Some athletes put forward a solid case for not using social media and focusing on their running, but where would be the fun in that?

Breaking News

To start with its some breaking news… Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake has become disillusioned with track life, given away all his possessions (including the world gold medal) and will now dedicate his life to become a master yogi.

In love with South Africa . Such a beautiful country. As you can see I’m meditating as I charge up to take part in @adidasrunning summer shoot. Lekker mi China !!!! #campsbay #SA #meditating #lekker #sharpsharp #zen #yingyang

A post shared by Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (@nethaneelm.b) on Jan 6, 2018 at 1:10pm PST

Other athletes are also looking beyond athletics

Perry Shakes-Drayton began her new life on ice on TV show ‘Dancing on Ice’.

The day has finally arrived it’s the return of #dancingonice tune in tonight for TX1 at 6pm on ITV. If you haven’t managed to see the ads. Look no further here’s mine: pic.twitter.com/MakhdQs6T0

— PSD (@shakesdrayton) January 7, 2018

And before you could count to three, the trend had reached Ireland with race walker Rob Heffernan also off to pastures new.

What an opening dance for series 2 of #DWTSIrl! That jive, we're exhausted just watching you @RM_Heffernan! pic.twitter.com/gm1tlQynCZ

— RTE One (@RTEOne) January 7, 2018

And the quote of the week goes to…

US rapper RiFF RAFF (hadn’t heard of him either) told his 1.1 million Twitter fans that “iTS 2018 AND WE DONT DO DRUGS WE DO CARDiO” and set a one mile challenge for the next morning.

The war on drugs in sports has a new ally it seems. Cheers RiFF RAFF. Fast Running doesn’t endorse the music though – it’s awful.

BiG DAY TOMORROW YALL iN THE MORNiNG WE ARE ALL RUNNiNG A MiLE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH TO BURN FATTY McFATTERSONS OFF iT DOESNT MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER iS RAiN SLEET OR VOLCANO HEAT. iT WAKES U THE FUCK UP. iT ALSO REMiNDS YOU THAT iTS 2018 AND WE DONT DO DRUGS WE DO CARDiO.

— P!NK PYTHōN (@JODYHiGHROLLER) January 7, 2018

Coming soon: lambing season

Lambing season approaches and we’re not sure Dewi Griffiths is going to be allowed to help out this year, after getting this pair all excited on Sprite.

Get that sprite down you son ….. Lambing season 2018 planned to start mid Feb……..

A post shared by Dewi Griffiths (@dewigriff10k) on Jan 4, 2018 at 12:04pm PST

Maybe Dewi can team up with GB mountain runner Ricky Lightfoot and together they can save the endangered lambs of the British Isles on long runs?

Went for a run, found this little guy who needed a hand… #fellrunning #lovethelakes @SalomonRunning https://t.co/yprFeX3NHa

— Ricky Lightfoot (@rickylightfoot) June 28, 2016

Jornet is ready for the roads

Fast Running’s article into the potential/hypothetical marathon speed of mountain man Kilian Jornet brought an answer from the man himself – although it was a touch slower than you would expected.

This was one of my best day running a 30km…so a great marathon for me could be a 15h ish… https://t.co/90XqhwWgQE#notmadeforflat

— kilian jornet (@kilianj) January 7, 2018

Monday Motivation

Last, but not least, Champion US ultra runner Dave Mackey ran his first ultra since losing his leg in a freak mountain accident, finishing the Bandera 50k in just under 6 hours. Dave is a f*cking hero.

Bandera 50K in the books! 5:58, a respectable time in a mostly technical course. And it was actually fun. Jon ran his first ultra and killed it! With Jon Mackey and Billy @billyyangfilms

A post shared by Dave Mackey (@mackeydave1) on Jan 6, 2018 at 3:44pm PST

The post Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Dewi Griffiths and RiFF RAFF… the best of social media appeared first on Fast Running.

World gold medalist Heffernan received the top award after finishing eighth in the 50km Race Walk at the World Athletics Championships. It was the highest placed performance by an Irish athlete in London this summer.

Heffernan, who turns 40 next February, also won the Endurance Athlete of the Year award, ahead of marathon man Mick Clohisey and fellow race walker Brendan Boyce.

Also, nominated for athlete of the year was Brian Gregan, who had a fantastic return to form in 2017 and qualified for the semi-finals in the 400m at the Wolrd Championships. Gregan did not go away emptied handed and was awarded Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Double Irish record holder Ray Flynn was to be honoured with the induction into the Hall of Fame. Flynn, whose times for 1500m and the mile from the Bislett Games of 1982 are still the fastest ever recorded by an Irishman, ran an impressive 89 sub-4 minute miles during his career.

He competed at the Olympic Games of 1980 and 1984, making the final of the 5000m at the 1984 Games. In 1985, he helped set the 4×1 mile world record in UCD, Dublin, teaming up with Marcus O’Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan and Frank O’Mara – three other athletes from the golden era of Irish middle distance running.

Based in Tennessee for many years, Flynn remains deeply involved in athletics through his company Flynn Sports Management and as meet director for the Millrose Games in New York, the oldest indoor meet in the USA.

Other athletes to receive honours include Gina Akpe-Moses and Siofra Cleirigh Buttner who received the U20 Athlete of the Year and U23 Athlete of the Year awards respectively.

While the National Athletics Awards is a celebration of the many successes of our international and national it also commemorates the association’s exceptional volunteer base. Al Guy was named as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient – the pinnacle volunteer award while Pat Kelly of St Abban’s AC won the Outstanding Official of the Year.

Award Winners

Athlete of the Year: Robert Heffernan
Hall of Fame: Ray Flynn
Lifetime service to Athletics: Al Guy
Outstanding Official Award: Pat Kelly
U20 Athlete: Gina Akpe-Moses
U23 Athlete: Siofra Cleirigh Buttner
Endurance: Robert Heffernan
Track & Field: Brian Gregan
Inspirational Performance: Cliodhna Manning
Special Recognition Award: Deirdre Ryan and Paul Hession
Performance Club: Clonliffe Harriers
Development Club: Nenagh Olympic AC
Team of the Year: Irish men’s European Race Walking Team
Service to Coaching: Hayley and Drew Harrison
Mountain Runner: Des Kennedy
Master Athlete: Mark O’Shea
Ultra Athlete: Eoin Keith
University Athlete: Phil Healy

The post Rob Heffernan wins Athlete of the Year at Irish National Athletics Awards appeared first on Fast Running.

Heffernan, the Irish international race walker who won gold at the World Championships in 2013 and Olympic bronze at the Rio Games in 2012 will hold an interactive Q&A session and share all, giving coaches an opportunity to learn from his vast amount of experience and knowledge.

Steve Macklin, Athletics Ireland Coach Education Lead for Endurance said: “I am extremely excited about ECN 5 as we have four experts presenting on the day all sharing valuable knowledge/experience that will impact coaches of all levels. We have a nice mix of presentations and practical workshops so everyone will be catered for. I am especially excited to have our world champion Robert Heffernan in attendance, he has a vast amount of experience and knowledge to share with us all.”

Heffernan, 39, most recently finished eighth in the 50km race walk at the recent World Championship in London and coaches interested in attending to question the European Bronze medalist must first register and send in their questions in advance.

Also presenting is Brian Sweeney a high-performance coach from swimming, giving us his insights into lessons learned throughout his career. This will be a different twist hearing from an endurance coach from another sport. At this event also there will be a large emphasis on physical preparation work for athletes with practical workshops led by Martina McCarthy and Paul Carragher.

The event program will focus on giving coaches practical information that they can take away and use to help improve their own coaching practice and will be delivered through presentations and practical workshops. There will be time for question & answers at all sessions also. If you are a club coach, development coach or a performance coach then this event has something to offer you. The (ECN) will bring the coaching community together to gain & share knowledge and more importantly to network with each other. It will be hosted in the excellent surroundings of Athlone IT and run from 9:00 am to 5:15 pm.

The (ECN) will bring the coaching community together to gain & share knowledge and more importantly to network with each other. It will be hosted in the excellent surroundings of Athlone IT and run from 9:00 am to 5:15 pm.

“The practical workshops are also very relevant to our endurance coaches especially those working with juveniles & juniors. This is an opportunity for all coaches to learn or refresh on current coaching methods and more importantly to network with each other,” added Mackin.

“The layout of the day is very relevant to all endurance coaches in Ireland and I encourage all coaches to attend. You are investing in your own athletes by doing so.”

Coaches can now register here for the Athlone IT event for €30 and registration will close on Wednesday 27th September at midnight. Places are limited to 80 coaches only. The full timetable can be found here and speaker bios are available here.

The post World Gold Medalist Rob Heffernan to Headline Endurance Coaches Event appeared first on Fast Running.

39-year-old Heffernan, who looks likely to retire after these championships crossed the line in a very respectable 3:44:41, seven places behind winner Yohann Diniz of France.

Diniz set a new championship record clocking 3:33:12.

Heffernan, a world champion in 2013, has now competed in seven World Championships and five Olympic Games.

Last year the Irish athlete also received an Olympic bronze medal from London 2012, following the disqualification of Russia’s Sergey Kirdyapkin for doping offences.

Speaking after his race Heffernan said: “I’ve had a great career and it was a good note to go out on.

“I’d like to thank my team and everyone who has supported me.”

In the 20km race walk, Britain’s Tom Bosworth was disqualified following three red cards for technique infractions.  Bosworth, who finished 6th at the Rio Olympics last year, received all three cards before the halfway point.

The 27-year-old, who was leading the field before his race was abruptly ended, had hopes of winning a medal in London.

“I was just getting going and usually I’m really technically efficient. I’m definitely going to learn from this and get better, because it’s clear that physically I can compete with the lead guys.” he said.

Earlier this summer Bosworth set a world record for the one-mile race walk at the Anniversary Games in London.

Colombia’s Eider Arevalo won in 1:18.53 to secure the South American county’s first gold at the World Championships.

Ireland’s Alex Wright was also disqualified in the 20km race walk, while Britain’s Callum Wilkinson finished 41st in 1:23:54.

In the 50km race walk Britain’s Dominic King had an early exit after being disqualified.

Portugal’s Ines Henriques set a new world record to win the women’s 50km title, while Jiayu Yang of China picked up the 20km gold.

The post Ireland’s Rob Heffernan set to retire after 8th place, while GB’s Tom Bosworth is disqualified appeared first on Fast Running.