Running News Daily
Top Ten Stories of the Week
1/3/2026
These are the top ten stories based on views over the last week.
Kenya Sharpened Its Edge in Kigari as World Cross Country Battle Lines Were Drawn
As dawn broke each morning over the rolling hills of Kigari in Embu County, Kenya’s cross-country runners surged into punishing training sessions, their collective focus fixed firmly on January 10, when the 46th World Cross Country Championships will unfold in Tallahassee, Florida.
The residential camp was never about mileage alone. It was a deliberate, finely calibrated response to a shifting global cross-country landscape—one in which Kenya’s long-held dominance now faces sustained and increasingly sophisticated challenges.
Since reporting to camp on November 23, athletes were immersed in a demanding but carefully structured five-week program designed to sharpen endurance, tactical awareness, and mental resilience.
“Since our arrival, everything went as planned,” said head coach Japheth Kemei. “The athletes responded very well to the training, and we used different venues depending on what each session required.”
Training for the Unknown
Preparation in Kigari extended far beyond altitude conditioning. The technical team deliberately exposed athletes to uncomfortable, varied environments to mirror the unpredictable demands of international cross-country racing.
“Some of the venues we used were at the foot of Mount Kenya, where the ground was almost wet all the time,” Kemei explained. “We also trained inside the forest, where it was darker and colder. By doing this, we felt we were giving the athletes exactly what they required.”
With Florida’s winter expected to present cooler, unfamiliar conditions, adaptability—not comfort—was the guiding principle.
“It was cold compared to Kenya,” Kemei said, “but the athletes were prepared.”
Defending More Than Medals
Kenya will travel to Tallahassee as the overall defending champion following a dominant showing at the previous championships in Belgrade, where the team collected 11 medals and swept all team titles except the senior men’s race.
During a visit to the camp, Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya’s Youth Development Director and First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, struck a balance between confidence and realism.
“Kenya will be defending the title we won in Belgrade,” Korir said. “The women won, the junior men and women did a splendid job, and this young team has the capacity to do it again.”
Yet the margins are tightening. Ethiopia and Uganda remain persistent threats, while European and American athletes continue to close the gap.
“The Ethiopians were beaten badly recently, so they are likely to come back with fire,” Korir noted. “But we are also ready.”
Youth, Belief, and the Senior Men’s Question
The Kigari squad was notably youthful, anchored by experienced figures such as Daniel Ebenyo and newly transitioned senior Ismail Kipkuri, but largely built around emerging athletes being groomed for the next competitive cycle.
“It was a young team, but we were not worried at all,” Kemei said. “The spirit among the athletes was very high, and we believed they would give Kenyans what they expected.”
The senior men’s 10km—a title Kenya has narrowly missed in recent editions—remained a central theme throughout the camp.
“We kept reminding them about the need to bring home that title,” Kemei revealed. “They assured us.”
Korir echoed that belief.
“Ebenyo and Ismail have a real chance to contest for the top positions. I am really excited to see what they can do.”
Ebenyo: Carrying Kenya on His Shoulders
As team captain and Kenya’s leading contender in the men’s 10km, Daniel Ebenyo framed the championships as both a sporting challenge and a national responsibility.
“In Tallahassee, it will not only be a race against the best athletes in the world,” Ebenyo said. “We will race with the spirit of Kenya on our shoulders.”
He described the Kigari camp as exhaustive but purposeful.
“Training went very well. Every obstacle that would be there, we were shown. The team is ready to compete with discipline, humility, and hard work.”
For Ebenyo, consistency has come through structure and accountability.
“My consistency came from discipline—being disciplined with my coach, my training partners, and my training,” he explained.
Returning to the national team after time away, Ebenyo embraced the moment with renewed hunger.
“I was happy to be back in Team Kenya. This time, I wanted to do my best, because I love cross-country medals.”
Fear, he said, had no place in camp.
“We were not scared. May the best win.”
Chepsaita Promise Fulfilled: Juniors Join Team Kenya
Beyond elite preparation, the Kigari camp reflected Kenya’s long-term investment in youth development. Two standout junior athletes—Kelvin Kariankei and Joan Chepkurui—earned places on Team Kenya after dominant victories at the 2025 Great Chepsaita Cross Country Run, a World Athletics Gold Label event.
Kariankei powered to victory in the men’s U20 8km in 25:20, while Chepkurui controlled the women’s U20 6km in 21:34 on a demanding course that tested both strength and tactical maturity.
Their selection fulfilled a promise by Farouk Kibet that the top junior male and female finishers at Chepsaita would earn a fully paid trip with Team Kenya to Florida—an initiative aimed at early international exposure, motivation, and long-term succession planning.
Sacrifice Over Comfort
One of the clearest indicators of intent came during the festive season, when athletes collectively chose to remain in camp rather than return home.
“The amazing thing was that the athletes decided not to go home for Christmas,” Korir said. “They chose to continue training so they could perform well.”
Support systems were firmly in place. Nike competition kits had been delivered, and athlete allowances approved.
“They had everything they needed,” Korir said. “They were protected and taken care of.”
Confidence in the Women and the Relay
Confidence extended strongly into the women’s race and the mixed relay, where continuity and form inspired belief.
“Agnes, who finished fifth last time, was back and in good shape,” Korir said. “The mixed relay team had raced together before. They had a big chance of winning.”
Kemei was equally assured.
“The women were good. We had new faces, but that was not something to worry about. Kenyans are Kenyans.”
Kigari’s Quiet Statement
As departure day approaches, Kigari has become more than a training base—it has become a statement. Kenya understands the rising pressure from Uganda’s momentum, Ethiopia’s resurgence, and the growing sophistication of European and American cross-country programs.
But forged in mud, forest shade, discipline, sacrifice, and renewed youth promise, the team leaves Embu with belief intact—ready once more to test its legacy against the world, carrying Kenya’s spirit firmly on its shoulders.
(12/29/25) Views: 336Robert Kibet
One Finish Line. Three Victories. One Powerful Photo.
The 2023 Honolulu Marathon delivered a moment that perfectly captures what running—and life—is truly about.
In one frame stood the fastest and the last, the elite and the everyday hero.
Kenyan Paul Lonyangata stormed to victory in the men’s race, stopping the clock at 2:15:41.
Kenyan Cynthia Limo followed with an equally commanding performance, winning the women’s title in 2:33:01.
Fast. Elite. Impressive.
But the most unforgettable story of the day unfolded long after the champions had celebrated.
Nearly 17 hours after the starting gun, Andy Sloan crossed the same finish line in 16:56:39—exhausted, emotional, and triumphant in a way no stopwatch can define. It was his first marathon ever.
Step by step.
Mile by mile.
One very long, very brave day.
Andy finished last—but he did not lose.
He conquered 26.2 miles, years of self-doubt, and every voice that ever whispered, “You can’t.” On this day, he proved that he could—and he did.
Andy’s journey began in 2017, when he weighed 463 pounds. Today, he is down to about 300 pounds, fueled by determination, grit, and an unbreakable support system of parents, family, and friends who refused to let him quit—especially on the moments he wanted to most.
At the Honolulu Marathon, where there is no cutoff, every runner is given the same gift: a chance to finish. And in doing so, every dream is honored.
This single photo tells three stories:
The pursuit of excellence
The reward of discipline
And the quiet courage of never giving up
Because the biggest victories aren’t measured by time—but by heart.
(12/27/25) Views: 208Erick Cheruiyot for My Bestruns.
From Soil to Stride: How KATA Kenya and the Double Road Race Redefined Athlete Development in 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, year-end reflections in distance running often gravitate toward times, titles, and breakthrough performances. Yet some of the most compelling stories in Kenya this year unfolded far from finish lines—across high-altitude farms, disciplined training camps, and an unconventional road race that asked athletes to start twice in a single day.
In 2025, the Kenya Athletics Training Academy (KATA) quietly reshaped what athlete development looks like in practice. Across Kenya’s famed running regions—Iten, Kaptagat, Nyahururu, Keringet, Molo, Kericho, Bomet, and Elgeyo Marakwet—KATA, under the guidance of Chief Technical Officer Denis Musau, expanded its focus beyond mileage and workouts to include nutrition, recovery, sustainability, and innovative competition design.
At the center of that shift was an initiative that seemed deceptively simple: potato farming.
Originally launched to support camp operators, the program quickly addressed two pressing challenges—nutrition and economic stability. For athletes living and training full-time at altitude, consistent access to energy-rich food proved as critical as any interval session.
“The potato farm has helped some of our camp operators and the entire athletics fraternity,” Musau said. “It is very nutritious, gives energy, and supports recovery for our athletes. Despite being cheap and easy to find in the market, potatoes play a big role in our training environment.”
The initiative aimed to ease food costs, improve diet quality, and reinforce camps running sustainably. It also fostered a sense of ownership within camps—reflecting KATA’s long-term goal of building resilient training ecosystems rather than dependence on outside support.
Kenya’s varied geography, however, quickly revealed that not every region was equally suited to potato farming.
“Potato farming has been good across the nation where we have camps,” Musau explained, “but some parts of the country are not suitable because of climate factors such as rainfall and soil type.”
Rather than dilute the project, KATA responded with refinement. Future planting will be concentrated in regions that best support both agriculture and elite training, including Keringet in Nakuru County, Kapcherop in Elgeyo Marakwet, and Olkalou in Nyandarua County.
“Next season, we must carefully consider the best areas to plant potatoes,” Musau added.
Life inside KATA camps remains demanding. Athletes rise before dawn for long runs at altitude, balancing hill work, track sessions, and cross-country trails with careful attention to recovery, diet, and mental preparation. In such an environment, even modest improvements—better nutrition, improved recovery routines—can produce meaningful gains.
While farming strengthened life off the track, competition remained central to KATA’s mission. Structured time trials across camps continued to provide performance benchmarks and exposure to international opportunities.
“Normally, we conduct time trials across our camps, which help expose and link our athletes to international opportunities,” Musau noted.
Yet one event stood out as both a philosophical statement and a competitive crucible: the Double Road Race.
Conceived by Bob Anderson, veteran running journalist and founder of Runner’s World magazine and My Best Runs, the Double Road Race challenges athletes to race twice in a single day—testing endurance, recovery, pacing, and mental resilience. Designed to reward discipline and preparation over raw talent alone, the format has become a rare meeting point for athletes from different camps, regions, and backgrounds.
“Every year in September, we hold the Double Road Race, where athletes from across the country come together to compete,” Musau said. “This year, we had a successful race in Thika, Kiambu County.”
For many KATA athletes, the event served as a real-world stress test. Racing twice in one day exposed weaknesses in recovery, fueling, and mental focus—validating training systems built on consistency rather than shortcuts. Athletes returned to camp with lessons that extended beyond the road: how to manage energy, respect process, and embrace discipline.
By year’s end, the significance of 2025 lay not in a single headline result but in the quiet evolution of systems. From structured camps and practical nutrition initiatives to innovative competition formats, Kenya continued to offer a blueprint for athlete development that resonates far beyond its borders.
From potato fields at altitude to double starts on Kenyan roads, KATA’s 2025 reinforced a simple truth: performance is cultivated long before race day—and often, the most meaningful progress happens where few are watching, until the results speak for themselves.
Looking ahead to 2026, these lessons provide a clear roadmap for the next generation of athletes. The blend of practical support, strategic training, and innovative racing promises to keep Kenya at the forefront of global distance running—and ensures that transformation continues both on and off the track.
(12/31/25) Views: 185Robert Kibet for My Best Runs
Elite Distance Stars Set for Fireworks at the 2025 BOclassic Alto Adige 10K
As the athletics world prepares to usher in the New Year, all eyes will turn to Bolzano, Italy, where the iconic BOclassic Alto Adige returns on December 31, 2025, with a world-class field worthy of its legendary status.
Headlining the elite lineup is Yomif Kejelcha, one of Ethiopia’s most formidable distance runners and a global championship medalist. Renowned for his devastating finishing speed and sharp tactical sense, Kejelcha brings pedigree, experience, and a championship mindset to the fast, spectator-friendly streets of Bolzano.
Kenya’s challenge will be led by Charles Rotich, a proven road-racing specialist whose strength and consistency make him a threat on any course. Representing Team Kenya, Rotich embodies the nation’s enduring dominance in distance running and will be eager to close the year with a statement performance on European soil.
Completing the trio of elite contenders is Yemaneberhan Crippa, Italy’s distance-running standard-bearer. Racing on home ground, Crippa carries the hopes of the host nation as he faces Africa’s finest. His fearless racing style and deep familiarity with the BOclassic atmosphere make him a genuine podium contender.
With athletes from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Italy converging on one of the most historic road races in the world, the 2025 BOclassic Alto Adige promises a compelling showdown of speed, strategy, and national pride. As tradition dictates, Bolzano will once again provide the perfect stage to celebrate the past season—and launch the new one—with a spectacular clash of global distance-running excellence.
(12/30/25) Views: 169Erick Cheruiyot for My Bestruns.
Running Takes Over Porto: From Daily Miles to Major Races Along the Douro
PORTO, Portugal — During a recent visit to Porto, one thing stood out immediately: runners were everywhere.
Not just a few individuals squeezing in a workout, but a steady, continuous flow—on both sides of the Douro River, along waterfront promenades, through historic neighborhoods, and even across the city’s iconic bridges. Morning, afternoon, and early evening, Porto felt like a city permanently in motion.
What made the impression even stronger was the range of runners. Men and women, young and old, first-time joggers and clearly experienced athletes. Some moved easily through recovery miles, others pushed the pace with purpose. Porto didn’t feel like a place where people run occasionally—it felt like a place where running is part of everyday life.
A City Built for Running
Few European cities offer the natural variety Porto does. Flat riverside paths stretch for miles along the Douro, ideal for steady aerobic runs. Step slightly inland and runners find rolling terrain and short climbs that quietly build strength. Smooth paved walkways blend into older stone streets, giving every run a mix of rhythm and challenge.
One of the most striking sights was runners crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge, high and low above the river, linking Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. It’s exposed, often windy, and far from flat—yet runners of all ages crossed confidently. This wasn’t something special or staged. It was routine.
A Deeper Running Culture
Compared with other European cities, including Lisbon, Porto appeared to have more runners consistently on the streets, particularly along the riverfront. My wife was there three days during Christmas this year. At nearly any time of day, runners passed in both directions, quietly acknowledging one another as part of an unspoken community.
Running here isn’t limited to parks or hidden routes. Runners move through the heart of the city—past cafés, historic façades, working docks, and tourist corridors. They don’t stand out. They belong.
What stood out most was how unpretentious it all felt. No spectacle. No performance. Just people running because that’s what they do.
Home to Major Races
This everyday running culture naturally feeds into Porto’s race calendar. The city hosts some of Portugal’s most important road events, including the Porto Marathon and the Porto Half Marathon, races that draw international fields while remaining deeply connected to the local running community.
These events showcase exactly what makes Porto special: fast stretches along the river, challenging sections through the city, and unforgettable scenery from start to finish. For visiting runners, they offer a rare combination—serious competition in a city that genuinely understands and supports running.
Portugal has quietly built a strong endurance-sports identity over the past decade, and Porto reflects that evolution perfectly. The city doesn’t just host races—it lives the sport year-round.
A Runner’s City, Without Trying to Be One
Porto may be best known for its wine cellars, historic architecture, and dramatic river views, but it is increasingly clear that it is also a runner’s city—not by branding or promotion, but by habit.
For runners visiting from abroad, the appeal is immediate. Lace up your shoes, step outside, follow the river, cross a bridge, turn around when it feels right—and suddenly you’re part of the flow.
The best running cities are often the ones that don’t advertise themselves. They reveal who they are through simple, repeated moments.
In Porto, that moment happens again and again:
Runners moving steadily along the Douro.
Across bridges.
Through history.
Every single day even on Christmas Day.
(12/27/25) Views: 146Bob Anderson for My Best Runs
Eilish McColgan Targets Her Own European Record at Valencia 10K
On Sunday, January 11, Britain’s Eilish McColgan returns to one of the fastest road courses in the world with a clear objective: to run faster than ever before. McColgan will headline the Valencia 10K, aiming to improve the European 10K record of 30:19 that she already owns.
Valencia has become synonymous with speed. Flat, wide roads, cool January temperatures, and deep elite fields have turned the Spanish city into a global magnet for record-seekers. For McColgan, it is the ideal setting to push the limits again.
A Record Already Redefined
McColgan’s 30:19 shattered expectations when she set it, establishing a new benchmark for European women over 10 kilometers on the road. The performance was not only a record, but a statement—proof that European distance running continues to close the gap with the very best in the world.
Now, with another year of high-level racing behind her, McColgan believes there is more to come.
“I know I’m capable of faster,” she has said in recent interviews, pointing to consistent training blocks and renewed confidence as key factors heading into 2025.
Why Valencia?
The Valencia 10K has earned its reputation honestly. Year after year, the race produces world-class times across both the men’s and women’s fields. The course is famously flat, the pacing is precise, and the atmosphere—lined with knowledgeable, enthusiastic fans—helps pull athletes through the toughest late stages of the race.
For runners chasing records, few places offer better conditions.
Momentum Into 2025
McColgan enters the new season with momentum. Her track credentials as a former European champion at 10,000 meters translate perfectly to the road, where rhythm, strength, and controlled aggression are essential. Valencia’s fast early kilometers often allow athletes to settle into pace quickly—critical for anyone targeting historic times.
A faster run than 30:19 would not only lower her own European record, but also reaffirm McColgan’s position among the world’s elite road racers.
A Race to Watch
With top international competition expected and pacing designed for fast times, the women’s race promises to be one of the highlights of the early road-racing calendar. Whether McColgan rewrites the record books again or simply pushes the boundaries of what is possible, all eyes will be on Valencia.
One thing is certain: when Eilish McColgan toes the start line on January 11, she won’t be running conservatively.
She’ll be running for history.
(12/30/25) Views: 140Boris Baron
Where Only the Strong Endure: Countdown to World Cross Country in Tallahassee Florida USA
Cross country running has never been about comfort. It is a ruthless examination of endurance, strength, terrain awareness, and mental resilience. In just over a week, the world’s finest distance runners will converge in Tallahassee, Florida, for another chapter of the sport’s most unforgiving championship: the World Cross Country Championships.
History tells us these titles are rarely decided by fitness alone. More often, they are determined by survival.
Courses That Defined Greatness
Mombasa – 2007
Few championships have tested human limits like Mombasa. Run in suffocating coastal heat and humidity, the race devolved into a war of attrition. Athletes dropped out in waves, legs seized, and only the strongest endured. It remains one of the most punishing championships ever staged—a reminder that in cross country, nature is always part of the field.
Aarhus – 2019
Engineered for cruelty, the Aarhus course was a tactical nightmare. Deep mud, sharp climbs, uneven footing, and relentless turns demanded total concentration. Every stride mattered, every mistake was punished. Strength counted as much as speed, redefining what it meant to be a complete cross country runner.
Bathurst – 2023
An adventure disguised as a race. Extreme weather shifts, hard surfaces, exposed terrain, and constant elevation changes combined to create one of the most laborious championships in modern history. Bathurst rewarded resilience, adaptability, and fearless racing.
Now Tallahassee Awaits
As Tallahassee prepares to host the world, the central question is not who is fastest—but who is toughest. The terrain, conditions, and championship pressure will once again strip the sport down to its raw essence.
Nations with deep cross country heritage—Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, along with challengers from across the globe—will arrive knowing one truth:
World cross country titles are earned, not given.
In Tallahassee, reputations will be tested, legacies will be forged, and only those willing to suffer will stand on the podium.
The countdown is nearly over.
The world is watching.
Cross country’s ultimate test is about to begin.
(12/30/25) Views: 111
Erick Cheruiyot for My Bestruns
