Five Things Running: Issue #69
I ran in the sun and in the rain. It was awesome.
Heya, welcome back to Five Things Running!
My name is Nico, I’m a runner who likes to read about running - and I also like to share the five most interesting articles each week with you. So if you haven’t already, please subscribe to Five Things Running and also go paid, please. I put in lots of hours each week so that you can read the best articles.
This week was pretty good running wise. I ran 84 km and got a nice 34 km long run in on Sunday. I even did something totally crazy and went swimming. I know how good swimming is for me, but I still don’t like it. My kids wanted to go to the pool, so I seized the opportunity to swim 1000 m after my long run and then relax a bit in the hot water in the spa area.
What I noticed during my long run: I really miss the one thing everybody did during COVID. Walking on the right side was suddenly a thing! Now, not anymore. I hate running slalom through people and dogs all the time. Why do people think that it makes sense to walk in the middle of a trail? Or swerve while walking, so that I have to either slow down or speed up to pass them? Annoying. Maybe I’m just getting a bit too grumpy, but this really annoys me. Next week I’ll rant again about runners running in neon looking like they work in construction or something.
Now, please read these Five Things Running!
How Nike Missed the Boom in Running Culture
It’s really impressive how Nike has been stumbling lately. But it is not just running clubs, it’s also Trail Running, where Nike is still mostly absent. So many challenger brands are doing the right things and are present where it matters.
‘I’m a 15-Time Marathoner, and I’ll Never Run In Another Piece of Running Gear That Doesn’t Have *This* Feature’
Ashley Mateo is of course referring to the gel pocket. While I have extremely strong opinions about running shorts, I think that hand pockets are fare more important. There’s not a whole lot of bounce and you can carry gels in one pocket and your phone in the other pocket.
What I Miss When I Think About Running
Luckily, I’m not injured right now, but when I am, my list looks a lot like the one
just posted. I wish her a speedy recovery! This is my favorite item on the list: “That particular joy when you step outside on a perfect morning for a run—crisp weather, bluebird skies, just chilly enough for a curtain of goosebumps to fall across your skin.”If You’re Looking for a Fall Marathon, There’s a Key Piece of Intel You Should Know
I can highly recommend the Des Moines Marathon - I ran it two years ago and was the fastest German in the race! And while it is a lot smaller than my hometown marathon in Hamburg, probably 5k vs. 20k runners, I liked that it was not that crowded, yet still had plenty of friendly people along the course to cheer on the runners. Also, I got to run through my old neighborhood and do one leap on the track of Drake University Stadium where I ran in the Drake Relays 35 years ago…
History of the Belt Buckle in Ultrarunning
I overheard in a podcast the other day that the entry fee for Western States just covers the costs of getting the buckle. That’s pretty amazing. Also, I do like the belt buckles a lot, reminds me of my days out on the prairie.
If you missed last week’s edition, you can read it here:
Now, go running!
— Nico
🏃🏻♂️
Thanks for sharing my post!
So good!