FORMER Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said: “There is no education like adversity.” Almost 140 years after his passing, these words spoken in a political context may resonate with us as athletes and coaches and of course outside of the ‘track bubble’ more than ever.
The position of the governing bodies
In response to government advice concerning non-essential travel and contact, on March 17 the home country athetics federations advised that all face-to-face activity, such as club training sessions, events, competitions, club committee and face-to-face meetings, athlete camps, running groups and social events be suspended until at least the end of April.
This advice, of course, is subject to monitoring and review.
The statement went on to advise that where possible “athletes and runners at all levels are encouraged to maintain their own personal fitness and keep active during this time” while continuing to follow revised government guidelines about safe distance and safe exercise environments.
Social distancing
Public Health England has defined measures pertaining to social distancing as spending more than 15 minutes and within a two-metre distance talking to someone. So, adherence to this guidance makes normal group training or competition impossible. This means that as athletes you will have to work alone which may be a challenge motivationally.
Esta historia es de la edición March 26, 2020 de Athletics Weekly.
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Esta historia es de la edición March 26, 2020 de Athletics Weekly.
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Carbon Footprint
You'd have had to have been running on a different planet to miss all the recent debate about carbon-plated shoes. The talk of bans and performance enhancement has been so widespread that even non-runners are asking their running friends about the potentially magical footwear.
Trail time
WHEN looking for a trail or off-road running shoe, it’s often all about the grip. However, given that no two paths are the same, careful consideration is required. What’s the terrain like where you’ll wear the shoes the most? If you’ll be negotiating soft, wet and muddy conditions then look for deeper lugs. For tackling gravel tracks and forest trails then more evenly spaced lugs will work better. When it comes to cushioning, consider how hard the ground will be; if it’s soft then you’ll be fine in low-profile shoes, but on those firmer tracks reasonable cushioning will be called for.
Stay neutral
EVOLVING every year, if not month, neutral cushioned shoes are seeing developments in cushioning materials and dynamics at a pace which is nothing short of astonishing. The latest models feature new polymers in the midsoles to give them a cushioned feel while at the same time keeping their weight to a minimum. Give them a spin and choose the most comfortable for mile after mile of shock absorbing running.
Support network
WHEN it comes to ‘over-pronation’, a common question is ‘how much is over?’. With no hard and fast rules, it’s best to choose a shoe that instinctively feels right. Gait analysis can often assist in helping you make this choice and your specialist running store is always a good place to start if in doubt. To help you make that choice, here’s a selection of some of the best ‘support’ shoes around.
Need for speed
THE racing shoe segment of the market is becoming somewhat split. This is partially due to the rise of carbon-plated footwear but also the fact that many shoes are becoming much lighter. Here we take a look at some of the leading contenders to toe the line in.
Gadget show
WITH technological products to enhance every area of life, running is now no different. From headphones to treadmills, the devices to aid performance and recovery are endless. Here we take a look at some of the latest gadgets and gizmos to enhance your training.
What's in a shoe?
We bust some of the jargon around footwear
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