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​Running News : Training Tips : Training Plans : Shoes+Gear : YouTube : Podcast​

Hi runners, 👋🏼 Katelyn here with newsletter #687!

As the year winds down, we’re wrapping up 2025 the only way runners know how: by looking back, geeking out, and setting our sights on what’s next.

From our Best of 2025 podcast recap part two, to fresh training guides, big race news, and a wave of 2026 shoe reveals, today's lineup has a little bit of everything:

• Latest podcast: 2025 running, wrapped, part II: From record-smashing performances to a promising track league, we recap August through December in Part 2 of our year-in-review episode.
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• How to run a sub-2-hour half-marathon: Everything you need to confidently break the two-hour barrier, including pacing tips and a complete training plan.
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• Why is my heart rate so high when I run? 11 common reasons your heart rate may be elevated, and what it means for your training.
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• Here’s how to enter the 2026 Valencia Marathon ballot: Why one of the world’s fastest marathons is also becoming one of the hardest races to get into.
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• New Brooks 2026 line-up: What’s coming next from Brooks and which models are already turning heads at TRE.
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• 8 track drills that will make you a faster, stronger runner: Simple, effective drills to improve speed, form, and efficiency—no elite background required.
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• How Grand Slam Track burned through millions in just three meets: A breakdown of who's owed how much, and for what.​
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• Saucony running shoes 2026: what’s new? A first look at updates and redesigns coming to the Hurricane and Triumph lines.
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• Watch: How I broke a half-marathon course record (my secret weapon): A behind-the-scenes look at the strategy that made the difference on race day.

Happy running! 🏃🏻‍♀️⭐

Katelyn Tocci
Managing Editor
Head Coach

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What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​Latest Podcast: The Year Running Went Off Script​

In Part 2 of our best of 2025 series, the Marathon Handbook Podcast team dives into the second half of a year that completely reshaped the running world.

We unpack the rise (and demise) of the Grand Slam Track League, the controversy surrounding the Enhanced Games, Kilian Jornet’s audacious 14ers expedition across the U.S., and Courtney Dauwalter’s headline-grabbing shift from trail dominance to the marathon roads.
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We also break down the fall marathon season and so much more. Catch the full conversation and relive the year that reshaped running.

WATCH NOW Or listen and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts:

​The Best Gifts For Runners That They'll Actually Use, Chosen By Our Editors​

Trying to shop for a runner during the Christmas rush?

We pulled together the gifts we actually rely on all year, tested, approved, and not just another pair of shoes wrapped under the tree. Think smart, useful, and guaranteed-not-to-end-up-in-a-drawer gear.

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​Why Is My Heart Rate So High When I Run? 11 Possibilities Behind An Elevated HR​

Runners love nerdy data, and few metrics spark more confusion (or concern) than heart rate.

If your easy runs suddenly don’t feel so easy and your heart rate is creeping higher than expected, there’s usually a reason.

We break down what your heart rate is really telling you, and when it’s time to adjust your training.

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​Here’s How To Enter The 2026 Valencia Marathon Ballot​

Valencia has long been the marathon runners' whispered about—fast, flat, and almost too good to be true. But that quiet secret is officially gone.

With demand surging and a new ballot system now in place for 2026, getting to the start line just became a lot more competitive.

Here’s what runners need to know if Valencia is on their wish list next December.

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​8 Track Drills That Will Make You A Faster, Stronger Runner​

Track drills are one of the simplest ways to run faster, smoother, and more efficiently, no matter your level.

In this guide, we break down the most effective track drills coaches use with athletes to build speed, strength, and better running mechanics.

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​How To Run A Sub 2 Hour Half Marathon + Training Plan​

I’ve recently rolled out 5K and 10K plans in the recent newsletter, but what if your spring goal is a half-marathon?

Breaking two hours in the half is one of the most popular (and achievable) milestones for recreational runners.

I walk you through exactly how to train smarter, build endurance, and follow a plan designed to get you under that 2-hour barrier.

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​Brooks Running Shoes 2026 REVEALED: Hyperion Elite 6, Glycerin Max 2, Glycerin Flex, AND MORE​

Managing Editor Katelyn Tocci, Senior Editor Alex Cyr, and Brooks product line manager Tina Danforth present the Brooks running shoe fleet that will define 2026.

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​How Grand Slam Track Burned Through Millions in Just Three Meets​

Grand Slam Track’s bankruptcy filings are revealing more than unpaid prize money; they’re exposing how the league spent millions in just three meets.

Court documents lay out the appearance fees, broadcast costs, and big bets that fueled GST’s rise—and rapid collapse.

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​WATCH: 2026 Saucony Shoe Preview l Triumph 24 AND Hurricane 26​

Here, Managing Editor Katelyn Tocci speaks with Luca Ciccone, director of product engineering at Saucony, about two of the running shoe company's new and improved sneakers: the Triumph 24 and Hurricane 26.

Here, they talk about the purpose of each shoe, how they differ from their predecessors, and the secrets behind Saucony's all-new foam.

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

What’s A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

​WATCH: How I Broke a Half Marathon Course Record (My Secret Weapon)​

With an ambitious goal for his upcoming half-marathon in mind, Alex has a problem - it’s hard to train for a hilly and sunny California race in flat and snowbound Toronto.

So the team decamped to Marathon Handbook’s secret alpine lair for a training session that set Alex up for crushing his race…

QUICK SPRINTS

• How To Calculate Heart Rate Zones For Efficient Run Training
• ​IT Band Syndrome (ITBS) – Fact Vs Fiction​
• ​Legs Feel Heavy When Running? Here’s Why It Happens And How To Fix It​