Archive for the 'Inspiration' Category

This blog is about endurance running, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to write about the amazing sprinting exploits of a certain Usain Bolt at last week’s IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

Many commentators and journalists have struggled to find the right superlatives to describe his new world records for the 100m and 200m, ‘amazing’, ‘staggering’, ‘incredible’ seem to be the leading contenders. But none come close. I don’t mind admitting that I jumped out of my seat and screamed at the TV when I saw the time of 9.58 seconds for Bolt’s 100m. He destroyed his previous mark and given that his preparation was not as good as for last year’s Olympics his run was all the more remarkable. According to the Hungarian tables which compare world records across events his 100m record is equivalent to a 9.15m long jump and a 1.59.14 marathon, making it arguably the best of all the world records.

There have been some big names and some superb achievements in men’s sprinting over the years. Growing up in the 1980s I watched Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis, Donovan Bailey, Linford Christie and many others. They broke world records and won medals. Some were professional and dedicated to their sport (though many decided to cheat and ended up disgraced), but they were not exactly lovable. So in many ways what is most remarkable about Bolt is not just how fast he runs, but the way he does it. For him, entertaining the crowd and having fun are just as important. During the rounds of the 100m GB athlete @JnetteKwakye tweeted that sprinters seem to have lost what she called their ‘game face’ and that it had all become a bit of a ‘panto’. Janette speaks from a position of some experience. After all she stood on the start line of the 100m Olympic final in Beijing. But I do think she is wrong. As a spectatator I love the fact we don’t have the ridiculous macho posturing you used to get at the start of every 100m and 200m race. Most of the time it meant absolutely nothing and bore no relation to the quality of what was to follow. What Bolt has done to cut through all that nonsense and connect with the audience. Now everyone is at it. Even Kenenisa Bekele was playing to the crowd on the start line for the men’s 5000m.

No doubt 1000s of youngsters are being turned on to sprinting. And that’s important. Its only by having heros that you create the next generation of runners. Some day, somone will run faster than Usain Bolt. We just may have to wait a long time to see it.

A couple of weekends ago I spent some time in Jersey on a family visit. Aa very nice place it is too. Sort of like Devon, but with a French accent. Good if you like Devon and the French accent. Not so good if, erm, you don’t.

Hiring a scooter is the best way to get around and a couple of days is all you need to have a good nose about. I took some time to explore the island on foot too, which included a run along the excellent beach at St. Brelade. Very good steaks and wine list at the Candlelight restaurant in St. Helier to finish off a hard day’s sightseeing/running.

The Jersey Marathon takes place in September each year, and the Half-Marathon in May. Both would be worth the trip, a 35 minute flight from Gatwick.

I have blogged before about books on running and how they can provide some great inspiration.

Over the past few years the genre (can we say that yet?) of writing about running has certainly diversified. Books tend to fall into three camps: rather dry, technical training manuals; personal diary accounts of the writer’s experience of training for a big event; or biographies or autobiographies of the famous and well known, or sometimes not so well known. Whilst you might find some inspiration from a training manual it is is pretty unlikely, so for a good read the diary account or (auto) biography are the best bets, and over the past few months I have read some good examples of both.

The first is Haruki Murakimi’s ‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running’, a book that is part travelogue, part training programme and part a reminiscence. Murakami is a full-time writer and novelist and the book gives you a really good sense of how his writing and running compliment each other beautifully – ones feeds off the other.

If its reading about sheer determination, dedication and bloody-mindedness is what your are after take a look at Pam Reed’s ‘The Extra Mile’ and ‘Ultramarathon Man’ by Dean Kanarzes. Both books are about the weird and wonderful world of ultra running. Not only do you get a superb accounts of just how much physical and mental effort is required to be one of the best in this part of the sport, you also gain a real understanding (particulary from Reed’s book) of the impact such dedication has on friends and families. You can read more about Dean on his website.

Another book about determination, but from a very different perspective is Paul Rambali’s ‘Barefoot Runner – the life of marathon champion Abebe Bikila’, a very intense account of how running and politics became completely entwined during 1960s Ethiopa. Many have questioned some of Rambali’s claims about what exactly took place, but I leave you to judge for yourself.

To a large extent becoming a runner is about getting a habit – not all are bad you know – and my advice to anyone who wants to take up this particular (and brilliant) habit is to run 3 times a week for 3 weeks. After that period of time your body will be used to a regular outing, and most importantly, you will have decided if running is something you like and want to do more of.

But how about running every day?

Well Mark Covert from Los Angeles has been doing just that.

For 38 years!

Read more about his amazing commitment to running here. He is the leading member of the United States Running Streak Association. Yep, there really is an organisation for this sort of thing.

Think that is impressive? Think again. Britain’s own Ron Hill can top Mark’s record. He has run every day.

For 44 years!

And raced in 100 countries.

Read more about Ron here and here check out his blog.

These records and the commitment shown by Mark and Ron are indeed something to marvel at, but is this something everyone should aspire too? Is running every day a good thing?

A good habit is one thing, but a compulsive obsession is quite another. I doubt whether anyone who has run every day for over 30 years sets out with the mission to run every day for their rest of their lives. It probably just happened that way, and before you know it, they don’t want to stop because it would break their unbroken running streak. Maintaining the record becomes more important than the run itself. Ron Hill’s exploits have drawn some criticism in the past because of that very issue. For example, he has been known to have a quick jog around an airport terminal when realising he wouldn’t be able to fit in any sort of normal run. And reading about Mark Covert shows that for his family, his running streak record has become the ‘fifth child’.

The body likes a break, and to get the most from your training, to become that better runner and reach your goals, means appropriate rest and recovery.

So maybe the best advice is not to get like Mark and Ron and run everyday for the rest of your life, but instead make a commitment to a lifetime of running.