owns the Ethiopian half marathon record of 58:33.

Eight of the top 12 finishers from the US Olympic Trials Marathon will also compete in Boston, led by 2021 Olympian Abdi Abdirahman.

Jamaican Olympic superstar Elaine Thompson-Herah confirmed for Lausanne and Paris

Fresh from her triple Olympic triumph in Tokyo, Jamaican superstar Elaine Thompson-Herah will take on Olympic silver medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Lausanne on  August 26.

In a mouth-watering clash of the titans, the top six finishers from the Olympic 100m final will be in action at Lausanne’s Athletissima meeting as Thompson-Herah and Fraser-Pryce line up against fellow Jamaican Shericka Jackson, the bronze medalist in Tokyo, as well as Ivorian star Marie-Josée Ta Lou and Swiss duo Ajla Del Ponte and Mujinga Kambundji.

Thompson-Herah and Jackson will also clash over 100m at the Meeting de Paris on August 28 when they’ll also take on world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith.

They are three of several Olympic medalists who’ll be in action at the Charlety Stadium later this month.

All three podium finishers in the women’s high jump will reunite in the French capital as Maria Lasitskene takes on Australia’s Nicola McDermott and Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh.

Olympic pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis takes on USA’s Chris Nilsen, the silver medalist in Tokyo, as well as two-time world champion Sam Kendricks – who was unable to compete in Tokyo – and former world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie.

Olympic steeplechase champion Soufiane El Bakkali and world champion Conseslus Kipruto – another duo that was unable to clash in Tokyo – will be in action in Paris, as will Olympic bronze medalist Benjamin Kigen.

Puerto Rican sprint hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, Jamaican sprint hurdler Hansle Parchment and US discus thrower Valerie Allman are four more Olympic champions who’ll be heading to the French capital later this month. Allman will face two-time Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic and French veteran Melina Robert-Michon, while Parchment will be up against Olympic finalists Pascal Martinot-Lagarde and Aurel Manga.

Laura Muir and Kalkidan Gezahegne, who earned Olympic silver over 1500m and 10,000m respectively, will meet in the middle over 3000m in Paris. Meanwhile, Olympic 100m bronze medalist Fred Kerley and Olympic 200m bronze medalist Kenny Bednarek will square off over the half-lap distance.

Ben Flanagan and Edna Kiplagat Win the 49th Annual ASICS Falmouth Road Race

Organizers of the 49th Annual ASICS Falmouth Road Race, one of America’s premier running events of the summer, officially brought road racing back to the streets of Falmouth today with Canadian, Ben Flanagan, winning the Men’s Division for a second time in 32:16 and Kenyan, Edna Kiplagat winning the Women’s Division in 36:52. 

Flanagan set up his strategy in advance. “I was out with my family at the Black Dog Café and I took a run on the course,” said Flanagan. “I noticed a crosswalk just before the final turn and decided I would make my move there. I knew, if I could hold off the pack until we got to the final downhill there was no way they could catch me.” 

The men’s race began with Frank Lara going to the front coming out of Woods Hole to post a 4:28 first mile. An accomplished pack of 18 men lined up behind Lara, as he held the lead through most of the race. By mile six, the men started to sort themselves out. Biya Simbassa, a University of Oklahoma graduate -- who recovered from a fall at the halfway mark -- stayed in the hunt, as did Emmanuel Bor, fresh off his fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials 5000m. 

Flanagan made a determined push at the base of the final hill before driving over the top to seal his victory over Simbassa, Bor and Lara - all finishing within 6 seconds of each other.  

The women’s race broke early with a pack of 30 dropping to seven by the second mile. Iveen Chepkemoi, a young 24-year-old talent from Kenya, who trains in Colorado Springs, put a gap on Edna Kiplagat, Emily Durgin, Fiona O’Keeffe and past Falmouth champion Diane Nukuri. By the halfway point, the race was between Kiplagat, a Boston, London and New York City Marathon champion, and Chepkemoi, with the second pack fading by 20 seconds. At mile four, Kiplagat pulled away as Chepkemoi got caught by the chase pack.  

“This was a fast race, and I needed it at this point in my training because I’m running the Boston Marathon in October,” said Kiplagat. “Once I saw the finish, I focused on keeping away from second place.” 

Durgin edged O’Keefe by one second to secure her third runner-up finish of the summer. “This is a beautiful course. We were all working together feeding off each other,” O’Keefe said. She was second at the U.S. 10K and 6K Championships. O’Keefe, a six-time All American at Stanford now coached by Olympian Amy Cragg,  finished third.  

In the Wheelchair Division, Hermin Garic, a veteran of eight Falmouth Road Races, took his first win with a 25:40. “I worked my butt off for this win,” said Hermin, who will be wheeling Utica Boilermaker the day before he heads to the 125th Boston Marathon. Emeilia Perry took the women’s wheelchair race in 37:39. “I’m really excited. This is my first Falmouth Road Race and I wasn’t expecting that last hill, ” Perry said after the race. 

Additionally, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, Molly Seidel, served as the official race starter and joined the ASICS Falmouth Race field of nearly 8,000 registered participants as its very last runner. For every runner that she passed along the 7-mile course, the Falmouth Road Race pledged to donate $1 to Tommy’s Place, a vacation home in Falmouth for kids fighting cancer. Tim O’Connell, founder of Tommy’s Place, announced an additional dollar-for-dollar match. While Seidel officially ran past 4,761 runners along the way, the Falmouth Road Race is pleased to announce that it will double its pledge, bringing its donation to $9,522.00 in appreciation of Seidel’s participation in this year’s event and to celebrate her victory in Tokyo. Combined with O’Connell’s match, that brings the grand total to $19,044. 

About Falmouth Road Race, Inc. The Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite and recreational runners out to enjoy the iconic 7-mile seaside course. The non-profit Falmouth Road Race organization is committed to promoting health and fitness through community programs and philanthropic giving.

9-year-old boy sets record in the 1,500m

Tokyo Olympians weren’t the only ones running fast last week. Nine-year-old Victor Jaimez-Solorio of Apple Valley, CA, set a new U.S. under-10 1,500m record on August 5 at the AAU Junior Olympics in 4:42.97, beating the previous record of 4:57.47 by nearly 15 seconds. This was the second win of the meet for the young track star, who also won the 800m the day before. 

Solario averaged 1:15 per lap to maintain his record-setting pace, which is equal to about 3:08 per kilometre… not bad for a kid who hasn’t reached middle school yet. The youngster also has a personal best time of 1:05 over 400 metres, according to MileSplit.com. If Solario sticks with it, his will be a name to watch out for in a few year’s time.

Men's Marathon was 2nd-Most Viewed Event at Tokyo Olympics

On Aug. 10, Video Research, Ltd. announced that the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics broadcast on NHK on Aug. 8 earned an average viewership rating of 46.7% in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, 41.5% in the Fukuoka area, 41.3% in the Osaka area, and 40.7% in the Nagoya area. In the 32 regions surveyed, Video Research calculated that 46,997,000 people nationwide watched the closing ceremony in realtime.

The 46.7% viewership rating far surpassed that of the 2008 Beijing Olympics closing ceremony, which recorded only 25.1%. It was the third-highest rating on record for Olympic closing ceremonies, behind the 1964 Tokyo Olympics with 63.2%, and the 1972 Munich Olympics with 46.9%.

The event broadcast that earned the highest viewership was the Aug. 7 men's baseball final on NHK, where Japan defeated the U.S.A. to win the gold medal, at 37.0% 2nd was NHK's broadcast of the Aug. 8 men's marathon, where Suguru Osako placed 6th, which earned 31.4% viewership in its second half. 3rd was the Aug. 3 men's soccer semifinal match on NTV, where Japan lost to Spain in overtime, at 30.8%

Water you doing?! French marathon runner Amdouni faces accusations of ‘sabotage’ as he KNOCKS OVER rivals’ water bottles

Morhad Amdouni won't be winning any awards for sportsmanship this summer after appearing to 'sabotage' his rivals during the Tokyo Olympic marathon by knocking over water bottles from a refreshment table – only to save one for himself.

Frenchman Amdouni finished in 14th position in the 26-mile race which took place in sweltering conditions in Tokyo, and the 33-year-old has prompted a fiery debate on social media after footage was captured which appears to show him deliberately knocking over several water bottles which had been provided to refresh runners.

Competitors in front of Amdouni in the leading pack managed to grab a bottle with ease from a refreshment table, but when it came time for Amdouni to do the same he seemed to run his hand through the bottles, knocking each one over before he successfully picked up the final bottle in the line – leaving several runners behind him empty-handed.

The reaction has seen Amdouni deemed "selfish" by several figures on social media, with UK media firebrand Piers Morgan going so far as to declare the French athlete the "biggest d*ckhead of the Tokyo Olympics".

The Gold medal for biggest d*ckhead of the Tokyo Olympics goes to French marathon runner Morhad Amdouni, who deliberately knocks over all the water for his fellow competitors. Unbelievable!" wrote Morgan on social media in response to the footage.

Several others have also joined the online pile-on, with some writing that Amdouni should "hang his head in shame".

"I’m fairly certain he wasn’t practicing a dominoes trick – there is only one reason he did that and he should hang his head in shame. Hopefully, upon reflection, he will realize what a selfish act that was," added one critic, while another noted that he "should be disqualified [for] unsportsmanlike conduct."

A third suggested there was no way that the incident was unintentional, as Amdouni appeared to have little trouble in picking up the final bottle on the table after knocking the rest to the ground.

"No-one else had a problem grabbing one bottle," they wrote. "Have to think this was intentional."

However, as viewers also noted, there was another refreshment table just a little further up the circuit, so anyone behind Amdouni would likely have had another opportunity to rehydrate during the gruelling race.

Regardless of whether it was deliberate or not, Amdouni didn't gain any sizeable advantage due to his butter fingers, as he soon fell away from the leading pack and finished some six minutes behind the winner, Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge.

NIKE TOP BRAND MEDAL TABLE, BUT PUMA ON THE RISE

The swoosh has been everywhere on the track and in the field in Tokyo. Nike was the spike of choice for 11 out of the 12 middle distance medallists, on the chest of the top-three in the men’s 200m final, while also sponsoring the stand-out sprint star in Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, who took down Flo-Jo’s 100m Olympic record with their latest shoe technology.

It will come as no surprise that Nike was again the most dominant brand in Olympic athletics. The global sports giant was on the vest of 53 medallists and was on the feet of 73—and remains in the top spot that it had in Rio in our brands medal table.

Nike’s totals, however, have declined. Its shoe share is down 16 medals (89 to 73)—while Puma has made a surge (4 to 16, or a 300% increase). Nike it seems decided not to extend or renew contracts for the delayed Olympics with Puma sweeping up some of that talent. Puma’s longer-term deals also came to fruition, most notably with Canada’s Andre De Grasse, who inked a multiyear deal back in 2015 reportedly worth as much as $30 million.

This may be a shift in strategy from Nike that has had an impact beyond track and field, a sport in which it has deep roots. In football, stars like Sergio Ramos and Thiago Alcantara took to blacking out their boots earlier this year. The suggestion then was that Nike was focusing on a smaller number of elite athletes that could be at the core of their campaigns.

Just because an athlete is wearing a brand in track and field doesn’t mean that they are actually sponsored at all, or in any meaningful way. Some could be “kit drops”, others might have bought a product themselves. New Zealand’s Tom Walsh wore blacked out Nikes for his shot put final, but has had “SPACE FOR RENT” emblazoned on his vest in the Diamond League this season. Others may be ensuring that they don’t miss out on carbon-plated “super spikes”. Britain’s Josh Kerr—Brooks sponsored—wore “whited-out” Nikes for his bronze-medal-winning performance.

There was also room for two new brands; Allyson Felix’s Saysh and fellow American Joe Kovacs wore Velaasa, a shoe brand founded by Lynden Reder that ran a successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2018. New Balance stepped up a notch with their sponsorship of Sydney McLaughlin, Gabby Thomas and Femke Bol.

Nike topped the vests chart through its sponsorship deals with federations, but this was down (71 to 53) and again Puma had the most dramatic boost (15 to 22). This included a shoe and vest double with Norwegian Karsten Warholm’s 400m hurdles world record. Asics, a Japanese company and an official Olympic gold partner, also saw a boost (8 to 13).

Puma may have had one more medal, but decided to cancel its $2.7m sponsorship of the Nigerian team. (Apparently, this delighted Nigerian officials). For its only medal in the women’s long jump, Ese Brume wore the lesser-known sporting brand AFA on her chest. Of these smaller brands, AF’s position is entirely down to Poland’s performance, while Belgian sponsor Vermarc can once more thank Nafissatou Thiam for making the medal table.

Charts show individual track and field events, no relays or road races. One athlete wore different brands across the heptathlon, so her final shoe brand in the 800m was counted here. For the vest count, it is the competing vest and not the podium tracksuit where the brands may differ. Javelin Olympic champion, India’s Neeraj Chopra had no discernible logo on his vest. It is categorised here as “other”.

Cameron Burrell’s cause of death was suicide: This is what his family is saying in wake of loss

The cause of death of the former University of Houston sprinter, NCAA national champion and son of gold medal sprinter Leroy Burrell, was released in a report from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Friday afternoon, the following statement was released by the University of Houston from UH track coach Leroy Burrell and his family:

“On Monday evening, our family’s hearts were broken with the passing of our son, Cameron, who took his own life.

While much of the world knows Cameron from his accomplishments in competition, he was so much more as a son, a father, a brother and as a man. We love him, and we will miss him forever.

We may never know why Cameron made such a decision. We encourage anyone who may be struggling in their lives to reach out for help. You are not alone, and you are surrounded by more people who love and care for you than you may think in a dark moment.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

As our family navigates through this emotional time we will have no further comment and request privacy.”

Statement from Leroy Burrell and family

KPRC 2 does not report on suicides in most instances; however, given the wide coverage of Burrell’s death earlier this week and public appeals made by his father as well as his aunt on social media, we are sharing their messages.

Olympic Champion Eliud Kipchoge will miss 2021 London Marathon

Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge's name was conspicuously missing from the list of elite runners who will be competing at this year's London Marathon on October 3.

Organisers Thursday released a stellar list that has women's world record holder Brigid Kosgei and men's champion Shura Kitata of Ethiopia.

Kipchoge, who retained his Olympic marathon crown at the recently concluded Tokyo Games, finished eighth at the 2020 London Marathon, timing 2:06:49, more than a minute behind winner Shura Kitata.

He was expected to return to London to try and reclaim the title he won in 2019. Efforts to get a comment from the world record holder provide futile as his phone went unanswered.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday after arriving from Tokyo, the 36-year-old remained non-committal on whether he would hang his boots after the triumph in Japan.

"I think it is good not to ask about retirement... When your wife delivered the first child, did you plan for the next one immediately?" Posed Kipchoge to a journalist, who responded in negation.

Kosgei, the Olympic silver medalist, will be attempting to win her third successive London Marathon after victories in 2019 and 2020.

She will be competing against New York City Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei and six other women who have run under two hours and 20 minutes.

"It is a great feeling to be coming back as London is one of my favourite marathons. Last year's win was very special, particularly given what the whole world was going through. It was fantastic just to have the London Marathon organised and even more so to be the winner. I hope to arrive again in very good shape 

Jepkosgei set a new personal best of 2:18:40 last December at the Valencia Marathon, where she finished second to Olympic champion Peres Chepchirchir.

Also in the elite women's field are Ethiopians Roza Dereje, whose PB of 2:18:30 makes her the tenth-fastest female marathoner of all time, and Birhane Dibaba (PB 2:18:35), who won the Tokyo Marathon in 2018 and 2015, and finished second in the same race on three other occasions (2020, 2017 and 2014).

The other women to have run inside 2:20 are Kenya's Valary Jemeli (2:19:10), Ethiopia's Zeineba Yimer (2:19:28) and Tigist Girma (2:19:50).

Also returning is Australia's Sinead Diver, who has had two top 10 London Marathon finishes in the past two years, and was 10th at the Tokyo Olympics.

In the men's race, Shura Kitata- who pulled out of the Olympic Games marathon last weekend after suffering in the hot and humid conditions in Sapporo- will line up with the other men as he seeks to defend his title.

Kitata bagged victory ahead of Kenya's Vincent Kipchumba and both will be meeting again in the contested race in October with Sisay Lemma also in the race.

Also on the starting line will be Kenya's Evans Chebet, the current Valencia Marathon champion and fastest man in the world last year (2:03:00), and the two-time Tokyo Marathon champion Birhanu Legese who is the third-fastest marathoner of all time (2:02:48).

Ethiopians Mosinet Geremew (2:02:55) and Mule Wasihun (2:03:16), who both finished on the podium at the 2019 race, also return.

Titus Ekiru, who clocked the fastest time during the Milano Marathon of 2:02:57, will make his debut.

The 2021 London Marathon returns to its traditional and iconic course from Blackheath to The Mall after last year's elite-only race on a multiple closed-loop circuit around St James's Park.

Up to 50,000 runners are expected in the mass race and another 50,000 around the world will take on the virtual event, completing the 26.2 miles on the route of their choice any time between 00:00 and 23:59:59 BST October 3.

Eugene will play host rematches betwen olympic medalists at the Prefontaine Classic

Dozens of medal winners from the recent Tokyo Olympic Games will be back in action at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Eugene when Hayward Field hosts the Prefontaine Classic on August 21.

Based on the announcements made so far by the meeting organizers, five events will feature a full set of Olympic medalists from Tokyo.

Double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan headlines the women’s 5000m field and she’ll take on two-time world champion Hellen Obiri and world indoor 1500m record-holder Gudaf Tsegay, the silver and bronze medalists in Tokyo over 5000m.

All three medalists from the men’s 5000m will also be in action as Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, Canada’s Moh Ahmed and USA’s Paul Chelimo clash over two miles.

Teenage stars Athing Mu and Keely Hodgkinson, the top two finishers in the 800m in Tokyo, will be back in action over two laps, along with world and Olympic bronze medallist Raevyn Rogers, world champion Halimah Nakaayi, Britain’s Jemma Reekie, Jamaica’s Natoya Goule and USA’s Ajee Wilson and Kate Grace.

World record-holder and two-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser will look to maintain his winning streak in the shot put when he takes on world champion Joe Kovacs and 2017 world champion Tom Walsh. Brazil’s Darlan Romani and US duo Darrell Hill and Payton Otterdahl are also in the line-up.

Jamaican sprint stars Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson – who filled the 100m podium in Tokyo – will face USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson and Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast.

The men’s 100m, meanwhile, features Olympic silver and bronze medalists Andre De Grasse and Fred kerley, along with world indoor bronze medallist Ronnie Baker, 400m specialist Michael Norman and African record-holder Akani Simbine.

Two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon will once again line up against Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir and Canadian record-holder Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, while world champion Timothy Cheruiyot will clash with Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the men’s Bowerman mile.

In the women’s steeplechase, world champion Beatrice Chepkoech takes on world leader Norah Jeruto Tanui, Olympic silver medalist Courtney Frerichs and 2017 world champion Emma Coburn.

Other global stars confirmed so far include world 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad, Olympic triple jump champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo and world indoor triple jump record-holder Hugues Fabrice Zango.

Beat the heat of the afternoon when air quality is at its worst-Lousy air quality days, get that jog or walk done earlier in the day.

You've probably heard it time and time again during this run of exceptionally bad air quality in Denver and along the Front Range – get that exercise and/or outdoor activity done during the early morning hours to escape bad air quality.

But, you might not know why air quality tends to be best during the early morning – and worst during the afternoon.

Let's start with the basics:

When Denver has poor air quality, it's usually because of ground ozone – though it's often mixed with or directly from wildfire smoke.

Ground ozone forms from a combination of car exhaust, other forms of pollution and warm temperatures.

Because car traffic peaks in the morning and evening and temperatures usually maximize in the afternoon, that's when conditions are typically at their highest for creating ground ozone.

That ground ozone, however, also dissipates fairly quickly after dark. Because sunlight is a critical ingredient to ozone's formation, ground ozone dissipates quickly after dark. Ground ozone levels at night are typically very low, even if they're really high during the day.

By the way, you might also notice us saying "ground ozone" as opposed to just "ozone." That's because ozone itself can be a very good thing – after all, it's what comprises the ozone layer about 20 miles above the surface. The ozone layer shields us from the majority of the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

Ground ozone, on the other hand, creates smog and pollution at the surface.

So long story short – when you know that lousy air quality might be in the forecast, get that jog, walk or outdoor activity done during the early morning hours or at night after the sun goes down.

These simple routine changes will spare you the worst air quality-related impacts!

Man drifts ashore while trying to run from Florida to Bermuda inside 'bubble'

An ultramarathon runner who is trying to trek on foot from Florida to Bermuda in a strange floating device drifted ashore Saturday along the coast of the Sunshine State, a report said.

Reza Baluchi — and his so-called bubble, which allows him to navigate on the top of the water — ventured ashore in Flagler County, Fox 35 reported.

Baluchi is attempting the daring sea voyage to raise money for charity and to encourage people to follow their dreams.

“I will show people anything you want to do, do it,” he told the news outlet. “Don’t listen to anyone. Chase your dreams.”

Baluchi said his goal is to raise money for homeless people, the Coast Guard and police and fire departments.

The endurance runner has tried similar aquatic travels in the past.


In 2014, he was rescued by the Coast Guard while trying to reach Bermuda in a homemade floating “Hydro Pod.” He had been suffering from fatigue at the time.

“I’ll never give up my dream,” he told Fox 35. “They stop me four or five times but I never give up.”

Scott Jurek Halts Appalachian Trail FKT Attempt-Injury forces ultra legend Scott Jurek off the trail

After just one week on the trail, Scott Jurek was forced to terminate his Appalachian Trail Fastest Known Time attempt.

About four days into his run, he developed a quad issue similar to the one that plagued him in 2015. Unlike his injury six years ago, he was unable to push through or walk it off.

After months of silence on social media, the trail runner from Boulder, Colorado, unveiled his summer plans for a record-setting run on the Appalachian Trail this week. As per AT tradition, he adopted a trail name — “Webwalker” — which was given to him by thru-hikers during his 2015 speed attempt.

As of late Tuesday, Jurek, 47, was already seven days and several hundred miles into a southbound trek on the trail, not far from the Maine-New Hampshire border. His goal was to complete the 2,193-mile trail from Mount Katahdin, Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia, in 40 days or fewer.

That would have not only lowered his only personal record on the AT by six days, but it would also have surpassed Utah ultrarunner Karl Meltzer’s current supported Fastest Known Time of 45 days, 22 hours and 38 minutes set in 2016. Jurek set the northbound supported FKT (46 hours, 6 hours, 7 minutes) six years ago, but Belgian ultrarunner Karel Sabbe lowered it by five days (41 days, 7 hours, 39 minutes) with an amazing effort in 2018.

“I haven’t forgotten the suffering, but sometimes you have to go back to the hard places and do the hard things,” Jurek said via social media this week. “I still have so much to learn, and I still have more to give.”

The Four Races That Still Need to Happen in 2021

The Tokyo Olympics may be over, but the track & field season most definitely is not. We’ve still got five Diamond Leagues to go, including the final in Zurich on September 8-9. And while Tokyo produced a number of amazing races, there were a few that we didn’t get to see. Here are the four races that still need to happen in 2021. Diamond League meet directors, pay attention (and have your checkbook handy…these races won’t be cheap to organize).

Women’s 100 meters: Elaine Thompson-Herah vs. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce vs. Sha’Carri Richardson

Of the six fastest women in history, three of them have run their personal bests this year: Thompson-Herah (10.61 in Tokyo), Fraser-Pryce (10.63 in Kingston), and Richardson (10.72 in Miramar). But we didn’t get to see the three of them in the same race at the Olympics because of Richardson’s positive test for marijuana at the US Olympic Trials.

There may be a bit of a rivalry brewing as well. Remember, after Fraser-Pryce ran 10.63 back in June, Richardson essentially took credit for pushing Fraser-Pryce to a pb (even though Richardson was not even in the race).

And when the Jamaicans were asked about Richardson following the Olympic final, they did not want to talk about her (though to be fair…they had just won Olympic gold and silver). But any mention of even the word marijuana quickly resulted in realizing they didn’t want to talk about Sha’Carri at all.

Chances that it happens: It’s already happening! The Pre Classic has announced its women’s 100m field and all three are entered.

Men’s 400: Karsten Warholm vs. Rai Benjamin vs. Steven Gardiner

Karsten Warholm’s mesmerizing 45.94 world record in the 400 hurdles generated a number of questions. One of the natural ones: how fast could he run without the hurdles? Warholm’s personal best in the flat 400 is 44.87, but that dates back to 2017, when his hurdles pb was 48.22. He’s over two seconds faster now in the hurdles, so it’s not unreasonable to think he’s in 43-second shape right now. Benjamin’s pb is 44.31 from 2019.

So let’s throw Warholm and Benjamin in against the Bahamas’ Steven Gardiner, who just ran 43.85 to win the flat 400 in Tokyo, and see how they really stack up.

Chances that it happens: 25%. Warholm has already committed to run the flat 400 in Lausanne on August 26. That’s a great start, but getting Benjamin and Gardiner as well could prove tricky.

Women’s 400: The “Dream Team” vs. Shaunae Miller-Uibo

It was a running joke for most of the 2021 season: America’s best 400-meter runners don’t even run the 400. I mean, just look at the “Dream Team” the US trotted out for its dominant victory in the 4×400 relay: Sydney McLaughlin, Allyson Felix, Dalilah Muhammad, Athing Mu. Only one of those women ran the open 400 in Tokyo.

As incredible as Felix was at the Olympics, taking bronze in the 400 in 49.46, she only had the third-fastest split on that relay (49.38), with Muhammad going 48.94 and Mu a ridiculous 48.32. What could be better than seeing all four Dream Teamers race each other head to head?

Well, how about throwing the two-time Olympic 400 champ into the mix in Shaunae Miller-Uibo? Assuming that field doesn’t collapse from the weight of its collective gold medals (all five of the women have won individual Olympic gold; their combined total is 15 career Olympic golds including relays), the race would be more stacked than the Olympic final we just witnessed.

Chances that it happens: 10%. This one seems like a pipe dream. With the Americans as the major draw, the Pre Classic would be the natural venue for this, but there are two problems. First, there is no women’s 400 at Pre this year (though it’s not too late to add one!). And second, the five athletes above are represented by four different shoe brands. It’s not as if Nike could just magically compel them all to run Pre.

Men’s 5,000: Jakob Ingebrigtsen vs. Joshua Cheptegei vs. Selemon Barega

We already saw Ingebrigtsen vs. Cheptegei in Florence in June, and it was no contest, with Ingebrigtsen pulling away to a world-leading 12:48 as Cheptegei faded late. But Cheptegei revealed in Tokyo that he has been battling a heel injury this year, and while he’s not completely over it, it’s definitely more manageable now (as evidenced by his gold and silver in Tokyo) than it was two months ago in Florence.

Then there’s Barega, who used a sick close (2:24 last 1k, 53 last lap) to win 10k gold but did not run the 5k in Tokyo. Let’s settle the title of best distance runner in the world and pit the Olympic 1500, 5k, and 10k champs together in a 5k on the circuit.

Chances that it happens: 30%. I could see Cheptegei and Barega racing each other in a 5,000 at the Diamond League final (or even the 2-mile at Pre). Getting Ingebrigtsen to join them could be more difficult, however. He’s running the Bowerman Mile at Pre and may opt for the 1500 at the DL final.

Molly Seidel just became the new queen of Strava

In case you missed it, on Sunday, U.S. runner Molly Seidel won the bronze medal in the women’s marathon at the Tokyo Olympics. She ran the race of her life, hanging with the Kenyan leaders, Peres Jepchirchir and Brigid Kosgei, until around 37.5 km, and fended off her competition over the last stretch to secure the bronze in a time of 2:27.51. The bronze medal won’t be the only achievement she will be coming home with, as she has just been crowned ‘Strava legend’ for having the most kudos for a women’s activity ever.

n case you are unfamiliar with kudos on Strava, they are virtual thumbs up, and comparable to “likes” on Facebook or retweets on Twitter. Currently her “full send” activity sits at 32,500 kudos and is still rising. Seidel sits on the throne beside cyclist and multiple Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who received 40,000-plus kudos for a ride in Italy.

Getting to Tokyo was an achievement of its own for Seidel, as she missed the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2016 to get eating disorder treatment. Seidel qualified for the Olympics Games when she placed second at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2020 behind fellow American Aliphine Tuliamuk. 

Canadian marathoner’s Malindi Elmore and Natasha Wodak who both respectively finished within the top 15 in Tokyo were apparently apart of Seidel’s morning walking club around the athlete’s village. Seidel illustrated the importance of these two tremendous women on her Instagram and Strava.

In case you are unfamiliar with kudos on Strava, they are virtual thumbs up, and comparable to “likes” on Facebook or retweets on Twitter. Currently her “full send” activity sits at 32,500 kudos and is still rising. Seidel sits on the throne beside cyclist and multiple Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who received 40,000-plus kudos for a ride in Italy.

Getting to Tokyo was an achievement of its own for Seidel, as she missed the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2016 to get eating disorder treatment. Seidel qualified for the Olympics Games when she placed second at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2020 behind fellow American Aliphine Tuliamuk. 

Canadian marathoner’s Malindi Elmore and Natasha Wodak who both respectively finished within the top 15 in Tokyo were apparently apart of Seidel’s morning walking club around the athlete’s village. Seidel illustrated the importance of these two tremendous women on her Instagram and Strava accounts. 

Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon officials encouraging runners to get COVID-19 vaccine

In October, the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is returning in-person for the first time in two-and-a-half years.

Organizers are taking a step in the fight against the pandemic that caused the delay – launching a public service announcement campaign, encouraging runners to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as taking social distancing precautions.

“This is not a political issue, this is a public health issue and we’re just encouraging runners to get it,” said Kari Watkins, Executive Director at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. “We’re not requiring it, we’re just encouraging.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved, so have the talks between Watkins and OU’s Chief COVID-19 Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler.

“If we were having it today, I’d be a lot more concerned,” Bratzler told News 4. “A lot of the epidemiologic models show we will see substantial peak, particularly with the opening of schools but we could start to fall off fairly quickly after that.”

Bratzler says if runners are not yet vaccinated, he hopes they consider it – because running fast doesn’t guarantee COVID-19 won’t catch up to you.

“The very first person I ever took care of with COVID-19 was a distance runner,” said Bratzler. “The very first person who presented with shortness of breath, severe cough and long-haul symptoms and took him literally months to get back to pre-COVID aerobic capacity.”

Watkins says as of right now, registration looks to be at about 50% of their normal turnout.

They’re working on plans for safety – including spreading out runners at the start line and starting the race in waves.

“We’ll start making those calls 30 days out, maybe around Labor Day, saying here’s what we expect from runners,” she said.

As they work on precautions on their end, officials hope runners will take their own as well.

“For us, the marathon is an important celebration of life and coming together,” said Watkins. “When you look at the opportunities of do you require a shot or do you not require a shot, the best thing we could do is encourage vaccinations and give people a reason to go get vaccinated.”

Bratzler says as of right now, he’d encourage runners to wear a mask at the start line and take it off as they spread out.

He also says they will likely highly promote, if not mandate, masks at the indoor registration event ahead of the race.