The Running Story | Marathon Handbook News

The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon is in the books, and Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break it all down after a huge race week in NYC. Andreas Almgren pulled off one of the most hyped marathon debuts ever and won with a big negative split. Sheila Chepkirui held off Hellen Obiri for the women’s title, and Jess McClain came back late to take second, the first American woman on the NYC podium since 2018. Michael and Jessy also cover Zouhair Talbi just missing a US Olympic quota spot, Conner Mantz’s tough day, and what the media room was like after the finish.

They also get into the runner banned for three years by the Zhengzhou Marathon for tying his 9-year-old son to his waist during the half marathon, and they pay tribute to Irish middle-distance record holder Ciara Mageean, who died at 34. Then there’s the debate over an American-born runner competing for Sudan who ran faster than Conner Mantz’s US half marathon record in Valencia, though the time won’t count as a US record. To finish, they ask whether Emma Bates logging her 20-hour labor on Strava is inspiring or oversharing.

Would you log your labor on Strava? Let us know in the comments.

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The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon is this Sunday, November 1, and Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth preview the men’s and women’s elite races in this bonus episode of The Running Story.

We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order.

Come see us live! NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, Oct 31, Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574

NYC Shakeout Run, Oct. 31 Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wahoo-x-marathon-handbook-nyc-shakeout-run-tickets-2003193817633?aff=erelpanelorg

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Reigning world marathon champion and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after an out-of-competition test came back positive for EPO, six weeks before her Sydney Marathon win.

On this episode of The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down what the doping case means for her titles, for Sydney and for trust in elite marathoning.

NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574

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Ultra legend Courtney Dauwalter is heading back to the roads. She’s racing the California International Marathon (CIM) in December to chase the 2:37 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials standard. On this week’s episode of The Running Story, Michael and Jessy go through the top running news of the week, recorded in person in Toronto following the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Marathon Budget Episode:
https://youtu.be/iOX5QNbZXb8?si=BHmCFaOc-aFt3ubN

NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574

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Recorded live and in person in Chicago, hours after the finish, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the 2026 Chicago Marathon and the week’s other top running stories.

TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467

NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574

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The 2026 Chicago Marathon is almost here, and in this bonus episode of The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth cover everything you need to know before race day.

We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467

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It's Chicago Marathon week! Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth go through the week's top running news.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467

Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

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In this week's episode of The Running Story, who cover how Tigst Assefa was on world record pace at the 2026 Berlin Marathon until the final 2K. Assefa still won in a course record of 2:11:04, even though she appeared to suffer an Achilles injury around 40K. Early reports suggest a partial tear. Guye Adola won the men's race in 2:02:50, his first personal best in almost ten years. We also cover Josh Kerr's 1,000m time trial at altitude in Albuquerque, which came within 0.83 seconds of Emmanuel Wanyonyi's world record before the Ultimate Championship.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

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In this bonus episode of The Running Story, Michael checks in with Jessy who is on the ground in Berlin ahead of the 52nd BMW Berlin Marathon. Jessy reports from the expo inside the old Tempelhof Airport, gives her verdict on the 2026 Adidas Berlin Marathon jacket and merch, and goes hands-on with the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 (the sub-2 shoe), the new hot-pink Adios Pro 5, and Mizuno's lace-less 96-gram super shoe, which is now the lightest racing shoe in the world.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

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Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down this week's biggest stories in the running world. From a half marathon that turned into a flash-flood disaster, to a new sub-2-hour marathon attempt announced for Valencia, to a shoe-logo lawsuit shaking up the industry.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

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This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five biggest stories in the running world: a runner who followed the TV camera car off course in the final stretch of a Prague 10K, ultra star Tom Evans racing cyclist Tom Pidcock up Mount Snowdon on foot vs. bike, Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr headlining the first-ever World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Megan Eckert smashing the women's six-day world record in Hungary, and a German athlete's bizarre burpee broad jump marathon world record.

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This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five biggest stories in running. Jakob Ingebrigtsen finished fourth at the Brussels Diamond League final and called his rivals "a bunch of cowards" and we unpack the fallout. Jacob Kiplimo's half marathon world record was finally ratified by World Athletics... except it's already been passed, so it's not actually the world record anymore. Top American Clayton Young makes a bold declaration ahead of the Chicago Marathon, aiming for the American record. Plus, a developing and concerning story: Canadian skyrunner Kalie McCrystal has gone missing on the Matterhorn during a speed-record training attempt. And finally, World Athletics drops its entry lists for the Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, with a few surprising names.

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This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth cover a jam-packed week in the sport: Sabastian Sawe's shock withdrawal from the Berlin Marathon, a historic weekend at UTMB, the full 2026 Sydney Marathon results, and the Josh Kerr vs. Jakob Ingebrigtsen showdown that's now officially on the books.

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In this bonus episode of The Running Story, Michael and Jessy (reporting live from Chamonix) provide a full UTMB preview. They break down the insane three-way sprint finish at OCC (Lauren Gregory, Naomi Lang, and Sarah Alonzo separated by just 3 seconds after 60+ km), the men's OCC results, shoe and brand talk (carbon plates in trail shoes... yes or no?), and look ahead to the CCC and the UTMB grand finale: who's dropped out (Ruth Croft, Katie Scheid, Tom Evans, Jim Walmsley, Killian Jornet), who's now favored (Courtney Dauwalter, Vincent Bouillard, Caleb Olson), incoming storm warnings, and last-minute course changes.

Watch the UTMB livestream free on YouTube.

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This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five biggest headlines in the running world: Yomif Kejelcha's stunning half marathon world record in Buenos Aires, the Sydney Marathon's viral medal mix-up, a brutal week of UTMB withdrawals, the loaded 2026 New York City Marathon elite field, and the fallout from the Edmonton Marathon's course-length error and what it means for Boston Marathon qualifiers.

Check out our full NYC Elite Field Preview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk2Mj1BKgy4

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This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the 5 biggest stories in running: Grand Slam Track's ongoing payment scandal, a new Guinness World Record for most shirts worn in a marathon, the stacked Berlin Marathon 2026 elite fields, an early preview of the UTMB 2026 elite fields, and what the Prague Half Marathon's first-ever ballot says about the running boom.

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This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five biggest stories in the running world. The New York Road Runners have quietly added a new lottery to their guaranteed-entry 9+1 program, making it even harder to get a guaranteed bib into the New York City Marathon. Grand Slam Track founder Michael Johnson breaks his silence for the first time since the league collapsed into bankruptcy, giving his first interview since GST folded owing athletes and creditors millions of dollars.

Plus: a runner just set the fastest stroller mile in history on the Guardian Mile course, a viral video shows a Mexico City Marathon bandit runner being tackled by a race official, and Cambridge sociology professor Jason Arday's wild endurance-running claims are being called into question as his academic record comes under fire.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:14 NYRR adds a new lottery to the 9+1 guaranteed-entry program for the NYC Marathon
09:29 Michael Johnson breaks his silence on Grand Slam Track's bankruptcy and collapse
17:55 New world record: the fastest mile ever run while pushing a stroller (4:17)
21:46 Viral video: Mexico City Marathon bandit runner tackled by a race official
25:39 Cambridge professor Jason Arday's wild running claims come under scrutiny
38:57 Outro

Article links:
marathonhandbook.com/nyrr-9plus1-eligibility-drawing-nyc-marathon
marathonhandbook.com/michael-johnson-grand-slam-track-collapse
marathonhandbook.com/biebelhausen-4-17-stroller-mile
marathonhandbook.com/runner-knocked-down-mexico-city-marathon

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This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down five of the biggest stories in running: Josh Kerr's emotional "Miracle Mile 2" win at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Sophie Woods' jaw-dropping overall fastest known time (FKT) across the Via Alpina, the safe return of Brazil's missing marathoner Daniel do Nascimento, both course records falling at the brutally hot Badwater 135, and Sebastian Sawe's surprising race announcement for after Berlin.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:59 Josh Kerr wins "Miracle Mile 2" at the Commonwealth Games
5:05 Sophie Woods sets the overall Alpine FKT on the Via Alpina
9:20 Brazil's missing marathoner Daniel do Nascimento found safe
15:16 Course records fall at Badwater 135
19:34 Sebastian Sawe's surprise post-Berlin race in South Korea
23:37 Outro

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Boston Marathon just added a second-chance lottery for runners stuck in the qualifying gray zone... and that's just the start.

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the BAA's new 1,000-spot lottery for rejected BQ qualifiers, Sebastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa's newly ratified world records from London (plus why Jacob Kiplimo's half marathon record is still stuck in limbo), Aurélien Sanchez's stunning new Pacific Crest Trail FKT, Hunter Woodhall's controversial disqualification at the USATF Para Outdoor Championships, and the Chamonix mayor's push to shrink UTMB after residents said they "despise" the race.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:30 Boston Marathon's new lottery for rejected BQ qualifiers, explained
10:08 Sebastian Sawe & Tigst Assefa's world records officially ratified
16:49 Aurélien Sanchez sets a new Pacific Crest Trail FKT
20:20 Hunter Woodhall disqualified at USATF Para Outdoor Championships
23:53 Chamonix's mayor wants to shrink UTMB — residents "despise" the race
32:58 Outro

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Jacob Kiplimo returns to defend his Chicago Marathon title, but can he break two hours without Kejelcha and Sawe pushing him like they did in London? Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the full 2026 Chicago Marathon elite field: the men's race, the wide-open women's field led by Brigid Kosgei and dark horse Sharon Lokedi, the American record chases on both sides, Galen Rupp's masters record bid, and their bold winner predictions.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro: previewing the 2026 Chicago Marathon elite fields
1:05 Can Jacob Kiplimo run sub-2 in Chicago?
3:10 Men's elite field breakdown (Kiprotich, Mengesha, Mateiko, Takele)
5:15 The Nike Alphafly 4 shoe story
6:58 American men's record chase: Hicks, Maury, Clayton Young
9:10 Galen Rupp's masters record bid
10:13 Women's elite field: Brigid Kosgei headlines
11:00 Why Sharon Lokedi could be the real favorite
14:30 Hellen Obiri, Ruth Chepngetich and the tainted world record
16:30 American women: Sarah Hall, Des Linden chase the masters record
19:41 Susanna Sullivan and the top American storylines
20:57 Predictions: women's race winner
22:57

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👉 Tell us in the comments: does Kiplimo run sub-2, and who wins the women's race?