Happy Sunday. If your foam roller is currently judging you from the corner of the room while you negotiate with your Achilles tendon, you’re in the right place. 🏃‍♂️💨 We’ve got the lowdown on the Boston Marathon going Galactic in 2026, the "Super" shoe war of 2026, and why your pasta might be losing its "top-tier" status.

Strides ‘n’ Miles newsletter will be called What Runs a Run newsletter starting March 1st.

Love is a 60-Hour Cutoff - The 2026 Barkley Marathons officially started on Valentine's Day this year, proving that nothing says "romance" like a 5:00 AM conch shell and getting lost in the Tennessee woods. While the rest of the world was eating chocolate, forty brave souls were out looking for book pages in the briars. Remember: if they don't support your 50k addiction, are they really "the one"?

Tokyo Marathon: The Hat-Trick Chase - The elite fields for the March 1st Tokyo Marathon are officially out, and Sutume Kebede is looking for a historic third consecutive win. She faces a legendary lineup including former WR holder Brigid Kosgei and 2025 Chicago winner Hawi Feysa. On the men’s side, defending champ Tadese Takele returns to face a deep pack of sub-2:05 elites in what promises to be a tactical masterclass on the streets of Shinjuku.

Boston's Field is Literally Galactic - The B.A.A. just dropped a bombshell for the 130th Boston Marathon: Retired NASA astronaut Suni Williams will be running the 2026 race and receiving the Patriots’ Award. Williams, who famously ran the 2007 Boston Marathon while strapped to a treadmill on the International Space Station, will now tackle the Newton Hills with the benefit of gravity. On the elite side, the men's field is the deepest in history, featuring 25 sub-2:07 runners including defending champ John Korir and the first man to win all three US Majors, Benson Kipruto.

ASICS Drops the Superblast 3 with FF LEAP - ASICS just unveiled the Superblast 3, the newest evolution in the "super trainer" category, featuring their brand-new FF LEAP™ foam technology. This foam replaces the previous FF TURBO+ and promises a lighter, more responsive ride for those long weekend miles. It’s designed to give you that carbon-plate energy return without the aggressive stiffness of a dedicated racer.

Brooks Glycerin Flex: Bending the Rules - Pivoting away from the "stiff rocker" trend, Brooks has launched the Glycerin Flex this February. With deep flex grooves and a "DNA TUNED" nitrogen-infused midsole, this shoe is targeted at runners who want a plush feel but still want their feet to move naturally. At $170, it's a direct challenge to the rising costs of performance footwear.

Is Pasta No Longer King? - The new 2026 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are causing a stir in the running community by flipping the classic food pyramid—prioritizing protein-dense foods at the top while pushing refined grains to the bottom. While sports dietitians still defend the "Carb is King" mantra for marathoners, the shift toward 1.2–1.6g of protein per kg of body weight is the new gold standard for recovery. Basically, keep the sourdough, but maybe add an extra egg or two to that pre-race brunch.

UTMB Adds Snowbasin to the 2026 Roster - Trail runners, pack your altitude lungs: UTMB has officially added "Snowbasin by UTMB" in Utah to the 2026 World Series circuit. Located just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, this race offers a brutal 5,800-foot elevation gain over the 50K distance, serving as a prestigious direct qualifier for the World Series Finals in Chamonix. Full Story

The Rwenzori Marathon: Africa’s Hidden Gem - If you’re looking for a "bucket list" race that isn't a Major, the Rwenzori Marathon in Uganda (known as the "Mountains of the Moon") is seeing a massive surge in international bookings for 2026. This race offers a rare blend of high-altitude road racing and the chance to trek with mountain gorillas immediately after your finishers' medal is secured. Full Story

Performance Meets the Planet - The running apparel market is hit $90 billion this year, driven largely by a "sustainable or bust" consumer mindset where recycled and bio-based synthetics are no longer optional. Major brands are now focusing on "transparency dosing," showing runners exactly how much recycled ocean plastic is in their singlets versus performance-enhancing features. In urban hubs like Mumbai and Bangalore, "Eco-Runs" are becoming the primary testing ground for gear that handles extreme heat while maintaining a zero-carbon footprint.

Stay tuned for upcoming conversations on What Runs a Run podcast by Traxamo on Sustainability and Training & Nutrition!

Strides ‘n’ Miles newsletter will be called What Runs a Run newsletter starting March 1st combining the great conversations of What Runs a Run podcast.