Scientists from Yale University have found the physical stress of running a marathon can cause short-term kidney injury.
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They analysed the blood and urine of a small group of participants in the 2015 Hartford Marathon before and after the 26.2-mile event. In particular they examined a variety of markers of kidney injury, including serum creatinine levels, kidney cells on microscopy, and proteins in urine.
The researchers found that 82% of the runners that were studied showed Stage 1 Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) soon after the race. AKI is a condition in which the kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood.
“The kidney responds to the physical stress of marathon running as if it’s injured, in a way that’s similar to what happens in hospitalised patients when the kidney is affected by medical and surgical complications,” said lead author, Professor of Medicine Chirag Parikh, M.D.
The researchers stated that potential causes of the marathon-related kidney damage could be the sustained rise in core body temperature, dehydration, or decreased blood flow to the kidneys that occur during a marathon.
While the measured kidney injury resolved within two days post-marathon, the study still raises questions about the effects of repeated strenuous activity over time, especially in warm climates.
“We need to investigate this further,” said Parikh. “Research has shown there are also changes in heart function associated with marathon running. Our study adds to the story – even the kidney responds to marathon-related stress.”
Inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup, The Collins Cup features teams of professional triathletes from the USA, Europe and the rest of the World (the ‘Internationals’) competing to determine which region dominates the sport of triathlon.
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Each team will consist of 12 professional triathletes, six men and six women.
The Collins Cup: a new Ryder Cup-style team competition for long distance tri
New international team tri competition launched
Chrissie Wellington said: “I am thrilled to have been selected as one of the European Team captains for the inaugural Collins Cup. Triathlon is such an amazing sport – innovative, forward thinking and truly open to all.
“The Collins Cup marks a hugely exciting and important new addition to the race calendar, with the best male and female athletes in the world racing head-to-head in a fantastic new format.”
Men’s captain for Team Europe Stadler is a 2x Ironman World Champion (2004 and 2006) famous for his unyielding racing style. Stadler holds the Kona bike course record of 4:18:32 and is recognised as the most formidable cyclist in triathlon history.
Stadler said, “It is a privilege to be able to serve as a Team Europe captain with Chrissie. The Collins Cup, with its Ryder Cup format, will produce an exceptionally exciting and dramatic event.”
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This announcement follows the news Dave Scott and Karen Smyers being named USA team captains for the Collins Cup. The captains of the ‘International’ Team will be announced soon.
This weekend four-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington will be racing the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon for Epilepsy Society and Cancer Research UK.
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“I decided to run because it takes me a full circle to the place where my passion for endurance sports was born – London Marathon 2002 – and to be a role model for my daughter,” she says. “I also craved a new challenge that didn’t involve a big swim or bike beforehand!”
You can support Chrissie and donate here
Chrissie and all the other runners will be given a royal send-off by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, who are the event’s official race starters. They will also be joined by double Olympic rowing gold medallists Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.
Their Royal Highnesses are spearheading the Heads Together campaign to end stigma and change the conversation on mental health for everyone. They have pledged to make this year’s race ‘the mental health marathon’ and are encouraging runners, whatever great cause they are supporting, to wear the blue Heads Together headband that will be given to them when they collect their race number.
For 220 columnist Tim Heming, who is running the Marathon in aid of the mental health charity Mind, this campaign is close to his heart:
“Dear old Bob Hoskins was telling us It’s Good To Talk in TV ads over 20 years ago, but that stiff upper lip British stoicism still prevails with so many of us… particularly blokes.
“That’s why it was refreshing to hearing the princes speak out this week on how repressing emotions over their mum’s death led to mental health problems. Harry and William’s words show mental health is clearly no respecter of privilege, and while the attitude of “There will always always be someone worse off than me” might be laudable, it doesn’t mean you should neglect your own well-being.
“It’s also great to see 2017’s London labelled the ‘Mental Health Marathon’ and charities like Mind, Rethink and Heads Together do some outstanding work in trying to break stigma – both improving and saving lives.
“I know from my own experience that you cannot tackle everything alone. Trying to fix the bit that’s broken with the very bit that’s broken, isn’t so easy. Professional help is important but not always easily accessible, so an ear to bend, or a shoulder to cry on, can be a lifeline.
“Ps. I apologise in advance for the fetching blue headband.”
Depression: a triathlete’s experience
You can support Tim and donate here
The Royals’ Heads Together campaign aims to end the stigma around mental health and change the national conversation on mental health and wellbeing. Earlier in the week Prince Harry opened up to Bryony Gordon from The Telegraph about his own experiences and seeking counselling to help him come to terms with his mother’s death Download the podcast here
The three Royals will push a giant button at exactly 10:00am to send 35 elite men and more than 39,000 mass race runners on their 26.2-mile journey from Shooters Hill in south east London to Westminster.
Among the elite athletes who will be racing will be Ethiopian distance running legend Kenenisa Bekele, two-time world champion Abel Kirui, two-time London Marathon women’s champion Mary Keitany, and the current men’s and women’s world champions, Ghirmay Ghebreslassie and Mare Dibaba.
Meanwhile, 43-year-old supermum Jo Pavey is just one of 19 of the best British distance runners in the country who will be vying for a handful of coveted places on the nation’s marathon team for this summer’s World Athletics Championships in London.
There will also be more than 70 para-athletes competing in the fourth World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup, including reigning wheelchair champion Marcel Hug and Boston Marathon winner Manuela Schär, plus Britain’s six-times Paralympic champion David Weir who’s going for a record seventh London Marathon victory.
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The elites will be followed by thousands of club athletes, including Helen Glover & Heather Stanning, double Olympic rowing gold medallists
Ali Brownlee has made a successful entry into middle-distance racing by winning Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria and setting a new course record.
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Wearing the red colours of the Bahrain Endurance Team, he extended the gap from David Giardini and Pieter Heemeryck on the bike and won the pro men’s race after a strong run in a time of 04:03:09, stripping 10 minutes and 35 seconds off the course record.
Alistair said: “This is my first attempt at a middle distance race and there is a lot to learn. I chose Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria as my first middle-distance race because I really like what Challenge Family is about and considering we are coming into the summer race season the timing is perfect.”
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Alistair Brownlee’s key triathlon training sessions
It was a British win in the women’s pro race too, with Emma Pallant beating the current Kona world champion Daniela Ryf (SWI) and fellow Brit Lucy Charles.
Ryf led the majority of the race after taking the lead on the bike, with Charles hot on her tail. But it was Pallant who valiantly fought her way up from third on the run, who crossed the line first.
Emma completed the course in a time of 04:35:15, knocking seven minutes and 15 seconds off last year’s women’s race – setting a new course record.
Womens PRO: top three
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1st: Emma Pallant (GBR) 4:35:15 2nd: Lucy Charles (GBR) 4:35:21 3rd: Daniela Ryf (SWI) 4:38:35
2016 was a year to remember, from Rio to THAT race in Mexico. We saw the Iron-distance world record broken, the British Iron-distance record slashed, new races launched and revolutionary bikes released…
But which were best? We asked you to vote for your favourites in 21 categories and you responded in your thousands. So without any further ado here are the winners and runner-ups in the 220 Triathlon Awards 2017.
Men’s Elite Triathlete of the Year
1. Alistair Brownlee
2. Jonny Brownlee
3. Jan Frodeno
4. Joe Skipper
5. David McNamee Women’s Elite Triathlete of the Year 1. Flora Duffy
2. Vicky Holland
3. Lucy Gossage
4. Helen Jenkins
5. Non Stanford
International triathlete of the Year 1. Gwen Jorgensen
2. Flora Duffy
3. Jan Frodeno
4. Daniela Ryf
5. Mario Mola
Duathlete of the Year 1. Emma Pooley
2. Emma Pallant
3. Ben Dijkstra
4. Richard Horton
5. Alex Yee
Women’s Paratriathlete of the Year 1. Lauren Steadman
2. Melissa Reid
3. Lizzie Tench
4. Alison Patrick
5. Faye McClelland
Youth Triathlete of the Year 1. Ben Dijkstra
2. Sam Dickinson
3. Jamie Bedwell
4. Alex Yee
5. Sam Mileham
Male Paratriathlete of the Year 1. Andy Lewis
2. Phil Hogg
3. Joe Townsend
4. George Peasgood
5. Haseeb Ahmad
Men’s Age-Grouper of the Year 1. Reece Barclay
2. Andy Greenleaf
3. Mark Mills
4. Michael Smallwood
5. Phil Wilson
Women’s Age-Grouper of the Year
1. Alice Jenkins
2. Liz Dunlop
3. Jane Hansom
4. Emma Deary
5. Linda Ashmore
Coach of the Year
1. Malcolm Brown
2. Simon Ward
3. Adam Gibson
4. David Knight
5. Joel Enoch
Triathlon Club of the Year (sponsored by Skechers)
1. Leeds & Bradford
2. Oxford Tri
3. Wakefield Triathlon Club
4. Greenlight
5. Bustinskin
Race of the Year (under 500 entries)
1. Storm the Castle
2. Ilkley Triathlon
3. Bustinskin Weymouth Middle Distance Triathlon
4. Eastbourne Triathlon
5. Oxford Tri Sprint Triathlon
Race of the Year (over 500 entries)
1. The Outlaw
2. Ironman Weymouth
3. Hever Castle
4. The Outlaw Half Holkham
5. JLL Property Triathlon
Bike Brand of the Year 1. Boardman
2. Cervelo
3. Giant
4. Planet X
5. Trek
Tri-Suit Brand of the Year 1. Huub
2. 2XU
3. Zone3
4. Raceskin
5. Threo
Wetsuit Brand of the Year 1. Huub
2. Zone3
3. Blueseventy
4. Orca
5. Yonda Run Brand of the Year 1. Asics
2. Adidas
3. Brooks
4. Saucony
5. Skechers
Online Retailer of the Year 1. Wiggle
2. Chain Reaction Cycles
3. Sigma Sport
4. Planet X
5. Total Fitness Nottingham
Tri Retailer of the Year 1. Wiggle
2. Sigma Sport
3. Total Fitness Nottingham
4. Triangle Leeds
5. The Triathlon Shop Bristol
Jane Tomlinson Award for Outstanding Contribution to Triathlon* Winner: Jonathon Riall (Head Coach for the Great Britain Paratriathlon Team)
*Once the initial shortlist was drawn up from the first round of open voting, the top five individuals were put before a panel of judges, which included: 220 editor Helen Webster, 220 deputy editor Liz Barrett, 220 features editor Matt Baird, and 220 columnists Tim Heming and Martyn Brunt.
Judge Tim Heming said of winner Riall: “It would be easy for the achievements of the Paralympic team to be overshadowed after British Triathlon’s most successful Olympic Games ever, but Riall, a mature head on young shoulders, full of verve and enthusiasm (and a pleasure to deal with as a journalist) marshalled a formidable band of paratriathletes to great feats in Rio.
“In many ways this was a step into the unknown. A funded programme that had to serve the needs of a mixture of athletes, from wheelchair competitors to visually impaired triathletes and their guides, all with their own requirements and demands to give them the optimal chance of winning medals at paratri’s inaugural Paralympics. As a fellow Gloucestershire boy, it was also a pleasure to see Riall’s hard work capped with gold for Lydney’s Andy Lewis, whose progression through 2016 was a lesson in peaking to perfection.”
Other nominees
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Alistair Brownlee
Jack Maitland
Colin Pink (Wakefield Tri)
Mark Steen (Bustinskin Events)
Your arm recovery adds a great deal to the momentum and rhythm of your stroke, and drills that train you to position your elbows and hands correctly will improve your arm recovery and maximise your forward propulsion, in some cases drastically reducing swim times.
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Arm recovery is often overlooked by athletes trying to refine their stroke, probably because it takes place out of the water, but it’s a primary component of the front-crawl stroke. In addition to the obvious – namely, returning your arm to the water – your arm recovery performs numerous essential functions:
1. It stabilises and balances your stroke.
2. It adds forward momentum.
3. It assists the streamlining of your hand entry.
Head-up stroke
Keeping your head up positively limits body rotation, while increasing feel at the front of the stroke…
This is a simple and effective drill to ensure that your arm recovery isn’t too high due to excessive body rotation. It also ensures that the pressure you apply in the catch position of the leading arm is maintained. It’s also good for gaining a feel for the water at the front of the stroke, and also transferring momentum from the back to the front of the stroke via your arms. It helps greatly if you allow your hands to catch up slightly at the front the stroke because there’s a tendency to sink if your leading hand moves away too fast.
4. The speed of the recovery helps to control the timing of your breathing.
5. The speed of the recovery helps to co-ordinate the timing and synchronisation of both arms.
One of the key aims of the arm recovery is to use as little energy as possible. That makes sense as it’s not physically moving you any further forward in the water. So you should try to relax all unnecessary shoulder, arm and hand muscles, almost lifting your arm out of the water as if the elbow was attached to a puppet string.
Like each and everyone of the technical features of the swim, afford a small amount of time to concentrate on this aspect of your stroke and you’ll soon notice some pretty hefty results.
Recovery essentials
Remember these key points when you undertake recovery drills
Only begin your arm recovery once you’ve fully completed the push phase.
There should be no delay between the push phase and your arm recovery; it should be executed in one rhythmical, continuous movement.
Initiate your arm recovery by lifting your elbow in an upward and outward motion.
Rotate your core slightly upwards towards the recovering side to assist the recovery movement.
From a bird’s-eye view, your shoulders and hips should be aligned as your body rotates.
Maintain your leg kick to provide better balance.
The recovery phase is when you should inhale air.
Extend your leading arm to add stability, balance and streamlining when you make the initial recovery movement.
Your elbow leads the movement of your recovering arm around your body.
Keep your hand below your elbow throughout the recovery.
Use the forward and outward movement of your elbow to drive your hand forward.
Keep your body rotated until your stroking hand passes through the catch position and is about to begin the push phase.
Return your head to the centre line after breathing and keep it still.
In the final part of the recovery phase, roll your body to switch your weight from the stroking side to the side that’s about to finish recovering and begin stroking. This helps you transfer momentum onto your leading arm in preparation for the next stroke.
Extend your hand below the water’s surface in a streamlined position to repeat the supporting role of stability and balance for the opposite arm.
Click here for 3 drills that will help you improve your arm recovery
Head-up stroke
Keeping your head up positively limits body rotation, while increasing feel at the front of the stroke…
This is a simple and effective drill to ensure that your arm recovery isn’t too high due to excessive body rotation. It also ensures that the pressure you apply in the catch position of the leading arm is maintained. It’s also good for gaining a feel for the water at the front of the stroke, and also transferring momentum from the back to the front of the stroke via your arms. It helps greatly if you allow your hands to catch up slightly at the front of the stroke because there’s a tendency to sink if your leading hand moves away too fast.
1. You can see how you need to roll your body into the extension of the stroke, and also how the downward pressure of your hand provides enough lift to keep your chin out of the water. Notice also the hand beginning its recovery movement from the back to the front of the stroke around the side of your body.
2. This shows the body starting to transfer the rotation to the opposite side. Your arm and body work together to bring maximum momentum forward to the front of the stroke.
3. Your hand isn’t able to enter the water in a normal streamlined position because your head is so high. Also, because you head-up has sent your legs lower, when your hand reaches the front of the stroke it has to overemphasise the press into the catch position in order to maintain stability.
Finger trail
It’s amazing how a gentle trailing of the fingertips can refine your arm recovery as well as increase stroke length
The beauty of this drill is its simplicity, combined with the way it improves your arm recovery. It works by conditioning your stroke length and recovery action, as well as putting your body in a near perfect swimming position. The recovery action during this drill is almost the same as in the normal stroke, the only difference being you trail your fingertips along the surface of the water. It would be worth using fins for this drill because the added momentum from your legs will help control the movements which must be performed slowly.
1. Trail the fingertips of your recovering hand in the water around the side of your body. It’s important not to bring your hand too close to your head as you could over rotate, placing your shoulder in an awkward position and inhibit the recovery action. This shows the drill performed with the opposite arm. Your head is low during this drill, but using fins to aid your kick and the positioning of your leading arm will help you maintain a level body position. From here, you can simply rotate to gain a breath as normal.
2. Keep your body positioned horizontally – using fins and a steady, consistent leg action will help. Look directly down at the bottom of the pool. Slightly exaggerate your stroke length but roll your body as normal.
3. Keep your fingertips in contact with the water all the way to the front of the stroke. Using a catch-up stroke (your recovering hand almost catches up with your extended hand before the next stroke begins) will help maintain balance.
Trail drill progressions
Once you’ve perfected finger-trailing, it’s time to move on to the hands and forearms…
These drill progressions should be performed over short distances (25-50m for beginners) and be followed, like all drills, by an easy, full-stroke swim practising best technique. The number of reps you perform depends on your ability. If you’re just starting out then practise each drill 2-3 times. If you’re a more experienced athlete, then try 3-4 reps over slightly longer distances. Remember: what you concentrate on with one arm, you have to match with the other and always practise the correct full stroke before moving on or you’ll finish your session feeling slightly unbalanced.
Hand trail drill
This drill is effectively the same as the fingertip drill but places more resistance onto the recovering arm. The extra resistance created by trailing your hand makes you concentrate fully on the correct action through the whole stroke because you aren’t able to rush through it.
Forearm trail drill
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This drill really loads your recovering arm with resistance and you should take care not to force the recovery. The emphasis is the same as the finger and hand trail drills but the resistance your forearm creates is much stronger, making you work harder on recruiting the correct muscles to perform the movement.
How to improve your ‘catch and pull’ phase in front crawl
Open-water swim technique: the key components
Front crawl technique: paddle or rake hand position?
Front crawl technique: the key components
How to streamline your swim
The Brownlee Centre sits alongside a new 1 mile (1.6km) cycle circuit – one of the longest in the country – at the University’s Bodington Playing Fields in north Leeds.
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It will also be a new National Elite Training Centre for Triathlon. The UK’s first purpose-built triathlon training base, it will combine a strength and conditioning training suite, physiotherapy, medical and other support services, to provide world-class facilities to enhance triathlon training in the region.
Alistair said: “This day marks a great day for cycling in Yorkshire. The start of the Tour de Yorkshire builds on a fantastic legacy and, thanks to these new facilities, Leeds continues to be a real centre for excellence when it comes to cycling and triathlon.”
Alistair Brownlee’s key triathlon training sessions
Jonny added: “A big thanks to the University and all of the supporters, because this centre and circuit will inspire everyone, from beginners through to elite athletes.”
The facilities, open to sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, will be available to use from next Tuesday [2 May] and include changing rooms and a café.
The cycle circuit has a full programme of activity including ‘pay and pedal’, HSBC UK Breeze Rides for women and girls and special training sessions for elite athletes, University and local clubs. Bikes for children and adults are available to hire, along with hand cycles, trikes and tandems for use by riders with disabilities.
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Partnership funding from British Cycling, British Triathlon and others contributed £1million to the project, with the remaining funding provided by the University of Leeds.
Challenge Family have announced a new event in Switzerland, the Challenge Davos Festival. Taking place September16-17 it will include a middle-distance triathlon, as well as a range of shorter distance events that form part of the national Swiss Tri Circuit.
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The festival also features a 12 km time trial, The Flüela Challenge, that athletes can either bike, roller ski, inline skate or run.
On Saturday competitiors in the Olympic distance triathlon will swim 1.5km in the clear waters of Lake Davos before biking a 24km bike course. This course will take the athletes up to the high mountain pass Flüelapass, which has an elevation of 2,383 metres.
Although the bike course is shorter in distance than in other Olympic distance tris the time needed to complete it will approximately be the same as an Olympic distance triathlon elsewhere.
The run leg will take athletes along the shores of Lake Davos before heading towards the finish line.
On Sunday the middle-distance tri will start at the edge of the beautiful Lake Davos where athletes will swim 1.9km, before cycling the 50km bike leg, which includes having to conquer the Flüelapass from each side.
The final third of the race will take athletes on a 21.1km run around the picturesque lake.
OC president, a water ambassador and former Swiss Olympic Triathlon coach, Ernst Bromeis, said: “It’s a dream to organise an event at the Flüelapass. It’s a unique experience to enjoy the scenery in silence and to hear only your own breathing rhythm, the wind and the flowing water. I would like to thank the authorities and the Destination Davos-Klosters for great cooperation.”
Are you tough enough to race the Monster Triathlon, a 550-mile event in September that sees teams and individuals swim, cycle and run from Loch Ness to London?
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Open to the general public for the first time, participants will complete a 5km swim in Loch Ness, cycle 100 miles a day for five days, before finishing with a 50km run/walk from Windsor to Richmond on the final day.
The event was pioneered by charity Sabre Trust in 2016, where a team of both novice and experienced triathletes from corporate partner Tullow Oil completed the challenge in eight days.
“We are delighted to see the Monster Triathlon evolve into a full public event this year after a very successful pilot last year,” said Dominic Bond, Managing Director at Sabre Trust. “We are looking forward to establishing the Monster in the challenge event calendar, and increasing the crucial work our teams do to improve the quality of education for Ghana’s youngest school children.”
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The Monster Triathlon takes place September 17-23 and you can find out more at www.monstertriathlon.org
Tomorrow (May 6) all eyes will be on Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee as he aims to qualify for the 2017 70.3 World Champs at the Ironman 70.3 St George North American Pro championships in Utah, USA.
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A win would give him automatic qualification, while a top 3 place leaves him well positioned to get a slot ahead of the first top 40 qualifying cut-off on June 4th.
But it won’t be an easy race to win. Conditions will be pretty warm with the temperatures expecting to be between 80-85°F (26.67-29.4°C). The water temperature is expected to be in the low to mid-60°F
It’s a lake swim in Sand Hollow Reservoir, while the bike and run courses, say Ironman, ‘are two of the most challenging on the Ironman 70.3 circuit.’ The bike leg’s 3,536ft of climbing includes the signature climb up and through Snow Canyon State Park, while the run’s 1267ft of climbing includes scaling Red Hills Parkway, through the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.
See course maps here
The start list includes Canadian Lionel Sanders who set a new Ironman record at IM Arizona 2016, former 70.3 World Champion Sebastian Kienle (Germany) and Brent McMahon (Canada) who came 5th at St George in 2016.
In the pro field Alistair is joined by fellow Brits Mark Buckingham, Stuart Hayes and Tim Don, who used to race Alistair on the ITU circuit and has already got some 2017 70.3 victories under his belt, including Ironman 70.3 Campeche and Ironman 70.3 Liuzhou. Last year he finished 7th at the Ironman 70.3 World Champs.
Alistair’s debut at middle distance took place on April 21 at Gloria Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria, where he won comfortably in 04:03:09, stripping 10:35mins off the course record.
The Ironman 70.3 World Championships will take place at Chattanooga, Tennessee, on September 9.
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The Ironman 70.3 St. George North American Pro championships starts at 6.55am local time (13.55pm British time) and you can follow the action at Ironman.com
Alistair Brownlee’s key triathlon training sessions
Enjoying exploring Utah a bit #redrocks #utah #explore
A post shared by Alistair Brownlee (@alistair.brownlee) on May 4, 2017 at 11:30am PDT