What's the craze about Paris 2024 Marathon POUR TOUS?

Welcome to July ‘24 version of 'Strides ‘n’ Miles' - a monthly newsletter by Traxamo. Paris Olympics is around the corner with opening ceremony scheduled for July 26th, 2024. For the first time ever in Olympics history, Paris 2024 is revolutionizing the dream of participating in the Olympics for general population. Wahoo Fitness is launching smart treadmill - KICKR to make indoor running more exciting and engaging. Also, we are sharing relationship between gut health and athlete performance. In community spotlight, learn more about the greater Boston track club! Enjoy this month’s episode!

In this month’s email:

• Meme Corner 😃 

• Check out the races happening in July 🏃‍♂️ 

• Can KICKR by Wahoo fitness be a game changer in indoor running?

• Gut health and athlete performance

• Paris 2024 Mass Participation Marathon - history in the making

• Community Spotlight - The Greater Boston Track Club (GBTC)

MEME CORNER

PLANNING CORNER

Welcome to July 2024. Summer months are here, it’s time for some family time and building memories. Checkout this fun races from across the world to squeeze in travel + run adventures :

Find the list of upcoming marathons near you on Abbott World Marathon Majors Race Directory.

Here are some more resources to plan for your next race:

• 2024 Half Marathons Calendar - USA - https://www.halfmarathons.net/race-calendar/

• International Marathons and Distance - https://aims-worldrunning.org/calendar.html

• Upcoming Marathons in USA - https://runningintheusa.com/classic/list/map/marathon/upcoming

TECH + TRAINING CORNER

Endurance athletes are usually not a big fan of indoor running. If you are a runner you know the drudgery of indoor runs. A lot of equipment makers has been trying for some time to make indoor running experience more interesting and engaging. Latest smart treadmill from Wahoo Fitness can be a game changer in the right direction.

Wahoo Fitness has introduced the KICKR RUN, a revolutionary smart treadmill designed to enhance the indoor running experience. Here are the key features and highlights of the KICKR RUN:

1. Cutting-edge technology: The KICKR RUN incorporates advanced technology to minimize distractions and provide a more immersive running experience.

2. Smart connectivity: Like other Wahoo KICKR products, the KICKR RUN likely offers seamless integration with popular training apps and software, allowing users to connect and train in virtual environments.

3. Precision and accuracy: While specific details are not provided, it's reasonable to assume that the KICKR RUN offers accurate speed, distance, and incline measurements, given Wahoo's reputation for precise power measurement in their cycling trainers.

4. Designed for serious runners: As part of the KICKR lineup, the KICKR RUN is likely targeted at dedicated runners and athletes looking for a high-quality indoor training solution.

5. Potential integration with Wahoo ecosystem: The KICKR RUN may work in conjunction with other Wahoo products, such as heart rate monitors and fitness trackers, to provide a comprehensive training experience.

6. Focus on user experience: Wahoo's emphasis on minimizing distractions suggests that the KICKR RUN is designed to create a more engaging and focused running environment compared to traditional treadmills

KICKR treadmills are available for pre-order now. If you have a chance to try them out, feel free to share your experience!

NUTRITION & DIET CORNER

Lets talk about Gut health and athlete performance

Gut health has a significant impact on athletic performance in several key ways:

1. Reducing inflammation: A balanced gut microbiome helps reduce systemic inflammation, which can improve recovery and overall performance. Inflammation can interfere with athletic performance and slow recovery, so maintaining a healthy microbiome is crucial for athletes.

2. Boosting energy levels: A healthy gut microbiome contributes to increased energy levels by:

• Improving lactic acid breakdown, which reduces fatigue

• Controlling redox function to delay fatigue symptoms

• Increasing ATP levels, the cell's energy source

• Modulating metabolism and energy harvest

3. Enhancing glucose metabolism: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut bacteria can improve glucose metabolism and boost energy production, which can enhance exercise performance.

4. Improving oxygen utilization: Higher levels of butyrate, a type of SCFA produced by certain gut bacteria, have been linked to increased capacity for using oxygen, which is a direct measure of metabolic performance.

5. Supporting muscle recovery: A balanced microbiome can reduce global inflammation in the body, which positively affects muscle recovery capacity.

6. Increasing microbial diversity: Athletes tend to have higher gut microbiome diversity compared to non-athletes, which is associated with better overall health and potentially improved metabolic function.

7. Enhancing nutrient absorption: A healthy gut microbiome promotes better absorption of nutrients from food, which is crucial for fueling athletic performance and recovery.

8. Improving mental strength: The gut-brain axis plays a role in neurological function and mental toughness, both of which are important for athletic performance.

To support gut health and potentially improve athletic performance, athletes can focus on:

• Consuming a diverse, fiber-rich diet to promote beneficial gut bacteria

• Incorporating probiotic-rich foods or supplements

• Maintaining regular exercise routines, as exercise itself can positively influence gut microbiome composition

• Avoiding excessive and prolonged exercise without adequate recovery, which can temporarily disrupt the microbiota

While research in this area is still evolving, the growing evidence suggests that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can be a valuable strategy for athletes looking to optimize their performance and recovery.

ELITE CORNER

Paris Olympics ‘24 is around the corner with opening ceremony scheduled for July 26th. For the first time ever in Olympics history, Paris 2024 is revolutionizing the dream of participating in the Olympics for general population.

Paris 2024 Mass Participation Marathon will allow amateur athletes will be able to run the same route as the Olympic marathon, by night, enabling as many people as possible to follow in the footsteps of outstanding athletes. This will be an extraordinary experience, on a unique and original route, celebrating the heritage and history of the Paris region and the whole of France. You can find more details about the 2 formats of the mass participation race here:

Although all the eyes will be on GOATs like Eliud Kipchoge, there are several marathon athletes selected for the Paris 2024 Olympics with some fascinating backstories:

1. Rose Harvey (Team Great Britain): A former corporate lawyer who was made redundant during the COVID-19 pandemic. She took up running as a lockdown project, aiming to make the Surrey County running team. Instead, she progressed rapidly, becoming a professional runner and qualifying for the Olympics with a time of 2:23:21 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

2. Philip Sesemann (Team Great Britain): A junior doctor who qualified for the Olympics with a time of 2:08:00 in February 2024. Interestingly, he named his two dogs Kipchoge and Haile after legendary marathon runners Eliud Kipchoge and Haile Gebrselassie, showing his dedication to the sport.

3. Mahamed Mahamed (Team Great Britain): Ethiopian-born athlete who moved to the UK in 2011 at age 14. He was inspired by athletes like Mo Farah at the London 2012 Olympics. Mahamed secured his Olympic spot with a time of 2:07:05 at the 2024 London Marathon, overcoming challenges of training during Ramadan.

4. Charlotte Purdue (Team Great Britain): A former ballet dancer who secured the Olympic standard time with 2:22:17 at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. This achievement is particularly meaningful as she was overlooked for selection in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games despite meeting the qualifying standard.

5. Calli Hauger-Thackery (Team Great Britain): Remarkably, she matched Purdue's time of 2:22:17 in her marathon debut at the 2023 McKirdy Micro Marathon in New York, immediately securing her Olympic spot.

6. Fiona O'Keeffe (Team USA): At 25 years old, this first-time distance runner set an Olympic Team Trials Marathon record of 2:22:10, breaking the previous record set by Shalane Flanagan.

These stories highlight the diverse paths and challenges overcome by marathon athletes on their way to qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The Greater Boston Track Club (GBTC) is a prominent running club founded in 1973 that has played a significant role in competitive running in the United States.

1. Founding and Early Years: The club was established in 1973 and quickly became a force in competitive running. It evolved under the leadership of Coach Bill Squires, who played a crucial role in shaping the club's direction and success.

2. Achievements: The GBTC has amassed nearly 80 regional, national, and international titles over its history. The club has produced world-class runners and Olympians, including Bill Rodgers (four-time winner of both Boston and New York marathons) and Alberto Salazar (three-time New York Marathon winner and Boston Marathon winner).

3. Purpose: The GBTC provides a supportive environment for athletes of all levels, offering places to train, camaraderie, teammates, and coaching to facilitate effective training. It caters to runners ranging from beginners to Olympic-level athletes.

4. Legacy: The club has been influential in the running community for over four decades. Its history reflects the evolution of competitive running in the United States, including the running booms of the 1970s and beyond.

5. Community Impact: The GBTC has been involved in various aspects of the running community, including participating in events like the Boston Marathon and even appearing as extras in a "Spenser: For Hire" TV episode.

6. Ongoing Presence: As of 2024, the GBTC continues to be an active and respected organization in the running community, maintaining its legacy of fostering competitive running and supporting athletes at various levels.

The Greater Boston Track Club's history is a testament to its enduring impact on the sport of running, having nurtured numerous elite athletes while also providing a supportive community for runners of all abilities.

WHAT’S NEW AT TRAXAMO

In this next episode of Tech in 26.2 podcast - I sat down with Troy Busot, Founder & CEO of Athlinks (a LifeTime Company) : the premier platform for race results and athlete data that holds ~400 million race results and counting. As a triathlete and serial entrepreneur, Troy recently launched iLoomi, an expert biographer for writing a life story. Some of the key focus areas of our conversations were:

🎯 Founding journey of Athlinks and pivots to find product market fit
🎯 Figuring out generating revenue (through advertising) and retrospectives on mistakes
🎯 How to build a company with exit in mind from day one?
🎯 Power of networking and finding a suitor to sell Athlinks
🎯 Selling Athlinks to LifeTime Fitness and figuring out how to get things done at LifeTime
🎯 Events leading to launch of iLoomi - celebrating magical moments of life

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