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Stride into Autumn: Marathon Moments & More
Welcome to the October 2025 edition of Strides ‘n’ Miles, the monthly newsletter from Traxamo. Fall racing season is here—cool air, great running weather, and major marathons just ahead. With the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 12 and the TCS New York City Marathon next month, this issue dives into the latest wearable tech shaping endurance sports. In our Training Corner, we break down marathon goal pace (MGP) strategy and pacing tips to help you hit your targets. Enjoy this month’s newsletter 🏃♂️
In this month's edition:
Kamal Datta, host of the What Runs a Run podcast is running 2025 NYC Marathon, and looking to organize a Friends of the Pod meet. So if you have been a guest on the pod and will be in New York between Oct 1 - Nov 3, 2025, be in the look out for an email in the next couple of days to understand your availability and preference to meet. Looking forward to it. Cheers!
MEME CORNER 😆
Image Credit - Reddit
World Marathon Majors Corner
The 2025 Berlin Marathon took place on September 21 and delivered thrilling performances under challenging hot conditions. Below is a summary structured for newsletter publication, including elite results, course details, and key highlights.
Elite Winners and Race Conditions
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s race in 2:02:16, setting the world's fastest time in warm weather for the year, though outside the course record set by Eliud Kipchoge in 2022.
Rosemary Wanjiru, also from Kenya, claimed victory in the women's race with a dramatic finish, clocking 2:21:05—just three seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Dera Dida.
The warmth, with temperatures reaching 25°C (77°F), made for challenging conditions that slowed many competitors and contributed to notable dropouts, including last year’s champion Milkesa Mengesha.
Participation and Records
The 2025 edition saw 49,831 official finishers, maintaining Berlin’s reputation as one of the world’s largest and fastest marathons.
No new world records were set, but the race still hosted several Guinness World Record attempts in costume and wheelchair categories, reinforcing Berlin’s creative and inclusive spirit.
Course and Experience
The course maintained its iconic, flat profile favored for fast times and personal bests, beginning and ending near the Brandenburg Gate and traversing central Berlin’s neighborhoods and historic landmarks.
Despite the weather, many runners cited the crowd support and city scenery as motivational highlights, and the event retained its status as a “must-run” on the marathon calendar.
Notable Moments
Sawe’s victory marked his continued rise, adding Berlin to victories in Valencia and London within two years, while Wanjiru held off a determined finish by Dera Dida, creating one of the closest finishes in recent memory.
Germany’s Hendrik Pfeiffer achieved the country’s best local male finish since 1990, placing eighth in a personal best of 2:09:14.
This year’s Berlin Marathon once again showcased world-class performances and personal stories against the backdrop of Berlin’s historic avenues, even as heat tested the endurance of the elite and amateur fields alike.
2025 Chicago Marathon Overview
The 47th edition takes place on Sunday, October 12, 2025, welcoming more than 53,000 runners from over 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
The race continues to be a major fixture of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, with a fast, flat course weaving through 29 vibrant Chicago neighborhoods.
More than one million spectators typically line the course to cheer on participants, making it one of the largest and most energetic running events worldwide.
Elite Field and Top Contenders
Defending champion John Korir of Kenya, who ran an impressive 2:02:44 in Chicago in 2024, returns and has publicly targeted a sub-2:01 finish, a time only achieved by the late Kelvin Kiptum (Chicago, 2023).
Other key men's contenders include Timothy Kiplagat (2:02:55 PB), Amos Kipruto (2:03:13 PB), CyBrian Kotut (2:03:22 PB), and Bashir Abdi (2:03:36 PB).
The women’s and wheelchair divisions are stacked with past champions and global medalists, ensuring world-class racing across all categories.
Event Impact and Experiences
The Chicago Marathon raises millions for charity and generates an economic impact of over $683 million for the host city annually.
Runners experience not only a world-class race but also a three-day Health & Fitness Expo (October 9-11) at McCormick Place, plus numerous shakeout runs and community events throughout the marathon weekend.
Every year, the event draws inspiring stories from runners breaking barriers, chasing personal bests, and contributing to a vibrant, inclusive marathon community.
Notable Marathon Moments to Watch
Keep an eye on the anticipated record chases at the front of the pack and possible American record attempts among elite U.S. competitors.
Exciting showdowns in the wheelchair divisions, especially with returning champions and close finishes historically defining the race’s legacy.
Chicago’s weather and city support often create optimal conditions for both first-timers and professionals striving for breakthrough results.
These highlights capture the spirit and prestige of the 2025 race—a celebration of athletic excellence and community that draws the eyes of the running world to Chicago each fall
TECH CORNER
Image Credit - Grok
Technology in endurance sports in progressing in unprecedented speed. As we are in last quarter of 2025 and gearing up for 2026 here are some of the trends shaping up:
New Garmin and Major Wearable Models for 2026
Garmin, Apple, Coros, Polar, Suunto, and Wahoo are launching updated wearable models geared toward high-performance endurance sports in late 2025 and early 2026. These updates bring new sensors for extended health analytics, improved GPS accuracy, more robust training analytics, and deeper integration with athlete management platforms. Learn more
Motiv Sports Partners with Laurel on Advanced Timing Technology
Motiv Sports is rolling out Laurel Innovations' advanced timing systems across US endurance events. The new platform is expected to streamline event operations and deliver faster, more accurate athlete tracking for organizers and participants alike. Learn more.
Live Data Storytelling with PTO and Dataworks
The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) invested in Dataworks Technology, aiming to centralize real-time athlete performance metrics—such as heart rate, power output, and speed—directly into live broadcasts. This enables “second screen” fan engagement and new levels of broadcast storytelling for viewers of endurance events. Learn more
Advanced Wearables: Oura, Apple Ultra, and Samsung
Modern wearables such as the Oura Ring 4, Apple Watch Ultra, and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Pro feature cutting-edge biometric tracking. These devices now integrate stress hormone monitoring, predictive fatigue analysis, ECGs, VO2 max with altitude adjustment, and more—giving endurance athletes lab-grade insights for personalized training and recovery. Learn more
New Pacing Strategies Using Ventilatory Thresholds
Athletes and coaches are increasingly leveraging ventilatory threshold-based pacing—using real-time biometric and respiratory data from wearables—to optimize training and race performance in running and triathlon. This approach, powered by new sensors and in-field analytics, is reshaping endurance training strategies. Learn more
These trends highlight a continued acceleration of tech integration in endurance sports, from smarter wearables and data-driven coaching to next-gen event operations and immersive performance analytics.
TRAINING & NUTRITION CORNER
Image Credit - Grok
Marathon Goal Pace (MGP) refers to the consistent average pace per mile or kilometer a runner targets to achieve a specific marathon finish time. Training to reach one’s MGP involves structured workouts that gradually develop the endurance and speed required to run at this pace for 26.2 miles (42.2 km).
Understanding Marathon Goal Pace
MGP is the planned, sustainable speed a runner aims to maintain for the entire marathon distance.
It is calculated by dividing the total target marathon time by the race distance (e.g., a 3:30:00 marathon equals about 8:00 per mile).
Training at MGP helps runners get used to the specific rhythm and effort needed on race day.
How to Train for MGP
Include MGP workouts in a weekly training schedule: This can be done through steady-state runs, long runs with final miles at MGP, or tempo sessions at or near MGP.
Practice fueling and hydration at MGP: Mimicking race nutrition at this intensity prepares the body to utilize energy efficiently.
Gradually increase the volume of running at MGP, starting with shorter intervals and progressing to more extended segments within long runs.
Use interval workouts and progression runs to develop speed and endurance, supporting the ability to hold MGP comfortably on race day.
Race-pace training helps develop familiarity with effort, mental pacing, and practical aspects like breathing and foot strike.
Key Tips
Do not do all marathon training at MGP—include easier runs and recovery days.
Test MGP in tune-up races or long runs to validate realistic pacing goals.
Adjust MGP based on training feedback, fitness gains, and conditions as race day approaches
WHAT’S NEW AT TRAXAMO
We had a couple of incredible conversations published on What Runs a Run pod. If you are not able to, catch up some of the conversations on Tech in 26.2, Fundraising in 26.2 and Boston 26.2 mini series:
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