Aqua jogging should be on ever runner’s radar. Why? It may be the best, if not one of the best cross training methods for runners. Andi and Zach bring the research, methods, and limitations of aqua jogging for runners.

INTRO

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      • Check out instagram post (@atozrunning) where there was a great discussion about out “why” in running.

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    •  Races in the West Michigan area…
      • 8/28 – Lightpoint 5k in Grand Rapids “AtoZRunners” for $5 off
      • 9/19 – LMCU Bridge Run in Grand Rapids, MI (and get $5 off with code “AtoZ”
    • Pro-Tec Athletics recovery tools, 10% off with the code: “AtoZ10”

World of Running

AtoZrunners…

Lots of racing going on! In the last couple weeks:

• Mile PRs from Pete, Zach, Jacob, and Andi
• 5k PRs from Zach and Bill, and podium finishes for both
• 3rd in age group half marathon from Nikki

Prefontaine Classic (Diamond League – Eugene)

WHEN: Saturday, August 21

WHERE: Hayward Field (Eugene, OR)

DETAILS: Diamond League (Additional Letsrun)

HIGHLIGHTS:

• • Men’s Mile:
    • Jakob Ingebrigsten of Norway cemented his dominance with a 3:47, Norwegian record victory (his brother Filip was in 8th) → 9th fastest all-time (a great reflection on this from Total Running Productions as well as coverage of the race)
    • Stewart McSweyn of Australia made the race fast but couldn’t mirror the kick to finish second in 3:48. 
    • The rest of the field was barely visible on the home stretch, finishing 3 seconds behind McSweyn (Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya was in 3rd)
    • Oliver Hoare (Australia) ran a PR 3:51
  • Men’s 2 mile:
    • An uncommon event (even more than the full mile)…
    • Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei further proved his growing fitness with a victory over a slew of other Olympic medalists…

• Selemon Barega of Ethiopia (10k gold) was in second

• Paul Chelimo (USA – 5k bronze) finished 3rd

• Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda – 10k bronze) finished 4th

• • They all finished about half a second apart
• Women’s 1500m:
  • Faith Kipyegon ran a nearly-solo 3:53 for a 6-second victory
• Women’s 3000m Steeplechase
  • The champion of this event was not even in the Olympic Games due to a change in nationality, Norah Jeruto of Kenya is in the process of changing her nationality to
    • Jeruto won in a  WL,MR,PB of 8:53.65
  • That’s not all. Courtney Frerichs smashed her own American Record in the event running a time of 8:57.77 
    • First American woman to break 9min
    • and the 4th fastest Steeplechaser in the world’s history.
  • Hyvin Kiyeng of Kenya was third, bronze medalist at the Olympics
  • Olympic Champion Peruth Chemutai was 9th place in the event.
• Women’s 800m:
  • Recent gold medalist Athing Mu (USA) dominated a star-studded field in a new American Record 1:55 (a shade faster than her gold medal). So many letters with her name in the results: WL,NR,MR,PB
  • Kate Grace (USA) was second in a world class field running yet another 1:57 (.6)

World U20 Championships

WHEN: Tuesday, August 17 – Sunday, August 22

WHERE: Nairobi, Kenya

DETAILS: World Athletics

HIGHLIGHT:

• Incredible seeing how fast teenagers can run around the world… things like women’s 3,000m in 8:57 and men’s 1500m in 3:37…
• But the biggest highlight was Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the 800m: at just 17 years of age, he ran 1:43 for a new championship record (faster than 2012 Olympic medalist Nigel Amos)

Generali Berlin Half Marathon

WHEN: Sunday, August 22

WHERE: Berlin, Germany

DETAILS: Letsrun

• Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei won for the women in a course record 1:05:16 (over Sifan Hassan’s course record)
• Kenya’s Felix Kipkoech won for the men in 58:57, the fastest half marathon this year
• …and apparently there were 572 skaters in the race… what? Skaters? Let’s be accurate. What they mean to say is roller-bladers.