Japan’s Fukuoka marathon used to be the best non-championship marathon of the year.You knew when it would be run: the first Sunday in December each year. You knew who would be running: the best six international runners organisers could get on a ‘start at the top and keep going until six men have said ‘yes’’ basis; the best six Japanese runners (few of whom ever said ‘no’ to Japan’s most prestigious race); anyone else around the world who had bettered the 2:27 qualifying time and was willing to pay their own way.The Olympics were the only global championships back then, so most years Fukuoka might bring together the European and Commonwealth champions, the winners of traditional races like Boston and the English AAA championship and others burning with ambition. Before there was a world championships, the Fukuoka marathon was the next-best thing.
Right now – 27 November, as this is written – it is exactly 64 years past the mid-point of the athletics’ program at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games. Sixty-four is not an anniversary we usually celebrate, I’ll grant you, but consider two points of mitigation in that regard. Firstly, the four-year Olympic cycle does not lend itself to the five-year rhythm of most anniversary celebrations: the two waves only coincide once every 20 years, which is way too long between drinks.
Love him or just dig him; as Peter Bol, Joseph Deng, and Ryan Gregson will confirm – he is one tough nut to crack, when in shape. We caught up with the 2018 Commonwealth Games 800m bronze medalist, and reigning Australian 1500m champ, Luke Mathews. RT: Luke, good to have you back on RT. In this strangest of years, your absence in Europe was noted and we are all missing your prolific, motivating Strava logs. Assuming ongoing issues with Plantar Fasciits is to blame? What’s the latest? LM: Hey guys! Thanks for having me. Certainly been a tough year to start the least. I hobbled around most of January and February with on going plantar issues, so the delayed Olympics was somewhat a blessing in disguise. I’m not going to say I wouldn’t have made the team if it was on in 2020, but it certainly would have been challenging
At 35-years-of-age, Lauren Reid is an impressive athlete. From 2:03 over 800m, to a 72 minute half marathon, her range is legit. Recently, Lauren won the NSW 10,000m champs; so we caught up with her for a quick yarn.
Karsten Warholm won nothing of consequence this year. He raced hardly anyone of consequence. Yet the dual world champion in the 400 metres hurdles is a viable candidate in every athlete of the year award going. Did we mention yet that 2020 is a crazy year? (I think we did:...
Hi Runner Tribe readers! My name is Kaela Edwards, I am a professional 800m and 1500m runner for adidas aiming to make the 2021 Olympic Team in Tokyo. My 800m personal best (PB) is 1:59.68 from the U.S. outdoor championship final. I am excited to share with you my perspective into what I think it takes to run 1:59 and beyond; confidence, knowing yourself and the competition, and balanced training.
But with athletics in Victoria, my home state, emerging from Covid lockdown this weekend (14-15 November) with a ‘community’ cross-country, now is as good a time as ever to dive back into Australia’s history at the world cross-country championships.
Article by Benita Willis (4 x Olympian, World Champion, Multiple Aussie record holder, Director – Lace Up Running). I have a lot of fond memories of my teenage running years. Growing up in a country town (beachside suburb of Mackay, NQ), we used to do a lot of training that...
The year 2020 has been described as “a year like no other” so many times now that it is easy to forget that sometimes it’s true. Rankings, for example, which are such an anticipated and enjoyable of our sports’ end-of-year ponderings and annual awards in general, are going to be a far more difficult exercise in a year in which all competition took place within the constraints imposed by a global pandemic.
Article by Benita Willis: 4 x Olympian, Aussie marathon record holder, World Champion & head coach at Lace Up Running. It’s a strange year in many people’s lives and in some cases, has thrown our routine out the window for months! During this time, many of us have developed bad...
