SIX MONTHS ON FROM THE ARTICLE WHICH MADE WAVES, THE 21-YEAR-OLD WANTS TO SEE THE “TABOO” CULTURE BEING CHALLENGED
BOBBY CLAY believes athletics could – and should – be doing much more to build an awareness and support system around relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), but that challenging a “taboo” mentality in wider society is necessary first.
Six months have passed since the 21-year-old told her hard-hitting story in Athletics Weekly, sharing in-depth insight into her osteoporosis diagnosis which came about due to her regime of over-training combined with inadequate nutrition.
“I have become ‘that girl’,” she wrote. “The girl who overtrained. The girl who under fuelled. The girl who we are all told about, yet we all just believe ‘it won’t happen to me’.”
One of Clay’s reasons for writing the article was to help raise awareness of the issue and the 2015 European junior 1500m champion believes many people have a part they can play in reducing the number of future cases like hers.
“There is a fine line between passion and obsession,” says Clay. “I think targeting athletes at the right age is really important and it not just being females. There is so much focus on females, and I feel like males are neglected heavily in this area. At the same time, I feel like males almost think that they don’t have a duty of care towards females when it comes to things like periods.
Denne historien er fra May 31, 2018-utgaven av Athletics Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra May 31, 2018-utgaven av Athletics Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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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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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
