Runner's Tribe

On December 1, Valencia will host its highly anticipated marathon, bringing together some of the world’s greatest athletes just weeks after the city endured devastating floods. The catastrophic October downpour brought two months’ worth of rain in just 48 hours, leaving widespread damage and raising doubts about the marathon’s viability. However, organizers pushed ahead, transforming the event into a powerful symbol of hope and unity.

Just as you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows; Nina Kennedy didn’t need a magazine to tell her she was the number one female pole vaulter in the world last year.

Gabriella Rooker is an elite marathoner with outstanding results in competitive conditions. The 37-year-old started her journey as a competitive gymnast, a sport that taught her discipline and resilience from a young age. Gabriella’s gift soon became clear when...

Marathon training is a challenging and rewarding experience that requires dedication, hard work, and a well-structured plan. Whether you're a seasoned runner or a beginner, training for a marathon can be a daunting task. However, with the right approach...

As we travelled to Falls Creek for the forty-somethingth year in a row I had one of those existential-type moments. Had the journey up to Victoria’s Bogong High Plains become better than the destination.

None could withstand Rayner’s finish, however. Clear at the bell, he held on to win by some 20 metres from Clifford, with Chignell, Robinson and O’Donnell following.

Running a marathon is an exhilarating challenge that requires not just physical stamina but also mental preparation and strategy. For first-time marathoners, the experience can be both exciting and daunting. However, many common mistakes can undermine your efforts or...

Though I have referenced issues relating to the heart in some previous articles for Runner’s Tribe, I have not discussed this topic in any depth. This article is dedicated to a closer examination of contemporary research into the heart health of mature endurance athletes, building upon Parts One and Two of the Fundamentally Speaking series. All of the available literature indicates that the risk of serious heart events for mature endurance competitors is very small, physical activity being highly beneficial to the human body. However, the risks are real for those with particular susceptibilities.

Anaerobic threshold is, seemingly, a well understood concept. The focus on this threshold could be described as excessive in the world of middle-distance running, viewed by some as a shortcut to exceptional performance outcomes. Training at, or above, this threshold is a key consideration in the programs of all distance runners. In this article I identify aspects of the anaerobic threshold that may require attention as we age, and its application to training.

Australians know ‘schoolies’ as the week-long celebration for high school graduates that takes place after final exams in late November and early December. The same calendar period brings the Australian All Schools championships. ‘Schoolies’ for high school athletes, if you...