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Runner's World - Magazine
by Kahdeksantoista
This magazine is great. If you are even slightly onto the running scene, you know that there are only two running magazines on the market. If there are any more then please inform me as they are keeping themselves well hidden.
*PRICE*
Currently (20/12/09) £4.20 which is stupid if you ask me.
*MAGAZINE* ...
Depending on the climate, the cover model is your average Joe/Jo (usually a woman) dressed in appropriate attire for the season. Looking at this months issue (December), the model is wearing long running leggings and what looks like a rather thick running t-shirt, all this is whilst she is running on what looks like a quiet country lane.
The cover usually boasts tips on improving your personal best (which usually means the time you take to run a mile, or a certain track that you train on) and advice on nutrition. Tips on avoiding and curing injury as well as help on deciding where to go for running trainers and all other accessories. Every issue comes with a little catalogue from some independent company that sells all kinds of running gear.
*INSIDE*
Inside is the usual contents page, very well set out. Then is a two page spread of a particular reader's favourite place to run. It is a picture of a runner, running in said place and a small paragraph telling you who the runner is (not sure if it is the reader that sent in the suggestion or if it is one of the magazine's running models) and where he or she is running; and also why it is such a great place to run. Then is the letter from the editor and the masted. There is a 'Your letters' section. Throughout the magazine there are a lot of mini articles on warming up, pre-run snacks, training for a marathon and a lot of articles on readers' own stories. Scattered throughout the magazine are advertisements on up coming races, including charity ones which I consider as part of the magazine and not unsightly annoying adverts but there are some of those as well in the form of life-sized pictures of running trainers that no one can afford. There are also adverts on websites you have never heard of trying to sell you powder form energy drinks or carbohydrate bars at £1 a bar.
There are gadget reviews that can include footspas for after you have run, or gadget watches/wristbands that record your fastest lap or how far you have run etc. MP3 earbud reviews as these are very important, you cannot have earbuds falling out of your ears mid run and tripping you over, also sound quality. There are a lot of over-seas runs advertised as well which I find great inspiration to look at. When I have ran a couple of marathons in this country, it is off to Paris and Rome I go, running some famous routes with beautiful sights.
There are also race reports, *reviewing* races if you will, their staff, the route, the terrain etc.
Last but not least, there is an interview with a famous runner or a celebrity that is a dab hand a running and a race diary; a list of all races, big or small up to five months ahead of the current date.
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When Saturday Comes
by fwsoames
I noticed the last reviews of this magazine were from a few years back, and probably from a time when it was at its best.
It started up as an antidote to the bland establishment footie culture that blanketed the game in the 80s.It was sharp , opinionated and at times very very funny.
There was a cartoon they ... published where Dalglish is being interviewed and is asked whether he would swap Bobby Mimms for a pork pie.
"Is it one of those pies with an egg in it " was the gloomy Caledonian response.
Where else would you get football satire so cutting other than in a jumped up fanzine, which of course it was. They used to advertise pages of club fanzines in the back.Very few of those exist today.
It was printed on toilet roll, in black and white and you could only get it at the grounds in a lot of instances.
But all rebellion is fleeting.
The magazine has for many years been a part of the establishment. Happy to focus on the premiership and its assorted issues, topped off with retro 70s twee tales about funny hair dos and the history of the corner flag.
The letters pages became the refuge of the most boring people placed on gods earth as letter after letter began with the dreaded words "Back in the 70s before football became commercialised.........".
The real issues in football cause barely a ripple on its pages. A decade ago the hated Chester City were in real trouble and in danger of going out of business. The mag devoted two whole pages to a very well written article by a Chester fan. Five years ago my club was in a similar position and they devoted three paragraphs to a two year struggle. The Clubs in Crisis has all but disappeared which is a shame because it used to be one of the few forums for the dispossessed.
In truth its original remit has been taken up by the rise of the blog and in particular the excellent Football Management and 200% blogs. They are instant, prepared to speak out, and, importantly, place greater importance on the reader than their advertisers, of which they have none.
There is probably still a market out there for a counter culture football magazine, lets hope someone has the drive to start one up.
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