Sawe’s secret sauce: inside the lab that fuelled historic sub-two hour marathon
Listen to Course
0:00
0:00
EN: The use of 'When' as a subordinating conjunction to establish a temporal context for the main clause. In formal journalism, this structure sets the scene before delivering the primary observation.
When the company announced its quarterly results, investors immediately reacted to the unexpected growth.
EN: The phrasal verb 'fixate on' implies an obsessive or singular focus. It is more intense than 'focus on' and often suggests that other important factors are being ignored.
The public tends to fixate on the private lives of celebrities rather than their professional achievements.
EN: The compound adjective 'carbon-plated' uses a hyphen to combine a noun and a past participle, functioning as a single modifier for the noun 'shoes'.
The athlete preferred custom-made equipment for the championship.
EN: The mention of 'carbon-plated shoes' refers to a significant controversy in athletics. These 'super shoes' use advanced technology to increase energy return, leading to debates about whether records are due to human talent or technological advantage.
EN: The use of 'that' as a relative pronoun introducing a noun clause (content clause) after reporting verbs like 'argue', 'claim', or 'suggest'. This structure is essential for reporting opinions or findings in academic and journalistic writing.
The researchers argued that the initial data was misinterpreted.
EN: Backshift of tenses in reported speech: When the reporting verb ('argued') is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinate clause ('deserved') also shifts to the past tense to maintain temporal consistency, even if the fact might still be true.
She said that she wanted to join the project.
EN: Gothenburg is Sweden's second-largest city and a major hub for innovation and sports science. The mention of an 'unremarkable office building' contrasts with the high-tech nature of Maurten's research, a common narrative trope in journalism to emphasize substance over appearance.
EN: Appositive phrases are used to rename or provide more information about a noun. Here, 'the sports nutrition brand Maurten' identifies 'Their employer'.
My mentor, a renowned marathon coach, emphasizes the importance of recovery.
EN: The present perfect tense ('has... revolutionised') is used to describe an action that started in the past and has a significant impact or relevance to the present.
Technological advancements have transformed the way athletes train.
EN: The structure 'consider [object] [adjective]' is used to express an opinion or judgment about something. 'Indispensable' functions as an object complement.
Many experts consider the new regulations necessary for fair play.
EN: Maurten is a real-world Swedish sports nutrition company that gained fame for its 'Hydrogel technology,' which allows athletes to consume high amounts of carbohydrates without gastrointestinal distress. It has become a staple in elite marathon running, used by legends like Eliud Kipchoge.
EN: The idiom 'more than/beyond what meets the eye' is used to suggest that a situation or person is more complex or important than they first appear.
The budget deficit is a serious problem, and there is more to it than meets the eye.
EN: Appositives (co-founder and chief executive of Maurten) are used to provide additional information about a noun (Olof Sköld). They are typically set off by commas.
Mr. Chen, the principal of our school, will give a speech tomorrow.
EN: The verb 'emphasise' (or 'emphasize') is often followed by a 'that' clause to report a statement or belief with particular force.
The report emphasised that the project must be completed on time.
EN: The phrase 'what meets the eye' is a common English idiom. In the context of sports technology, it refers to the fact that while shoes are visible and flashy, the chemical and nutritional science (like Maurten's hydrogels) is 'invisible' but equally critical to performance.
EN: The conjunction 'while' is used here to introduce a concessive clause, establishing a contrast between the high visibility of shoe brands and the consistent presence of Maurten. In formal contexts, it functions similarly to 'although' or 'even though'.
While the initial investment is high, the long-term benefits are substantial.
EN: The verb 'command' in this context means to deserve and get something, such as attention or respect, because of certain qualities. It implies a position of power or dominance in the market or field.
The CEO commands great respect from her employees.
EN: The phrase 'the sole constant' uses 'sole' as an adjective meaning 'only' or 'exclusive'. It emphasizes that among many variables, only one thing remains unchanged.
Change is the sole constant in the fast-paced tech industry.
EN: In elite sports, 'visibility on podiums' refers to the marketing value of athletes wearing specific brands while receiving medals. This is a highly competitive space where major brands like Nike or Adidas spend millions. Sköld's comment highlights a shift from visible equipment (shoes) to invisible performance enhancers (nutrition).
EN: The Present Perfect Passive voice ('has been achieved') is used here to describe an action that started in the past (2018) and continues to be true up to the present moment, emphasizing the result rather than the doer.
The championship title has been held by the same team for three consecutive years.
EN: The past participle phrase 'fuelled by...' acts as a reduced relative clause (which was fuelled by...), functioning as an adjective to modify 'athlete'. In sports contexts, 'fuelled by' often refers to the specific nutrition or energy source used.
The rocket, fuelled by liquid hydrogen, reached orbit in minutes.
EN: The use of 'every' followed by singular nouns ('men's and women's marathon world record') emphasizes each individual record within the collective group, requiring a singular verb 'has'.
Every student and teacher has a responsibility to maintain the school's reputation.
EN: In elite endurance sports, the term 'fuelled by' has moved beyond literal eating to represent a scientific approach to glycogen management. Maurten's dominance in marathon records highlights a shift where nutrition is now viewed as 'legal performance enhancement' comparable to technological advances in footwear.
EN: The phrase 'Were it not for' is a formal, inverted conditional structure used to express 'if it were not for'. It describes a hypothetical situation in the present or future that is contrary to fact. In this inversion, the 'if' is omitted and the verb 'were' is moved to the front.
Were it not for your support, I would not be able to finish this project.
EN: The word 'suggested' acts as a reporting verb. In English news or formal writing, reporting clauses (like 'Sköld suggested') are often inserted as parenthetical elements in the middle or at the end of a sentence to attribute the statement to a source without disrupting the flow of the main idea.
The economy, the minister argued, is showing signs of recovery.
EN: The use of 'would look' combined with the 'were' conditional indicates a second conditional structure. This is used to imagine the consequences of an unreal present situation. 'Fundamentally' is an adverb of degree used here to emphasize the scale of the difference.
If we lived on Mars, life would look fundamentally different.
EN: The term 'landscape' is used metaphorically here to describe the current state, trends, and competitive environment of a specific field (elite distance running). This is a common high-level business and journalistic expression in English.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'with + noun + past participle' functions as an absolute construction or a descriptive modifier, providing additional information about the main clause.
The museum is very modern, with walls decorated by local artists.
EN: The phrasal verb 'named after' is used to indicate that someone or something is given the same name as another person or thing to show respect or honor.
The park was named after a famous botanist.
EN: The present participle 'including' acts as a preposition here to introduce specific examples that belong to a broader category (distance running legends).
The price covers everything, including taxes and insurance.
EN: Naming corporate spaces after legendary figures in a specific field (like Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record breaker) is a common practice in modern sports companies to inspire employees and align the brand with excellence and history.
EN: The use of 'himself' after a noun is an intensive pronoun used to add emphasis to the subject or object, highlighting that the person mentioned is particularly significant or unexpected.
The director himself attended the small independent film screening.
EN: The relative pronoun 'whose' introduces a non-restrictive relative clause, providing additional information about 'Sawe'. It functions as a possessive, indicating that the 'London Marathon time' belongs to him.
The scientist, whose research changed the world, remained very humble.
EN: The verb 'redefined' is used here in a figurative sense to mean changing the way something is understood or setting a new standard that surpasses previous limits.
Her innovative approach redefined the standards of modern architecture.
EN: The mention of a marathon time under two hours refers to a historic milestone in athletics. For decades, breaking the two-hour barrier was considered humanly impossible, similar to the four-minute mile. Sawe's achievement (in the context of this text) represents the pinnacle of sports science and human performance.
EN: Negative Inversion: When a sentence begins with a negative or restrictive adverbial phrase like 'Not only', the auxiliary verb (did, does, can, etc.) is placed before the subject. This structure is used for emphasis and is common in formal or literary registers.
Not only did she win the race, but she also set a new world record.
EN: Reduced Relative Clause: The phrase 'conducted in relative obscurity' is a reduced relative clause modifying 'research'. It is equivalent to 'which was conducted in relative obscurity'. The past participle is used because the research received the action.
The experiments conducted by the team led to a major breakthrough.
EN: Correlative Conjunctions 'Not only... but (also)': This pair connects two clauses or phrases of equal grammatical weight. In formal writing, 'also' is often included, but 'but' is the essential coordinator.
The project was not only expensive but also extremely time-consuming.
EN: The term 'relative obscurity' highlights a common narrative in sports science where breakthroughs often happen in small, private labs or niche companies (like Maurten in Gothenburg) long before they gain global recognition through major events like the London Marathon.
EN: The phrase 'in its own right' is an idiomatic expression used to indicate that something has a certain quality or status because of its own merits or characteristics, independent of other factors.
She is a talented artist in her own right, regardless of her famous parents.
EN: The use of the possessive 's with a brand name (Maurten's) functions as a determiner for the noun 'products', specifying ownership or origin.
The company's success was due to its innovative marketing.
EN: The London Marathon is one of the 'World Marathon Majors' and is a key event for testing sports technology. The mention of Maurten's dominance highlights the shift in focus from just footwear (like carbon-plated shoes) to nutrition science in elite sports.
EN: The use of 'as did' is an example of 'so/as' inversion used for comparison or addition. It functions as a pro-verb to avoid repeating 'maintained an official relationship'. The auxiliary verb 'did' matches the tense of the preceding main verb.
The first group showed significant improvement, as did the second group after the treatment.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'of the top [number]' is used to specify a subset within a ranked group. It is a common structure in sports journalism to denote elite performance levels.
Three of the top five candidates were invited for a second interview.
EN: In elite marathon running, 'official relationships' usually refer to sponsorship deals or technical partnerships. The mention of the 'Swedish company' (Maurten) highlights the shift in the sport where nutrition science is becoming as influential as traditional athletic gear brands.
EN: Inversion in conditional clauses: The sentence uses 'Should this trend persist' instead of 'If this trend should persist'. This is a formal way to express a hypothetical condition, often used in academic or journalistic writing.
Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
EN: The phrase 'the question arises whether...' is a formal construction used to introduce a specific inquiry or uncertainty that stems from a previously mentioned situation.
As the company expands, the question arises whether the current infrastructure can support such growth.
EN: The verb 'rival' used as a transitive verb means to be as good, clever, or important as someone or something else. It implies a high level of competition or parity.
The beauty of the Swiss Alps can rival that of any mountain range in the world.
EN: The sentence reflects a current debate in elite marathon running: the 'Super Shoe' era vs. nutritional breakthroughs. While carbon-plated shoes (like those from Nike or Adidas) have dominated headlines for years, Maurten's hydrogel technology represents a shift toward internal physiological optimization as a key performance driver.
EN: The idiom 'give someone/something a run for their money' means to be as good as someone or something else, making it difficult for them to win or succeed. It implies a high level of competition.
The young startup is definitely giving the tech giants a run for their money.
EN: The use of 'carefully engineered' is a compound modifier (adverb + past participle) used to describe a noun. It indicates that the system was developed with precision and scientific expertise.
The bridge was a carefully engineered structure designed to withstand earthquakes.
EN: The interrogative structure 'Can... truly...?' is used here not just to ask a question, but to challenge a prevailing assumption or to invite the reader to consider a surprising possibility.
Can artificial intelligence truly replicate human creativity?
EN: In the context of elite marathon running, 'super spikes' (or super shoes) refer to technologically advanced footwear with carbon plates and specialized foam that have significantly lowered world record times. The sentence highlights the ongoing debate in sports science: whether nutrition (like Maurten's hydrogels) or equipment (shoes) is the primary driver of these new human limits.
EN: The modal verb 'would' is used here to express a tentative or cautious conclusion based on evidence, rather than a definitive statement. It softens the assertion, which is common in academic or formal reporting.
The initial results would suggest that the new policy is working.
EN: The word 'so' functions as a pro-form, substituting for a previously mentioned clause or idea (in this case, that nutrition science might rival footwear technology). This avoids repetition and maintains cohesion.
If you think the price will rise, you should say so.
EN: In the context of sports journalism, referring to 'London' often implies the London Marathon, one of the most prestigious world marathon majors. The sentence reflects a shift in the sport's discourse from focusing solely on 'super shoes' to acknowledging the role of advanced nutrition science.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
The visible or obvious part of a situation, which may be more complex than it seems.
To be as good as or challenge a strong competitor.
Because of its own qualities and not because of a connection with something else.
High-performance running shoes containing a carbon fiber plate to increase energy return.
The improvement of physical or mental capabilities, often in a sporting context.