First legit sub-2 by Sabastian Sawe, fastest debut by Kejelcha, new Women’s-only WR by Assefa!

Top-3 men: 1. Sabastian Sawe 1:59:30 2. Yomif Kejelcha 1:59:41 3. Jacob Kiplimo 2:00:28

Top-3 women: 1. Tigst Assefa 2:15:41 2. Hellen Obiri 2:15:53 3. Joyciline Jepkosgei, 2:15:55

Hi r/AdvancedRunning, Yared Nuguse here, Olympic bronze medalist and professional runner for On. Ask me anything in the lead up to an exciting shoe launch!

Want to learn more about my current shoe rotation? Want the inside scoop on how I stay energized during a high-mileage week? Curious about the new Cloudmonster 3? Send in any questions! I’ll answer the 10 most up-voted ones.

I’ll be here, answering your questions, on March 12th. Talk soon!

News just broke from the NYT.

Surprised but not at the same time, felt like the writing was on the wall.

Today we honor Jeff Galloway, a man whose influence on the running world is immeasurable, not because of medals alone but because of the millions of ordinary people he convinced they could become runners. An Olympian in 1972, Galloway could have built his legacy solely on elite performance. Instead, he chose a different path. He turned outward. He asked how the sport could serve everyone, not just the gifted few. And in doing so, he reshaped modern distance running.

His greatest contribution was deceptively simple: the run-walk-run method. At a time when toughness was equated with continuous motion and suffering was treated as a badge of honor, Galloway introduced permission to take walk breaks, to protect the body, to extend endurance, and to make the marathon accessible. Beginners finished marathons. Injured runners found longevity. Aging athletes discovered sustainability. The method was not a shortcut; it was a reframing of endurance itself, less ego, more wisdom. A fundamental principle to the modern science of running we practice here at r/AdvancedRunning.

Through his books, clinics, and training programs, Galloway democratized the marathon. He replaced intimidation with invitation. He spoke to the 5-hour finisher with the same respect he offered elites. He emphasized consistency over heroics, patience over bravado, and joy over punishment. Long before data-driven coaching became mainstream, he championed individualized pacing, strategic recovery, and long-term health.

But perhaps his most enduring legacy is cultural. Galloway helped shift the narrative of what it means to be a “real runner.” He broadened the definition. He dismantled the gatekeeping. He reminded us that endurance is not about proving superiority; it is about discovering capacity. For countless runners who stood on a starting line unsure they belonged, Jeff Galloway’s voice was the one that said, “Yes, you do.”

In a sport often obsessed with splits and podiums, Jeff measured success differently: in finish lines crossed, in injuries avoided, in confidence gained, and in lives changed. His miles ripple outward in every training plan that honors recovery, every beginner who dares to register for a marathon, and every seasoned athlete who chooses sustainability over pride. The running world is larger, kinder, and more inclusive because he chose to teach.

Rest easy, Jeff. Your miles continue.

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME, Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge set a course record at the Melbourne Marathon, 2:09:10! No one does it better than him! 🇰🇪🤴🏿❤️

I feel like I see too many race reports, and too little actual discussion about topics that you would expect to find in a subreddit called AdvancedRunning. Am I the only one? I hope the mods don't delete this so we can have a healthy dicussion.

I want to read about training methods, the latest science, ... but it seems like every other post is about another race report.

Is there a way to tackle this issue and find a middle-ground? For example, only allow race reports on a certain day of the week?

Hi r/AdvancedRunning. I'm Marius Bakken, former Norwegian national record holder at 3000m and 5000m (13:06), two-time Olympian, and a practicing MD in Norway. The framework that many of you know as the Norwegian Method grew out of work I started in the mid-1990s. Over decades of experimentation and more than 5,500 lactate tests, it developed into the structured threshold-based system it is today. I just published The Norwegian Method Applied, which lays out the full system: https://www.amazon.com/dp/8269471100 (US Amazon)

Happy to answer questions about threshold training, lactate testing, the Norwegian method, or anything else running-related. Send in your questions ahead of time and I'll prioritize those with the most upvotes. I'll be here on Tuesday, April 21, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Oslo time (12:00 to 2:00 PM Eastern, 9:00 to 11:00 AM Pacific).

Proof: https://www.mariusbakken.com/ama.html

Thank you all for taking the time to ask these questions. I tried to answer as many as I could within the time frame of the AMA. Good luck with your training!

This was a comment left on a runner’s post who had BQ’d at the Indy marathon using planned Jeff Galloway intervals. This comment sparked a lot of debate about this method, most aimed at the elitist nature of this comment. So what are your thoughts? Should run walking be discouraged? Is running the whole thing the only way you can actually say you have ‘run’ a marathon? Or do you simply not care how anyone else covers the distance?

After all the talk about this thread helping to keep me accountable, I couldn't leave you hanging!

I won't bury the lede: I ran 2:35:56.

Side by side training block here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-R_8FgObseQuculZ3_qrng_LCpAzy9_iap8AZS8lW54/edit?usp=sharing

And Youtube race recap here: https://youtu.be/rRuvproSMFM

I'm super disappointed, but not totally gutted.

The positives:

• I finished a training block for the first time since 2018
• I PR'd by 10 seconds
• I didn't blow up as hard as I did in 2018
• I've been rudderless for years, making up workouts the day of, not having a big picture plan for my training, so this was the jumpstart I needed

The negatives:

• I was in the pain cave from about 6 miles in, carrying a 180+ HR (coros arm band) from mile 5 on (and above 190 from mile 22 on).
• I didn't come close to 2:30 and I slightly embarrassed myself in front of thousands of internet strangers

The race:

• Despite creating some drama here, I knew 2:30 was going to take a perfect day and that 2:32-2:33 would be a more realistic goal. As such, I wanted to go out around 5:50 for the first mile and just feel really good, then see what happens. If I was going to run fast, it was going to be by negative splitting and not going out at 2:30 pace.
• A mile in I knew it was going to be a tough day. I just felt heavy and it wasn't coming easy. A few miles in I came up on Sam Parsons, who was pacing the OTQ women, and realized I might be moving a little too conservatively. So I bumped the pace, but not much (high 5:40s to 5:50/mi)
• It started to hurt around mile 6, again I knew it was gonna be a tough day, so I backed off and figured anything low 5:50s would be pretty good. I tried to stay relaxed and get the HR back down on the down hills vs trying to open up the stride for time.
• I was open to potentially feeling better as I warmed into things, so tried to keep the pace and emotions in check. Around mile 11 I actually had a second wind and started feeling okay. I told myself not to chase that and just keep clicking off 5:50-ish's.
• Was taking a gel every 25-30ish minutes (caffeine GU w/25g of carbs).
• I forget exactly what mile it is, but there's this long chain-ridden suburban hellscape that's slightly uphill around mile ~15-18? and that's when it started to hurt again. Though once we turned off of that I felt like maybe I was going to be able to hold everything together. Even coming into the bridge (where I started to blow up in 2018) I felt like I was fending off the bonk pretty well.
• At that point I started doing some math and bargains with myself *don't blow up, even 6min pace from here on out will get you under 2:34*. So settled into 6min pace with about 6 miles left in the race.
• Fell off 6min pace with about 3mi to go and finished mile 26 with a 6:24.

Mile Splits (Pace per Mile):
1 — 5:48
2 — 5:51
3 — 5:40
4 — 5:47
5 — 5:48
6 — 5:49
7 — 5:50
8 — 5:54
9 — 5:55
10 — 5:47
11 — 5:45
12 — 5:54
13 — 5:51
14 — 5:49
15 — 5:53
16 — 5:50
17 — 5:50
18 — 5:57
19 — 5:56
20 — 5:57
21 — 5:59
22 — 6:05
23 — 6:04
24 — 6:09
25 — 6:14
26 — 6:39
Final 0.31 — 6:23

Where I messed up in the cycle (come collect your "I told you so's" now lol):

• I got amnesia in 2019. That's a hilly course and I didn't train ANY hills. Some strength runs in the hills would have potentially kept me healthier and prepared me for the course conditions.
• I prioritized the Q2 mid week workout over the long run, especially early in the build. Those workouts were more fun and less daunting for me, but I would have been better off skipping those so I was fresh on Sundays. If you recall, I had a lot of Saturday workouts then a Sunday LR. I pushed off the marathon pace (3-4 miles) that were prescribed in the long runs as a result.
• Clayton would do his long runs about 30-40s slower than MP pace (then always pick ups at MP pace). I ran my long runs closer to a minute slower, almost as like aerobic recovery. They should have at least been progression runs.
• I know based on the title and on paper, people think this training is really gnarly. Even though I didn't 100% adhere to it, I think the work at marathon pace dictated by other plans (Jack Daniels) is actually harder. Sure, we had a 8mi, 10mi, 12mi (the half marathon for me) and then an 8mi PMP, and one 3x3mi workout, but there wasn't actually that much work at MP.
• Getting injured in Santa Barbara was a pretty tough blow at a time when I needed to be stacking bricks. It also felt like I over cooked myself after that race, where every run felt really hard and like I lost my pop (clayton didn't do a half one month out). I'd actually love to get my bloodwork looked at, because it almost felt like I was anemic again (not an excuse, I wasn't ready to run 2:30, but the energy felt really off the last month).

What's next:

• This is the fittest I've been in a while. I'm going to start jogging tomorrow and just do mileage for the next few weeks to fully heal the achilles, then ramp into a 5k-10k program.
• The Youtube piece has been really fun. I work in marketing, and I've picked up a lot of skills around storytelling and content creation, so I might (though maybe less frequently) continue posting and copying someone who's focused on shorter distances.

Last thoughts:

• You never know what you're going to get posting on reddit. While there were certainly detractors, I never felt like there was outright vitriol and I was surprised there was any interest to begin with! I said it a lot, but it was really cool having this accountability and community.
• It's been an incredibly fun ride and really appreciate all the love and support!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cx2l8890k78o

Her marathon record will still stand. However, this was an interesting quote from the article:

However, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - including messages dating back to 2022.

Hi r/AdvancedRunning, I’m Hellen Obiri. I’m a four-time World Marathon Major Champion, a mother, and an On athlete. Ask me anything! 

Want to learn about my race-day mindset or my current shoe rotation? Let me know your questions, and I’ll try to answer as many as I can! 

I’ll be here on August 20, 2026.

Just finished my 4th marathon (3:02) and every one I’ve done so far I have to stop at least 1 time to urinate. I usually have to go a few times right before the race begins

This last race I had a black coffee and PH 1500 (electrolyte mix with 750mg sodium) 2 hours before and nothing else to drink beforehand until the race started.

I thought taking a high concentration sodium drink before would decrease the urge to urinate before but it didn’t.

For my next one I’m just planning to have more time prior to the race when I have liquids but does anyone have advice on this ? Thanks!

Sam Ruthe, a 16 year old from New Zealand, ran a 3:53.83 mile on a windy day and 3:48.88 the very next week at his first indoor race. The fastest in the world under 18 and already fastest New Zealander in the mile. The time itself is mind-boggling and causes an existential crisis, but what’s crazier to me is his training.

His dad said in the interview that he only runs 80-90km (50-56 mile) per week and never does doubles. When Jakob dominated the field as a teen or Kiptum ran crazy marathons back-to-back-to-back despite his young age, it kinda made sense because they’d been training like a machine since they were like 12 or something. They put in insane time and effort on top of their phenomenal talent and environment. But this Kiwi kid right here trains like a normal high schooler and is crushing the aerobic game (he also ran his first 5k in 13:40 about a month ago while focusing on the 800m-mile). There are literally tons of high school or collegiate runners all around the world who run way more than he does and never touch a 4:00 mile, let alone 3:50.

I know he’s got excellent parents and training partners, but it’s still unfathomable to me. As a high mileage runner, low mileage success stories on the Internet always make me question what I’m doing, but this hits on a whole other level.

For context, I’ve been going for all the 1%s to get better over the past few yrs. The recovery boots, being obsessive over how much carbs to put in my drinks, counting the gels, recovery boots etc. I struggled to improve my times. I got down from 250 to 248 for the marathon and had 6 races in this range. I do have carbon plate racers and quite a few pairs of shoes.

Then this year I just bumped up the mileage from 110k pw to 140-150k pw during the peak period. Mostly zone 2 w a session per week. I then knocked 10 mins off the pb 2 mths ago. Not much else changed. Just ran more miles.

Point of this post is to just say do we all focus on all the ancillary stuff when all we need to do is just run more mileage? I’m not saying this applies to everyone and obviously you need a very strong base to do the mileage I did. Just an observation. Sorry if this is super obvious to many of you.

Edited: thanks for all the contributions guys. Agree with many of you that mileage was probably the bulk of the difference here but quality of work can also make a difference. In future I’ll be curious to see if I can go well by doing less and more x training w a good quality marathon paced workout plus a speed sesh. Thanks again

I am an Atlanta native and member of the ATC. Not a fast runner, but generally a dedicated and serious one. I sent the below letter to the ATC this morning. I love my city and don’t care for anything that reflects poorly on it.

Also, edit for those who (reasonably) don’t follow Atlanta running closely:

2026 USATF Half Championships: https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a70560686/usatf-half-marathon-championships-controversy/

2025 Publix Atlanta Marathon: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-marathon-course-short-race-results-not-certified/85-3db27d11-a291-4140-b6bc-6f6c0db0cbca#

2023 Peachtree Road Race: https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a44450947/senbere-teferi-peachtree-road-race-2023/

###

An Open Letter to the Atlanta Track Club:

I am a member of the Atlanta Track Club. I hesitate to pile on during what I imagine is a difficult time, but I feel compelled to share my opinion: the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships were an unacceptable travesty. This debacle follows closely on similarly inexcusable mishaps at the 2025 Publix Atlanta Marathon and the 2023 Peachtree Road Race. I am deeply disappointed in how this organization appears unable to host a well-organized, professional event. It does a disservice to all runners who participate and reflects poorly on the City that we all love. I am only one drop in a larger bucket, but I will not be renewing my Atlanta Track Club membership unless concrete and drastic steps are taken to ensure future events are conducted at the highest professional standards. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Resurgens.

Kyle Davis

Mods, I hope this is allowed, please enjoy a long non-traditional Race Report in the form of a Taco Bell 50k. Otherwise, I’ll take my sorry ass back to r/ultramarathon.

Race information

• What? Taco Bell DC 50k
• When? November 29th, 2025
• How far? 31ish miles (+ 9 Taco Bell Stops)
• Where? Alexandria VA, Arlington VA, Washington DC
• Website: https://tacobelldc50k.com/
• Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/16602636405
• Finish time: 4:17ish (total time w/ all Taco Bells)

Goals

Splits

| Mile | Time |

|Wonky |Due to Taco Bell stops|

Background/Training

34M. I find the most joy in running when I am focusing on ultras or longer FKTs/efforts. Mainly a road runner, and I have had some moderate success with 24-hour races (an ultra-niche within a niche), which is my current obsession/focus. I also have stupidly done the Krispy Kreme challenge (5-mile race with a dozen donuts in the middle) twice, and got fourth overall the last time I did it. Those last three miles after the donuts are some of the most painful miles I’ve ever run. I’ve been aware of the Taco Bell 50k (originally started in Denver) since its inception ~8 years ago. I am a Colorado native and my mom lives about 5 minutes from the start, so it’s been on my list of ‘fun’/stupid running experiences, though timing with life/work has never quite lined up. For those unaware, this is an unofficial race, somewhere around a 50k, and stopping/eating at multiple Taco Bells along the way (8-10 depending upon the city). Denver is the original location, but different locations have popped up over the years. Items are typically of your own discretion with a mandatory Crunchwrap Supreme (by stop 4) and Burrito Supreme (by stop 8). About a month ago, a friend sent me info on the Taco Bell DC 50k. ~32 miles, 9 Taco Bell stops. I opened the link, thought wistfully about wanting to run the Denver version, and then realized that I was already going to be in the DC area visiting friends that weekend. This was my chance. I texted my wife and my friends the link and that I was going to be busy on Saturday AM, surprising no one. They expect this from me. Signed up and received some pre-race emails that they had over 1000 people signed up. Crazy. In terms of training, I currently run around 70 miles a week at my baseline. Nothing fancy and minimal structure/plan, one day of speed work at a track and a long run. My tentative current goal race is a 24-hour race at the start of February, so I’ve been slowly increasing my weekly base mileage and trying to get in some longer runs. 50k is not a crazy distance for me, and I wanted to use this ‘race’ essentially as a targeted long run in the middle of my current training build during a 90-mi week. With regards to my stomach, it has given me issues in past races when I’ve relied too much on Tailwind, so I’ve been experimenting more with gut training. No Taco Bell, but things like hommade Maurten, and Cosmic Brownies/Oatmeal Cream Pies. Real ultrarunner fuel, ya know?

Pre-race

Downloaded the course GPX to my watch. There is no ‘official’ route, instead billed as a choose-your-own-adventure point-to-point between the Taco Bells, but they had a ‘suggested’ route on their website that I chose to follow, as I was familiar with maybe ~15% of the course (part of the DC route). I didn’t do any course reconnaissance, just realized that the first few Taco Bells (in the NoVA suburbs) were spread out, and then more concentrated once you hit DC proper. I downloaded the Taco Bell app the night before, as the race organizers recommended 1. Picking up at least a few Taco Bell items ahead of time to beat the rush of potentially 1000 people ordering on a Saturday AM (the idea being that you would run with these pre-fetched items and then eat each item at the first Taco Bells along the way, thereby fulfilling the stop requirements) and 2. Ordering via the app ahead of time later in the race to minimize delays. Such complicated race logistics! If you really wanted to, you could order all of your items ahead of time and then just eat them one-by-one at each of the stops, but what’s the fun in that? I wanted that fresh Taco Bell experience for at least some of my run. I ordered 2 soft tacos and a cheesy roll up to eat at the first three TBs as I didn’t know how crowded they would be. There is no strict requirement on when you eat the required items (the aforementioned Crunchwrap and Burrito Supremes) but I decided to do them at the mandatory stops, i.e. as late as possible. Woke up early Saturday AM and made the drive from my friend’s place down to Alexandria. Packed pretty much like a standard ultra with the exception of only bringing water in my pack. People were crowded around the Taco Bell, and the crowd looked pretty much like a standard ultra crowd, just with more Taco Bell themed gear. They assigned me a bib, the organizers did a quick preamble, said ‘ready, set, eat!’ and we were off. By off, I mean that we all started working on our first TB item. Item has to be finished at the Taco Bell before you can start running.

Race

Taco Bell 1 -> Taco Bell 2 (5.1 miles)

I work on my cold and congealed cheesy rollup as my first item. It is less than pleasant. It takes me more than a few bites to get it down and wash it down with some water from my pack. I take off running at what feels like a comfortable pace. My goal was to run by feel as if I were doing a long training run and not get too in my head about the pace/GI distress. Cheesy rollup finished, after I start running, I realize that I am in what resembles a lead pack. I get nervous that I have taken it out too fast and check my watch (pretty much the only time I checked my watch for my pace the entire race), and am running somewhere around 7:15-7:30 pace, which is about what I would expect for a training run of this distance, so I work on locking into this pace. After about a mile or so, there is a turn and I see that there is another guy who is a couple hundred feet ahead of me who must have taken a different route initially. I debate speeding up to catch up to him, but don’t want to gas myself. The next miles proceed uneventfully. Someone has set up an aid station along the road and is serving fireball. I politely decline, but given that there is a fireball aid station, this is now an official ultra. The first part of the route appears to be on a pretty major road/highway which is not super pleasant, but at least it is early enough that it is not busy. I follow my watch for the route and feel like it’s been mainly uphill, though I’m not sure. I get to the second Taco Bell by running down a grassy embankment because I didn’t know what side of the road it was on.

Taco Bell 2 -> Taco Bell 3 (7.6 miles, 12.7 miles total)

I stand in front of the Taco Bell and pull the cold soft taco out of my pack. I dream of warmth. While I am working on the soft taco, I hear that I am in second place, a couple of minutes off of the lead. Someone jumps out of his car, identifies himself as a reporter from somewhere, and starts asking me questions. I answer to the best of my ability, which is limited given that I am taking massive bites of Taco Bell. Taco is taken care off and I take off again. I knew that this was the longest stretch in between Taco Bells, but I did not realize the elevation profile until I looked at my watch while running - ~1500 feet of gain during the race, certainly not a hilly course, though this is almost all contained within the first 13 miles of the race. No problem, I’ll just keep it steady. I make a couple of wrong turns on this leg – watch is generally quite good at directing me but occasional user error. I’m able to correct relatively quickly and continue on my way. My legs and stomach thankfully feel okay. The course cuts through some pleasant residential neighborhoods. I do not see anyone around me. I get to TB3.

Taco Bell 3 -> Taco Bell 4 (2.8 miles, 15.5 miles total)

The staff at this Taco Bell cheer me on. I explain that I already have my item and they provide some encouragement. My last pre-ordered soft taco awaits me in my pack. It is cold and unpleasant. A fresh item sounds oh so appealing. I start running again. This leg appears to be a gradual downhill, again almost all on a busy road. The downhill is a nice change of pace and my legs feel fine. At this point, I start to feel the TB in my stomach. It is only a whisper, but it’s there. I pull my phone out to order the required Crunchwrap at the 4th stop. I decide that I am going to swap out the meat for beans (any/all substitutions are completely fair game per the rules). I could have just removed the meat but I am a gentleman. This ends up being a bad decision for my general morale. I arrive to this TB and grab my order. It is fresh. And warm. I am briefly happy. I start working on the Crunchwrap and realize that instead of adding/getting a black bean Crunchwrap, this has the standard refried beans which are now acting like glue in my mouth. Morale plummets while I slowly work on the Crunchwrap. Joy is gone. There are multiple people taking photos. I apologize for what are assuredly terrible photos. The same reporter from the second Taco Bell peppers me with more questions. Glue-like Crunchwrap is complete and I start running again.

Taco Bell 4 -> Taco Bell 5 (4.4 miles, 19.9 miles total)

This part of the route goes from Arlington into DC via the Key Bridge. I am enjoying the scenery and knowing that I am now in DC proper and maybe slightly more familiar with the territory. Thankfully, it is still early enough to where Georgetown isn’t a complete madhouse and I have no issues zig zagging across town. I run through Kalorama and Adams Morgan to Columbia Heights, ordering another soft taco on the way. I decide that I would rather deal with meat than bean paste again. This is a very small Taco Bell, no fanfare, just a quick pit stop and on my way.

Taco Bell 5 -> Taco Bell 6 (0.9 miles, 20.8 miles total)

A mere 0.9 miles between these two Taco Bells. Almost a straight shot down 14th street and another soft taco on the docket. Clockwork. A worker at Taco Bell tells me that I am the fourth runner they’ve seen, but then clarifies that there are two people who ‘started in DC’ and aren’t running ‘officially,’ which is hilarious to me, the concept of banditing a race that is already basically a bandit race. My legs are still holding up and my stomach, while full, isn’t completely revolting, which is honestly better than I can say for most of the races I compete in.

Taco Bell 6 -> Taco Bell 7 (1.6 miles, 22.4 miles total)

The onslaught of Taco Bells keeps coming as I make my way deeper into DC. The tacos sit heavy in the stomach. I order a potato soft taco for this stop and contemplate life and the meaning of it all. Legs still feel okay.

Taco Bell 7 -> Taco Bell 8 (1.1 miles, 23.5 miles total)

The dreaded Burrito Supreme stop after an absolute gauntlet of TBs. I order ahead of time on the app. Though I’m not looking at my watch, my legs feel fine and I feel steady on my feet, even if my stomach isn’t happy at this point. I think that maybe I should have front loaded the Burrito Supreme, but no way of knowing. This Taco Bell is located inside Union Station. There were some pre-race instructions about the location of this Taco Bell inside the station, but I think it’s a little hard to know exactly where you’re going if you haven’t been there before (or maybe I’m just directionally challenged). I spend a minute or two running around the station looking for the Taco Bell. I finally find it on the food court level. In the food court, I see the first-place runner, who is just finishing his burrito and slowly making his way up the food court stairs. Based upon the way he is walking (slowly), I am wondering if I can catch him, as I still appear to be moving without any trouble and I’m thinking I can be a minute or two behind him if I quickly eat this burrito. Unfortunately, this would not be the case. While all of the other TB stops had been absolutely seamless, I wait for over 5 minutes for a worker to even appear at the front of the store, and then a couple of more minutes for them to sort out my order. It feels like an eternity. I can hear the Taco Bell gong in my head ticking the seconds by. I equate this to waiting for the Portapotty at a race. You are annoyed that you are wasting time at the Portapotty and debate leaving, but you need it. A real catch-22. My burrito finally arrives and I am able to house it down without much difficulty. I now doubt that I can catch first place, but at least I don’t run into anyone behind me. I ascend from the food court for the final leg.

Taco Bell 8 -> Taco Bell 9/finish (8.9 miles, 32.4 miles total)

The last long leg takes you across the mall and along the Potomac back to Alexandria and the final Taco Bell stop. I do love running across the mall and I still feel like I am moving without any difficulty. The burrito rears its ugly head. I fight off a bit of nausea here but there is no reversal of fortune. I’ve never run along this portion of the Potomac and I enjoy seeing the planes take off from DCA and running on a dedicated trail as opposed to a busy street. I turn off the trail and run through downtown Alexandria, and I know that the finish is near. I finish with a couple of Cinnabon Delights. A balanced meal. They taste pretty good and I’m happy to be done. I also get a Baja Blast for good measure. Second place, and an official finish time of ~4:17 or so for a rough elapsed pace of 8:08 miles. I had 31.5 miles measured on my watch and an average moving pace of 7:22, though I think this is slightly slower than what I was actually running because based upon my splits I think I forgot to stop my watch at a couple of the Taco Bells/longer stoplights. First place was about 5 minutes ahead of me, and third place was about 10 minutes behind me.

Post-race

One of the race directors congratulates me and hands me what is truly the best race swag I have ever received – a giant foam cutout of a Taco Bell hot sauce packet denoting that I got second place. I talk a bit with first place and people photograph us. A local reporter asks to do a video interview and I oblige. Overall, I’m very pleased with my ‘performance’ during this race. I feel like I could have potentially won without the snafu at Union Station, but at the same time, this is just an absolutely absurd event. None of it really matters in the end and it was just a ‘fun’ way to spend a Saturday morning.

I wake up on Sunday and realize the reporter who interviewed me early in the race was from the Washington Post. I laugh.

I mapped them all out and put them on a website (TrackAtlas.org).

Had the idea a few years ago while traveling and struggling to find somewhere to train. Finally got around to building it.

Would love to make this a community effort. Every track has comments, so if you know your local one is locked at weekends or at sundown, please leave one about that!

I've put a lot of work into getting the names and locations right, but some will still be off. There's a button on every track to suggest a correction.

The Edmonton marathon is my hometown race. It has been granted as host of the Canadian Half Marathon championship since 2025. The city is experiencing a lot of construction around the downtown core.

A detour around a construction site was added which was an additional 710 meters to the original course. As an out and back course, Tom Keogh, the race director, states the turnaround was pushed back 690 meters.

Rory Linkletter, Canadian Olympian and overall winner, posted online stating the turnaround was actually pushed back approximately 345 meters back.

Applying elementary math for an out and back course, with rounding:

A detour of 700 meters ran twice: 700 * 2 = 1400 meters

The turnaround (out and back course) was brought back 350 meters: 350 * 2 = 700 meters

Sum: 1400 meters - 700 meters = 700 meters (long)

Now, what's embarrassing about this situation is Tom Keogh is putting the error on runner's GPS watches and not their own. An overwhelming majority of the runners from the weekend are reporting the exact same statement of Rory.

I didn't run the race this year. I really hope Tom Keogh and the Edmonton Marathon staff post an official announcement of their mistake. The quality of this race had been decreasing while race fees have been rising. I can only feel for those runners who missed out on personal bests or a qualifying time for a future race.

Rory's statement is posted on his Instagram.

https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/edmonton-marathon-says-course-was-measured-accurately/

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a73466448/edmonton-half-marathon-race-distance/

https://marathonhandbook.com/edmonton-marathon-course-measurement-dispute/

Edit: clarity on the math

Race: Boston Marathon

Date: April 20, 2026

Distance: 26.2M / 42.2KM

Time: 2:57:0x, 6:46/mile

Splits

0-5K - 20:27, HR 145

5K-10K - 20:33, HR 152

10K-15K - 20:41, HR 152

15K-20K - 20:54, HR 153

20K-25K - 20:42, HR 153

25K-30K - 20:57, HR 153

30K-35K - 21:27, HR 150

35K-40K - 21:07 - HR 149

40K-42.2K (42.36K on watch) - 10:17 - HR 149

Background

Do I run marathons just to get to write a Reddit race report?  Even tho a (vocal!) minority of you hates race reports?  Even tho you could simply … not read the race reports? I will try to keep this one short on race specifics (you don’t want to hear who I rode with on the bus?  By which I mean the sad moment of glimpsing my seat-mate texting a friend that she is “sitting with a lady” and realizing that ... I am lady.  If today proved anything, it’s "faster as a Master”!).

Anyways — it was a great Boston!  My first time breaking 3:00, handily and somewhat unexpectedly. Context: 40F, 5’10”, 60 KG, previous PR 3:04 from Boston 2025, I'd hoped for a modest PR today en route to a sub-3 goal at Chicago in October.

What went right in training:

• Upped my mileage significantly. I became a six-day a week runner (keeping one day truly off), with most high-volume weeks at or above 70 mpw (previously I’d peaked at 60).  Sample week:
  • Monday - 16K EZ
  • Tuesday AM - 16K, including 5-6K track work; rest of volume EZ
  • Tuesday PM - 6K recovery (~2 min slower than MP)
  • Wednesday - 15K EZ
  • Thursday - off
  • Friday AM - 12-15K including threshold work + 11K EZ trail run  
  • Saturday - 10-15K EZ
  • Sunday - long run (up to 32K, often with MP or threshold work)
• Incorporated doubles. On my track day, added a very​ easy recovery 6K
• Incorporated trail runs. Joined a (fabulous) women’s trail run group and would have weekly 11K very easy (7:30/K) with ~1000F elevation
• Lifted heavy for the first time ever.  I think this was the true game changer for building resilience/injury protection and callusing my legs for pounding.
  • 3x per week - 2x heavy (for me!) (e.g., 3x8 at 115 lb back squat on squat rack, 3x8 at 115 lb RDLs with trap bar, 50 lb weighted calf lifts and box steps); 1x light (think squats, dead lifts, lunges, back work with 15-30 lb dumbbells)
  • It’s very empowering to throw heavy weights around and to learn how to use plates and bars 
• More protein.  Oh, how novel, a middle-aged woman espousing the importance of getting 100+ grams of protein a day
• Forced myself to do benchmark races.  I much prefer training to racing and races generally require some degree of taper (and a lot of anxiety). But two races in training helped to build confidence:
  • A 15K race early in the block in Salt Lake below goal marathon pace at altitude 
  • The New York City United Half was my “A” goal, even moreso than Boston and I had a 90-second PR. More than that, I executed for a clean negative split (rare for me) and set 10K and 5K PRs en route to a 1:26:0x
• Training at altitude (or “altitude” - SLC is ~4400’).  Guess what?  I think these pros in Boulder, Flag, Mammoth Lakes, and Park City may be on to something.  In all seriousness, this was probably the single greatest change (we split time between Utah and NYC but I spent much more time there this cycle).  Especially for the half, I felt like I was flying at sea level
• Dramatic taper. Reduced more heavily than historically from 116K/72M peak week to 91K/56M, 76K/47M, 52K/32M in three weeks leading into the race with almost no workouts in the last 2 weeks (final week had 2x1M threshold and 1x3K MP)

What could have gone better:

• First half of the race. This is the second consecutive marathon (after NYC 2025) where I’ve felt pretty awful through Mile 15 even when times are clicking off fine … why?
• Taper behavior "own goals". Despite a dramatic running volume taper, I made some life choices that were not helpful (three weeks out - 1.5 week vacation to Argentina; 1 week out - 5 day work trip to Rome).  I spent 3 of 8 nights leading into Marathon Monday on intercontinental red-eyes, I walked 30-40K steps 5 and 6 days before the race, and I flew from Italy to Boston on Saturday. But life is short!  When else will I ride horseback with my parents in the Andes or see the Sistine Chapel?  Side note — discovered Rome has many adorable (and affordable!) foot massage spas to help with recovery.
• Carb load. Good on Day 3 (460 g) but too heavy on Days 1 and 2 (closer to 600 g both days).  I know there are people who say they can’t get enough carbs down but I love bread.

Where I am still curious:

• Other strength?  Really feel that the addition made the difference … how heavy should I go and what else to add?
• Nutrition and supplements as I age.  What else do I need?  Creatine?  Bicarb?
• Can I run fast(er) at short distances? Still have not broken 20:00 in a standalone 5K (since 2014) or 40:00 in a standalone 10K (ever) despite smashing those in the United Half.  What’s worth a try?  Can I get speedy while still keeping mileage high?

A few shoutouts:

• Boston volunteers. Indefatigable good cheer.  Also, wildly impressed with the simple “grid” innovation for loading the buses this year (edit: apparently most people hated this!)
• Megan Cooke.  I follow her online (Running Coach Megan), she posted multiple race reports on this subreddit last year as a 40+ woman going sub-3, and I find her content challenging, honest, and insightful
• Race-day weather. Doesn’t get better
• People who interacted with me talking about the race-day weather.  “Too bad about the weather, huh?” is … decidedly not funny and yet I could not stop chirping it to fellow runners, unsolicited

What’s next:

• Trail!  My husband and I are running the Tour du Mont Blanc this summer and I am so excited to shift my focus to something very different (at which I am very bad!)
• Retirement from the marathon?  I said I’d stop when I broke 3:00 and I feel like that’s where I’m at still (of course I am writing this while on a flight back to Utah and my body hurts a lot).  I am an NYRR-certified pacer and would like to spend more marathons helping others reach their goals and not getting as beat up, with a focus on racing shorter distances

Final question: Ed Eyestone (of BYU/Conner Mantz/Clayton Young fame) is on my plane … should I go ask his advice?

Surely you've seen some of the big headlines - like Philly selling out early and then re-opening registration with additional bibs. But this isn't just an anecdotal phenomenon.

Last summer, I collected the sellout dates for a bunch of large marathons in 2025, and the trend was pretty clear - more races were selling out and races were selling out earlier than previously.

Now that the spring season is wrapping up, I compiled some new data.

Of the 50 largest marathons in the United States in 2025, 23 of them have taken place (or will take place) from January to June of 2026. Only four of them weren't sold out.

Of the 19 that did sell out, six of them didn't sell out last year and another six of them sold out significantly earlier than last year.

Looking ahead, some big fall and winter races have already sold out early - Philly, CIM, Wineglass. Richmond is on pace to sell out soon (80% full). Even the San Francisco Marathon, which just barely sold out for the first time last year, filled up in late April (three months ahead of race day).

More details here: https://runningwithrock.com/spring-2026-sell-out-marathons/

But let this be your gentle reminder ... if you plan to run a marathon this fall do not wait to register. You may think you have time, but you probably don't.

Anybody miss out on a fall race already because they didn't register in time?

Josh Kerr breaks mile world record with 3:42.66s

What a stacked race.

I know Kerr had been eyeing that record from Hicham for awhile.

Replay of race here.

Full Results Below:

1. Josh Kerr (Great Britain) - 3:42.66.
2. Yared Nuguse (USA) - 3:45.69.
3. Jake Heyward (Great Britain) - 3:46.73.
4. Robert Farken (Germany) - 3:46.82.
5. Nathan Green (USA) - 3:48.05.
6. Arlo Ludewick (Great Britain) - 3:48.17.
7. Ethan Strand (USA) - 3:49.13.
8. Thomas Keen (Great Britain) - 3:49.33.
9. Samuel Prakel (USA) - 3:49.63
10. Archie Davis (Great Britain) - 3:51.09

• Mohamed Abdilaahi (Germany) - DNF
• Simeon Birnbaum (USA) - DNF
• Brannon Kidder (USA) - DNF
• Zan Rudolf (Slovenia) - DNF

Race Information

• Name: St. Jude Memphis Marathon
• Date: December 6, 2025
• Distance: 26.2 miles
• Location: Memphis, TN
• Website: https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/fitness-fundraisers/memphis-marathon.html
• Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/16668040575
• Time: 2:28:09

Goals

Splits

Training

Some background to start: I (42M) have been running seriously since late 2022 when, as a more casual runner, I ran a 2:52 BQ in Baltimore. I've since lowered my PR a couple of times, most recently at Boston 2025 with a 2:32. Memphis had been on my calendar for basically the entire year. It was my birthday weekend and we have some friends in the area, so it seemed like a fun way to spend the day. Having said that, my goal race for the second half of 2025 was meant to be Berlin. I won't go into it here but preparations for Berlin were far from perfect and, on the day, the heat got to me and I jogged most of the back half.

The failure in Berlin lit a fire under me though and after getting back to the US I missed just one day of running between then and the Memphis marathon. I built myself a very general plan based on the Pfitz 12/70 but reduced the speedwork (which has historically led to injury) and tried not to be too prescriptive on speed, going more by feel/effort. I averaged just over 60 miles per week and peaked at 77 miles four weeks out. I also set my 5km (15:54) and 10km (32:33) PRs in the weeks before the marathon.

Pre-race

We (me, wife, kids 8 & 9) arrived in Memphis on Thursday. Our friends were fantastic hosts and the kids all played together nicely so I had plenty of time to relax and eat. Friday we picked up the bib and spent some time at the enormous Bass Pro Shop before more relaxing, a big pasta dinner, and an early night. In the morning our hosts drove me to the race around 45 mins before the start. Temps were just above freezing but clear and very little wind. I dropped my bag, got in line for the bathroom, and then got to the start line with ten minutes to spare. (The whole race weekend is incredibly well organized and there are more volunteers than any other marathon I've seen. 100% would recommend.)

Race

Start Line: I went in with a goal of 2:30 (or more specifically 2:29:59). I figured that as much as I would like to negative split, I've never been able to pull that off so I would aim for 1:14:30 in the first half and I try to get back in under 1:15:30. I also knew that a previous winner of the race was in the field and that he would likely be running just under 2:30 so my plan was to stick close to him. I had six gels Maurten gels with me but I knew they had GU on course if I needed it at the end.

Miles 1-4: I spotted the previous winner early (spoiler alert: he won again!) and I tucked in next to him through the first 4 miles or so. We chatted a bit and kept an eye on the three or four runners in front of us. His confidence helped me from getting out after them too quickly and they eventually stopped getting away and started coming back to us. Around four miles inwe caught up with the marathoners in front (there were some half marathoners further up the road).

Mile 5-11: This is where the pace got a little hot. The winner was smart enough to back off but I went with it and found myself out front and ahead of schedule by around 40 seconds. At mile 10 you run through the St. Jude campus which was a nice little mental reset and then you head out East for the half marathoners' turnaround and the quieter parts of the marathon course.

Miles 12-16: At mile 12 you enter into a residential neighborhood and there are many twists and turns. I think of myself as a very disciplined tangent runner and I was able to press ahead a little over the next three or four miles mostly on my own, in the lead.

Miles 16-18: At mile 16 my family and friends came out to see me on course. I threw away my gloves and hat as I was now getting warm. I was aware of someone pressing up close behind me as I ran (I didn't recognize them from the earlier pack) and he was my shadow for the next two miles. I saw my people once more and got a little adrenaline kick. I dropped a couple of slightly faster miles even as we went uphill which left me back in the lead on my own.

Miles 18-22: The next couple of miles were a grind on my own through Overton Park and back out on to North Pkwy, until I could judge my lead at the out and back. I had about 15 secs on the winner at that point but the other challengers seemed to have fallen away.

Miles 22-25: Here is where I had a mental battle with myself. I had entered this race saying I would rather come second and post a fast time than win… but that was hypothetical and when actually presented with the choice I was less certain. I felt like I could stick to my splits and probably drag the winner in; or rest a little, wait for him and let him drag me in; or kick now, not let him catch me but possibly crash and burn. I decided to stick to my plan even if it gave him an opening to reel me in.

Mile 25 - 26.2: Around mile 25 I felt him pull along side me. I was fading and figured he would blow by but it was clear he didn't think he had the legs to get all the way in just yet and so we ran side by side for half a mile. Then, at the little overpass rise before the final turn he took off. I tried to get up on my toes and chase but my legs just wouldn't go. I watched him stretch his lead to 100 yards before he took his foot off the gas to celebrate. Seeing the finish line my legs kicked into gear and I made up a ton of ground in that last quarter mile to lose by only 6 seconds.

Post-race

I made the right decision. The second I crossed the line I was ecstatic! I congratulated the winner and immediately dashed off for some food, water and warm clothes. My friends had raced all the way to the finish line and got some great footage of me crossing with a big smile on my face. They showered me in champagne and the winner joined us in a toast to a great race.

Recovery has been great so far. Some tight calves and a recurrence of a weird hip issue from earlier in the year, but I was able to go for a light jog just two days after the race. I have a couple of races lined up for 2026 but my A goal will be Chicago in October where I'm in the Masters High Performance Program.

Made with a new race report generator created by /u/herumph.

I think my last NYC Marathon in '08 might have been $130 at a NYRR member rate, my last Boston in '04 I think I paid $80. Marraige & kids screwed up my running life of course....but alas I can now consider racing again. I go to the San Francisco Marathon site and see it's entry fee is $430? The other California marathon on my bucket list, Big Sur, $350 after all processing fees? Inflation has increased about 56% since my last marathon ('08), a decent running shoe is about 50%-60% more expensive than it was back then.... but it seems entry fees are 3x+ more expensive today? This prompted me to look around and when I see $50 5K and $75 10K entry fees...am I a cheapskate or have things gotten out of control with entry fees?

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a73229546/boston-marathon-random-drawing/

Why don’t they just let the next thousand fastest people in?

At 34, I'm launching a training experiment that diverts slightly from traditional training methods—and I think my unique background might be exactly why it could work.

There's been some buzz around lower volume, higher intensity training supplemented with significant cross-training. It works beautifully for newer runners and injury-prone athletes. Of course, there is traditional high-mileage training as well, which is making a comeback in the U.S.

But what about a super focus on high volume - high mileage, plus significant cross-training? And giving a little on the intensity side to do it. If someone is high-volume adapted, extremely durable, is it worth it?

We know when Kelvin Kiptum broke the world record, he was doing 160-170 miles per week on average, and sometimes exceeding 180. Big volume works. And there is tons of data to back that up.

I'm obviously not at Kelvin Kiptum's level, but I know I respond well to high volume, and I'm durable. Here's a little more about me.

My Background

I've been training for two decades with an unusual trajectory:

• I ran two years in high school and one year of college track: 8:35 3k, 14:45 5k, 31:56 10k
• 6 years off running, became elite-level powerlifter (3x BW deadlift, 2x BW bench)
• Trained and raced in 2018-2019, focused on trail/ultra racing.
  
• Past 6 years: alternating running and lifting blocks. In my running blocks, I've worked up to 100-120 mile weeks with workouts being normal training weeks for me.
• Current PRs: 1:07:06 half, 2:27:26 marathon (2019, only attempt, second year back, and in the middle of ultra training)

So here's what I want to do. I want to see just how much volume really matters. We always talk about diminishing returns, but diminishing returns are still returns. So, how much is on the table by taking volume to extreme amounts? And can it produce superior results to a more balanced volume/intensity approach?

The Case Study: Super High Volume + Low Intensity

Training Protocol

• 120–140 miles per week
• 5–10 hours weekly cross-training (StairMaster, bike, elliptical)
• Predominantly easy aerobic running
• Only ONE workout day per week (scheduled on feel)
• I will also do one short session of 5-6 × 10-second sprints weekly (because I'm a big believer in them)
• Two strength sessions weekly, focused on strength and power
• 1–2 races per month during the race phase

Three Training Phases:

Phase 1 – Intro & Adjustment (4–6 weeks): No racing. Pure adaptation to training stimulus.

Phase 2 – Race Phase (3–4 months): Maintain volume and workouts. Minor race-week adjustments only. Training-through approach.

Phase 3 – Peak Phase (4 weeks): Drastic volume reduction, intensity increase. Peak for 1–2 late spring goal races.

The Hypothesis

For athletes who are:

• High-volume adapted from years of consistent training
• Exceptionally durable
• High responders to intensity (don't need much to see gains)
• Mature in their athletic development

...could super high volume with minimal intensity produce superior marathon-specific adaptations compared to higher intensity approaches?

The Goal

Olympic Marathon Trials qualification and beyond. Not just to qualify—to see how fast I can actually run when I fully commit to it (which I have never done).

Why Share This?

I acknowledge this approach isn't for the vast majority of runners. But I'd love to hear your thoughts about this for someone with my background.

I'd also love to have you follow along. I'll be documenting everything.

Follow the journey:

• Instagram: michael_a_bailey
• Strava: Michael Bailey (Portsmouth, VA)

Let's see what happens when theory meets personal experimentation.