Trees not Tees help events reduce their environmental impact with one simple strategy – offering participants the option of turning down a free race tee and planting a tree instead.

The 6th annual Typhoon Texas Kids Triathlon, the world’s largest children’s triathlon, will take place on 18-19 September 2021 at Typhoon Texas Waterpark, US. Over 1,500 children are expected to compete in the 2-day event.

‘Since our first year in 2016, I have been looking for creative and innovative ways we can provide a positive environmental impact at our event,’ says Tony Sapp, founder and Race Director of the Typhoon Texas Kids Triathlon. ‘Through our partnership with Trees Not Tees, I’m hoping we will have over 500 trees planted from the 2021 Typhoon Texas Kids Triathlon with more participants opting to plant a tree each year.’

What Trees not Tees is about

Millions of event t-shirts are produced and given away each year that are never worn. Trees Not Tees, co-founded by Jade Rein and ultra-runner Jim Mann, work with race and event organisers to give participants the choice of planting a tree rather than getting a finishers’ tee they may not wear. After the event, participants who selected the option to have a tree planted receive a photo and GPS coordinates of their tree’s location.

‘At Trees not Tees we’re thrilled to be partnering with Tony and the team at Typhoon Texas Kids Triathlon as our first race partner in the US,’ says Chris Zair, Director at Trees not Tees. ‘It’s great to see the team looking at sustainable race options rather than returning to the way things were pre-pandemic, and hopefully other races will follow suit.’

Further Trees not Tees US race US partnerships with Orca Running and Evergreen Trail Running are already in the pipeline.

Trees for everyone

Trees Not Tees currently own four planting sites in Scotland, and will begin planting on sites in the US from 2022. Chris Zair says, ‘Excitingly, at Trees not Tees we are set to launch our first reforestation project in the US in 2022, so beginning next year our partner events will see their trees planted much closer to home!’ 

Trees not Tees always plant the right tree in the right place, meaning that an appropriate species is always planted on appropriate tree planting land. Trees Not Tees never plant on existing important habitats, or on deep peat.

‘The environmental benefit of planting a tree is huge,’ says Trees Not Tees co-founder Jim Mann. ‘It helps us fight against climate change by taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, it provides a home for a diverse range of species, and it gives us clean air to breathe.’

To find out more please visit www.treesnottees.com, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

Call to action

Fast Running editor Robbie Britton says “As an athlete you have a voice, so use it. If you want to make a difference then speak to the race directors you know and give feedback at events that this is an option you’d like to see at their events too.”

The post Trees not Tees heads stateside appeared first on Fast Running.

In statements released by the athlete and her coaches, Jerry Schumacher and Shanane Flanagan, before any official announcements made, the US distance star announces she has been banned for four years.

The reason given by the athlete and her coaches is that the positive result came from ordering food from a Mexican food truck 10 hours before the test was taken.

The videos, which  appear to show reading from pre-written statements, are an emotional watch. You can’t help but empathise with the possibility that an injustice has occurred with the first two videos from Houlihan and Flanagan. In his video Schumacher demonstrates obvious anger towards the anti-doping process.

Do we have double standards?

When watching the three videos you do imagine how you would feel in this situation if you were an athlete or coach wrongly accused. Sadness and anger are two emotions that come to mind.

Yet do we consider these possibilities when looking at an identical story for an East African or Russian athlete? Would we even give the time of day to Asbel Kiprop or Wilson Kipsang if they told us it was all down to a Mexican food truck?

The comments and reactions online make for interesting reading, that’s for sure. A mixture of pure, blind faith in either the athlete or the positive test. One thing is for certain, Houlihan did test positive for Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid that apparently neither Houlihan or Schumacher had ever heard of before, despite it being synonymous with some of the most famous doping scandals in the sport’s history.

Calls from Schumacher to the “powerful organisations that can enact change” to do better seem a little misguided when the budget of the organisation he works for far, far outweighs those of the anti-doping authorities who we task to safeguard our sport from cheating.

Passing judgement too soon

The impact is now that Houlihan will miss the US Olympic Trails, not only for Tokyo but also for the 2024 Paris Olympics. We could be seeing one of the greatest distance athletes of a generation miss out on the major games at the prime of her career.

This isn’t just an announcement that the positive test has been discovered, but that the four year ban has been implemented, as well as the Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal has been turned down as well. It is a final CAS decision on the Athletics Integrity Unit website.

The full report from the process and the appeal will make for interesting reading and I, for one, will be waiting for that before making my own judgements more solidly.

As an athlete, especially at the highest level, you are responsible for what is in your body. If that comes from a tainted food product from a street food vendor, then that is still ultimately the athlete’s responsibility.

This is not the first time we have heard this reason used after positive tests, so if you are at the top of your game, do you still carry on to eat from questionable sources. If you are a detail orientated coach who leaves no stone unturned, you would advise your athletes to avoid Mexican pork and Chinese beef?

Could it happen to anyone?

Ultimately we’re not talking about a false negative here. We’re talking about a positive test result for an anabolic steroid. If it came from a burrito or actual cheating, some responsibility needs to be taken by the athlete for this.

Yes this may seem harsh and no, I do not control my own diet in a way that accounts for absolutely every possibility. But even as someone who is very unlikely to actually be tested, any supplements are batch tested and I would certainly think twice about eating copious amounts of wild boar, smashing poppy seed muffins or pigeon pie made out of doped racing pigeons. 

Whatever the instance here, you have to hope that no innocent athletes are caught in “friendly fire” in the battle against doping.

Houlihan herself states that she has never taken any performance enhancing substances. One might think to add “knowingly” to this statement, as we are dealing with a positive test result here so the substance has entered the athlete’s system, albeit only as a potentially performance enhancing burrito.

Is there more to come?

It does sound like the appeal process is over and Houlihan is going to be away from our sport for the next four years. It will be a very difficult time for the athlete, especially as group training and associating with others in the sport won’t be possible either.

The full statement from CAS and the report on the process will be interesting reading. The statements from Houlihan and Schumacher do lead you to believe that some gross injustice has occurred here. It will be fascinating to see if this is corroborated by the notes of the official report.

Strangely one thought in Houlihan’s defence is that an athlete actually cheating simply wouldn’t take this test. If someone is using nandrolone or other substances then the two year ban for whereabouts failures is always going to be a more favourable outcome. Never take a test you won’t pass, they say.

Lastly, we do want to share possibly the most outrageous of the comments found under the Youtube videos.

Unless UKA have appointed a Bond villain as the new Head of Endurance without anyone knowing, this seems a little far fetched, even for the most diehard of fans. We imagine lcb-1992 might be wearing a tin-foil hat and sharing COVID conspiracy stories from an underground bunker somewhere.

The post Houlihan banned for four years appeared first on Fast Running.

Tuntivate, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, trains with the Bowerman Track Club under the guidance of coach Jerry Schumacher, and he competes internationally for Thailand.

His time in ‘The Ten’, which he ran to finish fifth, saw him secure the automatic qualifying standard for the Tokyo Olympics. He spoke afterwards about his big breakthrough in a race that saw training partner Marc Scott take the win and move to 2nd on the UK all time list for 10000m with 27:10.41.

Did you expect to come out with a time like that?

Not exactly that time, I thought it’d be closer to that 27:30 range. That was a little bit of a surprise, a good surprise. Training has been going really well since the fall with no interruptions at all. My body felt better than ever; altitude was a little difficult, but I started getting my legs back the last two weeks leading up to the race.

What do you put the breakthrough down to?

I think just being able to do the training without getting hurt, being consistent and healthy. The workouts are going to get you fit. Obviously, there’s the aspect of pacing and being in that perfect race – that is probably worth something. I think the last part might be the shoes, everyone is saying they’re a big help and they’re probably worth something, but it’s unclear as to how much.

How long have you been in Portland with the Bowerman Track Club?

I’ve been here since September and started training with them in October.

How was the adjustment?

It was smooth, the guys helped it be smooth. They’re really good teammates in general and, physically, I feel the training was more intense then in college. It was similar but more intense so it took some time to get the body used to that. I felt like every week I was working a little harder to stay healthy.

How did your career progress at Harvard?

I feel like it was steady enough. I had a few issues here and there that probably prevented me from hitting the training the way we really wanted to. But generally it was pretty good. I kept it a little more chill and once it got near time to leave, I had a little more time to take care of my body.

Why did you decide BTC was the right move and when was that decision made?

I first thought it was a possibility in March or April, and I spoke with Jerry (Schumacher) and Tom Ratcliffe on the phone. Once I thought it was a possibility I knew that’s what I wanted to do, for sure. Every coach I talk to seems to only say good things about Jerry and the group. The teammates here are so kind as well.

What is Jerry’s attitude to coaching?

He’s obviously very knowledgeable. He seems to know exactly what we need at what time in terms of workouts. He knows when to hold me back and when to take me out of a workout. He’s not too intense that he’s screaming and yelling at you. It’s encouraging, for sure.

How did you manage the academic and athletic balance through your college years?

Going to Harvard, in the end, did help. I’m not sure where I’d be if I didn’t go there. Coach gave me all the right things to prepare me for where I’m at now, making sure I had a long-term plan and wasn’t trying to run my best times in college and working on that strength aspect of running where if I needed to go to that next level and run post-collegiately, I’d be able to handle the workouts. A lot of the physical part is dealing with the volume and how strong some of the professionals are so coach helped me prepare for that.

What is your typical mileage and training?

Mileage is pretty similar to college. When I arrive the coaches said ‘don’t train too much, the workouts are hard enough.’ I don’t keep track, but if I was to guess it’d be in the 80s.

What is your family background?

My Dad is Thai and my Mom is American. And you also ticked off the Olympic qualifier. Will you focus on the 10,000m in Tokyo or also try the 5,000? Jerry has his own plan and I’m not attuned to it yet, but I think we’ll do a 5K.

Do you know where you’ll race next?

Jerry wanted to see how I came off this 10K first. I’m feeling pretty good and I’d like to race but I haven’t worked out since the 10th of February so we’ll see how I feel.

Where are you training now?

We’re in Portland and will be here until whatever camp happens before the Olympic Trials.

Has that breakthrough re-aligned your goals for the year?

I don’t think so. It’s still hard to understand what that time means for me at this stage. You can’t really compare to the top US times, for instance, because if you look at Galen Rupp’s and Chris Solinsky’s times, they’re pretty far ahead of the next group and half of the US top-10 ran those times in championship races so they’re obviously more fit. In a championship race, you’re not going to run 27:17 the way I did, so I want to focus on getting more fit.

Kimbia Athletics

The post Kieran Tuntivate reflects on a breakthrough 10000m appeared first on Fast Running.

Eilish McColgan and Marc Scott were in action at The TEN in California last night. The race was the first of its kind to use a prize pot model where fans contribute, with 100% of that fan-funding split between the winners. Both races were loaded predominantly with Bowerman Track Club runners being paced for the US Trails and Olympic Qualifying Times by teammates – Vanessa Fraser and Courtney Frierichs for the women and Evan Jager and Sean McGorty for the men.

McColgan storms to PB

After some perfect pacing to hit their target (31:25 OQT / 32:25 US Trials QT) in the early stages the women looked strong and comfortable, with only Gwen Jorgensen noticeably dropping off pace. As one of only two non-BTC athletes in the race and a last minute flight from Dubai to LA.

McColgan was always going to have a slight disadvantage anyway and especially if team tactics came into play. So, it was a brave but sensible move that led her to duke it out at the front for a good portion of the race with Emily Infeld before 10,000m debutant Elise Cranny and experienced racer Karissa Schweizer stepped up to take it in turns to take the lead.

It looked like the team approach was certainly being utilised, but someone had to win and the pair took it all the way to the finishing straight, both logging a 65 second final lap as McColgan held strong behind them to finish third 30:58.94 taking 18 seconds off her previous best, place second on the Scottish all-time list and fifth on the British rankings, right behind her mum’s 30:57.07 marker.

It was Cranny who snuck a stunning win in 30:47.42, a whisker ahead of Schweizer’s 30:47.99. To underline the quality of the race – the top five all registered the Olympic requirement with Cranny and Schweizer taking third and fourth on the US rankings behind their coach Shalane Flanagan.

Gutted to be just 1s outside my mum’s PB & Scottish Record but can’t complain with a big PB & sub 31!

Definitely worth the last minute flight to LA.

Thanks to @sound_running & @BowermanTC for the race! https://t.co/wfD7cYy2g0

— Eilish McColgan (@EilishMccolgan) February 21, 2021

Stunning Scott continues his rise to the very top

After the excitement of the women’s race it was time for the men to step up and see if they could hit their 27:28 / 28:00 goal. There was only one non-BTC racer this time, Ben True, so it was up to the Nike squad to get the job done. Marc Scott stated his intentions straight off, taking the armchair spot as the pacers flew them round their first lap in 66 seconds.

The laps clicked off around the 64/65 mark and while a couple of athletes dropped out, Scott held strong all the way instantly trying to put a gap in the field as soon as the pacers dropped off. Grant Fisher took the lead with a couple of laps to go but 600m out Scott fought back. The pair dropped a 61 second penultimate lap with Soctt driving all the way home to take a 46 second PB and the win in a stunning 27:10.41.

That puts him second on the British all-time list behind Mo Farah whilst Fisher moved up to fifth on his country’s rankings to sit just in front of Meb Keflezighi. All five finishers hit the Olympic and US standards. Woody Kincaid was third in 27:12.78.

You can watch the whole race below, and it is well worth a watch;

The last of the American Track League meets is due to take place in Arkansas today with GB’s Adele Tracey and Ireland’s Siofra Cleirigh Buttner due to race to 800m. Results will be available here.

It wasn’t just in California that the brits were showing our friends across the pond how to race. In North Carolina at the Camel City Elite race New Balance athlete Hannah Seagrave stormed around the aptly named ‘JDL Fast Track’ to win her first 800m race of the season in 2:04.70.

Pleased to take the win today in my first 800 of the season! Thanks @jdlfasttrack for putting on a great meet as always!

: @philponderphoto #teamNB#mtnsouthelite#teamXND#jdlfasttrack pic.twitter.com/Ie6UyKhyke

— Hannah (@HannahSegrave) February 20, 2021

European trials take place amid criticism of organisation

Back in the UK, qualifying times were on the minds of athletes in three separate venues around the country. While short sprints, hurdles (except women’s 60m) and field trials were being held in Lee Valley and Loughborough, Manchester hosted the 400m-3000m races for the British Athletics European Indoor Selection Trial Event.

Up to three athletes can be selected for each event and they must have run the qualifying times between 1st May 2020 and 21st Feb 2021. The selections will be announced this Monday, the 22nd Feb. There are a bunch of other criteria which you can read up on here if you want to try and second guess who will come out with a plane ticket to Poland.

The events faced fierce criticism on social media for the lack of live streaming despite British Athletics having cameras in place to collate a montage of clips and highlights. There was also dissatisfaction from some agents and athletes around other aspects of the organisation. Of course the lack of a crowd would not have helped but some of those competing or watching still noted the lack of music or other attempts to make improve the atmosphere.

Energy music building anticipation targeted music to support the pace of a race commentary to build feeling of big event regardless of empty hall athletes pens in hall not outside…bringing a feeling of crowd and involvement, basic showbiz knowledge @BritAthletics @dsstellar https://t.co/nGTE4UeSTG

— Vicente Modahl (@VicenteModahl) February 20, 2021

Clean sweep of QTs in the women’s 3000m

In the 3,000m all of the top three hit the women’s indoor QT standard to send them to Toruń. Swansea’s Verity Ockenden only set her indoor PB of 8:51.63 at Sportcity last weekend, but 8:56.27 was enough to win her the race on the same track this time.

She commented on Instagram that she had a “four hour karaoke party for one on her drive home” – oh the glamour of the elite athlete life! Amelia Quirk (Bracknell AC) placed second, running a great debut indoor performance of 8:58.57 and Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell) was third in 8:58.97. It was a real shame not to have the events streamed live and even the athletes commented on it.

I am VERY grateful to have raced today. So thank you @BritAthletics BUT
The lack of livestream & even online results is farcical in 2021. A stream would have meant infinitely more to our dedicated supporters than the montage below.
Next time livestream please https://t.co/9VvrNLkhgU

— Rosie Clarke (@RosieClarke1) February 20, 2021

These ladies join Melissa Courtney-Bryant and Amy-Eloise Markovc as those who have run under the nine minute mark on the indoor track so far this year. Aimee Pratt of Sale Harriers Manchester finished fourth in 9:03.89 – she’ll be back to chase the 4:13 standard in the 1500m on Sunday.

Rowe leads home quality field

In the men’s race it was Jack Rowe (A,F&D) who broke the tape in a time of 7:54.35 to make him the only one to hit the qualifying time of 7:55:00. Andy Butchart (Central AC) will have to rely on his time from Karlsruhe in January, as he finished second in 7:56.01.

Philip Sesemann (Leeds City) was third in 7:57.22, though he also holds the qualifying time from his performance on the same track last weekend at the Bryggen Sports Invitational. Marc Scott, Mark Pearce and Tom Anderson have also hit the time this year. Butchart raced again in the 1500m.

Copeland and Archer take 1500m titles

Piers Copeland is a man on fire at the moment. Fresh off the back of his recent Welsh Record he led home a quality field today to win in 3:51.17, with Archie Davis claiming a fine 2nd place in 3:52.94 with George Mills 3rd in 3:53.12. Andy Butchart was 6th with 3:58.50.

In the men’s 1500m, @PiersCopeland1 takes the win in 3:52.17 ahead of @archiedavis4 (3:52.94) pic.twitter.com/87AY1yYuqx

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) February 21, 2021

Holly Archer is an athlete with a super range. Her time of 4:13.02 was enough to see off the strong challenge of Katie Snowdon (4:13.16) and Ellie Baker (4:13.66). Archer said after;

“I feel like I have the speed and the strength and it’s all coming together when I want it to so I enjoyed it. It was good just to race and not worry about times, last week it was all about checking off the time and today was fun because it felt easier.”

Just three men lined up in the 800m and there was no women’s race. Guy Learmonth took the win in 1:47.81 well clear of Ben Pattison (1:50.02) and Alex Botterill (1:51.51).

Of course, we couldn’t round up this week without mentioning Elliot Giles and Jamie Webb’s performances at the World Indoor Tour, but that deserves its own article, so head over here to read up if you’re lagging behind on the news.

The post Euro Trials, Scott and McColgan fly in the States – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

As part of the Hoka One One Project Carbon X 2, set up to create a record opportunity for their athletes, a bunch of Hoka stars like Hayden Hawks, Tyler Andrews and Camille Herron all targeted US and World records but at the end of the day only one World Record was in danger.

Left on his own from around 60k onwards after 2:15 marathoner Craig Hunt dropped back, Walmsley gave it absolutely everything in his attempt to average under 6 minutes per mile for 62 miles.

The 6:09:14 mark by Japanese ultra runner Nao Kazami at Lake Soroma in 2018 pushed the American to his limits but he met the challenge with true spirit. He gave it everything.

The race went to the wire and writing this in anticipation of the record going the tension in the room is palpable. I find myself wanting to cheer Jim to the line from my home. I’m actually shouting. Fuck. Will he do it? Stop looking at your watch, just give it everything Jim!

12 seconds….

12 seconds over the world record over 100km. Fuck. 6:09:26.

Hats off Mr. Walmsley, that was absolutely brilliant. After spending the whole day watching the Hoka One One program after my own run this morning, it was totally worth it to see such a gut wrenchingly close run. 11 seconds. Damn.

If you watched that you would have been willing the Hoka man to the line. Seeing him on the long straight of the finish, trying to pull him closer to that finish. Emotion was high in our living room, but nothing can compare to how the man himself is feeling right now.

It was epic. For 95km I found myself wanting the record to stand strong, you want to see carnage, but when they’ve done the hard work and got that far, you want them to succeed more than you want your own lottery numbers to come up on a Saturday night.

The rest of the race goes on

The excitement for the early part of the day actually came from British international Carla Molinaro holding the lead for over 70km, with 24hr World Record holder Camille Herron getting close, but Herron pulled out when a charging Audrey Tanguy came past and then Tanguy went into the lead.

Now we watch Rajpaul Pannu push so hard to the finish to run under 6:30 in his first 100k, taking an interesting wide line to the finish. Second and 6:28:30 was such a great result for Pannu he seemed like he wanted to do another lap just to make sure.

As we wait for the next finishers, the list of stars who didn’t make it to the finish is a sign of just how hard this distance is. For the men Hayden Hawks, Fernando Cabada, Dion Finocchiaro, Tyler Andrews, Joacim Lantz, Peter Van Der Zon and Cole Watson were  defeated by the pace and the distance. Camille Herron and Catriona Jennings DNF for the ladies, although Jennings was competing at the 12th week of pregnancy.

The race goes on…

With about 20km to go it looks like Audrey Tanguy’s lead is unassailable, but anything can happen over these distances. The French trail runner is running her first ultra road race, but brought one of her strengths from the mountains, excellent pacing.

But Nicole Minette isn’t finished yet and is taking time out of Tanguy’s lead with every timing mat, but will the race finish before the US runner catches the French athlete? Will the finish line draw one athlete in faster than the other or will it come down to who ate the most between 60-70km?

Third placed male came storming across the line in just under 6:40. Kris Brown was in 10-12th place for the majority of the first 55k, running his own race and charging across the line like a truck. A high quality moustache and looked like he could have kept going so maybe we’ll see him in a 24hr race soon?

Tanguy paces to victory

Smart pacing did see Audrey Tanguy to victory with an excellent 7:40:36, less than three minutes ahead of Nicole Minette (7:43:18) in a close finish for the distance. Courtney Olsen also broke eight hours with 7:55:11 and Great Britain’s Carla Molinaro, after front running for quite some time, bravely finished in just over eight hours to bring the exciting day of ultra-running to a close.

We will continue to update with results on Sunday morning, as a good night’s sleep is important before a long run. 

The post Jim Walmsley narrowly misses 100km World record appeared first on Fast Running.

The Tennessee native represented USA at the 2011 World Championships over 5000m and at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships, and also ran for the Americas team at the 2014 Continental Cup in Morocco.

On the track he has personal bests of 3:37.15 for 1500m, 7:37.62 for 3000m, 13:12.01 for 5000m and 27:56.78 for 10,000m. In 2017 he transitioned to the marathon, and in dire conditions at the 2018 Boston Marathon he finished fifth in the men’s race.

In 2019 he clocked 2:10:56 to finish 12th in the Chicago Marathon. Below is a Q&A with Bumbalough about his decision and what the road ahead will look like.

How have things been this week since you made the announcement?

I knew it was coming so it wasn’t a surprise to me, but the reaction still takes you by surprise. Yesterday was full of text messages and phone calls and things like that, so it’s been a little crazy.

When did you make the decision?

At some point over the summer I started to think about it. With how the [US Olympic Marathon] Trials went, I felt like things were set in place.

The Trials had been my focus for the last four years, and what happened after I didn’t really have a plan for. If I made the team I obviously would have gone to Tokyo, but that was the focal point and end point for what plans I had. I dropped out, and I was hoping to pivot after that and run another race, to use the fitness in another marathon, but then Covid started to make its way into North America and things started to unravel with any race plans.

With the Boston Marathon cancellation and everything cancelled into the Fall, I didn’t have anything to train for. A lot of my teammates were on the track but I’d moved along from the track, so it gave me a chance to think about what I want to do with my life now and with my future.

Around the summer was when I really started to consider it seriously, but it became a little hard to let go moving into the fall. I wasn’t ready to make an announcement until this year.

Were you still running throughout the fall and planning to target any races?

It was more maintenance, keeping the options open. I was definitely not training properly, I told Jerry [Schumacher] I was taking a step away, doing running on my own terms. I was still running a decent amount, and I still am, at least five days a week. But in the summer I was cycling a lot, something I always loved doing, and that’s been a nice outlet.

I’ve been getting out into the mountains and doing some hiking, trail running, other forms of exercise that I typically wouldn’t do during a focused training cycle.

You recently launched Highgear Running, which offers personalized coaching for runners at various levels. How did that come about?

I did a project for Nike that connected me with some athletes and the athletes I was working with were CrossFit, multi-sport athletes.

One of them approached me and wanted to work on improving the running aspect of his training and he didn’t know how to start. His goal was to run a five-minute mile; he was a big, strong guy, and it was a lofty goal for him. He wanted to squat 450 pounds and also run a five-minute mile so I thought that was a really interesting problem to solve, how to help him work towards his goal.

We started working together and through that I met some other athletes and started working with them, and I have realized I really like working with athletes. I always knew I wanted to coach in some form, but didn’t know what that would be.

I don’t think I wanted to coach full-time, and I still don’t, in terms of it being my sole career path, but that experience led to the ideation of Highgear and what that might look like.

Is that your primary focus now?

No, my primary focus is product creation and product marketing. Through my time at Nike, I was often used as an athlete to come in and work with product creation teams, working with developers, product managers.

In 2014 or 2015 I started to work with the innovation team charged with developing the Next% footwear line so I was at ground level, in the weeds with them, being one of the athlete voices in what became the 4%, the Vaporfly, and the Alphafly, and I still have a voice with that team. I did some work with them into the fall; that was my main thing over the summer and fall.

What I really hope to do full-time is work in footwear in the sports industry.

As you look back, what are some of your best memories you’ll take away from your pro running career?

One of the things I’m most proud of, and something that’s bittersweet, is that for five years, from 2010 to 2014, I was in the top five in the 5K at the US Championships.

I was third once, second once, one year I was fourth. In 2011 I got to go to the World Championships – I was an alternate and it was because of an injury to Chris Solinsky – and in 2012 I was a couple of seconds off making the Olympic team. I’m proud of being one of the most consistent athletes in the US at 5000 meters, but unfortunately with how deep the US was getting during that time, a couple of juggernauts in Bernard Lagat and Galen Rupp were at the top, and it seemed for a lot of that time there was only one spot to go after.

“But that’s the beauty and the cruelty of our sport”

That run of five years is something I’ll take away and be very proud of along with, later in my career, making a successful transition to the marathon.

My first couple of races were OK, they weren’t great, but I started to learn the event and one moment I’m really proud of is being fifth at the 2018 Boston Marathon in those conditions – getting through it and toughing it out.

Coming away with a top-five finish at a Marathon Major is something I feel pretty good about. I think I could be a very good marathoner, but my better strength was on the track so to make that transition and run a big PR [2:10:56] in Chicago in 2019, having that range of being a sub-four miler who’s run 3:37 for 1500 and 2:10 for the marathon gives me a lot of pride.

While you will no longer be a professional runner, do you think there will still be races in your future?

I’m not ready to close the door on the idea of racing. It’ll never be the same in that running won’t be the primary focus of my professional life so it’ll have to look different. But other athletes have shown it’s possible at a very high level to have a professional career and also be an elite runner.

I haven’t made a decision on what that looks like. I know I owe nothing to anyone other than myself, so that decision would be totally due to my own desire, but over the last month or so my desire to add some more organization to my training has been there, and my body feels really good. It feels really fresh.

I’ve been running five days a week, 60 miles a week, half of what I usually do. I’m only 33, I’m not super-old, so it’s very possible that with the right circumstances going after a Boston Marathon or a New York City Marathon or some road racing is out there.

I’ve also met some people very into ultra-running and trail running and they are pulling me to do something there, but I don’t know if I have much in me over 50K. I could see myself doing something off-road over a shorter distance.

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The All-Ireland Schools Cross Country championship back in March might seem like a lifetime away this year, but for Donore Harrier Laadjel it was a chance to showcase his hardworking and determination for the future. Winning the intermediate boys race by a clear margin.

Abdel is 17 years old, grew up in Lucan and attends Kishoge community college, but only in more recent years did his focus shift from football (soccer, in case we have any US readers) to running.

“He was born in Dublin in 2003 and was a football fanatic in his earlier years, only taking up running through his school Kishogue Community College which is based in Lucan,” Fast Running’s Lindie Naughton tells us.

“When he finished fourth at the West Dublin Cross-Country in the Phoenix Park in January 2017, he was approached by Gerry Naughton (no relation) and invited to join Donore Harriers, one of Ireland’s oldest clubs, which is based beside the park.”

What it means to Abdel?

“Getting a scholarship to Providence College is a honour,” said the young endurance athlete. “It’s crazy thinking I’ll be going to the same college that previous Irish legends like John Treacy and Mark Carroll went to.

I can’t wait to take my academics and athletics to the next level under the guidance of one the greatest college coaches Ray Treacy, who has produced a lot of great runners and Olympians . I as well want to be remembered side by side as one of the greatest Irish one day. This is only the beginning.”

The cross country and track starlet has big dreams and isn’t afraid to speak about them. “I’ve always been the guy to set my dreams into goals in my mind.”

“I definitely want to do really well in the NCAA and European cross country next few years, progressing well. But the end goal for me is definitely to make the Olympics and World Champs,” said Laadjel.

He’s not stopping there though and hopes to “also maybe racking up major medals for Ireland. A few Irish records maybe in my bag. I just have to see what the future holds, life changes fast.” Big hopes for the future, but with the talent and work ethic to make it happen.

Photo: Gerry Naughton of Donore Harriers

The impact of COVID

“Covid this year was really hard for me at the start I won’t lie, a week before before lockdown I won the Irish schools cross country and then I was getting ready for internationals schools cross country which was in 2 weeks. I experienced a loss of a big event in the first week of lockdown with the internationals getting cancelled.”

As a Muslim athlete there are other challenges within the year too, such as fasting during Ramadan, but the focus is clearly on the positives.

“Ramadan came around, which I had to fast for a month, so I chose to take six weeks off. But I think I needed that time off and I came back for summer and came 2nd in National juniors which I was happy about. It might have been a blessing in disguise.”

Laadjel was at the lower end of the age bracket for the National Juniors, but ran an excellent 8:39 for the 3000m to finish second. The down time over the summer clearly didn’t affect his leg speed too heavily.

Pride and thanks

It’s clear that Laadjel knows that a great support team can make all the difference in our sport. “My coach Gerry Naughton was the one to see potential in me that no one else would have seen. He really has coached me to becoming a good athlete and been a second dad to me.”

Yet it’s not just the importance of the coach, but teammates and the theme of the running family is clear from talking to the athlete. “Ciaran O’Flaherty came on in the past year coaching us, the group of lads, too in the past year and has a mad a huge difference.

“I also can’t forget Lee Van Haeften who I started off going to at the start for physiotherapy as he is a physio and a Donore athlete but he quickly became my mentor and big brother since then and really drilled in my head that running is all about being consistent.”

“Also all everyone who does the works in the background in Donore, thank you too all them. Donore Harriers is truly like a big family.”

So it’s exciting to see what the future holds for young Abdel Laadjel, over in the US, but also performing at a European and International level for Ireland. It seems that there is a wise head on those young, fast shoulders.

RELATED: Dublin & Torino to host Euro Cross Champs

With thanks to Conor O’Heare for his input and for highlighting the story to FastRunning in the first place. If you know of any stories that should feature in our pages then please do email team@fastrunning.com 

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The former coach of Mo Farah, as well as a whole host of athletes currently competing at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, was banned alongside endocrinologist Dr. Jeffrey Brown, who also worked with the Nike Oregon Project.

USADA announced that the panels “found that Salazar and Brown trafficked testosterone, a banned performance-enhancing substance, administered a prohibited IV infusion, and engaged in tampering to attempt to prevent relevant information about their conduct from being learned by USADA.”

Full USADA statement here.

The specific rules violations for Salazar were:

1. Administration of a Prohibited Method (with respect to an infusion in excess of the applicable limit),
2. Tampering and/or attempted tampering with the doping control process, and
3. Trafficking of testosterone through involvement in a testosterone testing program in violation of the rules.

Dr. Brown violated anti-doping rules by:

1. Tampering with patient records
2. Administration of an over-limit L-carnitine infusion
3. Complicity in Salazar’s trafficking of testosterone

Still coaching world class athletes

Salazar is still working with a whole host of world class athletes such as Galen Rupp, Shannon Rowbury, Yomif Kejelcha and Konstanze Klosterhalfen.

It must be unsettling for Sifan Hassan, who has just decided to attempt an unprecedented 10,000m/1500m double in Doha, following her astounding finish of a 3:59 1500m to win the 10,000m gold medal.

Great Britain’s Mo Farah stopped working with in 2017 and has since been working with Gary Lough as his coach. At the time Farah denied that the split from Salazar had anything to do with the USADA investigation into his old coach and stated that it was more about moving back to the UK with his family.

Salazar released a statement on the NOP website stating:

“I am shocked by the outcome today. Throughout this six-year investigation my athletes and I have endured unjust, unethical and highly damaging treatment from USADA. This is demonstrated by the misleading statement released by Travis Tygart stating that we put winning ahead of athlete safety. This is completely false and contrary to the findings of the arbitrators, who even wrote about the care I took in complying with the World Anti-Doping code:

“The Panel notes that the Respondent does not appear to have been motivated by any bad intention to commit the violations the Panel found. In fact, the Panel was struck by the amount of care generally taken by Respondent to ensure that whatever new technique or method or substance he was going to try was lawful under the World Anti-Doping Code, with USADA’s witness characterizing him as the coach they heard from the most with respect to trying to ensure that he was complying with his obligations.”

I have always ensured the WADA code is strictly followed. The Oregon Project has never and will never permit doping. I will appeal and look forward to this unfair and protracted process reaching the conclusion I know to be true. I will not be commenting further at this time.”

“Winning more important than health”

The comment that Salazar is responding to by USADA’s Chief Executive Officer Travis Tygart was that “The athletes in these cases found the courage to speak out and ultimately exposed the truth.

While acting in connection with the Nike Oregon Project, Mr. Salazar and Dr. Brown demonstrated that winning was more important than the health and wellbeing of the athletes they were sworn to protect.”

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At the Six Days in the Dome event in Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, organised by celebrated ultra runner Joe Fejes, there is a host of ultra runners going for impressive distances, but Zach Bitter has started the event with a bang.

The previous record of 11:28:03 was set by Oleg Kharitonov in 2002, at Crystal Palace track in London. It was a race between the Russian and his compatriot Denis Zhalybin, who slowed in only the last couple laps and was beaten by Kharitonov (but still finished in 11:29:32).

Arizona based Bitter has had several attempts at the 100 mile distance on track and his previous best had been a 11:40:55 from 2015 at the Desert Solstice Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona. This time he really hit the nail on the head by not only breaking 11:30, but going under 11:20 too.

This mark the end of a long mission for Bitter, who runs in the zero-drop Altra shoes and has run the 100 mile distance 11 times in his career, getting closer to perfecting it each time.

The race goes on…

It seems that Bitter did not stop at the 100 mile distance, but continued to improve his own 12 hour world record mark and cover over 168.7km in that time period. This was a record that Bitter took from the all time great Yiannis Kouros a few years ago.

The event, which on a 443m indoor track, is still ongoing with other runners competing over as long as six days. Olivier Leblond is currently over 200 miles into the 48 hour race and has covered 200 miles in 33:39:03, whilst the six day race is just about to get started.

Both records in US hands feet now

Two years ago Camille Herron broke the women’s 100 mile world record with a 12:42:39 to win the Tunnel Hill 100 in the US, which is run along a disused railway line that has been converted into a running trail.

Herron went on to set a world 24hr record of 162.9 miles last December. 

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Organisers have announced the complete elite fields for the 123rd edition of the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15.

Nine Boston Marathon champions and seven Boston Marathon wheelchair champions will challenge their respective fields.

Desiree Linden and Yuki Kawauchi were the surprise 2018 winners as they battled through the rain and blustery winds while many of the favourites faltered in the far from ideal racing conditions.

The duo will return to defend their crowns to lead a combined field that has won more than 200 international marathons and includes Olympic and Paralympic medalists, World Championships Marathon medalists and Abbott World Marathon Majors champions.

Yuki Kawauchi heads men’s field

Leading a formidable field of 29 elite men are: 2018 Boston winner Yuki Kawauchi of Japan; 2017 Boston and 2017 IAAF World Marathon Champion Geoffrey Kirui of Kenya; two-time Boston champion and 2018 New York City Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia; 2016 Boston victor Lemi Berhanu of Ethiopia; and 2012 Boston champion Wesley Korir of Kenya.

Chasing the champions are 2:04 marathoners Lawrence Cherono of Kenya, a two-time Amsterdam, two-time Honolulu, Seville and Prague champion; Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia, winner of Carpi, Warsaw, Vienna, Frankfurt and Ljubljana; and Solomon Deksisa of Ethiopia, winner of Mumbai and Hamburg.

The Japanese pair of Hiroto Inoue and Hayato Sonoda also join the team. Inoue won the 2018 Asian Games Marathon and Sonoda was runner up in Beppu-Oita last year.

From Eritrea, 2015 World Championships Marathon gold medalist and 2016 New York City champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie will be in contention as will countryman Zersenay Tadese, a four-time Olympian, former world record holder in the half marathon and winner of six World Championships titles.

The previously announced American athletes include third place finisher last year, Shadrack Biwott; Olympians Dathan Ritzenhein, Abdi Abdirahman, and Jared Ward; as well as Jeffery Eggleston, Elkanah Kibet, Timothy Ritchie, Scott Fauble, Aaron Braun and Brian Shrader.

Among those making their Boston debuts are several men who ran their personal best times in 2018: Rotterdam winner Kenneth Kipkemoi of Kenya; two-time Toronto champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya; and Beirut winner Mohamed Reda El Aaraby of Morocco.

Also joining the international field is British Olympian Scott Overall and 2:06 Kenyan marathoners Felix Kandie, the Athens and Prague champion; Festus Talam, a two-time Eindhoven winner; and Philemon Rono, a two-time Toronto champion.

11 sub 2:23 women set for Boston

On the women’s elite team, John Hancock has assembled an accomplished field of 22 elite athletes, 11 of whom have personal best times under 2:23:00.

Leading the way is 2018 winner Desiree Linden of the United States; two-time World Championships Marathon gold medalist, three-time Abbott World Marathon Majors series winner and 2017 Boston champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya; 2015 Boston, Prague and Las Vegas winner Caroline Rotich of Kenya; and 2012 Boston, Hamburg, Toronto, Torino and Singapore winner Sharon Cherop of Kenya.

Challenging the Boston champions are 2:19 Ethiopian marathoners Aselefech Mergia, a London champion and three-time winner of Dubai; Mare Dibaba, the 2015 World Championships Marathon gold medalist, 2016 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, Chicago Marathon champion, Beijing and two-time Xiamen winner; and Worknesh Degefa, a Dubai champion.

Last year’s second and third place finishers, Sarah Sellers of the United States and Krista DuChene of Canada return to improve their positions. They join Olympic and World Championships silver medalist in the 10,000m, Sally Kipyego of the United States; and previously announced U.S. elites: Jordan Hasay, third at Boston in 2017; Sara Hall, 2017 national champion; Lindsay Flanagan; Becky Wade; and Sarah Crouch.

Photo: Chicago Marathon

Joining them will be a trio of Ethiopians: two-time Olympian Meskerem Assefa, winner of Rotterdam and Frankfurt; Olympian Belaynesh Oljira, 2015 World Championships 10,000m bronze medalist; and Marta Megra, a Toronto champion.

Rounding out the field and new to the Boston course are Olympian Betsy Saina of Kenya, a Paris champion; Olympian Eva Vrabcova of the Czech Republic, the bronze medalist in the 2018 European Marathon Championships; Olympian Aly Dixon of Great Britain; and making her marathon debut is Mary Wacera of Kenya, the World Championships Half Marathon silver medalist in 2014 and bronze medalist in 2016.

Wheelchair fields

In the men’s wheelchair race, defending champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland looks to earn his fifth wheelchair title and is part of a stellar international field featuring 10-time winner Ernst van Dyk of South Africa.

Joining Hug and van Dyk are fellow Boston winners Masazumi Soejima and Hiroyuki Yamamoto (both from Japan) as well as former course record holder Joshua Cassidy (Canada). British stars David Weir and Johnboy Smith; Japan’s Hiroki Nishida, Ryota Yoshida, and Kota Hokinoue; Canada’s Tristan Smyth; and Ireland’s Patrick Monahan round out the international men’s field.

American men’s contenders Daniel Romanchuk, Joshua George, Aaron Pike, James Senbeta, Krige Schabort, and Brian Siemann are all entered as well. Romanchuk won the 2018 New York City and Chicago Marathons.

Manuela Schar of Switzerland returns to the scene of her course record and world best performance in the women’s wheelchair race.

Schar timed a blistering 1:28:17 from Hopkinton to Boston in 2017, becoming the first woman ever to dip under the 1:30 barrier in Boston. She’ll be joined on the starting line by compatriot Sandra Graf; Madison De Rozario and Eliza Ault-Connell of Australia; Margriet Van Den Broek of the Netherlands; Diane Roy of Canada; and Aline de Rocha of Brazil.

Five-time winner and defending champion Tatyana McFadden fronts the American charge, leading Susannah Scaroni, Amanda McGrory, Arielle Rausin, Katrina Gerhard, and Michelle Wheeler.

Full elite men’s field

Full elite women’s field

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