It's NCAA XC Regional Weekend

Hedengren, the BYU freshman, defeated 2025 NCAA 5k/10k champ Pamela Kosgei by 42 seconds at the Mountain regional.

    The Latest From LRC

    There have been a lot of wild doping cases over the years but this one is especially interesting and potentially important: one of the top sprint coaches in the world secretly turned in one of his top athletes for doping. We beak it down for you.

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    On The Boards
    On The Boards
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    Disturbing Allegations
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    You can see all three of the finalists above.

    Pre-XC Regionals
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    Mark your calendars

    We're stunned that the 2028 Olympic track schedule makes the 400/400h basically impossible for SML. Bobby Kersee is irate,  but World Athletics has been willing to amend the schedule in the past for stars like Michael Johnson and Allyson Felix. Will they do it again? Plus what doubles are doable? Which are difficult? And are there morning finals? Are the repechage rounds back? *Full schedule

    We should have had this up on Veterans Day
    Another inspirational video
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    He initially tested positive for testosterone after targeted testing triggered by a whistleblower. He was also caught tampering with the initial investigation, but received a significantly reduced ban (21 months) by admitting guilt and "providing important substantial assistance" to USADA's investigation. However, while the investigation was ongoing, he then had three whereabouts failures which increased his ban to 45 months. On this case, USADA head Travis Tygart said, "This investigation has already resulted in several impactful outcomes which will be announced at a later date."

    More Doping Stuff
    Japanese Ekiden Updates
    Catching Up On Recent Road News
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    Boston Half-Marathon

    It was a repeat win for Belayneh who beat Melknat Wudu by 2 seconds. Lasoi won the men's race by 24 seconds. Chandler Gibbens (61:57, 5th place) and Megan Hasz-Sailor (69:39, 6th place) were the top Americans. Keira D'Amato finished back in 10th (1:11:18).

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    Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson, runner, best-selling author, and host of “The Most Interesting Thing in A.I.", just ran over three hours in the marathon for the first time in 20 years. He joins LetsRun Friday to talk running, life, and his new book The Running Ground. If you'd like a book for free, just join our Supporters Club. Click for more info.

      Marathon Analysis

      Did you know everyone who has won a women's major since the start of 2022 has a pb under 2:18? Have we already found the heir to Eliud Kipchoge?

      Say it ain't so

      The US's hopes of assembling a Dream Team to challenge for gold on home soil in Tallahassee will take a hit without the Olympic medalists Fisher and Hocker. Fisher's coach Mike Scannell did say there is a 20% chance Fisher runs the Trials race but even if he made the team he wouldn't run World xc. "I’ll give [the US trials] about a 20% chance," Scannell said. "But World Cross is just not on the radar right now at all."

      This week's pod

      The LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast dives into Obiri’s record, Kipruto’s photo finish, Joel Reichow’s dream run, the American women's record times, and Grant Fisher’s big call on World Cross.

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      The Villains Of The Sport
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      The World's Top Two 400m Hurdlers
      World Athletics Updates
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      NCAA XC Rankings
      O'Keeffe Had A Great NYC

      O'Keeffe ran with the leaders through 19 miles and finished 4th in 2:22:49, the fastest time by an American woman in NYC by almost two minutes.

      More From The NYC Marathon
      High School XC
      RIP
      2025 TCS NYC Marathon
      2025 TCS NYC Marathon
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      Hellen Obiri pulled away from Sharon Lokedi in the final mile to win the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon in 2:19:51, breaking Margaret Okayo’s 22-year-old course record. Fiona O’Keeffe impressed in her NY debut, while Olympic champion Sifan Hassan's presence impacted the race.

      For the first time in 55 years, the New York City Marathon ended in a photo finish. Kenya’s Benson Kipruto edged Alexander Mutiso by just 0.16 seconds in 2:08:09, while American Joel Reichow was the top U.S. finisher in sixth place with a personal best of 2:09:56. *Video of men's finish

      Eliud Kipchoge says it’s not retirement, it’s a transition. Two hours after finishing 17th at the 2025 New York City Marathon, the greatest marathoner of all time announced the “Eliud Kipchoge World Tour,” a plan to run seven marathons on seven continents while promoting the joy of running and his foundation’s mission.

      European Women's Distance News
      Valby Comeback

      After winning five NCAA titles and making the Olympic team in 2024, Valby had raced only once in the first 10 months of 2025 due to a foot injury. In her return to racing on Saturday, she opened up to LRC about her new coach and her hopes of running World XC in Florida in 2026.

      Saturday Road Action

      Rodenfels outkicked a strong women's field that included Weini Kelati (15:34), Elle St. Pierre (15:35), and Parker Valby (15:37), though US 5k/10k record holder Alicia Monson (16:22) struggled.

      Doping Update

      The fastest HS sprinter (9.89) in history's excuse grabbed our attention until another athlete from his school tested positive as well. CAS didn't find his excuse compelling and he got a full ban.

      Josh Hoey parts ways with yet another coach

      Somehow Justin Rinaldi transformed Josh Hoey, who couldn't break 1:47 for 6+ years, to a 1:42.01 world indoor champ and DL winner. How has he been rewarded? With a pink slip. Rojo thinks it's hard to think of a dumber decision than this but then again Jerry Jones once did fire Jimmy Johnson.

      After disagreements on training philosophy, Justin Rinaldi will no longer be coaching Hoey despite engineering one of the greatest turnarounds in American middle distance running history, taking Hoey from 1:47 to 1:42 and World Indoor champion in two years. Plus get the inside scoop on a key workout Hoey overcooked before USAs.

      Great listen/read

      Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, joins the LetsRun.com Podcast to talk about his new book The Running Ground, how he ran 2:29 at 44, his late father, and why he still checks LetsRun every day.

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      Doping Bust?
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      In the latest update, Iowa State has confirmed that none of the suspended runners were in their top 7 but cited FERPA regulations and won't name the suspended runners. It appears that in a separate incident, their #3 runner was arrested last week for leaving the scene of a traffic accident.

      LRC Q&A

      The US achieved its most successful relay medal haul since the introduction of the mixed 4x400 with four golds and a silver at the 2025 Worlds. We asked Woodson about Team USA's performance in Tokyo. Plus we asked USATF about what really happened with Rai Benjamin, who said he went out on the town the night before the men's 4x400 final.

      Paywall lifted

      After five coaches, six states, and hundreds of hours of listening to the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast, steepler Dan Michalski will make his World Championship debut in Tokyo. He dedicated his runner-up finish at USAs to the grinders who keep going without a big shoe contract. "They know the grind, they know what it’s like to fight through injuries, what it’s like to feel like you have the talent to make a team and keep coming up short," Michalski says. "This is for them, in a sense."

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      Kiplimo and defending champ John Korir hit full send on this one and went for it. They ran the fist 5k in 13:58 (1:57:52 pace). They hit halfway on world record pace (60:16) and the next few miles were even faster than that pace. By 30k (1:25:31 - 2:00:16 pace), Kiplimo was all alone. Still on WR pace at mile 22, he slowed a lot late however and had to settle for the #2 time in Chicago history. Tokyo 3rd placer Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia (2024 Frankfurt champ) had a big day as she lowered her pb from 2:17:00 to 2:14:56.  It was a tough day for the American women. Natosha Rogers was 6th in 2:23:28. *Full race broadcast

      IF you are going to play a video game, play this one

      XC Racing 2 is now out and free to play on ios and android and in this version you get to race the famed Detweiller Park course in Illinois.

      Random Links A Human Found Interesting
      2025 Worlds
      2025 Worlds

      Hocker is the second American distance man to win multiple global golds, the third to win a global 5,000 title, and just the fifth from any country to win global titles in the 1500 and 5,000 after Paavo Nurmi, Hicham El Guerrouj, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Bernard Lagat.


      Cole Hocker won 5000m gold in Tokyo ahead of Isaac Kimeli and Jimmy Gressier. Nico Young and Grant Fisher ended up 6th and 8th. Jakob Ingebrigtsen was 10th. The Kenyan women’s unreal meet continued and Cole Hocker was GOLDEN yet again. We broke it down for you live from right after it ended.

      • AW: Lilian Odira's surge takes her to shock world 800m gold Odira came out of nowhere to give Kenya a sweep of the women's distance medals, passing favorite Keely Hodgkinson in the final meters to win in 1:54.62. Hodgkinson's teammate Georgia Hunter Bell also passed her to take silver in a photo finish, 1:54.90 to Hodgkinson's 1:54.91.
      Final Day Non-Distance Medals
      RIP To A Coaching Legend

      Daniels had a prolific career as an athlete, coach and exercise scientist. He won two Olympic medals in the modern pentathlon, did exercise testing for various groups including Nike's Athletics West elite team in Eugene and held numerous coaching positions which included advising on the training of Jim Ryun while working with the 1968 US Olympic team and winning seven DIII women's national XC titles while at Cortland. And of course, he indirectly contributed to the coaching of thousands of high school and college athletes through his training book, Daniels’ Running Formula.

      The Ultimate LetsRun Story In Our 25 Year History & One Of Our Favorite Jonathan Gault Features - Read It Now

      After five coaches, six states, and hundreds of hours of listening to the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast, steepler Dan Michalski will make his World Championship debut in Tokyo. He dedicated his runner-up finish at USAs to the grinders who keep going without a big shoe contract. "They know the grind, they know what it’s like to fight through injuries, what it’s like to feel like you have the talent to make a team and keep coming up short," Michalski says. "This is for them, in a sense."

      Sean Brosnan & Chris Lear & Andrew Greif's book is here

      In Beyond Fast, Sean Brosnan, with Chris Lear and Andrew Greif, traces the unlikely rise of Newbury Park High School from an overlooked program to a distance-running powerhouse. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories, training insights, and cultural shifts, the book shows how Brosnan and his athletes rewrote the high school record books.

      Sean Brosnan Podcast

      From BMX to building the greatest HS team ever, Sean Brosnan tells us how he did it at Newbury Park, plus what really went on at UCLA, and what’s next. Don’t miss this one.

      Data doesn't lie

      We've run the numbers by comparing Lutkenhaus's run against every other age-16 world record, and the data is clear.

      Who?

      Jonah Koech wasn't even supposed to be in Sunday's 1500. As they approached the bell, he was in 13th out of 17. A lap later, he was the champion. He is just the third American man to win a Diamond League 1500/mile and the first runner sponsored by Under Armour to win a DL race. His 3:37.27 pre-race pb is also the slowest of any man to win a DL 1500/mile.

      How Josh Hoey Rose To The Top Of The World

      For five years, Hoey cylced through coach after coach but barely improved from his 1:47.67 high school 800m pb. Learn why he moved around so often -- and why he never gave up. Part I of JG's 7,000+ word feature.
      *MB: Josh Hoey profile by JG

      Stop Obsessing Over Your Diet

      The US indoor 1500m/3000m champion overhauled his fueling in workouts before the 2024 season. Now he swears by his routine.

      The Record Books Are Getting Rewritten In 2025

      In the span of one week in February, runners broke five world indoor records and every American men's middle-distance record from 800m to 5000m. Jonathan Gault spoke to some of America's top athletes and coaches to find the reasons behind all of the fast times.

      One More Look at a Legendary Race

      From novice fans to running diehards, there was something for everyone (except perhaps Brits and Norwegians) to enjoy about one of the greatest middle distance races ever run.

      Blanks = NCAA XC x 2

      Just before Blanks chases a 5,000m pb and collegiate record in what is likely his final NCAA race at Boston University on Saturday, he told LetsRun about the key session of his 2024 XC season -- one he described as "probably the best workout I've had so far in my career."

      Best of the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast
      Best of the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast

      Your latest American stars share their insights.

      Three legends of the sport.

      One of the greatest US runners ever.

      We chatted with Frank on the 50th anniversary of his Olympic Marathon gold

      American Record Holders
      American Record Holders

      Keira D'Amato, the new American record holder in the marathon, was joined by Deena Kastor, who held the record for 15 years.

      Sisson was the guest on the LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast after she became the first American to go sub 67 in the half marathon on a record-eligible course. Podcast highlights above. Full pod here.

      Woody Kincaid joined us after he broke the American record indoors at 5000. He talks above why he left the Bowerman Track Club. Podcast highlights and link to full podcast here.

      LetsRun.com Pro Coaches Tour
      LetsRun.com Pro Coaches Tour

      Coogan's New Balance Boston team had 3 Olympians in 2021 and 2022 could be the biggest year yet for the program with 2 new additions and the TRACK at New Balance coming on March 1st.

      Danny Mackey has taken the Brooks Beasts from an unproven club to the Olympic podium in its first decade.

      Dathan Ritzenhein is the first of the top pro coaches to sit down and talk about his club heading into the 2022 campaign.

      Best of Jon Gault
      Best of Jon Gault
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      Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
      Take Your Love of LetsRun to the Next Level
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