Latest news with #runningcommunity
Associated Press
04-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
XTEP Ignites Global Night Running Frenzy: Over 1,000 Runners Chase Summer PBs in "Acceleration" Night-Training Footwear
Xiamen, China, July 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning June 10, over 1,000 runners across China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Norway, and France laced up for Xtep's global night running series. This surge in evening activity underscores a key summer training reality: intense heat makes night running essential for effective high-intensity intervals and endurance work. Directly addressing this core need, Xtep debuted its 'Acceleration' colorway collection—footwear engineered specifically for the demands of summer night training. On night runs, runners wearing the 360X 2.0 'Acceleration' edition represent more than just visual impact—it reflects a mindset. 'Acceleration' isn't just speed; it's a commitment to forward momentum in life. This drive requires resilient support: Research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows 40-50% of recreational runners sustain injuries—primarily in feet and lower limbs—where effective cushioning is proven to mitigate impact forces. Addressing this critical need, the 360X 2.0 features a premium midsole foam synergized with a streamlined carbon plate, dispersing impact energy to reduce joint stress and injury risk while maintaining responsive speed. Through this science-backed design, XTEP footwear empowers athletes to safely pursue PBs after work—transforming biomechanical insights into enduring running joy. The brand's 'Make it Different' philosophy thrives here—championing breakthroughs where protective engineering meets human potential. The dynamic 'Acceleration' colorway extends beyond the 360X 2.0, also revitalizing Xtep's core performance models for specific running goals, including: Designed for elite racing, the 160X series has propelled 95 athletes worldwide to secure 451 marathon victories. Complementing the race-day dominator, the 260X is built for professional-level training, helping runners break through plateaus and sustain long-term progress. These performance-driven models became the engine of our global XRC night run series, powering over 1,000 runners as they illuminated cityscapes worldwide, their strides tracing landmarks from Malaysia to Vietnam, Norway, and beyond. From daily runs to race-day goals, Xtep's performance ecosystem delivers tiered solutions for every runner. The 'Acceleration' ethos embodies the relentless pursuit of progress—now amplified through the global Xtep Running Club (XRC). We invite runners worldwide to join XRC: unlock exclusive access to dynamic pop-up runs in iconic cities, where community and cutting-edge gear converge. About XTEP XTEP Group, one of the leading sports brands in China, was founded in 1987 and officially established as the brand XTEP in 2001. The Group was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on June 3, 2008 ( In 2019, the Group launched its global strategy, incorporating Saucony, Merrell, K•SWISS, and Palladium to become a leading international sports group with multiple sports brands. For more about XTEP, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Xtep
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Neil Featherby: Is technology taking the stride out of running?
I'm not sure if it's just the fact that I am getting older, but of late I have started to wonder if I am losing touch with running as a sport. When I say sport, prior to the 1980s marathon boom, running was basically an out and out sport or a way of getting fit for other sports. Advertisement I am not sure what the percentage of the running population was back then but certainly nothing like what it is today. Apart from the taking of a vitamin tablet or even brewers' yeast along with an energy drink mainly made from water, sugar and salt that was about the only supplements considered to help performance. Legally that is! Up until the mid-1970s footwear was very minimal and even after the marathon boom in the 1980s the main features were very much just on cushioning with some heel support for those who needed it. As we know though, during the last few years running for physical and mental benefits has become huge which I think is fantastic. Advertisement Gone are the days when people worried about what others might think when being seen out running round the streets or waiting until it was dark to not be so conspicuous. Also gone are the days when people thought that running was only for the most athletic of people under the age of 30. With running now being such a big part of most people's lives, I am sure this is the main reason why running technology is now so far advanced as well. Firstly, nutritional products have been a game-changer as have the rules permitting the availability and use of them during competitive races. The most sophisticated of GPS watches too which allows the wearer to not only be aware of distance and current pace but just about everything else which is going on physiologically in his or her body during rest and exercise. Advertisement However, and perhaps the biggest game-changer is today's performance footwear. In fact, all running footwear is now at a different level such is the demand for high quality running shoes. My initial feelings about carbon plated shoes which definitely helps to improve performance, was that it was wrong. If I am honest though maybe some of that was down to me being envious that such footwear was not around in my day. Whilst rules regarding carbon plated shoes and the stack height of midsoles has now been brought in ie no more than one carbon plate and a maximum stack height of 40mm; this has still not stopped the manufacturers producing shoes which goes well beyond what is deemed legal. Advertisement Needless to say, to be used for training purposes and not competitive races. However, will these rules really apply to anyone other than the elite at the front? I very recently came across a guy on YouTube who not only smashed his marathon PB wearing a pair of 3 carbon plated running shoes but also had this robotic garment strapped to his legs called exoskeletal which assists movement via motors and sensors which are used to mimic muscle contractions helping to propel the user forward. Apparently, strength is increased by 40% and efficiency by 30%. Now whilst it's obvious the young guy in question is just making very interesting content for his YouTube channel and he even asked other runners on route if they thought he was cheating, this product alone never mind the shoes, is on a different scale. Particularly so when seeing him picking the pace up during the last 10k to sub 6 min mile pace and recording a time of 2 hours 42 mins and 24 secs. He did have to change the power pack every 10k though which lost him a few seconds. Advertisement I have checked him out on the Power of 10 and he is without a doubt a quality athlete in his own right, but his 2:42:24 marathon time is also recorded which brings me on to whilst there are rules and regs surrounding what can be worn and what can't be used during competition, as suggested earlier, will this only be applicable to the elite at the front of any race field? For me running is one of the most natural things which we are born to do. However, when it comes to technological aids to assist performance, if this is the way to get even more people having a go then fine, but when it comes to competition, sorry but that's a definite no from me.
South China Morning Post
24-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Langkawi International Ultra Run: Hong Kong's Wong is fastest woman and beats the men too
It was meant to be her husband's big day, but instead it was Wong Mei-yan who stole the show at the Langkawi International Ultra Run, becoming the fastest overall finisher in the 100km Round Island Ultra-Road. The Hongkonger, better known for her marathon and trail-running exploits, clocked a blistering 10 hours, 29 minutes and 38 seconds, not only topping the women's field but also outrunning all male contenders. What made Wong's triumph all the more remarkable was the fact it was her first road ultra and she was in Langkawi only because her husband, Wong Wai-chung, wanted to attempt the 100km distance. Hong Kong's Wong Mei-yan and husband Wong Wai-chung after the race. Photo: Handout 'He was the one who found this race online and said we should try it together,' Wong said. 'But guess what, he gave up at 35km. He DNF'd. I finished, he quit.' Despite her endurance background, the 32-year-old had zero expectations of winning the event last weekend. 'I usually run marathons or trail ultras, which are slower because of the elevation,' she said. 'I just told myself to keep moving, except for some of the slopes, and I'm really surprised I finished first overall.' Running through the night posed its own challenge. Wong ditched her headlamp because of discomfort and instead carried her light by hand.
Irish Times
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
The sudden death of a young runner touches running spirits everywhere
I'm back running again. There is something inherently flippant about just writing that, considering the countless times over the years when there would always be some good reasons or lame excuses to stop. It might be the slow or sudden loss of any desire to chase the great beyond, where the greater the suffering, the greater the pleasure. Or of any need to fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds' worth of distance run. Or it might be something much less poetic or profound, such as acute laziness, or just the body and mind getting soft. Then as if I had been kidding myself, for better or for worse, things would change. A barefoot run at dawn along a sandy shore, a reminder that running can and sometimes needs to be discovered all over again. Some people will always have a hard time accepting their best running years are behind them, but I've known that for a long while Only it's never come back with any competitive desire, which is a good thing. Some people will always have a hard time accepting their best running years are behind them, but I've known that for a long while. READ MORE It's different, though, when confronted with the swiftly sobering experience of not being able to run. Faced with that setback over the winter, and now thankfully recuperated, it changed the running picture once again. Maybe running another marathon might some day be a good idea, especially after starting out from the impossibly slow and baby steps like I am now. As long as no one else knew about it until it was over. In some ways, not being able to run for a while has changed the picture around other runners too. Looking at them now with some sort of newfound respect and envy, it's also given me a fresh appreciation of the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other in relatively swift succession. Against that backdrop also came the news last Sunday evening of the death of the young runner Ellen Cassidy, who fell ill after completing the half-marathon as part of Cork City Marathon events. Aged 24, and also a champion underage swimmer for Ireland, Cassidy died shortly afterwards in Cork University Hospital. Then on Monday came the news that Olivia Tuohy from Ennis had also died last Sunday while running the Edinburgh Half Marathon. Aged 25, a former student at Queen Margaret University and working as a nurse in the Scottish capital, Tuohy had also previously played football and camogie with Clare. Running is, and always will be, far more associated with saving lives, from both the physical and mental side of things Both Cassidy and Tuohy were in the absolute prime of their lives, with nothing whatsoever to suggest that running carried any sort of risk. Because in the vast majority of people, it simply doesn't. No popular exercise is entirely without some danger, but running has always been considered perhaps the least dangerous of all. Even compared to cycling or swimming, where those dangers can be more pronounced. Running is, and always will be, far more associated with saving lives, from both the physical and mental side of things. It's also different from the racing driver, or the downhill skier, or the matador, even, where that risk to life is a recognised part of their exercise. 'It is our deadly passion, our terrible joy,' Enzo Ferrari tells his drivers in the 2023 biographical film Ferrari. 'But once you get into one of my cars, then no one is forcing you to take that seat. You get in to win.' No one takes up running believing, or even suspecting, it might put their life at risk, which is why the sudden death of any young runner touches on running spirits everywhere. At Cassidy's funeral mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Blackpool in Cork, on Thursday, there was a guard of honour organised by Cork's running community and her former swimming club, Dolphin. The offertory gifts also included a medal she received when finishing the Milan Marathon, along with swimming caps and sheet music, representing the other passions in her life. Her father, Tom Cassidy, also spoke of how his daughter had 'many plates spinning at a time', and 'how she managed to give them all the time, attention, energy, love, and affection is beyond me'. Which is another way of saying she must never have taken any of them for granted. It may help the runner to understand that they should never take the simple act of running for granted. The loss of any young runner is a reminder of that In advance of Tuohy's funeral Mass in Ennis Cathedral on Saturday, the Clare women's GAA said, 'her kindness, warmth, and vibrant spirit touched so many lives on and off the football field, and her absence will be felt profoundly'. For the family and loved ones of Cassidy and Tuohy, maybe there is some comfort in knowing they were doing something they loved best. That doesn't make it any easier for them or any runner to understand. But it may help the runner to understand that they should never take the simple act of running for granted. The loss of any young runner is a reminder of that.
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Brooks Ghost 17 Review: For Those Who Crave Consistency
If Goldilocks wandered into a running store in search of the perfect everyday shoe, she'd probably walk out with the Brooks Ghost 17. Balanced, comfortable and reliably consistent, the latest Ghost feels just right every time you put it on, which isn't all that surprising. First released in 2008, this shoe is kind of like a perfected recipe, carefully improved over the years until it's familiar and comforting. For some runners, that's ideal; and for others, it's a bit too monotonous. The Brooks Ghost 17 is a comfortable everyday trainer for easy runs and long walks. I've been logging miles in this shoe for a little over a week, testing everything from the midsole foam to the overall fit. If you're looking for the bottom line, here's what matters: The Brooks Ghost 17 is a great daily trainer for most runners, but it won't blow you away. That's not to say it's boring, but it doesn't come with any surprises, and for many runners, that predictability is part of the appeal. In this Brooks Ghost 17 review, I'll cover everything you need to know about the latest version of this time-tested shoe. Brooks Price: $150 | Weight: 9 ounces (women's), 10.1 ounces (men's) | Drop: 10 millimeters | Stack height: 36 millimeters (heel), 26 millimeters (forefoot) | Upper: Jacquard | Midsole: DNA Loft v3 foam | Outsole: Rubber Best for: Skip if: At the heart of any sound running shoe like the Ghost is a reliable midsole. Though I've grown accustomed to plush running shoes like the Brooks Ghost Max and Hoka Clifton, the Ghost 17 is supportive from the moment you slip it on. Admittedly, the foam doesn't feel very peppy or reactive, but it isn't dull either. Brooks updated the midsole with an extra millimeter of its nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 foam, so it's technically thicker than the outgoing version, but hardly so. Between daily runs, errands and morning walks around the neighborhood, my feet felt content. No sharp pains or gradual aches to speak of, which is what you'd hope for from a shoe that's been around as long as this one has. The cushioning is just responsive enough to pick up the pace if you're prioritizing intensity, but it prefers to take things easy and go with the flow. With that said, after several hours of wear around the house, the shoe started to feel noticeably firmer, almost as if the rebound and energy were slowly fading. That's when I'd start giving the Ghost Max 2 some side eye, as I longed for just a little more cushioning and liveliness. Maybe that's a personal preference, but I think it says something about this shoe's midsole: It's comfortable, sure, but not the kind of comfort you want to spend all day in. At some point, there's a diminishing return where the initial comfort gives way to a firmer ride. And in this way, it makes the shoe great for easy runs and the occasional long-distance endeavor, but it'll probably miss the mark for anything else. The Ghost 17's midsole is supportive, though I wouldn't call it lively or fun. In addition to the midsole, Brooks revamped the upper with a double jacquard mesh to improve breathability and structure. I've tested a few shoes in recent months with similar materials, and honestly, I haven't noticed much difference when it comes to breathability or durability, but that might actually be a good thing because it means new materials haven't impacted the design in any way. While running, I didn't experience any hot spots in the heel or discomfort around my toes (even though I have slightly wider, flat feet and prefer a roomy toe box). Brooks updated the heel with a flared collar, which makes it easier to slip the shoe on, but it could leave room for a loose heel if the fit isn't perfect. I didn't have any issues there either, though it really comes down to getting the size right. Thankfully, the Ghost 17 comes in four widths, so most runners should be able to find a secure, comfortable fit. The Ghost 17's new upper uses jacquard mesh and features a flared heel collar. There's not a lot to overthink when it comes to the Ghost 17; it's a textbook example of a 'what you see is what you get" shoe. Again, I don't want to call it boring (plenty of runners love it), but it's definitely not exciting. If you're looking for a running shoe that's snappy, bouncy and fun, this isn't it. But if you want a predictable shoe that feels a lot like its predecessor, the Ghost 16, it's a good choice. The Ghost 17 isn't the perfect running shoe, but it does meet the needs of most runners and walkers. Yes, the Brooks Ghost 17 is technically a new shoe, but it's haunted by the Ghosts of its past, and that makes it less interesting when you compare it to the competition. It's comfortable, predictable and easy to wear, with a smooth experience that works well for daily miles. Updates to the midsole and upper are subtle enough that you probably won't even notice them, though I actually like the line of new colors. (Brooks is killing it in the style department these days.) It's the kind of trainer you can lace up and forget about, whether you're running, walking or standing all day. With that said, the Ghost 17 isn't a must-have if your current trainers are still going strong, and that's especially true if you're in a pair of Ghost 16s. Buying a new shoe that feels nearly identical to the last is akin to upgrading your bike only to realize it rides the same as the old one. If your shoes are worn out and you want to replacement them, the Ghost 17 is a safe choice, but if you're after something new, exciting or noticeably better, it's probably an upgrade you can pass on for now.
