Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and help page

Frequently Asked Questions or FAQs and Help Page

Q: What subject matter does the website specialize in?

Athletics Illustrated specializes in writing, video-taking, photography and podcasting stories, and editorial posts specifically about the sport of athletics.

Q: Is the name “athletics” the same as “sports?”

No, athletics, by name, is specifically one sport of its own, which includes running, racewalking, wheelchair, paralympic and field events.

For example:

  • Running
    • Sprints
    • Middle distance (800m, 1500m, 3000m and 3000m steeplechase)
    • Long distance (5000m, 10,000m, half-marathon and marathon)
    • Ultra distances (anything over the 42.195 km marathon, like 50K, 100K)
    • Cross-country running
    • Trail racing
    • Mountain running
    • Fell running
    • Indoor running events, now referred to as “short track”
  • racewalking
  • wheelchair racing
  • Paralympic events
  • Field events:
    • Shot put
    • Javelin throw
    • Pole vault
    • High jump
    • Long jump
    • Triple jump
    • Discus throw
    • Hamer throw
  • Multi-sport events
    • Decathlon
    • Pentathlon
    • Modern pentathlon
    • Heptathlon

Q: Are triathlon and other multi-sport events considered “athletics?”

The word “athletics” is not interchangeable with the word “sports” globally, as it is in the USA and Canada. Athletics is the sport of running and field events, as listed above.

The sport of athletics does not include triathlons. Triathlons are their own sport and have a different global governing body. The governing body for triathlons is named World Triathlon and manages triathlon sprints, Olympic distance, 70.3 or half-ironman and ironman events.

World Triathlon also manages duathlon, which is typically a run-bike-run format race. With no swim, unlike triathlons.

Q: Is snowshoe running an athletics event?

Runners will race in a snowshoe event; however, the World Snowshoe Federation governs this sport. So, it is not an athletics sport.

Q: How many contributors are there to Athletics Illustrated?

Many different people have contributed to Athletics Illustrated over the years; however, Christopher Kelsall has written most of the content. He has also contributed videos, podcasts, and photos.

Q: When did Athletics Illustrated start?

Athletics Illustrated began in 2010. The website-as-a-magazine started with stories written by Christopher Kelsall when he was contributing to Flotrack.org.

Q: Has Athletics Illustrated always been a stand-alone publication?

Athletics Illustrated belonged to the Milesplit.us North American network, which Flotrack.org later acquired. The relationship between Athletics Illustrated and Milesplit lasted one year. Otherwise, yes, Athletics Illustrated has been a stand-alone publication.

Q: Is Athletics Illustrated on social media? What are the social media handles?

Yes, Athletics Illustrated is on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Mix, Instagram, and YouTube.

Q: Where is Athletics Illustrated physically located?

Athletics Illustrated, also known as Athletics Illustrated Magazine, is located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on Vancouver Island.

Q: Does Athletics Illustrated provide running advice?

Yes, Athletics Illustrated provides running advice by freelance writers and Christopher Kelsall.

Christopher Kelsall is a Level 2 Arthur Lydiard and NCCP Club Coach (technical, pending) with 20 years of experience in athletics. Christopher Kelsall is also an NCCP Senior Soccer Coach.

The coaching advice leans heavily on the Arthur Lydiard method of training. Christopher Kelsall is an expert in this method.

The advice is based on a more serious take on training, for example, advising runners to run a higher volume of training and continuing to increase the distances over time. There is less emphasis on speed work and more on building the aerobic base (a foundation) before running short periods of faster running before beginning to race.

Q: Are there very many athlete interviews on the website?

Yes, there are over 1100 interviews on the website with all levels of athletes, including elementary school-age athletes to Olympians and all levels in between.

Most interviews are in-depth and in written form; however, there are many video interviews conducted at races at cross-country, and track meets, as well as road and trail races.

Q: Are there opinion articles on the website?

Yes, there are many opinion articles. Many of the opinion articles are about doping-related issues in the sport, and many are about potential race performance by athletes over various distances.

Q: What writing style or press style does Athletics Illustrated adhere to?

While the subject matter in Athletics Illustrated is global, the publication adheres to the Canadian Press Style or CP Style of writing. There is an editorial guide available. This is different from the popular American preferred Chicago Style or American Press Style writing.

Q: Does Athletics Illustrated sponsor events?

Yes, Athletics Illustrated sponsors several events. The sponsorships are centred around a few different offers, including:

  • Independent storytelling
  • Video production
  • Photography
  • Race announcing and MC service
  • Advertising

Sponsored events:

Athletics Illustrated and Christopher Kelsall have also done race announcing, shot video, taken photos and written in support at many other events.

Q: Does Athletics Illustrated provide shoe reviews?

Yes, Athletics Illustrated provides shoe reviews. These are reviews on shoes and any other running gear that the authors actually wear test. Athletics Illustrated also reviews books, movies, Netflix series, and various forms of related exercise gear and equipment and swag.