Running News Daily

With five golden retrievers of her own, Golbeck is the dog whisperer you didn’t know you needed.

I am not one of those people who has a love/hate relationship with running. I love it purely and wholly. It feels like my body was made to do it. I love being outside and moving, and the rush of endorphins is great. If I could run all day, I would.

I started running ultramarathons to give myself permission to run forever, and found that even after running 100 miles or for 31 hours, I love it. 

Like all runners, though, I have days when it’s hard to get out the door. Sometimes I’m tired, and I waste hours procrastinating when it’s cold and rainy out. Fortunately, though, I have five golden retrievers and they always need walks. Even in bad weather, one will run over with enthusiasm and joy, stretching their neck toward the collar. In those cases, to delay my run would be to deny them happiness, so suddenly it’s easy to go outside.

While I can walk five dogs at once—that’s me in the top picture with Swizzle, Venkman, Hopper, Guacamole, and Chief Brody—I never run with them all together nor do I do ultra distances with them! 

While I have run with two dogs at once, it’s safest to run with just one, because when I do take two, we stop more often, and they inevitably get tangled. Then my focus becomes more on dog management than running. 

In The Purest Bond: Understanding the Human-Canine Connection, Stacey Colino and I explore the science behind how relationships with dogs make human lives better. Certainly, dogs help humans move more and form better relationships in their communities. Science also shows that dogs enjoy running with us, both because of how it makes them feel physically and because they get to spend time with us.

One of my favorite workouts is to take each dog out for one or two miles until everyone who wants a run has had a chance to go out. 

I’ve learned a lot about running with dogs over the years, so I’m sharing my tips for how to run safely and successfully with your own four-legged friends. 

5 Tips to Better Running With Your Dog

If you want to start running with your dog, start by telling your veterinarian how far and fast you run, so they can give you specific information about your dog’s ability. Once you have the go ahead, follow these five tips to make your runs more enjoyable and safe—for both you and your pup.

1. Learn Leash Skills

When I was a graduate student, I tried to take my two golden retrievers, Pi and K, for a run. Suddenly, K spotted something exciting across the street, bolted, and pulled me off the sidewalk. I hobbled home with a sprained ankle. 

To avoid unexpected accidents, work on your leash skills before you start running with your dog. Sure, a dog who pulls makes uphill runs easier, but a dog who bolts for squirrels or in traffic is a risk. 

You’ll know your dog has solid leash skills if they run calmly alongside you with a loose leash, and you don’t have to pull to control them. They also should have enough self control to not dart out at animals or jump at sounds. 

Your dog should also respond to commands such as “stop” or “wait,” and be able to respond to your speed, rather than you having to keep up or wait for them, especially if you want to run at a consistent pace. 

If you have a scent dog, you may need to separate your runs from walks where they are able to follow their nose and go at their own pace. Habits like stopping to sniff can be managed with leash training. 

My dog, Guacamole, a notorious stop-and-sniff dog, knows the difference between walks and runs, based on the way I hold the leash and, obviously, my speed. It’s like a form of non-verbal communication between the two of us. Guacamole understands that he is supposed to match my pace, whether I’m running or walking and he is able to adjust himself.

Good leash discipline is also useful when you encounter others on a trail. 

2. Start With Short Runs

You won’t be surprised to learn that dogs are wired to run, according to research. Aside from having four legs, research shows that dogs also have an increase in endocannabinoids (eCBs) after a run. This is one of the main neurotransmitters believed to play a role in the runner’s high. 

Of course, human runs and dog runs are very different. For example, while small dogs can be good running partners, toy breeds have to take a lot of steps to keep up with humans. Dedicated runners with dogs who may not be right for running can always consider using a jogging stroller to bring their pal along with them!

Some dogs may also be better walking partners. For example, dogs with smooshed faces (“brachycephalic”) or with short limbs, such as bulldogs and corgis, can have difficulty running and be at higher risk for injury. Again, check in with your dog’s vet for advice about how far, how fast, and how frequently your dog should run. 

Natural runners, such as hounds, can still vary in the distances they prefer. My golden retrievers are comfortable with around three miles, but they are not built to be long-distance runners. Huskies, herding dogs (Australian shepherd, border collies, and others), and Vizslas are all good at going for distance.

All runners should follow the 10-percent rule for increasing their distance or intensity (an increase of no more than 10 percent each week) and this rule applies to dogs, too. 

Remember, though, dogs can get the same overuse injuries as people. Be on the lookout for new limps, tenderness, or hesitation, which may indicate your dog is exceeding their abilities. 

3. Learn Your Dog‘s Fuel and Hydration Needs

You need water on a run that’s over a couple of miles, and your dog does, too. Consider hydration for them, too, which means carrying at least a collapsible bowl and adding enough water to your supply to share. 

If you have a breed that runs long distances, bring food, such as biscuits or treats, so they can stay fueled, too. If you’re going for a long run and don’t feel like carrying your dog’s supplies, you can find harnesses with pockets so your dog can carry their own food and water (and poop bags!), which will lighten your load.

Just like humans, my dogs are often hungrier on days that they run, so I take cues from them if they need more food. It can be a little tough to tease out when they are actually hungry because of the extra activity versus their normal habit of begging for extra food, but with attention, I have learned to tell the difference. When my dogs go to the kitchen after dinner looking for snacks or extra food or if the beg more aggressively for my food, it suggests to me that I need to feed them more. 

If your dog pants hard for a very long time with a bit elongated tongue or they are more lethargic than usual after a run, it may be a sign that you went too far. Watch their recovery just as you should pay attention to your own. 

4. Understand the Way Weather Affects Animals

Your dog may not need as much gear as you do, but it’s important to prepare for different weather conditions. 

In hot weather, be sure to check the heat of the pavement. If it feels hot to your touch, it can burn your dog’s paws. In the Florida Keys where I live, I only take my dogs for nighttime runs during hot months.

If you live somewhere cold, your dog’s paws could literally freeze to the pavement. Plus, snow may form ice balls inside their paws, and the salt used to prevent icing on sidewalks can irritate their pads. An affordable and effective solution for snow and trail running are sled dog booties, used by mushers and their dog sled teams. For road running, you can also find options with a tougher sole. 

Also, pay attention to your dog’s response to the weather. Even in mild weather, dogs can get overheated on a run. Usually, they will show this with excessive panting or by simply lying down and refusing to continue. It is crucial to give them a break in these situations, even if it means gently walking home and cutting your run short.

5. Get Them Safety Gear

In 2022, we fostered a dog named Nacho for six months. He was a very energetic 18-month-old golden retriever who needed a lot of exercise. I earned two visits to the orthopedic surgeon—once for a sprained shoulder and one for a damaged finger tendon—from those runs. 

Not only had we not mastered leash skills, but I also had the wrong equipment. After those doctor visits, I switched to a waist leash so I could use my whole bodyweight to control him. You will typically weigh more than your dog, so these leashes may help you control their movement. However, some dogs are stronger than their owners, and it can be hard to balance when they pull you by the waist. So test out a waist leash on a shorter distance before you go long and see how it feels. 

The scariest moments I have had with dogs is when they pulled the leash out of my hands and got away from me in the dark. In addition to the waist leash, which you can’t drop, I use LED collars at night. 

You can buy plastic loops and collars with embedded rechargeable LEDs, or flashing tags for their normal collars. All of these gadgets give you a visual cue about where your dog is. They also make your dog—and you!—visible to traffic and to other people.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen brought his remarkable 2026 season to a fitting close on home soil, winning the men’s street 1500m at the inaugural Runfest Norway in Sandnes on Friday.

Competing in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd, the Olympic and world champion took control of the race from the early stages and maintained his authority through the finish, stopping the clock at 3:40.7.

Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen followed in second in 3:43.3, while Sigurd Tveit completed the podium in 3:47.8.

The unusual street race added another dimension to the occasion, with 273 runners taking part on the same road and sharing the course with one of Norway’s most accomplished distance runners. For the recreational participants, it offered a rare opportunity to compete alongside Ingebrigtsen in an event that brought elite athletics and mass participation together.

The victory also provided a fitting final chapter to a season that began with significant uncertainty for Ingebrigtsen. After undergoing major Achilles surgery in February, the Norwegian was forced to miss a substantial portion of the summer campaign as he worked his way back to full fitness.

His return, however, quickly developed into another championship-winning chapter. In Birmingham, Ingebrigtsen captured European 5,000m gold before adding another major title at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, where he won the 5,000m.

Those performances transformed what could have been a disrupted season into another year defined by championship success and a determined return to the highest level.

Now, with the Sandnes victory added to his 2026 record, Ingebrigtsen closes the year exactly where it began in spirit — overcoming adversity, rebuilding his form and once again competing at the front.

From Achilles surgery in February to major championship victories and finally a 1500m win before his hometown crowd, the Norwegian has given his 2026 season a memorable final scene.

Olympic 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell has announced her engagement to longtime partner Robert “Robbie” Springfield, adding a major personal milestone to the remarkable journey of one of America’s leading track and field stars.

Russell shared the news with her followers, revealing that Springfield had proposed and that she had accepted. Reflecting on their relationship, the Olympic champion described him as her best friend and expressed her excitement about spending the rest of her life with him.

The couple’s relationship dates back to their college years at the University of Kentucky, where both were student-athletes and competed in track and field. Russell established herself as a standout hurdler, while Springfield competed in the long jump, giving them a shared understanding of the demands, sacrifices and pressures that come with pursuing success in athletics.

Springfield has since transitioned from competition into coaching. A former collegiate long jumper, he is now part of the coaching staff at Morehead State University, where he works with the programme’s sprinters and jumpers.

Their relationship has developed alongside Russell’s rise to the top of the sport. The defining moment of her career came at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she captured gold in the women’s 100m hurdles, securing her place among the sport’s Olympic champions.

Away from competition, Springfield has remained a familiar part of Russell’s journey, sharing in the demanding periods of training and competition that accompanied her pursuit of Olympic success. Their connection has consequently grown from a college athletics relationship into a long-term partnership.

The engagement now marks another significant chapter for Russell, this time away from the track. After reaching the pinnacle of her sporting career in Paris, the 100m hurdles champion is beginning a new phase of her personal life alongside a partner who has been part of her journey since their university days.

From competing on the same collegiate stage to building a future together, Russell and Springfield’s story has evolved alongside two careers shaped by track and field. The Olympic champion will now balance this new personal chapter with her continuing ambitions in athletics

The women’s race at the 2026 TCS Amsterdam Marathon is shaping up to be one of the most competitive editions in recent years, with a deep international field set to take on the fast Dutch course on Sunday, October 18.

At the centre of the contest will be four Ethiopian athletes who have already broken the 2:20 barrier, creating the prospect of a fascinating battle for victory and a possible assault on the course record of 2:16:52.

Defending champion Aynalem Desta will return to Amsterdam looking to retain her title after producing the biggest performance of her career at last year’s 50th edition. Desta won in a personal best of 2:17:37, establishing herself among the leading marathoners in the field and setting the benchmark for this year’s contenders.

Standing in her way will be fellow Ethiopian Meseret Belete Tola, a former Amsterdam champion who knows exactly what it takes to succeed on the course. Belete Tola captured the 2023 edition in 2:18:21, and her return adds another layer of experience and proven quality to an already formidable lineup.

The field also includes Mestawut Fikir Truneh, who arrives with an impressive marathon pedigree. Truneh finished runner-up at the 2024 Berlin Marathon in 2:18:48, demonstrating her ability to compete at the highest level on one of the world's major marathon stages.

Completing the quartet of sub-2:20 Ethiopians is Buze Diriba, whose personal best of 2:19:34 places her firmly among the leading contenders. With four athletes possessing credentials below 2:20, the race is likely to develop into a tightly contested battle from the opening kilometres.

The depth extends well beyond the leading quartet. Desi Jisa Mokonin, representing Bahrain, Yeshi Kalayu Chekole of Ethiopia and Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet of Eritrea have all established themselves as serious marathon competitors with performances approaching the 2:20 mark.

Another major name to watch is Abeba Aregawi, the former 1500m world champion representing Sweden. Aregawi has successfully transferred her talents to the marathon and made headlines earlier this year by setting a Swedish national record of 2:23:12 on her debut. Her presence adds another intriguing dimension to an already high-quality field.

Amsterdam’s marathon course has consistently provided an opportunity for elite athletes to produce fast times, and this year’s women’s lineup has the depth to turn the race into a genuine test of both championship racing and outright speed.

With four athletes already inside 2:20, two former Amsterdam champions returning to the start line and several other accomplished marathoners ready to challenge them, the battle is expected to remain open deep into the race.

The ultimate target will be the Amsterdam women’s course record of 2:16:52. Whether the leading contenders can threaten that mark remains to be seen, but the quality assembled for October 18 ensures that the record will be firmly in the spotlight when the race reaches its spectacular finish inside the Olympic Stadium.

The 2026 Valencia Half Marathon is shaping up to be a thrilling contest of speed, endurance and tactical brilliance, with some of the world’s finest road runners set to converge in Spain on October 25.

Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo and Alex Matata will be among the leading contenders, facing a formidable Ethiopian challenge spearheaded by Jemal Yimer and Tadese Worku. The field also features Rodrigue Kwizera, who boasts the fastest personal best among the leading entrants at 58:16.

Ebenyo arrives with a personal best of 59:04, placing him firmly among the athletes capable of sustaining a demanding pace over the 21.1-kilometre distance. Matata, who owns a 59:11 best, adds further Kenyan strength, while Andrea Kiptoo brings another sub-60-minute credential to the race.

Yimer has already established himself as one of the fastest athletes in the field with a 58:33 personal best, while Worku has clocked 58:35. Kenya’s Owen Korir, with a best of 58:58, further underlines the remarkable depth of the men's lineup.

Valencia Half Marathon 2026 Entries

1. Rodrigue Kwizera (Spain) — 58:16

2. Jemal Yimer (Ethiopia) — 58:33

3. Tadese Worku (Ethiopia) — 58:35

4. Owen Korir (Kenya) — 58:58

5. Daniel Ebenyo (Kenya) — 59:04

6. Alex Matata (Kenya) — 59:11

7. Andrea Kiptoo (Kenya) — 59:11

8. Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spain) — 59:42

9. Said Mechaal (Spain) — 1:00:24

10. Adel Mechaal (Spain) — 1:02:30

Kwizera, who finished second in Valencia last year, leads the field on paper and will be seeking another standout performance on the famously fast Valencia course. With several athletes carrying sub-60-minute credentials, the race has the ingredients for an aggressive battle from the opening kilometres.

Beyond the headline names, the men’s field is deep and highly competitive, bringing together a strong collection of experienced international athletes with proven ability over the half-marathon distance. With so much quality packed into the lineup, the race promises an intriguing battle in which tactics, endurance, positioning and finishing speed could all play a crucial role in determining the eventual champion.

Yet personal bests will count for little once the gun goes off. The title could ultimately be decided by patience, positioning and the ability to respond when the pace begins to rise in the closing stages. Every surge, every tactical move and every second saved could prove decisive on the road to the finish.

With Kenya, Ethiopia and Spain represented by athletes of exceptional quality, Valencia promises a high-octane men's showdown in which the leaders are likely to be separated by only a handful of seconds. The final kilometres could provide the defining moments of a race packed with speed, ambition and anticipation.

On October 25, the question will be simple: who has the strength to command the streets of Valencia and claim the coveted half-marathon crown?

 

April 19, 1982. The Boston Marathon unfolded under unusually warm, sunny conditions, and by the closing stages, the race had become a private battle between two very different American runners: Alberto Salazar, already one of the biggest names in distance running, and Dick Beardsley, the Minnesota runner who had emerged as a serious marathon contender.

For roughly nine miles, from the Newton Hills toward the finish, Beardsley did much of the leading, with Salazar tucked close behind. Neither man could shake the other. They ran deep into Boston locked together, trading surges and refusing to surrender an inch as the crowds along the course grew louder.

Salazar finally made his decisive move with less than a mile remaining. He opened a small gap, but Beardsley refused to disappear. The Minnesota runner chased him through the final streets, closing again as they approached the finish.

Then came the final sprint.

Salazar held his form and reached the finish first in 2:08:52, with Beardsley only two seconds behind in 2:08:54. It was an extraordinary result: both men broke 2:09 in the same Boston Marathon, and both shattered the previous course record.

The race became known as the “Duel in the Sun,” and it remains one of the most celebrated head-to-head battles in Boston Marathon history. Beardsley had not won, but his performance established him as one of America's elite marathoners.

For Salazar, however, victory came at an enormous physical cost. Immediately after crossing the finish line, he collapsed and required emergency treatment, including several litres of intravenous saline. The combination of heat, dehydration and an all-out effort had pushed his body to the limit.

Salazar's marathon career would never again produce quite the same kind of performance. His celebrated 1981 New York City Marathon victory had produced what was initially considered a world record, although the course was later found to be short. His Boston triumph therefore became one of the defining victories of his career.

Beardsley's story would take an even more difficult turn. Injuries disrupted his career, and after returning to the highest level, he suffered a devastating farm accident in 1989. Further accidents, surgeries and severe physical pain followed, eventually leading to a long battle with painkiller addiction.

He eventually overcame that struggle and transformed the darkest chapters of his life into a story of recovery, resilience and redemption.

That is what makes the 1982 Boston Marathon more than a two-second victory.

For one extraordinary afternoon, Salazar and Beardsley produced a marathon duel in which neither man was willing to give way. One crossed the finish line first. The other finished only two seconds behind him.

Two seconds separated them at Boston. Decades later, their legendary duel remains one of the greatest chapters in marathon history.