Five Things Running: Issue #107
Run more. But read this first!
Heya and welcome back to Five Things Running!
Last week I focused on getting long walks with my dog done. I also focused on getting rid of my cold. There’s always this moment when I feel that I should go running and then I don’t go because I fear that it would set me back a few more days as I am trying to get back to running too soon. I also feel a bit proud of myself that I don’t go running until I am fully recovered, even though I truly hate it. Also, did you notice people logging their dog walks on Strava, including 12 m of elevation and 756 m of walking distance? I don’t want to judge, but that seems a bit weird to me. Oura was invented for dog walks, everybody should know that!
My plan for this week is to finally get all the snot out of my head and start running again. As I have no races planned, this downtime doesn’t stress me much, but I do feel that I am getting out of shape and really want to get back to my morning routine of running 10 km round the Alster in Hamburg.
Anyhow, here’s this week’s Five Things Running!
Are Trail Runners Getting Faster?
“The top of the field has been pushed upward over the last several years, and we will likely see this trend continue as a result of a variety of factors. New technology, knowledge, and competition in the ultrarunning world may have all contributed to this performance increase at the top of the field, and these factors can be beneficial for all athletes who make the most of the changing landscape. Wherever you are in your trail running journey, there is something to be learned from the factors leading to speed improvements in the sport.” - I guess that’s a yes.
How far would you run to sell a pair of shoes?
“As the sport of running has grown, this is where the tensions between ‘real’ runners and influencers have begun to spill over, but also where the lines begin to blur. There’s no doubt that running influencers are runners. They are keeping running streaks, getting world records, and gathering up all the major marathon medals. So what’s the problem?
Is it a matter of capitalism ruining the purity of the sport? Nah. If there’s a heightened sense of being sold to, it simply reflects the world right now. The thing that nags away at Amy is the erosion of a sacred community space. What is that authentic human connection traded for? Never-ending challenges? The sale of another pair of shoes? A cool new t-shirt, perhaps. It doesn’t get more transactional.” - this is the weekly recommendation for Running Sucks. I just blindly include one of
’s articles and I can’t go wrong. Also, while I think running TSP is quite an accomplishment, it is not something I am interested in.Ode to Starting Lines
“Legs flex. Quads ripple. Seconds drip away in last-minute squats, stretches, silent prayers, and farts. Nervous banter flits across the crowd like a low hum of static.” - I am actually more interested in an ode to lots of porta potties, because the long lines before the start of a race really add to my stresslevels. And yes, I do like the last few minutes before the start of the race.
You Shouldn’t Run an Ultra
“To be sure, you don’t have to run an ultra to experience adversity or “feel” life (and I imagine we all face difficulties that we don’t actively choose to endure). But I do think that we could all benefit from getting out of our comfort zones and doing things that scare us, that provide meaning that goes beyond the activity itself.” - definitely.
Doing It For You
“Try to be honest and don’t judge yourself. How you motivate yourself isn’t set in stone. You can change your thinking. You can embrace what you find. It’s up to you. The most crucial part is that you now understand what motivates you. You made it visible. You understand yourself a little bit better. You can use this knowledge to your advantage.
Embrace or change."
I’m grateful for the partners of Five Things Running: Acid Running, New Balance and COROS!
If you missed last week’s edition, you can read it here:
Now, go running!
— Nico
🏃🏻♂️