CRAIG ENGELS WAS RUNNING OUT OF CHANCES to meet the 2020 Olympic standard in the 1500 meters, and one of his best opportunities-the competitive Diamond League series final-was almost within reach. Engels sat one spot below the meet's qualification cutoff, and he had just one race left to move up: the Meeting de Paris. Many runners would have channeled the high stakes and ticking clock as extra motivation, and the cards were in Engels's favor. He was training in nearby St. Moritz, Switzerland-just a few train rides away from Paris-and he was in the best shape of his life. It seemed all he had to do to make the final and presumably hit the standard was show up.
But when the runners approached the Paris track, Engels was 4,000 miles away, trying on a suit to go with his trademark mullet and mustache. He had skipped the race to attend a friend's wedding in Nashville.
As Engels posed for photos with the other groomsmen, Uganda's Ronald Musagala crossed the Paris finish line, and Engels's chance at the Diamond League final seemingly disappeared. "Everyone around me was like, 'Dude, you're dumb," Engels says. But was he? The following month, he ran in the race anyway as an alternate after another athlete dropped out-torching his way to a 3:34.04 PR and beating the Olympic standard by almost a full second.
This story is from the Issue 03, 2022 edition of Runner's World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 03, 2022 edition of Runner's World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Twenty-One Years Ago, He Incarcerated Was for Life. Last Year, He Ran the NYC Marathon a Radically Changed Man.
Rahsaan Thomas rounded a corner.
100 WOMEN. 100 MILES. ONE HISTORIC RECORD.
On June 3, 2023, a group of 100 women came together to reclaim the 100x1-mile relay world record. | It reminded her of what she loved about running in the first place: a tight-knit community of women.
CAN YOUR GARMIN WATCH REPLACE A COACH?
Artificial Intelligence continues to rapidly creep into seemingly every facet of our daily lives. While no amount of computer learning will ever be able to do the actual running for you, there are aspects, like coaching, where AI could have a meaningful impact. In every debate about Al, the conversation almost always includes this question: Is it better than what humans can accomplish? In the case of running, would Coach AI be better than, say, Ed Eyestone, a two-time Olympian and coach of Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, the top two men at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February?
A SHORTLIVED AFFAIR WITH A WALKING BOOT
“Usually, engage in all kinds of activities when start a relationship. With you, Fiking, dancing, and running are clearly of the table.”
HOW TO (NOT) COMPETE WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Our first race together was a 5K Color Run. I'm not sure why we signed up, because neither of us was a runner, but in May 2016, my boyfriend of three years, Jonathan, and I showed up to run around the parking lot at Citi Field. It was fun, but I didn't think it would amount to anything.
GAMIFY TRAINING TO MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU
Instead of sticking to an iron-clad structure and numbers, I've tailored it to what motivates me, borrowing from the community around me and learning from their training.
THIS KITCHEN GADGET IS AN UNHERALDED TRAINING TOOL
Not only would the rice cooker help me meal-prep and pile on the carbs, but it was a badge of honor, a commitment to serious training.
REASONS TO RACE BEYOND CHASING A TIME GOAL
It's the determination, joy, and pride I see shine on everyone-a unique light that seems to illuminate most when running races-that brings more meaning to the miles.
A LIFETIME JOURNEY OF FUELING MISTAKES
DURING THE 2023 New York City Marathon, Runner's World set up shop in an empty storefront on West 57th Street with Adidas and hosted three days of inspiring talks, shakeout runs, and shoe demos.
THE ACCIDENTAL JOY OF RUNNING WITHOUT HEADPHONES
I'M FUMING. I rummage through my work tote, turn my workout bag inside out, lift every notebook on my desk, go through the pockets of every piece of clothing in my zone of vision, then my tote again... It's 5 p.m. I'm standing in the middle of the office dressed for a run, but my AirPods are nowhere to be found-and I can't possibly leave without them!
