THE FORMER EUROPEAN AND COMMONWEALTH CHAMPION CELEBRATES A BIRTHDAY MILESTONE THIS WEEK
BRENDAN FOSTER grew up with the dream of one day playing centre forward for his beloved Newcastle United. However, the sport of athletics has benefited hugely from the fact that things didn’t work out that way.
The man who has been a world-class athlete, event pioneer, marketer and television commentator turns 70 this week and has a wealth of achievement upon which he can reflect, both on and off the track.
He might have hung up his BBC microphone for the final time last summer at the conclusion of the remarkable IAAF World Championships in London but he is still consumed by a passion for the sport which first began to enter his consciousness during the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Foster vividly remembers, as an 11-yearold boy, running home from school to be captivated by the TV footage of athletes such as Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila and New Zealander Peter Snell. The pictures were to prove inspirational.
“At weekends, I used to play football in the morning and then run for my club Gateshead Harriers in the afternoon in all the local road races – and I used to finish third or fourth,” he recalls. “One day the football match was cancelled because the ground was frozen, so I went home, had something to eat and went to the race in the afternoon. I won it and I thought ‘I like that!’ I packed in playing football when I was around 16 and started running seriously.”
It proved to be a wise choice as Foster began to realise the athletic potential he possessed.
Bu hikaye Athletics Weekly dergisinin January 11, 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Athletics Weekly dergisinin January 11, 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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
