Eilish McColgan participated in the AR City Night 10K in Berlin last weekend. This marks the third event we've reported on where she competed. Her first race was the Burj2Burg in Dubai, UAE, followed by the London Marathon, and now Berlin. In each race, she has worn the Metaspeed Sky from two years ago. Eilish has a distinctive running style, characterized by a long stride, and she has a history of injuries. It seems she prefers the Metaspeed Sky over the newer Paris or Tokyo models, likely for safety reasons. Hopefully, Asics will continue to provide her with this shoe model.
US Championships
When I tuned into the US Track and Field Championships, it felt familiar, with the same athletes competing in the same events at the same venue. However, there were notable performances. Nico Young is on a remarkable run, winning the 10,000 meters and securing third place in the 5,000 meters, earning a spot to represent the USA in both events. Donavan Brasier has returned to form, triumphing in the 800 meters. Jared Nuguse has participated in numerous time trials, but as they say, "you can't time trial your way to victory in championship racing."
Running/Running Shoe History
In the coming months, I plan to focus this section on history. If you're training for a fall marathon, an engaging look at the history of running and running shoes might be enjoyable.
1890 - 1900
On April 19, 1897, 15 men embarked on the 24.5-mile Boston Marathon. It wasn't until 1924 that the distance was extended to 26 miles. I begin with Boston because none of the major running shoe brands existed before this time. The following year saw the inception of the first "Brand." Much like the Wright Brothers, who envisioned and built a plane, runners were already competing in the Olympics and the Boston Marathon, even though specialized shoes were still years away. Imagine running a marathon in 1897!
1898
A shoe factory was established in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, near the Saucony Creek, which inspired the factory's name. The "river" logo is still in use today. It would take decades before Saucony focused on running. At the time, shoes were mainly for ballet and dance. Next time you wear a pair of Saucony shoes (perhaps the Endorphin Speed or Endorphin Pro), think about this factory in 1897.
