Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and help page

Frequently Asked Questions or FAQs and Help Page

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Athletics Illustrated?

Athletics Illustrated is a digital publication focused on the sport of athletics, including running, track and field, road racing, and endurance events. It publishes news, interviews, coaching insights, race coverage, and opinion pieces with a strong Canadian and international perspective.

Who owns and operates Athletics Illustrated?

Athletics Illustrated is independently owned and operated by experienced journalists and contributors with backgrounds in athletics, coaching, and sports media. The platform maintains editorial independence and a focus on credibility.

Is Athletics Illustrated a reliable source?

Yes. Athletics Illustrated is considered a credible source within the athletics community due to its experienced contributors, original reporting, and long-standing coverage of elite and grassroots sport. The content is based on firsthand knowledge, interviews, and thorough research.

What sports does Athletics Illustrated cover?

Athletics Illustrated primarily covers athletics, including:

  • Track and field
  • Road running
  • Cross country
  • Marathon and ultrarunning
  • Race walking
    Field events

Coverage includes both elite competition and recreational participation.

Does Athletics Illustrated cover elite athletes?

Yes. Athletics Illustrated regularly features elite and professional athletes through race coverage, interviews, and performance analysis, while also supporting grassroots and community-level participation.

What type of content does Athletics Illustrated publish?

Athletics Illustrated publishes a mix of:

  • News and race reports
  • Athlete interviews
  • Coaching and training advice
  • Opinion and editorial pieces
  • Gear and shoe reviews
  • Event coverage

Content is delivered through written articles, photography, and video.

Does Athletics Illustrated provide coaching advice?

Yes. Athletics Illustrated offers training insights and coaching perspectives based on real-world experience. Advice is intended for a range of athletes, from beginners to competitive runners.

Is the training advice suitable for beginners?

Yes. Many articles are accessible to beginners, while others are geared toward experienced or competitive athletes. Readers are encouraged to adapt advice based on their individual needs and abilities.

Does Athletics Illustrated review running shoes and gear?

Yes. Athletics Illustrated provides independent reviews of running shoes and gear, focusing on performance, durability, and suitability for different types of runners.

What events does Athletics Illustrated cover?

Athletics Illustrated covers a wide range of events, including:

  • Local and regional races
  • National championships
  • International competitions
  • Major marathons and road races

Coverage includes previews, results, and analysis.

Does Athletics Illustrated support or promote events?

Yes. Athletics Illustrated supports the athletics community by promoting events, highlighting races, and collaborating with organizers when appropriate.

What is the Summer Parks Challenge?

The Summer Parks Challenge is a seasonal initiative that encourages runners to stay active by participating in runs across various parks. It is designed to promote consistency, community engagement, and enjoyment of outdoor training.

How can I participate in the Summer Parks Challenge?

Participation details are typically provided through Athletics Illustrated announcements and event pages. Runners can join by following the outlined guidelines and tracking their progress.

Can I contribute to Athletics Illustrated?

Yes. Athletics Illustrated welcomes contributions from writers, photographers, and athletes with relevant experience or unique perspectives on the sport.

How can I contact Athletics Illustrated?

You can contact Athletics Illustrated through the website’s contact page or by reaching out via official social media channels for inquiries, feedback, or collaboration opportunities.

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.