A Yorkshireman’s CV is not short of success. He’s competed at the Olympics, four World Championships (one indoors), two European Championships, a Commonwealth Games and multiple European Cross Country Championships.

Furthermore, his set of PBs place him high on the UK all-time lists at every distance. From 3000m to the half marathon he’s a dominant feature. This only confirms his status as one of the fastest runners Britain has ever produced.

Much of this has happened whilst based in the United States. Firstly at the University of Tulsa (during which he was crowned NCAA 10,000m Champion in 2017) before joining the Bowerman Track Club  in the same year. BTC was a Nike-sponsored training group led by Jerry Schumacher and based in Oregon.

Marc announced in December he would be leaving Bowerman for at-the-time unannounced pastures new and, earlier this week, it was announced that he had joined the famed NN Running Team. Speaking to me for Fast Running from his training base in Kenya, Marc shared the reasons for his move, his changing priorities, and ambitions for 2023 and beyond.

A Sparkling CV

The times that sit behind Scott’s career on the track speak for themselves. His proudest, and perhaps the most famous, is his 12:57.08 European Record for 5000m indoors set last February in Boston. It is a time that only seven men have bettered indoors, two his former BTC teammates in the same race, and only five Europeans have run faster outdoors.

Not to be overlooked is his outdoor PB (13:05.21) – only Mo Farah and Dave Moorcroft have run faster over twelve and a half laps – nor his 3000m (7:36.04) and 10,000m (27:10.41) bests which sit fifth and second on the respective British all-time lists.

Winning at the Bromley Twilight 3000m meet in SE London. Photo: James Rhodes

His biggest achievement on the track came just a few weeks after that 5000m, at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade – a bronze medal in the 3000m. It was only the second time a British male has medalled at the distance after Rob Denmark in 1991 (Laura Muir (2018), Yvonne Murray (1993) and Liz McColgan (1985) have done so on the women’s side). It was a performance that, clearly amazing in its own right, had potential to act as a springboard into a busy summer.

So Why Change?

Whilst I don’t want to speak out of turn, Marc will readily admit this summer didn’t go quite as planned. One of the athletes to run at all of the summer’s three major competitions, a World Championships in his adopted home state of Oregon ended with 14th in the 5000m, and Munich’s European Championships with 12th over 10,000m.

That’s not to suggest it could all be classed as a disappointment; for me, at least, his best performance of the summer was somewhat overlooked – a fine fourth-place finish in the Commonwealth Games 5000m (13:19.64), a time bettered outdoors just once in his career.

Furthermore, it was a rather esteemed trio ahead of him – the Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Jacob Kiplimo and two of the fastest athletes in history over the distance; Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli and Jacob Krop, eighth and sixth fastest all-time respectively.

Marc Scott leading the pacemaking at London Marathon 2022 Photo: James Rhodes

A change for the better?

You don’t need me to say that change is no bad thing and, as Marc himself notes, the track season was just one factor that led to his change in training set up and home location; ‘ultimately a few things came together at once and I was ready for a change in scenery. My visa expired, I didn’t want to move to Eugene and … a difficult summer track season’ (side note: having spent 12 days in Eugene last summer, I am not sure I could picture wanting to live there either).

In a world with numerous options for training, both home and abroad, it was the benefits of a well-supported group based (in HQ terms at least) in Europe, alongside the opportunity to train with some of the best athletes in the world. When we spoke for my Countdown to Tokyo piece prior to the Olympics, Marc noted that one of the benefits of Bowerman was working to a collective goal and racing alongside training partners, including American Grant Fisher and Canadian Moh Ahmed.

This is something Marc notes he will ‘definitely miss’ but is equally sure he ‘will feel a sense of belonging with NN once I wear the kit’. Interestingly, the team-based element of NN was not something he had thought about prior to joining, but as he notes ‘I didn’t think about this beforehand but it’s great that I can be amongst a team environment again, but in a slightly different setting’.

Training Opportunities

I mentioned training alongside some of the world’s best, and this is not an understatement. It is illustrious company that Scott will soon be calling his teammates; the five leading athletes on NN’s roster (Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, Joshua Cheptegai, Letsebenet Gidey and Geoffrey Kamworor) own a combined 43 Olympic and World titles between them, as well as the current World Records for both 5000m and 10000m, women’s half marathon and men’s marathon.

One other athlete he will be joining is fellow Brit Jake Smith, who joined NN last year. The two have yet to speak (‘it was all pretty quiet until the announcement’), although they have raced each other seven times to date – Marc getting the better on all occasions. It is undoubtedly exciting to see two British athletes in a group amongst distance greats.

Having seen the set up and organisation in Nijmegen [in the Netherlands, where NN is based], there are exciting prospects ahead; Marc has yet to meet the team but is excited to be doing so when he moves to Kaptagat in a few weeks. At present, he plans on being in Kenya for the next eight weeks ‘then intermittently throughout the season as we build up for racing’, splitting his time with being in the UK.

Scott at World Indoors leading the charge Credit: James Rhodes

Shifting Priorities

Whilst the NN squad comprises masters of both the roads and track, it is known primarily for its domination of the road running calendar in recent years. Does this suggest a change in priorities towards the tarmac over the track? Absolutely.

That’s not to say it is something entirely new to Marc’s repertoire; his road races to date strongly suggest it to be a good move. His 5k best (13:20) is the British Record, and his 28:03 10k PB, set in 2021, is a time only Mo Farah, Emile Cairess and Callum Hawkins have bettered in his lifetime. Wins at the Great Manchester Run, Great South Run (his only ten mile race), Podium 5k and Ribble Valley have proved his worth domestically.

Perhaps his forays into the longer distances provide the greatest intrigue and set the scene for the future. A 60:39 half marathon debut in Antrim in 2020, finishing behind Mo Farah, catapulted him – at the time – to third on the UK all-time list.

This was followed up with 60:35 at the short course in Antrim a year later and the biggest win of his career – the Great North Run (61:22). It might not have been the usual course, but it saw him enter the history books and join Mike McLeod, Steve Kenyon and Mo Farah as the only British winners of the men’s elite race in its 40-plus year history.

Particularly, when one thinks of Patrick Sang – himself an Olympic medallist in the steeplechase – as a coach, the mind immediately turns to Eliud Kipchoge. A partnership that has brought about so much success over the marathon, it is natural to ask the question on whether we will see Marc take on 26.2 miles.

2023 Goals

Changing priorities may be the overarching aim, but how about the short-term goals as we look towards the 2023 season? Will it be a road-focused year, or might we see him on the track at August’s World Championships in Budapest?

“I want to debut in the marathon in 2023 and also break 60 minutes in the half. Budapest isn’t really in the pipeline right now but things can always change”. A push from me was met with silence as to whether that marathon might be one in the capital in April, noting he has paced at the last two editions.

This year also sees the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga (Latvia) at the end of September. Incorporating races over the mile, 5k and half marathon, the latter being the World Half Marathon Championships (the last edition of which (2020) was where Marc’s new teammate Jake Smith ran 60:31), it seems perfectly suited to Marc’s career goals and ‘would definitely be something I would be interested in’.

Looking towards the potential for his second Olympics next year in Paris, Marc has noted elsewhere his ambition of obtaining the marathon qualifying standard (2:08:10), something only Mo Farah and Steve Jones have done before. It’s a tall order but, based on his career to date, not one I’d bet against.

Ending on a lighter note, it isn’t all top-tier elite racing, though. If you have read this whilst in the middle of cross country league season, it may please you to know Marc made an appearance in the Surrey League in November – something he called ‘super fun and relaxed’. It’s always great to see some of our best take to the more local races.

Whatever happens next, there are exciting times ahead for British distance running.

The post Great Scott! appeared first on Fast Running.

The new track is built for athletes, schools and local community from Kween district. The opening took take place on Tuesday February 23.

For 14 years Global Sports Communication (GSC) has been a leading party in Uganda in the development of athletics in cooperation with local partners. The opening off the track at Chemwania Primary School attracted 43 schools from the district seeing 264 kids compete from the age of 11 to 17 competing.

The races got flagged off by World Champions Joshua Cheptegei and Halimah Nakaayi, who opened the track after completing a lap off 400mtr.

Possibly a missed opportunity for Cheptegei to take a run at the Blue Jeans Mile world record. Photo: Dan Vernon/NN Running Team

Smart Casual 400m

Both world champions highly supported the initiative which GSC picked up with local partners. “It’s fantastic that GSC picked up the initiative to help the people from Kween providing a track. It will help many to fulfil their childhood dreams”, Cheptegei said.

“In my years growing up there where few role models and few facilities. I am so happy to see, that, for the new generation things are changing and more support and facilities are there”, Nakaayi added.

Global Sports Communication in cooperation with the NN Running Team picked up the initiative for the track after talking with various local parties including the district, Chemwania Primary School and local athletics officials to successfully finish the project.

Photo: Dan Vernon/NN Running Team

Group effort behind the project

Jurrie van der Velden, responsible for the Ugandan arm at GSC said; “In my 14 years in Uganda this is a milestone for our contribution to the development of Ugandan athletics. It fills me with pride to see the young athletes enjoy running and compete at the new track”.

Coach Addy Ruiter who was one of the people responsible for laying the foundation and implementation of the track added; “As a coach I can’t be happier with the way this came together. So many parties worked together with one goal, that is to help the youngsters. Such facilities are vital for us coaches to do our work”.

Jos Hermens, CEO of GSC is known for his long term vision and supporter of the development of athletes and athletics. “I am so proud of my team at GSC that we are leaving such footprint in various countries and the greater development of athletics.

“The completion of the Chemwania track is yet another example of our vision, view and our philosophy on our beautiful sport. I really look forward seeing talents from the area blossom in the years to come”.

For more information on the NN Running Team follow their social media accounts and www.nnrunningteam.com for the latest news on athletes and races.

The post New track and new hope appeared first on Fast Running.

Ethiopian Gidey ignited the NN Valencia World Record Day with a spellbinding performance to obliterate the women’s 5000m record by more than four seconds with a stunning 14:06.62.

Aided by pacemaking duo Esther Guerrero and Beatrice Chepkoech, and the Wavelight technology, the 22-year-old Ethiopian produced a very well judged run to destroy the world record of her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba. When pace maker Chepkoech stepped aside, Gidey pushed the pace even harder.

Running in a nigh on perfect temperature of 22c inside the Turia Stadium, Letesenbet hit the 3km point in 8:31.85 – ahead of her target time.

Gidey has a particularly fluid flowing style but more than this she looked incredibly in control in terms of effort. Just after 3km she put in a scintillating lap of 66 second. Looking untroubled and composed the World 10,000m silver medallist romped to her place in history.

“I dreamed for this record for 6 years, I want to thank Valencia for giving me this chance.”

Cheptegei caps a sensational year

It was then the turn of Joshua Cheptegei to toast yet another landmark moment in his glittering 2020 season by smashing Kenenisa Bekele’s world 10,000m record by more than six-and-a-half seconds with a dazzling display.

The 24-year-old Ugandan ran a time of 26:11.00 to erase Bekele’s 15-year-old mark of 26:17.53 from the record books. The one-off meet was organised by the NN Running Team, Global Sports Communication and SD Correcaminos as a direct response to Joshua’s outstanding current form.

“One of the strange things about watching the race was the lack of doubt,” says FR coach Robbie Britton. “From very early on it felt like it was going to happen.

A record that stood for a decade and a half was just obliterated and all that needed to happen was for Chetegei to run at the set pace for 26 minutes and change.”

In August, Joshua sliced 1.99 seconds from Kenenisa’s world 5000m record, clocking a stunning 12:35.36 in Monaco, and on a hot and humid night at the Turia Stadium he added the world 10,000m record to his increasingly impressive CV.

A place in history

Paced through to halfway in 13:07.73 and further aided by Wavelight Technology in the second half of the race, the World 10,000m champion ticked off the laps at a relentless 62-64 second pace to claim another slice of history.

Having achieved the world record mark he now joins some of the all-time greats to have held ownership of the world 10,000m record such as Emil Zatopek, Haile Gebrselassie and Bekele.

“It is a great moment for me to have broken the world record,” said Cheptegei, who also holds the world 5km and 15km road records. “I wanted to show the sports lovers of the world that the track is exciting. I wanted to lift the expectations of the Valencia World Record Day and I am pleased to have fulfilled my dream.”

You can catch the full races here;

Mixed response

With the dedicated race, the Nike shoe technology, the pacing and Wavelight Technology the event had a little of the feel of the Breaking2 Project. Streamed to a worldwide audience on the NN Running Team YouTube and via the BBC the performances were always going too draw a huge amount of comment.

For many the event was a moment in history. BBC commentator Rob Walker described the intimate atmosphere of the city centre track and called Cheptegei’s run a “journey to greatness”. It certainly had a feel of a ‘I was watching’ moment.

World record!
Letesenbet Gidey gets the 5,000m record in 14 mins 6.65! Smashed it and god that was beautiful to watch!

— Kate Carter (@katehelencarter) October 7, 2020

Others however immediately glanced a skeptical eye over the results with the unusual ‘racing’ format, and of course the ever present shoe and spike debate being highlighted.

Who is going to have the balls to say it first……….? https://t.co/c19oWysNNu

— Tim Hutchings (@TimHutchings1) October 7, 2020

More national, continental and world records to come?

Fast Running’s Tom Craggs said “times and world records are so woven into the fabric and history of athletics that it is hard to see them fall if there is a feeling of manufacture around it.

We cling to the purity and simplicity of the sport of running, perhaps even more so during periods of wider socio-political insecurity. We want to believe.

I am still processing my feelings about last night but both performances were clearly astounding feats of physical endurance and regardless of the discomfort I feel around elements of it, I will definitely take a moment to celebrate two absolutely sensational athletes.

I believe, however, that the flood of national, continental and world records we are seeing currently does not represent a big leap forwards in solely biophysical performance”.

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 5000m & 10000m World Records Smashed in Valencia appeared first on Fast Running.

MA RA TH ON was launched by the NN Running Team together with Maurten and NN Group and saw runners tackle the marathon distance in a relay format in teams of four.

Teams also had the chance to be paired to world class athletes from the NN Running Team such as Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, Geoffrey Kamworor and Joshua Cheptegei, amongst many others athletes of the NN Running Team-formation.

ASICS victorious in team competition

‘ASICS Team Tempo Elite’ were victorious in  both men’s and women’s team competition. The teams, based in Australia, clocked times of 2:03:06 and 2:42:03 respectively. The results don’t allow us to see who made up each team but from the ASICS video we can identify Adam Clarke and Jacob Cocks as two of the members. A team from Sale Harriers was the 2nd fastest men’s world wide clocking 2:07:00.

 

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A hope in the world, is knowing we run as one. . . On Saturday we ran as one for Asics Team Tempo Elite in the @nnrunningteam virtual marathon relay. Against 100 000 entrants from around the world, we took on the 42.2km challenge, and finished on top of the leaderboard! . . Men – 2 hours 3 minutes (2:56/km). Women – 2 hours and 42 mins (3:50/km) *done within long run* . . @maurten_official @nnrunningteam @maurten_australia

A post shared by Team Tempo (@teamtemporun) on Jun 8, 2020 at 12:34am PDT

British athletes feature prominently in individual results

The fastest 10.5km leg times went to Geoffrey Kamworor and Ashete Bekere who clocked mighty impressive times of 30:08 and 34:15 respectively. British athletes were to the fore though with Eilish McColgan the 2nd fastest woman overall. McColgan actually clocked an incredible 31:38 10km which would have seen her top the leaderboard but the Scottish athlete jogged the remaining half kilometre as a cool down.

Italy based British mountain runner Emmie Collinge finished 5th woman running 36:01 including a 34:11 10km. Sophie Delderfield was the 3rd Brit on the leaderboard in 18th with 39:38.

Welsh athletes dominated the British men’s best times. Dewi Griffiths clocked the fastest leg with 31:36 to finish 12th just ahead of James Hunt who, due to clocked 31:29 (rankings were formed from the average run pace and Griffiths ran a little further than James). 3rd fastest Brit was Josh Griffiths with 31:31 who finished 16th one place behind Eliud Kipchoge who clocked 31:28.

Other notable performances included Kilian Jornet (27th with 32:25), Kenenisa Bekele (49th – 32:57), Degitu Azimeraw (3rd woman – 35:16) and Reia Iwade (6th woman – 37:41).

 

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Thank you to everyone who joined us on the start line. We’ll see you soon. #RunAsOne

A post shared by NN Running Team (@nnrunningteam) on Jun 9, 2020 at 8:32am PDT

Bringing people together

Jos Hermens, director of the NN Running Team: “Running is the true universal sport, today shows that more than ever. This event has brought together people of all nationalities, of all abilities, all with different motivations, in a shared love of running.

This is one of the most challenging times we’ve faced as a society, we are fighting together for our health, we are fighting together for a greater cause. If we can show, through running, that we can mix cultures and people of all colour, in such a positive way, there is nothing that sport cannot do. I was proud to see some of the greatest athletes in the world, team up with amateurs across continents, and show that we really are one.”

The event also received support from the broader sporting community as Tottenham Hotspur F.C. cheered on Eliud Kipchoge and cheered on their fans to go join the challenge while ultra-running legend Killian Jornet also set out to complete the 10,5km for his part of the challenge.

A word from the man himself

Olympic Champion and world record holder Eliud Kipchoge: “As runners we have missed the feeling of excitement and nervous energy as we wait together on the start line with thousands of participants. We have missed the teamwork and camaraderie that comes through completing a marathon together.

This weekend we were able to join as one to recreate that feeling, that excitement and hope. People from all over the world, from all nationalities, backgrounds and religions, stood on their start lines alone, but united. everyone who ran their 10.5km, you were part of a team, who together completed a marathon in this global celebration. My teammates and I thank you, we are one. Keep running.”

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 Over 100,000 runners take part in NN Running MA RA TH ON relay appeared first on Fast Running.

Born in Mogadishu in Somalia, he has not once, but twice escaped civil war to seek a new life in the Netherlands.

The first time he fled war he was just six years old. Then, age 15, after a three-year spell at a strict Islamic school in Syria, and a few years back in Somali, he escaped again, ending up this time in a rural Dutch community where he was “the only black guy in the village”.

Despite his difficult start in life, Nageeye says his experiences living in such different countries and cultures were not all bad.

“People think my story is very sad,” he says. “But I always think about what would have happened to me if I had stayed in Somalia. I saw the life there, so I always appreciate when I can be safe and do my thing. I don’t have to worry, I have freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of thinking.

The world is struggling

“In the Netherlands, it’s one of the best countries in the world, yet you see so many people complaining, and you think, come on, half the world are struggling, they don’t have what you have, so be thankful.”

Until he was 18, Nageeye, who was a serious soccer player, had never done any formal running. He was just trying to stay in shape during the off season one summer when a friend of his Dutch guardians suggested he run a 5K race.

Despite having no idea how to pace himself, he won. After the race, when the announcer asked him which club he ran for, he gave the name of his football club, which caused some confusion.

Clearly immensely talented, he decided to race again and was soon winning bigger races. Then he decided to start training. Less than six months after first running a 5K in his football kit to stay fit, he won the junior national cross country title and signed a professional contract with Asics, and joined the Dutch management company Global Sports.

Training with the best

It just so happens that Global Sports is the same company that manages Eliud Kipchoge in Kenya, and today Nageeye is part of the same training camp in Kaptagat, training alongside not only the marathon world record holder, but also the half marathon world record holder, Geoffrey Kamworor. 

Living in the Global Sports camp in Kenya has led to a steady improvement in his times.

When he first joined in 2015, he had a best marathon time of 2hrs 11mins – a time that made him “by far” the slowest runner in the camp. But now, after running 2:06 last year, he says he has just about earned the respect of the other athletes.

Interviewing him for my podcast, The Way of the Runner, I ask him what is best piece of advice the great Eliud Kipchoge has ever given him.

“Before, in training, I was looking at the watch all the time,” he says. “I mean, some days you feel OK, and think you’re running 3mins 10secs per km [5mins 05secs per mile], then you look at your watch and you see that it’s 2:56 [4:44 per mile] and then you get nervous and you’re like: ‘It’s too fast, I won’t be able to finish.’ And then you slow down.

“So Eliud saw that a couple of times and he said: ‘Why are you looking at your watch? Just run with your feeling.’

“And since then I never look at my watch on a run. I just start it, and then that’s it. And then you run in freedom.”

A cloud over Kenyan athletes

This sort of pace can feel almost unbelievably fast to some of us, and unfortunately today all these stories of wonder and awe about Kenyan runners are now slightly coloured by the dark cloud of drugs.

In the last few years a large number of athletes from the country have been sanctioned for doping violations. I ask Nageeye why he thinks this is, and what can be done about it.

His first point is that there needs to be more testing in the region. He says there are so many athletes and so few testers that even someone who can run 2:08 or 2:09 for the marathon and win big city races in Europe, may only be tested once a year. But also, he says that in Kenya a key problem is that there is not enough shame associated with doping, both from the wider society and also within the running community.

“In Holland,” he says, “a person [caught doping] will feel ashamed. Your teammates, your colleagues, even your own family will be really disappointed in you. But here in Kenya they don’t think that much about it.

“Society is not aware of it. So when a Kenyan or Ethiopian is caught doping, they can disappear. They can peacefully have other jobs, keep their own money. Nobody will harass them.”

He says that since the primary motive for most people running in Kenya is to lift themselves out of poverty, until they see banned athletes losing their farms, losing their cars and having to pay back their winnings, some people will think it’s worth the risk.

Training solo

Since the coronavirus pandemic, Nageeye has had to move into a rented house in the nearby city of Eldoret, after the government shut down all the training camps as part of the country’s lockdown measures. While he says life in the camp can often be “really boring”, he says he misses his training companions.

“Normally there is this rhythm to training,” he says. “You don’t have to think. You just wake up, you go running, come back, relax in the camp. But now you have to do it all alone, so you have to get up and think, how long should I go? How fast?

“With the group, sometimes you feel a little bit tired or lazy, but then you just follow the group and somewhere along the way you feel OK again.”

He says that for the Kenyans, who have got used to training all their lives in big groups, getting out and training alone is especially difficult. So perhaps that’s one tiny glimmer of hope for the rest of the world’s marathon runners to cling on to during this ongoing crisis?

“Definitely,” he says. “For real, they will struggle.” 

• For the full podcast interview with Abid Nageeye.

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The post Just run with your feeling appeared first on Fast Running.