Run Culture S24 Vol 11

The Olympics is incredible, isn't it? Every four years, it ignites our imaginations and motivation. Even for those of us with no chance of competing, the idea of lacing up some spikes and running as fast as possible suddenly becomes appealing.

This week, we're diving into the excitement of the Olympics as Track and Field events have kicked off. For us in Australia, that might mean staying up (or waking up) at ungodly hours to watch live or avoiding all social media until we can catch the replays. The Tipping competition has begun, and with neither of the Jamaicans running, the 100m finals gave many zero points after Day 3. Day 4 has been better, and for those entered, check out the live leaderboard here. It's all manually input after the events, so if you spot any issues, don't hesitate to let me know.

This Week's Highlights

• Fractel x Dsplaced Collab: Check out this exciting new release.

• Track Spikes: A look at my favorite spikes and their coolest colorways.

• Geordie Beamish: Follow his lead-up to the Men's 3000m Steeplechase.

Due to time constraints we are missing the Gym section and my weekly training block (I will update this during the week)

Lets jump into it!

The Shopfront

Fractel x Dsplaced

When you think of headwear, most people think of Ciele or Fractel. As someone with a larger head, Fractel is my go-to because not all caps fit those with a big noggin.

Fractel started teasing a collab with the creative agency Dsplaced, which got me intrigued. I reached out to Matt for a hook-up in collaboration with Straight At It to try out the gear and provide a review.

The collaboration features the M series cap called “Terrasyn,” with a fresh design reminiscent of denim, representing the runner and all the different terrains they traverse.

Personally, I don’t usually buy darker caps for running to avoid overheating in summer, but for winter in Australia, this isn't an issue. As always, Fractel's fit and comfort are top-notch. Keep an eye out for new products at the Melbourne Marathon.

I planned a larger review of this cap, but in the end, it's simple: the hat is comfortable, fits most head sizes (including larger ones), and is a great winter option. Aesthetic preferences aside, it's a winner.

Fractel is also the only brand I know making legionnaires hats, taking me back to primary school days and perfect for sun protection in summer.

Track Spikes

The athletes have started racing on the purple track, and I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to strap on some spikes and rip some laps. This got me deep diving into track spikes, so here's a rundown of some of the coolest colorways and most popular spikes:

Nike Maxfly 2 - Sprinters

Nike Victory 2 - 800m to 5km

Nike Dragonfly 2 - 5km up

The latest electric colorway might not be for everyone (myself included), but you can't deny the orange pops on the purple track in Paris. It's a slow burn that grows on you, with silver and bronze medalists in the 100m sporting them, you know they're fast.

On Cloudspike Amplius - intended for Longer Distance

On Cloudspike Citius - intended for Middle Distance

Up until the On Cloudspike 10000, nothing seemed to compare to the original Nike Dragonfly, but On changed that. They made the mistake of naming the shoes by distance, which led to confusion, so now we have the Amplius and Citius.

Not available to the public yet, but the pros have a lightspray upper for their track spikes. These look stunning!

Adidas SP3 Strung - Sprinters

Adidas Ambition 2 - 800 to 1500m

Adidas Avanti - 3km to 10km

For fashion enthusiasts, the y-3 Adidas collabs are a must-see, and the SP3 strung worn by Noah Lyles in Paris is no exception. I've been wanting a y-3 collab but wish I enjoyed wearing Adidas more.

There are many more brands like New Balance, Puma, and Hoka, but these stood out to me.

The Cafe

George Beamish

I see Geordie Beamish content and I automatically press play. Ever since following the Coffee Club team, I've been a huge fan of Beamish and his monster kick in tactical races, along with his quiet and reserved manner.

Seeing him take Indoor World Championship gold in the 1500m was incredible, and I'm excited to see how he performs on the biggest stage in the 3000m steeplechase at the Olympics.

One of his sponsors, Roll Recovery, put together a "Day in the Life" video leading up to Paris.

The Clubhouse

With the Olympics kicking off, so has the activity in the Clubhouse. It's been a blast having others to chat Track and Field with live. While nothing beats watching it in person, having a good group to banter with online has been incredible. Special shout-out to Book, Garret, Jarrod, Hosko, Top Run and Macca for getting involved every day – the real OG crew.

We're planning more formalized watch parties, so keep an eye out for a flyer. For now, here's the plan:

• Women's 1500m Heats - 6th August, 6:05 pm AEST

• Men's 1500m Final - 7th August, 4:50 am AEST

• Women's 1500m Repechage - 7th August, 8:45 pm AEST

• Women's 1500m Semi-Final - 9th August, 3:35 am AEST

• Men's Marathon - 10th August, 4:00 pm AEST

• Women's 1500m Final - 11th August, 4:15 am AEST

• Women's Marathon - 11th August, 4:00 pm AEST

Feel free to jump in anytime a Track and Field event is on – chances are someone will be there to chat.

We also discussed an upcoming virtual racing summer series with races ranging from 3km to 10km, featuring a run/athletic club rivalry component. It's still early days, but if you want to learn more or have a say in its structure, join the Discord. It should be a great way to enhance the physical run club experience.

Another great week of running and looking forward to another watching the track on the purple track. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us on Instagram and see you next week.