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Marathon Handbook

A new women's marathon record?!

Published 13 days ago • 4 min read

Newsletter #761: Monday, 16th March 2026

Hey runners, today’s newsletter starts in New York, where the 2026 NYC Half delivered a fast and chaotic morning of racing. Hellen Obiri broke the course record to win her second title, while Adriaan Wildschutt took a stacked men’s race that saw six runners dip under 60 minutes.

We’re also looking at Fotyen Tesfay’s astonishing marathon debut in Barcelona, where she came within striking distance of the world record.

On the training side, we’ve got practical reads on strength work for marathoners, drills to sharpen your running form, the truth about running and knee health, and a data-driven look at what actually counts as a “good” 10K time.

Jessy Carveth

Senior News Editor, Marathon Handbook

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​Possible Women’s Marathon World Record?! + Kipchoge’s 2026 World Tour | The Running Story​

In this week’s episode of The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down one of the wildest weeks in running news. From a 2:10 debut at the Barcelona Marathon that could challenge the women’s marathon world record to Eliud Kipchoge announcing a global marathon tour for 2026, there’s a lot to unpack.

​Obiri Does It Again, Wildschutt Stuns in Wild Men’s Finish at 2026 NYC Half​

Kenya's Hellen Obiri broke the course record to claim her second NYC Half title, while South Africa's Adriaan Wildschutt won a men's race so fast that six men broke 60 minutes — three of them for the first time ever.

​8 Must-Do Marathon Strength Training Exercises for Runners​

Get stronger, run faster, and stay injury-free with our strength training workouts!

ASICS Superblast 3 has officially landed

The follow-up to the blockbuster Superblast 2 is here, and as our colleague Alex can confirm (see his video review), the SUPERBLAST 3 is a total beast.

The SUPERBLAST 3 stacks ASICS's race-proven technology with a new Trampoline Pod to provide an underfoot feel that is bouncy and responsive. Whether you are grinding through tempo work or just want to make your easy miles feel fun, this is an ideal 'why choose' shoe.

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​Is Running Bad For Your Knees? Debunking the Myths and Understanding the Facts​

Discover what science really says about the impact of running on joint health, and learn how to protect your knees while staying active.

​8 Essential Running Drills To Improve Form And Speed​

Here's how you can perfect your running form with these eight coach-approved drills.

​What's A Good 10K Time? Average by Age, Sex + Ability​

Though averages vary widely by age, sex, and experience level, we break down average 10K times with data tables and percentile charts so you can see exactly where you stand — and how to get faster.

​Fotyen Tesfay Had Never Run a Marathon Before. She Almost Broke the World Record Anyway.​

Ethiopian Fotyen Tesfay stunned the running world Sunday in Barcelona, finishing in 2:10:53 and rewriting what we thought was possible for a first-time marathoner.

​WATCH: Did HOKA Finally Make a REAL Supershoe? Cielo X1 3.0​

Hoka thinks it’s finally cracked the super shoe code with the new Cielo X1 V3. It’s lighter, softer, and already has a few big marathon performances behind it — but is it actually fast enough to rival Nike and Adidas on race day? We put it to the test.

Our Training Plans

As a newsletter reader, you've got complete access to our epic library of plans.
​There's nothing quite like this database on the internet - and they're completely free - all available as PDFs and downloadable Google Sheets:

(If you're met with a 'subscribers only' prompt, then you may need to sign up for Grow - the platform that we use to control access to our plans. It's free and means you've got lifetime access to all the above plans.)

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Quick Sprints:

Looking for an online running coach? Whatever your goals, train with our head coach, Coach Katelyn. Learn more about her online coaching.

Feedback? Hit reply and start a conversation with our team.

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