Athletes Only - Fall 2015

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Volume 20, Number 1, Fall 2015

Shalane Flanagan, Emily Infeld, and Molly Huddle 2015 World Championships

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Volume 20 No. 1

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CONTENTS

ON THE COVER:

Shalane Flanagan, Emily Infeld, Molly Huddle

5 Beijing Diaries: Day 2 6 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10,000m IAAF World Championships 8 Aries Merrittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Biggest Hurdle 10 Asbel Kiprop: The Real Gentleman 11 An Interview with David Rudisha 12 Dafne Schippers and Her Changing Fortunes 13 An Interview with Mike Rodgers 14 Fall Shoe Review 24 Usain Bolt 25 Beijing Stories: Christian Taylor, Ashton Eaton 29 Evan Jager PhotoRun.NET

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Athletes Only (ISSN 1098-64640) is produced, custom published, and owned by FORTIUS Media Group, LLC, PO Box 6450, San Jose, CA 95124.

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Beijing Diaries Day 2

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Always, always watch the last jump of Christian Taylor

By Larry Eder

Christian Taylor is a clutch jumper, among many other things. This guy can pull out a final effort that wins competitions. I forgot that fact when I was in Lausanne, France and let myself be distracted after Taylor leaped 18.02 meters on his fifth jump. On his sixth jump, Taylor leaped 18.06 meters! I learned my lesson.

So I was prepared in Beijing. I watched each jump of Pedro Pichardo and Christian Taylor.

What a magnificent night!

In August 1995 at the World Champs in Göteborg, Sweden, Jonathan Edwards put the triple jump into the stratosphere with his 18.29 meters, becoming the first man to jump over 60 feet! In that competition Edwards broke the world record twice!

That was my first World Championships, and that world record was amazing. Edwards was both competitor and viewer. He wasn’t sure that it had happened. And then, when he did it again, both he and the crowd gasped.

It was truly something special.

The triple jump in Beijing will be remembered by many as a similar night.

Pichardo, he of the 18.08 meter leap, started off the final with 17.52 meters to get things going. Taylor opened with 16.85 meters.

In the second round Pichardo leaped 17.44 meters. Taylor countered with 17.49.

Then it got weird.

Pichardo increased his lead with a 17.60 meter effort. Taylor countered— with another 17.60 meter leap! They were tied.

In the next round the wily Cuban leaped 17.33 meters. The wily American leaped 17.68 meters, taking the lead for the first time.

In round 5, Taylor leaped 17.22 meters. Pichardo responded with 17.52.

Omar Craddock moved into third with his 17.37 meter leap in the fifth attempt.

In the final round Nelson Evora of Portugal put it together and moved into the bronze medal position, pushing Craddock back to fourth place.

Then, it happened.

In that moment when perfect timing comes into play, Taylor did it all right.

Each portion of his jump was better than the one before. He still had some room before the plasticine, then BOOM! We knew it was big, really big.

So did Taylor, although I’m not sure he actually recognized how far he’d gone.

Then it came up on the board: 18.21 meters! 59 feet, 9 inches!

Christian Taylor had just accomplished the second longest jump in history!

His world-leader also made him the American record holder, breaking Kenny Harrison’s gold-medal record of 18.09m, set at the ‘96 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Taylor waited for Pichardo to jump.

Pichardo, to his credit, responded with a long jump, 17.73m, but it wasn’t going to challenge Taylor.

This was Christian Taylor’s night.

Rana Reider, Taylor’s coach, came over and gave him an embrace. It was nice to see that. They’ve been close for a long time. Martyn Rooney, British 400m runner and Euro champion, told me recently that Taylor is the hardest workout performer he’d ever seen. He also noted that a big jump had been only a matter of time.

After I missed Taylor’s former PB of 18.06m in Lausanne, Taylor sent me a tweet that it was okay, as there would be longer jumps to come.

He was right.

18 meters, 21 centimeters!

Unbelievable.

And on the sixth jump!

Christian Taylor at the World Championships in Beijing

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Women’s 10,000M IAAF World Championships

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By Cathal Dennehy

If ever a moment exemplified the fine, fickle margins that separate agony from ecstasy, success from failure in sport, it was the climax of the women’s 10,000m final at last month’s IAAF World Championships in Beijing. For one American athlete – Emily Infeld – there was stunned joy at the finish, the 25-year-old’s face lighting up in a glow of jubilation after snatching a surprise bronze medal.

For US teammate Molly Huddle though – who had eased up in the final 20 meters, surrendering third place just before the finish – there was nothing but a look of despair.

It was the full spectrum of everything this sport is: clinically objective, yet sometimes grossly unfair; emotionally uplifting, but often cloaked in gut-wrenching dejection.

Molly Huddle, Shalane Flanagan, Emily Infeld at the World Championships

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For the victorious to be anointed as champions, dozens of others must lose – the burden of failure coming to rest on their tactics, their training, or other shortcoming.

For Molly Huddle, though, there was no one to blame but herself, and the 30-year-old – who had taken the lead for much of the final kilometer and only surrendered the bronze medal right at the line – knew as much afterward.

“I blew it, pretty much,” she said. “I let up, and Emily was right there with more momentum. I thought there was no one battling me down the home stretch, but she was there the whole way, and I just wish I had that one last step.”

With Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya taking gold in 31:41.31 and Gelete Burka of Ethiopia silver in 31:41.77, it was left to Huddle and Infeld to scrap for the bronze. Although Infeld was visibly delighted by coming out on top, she couldn’t help but feel for her older teammate.

“It stinks, because she’s worked so hard,” said Infeld. “Molly is so great, so sweet. I saw her after the race and immediately burst into tears and [Huddle] said, ‘ose better be happy tears.’ I just wanted to give her a hug, but there was nothing really you can say.”

Afterward, Huddle bravely faced the press and tried to summon some words to describe the race, but Infeld was right; in a situation like that, what could she really say to make it better?

“I blew it in the last steps,” said Huddle. “I don’t know when that chance will come again. e Olympics are usually really fast from the gun.

I’m old, so I’m probably not going to get another one of those. is will take a lot of time to get over.”

Get over it, though, she did.

Showing a level of resilience for which she is renowned, Huddle bounced back from the sucker punch of Beijing by taking victory at the US 20K Championships in New Haven, CT on Sept. 7 before going on to win the US 5K Championships in Providence, RI on Sept. 20, running 15:12.

While Huddle may not be keen to relive the pain of Beijing, her mistake was what allowed her younger teammate to step into the international limelight for the first time, and Infeld, at least, will have happily replayed the race several times over the past month.

“I had no idea I got it,” said Infeld of her photo finish with Huddle.

“I saw Molly letting up. She didn’t know how close I was. I was trying to give it everything I had right to the line.” at lesson, as it turns out, had been drilled into her by her Bowerman Track Club training partner, Shalane Flanagan, over the previous couple of months.

At the US Championships in late June, Infeld surprised many by making the team, but not Flanagan, who had trained alongside Infeld and mentored her for much of the year.

“We’ve been all about closing,” said Flanagan in Beijing, shortly after finishing sixth in the final in 31:46.23. “I beat Emily at nationals and we’ve been working on running through the line since then. I feel like I’m living vicariously through her. We literally do everything together, and I’m taking a lot of pride in what she’s done.”

In Beijing, Infeld was quick to credit the influence of Flanagan after a period in which she returned from the depths of injury hell in February – having not run a step for two of the last 12 months due to a sacral stress fracture – to become a global medalist in August.

“I have the best teammates. I’m so grateful to them,” said Infeld.

“Shalane is phenomenal; she works so hard, loves it so much, and is so dedicated. It’s one of those things you have to fully commit to and she does it the right way. It’s a lifestyle.”

In the six months leading up to Beijing, Infeld lived that lifestyle like never before.

After coming back from injury, Infeld hit the pool for two to three hours a day through the spring, trying to regain fitness for the outdoor season, but it was a slow process.

It wasn’t until the US Championships in June that the World Championships loomed as a realistic proposition. A medal was never in her mind, at least not until coach Jerry Schumacher spoke to her and Flanagan shortly before the event got under way.

“Coming into Beijing, Jerry said to us, ‘You have a chance to medal.

You guys are just as good as Molly. e Americans can do something really, really special,’” recalled Infeld.

As the 10,000m field entered the final kilometer, Flanagan realized Schumacher’s confidence was well-founded. “I was getting chills those last few laps,” she said. “We had three American women fighting for medals. e coaches told us all three women can be contending. I believed them but didn’t believe as much in myself.”

Although Flanagan had to make do with sixth and Huddle fourth, their efforts weren’t forgotten despite Infeld’s deservedly taking the limelight with her bronze medal. e race, in the end, was many things: It was a lesson to Huddle and young athletes everywhere about the importance of running through the line. It was a demonstration of the value of the persistence and never-saydie attitude of Infeld. And it was also an exposition of all that is beautiful and brutal about high-level sport.

Above all, though, it was proof – if it were needed – that when it comes to US distance running, the tide is irrepressibly rising once more.

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By David Hunter

15th IAAF World Championships in Athletics/Squawks from the Bird’s Nest It has only been in the last few days that Aries Merritt publicly revealed that he had a rare genetic disorder, predominantly found in African-Americans, that will require surgery on Sept. 1. On Friday night, Aug. 28, at 9:20 p.m.

Beijing local time, Aries Merritt will be lining up for the 110 meter hurdle final.

On Sept. 1, in Phoenix, Aries Merritt will enter a hospital to receive, from his sister, a kidney transplant, as his kidneys are working at only 20% of capacity.

Here is his story ...

For virtually all the hundreds of international athletes who have traveled to Beijing from all corners of the globe to compete in this 15th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, their competitions here not only represent the most important and unforgettable moment in their lives, but also pose the greatest challenge they will ever face. But this is not the case for American hurdle star Aries Merritt. e 30-year-old Merritt—the world record holder and reigning Olympic champion in the 110 meter high hurdles—is facing an even greater moment and challenge in his life. Upon arriving in China, Merritt met with IAAF officials and revealed that for the last two years he had been battling a deteriorating kidney situation that would require an immediate and delicate transplant surgery promptly upon the conclusion of these championships. Merritt’s communication with the IAAF about his critical kidney situation and the subsequent release of this information by the media represented the first public news of Merritt’s private medical struggle.

Knowledge of the world record holder’s kidney dysfunction helped promote understanding of the hurdle star’s lackluster performances over the past two years. After a storybook year in 2012—when the Georgia native perfected his seven-step approach, won the World Indoor hurdle championship, struck 110H Olympic gold in the London Games, and concluded his year with a flawlessly executed and breathtaking world record [12.80] high hurdle race on a windless night in Brussels—his listless hurdle performances over the past two outdoor seasons had confounded all who follow track & field.

Merritt’s kidney issues, which emerged late in the summer of 2013, stem from a rare genetic disorder found predominantly in African-Americans. Currently, the hurdle star is struggling with 20% kidney

function. After Friday’s finals, Merritt will fly back to the US to Phoenix where he’ll meet his sister Latoya Hubbard—his donor—for a kidney transplant, scheduled to be performed Tuesday morning, Sept. 1. e former University of Tennessee athlete has embraced these championships as not only an athletic opportunity, but also as a coping mechanism to allow him to transfer his focus away from the delicate surgery that awaits him and his sister. His first two performances in the Bird’s Nest stunned both Merritt and his followers. In Wednesday morning’s opening round, Merritt skimmed the hurdles in 13.25 to win his heat and advance to the next round. In ursday evening’s semifinals, Merritt again claimed victory, winning his semi in a sparkling, cleanly run 13.08. His clocking was his season’s best, his quickest in the last two years, and the fastest time of all the semifinalists here. After his semi, the incredibly composed winner addressed the media in the mixed zone. “It’s my season’s best this year [13.08],” declared Merritt to the assembled press.

“I’m very pleased with that. And I’m just pleased to be here. I am pleased to be able to put everything together in the semifinal. And hopefully I can put it together again for one more race tomorrow. And hopefully I’ll make the podium.”

Merritt was happy to offer his analysis of his crisp and clean semifinal performance. “e race was very clean. I executed my start very well. And then I just tried to build my momentum from there,” he explained. “I executed my race. I tried to be very clean over the hurdles because I’ve been having that issue where I’ve been hitting hurdles all year. It’s been not clean. It’s been ugly. And so I really wanted to clean it up and have a technically sound race. And I pulled that off here today.” When pressed to explain why he—in the face of his health woes and all that awaits him back in the States—is just now starting to look

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more like the Merritt of old, the hurdle star confessed, “I have no idea.”

When asked how he can possibly concentrate on his event with the upcoming critical surgery less than a week away, the Olympic champion calmly explained how he has turned the medical situation to his advantage. “It’s been mentally tough for me to compete and to take losses and to know that you’re the best ever and to not be able to perform at your best. But I’m not thinking about that right now,” explained Merritt. “I’m thinking about just execution and trying to be the best that I can through every round. And now that I’m in the final I’m going to try to do the exact same thing: try to be the best that I can, try to run a nice clean race, and hopefully a medal will be there waiting for me at the end.” e high hurdle world record holder, who throughout his career has always been upbeat and cooperative with the press, was candid about the anxiety he felt over next week’s procedure and how he has elected to deal with it. “After the finish line tomorrow definitely scares me. It’s going to be tough after these championships to know that I have to have a transplant. It’s very tough and very scary,” he shared. “But I can’t focus on that right now. I have to focus on these championships. I have to take my mind off of what’s going on with my physical condition and try to be mentally tough for this final. To be honest, there is nothing that makes me more nervous than the surgery that’s impending. But competition is a good distraction from that. And I just want to go out there and compete to the best of my abilities.”

Merritt—who had privately harbored information about his serious medical condition for two years—has been buoyed and comforted by the support he has received since details of his health struggles have been made public. “I’ve gotten a lot of support from my fans—and from people I don’t even know,” revealed Merritt. “ey just come up and say, ‘We support you. We’re so inspired.’ And it is just a blessing to have so many supporters.”

Before concluding with reporters, the man who completely dominated the high hurdles just three years ago offered a glimpse into what winning a World Championships medal would mean to him. “It would mean the world to me because I don’t have a world championship medal of any color. So I don’t care what color the medal is. As long as I get one, I’m happy.”

During these World Championships, there have been many outstanding and special moments. For example, Barber’s stunning and unexpected pole vault victory, Bolt’s sprint double, Taylor’s spectacular American record triple jump, Felix’s 400 meter domination, Silva’s lateevent snatch of the pole vault crown, Infeld’s surprise medal in the 10,000, Wlodarczyk’s crushing win in the women’s hammer, to name a few. And there will be more such moments to come in the remaining days here. But none will compare if Aries Merritt—with all that is swirling around him—can find a pathway to the podium in tonight’s 110 meter hurdle final.

Aries Merritt, World Championships in Beijing PhotoRun.NET

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Asbel Kiprop,

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the real gentleman, wins his third 1500m world title in Beijing

By Justin Lagat

Before the finals of the men’s 1500m race, there were rumors in social media that Asbel Kiprop was not feeling well, was unlikely to run well. I remembered an interview I had with him early in the season in which he had told me that his main focus for this year was to win a third consecutive championship title in a row, and that he was even going to skip a number of races to focus on it. His preparations had gone well, and he had picked up a great form at the right time by running a sensational time of 3:26.69 in Monaco. e thought of a sudden illness crushing all his dreams was scary.

the home straight and won the gold as Elijah Manangoi also came through from behind to take the silver medal.

Kiprop’s gold medal was the last one for Kenya in Beijing. It was the gold that saved Kenya from ending up third and ensured that the country would remain on top of the rest at the medal standings.

I met Kiprop for the first time back in 2006 before he became a track star. It was during a cross country race in Eldoret, Kenya (the Tuskys Wareng Cross Country), and I had finished at some position slightly behind him. I was unable

Asbel Kiprop, 1500m, World Championships, Beijing PhotoRun.NET

Having practiced to run either at the front or from behind, Kiprop chose to run from behind this time around. His compatriots set a comfortable pace at the front. Even with less than 300m to go, he appeared to be out of contention, but then started to move easily toward the front from the outside lane. At the front, Taoufik Makhloufi and Abdelaati Iguider looked as though they were going to take the two top positions, but Kiprop was able to run them down with a strong kick on

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to get a T-shirt because only the first 20 or so athletes got them. And as Kiprop admired his T-shirt, he noticed that he had accidentally received two.

I asked him if I could have one and, even though he’d never met me, explained to me how he had ended up there in the first place thanks to his brother, who agreed to cover for him by herding the cattle so he could come to run. “Perhaps it was his luck. I should take it to him as a present,” he said, and I agreed with him.

Here are two reasons why I was rooting for Kiprop to win this race.

First, he is a worthy role model. He is a man who cares for and keeps friends, despite his change in status from a village boy herding cattle to a multiple world champion. I know most of his long-time friends who are still friends with him, and they all highly regard and respect him. He is one man who cares about the welfare of others. I witnessed this when he had broken a stadium record previously held by a fellow Kenyan and posted it on his Facebook page. But when that Kenyan failed to run impressively in another event somewhere else, Kiprop pulled down the post.

When his car is full of riders, he gives money to his fellow athletes so they have the fare to attend local competitions. ese are only a drop in the sea of many instances in which I have seen him acting as a real role model and gentleman.

Second, he is one athlete who has always urged other athletes to shun drugs and compete clean, besides advocating for life bans for drug cheats. A number of times, he has supported me in sharing the same message with athletes. With as much as he and Sebastian Coe have in common. I hope that the new IAAF president will consider working with him at some time in the fight against doping, given the passion the two have for a clean sport.

I don’t stay with all the Kenyan athletes, but whenever our paths cross, they have always made me believe that they are not only heroes on the field but in their daily lives as well. Ezekiel Kemboi, in 2013 when I was in his training group, out of his own pocket sponsored 16 athletes by providing them fare and two days’ accommodation to compete in a track & field event in Nakuru, Kenya. at touched me.

I always root for such athletes who want the best for others and for the community in general.

Asbel Kiprop is one such athlete.

David Rudisha

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An Interview with

“Gold Gold Medal 800m” 800m

By Larry Eder

For David Rudisha to win in Beijing, he had to get out of his comfort zone.

And the fact that his knee did not hurt when he did speed work for the first time in two years must have given him some confidence.

But the way that Rudisha dominated, first the rounds, then the final, must show 800 meter runners that this guy has some moves they didn’t realize he’d ever use.

Like slowing the pace down, so he could finish even faster over the last 200 meters. When Nijel Amos, he of the fast closing speed, found himself still short of real estate to move on to the semifinals, Rudisha had figured out how to slow it down and leave room to sprint at the end.

Our interview, which you can listen to by scanning the QR code below, took place after the exciting 800 meter final. Rudisha was relaxed and talkative. He wants to run a 4x4, and he finished the interview with “I can run a 44-second quarter.” e King is back.

e Moment of Truth, 50 Meters to Go, 800m Final PhotoRun.NET Fall 2015 atf-athlete.com

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and her changing fortunes

By Alex Mills

Dafne Schippers won the European Championships at 100 meters and 200 meters in 2014. en she ran a 10.92 NR in the London Diamond League in July. In Beijing she took the silver in the 100 meters and gold in the 200 meters, setting NRs twice in the 100 meters and an NR in the 200 meters. Schippers’ life has changed. In the Netherlands, she’s a superhero. Her fortunes could become even greater with success in Rio. is season the former heptathlete has been concentrating on the sprints. Schippers had a knee problem in Götzis, Austria and pulled out of the competition. Yet her season in the sprints has been nearly flawless. Here’s her story ...

When Dafne Schippers crossed the line, having run 10.81 seconds to reset her national record and claim world championship silver in the 100m, the Dutchwoman must have already realized that things would change once she went home to the Netherlands. At least for a while.

So when four days later she smashed her way to the 200m gold in a championship record 21.63 seconds, the third fastest time in history, not to mention the fastest in 17 years, it kicked in that things would definitely change. For better and for worse.

“When I walk down the street with my dog, it’s almost impossible,” Schippers joked as she took the media through her life changes since Beijing in the press conference before her 200m faceoff with Elaine ompson and Allyson Felix at the Brussels Diamond League.

“It’s all new. It’s a crazy world. It’s nice, but it takes a lot of energy,” she added.

“For now it’s a little bit difficult, but I stay relaxed and that’s what’s important, after all. It’s also nice when you walk on the street and people see you and they know who you are.”

Aside from the struggles of walking the dog and being inundated with media requests, the Dutch athlete says she’s been given a new perspective since China. She admitted that she hadn’t expected to achieve the times she did.

Now she’s set new standards and new targets, including one day the world record: “Before the 200m final in Beijing, I didn’t know I could run this time so I surprised myself,” she said.

“I’m 23. I have all the time [I need to break the world record]. I hope so. We will see what happens in the coming years. I’m training as a sprinter. It’s step by step, I think.

“I hoped to run under 22 seconds in Beijing and I did. It was faster than I hoped. Maybe [breaking the world record] is possible, but I need some time. at’s normal. I think more about it than before.”

Dafne Schippers, 200m, World Championships, Beijing

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In the short term, however, Schippers must overcome the strong competition in Brussels.

Having been recovering from a slight injury that prevented her from competing at the Zurich Diamond League, the world champion says she feels okay now and looks forward to seeing what she and her rivals can do. “I feel good. I think all the girls are a little bit tired at the end of the season. at makes me a little nervous.

“I’m a little bit nervous, but that’s good. ... I hope to surprise myself tomorrow [in Brussels].”

A year ago Schippers finished third in the race that Felix won, although she insists a lot has changed: “I’m a better sprinter now. I think I’m a better athlete.

“It’s nice to compete against the girls and have some fun.”

While Schippers has accepted once more that she’s done with the multi-events, the 23-yearold said that she hoped to compete in the long jump again in 2016, although not in the Olympics à la Carl Lewis, adding that she believes she can jump more than 7 meters.

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Interview with

at the Great City Games

By Larry Eder

Mike Rodgers at the World Championships, Beijing PhotoRun.NET

Mike Rodgers is the hardest-working man in sprinting.

Over the last weekend of the season, he raced 100 meters in Brussels, then 16 hours later raced in Gateshead, England, then 16 hours after that raced 100 meters at the Deca Nation in France.

Rodgers is one of the guys I see most on the circuit. He is always in the lobby of the host hotel hanging out, working out, or racing. at’s his life during the summers.

In Beijing Rodgers had a rough day at the office. When no one wanted to anchor the 4x100 meters, Mike Rodgers took the position, running against Usain Bolt. e team had been changed since the World Relays due to injuries and fitness issues, among others reasons.

In the final of the 4x100 meter relay, Rodgers took off about two steps early, and Tyson Gay could not catch him. Rodgers could not stop

in the zone and get the relay baton. Although he finished, the team was disqualified for an exchange out of the zone.

Rodgers took the hit for the relay miscues, although I’m not sure he should. In the interview Rodgers put it delicately: e athletes need to put the time in to get the baton around the track. I concur.

It’s not the guys. It’s the speed with which those hand-offs are done. Why do we take four of the fastest runners in the world and not consider that this is a tricky activity that must be practiced? One or two track camps isn’t enough time needed to be successful in a pressure cooker global final. e faster the team, the more work involved.

We need to get past the idea that because these guys can run fast over 100 meters, it means they can successfully transport a baton around the track, handing it off in the legal exchange

zone while running fast. ese are different skillsets. is is a coaching issue.

Get the 4–6 best guys, not fastest, but guys who can run relay best and take the year needed to train to kick butt. ey should sleep with the baton. It is their friend. ey need to practice mistakes, miscues, and recoveries.

In Beijing, if the last hand-off had gone well, the US would have been in the fight and it would have taken 37.2 or .3 to win. at would have been a race, not the route taken.

I am sure if NIKE put up serious $$ for four men to practice all year (plus two subs) and the goal was to win the 4x100m, this would be solved in a heartbeat.

Fall 2015 atf-athlete.com

13

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MOTION STABILIZING—3 • PERFORMANCE—4 • NEUTRAL—5 People make the shoes you run in. There are people who design them; people who develop them; people who assemble them; and people who sell them.

We’re the people who get an early look, take the opportunity to test, and then review the shoes that eventually make their way to the stores which sell them to you. We thank you for your trust, and we hope that our efforts are valuable to you. The process of developing the content for our shoe reviews involves a lot of running, meetings, running, phone calls, running, emails, running, research, running, travel, running, writing, and finally, running. If it seems as if there’s a theme about running, you can rest assured that first and foremost, running shoes are about running.

There are improvements in the materials we’re seeing in these shoes, as well as some new approaches, new patents, and the adoption of new practices. What results is a tremendous amount of parity among many of the brands. Because there are so many good shoes, it’s more important than ever to find the shoes which work best for you. I’m frequently asked, “Who makes the best running shoes?” I can honestly say that there are some shoes from each of the brands that work for me. That said, there are some that fit and work better than others, and just like you, I’m always looking for the shoes which work best for me. We’ve said it many times before, and it remains true: Use this guide as a starting point, then try to make your first stop a running specialty store to find the best running shoes for you.

— Cregg Weinmann, Running Shoe Reviewer for the Running Network, LLC

presented by

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FORTIUS Media Group, LLC Partners

2015 Fall Shoe Review Welcome to our 2015 Fall Shoe Review, your guide to some of the best running shoes in the marketplace. It’s the result of a lot of hard work by our team, but remember that it’s only a start. Read through our reviews, then head to your local running store. Try on 6–7 different shoes, run in them, talk to the staff, and figure out which is the best shoe for you.

Local running stores are a huge part of the running culture. In the early days of the first running boom, the local running store was a place to hang out, check out products, find your next race, and get training tips. My store was Goettelmann’s Ryan’s Sports in California’s Silicon Valley.

Gary Goettlemann was—and still is at heart—a real runner, doing track, cross country, and marathons. Through runs with him, talking with him, reading from his stack of old magazines (full confession: I still have one of his Track & Field News issues from July 1974), I learned about our sport.

It was perhaps 1977 or ’78 when I first went to Gary’s store. Now a few decades later, Gary and his son Steve run the shop together. If you want to be patronized, please go to another running store. But if you want honest comments on what shoes could work for you, how to improve your training, and how running can positively impact your life, then by all means ask Gary or Steve.

Gary influenced me in many ways. One of my favorite memories was when I was trying to break 33 minutes for the 10K. I had tried and tried, and it just wasn’t happening. Gary looked at me and said, “Maybe it’s not to be.” Those words got me so wound up that I focused on the training I was missing and about a month later I broke 33 minutes for the first time.

When I returned to the store to show Gary, he smiled and said, “I knew you could do it.”

Read our reviews, then go ask some questions at your local running store. If you need help finding a great store in your area, email me at runblogrun@gmail.com with the subject line “running stores,” and I’ll help you find one.

All of the good running stores have characters—and we all need a few good characters in our lives.

Larry Eder Publishing Director FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

361º Sensation

Project Coordinator/Editor: Christine Johnson Reviewer: Cregg Weinmann Designer: Kristen Cerer Proofreader: Marg Sumner, Red Ink Editorial Services Shoe Photography: Daniel Saldaña, Cregg Weinmann Advertising Sales: FORTIUS Media Group, LLC Publishing Director: Larry Eder, 608.239.3785, fortiusmedia@gmail.com Ad Manager: Adam Johnson-Eder, 608.556.9164, adamlawrenceeder@gmail.com Legal Counsel: Perry F. Goldust

HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 2

adidas Supernova Sequence Boost 8

NEW SHOE

RENOVATION

Fall 2015

Fall 2015

New Balance Vazee Pace

This 2015 Fall Shoe Review is produced independently by FORTIUS Media Group, LLC for its partner publications and websites. All shoes reviewed were tested by experienced, competitive runners who were matched to the biomechanical purpose of each shoe model.

Mizuno Wave Enigma 5

Copyright © 2015 by FORTIUS Media Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of FORTIUS Media Group, LLC.

Motion Stabilizing

Performance

Neutral

Fall 2015

Fall 2015

Fall 2015

2015 Fall Shoe Review — 2 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

American Track & Field www.american-trackandfield.com Athletes Only www.atf-athlete.com Athletics-Africa www.athletics-africa.com/s/ Austin Fit www.austinfitmagazine.com California Track & Running News www.caltrack.com Club Running (RRCA) www.rrca.org/publications/ club-running Coaching Athletics www.coachingathleticsq.com Colorado Runner www.coloradorunnermag.com Footnotes (Long Island, NY) www.glirc.org Get Active! & Club Business International www.healthclubs.com Hawaii Sport www.hawaiisportmag.com Latinos Corriendo www.latinoscorriendo.com Michigan Runner www.michiganrunner.net Missouri Runner & Triathlete www.morunandtri.com New England Exchange Zone www.usatfne.org Race Packet DC www.racepacket.com RunMinnesota www.runmdra.org Running Journal & Racing South www.running.net RunOhio www.runohio.com Track & Field News www.trackandfieldnews.com US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association www.USTFCCCA.org Winged Foot (NYC) www.nyac.org Winged M (Portland, OR) www.themac.com Youth Runner www.youthrunner.com www.ePodismo.com (Italy) www.ePodismo.com/USA www.HalfMarathon.net www.JumpingTheGun.com www.MarathonGuide.com www.PhysicalMag.com www.RunBlogRun.com www.issuu.com/RunDenmark www.RunJumpThrow.com www.RunningProductReviews.com www.SlowTwitch.com www.WomenTalkSports.com www.WorldWideRunning.com

FORTIUS Media Group, LLC and its partner publications and websites suggest that, as with all fitness activities, you meet with a healthcare professional before beginning or changing your fitness regimen.

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MOTION STABILIZING 361º Sensation

NEW SHOE Fall 2015

120

$

adidas Supernova Sequence Boost 8

Motion Stabilizing Fall 2015

130

$

ASICS GT-1000 4

The new Sensation is a shoe from a brand that’s new to the U.S. market, though 361º isn’t new to shoemaking, having produced some award-winning shoes for other companies.

The details in the Sensation evidence a mature approach to design and a familiarity with the craft of shoemaking. The upper is straightforward, with open minimesh and traditional overlays offering a well-supported fit and good breathability. The midsole is a two-part system: a lower portion of quality dual-density EVA with a post to stabilize the foot and an upper element that’s a new proprietary process of plastic-coated foam, called Quickfoam, that offers an outstanding ride. The outersole is a proven setup of blown rubber in the forefoot and carbon rubber in the heel, resulting in good flexibility and durable traction. The sole is well-segmented, allowing the foot to flex throughout the gait.

The effectiveness, ride, and quality construction of the Sensation earned it our award for Best New Shoe.

“Has a good secure fit and a quality feel to it. Good amount of cushion—bouncy even—and a good stable base.”

The art of the update is a delicate dance in which both designer and runner hope for the best. The Supernova Sequence Boost 8 is updated with some new touches that will be appreciated as all of the vital parts of the previous version remain intact. The upper is closed mesh with no-sew overlays in the forefoot, more open than previously and with better toe room. The gusseted tongue continues, and the saddle is brawnier, although the pliable material holds the foot well without feeling stiff or irritating. The interior’s lining is smooth enough for sockless wear, if that’s your preference, and it offers a fairly plush feel. Minor adjustments have been made to the midsole components so there’s a bit more support medially, and the lateral side exposes more Boost foam, adding a bit more flexibility in the forefoot. The Continental rubber outersole continues as before, with its proven durability and effective traction. The fit, stability, and ride of the Supernova Sequence Boost 8 earned our award for Best Shoe in the Motion Stabilizing category.

“The heel surrounds and holds the back of the foot very securely. Fits well with good toe room. The Boost foam gives the shoes a lively feel despite being a stability shoe.”

For more than two decades, the foundational shoes of the 1000 series have represented value and performance to runners. Round 4 of the GT-1000 has developed into a full-featured stability shoe, providing value without cutting corners. The upper is an engineered mesh (with a bit of stretch to it) that breathes well and holds the foot securely without needless friction. The midsole features a traditional medial post, which shores up the arch and stabilizes the overpronating foot. The midsole is sculpted to flex with the foot, and a crashpad under almost the entire heel facilitates the touchdown of heelstrikers in a most accommodating way. The outersole is AHAR+ carbon rubber in the heel, with blown rubber in the forefoot and segmented throughout to allow foot flexion in its most natural manner. All in all the GT-1000 4 delivers stability, solid performance, and value without stressing the budget.

“Really good fit, roomy and flexible in the toes, and cupped the heel well. Nice cushion; good stable feel. It was a really good shoe for me.”

The Paradox carries on Mizuno’s tradition of motion stabilizing shoes, managing the heavy-duty motion end of the tandem, the counterpart to the Wave Inspire. The upper has been completely rebuilt, gone are the welded overlays that covered the entire upper in Round 1. Instead there’s a uniformly woven fabric supported by traditional overlays and is tied to the Runbird logo, which forms a saddle-like midfoot support. The midsole is U4ic foam, sculpted for support, but a nicely cushioned layer that responds well to the road. The asymmetrical wave plate is solid for stability; here it’s a full-length version with a springy forefoot. A foam Strobel board offers a cushier feel. The outersole is full-contact, X10 carbon rubber in the heel and blown rubber in the forefoot with Mizuno’s Smooth Ride technology laterally. The flex grooves are oriented to forward motion, with an eye to curbing excess inward roll. Round 2 Paradox is deserving of your consideration, as its aesthetics belie its seriously stable nature.

“Really, really stable. No, I mean really stable. Fit great, springy, this one is for serious mileage.”

Saucony has had a strong reputation for motion stabilizing shoes. As has been true since its introduction near the turn of the millennium, the Omni does its job effectively without much fanfare. The upper continues with a stretch mesh similar to Round 13, with some of the traditional synthetic leather overlays replaced by no-sew suede with a softer feel to the support. The midsole is slightly reshaped, deeper flex grooves into the sidewall allow for better flexibility, and a larger crashpad softens the touchdown. The second density extends a bit further, stopping behind the first metatarsal region. The outersole features the same placement of flex grooves in the same radial design as before, but the sculpting of the lateral side allows more give to the pods. The medial side is slightly more supportive, with new shaping, which also lends a bit more durability. The nudge from the accumulated changes wrings out a little more performance from a shoe that was already a successful performer—good news to those in need of a supportive shoe.

“Super solid feel, and nicely finished—pretty plush interior. Really stable through the arch, and really flexible where it needs it.”

100

$

Mizuno Wave Paradox 2

135

$

Saucony Omni 14

130

$

2015 Fall Shoe Review — 3 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

New Shoe Sizes: Men 6–12,13,14; Women 5–12 Weight: Men 11.7 oz. (size 11); Women 9.5 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

Updates the Supernova Sequence Boost 7 Sizes: Men 6.5–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight: 11.9 oz. (men’s 11); 9.5 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to moderate overpronation

Updates the GT-1000 3 Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15,16,17 D,2E,4E; Women 5–12 B,D Weight: Men 12.9 oz. (size 11); Women 10.3 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

Updates the Wave Paradox Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15,16 D,2E; Women 6–12 B,D Weight: Men 13.5 oz. (size 11); Women 10.6 oz. (size 8) Shape: semistraight Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, U4ic foam Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with moderate to severe overpronation

Updates the Omni 13 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15 D,2E; Women 5–12 A,B,D Weight: Men 11.4 oz. (size 11); Women 9.3 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: low- to medium-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

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Get the story at itsthenerve.com

COMING 2016 Š 2015 Flex Pharma, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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MOTION STABILIZING Under Armour Charged Bandit

100

$

The Charged Bandit is a bit of a hybrid in the Under Armour running line, with a more mainline approach than its siblings. Using a traditional construction approach, the upper is engineered mesh called Armour-Vent, with no-sew welded overlays lending structure and support (as well as prominently displaying the UA logo). The midsole is a multidensity EVA, with an insert of UA’s Charged foam under the forefoot. A thermoplastic medial support lends a touch of stability to the ride, effective for minimal wobble (though for many that’s enough), especially when it’s coupled with full-contact geometry as it is here. If you’re flat on the ground, it’s hard to wobble. Add another layer of Charged foam in the insole that rides on top of an EVA Strobel board, and the package is complete. The full-contact outersole has been pared back, both saving weight and improving flexibility.

The rubber compound is pretty sturdy—all the better to pile on the miles. Overall, the Charged Bandit is quite a good buy, delivering cushioning and durability.

“Fit was pretty good, room for the toes, and flexed well. Good cushion and pretty stable. They even look pretty decent.”

What do you do when you’re named after the world’s most iconic marathon? If you’re the Boston Boost, you wear it with pride. In this round (the second to be “Boosted”), the focus is on lightening things up. The upper features two kinds of forefoot mesh that are layered with a small mesh near the foot, a more open mesh on the outside, with a traditional overlay at the toe of microsuede and a saddle of the same, incorporating the logo stripes. The rearfoot uses a thin, minimesh and a stitched heel counter to provide support. Breathability is maximized: The linings are kept to a minimum, but are sufficient for comfort. The midsole is still Boost foam supported by a frame of EVA, though the percentage of the heavier Boost is increased for better rebound. Even so, the overall weight is reduced a bit, and the improved cushioning adds to the bargain. The outersole is the same proven Continental rubber, which continues to be effective for adidas users.

The Boston Boost is a great choice for faster running, long races, and even a share of your daily training.

“Close-fitting, stripped-down upper, but not uncomfortable. The ride is totally the ‘thing.’

They have great cushioning and they’re fast.”

Altra is known for zero-drop running shoes that match the shape of your foot. The Torin was the first of the Altra shoes to dip a toe into the mainstream running shoe scene.

Round 1.0 employed a traditional approach with materials, but used a flat last with an oversized toebox and, like many of the brand’s shoes, has gained a growing following of runners. Version 2.0 steps things up a notch. The upper is a closed minimesh with no-sew overlays, minimal heel and toe structure (though enough to do the job), and a smooth, roomy interior, especially up front. Taking a page from almost every brand on the market, they have a proprietary midsole foam—called A-bound—and it’s nicely resilient with good cushioning underfoot and, of course, zero-drop geometry. The outersole is carbon rubber, used sparingly in strips on the lateral side, at the heel, under the metatarsals, and at the big toe. The remainder of the sole is toughened A-bound, and it does the trick well. With attributes like these, the Torin is definitely a shoe worth considering.

“Very comfortable. The fit has ample room for the toes and is secure enough in the heel. Plenty of bounce and pretty stable. I liked the feel.”

The Clifton was a surprise when it came out last year: It was crazy light and cushioned to the max. Round 2 shares the ride and feel more broadly, thanks to some minor tailoring changes, but it really ups the performance level for more runners. Round 1 had few options to secure the shoe. Now an extra eyelet on either side allows the shoe to fit better, and the addition of foam in the tongue and ankle collar and a beefier insole improve comfort. More runners can experience the Clifton’s ride with these changes, but runners who found the forefoot snug before will probably have to size up. The midsole and outersole are unchanged: Again, don’t fix what ain’t broke. The shoe remains about as light as you get and with as much cushion as you need (or even a bit more). So recover to your heart’s content—or rock some big miles if that’s your thing. The Clifton 2 won’t care; but it’ll take care of you. No surprise that the Clifton 2 earned our award for Best Renovation.

“The upper fits snugly, securely, and [is] pretty smooth. Light[weight] and well-cushioned. They are really cushy.”

The range of New Balance performance shoes has expanded over the past several seasons. The Vazee Pace replaces the 890, though it has a different fit, ride, and function.

Its name is a play on French slang meaning “let’s go,” because it can really go. The upper is mostly minimesh with traditional overlays over most of its surface. The heel employs a bellows-like construction that flexes as the foot moves, and allows the shoe to fit and adapt to the foot’s motion through the gait. The midfoot fit wraps the arch more effectively than previous New Balance shoes have—particularly for those runners with higher arches. The midsole is Revlite foam that’s lightweight, resilient, and nicely cushioned. The outersole is carbon rubber at the heel and toe and is segmented to better cover forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot. Blown rubber provides durability in the midfoot section. The combination of fit, ride, and value earned the Vazee Pace our award for Best Performance shoe.

“Perfect fit—and moves with the foot—with really great cushioning. Great for tempo runs, intervals, going for an iced beverage … you get the idea.”

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–12,13,14,15; Women 5–11,12 Weight: Men 11.3 oz. (size 11); Women 9.2 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

PERFORMANCE adidas Boston Boost

120

$

Altra Torin 2.0

125

$

HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 2

RENOVATION Fall 2015

130

$

New Balance Vazee Pace

Performance Fall 2015

110

$

2015 Fall Shoe Review — 4 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

Updates the Boston Boost Sizes: Men 6.5–13; Women 5–12 Weight: Men 9.4 oz. (size 11); Women 7.7 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

Updates the Torin 1.5 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15; Women 6–11 Weight: Men 9.8 oz. (size 11); Women 7.6 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

Updates the Clifton Sizes: Men 7.5–14; Women 6–11 Weight: Men 9.5 oz. (size 11); Women 7.6 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, perforated EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14 D,2E; Women 6–11 B,D Weight: Men 8.9 oz. (size 11); Women 6.6 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

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PERFORMANCE Mizuno Sayonara 3

The Sayonara fills an important niche in Mizuno’s performance running line. Although Round 3 may look different, it functions similarly. The upper changes from the no-sew overlays over the entire surface to an open mesh with traditional overlays. The fit is a bit freer with the flexible stretch mesh, and the overlays and internal strapping effectively support the foot. The midsole maintains its 10mm geometry with the usual minor tweaks to the molding, but its effective cushioning continues, as does its good, full-contact stability—though with less of an assist from the waveplate. The outersole is X-10 rubber in the heel with a change to blown rubber in the forefoot. This combination provides reliable traction and good durability. The net effect here is a reasonably lightweight shoe that can hold up to all types of daily training.

“Good all-around shoe. Light enough for long races. Good cushioning. Fits well. Comfy for long runs. Have to say they did everything I needed.”

The Elite name has adorned Nike shoes for 40 years, with one thing in common: performance.

The Nike Zoom Elite 8 shares that legacy and backs it up quietly and efficiently. The upper is an engineered material called Flymesh, though here it’s two separate pieces seamed together and married by Flywire, which supports the fit of the lacing. The interior lining is smooth enough for sockless use, and the tongue is gusseted so that it stays in place and makes the lining almost continuous. The midsole is molded Phylon with a forefoot Zoom bag, and they combine well for protection and responsiveness and give the ride a good bounce. The outersole is divided into three zones: a forefoot of soft but durable blown rubber that holds up well, a midfoot that’s supported medially by waffles molded into the toughened Phylon midsole, and a heel and lateral midfoot of durable carbon rubber which provide an extra touch of stability. This is one of those “the sum is greater than its parts” equations, whether speeding through the fast stuff or adding some zip to your daily training.

“Fit well in the toes; secure in the heel. Has a gofast feel, but also plenty of cushion, traction, and it adds in good looks to boot.”

110

$

Nike Zoom Elite 8

115

$

Updates the Sayonara 2 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15; Women 6–11 Weight: Men 10.3 oz. (size 11); Women 8.3 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

Updates the Zoom Elite 7 Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 6–11 Weight: Men 10.4 oz. (size 11); Women 8.3 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

NEUTRAL 361º Spire

As a new brand, all 361˚ shoes are new to our market, but they’re not unproven, having done factory work for other top brands. As its name suggests, the Spire is 361˚’s pinnacle shoe. The upper features quality stretch mesh, with a combination of traditional synthetic leather/suede and no-sew overlays. The midfoot benefits from a secure saddle, while the external thermoplastic heel counter keeps the rearfoot aligned. The midsole is where this shoe really shines: A new compound called Quickfoam produces a comfy ride and makes the shoe more responsive and bouncy than expected. The outersole is a typical setup: carbon rubber in the heel, blown rubber in the forefoot, and a thermoplastic shank for torsional support. The finish work here polishes the shoe with some quality touches, and the ride points to even better shoes to come.

“Very comfortable fit with good quality linings.

Has a very smooth feel to the ride: plenty of cush but with really good rebound. They are really nice to run in.”

Long the workhorse in ASICS’ Neutral lineup, the Cumulus sports upgrades from top to bottom, improving its stock with Round 17. The upper is open mesh with no-sew overlays extending along its full length; only a stitched toe bumper and ankle collar take a traditional approach. The quality ankle and tongue linings give the interior a luxe feel.

The reshaped midsole employs the FluidRide system that features two layers of foam sandwiching heel and forefoot Gel elements. Each component contributes to the ride, providing a well-cushioned feel. The outersole is newly configured in a wavelike pattern that exposes more surface area, offering excellent grip and a touch more cushioning. The thorough overhaul of the Cumulus 17 has reinvigorated and raised the capabilities of this proven performer.

“Good ASICS fit, as expected. Snug heel with plenty of room for the toes. I was impressed by the great ride to the shoe.”

The Ghost has figured prominently in the success of Brooks’ running line, and Round 8 shows the good result of much effort. The upper shifts to an engineered mesh supported by no-sew overlays, and minimally stitched overlays at heel and toe lend necessary structure to those critical areas, improving the fit in the process. The midsole now features a full-length, lateral crashpad which aligns with the Omega groove and allows the foot some freedom to move in its gait. The good news for Ghost fans is that the cushy ride they relied on continues in Round 8—perhaps even a bit better. The outersole is similar to Round 7: a luggy series of carbon rubber strips on the edges with a section of blown rubber under the ball of the foot, each grouping segmented to allow the foot to flex and move. Put simply, it works. The result is a shoe that continues to provide cushioning, fit, and overall durability to a wide variety of runners.

“Snug in the heel and soft inside. They feel good and protective. I’ve really piled on the miles in these.”

140

$

ASICS Gel-Cumulus 17

120

$

Brooks Ghost 8

120

$

2015 Fall Shoe Review — 5 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

New Shoe Sizes: Men 6–12,13,14; Women 5–12 B,D Weight: Men 11.5 oz. (size 11); Women 9.3 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

Updates the Gel-Cumulus 16 Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15,16,17 D,2E,4E; Women 5–12 B,D Weight: Men 12.9 oz. (size 11); Women 10.3 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

Updates the Ghost 7 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight: Men 11.8 oz. (size 11); Women 9.6 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

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NEUTRAL Brooks Glycerin 13

Round 13 of the Glycerin retains the best elements of its design and forges ahead. The midsole from Round 12 was then a step forward with new geometry, a new compound, and a new platform, all of which were well received. So why mess with success? The expectation that things can be improved sometimes pushes a good technology out too soon, so maintaining the midsole here is a positive move. The upper now features a closed minimesh with a stitched toecap, saddle, and heel. However, the upper has better stretch, and 3D-printed overlays shape and support the shoe with little impact on the interior. The ankle collar has a smoother feel, and the shoe’s interior (including the gusseted tongue) is uniform as well. The full-contact bottom continues as before: Its wellsegmented, omnidirectional design allows the foot to flex pretty much as it likes. While relatively lightly touched, this update is quite well done.

“Great silky smooth interior. Really hugs the foot well, but with plenty of room where needed.

Responsive bounce makes training as easy as possible.”

The Enigma has been the premier Neutral shoe in Mizuno’s line and features its most straightforward and signature waveplate. Round 5 has taken a serious step up in performance and comfort, which is a pleasant surprise and should be good news to Enigma fans. The upper returns to a wide-open mesh, with traditional overlays providing most of the support. The midsole continues with the same full-length waveplate and U4ic foam. New here is U4ic-X, a second full-length insert layer that adds a plusher feel to the ride. Another hidden upgrade is the foam Strobel board that adds another subtle comfort layer to the shoe directly beneath the good quality polyurethane insole. The outersole continues as before with X-10 carbon rubber in the heel, blown rubber in the forefoot, and segmented for good flexibility. The bottom line? The performance, fit, and ride of the Enigma 5 earned it our award for Best Shoe in the Neutral category.

“Fit snug, but felt great. They have good traction and durability. Overall, this is a great distance training shoe.”

On has gained a reputation for the ride provided by its unique Cloud technology. The new CloudCruiser is designed for heavy wear, hard surfaces, and high mileage. The upper is similar to other On shoes: a sturdy, slightly stiff, closed mesh that features a sueded saddle that securely wraps the foot with adequate conformity, becoming more comfortable after a few runs. The midsole is a thin layer of EVA, which contains the Speedboard, a thermoplastic plate that adds rigidity and flex to the sole. The outersole adds both cushioning and traction, with its 15 Clouds positioned and shaped to ameliorate the forces of touchdown and toe-off. The Clouds in the heel are the thickest variety, and those on the lateral side are the largest yet used, effectively encouraging proper alignment for a variety of heel strikes. For weight savings without a loss in performance, the interior of the loops now engages teeth that are molded into the EVA layer instead of rubber. The CloudCruiser treads where others have gone, but it does so longer.

“Has a really sturdy feel to it, and a very consistent ride. It seems the farther you go, the more responsive the shoe becomes in shielding the foot. I was impressed with the shoe.”

The new Road N3 is a Pearl Izumi shoe with a laser-like focus on cushioning. In fact, it’s the cushiest of all PI’s shoes. While similar to other very cushioned shoes on the market, it offers the Pearl Izumi approach as part of its EMotion line. The upper is closed mesh supported by 3D-printed overlays that maximize a smooth interior without sacrificing support. The midsole is the tallest of the Pearl Izumi line at 27 millimeters, but has a lower feel, while providing a well-cushioned and neutral ride. The outersole is tough rubber that flares in two directions: in the forefoot toward the lateral side and in the heel toward the medial. This keeps the weight down while effectively providing traction, flexibility, and durability. The upshot is that the N3 is a well-cushioned shoe that handles long runs, recovery runs, and daily training with ease.

“Very comfortable upper that feels good enough to wear without socks. Easy to run in. Smooth from heel to toe. Great shoe for high mileage.”

The Skechers Ultra has found a following, and many of those runners have been waiting for a road version. Well, the wait is over. The Ultra Road takes its cue from the GOrun line—and particularly its trail counterpart—providing a ride that’s springy as well as ultra cushioned. The upper is an engineered mesh called GOKNIT, which has open and closed areas across its surface to offer a good fit and breathability. The midsole has a tall stack height of 32 millimeters in the heel. It’s soft, but surprisingly responsive, and of course well-cushioned, though it’s not designed for wobbly feet. The outersole is full-length Resalyte, which is tougher than it looks, but even so, it’s backed up by strategically placed dots of carbon rubber for added durability, as per other GOrun road models. Whether it’s big road miles or recovery days the Ultra Road has got you covered.

“Fit really quite well; snugged up with good wiggle room. Super squishy, but not too mushy.

Weird, but they run really well, and keep you going on easy days or long days with protection from the road.”

150

$

Mizuno Wave Enigma 5

Neutral Fall 2015

150

$

On CloudCruiser

150

$

Pearl Izumi Road N3

130

$

Skechers GOrun Ultra Road

115

$

2015 Fall Shoe Review — 6 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

Updates the Glycerin 12 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15 B,D,2E; Women 5–12 2A,B,D Weight: Men 12.1 oz. (size 11); Women 9.9 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

Updates the Wave Enigma 4 Sizes: Men 7–14,15,16; Women 5–11 Weight: Men 11.2 oz. (size 11); Women 9.1 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–14; Women 6–11 Weight: Men 12.2 oz. (size 11); Women 9.7 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 5–11,12 Weight: Men 12.1 oz. (size 11); Women 9.8 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 6–10,11 Weight: Men 11.8 oz. (size 11); Women 9.6 oz. (size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

USAIN BOLT

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Is King of the Sprint Universe!

19.55 win at 200 meters

Usain Bolt came to Beijing and did his business and had some fun!

Anyone who doubts just how good a racer Bolt is, just replay the 200 meters that he ran tonight, letting up and pointing to himself, as he ran a 19.55 world leader, letting up over the last 15 meters! ere is no one in the world like Bolt, and there never will be.

It is one thing to run fast. Many people can run fast. But there are few who have captured the hearts and imaginations of the world. Usain Bolt has done just that since his first venture into the Bird’s Nest in 2008 when he destroyed how the world looked at sprinters. Bolt just has fun, and he runs hard, very hard.

Take tonight.

Many thought he was not going to survive the meeting with Justin Gatlin in the 100 meters. Well, Gatlin, after 28 race wins, had some stage fright and did not run his best race. More dangerously, he competed at a level—that 9.70 to 9.80 world—where Bolt can run on muscle memory.

2015 has not been kind to Usain Bolt. Just some niggling injuries and a short time to get ready due to those issues put him on a tough timeline for August 2015.

But in the 100 meters, Bolt ran his race and ran down Gatlin, running away from him in the 100 meters, 9.79 to 9.80. It was a close race, and that is where Bolt excels.

Truth is, Bolt is in pretty good shape, but he is always in great competitive shape. e guy just does not like to lose. Not in front of his people.

In the 200 meters tonight, Usain Bolt, with the confidence that comes from a hard-won 100 meter victory, just took off and had Justin Gatlin by the end of the curve and off said turn, churning up the track with each of his explosive, large strides! If the MONDO track could talk, it would be screaming.

Bolt churned down the track, one seismic stride at a time. By 170 meters, there was nothing that Gatlin could do but finish second in 19.74.

Bolt ran out of his mind—and out of his body. His 19.55, the world leader, is his best mark, but it’s the first time that he has been under 19.60 since Aug. 23, 2012, when he ran 19.57!

Not that what Gatlin ran was a slouch either. Gatlin’s 19.74 is the second fastest non-Bolt time at World Champs! e race was deep, with Anaso Jobodwana, RSA, taking the bronze in 19.87, a national record. In fourth, Alonso Edward of Panama ran 19.87 as well, his seasonal best. And the young British sprinter training with Usain, Zharnel Hughes, ran 20.02 for a new PB in fifth. is race, however, belongs to Usain Bolt. With Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland crushing the championship record in the hammer throw in 80.85m, and then Christian Taylor leaping 18.21m, or 59’9” for the second longest jump in history, plus an American record, and then Allyson Felix winning her 400 meters in a PB of 49.26, it has been a real evening of championship track & field!

Usain Bolt has a relay in front of him and one race in Europe, then, time to rest!

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By Larry Eder

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Beijing Stories:

Christian Taylor and Those Damned 11 Centimeters

BEIJING—Christian Taylor forever lives up to his given name. He never forgets to thank his Creator for the gifts bestowed on him.

He never forgets to congratulate his opponents, whatever the result of their clashes on the triple and long jump runways of the world. He never forgets to say that, whatever his own results, they were His wish that they be written into the good book that way. But still, there comes a time and a place he could rightfully express an unholy epithet without The Big Man Upstairs getting too angry about it.

Thursday night at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, for instance.

Taylor knew deep within that this was the night, the sixth night of the 15th World Championships of Track & Field he couldashoulda-woulda eclipse Great Brit’s Jonathan Edwards’ world triple jump record of 18.29 meters/60’¼” that has stood as the best-ever by a mere mortal since the 1995 World Championships in Ullevi Stadium in Göteborg, Sweden.

He knew that everything was aligned for something stupendous.

And the runway was ultra-quick, the crowd ultra-supportive, the pressure of just winning the event ultra-thick.

His best through round 5 was 17.68/58’¼” solid, but dammit, it was still shaky as an eventual winner, with Pedro Pichardo of Cuba, Nelson Evora of Portugal, and USA teammate Omar Craddock capable of doing something stupendous and leaping past him in the sixth and final round.

Well, Craddock’s finale was short and Evora’s inspired finale of 17.52/57’5¾” passed him to snatch away the bronze.

But, dammit, this thing still wasn’t over.

Taylor was left with one last chance to widen his margin on Pichardo for the gold.

Sprinting down the runway, everything seemed to click. He knew that for sure because there wasn’t an aching muscle in his body, the usual situation when he’s not at his best.

The hop was excellent: He’d mastered the art of switching takeoff legs this year.

The step was even better. And the jump into the Bird’s Nest sandpit smooth as silk.

His increments were right on the money, the best ever seen since Edwards mastered the art of keeping them close to 20'-20'-20' apiece.

by Elliott Denman

And then the numbers were posted: 18.21m, the best in the world for 20 years, #2 on the all-time charts. And quickly converted by those clinging to the outdated imperial system to 59 feet, 9 inches.

But, dammit, they had to show Taylor’s final stride onto the takeoff board up on the big screens of the Bird’s Nest, didn’t they.

And they showed that, dammit, he wasn’t even close to the far legal end of the board!

The official gap—the tip of Taylor’s spiked shoe to the end of the board and the start of the plasticine that is foul territory— was a full 11 centimeters.

Just do the arithmetic: 18.21 + .11 = 18.32. The Edwards’ record is 18.29.

Edwards, once a deeply religious man and the son of a vicar, opted out of religion in 2007. He told some people then, “When you think about it rationally, it does seem incredibly improbable that there is a God.” So it was likely that Edwards, now a BBC commentator, was saying something like “dammit, that was close” after Christian Taylor’s gold medal hop-step-jump of 18.21 was posted on the Bird’s Nest results boards.

Now reportedly an atheist, Edwards wouldn’t have needed holy permission to utter a dammit or other epithet of choice.

“Myself personally, it wasn’t intentional [to wait until round 6 to pop the 18.21], but at the same time I enjoy putting on a show,” Taylor said later.

“Nonetheless, it was just getting into the moment. When you get into the finals, there are a lot of nerves. Every time I jump, every time I get on the track (or runway), it’s a new opportunity. I open up and let it happen.

“I’m big on energy and big on feeding off others, and seeing [Pichardo, et al.] jump what they did, I said, ‘I don’t want to be left behind.’

“With that one jump left, I knew I had to do something special.”

But, dammit, if only he’d been a mere 11 centimeters better, they’d be talking about this moment in track history forever and ever.

Yup, 11 centimeters.

Eleven. Damn. Centimeters.

Christian Taylor at the World Championships in Beijing

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Beijing Stories: A few words on the decathlon

by Stuart Weir

e Decathlon in Beijing ended with a roar.

Ashton Eaton set a new world record of 9,045 points, breaking his old world record of 9,029 set in July 2012. In the new world record, Eaton had five events better than in Eugene in 2012 and five not as good. In the end, it came down to a 44-second last 300 meters in the 1500 meters. at time of 4:16.62 gave him a new world record by the skin of his teeth.

Stuart Weir wrote this piece, short and to the point, on the decathlon and the nature of individual talent. Decathletes are talented athletes. Last summer Eaton needed a break so he focused on the 400 meter hurdles. He told me, after he ran so well in Glasgow, that it was the best thing that had happened to him in some time. He could concentrate on one event for a while.

But the past two days have been about making as few and as small mistakes as he could. Eaton is, indeed, the world’s greatest athlete.

Let’s discuss the decathlon, shall we?

Earlier this week Dafne Schippers was asked why (female) heptathletes are able to be competitive in individual disciplines while the (male) decathletes seem unable to be. Of course, Schippers should know as she was third in the 2013 World Championships heptathlon before switching to sprints and becoming world champion in the 200 meters. Jess Ennis-Hill breaking the GB record in the 60 meters and 100 hurdles as well as equaling the high jump record is another good example of a heptathlete’s individual feats.

Schippers’ answer was the sensible thought that heptathletes only do 7 events and therefore spread themselves less thinly than the men, who do 10 disciplines. ere’s also what Ennis-Hill’s coach, Toni Minichiello, calls “spinning plates,” the balance of training to optimize the ability in each discipline.

Put simply, if you put on weight, you may throw further but you may also, in consequence, not run as fast or jump as high.

So that’s settled then. Everybody clear? Decathletes are amazing all-round athletes but they cannot produce world-class performances.

Well, that was until yesterday when Ashton Eaton ran 10.23 in the 100 meters and 45.00 in the 400. To put that in context, Christophe Lemaitre of France qualified for the semifinals of the individual 100 meters this week running

the pentathlon was held in which contestants would jump, throw (twice), sprint, and wrestle. e 10-event version can be traced back to the late 19th century. At the Stockholm Olympics of 1912, the King of Sweden is reported to have called Jim orpe, the decathlon winner, “the world’s greatest athlete.”

One of the all-time great duels in the event came in the 1980s when Daley ompson of Great Britain battled Jurgen Hingsen of Germany.

While Hingsen broke the world record in 1982 and again in 1983, ompson won Olympic gold in 1980 and 1984 and the first-ever world championship in 1983, remaining unbeaten for eight years. eir contests gave the event a high profile.

Ashton Eaton has now taken the event to new levels, winning the 2015 World Championships (in a new world record) as well as the 2013 World Championships, the 2012 Olympics, and two World Indoor heptathlons—not to mention running 10.2 for the 100! It’s one thing to

Ashton Eaton, WR Holder, 9,045, Aug. 28–29, 2015 10.24, and he has been European champion six times! In the 400, six athletes qualified from the heats with a time slower than 45.00. e decathlon can be traced back to the ancient Olympics when a 5-discipline event called

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have the talent to master 10 athletic disciplines, it’s another to put it all together over two days, and even more impressive to do it repeatedly and consistently.

So who is the world’s greatest male athlete?

Some people would say Usain Bolt, others Renaud Lavillenie—and their achievements in their discipline are impressive. But for all-round consistency, it must be Ashton Eaton. And I can’t help wondering what kind of time he could run for the 100 meters or 400 meters if he took them seriously.

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SHOE REVIEW

by Cregg Weinmann

Cross Country Shoes Fall 2015 With fall right around the corner, it’s time to put your summer cross country training program to the test. Here to get your adrenaline pumping is our review of the latest and best racing shoes available for your upcoming cross country season. We feature six updated shoes for your consideration. In finding the brand that best fits your foot, your first stop should be at a specialty running store. As we’ve said for almost two decades, remember to ease into wearing them before your first cross country meet, adapting to them gradually by wearing them for some of your speed work in the last couple weeks before you begin racing. Look for updated information and additional reviews at runningproductreviews.com, on Facebook at Running Product Reviews and Twitter @shoes2run.

adidas XCS 6 $65

The updated XCS 6 is sweet because, as with each previous round, it’s focused squarely on high performance. Essentially a brawnier version of the adidas distance spikes, Round 6 throws in a few new features to keep the shoe up-to-date. The close-fitting upper uses a cross-hatch of printed overlays called Sprintweb to support the mesh while smoothing the interior and allowing good flexibility to the upper. The low-profile, molded EVA midsole carries over to this round as it’s proven effective for cushioning. The lugged Traxion® outersole grips well in both spikeless and spiked versions, where a six-spike setup adds extra grip. The fit, low profile, and traction of the XCS 6 deserve serious consideration.

Sizes: Men 6.5–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight: Men’s 6.3 oz./6.5 oz. (size 11, spikeless/with 6 spikes); Women’s 5.0 oz./5.2 oz. (size 8, spikeless/with 6 spikes) Fit: Snug throughout

ASICS Cross Freak 2 $85

The Cross Freak, introduced last season and aimed at elite athletes, has been completely revised from top to bottom. The upper is closed, ripstop mesh with laminated no-sew overlays to support the shoe and shed mud when the conditions get sloppy. The new sueded tongue adds comfort to the fit, along with the seam-free interior. The midsole is single-density EVA with co-molded medial and lateral shank supports that meet beneath the outersole. The redesigned outersole is aggressively lugged, with a 5-spike setup to handle the muddiest of conditions. The fit, protection, and traction result in a successfully updated racer.

Sizes: Men 4–13,14; Women 5–10,11 Weight: Men’s 6.9 oz. (size 11, with 5 spikes); Women’s 5.6 oz. (size 8, with 5 spikes) Fit: Snug heel, close forefoot

BEST SHOE

Brooks Mach 17 $100

The Mach series has displayed Brooks’ commitment to top-level competition footwear. Round 17 is a complete overhaul, so only the name and purpose remain. It’s now available only in a spiked version, but takes a jump up in design and execution. The upper is a closed mesh, sleekly designed to hug the foot securely, with a small partial cage of thermoplastic anchoring the heel.

The reshaped midsole is a slender wedge of foam that cushions the foot while keeping the shoe light. The carbon rubber outersole sports small, diamond-shaped lugs down the center of the forefoot and a horseshoe-shaped four-spike plate at the perimeter. A small sharkskin patch in the heel completes the setup. The Mach 17 is, in a word, legit for cross country. In fact, it’s so legit, it won our award for Best Cross Country Shoe.

Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15; Women 6–12 Weight: Men’s 5.4 oz. (size 11, with 4 spikes); Women’s 4.3 oz. (size 8, with 4 spikes) Fit: Snug heel, very close forefoot

Cross Country FALL 2015

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New Balance 700 v3 $70/$65

New Balance offers its cross country shoes in three tiers, all of which provide outstanding performance at three budget levels. The entry-level 700 receives some update attention, continuing to narrow the gap among the three tiers. The upper is a closed, stretch mesh with traditional overlays at heel and toe. The remaining support derives from no-sew overlays that make for a smooth, barefoot-friendly interior. The midsole has geometry similar to the v2, but with a bit more refinement and the performance to go with it. The outersole is thin solid rubber, lugged with triangle-shaped molding in the midfoot and heel. The forefoot features chisel points and four spikes in the spiked version ($70), or round nibs in the spikeless version ($65). The result is a well-done cross country racer.

Sizes: Men 7–12, 13,14; Women 5–10,11 Weight: Men’s 5.2 oz./5.4 oz. (size 11, spikeless/with 4 spikes); Women’s 4.1 oz./ 4.3 oz. (size 8, spikeless/with 4 spikes) Fit: Snug heel, close forefoot

Nike Zoom Rival

$65/$50

The Rival is Nike’s entry-level cross country offering, available in spiked (XC, $65) and spikeless (Waffle, $50) versions. The second round nudges this shoe closer to its top-end sibling, the Victory XC, even adopting some of its componentry. The upper is a closed mesh, and as in the Victory, it uses Nike Grind welded overlays to support the shoe while upcycling. The midsole is unchanged: a low-profile layer of Phylon for a measure of protection. The outersole carries over as well, mini waffles and either four spikes or four rounded nibs, which are equally successful on natural surfaces and tracks. The fit is unchanged, close and snug for the racing foot. While aimed at the high school runner, the Zoom Rival is a rock solid cross country racer.

Sizes: Men 4–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight: Men’s 7.5 oz./7.7 oz. (size 11, spikeless, wtih 4 spikes); Women’s 6.0 oz./6.2 oz. (size 8, spikeless/with 4 spikes) Fit: Snug heel, close forefoot

Saucony Carrera $110

The Carrera is targeted at elite cross country performers, as it’s the best in Saucony’s good-betterbest offerings. The upper receives significant attention, with improved fit from the ISOfit system, wrapping the foot securely. Here it’s more effectively integrated with the mesh than in other iterations of the technology, which were more cage-like. The midsole is the same single-density EVA, thin and flexible. The outersole continues with the same minimal, full-length plate from Round 1 and a six-spike layout with excellent traction. Round 2 emerges as an effective cross country shoe that has taken a step up in fit and performance.

Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 5–11,12 Weight: Men’s 4.9 oz. (size 11, with 6 spikes); Women’s 4.0 oz. (size 8, with 6 spikes) Fit: Snug heel, close forefoot

Tips for Selecting Cross Country Shoes cross country racing shoes are more alike than they are between spiked and spikeless models should be based on • While • Choosing different, we can’t emphasize enough that the differences in fit and the racing surfaces you’ll encounter during your season. cushioning are crucial to individual comfort and performance.

•

Try on shoes from a variety of shoe companies. Differences in fit from one brand (or model) to the next allow most runners to find a racing shoe best suited for their particular foot type.

factors should influence your selection of a cross country • Two racing shoe: how well it fits you and how it feels when you run in it. your racing shoes before the actual race, since the low profile • Wear of the shoe coupled with the intense effort of racing can be tough

country spikes are slightly better than spikeless shoes at • Cross gripping muddy or soggy ground, but they are limited to use on all-natural courses. In California, they aren’t allowed for cross country at the high school level; however, they are permitted during track season.

models work almost as well as traditional spiked shoes in • Spikeless the mud. In addition, they can manage pavement, sidewalks, and rocky surfaces as well as indoor and outdoor tracks.

on your soft tissue if you haven’t prepared well.

Cregg Weinmann is footwear and running products reviewer for FORTIUS Media Group, LLC. He can be reached via email at shuz2run@lightspeed.net Copyright © 2015 by FORTIUS Media Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of FORTIUS Media Group, LLC. Reprinted here with permission.

EVAN JAGER

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When Evan Jager walked off the track at the Zurich Diamond League last month, having finished a tired third in 8:18.39, he knew, there and then, his season was over. e residual fatigue from a summer in which he climbed some lofty peaks—but never quite reached the highest summit—was apparent in his performance, the psychological sucker punch from failing to win a medal at the World Championships still evident in his words.

Jager had been penciled in to run the 5000m at the Brussels Diamond League a week later but with his tank nearing empty and his Achilles tendon sending out warning signals, he decided that with just 11 months to go until the Olympic Games, it was time to call a halt.

“I’m feeling pretty spent right now,” he said. “I’ll be okay with shutting it down, taking my break early and gearing up for next year.”

Before the grind toward 2016 commences, though, the 26-year-old plans to luxuriate in being able to finally do something he hasn’t done in a long time: nothing.

“I just finished college,” he said. “I’ve been taking it part-time since I turned pro, so this will be my first fall with nothing to do, my first true break since I turned pro.”

Jager, who completed a degree in health studies at Portland State University, will turn his focus from the track to his upcoming vacation—likely to include plenty of outdoor exploring in Oregon—and, he said, “drinking a lot of beer.”

It’s something he’s deprived himself of all season in a bid to reach the top and although he didn’t quite get there this year, he got close.

Rewind a couple of months, back to a warm Saturday evening in Paris in early July. ousands of French fans are rising to their feet, creating the biggest cheer of the night as they throw their support behind an American—a long-haired, long-striding steeplechaser from Algonquin, IL—trying to achieve the unthinkable and beat the Kenyans at their own game.

Jager entered race as the American record holder holding a world-leading 3:32.97 in the 1500m from earlier in the summer. us, the Bowerman Track Club athlete seemed primed to rewrite his mark of 8:04.71 and possibly even challenge the eight-minute barrier. ere were nine Kenyans in the field, including many of the best exponents of steeplechasing supremacy— athletes such as ariu Birech, Conseslus Kipruto, Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto. e early pace was strong, but when it began to lag with two laps remaining, Jager was the first to take action, moving to the front and opening up that long stride of his, daring the Kenyans to give chase. Only one, Birech, was able to match his pace, but soon even he had to give way as the American poured it on at the front.

“I didn’t really know what was going on until I looked at the screen with 300 to go,” Jager said afterward.

By Cathal Dennehy

Evan Jager, 3000mSC, World Championships, Beijing

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When he did steal a glance on the final lap, he could see he had drawn clear of Birech and was on his way, bar a fall, not only to his first Diamond League victory but also his first sub-eight-minute clocking.

He turned into the home straight with a 10meter lead, but having stumbled off the final water jump, it was clear the tank was almost empty. At the final barrier, his trailing foot brushed the top, causing him to stumble and inevitably, given his fatigue, his legs buckled on landing.

“I don’t know if I was running too fast or was too tired,” he said. “I gave it everything I had to get over the barrier, but my toe just barely clipped it. I couldn’t stop myself from falling. I just tried to get up as fast as I could.”

As he rose to his feet, Birech powered past en route to victory in 7:58.83, with Jager gathering himself for one final sprint to the finish, which he reached in 8:00.45.

His run, as agonizing as it was, proved a surprise to many, but afterward Jager was aware that the Kenyans would be ready for him when it mattered most—in Beijing.

“Kenyans have absolutely dominated the steeple since they started running,” he said. “ey’re extremely proud, train really hard and a lot of them are really talented. ere’s a pride thing with them.

I’m worried that I kind of damaged that pride tonight and they’re going to come back and tear my head off at World Champs.”

Fast forward seven weeks, and Jager is standing in the bowels of the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, having to face up to the realization that his prophecy was painfully fulfilled, that the Kenyans had indeed come back with a vengeance—their quartet of Kemboi, the two Kiprutos, and Birech all leaving him in the dust on the last lap of the 3000m steeplechase final.

Jager finished an exhausted sixth in 8:15.47, having been passed by teammate Dan Huling on the run to the line.

“I don’t know if I lost form or the way I ran tonight just sucked the energy out of my legs,” he said. “It’s really disappointing. I wanted to be the type of athlete I was in Paris and I feel like I didn’t show that at all.” e race, unfortunately for Jager and fourthplaced Birech, was nothing like Paris. In Beijing, the field ran the opening kilometer in a pedestrian 2:49.50, the race essentially boiling down to a 300m dash to the line with Kemboi, as ever, proving the master of the championship setting.

Jager, meanwhile, was left to consider his options, wondering how he could reload and rethink his strategy in order to conquer the Kenyans.

In the absence of different race tactics, the key, undoubtedly, would be speed.

“Kicking that fast over those barriers is really hard at this point, so I’ve got to figure out how to change that,” said Jager. “Kemboi is the greatest championship runner of all time. I’m sure he’s straight up faster than me over 200, and it’s hard to sprint with someone like that.”

After Beijing, Jager admitted that falling

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below his expectations proved a thumping blow to his morale. “It took about a week for me to not want to quit for the year,” he said. “I was in a rough place and my body generally felt like crap.”

Nonetheless, there were races to be run, Diamond League points to be won, and how better to get over a recent fall than climb straight back on the horse and try again?

With that in mind, Jager took himself to Zurich, but on a cold, drizzly night, his mind was willing but his flesh was weak.

Jager took to the front in the early part of the race but had no answer when Paul Kipsiele Koech turned on the heat over the final lap. Jager finished a tired third in 8:18.39, eight seconds behind the Kenyan.

“I tried to run tough from the front as that’s more my style race than sit and kick but I was always tired and struggling,” said Jager. “Everyone’s head wasn’t in the right mentality. It was a controlled death at the end, just hanging on, trying to run tough and stay as close as I could.”

Once again Jager had turned in a bold effort, but once again it was not enough to defeat the best of the Kenyans.

“I’m fine with it,” he said. “It doesn’t really mean a whole lot, but I’m glad I ran tough and didn’t give up when it started hurting early on.”

Unsurprisingly, Jager pulled the plug on the 5000m in Brussels the following week, deeming the challenge of a sub-13-minute race one which would be counterproductive to his long-term goals.

Instead, he took a flight back to America to relax, recover, regroup, and eventually refocus for the year ahead.

When he sits down with coach Jerry Schumacher to review the year, there will likely be two main areas of discussion. e first is whether he peaked too soon this summer, running as well as he did at the Diamond League in Paris, a performance he’d much rather have produced seven weeks later in Beijing.

“I did all the training prescribed by my coach, so it’s not like I missed training or was out partying or anything like that,” he said. “I was totally focused on [Beijing].” e most likely adjustment, though, may come in the form of race tactics. Although Jager is fast—as evidenced by his 3:32 in the 1500m—he doesn’t possess the blinding finishing speed of the Kembois or Kiprutos of this world. Having proved in Paris he is good enough to beat them, it’s now a matter of finding a strategy to do so in Rio. “I’ve got to figure out how to do it my way,” he said. “I don’t think I can do it their way and beat them. I’m not as good at [kicking] as I am at going out and riding that red line and putting myself out there. ey just have that quick step and can put five meters on you in no time, so it’s really hard to play their game.”

In 2016, Jager will need a new plan of attack if he is to reach the ultimate summit.

It’s not as far away as you’d think.

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