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Hi runners, Jessy here with newsletter #496! 🎉

Happy Saturday! ​
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Here's what I have for you today:​
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• 🔍 Russ Cook (aka The Hardest Geezer) is almost 2 months into his epic run across New Zealand. But almost from day one, people have been questioning irregularities in his Strava data. And for the last two weeks, Cook has stopped posting on Strava altogether, while blocking people asking questions - meanwhile, according to his other channels, he's still continuing with the challenge. We dig into the data, and look at the bigger picture of The Hardest Geezer's situation, below.
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• 🌎 With a new event and World Championship qualification on the line, teams are primed to lay it all on the line this weekend at World Athletics Relays​
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• 🏜️ Courtney Dauwalter’s shocking exit opened the door for Dan Green and Rachel Entrekin to shine in Arizona’s wildest ultra: Cocodona 250.
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• 🇳🇬 Nigerian teams lose World Championships qualifying shot after being denied visas to enter China for World Relays.
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• 🤝 Swiss brand On Running's new partnerships with anti-doping bodies go beyond PR
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• 🙌 When it comes to relays, there's often this unspoken assumption that they’re just a bonus. A flashy epilogue. That's nonsense.​
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• 💣 WATCH: Nike just released its lightest super shoe ever, the Vaporfly 4. But, according to our shoe reviewer Alex Cyr, it's not for everyone.

Get ready to get faster!

Jessy Carveth
Senior News Editor

The Internet Has Questions About the Hardest Geezer’s Run Across New Zealand

The Internet Has Questions About the Hardest Geezer’s Run Across New Zealand

​The Internet Has Questions About the Hardest Geezer’s Run Across New Zealand​

Missing Strava posts, irregularities in the data, blocking social media users: Russ Cook has some explaining to do.

​What's A Good VO2 Max? We Break Down Average VO2 Max Values By Age and Sex​

​🌎 World Athletics Relays: What To Watch For This Weekend​

The World Athletics Relays return this weekend, May 10–11, in Guangzhou, China, bringing global sprinting firepower to Asia for the first time in the meet’s history.

With automatic qualification to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo on the line, teams are primed to lay it all on the line over a stacked two-day schedule at the Tianhe Sports Center.

​🏜️ Dan Green And Rachel Entrekin Win Cocodona 250 in Record Time Amid Hailstorm Chaos​

The Cocodona 250 has never been a race for the faint of heart, but this year’s edition might go down as one of the most grueling yet.
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With snow, hail, freezing rain, and ankle-sucking mud turning Arizona’s high desert into a treacherous obstacle course, it took something special to survive all 256 miles.

It took even more to win.

​🇳🇬 Nigeria Barred From 2025 World Relays After Visa Denial​

Nigeria’s relay teams are now disqualified from qualifying for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after being forced to withdraw from this weekend’s World Relays in China—a key qualifier—due to visa issues.
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It’s a devastating setback for a nation with a strong sprinting legacy and Olympic-caliber athletes.

​🤔 Can Brands Help Restore Trust in Elite Sport?​

Skepticism around doping is rising in elite running and triathlon.
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Swiss running brand On is stepping into the void—not with tech or gear, but with direct investment in anti-doping systems, signaling a shift in how sponsors engage with performance integrity.

​🙌 Why Relays Are The Most Underrated Track Event​

World Relays are this weekend, and we need to talk about something.

For whatever reason, relays never seem to get the credit they deserve in track and field.

When it comes to relays, there’s often this unspoken assumption that they’re just a bonus. A flashy epilogue. That's nonsense.

​👟 The Vaporfly 4 is Nike's Lightest-Ever Super Shoe: But Is It the Best?​

The Nike Vaporfly 4 is a feather-light, super-flashy, minimalist super shoe — but is it Nike's fastest running shoe yet? It has an angled carbon-fibre plate, advanced ZoomX foam, and a much slighter midsole than its bigger and bulkier cousin, the Nike Alphafly 3.

So, how does the Vaporfly 4 compare to its counterpart, and other racing shoes on the market? Senior Editor Alex Cyr tested it thoroughly and shares whether or not he thinks it's worth the buy.

QUICK SPRINTS

• ​How to Master Running Form and Avoid Injuries (For Good)​
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• ​15 Active Recovery Workouts For Runners​
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• ​Risk-Based Pacing: How To Pace Yourself For A Successful Race​