RW Personal Best Awards - The Winners

The 2007 Personal Best Awards marked a new venture for Runner’s World but one that was long overdue – an annual celebration of all the best things in running. Our aim when founding the Awards was to recognise and reward the products and services runners find most valuable, and to ensure that the people who cast the votes were those who were actually using the products.

In February’s issue of RW we asked you, the readers of the magazine and the users of www.runnersworld.co.uk, for your favourite brand or product across eight running-related categories: food and drink, shopping, charity, brands and campaigns, shoes, gear, health and events. To avoid influencing the vote in any way there were no shortlists or suggestions – it was a completely open vote in each case. The winner of each individual award was simply the product, event or company that received the highest number of votes.

Thousands of your votes were counted to give us the winners of 28 individual awards and six elite categories. The elite awards were then presented to the winners at a glittering prize-giving ceremony in London a few days before the Flora London Marathon in April, attended by 10 RW readers who had won tickets in the draw for everyone who voted.

So without further ado, as they say at awards ceremonies, here are the Personal Best Awards as chosen by you, the RW community.

BEST PRODUCT
Lucozade Sport

For distance runners, two of the key factors affecting endurance are the depletion of the body’s muscle energy stores and fluid loss through sweating. Using a carefully selected balance of carbohydrates and electrolytes, Lucozade Sport is designed to address both problems. In tests it has been shown to improve sporting performance by 33 per cent and, if used regularly, can be a runner’s best insurance policy against dehydration, energy depletion and poor recovery.

Highly Commended Bassett's Jelly Babies

BEST SHOE
Asics GT-2120

Always pushing the boundaries of technology, Asics has a corporate running history that spans almost 60 years. For some time it has been the brand of choice for serious runners and variations of the 2120 have been its flagship shoe from the day it was launched in 1997. The latest edition is lighter than its predecessor but retains that blend of cushioning and stability and the snug, supportive fit that have made it the best and most popular shoe on the market for nearly a decade.

Highly Commended Nike Air Pegasus

BEST RETAILER
Sweatshop

Sweatshop started out as a single retail store in Teddington in 1971 but has grown into the largest chain of specialist running shops with 26 outlets across the country. Sweatshop prides itself on the breadth and quality of its product selection, but its desire to embrace technology and hire staff from sporting backgrounds has made it a must-go destination for all runners. The shops are complemented by successful mail order and web businesses, and the wider company also finds time to organise half-marathons in Reading and Nottingham.

Highly Commended JJB Sports

BEST EVENT
Flora London Marathon

Referring to the Flora London Marathon as just a race is doing it a disservice. It’s a national institution. Since it started in 1981 almost 600,000 people have completed it and every year record numbers apply to join them to run from Greenwich to The Mall. The race has helped to make London the world capital of marathon running as well as creating a charity fund-raising vehicle that is now the nation’s most successful single event. Last year alone runners in the race raised more than £40 million for charity, and it’s estimated that the event has helped to raise £315 million in its 26-year history.

Highly Commended ING New York City Marathon

BEST CHARITY
Cancer Research UK

BEST RUNNING BRAND
Nike