MAIN TOPIC: THE BEST OF RUNNING 2020

Despite a difficult year, there were many history making moments in the world of running. From national records to world records, the running community improvised in a way that demonstrated its relentless character. While many of us did not race in 2020 (Zach included) we had a world class showcase of tremendous running both in the USA and abroad.

2020 Highlights from the World of Running

Tune in to the A to Z Running Podcast to listen to discussion involving the events below.

JANUARY:

• • Rhonex Kipruto of Kenya ran 10k road WR (and 5k during the same run) in Valencia, Spain
    • 26:24
    • bested Joshua Cheptegei’s record from 6 weeks before

FEBRUARY:

• • In Monaco, Joshua Cheptegei continued his road domination by running a road WR 5k in 12:51
    • That was his 3rd road world record, second in only a couple months
    • It was the first of 2020, though, a year that would see a complete re-writing of what it means to be fast

• In the UAE, Ababel Yeshaneh devastated the women’s half marathon record with a 1:04:31, besting marathon WR holder Brigid Kosgei who also bested the previous record

• • USA team trials…
    • Rupp, Riley, Abdirahman
    • Tuliamuk, Seidel, Kipyego

MARCH:

• NCAA cancelled indoor nationals… the day competition was scheduled to begin
• Tokyo elite-only race…
  • Lonah Korlima Chemtai Salpeter won women’s race for Israel in 2:17:45 – course record and Israeli national record

• Remember COVID? … the world was shut down, waiting, and wondering… 

MAY:

• • Jakob Ingebrigsten: 5k 13:28 Norwegian road record
    (Warning: the video below is very shaky and could make you sick.)

JUNE:

• • Keira D’Amato 
    • ran 15:04 in a solo time trial on the track
    • Lit a fire that would set her on a rampage
  • Ingebrigsten back at it again…
    • 2000m Norwegian and European record

JULY:

• • Bowerman Track Club 
    • • Women’s World 4x1500m Relay Record, Colleen Quigley, Elise Cranny, Karissa Schweizer, and Shelby Houlihan ran 16:27.02 (4:06 avg).

  • Shelby Houlihan also ran new US 5000m record (14:23) → breaking her own record
  • Mo Ahmed of Canada ran a new Canadian 5000m record in 12:47

AUGUST:

• • Monaco diamond league… 
    • • Joshua Cheptegei ran new 5000m WR of 12:35, shocking the world by breaking one of the most legendary records in distance running
    • Jessica Hull made her mark by running a new Australian record in the 5000m of 14:43
      • At the time, she could not have guessed exactly what the next 33 days would hold in store for her
    • Ingebrigsten did it AGAIN with a 1500m Norwegian record in 3:28

SEPTEMBER:

• • A 3000m race in Rome…
    • • Kiplimo beat Ingebrigsten to run a new Ugandan record
      • Ingebrigsten still pulled off a Norwegian record
      • 3rd and 4th also ran national records for Australia and Italy
      • Concluded Ingebrigsten’s record-breaking season

• Jessica Hull did it again, running a new 1500m Australian record and a week later she ran the 3000m record, marking 3 Australian records in 33 days and becoming the first Australian woman to hold all 3 at once

OCTOBER:

• • London Marathon
    • Sara Hall pulled a shocking runner-up finish, opting not to try to hang with the leaders, a choice that paid serious interest late in the race as she overtook the 2019 world marathon champion for 2nd

• • Valencia on the track… 
    • • They named the meet world record day, and they did not disappoint
      • In the women’s 5000m, Letesenbet Giday stunned all by running 14:06, to slice a respectable 5 seconds off the previous record
      • In the men’s 10000m, Cheptegei signed his GOAT trophy with a 26:11 world record run, 6 seconds off the 15 year old record
        • Marked 4 world records in 10 months

• World Half champs
  • In Poland… 
  • Jacob Kiplimo proved himself again with a big win over Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie, especially notable considering what Kibiwott would go on to do in December
  • The real story was Peres Jepchirchir’s 1:05:16 win, a new women’s-only world record against a field that also included the two most recent all-time HM world-record holders
  • It was also Peres’s second time breaking that record in 6 weeks… 
  • Overall, 21 national records fell that day, including 9 women’s and 12 men

NOVEMBER:

• • The thing most notable to us this month was the long-anticipated proof of Keira D’Amato’s rise to world class stardom… running 51:23, she smashed the American 10mi record.

• • In New Delhi, though, Yalemzerf YEHUALAW of Ethiopia nearly grabbed herself a world record, running 1:04:46 in the half marathon, good for 2nd all-time

DECEMBER:

• Back again in Valencia, where at this point, the probability is fairly high that you might run a world class time simply by walking out your door…
  • • • Valencia Marathon and Half Marathon… 
      • The Marathon was fast, especially noting that Peres Jepchirchir proved her mettle once more with a resounding 2:17 victory, 5th fastest performance all-time and a nice jewel to go beside her HM champs win and women’s-only record 
    • But the half marathon… this time, a new page had to be created in the record books
      • • Four men bested the previous half marathon world record
        • Kibiwott Kandie blasted 30 seconds off the record to win the race in 57:31, this time besting Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo by a nail-biting 6 seconds

• And in the United States… the Marathon Project!
  • Sara Hall won with the 2nd fastest US time in history behind Deena Kastor in 2:20:32
  • Keira D’Amato wrapped up her breathtaking year with an 11-minute PR of 2:22:56 good for second in the race and 7th all-time
  • Martin Hahir and Noah Droddy shuffled about the US all-time list with 2:08:59 and 2:02:09, good for 7th and 9th US all-time respectively
  • (Disclaimer… a totally bootlegged video, but hey, it’s a way to watch.)

Despite all 2020 threw at us…

• The very best of our sport kept us believing:
  • Dozens of national records fell.
  • 9 (or more) world records between roads and track.

And of course, there were other kinds of attempts to pass the time, too… 

• A few weird records were broken:
  • The joggling 5k world record was set by Michael-Lucien Bergeron in 16:50 while juggling three balls. Joggling is the act of juggling while running.
  • The handcuff mile world record was set by Jeremy Greenwald in 4:52.
  • The blue jean mile was set by Johnny Gregorek  in 4:06.25.
  • The backward mile was set by Aaron Yoder in 5:30
  • The basketball mile world records in mens and womens categories were both set and reset. Tennessee Tremain dribbled his way to a 4:33.9. Whittni Orton lowered the women’s time to 4:58.56. 

A to Z Running Episodic Recap

What an incredible opportunity we’ve had AtoZrunning to connect with experts and athletes about topics that can help us thrive as runners. Each and every episode had something unique. Below are some of the top listener episodes of 2020:

7/27/20 Unfinished Business with Keira D’Amato

When we had Keira D’Amato on the A to Z Running Podcast at the end of July, we knew it wasn’t the last we would speak of Keira. In fact, Keira’s name was the most mentioned name on the podcast in 2020. Not only is Keira’s episode a favorite with all of you as she spoke about her “unfinished business” in the sport of running, but she is an athlete who has brought so many of us hope and joy during this global pandemic. 

9/21/20 Behind the Numbers with Dathan Ritzenhein

3 time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein joined A to Z Running to talk about his career behind the amazing performances he has posted throughout the years as one of the best american distance runners in history.  Dathan also shares with us some deep reflections about his career which have shaped his coaching methods.

10/13/20 Speed, Strength, or Endurance with Kate Grace

Olympian middle distance runner Kate Grace shares digs into the what, when, and how of developing speed, strength, and endurance. She also gives Zach and Andi the inside scoop about her Olympic experience in Rio.

Many of you have reached out letting us know how much you’ve learned, and how you’ve even gone back to these more “sciencey” episodes

• 6/29/20 Running Foundations: Aerobic Condition
• 8/03/20 The Art of Science and Strength with Kaylin Russeau
• 10/05/20 What is the Best Way to Mobilize? with Phil Wharton
• 12/14/20 Why does Nutrition Matter for Running? with Meghann Featherstun

Of course there were many other notable episodes with other Olympians, athletes, and experts!

KEEP LISTENING