In a week that saw increased levels of pandemic in the North West region and higher levels of lockdown imposed again it was a further withdrawal of athletic activity, against a backdrop of some fine global performances and the publication of the first issue of Athletics Weekly since March, albeit as a monthly edition. In Valencia Ethiopan Letesenbet Gidey broke the women’s 5,000m world record in 14:06:62 and Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei set a new men’s world 10,000m mark with 26:11:00. Days later world 1500m and 10,000m champion Sifan Hussan beat Paula Radcliffe’s 18-year-old 10,000m record and set a new European record with 29:36.67 in torrential conditions in Hengelo. Nearer home a new British record was set for the 68-mile Bob Graham Round in the Lake District as Ambleside man George Foster set the second-fastest time ever with 13hrs 44mins.