2008: 136 men spend under 35 minutes on the mile. 2019: 473 men do the same feat. 2008: 80 women spend less than 42 minutes on the mile. 2019: 330 women do the same feat. – Ten years ago, the starting shot went with Henrik Ingebrigtsen, who won the EC in the 1500 metres, says athletics commentator Jann Post. BREAKTHROUGH: Henrik Ingebrigtsen broke through internationally in 2012. Photo: news The Bannister effect among exercisers? On 6 May 1954, Briton Roger Gilbert Bannister became the first in the world to run an English mile faster than four minutes. Suddenly the psychological barrier was broken. Then followed a rush of runners who completed the “mile” in under four minutes. Now it’s called the Bannister effect. Ten years ago, Henrik Ingebrigtsen broke through with EC gold. Since then, we have seen more results internationally, but also a tremendous growth in fast runners among exercisers. (The figures from 2020 and 2021 are not included as few races were organized due to corona.) Are we seeing the Ingebrigtsen effect among Norwegians? – Ten years ago, there were few Norwegians who thought they could be the fastest in the world. It has gradually turned around after Henrik won the EC, says Jann Post. – Are exercisers also affected by this? – I think that has a lot to say. When someone breaks a boundary, many others do too. It will probably have a lot to say in the years ahead, Post replies and adds: – Many have been inspired by the Ingebrigtsen brothers. Jann Post is himself a skilled marathon runner. Photo: TIMOTHY F HANNA / marathon-photos.com Greater knowledge and environment, as well as new technology Henrik, Filip and Jakob Ingebrigtsen have inspired both other elite athletes and exercisers. But are there other reasons why we have become faster? – I think people generally have more knowledge about exercise. Also exercisers. It pays off in running life, says Post. More and more clubs and environments are emerging in Norway. Like Bodø Bauta in Bodø. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Local racing environments are also emerging. Can it affect the overall results over time? – Local clubs, running groups and role models are important. When people see that others around them manage something, it affects them, explains Post. Jann Post also mentions that runners talk about the time before and after 2017. Why? Carbon shoes. 2017: Nike launched the Vaporfly in 2017. It was said by the manufacturer that runners became 4 percent faster using this shoe. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news Frida Wågan at Nord University has, together with Anne Tjøndal, researched the connection between performance development in Norwegian running and new technology. She explains that at elite level in Norway it is recognized that the shoes have a lot to say. But exercisers also enjoy the technology. – It seems that exercisers are motivated by new technology. Frida Wågan (28) is herself an active exerciser. She says many people are surprised by how easy the hard training should be. Photo: Privat Like Post, she points out that there also seems to be more knowledge among exercisers, especially in connection with threshold training. – Many have probably been surprised in recent years by how easy threshold training should be. The fact that more people relate to this means that many people avoid injuries and keep their motivation up. But has everything improved in recent years? We run faster, but was there more joy before? PHOTO: Sondre Skjelvik – We had fun in training the whole time This is not the first time that a wave of running has swept over Norway. – I entered the race with a bang. I had stopped skiing, got a job and started running, says Ingrid Kristiansen to news. The former 5,000, 10,000 and marathon world record holder reminisces back to the 80s – when running was perhaps even more popular than today. Ingrid Kristiansen was one of the world’s best runners in the 80s. She believes there was more focus on the joy of running 40 years ago. Photo: Gill Allen / Ap – There was so much enthusiasm in the running community. We had fun in training the whole time. Run and enjoy us, says Kristiansen. – I feel that there are many who cannot manage that today. Ingrid emphasizes that they trained a lot and in a structured way, but that there was not as much detailed log-keeping as there is today. – Today there is a lot of focus on the clock, checking the speed and controlling. Many people are keen to get every single meter in the log. It could be too much, says Ingrid Kristiansen. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news She adds: – When I ran 1000 metres, it was about 1000 metres. Today, you get absolutely accurate data in real time. I think that means that you can lose the joy or get caught up in always being better than the previous training session. Listen to news’s own running podcast “I det lange løp”: Think someone will fall outside Ingrid thinks the focus on technology in the long run may cause running to lose athletes. – I actually think we will lose someone. It’s not that heart rate monitors and technology don’t have value, but they have to be used correctly. – There were many people who ran fast in the 80s. There wasn’t such a focus on training details then? – It was probably a slightly different mindset. A little more focus on the joy of running, replies Kristiansen and adds: – If anyone had read my training diaries from that time, many would probably have said that I was a non-serious athlete, she says with a chuckle. Back in 2022, there is still a tidal wave sweeping over Norway. Jakob Ingebrigtsen leads the way with achievement after achievement. How long can this last? – As long as Jakob Ingebrigtsen is motivated, we can hope that he stays at the same level for at least another ten years, says Jann Post. – After that, we’ll see. I don’t know if anyone will emerge who will be as good as Jakob, he is something entirely on his own. But I have faith that Norway can be a significant running nation for many years to come. ALSO READ:
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