Competitor - June 2017

29

2016 –

American distance running is back in a big way in

the Olympics. While Usain Bolt once again dom-

inated the world’s attention at the Rio Olympics,

the Americans took home more medals than

ever in the distance events: There were gold

and bronze medals in the men’s and women’s

1,500 meters (the fi rst men’s gold since 1908),

a silver in the men’s 5,000 meters, a men’s silver

and women’s bronze in the steeplechase, and a

men’s bronze medal in the marathon—many of which

are events that Americans have long been shut out of the

medal podium for.

The inaugural Global Running Day is held on June 1. The

day evolved from National Running Day in the U.S., which was

started in 2009 and has been held every year since. Runners

around the world pledge to take part in a running activity to

celebrate the joys of running, and inspire others to get moving.

The Clean Sport Collective launches. The nonprofi t com-

prises of athletes, brands, events, fans, clubs and the public

to support sport and athletics through the absence of perfor-

mance enhancing drugs. Several world-class runners pledged

never to use PEDs for the collective.

New Balance incorporates 3D printed midsoles in the

Zante Generate. Although several other brands have

been developing 3D printing for footwear, this run-

ning shoe became the fi rst of its kind available to

consumers. The fi rst 44 pairs were sold for $400 each

ahead of the Boston Marathon on April 15.

2017 –

Eliud Kipchoge runs the fastest recorded marathon time ever

(2:00:25) as part of Nike’s Breaking2 Project. Although the goal

of the project was to run a sub-2-hour marathon in a staged attempt,

Kipchoge still unoffi cially beat the current world marathon record of

2:02:57, proving that breaking the 2-hour barrier is within reach.

2015 –

Women’s participation in running surpasses men’s. Nowadays, more women

than men enter races and consider themselves runners, according to multiple

statistics. This movement is all the more impressive when you consider that 50

years ago, women weren’t even allowed to enter and run in many races.

American distance running is back in a big way in

While Usain Bolt once again dom-

inated the world’s attention at the Rio Olympics,

the Americans took home more medals than

ever in the distance events: There were gold

and bronze medals in the men’s and women’s

1,500 meters (the fi rst men’s gold since 1908),

a silver in the men’s 5,000 meters, a men’s silver

and women’s bronze in the steeplechase, and a

men’s bronze medal in the marathon—many of which

are events that Americans have long been shut out of the

The inaugural Global Running Day is held on June 1. The

day evolved from National Running Day in the U.S., which was

started in 2009 and has been held every year since. Runners

around the world pledge to take part in a running activity to

celebrate the joys of running, and inspire others to get moving.

The nonprofi t com-The nonprofi t com-

prises of athletes, brands, events, fans, clubs and the public prises of athletes, brands, events, fans, clubs and the public

to support sport and athletics through the absence of perfor-to support sport and athletics through the absence of perfor-

Several world-class runners pledged Several world-class runners pledged

CM0617_FEAT_30YEARS.indd 29 5/11/17 5:17 PM