Running News Daily

Jen Yoshida was used to telling people that running two miles a day is what got her through law school. "Once the run was over, I would tell myself that the hard part of the day was over. It made the difference between feeling optimistic about the day and maybe fearing what was coming next."

Yoshida was frustrated then that she didn't getting the same mental or physical boost once she was a practicing intellectual property lawyer and had added swimming and biking to become a triathlete.

"Work is so much more stressful now, so I should be fine with my increased training, right? I thought I was meeting one big challenge with another. Exercise is good for mental health, so I assumed more exercise would be better."

Yoshisa was confused when her increased training schedule wasn't making her more able to confront work-related stress, plus she was running out of steam during workouts. "I was exhausted at work and my fuse was getting shorter. When I completely forgot a meeting with a client, that was the last straw. I knew something had to change."  

Except for the few elites among us, most athletes must perform extraordinary balancing acts between work, family, relationships, sleep, nutrition, finances, and training. All of these aspects of life incur stress, but many of us assume that the physical stress from training is different from the psychological stress incurred from everything else.

We have been told that exercise is an excellent stress-reliever, without context or qualifiers, and therefore assume that there is a never-ending dose-response. If some exercise is good for mental health, then why wouldn't more be better? It's All Stress to Your Brain and Body

Whether it's because you've got a huge work project to complete, are going through a tough time in your relationship, or ran a tune-up marathon last weekend, the stress that you are experiencing is all the same. We might be surprised to know that it doesn't matter if one type of stress is more enjoyable than the other or if you perceive one to be "healthier" than the other.

Research shows that all forms of stress are additive and, taken together, will alter the functioning of the body to compensate for the total load. Those compensations can look like anything from fatigue from a few days of pushing your limits, all the way up to osteoporosis from a combination of high stress and low progesterone resulting from months or years of overdoing it. 

Those compensations can also look like snapping at your partner out of nowhere or even feeling deep depression or pervasive anxiety. Most of us may be able to connect those feelings with family or work stress but are unlikely to connect that with our training. In fact, many of us will double down on training, thinking that we are doing the right thing to cope or because we are in need of escape.

In those moments, we are not thinking about the research that demonstrates the huge amount of physical stress that training causes because we do not perceive the activity to be psychologically stressful. Unfortunately, our perception is not reality.Stress: The Vicious Cycle vs. the Optimal Curve

Adding more training to manage stress is like adding more wood to a fire you're trying to extinguish. In a review article, John S. Raglin, a professor in the psychology department at Indiana University, Bloomington and a pioneer in groundbreaking studies of mood and endurance sport, clearly states that increasing exercise can also increase stress and negatively affect mental health.

He notes that intention is irrelevant since stress increases either through necessary training or an abuse of training and his overall body of work points to a trend toward greater mood disturbance with increasing amounts of exercise. If we continue to increase overall stress by increasing training, research shows that this chronic physical and mental stress without adequate recovery can cause disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis leading to dysfunction of the endocrine system and yes, overtraining syndrome. 

The Yerkes-Dodson CurveHarder to accept is the fact that there is an optimal level of training and life stress for each body. The Yerkes-Dodson curve above illustrates the fact that zero stress will not result in positive gains, but huge amounts of stress will also not result in positive gains. Research shows that the idea of there being a "sweet spot" where stress on the system results in excellent performance without causing overwhelming detriment is fundamental to almost everything we do. 

For example, we know that zero water causes dehydration and too much water causes hyponatremia, but we are well-hydrated and healthy somewhere in the middle. We can apply this logic to everything we do and everything around us-there is a perfect amount for everything in nature. However, we must learn to accept the same logic when it comes to stress. There is a perfect amount of training and life stress for every body and mind, where we are alert, engaged, energetic, and thriving. We just have to find it. 

Training Doesn't Subtract from Stress Load-but Rest Does

But, isn't exercise a stress reliever? Multiple studies show that exercise certainly does provide a certain amount of stress relief, but it's important to understand that this research is typically conducted for the general population of the USA, which tends to be quite sedentary. Therefore, the study populations are non-athletes and designed to convince people that 20-30 minutes of low-level aerobic exercise 5 times per week is a good idea for general health.

These studies are not designed to address the stress relief needs of high-performing, high-volume athletes trying to fit fifteen hours of training on top of a full-time job.The solution is to take a look at which stresses we have control over and which we do not. We then need to take control by making adjustments, some of which may require us to battle with our own deeply held assumptions about our relationship with training.

For example, we likely can't change our work responsibilities, school schedule, or certain family commitments. However, we can probably do our best to get a bit more sleep, try some time-saving tactics like meal-prepping, and yes, we can skip a workout. We have to challenge the assumptions that we can't cope without training, that training is the only remedy, and that skipping or cutting a session short will detrimentally affect our performance. On the days when we need to decrease the pressure, the best training we can do is no training at all. 

While there is no evidence that taking a bit of physical rest will increase stress and promote disease in athletes, there is plenty of evidence that increasing training can do all of that and more.

If you find yourself unable to back off given the clear evidence that you might be heading for trouble, a mental health care practitioner can help you get control before you burn out. Finding and respecting your own sweet spot will ensure that you get to enjoy your runs - for life.

Most Olympic marathoners spend their youth focused on running. They join track clubs, compete in national championships, and pursue the sport from an early age.

Julia Mayer’s journey was very different.

Today, Mayer is Austria’s marathon record holder, a multiple national record holder on the roads, and an Olympian. Yet for much of her athletic life, running was not her primary sport.

For 16 years, she played soccer.

Then she discovered something that would change her life.

“I noticed that I was really fast in the fun runs and that it was really, really fun,” Mayer said when reflecting on her transition from soccer to distance running.

What began as curiosity quickly became a passion. She eventually made the bold decision to leave soccer behind and focus entirely on running. It was a move that surprised many people around her, but Mayer believed she had found her true athletic calling.

The decision proved to be the right one.

Within a few years, Mayer developed into one of Europe’s top marathon runners. Her steady improvement carried her from local races to the international stage, where she began rewriting Austria’s record books.

She now holds Austrian records in the marathon, half marathon, and road 10K. Her marathon best of 2:26:08 established her as the fastest female marathoner in Austrian history. Her performances in the half marathon and 10K have further cemented her place among the country’s all-time great distance runners.

Her rise culminated with qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Competing in the Olympic marathon represented the realization of a dream. On one of the most challenging marathon courses ever used for the Olympics, Mayer ran courageously against the strongest field in the world and finished 55th in her Olympic debut.

Behind the scenes, success has come through extraordinary dedication. During marathon preparation, Mayer trains twice a day and covers approximately 200 kilometers, or 124 miles, each week. The workload demands discipline, patience, and a deep commitment to continuous improvement. 

What makes her story especially inspiring is not simply the records or the Olympic appearance.

It is the fact that she found her greatest talent later than many elite runners.

In a sport where athletes are often identified at a young age, Mayer’s journey serves as a reminder that potential does not always reveal itself early. Sometimes it takes years of experience, a willingness to try something new, and the courage to follow a different path. 

The former soccer player who once chased a ball across a field is now chasing history on the roads of Europe.

And according to those closest to her, her best performances may still be ahead.

For runners of every age and ability, Julia Mayer’s story delivers a powerful lesson: it is never too late to discover what you are capable of.

From soccer player to Olympian, her journey proves that remarkable achievements can begin when least expected.

Megan Keith produced the performance of her career in Oslo on Thursday night, shattering one of Scotland’s longest-standing distance running records and cementing her place among Britain’s greatest female 3000m runners.

The 24-year-old clocked a sensational 8:28.35 over 3000m, breaking the Scottish outdoor record that had stood for nearly four decades. In doing so, Keith eclipsed the previous mark of 8:29.02, set by Scottish legend Yvonne Murray back in 1988, ending a record reign that had lasted 38 years.

Keith’s breakthrough run was more than just a national record. The performance also propelled her to third on the UK outdoor all-time list, placing her behind only two of Britain’s most celebrated distance runners — Paula Radcliffe, who leads the rankings with 8:22.20, and Laura Weightman, whose 8:26.07 remains the second-fastest outdoor mark by a British woman.

The significance of Keith’s achievement is amplified by the calibre of athletes she now joins in the record books. For decades, Murray’s mark stood as one of Scottish athletics’ most untouchable records, surviving generations of elite competitors. Keith has now succeeded where many outstanding runners have fallen short, announcing herself as one of the leading distance talents in British athletics.

Her time also compares favourably with the best performances produced indoors. Olympic medallist Laura Muir ran 8:26.41 indoors in Karlsruhe in 2017, underlining just how exceptional Keith’s outdoor effort in Oslo truly was.

The run continues a remarkable rise for the Scottish star, whose progression over recent seasons has transformed her from a promising prospect into a genuine force on the international stage. Running with confidence and composure against elite competition, Keith demonstrated both the speed and endurance required to challenge the very best in Europe and beyond.

With the World Championship season gathering momentum, Keith’s record-breaking display sends a powerful message. Not only has she etched her name into Scottish athletics history, but she has also established herself as a serious contender in one of the sport’s most competitive events.

In Oslo, Megan Keith did far more than break a record. She ended a 38-year wait, climbed into the upper echelon of British distance running, and delivered a performance that may prove to be a defining moment in her career.

British middle-distance talent Phoebe Gill took another significant step forward in her return to top form, producing a determined victory over 800 metres at the Meeting de Marseille in France on Wednesday.

Competing in challenging, wind-affected conditions, the 19-year-old demonstrated both resilience and composure as she held off a late charge from Switzerland's Veronica Vancardo to secure the win in 2:00.81. Vancardo finished just three hundredths of a second behind in 2:00.84, underlining the fiercely contested nature of the race.

While the margin of victory was narrow, the result represented another encouraging milestone for Gill as she continues to rebuild momentum following her injury setback. The young Briton showed impressive race awareness and strength in the closing stages, maintaining her advantage despite the difficult conditions that made fast running a challenge throughout the evening.

The Marseille triumph adds to a growing body of evidence that Gill is steadily progressing toward her best form. Earlier in her comeback campaign, she clocked 2:01.50 for 800m in Bydgoszcz before demonstrating her versatility with a strong 4:05.53 performance over 1500 metres at the BMC Grand Prix meeting in Trafford.

Those performances have highlighted not only her improving fitness but also her ability to compete across multiple distances as she carefully builds her season. The Marseille victory now provides further confirmation that the European junior star is moving in the right direction.

Gill emerged as one of Britain's most exciting middle-distance prospects through a series of breakthrough performances as a teenager, earning widespread recognition for her fearless racing style and remarkable maturity. Injury temporarily interrupted that upward trajectory, but her recent results suggest she is steadily rediscovering the form that made her one of the sport's brightest young talents.

With each race, the signs of progress become increasingly evident. Winning in difficult conditions and under pressure from a quality field is often a stronger indicator than a fast time alone, and Gill's latest success demonstrated exactly those qualities.

As the summer season gathers pace, the Marseille victory offers another confidence boost for the British teenager, whose return continues to gain momentum. If her recent progression is any indication, Gill could soon find herself back among the leading names on the European middle-distance circuit. 

The NCAA Track and Field Championships delivered a moment few could have predicted as Ja’Kobe Tharp produced one of the most astonishing performances in the history of sprint hurdling, rewriting the record books in spectacular fashion.

Competing in the opening round of the men’s 110-meter hurdles, the Auburn star stunned the athletics world by clocking an incredible 12.75 seconds, becoming the first athlete ever to break the 12.80-second barrier. In doing so, he eclipsed the long-standing world record of 12.80 set by Aries Merritt in 2012, a mark that had stood as one of the sport’s most revered achievements for more than a decade.

What makes Tharp’s breakthrough even more remarkable is the scale of his improvement. Entering the championships, the defending NCAA and U.S. champion had recorded a season-best of 13.05 seconds. Yet under the brightest spotlight, he unleashed a performance that exceeded every expectation, slicing an extraordinary 0.26 seconds from his personal best in a race that instantly became one of the greatest ever run.

The achievement sent shockwaves throughout the track and field community. While Tharp arrived in Eugene as one of the leading contenders for the NCAA title, few envisioned a performance capable of redefining the limits of the event. Instead, the American hurdler delivered a race for the ages, combining flawless technique, explosive speed, and impeccable rhythm from the first hurdle to the finish line.

The historic run not only secured his place in athletics history but also transformed the outlook of the championship. With the world record now in his possession, Tharp advances to the final as the overwhelming favorite, carrying momentum that could make an already unforgettable weekend even more extraordinary.

For years, the 12.80 barrier appeared untouchable. On a stunning day at the NCAA Championships, Ja’Kobe Tharp proved otherwise, producing the kind of performance that reminds fans why sport remains so unpredictable. In a matter of seconds, he turned a routine qualifying round into a landmark moment that will be remembered for generations.

The world record no one saw coming is now a reality—and Ja’Kobe Tharp is the man who changed history.

A new chapter in middle-distance running may have begun in Oslo after American teenager Cooper Lutkenhaus produced one of the most remarkable performances of the season, narrowly defeating reigning Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi in a thrilling men's 800m contest at the Diamond League meeting.

The 17-year-old sensation shocked a world-class field by crossing the finish line first in a race that came down to the smallest of margins. After an intense battle over the final metres, Lutkenhaus held off Wanyonyi by just one hundredth of a second, producing a dramatic finish that left the packed stadium in disbelief.

From the opening lap, the pace was relentless as the leading contenders positioned themselves for a fierce showdown. As the athletes entered the home straight, Wanyonyi appeared poised to unleash his trademark finishing kick. However, Lutkenhaus refused to be intimidated, matching the Olympic champion stride for stride before producing a perfectly timed lean at the line to secure a historic victory.

The result marks a breakthrough moment for the young American, who continues to establish himself as one of the brightest talents in global athletics. Defeating an Olympic champion at a Diamond League event is a feat many athletes spend entire careers pursuing, yet Lutkenhaus achieved it before reaching adulthood.

For Wanyonyi, the narrow defeat does little to diminish his status as one of the world's premier 800m runners. The Kenyan once again demonstrated his exceptional class and competitiveness, pushing the race to a world-class standard and forcing his young rival to deliver the performance of a lifetime.

Beyond the result itself, the race offered a glimpse into what could become one of the sport's most exciting rivalries in the years ahead. With established stars and emerging talents now pushing each other to new heights, the men's 800m continues to evolve into one of athletics' most captivating events.

On a memorable night in Oslo, the spotlight belonged to Cooper Lutkenhaus. At just 17 years old, he stood toe-to-toe with an Olympic champion and emerged victorious, announcing himself to the athletics world in spectacular fashion.