I, robot


 A few months ago I read ‘The Slummer: Quarters Till Death’ a novel by Geoffrey Simpson, himself a runner with 5000m and10000m pb’s of 14.57 and 31.14.

The book is set in the year 2083 and is the story of one man’s struggle to improve his life on the fringes of society through his love of running. Taking on the genetically enhanced athletes of the elite.

Pretty standard SF stuff to be fair but with running as the prime mover.

Far fetched?

Well an article in the October edition of AW features some of the ideas of Frank Diana, described as a ‘futurist’. He works at one of the sponsoring companies of both the London and New York marathons, Tara Consultancy Services (TCS).

The article suggests that in future, due to technological advances, athletes could be wearing running gear produced from  materials that ‘dynamically morph based on body temperature and weather conditions to create an optimal temperature for the wearer. 

Also 3D printed nutrition providing the optimal and individualised mix of nutrients, based on real- time data received from nanabots that live in the bloodstream.

Looking even further ahead Diana suggests the possibility of  Exoskeletons, implants, artificial body parts and human/machine convergence.

So possibly not so far fetched.

And to think that the last couple of years has seen arguments about the use of a carbon plate in your running shoe!

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