ONE of my proudest moments as editor of AW was producing a nostalgia-packed 25th anniversary issue in December 1970. With the circulation rising each year and with readers in 59 countries, the magazine was going from strength to strength and among the tributes published was a congratulatory telegram from The Duke of Edinburgh, President of the British Amateur Athletic Board.
Others whose messages were printed included 1924 Olympic 100m champion Harold Abrahams (BAAB Chairman), Arthur Gold (BAAB Honorary Secretary), Barry Willis (AAA Honorary Secretary), 5000m world record-breaker Chris Chataway MP (Minister of Posts & Telecommunications; whose photo along with Roger Bannister and Gordon Pirie graced the cover), Senior National Coaches John Le Masurier and Denis Watts, and 1964 Olympic long jump champion and world record breaker Mary Toomey (formerly Rand). “I read it from cover to cover,” she wrote, revealing that “there is always a race between Bill [1968 Olympic decathlon champion] and me as to who should read it first and I nearly always win!”
One of the features in our largest issue yet (48 pages; price 2 shillings = 10p) was a farewell salute to the White City Stadium – venue for the 1908 Olympics and the home of British athletics since 1932. It witnessed so many great moments, such as Chataway’s epic 5000m victory against Vladimir Kuts in 1954, Derek Ibbotson’s world mile record in 1957 and Ron Clarke’s revolutionary sub-13 3 miles at the 1965 AAA Championships.
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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.
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