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Marathon Handbook

How much does it really COST to run a marathon?

Published about 3 hours ago • 2 min read

Newsletter #944: Sunday, 18th October 2026

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Hey runners, in today’s newsletter, Courtney Dauwalter is heading back to the road.

The ultrarunner finished 1:55 outside the Olympic Trials standard at CIM last December, and she returns to Sacramento on December 6 with a place at the 2028 Trials in St. Louis on the line.

Elsewhere, a running coach’s itemized Chicago Marathon bill went viral this week, with the entry fee accounting for less than 5% of it. And about half of Camas High School’s girls cross-country team walked off the course in Washington to protest a transgender teammate.

And as always, we round things out with the practical stuff: eight tips for running in humidity, everything you need to know about marathon training, and five common mistakes new runners make.

Jessy Carveth

Senior News Editor, Marathon Handbook

​Two Former Champions Lead the Fields at the 2026 Delhi Half Marathon​

Birhanu Legese, who won in 2015 and 2017, is going for a third title on Sunday. Irine Cheptai, the 2022 winner, comes back seven weeks after finishing second at the Sydney Marathon.

​Washington High School Girls Walk Off a Cross-Country Course to Protest a Transgender Teammate​

About half of Camas High School's girls team stepped off the course and forfeited on Tuesday. The runner they object to started the season in boys' races, and a Nov. 3 ballot measure would end her eligibility, though not until after the state championships.

​Running In Humidity: 8 Tips To Improve Your Summer Running Experience​

Heat can be debilitating, but humidity may be the ultimate performance drain.

​How To Train For A Marathon: Everything You Need To Know​

We answer the key FAQs & explain the ins and outs of training, nutrition, & gear.

​5 Common Mistakes New Runners Make​

...and how to avoid them.

​A Runner’s $5,748 Chicago Marathon Bill Shows the Real Cost of a Major​

A running coach's itemized list of what he spent on the Chicago Marathon went viral this week. The $266 entry fee was less than 5 percent of it, while flights, an Airbnb, and getting around the city came to almost half.

​Courtney Dauwalter Will Take Another Shot at the Olympic Trials Standard at CIM​

The ultrarunner finished 1:55 outside the 2:37:00 women's standard in Sacramento last December, and she lines up there again on Dec. 6 with a place at the 2028 Trials in St. Louis on the line.

​Influencer CHEATED During Berlin Marathon | The Running Story​

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.

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