Meter #05 — available now

Winners get the glory but when it comes to competition, deep down we all love an underdog

Meter has always found its inspiration in the stories of underdogs battling their way toward the top step of the podium, and this issue is no different. Perhaps the longest shot of all was Samia Yusuf Omar who ran at the 2008 Olympics for her country of Somalia. She placed last in the 200m, but received a standing ovation for her efforts. She kept the dream alive at home but came to untimely end, crossing the Mediterranean in pursuit of training opportunities. Her story is beautifully told in the graphic novel, An Olympic Dream by Reinhard Kleist who is interviewed here.

Speaking of the Olympics, photographer David Bracetty went to the US Trials in Oregon and produced an awesome series of portraits of athletes who placed third and fourth in their events. Third place went to Rio, fourth went home empty handed.

We start proceedings however with the story of the Speed Project, an epic relay race from LA to Las Vegas. Recalling Hunter S Thompson’s beautiful madness in Fear and Loathing, this is an epic tale of competition and camaraderie, with all the technicolor trippiness that comes from too much sun, too much running, and too little sleep.

An event that has more history than most is the Stawell Gift in Australia, as pictured on this issue’s cover. Being a big money handicap, convincing the judges that you’re the underdog is all part of the game with the long shots getting a head start. The result is that racing is full of surprises.

We think it’s our best issue yet, and at 164 pages, it’s undeniably our biggest. Winter’s on its way, stock up on motivation now — Meter #05 is available to buy now from Tracksmith.