Running News Daily

The gel lowers perceived heat stress, which could improve performance in warm weather.

In research to be published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, athletes who took a menthol gel during a workout in warm conditions reported feeling cooler.

Study participants also reported feeling less airway constriction and that they could breathe more freely.

This supports the growing evidence that there could be natural performance-enhancing benefits to different types of tastes when you’re working out or competing.

As we reported last year, there’s growing evidence for the performance-enhancing benefits of various tastes, independent of whatever energy the food or drink they’re in provides. That’s true for some of the most common forms—sweet, bitter, spicy, cooling—of what researchers call “tastants.”

A barrier to everyday athletes making use of this phenomenon is a dearth of commercially available sport nutrition products containing one of these tastants. So, for example, if you’re inspired by the study in which runners improved their 1500-meter time after taking a capsule containing capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their heat, you’ll have to come up with a DIY solution, such as swilling diluted hot sauce.

There might soon, however, be an easy-to-use option for people wanting to capitalize on research showing improved performance in the heat after athletes ingest menthol taste solutions. GU Energy Labs is developing a mint-flavored menthol gel that, in research to be published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, imparted a significant cooling sensation when taken during warm-weather training. The basic idea is that such a gel could make exercising in the heat feel more comfortable, and thereby encourage athletes to go faster or longer.

For the study, 40 national- or world-class endurance athletes consumed a gel on three separate workouts done in average conditions of 78 degrees Fahrenheit and 56 percent relative humidity. The participants were split evenly between men and women; 19 were cyclists, 15 were race walkers, and six were runners. During one workout, they downed a gel with a menthol concentration of 0.5 percent, during another they had a gel with a menthol concentration of 0.1 percent, and during the third they consumed a mint-flavored placebo gel that contained no menthol.

Both of the menthol gels imparted a cooling sensation, while the placebo didn’t. Participants reported feeling cooler for two to 15 minutes after taking the lower-concentration menthol gel, and for up to 45 minutes after using the higher-concentration one. However, half of the athletes said the cooling sensation was too intense after the higher-concentration gel. The lower-concentration gel received a better overall rating on the confluence of cooling, mint flavor intensity, and sweetness. That’s the one that Gu is continuing to develop in collaboration with Southern Cross University in Australia.

How does this phenomenon work?

“The chemical compound in menthol activates receptors linked to temperature-sensing neurons that send your brain information about the presence of cold stimuli,” Roxanne Vogel, who developed the gel as the focus of her Ph.D. research, told Runner’s World. “Essentially, menthol ‘turns on’ the same messaging pathway that responds to cold, so you get the sensation of cooling without any actual change in temperature.” 


Many of the study participants also reported feeling less airway constriction, and that drinks tasted colder, after they consumed the menthol gels. Cold/menthol receptors in the upper respiratory tract “can provide a sensation of increased ventilation,” Vogel said. “This is why menthol is commonly used in medicinal chest rubs and cough drops.”


Vogel’s explanation meshes with my own individual experience taking the lower-concentration menthol gel during a few long runs. The cooling sensation was more or less immediate, and strong. (Whether I needed a cooling sensation during winter in Maine is another matter, but duty calls.) I also felt I could breathe more freely. The latter sensation can’t be ascribed to the power of suggestion, because I hadn’t yet read the full study text in which participants reported the same feeling.

I’m now saving my remaining prototypes for this summer, to use them in their intended conditions. When I do so, I’ll be sure to remember a caveat noted in Klein’s quote above and in other research on the topic: Don’t confuse the feeling of being cooler with actually being cooler. Again, menthol lowers your perception of warmth, but doesn’t affect your core temperature, which will rise when you run in hot weather.

Gu is planning real-world field testing of the menthol gel this summer to help decide the product’s release date , according to Magdalena Lewy Boulet, the Olympic marathoner and Western States 100 champion who is the company’s senior vice president of innovation, research, and development.

After nearly two years away from her signature event, Emma Coburn is finally preparing for a long-awaited return to the steeplechase, marking one of the most anticipated comeback stories of the 2026 athletics season.

The American distance star is expected to compete in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at Sound Running’s Track Fest, which would officially be her first steeplechase appearance since suffering a devastating ankle injury at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting in April 2024.

Coburn’s injury abruptly halted a career that has long been defined by consistency, resilience, and championship-level performances on the global stage. The former world champion and Olympic medalist endured a lengthy rehabilitation process after breaking her ankle in Shanghai, forcing her away from competition and raising uncertainty about when she would return to full fitness.

Now, signs point toward a fresh chapter.

Her entry into Track Fest has generated excitement across the athletics world, with fans eager to see one of the sport’s most recognizable steeplechasers back on the track. The race is also expected to mark Coburn’s first competition of any kind in over a year, having last appeared at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in 2025.

The timing could not be more symbolic. As the 2026 season continues to deliver remarkable comeback stories across athletics, Coburn’s return adds another emotional layer to a year already filled with redemption narratives.

Beyond the results, her comeback represents perseverance through one of the most difficult periods of her career. Injuries of that magnitude can end careers or permanently alter an athlete’s trajectory, yet Coburn has remained determined throughout her recovery journey.

Track Fest will not simply be about times or finishing positions. It will be about the return of a proven competitor whose presence has shaped women’s steeplechase for more than a decade.

If all goes according to plan, the starting line in Los Angeles will mark the beginning of Emma Coburn’s next chapter — one built on resilience, patience, and the hunger to compete once again at the highest level.

Fifteen years have passed since the tragic and mysterious death of Samuel Kamau Wanjiru, one of the most gifted long-distance runners of his generation. Wanjiru died at his home in Nyahururu on May 15, 2011, at just 24 years old, bringing a sudden end to a career that had already secured a place among Kenya’s greatest sporting achievements.

Despite his brief career, Wanjiru left an extraordinary mark on global athletics through his fearless racing style and historic performances on the marathon stage. He remains best remembered for his remarkable victory at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he delivered one of the finest marathon performances in Olympic history.

Competing in extremely hot and humid conditions, Wanjiru broke away from a world-class field with relentless pace and determination before entering the iconic Beijing National Stadium, widely known as the Bird’s Nest Stadium, to win the gold medal in an Olympic record time of 2:06:32. His performance shattered the previous Olympic record by nearly three minutes.

That victory carried historic significance for Kenya. Wanjiru became the country’s first-ever Olympic marathon champion, ending decades of waiting for an Olympic title in one of the nation’s strongest disciplines. At only 21 years old, he also became the youngest Olympic marathon champion in modern history.

Beyond his Olympic success, Wanjiru was admired for his aggressive and fearless approach to racing. He transformed marathon competition with his attacking style, often pushing the pace from the front and forcing rivals beyond their limits. His influence helped shape a new era of marathon running and inspired many of the athletes who followed him.

Although his life ended tragically and under circumstances that continue to attract discussion years later, Wanjiru’s achievements remain deeply respected within Kenyan and international athletics.

Fifteen years after his passing, Samuel Wanjiru continues to be remembered as one of the greatest talents ever produced in marathon running and a pioneer whose Olympic triumph remains one of Kenya’s defining moments in global sport.

The picturesque streets of Karlovy Vary are ready to welcome another thrilling chapter of the EuroHeroes series as a powerful field of European distance runners prepares for the 2026 Karlovy Vary Half Marathon. With established stars, rising talents, and national record contenders lining up, the Czech race promises a captivating blend of speed, tactics, and continental pride.

Leading the men’s field is Germany’s Jan Lukas Becker, whose personal best of 1:01:20 makes him one of the fastest athletes on the start list. Becker arrives with the credentials of a proven front-runner and will undoubtedly be targeting both victory and a strong time on the fast Karlovy Vary course.

Italy’s Nikolas Loss also enters the race carrying impressive momentum. With a personal best of 1:02:28, the Italian has steadily developed into one of Europe’s most reliable road racers and is expected to challenge aggressively from the early stages.

Home fans will place their hopes on Czech standout Damián Vích, whose 1:02:52 lifetime best positions him firmly among the contenders. Competing on familiar roads, Vích could draw extra energy from the local support as he seeks a memorable performance in front of the home crowd.

The women’s race appears equally compelling, headlined by Spain’s Meritxell Soler. Owning a personal best of 1:09:30, Soler enters as one of the favourites and brings valuable experience from major international competitions.

Fellow Spaniard Carolina Robles is expected to provide a serious challenge after clocking 1:09:38 in her career. Known for her strength and consistency, Robles has the tools to turn the women’s contest into a fiercely competitive duel.

Representing the host nation, veteran athlete Eva Vrabcová Nývltová adds further intrigue to the race. Her personal best of 1:11:01, combined with years of championship experience, makes her one of the key names to watch as the Czech fans rally behind one of their most accomplished distance runners.

Set against the elegant spa-town scenery of Karlovy Vary, the race continues to strengthen its reputation as one of Europe’s premier road running events. With elite European talent assembled across both fields, spectators can expect an afternoon filled with aggressive racing, tactical battles, and potentially outstanding times on Czech soil.

British teenage sensation Freddie Rowe is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in European middle-distance running after producing a stunning sequence of performances over the past few weeks.

The young star has enjoyed a breakthrough spell that has firmly placed him among the brightest prospects in the sport. His impressive run began with victory in the men’s under-18 race at the prestigious Mini London Marathon, where he showcased both composure and tactical maturity beyond his years.

Rowe then delivered another landmark moment at the celebrated Bannister Miles, storming to victory in the mile in a sensational 4:00.88. The performance not only secured the win but also shattered the UK under-18 mile record, underlining his growing reputation as one of Britain’s most gifted teenage athletes.

As if that were not enough, Rowe continued his extraordinary momentum at the University of Birmingham, where he produced a dominant display to win the 1500m in 3:45.78. The time was particularly significant, coming four seconds inside the qualifying standard for the upcoming European U18 Athletics Championships in Rieti.

What makes Rowe’s recent rise even more remarkable is the consistency and confidence with which he has delivered on every stage. Whether racing on the roads or the track, the young Briton has demonstrated a rare blend of speed, endurance, and racing intelligence that suggests even greater performances may still lie ahead.

With records falling, qualifying marks comfortably achieved, and major championships on the horizon, Freddie Rowe’s name is quickly becoming impossible to ignore in European athletics circles. If his current trajectory is anything to go by, this may only be the beginning of a very special journey.

The University of Virginia delivered one of the standout performances on Day One of the ACC Outdoor Championships as Justin Wachtel and Will Anthony powered the Cavaliers to an impressive 1-2 finish in the men’s 10,000m final.

In a race packed with tactical discipline and championship intensity, the field remained closely grouped for much of the contest before the Virginia teammates asserted control during the decisive closing stages. What began as a patient and calculated affair quickly transformed into a fierce battle for the title as the pace intensified late in the race.

When the moment arrived to make his move, Wachtel delivered a stunning finishing burst that left the rest of the field with no response. The UVA star closed his final lap in a remarkable 55.88 seconds, showcasing exceptional speed and composure after an already demanding 10,000 meters.

Anthony followed closely behind to complete a dominant Virginia sweep at the front, capping a memorable performance for the Cavaliers and reinforcing the program’s growing reputation in collegiate distance running.

The victory was not simply about endurance — it was a demonstration of tactical awareness, teamwork, and perfectly timed execution. Wachtel’s devastating finishing speed ultimately proved to be the defining weapon in a race that demanded patience before rewarding aggression.

With the ACC Championships now underway, Virginia has already announced itself as a major force, and the Cavaliers’ commanding display in the 10,000m will undoubtedly remain one of the defining performances of the meet