Running News Daily

Less is not more. More is almost always more—within reason, and with a plan.People complicate it, but running is like almost every other activity. Want to be a good pianist? Practice a lot. Want to be a great surgeon? Cut a lot of people open.In both activities, it is important that your practice has some direction. Mindlessly slamming the piano keys or taking a knife to grandma during her afternoon nap will not make you an expert (nor popular with the neighbors). But in all cases, the common denominator of expertise is time invested.

It took me way too many years to learn this lesson. In summer 2010, I had just graduated college after gradually getting into running over the previous four years. I was running 20 to 30 mostly hard miles per week (along with some biking), thinking I was doing things right. Then, I found a dog-eared copy of the cult-classic novel Once a Runner, and everything changed.

Once a Runner tells the fictional story of Quenton Cassidy, who goes to the woods, trains his butt off, and ends up winning an Olympic medal. It wasn’t the melodramatic prose or poignant narrative that struck me—it was the mileage. Cassidy was running as much in a day as I was running in a week.

After adding a few more dog ears to the book and returning it to the library, I gobbled up every resource on running training I couldAs Cassidy said, “The only true way is to marshal the ferocity of your ambition over the course of many days, weeks, months, and (if you could finally come to accept it) years. The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials.”What makes running different than activities like the piano is that doing it too much or too hard will result in injury. The injury conundrum makes running unique, and, in my opinion, is the main reason coaches exist. How can we keep you healthy and avoid burnout while maximizing your volume? That question is running training distilled down to its essence.

I’ve written about how to stay healthy before. Cliff notes version: run easy most of the time, practice injury prevention, and eat as hard as you train. But I haven’t confronted the other piece: How much running should you be doing?

How much mileage you should run depends on whether your goal is to finish strong (defined here as being confident that you have done enough training to reach the finish line smiling, even on a bad day) or perform optimally (being confident that you are doing the most you possibly can to reach your running potential). Both are great goals, and both come with different types of sacrifices and planning.To Finish Strong

The general guidelines for finishing strong (and smiling) are below. These mileage totals give you the volume needed to be sure your legs are prepared for racing the distance, with enough training to do the necessary long runs and avoid the race-day trauma that results from running on unprepared legs. (Endurance-based cross training, like biking or Elliptigo, does not count toward total mileage, but can be a valuable addition to a training program.)5K: 10 miles per week (over at least 2 runs)

10K: 15 miles per week (over at least 3 runs)

Half-marathon: 25 miles per week (over at least 3 runs)

Marathon: 30 miles per week (over at least 4 runs)

50 miles: 40 miles per week (over at least 4 runs)

100 miles: 40 miles per week (over at least 4 runs)

Longer races require more volume, and more volume requires more runs per week; concentrating too much mileage in too few runs increases injury risk.

At this level, 100 miles requires the same volume as 50 miles, because in those races, you will be stepping into the deep, dark abyss of the unknown no matter what. So if you are just aiming to finish strong, it is more important to focus on key long efforts (and pray to the ultra-gods profusely for their favor).

To Perform OptimallyPerformance is a tricky, deceiving monster. Much of elite performance is dictated by choosing the right parents. Therefore, we aren’t talking about absolute race performance here, but personal performance relative to genetic capabilities.

The numbers below represent peak sustained volume, or the highest volume you will achieve and sustain for at least a month during hard training.

This formulation is overly simple—you should work up to this volume slowly over time, building a base then adding workouts and modifying total volume based on periodization principles. Remember, volume comes with diminishing returns and is highly individual, so be careful not to run too much for you.

5K to 10K: 6 to 12 hours per week

Half-marathon to 50K: 7 to 15 hours per week

50 to 100 miles: 8 to 16 hoursThat is quite the range, but gives you an idea of the numbers you want to work toward over time. The lower end is for injury-prone or time-crunched runners, especially those who have not run high mileage previously.

These numbers are in time (rather than distance) to account for variances in terrain—steeper, more technical trails are slower, but have a similar aerobic stimulus. Finally, these numbers go out the window for older runners—injuries are more likely for runners in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

A less accurate but clearer way to picture it is in optimal miles per week, assuming non-technical terrain and a consistently durable runner:

5K to 10K: 50-70 miles per week (women), 70-90 (men)

Half-marathon to 50K: 60-90 (women), 70-110 (men)

50 to 100 miles: 60-110 (women), 80-120 (men)If you’re anything like me when I first started learning about training, you may be saying, “That is a lot of mileage!” Good. That is the point of this article—being an expert takes a lot of time, and it’s essential to acknowledge it whether you are a runner or a pianist.

Still, these numbers are not hard-and-fast rules, just guidelines. Just because you can’t reach these numbers doesn’t mean you won’t be amazing at running.

Remember, never increase mileage by more than 10 percent in a week (and 3 to 5 percent if you’ve never run higher mileage before). It took me two years to go from 20 to 30 miles per week to 90 miles per week.

No matter what, always be extremely attentive to injury. Staying healthy is the most important part of running, and durability is a talent in its own right.

There may be shortcuts to good (or even great) performance, but there are no shortcuts to your best performance. Plan for the long term, methodically increase volume and do smart workouts once or twice a week after you have a solid running base.

To put it another way, it’s all about the

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.