Running News Daily

Who is Sisay Lemma, the winner of the 2024 Boston Marathon?

Sisay Lemma was born in 1990 in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. He is the winner of the 2024 Boston Marathon, with a time of 2:06:17.

Sisay Lemma is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon. He is the winner of the 2024 Boston Marathon, with a time of 2:06:17.

This was his first victory at the Boston Marathon, but he has previously won other major marathons, including the 2021 London Marathon and the 2023 Valencia Marathon. Lemma is also a three-time bronze medalist at the World Athletics Championships.

Lemma was born in 1990 in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. He began running at a young age, and quickly showed promise. He made his international debut in 2013, and won his first major marathon in 2018, when he won the Rotterdam Marathon.

Lemma is known for his strong finishing kick. He has often won races by coming from behind in the final stages. He is also a very consistent runner, and has never finished a marathon outside of the top 10.

Lemma is a rising star in the world of marathon running. He is still relatively young, and has many years of good running ahead of him. He is a strong contender for medals at the major marathons, and the Olympic Games.

Here are some of Sisay Lemma’s career highlights:

Winner of the 2024 Boston Marathon

Winner of the 2021 London Marathon

Winner of the 2023 Valencia Marathon

Three-time bronze medalist at the World Athletics Championships

Winner of the 2018 Rotterdam Marathon

Personal best of 2:01:48 for the marathon

The Boston Marathon: The King of Marathons

The Boston Marathon is an annual foot race held in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is considered to be the most prestigious marathon in the world, and is one of the world’s oldest continuously run sporting events. The race is traditionally held on the third Monday in April, and it follows a 26.2-mile (42.2 km) route through the streets of Boston and the surrounding towns.

The Boston Marathon was first held in 1897, and it was inspired by the success of the marathon race at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The race was originally intended to be a qualifier for the 1897 Summer Olympics, but it quickly became a popular event in its own right. The Boston Marathon has been held every year since 1918, with the only exceptions being in 1918 due to World War I, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Boston Marathon is known for its challenging course, which features several hills, including the infamous Heartbreak Hill at mile 20. The race is also known for its large and enthusiastic crowds, which line the streets throughout the course to cheer on the runners.

The Boston Marathon has been won by some of the greatest marathon runners in history, including Dick Hoyt, Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Kathrine Switzer. The race has also been the site of several world records, including the first sub-2:00 marathon in 1978 by Geoffrey Hirt.

The Boston Marathon is more than just a race; it is a tradition and an institution. The race is a symbol of Boston’s resilience and spirit, and it is a source of pride for the city’s residents. The Boston Marathon is also a major fundraiser for charity, and it has raised millions of dollars for local charities over the years.

Russ Cook (aka the Hardest Geezer) has just become the first person to run the entire length of Africa

Russell Cook, the man nicknamed "Hardest Geezer", has successfully run the full length of Africa, crossing the finish line in Tunisia after 352 days.

Before he set off on the mammoth challenge to run the entire length of Africa, he said he hoped to look back at his life and have no regrets. 

The 27-year-old from Worthing, West Sussex, said he had struggled with his mental health, gambling and drinking, and wanted to "make a difference". 

After running through 16 countries, he has raised in excess of £700,000 for charity and has completed his final run.

As he crossed the finish line at about 16:40 BST in Ras Angela, Tunisia, Mr Cook was greeted by a shouting crowd, with many chanting "geezer".

"I'm pretty tired," he told reporters and in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Mr Cook told those who had been following his journey to the finish line: "Mission completed."

Mr Cook initially planned to run 360 marathons in 240 days, with no rest days

A lot has changed since Mr Cook set off from home in February 2023. 

His initial plan to run from Tunisia to South Africa, completing 360 marathons in 240 days with no rest days, was soon halted by a lack of an Algerian visa - a hindrance that would later resurface.

But after a last-minute switch, he set off on foot from South Africa's most southerly point on 22 April - a journey that would take him through cities, rainforests, mountains and the Sahara Desert.

Mr Cook and his team had cameras, phones, cash and passports stolen in Angola

After ticking off South Africa and Namibia in 50 days, Mr Cook encountered his first major setback - an armed robbery. 

He and his support team had cameras, phones, cash, passports and visas stolen in Angola on 24 June. 

However, as with many stumbling blocks he would face throughout the challenge, the ultrarunner vowed to soldier on. 

Health scares

Consistently running more than a marathon a day began to take its toll. 

After some minor tummy troubles in the early weeks, he was forced to take his first rest day after doctors found blood and protein in his urine on day 45. 

But it was recurring back pain that caused the most concern. 

On day 200, Mr Cook was forced to reduce his mileage and intensity at the request of a doctor in Nigeria - even missing consecutive days on day 205 and 206. 

But in true Hardest Geezer style, he was not to be stopped. 

He said: "I took a couple of days to get some scans. No bone damage so figured the only option left was to stop mincing about like a little weasel, get the strongest painkillers available and zombie stomp road again." 

Visa issues

After overcoming everything in his path, it was a single piece of paper - an Algerian visa - that cast doubt over the entire challenge on day 278. 

Mr Cook was forced to halt while he waited to find out his fate as to whether he could secure permission to cross the border into Algeria from Mauritania.

"If we don't get the visas, then it is game over," he said at the time. 

His public appeal video on X, formerly Twitter, was seen by 11 million people - even catching the attention of the site's owner Elon Musk, as well as MPs Tim Loughton and Alexander Stafford and the Home Office. 

The increased attention on the challenge eventually paid off as the UK's Algerian embassy announced he would receive a courtesy visa on the spot.

The final stretch

After the setbacks, all that separated Mr Cook and the finish line was the small task of the Sahara Desert. 

The tarmac roads ran out, as did the signal and any signs of civilisation. But an end date was set: 7 April, 2024. 

Ramping up his mileage to make up for lost time, Mr Cook made the decision to run through the night due to the intense daytime heat and sandstorms. 

Party time

Mr Cook finished running the length of Africa on 7 April

Months turned into weeks, and weeks turned into days. 

Finally, on Sunday afternoon April 7, 2024, Mr Cook laced his trainers one last time - at least for now - as he set off for Tunisia's most northerly point.

Joined by supporters from across the world for the final marathon, Mr Cook completed the challenge. 

The celebrations will go long into the night - helped by a finishing party performance by British punk band Soft Play, formerly Slaves, at a hotel in Bizerte.

And the Hardest Geezer will finally get his hands on the one thing he has been craving since day one - a strawberry daiquiri.

Manchester Marathon: Seven Tips for marathon week preparation With Steph Kessell

Event week is fast approaching, which means excitement and nerves are running high!

So, what should you do the week before the adidas Manchester Marathon to make sure you succeed and – most importantly – enjoy the challenge?

We spoke to Team GB Olympic marathon runner and professional adidas athlete Steph Kessell, who shared her 7 tips for marathon week preparation.

So, grab your notes and don’t miss this great advice from Steph!

1. TAPER

“In the final week, your overall training volume and intensity should have dropped to less than 50% so you can get to the start line of the marathon feeling fresh and raring to go. Your last higher intensity session should be 4-5 days before the marathon and include some marathon paced intervals, but not many of them!

2. SLEEP

“Sleep is the most important recovery aid. Hopefully you have been getting plenty of sleep throughout your training block but during this final week prioritise early nights and aim to get your 8 hours. It is common to not sleep very well the night before the challenge but don’t stress! If you’ve been able to sleep well in the build up then this won’t affect your event. If you can’t sleep, try to stay in bed and relax; this is still good rest and recovery”.

3. HYDRATE

“You want to go into race day feeling hydrated, as dehydration has a negative effect on performance, even if it’s not that warm outside! Carry a water bottle around with you to remind you to drink regularly aiming for at least 1.5 litres a day (NHS guidance). If you have some electrolyte tabs handy then take one daily as well as the evening before the event to ensure you are extra hydrated!”

4. PREP YOUR KIT

“If you haven’t worn your event day kit for a run yet then this is your final chance to test it out. You want to feel comfortable, wear the right amount of layers and avoid chafing. From sports bra, socks, heart rate monitor, race belt or hydration pack, try everything that you plan to wear on the big day, so you can feel confident on the start line.”

5. PLAN YOUR STRATEGY

“At the start of event week write out a plan for the event day. What pace will you start at (or do you plan to join a pacing team to reach your target time?) When will you take on fuel? Where are the water, gels and toilet stops?

When you have planned this out in advance and read over it again and again before the day, then it will help you feel more relaxed, in control and confident. A detailed plan can be a good distraction from the nerves as it gives you something to focus on. Break it down into 5-7 stages and take each part as it comes.”

6. CONSIDER YOUR TRAVEL ROUTE 

“Another one that will help ease your nerves! Don’t leave it until the morning of to decide how you are going to travel there. Plan out your route and leave plenty of time to get there. A leisurely start to the day will be more pleasant than a last minute frantic dash trying to find the bag drop and loos! 

7. STAY WARM

“Marathons often require an early start which means it can be cold. To combat this, bring a top or jumper you want to donate to charity to keep you warm at the start line. At the adidas Manchester Marathon, you can keep wearing this until the end of the start chute where you will see signs to show you where to donate it as you get close to the start gantry – just make sure that you don’t drop it too early!”.

Four ways to be a more consistent runner, according to science

For runners, motivation can be the game-changer between smashing personal bests and falling short. But what exactly fuels our drive when the going gets tough? According to The New York Times, it often comes down to external factors—like a supportive friend, a motivating app or a commitment made to someone else.

Recent research underscores the power of a workout buddy in boosting motivation, especially for those struggling to stay consistent. Whether teaming up with a friend already crushing their fitness goals or mentoring a newcomer, accountability is key. Ready to stay on track with your consistency goals? Here are some snappy strategies to keep you going strong.

1.- Signing up can help (but keep it secret)

For those who thrive on structure, signing up for a race or athletic event can provide the necessary framework to stay on track. However, it’s wise to keep these ambitions close to the chest until you’re well on your way to the finish line. Research suggests that sharing your goals prematurely, particularly on social media, might trick your brain into feeling accomplished without putting in the effort.

2.- Excel with accountability

Personal trainers or fitness instructors can also serve as powerful sources of accountability. By committing to attending a scheduled class or session, you’re not just investing in your health but also avoiding the discomfort of flaking out.

Denver-based clinical psychologist Justin Ross specializes in athlete mental health and performance, and says when he coaches newer athletes he experiences the benefit of accountability firsthand: “I’ve got to show up, not just for me but for them as well,” he said.

3.- Paper clips for the win

For individuals who respond well to visual cues, creating a tangible representation of progress—such as a paper-clip chain or rubber band ball—can provide the necessary motivation on those days when motivation is lacking. “On days when you’re really not feeling it,” Ross told The New York Times, these visual reminders “can help provide a little bit of that energy to get you started.”

4.- Money motivates

For those seeking an extra push, some apps offer monetary rewards for meeting fitness goals, turning exercise into a profitable endeavor. By tracking metrics like time or distance through your wearable fitness device, apps like Charity Miles make charitable donations in your name; others offer discounts.

Finding what works for you might require some trial and error. Whether it is finding the right workout partner, setting achievable goals or leveraging external incentives, staying accountable can be the key to unlocking your fitness potential.

Organizers cancel 2024 Providence Marathon

The Providence Marathon & Half Marathon, scheduled for May 5, has been canceled "due to unforeseen challenges, including the Washington Bridge closure," according to a Providence Marathon spokesperson.

Organizers informed Providence Mayor Brett Smiley's office of the cancellation Thursday morning. The marathon is sponsored by The Providence Journal.

“Despite our best efforts working with local leaders, the 2024 Providence Marathon & Half Marathon has been canceled due to unforeseen challenges, including the Washington Bridge closure," a marathon spokesperson said in a statement. "The safety and security of participants is our priority, and while we were unable to secure an adequate route this year, we hope to see everyone in 2025.”

Smiley spokesman Josh Estrella issued the following statement: "While the City is disappointed that there will not be a full or half marathon this year, we look forward to working with organizers in future years to develop a route that responds to the new challenges presented by the Washington Bridge closure to ensure a safe race for runners, neighbors and businesses."

How many ran the race last year?

The race drew nearly 6,000 runners last year and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. It raised more than $56,000 for the charity Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, according to its website.

Runners who have already signed up for the race were notified of the cancellation via email and offered several options, including deferring their registration until next year, transferring their registration to another Ventures Endurance event or getting a refund.

Harry Hunter, 75, set to take part in Marathon Des Sables in Morocco

Harry Hunter will soon be flying out to Morocco to take part in the Marathon Des Sables in aid of Alexander Devine Children's Hospice.

Harry Hunter, 75, from Windsor, will be taking part in the race in April and hopes to raise funds for the hospice, which is the only specialist children's hospice serving Berkshire and surrounding counties.

The race is in its 38th year and is a multiday race held in southern Morocco, in the Sahara Desert. This year the total distance is 252km over six stages. 

A fellow boot camper of Mr Hunter's has described him as an "inspirational character", having served for 22 years in the Blues and Royals in Windsor.

He is not a stranger to extreme challenges for charity and is "well known" in the area.

Mr Hunter will be 76 years old on the second day of the race, making him the oldest man to run it.

A fundraiser on Just Giving has been launched with a target of raising £2,000 for charity.

Alexander Devine Children's Hospice currently supports over 165 children and their families, but they are committed to growing their service and reaching out to every child and their family that needs them.

The hospice needs £2.8 million of funding each year and most of this comes from donations.

Nurmi's five Paris 1924 Olympic golds make historic return for Paris 2024

The five gold medals won by one of the greatest Olympic champions in history will return to Paris in March for the first time since they were won in the French capital a century ago.

The press called him “The Flying Finn”, “The Phantom Finn” or “The Finnish Running Marvel”. In the 1920s, Paavo Nurmi, Finland's middle and long distance running ace, was known across the world for his extraordinary human athleticism. Nurmi was a superstar whose fame transcended sports, his name and deeds headlined newspapers and filled out stadiums wherever he traveled.

Nurmi's outstanding Olympic exploits in Paris 1924 established his enduring legend. His five victories there a century ago remain today the most athletic gold medals ever won at a single Games.

Thanks to the kind generosity of the Nurmi family, Nurmi's set of five 1924 gold medals will go on display in the prestigious museum of the Monnaie de Paris on the left bank of the Seine in the heart of the French capital.

Nurmi's Paris golds form part of a larger exhibition of Olympic medals. Gold, silver, bronze. A history of the Olympic medal , organized by the museum of the French mint to mark the Olympic Games of Paris 2024, offers a fascinating exploration of the history of the Olympic medal, highlighting its evolution through the editions of the modern Olympic Games.

The exhibition opens for media preview on 26 March and to the public from 27 March to 22 September 2024.

Mika Nurmi, the grandson of Paavo, and Finland's four-time Olympic champion Lasse Viren will be honored guests at the press preview and public opening ceremony.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “World Athletics is delighted that the family of Paavo Nurmi, the Paavo Nurmi Games, the City of Turku and the museum of the Monnaie de Paris have partnered with our own Museum of World Athletics to return one of the most famous sets of Olympic medals to the French capital for the first time since they were won there a century ago.

“During the year of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we are celebrating the outstanding achievements of The Flying Finn Paavo Nurmi who in 1924 won a still unsurpassed haul of five Olympic athletics gold medals in a single edition of the Games.

“As famous as the Hollywood stars of his day, lauded by US presidents, Nurmi was the first truly global sports star. Nurmi ended his career with nine golds and three Olympic silver medals and 22 ratified world records but his achievements in Paris 1924, including an outrageous 1500m and 5000m double won with only an hour rest between the two finals, marked the zenith of his career.

“When visiting Paris for this summer's Olympic Games, I look forward to viewing this historic display of Nurmi's golds. These five medals are the athletics centre piece of an impressive six-month exhibition of Olympic medals and coins staged in the neoclassical museum of the Monnaie de Paris, the world's oldest continuously running mint.”

Chairman and CEO of Monnaie de Paris Marc Schwartz commented: “Presenting an extraordinary set of Olympic gold medals at the Monnaie de Paris Museum is truly an honor. Even years later, Paavo Nurmi stands out as one of the most renowned athletes of all time. The celebration of his accomplishments undoubtedly positions this collection as a highlight of our exhibition: 'Gold, Silver, Bronze. A history of the Olympic Medal'. Come to see it in Paris!”

World Athletics Council Member and Chairman of the Paavo Nurmi Games Antti Pihlakoski said: “The Paavo Nurmi Games and Festival organization is grateful to the Museum of the Monnaie de Paris and World Athletics and its Heritage Department for highlighting Paavo Nurmi and his unique career as an Olympic athlete. The display of his Paris 1924 medals serves not only to help a historical understanding of his feats but their continuing impact on society a century later.

“The mission of the Paavo Nurmi Games and Festival organization, with the great support of the City of Turku, is to promote a diverse culture of physical activity in the name of Paavo Nurmi, catering to people of all ages, organizing top-level sporting events, mass sports events for different age groups, and charity events, the proceeds of which are distributed to support physical activities for low-income families.

“We believe that Paavo Nurmi would be pleased that 100 years after his legendary Olympic success in Paris, his legacy continues to be an active part of his hometown City of Turku, Finland, and lives on in the international athletics and sporting community.

“Warm thanks to the Museum of the Monnaie de Paris and World Athletics.”

Here are the top songs runners love

Still listening to “Eye of the Tiger” to help you channel your inner Rocky (III) when running stairs? You’re not alone—but marathoners do like a range of music to power them through their workouts. The charity fundraising website Just Giving recently conducted a survey of 2,000 participants gearing up for the 2024 London Marathon in April, hoping to reveal the rhythm that fuels their 42.2K journey.

We already know that music can play a powerful role in helping us get out the door and stay motivated. Studies have shown that not only does what you listen to while you exercise potentially improve your performance, but tuning in to some pre-workout music can boost your performance in the gym and help you get more out of each session. One could predict that playlists and preferences would be largely unique and individual, just like running styles and abilities, but it seems that runners have a lot of similarity in what they find motivating.

From more than 6,000 song nominations, the top 10 tracks emerged as the ultimate running playlist, with Survivor’s timeless Rocky anthem “Eye of the Tiger” still leading the way (however, the classic theme from the original Rocky didn’t make the list). Eminem‘s “Lose Yourself” and Queen‘s invigorating “Don’t Stop Me Now” also raced to the forefront. And while you may be getting tired of hearing about Taylor Swift‘s latest football sideline fanatics, you’re apparently still happy to have her cheer you through the miles of a long, slow distance session, with her name appearing on both favourite artists and within the top 10 songs.

Top 10 songs marathoners love to listen to:

1. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor 2. Lose Yourself – Eminem 3. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen 4. Dog Days Are Over – Florence & The Machine 5. Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush 6. Mr Brightside – The Killers 7. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen 8. Adore U – Fred Again 9. Pump It – Black Eyed Peas 10. Cruel Summer – Taylor Swift

The survey also determined the top artists runners tune in to, with Queen, Swift and Fred Again making the cut for both lists.

Irine Cheptai to make marathon debut at the 2024 Haspa Marathon

The 2017 World Cross-country champion Irine Cheptai will make her full marathon debut at the 38th edition of the Haspa Marathon in Hamburg.

Reigning Copenhagen Half Marathon champion Irine Cheptai will make her full marathon debut at the 38th edition of the Haspa Marathon on Sunday, April 28.

The 2017 World Cross-country champion has competed on all surfaces from the track to cross-country and she will finally make her debut in the 42km distance in April.

Cheptai finished second at the 2023 Valencia Half Marathon and third at the Annual Charity Run in Saudi Arabia.

The Commonwealth 10,000m silver medalist opened her season with an eighth-place finish at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja and she now gears up for the 42km distance where she hopes to impress. Other notable debutants at the event will be Nelly Jepchumba and Roselida Jepketer.

Meanwhile, Winfridah Moseti and Sharon Chelimo from Kenya headline the field. Moseti took second place at the 2023 Frankfurt Marathon with a time of 2:20:55, while Chelimo also put in a strong performance with a time of 2:22:07.

The Ethiopian charge will be led by Kidusan Alema while Canada’s Natasha Wodak (Canadian record holder with a personal best of 02:23:12) will also be in the mix seeking top honors. Margaret Wangari from Kenya with a time of 2:23:52 also seeks to spoil the party.

Portuguese runner Jessica Augusto (02:24:25) will also be at the start again, having won the marathon back in 2017.

“We are excited to see what awaits us at the 38th Haspa Marathon Hamburg. Hamburg has proven to be a springboard for great runners in the past, as we saw for example with Eliud Kipchoge, who once made his debut in Hamburg. So it remains exciting to see which new talents will prove themselves on the track this year,” race organizers said.

Buddy the Elf Shatters Guinness Record with Help from Pro Ultramarathoner

Jason Homorody was gunning for the fastest half marathon as a movie character when he ran into Harvey Lewis.A modern-day staple of road running is unexpectedly coming across people running in costume either for a charity or in the hopes of setting a Guinness World Record, but sometimes, these costumed individuals discover the unexpected themselves.

On Sunday, Jason Homorody, 50, was beginning his quest to break the record for the fastest half marathon time while dressed as a movie character—Buddy the Elf from Elf in his case—at the Warm Up Columbus Half Marathon when he received some surprising support from a fellow runner. While attempting to break the previous 1:30:42 record, Homorody, who—obviously—loves Elf and regularly wears the costume around to “cheer people up,” was joined by Harvey Lewis, the current backyard ultramarathon record holder and well-decorated ultrarunner, who has won the likes of the Badwater 135 and USATF 24-Hour National Championships.

“[He] came up on my shoulder and asked me what pace I was going for,” Homorody told Runner’s World. “Once I answered some questions, he asked if he could run with me. Honestly, at first, I had no idea who he was. But he ran with me the entire race.”Homorody also said Lewis helped him with hydration during the race. “When we would pass the water stop on the course, he was asking if he could get me anything. He kept encouraging me to get water because I think he was concerned about me overheating in my costume,” Homorody said, adding that the two talked about Lewis’ upcoming races during the event.“I was picking his brain about ultramarathoning,” Homorody said. “I knew he recently had a crazy backyard ultra world record, and I was asking if he was almost falling asleep at any point while running, and he said yes.”

So, did the support of an ultramarathoner ultimately push Homorody to his goal? It seems like it, as Buddy the Elf crossed the finish line in 1:25:44, besting the previous record by more than 5 minutes. 

“[Lewis] was just a very down-to-earth guy, and he seemed genuinely excited to help pace me to my world record attempt,” Homorody said.

Rhasidat Adeleke and Talitha Diggs head to Millrose Games

The past two women’s NCAA 400m champions, Rhasidat Adeleke and Talitha Diggs, will line up for a 300m clash at the Millrose Games in New York on February 11.

Racing them at this season’s penultimate World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting will be Jamaica’s Leah Anderson and Candice McLeod.

Adeleke has already made a strong start to 2024 as she ran 7.15 for 60m and 22.49 for 200m to improve her own Irish indoor records in Albuquerque on 20 January.

The 21-year-old, who finished fourth in the world 400m final last year in Budapest, has raced 300m once before, in 2022 when she ran a national record of 36.87.

In New York she’ll go up against the athlete who preceded her as NCAA 400m champion, Diggs.

USA’s Diggs is set to make her season debut at this weekend’s World Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Boston, where she will also race the 300m.

New York offers a rematch as her PB of 36.37 was set when winning ahead of Adeleke in Clemson in 2022.

Anderson finished third in last year’s Millrose Games 300m in 36.68, while Olympic and world 4x400m medallist McLeod is set to race the distance for the first time.

Joining the already announced Alicia Monson in the two-mile race in New York will be North American mile record-holder Nikki Hiltz, who won the US 1500m title last year and started 2024 by running 2:34.09 for 1000m.

They will race against a field featuring USA’s Emily Infeld and Courtney Wayment, Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka, and Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa and Melknat Wudu.

In the high jump, the previously announced Yaroslava Mahuchikh will compete against 2016 world indoor champion Vashti Cunningham, NCAA champion Charity Griffith and Asian Games champion Safina Sadullayeva.

Inside Usain Bolt's little-known 11-year love story with Jamaican model

Usain Bolt and Kasi Bennett's journey, from a secret romance to proud parents, embodies love, support, and shared privacy.

Double 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt has been in a long-standing relationship with Jamaican model Kasi Bennett since 2013, according to reports.

This couple's journey, filled with love, privacy, and the joy of parenthood, paints a picture of a partnership built on mutual respect and support.

Bennett, who has been the anchor in Bolt's life through his career highs and lows, prefers to maintain a low profile, despite her partner's worldwide fame.

"Usain and I are very private when it comes to our relationship, but it's filled with love and mutual respect," Bennett shared in an interview with Vogue Jamaica.

Their love story began quietly in 2013, but it was not until a 2016 interview with People Magazine that Bolt openly expressed his happiness about the relationship.

“She’s happy, I’m happy!” he exclaimed, shedding light on their private life for the first time.

The birth of their daughter, Olympia Lightning Bolt in 2020, and twins Saint Leo Bolt and Thunder Bolt in 2021, marked new chapters in their lives.

Bennett, embracing motherhood, often shares glimpses of their family life on social media.

“Our babies are our greatest achievements,” she remarked in a heartwarming post on Instagram.

Despite their public figures, Bolt and Bennett have consistently strived to give their children a normal upbringing.

"We want our kids to grow up with the values we hold dear. Fame is fleeting, but family is forever," Bolt reflected in a candid discussion with The Guardian.

Fatherhood has been a new and challenging race for Bolt, as he humorously admitted that handling three children can be more daunting than competing in the Olympics.

Bennett, apart from being a supportive partner and a doting mother, is an advocate for women's empowerment in Jamaica.

Her efforts in various charitable causes have been a source of inspiration.

"It's important for me to use my platform to uplift other women," Bennett stated during a charity event in Kingston.

Their family dynamic is often showcased on Bennett's TikTok account, where she shares candid moments of their life, giving fans a peek into the everyday joys and challenges of being a family of five.

In a touching Father's Day post in 2023, Bennett celebrated Bolt as a father, highlighting his dedication and love for their family. "To the world, he's the fastest man, but to us, he's the world's best dad," she wrote, accompanied by a photo of Bolt with their children. 

Country Star "Jelly Roll" Is Training for His First 5K

The country-pop-rap sensation has already dropped close to 200 pounds in the past few years.

Over the past few years, country-pop sensation Jelly Roll has embarked on a weight loss journey to improve his overall health. Now, the singer has announced he is gearing up for the next step by training to run a 5K in the spring.

“Yeah baby, this message is for Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura,” the 39-year-old said in a video posted to Instagram. “I was on the Full Send Podcast this week, and Kyle from the Nelk boys convinced me that I could make it to the 5K by May if I dedicated myself to it,” he said, referring to a challenge put forth by comedians Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura who host the popular 2 Bears, 1 Cave Podcast.

The rapper, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, says in the video that he has been taking daily walks while slowly building up to running the 5K. “Bert, I love you bubba, Tom, I don’t know you but I love you too and can’t wait to meet you. I’ll be there baby, I’m in the woods walking every morning.” the rapper said. 

The comedians will be hosting a 5K in May, intending to run it in under 26 minutes. For every minute Tom & Bert go above the 26-minute 5K run time challenge, they will each donate $1,000 to a charity they choose. The race will also feature several other comedians participating, in addition to Jelly Roll.

He closes the video by saying he is committed to the run by May. “5K by May baby, 5K by May. I mean it Bert! I mean it Bert!”

Running a 5K is the next step in his weight loss journey. The CMA winner, who weighed over 500 pounds in 2015, has already dropped over 200 pounds in the past few years, and in a December 2022 interview with Music Mayhem, the singer said he was planning to prioritize his family and his health in 2023.

In November, he told Fox News he had lost around 50 pounds while on tour last year. “I’m drinking less than I’ve ever drank, and I feel incredible. I’m drinking water like a fish. I’m getting it right out here. I want to touch people as long as I can,” he told the news outlet.

In February of last year, he posted an update on his health goals to X. “Just know that I’m doing my part—I’m working out daily … praying and meditating ... Eating better—losing weight,” he said. “Making sure I bring the best version of me on my new album and this tour ... this is what growth and gratitude look like in real-time.”

We look forward to seeing him on the course, and who knows what’s next—maybe he’ll be one of the celebrity runners in next year’s New York City Marathon?

Tips to take your running from zero to marathon

Is your goal of completing a marathon daunting because you’ve never run before? Maybe running a marathon is on the bucket list, you're looking to challenge yourself physically, lose weight, or raise awareness for a charity important to you. Whatever your motivation, the first step is finding that ‘why’ and reminding yourself of it along the way.

Beyond having a reason to keep you going, know the techniques for how to start running and hit the distance in the half-marathon or full marathon with our tips below.

1. SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE

Avoid burning yourself out right from the start by gradually building up your runs. Slowly increasing the time and distance you run by 10-20% each week and you’ll be less prone to suffer an overuse injury and tightness. Many run related injuries are caused by a rapid increase in the amount of running done. Give yourself plenty of time to train - around 6 months is ideal for a first-timer. Consider completing a couch-to-5k or other fun run event as part of your training. It’s hard not to fall in love with running once you get going and the temptation may be to run too far too soon which your body won’t thank you for. Instead, work up to those milestones slowly and bit by bit.

2. INVEST IN YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT RUNNING SHOES

Finding the right footwear specifically for your running style is paramount to feeling good on your runs and sticking with it. Take the time to visit a Running Expert location near you to be assessed for your foot type and gait pattern. Through this process, you’ll learn the level of stability and support best suited for you. It’s important to have your running shoes dialled in well before race day to break them in and be sure they don’t cause you any pain.

3. PICK A MARATHON TRAINING PLAN

Following along with a training plan will offer a clear approach on how to train for a marathon and is essential to being ready for race day. A structured plan with a variety of runs with help you complete those 42.2km as strong as possible. Check out our half-marathon training plan and full marathon training plan.

It’s recommended you have a base of at least 4-8 weeks of running regularly before starting on a training schedule. Setting the foundation first will ensure you have a solid base to start your marathon training feeling ready to take on longer distances. Use a running app like ASICS Runkeeper to receive guided training, set goals, and track your progress along the way. Seeing incremental improvement will motivate you to keep going.

4. INCORPORATE STRENGTH TRAINING AND REST DAYS

Strengthening the muscles that power your running will give you better stamina and endurance. Helping you to run further distances and feel stronger while doing it. Balance your training by scheduling in days for focusing on strength. Two of the key muscle groups to work on strengthening are your core and glutes. Try simple targeted exercises like the ones highlighted in our article on Stretching and Strength Training for Runners.

Avoid running yourself into the ground by giving yourself dedicated rest days. It’s important to allow your body time to recover and repair itself. Without a rest day, you risk overtraining, burning yourself out, or even causing an injury.

5. FIND THE BEST FUEL FOR YOU

Don’t risk an upset stomach on the day of the race. Identify during your training what works best to fuel your running. Test out different carb-heavy breakfasts a few hours before your bigger run days. For a full rundown on how to dial in your nutrition, read our article from Claire Turnbull. During your runs over 90 minutes, it’s important to aim to consume around 30 to 60 grams of carbs per hour. Test out different on-the-run fuel that’s simple to eat, digest, and carry. Running gels and chews are a good go-to as they’re easy to carry and contain a nice dose of quick carbs. Another part of fueling is hydration. Race organisers often provide the option of dropping personal drink bottles at stations along the way for when you think you may need more than just the cups they hand out. 

One last highly important key to running a solid race, don’t try anything new on event day.

7 ways to get your partner into running this holiday season

Running with your significant other can be a great way to strengthen your relationship. There’s nothing quite like pushing your physical limits with your partner by your side to bring the two of you closer together. But while you may be a passionate runner, your partner may need a little more convincing. With New Year’s Eve around the corner and everyone in that feel-good holiday spirit, now’s the perfect time to start working on them.

If you want to get your significant other into running this holiday season, you’ll need to be a bit creative. Here are some compelling ways to persuade them to join you on your next jog.

The cool running outfits

Is your partner a fashion fiend? Athleisure is all the rage right now, and running brands have definitely caught on to the trend. Today’s running gear is sleek, stylish and perfect for taking pictures that you can both post on social media. Starting a running routine gives your partner an excuse to go on an athletic wear shopping spree, and who doesn’t love getting new clothes?

Sign up for a destination race

If your partner has been talking about wanting to go on holiday, this one’s a no-brainer. Pick their favorite destination and research upcoming races in the area. Participating in a local road race is a great way to experience the culture and camaraderie of a different city or country. Make a weekend (or week!) out of it and enjoy everything the area has to offer while working (together!) toward your fitness goals.

It supports their New Year’s resolution

New Year’s resolutions are notorious for being ditched just a few weeks into the year. If you and your partner resolve to get fit and fast together, you’ll have a built-in accountability partner. Make a commitment to each other and watch as you both crush your fitness goals together.

Relieve that holiday stress

It’s scientifically proven that exercise lifts your spirits. Running is a great way to boost your mood and relieve stress, which is particularly important during the often stressful holiday season. Share this knowledge with your partner and convince them to give it a try.

Share quality time

You and your partner lead busy lives, and finding time just to be together can be tough. Running is a great way to spend quality time together while also improving your health. If your S.O. has been asking for some more “you” time, a run is a great way to catch up on each other’s lives and strengthen your bond.

Run for a cause

Does your partner have a charitable streak? Many races partner with charitable foundations to raise money and awareness. Running for a cause can be a powerful way to give back and get fit at the same time. Research a charity your partner is passionate about and sign up for a race to support it.

Make a trade

Has your partner been badgering you to get out on the golf course, tennis court or dance floor with them? Whatever their hobby is, offer to do it with them when you ask them to go for a run with you. By offering to do something they’ve been wanting to do, they may be more inclined to do what you want to do, too.

Chicago Marathon expands to 5000 runners in 2024

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is expanding next year, with 50,000 runners expected to cross the finish line.

Over 123,000 runners applied for a chance to participate in the race, according to a spokesperson for the marathon. The number of entry applications was up from 86,000 for the 2023 race and 80,000 in 2022.

Next year’s record-breaking field was announced by marathon organizers Thursday, the same day runners who entered the marathon’s drawing find out their selection status for next year.

Runners who are selected through the drawing will join those who guaranteed their spot during the four-week application window.

Guaranteed entries into the race include Chicago Marathon legacy finishers, time qualifiers, international tour group participants, charity runners, 2023 Bank of America Chicago Distance Series finishers and those who canceled their 2023 race entries, according to an announcement from the marathon.

Runners who did not receive an entry through the drawing can still sign up through the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Charity Program, which includes 200 nonprofit organizations raising money for such causes as education, youth development and social services. Anyone registering to run with an official charity is required to raise at least $1,750.

The expanded field comes after this year’s marathon raised a record $30.4 million.

“The 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon was record-setting across the board from historic performances and countless personal bests to record-breaking participation and charity fundraising,” said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director. “We look forward to welcoming a new field of participants in 2024 and once again putting on a race that unites the local and global running communities on the streets of Chicago.”

Marathon officials said 48,472 runners completed the 2023 race.

Kelvin Kiptum set a marathon world record with his time of 2:00:35 to win the men’s division of the 2023 marathon. Sifan Hassan, in her second marathon, set a course-record time of 2:13:44 to win the women’s division.

The 2022 race had a smaller field in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a marathon spokesperson said. That year, 39,387 runners crossed the finish line.

Next year’s race is scheduled for Oct. 13.

Seven ways to get your partner into running this holiday season

Running with your significant other can be a great way to strengthen your relationship. There’s nothing quite like pushing your physical limits with your partner by your side to bring the two of you closer together. But while you may be a passionate runner, your partner may need a little more convincing. With New Year’s Eve around the corner and everyone in that feel-good holiday spirit, now’s the perfect time to start working on them.

If you want to get your significant other into running this holiday season, you’ll need to be a bit creative. Here are some compelling ways to persuade them to join you on your next jog.

1.- The cool running outfits

Is your partner a fashion fiend? Athleisure is all the rage right now, and running brands have definitely caught on to the trend. Today’s running gear is sleek, stylish and perfect for taking pictures that you can both post on social media. Starting a running routine gives your partner an excuse to go on an athletic wear shopping spree, and who doesn’t love getting new clothes?

2.- Sign up for a destination race

If your partner has been talking about wanting to go on holiday, this one’s a no-brainer. Pick their favorite destination and research upcoming races in the area. Participating in a local road race is a great way to experience the culture and camaraderie of a different city or country. Make a weekend (or week!) out of it and enjoy everything the area has to offer while working (together!) toward your fitness goals.

3.- It supports their New Year’s resolution

New Year’s resolutions are notorious for being ditched just a few weeks into the year. If you and your partner resolve to get fit and fast together, you’ll have a built-in accountability partner. Make a commitment to each other and watch as you both crush your fitness goals together.

4.- Relieve that holiday stress

It’s scientifically proven that exercise lifts your spirits. Running is a great way to boost your mood and relieve stress, which is particularly important during the often stressful holiday season. Share this knowledge with your partner and convince them to give it a try.

5.- Share quality time

You and your partner lead busy lives, and finding time just to be together can be tough. Running is a great way to spend quality time together while also improving your health. If your S.O. has been asking for some more “you” time, a run is a great way to catch up on each other’s lives and strengthen your bond.

6.- Run for a cause

Does your partner have a charitable streak? Many races partner with charitable foundations to raise money and awareness. Running for a cause can be a powerful way to give back and get fit at the same time. Research a charity your partner is passionate about and sign up for a race to support it.

7.- Make a trade

Has your partner been badgering you to get out on the golf course, tennis court or dance floor with them? Whatever their hobby is, offer to do it with them when you ask them to go for a run with you. By offering to do something they’ve been wanting to do, they may be more inclined to do what you want to do, too.

Olympians and national champions to headline stacked professional athlete field at 2023 USATF 5K Championships

Weini Kelati, Courtney Frerichs, Keira D’Amato, Woody Kincaid, and Zach Panning to race for world’s largest 5K prize purse; Nearly 10,000 runners to follow in footsteps of pros by racing Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K.

Five Olympians, one Paralympian, and four athletes who competed at this year’s World Athletics Championships will race in the 2023 USA Track & Field (USATF) 5K Championships at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K on Saturday, November 4. The event will take place in Midtown Manhattan the day prior to the TCS New York City Marathon and will be broadcast live on USATF.TV. Abbott will return as the title partner of the event which features a $79,500 prize purse – the largest of any 5K race in the world.

In the women’s race, two-time NCAA champion Weini Kelati will return in search of her third consecutive title in the event. Each of the last two years she has smashed the event record, taking the tape in 15:18 in 2021 and 15:15 in 2022. She will be challenged for the top spot on the podium this year by three-time national champion Keira D’Amato, 2023 U.S. cross-country champion Ednah Kurgat, and U.S. Olympians Abbey Cooper, Courtney Frerichs, Colleen Quigley, and Rachel Smith.

“Doing the Abbott Dash 5K is becoming a little bit of a early season tradition for me,” Kelati said. “Although my fall season looked a little bit different this year because of the opportunity I had to represent Team USA at the World Road Running Championships in Latvia, I’m really happy I get to come back to New York to try for my third straight 5K national title.”

Woody Kincaid, the U.S. 10,000-meter champion and American record-holder in the indoor 5,000 meters, will lead the men’s field. Lining up against him will be Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz, the top American finisher at the World Athletics Championships marathon this year Zach Panning, 2023 B.A.A. 5K champion Morgan Beadlescomb, and last year’s fourth through sixth-place finishers in New York, Ahmed Muhumed, Alec Basten, and Brian Barraza.

“I still see my career being mostly on the track for the next few years, but I like the idea of throwing in some more road races when it makes sense,” Kincaid said. “As I look towards the Paris Games, the Abbott Dash will be a nice jump-start to my 2024 training, and it will be cool to be in the middle of the big city marathon hoopla without having to go the full 26.2.”

Following in the footsteps of the professional athletes, nearly 10,000 runners will participate in the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, including top local athletes and many runners in the marathon on November 5.

Abbott, the title sponsor of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, is the sponsor of the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K for the seventh time. Abbott, a global healthcare leader, helps people live more fully with life-changing technology and celebrate what’s possible with good health.

The Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K annually provides TCS New York City Marathon supporters, friends, and families the opportunity to join in on the thrill of marathon race week. The course begins on Manhattan’s east side by the United Nations, then takes runners along 42nd Street past historic Grand Central Terminal and up the world-famous Avenue of the Americas past Radio City Music Hall. It then passes through the rolling hills of Central Park before finishing at the iconic TCS New York City Marathon finish line.

The Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K and USATF 5K Championships will be broadcast live via USATF.TV. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 8:20 a.m. ET with the first race starting at 8:30 a.m. ET.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)

NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.

Toronto running quintet sets Guinness World Record in TTC streetcar costume

There were more than 20 Guinness World Record attempts at the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, but one of the most unique records among them was achieved by a group of Toronto runners who dressed up as a Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) streetcar and set the record for the fastest half-marathon in a five-person costume. They completed the race in 1:48:59.

The quintet, consisting of Dekel Chui, Tom Brooks, Andrew Bondoc, Derek Beaton and Jared Nylander, all members of Toronto’s runTObeer run club, crafted their five-person costume from reusable grocery bags, cardboard and blinds from Ikea. They set out to beat the previous record of one hour and 59 minutes, and to their surprise, they achieved their goal by finishing more than 10 minutes ahead of the previous record.

The idea for this unique project came from Brooks, who had previously set a Guinness World Record for running a 100-miler in a penguin costume for charity. Chui said, “He brought the group costume idea to us, and we wanted to pay homage to the city that we know and love. We ended up picking the TTC streetcar.”

Chui and Brooks said in a post-race interview that the five of them did not practise in the costume before race day, relying on “a few warmup kilometres” as their preparation.

Setting a Guinness World Record was not the only achievement the quintet aimed for. They aimed to raise over $1,000 for a local cat rescue shelter in Toronto’s Annex community. Brooks shared, “As a team, we have three rescue cats, one coming from Annex Cat Rescue. They do fantastic work in our community, and we hope we can inspire others to support them.” Currently, they have raised more than $1,300 and counting.

“Toronto man runs entire subway system in cool challenge” — Canadian Running Magazine

The five-person costume half-marathon record was one of 11 Guinness World Records set at the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Experience the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon live from downtown Toronto on Oct. 15. Get the latest race news, updates and live results from Canadian Running with the support of ASICS Canada. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all the action.

Teacher Dribbles Way to Guinness World Record Marathon Finish

Maria Babineau dribbled a basketball for 26.2 miles, finishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in her debut at the distance.

Over the weekend, the Toronto Waterfront Marathon saw its fair share of excitement, with Ethiopia’s Buze Diriba Kejela winning the women’s race with a personal-best time of 2:23:11 for the women’s race, while Elvis Kipchoge Cheboi took the win in the men’s field with a time of 2:09:20.

While no course records were broken, the event did see an incredible 20 Guinness World Record attempts, with everything from the fastest half marathon in a five-person costume to the quickest half marathon by a female dressed as a crustacean. But one impressive attempt was a total slam dunk: elementary school teacher Maria Babineau broke the record for the fastest female running a marathon while dribbling a basketball, finishing the race in 3:57:40.

My students knew I loved basketball, so they encouraged me to break a basketball world record,” Babineau told Runner's World. “The enthusiasm the students shared for attempting the record was amazing. I wanted to show them that anything is possible.”

Video from the race shows Babineau running while dribbling the ball, alternating between her hands as she confidently breezed past her competition. “During the marathon, there were points of the race where my arms were cramping a little,” she said. “The cheering of the spectators and the positive comments from all the runners around me are what helped me get through it.”

The race, surprisingly, was Babineau’s first marathon, completed after about seven weeks of training. “During my training, I ended up having quite a few dogs try to steal the basketball,” Babineau said. “I also had to practice wearing a GoPro on my chest to record the attempt.”

The record attempt, which Guinness is still reviewing, was for more than just cheers from the crowd—Babineau ran in support of a charity she volunteers with, Ronald McDonald House Ottawa. Her goal was to raise $1,000 CAD to help the organization (which provides a home for families with sick children) buy an adjustable basketball net so families can play together. Babineau donated $1 for every kilometer she ran as part of her training, and ultimately, she raised more than her goal, presenting the basketball net and her record-achieving basketball to the house. 

Marinella Satta of Italy set the previous record for the fastest female dribbling a basketball in 4:28:11 during the Giro D’Italia Run in Turin, Italy, back in 2010, finishing 25th out of 38 runners.

For any men who feel inspired by this feat, the current Guinness record for the fastest marathon while dribbling a basketball for men was set in 2021 by Steffan Reimer, who ran a 2:50 marathon while bouncing the ball along the course.

Defending Champions, American Record Holders & Global Stars Highlight 2023 B.A.A. Half Marathon Professional Field

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today a star-studded professional field for the 2023 B.A.A. Half Marathon presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Defending champions Viola Chepngeno, Geoffrey Koech, and Jenna Fesemyer all return, while American half marathon record holder Keira D’Amato will take on the challenging course for the first time on Sunday, November 12. The B.A.A. Half Marathon starts and finishes at Franklin Park and runs along the Emerald Necklace Park System.

“As one of the most competitive half marathons in the country, we’re eager to bring many of the best open, wheelchair, and Para athletes in the world to Boston for November’s B.A.A. Half Marathon presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund,” said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the B.A.A. “Nearly 9,000 athletes will take to the roads, led by some of the fastest and most decorated competitors in event history.”

In 2022, Chepngeno (Kenya), Koech (Kenya), and Fesemyer (USA) won the women’s open, men’s open, and women’s wheelchair divisions, respectively, while Marko Cheseto and Jacky Hunt-Broersma (both USA) persevered through rain to finish atop the podium in the Para Athletics Division. To repeat the feat, all will square off against a field that includes national record holders and global medalists.

Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia, the 2022 B.A.A. 5K champion and three-time world championships medalist, looks to continue her winning ways in Boston. She’ll battle Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru, 2019 B.A.A. 10K winner Fancy Chamutai, world cross country silver medalist Tsigie Gebreselama, last year’s runner-up Bosena Mulatie, and two-time B.A.A. Half Marathon second place finisher Cynthia Limo.

Four Americans who competed at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August will toe the line, including D’Amato, Lindsay Flanagan, Susanna Sullivan, and Natosha Rodgers. D’Amato set the national half marathon record of 1:06:39 at this year’s Gold Coast Half Marathon in Australia, and along with Flanagan and Sullivan made up Team USA at the World Championships Marathon. Rodgers raced the 5,000m and 10,000m on the track in Budapest, finishing 14th in the latter event. Rachel Schneider Smith, a 2021 Olympian at 5,000m for Team USA, will be making her B.A.A. Half Marathon debut.

Ten men with sub-61 minute personal bests will line up for the B.A.A. Half Marathon. Abel Kipchumba owns the fastest lifetime best in the field (58:07), while Shadrack Kimining of Kenya, second fastest in the field, placed fifth in 2022. Mohamed El Aaraby (Morocco), Yemane Haileselassie (Eritrea), Pat Tiernan (Australia), and Amanuel Mesel (Eritrea) bring international expertise. The fastest American men’s entrants are Nadir Yusuf (1:03:23), Kevin Koski (1:03:35) and Ryan Cutter (1:03:54) and sub-2:10 marathoner Ian Butler.

Dedham, Mass.-native Brian Reynolds, who set a world record at last year’s B.A.A. Half Marathon in the T62 (lower-limb impairment) category, returns, as does Marko Cheseto (T62) who ran 1:24:54 in 2022. Jacky Hunt-Broersma, last year’s women’s T62 champion, and Liz Willis, a three-time Boston Marathon T62 winner, will compete as well.

In the wheelchair division, Fesemyer set a course record 59:50 in 2022 to become the first women’s wheelchair athlete ever to break one hour in race history. Fellow 2022 women’s wheelchair podium finishers Yen Hoang (second place) and Michelle Wheeler (third) return as well.

James Senbeta and Hermin Garic, veterans of many B.A.A. events, headline the men’s wheelchair field. Garic was victorious at this year’s B.A.A. 10K.

The B.A.A. Half Marathon course runs along the picturesque Emerald Necklace Park System, past landmarks such as the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond, and Franklin Park Zoo, before finishing at White Stadium in Franklin Park. The B.A.A. Half Marathon is a family-friendly event for athletes and spectators of all ages. Free youth events will be offered on race morning within Franklin Park, including races and medals for all. 

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund has partnered with the B.A.A. Half Marathon since 2003 as the race’s presenting sponsor and exclusive charity team. Through this relationship, Dana-Farber runners have collectively raised more than $8 million to support groundbreaking cancer research, and enabled Dana-Farber scientists and clinicians to positively impact the lives of cancer patients around the world. In advance of the 2023 event, 640 Team Dana-Farber athletes have raised $375,000 to date.

Olympian Anne-Marie Comeau Pursuing a Fast Time at TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

On October 15th the 27-year-old from St. Ferréol les Neiges in Quebec will race the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, her first competitive marathon since her inauspicious debut in Philadelphia in 2019.

This time around the former cross-country skier will come prepared having followed the program set by her new coach, two-time Canadian Olympic marathoner, Reid Coolsaet. The two paired up in November 2022. Coolsaet has developed both her physical and mental preparation and Comeau has a specific goal in mind.

“I talked to Reid last week,” she reveals. “My first goal is to go under 2:32. But he told me if I want to take risks in my race I should try to do 2:29:30 or just under 2:30. He told me it’s a big risk to start at this pace but I like to take risks.”

Once again, the race will serve as the Athletics Canada Canadian Marathon Championships with medals and a lucrative prize purse including $8,000 to the national champion. Comeau is more cautious.

“For sure I will be happy if I am finishing on the podium,” she says. “But I don’t think about it. I don’t have a lot of experience in marathon races. I would just like to do another marathon because the last one was in 2019.

“It’s a ‘couple’ of years so I want to start back doing one and see how I can fuel correctly in the race. Because my first one - it was very bad nutrition. I will give all that I have. I have done a lot of work. I am excited to see what it can give.”

Comeau laughs at her recall of that Philadelphia race, a 2:41:10. But in March of this year she showed that her training is going well as she finished second at the Project 13.1 (Half Marathon) in New York’s Rockland State Park. Her time of 1:11:30 indicates that with the right volume of training she is certainly capable of dipping under the 2:30 marathon barrier.

More recently she won the half marathon at the Marathon Beneva de Montreal in 1:13:56. That result came during her buildup for Toronto Waterfront. She did not back off her training one bit.

“I am not a person that does a lot of high mileage,” she reveals. “My biggest week with the training in the marathon buildup was 155km. It was mostly about 130km a week. I also use other sports in preparation.

“I am not competing anymore in cross-country skiing. But I am doing a lot of cross- country skiing in the winter and a lot of skiing up mountains but I don’t do competition anymore.”

Cycling with her boyfriend Jean-Philippe also has a place in her overall fitness. And she is also an accomplished mountain and trail runner. Last March she represented Canada at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships finishing 15th in the women’s vertical race and 17th in the ‘up and down’ race.

“I always loved running,” Comeau admits with a laugh. “I was running for training (for cross-country skiing). The two sports work very well together and since the age of 8 years I was running races in the woods. When I was a skier I was always running in the summer and even in the winter.

“I wanted to try and see what my potential was in running. When I was skiing it was not perfect for running. So when I stopped I was able to concentrate my energy and see what I can do.

For income Comeau works as an accountant for a medium size firm while studying to become a tax specialist. Recently she left a major accounting firm so she could cut back on her hours to devote more time to training and recovery.

In her down time she says she enjoys going for bike rides and also pursuing a more relaxing pastime.

“My boyfriend (national team trail runner) Jean-Philippe Thibobeau and I like to explore breweries,” she says with a laugh. “We love this activity and when we travel we try to choose different breweries and match our trip with that.”

Comeau is eager to line up at Toronto Waterfront and for the first time really see what she is capable at the marathon distance. A surprise could be in store.

About the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier running event and the grand finale of the Canada Running Series (CRS). Since 2017, the race has served as the Athletics Canada national marathon championship race and has doubled as the Olympic trials. Using innovation and organization as guiding principles, Canada Running Series stages great experiences for runners of all levels, from Canadian Olympians to recreational and charity runners. With a mission of “building community through the sport of running,” CRS is committed to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process.

To learn more about the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, visit TorontoWaterFrontMarathon.com.

Naked trail race in England brings out running buffs

Scores of runners in England joined in a bold display of raw talent this month, baring all for a 5K trail run in which participants stripped down to their socks.

The Naked 5K took place Sept. 10 near Orpington, a community just southeast of London. The town is home to the Naturist Foundation, an organization dedicated to the “pursuit of personal well-being and wellness through naturist recreational activities,” according to its mission statement. The group’s 53-acre Brocken Hurst property is host to a range of Naturist Foundation events, from concerts and holiday celebrations to this month’s 5K trail run, which was the 20th such race the group has organized.

The organization’s milestone event appears to have attracted not just a large crowd, but a fairly speedy one. Leading the pack of 130 runners was Mark Jessett of Llandudno Junction, Wales, who won the race in 18:50. (As the race format would leave runners few options for pinning on a race bib, runners are given lightweight anklets to make chip timing possible.)

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Nature Foundation featured a shot of Jessett wearing nothing but his winner’s medal. “Congratulations to the winner of yesterday’s #BH5K trail run, with a time of 18m50s,” reads the post. “An impressive feat given the heat, with a high of 30ºC! We had extra water stations and misting sprays, but not surprisingly some DNFs too.”

No matter how liberally Jessett might have applied sunscreen for the race, the blistering rays clearly left an impression on the Welshman. “Scorching conditions!” he wrote in his Strava recap of the Naked 5K, in which he described the race as “basically a trail course through trees with a short section of road.”

In a reply to the Naturist Foundation’s post on X, he wrote: “Thanks everyone and well done to everyone else also! Fantastic day out in lovely (but scorching) conditions surrounded by so many friendly people!”

Others who responded to the post offered Jessett kudos for a strong run given the heat and, at times, challenging terrain, while some were curious about what motivates runners to sign up for the Naked 5K, and what kind of crowds the races attract.

One commenter replied that “some are running club members a bit bored of the regular parkrun and fancy a change. Many are regulars that we only see twice a year. Some are doing it for bucket list or charity reasons. Some do get the naturist bug as a result.”

The Naturist Foundation hosts its next Naked 5K in May.

3 Athletes on Why They’re Running the Marine Corps Marathon

One of the largest marathons in the world to draw in 30,000 runners from all 50 states

The 48th Marine Corps Marathon (MCM)—“The People’s Marathon”—is the fourth-largest marathon in the U.S. and largest urban ultramarathon (they offer a 50K and 10K, too).

Each year, the U.S. Marine Corps holds the MCM a few weeks before the anniversary of its establishment. On October 29, 30,000 runners will toe the line in Arlington, Virginia, to follow the course as it winds through the nation’s capital. We caught up with three runners aiming for the finish line this year.

Rosie Gagnon, who lives in Berryville, Virginia, will be running the 50K MCM race in honor of her son, Marine Corps veteran, James Morris, who passed away by suicide in Ferurary 2018.

Even struggling through his mental health battles, Morris had endless confidence in his mother. Though Gagnon had been a runner for over two decades, Morris had  encouraged her to run her first marathon. And when she completed that, he challenged her to dream even bigger–a 100 miler.

Morris passed away while Gagnon was training for this ultra, but she was determined to keep running in his memory.

“I actually bonked really hard,” Gagnon says, laughing. “I quit 60 miles in. I reached a point where I hit a wall–throwing up and crawling on the ground–and felt it was symbolic of what my son had gone through, because he got to the point where he couldn’t see how he could go on.”

The pain of this first race was disappointing but also a blessing. Morris says the experience taught her that, no matter how dark life gets, you keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Shortly after, Gagnon joined Wear Blue: Run to Remember, a group that honors the service of American military members through running. You may have seen one of them at races across the country wearing their bright blue shirts and the name of a fallen veteran. Gagnon challenged herself to run 100 ultramarathons in memory of Morris, and to raise awareness about military and veteran suicide. This will be her first time running the Marine Corps Marathon, and it will be her 60th ultra.

Running has become not only an outlet for spreading awareness about the importance of military mental health awareness and resources, but it’s been an outlet for grief.

“I used to wake up everyday wondering, ‘How can I live with this pain for another 40 years?’ and the one outlet where I found comfort was through running,” Gagnon says. “I focused on one race at a time, trying to get to that 100. I thought it would take longer, but it’s been moving pretty fast. I’m more than halfway through now!”

“If all I can do is put on shoes and run for somebody,” she says. “I’m going to do that.”

Between working a full-time job, managing clients in her running coach business, and raising three kids under the age of six, Kelly Vigil squeezes in training for the MCM when she can. Originally from northern Virginia, Vigil now lives in Charleston, South Carolina, and has run the MCM four times. This year, she’s running the 50K option.

“It’s my all-time favorite race,” she says. “When you get there, everything is taken care of,and everyone is super excited to be there. The spectators are amazing, which is hard to get in a marathon unless you’re running one of the major ones. At mile 21, you still have people cheering you on.”

Her husband was in the Marine Corps for six years, which makes her particularly connected to the race. Another reason is because Vigil used to work full-time in the charity running field, working with organizations to create their race programs.

“Athletes who are running for a cause aren’t necessarily going to feel more pressure, but there’s more meaning as to why they’re doing it,” Vigil says. “It helps them push forward when their body or mind isn’t in it anymore.”

As a mom of young kids, training isn’t always easy, but Vigil gets it done. Her long runs are timed so that she has an allotted amount of time to be away training on Saturday. Whatever mileage she gets done is what it is, and Vigil is happy with that.

“I’m not very strict with my training plan,” she says. “A lot of my running includes a stroller (with my two-year-old) or I might split up my runs in the morning and evening. I’m just doing what I can.”

Also a certified running coach, Vigil is currently working with other athletes  who are running the MCM.

“Coaching keeps me in the community even when I’m not training for something,,” she says. “We’re all going after these different goals and doing what we can to stay consistent and do the work.”

For some, a commute to work includes traffic, to-go coffee, and a few swear words as someone cuts you off on the highway. But Jessica Hood’s commute to the office involves lots of marathon training.

Hood is extremely busy, so she puts in her miles by running to work. The total distance from her house to her office is about 14 miles, but depending on her training schedule, she’ll run seven or so and then hop on the metro bus for the rest of the way. Her office has a gym and showers, so she’s not taking a seat at her desk in sweaty running clothes.

“I do what I have to do and it probably takes a shorter amount of time,” Hood laughs. “You know, because you’d be sitting in DC traffic.”

Hood moved to the DC area about two years ago and works in finance, but her main passion is running. She began posting running content on social media in 2022 and developed a hearty following of 37k on Instagram and 81.5k on TikTok.

“It’s super cool how runners can get connected through social media,” she says. “I have a lot of running friends who don’t live in DC, but we all meet up at certain events and races across the country.”

Because of her influencer status, Hood is part of the MCM Social Media Influencer program, where she’s an advocate for the race. Though it’s sold out now, she spent months encouraging people to sign up through her posts online. This year will be her first time running the MCM marathon, though she’s spectated before and the energy was like nothing else.

“I thrive off of race day energy,” she says. “I love running and take it seriously, but it’s also about the fun of it and doing it with other people. So having a lot of people in my DC community running with me makes me so happy.”

Due to the race’s overwhelming popularity, early bird registrations for next year’s event opens January 1, 2024, with military members being able to register December 31. The Marine Corps Historic Half takes place May 19, 2024, and is part of the MCM series.

The 2024 Boston Marathon Acceptance Letters have Arrived. Here’s What the Data Tells Us.

A record-breaking number of qualified applicants registered for 128th running of the world’s oldest annual marathon

The 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America just began informing qualified applicants of their status this morning, and the numbers are as fascinating as they are fast.

After 33,058 qualifier applications came flooding in during registration week earlier this month to run next year’s race—taking place on April 15, 2024—22,019 applicants were accepted (pending final verification).

“This year’s registration week resulted in the highest number of qualified applicants in race history, a testament to the strength of the marathon community,” said David Tyrie, Chief Digital Officer and Chief Marketing Officer for Bank of America.

To gain entry into the Boston Marathon requires each runner to have an official qualifying race prior to applying, with finishing times established by both gender and age. However, with such high demand for the race by qualified runners, the unofficial “cut-off” times for being accepted into the race are often minutes faster than the official qualifying standards.

For the 2024 Boston Marathon race, this year’s “cut-off” time needed to gain acceptance was 5 minutes, 29 seconds or faster than the official qualifying time. For example, say you are a 40-year-old male applicant. The official B.A.A. qualifying standard for this age/gender is 3 hours, 10 minutes. But in order to be accepted into next year’s race, any qualifying times slower than 3 hours, 4 minutes, 31 seconds would not be accepted.

This stout benchmark translated this year to more than 11,000 applicants not being accepted into next year’s Boston Marathon.

Looking into the 22,000-plus runners who were just notified of their acceptance—with ages ranging from 18 to 82—here’s how the numbers break down: 12,535 men, 9,440 women, and 44 non-binary athletes from all 50 states. In addition, automatic entry is offered to those who’ve finished 10 or more previous Boston Marathons, and 660 of these applicants were granted entry.

What’s also interesting is that over one-third of the entire field at next year’s Boston Marathon will be newbies—11,391 of the accepted applicants will be running Boston for the first time.

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) was established 1887, and has become a non-profit organization that manages the Boston Marathon and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City.

Athletes interested in running next year’s race as part of a fundraising effort, affiliated with select charity programs, are invited to contact the nonprofit or organization to see what opportunities there are. Read more about the race’s charity program.

The 2025 qualifying window has already begun on September 1, 2023, and further registration information will be announced following the conclusion of the 128th race. Stay tuned—and keep training.

Ethiopian Afera Godfay Confident of Success At TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Afera Godfay won the 2019 Dongying Marathon in China with a superb personal best 2:22:41 then almost completely vanished from the world scene for a few years.

There was a third-place finish in the Xiamen Marathon, also in China, a year later but that performance largely went under the radar.

On October 15th the 31-year-old Ethiopian will target the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon with high expectations. Indeed, in April this year she ran 1:10:25 at the Rabat International Half Marathon in Morocco which encouraged her to chase a new marathon personal best in Toronto. This will mark her first ever visit to Canada.

“Training is going great,” she reports. “I do my training six days a week - every day except Sunday. I cover a long distance with speed. Three days a week I run with (coach Gemedu Dedefo’s) group.

“My goal is to win (Toronto Waterfront) with a good time. I hope to run 2:24.”

The group is currently celebrating the great success of one of their members, Tigist Assefa, who smashed the world marathon record with her astonishing 2:11:53 in Berlin on Sunday. No doubt the result will provide inspiration to Afera.

The buildup is creating excitement as she is eager to return to her past level. Five times she has run under 1:10 for the half marathon distance over the years and she can now sense she is coming into form. Afera has a good reason for her absence those few years.

“It was because I gave birth to my child,” she explains. “And it was a bit hard to get back to my previous condition. I have one child and her name is Maranata.”

Afera comes from a small town in the war torn northern Ethiopian province of Tigray called Alaje. Although she moved to Addis in 2010 her parents still live in Tigray. She is thankful that they were not affected by the two-year-old war that lasted until November 2022 and which led to widespread famine.

Once a year, when her training program allows, she will visit her parents and friends in Alaje. She comes from a long line of farmers. Growing up under hardship likely fuelled her desire for success in road racing. But she also had mentors.

“My inspiration is Meseret Defar,” she declares. Defar is a two time Olympic 5,000m champion and a national hero in Ethiopia.

As a young athlete Afera had success at shorter distances and represented Ethiopia at the 2010 World Cross Country Championships. She finished a solid 8th in the Under 20 race in Bydgoszcz, Poland helping the Ethiopian team to a silver medal finish behind Kenya.

Two years later she again represented her country at the African Championships over 10,000m. She placed 7th in that meet which was held in Porto Novo, the capital of Benin. Asked why she turned to marathon racing her answer is simple: ““It’s because I have a good endurance and, money-wise, I find it better.”

Although she has not been to Toronto before coach Gemedu Dedefo made the journey a few years ago and will undoubtedly have some excellent insight into how best to race the course. And, travelling with her from Addis will be previously announced Ethiopian stars Derara Hurisa, Adugna Takele, and Yohans Mekasha who will feature strongly in the men’s race while Waganesh Mekasha will battle with Afera for the $20,000 first place prize money.

Once again, the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon promises a memorable contest and the Ethiopian flag will surely be waved in celebration at the finish.

About the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier running event and the grand finale of the Canada Running Series (CRS). Since 2017, the race has served as the Athletics Canada national marathon championship race and has doubled as the Olympic trials. Using innovation and organization as guiding principles, Canada Running Series stages great experiences for runners of all levels, from Canadian Olympians to recreational and charity runners. With a mission of “building community through the sport of running,” CRS is committed to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process.

To learn more about the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, visit TorontoWaterFrontMarathon.com.

10 Things to Know About the 2023 Berlin Marathon

Here’s how you can watch the race, track runners, and register for next year

More than 45,000 runners are expected to participate in the Berlin Marathon on September 24 in Germany’s capital city. It’s the 49th edition of the race and one of the six World Marathon Majors races along with races in Chicago, New York, Boston, London and Tokyo. The weather forecast is calling for cloudy and cool conditions on race morning in Berlin, so fast times are once again expected.

Here’s a rundown of 10 noteworthy elements about this year’s race.

The Berlin Marathon has produced 12 world records—more than any other marathon—since its inception in 1974, including the past eight men’s records since 2003. Kenya legend Eliud Kipchoge lowered the world record for the fastest official marathon ever run (2:01:09) last year in Berlin, and it’s also where he ran the previous world record (2:01:39) in 2018.

Berlin has produced six of the top 10 fastest men’s times in history, including three of the four sub-2:02 efforts (including the 2:01:41 run by Kenenisa Bekele in 2019). It hasn’t been quite as fast for women, however it has been the site of three women’s world records, most recently when Japan’s Naoko Takahashi ran the world’s first sub-2:20 marathon (2:19:46) in 2001. Last year, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa won the women’s race in 2:15:37, which, at the time, was the second-fastest marathon ever run and now ranks fifth.

Berlin is the flattest course of all the World Marathon Majors, with a total elevation gain of 241 feet and loss of 260 feet. (The biggest “hills” come between miles 16 and 20, but they max out at less than 30 feet of gain.) Berlin annually produces some of the fastest pro results in the world, in part because it’s a flat course, but also because the race organization provides pacemakers (auxilliary runners who set an optimal pace but only run about a portion of the course before dropping out) so the opportunity for fast times are assured. (There are no pacemakers at the Chicago, New York City Marathon, and Boston Marathon, so those races play out only by the tactics of the runners in the field.) But the fast elite times, flat course, and typically cool weather conditions have attracted age-group runners targeting new PRs, too.

Running legend Eliud Kipchoge, universally accepted as the G.O.A.T. of marathoning, has won 15 of the 18 marathons he has entered, including the past two Olympics. Berlin is where he’s had most of this success, dating back to his first victory in 2015 and he has since also won there in 2017, 2018, and 2022. Can he add one more victory to his total?

He lowered his own world record to 2:01:09 last year by averaging 14:21.4 per 5K, or 4:37 per mile. However, the 38-year-old Kenyan is coming off an uncharacteristically disappointing race at the 2023 Boston Marathon, where he finished sixth in 2:09:23. Will he approach another world record? “My aim is to always run a good race,” he said recently. “Berlin is like home for me. In view of the Olympic Games next year in Paris, I thought about which race could be the best preparation for the Games for me, and Berlin is the best option.”

Including Kipchoge, the men’s field in Berlin includes 10 runners who have run faster than 2:06 and seven more who have broken 2:07, including last year’s runner-up Mark Korir (2:05:58). Kipchoge should be challenged by fellow Kenyan Amos Kipruto, who owns a 2:03:13 from his runner-up showing at last year’s Tokyo Marathon. The winner of the 2022 London Marathon last fall (2:04:39), Kipruto, 31, placed a distant second in the 2018 Berlin Marathon behind Kipchoge (2:06:23) and owns a bronze medal in the marathon from the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha.

Other top runners in the field include Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor, who ran 2:04:23 to place second at the London Marathon in April, Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese, who was second (2:02:48) in Berlin in 2019 and Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang, 41, a former winner in Berlin, New York, and Tokyo. However, Kipsang, who lowered the world record to 2:03:23 on the Berlin course in 2013, is coming off a four-year ban for missing drug tests in 2018 and 2019.

Last year, Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, a 2016 Olympian in the 800-meter run, entered the race as an untested marathon (with a PR of 2:34:01) and surprised everyone with her 2:15:37 victory in the third-fastest time ever.The 26-year-old is back this year but hasn’t run any races because she’s been sidelined with a few nagging injuries.

Her biggest competitor will likely be Sheila Chepkirui, who holds a personal best of 2:17:29 from last December’s Valencia Marathon. She’s a former African Cross Country Championships winner and was the bronze medalist in the 10,000-meter run at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Other top women runners include Ethiopians Tigist Abayechew (2:18:03), Workenesh Edesa (2:18.51), and Hiwot Gebrekidan (2:19:10).

Scott Fauble, a three-time seventh-place finisher at the Boston Marathon (including this year in 2:09:44), is racing Berlin with the hopes of securing the Olympic-qualifying standard of 2:08:10. The 31-year-old runner from Portland, Oregon, will still need a top-three finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon on February 4 in Orlando, but securing the time will give him a leg up on qualifying for the Paris Olympics next summer.

Also racing in Berlin are 2016 U.S. Olympian Jared Ward (Provo, Utah) and 2020 U.S. Olympian Jake Riley (Boulder, Colorado). Ward, 35, owns a 2:09:25 personal best, but he hasn’t run faster than 2:12 since his sixth-place finish (2:10:45) in the New York City Marathon in 2019. The 34-year-old Riley, who owns a 2:10:02 PR, is coming back after having double Achilles surgery in July 2022 to correct Haglund’s syndrome (the second time in his career), and hopes to run in the 2:12-2:14 range.  Ethiopian-born Teshome Mekonen, who recently received U.S. citizenship, will also be racing in Berlin. The 28-year-old, who lives in New York City, has a 1:00:02 half-marathon personal best and lowered his marathon personal best to 2:11:05 last January in Houston.

Annie Frisbie is the top American runner in the women’s field in Berlin. The 26-year-old from Hopkins, Minnesota, made her marathon debut at the 2021 New York City Marathon with an impressive seventh-place finish (2:26:18). She’s continued to run well since then, placing 20th (2:28:45) in the 2023 Boston Marathon (2:28:45) and most recently finishing fifth (1:07:27) at the U.S. 20K Championships on September 4 in New Haven, Connecticut. Frisbie was a Wisconsin state champion runner in high school and an All-American runner for Iowa State University.

The Berlin Marathon was started in 1974 by Horst Milde, a German baker and running enthusiast. When it began at the height of the Cold War and East Berlin being sealed off by a wall, the marathon was run only in West Berlin. Since 1990, it has started and ended near the Brandenburg Gate, sending runners on a jagged loop through the city—including the neighborhoods of Charlottenburg, Tiergarten, Moabit, Mitte, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Neukölln, Schöneberg, Friedenau, and Zehlendorf. Runners will pass tourist sites like the Reichstag building, the Siegessäule (Victory Column), Berlin Cathedral, and Potsdamer Platz. Live music is played at more than 60 locations along the course, including at all the famous landmarks.

The inaugural Berlin Marathon had 244 finishers; 234 men and 10 women, and was won by Günter Hallas (2:44:53) and Jutta von Haase (3:22:01), respectively. Last year, the race had 34,788 finishers, including 23,280 men (67 percent) and 11,508 women (33 percent). The last German runners to claim victory were Irina Mikitenko (2:19:19) in 2008 and Ingo Sensburg (2:16:48) in 1980. No American man or woman has ever won the Berlin Marathon.

The Berlin Marathon has an inline skating division for 500 participants that begins at 3:30 P.M. after all runners are cleared from the course. The skater course record of 56:46 was set last year by Belgian Bart Swings, and he’s back this year aiming for his ninth victory. In the women’s race, all eyes are on last year’s winner, Marie Dupuy of France, in 1:11:19. All finishers of the inline skating division are eligible to enter the 2024 Berlin Marathon as runners.

The race, which starts at 9:15 A.M. local time (or 3:15 A.M. ET in the U.S.), will be broadcast worldwide by several TV partners, but not in North America. However, several websites offer live streaming so people can watch the Berlin Marathon from anywhere in the world, especially if you’re a VPN subscriber. Watch Athletics will be broadcasting the race online in real time for free, while FloTrack’s livestream requires a subscription ($29.99 for one month) in order to view their livestream. Runners can be tracked via the Berlin Marathon website’s Results page, or via the BMW Berlin Marathon App app available on Apple or Google Play.

Race day begins with the elite handbike division at 8:50 A.M., followed by the wheelchair and handcycle divisions at 8:57 A.M. Runners are sent off in four waves beginning at 9:15 A.M., starting with the men’s and women’s elite waves. The race has a strict time limit of 6 hours, 15 minutes as well as course closure times at the 33K/20.5-mile mark (3:50 P.M.) and 38K/23.6-mile mark (4:35 P.M.). Runners who have not reached those points by those times can continue on the sidewalks alongside the course or get a ride on the course-sweeping bus.

Entry to the 2024 Berlin Marathon, which is slated for September 29, 2024, will be done via a lottery that will open in October. You can enter the lottery as a solo runner or as a team consisting of two or three people. (If the team is drawn, all persons from the team are included.) Lottery dates for 2024 have not yet been announced, but the draw for the 2023 edition took place in December 2022.

If you’re selected, the registration fee will be about $160 euros. You can also secure a guaranteed spot in the race based on previous marathon times. In 2023, female runners up to 44 years old qualified if they ran faster than 3:00; female runners up to 59 years old qualified if they ran under 3:20; and female runners over 60 years qualified if they ran under 4:10. For men, the qualifying times were 2:45 (up to 44 years old), 2:55 (46-59 years old), 3:25 (60 and older.)

If you don’t get in through the lottery, you may still be able to get into the race via a charity bib or through tour operators.

Record-breaking registration numbers reported for 2024 Boston Marathon

The 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America has set a remarkable record as it closed its qualifier registration window on Friday, Sept. 15. An astounding 33,000 applications were received by the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) surpassing the previous record of 30,458 entries in 2019.

The applications for the 2024 Boston Marathon came from runners from 127 different countries and all 50 U.S. states, along with Washington, D.C. Qualifying athletes earned their spots in more than 528 races worldwide, showcasing the event’s international appeal. Impressively, applicants ranged in age from 18 to 82, underlining the race’s inclusivity and ability to inspire athletes of all ages.

Despite the surge in applications, not all qualifiers will secure a spot in the 128th Boston Marathon. The B.A.A. is currently verifying all qualifying times and will notify applicants of their acceptance or non-acceptance within the next three weeks.

To maintain transparency, the organization has not speculated on a “cut-off” time for entry and requests athletes’ understanding and patience during this verification process.

Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the B.A.A. commended the global running community’s passion and commitment to participating in the iconic race. Fleming stated, “Receiving a record number of applications is a testament to the strength of road racing around the world and speaks to runners’ commitment to taking on the challenge of earning a Boston Marathon qualifying time with the goal of reaching the start line in Hopkinton.”

For individuals who do not make the cut or lack a Boston Marathon qualifying time, there’s still an opportunity to participate through the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program. This program includes 160 non-profit and charitable organizations that have begun accepting applicants for the upcoming event.

New prison marathon documentary chronicles San Quentin's 1,000 Mile Club

26.2 To Life, by San Francisco filmmaker Christine Yoo, documents the story of the San Quentin Marathon–a marathon that takes place every November inside the walls of a maximum-security prison, and which, for several men, has represented a path to rehabilitation and a new life. The film opens in U.S. theatres on Sept. 22.The club, which evolved sometime after a small group of volunteer coaches were given permission to start a running club in the prison 16 years ago, is called the 1,000 Mile Club–the idea being that interested inmates could rack up 1,000 miles during their period of incarceration.

The club’s leader is volunteer coach Frank Ruona, a veteran of 78 marathons (including many Boston Marathon finishes) and 38 ultras. Other regular volunteers include Western States Endurance Run board president Diana Fitzpatrick and popular ultrarunner Dylan Bowman.The film documents the 2018 San Quentin Marathon, which involves 105 laps of the prison yard–a combination of gravel, pavement and dirt, with six 90-degree turns in each loop. Twice, that year’s marathon was delayed–once by wildfires in the area, and once by deaths in the prison due to drug overdoses. Sometimes the race itself is interrupted by alarms. When an alarm sounds, everyone in the yard must drop to the ground. The first time an alarm sounds during the 2018 marathon, the men are sitting on the ground for seven minutes.

Then the race resumes.As he does every year, the club’s fastest runner, Markelle Taylor (nicknamed “The Gazelle”), won the race. As it happened, Taylor’s sentence was commuted the same year, and he went on to run the 2019 Boston Marathon as a charity runner, finishing in 3:03–a nearly seven-minute personal best.

San Quentin is a Level 4 maximum security prison, and many of the men depicted in the film are serving life sentences for murder. Each describes what led to their incarceration, but Ruona says he’s not interested in their crimes–he will lend an ear if an inmate wants to talk, but he does not ask what brought them to San Quentin. He is simply there to help–and to be a witness to the transformative power of running to change lives that are sometimes without hope. “I just feel like I am my brother’s keeper,” Ruona says, citing an Old Testament verse about Cain and Abel. “If he needs help, I’m gonna try and help him.”At the time the film was made, another runner, Tommy Wickerd, had been sober and gang-free for 18 years, and had recently completed his high school diploma. He applied for a commutation of his sentence, but never got a response.

His earliest possible release date is in 2053; he will be 86 when he gets out. But he’s philosophical. His wife, Marian, is determinedly loyal, and he has a son with whom he has a strong relationship. “If I keep running, I’ll be all right,” he says.

26.2 To Life opens in theatres in New York City, the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Seattle on Sept. 22, and there will be a 72-hour virtual premiere from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. There are currently no screenings scheduled in Canada, but we’ll provide updates if that changes. For more information, consult the film’s website, here. 

Derara Hurisa is the latest in a long list of Ethiopian greats to commit to the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Derara Hurisa is the latest in a long list of Ethiopian greats to commit to the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon scheduled for October 15th. Once again, the event is a World Athletics Elite Label race.

The 26-year-old has had an extraordinary marathon career to date ever since winning in his debut at the 2020 Mumbai Marathon. There he ran 2:08:09 which remains his personal best despite a few other memorable outings.

Two years ago Hurisa won the Guadalajara Marathon at 1,600m altitude in Mexico eight months after achieving notoriety for all the wrong reasons in Vienna. Hurisa, then still relatively young at 23 years of age, crossed the finish line first at the Vienna Marathon with a time of 2:09:22 three seconds ahead of Kenya’s Leonard Langat. No sooner had Hurisa crossed the finish then officials approached him and within minutes he was disqualified.

World Athletics has instigated strict rules to limit the thickness of racing shoes and it was found that Hurisa had worn a different pair of shoes to those he submitted in the pre-race inspection. They were one centimetre too thick. It is believed this was the first time a marathoner had been disqualified under these rules.

“My preparation for Vienna marathon was very good,” he says looking back on the incident. “I had to switch my shoes because it was my very first time putting on those shoes. It wasn't the shoes I wear when I was in training. So I decided to switch and use them without knowing it was different. The colour was similar.”

Not only did he run himself to exhaustion over the 42.2 kilometres but the €10,000 first place prize money went to Langat and not himself. He admits he was very angry to learn of his mistake.

“I was shocked by that news when (Eritrean runner) Tadesse Abraham told me that I was disqualified,” he remembers, “because it wasn't something I was expecting. Yes, I was angry, definitely.”

As an indication of Hurisa’s potential Langat returned to Vienna a year later and finished second in 2:06:59. The Ethiopian believes he is capable of times quicker than this. Since then he has put the disappointment behind him. Earlier this year he finished 2nd in the Stockholm Marathon which features many of the sites of the Swedish capital but can also be challenging due to its numerous turns and warm June weather. His time there was a modest 2:11:01 on a hot day. Toronto Waterfront Marathon has far less turns and with a course record of 2:05:00 (Philemon Rono of Kenya) is far more inviting. He is optimistic of a great run in Toronto after some good early training sessions.

“It’s going great and yes, I'm pleased with my fitness level more than ever,” he reports. “I have been training for six or seven days in a week. Compared to previous marathon buildups it has been much better.”

Asked to reveal his goal for Toronto he is concise and to the point: “I would like to achieve a victory with a good time.” Hurisa grew up in Ambo in western Ethiopia and was inspired by the exploits of Kenenisa Bekele the three-time Olympic champion and former world 5,000m and 10,000m record holder.

After a good result at a championship cross-country race in Oromia he was recruited by the Bahrain athletics federation while in his teens.

For three years he lived in the oil rich country earning a salary to run. At the 2015 World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China he placed 22nd in the Under-20 race helping Bahrain to a 4th place finish. A year later though he went back to Ethiopia and now travels on an Ethiopian passport.

These days he is focused on the marathon under the watchful eye of coach Gemedu Dedefo and enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

"I like to spend my time with my family - I'm married and I have one boy and one girl - and I like going to church,” he explains. “I do return to my birth village whenever there is holiday.” Conditions are likely to be much cooler in Toronto compared to what he experienced in Mumbai in his victorious debut. Clearly, he will be prepared to run with the leaders. And he is certainly due some good luck.

About the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier running event and the grand finale of the Canada Running Series (CRS). Since 2017, the race has served as the Athletics Canada national marathon championship race and has doubled as the Olympic trials. Using innovation and organization as guiding principles, Canada Running Series stages great experiences for runners of all levels, from Canadian Olympians to recreational and charity runners. With a mission of “building community through the sport of running,” CRS is committed to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process.

To learn more about the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, visit TorontoWaterFrontMarathon.com.

Bill Cooksey, 102-year-old becomes oldest person to finish half-marathon at Great North Run

A 102-year-old veteran of World War II has become the oldest man to complete a half marathon after finishing the Great North Run.

Bill Cooksey, who served in the RAF between 1941 and 1951, covered the 13.1 mile course from Newcastle to South Shields with the aid of walking companion Gavin Iceton in five hours and 41 minutes.

The centenarian had previously completed 10 miles a day for 10 days for his 100th birthday and cycled 1,000 miles for his 101st birthday, and took on the challenge to support the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust.

“I’ve always wanted to do it,” MR Cooksey told ITV ahead of the event. “I’ve been up here 30 years and always walked, and when I heard about the Great North Run I thought ‘I’ll be able to do that surely,’ because there’s the additional impetus of the NHS.

“Actually I don’t think I would have done it if it wasn’t of benefit to the NHS.”

The Great North run was hit by torrential downpours after a week of heat in the United Kingdom.

Some runners were forced to walk home after flash flooding hit roads and the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

Mr Cooksey, though, managed to survive the conditions to complete his challenge and raise more money for the NHS. “I am glad I have done it,” he said to the Daily Mail. “I wish we didn’t have to go through all that rain - but we did it.”

Pat Chambers, charity development manager at the trust, added: “What a hero Bill Cooksey is.

“He continued walking through a thunderstorm to become a record breaker completing it in just over five hours 40 minutes. We are so proud of him.”

Great North Run men's elite runners in full

Elite field of 50 runners includes half-marathon world champion Geoffrey Kamworor, making his Great North Run debut, and 5,000-meter world champ Muktar Edris - who named his son after Sir Mo.

With just days to go before the world-famous Great North Run kicks off from Newcastle, organizers have revealed the full line-up of the elite male athletes from around the world who are set to lead the way.

Among the top runners on September 10 will be Sir Mo Farah taking part in his last-ever competitive event. And it's set to prove an emotional occasion for the four-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time World Champion who has won the Great North Run six times.

Sir Mo, who also will be out supporting young runners at Super Saturday events the day before the half-marathon, will be retiring from professional competition once its complete. He said: "It will definitely be emotional but I’m so happy to have the opportunity to celebrate the end of my professional career on that famous finish line.”

And the event promises to give him a good send-off as he will be in some top company. The line-up for this year's elite men's race now has been revealed and it includes an impressive roster of international athletes.

Among them will be 30-year-old Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor: a three-time World Half Marathon Champion who has won the New York Marathon twice and came second earlier this year at the London Marathon.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to taking on my first Great North Run in Newcastle - I’ve heard many good things about the event. Sir Mo Farah - he has had such an incredible career, it’s exciting to be a part of his last ever race but I’m obviously here to win and add my name to the list of champions.”

Another big challenger is set to be Muktar Edris from Ethiopia - and he is such an admirer of Sir Mo that he even named his son after the Olympian. Edris is a two-time World Champion over 5,000 meters and has a personal best time of 58.40.

He says: “I’ve raced Mo on the track but this is the first time we have met on the roads. I have great respect for him - after we raced in London 2017 World Championships, I named my son after him."

He adds: "I look forward to renewing our friendship and rivalry." Spectators will be able to watch them in action alongside the other elite runners - and the rest of the 60,000 participants - when the 42nd half-marathon gets under way in Newcastle on September 10, following its traditional route to South Shields where it will be all eyes on the finish line 13.1 miles later.

This year's run, which is due to be broadcast live on BBC1 from 10am until 2pm, is expected to raise around £25m pounds for charity.

Great North Run: 102-year-old walker set to be oldest entrant

At 102-years-old, Bill Cooksey hopes to become the oldest person to finish the Great North Run.

The centenarian, who walks about two miles a day to keep fit, will tackle the half marathon route from Newcastle to South Shields on 10 September.

Mr Cooksey, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is raising funds to support his local NHS Trust charity and will be accompanied by two others.

"I hope it will encourage other people to try the same thing," he said.

Due to his age, Mr Cooksey will be accompanied by his friend Gavin Hasting and Sue Jacques, chief executive of County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust.

The RAF veteran set himself a challenge of walking 100 miles (161km) when he turned 100 years old, trekking 10 miles a day for 10 days along the Locomotion Way between Newton Aycliffe and Shildon stations.

Not stopping there, the retired teacher clocked up 1,000 miles (1609km) on his tricycle to celebrate his 101st birthday.

He has been given a special Great North Run 102 number, signed by the half marathon's founder Sir Brendan Foster.

"Very often you get to the the same age and say 'that's it, I'm not supposed to be able to do this' but I just carried on as normal and I shall continue to do so until I am forced to stop," Mr Cooksey told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"I don't think that record will stand for long - there will be people out there who are much fitter than I am, and they will decide, 'well if he can do it, I can do it' - and good luck to them," he added.

Mr Cooksey, who was born in Wales, has enjoyed walking since his retirement in 1980.

He recently walked 12 miles (19km) between Seaton Carew and Hartlepool to test his fitness in terms of being able to do the 13.1 mile (21km) course.

The father-of-three encouraged everybody to walk at least two miles a day and has completed all the long-distance paths in Northern England.

"When I am doing an ordinary walk I don't make any attempt of hurrying, I just saunter along," he said, adding: "You go out to walk for solitude and to think about things."

He said he put his good health down to keeping active, as well as a good diet and lifestyle.

"The only thing I regret is having to give up dancing, I think that's another secret to good health," he added.

National top athletes will also participate in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2023

This year's BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will take place on September 24 - the sports event is one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. SCC EVENTS, the organizer of the event, is expecting more than 45,000 runners from about 150 nations. In addition to the huge field of amateur athletes, the top international as well as national athletes will be competing.

As already announced in the press release sent out by SCC EVENTS on July 13, 2023, the world record holder Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) and the winner of the TCS London Marathon 2022, Amos Kipruto (KEN), will be at the start in the German capital. With Tigst Assefa (ETH) as course record holder and winner of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2022 and Sheila Chepkirui, winner of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2022, the women's field is just as elite.

The German record holder will be competing

From the ranks of the German starters, Amanal Petros should be the first to be mentioned. The winner of this year's Hannover Marathon holds the German records for both the marathon and half-marathon distances. The MARATHON TEAM BERLIN runner is certainly hoping to achieve a German best time at his race on September 24. At the 2022 European Athletics Championships, Petros won the silver medal in the marathon team classification.

Top German men in Berlin

Amanal Petros stood beside teammates Simon Boch, Konstantin Wedel as well as Hendrik Pfeiffer on the podium in the aforementioned European Championship silver-medal team. All four will be competing at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Simon Boch (LG Telis Finanz Regensburg) was German runner-up in the half marathon in the spring and secured the German team title for his team with this performance. Hendrik Pfeiffer, who competes for TK Hannover, won the Hannover Marathon last year. And just like his competition, the 30-year-old is hoping to use the race in Berlin to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris.

European marathon champions at the start

The German women's marathon team was even more successful than the men at the 2022 European Athletics Championships. With the line-up of Miriam Dattke, Domenika Mayer (both LG Telis Finanz Regensburg), Deborah and Rabea Schöneborn (both MARATHON TEAM BERLIN) and Kristina Hendel (LG Braunschweig), they won the gold medal. The mentioned European champions will run at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. For the women, too, the race in Berlin is considered to be an important milestone to make it to the 2024 Olympic Games.

Partnerships with great added value

For the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2023, SCC EVENTS announced NORQAIN as its new timing partner. NORQAIN is familiar as a high-quality, family-owned watch manufacturer. The company is based in Nidau, the heart of the Swiss chronograph industry. Christian Jost, Managing Director of SCC EVENTS, is delighted about the commitment of the traditional Swiss watch manufacturer: "Reliability is one of our core values in the mission statement of SCC EVENTS. With NORQAIN, the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON gains a partner whose recipe for success is based on reliability and quality. This partnership has a great added value for us as organiser and for all the participants, who always expect a spirit of innovation and a reliably high standard from the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON."

"As a brand deeply rooted in the world of adventure and exploration, we are thrilled to embark on this multi-year partnership with the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON", said Ben Küffer, Founder & CEO of NORQAIN. "We are honoured to be the Official Timekeeper of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, an iconic event that embodies the values of perseverance, determination, and the pursuit of excellence, which are at the core of NORQAIN's DNA.”

The cashless online payment system PayPal has also been one of the partners of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON for some time. "Anyone competing at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is expecting a high-quality sports experience. A fast, simple and secure payment system makes it easier for runners be able to focus on the essential aspects of the event," says Christian Jost.

"We are very happy about the renewed cooperation with SCC EVENTS. Whether at registration, beverage stands or after the race: For easy and convenient payments during the event, runners can pay with the PayPal app using a QR code Athletes can leave cash or cards at home," explains Jörg Kablitz, Managing Director of PayPal Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Options to secure race entries possibilities and media accreditation

Although registration to participate in the race entry lottery for the 49th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is now closed, there are still opportunities to secure a race entry for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2023: through our charity partners and our official travel agents. Registration is still open for inline skaters. To apply for accreditation for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2023, you must send a request via the press portal on our website, which is now possible.

Registration for 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America Begins September 11

With nearly one month to go until registration opens for the 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, the Boston Athletic Association reminds athletes of what to expect during registration week, September 11-15. The 128th Boston Marathon will feature a field size of 30,000 athletes and will mark the first Boston Marathon with Bank of America as presenting partner.

REGISTRATION TIMETABLE

Qualifier registration will open on Monday, September 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET and will close on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The B.A.A. will use the same registration process for qualified runners as it used for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 races, allowing any athlete who has achieved a currently valid Boston Marathon qualifying time to submit a registration application during Registration Week, September 11–15.

Registration will be held within the B.A.A.’s online platform Athletes' Village. Registration is not on a first-come, first-served basis – all applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 15 and treated in the same manor regardless of when they are submitted during the application period.

PRE-VERIFY YOUR QUALIFYING TIME

To enhance the Boston Marathon registration experience, the B.A.A. is offering a special pre-verification period for 128th Boston Marathon qualifying times. Athletes who plan to register for the 128th Boston Marathon between September 11-15 may take part in this pre-verification, helping to expedite their registration application in September.  

Please note that verifying a qualifying time during the pre-verification period does not enter you in the Boston Marathon. Rather, it simply allows us to confirm and verify one’s qualifying time early so that when applying between September 11-15, the athlete’s qualifying information is already in our system.  

Pre-verification submission is open within Athletes’ Village through August 23.  Additional information is available here.

QUALIFYING WINDOW & STANDARDS

The 2024 Boston Marathon qualifying window began on September 1, 2022, and will close at 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 15, 2023. If space is still available after the conclusion of Registration Week, registration will re-open on Monday, September 17.

Qualifying standards for the 128th Boston Marathon can be found here. Achieving a Boston Marathon qualifying standard does not guarantee acceptance into the event. Those who are fastest among the pool of applicants in their age and gender group will be accepted.

ENTRY FEE

The entry fee for accepted qualifiers will be $230 USD for United States residents and $235 USD for international residents. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase registration insurance at the point of registration. Entry fees will only be processed once an athlete is accepted into the Boston Marathon.

129TH BOSTON MARATHON

The qualifying window for the 129th Boston Marathon, scheduled to take place on April 21, 2025, will begin on September 1, 2023. Registration details for that race will be announced following the 2024 Boston Marathon.

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.) 

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. Starting in 2024, the Boston Marathon’s presenting partner will be Bank of America. The 128th Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 15, 2024. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

British man runs 200 marathons in 200 days with his dogs

A 40-year-old British man and his two dogs have hit a marathon milestone, completing their 200th 42.2-km run in 200 days. Aaron Robinson of London, along with his border collies—one-year-old Inca and two-year-old River—hit their 200th consecutive day of running the marathon distance on Thursday.

The streak has already more than doubled the men’s official world record for the most consecutive days running the marathon distance—82, set by India’s Devdutt Sharma in January. But Robinson told BBC News he doesn’t plan to stop as long as his dogs remain eager to go on their extended mornining walks, which Robinson says typically last five hours. “I just want to run and push myself and do as many as we can,” he said. If the dogs want to run in the morning, then we’ll run.”

Robinson said he has stayed injury free so far during the streak, and that he’s consistently resisted the temptation to sleep in—he and the dogs get up at 3 a.m. to fit in the run before Robinson goes to work—but that he came very close to giving up on Day 171. “I did five miles and I thought, ‘I’ve had enough of this, I can’t do this any more,'” he told BBC News, adding that he then stopped and posted on Strava that his record attempt was over. “Then my dogs had a very stern word with me—words I couldn’t possibly repeat … and said, ‘Get back out there and finish this.’ So that’s what we did and now we’re still going. So it’s thanks to my dogs that we’re still doing this.”

Border collies are known to be exceptional runners that can easily outpace their owners. The number of kilometres a dog can run can vary depending on the dog’s breed, health, attention span and training.

Earlier in his streak, Robinson told the Daily Mail that he faced a lot of heat online for putting this mileage on his dogs, but he defended himself: “Since border collies are working dogs, if they weren’t pets they would be used to working on a farm all day, so they’re very used to running and working hard, and actually the cruel thing is just to keep them inside,” said Robinson. “They love it.”

Robinson is using the streak to raise funds for the charity he works for, Hope for Justice, which fights against modern-day slavery and human trafficking

TOP Marathons Sponsored by Casinos

The running industry is booming and it's not just because of the health benefits. It also has a lot to do with how much fun it is to sign up for a marathon and get geared up for the big day.

The excitement and energy of an event like this, combined with the thrill of crossing that finish line, are enough to put anyone in a good mood—even if they're exhausted from all that training! But there's another reason why marathons have become so popular: casino sponsorships!

Benefits and Significance of Marathon Sponsorships for Casinos

Marathons are a great way for casinos to connect with the running community. While running is often seen as an individual sport, marathons can bring together thousands of people from all walks of life and make them feel like part of something bigger than themselves.

Casinos can also use marathons as an opportunity to build their brand awareness by sponsoring races or offering discounts on race registration fees for casino members. They don’t just rely on no deposit casino bonuses and other promotions as a marketing strategy. Sure, one of the top deals they can make are no deposit bonuses with Gamblizard's no deposit offers being a perfect example. Casinos who sponsor races often do so because they want their name associated with healthy lifestyles (since many people run as a form of exercise) but also because it gives them access to new customers who may be interested in visiting the casino after seeing how much they care about helping others achieve their goals through such programs.

Advantages of Casino Sponsorships in Marathons

Casinos can use marathons to promote their brand, promote a healthy lifestyle and connect with communities. Casinos are popular destinations for runners and other athletes looking for great gaming experience and low wagering bonuses. They often have race sponsorships in place to help them gain exposure among this demographic and attract more players, just like they do with low wagering casino bonuses at sites where gamblers don’t need to deposit much. But casino sponsorship goes beyond simply advertising on running gear or at the finish line. 

A casino's involvement in a marathon or triathlon can go much deeper than just slapping its logo on some promotional materials and handing out free drinks at the finish line. Gambling brands may take part in planning events that support athletes' training, offer prizes for winners and host post-race parties where competitors gather after completing their race together as one big group.

Building Brand Visibility and Reputation

Casinos are building a reputation for sponsoring marathons. They're also building a reputation for being good corporate citizens, good neighbors and good employers.

The casino industry has had its share of negative press over the years. Casinos were originally seen as dens of iniquity where people went to gamble away their money and possibly engage in illegal activity. However, today's casinos have taken steps to improve their public image by sponsoring charitable events like marathons or races.

The casino industry is also seen as a good employer. In many states, casinos are required to provide jobs for people who live in economically depressed areas where unemployment rates are high. The casinos provide employment opportunities both on-site and off-site, and many of these jobs require little or no experience.

Casinos are also seen as good neighbors. They often donate money to local charities and sponsor community events.

Connecting With Communities and Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle

Casinos can make a real difference in their communities by sponsoring a marathon. They can be a part of the community and help to promote healthy living, which is something that is important for everyone.

Casinos want people to come out and have fun with them, but they also want people to feel good about themselves when they leave the casino. This means encouraging them to get out there and exercise (or join a marathon) or eat healthier food options at their restaurants or cafes.

TCS New York City Marathon

The TCS New York City Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world. It's also one of the oldest races in North America, having been run every year since 1970 (except 2012 and 2020 due to justified reasons). The 2019 edition featured 53,627 finishers and 98,247 applicants for entry into this international sporting event--making it the world's largest marathon by both measures. In addition to being a major athletic competition, it has also become an important cultural celebration that highlights New York City's diversity while also raising money for charity organizations such as Team For Kids Foundation and Autism Speaks!

The course starts at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island before crossing over into Brooklyn via Verrazano-Narrows Bridge before going through Queens and then Manhattan before finishing up near Tavern of the Green with tens of thousands cheering them on their way! The marathon has many sponsors, and occasionally it is sponsored by a local casino. Moreover, they have ESPN as one of the official sponsors, who may not be a casino, but they do offer Fantasy Football Sweepstakes. 

Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

The Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world, attracting thousands of runners from around the globe each year. The 13th edition of the half marathon attracted more than 27,000 participants in February 2023.

Even if the races started in 1967, the annual marathon event takes place in February every year since 1993, except when it was cancelled because of the 2020 Coronavirus outbreak.

The Strip at Resorts World Las Vegas sponsored the Rock ‘n' Roll Running Series Las Vegas expo took, with an attendance exceeding 50k people over three days!  Resorts World Las Vegas, the expo's presenting sponsor, organized the three-day Health & Fitness Expo on the Strip. A Health & Fitness Expo kicked off race weekend, where runners had a chance to pick up their bibs, explore interactive exhibits, shop for event merchandise, and enjoy non-stop music and live entertainment. With its opening on June 24, 2021, Resorts World Las Vegas is the Strip's newest property in over a decade. Moreover, one of the marathon editions also had MGM Resort was also one of the sponsors, and they are listed on the official marathon website.

Niagara Falls International Marathon

Niagara Falls International Marathon is one of the most popular Canadian marathons. The fun fact about it is that it starts in one country(Buffalo, NY) and ends in another (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada). The marathon was established as part of the casino's grand opening celebration and has been held every year since then. 

The events include 5k races and 10k races as well as half marathons and full marathons. It is one of the largest and most popular marathons in Canada, with over 6,000 runners participating each year since 1974. From 1998 until 2008 when it was known as the Casino Niagara International Marathon, they had a sponsorship with Casino Niagara (as their title sponsor).

Impact of Marathon Sponsorships on the Running Industry

Marathons are an excellent way for casinos to increase their brand awareness, as well as help promote a healthy lifestyle in their community. By sponsoring these events, casinos can make running more accessible to more people. This is good news for everyone--casinos get to see their name on the race bibs and banners, while runners get some extra motivation from knowing they're part of something bigger than themselves.

Influence of Casino Sponsorships on the Running Community

The influence of casino sponsorships on the running community can be seen in many ways. Casinos can help by offering financial support for races that would otherwise not be possible, as well as providing enhanced race experiences and promoting healthy lifestyles. These benefits are important because they provide runners with an avenue for their passion and allow them to enjoy their hobby even more. They also build brand visibility, reputation and loyalty for casinos who choose to invest in these types of projects.

Financial Support and Enhanced Race Experiences

Casinos can provide financial support to races. This can come in the form of direct sponsorship or through event partnerships that include promotional opportunities. Casinos are also able to enhance the race experience for runners and spectators alike by providing amenities such as:

Criticisms and Considerations 

The idea of a casino sponsorship is not always seen as a positive thing. Some people believe that casinos are not healthy places to be, and running marathons may seem like an activity that should be promoted by health-conscious organizations. However, there are many reasons why this sponsorship works well for both parties involved:

Conclusion

Casino sponsorships are a great way for casinos to reach new customers and increase their brand visibility. Casinos can leverage their sponsorship to promote a healthy lifestyle, connect with communities, or simply promote their company's name.

Casinos have found that sponsoring marathons is an effective method of gaining exposure in local communities where there may not be many other businesses competing for attention.

Teen Runner Gives Over 600 Pairs of Shoes to Elementary School Kids

He organized a 5K run to raise money, and partnered with a nonprofit to outfit them with new kicks

Last year, a high school sophomore in Atlanta spent his daily commute home from school brainstorming ideas for his Eagle Scout project. An avid cross country and track runner whose 4x400-meter relay team won at Nike Indoor Nationals this winter, Collin Maher knew he wanted to give back to his community with a running-related project.

Everyday, he drove past an elementary school attended primarily by economically disadvantaged students. What if he combined his passions to help those kids?

Maher came up with a two-part plan. He organized a 5K race to raise money to give new shoes to every student at Lake Forest Elementary School. He secured permits, requested road closures, and registered the race so it would be USATF-certified and an official qualifier for Atlanta’s premier annual running event, the Peachtree Road Race. He even managed to get a sponsor for the 5K, which he called the Cocoa Classic.

Maher’s event raised $18,000, and he partnered with the nonprofit Shoes That Fit to outfit all 629 students at the elementary school with new shoes. On the charity’s website, the Boy Scout said, “The families there, their priority is not buying new shoes, it’s making sure they have food on the table. I drive by that school every day. And I know a new pair of shoes can boost your confidence. A bad pair of shoes can hurt your feet.” 

Teachers sized their students, and last week, Maher arrived on the school’s campus with hundreds of shoe boxes in tow. A Fox 5 reporter wrote that some children yelled, “I love you, Collin,” as they opened their boxes.

“They’re overwhelmed with emotion, I am too just to see this,” said Principal Laryn Nelson, “I’ve never experienced this in my career, and I’ve been doing this 30 years.”

Handcuffed couple lock in world record at Calgary Marathon

A Calgary couple toasted 20 years of marriage with a new world record Sunday after running the Servus Calgary Marathon handcuffed to one another. Megan and Rich MacDonald completed the 42.2-km distance in 3:18:28, setting the record for the fastest marathon run by a male-female duo tethered at the wrist.

The MacDonalds shaved 25 minutes off the previous record set at the 2019 London Marathon. In addition to hitting their target time, the couple also surpassed their fundraising target of $8,000 for MitoCanada, a charity that helps support and protect Canadians living with mitochondrial disease. The couple began training for their world-record attempt in February.

Sunday’s event wasn’t the first time the MacDonalds locked in a world record at the Calgary Marathon. In 2017, Megan was part of the 10-member Team MitoCanada who set the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run by a female team linked together (3:27:58). That same year, Rich was part of the 112-person team who set the record for the most people to finish a marathon linked together.

Sunday’s event wasn’t just a marathon to remember for the MacDonalds, but for a race day that continues to build its post-pandemic momentum, said John Bird, interim executive director with Run Calgary. “Today’s race went so well, and we were delighted to welcome more than 9,200 people to the finish line,” said Bird. “We had our highest attendance since the pandemic, raised more than $475,000 for charity, and brought together the running community in a great celebration of health and wellness. I’d like to thank the 1,100 plus volunteers who gave their time to help others achieve their goals today.”

The men’s marathon was won by Lance Risseeuw in 2:36:04, and the women’s event by Maria Zambrano, in 2:48:02. Both winners are from Calgary.

In addition to the marathon, which drew close to 1,200 participants, the race day included 50-km, half-marathon, 10-km, and 5-km events, as well as a 1.2-km “kids marathon.”

In total, 93 charities benefited from donations collected through this year’s marathon, with $475,000 being collected as part of the Servus Charity Challenge. The event has raised $9.7 million for charities over the last 12 years.

127th Boston Marathon Raised $40.2 Million For Non-Profit Organizations

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that $40.2 million was raised for more than 200 non-profit organizations through this year’s 127th Boston Marathon, held on Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 17.

The fundraising total marks the highest amount raised surrounding a single Boston Marathon, breaking the previous mark of $38.7 million set in 2019. Combined, the B.A.A. Official Charity Program and John Hancock Non-Profit Program have raised $500.2 million since the charity program’s inception at the 1989 Boston Marathon.

“Philanthropic and fundraising efforts surrounding this year’s Boston Marathon hit record highs in 2023, a testament to the hard work and dedication of all participants running for greater causes,” said Nicole Juri, B.A.A. Director of Development. “More than 200 charities and non-profit organizations will benefit thanks to the efforts of our fundraising participants.”

The $40.2 million raised this year includes donations raised through the B.A.A.’s Official Charity Program, the John Hancock Non-Profit Program, and from other qualified and invitational runners. 2,537 participants ran as fundraising athletes at the 127th Boston Marathon. Further details can be found on the Boston Marathon’s fundraising page through GivenGain.

“We are proud to cap our 38-year principal sponsorship by setting a new fundraising milestone this year,” said Tom Crohan, VP & Counsel, Global Head of Community Investment at John Hancock and Manulife. “Thank you to every runner, volunteer, donor, and non-profit partner who contributed to these record-setting results. It’s an honor to have helped build a legacy of impact, and we are proud of our collective efforts to help make lives better for those served by our community partners.”

Leading up to Boston Marathon race day, the B.A.A. and John Hancock hosted a variety of fundraising giving initiatives to support athletes running for causes, including Boston Marathon Giving Day on March 15. Through Boston Marathon Giving Day, $1,041,766 in donations was raised over a 24-hour period.

The B.A.A. has annually provided non-profits associated with the B.A.A. Official Charity Program and John Hancock Non-Profit Program with invitational entries into the Boston Marathon. Each non-profit organization directly manages its own application process, athlete selection, and fundraising minimums, deadlines, and requirements.

The B.A.A. will notify non-profit organizations who have been selected to participate in the 128th Boston Marathon as part of the B.A.A. Official Charity Program this Summer. More information can be found on the B.A.A. Official Charity Program.

The next B.A.A. event is the B.A.A. 10K presented by Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Sunday, June 25. Registration is currently open.  

Boston Marathon icon Rick Hoyt dies at 61

On Monday, the Hoyt Family announced the death of Boston Marathon icon Rick Hoyt at age 61. Hoyt was a longtime staple of the Boston Marathon, who was pushed to the Boston Marathon finish line in his wheelchair by his father, Dick, for 32 years between 1980 and 2014.

“It is with profound sadness that the Hoyt Family announces the passing of our beloved brother and uncle, Rick, this morning. Rick was 61 years old. Rick passed away due to complications with his respiratory system,” the family said in a statement. “As so many knew, Rick along with our father, Dick, were icons in the road race and triathlon worlds for over 40 years and inspired millions of people with disabilities to believe in themselves, set goals and accomplish extraordinary things.”

Hoyt had cerebral palsy, which left him a quadriplegic. In 1977, he told his father, Dick, that he wanted to take part in a charity run for a lacrosse player who was paralyzed in an accident. Dick pushed his son for the race, and after, he told his father, “When I’m running, I don’t feel handicapped.”

The duo’s participation in marathons, triathlons, and endurance events showcased that physical disabilities should never limit one’s aspirations. Hoyt’s presence on the Boston Marathon course symbolized courage and the belief that anything is possible.

Dick died in March 2021 at age 80. The same year his son retired from marathons.

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) released a statement in memory of Hoyt: 

Rick Hoyt will always be remembered as a Boston Marathon icon and for personifying the “Yes You Can” mentality that defined Team Hoyt. We are fortunate to have been able to call Rick a friend, mentor, pioneer, and Boston Marathon finisher. His legacy will live on through the Rick & Dick Hoyt Award, which is presented each April around the Boston Marathon to someone who exhibits the spirit of Team Hoyt through advocacy and inclusion. 

Our thoughts go out to the Hoyt family, Rick’s many friends, and all who were touched by his positivity.

The B.A.A. has continued to honour Hoyt’s legacy at the Boston Marathon, establishing the Rick & Dick Hoyt Award in 2021. The award annually recognizes individuals who promote inclusivity and advocate for others in the community.

Are You Ready To Run A Half Marathon?

So, one minute you've just taken up running and the next, you find yourself entering a half marathon! Whether it's for charity or simply a personal goal, a half marathon is on the bucket list of many runners.

One of the biggest mistakes that many people make when they step up to the half is that they fail to respect the distance and as a result, don't prepare properly. Of course we'd all like more time to train and to get fitter before any race and you certainly don't have to reach the training volume of an elite athlete. However, if you do want a positive experience, you will need to ensure that you've done your groundwork. So, how do you know if you're ready to run 13.1 miles (21.1km)?

You can run for 90 minutes or more without stopping

You probably don't need reminding that 13.1 miles (21.1 km) is a very long way! The volume of your training will of course be dictated by your experience and your aspirations. You don't necessarily have to have covered the half marathon distance beforehand in training but you're more likely to feel more physically and mentally comfortable if you're able to run for a substantial amount of time continuously.

If there is one type of training session that you're going to do when training for a half marathon make it a weekly long run.

If there is one type of training session that you're going to do when training for a half marathon make it a weekly long run. The long run should be the bedrock of any distance runner’s training programme and is definitely bread and butter for half marathoners. Running long causes a number of physiological adaptations to your aerobic metabolism, including improving your body's ability to store glycogen (carbohydrate) and to burn fat for fuel.

If you're new to running then it's best to start with blocks of running, interspersed with blocks of walking. As the weeks go by you should aim to gradually increase the length of the running segments and reduce the length of the walking segments, with the aim of being able to build up to completing a continuous run. Once you can run for 90 minutes continuously you should be half marathon ready.

You've trained consistently

You don't have to rack up the miles of an elite runner or subject yourself to a brutal training regime before entering your first half marathon, but it's certainly a good idea to have some consistent training under your belt. The amount of preparation you'll need obviously depends on your fitness levels, your goals and your running history.

If you're new to running, you'll generally need at least 16 weeks of training, ideally 2-3 times a week, before hitting your first half.

However, if you're new to running, you'll generally need at least 16 weeks of training, ideally 2-3 times a week, before hitting your first half. It's important to remember that your training doesn't have to be record-breaking it just has to be consistent with no lengthy breaks due to illness or injury. If you can achieve that, it will stand you in good stead, leaving you physically and psychologically ready to tackle a half marathon.

You've done some training on the roads

In order to condition your legs to the impact of the road, it's a good idea to hit the roads for some of your training so that you don't experience any unnecessary muscle cramping during the later stages of the race. However too much road running too soon can pose an additional injury risk so be sure to build this into your training gradually and ensure that your shoes have the appropriate level of cushioning.

You have some race experience

A half marathon is kind of a big deal so it's a good idea to try and gain some race experience over a shorter distance, such as a 5k or a 10k beforehand. Not only will this give you an indication of your current fitness levels and your potential over the half marathon distance, thus providing guidance when deciding upon a time goal, but it will also allow you to practice key aspects of your pre-race routine. Good luck and happy half marathoning!

This Ultrarunner Is Living in a Glass Box for 15 Days

During the experiment, Krasse Gueorguiev will have only a bed and a treadmill

Krasse Gueorguiev, a Bulgarian ultramarathon runner, will spend 15 days in a glass box in a park in Sofia, Bulgaria, to raise money to help young people battling addiction.

Gueorguiev, a motivational speaker and charity ambassador, has run nearly 30 ultramarathons worldwide, from the Arctic to Cambodia, including the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, California.

"I want to challenge myself," Gueorguiev told Reuters. "I want to show when you put someone in the box how psychologically they change."

Proceeds from the stunt will be used for several projects aimed at preventing addiction for children under 18, not just for drugs and alcohol—the runner also hopes to help teens avoid addiction to things like social media and energy drinks.

On Sunday, the runner was placed in a box with three glass walls on a pedestal in front of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia (Bulgaria's capital). During the experiment, Gueorguiev will have only a bed and a treadmill, with no access to books, a computer, or a phone. He will only be allowed to speak to members of the public for 30 minutes each day.

"This is not a physical experiment; it is a psychological experiment," he said.

If the stunt sounds familiar, you may remember magician David Blaine undertaking a similar experiment in 2003. The illusionist spent 44 days in a glass box suspended over the River Thames in London. 

The stunt was met with much public outcry, though, unlike Gueorguiev, Blaine's time in the box was for entertainment purposes only. He endured drumming from the crowd in the evening hours and having eggs and other items hurled at his temporary home. The magician seemingly took it all in stride. "I have learned more in that box than I have learned in years. I have learned how strong we are as human beings," Blaine told reporters after emerging from the box. Upon completing the 44 days, Blaine was noticeably thinner, with depleted muscle mass and a thick beard. 

Only time will tell if a similar fate inside the box will befall Gueorguiev.

This is also not the ultrarunner’s first attempt at performing a stunt in the name of goodwill. In 2019, Gueorguiev ran about 750 miles through Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Albania to urge the governments to build better infrastructure, and in January of 2018, Krasse ran for 36 hours straight on a treadmill at a Sofia shopping mall.

Royal Victoria Marathon adds a 5K for 2023

This year’s Royal Victoria Marathon is set to take place on the weekend of Oct. 7-8, and in addition to the marathon, half-marathon, 8K and kids’ run, the race will be adding a 5K for the first time. Also, events will be staggered across two days, with the Oak Bay 5K and Thrifty Kids Run taking moving to the city’s Oak Bay neighbourhood on Saturday, Oct. 7. The marathon, half-marathon and 8K will take place, as usual, on Sunday, Oct. 8, starting and finishing in downtown Victoria.

The Oak Bay 5K will follow an out-and-back course along the Esplanade, Estevan and Beach Drive, starting and finishing at Willows Park. Registration is $30; the race is chip-timed, and registrants will receive a finisher’s medal and toque.

The RVM is celebrating the arrival of the 5K and helping participants prepare for the race by partnering with thetrackclub.ca to offer a one-month training program for the 5K, including four in-person sessions at the Pacific Institute for Sport Education (PISE).

The Thrifty Foods Kids Run will also start and finish at Willows Park. Registration is $25, with proceeds to KidSport Greater Victoria. Registrants may choose between a souvenir toque and reflective light, race bag and race number.

“We are excited to be adding a new distance to our lineup this year and hosting both the 5K and the Thrifty Foods Kids Run in Oak Bay,” RVM race director and general manager Cathy Noel said in a press release. “Moving the events to Oak Bay allows us to show off this wonderful community as well as provide an opportunity for participants to take part in a shorter event on the Saturday, and if feeling up for the challenge, take on one of our other distances on the Sunday!”

KidSport Greater Victoria executive director Jill Shaw added that the move to Willows Park on Saturday would “provide a safe and exciting space for our youngest participants. For those past Kids Run participants who are now ready for the challenge of a little more distance than the Kids Run route offers, the 5K is a fantastic stepping stone.” 

The race’s Community Challenge charity program, which will return for its 19th year this year, has raised over $2.5 million for partner charities.  

2024 TCS London Marathon receives more than half a million applicants

The 2024 TCS London Marathon has set a world record by receiving the most applications ever to be submitted to a marathon.

Marathon organizers say 578,374 hopefuls from the United Kingdom and across the globe entered the ballot for the 2024 TCS London Marathon, marking the first time the number of applications to a marathon has topped half a million. The previous world record total of 457,861 applications was set pre-pandemic in 2019 for the 2020 London Marathon.

Almost 53 per cent of the 457,105 applications from U.K. residents for 2024 were from men and 46.4 per cent were from women; the non-binary category received 0.6 per cent of total U.K. applications. A further 121,269 non-U.K. residents applied on the international ballot.

“This incredible new world record reflects the extraordinary inspirational effect of the TCS London Marathon on April 23,” says Hugh Brasher, event director for the TCS London Marathon. “We saw a record number of more than 48,600 finishers on marathon day and more than 8,200 children took part in the mass TCS Mini London Marathon the day before.”

Brasher said marathon organizers work “to inspire activity in people of all ages and abilities and these record-breaking numbers show how the TCS London Marathon weekend does that. The unique camaraderie and togetherness that participants feel when they take part in the London Marathon continues to have an extraordinary impact on the desire for people to take part. It is an event that inspires people to take up running and to raise millions for charity.”

The ballot for the 2024 TCS London Marathon was operated for the first time by Let’s Do This as part of a new five-year partnership. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in London, LDT is the registration partner to many of the leading running events around the world.

The TCS London Marathon always attracts a strong contingent of Canadian runners, however, there were no Canadians in the elite field in the 2023 event. Sam Hunt was the first Canadian to cross the finish line this year with a time of 2:37:38. Meaghan Strum was the fastest Canadian woman, in 2:52:06. The only Canadian runner in the non-binary category was Christy Dadswell, who finished in 3:46:38.

Purity Komen upsets Ruth Chepngetich and Daniel Ebenyo wins in Istanbul

Purity Komen was the surprise winner of the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon. Overtaking fellow-Kenyan and race favourite Ruth Chepngetich the 24 year-old stormed to her biggest career win with a personal best of 66:30. Course record holder Chepngetich followed in second with 67:18 while Evaline Chirchir made it an all-Kenyan podium with 67:31. Stella Rutto of Romania was the fastest European, finishing 10th with 70:05.

In partly windy conditions hopes for a course record faded in the men’s race as well after a fast first section. 27 year-old Daniel Ebenyo of Kenya was the winner of Turkey’s best quality road race with 59:52. Marokko’s Hicham Amghar took second place in 59:58 and Haftu Teklu clocked 60:03 for third. Britain’s Marc Scott was the best European runner in 63:17 for 12th place.

A record number of 12,300 runners competed in the 18th edition of the half marathon and the 10k race staged parallel. Many athletes ran for charity, collecting money for the victims of the devastating earthquake that shook southern Turkey earlier this year. The N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon is a Gold Label Road Race of World Athletics. 

"It was a nice race and especially the men’s elite was very competitive. We are happy that we continue to register record fields. It is always exciting to experience the historic atmosphere here in Istanbul and we are now inviting everyone to be back for our marathon on 5th November,“ said Race Director Reynar Onur.

The women’s race began as expected. Ruth Chepngetich sped away from the field right after the start and was so quick that even the TV cameras missed her on a few occasions early on. Passing the 5k mark in 15:16 the Kenyan was almost on course for breaking her Kenyan record and her Istanbul course record of 64:02, which in 2021 was a world record as well.

However once the 2019 Marathon World Champion came off Galata Bridge and had to run against the wind for almost four kilometers she slowed considerably. At the 10k point her 31:09 split time then indicated a 65:45 finish and her lead had shrunk to only four seconds. Purity Komen, Evaline Chirchir and Ethiopia’s Bosena Mulatie caught her a few minutes later. Then it was  Komen, who had only been number nine with a PB of 67:08 on the final start list, who moved ahead before the 15k mark. Chepngetich tried to follow her in a bid to make it six wins from six races in Istanbul, but today she was unable to do so. Purity Komen won the race with 66:30 and became the first woman to beat Ruth Chepngetich on the historic roads of Istanbul. 

“My body did not respond after the early part of the race. I don’t know why, but I assume that may be the race came a bit too soon after the Nagoya Marathon in March,“ said Ruth Chepngetich. “I have not yet decided if I will run the World Championships’ marathon or an autumn race. The big goal is the Olympic Games next year and I hope to be selected for the team.“

While Ruth Chepngetich is an experienced marathoner the victory in Istanbul may well have brought Purity Komen closer to her debut at the classic distance. “This victory was unexpected. I was surprised when I suddenly saw Ruth in front of me and was then able to pass her,“ said Purity Komen. “I had hoped to achieve a 65 minutes’ time, but it was too windy today. I now plan to run my marathon debut next year.“

The men’s race began very fast as well with the first couple of split times indicating a finishing time of around 58:00. But as in the women’s competition the pace then dropped considerable once the leading group hit the wind. A group of around ten athletes passed the 10k mark in 28:22, which is sub 60 minutes’ pace.

Two athletes were pushing the pace at the front: Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo and Hicham Amghar of Morocco, who have PBs of 59:04 and 59:53 respectively. Soon after the 15k point (42:33) Ebenyo took the lead, covering the 16th kilometre in 2:46. Only Amghar was able to follow him, but when Ebenyo indicated to him to help pushing the pace the Moroccan stayed right behind him. Ebenyo then kept pressing ahead and opened up a decisive gap with around 4k to go. 

“I hoped to catch Daniel but I am happy with my result. I was going for a PB, but it was not possible in the wind,“ said Hicham Amghar, while Daniel Ebenyo was happy about his first major half marathon victory. “I am excited to have won this race. My aim was to run 59:00 minutes but it was too windy for that,“ said the Kenyan. “I will probably run my marathon debut next year. May be I come back to Istanbul for that.“

Results, Men:

1. Daniel Ebenyo KEN 59:52

2. Hicham Amghar MOR 59:58

3. Haftu Teklu ETH 60:03

4. Charles Langat KEN 60:07

5. Vincent Kipkemoi KEN 60:09

6. Boniface Kibiwott KEN 60:23

7. Benard Biwott KEN 60:47

8. Ashenafi Kiros ETH 61:21

9. Alfred Ngeno KEN 62:24

10. Alene Mekonen ETH 62:32

Women:

1. Purity Komen KEN 66:30

2. Ruth Chepngetich KEN 67:18

3. Evaline Chirchir KEN 67:31

4. Bosena Mulatie ETH 67:43

5. Tigist Gezahagn ETH 68:49

6. Betelihem Afenigus ETH 69:04

7. Beatrice Cheserek KEN 69:14

8. Bekelech Gudeta ETH 69:35

9. Shamilah Kipsiror KEN 69:38

10. Stella Rutto ROM 70:05

Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich wants to make it six out of six in Istanbul

Ruth Chepngetich, one of the world’s leading long distance runners, will be the star attraction of the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon on Sunday. The Kenyan, who broke the world record on this course with 64:02 two years ago, has a unique win streak in Istanbul.

The 28 year-old competed five times in Turkey’s two major international road races, the half marathon and the marathon. She always won and broke the course record on each occasion. There is no other city in the world where Ruth Chepngetich participated more often in a road race. On Sunday the Kenyan World Marathon Champion from 2019 wants to make it six wins from six races in Istanbul. With her PB of 64:02 she is currently the third fastest half marathon runner of all times and leads a very strong women’s start list, which features 14 runners with personal bests of sub 68:00. Fellow-Kenyan Charles Langat head the men’s list with a PB of 58:53. There are seven men in the field who have already run below the hour mark.

A record number of 12,300 runners will be competing in the half marathon and the 10k race staged parallel on Sunday. This is an increase of participants of close to 25 percent compared to the previous entry record from 2022. The 18th edition of the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon, which is an Elite Label Road Race of World Athletics, will start at 9.30 am and will be streamed worldwide at: https://youtube.com/@IBBSporIstanbul

“Turkey has gone through a difficult period due to disasters. During these times sport is the best way to stand up. We are looking forward to the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon, it will be a very competitive race. Ruth, who broke the world record on this course in 2021, is with us again. May be this year we will see another record,“ said Race Director Renay Onur.

A large number of runners who have entered the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon will be running for charity on Sunday, collecting money for the devastating earth quake that hit the southern area of the country in winter. One group of charity runners, that is close to race organizer Spor Istanbul as it was founded by Renay Onur, will have over 1,250 runners alone on Sunday.

Turkey’s Yayla Gönen, who is on the women’s elite start list with a PB of 70:26, was in a training camp in Diyarbakir when the earth quake struck. The 26 year-old was lucky since the house in the camp did not collapse. But it was a struggle for her to get food for a week and she was then brought back to Istanbul by her club IBBSK. Despite this she still managed to run a marathon PB of 2:29:10 in Sevilla in February. Yayla Gönen is the favourite to win the Turkish Half Marathon Championships which are included in Sunday’s event.

“Istanbul is a beautiful city, the people and their support are amazing. It is my favourite city and I have to thank the race organisers for inviting me back once again“ said Ruth Chepngetich, who last raced on 12th March when she won the Nagoya Marathon in a world-class time of 2:18:08. “My recovery after the marathon was good and after a two-week-break I started preparing for the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon. Compared to my race here in 2021 I can say that my form is better now.“ However the Kenyan record holder does not have a certain time goal.

"My goal is to win and as always in this race I will do my best,“ said Ruth Chepngetich, who will have some additional motivation since her daughter Shalyne has accompanied her to Istanbul. “My daughter always motivates me a lot. Since she is here with us I will have to make sure not to disappoint her!“

Ruth Chepngetich knows that it will not be an easy task to make it six wins from six in Istanbul on Sunday. Ethiopia’s Bosena Mulatie has a strong PB of 65:46 while fellow-Kenyan Evaline Chirchir has run 66:01.

Charles Langat is the fastest runner on the men’s elite start list. He improved to an impressive 58:53 when he won the Barcelona half marathon in February. With this time the 27 year-old is currently the third fastest half marathoner in the world this year. “If the weather conditions are good and the course is fast then I will try to run sub 59:30,“ said Charles Langat, who also won the Lisbon Half Marathon last autumn.

Fellow-Kenyan Daniel Ebenyo is the number two on the start list with a PB of 59:04 while defending champions and course record holder Rodgers Kwemoi of Kenyan had to withdraw due to an injury. Great Britain’s Marc Scott is the fastest European runner on the list with a personal record of 60:39.

How to donate blood while training for a race

Among the ways running changes lives is through philanthropic pursuits, and there is perhaps no more valuable—or needed—way to help others than donating blood. Fifty-two per cent of Canadians say they or a family member has needed blood or blood products, according to Canadian Blood Services, the non-profit charity responsible for managing the national supply of blood products in all provinces and territories except Quebec.

Runners who meet the Canadian Blood Services’ criteria for being a donor, can make the life-saving gift of blood donation a regular part of their lives. For those in the process of getting ready for a big race, however, a little planning will ensure that making a blood donation and meeting your training goals can both be accomplished in the safest possible way.

Preparing to donate

The standard blood donation collected through Canadian Blood Services is around 450 milliliters. That’s a small portion of the total volume of blood in the average human body—around five litres—but it does demand that you take good care of yourself before and after each donation, which will will aid your return to full strength following a donation. Canadian Blood Services recommends staying hydrated, eating a healthy meal and getting plenty of rest the night before the donation. Donors are also advised to drink 500 ml of water and to eat a salty snack right before making the donation.

Followup care

The actual donation generally takes only 15 minutes, and the whole process—including another 15 minutes of immediate post-donation resting and snacking—takes about an hour. According to Canadian Blood Services, it takes only hours to replenish the plasma portion of a donation, and days to replenish the platelet portion, while red blood cells can take months to replenish.

Canadian Blood Services recommends avoidimg strenuous exercise (i.e., running) for six to eight hours following a donation, and to continue drinking extra fluids 24 hours after the donation. The World Health Organization’s guidelines  are more conservative, recommending avoiding strenuous physical activities or sports for 48 hours following a donation.

Performance impacts

Although concerns over physical performance come secondary to those of safety, how a blood donation might affect the quality of training is understandably of interest to runners. According to this 2016 study, a standard blood donation of 400-500 ml leads to “potentially physiologically important” reductions in VO2max (7 per cent) and maximal exercise capacity (10 per cent) in the first two days after a donation.

A scheduling solution that would satisfy all of the above would be to plan the week’s long run for early on the day before making the donation, allowing plenty of time to rehydrate and rest later in the day. Staying off your feet during the hours before the donation can ensure your body is primed for the recovery to follow. Setting aside the following 24-48 hours as rest days will give you a chance to recover from the physiological impact of the donation, making your return to running that much stronger.

Whether you adjust your training schedule to fit donation times, or schedule a donation to fit around your training schedule, there’s room for both, with a little planning. To schedule a donation or to find out more about the donation process, visit blood.ca.

90-year-old TCS London Marathoner sets British masters record

The desire to help those battling the same disease that claimed his sister fuelled David Picksley of Croydon, Surrey, to claim the British 90+ men’s marathon record at this year’s TCS London Marathon. Picksley, the oldest of the more than 48,000 runners at this year’s event, finished the race with a time of 7:16:46.

He becomes the first to record a master’s marathon record in the British male 90+ category. Previously, the oldest British male marathoner on record was Alf Gibson, who at age 85 ran the 1993 London Marathon in 5:48:09. In 2002, Jenny Wood-Allen set the standing record in the British 90+ women’s category, running the London Marathon in 11:34:00.

In Canada, the record in the oldest men’s masters group is held by the late Ed Whitlock, who topped the men’s 85+ category with a 3:56:38 marathon finish in Toronto in 2016.

Picksley entered this year’s marathon as a fundraiser for JustGiving, a U.K. charity aimed at eradicating bowel cancer, and has raised more than $12,000 for the organization through this year’s marathon.

“When my sister April was diagnosed in 1973 with bowel cancer, this was generally seen as a death sentence,” Picksley shares in a statement on his fundraising page. “She died just a few months later at 42, with three young children. Now, almost 50 years on, of those in the UK diagnosed at the earliest stage, 97% will survive five years after their diagnosis. Currently, only just under 40% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage. The focus of the policy and the influencing work of Bowel Cancer UK over the next three years is to improve early diagnosis. I am walking the London Marathon in 2023 to recognise the improvements made in the last 50 years, and to support their campaign, to save more lives by spreading knowledge of the symptoms.”

The TCS London Marathon course is familiar territory for Picksley, who has a long history going the 42.2-km distance.

“In my 50s and 60s I ran 13 marathons, including 4 in London, and since those days I have been enjoying a walk with my stick, early every morning,” says Picksley. “Latterly that had become a lockdown habit, and when a Virtual London Marathon was introduced, I took it on. After a finish in under 7.5 hours in 2021, I did it again in 2022, in 7:13:15, just 3.5 minutes over the ‘good-for-age’ over-85 age category.”

In a video tweeted by TCS London Marathon organizers, Picksley says “it feels wonderful, it really does,” to have finished the event at age 90.

Asked if he “might have a small glass of something to celebrate,” Picksley replies: “Yeah, I should think I will. I might even make it a big one.”

Two Firefighters Ran the Two Oceans Half Marathon in Full Gear

Renaldo Duncan and Jermaine Carelse completed the Cape Town race to support Volunteer Wildfire Services.Running a half marathon while wearing ski boots is one thing, but taking on a race in full firefighter gear is a whole new level.

On Sunday, two fire and rescue service members, Renaldo Duncan and Jermaine Carelse, completed the Two Oceans Half Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa, while wearing full firefighting gear to support a local charity.The men donned heavy jackets and helmets for the duration of the half—though no large boots were involved, as the firefighters opted to wear traditional running shoes to make things a bit more pleasant. 

While the weight of firefighter gear was indeed a hindrance during the race, the biggest challenge was how the equipment would affect body temperature in the late miles.

"We started heating up and [had] to take in a lot of fluids," Duncan told News24 in Cape Town. "It’s probably the most fluid I’ve ever taken in a race."

Duncan, a 13-year veteran firefighter, trained for this year’s Two Oceans by running in full firefighter gear during other races, and the duo had completed the race together—also in full gear—back in 2017. With the gear on, the pair completed this year’s run in 2:41.

The firefighters did the stunt in hopes of raising awareness and donations for the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), which combats runaway fires in the area. The VWS is a collection of about 320 volunteers that fight dangerous brushfires by wading through dense brush and across treacherous terrain to contain fires before they can spread farther.

"A lot of the city’s annual fires, around half, are bushfires, and a lot of that happens in the green belts that surround the city, whether in Helderberg or along Table Mountain National Park,” said JP Smith, a mayoral committee member for safety and security, to News24. “These fires can be utterly devastating [and] we depend heavily on the VWS ... these volunteers do really brilliant work, and they do a lot of fundraising and need a lot of equipment.” 

This isn’t the first time firefighters have opted to go full gear for a good cause. In 2015, firefighters in Ontario ran with 70 pounds of gear to raise awareness for PTSD. That same year, a New Jersey firefighter set a record for the fastest mile in full gear with a time of 6:45 to raise awareness for his charity, Team Firefighter.