On 29^th May 1954, only 23 days after Roger Bannister’s legendary sub four minute mile, Diane Leather was the first woman to break the five minute mile barrier.

On a recent trip to the Anglo-Celtic Plate 100k, where the England women’s team of Sarah Webster, Melissah Gibson and Julia Davis, ran a trio of performances that would have taken gold at any World Championship in history, we had the pleasure of speaking to Rebecca Taylor about someone who’s name we didn’t know.

“This took place in an age where running was thought detrimental to women’s health. Women were not allowed to race further than 200m in the Olympic Games,” Taylor tells me. “Because of this Diane Leather never received the fame and recognition of her male counterpart.”

We should be commemorating both marks

The four minute mile story of Bannister is something every distance runner in the world has heard of, definitely every club runner. It’s a shame the name of Diane Leather isn’t as well known. SOAR Running and Taylor are keen to change that.

The story of the five minute mile

This section of the article is written by Rebecca Taylor and first posted on the SOAR Running website here. 

Though it took place in 1954, the impact of Roger Bannister’s sub-4-minute mile on the public’s imagination cannot be understated. The time is a mark of a seriously good male athlete to this day.

Iffley Road track, where the barrier was broken, is still subject to runner pilgrimages. Blue plaques, films, halls of fame and statues celebrate the achievement. But while the men were locked in a 4-minute arms race, what were the women up to?

Born in 1933 in Streetly, Staffordshire, Diane Leather was an active child playing lacrosse, netball, and hockey at school. Inspired by the women in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, she was moved to join a local athletics club, Birchfield Harriers.

Her talent and potential were immediately spotted by coach Dorette Nelson Neal who set about training and encouraging her to race the mile. Diane’s running progressed beautifully and in 1953 she was part of a British relay team which set a world record for the 880 yards (half a mile) relay.

Barriers beyond the hurdles

To give some context, in those days long-distance running was considered dangerous to a woman’s health and even fertility. 70 years ago women’s races were officially capped at just 200m in the Olympic Games.

This remained the case until 1960 when the 800m was added, the 1500m appearing later in 1972. But despite the lack of official recognition, the battle for a woman to break 5 minutes was fierce and it became Diane’s holy grail.

Many attempts had been made, and the time was being chipped away by Anne Oliver of Britain, Edith Treybal, from Romania and Diane Leather.

Finally, on May 26th, 1954, Diane ran 5:00.2. So close now that she could smell it. She tried again 3 days later.

At Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, alone at the front and without a pacemaker, she broke the tape at 4:59.6 on 29th May 1954, just 23 days after Roger Bannister’s historic sub-4.

Recognised as the world’s best rather than the world record, Diane went on to reduce her mile time to 4:45.0 at the White City Stadium on 21 September 1955. This was the world’s best time for over seven years.

National Newspapers take note at the time

Athletics was popular in the 50’s and Diane’s achievement was celebrated in the newspapers at the time. No film exists of her sub-5, but there is a Pathe News film of her tantalising 5:00.2 you can watch here.

Sadly, Diane Leather is not a well-known name now, but she was finally inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. She died in 2018 in Truro aged 85 after a long career as a social worker and as a mother to a family of four.

Nowadays the fastest women’s mile time stands at 4:07.64 by Faith Kipyegon of Kenya. Ran during a Diamond League meeting at Stade Louis II, Monaco, on 21 July 2023. Still, 7 seconds feels like a lot to shave off from a mile, but could we see a sub four minute mile in the next five or ten years?

The competition and a panel talk

From 23rd to 29th May 2024, SOAR invites running communities and runners around the world, to dedicate a mile to the 70th anniversary of the first women’s sub 5 minute mile. Don’t worry, there will be prizes:

Every runner that takes part will be entered into a prize draw to win one of 5 exclusive SOAR Miler Memberships.

Fastest women’s mile logged – £250 SOAR Gift Card Most unusual mile location – £150 SOAR Gift Card

The best 3 Instagram posts/stories tagging @soar_running that captures the spirit of the SOAR: Fleet and Free Mile celebration – £150 SOAR Gift Card

Runners are asked to log their miles on Strava/IG/Garmin Connect/Coros etc. Then submit a screen grab to: fleetandfree@soarrunning.com to claim their reward.

In addition to this there is a SOAR: Fleet and Free Panel Talk on 22nd May from 18:45

Join in for the panel talk at SOAR HQ. Experts will discuss women’s running history and achievements, the barriers women face to race participation and what can be done to overcome them.

The post Remembering the 5 minute mile appeared first on Fast Running.

As a photographer, writer and equally important fan of the sport, I’ve attended my fair share of events this year, plus watched many more from home. They have delivered plenty of highs and lows, joy and despair, tears and smiles. In looking back at the past twelve months, it’d be easy to write about THAT 1500m final in Budapest, other medal-winning moments or record breaking times. They were undoubtedly highlights. However, this article tries focus on other, just as exciting, moments that maybe have not necessarily been as extensively written about in recently weeks.

1. This is the World’s Stage

Those five words were written around the Olympic Stadium (ok, London Stadium) for the London Diamond League. A sunny Sunday afternoon in a stadium at capacity for an athletics event for the first time in years. The stars of the sport had assembled, with plenty on the line. One race was more intriguing than most – a domestic men’s 800m.

It was the last day to run the World Championship standard. A time that, as the starter’s gun went off, no one had achieved. Over two laps and less than two minutes of running, a seismic shift occurred in British men’s 800m running. Thirty British men have run inside 1:45 in history. Six did it in that race alone.

Photo: James Rhodes

Max Burgin. 1:43.85, the second fastest time of his fragile career. It wasn’t quite to be in Budapest, but two rounds is two more than in Eugene twelve months prior.

Ben Pattison. 1:44.02, a PB. You don’t need me to tell you what happened next.

Alex Botterill. 1:44.75, a PB.

Guy Learmonth. 1:44.80, his fastest since 2017, just seven hundredths shy of his PB set five years earlier in the same stadium.

Also worth mentioning are Tom Randolph (1:44.88), Ethan Hussey (1:44.96) and Reece Sharman-Newell (1:45.49), who all set PBs too.

That race was a perfect demonstration of what can happen when athletes are provided with opportunities to perform. Those at the top of the sport should seek to provide as many of them as possible.

Photo: James Rhodes

2. Belonging with the Best

As in any sport, some people and performances can be overlooked or under-appreciated. One person who perhaps fits into this category is Jess Warner-Judd. She sits in the top-ten on the British all-time lists for 5000m and 10,000m on the track, plus 10k and half marathon on the roads. Let’s not forget she ran a 67:19 half marathon in Houston to kickstart the year.

Always present, yet rarely the headline. Continually hard working whilst being a genuinely kind person (not many athletes would happily pace an 800m for young girls, as she did at a BMC meeting at Lee Valley in 2020). Some of her fastest performances have been overshadowed (for want of a better word) by those of others.

Ten years after her maiden World Championships, an event where she has raced over four distances, Jess had the best run of her career to finish eighth in the 10,000m in Budapest. It was the best British finish over 25 laps at a World Championships since Jo Pavey in 2007.

Photo: James Rhodes

If the performance alone wasn’t enough a highlight, what happened next certainly was. With most the field either lying on the floor, on a lap of honour, or halfway through the mixed zone, Jess stayed trackside, the only athlete to clap in every finisher behind her. Brazil’s Maria Lucineida da Silva finished over four minutes after she did; yet she waited, supporting and encouraging the crowd to do the same. It was a lovely moment.

Photo: James Rhodes

Plus, the season ended with a PB over 5000m in Brussels (14:51.53). An excellent ending to an excellent season.

3. Depth in Numbers

If a single race defines British men’s 800m racing this year, the opposite is true on the women’s side. Eleven British women (twelve including Adelle Tracey) ran under 2:00 this year. To add some historical context, only 34 British women have done so in history. Six did last year, the same number in 2021. Undoubtedly technology on and off the track is playing its part, but it remains something to celebrate.

The star of the 800m show continued to shine this year. Not many people could both open and close their season with a British Record, but Keely Hodgkinson is one of them. An opener on a warm Saturday night came in Paris delivered a statement of intent; 1:55.77. Maybe she knew Athing Mu was in the stands. The big show, the race that exceeded expectations in Eugene, did not disappoint in Budapest. Once again, fireworks. Once again, silver the outcome. Athing was beaten, but not Mary Moraa.

Photo: James Rhodes

A month later came the Diamond League final at Hayward Field. The same one-two as last summer, just faster. 1:55.19, equal-tenth on the all-time list. She sits alongside Jolanda Ceplak, the World Indoor Record holder. A coincidence not unnoticed, since that mark, one on Keely’s radar, was set the day Hodgkinson was born. Maybe it will fall next year? Afterall, the World Indoors final is 22 years to-the-day since it was set. Keely’s birthday. That’d be a nice present.

A standalone article could be written on this. Five broke the sub-two barrier for the first time. For Issy Boffey, it was a matter of when, not if. Having run 2:00, 2:01 or 2:02 28 times since 2021, sub-two came in Madrid in July; 1:59.30. A World Championships qualifier on the penultimate day to qualify, and inside the Olympic standard – to the hundredth of the second. The reaction was a delight, and you can read more from Issy here.

Photo: James Rhodes

Issy’s training partner Abbie Ives joined the club in Belfast in May, running 1:59.92. The home of fast middle-distance times, Watford, provided memorable races for Revee Walcott Nolan, Erin Wallace and Khai Mhalanga. All deserving of their performance, with Revee and Erin returning from injury impacted 2022s. Neither raced on the track last summer after excellent 2021s. They lined up for the same race in Watford, and both broke two minutes for the first time.

Seeing Jemma Reekie return to her best has been great, plus Alex Bell bouncing back after not being selected for Budapest. Such is the depth, and it makes for an exciting 2024.

4. Biblical

A short entry now, almost as short as the race. It is not a distance usually covered, but the men’s 100m final at the British Championships in Manchester makes the cut.

If there was a record for the fastest-time-run-in-a-monsoon, Zharnel Hughes’ 10.03 would undoubtedly be it. In weather so bad the TV feed cut out, it was a performance perhaps more impressive than his British Record, or World Championships bronze.

Photo: James Rhodes

Plus, it made for some great photos.

5. Long Time Coming

The start of the article promised five highlights, that might have been a lie. This last one combines three emotional moments (author note: I couldn’t decide what to cut, so I didn’t).

After running a 3:31.30 PB (and British U23 Record) at the London Diamond League in the Olympic Stadium, Matt Stonier shared a lovely post on Instagram. “11 years ago a little 10 year old kid had the privilege of watching London 2012, hoping he might step foot on the same track one day. 11 years later, in front of 50,000 people that dream came true”. Flick through the photos in the below post, the replication eleven years on is impressive.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Matthew Stonier (@mattstonier)

Two field events to end; even more different to usual coverage. Jazmin Sawyers’ reaction to finally jumping seven metres in the long jump was glorious. The results board took longer than usual to show the distance, which added to the emotion. It came at the European Indoor Championships, giving her a first international title.

Finally, when Renaud Lavillenie broke the pole vault World Record back in 2014, it was nice that it happened at a pole vault specific event, organised by Sergey Bubka, the previous WR holder. Mondo Duplantis has since become accustomed to breaking the World Record, but they’d all been at general competitions. In February, he broke it for the sixth time in February, at the All Star Perche meeting, dedicated to pole vault. The event is organised by Renaud. Full circle! The best part however was Renaud’s reaction to seeing his friend and competitor go better than he ever has done before. You can see it here.

Photo: James Rhodes

So, there we have it. Hopefully the next twelve months will bring as many memorable moments as 2023 did. After all, it will be an Olympic year!

The post Five Highlights of 2023 appeared first on Fast Running.

It was announced today that, ahead of next summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan will be racing at the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday 3 March. Despite their different career trajectories and distinctly unique personalities, the pair have more in common than one might initially think. Successful careers on the track that have transitioned (or are transitioning) to the roads? Check. Good memories from the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics? Check. Looking to add to those good memories at the Paris Olympics next August? Check.

Neither need an introduction. Their careers are as unique as they come. No one else has (yet) run sub-two hours for 26.2 miles, regardless of its format. No one else has stopped for a mid-race stretch and gone on to win the London Marathon.

Photo: NN Running Team

Preparation for Paris

Kipchoge is one of, if not the, greatest marathon runners of all-time. He has won 18 of his 21 marathons, setting the World Record twice. If he wins on the streets Paris on August 10th, he will become to first to win back-to-back-to-back Olympic marathons. He knows the streets of the Japanese capital well, having raced the Tokyo Marathon in 2022. He won that day and holds the course record of 2:02:40. Of course, he also won at the Olympics in 2021 in Sapporo.

The country’s culture of running is what draws him to Tokyo and Japan. It is why he wants to explore the country further once he has hung up his professional racing shoes. He calls is a special location, one where everybody is into running. He talks of translating the culture of running that’s present in Japan across the whole world; “I can sell my idea about making this world a running world”.

Kipchoge says that, alongside the good memories, the five-month gap between Tokyo and Paris provides sufficient “time to train my mind and train my muscles to operate at my best in Paris next year”. The importance of “respecting the responsibility of running at the Olympic Games” is one he does not take lightly.

Breaking Barriers

It will be Kipchoge’s first race in five years where he won’t be introduced as the World Record holder. Kelvin Kiptum took the mark to new levels with 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon in October. Understandably, talk turns to when, rather than if, the first sub-two marathon in normal race conditions will occur, and who will do it. Kipchoge, speaking as eloquently as ever, is not one to be drawn into the speculation, but points that – akin to the first sub-four minute mile – his run in Vienna in 2019 showed the way, that it was possible.

For Kipchoge training is underway, with Kaptagat providing sunny weather that is conducive to training. He will continue to “respect the training” throughout the Christmas and New Year festivities; but would one expect anything different?

Photo: Vienna City Marathon / Michael Gruber

What’s Next?

If Eliud’s pathway for the next twelve months is clear, Sifan Hassan’s is anything but. The question has long been asked; what will she focus on in Paris? The answer remains as unclear now as ever.

Her short marathon career has been almost as chaotic as it has been successful. Who else can deliver a marathon debut quite like hers, yet go on to win one of the most prestigious races on the calendar (against formidable opposition)? Perhaps it should come as no surprise. After all, she is the athlete who won both the 1500m and 10,000m at the 2019 World Championships and nearly completed the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m treble at the Tokyo Olympics.

She proved it was no fluke and won the Chicago Marathon in October. Her time of 2:13:44 is the second fastest in history. The World Record would be hers but for Tigist Assefa running in Berlin a fortnight earlier. Is that a real-life example of the Vienna-effect Kipchoge speaks of?

Photo: Global Sports Communication

Why Tokyo

Similar to Kipchoge, Sifan notes the gap between Tokyo and Paris as being a big motivator for travelling to Japan, alongside her fond memories from 2021. It also allows her to race on the track, an important factor when deciding what distances she will contest in Paris.

She insists that this remains unconfirmed, and that she will decide alongside coach Tim Rowberry between two and three months before the Olympics. The mixture of events run this year, including winning a 10,000m and 1500m at the FBK Games on consecutive days a matter of weeks after the London Marathon, suggest anything is possible.

Indeed, the programme in theory allows for a quadruple attempt:

Friday AM: 5000m heats.

Monday PM: 5000m final.

Tuesday AM: 1500m heats.

Thursday PM: 1500m semi-finals.

Friday PM: 10,000m final.

Saturday PM: 1500m final.

Sunday AM: Marathon,

You’d say surely not, but this is is Sifan Hassan. Anything could be possible.

Photo: James Rhodes

Sifan started training a week ago, saying she might have “celebrated too much after Chicago”, and will be based in Ethiopia over winter. She is not willing to entertain any time-based expectations for Tokyo. Rather, continuing to learn the distance, gaining more experience and simply having fun are her main objectives.

Intriguingly, whatever happens in Tokyo, it will not impact her decisions for Paris. Breaking the World Record is not a focus “right now”, but it is likely that Brigid Kosgei’s 2:16:02 Course Record will be on her mind come race day.

During the call, Eliud told Sifan “I think you’re ready for Tokyo”. It will be exciting to see what happens come Sunday 3 March.

The post Eliud Kipchoge & Sifan Hassan to run Tokyo Marathon appeared first on Fast Running.

For both Kenyans these represented their second wins from the two Gold Label events thus far in the 17-race series.

As the runners set off from the mountain climber village of Heiligenblut, rain clouds concealed the imposing Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain. However, despite earlier rain and some more during the race, conditions were much better and less slippery than for last year’s on this runnable course.

The relatively flat first two kilometres of the 13.4km saw the leading group trimmed down to just three as Kenya’s Philemon Kiriago and Eritrea’s Petro Mamu challenged the eventual winner. As they left the road and entered the dampened forest, the climbs had begun on this 1265m-ascent route.

Patrick Kipngeno Grossglockner Berglauf Photo: Marco Gulberti WMRA

Up we go

It was after around 8km that Kipngeno, the Kenyan mountain running champion, started to pull away. Running with a spectacular backdrop including Pasterze, the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps, Kipngeno gave himself enough of a cushion before the last tough climb — 300m of ascent over the last approximately 1.25km, which involved 521 tough steps to the finish.

He crossed the line in 1:08:22, 1:41 in front of Kiriago, who was engaged in a dramatically close finish with Mamu, ultimately a further two seconds back.

Recently crowned European uphill champion Cesare Maestri of Italy was next in 1:13:47, ahead of Austria’s Manuel Innerhofer (1:14:06). Defending champion Lengen Lolkurraru of Kenya was ninth.

The winner has clocked 62:42 for the half-marathon and is now translating his speed well to the mountains in his first year on the European circuit. The 29-year-old said afterwards: “The course was good. It was a little muddy and windy at the finish. I will come back next year.”

Ireland’s Zak Hanna finished a creditable 13th in the savagely steep event, crossing the line in 1:17:21.

Photo: Marco Gulbertis

An earlier break for the win

Njeru’s break away from the field came much earlier, in the second kilometre. At the first checkpoint, after 12 minutes of running, she already had a lead of 15 seconds over compatriot Lucy Murigi, the twice world mountain running champion. Her lead was 2:06 at the second checkpoint, with 40 minutes under her belt, and she stretched away another 26 seconds on the final section. She crossed the line in 1:25:56, 2:32 in front.

Murigi clocked 1:28:28 and Czech Republic’s Adela Stranska was third in 1:30:21. Ethiopia’s Worke Amena and Italy’s Camilla Magliano were fourth and fifth.

Njeru, ranked No.1 on the World Mountain Running Association’s global rankings, said: “In the first kilometre, I had to see who was strong and who was keeping the pace. In the second kilometre I decided to push. It was not slippery like last year. I was feeling positive from the beginning. It went as I expected. I think I am in good shape. My target is to once more become the overall winner [of the World Cup].”

The next race in the World Cup series is the La Montée du Nid d’Aigle in St Gervais, France, on July 16. With higher points available for the Gold Label races and a 100% record, Njeru and Kipngeno have naturally stretched their lead in the overall standings, though the official full list will be published in due course.

Full results: https://www.grossglocknerberglauf.at/en/mountain-run/results/

The post Grossglockner doesn’t disappoint appeared first on Fast Running.

Montemuro Vertical Run will be the first Gold Label World Cup race of the year, the first classic mountain race of the series and the World Cup’s first ever visit to Portugal.

The region

The Montemuro mountain range has been described as something of a well-kept secret in Portugal, but its credentials as a location for mountain running are clear. It’s a geographically diverse area, with everything from dry, rocky paths to rich, green river valleys, which will provide a stunning route for runners.

There is a big push underway to promote the area’s potential for mountain sports, both running and cycling. This began with the establishment of (Per) Correr Castro Daire https://www.facebook.com/percorrercastrodaire/  a local circuit consisting of 8 races in 2022, and has shown remarkable progress year on year. The municipality once again hosts the Portuguese championship in 2022, this time in the up and down format, on the 5th of June.

The region is also steeped in history, with architectural remains and ancient settlements, and boasts  wildlife such as the Iberian wolf, otters and rare gold-striped salamanders.

The race

This is the second edition of the Montemuro Vertical Run. The first edition in 2021 staged the 23^rd National Mountain Running Championships for Portugal.

The race starts at 434m in Parada de Ester, just above the Paiva River. The opening kilometre takes the runners through the streets before they turn left, heading north toward the summit of Montemuro. This where the climbing really begins in earnest and athletes get little or no respite as it goes on more or less continuously to the finish at 1,317m.

All in all it is 9.6km, 980m+ and 106m-, putting the race in the Classic Mountain category. The times to beat from last year are Rui Muga’s 50:55 for the men and Joana Soares’ 56:13 for the women.

Photo: Marco Gulbertis

The favourites in the women’s field

With a stellar World Cup field lining up alongside Portugal’s finest it’s sure to be a fast and exciting race.

In the women’s race all eyes will be on last year’s World Cup champion, Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN). With wins at Grossglockner Berglauf, Krkonossky, Trofeo Ciolo and Zumaia Flysch Marathon, she proved herself to be adaptable over a wide range of courses and terrain. She is currently leading the women’s World Mountain Running rankings.

Lorenza Beccaria (ITA) is expected to be a strong contender, having had some impressive results in last year’s World Cup, achieving a 5^th place in last year’s Grossglockner Berglauf and a 4^th at Tatra Race Run.

Camilla Magliano (ITA) will also be one to watch in the women’s race. She has proved herself to be very strong in uphill-only races, with top 10 finishes last year in Grossglockner Berglauf, Vertical Nasego and Chiavenna Lagunc, as well as finishing 5^th in the Italian uphill-only mountain running championships.

Susanna Saapunki (FIN) burst onto the mountain running scene in 2021, having switched to the sport after a successful career in cross-country skiing. She immediately enjoyed success with a 4^th place at Grossglockner Berglauf and 5^th spot at Vertical Nasego. She could well feature on the podium at Montemuro.

Other women to watch include Maria Ordonez Marina (ESP), 2^nd in the 2021 Spanish cup of vertical kilometres, Vivien Bonzi (ITA), who achieved a couple of top 10 finishes in last year’s World Cup, and Charlotte Cotton (BEL), the World Masters Mountain Running champion from 2019, who was 3^rd in last year’s international Skyrunning vertical kilometre championship.

Herni Aymonod singing with his trophy. Photo: Marco Gulbertis

Who will be chasing Henri?

In the men’s race Henri Aymonod (ITA), 2021 World Cup men’s champion and the current leader in the men’s World Mountain Running ranking, will surely be the runner to beat. Last year he won Chiavenna Lagunc and Vertical Nasego and finished 3^rd at La Montee Du Nid d’Aigle and Tatra Race Run. It will be exciting to see him in action again here.

Geoffrey Gikuni Ndungu (KEN), who finished 3^rd in the 2021 World Cup standings, will be toeing the start line. Last year he won the Zumaia Flysch Marathon and Krkonossky and was 2^nd at Trofeo Ciolo, but a 58^th place at Zegama this year could suggest he isn’t firing on all cylinders yet [or might be more suited to the uphill-only nature of this weekend – Ed.]

Andrea Rostan (ITA) could also feature, having had some impressive results in uphill-only races, including a 2^nd in last year’s Vertical Nasego and a 3^rd place at Piz Tri Vertical.

Photo: Marco Gulberti

Zak Hanna (IRL) has been steadily and impressively building his mountain running CV over the last few years and he could well challenge for the podium here. With a win at the Mont Blanc Vertical Kilometre and a 4^th place at Vertical Nasego last year, as well as an 8^th place in a stacked field at Grossglockner, he will be hoping for some good results in the World Cup this year.

Marek Chrascina (CZE) was our bronze medallist at the 2019 World Championships in Patagonia and also finished 3^rd in Krkonossky last year. He is always a strong competitor.

Other men to watch include Alex Garcia Carrillo (ESP), winner of the recent up and down mountain running championships in Spain, and Patrick Kipngeno (KEN), winner of this year’s Mont Kenya Mountain Run.

There will be some strong local runners on the start line, including the reigning junior and senior national mountain running champions of Portugal: Joana Soares, Rui Muga, Eduardo Pestana and Mariana Pedreira.

A step forward for Montemuro

We look forward to bringing you all the action live from the races on Sunday. Pedro Pontes, of the race organisation, says, “We are very excited and proud of the inclusion of the Montemuro Vertical Run in the World Cup. This project is the result of work that the Municipality of Castro Daire has been developing in Mountain Running, together with the Portuguese Athletics Federation and local associations.”

Find out more about the race here: https://www.visitcastrodaire.pt/montemuroverticalrun/

Link to video about the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5Jh2Sr8Ur8

The post Njeru and Aymonod To Race Montemuro Vertical appeared first on Fast Running.

In August, Eliud successfully defended his Olympic marathon crown on the streets of Sapporo at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Now the Kenyan distance running icon has targeted a return to Japan, where he makes his Tokyo Marathon debut.

Eliud, the world record-holder and the first man in history to run a sub-two-hour marathon [not within record eligible conditions – Ed.] – achieving the feat at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge – has spoken of his desire to compete and win all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, regarded as the world’s top six marathon races.

A record-breaking four-time winner of the London Marathon, a three-time Berlin Marathon champion and the 2014 Chicago Marathon victor – Eliud will be pursuing victory at a fourth Marathon Major in Tokyo.

Eliud Kipchoge celebrating with his pacemakers, in Vienna at the finish line. Credit essential: Vienna City Marathon / Michael Gruber

Excitement for athlete and fans

Eliud is excited to run in Tokyo: “I would like to thank the organisers of the Tokyo Marathon to make it possible for me and my colleague athletes to race in Tokyo. My focus has been on Tokyo from the beginning of my training cycle, and I can say I am ready to race there. I am very excited to run in a country where running is a crucial part of the sport culture and looking forward to experience the Japanese excitement for running an the marathon in particular.”

Last year he not only completed back-to-back Olympic marathon victories but he also triumphed in the NN Mission Marathon in Enschede.

Eliud Kipchoge is seen as the greatest marathon runner in history. A two-time Olympic 5000m medallist – since moving up to the 42.2km distance, Eliud has won a remarkable 13 of his 15 career marathons.

Eliud will be joined by his team mates, Jonathan Korir, Laban Korir and Ashete Bekere. Philemon Kacheran and Noah Kipkemboi will join as pacemakers.

For more information and behind the scenes footage visit nnrunningteam.com or visit their social media channels.

The post Kipchoge to return in Tokyo appeared first on Fast Running.

At the Spartanion 12 hour race in Israel, the rumour was that the Lithuanian world record holder for 12 and 24 hour races was out to better his own 12 hour mark. To do so he would be very close to his 100 mile best en route.

With loops of 1460 metres per lap, Sorokin was systematically clocking off lap after lap under 6:30/mile. It wasn’t until after halfway that a few “dot-watchers” realised he was likely to not only better his own 100 mile record, but obliterate it.

The first full lap after 100 miles was 10:51:39. It looks like the 100 was actually split in about 10:48. Hopefully there’s an official mark for the distance with organisation. Unbelievably there is still another 70 minutes of running to go for the world beating 24hr runner.

“It’s the kind of break through 100 mile performance some of us have been waiting for ever since Cavin Woodward’s aggressive, courageous, and eye-opening 100 mile record run (11:38) 1975,” said ultra-running statistician Paul Kentor. “We’ve seen strong performances at 24 hours and 100 km, but few talented runners have made 100 miles on the roads/ track a serious target.”

So what does this mean for the record? “”The WR will hopefully be much closer to what it ‘should’ be” continues Kentor (@SteelTownRunner on Twitter). That said, other experts of our sport were simply speechless at learning of the ground-breaking achievement.

World 100 mile & 24 hr Record holder Aleksandr (Sania) Sorokin shattered his own 100 mile WR, splitting ~10:48 & finally breaking the 11 hr barrier, as he continued to reset his 12 hour WR w/ ~110 miles, not yet official + pending ratification.#ultrachat@letsrundotcom@iRunFar https://t.co/bRj3v3h8lq

— SteelTownTweeter (@SteelTownRunner) January 6, 2022

Where the record should be

It’s true that now the record is in the realms of what one might expect if top-end marathoners started attacking the mark. It’s not quite as simple as “a 2:10 marathoner would go faster” as Sorokin is a specialist in this style of running. The 100km world best is still “only” around 6 minute miling, just under. It’s not actually that much different in terms of pacing and Sorokin is running for nearly five more hours.

By the time this article is being read it might well be that there is a new 12 hour best too. It looks that the end of the race saw Sorokin on nearly 110 miles, but a confirmed distance will come in future.

Inspired and want to give it a crack yourself?

The Centurion Track 100 in April has elite qualifying standards and is set up to allow athletes to go after national and world records. 

The race, organised by James Elson and Centurion Running, is where Sorokin first broke the record. This year more elite ultra-runners are lining up to try and do something special, but there are places available for fast athletes who want to test themselves over the popular ultra-distance race length.

“Aleksandr looked so comfortable at our Track 100 and with close to zero drop off in pacing, it was clear then that he had so much more to give,” said Elson, who has run for Great Britain himself so has an idea of the work and effort involved.

Want to find out more about Aleksandr Sorokin?

Unbeatable 24hr World Record beaten

New World Record for 100 miles at Centurion Track 100

The post Sub 11 hours for 100 miles appeared first on Fast Running.

Emboldened by shared origins in the French Alps, UTMB® World Series and HOKA®, a division of Deckers Brands (NYSE: DECK), have announced a multi-year partnership.

Driven by the same pioneering spirit that propelled HOKA’s founders down Mont-Blanc in category-defining trail shoes, the performance footwear and apparel brand is poised to become the first global Premier Partner to the world’s ultimate trail running circuit, debuting in 2022. Striking a natural synergy, both trail icons embrace the power to shape the future of trail running around the world.

As Premier level Footwear and Apparel Partner, HOKA aims to inspire the global trail running community through the newly launched series, as runners compete in the best international events and begin their quest to UTMB® Mont-Blanc and the UTMB® World Series Finals in Chamonix, France.

Announced in May 2021, the new UTMB® World Series seeks to unite and inspire the world-wide community of trail enthusiasts of all abilities and the sport’s biggest stars, giving all runners more opportunities to live the UTMB® experience closer to home with events held across six continents.

A World Series partnership, but no baseball

The partnership is official through 2023, with options to extend to 2024 and beyond. As the Premier level Footwear and Apparel Partner of the UTMB® World Series, HOKA will help bring the global trail running community together not just in Chamonix, but all over the world.

Eight UTMB® World Series Events have already been confirmed, with additional Event announcements planned over the coming weeks. There will be Events in at least eight European countries, as well as eight Events across Asia and Oceania and at least four Events in North and South America.

Throughout the partnership, HOKA will provide a curated assortment of footwear and apparel to volunteers across all UTMB® World Series Events, as well as runners at select Events.

A new range of UTMB® World Series products will also be created and available at some Events and at the official e-shop which will be launched in 2022.

Credit: UTMB

It all started in the French Alps

Founded in the French Alps in 2003, UTMB® Mont-Blanc quickly became the most prestigious trail race in the world, spanning 10,000 entrants across seven races.

The event has evolved to encompass a globally branded World Series of international Events that will take place in exceptional locations starting in 2022. A brand founded in the French Alps, HOKA joins UTMB® World Series with a natural synergy, creating a cohesive partnership between two major players in trail running.

HOKA’s role as Premier Partner highlights the brand’s ascendancy in the trail running community. HOKA was first adopted by trail and ultra-runners as a best-in-class footwear option for those seeking to perform to their fullest potential.

The brand has since established a strong presence in the ultra-trail running community, known for its innovative trail running shoe assortment. In addition to top performing footwear, HOKA unveiled a brand-new apparel line in 2020, created from insights by trail running icons like Jim Walmsley, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Hayden Hawks and Ludovic Pommeret.

The brand’s global presence is growing nearly as fast as its American operations, with fast-growing markets ranging from Europe to Asia.

What the bosses have to say

“HOKA was born in the mountains, and has many meaningful ties to Chamonix, France. We’re honored and humbled to partner with UTMB® World Series under the unified goal of making the special sport of trail running accessible to all athletes around the world,” said Wendy Yang, president of HOKA.

“The passion that UTMB® brings to trail racing is only going to grow, and we’re thrilled to grow along with it as the first brand to join the UTMB® World Series global partnership program.”

Catherine Poletti, Chairwoman of UTMB Group, stated:

“We share a common history with HOKA since many years as we both have grown in the foothills of Mont-Blanc to become leading brands in trail running. We’re thrilled to write the first chapter of the UTMB® World Series together to unite the worldwide trail running community around our shared values and offer all runners the chance to live an extraordinary adventure close to them.”

Andrew Messick, President & CEO for The IRONMAN Group, shared:

“We are thrilled to bring HOKA on board as we build the new UTMB® World Series together. HOKA’s shared history with UTMB® and their expertise in inspiring a community of athletes through the Humans of HOKA franchise is the perfect fit as we launch the series in 2022 that is rooted deeply in the core values, spirit, and camaraderie that the trail running community is known for.”

The post UTMB and Hoka announce partnership appeared first on Fast Running.

The race became the first major marathon worldwide with a strong international elite field and a mass race since the start of the Corona pandemic and then ended with a disqualification of the runner who crossed the line first. Ethiopia’s Derara Hurisa wore shoes which are not compliant with the rules.

While it is the first time that such a disqualification happened in a major marathon Kenyan Leonard Langat became the winner with a time of 2:09:25.

A debutant was the surprise winner of the women’s race: Kenyan Vibian Chepkirui ran 2:24:29. On a day when temperatures reached around 25 Celsius during the final part of the race hopes of records faded during the second half of the marathon.

Mass start racing in a big city

In total organisers registered around 26,000 entries from 126 nations for the various events. 6,000 of them were marathon runners. Some of the events were already staged on Saturday.

In a 10k race Julia Mayer smashed the national record with a time of 32:54, becoming the first Austrian woman to break 33:00 minutes. Andreas Vojta took the men’s race. The Austrian improved his personal best to 29:03. The Vienna City Marathon is a Label Road Race of the international athletics federation World Athletics.

Heartbreak for Hurisa

Less than 45 minutes after breaking the finishing tape in the heart of Vienna in 2:09:22 Derara Hurisa looked completely distraught, sitting on the pavement in the finishing area between Vienna’s Burgtheater and the impressive town hall. He had just learnt that he was disqualified because the soles of his shoes were one centimeter thicker than allowed.

The soles of road running shoes have to be no thicker than four centimeters. Hurisa was running with a model that has a sole thickness of five centimeters. He is said to have chosen the shoes for the race because he used them in training and thought they were within the rules.

Organizers explained that every runner or their manager had to fill in a form in which they have to name the model of the shoe they were going to wear. On Hurisa’s form a shoe was named that is within the rules. For some reasons on race day he wore a different one. „We also stressed in the technical meeting the rules about the shoes.

“Unfortunately we had no other choice than disqualifying the athlete,“ said Hannes Langer, who is one of the elite race coordinators of the Vienna City Marathon. “It is the first time something like this has happened. And I am pretty sure that from now on there will be some form of checks to avoid something like this to happen again in a major race.“

Winning in second place

“Of course I would have preferred to have broken the tape,“ said Leonard Langat, who became the winner and clocked sub 2:10 for the first time. “I had no clue about the disqualification until they told me. It was of course my aim to win and I thank god that in the end I did. It was a good race, but the heat was a problem.“

While the leading group had passed the half marathon in 63:41 the 30 k split of 1:30:33 still pointed towards a finishing time of around 2:07:30. However when the last pacemaker dropped out at 30 k the race became much slower and tactical.

Once Japan’s Kento Kukutani, who came from behind, had reached the leading group with Kenyans Leonard Langat and Samwel Kiptoo plus Ethiopians Betesfa Getahun and Derara Hurisa the pace was increased again.

Kukutani and Kiptoo were quickly dropped while the other three battled for victory. Hurisa had the best sprint, but with illegal shoes. So it was Leonard Lagat who became Vienna’s champion.

Women’s winner Vibian Chepkirui crossing the finish line. Credit: VCM / Leo Hagen

Women’s race had course record potential

The women’s leaders were running well inside the course record of 2:22:12 for long parts of the race. Vibian Chepkirui and the Ethiopians Meseret Dinke and Gelete Burka passed the half way mark in 70:47. Burka had recovered from a fall earlier in the race when she stumbled at a zebra crossing where a section was slightly elevated.

However neither Burka nor Dinke was able to hold on to Chepkirui. At the 30 k mark the Kenyan’s split time was 1:40:37 and she was already 33 seconds ahead of Dinke with Burka another 20 seconds back.

Although Vibian Chepkirui slowed in the final section her victory was never in doubt as the gaps behind her grew. „Without the heat I would have run at least two minutes faster,“ said the 27 year-old. She finished with 2:24:29 and was well ahead of the Ethiopians Meseret Dinke and Gelete Burka who clocked 2:25:31 and 2:25:38 respectively.

Little over a month after a superb 12th place finish in the Olympic marathon Fabienne Schlumpf of Switzerland was fourth in 2:26:31.

Results, Men:

1. Leonard Langat KEN 2:09:25

2. Betesfa Getahun ETH 2:09:42

3. Edwin Kosgei KEN 2:10:10

4. Kento Kikutani JPN 2:10:37

5. Samwel Kiptoo KEN 2:11:16

6. Tadesse Abraham SUI 2:12:26

7. Yuta Koyama JPN 2:17:20

8. Edwin Kangogo KEN 2:17:37

Women:

1. Vibian Chepkirui KEN 2:24:29

2. Meseret Dinke ETH 2:25:31

3. Gelete Burka ETH 2:25:38

4. Fabienne Schlumpf SUI 2:26:31

5. Lucy Cheruiyot KEN 2:27:47

6. Celestine Chepchirchir KEN 2:28:49

The post Vienna Marathon winner DQ’d for illegal shoes appeared first on Fast Running.

The 2019 24hr World Champion went past Yiannis Kouros’ 1997 world record of 303.3km with 33 minutes of running remaining. The live results give a total of 308.8km, with 23:55:26 on the clock, so it is highly likely that Sorokin surpassed 309km before the day was out. (Final total was 309.4km)

On the back of setting a 100 mile world best of 11:14:56 in April this year, then continuing his run for another 45 minutes to set a 12 hour mark of 170.309km, the 24hr running world knew the the day records his next target.

Running some controlled at the Centurion Track 100 event in Ashford, Kent in the UK, it felt like the 300km mark could be troubled, but no one predicted such a huge distance, except maybe the smiling casino worker from Vilnius himself.

Changing the game for everyone

At the UltraPark weekend in Poland, both Sorokin and second placed Andrii Tkachuk of Ukraine were on world record pace for most of the day. It seems the Ukrainian will have to settle for less than 300km with ~296km (the live timings only give complete laps), which is still one of the best 24hr results of all time and a National record.

The tarmac loop in a park in Bieg, Poland, saw perfect weather conditions and a race between two world class competitors bring the best out of each other.

Over the last six years Sorokin has worked his way to the top of the international 24hr game, with his fast starting, never-say-die attitude and in more recent years it started to pay dividends. 2019 was his breakout performance with 278.972km at Albi, France to take the world championship.

Last year in August, at the same UltraPark event in Poland, Sorokin ran an excellent 6:43:13 for 100km. It seemed that the 100 mile record would be under threat in early 2021 at the Centurion Running event.

A weekend to remember

On a weekend when the ultra-running world will be focused on Chamonix, France, for Francois d’Haene’s fourth and Courtney Dauwalter’s second victories around the Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc loop, potentially the best performance of the weekend in the history of ultra-running might not pick up much noise, but it deserves to.

Showing metronomic pacing from the start of the event, just like for the 100 mile and 12 hour efforts, the Lithuanian was ticking around the 1.725km loop comfortably under 8 minutes. Laps of 7:45-55 were the norm.

Towards the later stages, there was barely any slow down at all with laps still in the 8:10-15 range, despite 23 previous hours of running the same pace.

Sorokin has simply rewritten what is possible within the 24hr running world. Breaking the record that Yiannis Kouros described as a total that would stand for a century. Less than 25 years later, that mark has been broken.

Some will mention the new age of carbon plated shoes, but it’s not just as simple as doing the training, putting on the shoes and running for 24 hours. Amongst other factors, nutrition and mindset need to be perfect too. It takes years of building up to such a performance.

Bravo Aleksandr, that was amazing.

More will be added as information reaches us from Poland….

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