In this episode of the A to Z Running Podcast, we talk with 800m and 600m US record-holder and multiple-time world champs medalist Ajee’ Wilson about dealing with pressure, whether the stakes are world-record attempts or just a simple weekly workout. We answer the question, “Why must runners FACE THE NOISE?”

INTRO

• Follow and Subscribe (on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform)
• Listener question: Someone apparently noticed that my race bib from the Trials of Miles meet was all wrinkled up and wanted to know why. Tune in to find the not-so-substantial reason for it.
• Bonus question from Laura and Kait: How should one make shoe choices when it comes to training, racing, etc.
  • First: build fitness; quality training over time; stay healthy; big squishy shoes.
  • Second, race to test fitness; aim for best performance; aggressive shoes as long as they don’t hurt you
  • KEY = ease into a shoe over time; workouts; test it first
  • Advice from healthy feet conversation with Dr. Bill Johncock (episode 70): heel-toe drop matters; that’s why I use two different trainers regularly
• Events happening soon:
  • Pi-mile run → a virtual 5kish race on March 14th that’s free to register and only $15 if you want the shirt! Bonus: our family are the ones putting it on!
  • Don’t forget about the Rivertown Races event in April → 5k, 10k, and Half Marathon; get 10% off with code atoz_2021

World of Running

 February 28th in Atlanta, Georgia → Atlanta Half Marathon (from Letsrun.com)

• Molly Seidel won in PR 1:08:29, good for #8 on the US all-time list
• Especially impressive considering it was so humid that the ground was wet just from humidity (no rain)
• Others in the race ran near-PR efforts, despite conditions

February 28th in Otsu, Japan → final running of the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, as reported by Japan Running News

• Kengo Suzuki ran a new Japanese record to win in a time of 2:04:56 (final 5k was 14:24)
• From Japanese Running News: “10 men ran 2:07. 13 ran 2:08. 14 ran 2:09. Almost all were PBs or debuts. 28 men sub-2:09, 42 sub-2:10. 174 men sub-2:20, the most ever, anywhere…”

 February 26th and 27th in Austin, Texas → Trials of Miles Texas Qualifier

• Womens 5k
  • Elle Purrier ran 15:08 to take the women’s race handsomely under the Olympic qualification of 15:10
  • Three women including Elle hit the Olympic Trials Qualifier with times under 15:20.
  • Leah Falland ran in the OTQ race where she ran a 6sec PR
• Women’s 10k
  • Konstanze Klosterhalfen broke German Record In 10K Debut in 31:01
  • Keira D’Amato ran Olympic Trials Qualifier in PR 32:16
• Women’s 800m
  • Ajee’ Wilson ran a strong 1:58.9 for an Olympic standard
  • 4 others ran under the US trials standard of 2:02.5
• Other notable finishes
  • Justyn Knight won the Olympic 1500m in 3:36
  • Zouhair Talbi of Oklahoma City won the 10k in a largely solo effort of 28:12
  • Talem Franco ran a PR 1500 in 3:39

February 26th and 27th in Fayetteville, Arkansas → SEC indoor championships (from Letsrun.com)

• Athing Mu ran a new NCAA record 800m in 1:58.4
  • U20 world indoor record
  • #2 all-time U20 in the US (indoor or outdoor)
  • #2 all-time for US indoors behind Ajee’ Wilson
  • Add this to her list this season, including the 600m NCAA record and the U20 400m world record as well as the 600m indoors US record set in 2019 when she was still 16 years old
• Arkansas men won the SEC indoor title without winning a single individual event (first time in SEC history according to the Razorbacks’ post)

Back on February 9th, Runner’s World reported that a new HM record was set…

• • • The record was for running a barefoot half marathon on snow
    • Norwegian Jonas Felde Sevaldrud ran a half marathon in 1:44:58, breaking the previous record by 22 mins