Running News Daily
Top Ten Stories of the Week
1/11/2025
These are the top ten stories based on views over the last week.
Ethiopia's Champions Set to Defend Titles at Mumbai Marathon 2025
Ethiopian marathon champions, Hayle Lemi Berhanu and Aberash Minsewo, return to Mumbai Marathon 2025 aiming to retain their titles. With robust competition, the 20th edition promises excitement, especially with Berhanu eyeing a historic hat-trick. The event, a qualifier for World Championships, offers substantial prizes for top finishers and record breakers.
Ethiopia's marathon champions, Hayle Lemi Berhanu and Aberash Minsewo, are set to defend their titles at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, scheduled for January 19.
This prestigious World Athletics Gold Label Race sees Berhanu aiming for a historic hat-trick in the men's section following victories in 2023 and 2024.
In its 20-year history, the marathon has seen no male runner achieve a three-peat victory. Kenyan John Kelai had a chance in 2009 but finished third. Despite Ethiopian Mulu Seboka's triple wins, she skipped the 2007 race. This year's event offers podium prizes of up to USD 50,000 and record-breaking rewards of USD 15,000.
The competition is fierce with eleven men and six women boasting personal bests outstripping the course records. Top contenders include Kenyans Philemon Rono and Joyce Tele, and Bahrain's Shitaye Eshete. As the marathon also serves as a World Championships qualifier, the stakes are high for all participants.
(01/03/25) Views: 134Devdiscourse News Desk
Florida man reaches 50-year run streak
Miami’s Robert “Raven” Kraft was streaking long before it was cool, and not in the way that gets you arrested. On Tuesday afternoon at 5th Street Lifeguard Station in Miami’s South Beach neighbourhood, Kraft completed his 18,263rd run, marking an impressive 50-year streak of daily running.
Kraft began his prolific streak on January 1, 1975, when he was 24, and over half a century later, he’s amassed 18,263 total runs and over 234,000 kilometres. That’s roughly equivalent to walking around the world more than five and a half times—quite a feat!
The 74-year-old was joined on Tuesday by hundreds of runners for his daily tradition of running eight miles (12.87 km) along the sands of South Beach. Kraft, who has also been a singer and songwriter for just as long, played a few songs after his anniversary run alongside the Dark Shadows band.
Beyond the streak, Kraft has built a community around his daily runs, called the “Raven Runners.” Unlike most, Kraft’s eight-mile route has never changed. He has reportedly run the exact same route in almost every single run. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Kraft said he has a list of more than 3,700 runners from around the globe who have joined him for a run over the past 50 years. “The Raven List” reflects that he has been joined by runners from all 50 states, as well as runners from more than 60 countries.
Kraft’s legacy will soon be etched into Miami Beach’s history. On Jan 1, Third Street and Ocean Drive will reportedly be renamed “Robert ‘Raven’ Kraft Way.”
According to the United States Running Streak Association, Kraft has the sixth-longest active run streak. Jon Sutherland of Washington, Utah, holds the world’s longest-running streak with over 55 years (20,000+ days). Toronto’s Rick Rayman has the longest active run streak in Canada, with a total of 16,824 days (46+ years).
(01/03/25) Views: 130Marley Dickinson
How Many Steps Should You Actually Take in a Day to Boost Your Health—or Your Fitness?
We explain how to set your daily step goal, based on what you’re looking to achieve.
Because smartphones, watches, and fitness trackers easily track step counts, most of us are aware of roughly how many steps we take every day. Even non-exercisers may try to hit a daily step goal. Via mostly good press, not science, 10,000 steps is a common goal many focus on as a marker of movement success.
While 10,000 is an easy-to-remember number, like any other fitness metric, your daily step goal should likely be personal and based on your specific goals, such as improving general health metrics or losing weight.
To turn your goal into a daily step count, though, you need to remember that exercise recommendations are given in minutes, not steps. Likewise, every person’s stride length and pace is not only specific to them, but highly variable, based on where they are walking and if they are walking alone or in a group.
“The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, or 60 minutes of vigorous, which can be achieved by walking for many individuals,” Kaitlyn Baird, C.S.C.S, exercise physiologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, tells Runner’s World.
As for point number two, according to Harvard, a brisk walker typically takes about 100 steps per minute. Therefore, a 20-minute brisk walk is likely equal to about 2,000 steps.
To help you find the right target, experts explain how to tailor your daily step count for specific health, fitness, and running habits.
Exactly How Many Steps You Need to Take Every Day, Based on Your Goals
If You’re Walking for Health... Aim for 8,000 Steps per Day
Being sedentary, or taking 4,000 steps a day or fewer, according to the NIH, is linked to poor health outcomes, so if you want to improve your overall health, taking anywhere from 7,500 to 10,000 steps daily is a great starting point. This range supports cardiovascular health, and can reduce the risks associated with prolonged sitting, like metabolic syndrome and cognitive or heart disease, Joshua Rieders, DPT, C.S.C.S., area director
Consider turning those breaks into a short workout routine, such as doing jumping jacks or going up and down stairs. Vigorous exercise lasting less than one minute and performed periodically throughout the day can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and other metrics of cardiometabolic health in previously inactive adults, according to a 2022 paper in Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews.
If You’re Walking for Improve Fitness... Aim for 10,000 Steps a Day
When walking is your primary fitness activity, it’s not just about how many steps you take, but how you do it. ACSM’s fitness recommendation are achievable for most people, says Baird, and you can use walking to reach those goals.
One key of the ACSM guidelines is the variety of intensity levels. Moderate-intensity exercise means you can talk, but not sing, while vigorous means no talking or singing, but a little more huffing and puffing.
Increasing your walking intensity—by picking up the pace, adding inclines, or incorporating intervals—can make a big difference. “Higher-intensity walking (at a faster pace and/or uphill) can provide more significant benefits in less time due to the increased caloric demand, allowing you to meet your goals more efficiently,” says Rieders.
If
If You Run, Don’t Worry about Steps, but Walk for Recovery
Runners who log three to six miles a few times a week likely already exceed 10,000 steps on many days. “Walking should supplement your workout, particularly for individuals who are looking to maintain general health,” Rieders adds.
Still, runners should consider using walking as a form of active recovery both after their runs and on days when they don’t run. “Running would be your primary modality here, and walking could serve to reduce sedentary time and help with recovery,” says Baird. A leisurely walk can ease muscle soreness and prevent the stiffness that often follows higher-impact workouts.
Again, consider breaking up long periods of inactivity with short walks, for the best health results, Rieders says.
Training for a half or full marathon? As mentioned, a mile likely contains anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000 steps, so on your long run days, you are more than hitting the mark. Nevertheless, Rieders suggests taking some walking steps rather than being sedentary for recovery, but don’t worry about the exact number.
Your Best Step Goal—Count Step Breaks and Intensity
Instead of focusing on your daily step count, a more helpful goal
(01/05/25) Views: 120
Try this pro runner’s rust-busting workout for 2025
What better way to hit the ground running in 2025 than with an elite-level workout? A YouTube video posted by Track: All-Access on Tuesday revealed professional Puma runner Taylor Roe‘s first workout of the track season–a hefty session filled with fartlek intervals and mile repeats. Give the workout a go if you’re looking for a speedy way to start off a new year of running.
The workout
Set 1: 1,600m. Rest: 90 seconds
Set 2: 1,200m fartlek (4 x 200m, 100m jog)
Set 3: 1,600m. Rest: 2 mins
Set 4: 1,200m fartlek (4 x 200m, 100m jog)
Set 5: 1,600m
Total volume on track: 8,800m
Remember to take the session easier than a mid-season workout–be extra gentle while busting off the rust! Complete the mile repeats at around 5K pace, and take on the 200m portion of the fartlek at a solid effort–faster than the mile pace, but much slower than an all-out attempt. Since it’s the only rest portion of this set, take the 100m jog very easy.
“It’s too early to blow people up,” Puma Elite head coach Alistair Cragg said. “We want to keep everyone in it, working together.”
Roe completed the mile intervals in 5:24, 5:22 and 5:20. Her fartlek sets were around 4:08 (34 seconds for 200m, 28 seconds for easy 100m). “I’m clearly not doing well at pacing,” Roe said to the camera mid-workout. “But it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.”
Representing Oklahoma State University, the Washington state native won the NCAA 3,000m title in 2022 with a time of 8:58.95. She took silver in the 2024 NCAA 5,000m in March, finishing runner-up to Olympian Parker Valby. Roe holds 12 NCAA All-American honours from her five-year collegiate career and holds a 5,000m personal best of 15:15.01. The 24-year-old signed with the Puma Elite Running Team in July.
It’s not yet known when the athlete is set to open up her indoor season, but Cragg hinted that it will be won’t be until February. “You’ll blow yourself up,” he said to Roe. “We’re not going anywhere near blowing you up for the next–at least–four weeks.”
(01/03/25) Views: 118
Cameron Ormond
Canadian 800m Olympian Madeleine Kelly announces retirement
The three-time national champion looks forward to a new chapter spent with her husband, Jeremy, and their new puppy, Pickle.
Three-time Canadian 800m champion and Tokyo Olympian Madeleine (Maddy) Kelly capped off an incredible 15-year career on Tuesday; the 29-year-old took to Instagram to officially announce her retirement.
Kelly had run professionally for ASICS since 2022 and has written for Canadian Running since 2018. She built an extensive resumé, earning spots on five national teams at World, Commonwealth and Olympic championships, partnering with various brands and joining the RBC Olympians program. Looking back at her experiences as a runner, Kelly says she wouldn’t change a thing.
“I’m so proud of my career and how it turned out,” she told Canadian Running. “I wouldn’t change anything.”
The Pembroke, Ont., native was first coached by Terry Radchenko in 2013, during her first year competing for the University of Toronto (U of T). Radchenko became one of the most influential figures in Kelly’s life, coaching her throughout her post-collegiate career. When asked which people taught her the most, Kelly responded, “Terry is number one.”
One of Kelly’s top-two favourite running memories comes from her time at U of T, when the Blues squad raced to a CIS (now U Sports) cross-country title in Victoria in 2017, Kelly’s final year. “We were really a team of 800m runners going up against some of the best distance squads in Canada,” she says. “And it was the first year running 8K.” (Women previously raced 5K.)
“The weather was horrible,” Kelly continues. “I don’t remember, but my teammate told me I woke up and said, we’re going to win today, and then we did. It was such a cool and special experience.”
Another favourite memory for Kelly is winning her first national title, at the 2019 Canadian Bell Track and Field Championships in Montreal. She clocked 2:02.37, edging out Canadian 800m record holder Melissa Bishop-Nriagu by three hundredths of a second. “That was a big day that really changed how I saw myself in the sport,” Kelly says. She went on to add two more Canadian titles to her collection, in 2022 and 2023, and dipped under the elusive two-minute barrier twice. Her personal best of 1:59.71, which she ran in 2022, stands as the eighth-fastest among Canadian 800m runners.
“Competition and I are in a weird place right now,” Kelly says. “But I still run almost every day. I love running–my relationship with running is in the best place it’s been for a while.” The athlete, now living in Hamilton with her husband, former 1,500m runner Jeremy Rae, keeps herself busy in this new chapter of her life with a new job in marketing, Pilates and their new dachshund puppy, Pickle.
She is also quick to acknowledge her former sponsor, ASICS. “I’m so grateful to the running community and everything running has given me,” Kelly says. “ASICS was amazing. It’s the end of this first chapter–but I’m excited to be a track and field fan now. There are always new people, so I’m excited to continue to follow the event.”
The end of 2024 marked the close of a handful of elite Canadian athletes’ careers. 5,000m Tokyo Olympian and two-time national champion Julie-Anne Staehli, who ran professionally for Team New Balance Boston, also announced her retirement from competition on the final day of 2024. On Instagram, the 31-year-old wrote “I still have so many goals in this sport, but I’m ready to start the next adventure.”
(01/04/25) Views: 118Cameron Ormond
Get marathon training underway with this easy distance workout
Spring marathon season is just around the corner, and the new year means it’s officially time to lay the groundwork for the big day. If you’re unsure how to dive into your training, this distance workout is the perfect starting point. It’s approachable, effective and designed to build your confidence as you ramp up for the 42.2 kilometers ahead.
The workout
Three-to-four sets of 1K, 3x 400m with 75 seconds of jogging between reps, and two minutes of rest between sets.
How to nail it
On the 1K reps, aim for your goal marathon pace, focusing on steady, controlled effort. For the 400m repeats, pick up the pace to around your 10K personal best. The key is maintaining control throughout—this workout is about consistency, not exhaustion.
By the third or fourth set, you should still feel strong and capable. If fatigue sets in too early, adjust the 400m pace to ensure you can finish the workout comfortably. This isn’t meant to crush you, but rather to set a solid foundation for the more challenging workouts ahead.
(If you’re more of an interval lover, you can also do a variation of this workout by doing three sets of 5 mins, 3x 90 seconds with the same amount of jog and set rest.)
Remember, the last thing you want is to overtrain during the early weeks of your marathon prep. Starting with a workout like this will help ease you into training while building the stamina and speed you’ll need for the months ahead.
(01/03/25) Views: 116Marley Dickinson
U.S. Olympic medalist charged with domestic violence
Since his arrest on Thursday evening, Olympic 100m silver medalist Fred Kerley has been charged with two additional felonies unrelated to his altercation with the Miami police, CBS News reports. On Saturday, his wife, Angelica Taylor, filed charges of domestic battery by strangulation and strong-arm robbery for an incident reportedly witnessed by their children in May.
Kerley’s defense team initially brought Taylor in to his bond hearing to speak on his behalf, assuming she would be angered by footage of what many on social media referred to as police brutality against him; but instead she leveled the new charges. “They asked me to be here and speak on his behalf, but I want to proceed with pressing charges on him,” Taylor stated during the court session.
“Seeing the video of this recent incident and how like he was aggressive, it kind of made me think, like, he didn’t feel any remorse for what he did to me,” she added. “I know that I have to think about my children, but he didn’t think about his children in that situation.”
“I thought that he was going to kill me”
During an interview with CBS, Taylor described the alleged incident in detail, noting that in an attempt to grab Taylor’s phone, Kerley wrapped his arm around her neck and choked her. “I’m not going to lie, at some point, I thought that he was going to kill me,” she said. She added that attack took place in front of one of their three children.
Taylor also claimed to have asked Kerley for a divorce on multiple occasions, and that Kerley refuses to grant her. However, a statement sent to CBS News Miami on Saturday by Kerley’s attorneys reads,”The allegations are made by a highly motivated and angry woman. The idea that Mr. Kerley won’t ‘grant’ her a divorce is just as ridiculous as the allegations against Fred.” Taylor appeared in court using her maiden name, but is also identified as Angelica Kerley.
Kerley’s girlfriend, Cleo Rahman, was also arrested on Thursday after reportedly resisting an officer without violence.
Kerley now faces four charges in total, three of which are felonies.
(01/07/25) Views: 111Cameron Ormond
Miniature dachshund runs four-minute mile without training
When you think of dog breeds that can run, the miniature dachshund isn’t the first breed that comes to mind. But that little 20-lb frame is faster than you may think. YouTuber and three-time NCAA steeplechase champion Allie Ostrander put her pet dachshund, Georgie, through a one-mile time trial, and you’ll be shocked by his distance-running abilities.
Ostrander and her partner, Spencer Brown, attached a dog treat to a stick and hung it off the back of a car to keep their dachshund motivated, while Brown held onto the leash as Georgie got his wheels turning.
According to the YouTube clip, Georgie completed the first quarter mile at just under a five-minute mile pace, which Ostrander thought was him going out too fast. But by halfway (800m), the dachshund had sped up, and he held on to finish the mile in 4:47.66. To put that time and pace in perspective, it’s an average speed of over 20 km/h.
Dachshunds, affectionately referred to as wiener dogs, are surprisingly speedy for their size. While they may not be able to match the endurance of larger, more athletic breeds (like a border collie or a vizsla), they are incredibly agile with their short legs and long bodies, reaching speeds of up to 24 kilometres per hour (which adds up, given Georgie’s finishing time).
Georgie was rewarded with the dangling treat and water at the end of his time trial. Maybe if there was a golf cart full of doughnuts or pizza in front of runners at their next mile or 1,500m race, they’d run a personal best, too.
Like the rest of us, Ostrander initially didn’t have high hopes for Georgie, as she was unsure if a miniature dachshund could move its little legs that fast without training. Georgie, however, still had gas in the tank at the finish, while Ostrander and Brown were in the hands-on-knees position after 1.609 km.
It turns out, even if it might not look like it, the next wiener dog you see is likely faster than you.
(01/04/25) Views: 107
U.S. Olympic 100m medalist arrested and tased by police in Miami
Fred Kerley was arrested on Thursday night after an altercation with Miami police.
On Thursday night in Miami, two-time Olympic 100m medallist Fred Kerley was arrested following a confrontation with police officers.
According to 7 News Miami, Kerley approached the scene of an active police investigation on Thursday after 11 p.m. ET, expressing concerns about his vehicle, which was parked nearby. Reports indicate that Kerley became increasingly aggressive and refused to leave when asked by officers. Body cam footage shows officers attempting to sort out the situation when Kerley became argumentative. Moments later, he appeared to push a police officer.
Emergency backup was called, and a stun gun was deployed to subdue Kerley, who was subsequently taken into custody.
According to a report, the two-time American Olympian appeared in Miami-Dade bond court on Friday facing three charges. The judge found probable cause for the counts of battery on an officer and resisting arrest, but not disorderly conduct. The judge ordered Kerley to be released without having to pay bail, and to sign a written letter to appear in court at a future date.
“Sir, you’re probably smart to stay off Miami Beach,” the judge warned Kerley, according to Miami’s Local 10 News. “Go somewhere else to go to dinner, avoid getting in trouble, because if you get re-arrested, you’re going to be locked up in jail until your trial.”
The 29-year-old from Taylor, Texas, boasts a 100m personal best of 9.76 seconds, making him the third-fastest American sprinter in history. Throughout his career, Kerley has won two Olympic medals and six world championship medals.
(01/04/25) Views: 104Marley Dickinson
3 things track and field can learn from professional darts
If you haven’t been glued to the 2025 PDC Darts World Championships over the holidays, you’re missing out. When it comes to niche sports, professional darts has truly hit the bullseye with its audience. Known for its bar-inspired, rowdy atmosphere, the sport has successfully brought the same energy to live events, drawing millions of viewers for each match. While track and field and darts may seem worlds apart—aside from their niche appeal—track could take a few lessons from darts to keep fans engaged and coming back for more.Last year’s Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) world championship final between young British phenom Luke “The Nuke” Littler and world #1 Luke Humphries attracted a staggering five million viewers (a single-match record for the sport.) This year’s final between Littler and Dutch darts legend Michael van Gerwen is expected to smash that record. In comparison, the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore., attracted 18.7 million viewers on NBC Sports platforms (across the 10 days of competition), which also set records for the highest viewership at a World Athletics Championships since 1988.
Despite the success of each niche sport, I can’t help but notice that track and field still struggles to match the passionate fan engagement seen in darts, and, alcohol aside, there are a few ways it can borrow some inspiration.Showcase more personalities
If you haven’t heard of British darts sensation Luke Littler, he’s been making waves both on and off the dartboard. At just 17, Littler already boasts more social media followers than Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles, and has quickly become a fan favourite at this year’s championships. Why? Because the PDC knows how to market its stars.
The PDC players are frequently featured in viral TikTok trends or behind-the-scenes content that highlights their personalities, not just their talent or 180s. Littler recently celebrated a semi-final win with a subtle soccer-inspired celebration, which the PDC instantly shared via a collaboration with the Instagram account @433 (75 million followers), going viral in less than eight hours. This kind of creative, personality-driven marketing expands the reach of Littler (and darts), bringing in audiences from bigger sports that might not usually watch With so many interesting athletes from around the world, track and field could easily take a page from this playbook, highlighting athletes’ off-track personas—whether through social media, playful interviews or viral cross-sport content.
Walk-out music
I’ll admit one of the most electrifying aspects of darts is the personalized walk-out music for every player. England’s Nathan Aspinall hyped up the crowd with Mr. Brightside by The Killers, while Stephen Bunting led a spirited singalong to his walk-out anthem, Titanium by Sia. The energy was palpable, and the crowd was instantly engaged.Track and field already introduces its athletes before races—so why not take it a step further with walk-out music? A brief five-to-10-second clip as athletes approach the blocks could effortlessly amplify the atmosphere at Diamond League, Grand Slam Track or World Athletics Championships events.Maximize fan engagement
Let’s address the obvious: no, thousands of drunk fans probably wouldn’t mix well with track meets. But that doesn’t mean the sport should shy away from sponsorship activations. One of the best parts of darts is the endless “180” signs handed out to fans to cheer whenever a player scores triple 20. These signs, sponsored by companies, keep the crowd engaged, and you honestly feel like you’re a part of the action.
A Diamond League or Continental Tour track and field meet generally knows which big-name athletes are competing ahead of time and could distribute cheer swag or signs for personal bests, meet records or even world records. These are small touches that can easily build excitement and create a more interactive experience for athletes and fans.Of course, professional darts thrive on its bar-like atmosphere, but the magic isn’t just in the beer—it’s in the engagement that transforms a simple game into a wildly entertaining spectacle. Despite their differences, the goal for every niche sport is the same: to create an unforgettable experience for athletes and fans alike.
(01/04/25) Views: 103
