The Running Story | Marathon Handbook News

A packed week in running. Michael and Jessy cover five big stories including a time that would have rewritten the record books and an exclusive from the CEO of one of the world's best marathons. 0:00 Intro & Jessy's Unbound Gravel 200 3:00 10K in 26:01 — The Fastest in Human History (Unofficial) 5:30 Yomif Kejelcha Signs With Valencia Marathon 6:30 Exclusive Interview: Valencia CEO on the Appe...

Thomas Watson fills in for Michael Doyle this week as he and Jessy Carveth run through five stories dominating the running world right now — from a doping controversy that broke the internet to a heartwarming marathon moment featuring the sport's greatest athlete. Cape Town Marathon emerged as one of the most significant races of the year, not just for the performances on the day but because it re...

The fall marathon season is already taking shape and Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth are here to break it all down. On this episode of The Running Story, the team runs through the five biggest stories from the past week in running. In this episode: The Soweto Marathon prize-money scandal — six months after the November 2025 race, the winners are still owed roughly $15,000, runners-up about $7,000,...

Michael and Jessy run through the five most intriguing stories in running this week. Rachel Entrekin became the first woman to win Cocodona 250 outright, demolishing the overall course record and finishing nearly 10 miles ahead of the next runner. We dig into the body-composition science behind why women keep closing — and surpassing — men at extreme ultra distances, and acknowledge the tragic dea...

Michael and Jessy are back after covering Boston and London, and this week's five stories cover everything from a polarizing youth running debate to one of the most shocking marathon debuts in American history. An 11-year-old from Indiana, Ben Dick, ran 1:20:14 at the IU Health 500 Festival mini marathon — reportedly the fastest half ever run by a boy his age. He dropped his dad at mile seven. The...

Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth sit down for their full elite preview of the 2026 London Marathon, breaking down the top five storylines ahead of Sunday's race. Sebastian Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo headline a men's field that Sawe himself says will require a course record to win: 2:01:25, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2024. Kiplimo arrives fresh off a ratified 57:20 half marathon world record in Li...

Patriots Day is almost here — and Michael and Jessy are in full Boston Marathon mode. In this episode, they break down the five biggest stories heading into the 130th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20th, before laying out their bold picks for the men's and women's race winners and top American finishers. Story 1 – Kipruto vs. Korir: The Headliner Matchup Past champion Benson Kipruto (Boston 2021...

Come to our LIVE SHOW in Boston! Join Alex, Katelyn and Michael and some very special guests, + giveaways and prizes! 📅 Saturday, April 18, at 6:45 p.m 📍 Trident Booksellers & Café, 338 Newbury Street 🎟️ It's free to attend, but make sure to RSVP now, as space is limited: https://forms.gle/sFk28hfMYznrsNxMA Five big stories this week — strap in. Des Linden | Marathon des Sables The 2018 Bost...

Come to our LIVE SHOW in Boston! Join Alex, Katelyn and Michael and some very special guests, + giveaways and prizes! 📅 Saturday, April 18, at 6:45 p.m 📍 Trident Booksellers & Café, 338 Newbury Street 🎟️ It's free to attend, but make sure to RSVP now, as space is limited: https://forms.gle/sFk28hfMYznrsNxMA It's been a dramatic week in the world of distance running and Michael and Jessy are...

Come to our LIVE SHOW in Boston! Join Alex, Katelyn and Michael and some very special guests, + giveaways and prizes! 📅 Saturday, April 18, at 6:45 p.m 📍 Trident Booksellers & Café, 338 Newbury Street 🎟️ It's free to attend, but make sure to RSVP now, as space is limited: https://forms.gle/sFk28hfMYznrsNxMA Boston Article: https://marathonhandbook.com/could-boston-marathons-qualifier-problem...

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth dive into one of the wildest weeks in running news. We cover a major shake-up ahead of the London Marathon as Sifan Hassan withdraws due to injury — and what it means for the elite field. Then, a controversial NCAA doping case explodes into the spotlight after athletes stage a dramatic podium walk-off in protest. Plus: • A bizarre Str...

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down one of the most chaotic weeks in running news this year. A little-known Ethiopian runner stunned the world at the Barcelona Marathon, running 2:10:53 in her marathon debut — the fastest debut ever and the second-fastest women's marathon in history. But with the current world record clouded by doping controversy, what does t...

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five biggest stories shaping the running world. First up: Jacob Kiplimo runs 57:20 at the Lisbon Half Marathon, potentially reclaiming the half marathon world record pending ratification after last year's controversy over pacing vehicles. Next, Eliud Kipchoge announces he'll run the Cape Town Marathon, marking the first...

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack one of the most dramatic weeks in running so far this year. We start in Tokyo, where the first World Marathon Major of 2026 delivered a blistering three-man sprint finish and a stunning women's course record performance. Then we dive into the chaos at the US Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, where a lead vehicle reportedl...

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down five of the biggest headlines in distance running. The NYC Half Marathon elite fields are officially set, and the matchups are electric. Grant Fisher makes his highly anticipated half marathon debut, while Sharon Lokedi and Hellen Obiri renew one of the sport's fiercest rivalries. On the track, Keely Hodgkinson takes down a...

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the biggest stories in the running world. Cole Hocker runs 3:45.94 to set a new American indoor mile record — the second-fastest indoor mile ever. What does it mean for the global mile scene? Faith Kipyegon surprises everyone by racing her first-ever road 10K in Monaco. After dominating the 1,500m for years, is this the beg...

The 2026 Barkley Marathons delivered one of the most brutal editions in race history — and for the second year in a row, no one finished. In this episode of The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack everything that happened at this year's Barkley Marathons in Tennessee's Frozen Head State Park. They discuss: Why the February start made this year historic How cold rain, fog, and cre...

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack one of the strangest controversies in recent running history. A men's half marathon world record — the fastest ever run — has officially been disqualified nearly a year later. We break down why World Athletics made the call, how much advantage pacing vehicles really provide, and what it means for the sport moving forward. Plus:...

Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth return with five of the most intriguing running stories of the week: King Charles III makes a surprise appearance at a parkrun in Norfolk (0:56). A billionaire pledges $100M to support U.S. Olympic athletes — with delayed payouts and major conditions (6:16). Sha'Carri Richardson faces legal trouble after being clocked at 100 mph (12:00). Triathlon star Kristian Blum...

Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five most compelling stories in running this week — starting with one of the most bizarre marathon disqualifications ever, after a runner was spotted racing the Hong Kong Marathon with a baby strapped to his chest. From there, they dive into Des Linden's jaw-dropping spring race schedule, which somehow includes the Marathon des Sables, Boston, and Lon...

The Running Story is Marathon Handbook's weekly news recap show with Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth. This week we break down Des Linden's big 2026 announcement—she's heading to the Sahara for the Marathon des Sables (00:35), then celebrate Dot McMahan's remarkable Houston Marathon performance as the 49-year-old hits the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying standard for a record sixth Trials appearance...

The Running Story returns with a jam-packed week in running. Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down a stunning Houston Half Marathon debut (00:45), major American and Canadian breakthroughs (02:55), and standout performances across both Houston marathons, including Sarah Hall's incredible run at age 42 (04:10). The show then pivots to the rise of the grassroots Burrito League replacing the Chi...

NOTE FOR SUBSCRIBERS: This is a bonus, inaugural episode of a new weekly podcast we're piloting called The Running Story. For the next few weeks, you'll receive this show in the Marathon Handbook feed on Mondays alongside our regular Thursday podcast. We'd love your feedback — email us at podcast@marathonhandbook.com. More new podcast projects are coming in 2026. Welcome to the first episode of Th...