Archives // athletics

Training: Week Beginning 11 July

Sunday 17th July 2011

Summary: Cut the mileage a bit but got 3 hard days in. Felt very worn out by the end of the week.

Monday: Rest (0)

Tuesday: Grass session at Metchley. 5x960m ish off 90s – 2:56/54/56/55/55, ran home (9)

Wednesday: AM 5 easy 36 mins. PM 8 steady 48 mins (13)

Thursday: Rowheath 5k inc. Warwickshire championships, 5th place in 15:55. Best time on that course. Ran home. (12)

Friday: AM 3 slow. PM 8 slow. Felt tired. (11)

Saturday: 4 easy. Felt tired. (4)

Sunday: 21 easy. Sutton Park and back. (21)

Week total: 70 miles

2011 total: 1920 miles

Taken from my training log.

Sunday 3rd July 2011

Footage from the second annual Rowheath Beer Mile. This year numbers increased 50% (from 2 to 3) and I was there to record the event. Unfortunately I can take no credit for the brilliant editing. That was Mark.

Read about it here.

Kawauchi – The Perfect Example of the Central Governor at Work?

Tuesday 21st June 2011

As reported on this blog last week, Yuki Kawauchi, a cult figure on the world marathon circuit, took part in a 50k race over the weekend. Kawauchi, best known for his third place finish at the Tokyo Marathon in February, started the Okinoshima Ultra Marathon on Sunday.

This was surprising news, given that elite marathon runners tend to steer clear of Ultra races, so many were intruiged by Kawauchi’s potential capability over the distance. Leading from the gun, he raced hard over a tough course and collapsed in the final kilometre. Perhaps this is no surprise. The Japanese athlete is well known for pushing his body right to its very limit in the marathon, having required medical attention after 5 of his 6 marathon races to date. The extra 8 kilometres may have been just too much for the 24 year old.

Kawauchi’s ability to push himself harder than most athletes is what sets him apart. It is also a perfect case study for students of Tim Noakes’ Central Governor theory. The central governor is not so much a tangible part of the brain, but a system in the brain that prevents overexertion according to the brain’s perceived physiological limits. In other words, one’s ability to exert oneself is governed centrally. Your body stops you before you stop it.

Noakes’ theory that the most successful athletes are those with the ability to override the central governor, to push the body to its limit. The signals from the brain to the muscles to slow down are just not as effective in elite athletes, a result of years of hard training. This immunity to pain is what drives these athletes to great success, but it can also be the downfall of some athletes. Literally, in Kawauchi’s case.

Of course, this time the central governor won, and the fact that he collapsed just 600m short of the line shows just how hard he was able to push himself. Of course, I hope that Yuki Kawauchi never fully wins the battle against his central governor because according to Noakes’ theory, this will mean he has died. But then again, to quote Kawauchi himself: “every time I run, it’s with the mindset that if I die at this race it’s OK.”

And us runners wonder why people don’t understand us…

Note: Credit for this blog post is due to the Japan Running News blog, an excellent Engligh language blog on the running scene in Japan.

Ones to Watch

Friday 6th May 2011

Today, the Guardian published a list of 10 reasons to watch athletics in 2011. Now, I’m not the type of person who needs 10 reasons to watch athletics, but I appreciate that others need more persuading. And with the Diamond League starting this evening in Doha, what better time to celebrate the world’s best athletes? Anna Kessel has picked out 10 athletes who are going to make an impact on the world stage this year. Now, I am a fan of Anna Kessel’s and she generally writes knowledgeably and entertainingly about athletics, but I felt that some of the picks were a little bit obvious. Usain Bolt, Blanka Vlasic, Jessica Ennis and David Rudisha are undoubtedly great athletes, but what about the other people who pass under the radar a bit? Here is my list of the track athletes who are going to have a good 2011 season.

Pamela Jelimo

With all the talk in the women’s 800 being dominated by the gender(s?) of Caster Semenya, it is easy to forget that there are actually other athletes who do this event. One of those is Pamela Jelimo, who is not only the third fastest woman ever to run half a mile, but is also the reigning Olympic Champion at the distance. She missed last season through a knee injury but if she can get anywhere near her form of 2008 when she ran an amazing 1:54, she will be unstoppable.

Silas Kiplagat

OK, maybe I’m going for the obvious choice here too but I can see Silas Kiplagat having a great 2011. Overshadowed by his compatriot Asbel Kiprop in the 1500 last year, the 21 year old is still a force to be reckoned with. Though he was not as succesful as Kiprop in the Diamond League, he still managed to run the fastest time in the world and became Commonwealth Champion. Not many people get under 3:30 but Kiplagat managed it with a 3:29.27 that puts him tenth on the world all time list. More of the same this year and we could see a new world champion in South Korea.

Allyson Felix

Moving from Kenyan middle distance runners to American sprinters, I’d like to explain why Allyson Felix will still be World Champion at the end of the year. A 200m specialist, she is rumoured to be doubling up in the 400 as well, whilst also competing in the 400 relay. Felix has run sub 11 for 100m, sub 22 for 200m and sub 50 for 400m, giving her a PB portfolio as impressive as her compatriot Tyson Gay. She has a great combination of pure speed and strength and will undoubtedly lead the way in the long sprints this year.

Mo Farah

I’m surprised the Guardian didn’t mention him. At a time when the standard of distance running in the British Isles leaves a lot to be desired, the NEB athlete represents the one beacon of hope for Great Britain. After a 2010 season in which he became double European Champion and broke 13 minutes for 5000m, Farah’s name can genuinely be uttered in the same breath as those of the Bekele brothers and just about anyone in Kenya. It will be interesting to see the effects of his move to the States to train with Alberto Salazar and Galen Rupp. As a fan of British athletics, I would love to see him do well. A good 2011 season would set him up nicely for next year’s Olympics in his home city of London.

Mahiedine Mekhissi

Why choose a French steeple chaser? Well, this man is the only one who looks like he’s anywhere near the Kenyans in ‘their’ event. The man can certainly shift over the barriers, as shown by his win in Barcelona last year to pick up European gold, and by his truly world class 8:02 clocking. Though he is no more than an outside shot for a medal at the worlds, this chaser of North African origin will definitely have the East Africans looking over their shoulders.

Carmelita Jeter

This woman is the second fastest woman ever over 100 metres. The only female athlete to have run faster is Florence Griffith Joyner, who may or may not have had chemical assistance to do so. Carmelita Jeter is another great American sprinter who will push her Jamaican rivals all the way to the line, and maybe even get there before them. She is in great shape for a woman in her 4th decade and could well be World 100m Champion by September.

So there you go: my picks for 2011. Maybe I will be proven wrong but amongst this collection of unsung heroes, returning greats, outside bets and proven world beaters are some fine athletes. Watch this space.