EDITOR’S LETTER

THIS ISSUE PAYS TRIBUTE to the running trailblazers – figures who, despite being from different eras and backgrounds, have all, in their own way, pushed boundaries or contributed significantly to the progress of the sport. On page 36, we tell the story of Kihachiro Onitsuka, who founded the global shoe and equipment company we now know as Asics in post-Second World War Japan. His success came from drive, a sense of purpose and a particular type of visionary genius – the idea for the tread of his first basketball shoe came from seeing the octopus suckers in his lunch.

We remember the achievements of a very different character on page 58. Sammy Wanjiru was just 21 when he produced an awesome performance in searing heat to win marathon gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. It was a performance that saw the Kenyan considered the most exciting distance talent in the world, but he died only three years later, aged just 24.

On page 44, we profile Tinman Elite, a young running team whose goal is not just on-track results but also to push the sport of running forward by being open, engaging with fans and sharing their successes and failures.

And just to remind you that trailblazing has no age limit, we salute 72-year-old masters record-breakers Jeannie Rice and Gene Dykes on page 72. Prepare to be inspired.