When ultra runner Evan Birch drove from his home in Calgary down to Montana to pick up his new puppy Nova in 2017, he knew he wanted a dog he could run the trails with. He’d started running 15 years earlier as a way to cope with the stress of his work as an emergency responder and recently, his distances had picked up to between 20k and 40k. At that time, Nova joining him for those types of distances may have seemed overly optimistic, but when she turned one, she started joining him on the trails – and the pair has barely stopped for a breath since.

“I realized how much she loved it, and I realized how much I loved having a training partner that I could literally take with me anytime I wanted to go, without having to make plans,” says Birch, describing Nova as “a little rocket” when she's on the trails.

This winter, seven years after collecting her, Birch and Nova embarked on an extraordinary 100-mile race together in what might just be the first case of a competitive ultra-running dog.

A Hungarian Vizsla, Nova was the runt of her litter, and at 37lbs she’s on the small side. But other than that, she’s true to her breed – she’s energetic and sticks like glue to her human, making her an excellent trail companion. As Birch’s distances started to grow, from 40k to 60k and from 125k to 200 milers, for every training run, Nova was there by his side.

“It was never intentional. But we've just grown together in those distances and it's a different kind of bond. That's the best way I can describe it.”

As the pair put in the miles on the trail over the last year, an idea began to form in Birch’s imagination – was there an ultra marathon that would allow him to run with Nova? And would it be possible?

It certainly sounds crazy, but as we've previously written, ultra running, well, it doesn’t always involve that much running.

“We were going to be doing a lot of power hiking and so the effort level was going to be lower for her, and she was going to be on harness the whole time, which meant that her effort level was going to be considerably lower.”

The question of whether there was a race that would accept dog entries was answered with just a little research – Birch soon learned about the Orcas Island 100 race in Washington. With mild February temperatures, a mossy single-track trail and a looped course that allowed regular check-ins at an aid station to give Nova rest, it seemed like the best possible scenario for what Birch was cooking up.

As for whether running 100 miles together would really work, Birch dug around for existing examples, but no precedent has been set that he can find. There was Dion Leonard, the runner who crossed paths with a stray dog during a desert ultra and ended up going 70 miles together which is recounted in the book Finding Gobi, but that took place over several days and through circumstance, not training. He spoke to the owner of a sled dog company and learned that sled dogs are different because they run full out for a certain period of time, and then rest for an equal period. In the end, he decided that if Nova could train with him for 60k to 100k per week, she might just be able to pull it off.

Birch and Nova signed up for the race and started training, with Birch keeping the hound entirely on leash to prepare her for race conditions, and watching her closely, entirely aware of potential criticism.

“Having a dog, it's a privilege. I'm here to take care of her and protect her, and it wasn't lost on me that I was doing something that we had never done, that nobody's ever done. So of course there is going to be some risk involved with what we were doing, and we just tried to make the best decisions possible for her.”

As it turned out, Nova showed no signs of difficulty as the weekly mileage grew, and Birch and his wife started to concoct a plan for race day: they would stop at the aid station after each 25-mile lap and allow the dog increasing periods of sleep.

When they arrived at the start line, Nova in her harness with Musher’s Wax on her paws and with Birch’s old Suunto Peak watch strapped around her neck, all Birch knew for sure was that she could handle the 14-hour days that had made up their peak training period. After that, all bets were off.

“It was always, if we're gonna do this, we're gonna do this to the best that we can in the time that we have and not push her beyond what we think she's capable of.”

The unlikely pair completed the first 25-mile lap in six hours, then Nova slept for an hour. Fog and mist characteristic of the Pacific Northwest in winter hampered their pace considerably during the second overnight lap.

“Through the night we could barely see six feet in front of us,” recalls Birch, describing the effect as like driving through a storm with your headlights on.

“And of course dog's eyesight in low visibility is tough, so she's trusting me to get her through this. So we had to slow down.”

After 10 hours to complete the second lap, Nova slept for two hours and Birch decided to join her. When they awoke, she showed no signs of not wanting to continue so the duo hit the trail again and found themselves moving at a pace similar to their first lap.

“I just looked down at her every time like, how are you doing this? You have no idea what distance we're running. But you're still just happy to be there the entire time, with no question, no complaining, no anything. There's very few relationships. I think, that would ever compare to something like that.”

Towards the end of lap three, Birch realized they wouldn’t be able to make up the time they’d lost overnight. True to his word, he didn’t push and they slowed down and enjoyed the hike back to the aid station, timing out after an impressive 75 miles.

Birch says both ultra runners walked away completely injury-free, with Nova showing nothing more than a little normal wear on her paws despite never donning her dog booties. And for Birch, who is also a coach, not finishing was nothing that needed to be healed.

“I think you have to put yourself into discomfort and situations that have the potential of not working out, because how else do you grow?” says Birch, who describes race day as just one percent of the entire process of running an ultra.

“The outcome didn't matter in this. It was literally about the adventure and figuring out what is possible with a human and their dog.”

Now fully recovered and less than two months on, he says his only worry is that he’s created a monster – Nova just wants to run more and more. But while he thinks her age means another 100-mile attempt is out of the question, he hopes to race with her again.

“It creates a different kind of bond because you're moving together through everything. There's no way you can leave each other behind.”

When he gives me a peek, she’s curled up in her basket, barely bothered to open an eye when I call her name. The epitome of chill. As soon as her human says the word “run” however?

“She’s instantly sitting at the door just waiting and knowing that we're going to do something, and that's her job.”

A documentary about Nova’s ultra marathon will be released this spring, You can learn more about it at ultrabirch.com

• The best trail shoes for ultra runners: these robust and comfy rides are built for serious outdoor adventures
• The best running backpacks: for everything you need on the move

The UTMB World Series has unveiled its live broadcasting schedule for 2025 and the action kicks off this weekend with a major trail running showdown. Over the next nine months, UTMB Live will broadcast 12 ultra trail events from all over the globe and it all starts in picturesque Chianti in Italy, where runners will compete in five races ranging in distance from 10k to 120k.

Think watching people run slowly for five, 10 or even 12 hours sounds a little dull? Think again, says Antoine Aubour, UTMB’s Marketing, Communication & Media Director.

“It’s going to be the most important season ever of the UTMB story,” he says when we catch up with him to get all the inside scoop on what’s new from the UTMB streaming service, which has been updated with a more user-friendly interface.

Read on for five great reasons to tune in this weekend, plus the full broadcast schedule for 2025 and how to watch these amazing race races.

1. Three greats go head-to-head

As we reported last week, in a UTMB first, the last three champions from the UTMB finals – that’s Kilian Jornet, Jim Walmsley and Vincent Bouillard – are going head-to-head in the 120k Chianti Castles race. Jornet and Bouillard are hoping to score one of the two golden tickets available for this year’s Western States (there are two more up for grabs for the female runners), while Walmsley is automatically qualified.

“It’s going to be crazy,” says Aubour. “It’s gonna be a super super super fast race because it’s not like the French Alps with super hard climbing, it’s going to be runnable.”

The 74.5-mile race starts and ends in the Tuscan commune of Radda in Chianti and takes the runners across rolling mountainous terrain gaining over 5,200 meters in elevation. If you think in imperial terms, that's just over 17,000ft, which is only about half of what they face in Chamonix, so we're expecting to see them moving at a good pace if they’re feeling strong.

2. Fantastic footage

When the UTMB began live broadcasting the finals in Chamonix 10 years ago, it all started with one camera filming one person running, so it was innovative, but not the most captivating experience for non-diehard fans.

These days, however, the brand is working with drones as well as the best camera operators in this niche business to give us all the best angles of the frontrunners.

“If you want to run with a champion, you have to be a champion,” says Aubour, who says that those on the ground are accomplished runners and mountain bikers – including one former French Olympic mountain biking champion – who have been recruited to keep up on those dizzying descents.

This week’s race will have a camera on the top three to five runners in both the men’s and women’s division and you can expect that for each race going forward.

3. Engaging commentary and experts

What this weekend and other races won’t do is simply train a camera on a runner for hours on end. For weeks and months before each race, the UTMB is organizing a team of experts and special guests – this year to include South African trail running legend Toni McCann – to provide insights into the race and every facet of trail running.

“It’s important for us to bring our sport to life by showcasing the personalities of trail running,” says Aubour, something we don’t always get to see.

There will be trail runners, nutritionists and representatives from brands like Hoka and Salomon talking about live data and statistics as well as aspects such as team strategy and maintaining family balance.

“It’s a way for us to explain that the sport is accessible and not only for superheroes that live in the mountains.”

4. Because it’s Italy

Drawing on his experience with the Tour de France, Aubour and his team recognize that live broadcasts provide an important opportunity to showcase not only the sport of trail running but also the magnificent environments where the biggest races take place. When you participate in a destination sporting event, you want to experience that region as well as do your best from a performance standpoint, and that’s something Aubour says the UTMB wants for viewers too.

“Running in the US is not the same as running in the French Alps or running Thailand.”

This weekend, that means we’ll also get to enjoy charming shots of the rolling hills of Italy’s most famous winemaking region, no doubt dotted with picturesque wineries and quaint villages. Bliss.

Each broadcast in the live schedule comes from dramatically different regions – from northern Thailand to Verbier – and is a chance to discover a different destination through the unique lens of endurance sport.

5. An interactive experience

If your friends and family aren’t on board with watching 12 hours of trail running, you won’t be alone. Via the live broadcast, you can chat directly with the commentators, guest speakers and other viewers in the community.

“Making trail running accessible is our goal so we need to bridge the gap between trail running experts and trail running fans so interaction is key,” says Aubour.

Ask questions, share your predictions, and take part in fun polls and games for a more interactive experience.

How can I watch the UTMB Chianti?

The televised action in Chianti all kicks off with the 120k race at 4am local time on Saturday, March 22. That is 3am for UK viewers and means the race starts on Friday night at 10pm EST in the US and 7pm PST. You can watch the race at live.utmb.world/chianti.

Full 2025 UTMB broadcast schedule

This year, 12 events will be streamed live on live.utmb.world in seven languages – French, English, Spanish, Chinese, German, Italian and Thai – with equal coverage of men's and women's race leaders. Here’s the full streaming schedule:

• March 22: Chianti Ultra Trail
• March 29: Tenerife Bluetrail
• May 17: Ultra-Trail Australia
• July 3 - 5: Val d’Aran
• July 12: Trail Verbier St-Bernard
• July 18 - 19: Monte Rosa Walserwaeg
• July 19: Eiger Ultra Trail
• August 28 - 31: UTMB Mont-Blanc
• September 20 - 21: Wildstrubel
• September 26 - 27: Nice Cote d’Azur
• October 10 - 11: Kodiak Ultra Marathons
• December 5 - 6: Chiang Mai Thailand

• The best trail shoes for ultra runners: these robust and comfy rides are built for serious outdoor adventures
• The best hydration packs: on-the-go refuelling for your runs

In a major move to carve out a piece of the trail running pie for itself, running shoe brand New Balance has announced a five-year sponsorship of the famed Mont Blanc Marathon.

Like the better-known UTMB, the Mont Blanc Marathon begins and ends in Chamonix in the French Alps and consists of several events of varying distances that kick off each year on the last weekend in June.

Organized by the Club des Sports de Chamonix, the marathon distance event has been going since 2003, but a shorter 23 km race that takes place on part of the same route has been an annual event dating back to 1979.

"New Balance and the Club des Sports de Chamonix share common values, building a sustainable future for trail running in the valley," writes the MBM in a news release.

The release states that the partnership will focus on live broadcasting of the races, developing the Young Race Marathon for young trail talents and raising the profile of the marathon distance event by increasing the presence of elite runners.

It also hopes to reduce the environmental impact of the event by limiting the carbon footprint linked to transport, though no further details are provided at this time on how this will be accomplished. Next year's event takes place on June 26 - 29, 2025.

With the global trail running shoes market valued at $7.3 billion in 2022 and projected by Allied Market Research to reach $12.4 billion by 2032, it's no surprise that New Balance sees an opportunity for growth in the outdoor sports sector.

Though it's been better known for road running sneakers and apparel, the brand has been building its inventory of trail running shoes in recent years with models such as the DynaSoft Nitrel V5 which we rated as a bouncy ride for trail and road at a friendly price.

• Best trail running shoes: grip and speed on the trickiest terrain

A mountain marathon is a bit different from what you might imagine – although it’s a great way to combine trail running and hiking into one event. The format of the race is usually based on fell running and takes place over two or more days. 

As well as running, there is a strong orienteering element because competitors score points for reaching different checkpoints. It is also a type of race mainly held in the UK. 

You can choose to compete in pairs or solos, depending on the race, and for traditional races participants must carry their own kit for full self-sufficiency. 

There is a range of competition courses, including linear and “score”, and from novice distance to elite, with a set time or distance for each day of racing. Classes are usually male, female and mixed.

There are now some mountain marathon races that are shorter and also some races where you do not need to carry all your own kit, but for the purposes of this article we are talking about more traditional mountain marathons, such as the OMM (the Original Mountain Marathon).

Here are 22 things to know about your first mountain marathon race.

1 The word “marathon” is a bit misleading

While there are plenty of marathons that take place in the mountains, these are usually defined by the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. Most 26.2-mile marathons in the mountains are on paths and trails. 

However, a mountain marathon race is different. It might be a marathon distance but it could also be shorter or longer. This is not a race that is set at 26.2 miles but rather than word “marathon” refers to an activity that takes a long time.

In my first mountain marathon I ended up completing more than 26 miles on both days, while in my second mountain marathon I completed 20 miles on day one and less on day two. Distance depends on the course you have signed up for and your choice of route between the checkpoints.

There is usually a lot of ascent and descent during a mountain marathon because the event calls for you to reach checkpoints at altitude, as well as others in valleys and glens.

No one mountain marathon is the same as another and even if they are the same event – such as the Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon and Mourne Mountain Marathon – the distances, challenges and even the locations will differ year to year. 

2 Enter the right “course”

Within most mountain marathon events there will be a score and a linear course. A score course requires you to choose the checkpoints (CPs) you will reach and in your own order. There will be more points scored for CPs that are trickier to get to, whether that is because they are further from the start or overnight camps, or harder to find. 

A linear course calls for competitors to reach CPs in a set order. You still need to navigate to find the CPs but you don’t need to make so many decisions about which ones to go to. This type of course is usually based on speed, rather than speed and tactical ability.

As a newcomer, the linear course can be a good choice because it makes the race a bit easier. An alternative is to choose a score category that is over a shorter distance or a reduced time period. 

In my first mountain marathon, I was too ambitious and entered a score category that was aimed at competitors who had already completed a few of these events. In my second mountain marathon I learned from my error and chose the linear course.

3 Choose your partner carefully

You could do a solo mountain marathon but when you are new to these events it’s a good idea to work as part of a pair. You will have the advantage of shared knowledge and decision-making. 

But you really should be sure that you are well matched to your partner. As well a being a similar pace, it is important that you can get along with your team-mate for the duration of the race.

There can be stressful times, especially when you can’t find a checkpoint or you are cold, tired or hungry (or all three) and if you are at odds with your partner you will not have a great time.

I learned all this to my cost in my first mountain marathon when I found myself constantly disagreeing with my partner’s choice of route and CPs. In my second mountain marathon, I worked well with a friend who was happy to discuss each CP choice and route. We also agreed to enjoy the race rather than be highly competitive and this meant we had two great days of adventure together.

4 The location is often a secret  

Most mountain marathons will offer information about the general area or region for the race but no specifics are given until closer to the event. This means you need to be flexible and adaptable when it comes to travel and expectations. 

Make sure you enter an event that is reasonably close to where you live, and be prepared to travel to an unknown location. This adds to the excitement of a mountain marathon for many people and it stops people having an unfair advantage by visiting or studying the map of where the race will take place. 

5 Paths are not the norm

Mountain marathons usually require you to run and hike on rough terrain. There might be some tracks and paths to follow but, generally, these events are across fells and mountains on rugged ground. 

I quickly realised that it would have been a good idea to spend more time before the mountain marathon becoming familiar with moving at a fast pace over thick vegetation, uneven ground and bog. 

These are often tough events on the body and a mile on this sort of terrain will feel like you have covered several miles on a track. I wish I’d spent more time off-path, moving at speed, during the build up to my first mountain marathon.

6 You need to be really good at navigation

Before my first mountain marathon I would have described myself as “not bad” at navigation. By the time I entered my second mountain marathon, I was a much more experienced and efficient navigator in the hills and mountains and could more easily read the map.

As a novice, I underestimated how important the orienteering aspect was in these races. 

There are novice-entry levels in most mountain marathons and it is probably a good idea to start with these  if you are not sure how good you are at navigating. The race is meant to be enjoyed rather than leaving you feeling hopeless, so I recommend you choose your course carefully – and you also practice your navigation in the hills and mountains beforehand.

It’s also worth noting that GPS devices and phone apps are not allowed so you do need to be able to use a map and compass.

7 There are people who can run and read a map and compass 

In my first mountain marathon, I was amazed to see people running and checking their map and compass at the same time. It’s not easy to keep to a compass bearing while moving at speed but these competitors had obviously done it before.

I have never managed to be able to do this efficiently and so I usually have to stop to check the map, set my compass bearing, head off and then stop again a while later.

I don’t think my poor eyesight helps with this useful mountain marathon technique. 

8 Learn when to a contour 

Contouring is when you follow the same contour line, or roughly level piece of land for a distance. The opposite is to head up or downhill gaining or losing height and therefore crossing the contour lines on a map.

It’s a  skill of the best mountain marathon racers to know when to stick to a contour and head around or along a mountain slope or through a glen – and when to go up or down a slope. 

I fell out with my partner in my first mountain marathon because he preferred to take the longer route contouring a mountain side, when I wanted to head uphill and to a high point and over the other side of the mountain.

9 Don't follow other competitors

Yes, these competitors might know what they are doing – and better than you – but they might also be going in the wrong direction. They might be heading for a CP that you have not spotted or be part of a different course, so you should always stick to your own navigation.

10 Hike the hills 

Mountain marathons are usually endurance events and only the fittest competitors will be able to run all the time. The best technique is to briskly walk the uphills and then run the downhills and the flatter sections. 

Many people swear by this method and unless you are in Kilian Jornet’s league, it’s likely you will want a steadier pace to allow you to reach the end of each day.

11 Lightweight packing is a skill

Looking around at other competitors in my first mountain marathon race, I was amazed by how little they seemed to be carrying. Their running packs looked tiny, while mine seemed to be five times the size (and presumably much heavier).

Obviously, it is easy to run and compete when you are carrying a lighter pack but you also need to ensure you will be safe, warm, dry and adequately hydrated and fuelled.

Most races will have an essential kit list and you can find – and buy – the lightest products such as a lightweight waterproof running jacket, waterproof trousers,  insulated jacket and sleeping bag. However, there is a cost to this (many ultra lightweight products actually cost more than heavier products) and some items might not perform as well as you would hope.

For example, a very lightweight sleeping bag will feel great in your pack but if it’s a cold night you will not sleep due to shivering. 

In my first mountain marathon I borrowed some really lightweight kit. This included a small piece of sleeping mat (rather than full length sleeping mat or inflatable mat), a sleeping bag with insulation only on one side and a very lightweight insulted jacket. Night-time temperatures fell to below 32°F / 0°C and I ended up very cold. 

In my next mountain marathon I chose to take warmer – and heavier kit – because I wanted to be sure I would sleep and enjoy the event rather than endure it. 

There is a personal balance to be had in what kit you pack and whether you stay warm and dry.

12 Women sleep colder than men on average 

I get cold at night in a tent but I forgot about this when trying to pare down my kit for my first mountain marathon. Many women are cold sleepers so it’s important to remember this, otherwise you may be miserable. 

Choose a lightweight but still warm enough sleeping bag and pay as much as you can afford for this. It is a good idea to check out sleeping bag reviews before you buy. 

13 Take the right socks for nights 

Socks that fit too tightly can actually leave you with cold feet because they do not allow your blood to circulate properly. A pair of loose fitting but woolly socks will do a great job. Alternatively you should choose a sleeping bag with extra insulation at the toes, or pack down-filled camp boots.

14 Don’t forget a power bank

While you are not allowed to use GPS mapping during most mountain marathons the chances are you will still want to use your phone before and after the race each day and night. Many mobile phones lose charge during one day so a power bank will be a great asset.

15 No one cares if you smell a bit

It’s unlikely you will take a full change of clothes with you and over two days of racing they can become a bit whiffy. But everyone is in the same boat so you shouldn’t worry. You could always choose to wear natural wool baselayers such as merino, which are less likely to smell due to body odour. 

I packed far too many clothes in my first mountain marathon. In my second race I did take a few extra garments such as dry socks, a fresh baselayer t-shirt and running tights. The tights weren’t needed in the day but it was great to pop them on at the overnight camp and then sleep in them.

16 Two supermarket plastic bags are a top tip

I saw people using supermarket plastic bags over their dry socks and inside wet shoes in my first mountain marathon and I did the same in my second event of this type. 

The chances are your shoes will end up damp or wet. If you change your socks at the overnight camp, you don’t want to put them into wet shoes so during that time the plastic bags provide a waterproof layer.

17 Share a tent  if you can

Most pairs in mountain races will share a tent. There is an advantage to this because you split the weight of the tent between you and you will stay warmer lying next to someone else at night.

18 Sleeping solo is also allowed 

Not every pair wants to share a tent and, while you will then need to carry your own tent and put up with the extra weight, there is the benefit of having a night without the snoring and movement of your fellow competitor.

19 Don’t forget ear plugs 

Whether you share a tent, or not, camps can be very noisy and full of snoring so a pair of ear plugs is a great idea.

20 Don’t forget a tick remover

The natural environment of mountain marathons means tick bites are likely. Ticks can be carriers of Lyme Disease, with a potential range of poor health outcomes. Many mountain marathon competitors wear long running tights or they make sure they check their body all. Over and remove any ticks with a proper tick removing device. 

21 Don’t forget a few treats

The weight of your race pack is very important but so is your enjoyment of the event. You should pack all the food and water you need and then add a couple of treats for the overnight camp. For some people this might be cheese and biscuits or a bar of chocolate. For others it could be a wee dram of whisky. 

Watching other people enjoy their camp treats while you have only a couple of packets of dehydrated food is a lesson I learned to my disadvantage in my first mountain marathon.

22 There are race penalties

If you finish outside the set time of your mountain marathon course you will be penalised. These penalties can be quite hefty and it is usually worth finishing early rather than late. If you are getting close to the end of the day and you are wondering whether you have time to reach another CP, the answer is probably “no” or “risky”.  

The more experience you have at reading a map and working out where the CPs are, as well as the type of terrain to cross, the better you will be at making judgements towards the end of a mountain marathon. But in your first event, it’s probably better to play it safe.

This I definitely found out in my first mountain marathon when my partner and I lost several placings in our category after being penalised for being 15 minutes late over the finish time. 

I learned this lesson and made sure to finish in time in my second mountain marathon. 

Like many runners I was attracted to the idea of stepping up my distances from half marathon, through marathon, to ultra marathon. The distance of an ultra-marathon is widely held as any event longer than 30 miles, or 50km, although some people class an ultra race as any distance longer than a marathon. My first ultra marathon was a hilly one, the Ochils Ultra, which took place in the range of hills between Stirlingshire and Perthshire in Scotland.

Here are nine things I wish I'd known before running my first ultra marathon.

1 It’s important to run your own race – and not the race of others

Being a competitive person and feeling good at the start of the ultra marathon, I got caught up early on running the race of other people. I enjoyed the first 10 miles or so running alongside a couple of younger female runners. 

I knew the pace was a little fast but I was pulled along by their chat and my race-day enthusiasm and I figured that I could drop the pace at any point that I wanted to.

Sadly, that first section of running outwith my comfort zone turned out to be a heavy price to pay towards the end.

I did need to slow down and those ladies ran on to finish in first and second place. Meantime, I struggled to maintain even my usual comfort zone running speed and suffered with very heavy legs and tired and cramping muscles for the final stages of my race.

I know now that if I had settled into my own race pace right from the start, I would have had a much more enjoyable experience and I m sure I would have achieved a faster overall time. 

2 Walking is absolutely fine - in fact it's sensible

In any running race, I like to do my best and this normally means I keep running. But, in a longer distance race, pace and the conservation of energy are key to finishing. In many cases, walking up the hills, rather than trying to run, makes perfect sense. This is why some people will tell you that ultra running is actually hiking.

Looking back on my first ultra marathon, I think it would have paid dividends if I'd walked briskly uphill rather than trying to run the hills. Through more experience, I now run the flats and downhills but march up the uphills.

3 Regular eating is vital - even when your stomach says no thanks

Regular fuelling is key to a successful ultra marathon. I didn’t eat enough of my snacks early enough in the race and this meant my digestive system was not ready for food when I did decide to eat. I felt quite nauseous for most of the second half of the race.

I have learned that eating regularly – every half hour at least – and right from the start of a race pays dividends. 

I usually take a mix of savoury and sweet foods on a long-distance run and I avoid shop bought energy gels unless it is towards the end of the run, or race. I find that “ordinary” food works better with my stomach. 

I like foods such as oatcakes and cheese (with plenty of butter so they are not too dry), meat sticks such as Pepperami, Babybel cheeses, salted nuts, home-made flapjack and jelly sweets. You need to try all these foods in training, too, to make sure your stomach can cope with them.

4 Comfortable clothing is more important that looks

I am not someone who worries too much about what I look like during a race but I did see some “interesting” outfits worn by other competitors. Tiny shorts, for example, look good on some people but the effect of many miles of sweaty running can cause a lot of thigh chafing. I winced at the legs of some runners with the potential for sore inner thighs.

Similarly, crop tops might look good and feel airy on a warm day, but there is a big potential for sores developing on bare skin when you wear a running pack. 

I sensibly wore a running skort, so I had protection from chafing as well as comfort. My mistake was my sports bra, which caused a lot of underarm chafing. I was sure I'd worn this bra in training and it felt comfortable, but on the day it rubbed. 

I think it was due to the amount I sweated on the day of the race. The combination of damp skin with salt led to rubbed skin that took weeks to heal.

5 Talking of sweat… I took salt tablets but failed to consume them

Salt tablets are an essential on many people’s ultra marathon tips and kit list. I took them with me for my first ultra marathon, but then I failed to consume them. I had not used salt tablets in training and so I was unsure how my body would deal with them.

In the end, I wished I'd given them a try because I suffered bad cramps in my hamstrings and some experts believe that salt tablets help to ward off muscle cramps. 

6 The body – and mind –  is incredibly resilient

Despite the physical suffering in the final part of the ultra marathon, I was amazed by how resilient I was. My mind kept pushing me on to take one more step, and another step, and eventually I made it to the finish line.

I had been convinced from about two-thirds into the race I couldn’t possibly complete it, but I did.

What you learn is that whatever the distance of a running event, there will be a point when you believe it’s impossible to finish but somehow you do. There is a great deal of mind over matter in ultra marathon running. 

7 Beware the inevitable tarmac

I chose an ultra marathon that was mostly off road. I much prefer trail running to road running. But, as I have come to learn, many long distance running races will include sections of tarmac.

Running on the hard and unforgiving surface of tarmac when your legs and body are tired is very tough indeed. It's worth keeping this in mind so you are not too shocked when it happens. 

8 Age isn’t so important in ultra marathons

The ultra marathon competitors ranged from 20s to 60s - and maybe some 70-year-olds. 

While I might have expected the younger runners to be more successful, it turned out that there was a wide mix of age groups in the first finishers. 

Age – and gender – perform on a much more level playing field in longer distance running events, from what I witnessed. 

Indeed, I was 50 when I did my first ultra marathon. I ended up in third place in the female race, behind those two younger women who I had tried to keep up with in the early stages of the race. I was about double the age of one of them. 

 9 Getting into the car to drive straight home is a poor recovery choice 

My husband met me at the finish and after a bit of low-level stretching and sipping from a water bottle, I got into the car with him to drive home. This was a bad idea because my muscles almost completely seized up as I sat in the passenger seat for a couple of hours. 

Looking back I would have been much better if I had completed a good range of stretches and then gone for a walk for a while to ease off my muscles. 

I should have drunk more water and also consumed a protein shake for a more effective post-race recovery.

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When you enter a running race, you will most likely consider factors such as training for the distance, what to wear and how to fuel your race. But on race day, it’s important that you know the correct etiquette for running a race. We reveal 16 tips for being a courteous runner when participating in a race.

1. Don’t dump your excess kit

It might be that you turn up at the start line of a running race, whether it’s a 10k, half marathon or marathon, with extra clothing and kit. For example, if it’s a cool or wet start to a race, an extra jumper or a waterproof jacket will keep you warm while you wait for the start of the event. 

It is poor etiquette to simply dump this excess clothing at the race start, even if you hope to pick it up later. It is even worse if you leave the unwanted items at the start of the race and never pick them up.

Leaving unwanted clothing is the same as dropping litter and it is not encouraged. You could even face a penalty fine for littering.

The best way to deal with extra clothing and kit is to make sure you hand the unwanted items to a friend near the start line, or stuff it into your running pack so you take it with you. 

2. Don’t jump the lines for the bathroom

If it’s a busy running race, there will most likely be long lines at the bathrooms close to the start line. It’s poor etiquette to jump the queues. Why should you go to the front of the line when others have been waiting patiently?

3. A question of peeing

If the race is in a town or city, it’s poor form to pee in the street. In fact, you could face a fine because urinating in a public place is considered a type of littering. Worse, UK runners might be accused of committing indecent exposure under the Sexual Offences Act of 2003, depending on where you pee. Instead, wait patiently in the line for the bathrooms laid on by race organizers.

4. Be aware of your pace

If you know you are a slower runner, it’s not great etiquette to push to the front of the crowds when you are waiting to start a race. Most busy races will have allotted zones for runners of different paces to congregate.

Faster runners should be towards the front, while slower runners will be further back at the start. 

It’s poor show to start slowly at the front so that faster runners need to overtake you.

5. Wear your race number

Race organizers hand out race numbers and chips to ensure they know who is in the race and to keep track of times. It is not just about recording everyone's time, but also for safety reasons because lost runners could be in danger.

It's the right etiquette to abide by the rules of the race and wear the race number. 

6. Don’t be a litter bug

You might not normally be a litter bug, but mid-race some runners lose their sense of etiquette and drop the wrappers of gels and food that they have consumed. Again, this is a no-no.

Runners might expect that it’s the responsibility of the race organizer to fetch discarded wrappers and rubbish but this is not the case. You should take care to carry all waste and rubbish with you when you run.

Stuff the wrappers in your running back or pockets and take them home with you so you can responsibly discard them.

Did you know you could face a penalty fine for littering?

7. Spitting issues 

Spitting and nose snorting is unpleasant but many runners do this regularly. If you are racing with many others, take care as to where the spit or nose spray ends up. 

It is actually rarely acceptable to spit in the street or other public places.

In addition, like urinating, spitting in a public place is considered a type of littering and you could be fined for it.

8. Scary over-taking

Many runners will have experienced the unpleasant situation where another runner races up behind them and then overtakes far too closely or, worse still, overtakes and then shouts abuse or their excuses as they pass.

This is very poor race-day etiquette and, instead, you should respect your fellow runners and make sure you overtake more thoughtfully.

Wait for a space that is wide enough for you to overtake a runner so you can give them a decent berth. You could alert a runner in front that you are about to overtake by gently saying something like “runner behind” or “runner coming past”. Try not to shout at the runner in front and aim to give them enough notice so that they can move to the side.

9. Annoying front-running

Equally, if you are a runner in front of others, try not to hog the path. You should be aware of other runners behind you and especially if the path is narrow of you are heading uphill at a slower pace. 

Listen for people behind you so that you can let them pass if they want to.

Running two and three abreast in a busy race can be frustrating for other competitors.

10. Don’t push and barge

The food and water stations can be busy but the right race-day etiquette is to wait your turn to take the items, or to be passed food or water bottles and cups by the people manning the stations.

In many races, the food and water stations are run by volunteers and it’s unpleasant for them to be faced with impatient and rude runners.

11. Don’t be a race bandit

If you run a race without paying for an entry this is called race banditing. There are many reasons why it is poor race etiquette to be a bandit. Paying for an entry is important for organizers because it allows them to continue to host events and it also means they can keep official track of who is in the race and who is not.

12. Be polite

If you are looking for information about the race, whether it’s on the day, before the racer, during the event or afterwards, you should do so politely. Shouting at a marshal as you run by, for example to ask how many miles are left or who is in front of you, is rude. The chances are you wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t a race, so don’t bother in a running event.

It’s far better to say thank you and give praise to volunteers, marshals and organizers.

13. Music matters

Listening to music as you run is allowed at some races, but banned at others – if you are listening to music you will not be as aware of other runners around you. Race organizers generally prefer people not to listen to music in ear buds because it can cause safety issues, though sometimes make an exception for bone-conducting headphones, which don't cover your ears and allow you to hear ambient sounds around you. 

It does depend on the race and format but you should consider how your music listening will affect the experience of other competitors.

14. A word about nudity 

Unless you are taking part in a specifically naturist race, such as the Naked Run, it's race etiquette to keep on your clothes. Some male runners believe it’s fine to run without a top. Some women like to run in sports bras or crop tops. Not everyone else likes to see this much flesh at races. Have a think about what would be considered to be polite when it comes to baring skin at running races.

15. Move quickly through the finish

Standing around in the finish line funnel could lead to frustration and overcrowding. Try to move through the area quickly to allow other people space and their share of post-race food and goodies. 

16. Be grateful

It’s hard for race organizers to please everyone with race bag goodies, t-shirts and medals. Try to accept what is handed out with grace. Complaining on the day and to the race organizers will probably lead to an unpleasant face-to-face exchange. 

Many races offer an opportunity for feedback and that can be done after the race by email or a format that the organizer has chosen.

Race day etiquette 

If runners are aware of these tips for race day etiquette, it's likely that participants, organizers, marshals and volunteers will enjoy the event all the more.

Some people want to climb Everest. Some people want row the Atlantic. Some people want to hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail. But Colorado sales director Braden Roggow had another ambition – to run a full 26.2-mile marathon around his local McDonald’s in a challenge he called a “McMarathon”.

So that’s what he did last month. This meant looping round his local McDonald’s 187 times on a 740-foot circuit. He broke the marathon up into 47-lap sessions, and after each session, he switched directions in the parking lot. 

And he didn’t fuel himself with running gels and protein bars – he scoffed one item from the McDonald’s menu each time he changed direction, specifically:

• One medium black hot coffee
• One large powerade
• One medium iced coffee
• Three hash browns
• One sausage and egg McMuffin

“You get the carbs. It’s salty. It’s delicious,” he told Outside. “I see McDonald’s as the perfect running food—that’s just me, though.”

He eventually completed the challenge in three hours and seven minutes, which sounds like a time that’s waiting for some other fast-food-loving runner to best (not that we think Guinness World Records are ever going to make it all official). His own proper marathon personal best is 2 hours 45 minutes, but he says, “this marathon was definitely the most memorable and the most meaningful”.

And the only dodgy moment was, “a close call with a bathroom pit stop,” though he hastens to add that had nothing to do with the food upsetting his stomach.

Amazingly, Roggow wasn’t even sponsored by McDonald’s. He just loves the place. He worked at a branch as a teenager and used to date his future wife at a branch in Denver. And he admits to Outside that when he became a dedicated runner he continued to eat cheeseburgers and McMuffins. “You can still treat yourself to fast food when you run 100 miles a week,” he reckons.

We’re not sure Morgan Spurlock (RIP) would have approved.

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4am (MDT) on August 17 was a very unusual time for a film premier. But there was a very specific reason that professional skier Drew Petersen’s raw and powerful documentary about running and mental health, Feel It All, was unleashed onto YouTube at that exact time.

Because it coincided with the start of Colorado’s Leadville Trail 100 Run, aka, the “Race Across the Sky”, one the world’s most legendary ultra marathons, which was first held in 1983. It’s a gruelling 100 mile (161km) course that includes skiing and running up and down several 14,000-foot (4,267m) peaks. This year Petersen was among the runners.

Feel It All chronicles Petersen’s journey from the depths of deep depression to finding purpose, strength and resilience by setting a goal to run the Leadville Trail 100 ultramarathon. It tells an immersive story of how within the struggle of living with mental illness lies an opportunity to access an infinite, inexhaustible well of strength to achieve our limitless potential. “The film aims to ultimately create powerful cultural change around mental health awareness and suicide prevention,” says the official website.

So yeah, there’s some majestic and stirring skiing and running footage too.

It’s not Petersen’s first foray into this area. His 2022 release, Ups and Downs, was a ski film that dealt with PTSD, bipolar disorder, brain injury rehabilitation and suicide. Petersen hopes that Feel It All will expand the message further.

“Ups and Downs was, in its core, a ski movie. I don't know if I want to use the word 'just’, but it was just a ski film,” Petersen told the website POWDER. “And Feel It All takes that, brings in running, brings in a whole parallel community, broadens it to the outdoor community.”

• If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. (US only)
• When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. (UK only)
• Lifeline is available on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au. (Australia only)

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Many runners aspire to running a marathon and with a good training plan it’s possible for newcomers to reach the finish line of their chosen 26.2-mile race. Whether you've run your first marathon, or you have run a few already, the chances are you will be keen to improve your time, perhaps aiming for a sub four-hour marathon, a 3:30 marathon or even a sub three-hour marathon.

In this guide we reveal 12 top tips to help you improve your marathon time.

1. Follow a training plan

Whether it’s an online training plan, a marathon training plan found in a book or using your Garmin to train for a marathon, the key to running a faster marathon time is to make sure you build up the mileage carefully and consistently. 

An expert training plan will give you the building blocks to achieving a faster time by helping you to run at the right speed and building endurance over the distance. 

2. Join a club

A running club is sure to include members who are experienced marathon runners. Joining a club allows you to meet people who can guide you to improving your marathon time.

Attending a club regularly will also give you the opportunity to run faster and to participate in sessions such as speed work or hill reps. Running with other people is also motivating and often brings the benefit of helping you to run faster. 

3. Hire a coach

For marathon training that is customised to suit your level and fitness, there is little to beat working with a running coach. An experienced coach will assess your current running speed and help you to train towards an improved marathon time. 

4. Do speed work

To improve your marathon time, you will need to run faster. To run faster in a race – and for 26.2 miles – your body needs to be trained to adapt to the pace.

Running faster sessions, or running intervals at a faster pace, will help you towards your goal of running a quicker marathon.

Make sure you follow a training plan, hire a coach or join a club to ensure your speed work is specific for a marathon.

5. Add strength training

Stronger muscles are needed to run more miles at a faster pace. You can increase strength and endurance through running but it’s also a good idea to add some specific strength training to your program. Focus on leg exercises, such as lunges, squats and calf raises to increase strength in a range of leg muscles.

6. Stretch and recovery 

If you run without sufficient rest and recovery, there is a greater chance of suffering running injuries. Make sure your training plan includes rest days each week and a recovery week every four or five weeks. 

Recovery sessions might include doing a different sport such as swimming, walking or gentle cycling.

7. Run with a friend

Training for a marathon requires self-discipline and motivation. If you can enlist the support of a running friend, you are much more likely to stick with the plan. Better still, why don’t you both train together for a faster marathon time?

8. Set a goal for a charity fundraiser

Further motivation for improving your marathon time can come from setting a target of raising money for charity. Once you have announced your plans to run – for example, a four-hour or 3:30 marathon for your chosen charity – it will make you more accountable to your training and race results.

9. Make sure you taper

The final weeks of a marathon training plan should allow you to taper towards the race. This means you will do less mileage, or run at a slower pace, before taking part in the race. Tapering gives your body and muscles a rest and ensures you are in the best shape to run an improved time for a marathon.

10. Fuel properly

The right amount of calories and hydration can make a marathon much easier to run. Without the right fuelling you could end up hitting the wall, so make sure you follow a good nutrition plan for your marathon.

11. Try different running footwear

You need to choose your perfect running shoe, if there is such a thing! Many runners have a favorite running shoe for different terrains and for training and racing. Lighter weight running footwear might give you the edge when running a faster marathon. There are also brands that claim to have created running shoes to make you faster.

Check out what the Olympic marathon runners were wearing, for example, and, if you have the money, you could give them a try.

12. Choose the right marathon race

The atmosphere of a marathon race can make a huge difference to the outcome of your time. Choose one of the bigger events, such as the London Marathon (if you can secure an entry place), the New York Marathon, or the Edinburgh Marathon, for guaranteed big crowd atmosphere. 

Another way to run a marathon PB (personal best) is to choose a flatter marathon event. Marathons with less overall ascent and descent will usually allow runners to run a better time. 

You could choose to run a road marathon instead of a trail marathon for the chance of improving your time. 

Also consider choosing the right season for you to run a marathon. Some people like a colder marathon while others prefer warmer conditions, so pick the one that suits you to improve your marathon time.

Concerns over the water quality of the River Seine continue, as the athlete's familiarization training sessions for the 10k open swim events were cancelled on Tuesday. The women's race is scheduled to take place on Thursday, with the men's event on Friday.

Water quality assessments on the river revealed that the levels of Enterococci were above the maximum threshold set by the World Aquatics body. Enterococci is an indicator of faecal pollution.

The state of the Seine has been a blot on the Paris Olympics. Concerns were raised after Belgium withdrew its team from the mixed relay triathlon due to one of its competitors, Claire Michel, falling ill. She'd early swam in the river in the female triathlon event, finishing 38th. This state of affairs wasn't a total shock; in the lead up to the three triathlon events, several training sessions also had to be cancelled.

This is all despite Paris spending 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) on improvements to the river's infrastructure in an attempt to clean it up before the games.

Having assessed the quality of the Seine's water, the World Aquatics body released a statement saying that: "Enterococci levels exceeded World Aquatics maximum thresholds during the morning review. The latest Enterococci samples (taken between 12:30 and 13:20 on 4 August) showed levels exceeding the maximum acceptable World Aquatics thresholds.”

However, the statement went on to say that: "With a favourable weather forecast and forward-looking analysis, World Aquatics and Paris 2024 remain confident that the Marathon Swimming competitions on 8 and 9 August will proceed as planned.”

Anne Descamps, Paris 2024 executive director of communications, was keen to play down the situation, stating that the decision to cancel the training session was “taken with an abundance of caution”.

The latest water quality assessment took place on Sunday 4 August, before Monday's mixed triathlon event, which went ahead. Descamps quelled concerns by saying that the high readings were taken in a separate part of the river to where the triathlon swim took place.

It remains to be seen whether the Marathon Swimming competitions will go ahead on Thursday and Friday, though Olympics organizers will be hoping for no further setbacks.

Watching the athletes at the Olympics can be very inspiring – and when it comes to running, the marathon distance is one of the most impressive. As a viewer (check out our guide to watching the Olympic marathon 2024) you will be amazed by the speed the Olympic marathon runners maintain for the full 26.2 miles of the race, but this running event is still achievable for many more “ordinary” runners. It just takes some focussed training, the right kit and footwear and the best choice of marathon race for you.

We bring you a guide to getting started with your marathon running goal.

How to train for a marathon

The right marathon training programme for you will depend on your fitness and racing experience so far. Ideally, you will have already run a 10k race and hopefully a half-marathon event, and now have the aim of the 26.2-mile marathon.

You could start right at the beginning and build up to a marathon but allow more months for this to happen.

Realistically, if you have run a 10k and you feel ready for a half-marathon distance, you could probably train for a full marathon in around 12 weeks. It could also be a good goal to aim for a sub four-hour marathon. 

There are plenty of training schedules to follow, whether online or in a variety of books. Many runners find a coach is very useful when training for their first marathon.

It’s not simply a case of running further because you need to build up the distance incrementally to avoid injury. It is also a good idea to include strength training and recovery sessions, such as yoga or swimming, so that you maintain the best physical health.

Runners who build up the mileage too quickly and focus on on the running miles often find they are stopped in their tracks due to running injuries and niggles.

Buy the right marathon running kit

Training for a marathon requires many miles of training. Comfort is key and you should choose clothes that are lightweight and comfortable.

Fabrics that allow sweat to easily evaporate and are quick drying will help you to avoid chafing and keep you warm and dry if it’s cold and damp. Even when the weather is warm, sweat will cause your clothes to become wet, so you will want technical fabrics that dry quickly.

Some people swear by merino as a wonder fabric, or other natural yarns, for their quick drying properties and these natural fabrics have the advantage of reduced build up of odor from sweat.

It might be that you wil be training in the winter months for a spring or summer marathon, so you will need to think about layers for warmth. If you layer tops you can take them off and put them back on when the conditions dictate.

A waterproof running jacket or a windproof running jacket will be another essential marathon training kit item. Add running gloves and headwear for colder days as well, plus running sunglasses for brighter days.

One area that many marathon runners suffer is thigh chafing. If you wear lycra shorts or tights, or double layer shorts or skorts, much of the chafing will be avoided. There are anti-chafing creams and ointments available, too.

Also beware the runner’s nipple. When you run longer distances, the nipples can become chafed or sore due to fabric rubbing repetitively. You could try nipple shields or covers.

It will be a good idea to have a running pack to carry spare kit and also snacks and water.

The best footwear for marathons

Choose your marathon footwear to suit your running gait and also the terrain that you will train and race on. Road running shoes are different from trail running shoes so buy the right footwear to suit. Marathon training requires many miles of running and it’s likely you will also require some decent underfoot cushioning. 

Many longer distance runners have a few pairs of running shoes for training and a lighter weight pair of shoes for the race itself. 

Choose your marathon race 

There are thousands of different marathon races across the world. Some are iconic events such as the London Marathon, New York Marathon and Boston Marathon. 

Other marathons might be more local to you, which makes travel arrangements easier on the day. You could also target a marathon race as part of a vacation, or take a holiday after doing a marathon. How about signing up for a marathon in a national park and then taking an extended trip to see some top attractions?

There are also some great trail marathons, so you do not need to pound out your 26-2-mile goal on tarmac.

Motivation for training

Running mile after mile in your training programme can become hard work both physically and mentally. A good quality training programme should take care of the physical side of a marathon.

To stay on track and motivated, you would enlist the support of friends to run with you or train for the same marathon. Join a local running club and enjoy the friendship and encouragement of other runners, too.

Another great way to stay focused is to pick a charity to raise money for. If you have a fund-raising goal, it will remind you why you are running all the miles when the training and race feel tough. 

I’ve run a marathon, what next?

Hopefully, once you have completed your first marathon you will be keen to do another. Your next goal might be to run one of the marathon Holy Grail times of a 3:30 marathon (three hours and 30 minutes) or even a sub-three hour marathon finish. There are training programmes that can help you to achieve this if you have the time for consistent effort. 

If you have completed a road marathon, why not aim for a trail marathon? Or you could pick a hillier, or flatter, marathon. Alternatively, how about choosing a different region or country for your next marathon goal? Or looking at one of the world's weirdest running races?

Running a marathon brings many rewards and it's a goal that plenty of runners are keen to aim for. 

Want to know how to watch women's Olympic marathon live streams at Paris 2024? This guide will tell you everything you need to know, wherever you are in the world today. There are free viewing options in Australia, Canada and the UK, and we also explain how you can use a VPN to watch your usual coverage if you're away from home when the starting gun fires.

The marathon has been on the Olympic calendar since the very first modern Games in 1896, but the Paris route has to be among the most iconic in the event's history – especially as it recognizes the historic women's march on Versailles in 1789, during the French Revolution. The 26-and-a-bit-mile route starts at the Hôtel de Ville, passes the Louvre and the banks the River Seine, before crossing the city to the famous palace at Versailles. It then heads back across town via the Eiffel Tower before finishing at Esplanade Des Invalides. Beyond the numerous tourist-friendly landmarks – not that the runners will be stopping to take any snaps – it's a surprisingly hilly course, with 1430 feet (436 meters) of uphill to negotiate.

The women's race starts early in the Parisian morning, bringing the curtain down on the athletics program. The reigning champion and 2024 London Marathon winner, Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir, will be out to regain her title, but she's sure to face stiff competition from the Ethiopian contingent, Megertu Alemu, 2023 world champion Amane Beriso Shankule, and world record holder Tigst Assefa.

Scroll down for all the information you need to watch a women's Olympic marathon live stream on the final weekend of the 2024 Games. And if all this talk of going the distance has got you in the mood to hit the road for yourself, check out our guides to starting marathon running and the best road running shoes 2026. 

Watch free women's Olympics marathon live streams in Australia

When it comes to watching the Olympics, Aussies have it better than pretty much everyone. That's because Down Under, Channel 9 and its 9Now streaming service host the most comprehensive free-to-air Paris 2024 coverage anywhere in the world. That means that almost every session from the Games is available live via Channel 9's various platforms.

Your viewing options aren't limited to Channel 9, either, because subscription service Stan is also covering Paris 2024 ad-free, live and in 4K resolution. You can add Stan Sport to your Stan subscription for $15 per month. (Stan is also home to numerous other sports, including Champions League football and rugby union.)

Don't worry if you're adventuring overseas during the Olympics. Fans of distance running can watch women's Olympics marathon live stream as they would back home. All you need is a quality VPN, such as NordVPN, to watch your usual free stream when overseas. Find out more below.

Use a VPN to watch the women's Olympics marathon from anywhere

If you’re traveling abroad during the Olympics, geo-blocking restrictions mean you probably won't be able to watch your usual TV service as you would in your front room.

That doesn't mean you have to miss out on the Olympics marathon, however. All you need to do to watch as if you were back home is get yourself a VPN (Virtual Private Network) – assuming it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs, of course.  A VPN creates a private connection between your device and the internet, meaning the service can’t work out where you are. As an added bonus, the info going back and forth is also entirely encrypted.

In a competitive field, the knowledgeable people at TechRadar put NordVPN at the top of the podium. 

How to watch the women's Olympics marathon for free in Canada

There's loads of free Olympics coverage available on CBC and the CBC Gem streaming service. And if you have an issue with watching commercials, you can ditch the adds by paying $5.99 per month for CBC's Premium service. (You can take advantage of a seven-day free trial before you buy.)

Subscription services Sportsnet and TSN are also showing Olympics coverage.

How to watch women's Olympic marathon live streams in the US

NBCUniversal has a massive Olympics offering for US viewers, with coverage spread across broadcast and cable channels (including NBC, CNBC, the USA Network and the Golf Channel), and the Peacock streaming service.

A Peacock Premium subscription costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. If you want to go ad-free, Peacock Premium Plus will cost you $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year. 

You'll be able to watch women's Olympics marathon live streams on Peacock and the USA Network.

Don't have cable? It doesn't have to be a problem. Sling is a smart TV service that allows viewers based in the US to watch cable channels on their TV, laptop or tablet without actually having to subscribe to an annual cable TV package. USA Network is available on Sling with the Sling Blue package, which costs $40 per month ($20 for the first month).

How to watch women's Olympic 2024 marathon live streams in the UK

The BBC has long been synonymous with the Olympics, and the UK's national broadcaster is delivering loads of free-to-air Olympics action throughout the duration of the Games. Terrestrial channels, the Red Button and the BBC iPlayer streaming service will all be part of the Beeb's offering, but remember that you will need a valid TV Licence to tune in.

But you won't be able to watch every moment of the games in the company of the BBC, as the broadcaster only has rights to air two live streams at any time. In other words, if the BBC overlords aren't pointing their cameras at the marathon course then you'll have to look elsewhere.

If you want to guarantee you get to watch an Olympics 2024 women's marathon live stream, the most comprehensive service is provided by subscription services Eurosport and Discovery Plus. They're offering a whopping 3,800 hours of live coverage across 55 streams.

A Discovery Plus Standard plan would usually set you back £6.99 a month but if you subscribe before August 11, the fee is reduced to £3.99 a month – and new subscribers will be able to take advantage of that discounted rate until the end of 2024.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Want to know how to watch men's Olympics marathon swimming live streams at Paris 2024? This guide has got you sorted, wherever you are in the world right now. There are free viewing options in Australia, Canada and the UK, and we also explain how you can use a VPN to watch your usual coverage if you're away from home when the open water events get underway.

The women's race was won by the Netherlands' Sharon van Rouwendaal, regaining a title she won at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Australia's Moesha Johnson won silver, while Italy's Ginevra Taddeucci grabbed silver. Now it's the turn of the men to dive into the Seine to swim a 10km course, which follows a 1.6km loop between the Ponte Alexandre III and the Pont de l'Alma. Read on how to watch men's Olympic marathon swimming live streams, the final swimming event of the Games.

If you're inspired by the Olympic open water swimming events, here's how to get started. And you can also check out our guides to staying safe in open water, choosing a wetsuit, and 7 things we wish we'd known before our first open water swim event.

Watch free men's Olympics marathon swimming live streams in Australia

When it comes to watching the Olympics, Aussies have it better than pretty much everyone. That's because Down Under, Channel 9 and its 9Now streaming service host the most comprehensive free-to-air Paris 2024 coverage anywhere in the world. That means that almost every session from the Games is available live via Channel 9's various platforms.

Your viewing options aren't limited, either, because subscription service Stan is also covering Paris 2024 ad-free, live and in 4K resolution. You can add Stan Sport to your Stan subscription for $15 per month. (Stan is also home to numerous other sports, including Champions League football and rugby union.)

Don't worry if you're adventuring overseas during the Olympics. Fans of open water races can watch a men's Olympics marathon swimming live stream as they would back home. All you need is a quality VPN, such as NordVPN, to watch your usual free stream when overseas. Find out more below.

Use a VPN to watch men's Olympics marathon swimming from anywhere

If you’re traveling abroad during the Olympics, geo-blocking restrictions mean you probably won't be able to watch your usual TV service as you would in your front room.

That doesn't mean you have to miss out on the Olympics open water swimming, however. All you need to do to watch as if you were back home is get yourself a VPN (Virtual Private Network) – assuming it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs, of course.  A VPN creates a private connection between your device and the internet, meaning the service can’t work out where you are. As an added bonus, the info going back and forth is also entirely encrypted.

In a competitive field, the knowledgeable people at TechRadar put NordVPN at the top of the podium. 

How to watch men's Olympics marathon swimming for free in Canada

There's loads of free Olympics coverage available on CBC and the CBC Gem streaming service. And if you have an issue with watching commercials, you can ditch the adds by paying $5.99 per month for CBC's Premium service. (You can take advantage of a seven-day free trial before you buy.)

Subscription services Sportsnet and TSN are also showing Olympics coverage.

How to watch men's Olympics marathon swimming live streams in the US

NBCUniversal has a massive Olympics offering for US viewers, with coverage spread across broadcast and cable channels (including NBC, CNBC, the USA Network and the Golf Channel), and the Peacock streaming service.

A Peacock Premium subscription costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. If you want to go ad-free, Peacock Premium Plus will cost you $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year. 

You'll be able to watch Olympics marathon swimming live streams on Peacock and the USA Network.

Don't have cable? It doesn't have to be a problem. Sling is a smart TV service that allows viewers based in the US to watch cable channels on their TV, laptop or tablet without actually having to subscribe to an annual cable TV package. USA Network is available on Sling with the Sling Blue package, which costs $40 per month ($20 for the first month).

How to watch men's Olympics 2024 marathon swimming live streams in the UK

The BBC has long been synonymous with the Olympics, and the UK's national broadcaster is delivering loads of free-to-air Olympics action throughout the duration of the Games. Terrestrial channels, the Red Button and the BBC iPlayer streaming service will all be part of the Beeb's offering, but remember that you will need a valid TV Licence to tune in.

But you won't be able to watch every moment of the games in the company of the BBC, as the broadcaster only has rights to air two live streams at any time. In other words, if the BBC overlords aren't pointing their cameras at the Seine then you'll have to look elsewhere.

If you want to guarantee you get to watch an Olympics 2024 marathon swimming live stream, the most comprehensive service is provided by subscription services Eurosport and Discovery Plus. They're offering a whopping 3,800 hours of live coverage across 55 streams.

A Discovery Plus Standard plan would usually set you back £6.99 a month but if you subscribe before August 11, the fee is reduced to £3.99 a month – and new subscribers will be able to take advantage of that discounted rate until the end of 2024.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

This may have escapes your attention but 10 weeks ago, King Charles abdicated. No, not King Charles III of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. King Charles the acclaimed English folk rock musician, who announced his “abdication” and relaunch as Charles Costa at the same time as announcing a new career direction: yes he was going to be releasing new music, but also… he was going to run 90 marathons in 90 along the Pacific Crest Trail.

And that challenge is now well underway.

Costa is running to support the invaluable work carried out by The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that aims to help prevent suicide among US teens and young adults, and James’ Place, a UK-based charity dedicated to suicide prevention for men.

The cause resonates deeply with Costa. Ten years ago, a skiing accident left him with a brain trauma that continues to shape his mental health journey. Through the challenges he has faced, he says he has gained profound empathy for those grappling with similar struggles. Costa is now determined to turn his personal experience into a beacon of hope for others. 

He began his run at the Canadian border on July 20 with a goal to finish on October 20 near the Mexico border.

“After months of planning and training, I’m finally beginning the adventure of a lifetime,” said Costa. “I believe there’s a strong interconnection between running on the trail and making music to keep my mind and emotions balanced. After I’ve been running, I feel free and completely released from the struggles I face when I wake up. No other therapy can come close to the healing I experience from running and singing.”

He will be releasing new singles starting this September, providing a soundtrack to his massive challenge.

You can follow Costa’s journey on Instagram @charlescostaofficial and donate to the cause for The Jed Foundation on CrowdChange and for James’ Place on GoFundMe. Costa will be joined by running clubs, other athletes, students, and organizations throughout his journey.

Costa previously did a 40 marathon and 40 gigs in 40 days challenge back in 2021.

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Today, 840,318 runners around the world will be opening their email inboxes, fingers crossed, to see whether they've snagged a place in next year's London Marathon. The ballot for the 2025 race received a record number of entries, so the chances of securing a space on the start line are pretty slim, but if you weren't lucky enough to get a spot then there's another option a bit further north.

Next year's Manchester Marathon takes place on the same day as London (27 April), and the organizer has just released a batch of places with guaranteed entry. You can sign up now, with fees starting at £75 and no ballot.

Places are available on a first come, first served basis, and according to the race organizers one person is entering every seven seconds, so you'll need to be fast to grab your spot.

What to expect

I ran the Manchester Marathon for the Alzheimer's Society this year, and it was an excellent experience. The course is one of the flattest in the UK, and the atmosphere was fantastic with great support all the way around the center of town, down to Altrincham, and back up to the finish. The route for 2025 is yet to be confirmed, but you can check out the 2024 course map online.

This year's race was cool and dry, but Manchester is known for being somewhat damp so you'd be well advised to take some kind of thin waterproof and stash it in a backpack. Alternatively, take something you don't mind disposing of and leaving it in one of the charity donation areas at the start.

I took my trusty Patagonia Houdini jacket to keep the wind at bay, and stuffed it into my hydration pack in the starting pen.

The race village is at Old Trafford Cricket Club, where you can safely leave your bag during the event (this year runners were assigned a wrist band like a cloakroom ticket), and make a last-minute toilet break. 

Manchester has an excellent public transport system, but I'd recommend looking for accommodation near Old Trafford and walking to the start line if possible. I stayed at the Copthorne Hotel Salford Quays, which includes free parking, but there are lots of other options. It's best to book as soon as possible. Staying nearby also means you won't be jostling with thousands of other runners and their families for a place on the tram after the event. 

Overall, it was a great event with an excellent course and a fun, friendly vibe. I'd highly recommend it if you've been unlucky with London this time around.

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Getting ready for race day means months of training, researching the route, charging your GPS watch and making sure you've got your nutrition and hydration down pat. And if you're running in the Banff marathon, it also means preparing for wildlife encounters of the grizzly variety.

On Sunday, the Banff marathon was heavily delayed due to multiple grizzly bears on the course. A video posted to Instagram by Back Country Quest, which you can watch below, shows a large bruin crossing the road before scenes of dozens of halted runners being rounded up by park officials and given instructions on how to proceed behind a safety vehicle.

According to reporting by the Rocky Mountain Outlook, this was just one of several bear delays on the day. They report that the race's winner, Andrew Payne, was stopped three times by bears, adding 90 minutes to his finishing time of 4:32:11.

“Everyone walked back slowly and it was just getting closer and closer as we were walking back and eventually a car came along and scared it away, but it was huge. It was at least the size of six, seven people," recalls Payne.

Though most of us wouldn't expect to encounter a grizzly bear on race day, it's quite a common occurrence for this particular marathon, which takes runners through stunning Banff National Park, home to 65 grizzly bears.

“This isn’t a typical marathon, we know this can happen so we were prepared for it,” says race director Paul Regensburg.

Bear safety

No matter whether you're running a marathon or hiking and camping in grizzly country, it's important to know exactly what to do if you meet a bear to stay safe.  If you are charged or approached by a grizzly bear, it’s best to leave your backpack on and play dead.

As scary as that might sound, it’s a defensive manoeuver to help keep you as safe as possible. Simply lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain as motionless as possible until the bear leaves the area.

Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously with whatever you have at hand – a branch, rocks, one of your boots – to hit the bear in the face. Learn more in our article on what to do if you meet a bear.

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We’ve all known it for a long time, but now rigorously researched statistics appears to back up the (overwhelming) anecdotal evidence: East Africans make the fastest ultra runners. Well, when it comes to 50km ultra races anyway.

In a study recently published in Scientific Reports, researchers investigated the age and race locations of elite ultra marathon runners, paying specific attention to their countries of origin. The researchers, headed by a team at the University of Zurich, and involving various sports science bodies from across Europe and South America, used data from over a million race records.

Their results indicate that the fastest runners of 50k ultras are indeed from Africa such as Ethiopia and Kenya, with the fastest races occurring in Middle Eastern countries and Europe, with peak performance age being between 20 and 24 years.

Studies on longer races, like the 100km and 100mile races, identified top performers from Japan, Russia, Brazil, Sweden, and Hungary (with potential influences from doping scandals). Meanwhile, previous research on 50km ultra marathons has concentrated on performance linked to age, sex differences, inflammatory responses, nutritional needs, cardiovascular impacts and running biomechanics. But performance relating to geographical origin is a new area.

The study analyzed data from 1,398,845 race records from 549,154 runners (1,026,546 men and 372,299 women) from 122 countries, who competed in 50km races held in 86 locations between 1894 and 2022.

Men averaged faster speeds (8.2 km/h) than women (7.4 km/h), with the 20-24 age group being the quickest (8.3 km/h).

The fastest runners were from Ethiopia (14.1 km/h), Lesotho (13.1 km/h), Malawi (12.4 km/h), and Kenya (12.3 km/h). East African dominance in distance running is attributed to genetic predispositions, high-altitude training, traditional diets, and sociocultural factors.

The fastest races occurred in Luxembourg (11.4 km/h), Belarus (11.3 km/h), Lithuania (11.2 km/h), Qatar (11.2 km/h), and Jordan (10.7 km/h).

In fact, the country where an event was held had a biggest influence over the speed of a race, with athlete gender (23%), age group (7%), and athlete country of origin (5%) following.

But while previous studies had shown marathon performance peaking around 35 years or older, this study found that younger athletes (20-24 years) excelled in the 50km races. Future research will seek to uncover the specific physiological and psychological traits that allow young runners to excel in 50km races.

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One runner died and at least three others were injured after slipping on a steep, wet slope during harsh weather conditions at France’s Ultra-Trail du Haut-Giffre (UTHG) early on Saturday 15th June.

The runner who died was an as-yet unnamed man in his fifties who reportedly suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, while three others were hospitalized with severe injuries, according to CNN.

The race organizers cancelled the race and issued the following statement.

The full translation of the post is as follows:

“It is with great sadness that we announce that UTHG has just learned of a dramatic event that resulted in the accidental death of a racer. The first responders at the scene intervened immediately and provided first aid while awaiting his evacuation.

“All our thoughts are with the victim's family and relatives.

“In such circumstances, we chose to cancel the continuation of the event. Further information will be provided once it becomes available.

“Thank you for all the messages of support already received.”

The three-day ultra takes place in the eastern French department of Haute Savoie, in the French Alps, and was set to run from June 14 to 16. Organizers were forced to postpone the start of the run owing to “difficult weather conditions”.

The problems began around 4:35am local time, when rescue services began receiving calls about the fallen runners. The weather had deteriorated significantly around 3am, making the trails dangerously slippery. 

The four runners fell “in a mountainous area made slippery by the weather,” Bonneville public prosecutor Karline Bouisset told BFMTV, who added  that the exact cause of death for the deceased runner would be determined by an autopsy.

Two other men, one in his 50s and one in his 30s, were severely injured but are in stable condition, while the fourth person was a woman who suffered a less severe injury. Intensive rescue operations involved 73 local firefighters and the Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM) mountain rescue service from Chamonix. The prosecutor’s office have launched an investigation into the incident. There will certainly be questions to be answered about the wisdom of letting the race go ahead in such rough conditions.

Local newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré Savoie Mont-Blanc posted the following on Instagram (which suggest there were many more minor injuries as well):

“[DEADLY ULTRA TRAIL IN HAUTE-SAVOIE⚫️] Above Samoëns, in Haute-Savoie, the evacuation of the wounded of the UTHG (Ultra trail du Haut-Giffre) took place in the middle of the mountain on the southern slope of the Angolon point. The volunteer mountain rescue team of ADSSM74 (Departmental Association of Mountain Rescue Companies of Haute-Savoie), the PGHM and the GMSP (Mountain Group of Firefighters) evacuated the seriously injured by the Civil Security helicopter .

“One dead and 16 injured due to the bad weather during this ultra trail.”

Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of the deceased.

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Race day for runners can bring a sudden onset of nerves and excitement, but there are lots of steps (both small and large) that you can take to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible.

Proper preparation will ensure nothing takes you by surprise while you're on the course, whether it's knowing where to find the restrooms, having enough safety pins, or being aware of where the hills are along the course. There are also techniques you can use to keep yourself focused during the run, avoid stomach upsets, and stick to your planned pace rather than heading off too fast and burning out before the end.

With that in mind, here are 21 key tips that will help ensure your race day goes smooth as silk, and you have an amazing time on the course.

Before the day

1. Read the small print

Make sure you have read – and reread – all the race information so that you know what time to turn up, where the start is, the location of the all-important toilets (see tip four) and whether you will be in a pen for your predicted time. Planning ahead for all the small details will ensure there are no last-minute race day panics.

It's also worth taking time to familiarize yourself with the rules to make sure you're not caught out. Nobody wants to end up like the winner of the 2024 OC Marathon, who crossed the line first, but was disqualified for taking water from somewhere other than an official aid station.

2. Find a friend

Having a buddy who runs at your pace can make the miles fly by much faster, giving you welcome company and conversation. See if any of your friends are interested in signing up too. Even if you don't actually run together on the day itself, you can keep each other company during training and keep each other on track.

3. Plan your transport

Getting to the start of the race without delay and still feeling calm will be key to enjoying the full experience. Make a plan well before the race, and check websites to ensure that the public transport or car parks you plan to use are available on the day of the race. Book any necessary travel tickets as early as possible to ensure you get a seat before they sell out.

4. Check out the route

If you can, it’s a good idea to run part, or all, of the race route before the race day so that you know what to expect. Is there a hill that you need to prepare yourself for, does the road narrow at a certain point, and will you need to dodge potholes along the way? Are there areas that'll be without shade on a sunny day, or are there tunnels where you could benefit from a light?

If you can't make it onto the course in person, you might be able to check out the route in advance using a tool like Google Maps to give you an idea of what it will be like on the day.

5. Find the bathrooms

Most runners have race day nerves – and this usually means more than one trip to the bathroom. You may have to stand in line for a long time, so try to get there early to ensure you're not late for your start time.

Many organizers publish the location of bathrooms in their pre-race information for runners, so take a look and make a note in advance so you don't waste time searching for them on the day.

6. Pack the night before

Lay out all your kit and the items you will need for the race day, the night before. Trying to do this on race day when you are nervous and/or excited could lead to you forgetting important items. You don't want to turn up at the race village only to discover that you have no socks, or have forgotten the cozy changing robe you were planning to slip into after you've finished.

If you have a official race kit list, be methodical when looking our your kit and adding it to a running pack. 

7. Give yourself options

Checking the weather forecast is essential, but if you're unsure how hot, cold, wet or windy the race will be, pack clothing to cover all the different possibilities so you can pick exactly what you need on the day itself.

8. Take spare safety pins

Even if you don't lose the safety pins to attach your race number to your top, you can be sure someone else will. Alternatively, you could take a bib belt or magnets to hold your number in place.

9. Don’t try new gear

Race day is not the day for wearing brand new clothes or footwear. New gear might rub and cause blisters, ride up as you run, or just feel uncomfortable. You could even suffer a serious injury if you wear ill-fitting shoes during a long-distance event. Stick to what you know is comfortable, and has been tried and tested in training.

10. Set a pace on your watch

If there are no pacers, or you prefer to run your own race, use your running watch to help you stick to your planned speed. Having all the details laid out for you ahead of the race will ease your nerves on the day.

11. Write a pace plan

The nerves of race day might muddle your brain, so it could be a good idea to have your race plan (with times for each mile or kilometer) written on your hand or arm if you don't have the details on a sports watch. You can also create a reusable pacing guide using a tool like Pace Band.

12. Charge your watch

You might prefer to run 'naked' without tech to distract you, but if you're the type of person who believes a run doesn't count if it's not on Strava, make sure you charge your GPS watch the night before.

13. Have a finish line plan

Have a plan already in place for what you all do at the finish line. Know where your kit bag will be so you can change out of sweaty or wet clothes. Arrange where and when you will meet you partner, family or friends after the race. 

On the day

14. Double tie your laces

The last thing you want is for your running shoe laces to untie mid-race. This is a hassle as well as a waste off time. Make sure you properly tie your laces to maintain secure shoes for the entire race. 

15. Carry your phone

It might be tempting to leave your phone at home, but it could be useful. You might want to take a few photos during the race, use it to track the event, or just use it to reach family and friends afterwards.

16. Pick a pacer

Some running races, especially larger marathons, have pacers. If you have a goal in mind, make sure you follow the right pacer. Keeping a pacer in your sights can take a lot of the mental effort out of the race, letting you enjoy yourself more. Try to find a pacer at the start and stick with them.

17. Resist a sprint start

If you have been training for a race, you will know your hoped for pace. Try to resist getting caught up in the excitement of the first 1km or 2km and running too fast. Few runners will achieve a great result by going too fast at the start of a race. Pacing is vital for a good outcome.

18. Stick to your nutrition plan

Make sure you stick to food and drink you have tested, rather than relying on whatever is available at aid stations. Some people end up getting their fuelling wrong because they switch to what is on offer along the course rather than carrying their own tried-and-tested nutrition. 

19. Don’t panic

If a part of the race doesn’t go to plan, try not to panic. Panicking will only lead to further errors. Instead, think about all the training you have put in and trust that your race will go well overall, even if you have made a small error, such as starting too fast.

20. Think back

When the going gets tough, think about the miles you have run, rather than the miles you have to go. Remind yourself of the training you have completed to get to race day, and speak to yourself kindly. You're strong – you can do this!

After the day

21. Stay in contact 

Keep track of post-race news, whether it’s on the race website or social media so that you can find out the results, where to buy race photos if there are any  – and details of how to register for next year’s race if you want to do it again. 

There was what must have been a terrifying close call at the Colfax Marathon in Denver, Colorado this weekend, when the race was interrupted by a driver in a stolen vehicle who drove onto the race route.

The vehicle almost hit a number of spectators and marathon runners, while other runners screamed warning for people to get out of the way.

“This was a very frightening call for everyone involved in the community,” said John Romero, Lakewood Police Department public information officer, when the gave a more detailed account of the incident.

“The case originally started out of Wheat Ridge that morning, Wheat Ridge police attempted to pull over a suspicious vehicle. I believe it had no plate on it. That vehicle then fled from police and that’s how it ended up in the race route in Lakewood.”

Lakewood police then received multiple calls leading them to West 20th Avenue near Pierce Street.

“People were running from it, both spectators and runners. Luckily, because we had so many police along the course route for safety, we were able to quickly find that car. That car did elude us as well,” said Romero. 

Eventually the driver crashed the car in Morse Park. He then got out and attempted to flee on foot, but the Lakewood police were able to catch him and place him under arrest.

“Thankfully enough no one was hurt in this. No agents, no spectators, no runners, which is pretty miraculous actually when you think of the amount of people that were there at the time,“ Romero said.

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A British runner who had never run a marathon before claims to have broken the world record for running a marathon in Crocs. And he filmed the whole attempt for his YouTube channel.

Chris Howett finished the Manchester Marathon last month in under three hours whole wearing a bright yellow pair of croslite clogs adorned with a red Lightning McQueen charm – not exactly what most elite athletes would call a supershoe. At least he made use of the heel strap.

The existing record was 3hr 2min 41sec set by another Brit, Jonathan Warner in Chichester, West Sussex, UK, on 12 February 2023. Howett beat that time by four minutes and 17 seconds. He must have had an amazing first marathon training plan.

However, Guinness World Records has yet to officially ratify this new record of 2hr 58min 24sec, which could take a few more weeks. But hey, Howett has a pretty good visual record of the event, so we’d be surprised if his new record claim doesn’t stand.

“I mean, who would be stupid enough to try to run a marathon in Crocs?” says Howett in the video. “That person would be me.”

Although he’s new to marathons, Howett does reveal that he used to be a competitive runner, “reaching as high as National Finals in the 1,500m. But after getting so many brutal injuries year after year I quit running competitively and gave up my goal of becoming an Olympian and ultimately my dream of breaking a world record. Which is why this meant so much to me. 

“Okay it may have been in Crocs but it's still a world record. So despite this pain I was going through I was going to fight through and try to achieve my childhood dream.”

One of the great pleasures of watching the complete 14 minute video is all the people – runners and in the crowd – who do double takes as they pass Howett (or he passes them) then immediately give him some encouragement. 

“You must have shins of steel!” reckons one of his aghast competitors.

It seems “Chris in Crocs”’ became an instant legend that day. Never give up on your dreams. Just add some Crocs into the mix.

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Estonian runner Leonid Latsepov was the one that didn’t get away, when he was accidentally hooked by an angler while running in the Helsinki City Running Day Half Marathon on May 11. And Latsepov believes the unfortunate fishing incident cost him second place.

The runner was comfortably in second place until he was left foundering  at the Lauttasaari Bridge.

The bridge is a popular fishing spot that hadn’t been completely closed off for the race. However, nobody could have predicted what happened to Latsepov next.

A random gust of wind caught the fisherman’s line and blew into Latsepov’s path, entangling his calf and other parts of his body. At the finish line’s first aid station, race medics pulled four fishing hooks off of him, some from his clothes and others from his lower leg.

“I didn’t feel any pain immediately,” Latsepov told the Finnish news outlet YLE. “I tried to remove the hooks but was unable to do so. It ruined my run, though, my whole race time could have been a minute faster.”

Ultimately Latsepov crossed the line third with a time of 1hr 07min 06sec. Julius Muriuki beat Latsepov by 18 seconds, while Solomon Boit won the men’s race in 1hr 04min 25sec.

“Herring fishing is also popular in Estonia, but I never thought this would happen to me,” joked Latsepov. But on a more serious note, he added, “Perhaps fishing should have been banned on the bridge during the race in such strong winds, or a greater distance put between people fishing and runners. Well, that’s something to look back on.”

Race director Harri Hänninen clarified that the race route follows the northern side of the Lauttasaari bridge, while fishermen usually congregate on the south side. He speculated that the guilty fisherman most likely got onto the bridge when no runners were in the area and started fishing on runner’s side.

“Basically, we instructed people who were fishing to leave the side of the bridge where the route runs. However, the other side of the bridge would have been left free for fishing. The northern side should have been free of people fishing. They had been informed by both the traffic control and the police that it was not possible to fish on [that side of] the bridge during the runs.”

There’s always someone who doesn’t get the memo.

Hänninen said that the incident would not result in any route changes in the future but race officials would monitor the bridge to prevent people from fishing there during the race.

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You may think you’re having a bad hair day, but it’s probably nothing compared to what runner Abbie Jack went through following the Toronto Marathon earlier this month – she ended up needed professional help and not an inconsiderable amount of shearing.

The Toronto Marathon on May 5 was only Jack’s second full marathon, and the heavy rain on the day had an unexpected side effect.

Jack, 27, had tried her hair up in a ponytail and at first everything seemed fine. But by the 30km point she began to notice that her hair was feeling very different.

“[It] started feeling very heavy, like I had a carpet attached to my head,” Jack told People.

Because she was determined to qualify for the Boston Marathon by finishing in under three hours and 30 minutes, she decided not to stop and check what was going on with her hair. So she carried on, and it wasn’t until she reached the finish line that she realized quite what a nightmare she was now carrying on top of ger head.

“Oh, this will be hard to take out,” she remembers thinking, but she, “didn’t anticipate that it would be that hard…

“I have super fine hair so it gets knotty easily. I’ve run in the rain before and had my hair get super knotty before, but looking back that was nothing compared to this! I usually can get it out with a lot of conditioner.”

Instead she was now rocking a full-on electric shock fright wig vibe. And no amount of hair product would calm it down. She broke her brush and even calling in her fiancé to help didn’t solve the problem. Even posting to TikTok to seek advice reaped no rewards, despite clocking up over 3.6 million views.

“I tried mayo, as recommended on TikTok, olive oil and other deep hair treatments,” she says. “Nothing worked.”

Finally, a hairdresser came to her rescue, though it took her over three hours to untangle the mess and some hair had to be sacrificed. But the experience hasn’t put her off running.

“Don’t be discouraged to run just because it does crazy things to your hair! Running is amazing! Maybe wear a bun if you have hair texture like me!”

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A 61-year-old UK runner has broken the world record for the fastest aggregate time for 1,000 marathons.

It’s a titanic feat that’s taken Gloucestershire’s Steve Edwards over 40 years to complete.

He finally claimed the record on Sunday when he ran his 1,000th marathon in Milton Keynes. Not bad considering that after he finished his first marathon at the age of 18, he originally vowed, “Never again!”

Although it’s an amazing achievement in itself, Edwards is far from the first person to  run 1,000 marathons; 50 other runners have officially completed that many marathons before. However, none of them had averaged finish time of under four hours; Edwards absolutely smashed through that barrier with an average finish time of 3hr 21min 47sec, which equates to just over 140 days of running. 

Thanking his support team, Edwards said that the Milton Keynes marathon was the “finale to what has been an incredible 43-year journey”.

He set off on his landmark 1,000 marathon with his friend and running companion, Dennis Walmsley, a former renowned marathon runner himself. Edwards was raising money for Kate's Home Nursing, a palliative nursing care charity in Gloucestershire, where his wife was part of the nursing team. So far he has raised over £10,000 for the charity.

The last few marathons for Edwards have come with an extra challenge. “I’ve had a hip injury since marathon number 996 and in any other circumstances I would have rested,” he tells BBC Gloucestershire,  “but it was just a case of keeping going," he added.”

He now plans a rest and a holiday, but he’s sure his marathon days aren’t over. “I’d like to run into old age, just for wellbeing, but maybe more for the social aspect of a marathon than to be competitive and chase my best time.”

• The best road running shoes 2024: hit the streets at speed

On Saturday, 3,500 runners took part in the Hoag OC Marathon, but the first person to cross the line was disqualified for breaking a rule many participants didn't know existed.

Local man Esteban Prado, from Fountain Valley, was denied the top prize after taking a drink of water from his father, who was supporting him during the race.

"During yesterday’s Hoag OC Marathon, we were forced to disqualify a participant after it was confirmed they received unauthorized assistance from an individual on a bicycle, in violation of USA Track & Field rules and our race regulations," race director Gary Kutschar said in a statement. "We take these rules seriously to ensure fairness and the integrity of our event for all competitors.”

Race rules

Under USA Track & Field (USATF) rules, runners may carry their own water from the start in a water bottle or hydration pack, or take water from an official station along the course. However, taking water from elsewhere is prohibited unless medical professionals have told the runner to do so.

"A competitor may receive from or pass to another competitor refreshment, water or sponges provided it was carried from the start or collected or received at an official station," says the USATF 2024 Competition Rulebook. "However, any continuous support from a competitor to one or more others in such a way may be regarded as unfair assistance and warnings and/or disqualifications [...] may be applied."

Many runners in Reddit's marathon training community were surprised to hear about the rule, including several who also ran Saturday's race. However, others have pointed out that it's standard for all USATF certified courses, and while a middle-of-the-pack runner is unlikely to be penalized for taking water provided by supporters, elite runners should be familiar with the governing body's regulations in full.

It's not the first surprise disqualification this year. Two runners were disqualified within the first few seconds of the Barkley Marathons in March, after breaking race rules by dropping litter on the course.

• The best road running shoes: our top recommendations for every budget

It's your last chance the enter the public ballot for a place in the 2025 London Marathon. The ballot closes tonight (April 26) so get your entry in now to make sure you don't miss out.

Here we've aimed to answer the most common questions about next year's marathon, but if there's anything we've not covered then you'll probably find the answer on the event's official website. The race takes place on Sunday 27 April 2025, so pencil it in your diary now. Best of luck – fingers crossed! 

How to enter

London Marathon entry fees

Ballot results

Transfers and deferrals

• The best road running shoes: tested by Advnture's team of experts

Records are broken at the London Marathon every year, but they’re usually fastest times achieved by the runners themselves. This year the marathon itself has a claimed a new world record, and a very worthy one it is too.

(Actually the 2024 London Marathon claimed a record before it had even been run, with race organizers reporting last May that it had received over half a million applicants, setting the world record for the most marathon entry applications ever… but back that more worthy record we told you about.)

The record in question is ‘most money raised by a single-day sporting event’. Organizers claim that the 2024 London Marathon raised over £67 million ($83 million) for countless charities. 53,000 people took part in the 26.2-mile race (42.2km) through the capital and a huge percentage of them were running for nominated charities.

According to a BBC report, the race broke its own previous record, with Sunday’s total surpassing the previous record of £66.4m set in 2019.

Can you help beat the record again next year? The 2025 London Marathon ballot is open – here's everything you need to know.

Oddly, on the official Guinness World Records site, the current record is stated as £31 million ($48.7 million) set by the 2000 London Marathon, “the last year for which figures were calculated”. They must take a long time to do their sums! We’ll have to wait until 2040 for this feat to be officially ratified at that rate.

Over £40m has been donated via JustGiving, with donations via TCS surpassing £27m. JustGiving reported that the amount raised so far on its platform was up by 14% compared to last year’s event.

Meanwhile, official online fundraising partner Enthuse said its total so far for this year’s marathon was more than three times the amount it raised in 2022.

Enthuse chief executive Chester Mojay-Sinclare said, “This is the third year we have been the official partner for the TCS London Marathon and it’s incredible to see the growth over that time – our fundraising total of £27m for the event, so far, is more than 200% higher than in our first year… What an incredible event and a brilliant day with such a huge amount raised for good causes.”

Hugh Brasher, event director of the London Marathon said: “That is a wonderful achievement and huge thanks to every single person involved. ”

• The best running tops 2024: for training and races on all terrains

Just over a week ago, I crossed the line at the Manchester Marathon. I was exhausted but delighted, having knocked over 40 minutes off my previous personal best and raised almost £700 for the Alzheimer's Society. 

It was a wonderful charity to support, but I must confess that my main motivation was embarrassment. I've run countless 10ks and half marathons, but until last week I only had one full marathon under my belt (the Bristol + Bath Marathon back in 2005) and it wasn't a good one.

Things started off well, and I stuck to my planned pace, but somewhere around mile 20 something suddenly went wrong around the left gluteal area, leaving me in great discomfort and silently cursing the encouraging words of other runners reminding me that there was a downhill section approaching. It was a literal pain in the butt.

In the final few miles, where many of my friends were marshalling, I forced myself to pick up the pace and look like I was enjoying myself, but my time was dismal. The race itself proved to be a one-off too, with the organizers cancelling the 2006 and 2007 events, then calling the whole thing off.

This year I took a different tack, with two main changes. Firstly I found and followed a training plan specifically designed for the time I was hoping to achieve, and secondly I sought out coaching sessions to help tackle the underlying physiological issues that led to my race-day glute problems.

Trying TrainingPeaks

For my first marathon I did most of my training with a friend, and although training together was fun and made the long miles pass faster, it didn't quite work out for us, and the plan wasn't as structured as it could have been. We built up the mileage, but I now realize there weren't enough intense interval or hill workouts, and we didn't have much of a plan for tapering. My buddy had to drop of marathon training this year due to an ongoing injury, so for Manchester 2024 I knew I'd be going it alone.

There's no shortage of marathon training plans online, but I wanted to minimize the time spent on admin, so I signed up for TrainingPeaks, picked a plan that fitted my level of fitness and goal, and synced the workout calendar with my Garmin watch. From then on, all I had to do was select the day's workout and let the watch lead me through each stage, ensuring I stuck in the right heart rate zone and warning me if I was slacking or needed to slow down.

Last year I took part in a VO2 max test that included calculation of my heart rate zones, so I was able to enter these in my Garmin profile for improved accuracy.

I made sure I started my plan well in advance so I could build in space for things like holidays and potential sick days. You'll only be able to shift your training days in big blocks if you have a premium TrainingPeaks subscription, but I found it was worthwhile to have that flexibility.

It was gratifying seeing how my fitness improved over time, the longest runs became more comfortable, and my Garmin Endurance Score embarked on a steady climb as race day approached. It wasn't always easy or fun, but with a pair of good running headphones and a carefully curated playlist of cheesy rock music, I got there.

Strength and technique

Cardiovascular fitness was only one part of the puzzle, though. There was still a pain in the butt that needed to be addressed. Running 26.2 miles will certainly uncover any significant weaknesses or imbalances in your musculoskeletal system.

Having listened to my fretting at length, my husband bought me a 10-session course with The Running School in Bristol as a birthday present. I wasn't really looking forward to hearing that I was running completely wrong, but thankfully the physiotherapist, a lovely chap named Alex, never made me feel awkward or foolish, and always reminded me that there's no single correct way to run.

First, he made me perform a few drills to assess strength and stability, then got my on the treadmill running at various speeds. He then sat me down, looked me in the eye, and asked with terrible gravity whether I'd seen myself running on a treadmill before. I had (for the VO2 max test) so it wasn't as awful as he made it sound, but as he drew lines on the screen, a few problems became clear - particularly an asymmetrical rotation of my hips. I wasn't lifting my feet much either, my posture wasn't ideal, and I was over-striding, landing well ahead of my center of gravity. Oops.

Alex led me through some strengthening exercises for my weak side, which initially involved resistance bands and bodyweight, but eventually worked along to small kettlebells. After each session I was set homework in the form of a workout plan, to be followed as I built up my mileage.

He also got me back on the treadmill and suggested ways to improve my form - improving my posture, focusing on keeping my shoulders relaxed but moving my arms back more, and cycling my legs. It felt strange at first (having run one way for years, change doesn't come naturally) but eventually it began to come more naturally.

Comparing the first video of myself to one recorded during my final session, the difference is stark. The first video now looks like a person trying to speed-walk with their neck stuck out like a turtle, while the later one looks like someone actually running. I no longer over-stride, my hips are more stable, my posture is better, and I'm moving more efficiently all round.

The real proof of the pudding, however, was in the lack of pain as the mileage crept over 20 miles, and on race day itself, although I was certainly exhausted by the end, there was no sign of the pain from nine years ago. Now I can't help wondering how much I could knock off next year...

• The best road running shoes: our top recommendations

A video of a runner who was the last finisher to cross the line at this year’s Manchester Marathon in the UK has become an internet sensation as thosands of people praised her for her “never-give-up” grit and determination to cross the line.

Lynda Elmore, of Perton near Wolverhampton, who injured herself nine miles into the marathon and eventually completed it with a time of seven hours and 18 minutes, says she’s been “blown over” by the millions of online reactions to the video of her finally crossing the finish line and refusing to DNF. Facebook footage of the moment – which has been shared like wildfire – has now seen by more than four million people.

She says she had no idea the reaction was “going to go as bonkers as it has” but hoped she has inspired people to “get out there, put your trainers on and never give up”. Indeed, in her original comment on the Facebook post, he describes it as, “not one of my finest moments. I seem to look like a duck tying to woggle. Not sure if I'm embarrassed or just in shock of it all.”

Elmore, an experienced runner, fell when she clipped a kerb just over a third of the way into the marathon (if you want to run a sub four-hour marathon tripping over is not a good idea).

"You get yourself up, feel a little bit embarrassed, couple of people help you up and then you shake yourself off then you realize your hip hurts, your elbow hurts, you've jarred a bit of your shoulder and then you start getting a little bit emotional,” she said to BBC West Midlands.

“By then, you think to yourself, ‘No, come on, you can do this.’ …It was one of those moments: ‘Well, do I give up, or do I carry on?’”

Bravely she chose to carry on, eventually staggering over the finish line and fistbumping one of the race volunteers with a grimace on her face that mixed agony and triumph. And the internet community loved her tenacity.

“Her reaction is priceless,” said Her Sport. “What a proud moment.”

Organizers of the event said a record-breaking 32,000 people signed up to take part in this year’s race.

“I’m truly emotional that I’ve inspired so many people to read and comment and share across the various sites,” said Elmore. “I’m very grateful, I'm very emotional... If I feel it’s given some encouragement and some joy to people out there, then that gives me pleasure.”

• The best sports bras for running 2024: for support and comfort

When Kenya’s Hellen Obiri claimed victory at the Boston Marathon’s women’s race on Monday, she probably created more social media buzz about the running shoes she was wearing than the fact that she’d won it for the second consecutive year.

But then, they were some head-turning shoes, like something you’d expect Will Smith to be wearing in I, Robot (they certainly seemed to share some of the clean-lined, Apple-inspired robot aesthetics of that movie).

It was swiftly reported that they were some kind of laceless prototype from On, but now some more info has been gleaned about this striking running shoe [via Running magazine], including a close-up image posted on The Secret Shoe’s Instagram account (below).

The shoes worn by Obiri were, according to The Secret Shoe, a prototype version of the On Cloudboom Strike, which boasts a revolutionary 3D-printed sock-fit laceless upper and a blended 3D-printed midsole infused with Helion hyperfoam, derived from Pebax, which provides increased bounce and responsiveness. The Cloudboom Strike also features a full-length carbon plate for unparalleled propulsion.

Also unusual is the Cloudboom’s high-top silhouette – which, along with its ankle-high compression-like sleeve and lack of laces – certainly makes it stand out. You just have to wonder how long they take to put on.

According to Running magazine, On will be equipping most of its athletes with Cloudboom Strikes in the coming months, and the shoes should be available for general sale to the public later this year (price to be announced, but with all that 3D printing and design innovation involved it’s almost certainly going to be pricey).

Some online commentators did wonder why Obiri was allowed to wear experimental shoes in the Marathon. After all, in 2020, World Athletics put a blanket ban on all running shoes not openly available to everyone in professional running. But less than eight months later, it tweaked the rules to allow for brand development shoes to be worn by athletes, but for no more than a 12-month development period, and not for the Olympics or World Championships (Olympians must wear footwear available to the general public).

• The best sports bras for running 2024: for support and comfort

A blind runner from Swindon, England, is believed to be the first in the world to complete a marathon without being attached to a guide. Yahya Pandor, 29, finished the 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon in 4 hours 22 minutes yesterday.

He said: “I am delighted but exhausted. I can hardly walk today but I have achieved what I set out to do.”

Yahya lost his sight aged 24 after being diagnosed with macular degeneration. He also suffered a period of poor mental health. He can see nothing and has only limited light perception.

He said he was inspired to take on the marathon challenge after hearing about another blind runner who ran the Great North Run half-marathon.

Yahya, a government worker and qualified counsellor, revealed: “I need a challenge to motivate myself and, after I lost my sight, I knew it was important to stay fit and healthy.

“Running is accessible even if you are blind because it is low cost and something that can be done on a treadmill.

“When I heard about the runner doing the Great North Run without being tethered to a guide, I decided I wanted to strive to do something bigger and harder. I chose the Manchester Marathon as my goal.”

Yahya's marathon first

Yahya completed the marathon with the “talking support” of a running guide, George Giles, who he only met on the day of the race. 

He said: “It wasn't easy to find someone to run with but George is a seasoned runner and he was able to talk to me as I ran. He needed to talk to me the whole way through the marathon, telling me when the ground was uneven, when to turn left or right, what was coming next, how to go around other runners and about any obstacles I might face.

“We had only just met but I became anchored to his voice to get through the miles.”

The run was not without mishaps. In the first mile, Yahya tripped because George forgot to tell him about bumps in the road and at times he ran straight on instead of turning. 

Yahya added: “It was also difficult at times to hear what George was saying because of the noise of the other runners and the crowd. It was an amazing atmosphere but I had to focus hard on what I was being told by George.

“Because of this I didn’t find the marathon challenging mentally. However in the last few miles, I did tire physically. Then, as soon as I stopped, I felt my body seize up and today my muscles are very stiff.”

Training for a marathon without sight

To train, Yahya ran most of his miles on a treadmill. His longest run was 23.5 miles. He was also able to do some shorter runs outdoors with a guide. 

Before the Manchester marathon Yahya completed two half marathon races. 

He said: “It was hard to find people to guide me and the right places to run so I did most of my training on a treadmill. It is boring, although I lIstened to podcasts and books. I think the treadmill miles gave me mental resilience for the actual marathon.

“The Manchester Marathon was an enjoyable experience and I hope it will inspire other people who have visual impatient or who are blind to find a fun way to stay fit an healthy.

“It doesn’t need to be running because they could walk, climb or swim. But the activity does need to be enjoyable.”

Yahya now plans to enter the ballot for the London Marathon.

Next weekend, over 40,000 people will pin on their numbers, limber up, and hit the streets for the 2024 London Marathon. Many of those people will be running for charities, some will have secured their places through a Good for Age entry, a few are members of England Athletics affiliated running clubs, a handful are elites, and some are lucky ones whose names were picked from over half a million entrants into the general entry ballot.

However they got there, every person will have to adhere to certain rules, some of which might come as a surprise. Here are seven things that you absolutely shouldn't do at the London Marathon 

Hit the pub early

Some London pubs might open at 8am, but sneaking in a pre-race drink would be an extremely bad idea. Not only will it affect your running, but it will also lead to you being ejected from the event. Consumption or use of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited, and the race organizers deem you unfit to take part if you've indulged beforehand. That pint will taste much better after 26.2 miles.

Ride a horse

Or indeed take any pets or animals of any description onto the course. There's no CaniCross at the London Marathon – it wouldn't be fair to your dog, or to other runners. If you want to take part in an event with your four-legged friend, take a look at the Time Outdoors CaniCross race calendar, and our list of top tips for running with your dog.

You can, of course, run the event for an animal charity, or dress as one yourself, which brings us to the next point...

Take costumes too far

People have set Guinness World Records for completing the London Marathon in all kinds of costumes. From monarchs to milkmen, there's a record for almost everything you can think of. One person even completed the race in just over four hours dressed as a three-dimensional aircraft.

There are limits, though, and you're not allowed to take anything into the starting pen that may harm you or another runner, or "could potentially inhibit the flow or safety of other participants". Best time for a runner dressed as a crowd-control barrier is probably out of the question, and if you're planning to attack the very impressive time set by a runner dressed as a pirate, take a foam cutlass rather than a real one.

Use a friend's bib

Speaking of rules, it might seem harmless, but running under someone else's name (a practice known as race banditing) is a big faux pas. The biggest problem is that when you sign up for a race, you're asked to give details of any medical conditions and an emergency contact number. If you're running with someone else's race bib and you fall off the pavement, the medical staff won't know that you're allergic to paracetamol, or the right number to use to call your partner to come and scoop you up.

The rules stipulate that "participation in the event is personal to you. You are strictly prohibited from swapping, selling or transferring or offering to sell, swap or transfer the place in the event or allowing any other person to wear the Event number."

If caught with someone else's number, you both risk being disqualified not only from this year's race, but future ones too. Not worth the risk.

Wear a (very) rude T-shirt

Another thing you definitely shouldn't wear is a particularly sweary T-shirt. The London Marathon is an event where everyone should feel safe and comfortable, so doing or wearing anything that's likely to cause offence is against the rules. It's up to the race organizers to decide where to draw the line, but it's best to play it safe and keep any slogans on your running top safe for work.

Try to wing it

Visit any social media group dedicated to the London Marathon this week, and you'll doubtless see several conversations started by people who've left training until beyond the 11th hour, and are contemplating the wisdom of trying to run anyway. While there's no mandatory amount of preparation for the race and nobody will be testing your VO2 max before allowing you to cross the starting line, by taking part you acknowledge that running is an endurance sport, and you should only take part if you know you are fit enough.

The rules also state that "you are responsible for monitoring your own physical condition prior to and during participation in the event", so if you feel a twinge in your glutes and ignore it, you have only yourself to blame for the literal pain in your butt.

• The best cheap running shoes: affordable options for roads and trails

A bronze memorial statue for one of the true legends of the Boston Marathon has been unveiled in the run-up to the 128th event on April 15th. But it’s not one of the race’s winners. Or anyone who ever run it, or even helped to organize it. 

It’s for the the race’s most famous four-legged spectator – Spencer, the golden retriever, who for eight years barked encouragement to the runners taking part and was eventually named the official dog of the Boston Marathon.

And he’s now been immortalized in statue form at the intersection of Olive, Frankland and West Union Streets.

Therapy dog Spencer first appeared at the Marathon in 2015, but it wasn’t until a video surfaced of Spencer in 2018 encouraging the runners during a particularly soggy race that he became a viral star (see that original video below). 

His favored spot was the near the marathon’s three-mile mark in Ashland, where he would stand with two Boston Strong flags gripped in his mouth. This is where you’ll find the statue.

He was given his Boston Marathon official dog honor in 2022, bad sadly died the following year after a three-year battle with cancer

The bronze memorial of Spencer – with flags in jaw, of course – was paid for by GoFundMe donations which raised over $39,000, with the remaining proceeds going to an animal charity.

“It’s definitely humbling to know that Spencer affected so many people,” Spencer’s owner told The Boston Globe. “The statue’s not for me, it’s for the world.”

Somewhat heartlessly, last July the Ashland Select Board voted 3-to-2 against allowing the statue to be erected at the community center near the spot where Spencer delighted runners from the sidelines for years. In response, Robin and Cynthia Hicks, who live across from the community center, said the statue could live on their land.

“We grew up cheering on the runners and being there no matter what the weather was, holding signs and supporting the athletes,” Cynthia Hicks told The Boston Globe.

“We really feel that he was an inspiration not only for runners, but for people around cheering on the runners,” added husband Robin.

Rich Powers now has a new Golden Retriever puppy, Jimmy, who’s carrying on the family tradition, and not just by becoming a therapy dog.

“He’s trained to hold the flag,” says Powers. “In my driveway, he walks with it… Can he do it when 20,000 runners are running by? I don’t know.”

• Half marathon training plan for all levels of runners

Not everyone chooses the latest super shoes from Nike, Adidas or Hoka when it comes to running a race. Especially when you’re a brand ambassador for a certain line of sneakers and need to be out and about (and, of course, on social media) promoting that brand.

Which was presumably why Lil Nas X decided to run the 2024 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon on Sunday in a pair of Coach high-top sneakers. Not a brand we tend to feature much here on Advnture (it tends to be more about handbags rather backpacks).

Despite the surprising choice of footwear, the rap star managed an unofficial time of 2:32:53, which is below average for a half marathon, but pretty respectable when you’re wearing something not designed for pounding the asphalt. 

Lil Nas X, who also wore a green T-shirt for the St Patrick’s Day race, certainly fulfilled his task as brand ambassador considering the amount of photos of his footwear turned up on social media. Though not many of the comments thought it was a sensible idea, no matter how much his bank balance must be flourishing. “That man’s legs & feet gonna be hurting,” said Justin on X.

Lil Nas X has been a brand ambassador for fashion label Coach since October 2022 and unveiled a pair of high-tops similar to the ones he wore for the NYC half marathon – though a bit more showy – as part of his capsule collection with Coach, which debuted in December.

Still, at least he didn’t run the half marathon in a pair of his Satan Nikes – he might have been sued again.

• The best road running shoes 2024: hit the streets at speed

There are some records you didn’t know were there to be broken. And then, when you learn about them, you’re glad somebody else has.

Such as Josef Salek, of the Czech Republic, who recently braved freezing temperatures wearing nothing but a pair of shorts to break the record for the fastest half marathon barefoot on ice/snow, an effort which has been ratified by Guinness World Records.

With a time of 1:50:42 (which is pretty much the average time for a half marathon run on roads), Salek is the new holder of a record that had gone unbroken for 16 years: Wim ‘The Iceman’ Hof ran his barefoot-on-ice half marathon of 2:06:34 in 2007. Dutch fitness guru Hof also ran topless for the Discovery Channel documentary Real Super-humans and the Quest for the Future Fantastic – we’re not sure if the topless bit is actually part of the barefoot record criteria or just a bold fashion choice.

Salek previously broke the record for the longest time in an abdominal plank position (male) last year with a staggering time of 9:38:47. 

Therapist, lecturer and personal development Salek, aks Joska, prepared for the record attempt by submerging his feet in a tub of ice every day for the 14 days beforehand.

He’s used to subjecting his feet to cruel and unusual torture: he’s previously walked on challenging surfaces such as hot coals and glass shards, so barefoot running on ice must seem like a walk in the park in comparison.

The attempt was almost scuppered when the night before, the course froze over and was impossible to run on. But a team of volunteers raked the frozen course until it was usable again. Salek zigzagged and changed his running frequency across the course to keep his feet from slipping, but the uphill sections were still challenging.

“Every obstacle allows us to be creative and be able to find ways to overcome it,” said Salekl after the record breaking attempt. “And this attitude of life can liberate us from our greatest enemy, which is our doubts, fears and inner criticism of everything and everyone. In doing so, we take responsibility for our life and the way it makes us feel.”

• The best winter running shoes 2024: for cold, damp roads and muddy trails

Yesterday in California, a highly unusual ultra unning race got underway. The six-day event, titled FURTHER and organized by sportswear company Lululemon, saw 10 elite female athletes take off on a course in Lake Cahuilla in La Quinta, California, the exact details of which haven't been released.

Though it's not uncommon for long-distance events to feature a smaller starting lineup – last month we reported on the Montane Arctic Spine race which had a mere handful of participants – this event is unique in that it is only for female athletes, something Lululemon says makes it the first of its kind. Each athlete has individual goals for the six days; for example, Camille Herron has announced on Instagram she's hoping to break the men's 6-day running record, which was set in 2005 by Yiannis Kouros when he ran 644.238 miles.

The company says the event is designed to showcase "how far women can go with support and access to resources and product innovations typically reserved for men," and reports that it worked with the athletes to create 36 innovations to test in the field.

These products include their Beyondfeel running shoes designed for a female foot, a highly supportive sports bra and the Runsie running shorts designed to make bathroom breaks easier.

In addition to promoting new products, scientists from the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific will be performing research to help them better understand human performance and answer questions such as whether female ultrarunners have better fatigue resistance than males. The research is said to be an attempt to close the gender gap in running and the findings will be published over the next two years, with initial findings to be published in the Fall of 2024.

Taking part in the race is a diverse group of runners from around the world ranging in ages 27 to 48. Here is the official lineup from Lululemon's announcement:

• Montana Farrah-Seaton 
• Stefanie Flippin
• Camille Herron 
• Kayla Jeter
• Xiaomeng Jia
• Yoon Young Kang 
• Vriko Kwok
• Mirna Valerio
• Devon Yanko
• Leah Yingling 

Unlike most races, the course details haven't been revealed, however you can track the athletes over the next five days here. Based on the number of laps traveled and current distance, the course seems to be a loop of approximately 2.5 miles, leading many to speculate the runners are on the path around Lake Cahuilla, which is 2.4 miles long, paved, with no elevation and rated as easy.

At the time of publication, Herron is well in the lead in terms of distance, having completed 104 miles in just over 18 hours.

• Best road running shoes: hit the streets at speed

When you’re training for a running race, you might be trying to win, set a personal best, a Fastest Known Time or even just trying to make the cutoff. What you’re definitely not aiming for is a DNF.

DNF stands for Did Not Finish and it’s what you’ll see next to your name on the race report if your race day doesn’t go to plan. Races can consume a runner’s life for many months as they sacrifice time with friends and family to put in hundreds of hours of training and burn through pricey trail running shoes and not finishing can be devastating. However, it’s also a pretty common event if you’re a competitive runner and you might be wondering what you can do to reduce your chances of a DNF. Why do people not finish a race anyway? Understanding this at the offset can be a good way to give yourself an advantage on race day.

Luckily for us, in 2022 the American Trail Running Association surveyed nearly 1,200 runners to get some answers. Out of the participants, a whopping 59.5 percent said they had posted a DNF at some point in their career, with 28 percent reporting one DNF and 32 percent having more than one DNF. The majority of DNFs occur once runners reach the half marathon level and instances increase with distance. The following are some of the main reasons reported for a DNF, plus what you might be able to do, if anything, to sidestep these pitfalls on race day.

1. Injury – 27%

It will probably come as no surprise to you that nearly one third of DNFs – in fact, the majority of them –  arise due to injury. Any time you embark on a repetitive, high impact sport like running, you run the risk of developing an injury and add to that the possibility of uneven ground in a trail running race and the chances increase. 

A 2002 analysis of running injuries examined two years worth of data and found that some of the most common running injuries include runner's knee, IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, meniscus injuries and shin splints. No surprises there.

Here’s the thing: running injuries can just happen. You can do everything right in the lead up to and during a race and still develop a stress fracture or sprain your ankle on the downhill. That said, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of injury, such as giving yourself a lot of lead time to train and slowly increase your distance at a rate to which your body adapts, strength training and choosing your running shoes wisely. Learn more in our article on trail running injuries and how to avoid them.

2. Didn’t make cutoff time – 24%

Nearly a quarter of DNFs were the result of runners just being too slow. Most races will have a cutoff time after which you cannot qualify as a finisher and, even if you make it to the finish a few moments later, your race will be officially considered a DNF. Bummer. For the London marathon, you have eight hours to finish, the Leadville 100 gives you 30 hours and the UTMB cutoff is 33 hours.

Obviously, the main strategy to work on here is your pacing. Part of your training plan will need to involve figuring out your average pace as well as what your race pace needs to be to finish comfortably before the cutoff time and making sure you train at race pace one or two times a week.

A common mistake in a race is to start too fast, so remember to adhere to the wisdom of start slow, finish fast (otherwise known as running a negative split) and have a game plan for the big day. Learn more in our article on setting a good running pace, and how to get faster.

3. Fell ill – 20%

A bit like injuries, falling ill on race day often comes down to pure bad luck, though it’s always a good idea to take extra care of your health in the week leading up to your race to avoid getting run down (and yes, we understand this is impossible if you have young children). Get as much sleep as you can, eat nutritious food and minimize stress.

There is one “illness” that strikes during a race that you might be able to avoid, however, and that’s runner’s diarrhea. Though it might not be bad enough to make you DNF,  sometimes it is, and it’s important to avoid triggering foods like too much fiber, caffeine, fatty foods and sweeteners before your race. If this is an ongoing problem for you, read our article on dealing with the runners trots for some advice from a nutritionist and make sure you eat familiar food on the day before and morning of your race.

4. Pain in feet or legs – 15%

In a long race, a bit of pain in your feet or legs would be no great surprise, but it can be bad enough that it curtails your competition. If you experience bad pain during a race, it is a good reason to pull out – we recently spoke to James Nobles about his DNF at the Montane Winter Spine race and his foot pain turned out to be a stress fracture, which isn’t something you want to keep running on.

Sadly, this is another occurrence that may be impossible to avoid on the day, but needless to say that giving yourself plenty of lead time in training will help, as stress fractures and soft tissue injuries can often be the result of too much load too soon, or not giving your body time to adapt to increasing demands.

5. Weather – 12%

This one all comes down to what you mean by weather. Was it icy and you hadn’t brought running crampons? Or was it dangerously hot? Extreme weather conditions can make race day unsafe – runners often suffer from heat related illness during summer races and one tragic ultramarathon in China in 2021 saw 21 runners die due to freezing rain, high winds and hail. The conditions really can be the problem, and you can’t control the weather, but there are a few things you can do. 

First, if you know you’re likely to be running in hot weather, try doing heat training to increase your resistance to heat and, of course, tackle hydration like it’s your job. Check the weather forecast before your race and make sure you have appropriate clothing, such as a running jacket, tights and running gloves for colder weather. Finally, only sign up for well-organized and managed races where you know the organizer will cancel if weather conditions are likely to be unsafe.

6. Didn’t feel like running any more – 11%

Honestly, we can’t really argue with this one. No matter if you’re running a marathon or a 100k, it’s just a lot of time to think about whether you actually want to be doing what you’re doing and if you decide the answer is “no,” walking off the course seems a reasonable response. Perhaps you can buy a bike and take some weight off your legs or get a pair of hiking boots, slow down and smell the roses instead.

That said, if it’s mostly a case of your mind saying “I don’t want to do this because it’s hard and I am not worthy” then it could be worth trying practices like meditation and visualization to help yourself get in a more performance-enhancing mindset before you start.

7. Got lost – 6%

Getting lost on a race is much more likely to happen in an ultramarathon than a regular road race and it can be a devastatingly disappointing way to lose time and not finish. On the other end of the spectrum, ultra runner Renee McGregor has ranked highly in some pretty rugged races, from Snowdonia to the Himalayas, and she’s described making the podium in a gnarly race where the majority of participants took a wrong turn. Her advantage? She checked out the race course ahead of time. Always recce your route thoroughly and carry navigational tools like a map and compass to help you stay on route.

8. Course was harder than expected – 5%

A small but not insignificant number of runners drop out because the race is harder than they expected, and this of course can be a hazard of doing a so-called destination race where you’re unable to properly train in the conditions you’re going to be racing in. If you want to finish, it’s a good idea to choose a race that’s on terrain and in weather you can train in. It is possible to train elsewhere and succeed – again you could try heat training for warmer races while training at high altitude may give you an advantage for a low elevation race. 

You may also be able to head to your race destination a few weeks early, though even this may not be enough time to properly train and adapt. All of that said, you can’t plan for every eventuality and people frequently race in unfamiliar conditions and win, but this is another one that calls for recce-ing your route in advance and making a plan so that you’re training for the unique demands of the course, whether that’s vertical feet, cold weather or high altitude.

9. Ran out of water or food – 5%

Running out of food or water isn’t just a silly rookie mistake; it can be dangerous. It’s not always your fault – when ultra runner Katie Knight was attempting to set a new FKT on the 70-mile Backbone trail, she discovered her crew chief had not planned proper drop spots for water, and she found herself tackling 12-mile sections in the middle of the day in the heat without any water. 

Dehydration is a serious condition for runners and you should plan your fuel with your support team as carefully as you plot your racing strategy. Know exactly what you need to carry in terms of running gels and salt tablets, stop at every aid station for hydration and again only join reputable, well-organized races to ensure you have enough support.

• The best hydration packs: on the go re-fueling for runners

Texas runner and social media mentor Dr TaMar Hicks has set a potential world record for running a half-marathon while handcuffed.

Hicks, of Grand Prairie, Texas, is currently awaiting for verification from Guinness World Records that his time  of 1 hour, 20 minutes, 36 seconds at the Cowtown Marathon in the Fort Worth on Sunday is the new official record. If so, he will replace Boudewijn Dominicus in the record books – Dominicus ran the 2018 Manchester Half Marathon in the United Kingdom handcuffed in 1 hour 25 minutes and 19 seconds.

And no, there is no political message in Hicks’ decision to do some road running handcuffed; he says he did it for his mental health.

“No matter how chained down I feel to negative thoughts or to bad circumstances, I’ll always be able to overcome them,” says Hicks.

It was, in fact, Hicks’s second attempt to break the record at the Cowtown Marathon.

“The first time I did it,” Hicks told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “I wasn’t in shape like I should be, so I really started running a lot more.”

But this time, he says, “I was thinking about all the people that were looking for me to break it, so I did it for them.”

While a seasoned runner he still had to adjust his style to run with handcuffs.

“I think the difference is, like, everything was in my legs. I really couldn’t use arms at all and that’s kind of weird.”

And his message to others with a goal in mind?

“When your backs are up against the wall, just know that you will come through. Just keep your head down, don’t worry about the negatives, and just keep your eyes on the prize.”

The Cowtown Marathon is actually a whole series of runs held annually, with – this year – the kids’ and adults’ 5K and 10K races held on Saturday, and the half, full and ultramarathon races held on Sunday. An estimated 40,000 runners and spectators attended the weekend events, with competitors from 14 counties and 50 states.

• The best road to trail running shoes 2024: footwear for all terrains

The running world is in mourning after the tragic death of celebrated Kenyan runner Charles Kipsang at the end of the Cameroon Mountain Race of Hope on Saturday, February 24. 

The 39km race included a gruelling climb of the West African nation’s the highest mountain, Mount Cameroon. 

According to South West Regional Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai, 33-year-old Kipsang was leading the race but began to feel unwell towards the end.

Kipsang, competing in the Men's Senior Category for his fourth time, was the first of more than 550 runners to reach the summit of the 4,095m Mount Cameroon and showed remarkable dominance throughout the race.

But he started showing signs of discomfort in the latter stages of the race. However, he declined to let paramedics check him over.

“He developed a malaise and stopped during the race for some time. He was asked to get into the ambulance but he took some soda and continued to race,” explained Bilai to local media.

Kipsang appeared visibly exhausted in the final kilometer, but he completed the race, crossing the line in 16th position at the Molyko Stadium.

But his condition deteriorated rapidly when he went to to podium to collect his medal. He collapsed and was pronounced dead on arrival at the local hospital.

“It is a great loss for African athletics,” the governor said, pointing out that Kipsang has been on course to become the first Kenyan to win the race.

Athletics Kenya issued a statement expressing their condolences and saying they were in contact with the Cameroonian authorities over the incident.

To  many Charles Kipkorir Kipsang was not just an athlete but a symbol of endurance and dedication. His passion for running and his commitment to excellence made him an inspiring and respected figure in African athletics. 

Our thought are with his friends and family.

The alarm goes off and you jump out of bed, pulling back the curtains to reveal the sun rising over the impressive architecture of Barcelona. You eat an early traditional breakfast of eggs and tomato toast then pull on your road running shoes and join the throngs of other runners at the marathon start line. You’re going to spend the next few hours taking in some of this cosmopolitan city’s most famous sights while doing one of your favorite activities, then recover by feasting on local delicacies like salted cod and black rice.

At least, that’s the theory of running a destination race, but does it really work that way? In this article, we take a look at the pros and cons of running a destination race to help you decide whether you need to pack your passport.

What is a destination race?

In many ways, a destination race is much like a destination wedding. You combine your love of running with travel and use a competitive event like a marathon or even a 10k to see a new place in a different way. 

A destination race typically involves signing up for an event in a sought-after location and, rather than just driving somewhere for the race then heading home straight after, involves spending a few days or longer exploring the city or area where the race is being held. 

Like a destination wedding, you can use your event to visit somewhere beautiful and keep the guest list down, but is that enough of a reason to give it a go? And what are the disadvantages?

The pros of running a destination race

1. You’ll see new places

Obviously, the biggest appeal of a destination race is that you get to see some incredible new places – think Zion National Park, Vancouver, Kauai or Rio de Janeiro. Of course, you can visit those places without running a half marathon, but if you love running, you’ll love the idea of combining the two experiences. Also, running in a competitive environment lets you move at an uninterrupted pace through areas that might usually be crowded with tourists. Afterwards, you can spend your recovery sightseeing and eating delicious local fare.

2. It combines expenses

Obviously, running a destination race is more expensive than running a race at home, but if you already take a lot of trips and sign up for a lot of races, combining the two could cut down on your expenses a little. Basically, two of your costly activities can come out of the same budget instead of having one pot for races and another for vacations.

3. It keeps things fresh

Running your hometown marathon might give you the advantage of knowing the course like the back of your hand, but road running can be monotonous enough without wearing down the same old route every day. Running destination races means every event is an entirely fresh experience, with new courses, sights, people and weather.

4. It raises the stakes

Though those who sign up to run a marathon tend to be pretty motivated, there are always those folks who register for a race then don’t train and never make it to the starting line. Clearly, you could opt for a destination race and still not start, but if you’ve booked flights and a hotel and brought your partner along, it might serve as motivation to actually run.

5. You support local economies

Traveling to a tourist destination for a race and staying there for a few days means that you’ll support the local economy better than if you just drop in for a race then leave immediately. Big races tend to use up a lot of resources and can disrupt local communities, but if you stay and spend money in restaurants, at hotels and on tourist attractions then these types of events can be a boon, rather than a drain, for locals.

The cons of running a destination race

1. It leaves a bigger footprint

Competitive runners who travel to race, like those who run in the UTMB, have an unnecessarily large carbon footprint. Without large-scale destination events, a runner’s footprint would be largely down to the sheer number of shoes they get through, but once you add in plane travel, it becomes a different story altogether. Racing closer to home vastly reduces your carbon emissions and is better for the planet. Check out our guide to being a more sustainable trail runner for more on this topic.

2. It’s more expensive

Obviously, if we’re just comparing a nearby race to a destination race, the latter will cost you more. In addition to your registration fee, you’ve got to factor in plane travel and accommodations, travel insurance, any visa requirements and then all the extras that come with going on vacation.

3. It’s harder to train for

Unless you find a race in a place that has a near-identical climate to the place where you live, the chances are that the destination you have in mind will have different conditions to the ones you’ve trained in. 

Come race day, you might find yourself running in conditions that are significantly hotter, colder, more humid, drier or at higher elevation than you’re used to, and this can drastically affect your performance, especially in longer races when you haven’t given yourself any time to acclimate. 

Now, this can work in your favor if you’ve been training at high altitude and are racing at sea level in conditions that aren’t too extreme, but in general it’s helpful to train in conditions similar to those you’ll be racing in, especially if you’re trying for a PB.

4. You may not be at your best

Not all flights result in jet lag, but if you are changing time zones or even just taking a red eye flight, you’ll probably knock out your body clock for a few days which can wreak havoc on your performance. Even if you don’t take a long haul flight and give yourself a couple of days to recover before racing, you’ll still be out of your routine on vacation and may not be sleeping as well as you would in your own bed, while eating unfamiliar food can affect your digestion and energy. 

5. It could detract from your enjoyment of the trip

If a big part of the attraction of a destination race for you is the destination itself, then plonking an intense competition into the experience could actually mean you have way less fun on your trip than you normally would. In fact, if you’re focused on making the podium, you might not even notice sights like Big Ben or Kuaui’s volcanoes. 

With a shorter race, this isn’t likely to matter, but a half marathon or longer means you need to be focused and you can’t spend the first few days of your vacation eating and drinking whatever you want. A longer race also takes some serious recovery, and you might find the last thing you want to do is end up wandering around a city afterwards sightseeing. If you’re exhausted, or injured, following your race, you could have spent a lot of money to mostly see the inside of a hotel room.

Should you run a destination race?

As you can see, there are some definite pros and some real cons to running a destination race, and a lot of your decision probably comes down to whether you want to set a PB, or just have fun. If your main focus is performance, a destination race could definitely be a disadvantage and you’ll almost certainly be better off staying closer to home.

There are, after all, other ways to enjoy active vacations without actually competing, from trail running in the Alps by day and eating fondue by night to going on a hiking retreat in Yosemite National Park. Some would argue that slower adventures allow you to take in your surroundings better than racing through them anyway.

Of course, if you really love the spirit of racing and are keen to combine it with a trip, there’s another solution and that’s signing up for a shorter race. A fun 10k or half marathon could be the perfect compromise and allow you to satisfy your thirst for competition without sacrificing the merits of adventure.

• Adventure travel hacks – pack for an active vacation without checking a bag

When trying to improve your marathon pace, training, nutrition and the right pair of road running shoes are typically top of the list, but one prominent running magazine editor has been accused instead of cutting course sections and posting misleading race times to make her performance appear better. 

Kate Carter, who denies the claims of wrongdoing, is currently the acting commissioning editor at Runner's World UK as well as being a qualified running coach, marathon runner and Guinness World Record holder – in 2019 she ran the London Marathon dressed as a panda, setting a new record for running the race while dressed in a full body costume.

Carter has run all the Marathon Majors, which include some of the world's best marathons, but on January 30, some of her marathon times were brought into question by a blogger named Derek Murphy on the site Marathon Investigations.

In his article, Murphy claims he was given information about Carter's alleged misconduct and after reviewing her GPS data, believes she missed a split in the 2023 London Half Marathon which resulted in an inaccurate finish time of 01:32:12. 

Murphy points to other factors in his accusations, such as Carter's bib number being partially obscured, no photos of her during the missing section and photos revealing that her Garmin watch was working even though she claimed on Strava that it had died. According to the Marathon Handbook, she made similar claims about missing chip information and a dead GPS watch following the 2016 Berlin marathon.

Murphy also says Carter ran the 2023 London Marathon without a chip, then manually created a GPX map of her route and posted it to Strava, making it look as though she had run the race in 03:18:20, however the route was actually from 2019.

Carter's Strava posts have since been removed, and she tells The Telegraph that she is not guilty of the charges levelled at her by Murphy.

“I am not a cheat," she says, but admits she made errors in judgement which she "deeply" regrets.

In defending herself, Carter explains that during the marathon, she was not in peak fitness and wasn't seeking an official time. However, she says she ran quicker than she expected and wanted to upload her success to her Strava account, something she says she recognizes was a move based on her ego.

“Even in the amateur running world there is pressure to maintain form and times... My own desire to be seen to be doing well at a time when I was feeling weak and below par, resulted in a momentary lapse of judgment which I very much regret.”

She says that trying to create a manual route based on her time was "foolish" and she soon removed it from her feed.

Regarding the half marathon discrepancy, she says she had "embarassingly" wet herself during the race and stepped of the course to clean herself up before mistakenly returning to the wrong point and inadvertently skipping a section but "was in no way trying to deceive the organisers of either event about my times”.

“When I rejoined the race, it is possible that I did so at the wrong point on the course, though that was not my intention," she says.

Unsurprisingly, the scandal has been picked up on Reddit, where it's gained over 300 comments, with many users skeptical about Carter's version of events.

"It would be easier to believe if she hadn't made the earlier statement about her watch dying - she doesn't even mention this or try to reconcile the old story with the new story," comments one user.

In a February 6 blog, Murphy says that Carter has called his claims "defamatory and ethically irresponsible." A spokesperson for Runner's World UK says the magazine is investigating the claims.

• Best cheap road running shoes

“I’ve paced dozens of races but never helped pace Buddy from Elf to a Guinness World Record!” was the rather surreal message posted to Facebook by ultra running legend and current backyard ultra marathon record holder Harvey Lewis this week.

But that was exactly what happened at this year’s  Warm Up Columbus Half Marathon. It could almost be an Elf sequel – part whimsical fantasy, part Chariots of Fire.

Last Sunday, Jason Homorody, 50, was attempting to break the world record for the fastest half marathon time while dressed as a movie character (which had stood at 1hr 30min 42sec). His character of choice was Buddy the Elf from the Will Ferrell-starring 2002 Christmas classic. It wasn’t Homorody’s first time in the outsized elf costume – he regularly wears the costume to “cheer people up” – but this time he was on a mission, and he got an unexpected little helper to give him a hand: Harvey Lewis.

“[He] came up on my shoulder and asked me what pace I was going for,” Homorody tells 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.”

A race that ended with Buddy nabbing that new world record, with a time of 1hr 25min 45sec, knocking more than five minutes off the previous record.

Homorody says Lewis helped him with hydration: “He kept encouraging me to get water because I think he was concerned about me overheating in my costume.”

They also chatted about Lewis’s achievements. “I was picking his brain about ultramarathoning,” says Homorody. “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.

Lewis in his Facebook post is amused at the crowds shouting, “We hope you find your Dad!” along  route.

“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 of this new, ahem, buddy story.

• The best road running shoes 2024: hit the streets at speed

Whether you’re signing up for your first marathon, next half marathon or even ramping it for an ultra, you’re going to be spoilt for choice these days. It doesn’t matter if lightweight road running shoes or rugged trail running shoes are your trotters of choice, there are races to choose from practically every week of the year these days, and the best marathons will take you across the globe, from Cambodia to Greenland.

So how do you choose your first (or next) running race? One obvious method is to join a friend – this is exactly what I did when I signed up for my first triathlon in 2012. My friend Theresa had taken part in the race the previous two years and told me all about it. It sounded friendly, it was easy to get to from my home in Colorado and of course, I’d have a buddy on race day. I decided it sounded right for me, signed up and had a great day.

If you don’t happen to have a friend who’s at a similar level to you and whose brains you can pick, however, the sheer multitude of races can seem overwhelming. If it’s your first race, do you play safe like I did or go big and head to New Zealand, assuming it might be your only race? Ultimately, which race you choose will be a very individual decision, but to help you decide, here are a few questions you should ask yourself to help you narrow things down.

1. How much do you want to spend? 

Before you start daydreaming about traversing rocky summits in Norway or the shoreline of some remote archipelago, you’ll need to get realistic about your budget. Entrance fees for races can vary widely for starters. 

Big races from the UTMB to the New York City marathon will set you back over $300 for your registration and the Leadville 100 costs more than $400, but there are loads of less famous (and easier to get into) marathons that are under $100 like the Champlain Islands marathon in Vermont and the Whitefish marathon in Montana that will take you through some pretty spectacular terrain.

Of course, if you’re not racing close to home, your registration fee is just the beginning, so while you’ve got your calculator out, start to punch in the numbers for travel and accommodations to figure out what you can live with.

2. How far are you willing to go? 

Obviously, you want to get to the finish line, but here the question is whether you want to travel just to get to the starting line, and if so, how far.

On the one hand, turning your race into a vacation can sound pretty romantic – fly to Hawaii, run the Big Island Marathon, then stay for a week and recover in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. It sounds great, but you’ll want to make sure you fly in with plenty of time to recover and acclimate before you run, which might start to eat into your vacation time at the other end. 

This obviously makes for a more expensive and time-consuming option, but if you can justify it as a vacation, perhaps you won’t mind the extra time and money. Some runners love to turn their races into travel opportunities, almost using their athleticism as a means to see the world.

Then again, many runners feel at their best when they’re in their normal routines, not jet lagged and have all their home comforts close to hand. So there’s also an argument for racing closer to home, where the whole thing can be accomplished over a weekend without taking time off work. 

If you really want to finish in a competitive time, a good night’s sleep in your own bed (or at the very least, a short drive to a hotel) could do you the power of good. Of course, this option also saves you money and lets you keep your vacation time to vacation-only.

3. What is the course like? 

When you’re signing up for your first race, distance is only one tiny part of the decision. Obviously there are the distinctions between road and trail, but you’re going to want to know if the course is hilly or flat, one continuous loop, an out-and-back like the Pikes Peak Marathon or makes you run a small loop on repeat to make up the distance which could be extremely mentally grueling (or soothing, if you like repetition).

Remember that the course isn’t just a red line on a map – if it’s not a road race, you might encounter gravel, mud, snow, rocks, scree, river crossings, you name it. Are you able to train in similar conditions frequently enough to ensure that you won’t be totally disadvantaged come race day? If you’re aiming for a personal best, these are important questions to ask yourself. 

You’ll want to be mentally prepared for the terrain and have the right gear – that might mean mud running shoes for sloppy courses, road-to-trail shoes for mixed terrain or running gaiters to keep the gravel out.

Finally, consider  whether the scenery is important to you, and if so, do you want to run through a dramatic cityscape, rugged mountain peaks or a lush rainforest?

4. Can you handle the conditions? 

If you’ve decided to travel far from home for a race, there’s a chance you’re going to be running in different conditions than those in which you trained. This could mean higher or lower temperatures than you’re used to, extreme humidity which can suck the life out of you or very arid desert conditions where it can hurt to breathe. Then you’ve got headwinds, which slow you down and, on the islands of Scotland anyway, even cancel races. 

First, you’ll want to be sure you’re willing to contend with the conditions that are likely to be on show on race day, so research the climate and typical weather for the time of the event. 

If you decide you’re up for racing under unfamiliar conditions, there may be some training you can do to give you an edge. If you’re going to be racing in warmer conditions, for example, you can try heat training to get your body used to breaking a sweat at a lower temperature, which can also benefit you at high altitude. Typically, running in cooler conditions will feel a bit easier, as long as you’re not seeing snow for the first time in your life. 

5. Is it a well organized race? 

You should know that often, but not always, a race with a higher registration fee means that it’s a better organized event, with more facilities and amenities, and that can really matter if it’s your first race or your traveling far. Do you want to feel supported, with clear check-in instructions, regular aid stations and a well-marked course, or do you love a more rugged, self-supporting adventure? 

Races can range from running like a well-oiled machine to total chaos, such as the deadly 2021 ultramarathon in China where 21 runners died. It’s a good idea to choose a race that’s somewhat well-established for your first race, and if you can, speak to previous participants about their experience to make sure your chosen event matches your needs and expectations.

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There's good news for Miami Marathon runners who chose to leave their spiky medals behind after they were intercepted by airport security. The TSA has collected all the medals that were abandoned at Miami International Airport, and they are due to be collected by the race organizer, which will return them to their owners.

Miami is well known for its beautiful medals, and this year's design features a stylized sun with alternating curved and straight rays, hung on a colorful ribbon designed by local Miami artist Nicolas Vasquez. Unfortunately it bears a similarity to a throwing star, which are prohibited in carry-on baggage.

The race organizer foresaw a potential problem, and warned runners to place the medals in their checked baggage when flying home. Throwing stars are permitted in checked bags, but should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

Runners whose medals were intercepted in carry-on baggage were given a few options. They could return to the airline and check the bag containing the item, mail it to their home address, or abandon it voluntarily.

Over 250 people chose to leave their medals behind at checkpoints, but they should hopefully soon be reunited with the runners who worked so hard to earn them.

If you're unsure whether you can bring a particular item on a flight, the TSA has a searchable online guide, which explains what you can and cannot take in carry-on and checked baggage, and any extra precautions you should know about.

• How to train for a sub-four hour marathon: advice from the experts

Update: The TSA has explained that prohibited items (including ninja stars, which the Miami Marathon medal resembles) are intercepted before passengers board a flight, but not thrown out. Passengers carrying an item that is intercepted at security have the opportunity to return to the airline and check the bag containing it, mail it to themselves, or leave the item behind voluntarily. Amended story continues below.

Finishers of this year's Miami Marathon were awarded a stunning medal in the form of a stylized sun, but the design posed an unusual problem. Miami attracts runners from around the US and the world, many of whom flew over to the Magic City to take part. The race organizers foresaw a potential issue here, and warned finishers to stash their prizes safely in their checked baggage after the race to avoid problems at airport security, or have it shipped to their home address.

It turned out their concerns were justified, and at least one runner had their medal intercepted before being allowed to board their flight. As Runner's World explains, Joe Robinson, founder of Detroit running club WeRun313, was disappointed to find he couldn't take his prize in his carry-on.

Don't take my sunshine away

Miami is famed for its beautiful medals, which are intricate creations with ribbons designed by local artists. This year's medal hangs on a ribbon created by Nicolas Vasquez, and was inspired by the city's vibrant flora.

"I wanted to create a motif of 3D plant designs showcasing some of these plants with their intricate forms," Vasquez told Miami's Community News. "I sought to capture the essence of Miami’s biodiversity by infusing the designs with an organic and vibrant energy, reflecting the life that surrounds the runners."

The medal itself is a golden sun, with a combination of straight and curved rays, and the event's palm tree logo in the center. The organizers realized this might cause issues at airport security. Some pointed items, such as knitting needles, ice skates, and cowboy spurs, are allowed in carry-on luggage, but ninja stars, which the medal resembles, are not.

"Given its design, we have been informed that the TSA may not allow the medals to be carried on flights, said the race organizer in an Instagram post. "As such, we encourage you plan ahead and check your bag with your medal secure inside to avoid potential issues. In the event you want to ship your medal, many hotel business centers can support shipping needs."

• How to run a sub four-hour marathon: advice from the experts

We thought everybody trained to the Rocky theme, but it seems it’s just us (or maybe most runner reserve that track for running up flights of steps). Rocky III’s Eye Of The Tiger is still popular among marathon runners, though.

Because charity fundraising website Just Giving has surveyed 2,000 people who have signed up to this April’s London Marathon to see which songs they pump through their headphones to keep them inspired and on track while training for the 26-mile race. And Rocky is nowhere to be seen. Or heard.

Over 6,000 songs were nominated, but these were the ones that made the top 10:

1. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (1982)
2. Lose Yourself – Eminem (2002)
3. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen (1978)
4. Dog Days Are Over – Florence & The Machine (2008)
5. Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush (1985)
6. Mr Brightside – The Killers (2003)
7. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen (1975)
8. Adore U – Fred Again (2023)
9. Pump It – Black Eyed Peas (2009)
10. Cruel Summer – Taylor Swift (2019)

In case you’re thinking that the Florence and the Machine track, ‘Dog Days Are Over’, seems like a bit of outlier, it’s worth pointing out that the lyrics are very on point: “Run for your mother, run fast for your father / Run for your children, for you sisters and brothers.” Runners like songs that feature the word “run” it seems. What a shocker. So where’s Iron Maiden’s “Run To The Hills”, then?

The top 10 artists to run to were:

1. Taylor Swift
2. Beyoncé
3. Calvin Harris
4. Queen
5. Eminem
6. Fred Again
7. Dua Lipa
8. Ed Sheeran
9. Coldplay
10. Drake

No Dexys Midnight Runners for the headlamp wearing runners who train at night, then? Or Runrig for athletes who have to train on oil rigs? Or Gerry and the Pacemakers for… (snip – dad joke editor).

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A marathon runner had a close call with the police this weekend when they pulled him over for running with a fridge on his back. The runner, who is in training for the London marathon, said the police let him go when the realized it was an extreme training tool.

 "It ended with them shaking my hand," says Daniel Fairbrother in an interview with the BBC.

He explains that it was his second time running with the fridge, which he's doing to try to raise £10,000 ($12,600) for Diabetes UK in support of his best friend, a Type 1 diabetic. 

"I tried to undertake a challenge last year which didn’t go as planned, and I promised to come back bigger and stronger."

Running and hiking with a weighted backpack, known as rucking, is a common training tool, but strapping a fridge on your back is considerably more unorthodox. During his run in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Fairbrother noticed a police car turning around and blue flashing lights. 

Realizing that local police might have assumed that he was in the process of stealing the appliance, Fairbrother explained what he was doing, and luckily the officer saw the funny side.

“He said ‘You do know if you order from Currys, they will deliver it for you?’”

Fairbrother, who reveals he has named the fridge Tallulah after the sled in the movie Cool Runnings, says he understands why the police had to stop him for employing such a unusual tactic.

“I would expect the police to do their job and check on someone running about with a fridge. If I got pulled over another 10 times I wouldn’t be annoyed.”

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Your Garmin watch is a fantastic tool for helping you train for big events, but there's an important limitation you should be aware of, which almost threw a spanner in my marathon training.

One of my favorite things about my Garmin watch is how seamlessly it works with all the big fitness apps. Strava, Komoot, AllTrails, TrainingPeaks – just go into your settings in Garmin Connect, enter your login details, and all the appropriate data will sync automatically.

I'm currently training for the Manchester Marathon in April, and to keep me on track, last year I picked a plan from TrainingPeaks that lined up with my goal time, and the time available to prepare for the race

It started out perfectly – I connected my TrainingPeaks account with my Garmin one, my workout schedule appeared in Garmin Connect, and when I synced my watch, each day's workout was transferred automatically. Every day, I only had to start a run activity on my watch and everything was there, with times, heart rate zones, and prompts for foundation runs, interval sessions, speed work, and long runs.

It was great – right until it wasn't. 

After seeing I had an interval session scheduled one day, I headed to the gym, hopped on the treadmill, hit 'Run' on my watch – and it wasn't there. I hunted through the scheduled workouts to see if I could find something similar, and found lots more missing over the coming months. My schedule was full of holes.

So what happened?

The thing is, Garmin watches can only hold a limited number of workouts. That makes sense – the device only has a limited amount of storage – but the limit is just 25. If you're following a plan that spans several months, you're going to use those all up pretty fast – and if they're imported via TrainingPeaks you won't necessarily get a warning when it happens.

You can make more room by deleting Garmin's premade workouts for other sports (press 'start', scroll all the way down to 'workouts', select a sport, pick a workout, choose 'delete') but that's not ideal. The default workouts are handy to have, particularly the illustrated yoga and strength ones.

Until recently there was a similarly low limit for the number of points you could include on a GPX route uploaded to your watch. The 50-point limit was frustrating for runners, hikers and cyclists who wanted to head out all day, but thankfully Garmin has now lifted it from many devices, starting with the Garmin Instinct series in October last year.

I can only hope that the company will do the same thing with workouts, and lift the strangely low limit so an entire marathon training plan can be synced at once, with no holes. For the time being, it looks like I'll have to spend some time fiddling with things manually to stick within the 25 workout restriction.

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A man from Michigan is aiming to become the first person to run this year’s New York Marathon with his hands tied, to raise awareness of human trafficking in the United States.

The marathon will be run on 5 November, and Derryk VanderJagt – who is also competing in memory of his father – has overcome his own mental and physical health setbacks to prepare for the challenge of running the 26.2 miles wit his hands bound together in front of him. 

According to VanderJagt – who had no previous experience of marathon or ultra running before he started training for his NYC Marathon attempt – competing with his hands tied, “is a huge limitation; it messes with your balance, it restricts your breathing, it cuts off your momentum and it wears you down faster.” (If you’re not similarly encumbered, here are some tips for breathing while running.)

VanderJagt is running in partnership with Restore NYC, “a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking, we’re on a mission to make a difference,” says VanderJagt. “Together, we can create a world where mistreatment and human trafficking are no longer tolerated.”

VanderJagt lost his father in 2021, partly, he claims, through medical negligence, which lead to his own stress, anxiety and, ultimately, heart problems. But he’s fighting back now.

On his sponsorship website, VanderJagt adds: “From my own journey through tough times and losses, I've come to realize the incredible power of a caring community that stands up for those who've faced unimaginable challenges. This kind of support acts as a guiding light during the darkest moments, helping individuals find their way back to healing and hope.”

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Finishing times in running races like marathons usually come down to a matter of mere minutes – and sometimes even seconds – but this weekend saw a highly unusual three-way tie for first place in the world of ultra running.

Around 600 runners took part in Saturday's trail race in Hong Kong, the first of four races that make up the HK 50 series. For the majority of the men's race, Canadian runner Jeff Campbell held onto his one-minute advantage. 

The course is described by organizers as a great introductory course; the first 24km entails low elevation and rolling terrain. The second half, however, involves three climbs up Mt Butler, Jardines Lookout and Violet Hill which proved to have a levelling effect on the front runners. 

According to reporting in the South China Morning Post, local runners Chan Ka-keung and Wong Wai-hung teamed up with Rex Lo to close the gap. Lo dropped back as the trio neared the finish line, while Chan and Wong surged ahead and caught Campbell a few hundred yards from the finishing line, where the three men agreed on an unlikely truce.

“The guys caught me, so I started sprinting, but they said, ‘joint finish’,” says Campbell, who moved from Canada to Hong Kong in 2014.

“I said, ‘that is a great idea, let’s run home together’.”

Campbell, Chan and Wong crossed the finish line together in five hours, one minute and 32 seconds.

“We pushed so hard, but it helped the three of us earlier in the race that we were supporting each other,” Chan tells the SCMP.

Let's hope there was an extra large podium to support all those winners.

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