WITH one of the most jaw-dropping performances of the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Salwa Eid Naser destroyed favourite Shaunae Miller-Uibo in the 400m to run the third-quickest time in history. After crossing the finish line to take gold, the 21-year-old put her hand over her mouth in disbelief. Then, as the time of 48.14 flashed up on the screen, she screamed in delight.
Only Marita Koch and Jarmila Kratochvilova have run faster over the one-lap distance for women. Koch blitzed to an otherworldly 47.60 at the IAAF World Cup in Australia in 1985 – a performance which has stood as the world record ever since but is tainted due to Koch being part of the systemized doping programme in East Germany. As a fellow eastern bloc athlete from the old Czech Republic, Kratochvilova’s mark of 47.99 when winning the inaugural world title in Helsinki in 1983 is similarly suspicious.
Does Naser not therefore believe she has a claim to be regarded as the world record-holder? “You tell me,” she said in Doha, moments later, as her victory was still sinking in. “Running with these amazing ladies, I don’t think I would have done it alone. Against Shaunae especially, I always run for the best because she is a strong athlete. They pushed me to get this time.”
Denne historien er fra October 24, 2019-utgaven av Athletics Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra October 24, 2019-utgaven av 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.
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We bust some of the jargon around footwear
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