YOU WOULD have thought Clare Elms might have been rather proud of her performances in 2019. She was the biggest overall winner of any section (British masters female) in the AW Readers’ Choice Awards and won the BMAF British masters athlete of the year and the European Masters distance runner awards.
During the year she won four world indoor and six European outdoor masters titles and set over 20 world or UK records and achieved the unique feat of setting at least a national record or best every month of the year.
However, she explained: “I know I did well in some races but I competed far too much and felt under pressure to set a record in almost every race and felt I failed if I didn’t. I ran 80 races during the year and never got a break as there always seemed to be one more record to achieve, whether it was 800m or 10,000m.”
Yet the 56-year-old, who lives in Beckenham, Kent, is keen to stress that despite her negativity towards last year, just how much she enjoys her running and competing. “I love running and training and after the family it is the most important thing in my life. I really enjoy very hard track sessions, long runs and racing and I am so grateful that running has given me so much and I have made some great friends from all over the country.”
Her first try at running more than 40 years ago did not see her ultimately fulfil her undoubted potential. At the age of 12 she won the Croydon schools 200m title and she was talent-spotted but her mother suggested she should focus on school work and she thus missed out on running as an older junior and senior, where she would have surely made a mark and instead she focused on swimming in her early teenage years, reaching county level.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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
How To Prime Your Immunity
Taking steps to shore your body’s defences has never been more important. Here’s how to do it, says Peta Bee
English Schools Survival At Stake
Covid-19 could lead to ESAA losing thousands this summer
Covid-19: Athletics Events Are Wiped Out
Unprecedented calendar changes due to Covid-19
