Running News Daily

Before sunrise breaks over Thika and before the wider athletics world begins to follow the results, a competitive field of determined runners will already be locked in a battle against the clock, their limits, and their ambitions. On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the 57th edition of the KATA Time Trial Series returns to the quiet roads around the Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA), offering athletes another invaluable opportunity to test their progress and pursue new personal bests.

While major championships often capture global headlines, events like the KATA Time Trial remain the heartbeat of athlete development in Kenya. There are no packed grandstands, dramatic presentations, or lavish celebrations. Instead, the focus is placed squarely where it belongs—on performance, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of improvement.

Over the years, the KATA Time Trial has built a reputation as one of the country's most respected performance-testing platforms. For emerging talents and experienced competitors alike, it serves as a crucial checkpoint where months of demanding training are measured against the unforgiving honesty of the stopwatch.

This edition is expected to attract athletes eager to evaluate their fitness levels and, above all, lower their personal bests. For many runners, a personal record represents far more than a number on a results sheet. It symbolizes countless kilometres covered before dawn, punishing interval sessions, sacrifices made away from competition, and the unwavering belief that hard work will eventually be rewarded.

The programme will once again feature the traditional 5km and 10km races, each presenting its own unique challenge. The 5km demands speed, courage, and the ability to sustain a relentless pace from start to finish. The 10km, meanwhile, requires patience, tactical awareness, and exceptional endurance, rewarding athletes who can distribute their effort wisely over the longer distance.

As always, intelligent pacing is expected to play a decisive role. Athletes are likely to work together through the opening kilometres, sharing the workload and maintaining consistent rhythm in pursuit of faster times. In a race where every second matters, a controlled start often proves more valuable than an aggressive surge. Those who judge their effort correctly can unlock breakthrough performances, while those who miscalculate their pace risk seeing their ambitions fade before the finish line.

The roads of Thika have witnessed countless stories of progress throughout the history of the series. Some athletes have announced their arrival with career-defining performances, while others have gained valuable lessons that later shaped future success. Every edition adds another chapter to that legacy, and the 57th installment promises to be no different.

Weather and course conditions are expected to favour athletes who combine patience with determination. The runners who remain composed during the early stages will likely be the ones producing their strongest performances when fatigue begins to take hold in the closing kilometres.

Yet beyond the times and finishing positions, the true significance of the KATA Time Trial lies in what it represents. It is a celebration of continuous growth, a proving ground for ambition, and a reminder that excellence is built through consistency rather than spectacle.

When the final watches stop on Wednesday morning, the results will reveal much more than who ran the fastest. They will tell stories of perseverance, dedication, and dreams pursued one stride at a time. For many athletes lining up in Thika, the ultimate victory will not be defeating their rivals—it will be conquering their previous best and taking another important step forward in their athletic journey.

Max Burgin is no longer just one of Britain’s brightest middle-distance talents — he is rapidly becoming one of the finest 800m runners the nation has ever produced.

The 24-year-old strengthened his place among the greats of British athletics with another world-class performance at the Rabat Diamond League, storming to victory in the men's 800m in 1:42.98. The result added yet another elite mark to a growing collection that is rewriting the British all-time rankings.

Burgin now owns four of the ten fastest 800m performances ever recorded by a British athlete, an extraordinary achievement made even more impressive by the fact that every one of those performances has been run in under 1:43. Such consistency at a level few athletes in history have reached highlights both his talent and his growing maturity on the international stage.

His personal best of 1:42.29, set in Tokyo, remains one of the standout performances in British middle-distance running and underlines his status as a genuine contender whenever he steps onto the track. In Rabat, Burgin once again demonstrated his ability to combine tactical awareness with devastating finishing speed, controlling the race before delivering another sub-1:43 performance against a high-quality field.

The achievement inevitably invites comparisons with British athletics legends. The national record of 1:41.73, set by Seb Coe in 1981, has stood for more than four decades and remains one of the sport's most iconic marks. Remarkably, the 45th anniversary of Coe's record falls on June 10, adding extra significance to Burgin's latest success as discussions grow about whether he could eventually challenge one of the longest-standing records in British athletics.

What makes Burgin's rise particularly compelling is not just the speed he has displayed, but the consistency with which he is now producing world-class performances. In an event where fractions of a second separate greatness from history, he continues to deliver times that place him among the very best athletes Britain has ever produced.

With the championship season approaching and his form trending upward, Burgin appears to be entering the prime years of his career. If his recent performances are any indication, British athletics may be witnessing the emergence of a runner capable of leaving a lasting legacy on the 800m — and perhaps even taking aim at a record that has endured for nearly half a century.

For now, another Diamond League victory and another place in the history books serve as powerful reminders that Max Burgin's remarkable journey is gathering momentum, one breathtaking lap at a time.

The 2026 Diamond League calendar promises a breathtaking journey across the globe, stitching together cultures, climates, and elite athletic performances into one electrifying season. From the desert lights of Doha to the historic streets of Brussels, the world’s finest track and field stars will once again chase glory, records, and supremacy in a series that defines the pinnacle of one-day athletics competition.

The campaign ignites on May 8 in Doha, where speed meets spectacle under the floodlights. Just a week later, the circuit shifts east to Shanghai/Keqiao on May 16, before returning to familiar territory in Xiamen on May 23. These early stops in Asia and the Middle East often set the tone—fast times, bold statements, and emerging rivalries begin to take shape as athletes test their early-season form.

By the end of May, the tour arrives in Rabat (May 31), marking Africa’s sole stop on the circuit—a meeting that consistently delivers both passionate crowds and world-class performances. From there, Europe takes center stage, beginning with the timeless backdrop of Rome on June 4. The momentum builds quickly with a Scandinavian double in Stockholm (June 7) and Oslo (June 10), two meets renowned for their rich history and electric atmosphere.

Late June brings the glamour of Paris (June 28), where speed and style converge in one of the season’s most anticipated showdowns. Then, the spotlight crosses the Atlantic to Eugene on July 4, a venue often regarded as the heartbeat of track and field in the United States. The European leg resumes swiftly with the iconic Monaco meet on July 10—a race often synonymous with record-breaking performances—before heading to London on July 18, where roaring crowds elevate every stride and jump.

After a brief pause, the Diamond League returns in August with a decisive run toward the final. Lausanne (August 21) sets the stage, followed closely by Silesia (August 23) and Zurich (August 27), meetings that frequently determine qualification battles and title contenders. Each performance becomes increasingly critical, with athletes fighting not just for victory, but for a place in the grand finale.

The season culminates on September 4–5 in Brussels, where champions will be crowned and the year’s defining moments etched into history. It is here that consistency meets brilliance—only the best across the series earn the right to compete for the coveted Diamond Trophy.

Beyond the dates and destinations, the 2026 calendar tells a deeper story: one of global unity through sport, of athletes pushing human limits, and of fans witnessing greatness unfold in real time. Every stop carries its own rhythm, yet together they form a symphony of speed, endurance, and excellence.

As the world watches, one question remains—who will rise, who will endure, and who will etch their name into the legacy of the Diamond League?

Kenyan distance runner Bernard Kibet Koech has been handed a four-year ban and disqualified by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after abnormalities were detected in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).

The sanction takes effect from June 10, 2025, and runs through June 9, 2029. As part of the ruling, Koech’s result from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games men’s 10,000 meters—where he finished fifth—has been officially disqualified.

ABP Abnormalities Trigger Sanction 

According to the AIU, the case was built on irregularities identified in Koech’s Athlete Biological Passport, a long-term monitoring system designed to track biological markers over time rather than rely on a single positive test. The ABP framework has become a central tool in modern anti-doping enforcement, particularly in endurance events, where performance-enhancing methods may not always be detected through traditional testing.

The AIU did not cite a specific prohibited substance but concluded that the longitudinal data showed patterns inconsistent with normal physiology, meeting the threshold required for a violation under World Athletics’ anti-doping rules.

Olympic Impact

 Koech’s fifth-place finish in Paris had stood as one of Kenya’s strong performances in the men’s 10,000 meters at the Games. With the disqualification now confirmed, the Olympic results will be adjusted accordingly, and athletes finishing behind him are expected to move up in the official standings.

A Broader Context for Distance Running

The ruling adds to a growing list of high-profile ABP cases in distance running and underscores the continued scrutiny placed on elite endurance athletes. For World Athletics and the AIU, the emphasis remains on protecting clean competitors and maintaining confidence in championship results, particularly at the Olympic level.

For Kenya—long a global powerhouse in distance running—the case represents another reminder of the ongoing challenges facing the sport, even as the country continues to produce extraordinary talent.

What Comes Next

Koech is ineligible to compete in any World Athletics-sanctioned events during the four-year ban period. Any results recorded after June 10, 2025, are subject to annulment under anti-doping regulations.

As with all ABP-based rulings, the decision reflects a process that unfolds over time, relying on accumulated data rather than a single race or test. The AIU’s announcement brings closure to that process—and a significant rewrite of the Paris 2024 men’s 10,000-meter final.

The 97th Comrades Marathon — an up run — will be held over 85,91 km between Durban and Pietermaritzburg on June 9.

Runners will feel some relief after receiving a bit of respite from Comrades Marathon organizers, with another adjustment being made to the cut-off times for next week’s ultra-marathon in KwaZulu-Natal.

With cut-off times having caused some controversy after runners were alleged to have been taken off the course earlier than necessary at last year’s race, this latest move announced yesterday would give participants another 10 minutes to reach the last cut-off before the finish.

The cut-off at the 79,1-km mark, at the top of the notorious Polly Shortts climb, had been shifted from 11 hours 10 minutes (11:10:00) to 11:20:00, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) confirmed.

According to organizers, this was “in response to runner requests and ongoing efforts to ensure that participants have the best possible chance of finishing this year’s race”.

This latest announcement followed a decision by the CMA earlier this month to scrap the first cut-off point, at St Johns Avenue in Pinetown, reducing the total cut-off points to five, excluding the finish. Cut-off times were also revised for Winston Park and the halfway point at Drummond.

The 97th Comrades Marathon — an up run — will be held over 85,91 km between Durban and Pietermaritzburg on June 9.

Meanwhile, since 2015, the CMA has been awarding “Winners Jackets” to male and female winners of the race.

The year 2016 saw the retrospective awarding of Winners Jackets to three previous winners at the official Comrades race day prizegiving ceremony; with this becoming a celebratory facet to race week festivities until all surviving former Comrades Marathon winners have been honored with their very own Winners Jackets.

Two remarkable individuals will receive the grand acknowledgement at this year’s Comrades Champions Prizegiving Breakfast on Monday, June 10.

They are Rae Bischoff and Sipho Ngomane, both of whom in their own right have made their mark on The Ultimate Human Race.

In 1998 Bischoff made South Africa proud when she took the women’s title, a long break since 1993, when fellow South African Tilda Tearle was crowned the women’s champion.

Bischoff, a veteran contender during that up run, had Valentina Liakhova close on her heels, with a mere 19 seconds between them. But Bischoff managed to cross the finish line in 6:38:57, taking first position.

Ngomane ran his first Comrades Marathon in 2003. In 2005 — a down run — he surprised the world when he won in 5:27:11, with Oleg Kharitonov close behind.

What made the victory even sweeter is that Ngomane had to run in borrowed shoes after his had been stolen. He was only 23 at the time when he claimed the victory.

Comrades Marathon cut-off times:

Winston Park (Caltex Garage) – 29,6 km in, clock time 4:45:00

Drummond (Halfway) – 42,6 km in, clock time 6:20:00

Cato Ridge (N3 Subway) – 56,6 km in, clock time 8:10:00

Umlaas Road – 67,5 km in, clock time 9:40:00

Mkondeni (Top of Polly Shortts) – 79,1 km in, clock time 11:20:00

Finish line – 85,91 km in, clock time 12:00:00.

The reigning Vancouver and Montreal Half Marathon champion, Mohamed Aagab of Campbellton, N.B., has received a three-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation by the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport (CCES).

Aagab provided a urine sample after winning the 2023 BMO Vancouver Half Marathon on May 7, which revealed the presence of recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO), a prohibited peptide hormone used to improve performance by increasing the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen.

Aagab was born in Morocco but has lived in Campbellton, N.B., since 2018. He won the Quebec City Marathon in 2018 and the 2023 21K de Montréal, as well as the 2023 BMO Vancouver Half Marathon.

According to CCES, on Oct. 3, Aagab signed an Early Admission and Acceptance Agreement, admitting to the violation and accepting the period of ineligibility and all other consequences. As a result, the otherwise applicable four-year period of ineligibility was reduced by one year, in accordance with the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). Aagab’s three-year suspension, effective Sept. 12, 2023, terminates on Sept. 11, 2026.

Aagab competed twice after his positive test on May 7, finishing 15th overall at the 2023 Ottawa Marathon in 2:18:34, finishing one spot behind top Canadian Lee Wesselius, who was 14th. He also ran in a 5,000m at the Hub City Classic in Moncton, N.B. on June 10, where he finished third, in 15:27. Both results will be disqualified, along with his Vancouver Half Marathon win.

In a statement to Canadian Running, Aagab’s agent, Yanatan Wegayehu, voiced disappointment with Aagab’s choices. “I was not aware that Mohamed ran the Vancouver half until I saw the results. His poor choices have negatively affected not only his career but also those around him,” said Wegayehu.

During the sanction period, Aagab is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the CADP, including training with teammates.

This is the first distance running anti-doping case in Canada since David Freake of St. John’s, N.L. was given a four-year doping ban when he tested positive for EPO and several other banned substances after the 2019 Ottawa Marathon.

On Saturday, June 10, thousands of community members will turn out for the 50th annual Sound to Narrows run in Tacoma. This year’s event returns to Vassault Park after two years of being a virtual-only run and includes something for everyone, from the state’s oldest 12K run for all ages to a 20-yard diaper dash for kids.

“For 50 years, Sound to Narrows has been a treasured community event that MultiCare has been proud to support,” said Florence Chang, president of MultiCare. “Being able to celebrate this milestone anniversary with an in-person event makes this year extra special, and so many of us at MultiCare — including myself — are looking forward to being there on race day.”

All proceeds from Sound to Narrows will benefit MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare (M.A.S.H.) Camp. Formerly known as Nurse Camp, this free, five-day camp introduces local high school students to careers in health care. Students join medical professionals from various disciplines for a first-hand look at the multifaceted world of health care.

Registration starts at $45 for adults and $10 for children participating in the in-person 12K or 5K, and includes a collectable 50th anniversary t-shirt, runner’s bib and Sound to Narrows medal. Entry for students participating in the Fit for Sound to Narrows 2K is $5. There will be a virtual option again this year, for those who want to participate but don’t feel ready for a large, in-person event. The registration fee for the virtual run is $30 and includes bib number, t-shirt and finisher medal.

Check-in starts at 6:30 a.m. at North Vassault and 37th Street in Tacoma, with rolling start times for each event beginning with the 12K walk at 7:30 a.m. The awards ceremony will take place at 9:45 a.m. Runners participating in the event virtually will not be eligible for awards.

Whether it’s the signature 12K route with challenging hills and spectacular water views or the fast and flatter 5k route, Sound to Narrows aims to make physical fitness inclusive for the greater Puget Sound community.

Sound to Narrows is sponsored by Pacific Source Health Plans, TRA Medical Imaging, Olympic Sports & Spine, Tacoma Rainiers, South Sound Running and Tacoma Public Utilities. For more information and to register, visit soundtonarrows.org.

This year’s New York Mini 10K, the first women-only road race in the world, will feature Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, and defending champion Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia.

The trio will take on the tough Central Park course on Saturday, June 10 with the hope of displaying great results.

Obiri will be making her debut in the race after winning the New York City Half Marathon in March and the Boston Marathon in April. She opened her season with a win at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February. 

“There is no greater feeling than having my daughter watch me win races, and having her with me when I won the United Airlines NYC Half and Boston Marathon this year was truly special.

"Now, I’m looking forward to lining up for the women-only Mastercard Mini 10K for the first time, and having so many girls from the next generation watch me race, just like my daughter does,” said Obiri.

On her part, Lokedi could not make it to the Boston Marathon earlier this year after she got an injury during the last days of her training.

She will be returning to Central Park for the first time since winning the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon in her marathon debut in November. She was also the runner-up at last year’s Mastercard New York Mini 10K.

“The last time I was in New York, my entire life changed when I won the New York City Marathon. This iconic city will now always hold a special place in my heart and I’m eager to keep improving and show that I’m on top of the podium to stay,” Lokedi said.

Meanwhile, Teferi, the 2022 New York City Half Marathon champion, expressed her excitement towards winning last year’s event and was hopeful of winning another title.

TCS New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi to challenge Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri; record-holders Emily Sisson and Keira D’Amato to lead Americans.

This year’s Mastercard® New York Mini 10K, the first women-only road race in the world, will feature Olympians, Paralympians, national-record holders and past event champions in what is expected to be the largest race in the event’s 51-year history with around 9,000 runners on Saturday, June 10 in Central Park.

The Mini 10K, which began in 1972 as the first women-only road race known then as the Crazylegs Mini Marathon, has gone on to garner more than 200,000 total finishers to date. Former NYRR President Fred Lebow named the race after the miniskirt, which back then was in vogue. A total of 72 women finished the first race, and three weeks later, Title IX was signed into law, guaranteeing girls and women the right to participate in school sports and creating new opportunities for generations of female athletes.

The open division will be headlined by TCS New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi of Kenya, Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri of Kenya, and two-time Olympian and defending event champion Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia. Joining them will be a strong American contingent led by Olympian and U.S. marathon record-holder Emily Sisson, and U.S. 10-mile record holder Keira D’Amato.

Lokedi, who will return to Central Park for the first time since winning the TCS New York City Marathon in her marathon debut in November, was the runner-up at last year’s Mastercard® New York Mini 10K. Obiri, a two-time Olympic and seven-time world championships medalist, will be making her debut in the race after winning the United Airlines NYC Half in March and the Boston Marathon in April.

“The last time I was in New York, my entire life changed when I won the TCS New York City Marathon,” Lokedi said. “This iconic city will now always hold a special place in my heart and I’m eager to keep improving and show that I’m on top of the podium to stay.”

“There is no greater feeling than having my daughter watch me win races, and having her with me when I won the United Airlines NYC Half and Boston Marathon this year was truly special,” Obiri said. “Now, I’m looking forward to lining up for the women-only Mastercard Mini 10K for the first time, and having so many girls from the next generation watch me race, just like my daughter does.”

Teferi is a two-time Olympian who won the 2022 United Airlines NYC Half in an event-record time and returned to Central Park three months later to win her first Mastercard® New York Mini 10K. She is also a two-time World Championships silver medalist and the 5K world-record holder for a women-only race.

“Winning the 50th edition of the Mastercard New York Mini 10K last year was very emotional for me, and I was proud to lead thousands of women in celebration,” Teferi said. “I’m excited to return to Central Park again, which has been so kind to me in recent visits.”

Susannah Scaroni, a two-time Paralympic medalist, is the most dominant woman in wheelchair racing now as the defending champion of the TCS New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon, and Chicago Marathon. She has won the wheelchair division of the Mastercard® New York Mini 10K every year since it first began in 2018, and has previously set the world-best 10K mark at the race. This year, in addition to racing the likes of U.S. Paralympians Jenna Fesemyer and Hannah Dederick in the wheelchair division, she will serve as an ambassador for the NYRR Run for the Future program at the event.

NYRR Run for the Future is a free seven-week program is for high school girls in New York City with little to no running experience. It introduces participants to running and wellness through practices and panels focused on mental health, nutrition, and body image – some of which Scaroni has helped lead. At the end of the seven weeks, participants will take part in their first-ever 5K at the Mini 10K with Scaroni cheering them on at the finish line. Mastercard® will make a donation of $10,000 to NYRR Run for the Future – $5,000 on behalf of the open division champion and $5,000 on behalf of the wheelchair division champion.

“I’ve been fortunate to compete at this event since the addition of the professional wheelchair division to the Mini 10K in 2018, and I’ve absolutely loved everything about competing at this race,” Scaroni said. “This year, I’m thrilled to be giving back to NYRR and the next generation of women at the event by serving as an NYRR Run for the Future Ambassador cheering on the Run for the Future participants as they run their first-ever 5K will be incredible.”

The Mastercard® New York Mini 10K will offer $45,000 in total prize money, including $10,000 to the winner of the open division and $2,500 to the winner of the wheelchair division.

The professional athlete races will be streamed live on USATF.TV beginning at 7:40 a.m. ET. Mastercard® will serve as title sponsor of the event for the third time, and as part of its on-going partnership with NYRR will also serve as the presenting sponsor of professional women’s athlete field.

If you told Evan Jager in April that he would place sixth in the World Athletics Championships men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in just a few months, he would have been ecstatic. 

After all, the 2016 Olympic silver medalisthad only ran 8:34.89 at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 14, which is almost 13 seconds off the world’s standard time of 8:22.00. Though Jager had better steeplechase showings at the USATF Distance Classic on May 19 and the Portland Track Festival on June 10, it looked like the 33-year-old distance runner was still a far from being his former self. 

Things finally clicked at the USATF Outdoor Championships on June 25, when he ran 8:17.25 in the final to place second, earning him the world championships standard and a spot on Team USA for the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. 

“Once you reach a certain point, you’ve got to set the bar higher,” Jager told Runner’s World.“I probably didn’t start thinking about realistically making the World Championship final until the prelim at USAs, I felt really good coming off of that.”

With momentum on his side, Jager’s expectations grew. The Bowerman Track Club athlete looked strong in his world championships preliminary heat, qualifying automatically for the final with his second-place finish. But in a tactical and physical final, Jager couldn’t keep up with defending Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali, Olympic silver medalist Lamecha Girma, and defending world champion Conseslus Kipruto over the final lap. 

“After the prelim, I felt like my fitness was up there with just about anyone besides El Bakkali and Girma if it was a hard race from the get-go,” Jager said. “Team USA was having such an unbelievable and magical meet that I was letting myself believe that I could let the home crowd carry me to a magical performance. I think I probably would have fared better in a faster race.”

Regardless, the achievement is impressive for a runner who has been absent from the track & field circuit for the last four years. A lot has changed, especially with his training group. In 2018, Jager and Canadian 5,000- and 10,000-meter runner Mo Ahmed were the top dogs on the Bowerman Track Club, challenging the best in the world for medals. But Jager got hurt that year, and spent most of 2019 trying to get fit again while dealing with other injuries. When Jager returned to training, the team dynamic changed completely. Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz joined the group, who along with Woody Kincaid and Lopez Lomong all ran around 13 minutes in the 5,000 meters that summer. Then, NCAA champions Sean McGorty and Grant Fisher trickled in after using up their eligibility.

“I went from being on top … to being literally the worst guy on the team,” said Jager. “Every day was a grind.” Jager tried to keep up with the new members while also battling injuries, but had a hard time getting through even half of team workouts. “They were just on another level. I never felt like I was within myself in training for three and a half years up until this spring.” 

So what changed in those three and a half years? Jager credits the team physical therapist, Colleen Little, who started working with Bowerman in January 2021. His problem wasn’t simply one big injury, like the stress fracture in his foot that ended his 2018 season. It was a snowball effect of one injury leading to overcompensation and imbalances in other parts of his body. So Jager and Little saw each other once or twice a week, every week, to manage the different aches and pains.

Next year will bring even more changes for Jager. His coach, Jerry Schumacher, is moving to Eugene to take the helm of the University of Oregon track & field program. The Bowerman Track Club’s athletes will relocate from their current base in Portland.

“I think it’s an incredible move for the group,” Jager said. “Change is always good. I’ve been in Portland for 14 years now, so it’s probably a good thing for me.”

Besides that, Jager said being stubborn kept him in the game. “I could have done a lot better being positive and working on mental health [the last few years],” he said. “I just believed that if I got healthy, I would get back here. If I can get to the final off of feeling healthy for four months, then I’m excited for next year.”

In 1972, 10 Distance Runners Completed 1,106 Laps, or 276 Miles 

Starting at 10 a.m. on June 9, 1972, Gil Rocha ran a mile, four laps around Dos Pueblos High’s 440-yard track, in five minutes and four seconds. He carried a baton that he handed to Tom Phillips, who also ran a mile, in 4:53. The baton was passed to eight more runners — Dale Nickel, Joe Szerwo, Joe Lambert, Tom Kelsey, Craig Bjorkman, Carl Udesen, Mark Pruner and Doug Hopwood, who finished his mile at 10:49 a.m.

Then it was Rocha’s turn to run again, starting another cycle of miles by the 10 DP distance runners. And so it went for the rest of the day and through the night — with Phillips and Lambert consistently cranking out sub-5:00 miles — until exactly 10 a.m. the next day, as Nickel was rounding the final turn of the team’s 1,106th lap.

The Chargers had run 276 miles, 769 yards — the distance from Goleta to San Jose — breaking the high school record in the Runner’s World 24-Hour Relay. The previous record was 271 miles, 1,217 yards — established in 1971 by a DP team that included nine of the boys who ran in 1972.

“It was the hardest thing we’d ever done,” Hopwood said, “and we did it again.”

Kelsey read about the 24-hour relay in Runner’s World magazine and convinced his teammates that they should go for the prep record at the end of the school year when all were in shape from the track season. They were well trained by their coach, Gordon McClenathen.  (The 24 Hour Relay was created by RW founder Bob Anderson.  Teams from around the world ran the relay.)

“He taught us all about commitment, hard work that pays off, and so much more,” Phillips said. “I know that I speak for all of us when I say that those life lessons we got from Gordon have gone with each and every one of us as we went our separate ways, and made us the men we are today.”

Assistant coach Bill Trimble arranged a reunion of the men with McClenathen, a runner himself for most of his 87 years, at Stow Grove Park last month. Phillips said the event “rekindled the comradeship we had 50 years ago.”

It also brought back memories of those long, sleepless days and nights of running in circles. “It seemed like my eyes were closed for five minutes before I had to go out again,” Rocha said. Bjorkman recalled that after the 1971 relay, which went from noon to noon, “I went to bed at 2 p.m. and woke up at 8 the next morning” — an 18-hour nap.

Parent shone headlights on the track at night. To Nickel, the uneven track was like a moonscape. “I saw the tops of asphalt bumps,” he said. McClenathen timed every mile while also massaging cramps out of the runners’ legs. June 10, 1972, was the last day of school, and that morning the track was lined by students and teachers who shouted encouragement to the tiring runners, most of whom put in 28 miles. “I’m sure that contributed to the adrenaline they needed to finish the relay,” Trimble said.

The Dos Pueblos record still stands, as far as anyone knows. The 24-hour relay proved too daunting to engender repeated attempts. It has gone the way of the Pony Express, a heroic endeavor from another time.

(Photos) THEN AND NOW: Ten runners from Dos Pueblos High posed after setting a national 24-hour relay record in 1971 (top photo). Standing: Dale Nickel, Craig Bjorkman, Joe Szerwo, Doug Hopwood, Terry Baker, and Gil Rocha. Kneeling: Tom Kelsey, Joe Lambert, Tom Phillips, and Carl Udesen. They set a new national record a year later. Seven of them got together recently for the 50th anniversary of their feat (left to right): Nickel, Kelsey, Szerwo, Lambert, Phillips, Hopwood, and Rocha. |Credit: Paul Shanklin

(The third photo was added to this story by MBR. "I put together the 24-Hour Relay Handback in August 1970," says Bob Andetson.  "0ur team ran the first one in 1970 at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills California.  My editor, Joe Henderson also was on our team.  It was such an amazing experience. One I will never forget."

The official rules are simple: 2-10 person teams.  Each person has to run one mile on track and pass the baton to the next person. Order must be maintained.  A person can drop out but not return. Distance of last runner after 24 hours is measured.  

The 34-year-old began his “360-degree triathlon” journey in September 2020 when he left Munich, Germany, from where he cycled more than 500 kilometers before arriving in Russia, before crossing the Pacific Ocean.

Deichmann began his journey in Mexico on June 10 in Tijuana, Baja California, with the aim of running all the way to the other end of the country, to Cancun, on October 4, 2021. 

On his journey through the Yucatan Peninsula, Jonas Deichmann arrived in Campeche on September 25 where runners joined him until he left Campeche, then on September 29 he arrived in Merida where he was received with applause and received recognition from the City Council.

“Forrest Gump” Runs To Help The Kids

Although many of its predecessors have done it for a sporting purpose, the athlete’s interest is to support primary schools in Africa with bicycles and food aid, since, for every kilometer traveled, the European organization World Bicycle Relief donates one euro.

In this way, Jonas assures that he has been able to raise more than $ 30,000 for the cause, which has motivated him along the way that will end at the same point where he left more than a year ago, in Germany.

According to the German’s calculations, after spending the night in the Leona Vicario community, he will enter Cancun at noon and head to Playa Delfines to conclude his trip through Mexico at five in the afternoon.

At this point, the Municipal Sports Directorate of the Benito Juárez City Council and other clubs are already preparing an event to receive the athlete who has also set different world records and crossed the entire American continent by bicycle. 

Jonas is expected to finish this journey accompanied by some runners and cyclists, since during the trip he has been escorted in different sections by public safety, but mainly by citizens.

June 10, 1981 remains a red-letter day in the long history of 800m running, for it was in Florence late that night that Sebastian Coe lowered his own world record from 1:42.33 to 1:41.73. Every world record is special, marking as it does an advance on anything previously achieved, but Coe's run was extra-special. That time would not be bettered for 16 long years, itself a record in the annals of the men's 800m event.

When strongly-built Alberto Juantorena won the 1976 Olympic title in a world record 1:43.50 it was widely thought that here was the man to revolutionize two-lap running. And yet, for all his speed (44.26 400m) and power, the Cuban succeeded only in clipping another few hundredths off the record with 1:43.44 at the 1977 Universiade. Instead it was the slight figure of Coe who has gone down in history as the athlete who, like Germany's Rudolf Harbig in 1939 and New Zealand's Peter Snell in 1962, pushed back the frontiers of 800m performance.

It was in 1979 that Britain's Coe established himself as one of the all-time greats of middle distance running when in the space of 41 days he shattered three world records. He started with 1:42.33 in Oslo on July 5, and was as shocked as everyone else by his time. After clocking his fastest 400m of 46.87 at the AAA Championships he returned to Oslo for the star-studded Dubai Golden Mile on July 17. Despite being practically a novice at the distance with a best time of 3:57.67, he moved into the lead shortly before the three-quarter mark (2:53.4) and then proceeded to cover the final quarter in 55.6. He had run 3:48.95, again astonished when told he had broken New Zealander John Walker's world record of 3:49.4. As he related later: "When I looked back twice in the final straight it was fear, it was panic, not pain, that I was feeling. I certainly wasn't in the slightest distress at the finish."

Record number three came about in Zurich on  August 15. The target this time was the 3:32.16 1500m by Tanzania's Filbert Bayi. Elated by the knowledge that he had never been faster, having been timed at 45.5 for a 400m relay leg 10 days earlier, Coe shot off at a potentially suicidal pace by clinging to the pacemaker, sweeping through the opening 200m in 25.9 and 400m in 54.3. Before 800m (1:53.19) had been covered, Coe was on his own, nearly 20m ahead of the field. Instead of easing back on the third lap he covered that in 56.3 for 2:49.5 at 1200m and at the finish – almost five seconds clear – his time was a hard earned 3:32.03.

Coe's athletic immortality was sealed in 1980 when he triumphed in the Olympic 1500m in Moscow to make up for his 'disastrous' run in the 800m (a mere silver medal behind Steve Ovett) after adding to his portfolio of world records by covering 1000m in 2:13.40 in his first ever race at the distance.

And so to 1981. With no major title to aim for, the emphasis was on achieving spectacular 'one-off' performances. Asked how he had prepared during the winter, Coe replied: "My training mileage is slightly down but there's been more accent on speedwork. I'm going back to basics, trying to improve my 400m speed." That approach hadn't diminished his endurance, though, for he opened his indoor season by winning the UK 3000m title in a personal best of 7:55.2. Two weeks later he smashed the world indoor 800m record with 1:46.0. "I knew I was fit, but not that fit," he enthused.

A 46.9 400m and 46.3 relay leg on May 4 confirmed his speed was at a high level, and before his fateful appearance in Florence he won the Yorkshire county 800m title on May 17, in 1:46.5, an invitation 800m at Crystal Palace on  June 3, in 1:44.06 followed two hours later with a 45.8 relay split from virtually a standing start, and as a final tune-up a 46.6 relay leg at Gateshead on 7 June. He traveled to Florence not expecting anything too special ... around 1:43/1:44.

His 800m race in Florence got under way after 11pm. Kenya's 19-year-old Billy Konchellah, then a 45.38 400m performer who would go on to become world 800m champion in 1987 and 1991, acted as pacemaker. In his slipstream Coe reached 200m in 24.5 and 400m in 49.7 and was perfectly set up for a super-fast time. Sensing Konchellah was about to flag, Coe forged ahead by 450m and after 200m splits of 24.5 and 25.2 he covered the next half-lap in a daring 25.3 for a remarkable 600m time of 1:15.0 – precisely 1:40 pace for the full distance. Inevitably he slowed towards the end but still managed a final 200m of a little under 26.7.

Coe's immediate post-race response: "I'm very happy about the result, but it was terrible waiting the 10 minutes for the official result. It's getting under 1:42 that is the great thing for me. It was as hard a race as I have run for a long time. In the last 30 meters I was beginning to tie up but apart from that there was no problem."

Coe went through that 1981 season undefeated, collecting further world records at 1000m (2:12.18) and mile (3:48.53 and 3:47.33). Other glittering performances would follow, notably a second Olympic 1500m triumph in 1984, but as a testimony to the quality of that 800m exploit in Florence note that even now, 40 years on, only two men have gone faster: David Rudisha of Kenya and Wilson Kipketer of Denmark.

Dutch endurance running phenomenon races over the classic distance at Wanda Diamond League event in Gateshead on July 13.

Sifan Hassan is the world record-holder in the mile and she is coming to the North East of England on Tuesday July 13 to race over that distance at the Müller British Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old’s mile record is 4:12.33 and she has been in terrific form this summer with a world 10,000m record in Hengelo on Sunday (June 6) and a big win in Florence over 1500m on Thursday (June 10) against Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon and European champion Laura Muir.

Hassan’s world record for 10,000m of 29:06.82 only survived two days before being beaten by Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia. But nevertheless she is also the world champion at 1500m and 10,000m, having beaten Gidey over the longer distance to take the global gold in Doha in 2019.

Hassan said: “I’ve raced several times in the past at events in the UK – at the Anniversary Games in London, meetings in Birmingham and Glasgow and of course the 2017 World Championships and 2018 World Indoor Championships. There is always a warm welcome, a great atmosphere and the fans have good knowledge of the sport.

“Running over one mile in Gateshead on 13th July gives me a chance to test my speed ahead of the Olympic Games. Maybe I can run a good time too although much will depend on the weather. Hopefully it will be warmer and drier than it was for the Diamond League in Gateshead last month!”

Hassan was born in Ethiopia but moved to the Netherlands as a refugee aged 15. She first made her mark internationally when winning the European under-23 cross-country title in 2013 and since then has developed into one of the world’s top endurance runners with incredible ability that ranges from 1:56.81 for 800m through to a European half-marathon record of 65:15. What’s more, she holds world records for the one-hour run with 18,930m and women’s only 5km of 14:44, plus European records at 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m.

Gateshead staged the first Wanda Diamond League event of 2021 after it was moved from Rabat in Morocco to the North East of England and now, on July 13, the same venue will host the seventh Diamond League of the season after it was moved from its original home of London.

The Bislett Games in Oslo on June 10 - the fourth event in this year’s World Athletics Wanda Diamond League programme - has been postponed.

Organisers have said it is "impossible to arrange a normal meeting on the planned date" based on the coronavirus reopening plan for Norway.

Norway's Government issued its plan to restart activity amid the pandemic on Wednesday (April 7) and organisers said "an international meeting such as the Bislett Games will probably not be possible before the middle or towards the end of June at the earliest".

A repeat of last year's "Impossible Games" at an empty Bislett Stadium - which included socially distanced or rarely contested events, highlighted by a 300 metres hurdles world best of 33.78sec by Norway’s world 400m hurdles champion Karsten Warholm - has been ruled out.

The new dates being considered are believed to be either early July prior to the rearranged Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games or in August.

The Diamond League board said it was clarifying the start to the season, which is due to open on May 23 in Rabat in Morocco, with Doha hosting the second meeting on May 28 and Rome the third on June 4.

World Athletics has produced a full, 14-meeting programme for this season’s Diamond League, which is due to conclude with a two-day final in Zurich from September 8 to 9.

The Diamond League on Tuesday released its provisional calendar for the 2021 season, which will consist of 14 athletics meetings beginning in Rabat in May and ending in Zurich in September.

Doha will stage a meeting on May 28 after which Rome will host the first European event of the season on June 4, with Oslo hosting a week later. Meetings in Stockholm, Monaco and London are scheduled for the first two weeks of July.

"The calendar is strictly provisional at this stage and remains subject to changes depending on the global health situation in 2021," organizers said in a statement.

After a one-month break for the rearranged Tokyo Olympics, action will resume in Shanghai on Aug. 14.

Eugene will host its first Diamond League meeting on Aug. 21, with China to hold its second event of the season the following day.

The final leg will take place in Europe with meetings in Lausanne, Paris and Brussels before the season finale in Zurich from Sept. 8-9.

 The calendar remains provisional and is subject to changes depending on the global health situation, the Diamond League said.

The 2020 calendar was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with several events cancelled and others rescheduled.

2021 Diamond League calendar

Rabat — May 23

Doha — May 28

Rome — June 4

Oslo — June 10

Stockholm — July 4

Monaco — July 9

London — July 13

Shanghai — Aug. 14

Eugene — Aug. 21

China — Aug. 22

Lausanne — Aug. 26

Paris — Aug. 28

Brussels — Sept. 3

Zurich — Sept. 8-9

The rapid spread of coronavirus has caused numerous changes in the 2020 racing season. News of events being cancelled or postponed is breaking daily.  We will keep you up todate on breaking news.  

What Athletics Canada has told Olympic hopefuls

Athletics Canada has told runners that they’re to keep training as normal so long as they’re healthy. However, if they’re out of the country, they’re to return immediately. Failure to comply could result in suspension of funds and Athletics Canada resources. Athletics Canada also cancelled all of their training camps for this spring.

While runners are expected to train as normal, most facilities have closed, so people are getting creative. From home gyms, to spin bikes, to shoveling tracks–runners are doing the best with the situation they’ve been given.

As of now, the Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials are expected to continue as normal. They’re set to begin on June 25.

Track meets that have been cancelled.- Three Diamond League events: Qatar (April 17) and China (May 9 and 16) have all been cancelled, Shanghai has been rescheduled to August 13, NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships (March 12-14, June 10-13), Florida Relays (March 29 – Apr 5)​, Penn Relays (April 23-25), WPA (World Para Athletics) Grand Prix, Italy (May 22 – 24).

 

There may not be a 2019 running of the Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run through the San Juan Mountains, but there will be plenty of trail running events that will provide ultra-running enthusiasts a chance to interact with some of the world’s best athletes.

A week of activities kicked off Sunday in Durango, as running stars Anna Frost, François D’haene, Dakota Jones and Hardrock 100 director Dale Garland will gather at the Durango Outdoor Exchange for a public meet and greet and run.

“I think everyone loves talking about Hardrock and running,” said Frost, a two-time Hardrock 100 champion originally from New Zealand who now also calls Durango home. “It’s a great opportunity for us to have these world-class athletes right here in Durango as well as having the race director of Hardrock here.”

D’haene was one the favorites to win this year’s Hardrock 100 but will have to wait until next year to run for his first chance to kiss the rock, as this year’s run was canceled after a winter of heavy snow that resulted in avalanche debris making many sections of the 100.5-mile loop from Silverton to Telluride, Ouray and Lake City and back to Silverton impassable. There was also big concern about high water with a late runoff from the melting snow.

France’s D’haene, a four-time Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc champion and UTMB course record holder, had planned to spend time running in the San Juan Mountains to prepare for this year’s Hardrock, and he still traveled to Southwest Colorado despite the race cancellation that was announced June 10.

“François D’haene, in my mind, is probably the best runner on the planet in terms of consistency and skill at ultra-running,” Frost said. “He has so much experience. He had a baby boy and was coming for Hardrock and decided to still come anyway. He’s pretty dedicated to his commitment to coming for Hardrock.”

Garland has yet to meet D’haene in person and is eager for him to join the Hardrock community this weekend.

“It does mean a lot when somebody of his stature and with his prestige in the ultra-running community says, you know what, it’s worth it for me to not blow this thing off and rearrange my schedule, I’m still going to enjoy the San Juan Mountains and still gonna be part of the Hardrock community,” Garland said.

Durango’s Jones also will be in attendance along with representatives from Salomon running. Frost said there will be several gear giveaways as well as a donation box to benefit the Silverton community and help mitigate the economic impact of there not being a race this year.

“I know Salomon is doing a special work day on Monday, so they are giving back and being part of the community, which I think is really cool,” Garland said.

Due to historic snowfall, avalanches, avalanche debris, an inability to reach certain aid stations and uncertain conditions on more than 40% of the course, the 2019 Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run has been canceled. This decision, while difficult, adheres to the Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run’s overall commitment to land stewardship and the safety of the Hardrock community.

The Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run committee’s decision to cancel the 2019 Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run was based on a thorough and complete evaluation of all available information and utilized a number of key resources to support its decision.

Firsthand course trail reconnaissance combined with assembled trail reports, key and valuable input from the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forestry Service and the Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run committee and Board of Directors all served to guide the decision-making process.

All runners who are entered in the 2019 Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run as of June 10th, 2019 will have the option of either rolling over their entry into the 2020 Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run or withdrawing their entry slot and receiving a full refund of their entry fee.

Entrants must notify the Run Director, Dale Garland, by email (dale@hardrock100.com) by July 12th, 2019 if they wish to withdraw; otherwise they will be considered to have elected to roll over their entry into the 2020 Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run.

“After an extensive process, it became clear that the uncertainty associated with the condition of the course and the issues that the uncertainty caused among our organizational components meant we could not organize and administer a safe and meaningful 2019 Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run that was consistent with the standards and values Hardrock has become known for,” said Run Director, Dale Garland.

“While snow and snow water equivalent levels looked to be dropping to manageable levels, other issues such as unprecedented avalanche debris, unstable snow bridges and high-water levels all contributed to us reaching the tough final decision that we did.”

The start date for the 2020 Hardrock will be July 17, 2020.

For the second year in a row, Chris Lundy, a 47-year-old San Francisco veterinarian from Sausalito, outlasted 32-year-old Alex Varner of San Rafael and his record-tieing performance to win the 108th Dipsea race in Stinson Beach, California June 10.  “But this one was more enjoyable,” said a smiling Lundy, who suffered a torn left knee ligament near the finish last year. “At least I saw her this time,” said Varner, who finished 15 seconds behind Lundy in Stinson Beach after starting 10 minutes behind her at the start in Mill Valley. “I ran 1:40 faster this year and I still couldn’t beat her.” Lundy, with an 11-minute head start, posted an actual time of 58:37 – the fastest time of the day by a female in the 7.4 mile trail race -- to become the fourth woman to win back-to-back Dipseas. She also claimed her seventh “Female Best Time Award,” extending her Dipsea record. “I ran exactly what I wanted to run. It was dead-on,” said Lundy, who is completely recovered from left ACL surgery last June 30. “I was slow last year (1:01:09). I trained harder this year. I thought he (Varner) was going to win, but you never know how everyone is going to race.” Varner, a Research Director for Main Management in San Francisco, had a one-minute head start in the time-handicapped race where the 1,500 entrants receive head starts based on age and gender. Varner’s actual clock time of 48:52 earned him the Best Time Trophy for the eighth time in the race, tieing Mike McManus’ 18-year-old Dipsea record. “That’s been in my sights for a while,” Varner said.  For Varner, arguably the best runner to never have won the Dipsea, it was his 15th attempt at winning the historic trail race, the second oldest footrace in the country behind the Boston Marathon. 

Mo Farah, who broke the British marathon record in April at the London Marathon, will be part of the England team this Sunday (June 10) at Old Trafford in Manchester, UK.  The Soccer Aid for Unicef football match will face eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt and his World XI team. “When I got the call from Robbie to play for the England team, I immediately said yes,” said 10-time major track gold medalist Farah. “Everyone knows that I’m absolutely mad about football and to top it off, this event is for such a good cause. Helping children around the world make it something I definitely want to support. “My instant ‘yes’ was even easier in the knowledge that I would finally be going head-to-head with my friend Usain Bolt. People have long suggested we should compete against each other, so on Sunday at Old Trafford, you will see us trade our spikes for boots. “Usain has the speed but I have the stamina so we’ll see who comes out on top at the end of 90 mins.” Soccer Aid for Unicef is the original England V Soccer Aid World XI charity match. It was launched and co-founded in 2006 by Unicef UK Ambassador Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes. 100% of all public donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef will go towards supporting the vital work protecting children in the UK and globally.

Richard Body has passed the half way point in his challenge to run 12 marathons in 12 months is set to face his toughest test yet.  Richard who went from fat to fit after realising he needed to shed the pounds, will take part in the Pennine Barrier 53 mile ultra-marathon on June 23 as part of his multi-marathon charity challenge. The 52-year-old only took up running in August 2016 but his two most recent marathons – his fifth and sixth of the year – took him to the picturesque surroundings of Strafford-Upon-Avon in the UK. He admitted the Dorchester hills proved a tough task, adding: “This was my hilliest endurance race to date. There must have been 10 or more. Each giving stunning views of the Dorset countryside. I walked most of them including the mile long beauty just after mile 23. “But just two miles in I came along a chap running in bare feet. He was raising money for a children's charity and turns out he once worked at Dudley Zoo as a monkey keeper for two years, before moving down south. “Runners of all genders, ages, sizes and abilities all took part.” Despite undergoing surgery for a knee injury - and medics telling him he would never run again - Richard continues his challenge with marathon number seven in Yeovil on Sunday, June 10. After that, on June 23, comes his biggest and scariest challenge - the Pennine Barrier ultra-marathon.

Mill Valley's Russ Kiernan is a three-time Dipsea champion, a member of the Hall of Fame and now perhaps the race's most recognized and beloved figure.  Kiernan's résumé remains unparalleled. His records of 27 top-ten, 19 top-five and 15 top-three finishes will stand for eons. Safe, forever, is his record of 11 Double Dipsea wins. His fastest Dipsea time was a sensational 51:23, at age 42, in 1980. Ten consecutive years (1999-2008), he recorded an actual running time (in minutes) below his age (in years), a feat only a handful of other runners have ever achieved even once. A unique aspect of Kiernan's Dipsea career is that, unlike other of the race's all-time greats, he was never a nationally top-ranked runner - although he was in the mixed horse riding/trail running discipline of Ride and Tie. "I did well in the Dipsea because I have always been a good and fearless downhiller, rarely got injured, and I trained long and hard on the course," Kiernan says. "And I knew the legal shortcuts!" Kiernan taught in San Francisco public elementary and middle schools for decades. It was at San Miguel Elementary School in the City that he met wife Marilyn, a kindergarten teacher, and they just celebrated their 50th anniversary. They had one child together, Kari, 47, and also raised Heywood Bowser, 46, through foster care. Bowser now has two children at Tamalpais High, with Russ and Marilyn living right across the street. At 80, Kiernan, not unexpectedly, has his share of medical woes. He is losing some vision to glaucoma and making a few wrong turns. He's had bouts with skin cancer. He is having a surgical procedure on his leg just nine days before the Dipsea. But on June 10, Russ will be at the Dipsea start line for a 49th time. You'll recognize him by the loudest cheers.     

Running legend Mtolo is optimistic that the domination of South Africa’s black male athletes will continue in this year’s Comrades Marathon. The showdown for this much anticipated, world famous KwaZulu/Natal ultra-marathon will take place on June 10. This year’s edition is the Down Run and will see the race starting in Pietermaritzburg with the finish now moved to the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. The supremacy of black local athletes has been evident in the past six years since Ludwick Mamabolo ended Zimbabwean Stephen Muzhingi’s three-year (2009 to 2011) stranglehold on the event. Claude Moshiywa, Bongmusa Mthembu (twice), Gift Kelehe and David Gatebe have ensured the title of The Ultimate Human Race remains on local shores. Mtolo is adamant that South African athletes will again emerge victorious in a fortnight’s time. “My money is on either Bongmusa Mthembu or David Gatebe. You can’t also rule out Gift Kelehe. I have no doubt that Comrades will be won by another South African athlete this year.”  “Between Mthembu and Gatebe, one of them will win Comrades. Mthembu possesses a very impressive record (5.28.34) in the Down Run,” explained Mtolo who finished Comrades runner-up in 1989 and 2002.

Rob Davies will fly to South Africa in preparation for a gruelling challenge that starts on June 10. Rob, 59, will be competing in the Comrades Ultra Marathon, also known as the Ultimate Human Race, a road race with a distance of 58 miles (90.1km). The race starts at Pietermaritzburg and ends in Durban in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. The race has to be completed in 12 hours, starting at 5.30am where the temperatures can be close to freezing and rising to a possible 80F as the day progresses. The terrain is very hilly, meaning an already extremely challenging race is made even tougher. Mr Davies said: “Family, friends and colleagues know that I 'run a bit', or should I say 'a lot'. I have been fortunate enough, privileged even, to be able to complete 48 marathons, across Wales, England, Ireland, France and Germany but this is by far my biggest challenge to date.” He started his training in December which typically involves 8 to 10 hours running weekly alongside strength and conditioning in the gym.

The Garden of the Gods Ten Mile Run is a unique race with a spectacular setting and a physically demanding course. The course takes you into the heart of the Garden and runners will pass the most famous rock in the area—the Balanced Rock. The Garden of the Gods Park lies between Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs, Colorado. The course elevation ranges from 6,210′ up to 6,530. Registration for the June 10th race opens March 10th at 8am.