The last blog post I wrote talked about how I spent my time whilst on furlough, turning three and half months of not working into an opportunity to live like a professional runner and trying to become a better runner in that period of time.

Fast forward to now, the current furlough scheme  has ended with many workers returning to work full time, with some part time and others unfortunately having no job to return to.

Since I wrote the Furlough Pro article I have managed to successfully salvage a racing season out of all the races that have been cancelled this summer due to Covid-19.

Making the most of a COVID Summer

I have ran in five races, one being in County Wicklow, and the rest in Italy. The Wicklow race was at Lugnaquilla and was used to test out the Irish Mountain Running Association’s new safety protocols for a safe return to racing, and it felt so good to finally be back on the start line after so many months of logging the miles.

I managed to win that one by over eight minutes, signalling that the shape was good and that I was ready to go a bit further.

Travelling to Italy to race was exciting tinged with  a hint of nervousness. It had been the worst hit country for the virus in Europe, so obviously it was only normal to be anxious, and others had expressed their concerns at me heading over there (We dealt with it pretty well though, learning quickly as the first country hit in Europe too – Italy based, defensive Ed.)

Off on a summer holiday

Packing a suitcase, checking in for your flight and getting your boarding pass is the standard procedure everyone goes through before flying, but never before have I had to fill in paperwork to justify my reason for travelling and to let the Italian authorities know where I’m travelling to, where I’m staying and for how long.

The contact tracing system had not been put online at that point so it was all filled in on pen and paper, I don’t think I’ve done that much writing since I was in school!

Another new novelty of flying in the Covid era was the essential wearing of face masks-from the minute you entered the airport and left the airport at your destination, you have to wear one at all times, even on the flight.

Arriving in Dublin airport at 4:30am in the morning in normal circumstances is normally a busy affair; airport buses are dropping off passengers from all corners of Ireland, and there is always a hive of activity going on. Not this time. I parked my car after the 90 minute drive down on an empty motorway, and within 10 minutes I was through security and sitting down to a coffee and a second breakfast.

A surreal travel experience

The airport was empty; 3 members of staff at security, one at the boarding pass scanners and two staff in the cafe. It was quite eery, and the lack of flights on the departures board was surprising.

Arriving in Italy I was surprised at how ‘normal’ everything was; except for everyone wearing a mask inside and outside, hand sanitizer was placed in every shop, temperature checks took place in certain areas-this was a sign of what was to come in Ireland, but this was my first experience of what you could call ‘the new normal’.

The new procedures for racing where quite simple; everyone wears a mask on the start line until 500m in which they can be removed, putting it back on at the finish line, no elite athlete presentations, aid stations would be limited and everyone stood one metre apart on the start line.

This would be the new normal for all of my races in Italy, but everyone was in cooperation with the organisers which made it run like clockwork and apart from slightly smaller crowds (when I say smaller, the atmosphere was still fantastic)

Starting strong, finishing stronger

The season started at Lugnaquilla and finished in Morbegno for the Trofeo Vanoni mountain relays where myself,  2019 Mountain Running World Cup winner Andy Douglas and Leeds United’s number one fan Ben Mounsey finished 5th in what is one of the best races on the calendar.

One win, 2 podiums and 3 top ten finishes is how I finished up results wise, with two weeks of racing coming as back to back races with a vertical kilometre on the Saturday and a 21km mountain race on the Sunday for Fletta Trail and Trofeo Nasego.

Given that back in March racing looked gone for the year, I remained positive throughout and continued training so that if any racing was to go agead, I would be ready to go. Thankfully this paid off and I was able to use the base I had built during the the first lockdown to carry me through from late July to the end of October and still deliver consistent performances on the mountains.

Back to the grind

Right now I am now back to work full time, five days a week from Monday to Friday which as the title suggests, is the end of the Furlough Pro.

It was a good run that lasted longer than first anticipated, but I feel I made the most of it and came out the other side a better runner than I was before. Returning to work part time was a bit of a shock as I had to re-adjust to running at 6am in the morning but after a few days it felt normal again.

I’m now back to training after a week off with no running done at all, probably the most boring week I’ve had in years but one that was needed to allow the batteries to recharge both physically and mentally.

From Lugnaquilla in County Wicklow to Morbegno in the Valtellina region of Italy, the 2020 mountain running season is over and now the focus turns to getting the work in over the next few months with my dog Corragh alongside me to prepare for what will hopefully be a better and more complete 2021 season for everyone.

Let’s go.

Want to run faster? For just £30 per month athletes are provided with a Final Surge plan for each day of the week, coaching advice from Robbie Britton and Tom Craggs, as well as access to the unique Fast Running Performance community.

If you would like more information on joining the project, click here. 

The post The end of the Furlough Pro? appeared first on Fast Running.

12:02 AM, 1 January 2020: I tweeted “Happy Olympics Year!”.

As anyone who’s met me knows, athletics defines a large part of my life, whether a fan, photographer or slightly-above-average runner, and 2020 was going to be a big year.

It’s not just elite athletes that centre their dreams and motivations around the Olympics, fans do too. I’d saved up for the past six years, got tickets for every athletics session, and agreed an extended break from work. I was finally going to the Olympics, seeing people whose careers I’d supported since day one at the biggest competition of their life, the (literal) countdown was on!

Simultaneously, last summer I discovered a pure love for racing. I’ve always run, but there was a step-change and I was excited to grow and test myself as an athlete. On New Year’s Eve I made a list of personal running goals. I was motivated and ready.

We all know what happened next. 

Adopting The Right Attitude Can Convert A Negative Stress Into A Positive

COVID put my plans and dreams through a blender. In the space of a few days I went from club group training and planning races, working in an office with friends and counting down to Japan… to nothing.

Compared to the wider world – rising death tolls, a stretched NHS, and vulnerable people forced into isolation – I knew this wasn’t that important; but my life, or escape from life, was no longer there and the apparent frivolity of it made it that much harder to talk about. I am sure many athletes (and fans) had similar thoughts at the time.

After the initial frustration / sadness / stress about how much money I might lose and whether Tokyo 2021 was a-go (a trip to the Olympics, especially in Tokyo, isn’t cheap, luckily I booked some hospitable hotels that were happy to refund non-refundable bookings), it didn’t take long to find some positives.

I couldn’t control external factors, so why worry? Plus an extra year of saving could enhance a Japanese adventure in 2021. I also got to revaluate myself as an athlete.

Finding the positives

Lockdown meant I was no longer spending two hours a day commuting, and with my other past-times (theatre, film, Friday night drinks) on hold, there was a chance to train properly.

I viewed it as a form of winter training block, but with no defined end date, cemented with a belief there’d be a chance to race and reap the rewards at some point in the year. I felt lucky to have this opportunity and didn’t want to let it go to waste, and so I trained like never before.

The role my club (Striders of Croydon) played in keeping me motivated cannot be understated; weekly solo speed sessions and monthly virtual challenges were set, social virtual catch ups organised, and there was a real sense of community. I am sure many athletes can relate for their clubs. 

Each good run added to the motivation, I was ready. 

Photo: Bjorn Parée

‘Feet, fail me not, this may be the only opportunity that I got’

My first race was a 5000m in Holland in early August. With no prospect of racing in England at the time, particularly at my favoured distance, I looked abroad with guidance from some elite athletes.

After much research and deliberation, I went for Holland. COVID rates were low but I still tried to minimise risk (a hotel with a kitchen in the room to avoid eating out, train instead of a plane).

Before every race I listen to Lose Yourself by Eminem, the lyrics ‘feet, fail me not, this may be the only opportunity that I got’ seemed more apt than usual.

It was a lot of effort to try for a PB over 12.5 laps – was it worth it? Being back at a competition felt special, and on the start line I felt a sense of calmness I haven’t before. I ran a 29 second PB for 16:50.91, breaking one of my big 2020 goals of running sub-17 minutes. All the effort during lockdown was made worthwhile by that one race. 

Good for the fans too

At the same time, as a fan, it was amazing to see athletics returning. Events like World Athletics’ Garden Challenges, The Impossible Games in Oslo or Podium 5k made me smile in a way only pole-vaulting from a back garden or 400m hurdling in an empty Norwegian stadium could.

But I missed live athletics.

I couldn’t replicate the adrenaline and excitement that comes with being there in person at home; plus, I was craving the chance to grow as an athletics photographer. As COVID levels dropped and events allowed limited spectators, I began dreaming of a trip somewhere.

The Monaco Diamond League, with some of my favourite athletes, minimal COVID cases and a good risk plan in place from the organisers, seemed perfect so I booked it all. Of course, this was 2020 and quarantine restrictions were announced nine hours before I was due to fly.

It was painful to watch a 5000m WR (my favourite distance to race) from rainy south London knowing there was a seat in the stadium with my name on it. My first live athletics trip was a bit closer to home, 4km to be precise, at the Bromley Twilight Invitational. Being back at a track and seeing athletics friends I’d not seen for half a year was fantastic, so much so I have struggled to put it into words.

I remain very grateful to Mark Hookway for inviting me as a photographer and am in awe of his efforts to put on such an outstanding COVID-secure display of the best of British endurance racing. 

Marc Scott pips James West to showcase fantastic British endurance racing on a local stage Photo: James Rhodes

Back with camera in hand

I was given an opportunity to photograph from the infield at the Memorial Kamila Skolimowskiej in Poland in September. I had to say yes, even if it meant I raced an 800m in Tooting 20 hours earlier and going straight to Stansted Airport in full race kit… how 2020 had changed!

Whilst being in an almost empty stadium was a bit strange, it was brilliant to experience live athletics again – especially when the performances didn’t disappoint – from a viewpoint I wouldn’t have had in a ‘normal’ 2020.

There was a case of deja-vu the following weekend. After racing another 800m on the Saturday, I decided to go to Berlin 24 hours later to see Mondo Duplantis and Karsten Warholm attempt World Records, in another stadium that holds many good memories for me.

Reminding us why we love this sport

Simply put, a love for this sport gave me opportunities I didn’t expect to get this year. 

Since that race in Holland I’ve run 14 track races back home, rewriting my PBs from 400m to 3000m and setting a club record for the mile, my other big goal of 2020.

The efforts of every club who put on races in such difficult circumstances will never get the recognition they truly deserve, but I have to thank Blackheath & Bromley, Herne Hill, Belgrave, Hercules Wimbledon, South London Harriers and Harrow for giving me a chance to run. 

As the UK enters a second lockdown and uncertainty grows on when racing will return, when times get stressful or bleak, I’ll look back and remember there are better times ahead, some of which will be unexpected. Hopefully you will be able to do the same.

Want to run faster? For just £30 per month athletes are provided with a Final Surge plan for each day of the week, coaching advice from Robbie Britton and Tom Craggs, as well as access to the unique Fast Running Performance community.

If you would like more information on joining the project, click here. 

The post The COVID-19 Dream Blender appeared first on Fast Running.

Fortunately, the Virgin Money London Marathon 2020 has not been cancelled. It does, however, have a much different flavour this year. The field is reduced to predominantly world-class athletes and will take place in a closed biosecure loop circuit around St James’s Park.

The course will be completely different, no spectators, no British Championship athletes, and no mass participants. However, I can still see two things in common with previous years:

1. The finish line is in the same place
2. An outstanding elite field
All the rest, we can reasonably say it is going to be radically different.

The field is reduced to only 75 athletes (45 men and 30 ladies) among the top in the world; no other athletes will get to the start line. Also, all the athletes will be covid-tested before travelling to London and on arrival in the athlete-only hotel where they will spend the days before the race.

The hotel that has been chosen offers 40 acres (16 hectares) of grounds in which athletes can perform their pre-race shakeout activities without leaving the biosecure bubble. Athletes will bussed to the start on the morning of the race, which means a very early start for some!

Famous finish remains

With a closed-loop circuit around St James’s Park this year, there won’t be any start in Blackheath, no fly by at the Cutty Sark, no cross of the river at Tower Bridge and nobody will pass a scaffolded Big Ben. The course will be 19.6 laps with the finish line in its traditional location in the Mall.

Given the circumstances of a restricted race, the necessity of keeping athletes isolated, and avoiding big gatherings while maintaining the ambition for London to become a world-record location, St. James’s Park loop undoubtedly is one of the best options.

A few days ago, I went to revisit this year’s London marathon course, even though I already know St. James’s Park, not only for its position as a tourist hotspot but also because it used to be part of my evening jogging commute.

2020 Virgin Money London Marathon elite race route map (https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com)

Potential for a fast race

Accordingly to the organisation, one lap is exactly 2.15 km, so competitors on race day have to complete 19.62 times the distance of a single lap.

St. James’s Park loop owns all the ingredients to be a super-fast course:

1. It’s super flat
2. Has no sharp corners
3. Is not particularly exposed to the wind
4. Is not particularly exposed to the sun in the unlikely case of a sunny and hot day (thanks to the trees, which offer plenty of shade).

Nobody knows what kind of performance Kipchoge, Bekele and Co. are going to deliver, but regardless of its legality, there is some potential for a World Record.

Personally, I’m very intrigued to see what is going to happen both for the nature of the course, which is extremely fast in my opinion, but also in how the circumstances may have affected the athletes’ training and minds. For sure, even Kipchoge, Bekele and co. had their training hit by some race uncertainty. The first half of 2020 with a forced break from races has played well for some but badly for others, and I wouldn’t even exclude some outsiders from coming out.

A new start line for the London Marathon

Impact of no crowd

Also, another factor is the lack of spectators; the marathon will take place in a bubble, and the public won’t have access to watch the race.

We know this one has been a key difference between Breaking2 in Monza where, for most of the course, there were no spectators. While in the Ineos 1:59 challenge in which Kipchoge managed to cross the finish line within 2 hours, he could rely on plenty of supporting spectators who surely gave him some marginal mental strength.

Well, let’s start from the finish, so there are no surprises here (if you already know the course). After analysing the official course map for 2020 and photos of previous years, the finish is clearly in Stable Yard, with the third timing mat aligned with the lamp post on the left.

So I created a segment with a complete lap to start and finish at the finish line.

VLM Strava segment

Therefore, according to what the organisation has shared, I estimated the start line 2020 to be where the traffic lights are at the end of the Mall, next to the Artillery monument, and I created another segment to start and finish at that point.

So the gap between the start and finish in the Mall is roughly 530m as in this segment.

While the gap from the new start to finish is roughly a mile (segment here).

Doing the maths

Let’s do some math now: Officially, one lap is 2.15km, so 19 laps cover 40.85km. Once you have passed the start line 19 times, you still have 1345 m to go. And this is exactly what the organisation has confirmed, but it leads me to two questions:

1. Where are the athletes going to run the remaining 1345m, if the distance from start to finish is 1.61km? A shortcut in the park for the last lap?
2. Wouldn’t it have been easier simply to place the start exactly 1345 m from the finish line? So, athletes would just remain on the same course all the time? In that case, a start line exactly 1345 m away from the finish line would be just past the Guard Memorial.

Regardless of how these last 1345m will be covered I’m sure it will be a great race and one big day for road racing; this time, unfortunately, we can only watch.

Make your mark

When I created the Strava segments, I intended to give everybody a chance to run the London Marathon 2020 course and have the chance to post a segment CR (maybe) faster than some Olympians.

Note that the segments have been recorded on the road where I expect athletes to run on race day, and where I assume the course has been measured.

However, mortals in their runs are likely to be on the footpath or on the path next to the road, which would probably still match the Strava segments. Still, the actual distance will be shorter, probably in the region of 50-20m less each lap. So for us, these segments will offer the chance to measure ourselves versus Kipchoge/Bekele and Co. The advantage is that we may run a shorter distance, but always with the hope that some of them will wear a watch on race day and post the activity on Strava.

For more details visit Virgin Money London Marathon News.

Want to run faster? For just £30 per month athletes are provided with a Final Surge plan for each day of the week, coaching advice from Robbie Britton and Tom Craggs, as well as access to the unique Fast Running Performance community.

If you would like more information on joining the project, click here. 

The post VLM – The Biosecure Bubble Edition: Course Insights and Segments appeared first on Fast Running.

Elite races for men, women and wheelchair athletes will take place on an enclosed looped course in St James’s Park in a secure ‘biosphere’and times will be eligible for Olympic qualification. Spectators will not be present with the race live on the BBC.

The race has confirmed that the head-to-head between Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele will still take place and Brigid Kosgei will head the women’s elite race. The wheelchair field will include the likes of David Weir and Manuela Schär.

Questions remain over Tokyo qualification

Following the recent World Athletics announcement opening up the Tokyo qualification window to include September – November races questions still remain around GB athletes’ route to the games.

Thus far Callum Hawkins is the only qualified marathoner for the Games and British Athletics have recently confirmed they intended to still proceed with a trial race in April 2021. How this now works with VLM moving to October in 2021 remains to be seen.

Mass race moves to October 2021

After months of anticipation the news will be disappointing if not surprising to the thousands of non elite athletes due to take part this year. The race has confirmed that runners can defer they place to a future London Marathon in 2021, 2022 or 2023.

Organisers, who have been integral to the development of guidance which has allowed the commitment of smaller road races, say the move of the 2021 race to 3rd October was to allow the very best chance of a full mass race taking place.

“We have been working for months on a number of different scenarios with the health and safety of our runners, our charities, our sponsors, our volunteers, our medics, our communities and our city always our priority,” said Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the Virgin Money London Marathon.

The biggest challenges were not those involving participants but the multiple issues of managing spectators, ensuring the emergency services had access across London with the recent changes to the roadscape, the increased likelihood of a second spike that has led to the recent cancellation of spectator trials at major events and the ongoing concern about the pressure even a reduced size mass participation marathon might put on the NHS.

Despite all our efforts, the fantastic support from all of our partners and the progress that has been made on planning for the return of smaller mass participation events that are not on the roads, it has not been possible to go ahead with a mass socially distanced walk or run.”

Virtual race option

Everyone with a place in the 2020 event will still have the chance to take part in the 40th Race by running the marathon distance from home or anywhere in the world on the course of their choice said a London Marathon press release.

Participants in the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon will have 24 hours to complete the 26.2 miles, from 00:00 to 23:59 on Sunday 4 October. They can run, walk, take breaks and log their race on a new London Marathon app being developed by event partner TCS.

Runners can also use their time, with appropriate supporting evidence, to apply for a Good for Age or Championship place in 2021 say the race.

Questions over GFA and Championship entry

Questions have been raised by some runners around a policy requiring any runner with a Good For Age or Championship qualification from pre January 2019 to complete the virtual race in order qualify again.

In what has clearly been a challenging time for the organisers in order to balance the demand for entries in coming years some runners will feel they have been harshly treated seeing their previously qualification time discounted.

Vital funds for charity

“We know how disappointing it is that the Covid-19 pandemic means that it’s not possible this year to run the famous course on the streets of London,” said Brasher.

“But we’re offering everyone who has a place this year, or who had already deferred to April 2021, the chance to participate in The 40th Race and every eligible runner also has the chance to run on the streets of London in 2021, 2022 or 2023.

If existing runners do not want to take part in The 40th Race, we will be offering their places to other runners who would like to raise vital funds for charity.”

The impact on the charity sector is significant. In 2019 the Virgin London Marathon raised a world record £66.4 million for good causes and it will be hoped that the range of options put in place by the race will ensure that a high proportion of this fundraising is maintained in 2020.

Want to run faster? For just £30 per month athletes are provided with a Final Surge plan for each day of the week, coaching advice from Robbie Britton and Tom Craggs, as well as access to the unique Fast Running Performance community.

If you would like more information on joining the project, click here. 

The post Elite only VLM as mass race moves to October 2021 appeared first on Fast Running.

Road and multi-terrain racing in the UK has been suspended during lockdown with RunBritain, who are one of the main race licensing bodies in the UK, not issuing new licenses for races taking place before the end of July.

On Tuesday RunBritain released a guidance document which will allow for road racing to recommence provided races are able to meet the requirements of the guidance.

The RunBritain document has been developed in partnership with medical experts, insurance companies, road race organisers and England Athletics and covers races taking place in England. Welsh Athletics have separately also released guidance this week, and Scottish Athletics also have their own guidance on off track racing.

We have already seen races taking place successfully in Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as on the Isle of Man and Guernsey.

Key points

Amongst a range of other requirements races must;

• Appoint a ‘Covid-19 Officer’ and develop a Covid-19 Risk Assessment demonstrating how they intend to manage and mitigate risk
• Ensure they have additional medical cover with specific additional requirements around personal protective equipment, water supply and an isolation area for anyone demonstrating symptoms
• Provide additional facilities for hand washing and sanitisation
• Provide plans on how they will ensure social distancing at start and finish areas and during the race
• Minimise ‘contact points’ which will likely see no on the day entries, medals or give aways and runners encouraged to carry their own water (though water will still be provided bit not handed to runners).
• Deter spectators from attending and provide clear information to participants on expected behaviour to keep the race safe for themselves and others
• Pay close attend to space and crowd flows. This includes developing start configurations which will minimise bunching (for example waves and ensuring faster runs start first), determining pinch points on the course and developing strategies for them (i.e. ‘no over taking zones’), minimising the time runners spend waiting at start and finish areas and not using pacers.
• Liaise with local residents and businesses to reassure or mitigate concerns

In practice

In practice the guidance will mean some events might look quite different to ‘normal’ but there are no specific diktats on exactly what start procedures must look like or the numbers of competitors taking part.

Gavin Lightwood, RunBritain Manager, on a webinar hosted by England Athletics highlighted that every event was different so telling race organisers exactly what their start procedures would need to be be would likely be counter productive. A race with a course which narrows soon after the start, or on a lapped course, might need a different approach to one on a large racing circuit or point to point race for example.

It is likely we will see waved starts, possible time trial or relay formats being used with wave numbers guided by the restrictions of the course or start and finish areas.

During the races overtaking will be allowed provided it can happen whilst meeting government guidance on social distancing – at narrow sections of courses ‘no over taking zones’ or similar restrictions might need to be put in place by races.

Clearly the challenge is greater for mass races but race organisers are nothing if not creative and resilient so it will be interesting to see the solutions they develop.

A desire to return?

What remains to be seen is what kind of demand there is amongst runners to return to races at this time. Some polling by races on social media has led to a mixed response with some suggesting a majority do not feel a return to racing is a good idea just yet.

Clearly though there are some race organisers who are on the edge of not being able to continue and suppliers to races also struggling with the financial impact of lockdown.

A date to restart

Existing licenses issued to road races have not been cancelled but there are additional requirements races will now need to put in place which will take some time. It could be though that some races will feel they are able to return as soon as August provided they can put in pace the necessary measures.

A key limiting factor could be the willingness of Local Authorities to allow races to proceed. Local Authority permission is a key element of the licensing process and some have already ruled out races taking place. It remains to be seen if the guidance from the governing body and the back up of the insurance that sits with the licensed if issued are enough to persuade them.

Want to run faster? For just £30 per month athletes are provided with a Final Surge plan for each day of the week, coaching advice from Robbie Britton and Tom Craggs, as well as access to the unique Fast Running Performance community.

If you would like more information on joining the project, click here. 

The post Guidance on return to road racing is released appeared first on Fast Running.

The numerous athlete blogs sought out by the FR crew since mid March have been great to illustrate the various ebbs and flows of leading enduros over this tough and not brief spell. If you wanted a 3 word summary, glass half full might serve. (Though I believe Lottery Funded athletes need to go for at least 2/3 full, with seasonal progression)

It seems ages ago since one tuned into the virtual 12 stage with Jake Shelley being offered a paltry 6 minutes to commentate on over 3 hours of top end aerobic shenanigans. In typical overachieving way he wrapped it up in 3 minutes, reportedly using the banked 3 minutes for a vocal chords warm down designed by Barry Fudge. Though Alan Storey probably invented it whilst waiting for some papadams in 1989.

The virtual full spectrum

A predictable spectrum of athlete responses to virtual races covers the gamut from “brilliant, I prefer it to the real thing” to “over my dead body” and a kind of bell shaped curve in the main (Do any human traits not have bell shaped curves?).

It’s testament to runners’ sense of social awareness and general Good Eggery that although they are clearly amongst the very lowest risk categories for the worst severity of covid 19 they seem almost universally to respect the rules and guidelines imposed to best contain it (There are reportedly other analyses of said guidelines if you dig deep on the internet. Google ‘Bojo winging it’).

David Chalfen is a coach with Serpentine and author of several books on training for endurance. Photo – Maren Urner www.visual-expressions.net

So, coaching. Yes, yes, athlete focused in that if you see a bunch of guys and women, a tad past their physical prime and just on the acceptable side of dishevelment, reminiscing round a track perimeter without a bunch of athletes on the business side of the railings, it looks, well, somehow lacking.

And as long as we get ample time to fictionalise our PBs to inspire athletes; to bang on how the Reading Half is fine but things were miles better in 1985, to motivate athletes; and to moan about the fing parking ticket we picked up last week, to steer them towards optimal and prudent lifestyle planning; then yes I’m all for athlete focus.

Obviously we wrap the technical stuff around the softer aspects; if there’s anything better than a Beer Mile video to cover off both pacing and hydration strategies, with a side order of spatial awareness thrown in, well, I clearly haven’t read my Daniels properly.

Still a long way short of the real thing

But it isn’t always easy. Two of the absolute big beasts of why coaches coach is that we like spending time with keen runners and we really like watching them and countless others racing, all together, for real. Especially at Parliament Hill.

Virtual things are better than nothing, no doubt, but still a long way short of the real thing. (Speaking of the real thing, the BBC’s ‘live coverage’ of Jacob Ingebritsen’s startling 4.50.0 2000m seemed to amount to live notes from a reporter. I cry foul. I reckon he could push for medal at the Euro U23s if things fall into place.)

Engaging content

In the meantime, big thumbs up to England Athletics for a diverse and very helpful series of endurance webinars and masterclasses set up since the world changed. For marathoners with only 33 minutes to pick up some top advice, Aly Dixon being hosted by that Craggs dude is well worth a listen.

If you want to hear how a highly driven coach can successfully combine maverick tendencies with a structured system, there’s Mark Rowland, and if you want someone else to confirm that there was some heroic and memorable stuff going on around 40 years ago, tune into blunt-speaking Kiwi Rod Dixon.

I’m not sure quite what people expect for those less-than-gargantuan EA affiliation fees and if you think they are steep, I guess you’ve never ordered the partridge and endive on bruschetta in Islington. Right, must catch up on the latest swathe of race cancellations before asking a glute-weak runner why being furloughed still doesn’t offer a suitable time window for those scintillating glute bridges.

David Chalfen is wondering how the Met League will work with social distancing, especially the fiddly bottlenecks.

The post Coaching Blues in (Easing Of) Lockdown appeared first on Fast Running.

For quite a few months now, the only racing news we seem to be getting is about what races are being cancelled. We remain hopeful for each one, but it isn’t long before we are told they too aren’t going ahead.

It’s time to get rid of the doom and gloom that racing seems to have become and focus on those races that may actually happen! And no, I’m not talking about virtual races. I am talking about racing as we used to know it, with other people all running around the same course. Proper racing.

Whilst no licensed road races will be going ahead in July and only a few, limited track races are, there is hope for August yet. Therefore, as things stand now, what races are potentially going ahead?

Marathon maybes?

The only news regarding marathons seems to be that they are all getting cancelled one after the other. However, there are a few that may still be occurring, just with a slight, socially distant twist.

Presently, the Virgin Money London Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday 4th October. Whilst the organisers are facing lots of challenges, Event Director, Hugh Brasher, states they are

‘coming up with innovative ways to socially distance the event’ and they hope that ‘the world will have found a way through Covid-19 by October’.

There are no public details yet on the innovations being considered, but as time goes by more information is bound to come out. Therefore, while the date is still in the diary, keep training, so you can be ready on 4th October.

Events including Brighton Marathon, Chester Marathon and Yorkshire Marathon are still currently scheduled to take place as mass races.

A further message to participants from Hugh Brasher, Event Director at the Virgin Money London Marathon. #LondonMarathonhttps://t.co/quygzE9aom

— Virgin Money London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) June 19, 2020

Innovative solution for MK

The Rightmove Milton Keynes Marathon will be going ahead, but it’s bringing a new experience to racing as we know it.

It is an measured and approved course which is accessible for runners to race on any time from the 6th to 19th of September. You can decide what day and time in this 2-week period you would like to race.

This means, no unexpected weather turns (if it rains, go tomorrow), no crowded bus rides to the start, and no long, cramped waits at the start line. Every individual runs the same course with real timings which get submitted into the results. So, you can go for an official marathon PB.

Hamburg set to test the mass racing waters

Hamburg’s Haspa Marathon also remains in the race calendar and is due to take place on the 13th of September. The event is expected to be implementing specific social distancing restrictions.

The organisers have made the decision to have different start lines for the half and full marathon with waves being set off in 10-minute intervals. Runners will also be given predetermined assembly areas, to avoid massive crowds in single areas.

There is likely to be disinfection areas at the start and finish, as well as along the course, and all runners will be given a face covering which must be worn at the start and finish and carried with them throughout the race. The decision has also been made to remove all food stalls, changing areas and massage tents at the finish line.

With Germany on the list of countries eligible for quarantine free travel and with places still available in the half and full marathon many British runners might consider the flat fast course on the Elbe.

Organisers demonstrating their social distancing expertise at the press conference. Photo: Haspa Hamburg Marathon

Back on track

The ropening of some tracks in the UK has meant that regular track meets may be a possibility. The first two ‘normal’ track meets in the country have been confirmed by British Athletics in Guernsey. The first took place on the 14th June. The 800m was won by Sam Lesley in 2:01.39.

Whilst Guernsey have shut their borders meaning no athletes can travel to these events, the lucky locals will be able to get back to some regular racing. The next event takes place today with results expected here. More races are lined up with 1500m and steeplechase events taking place in August.

Who is in action on the track tomorrow..?

Entry list is below. That men’s 800m looks tasty. And they don’t even have to run in lanes https://t.co/VZ8VnTDbgK pic.twitter.com/iVxS5UW7oM

— Guernsey Athletics (@GsyAthletics) June 27, 2020

It was also announced this week that the British Athletics Championships are due to go ahead on September 4th and 5th. Whilst it may be later than expected, British champions will still be crowned.

It has however been said that this event will go on behind closed doors, therefore, no spectators will be allowed to watch. There will a live stream on the BBC on the Friday night and Saturday, so you can still catch all the action.

Guernsey leading the way

In addition to the aforementioned track races Guernsey is also hosting a cross country race taking place today with competitve racing over the 4.75 mile course.

No results are listed just yet but keep an eye on the Guernsey Athletics Facebook page for updates.

More than this Liberation/Pessimists Trophy 7 mile road race is set to go ahead in August. Maybe Fast Running need to recruit a local reporter as Guernsey looks set to be the epicentre of athletics over coming weeks!

Competitive racing expected at Preston & Antrim

The Preston 5 and 10 mile is a flat, fast 5-mile loop with great potential for setting PB’s. Back in 2019, the course was used by England Athletics for the national 5-mile road championships.

The 5-mile loop includes a mixture of fast straight roads with a scenic loop alongside the lake towards the end of the lap. The overall race winner in 2019 was Joshua Grace (AFD) in 23:43 followed by Fast10 athlete, Jack Gray (C&C), in 23:46. The fastest female finisher, also from C&C, was Holly Archer in 27:38, ahead of Annabel Simpson (Fife AC) in 28:43.

The P&O Ferries Antrim Coast Half Marathon is still written in the racing calendar. The organisers have confirmed they intend to continue with the elite and mass race if government guidance allows.

The event this year boasts an elite race featuring the likes of Ben Connor, Lily Partridge, Jo Pavey and Ollie Lockley and there are also international teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland competing.

The course itself follows the stunning scenery of Antrim and suggests itself to be one of the flattest and fastest Half’s in the UK & Ireland.

More options on UK roads

In Edinburgh, along the Silverknowes Esplanade will be the Run and Become Sri Chinmoy 5k run. The event was due to occur back in May but was rescheduled for August.

In order to adhere to advise on social distancing and limit the number of participants in a race, they will be running two separate races for men and women. This race is known to be one of the most competitive in-depth short road races in the Scottish and British calendar, and also incorporates the Scottish 5k Road Championships.

The adrenaline and buzz caused by the race is enough to bring the best out of everyone. Therefore, whether chasing a national medal or looking to break your pre-lockdown PB, this race is exactly what you are looking for. Entry is limited to 600 runners, so don’t hold back in getting your place.

The August Perseverance 5km Road Race Dash starts and finishes in Wimbledon Park Stadium. This event too has a huge range of standards as it is part of the Surrey 5km County Championships.

Therefore, Surrey’s finest are usually out in force. The course itself heads over one undulating lap within the park and over surrounding roads. The 2019 winner was Belgrave’s Andrius Jaksevicius in 15:43 and in second place was Ollie Garrod (South London Harriers) in 15:47.

Seeing as the Isle of Man Government has removed all Covid-19 gathering and social distancing restrictions, the Isle of Man half and full marathon is confirmed to be going ahead.

Whilst this is tricky for all off-island entrants due to the 2-week quarantining rule, it is great news for those living on the Island – and this includes some pretty quick runners!

Isle of Man Marathon winners – 2019. Credit: Isle of Man Marathon

The Regents Park August 10k which also includes a 5k event is considered one of London’s most popular park 10k’s. The iconic course is conducive to fast times due to its flat nature and the depth of field means you are sure to have someone pushing you the whole way.

If you are looking for a race with a little bit more eccentricity to it, then the Smugglers 10k might be the race for you. It can openly be said that it is the only race in Kent, possibly the whole country, started by a cannon firing.

There is live music playing, muskets and real pirates apparantly! The 10k route follows the seafront, along the passage infamous for its smuggling days. The route itself is also flat and fast, and the great music provides that much needed motivational surge.

Here’s to the organisers!

It’s been a very tough period for race organisers and we celebrate their innovation and flexibility in doing all they can to get some competition going. To all those races who have cancelled we send our best and that we hope 2021 will be a bumper year for you!

With a little bit of light at the end of tunnel, we are all hoping to get back to racing shortly. All of these events were still going ahead at the time of writing, however things may change depending on the circumstances so do check with the organisers.

Want to run faster? For just £30 per month athletes are provided with a Final Surge plan for each day of the week, coaching advice from Robbie Britton and Tom Craggs, as well as access to the unique Fast Running Performance community.

If you would like more information on joining the project, click here. 

The post Hope springs in the summer appeared first on Fast Running.

For many, myself included, it is our training that reminds us it’s the weekend, especially our long run.

In ‘normal’ times constraints such as squeezing training in before work or before it gets dark mean weekend is usually the perfect time for a long run. You can go out and run for as long as you need or want to, without having to cram it in (Editors note – unless you have children!).

Now we are living in isolation and a lot of us have been furloughed, we are less time constrained. We don’t have that ‘Friday night’ feeling after a busy week at work. Instead we rely on our weekend training, particularly our long run, to remind us what day of the week it is.

I know I have tried to maintain my usual training structure, but as the insights below from some of the country’s top athletes show, approaches to training during lockdown have varied.

Church of the Sunday long run…

So, why do lots of us do our long run on a Sunday?

Many of us in the running community are creatures of habit, that means we all enjoy saving our long run for a Sunday. It’s almost like it is our religion. Like going to church, the long run has become our Sunday ritual. Not only do we enjoy it, but we’ve become accustomed to doing it every weekend.

For those with friends who are also runners, you can rest assured that you won’t be invited out to do anything on a Sunday morning. Just like those of you who attend church, you wouldn’t think about organising brunch at 10am on a Sunday morning.

With faster sessions on a Saturday and Tuesday or Wednesday, Sunday comes at just the right time. It allows you to give your legs a break from the speed work. With a harder session at least two days away, you have plenty of time to recover from the miles you bank. Equally if you’re doing your long run at pace, there is still enough time to recover before you hit another hard session in a few days’ time.

Connecting with ourselves

The Sunday long run is also time for us to connect with ourselves, the environment, and the act of running itself. It’s a time to be grateful for what the sport provides us with. Whilst we are all having to spend time at home at the moment the chance to get out and just run for an extended period of time is precious.

Isolation is really encouraging us to all enjoy running for its simplicity. Whilst ticking off the miles, the long run is an opportunity to think through our worries or joys and take in nature’s beauty or listen to the birds twittering. If you are feeling good and relaxed with no races on the horizon, you may want to push the pace on a bit and lock into your own zone.

I spoke to some of the nation’s best athletes and asked them what it was about their training that gave them that weekend feeling and what their Sunday long run entailed! Here’s what they had to say:

Elites changing it up

With the arrival of isolation, some of us have enjoyed changing training around, completely getting rid of the weekday/weekend structure. Ultimately if you can’t go to work, or you’ve been furloughed, why not make everyday a weekend?

I spoke to Eilish McColgan and Adam Hickey, both of whom are doing things differently now or have been for a while. Eilish tends to stay away from having the typical Sunday ‘long run’;

‘I actually don’t have a long run every weekend. Every weekend is different for me as we’ve completely changed the format of my programme. Session days are definitely the things I look forward to the most. Long runs I generally don’t enjoy! Much prefer the faster, speedier work on track!’

More freedom, less structure for Hickey

Adam Hickey is an athlete who has enjoyed forgetting hois ‘structured training programme’. The Southend man is running for the pure enjoyment of it.

‘To be honest, since London was cancelled and now being furloughed, I’m not actually following a structure for my training. So my long runs (up to a half) are now run whenever I fancy. Some weeks I’ll run 4-5 of these, other weeks I’ll focus more on some shorter sessions whilst still running the long run at least 2-3 times.

I do enjoy the long runs. I know that if I can feel comfortable running these at a decent pace then I’m good shape. However having put in lots of miles up to London, I’m enjoying running shorter distances right now and not overdoing volume. It would be impossible keeping the miles going that I was running in the buildup to London up until October or possibly beyond!

I also personally think it’s perhaps the only opportunity some of us have had – bar injury – to just get out and enjoy running or take the odd rest day when our body needs it – rather than forcing it pushing towards a goal!

This is the first time in 21 years I’ve had no specific race to aim for. So whilst it’s frustrating and hard to motivate myself some days, other days I’m enjoying running more than I ever have!’

Hickey has really embraced the fluidity of the week and relished doing the training his body wants to do, when it wants too.

Sticking to the plan

Many others though have found sticking to their regular training plan the best way forward, and here’s what gives them those weekend vibes. For Kate Avery, whilst the long run does indicate that it’s the weekend, it isn’t necessarily something she looks forward to;

‘Definitely the long run, but it’s the worst thing about my training! It is however a very odd Sunday when you don’t have a long run! My long runs have recently increased, so they are between 11-15 miles, so I guess coach is thinking now is the perfect time to do some 15-mile runs! Well, one positive is I feel like I have done so much I can eat what I want all day! Even though I likely do more miles on session days with a second run in there.’

A weekend refuge

Jack Gray, one of Fast Running’s Fast10 of 2020, told us about how his weekends have become more of a refuge.

‘For me, lockdown has meant the uncomfortable convergence of work and home life. The economic slowdown has meant putting in more hours than usual at work, therefore the weekend feels like more of a refuge than usual.

So, what does weekend training mean for me? Time.

Working from home has allowed me to do my weekday interval sessions in the daytime, which is great. However, my sessions are all time-constrained.

The weekend now means Saturday tempos (my favourite). In these I target half-marathon or marathon pace, and Sunday long runs. These are the elements of my training I love, I also love having the time to prepare properly for them! I particularly value leisurely Saturday morning coffees and having the time to fart about doing drills and activation exercises.

I crave the grind of my tempo sessions, and the ability to lose myself in the zone; even the attrition is alluring, as I think to myself “was that 11 or 12 laps?”. Last weekend I did a 16-mile tempo (40 mins, 20 mins, 20 mins at 5:05 per mile), which was fun.

Long runs mean exploring, always off-road if I can. I have built my long runs up to 20 miles, usually at 6:00 minute mile pace, but if I’m doing a monster tempo (e.g. above 10 miles) this replaces my long run.’

 

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Today I got my first taste of marathon training sessions … As many of you will know my aim is to compete in the marathon at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. So, with 2 years to go, I thought it was about time I started doing some proper marathon sessions. Today I started with 8 miles, 4 miles, 4 miles at 5:05 pace off 2.5 minutes recovery. It was a long old slog, but I’m chuffed that I managed to pull it off My training has progressed nicely since coming back from injury, and even though there is no tangible race to aim for, my hunger and desire are strong. But for now, I’m just looking forward to more in the garden cheers! #metricmarathon #marathon #26.2 #marathonsesh marathoncontinues #marathonprep #Runnershigh #berlinbound #hokaoneone #hoka #timetofly #trainhard #resteasy #ukrunchat #runasone

A post shared by Jack Gray (@raverunner93) on Apr 25, 2020 at 2:18pm PDT

A lonely road

GB 800m runner, Adelle Tracey, is another athlete who looks forward to her long run. Despite this she is finding the solo nature enforced by the current climate rather lonely.

‘I normally really like long run on a Sunday, which I know is unusual for an 800m runner. It’s a chance for me to catch up with my friends. Sunday runs have definitely felt longer while in lockdown, so I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts to make the time pass quicker.

I’ve kept the same routine of training during lockdown and my coach and I have just reduced the intensity, as it’s not possible to get treatment at the moment. I’ve been really grateful for the routine of training and being able to exercise outside during these times.’

Meditative time

U.S. based athlete, Alice Wright, tells us how the long run is always an indicator it’s the weekend for her.

‘The weekend long run has always been a constant in my week. I say “weekend” rather than Sunday specifically because NAZ Elite work on a three-day training cycle (a session followed by two days of recovery runs). This means our long runs can be on either Saturday or Sunday. Nonetheless, I can always count on the long run being on one of those days.

There is something so satisfying about completing a long run and it certainly gives me a “feel good” factor; ending the week on a high. The run itself can serve meditative purposes (I think, anyway) as well as obviously important training benefits. I would say the long run is my favourite session of the week- I love getting in a good rhythm early on and seeing if I can wind it up a little towards the end.’

 

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Keep up, ladies . . Jokes aside, absolute pleasure running hills with these three the other day. They let me “rip” on my last one () while they maintained ‘marathon effort’ + cheered me on. All I can say is if that’s their marathon effort….well, let’s just say big things are in store for them this year! #WomenWhoFly #HOKAONEONE #NAZelite #CorosGlobal PC: @rabbitwolfcreative @ryan_sterner / @stephenkersh

A post shared by Alice Wright (@alicewright139) on Feb 8, 2020 at 1:43pm PST

Alice Wright – who is used to a bit more company outside of lockdown

More time for training and recovery

For some, Verity Ockenden included, the arrival of isolation has meant she can finally make the most of weekend training. She has been able to train without the time limits a busy weekend at work brings.

‘Usually, I wouldn’t differentiate between weekday and weekend training. I think this is probably due to my work as a chef, I always work a full Sunday shift. During the winter this meant having to do my 2 hour long run in the dark after being on my feet all day.

Obviously now, things are a bit different with the restaurant being closed. I’m really enjoying getting back to the classic ‘Church of Sunday Long Run’. The ritual of having a light breakfast first and then a big brunch to come back to. It’s pretty much always a 16 miler for me. That’s only 2 miles further than I run on a Wednesday but somehow it feels way more epic.

Strangely, at the moment I am enjoying these runs for the connection they provide, rather than as a quiet escape. I tend to see far more of my fellow aficionados out there in the mornings than I used to in the evenings. We nod and smile from a distance in this kind of mutual recognition. It’s good to have such camaraderie with strangers in times like these. Where even a silent acknowledgement of a shared tradition reminds you that you’re not alone.’

So, whether your training as stayed the same or changed as a result of isolation, what is it in your training that makes you know it is the weekend?

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The post The church of the long run appeared first on Fast Running.

Following previous statements in March the Home Country Athletics Federations and UKA have confirmed that the suspension period relating specifically to athletics competition has been extended until at least the 30th June.

Athletics NI said in a statement “We have collectively taken the decision to extend the suspension of competition activity due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and in recognition that event organisers, clubs, athletes, officials and coaches need clarity, advanced notice and time to plan.”

Whilst all licensed competition events across athletics scheduled up to 30th June 2020 are suspended, out of competition acitvities remain under review and are currently suspended until 31st May 2020. Athletics NI said

“We will wait for a further announcement from the government in relation to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown period, expected during week commencing 4th May, before further reviewing and updating on the current suspension period covering all other athletics activity.”

England Athletics coach Tom Craggs said

“This news will not be a surprise to anyone in the athletics community as it reflects the wider uncertainty around how long the current lockdown measures will last. For now athletes and coaches will I am sure remain focused on staying healthy and enjoying the process of training and doing the best they can with the restrictions we have. We are lucky to be involved in a sport which still offers such mental and physical benefits at a really challenging time for all.”

The decision means any races that had not yet been cancelled or postponed in June will now not take place. The news comes amidst further doubts about the exact nature of the autumn racing calendar with the London Marathon stating that they remain open to all possibilities including an elite only race.

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The post Athletics suspension extended to 30th June appeared first on Fast Running.

Jess Piasecki should have been racing one of the most exciting London Marathons in recent history this weekend. In only her third marathon start she’d have been lining up as the third fastest British marathoner of all time.

As one of four Brits with an Olympic qualifying time in the bag she was one of the favourites to take a Tokyo spot. Instead, Jess will be at home in Ashbourne on the edge of the Peak District.

She might go out for a long run, possibly with her husband cycling alongside, but she won’t have streets lined with supporters, nor a finish tape to draw her onwards. We caught up with Jess last week and she is stoic about the situation.

“It comes and goes in waves” she says, reflecting the feelings of many of us across the nation. “We’re lucky that my husband and I can still work from home and there’s a lot worse going on right now”.

Dreams on hold

Like all those she was competing against, Jess was close to peak mileage when the race was called off. Initially the elites were told they would still run a time trial behind closed doors. Not ideal when you’re hoping for the power of the crowd to get you round, but a necessary situation with the Olympics looming and selections to be made.

However, it was only a matter of days later that the UKA cancelled all competitions in April. Athletes were left in limbo as no formal announcement was made to cancel the trials as well and yet it was clear that they couldn’t possibly continue.

Eventually an email arrived confirming what we all knew to be the correct, though disappointing decision. No more trials, no more London Marathon in any form. This was followed shortly after (but long enough to be stressful for those in training) with the announcement that the Olympics would be postponed until 2021.

No stranger to biding her time

So what does the top British marathoner do when her dreams are put on hold? Jess Pisasecki is no stranger to adversity. A promising runner in her early years, a spate of injuries as the result of RED-S included a DNF at Frankfurt marathon when she was on target for Rio qualification time.

She started training again in 2018 and working with Rob Hawkins eventually resumed racing after a period of cautious progression. Promising showings at the Podium 5k and Trafford 10k led onto Cross Country trials and a GB vest.

Then, in Florence at the end of last year she stormed into the UK all-time top five with a 2:25:30, winning the race and earning an Olympic qualifying time in what was her first ever marathon finish. But even after this incredible high she still had further obstacles to overcome.

 

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Throwback to my last race. Whilst current motivation may come and go, it’s moments like these that keep me heading out the door. Excited for whenever racing may resume. #throwbackthursday #stayhome #workfromhome #runfromhome

A post shared by Jess Piasecki (@jess_piasecki_runscience) on Apr 23, 2020 at 3:59am PDT

Funding confusion

Jess along with the other three athletes who hit the standard did not pick up an automatic selection for Tokyo. When the London Marathon announced its funding rosta and she wasn’t included. Jess doesn’t make a big deal out of it though.

“Presumably London thought I was on the British Athletics funding, which I might have been but it didn’t happen. So, I didn’t get either”.

She does have local support from the Derbyshire Sport Institute. “They have played a massive role in me staying in one piece and without them I wouldn’t be where I am now. It just shows that it’s never easy to get funding.

It’s frustrating when you’ve had that big breakthrough and sometimes I forget I’m third fastest in the UK ever, but you can’t dwell on it – I just have to let my legs do the talking”.

While she might not be training quite as normal, those legs are ticking over quite nicely for now. Since January Jess has cut down her day-job to three days a week and with the support of coach Robert Hawkins, a nifty home gym built by her husband (containing her favourite kit – a Wattbike), and her local S&C coach, she was building well.

After getting confirmation of the trial’s cancellation she took a week off to mentally and physically reboot. Now she’s back to training and “back to basics, no pressure”. She points out that while it’s a shame not to have a race to prove training has worked, this situation gives us all “the chance to run for the love of it, which a lot of athletes are really appreciating”.

One big impact though has been the lack of physio. Normally she’d see hers once a week but instead they’ve been Skyping and her husband has even been given some lessons so he can do the hands-on stuff. It’s a strange world we live in right now!

Female Athlete Podcast

Jess is a lecturer in Exercise Physiology at Nottingham Trent researching Masters athletes and neuromuscular function across the menstrual cycle. She also runs a coaching business (RunScience) and is third of the newly launched “Female Athlete Podcast”. Dr Piasecki has plenty to keep her busy in this racing no-man’s-land!

Jess met Fitr’s Georgie Bruinvels through running and work. “ We wanted to do something for ages to raise awareness of female physiology and to keep girls in sport”. After Bruinvels got chatting to sports journalist Lucy Lomax the idea of the podcast was born.

With their own experiences including assisting other top flight sportswomen such as Chelsea Ladies FC, the podcast provides science and experience-based discussions, contains insights from other women in the sporting world and has a Q&A section.

Episodes so far have covered a wide range of topics. Nutrition with regard to menstrual cycles, the effect of Coronavirus-related stress on your cycle and performance. How athletes are adjusting their regimes in lockdown. In the future they will look at the impact of oral contraception. Another interesting area is how training equipment is currently designed using male physiology (the first “female” football boot has recently been released).

 

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Our first episode is out! Available on apple podcasts and all regular platforms. Rate, like, share and subscribe as much as you can. If you want to ask any questions, leave a comment on our @femaleathletepod page. #podcast #podcastlife #femaleathlete #menstrualcycleawareness #menstrualcyclehealth

A post shared by Jess Piasecki (@jess_piasecki_runscience) on Mar 18, 2020 at 6:03am PDT

Female role models

We discussed the lack of female coaches and the impact it has on young female athletes.

“It would be good to have female role models for young athletes. It might seem odd to talk to a guy about it. Who knows, perhaps it would have changed things if I’d known some of what I do now at an earlier age”.

Thankfully changes are afoot with big names such as Shalane Flanagan, Paula Radcliffe and Liz McColgan coaching. There is also the success of coaches she as Allison Benton and Helen Clitheroe we can point to.

She has no problem raising the subject of her period with her own coach, although she admits that she’s lucky she doesn’t have any major symptoms of her cycle. It is perhaps also a window into her general mindset when she says “I just crack on with the training.

There isn’t enough research to show that there is definitely a performance impact so I don’t make allowances for it in the plan. If I had a bad session and my cycle was the reason I’d just tell my coach that was why it was crap and he’d say ‘ok, move on’. No big dramas, running is simple and that’s how I like it”.

This no-nonsense love of running comes through as Jess speaks – even as she talks about retirement, whenever that might come. It may seem odd to raise that at this early stage in her career but as she says,

“I turned thirty last weekend so I’ve been thinking about it more. I’ll just keep going until training for races becomes a chore. I won’t stop running though, I know I’ll always run”.

With the advice of Jo Pavey, the inspiring performances of Sinead Diver, and Piasecki’s own scientific understanding there’s no way she” be disappearing from top flight running again any time soon.

Looking ahead

We finish by talking about the future and what she’s looking forward to. A covid-free world brings smaller desires initially…

“the chance to go to the pub on a Friday, go out for a meal and to see family”

Like the rest of us, she hopes she may be able to do some competitive running in the autumn. For now though there are no races in the diary, not even virtual ones (“if I tried to run the Podium 5k now I think my hamstrings might explode”).

In the meantime she’s working, training and keeping in touch with her own athletes. Once a return to racing is confirmed she and Hawkins will work back to start a structured build-up again. “Hopefully whenever the trials do happen it will be just as it should have been. It’ll happen eventually and hopefully everyone will be in a better place”.

Amen to that. Here’s to the future.

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The post Patient Piasecki bides her time appeared first on Fast Running.