Like the Wind #36

In issue 36, American writer Matt Wisner takes us trackside at the Penn Relays, lapping up the unique atmosphere that the Jamaican supporters bring to what might otherwise be a run-of-the-mill athletics meet. A couple of oceans away, Jaymes Shrimski reports from the burgeoning run crew culture in Manila, where running is still a niche sport and shiny corporate buildings co-exist alongside the red light district. Meanwhile, in Australia, Luke O’Shea’s fantastic photography paints a brilliant picture of the World Cross-country Championships, while writer Euan Crumley offers his opinion on a discipline of running that perhaps doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.

Chasing record running streaks and ever-longer cumulative distances is huge news at the moment – Jared Beasley takes a look at why women are leading the way right now in terms of ultra streaks. We’re also thrilled to have spoken to the man behind Freetrail, Dylan Bowman, who talks about how he sees the future of ultra racing panning out.

It’s amazing to be able to showcase all these stories on our pages… but perhaps running isn’t really the fantastically inclusive universal community we’d like to think it is. Like the Wind editor Simon Freeman sat down with Alison Désir and Sabrina Pace-Humphreys to talk about how, despite what some advertising campaigns might have us believe, the running world is still very often focused on the needs and expectations of the white, male population. As Black women, Alison and Sabrina are spearheading change, but there is a massive amount of work to be done before everyone has the freedom to run in the way that they want without coming up against ignorance and prejudice.

And even among that white male running demographic, hidden issues can be at play. Three men bravely take to our pages to talk about disordered eating and the stereotype of what “runners” look like.

As ever, it’s a huge privilege to be able to showcase these stories in Like the Wind and to be able to offer a platform to voices from right across the international running community. We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we have taken pleasure in putting it together.