David Goggins has once again tested the limits of endurance, and passed. The 50-year-old ultrarunner, author, and former Navy SEAL finished the 2025 Moab 240 Endurance Run early Monday morning in around 3 days and 13 hours, placing 22nd overall after 240 miles through Utah’s desert canyons and mountains. It’s his second 200-plus-mile race in … Read more
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NORMAN, OK — The 2025 Run for Your Life 5K, part of the popular Zombie Run series, is turning heads this Halloween season with a medal that offers not one, but two surprises — it changes color under sunlight and glows in the dark.
Designed and produced by X T-shirt, the medal captures the event’s spooky spirit from dawn to dusk. In daylight, the jack-o’-lantern design transforms from pale white to a deep pumpkin orange under UV light. When night falls, the eerie green glow brings the haunted theme alive — perfectly matching the race’s chilling, playful energy.
“We wanted to create something that evolves with the race — from the starting line in sunlight to the after-dark celebration,” said Ryan Zhu, founder of X T-shirt. “The color-changing and glow effects make this medal more than just a keepsake — it’s a living part of the Halloween experience.”
Every detail, from the bat silhouettes to the haunted-house ribbon, was tailored to echo the Run for Your Life theme. The result is a finisher medal that feels both festive and mysterious — a reward runners will love showing off long after the race.
The Run for Your Life 5K will take place on October 18, 2025, in Norman, Oklahoma, inviting participants to embrace the fun and fright of the season.
X T-shirt creates interactive race apparel and medals, including glow-in-the-dark, color-changing (UV reactive), and sweat-activated (hydrochromic) technologies. Our mission is to transform standard race merchandise into memorable experiences that enhance participation, sponsorship, and community engagement.
Every race is unique. We provide free design services, tailoring shirts and medals to match each event’s theme — from 5K to marathons — ensuring every piece of merchandise feels like part of the story.
Free Samples
We also provide free samples so race directors can see and feel the quality before making decisions. Learn more at MagicRaceShirts.com.
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
It’s an ask made on the start line of many trail races: If you see someone in trouble, stop to help.
This year, on the rugged backcountry trails of the 2025 Speedgoat 50k, a group of racers showed that caring for each other came before race results when they happened upon another runner lying motionless on the ground. It’s a nightmare scenario no one wishes to encounter — on or off a race course — but in this case, everyone involved quickly realized that their own races were now of secondary importance and helping the fallen runner was their top priority. One of the runners, Majell Backhausen, applied his wilderness first aid training to check for responsiveness and assess the runner’s possible injuries. After a few long seconds, the injured runner, Scott Klingonsmith, responded by lightly squeezing Backhausen’s hand. While others ran ahead to the next aid station to get help, Backhausen stayed with Klingonsmith, sacrificing any race goals for the day.
While his evacuation was slow, Klingonsmith was eventually able to walk out, assisted by the race’s medical crew. The stories from that day provide hope that when things get serious, people are more than willing to put their personal goals aside in order to help others.
Majell Backhausen, a man of the mountains, used his wilderness first aid training to help a hurt runner, sacrificing his own race ambitions at the 2025 Speedgoat 50k. Photo courtesy of Majell Backhausen.
A Fall on the Speedgoat 50k Trails
The Speedgoat 50k takes place in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains in late July. Over two days, the event hosts three races that start and finish at Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, approximately 30 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. Sunday’s 50k premier event, which was started in 2008 by ultrarunning legend Karl Meltzer, is known for its more than 11,000 feet of vertical gain over 31 miles and is advertised as the toughest 50k in the U.S.
About 14 miles into the race, Backhausen was descending from Hidden Peak on a rock-strewn trail. “The race was feeling tough on the first climb, but that’s Speedgoat, I guess, and I had found some more rhythm descending a very technical section of the course in its first major downhill,” recalls Backhausen. “Myself and a number of other runners were in close proximity descending this section, and the next moment, we just saw Scott lying on the ground, motionless.”
Scott Klingonsmith wrapped in an emergency blanket while Majell Backhausen (orange shirt) manages the situation. Photo courtesy of Scott Klingonsmith.
Backhausen said the group stopped to check on the unconscious runner, and to his relief, Klingonsmith stirred after a few moments. “The second big relief came when he slowly pressed pause on his watch,” Backhausen shared. “Like a true racer.”
Both Backhausen and Klingonsmith are competitive athletes and experienced trail runners. Backhausen is an athlete for the Australia/New Zealand The North Face team and has been trail running and ultrarunning since 2012. He’s completed several 100 milers and notable races such as UTMB, the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, Marathon des Sables, and the Skyrunning World Championships. Klingonsmith is 20 years old and started running four years ago as a high school cross-country and track athlete and had goals of finishing in the top 10 at Speedgoat. “Before my fall, I was doing well,” said Klingonsmith. “My fueling plan was going perfectly, and I was in a good place as we were about halfway into the race. I was excited to see what my body could rally in the second half of the race.”
The Fall, Rescue, and Priorities
Klingonsmith recalls running downhill fast, trying to make up ground on the runners ahead of him, when he fell: “I was in a good rhythm until my toe snagged on a rock and I fell hard on a rocky part of the trail. My knees took 90% of the weight of my fall as I landed on some sharp rocks I remember falling and closing my eyes after I came to a stop. I was lying down in the middle of the trail. From that point, I don’t remember much except that I started to gain consciousness when Majell came down the trail and had me squeeze his finger. I remember he kept feeding me the Precision gel I was carrying, as well as some of my liquid carbs.”
Unfortunately, the competition came to a halt for both athletes, although Backhausen did eventually go on to finish the race. “As the seconds ticked by and [Scott’s] movement and awareness were slow but evident, it occurred to me that any sort of racing was well and truly finished for the day,” said Backhausen. “I think it was tough for us both to accept, but ultimately, I had to believe the words I told Scott, which were: ‘This is a blip on the radar of life, man; there will be many more opportunities to race and don’t sweat it. There are bigger things in life.’” For the next 40 minutes, Backhausen stayed with Klingonsmith as he slowly recovered and waited for medical attention.
Scott Klingonsmith was eventually able to walk out with assistance from the race medical crew. Photo courtesy of Scott Klingonsmith.
Meanwhile, about a mile and a half down the trail at the American Fork Canyon aid station, Ryan Cooper, part of the event’s operations team with medical training, started organizing a rescue as soon as he received reports of an injured runner. Cooper shared, “It’s a remote area between Snowbird and Midway, and takes two to three hours to get there on a gnarly, boulder-ridden 4×4 road.” He noted, “It’s not a good place to get hurt.”
As Cooper was making his way up the trail with medical supplies, Backhausen and Klingonsmith, wrapped in an emergency blanket and with lacerations on his hands and legs, were slowly walking down. Cooper noted that he showed some signs of shock, but he was coherent and able to walk and talk. The group got Klingonsmith to the aid station, where he rested and hydrated while Cooper cleaned and bandaged his cuts. “He said he was able to hike out,” said Cooper, and Klingonsmith made it to the medical tent at the finish line by the time Backhausen ran the second half of the course and finished the race.
The Selflessness of Trail Runners
Since the incident, Klingonsmith has almost fully recovered. “I had a deep puncture wound on my left knee that required stitches, my right knee was swollen to the size of a grapefruit, but luckily had no internal fracture, my finger was broken, and my hands had a lot of cuts and scrapes,” Klingonsmith shared. Fortunately, he did not sustain a head injury. “Perhaps I had the wind knocked out of me,” he said. He is now running again — mostly pain-free — and he recently returned to racing by taking third at the 2025 Big Cottonwood Classic, a local race.
Backhausen went on to compete at the 2025 TDS in August, part of the UTMB Mont Blanc festival.
Majell Backhausen and Scott Klingonsmith reunite in the medical tent at the end of the 2025 Speedgoat 50k. Photo courtesy of Scott Klingonsmith.
The two runners have kept in touch over social media. “We both got a new Instagram follower out of it, so I guess that is huge success in this sport,” said Backhausen with a laugh. “I’ll be watching his profile for the next race celebration.”
Klingonsmith shared, “I have learned so many lessons from my experience at Speedgoat. The main one being that there are good people out there who are willing to stop what they’re doing and prioritize someone in need over themselves. I’ve learned that the trail running community has some of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. Every runner who ran down that trail as I was lying down in pain was willing to stop and help. Training months and months for a race only to throw it out the window to help a random person who fell, that’s a true act of selflessness and kindness. I experienced an immense amount of gratitude that day, for everyone who was involved.”
Call for Comments
Have you ever encountered an injured runner on the trail who needed help or been in a situation where you needed assistance on the trail?
As ultra runners, we’re always looking for tools and resources to support our training and racing goals. Check out this resource that fellow runners have found valuable.
Fixed-time ultrarunning fans, get ready! The 2025 IAU24-Hour World Championships take place on Saturday, October 18, in Albi, France.
The race starts at 10 a.m. local time and follows a 1.5-kilometer (0.93 miles) course looping in and around the Albi stadium. The Albi venue in southwest France is no stranger to hosting championships, having held the 2016 IAU 24-Hour European Championships and the 2019 IAU 24-Hour World Championships.
With both 2023 champions — Aleksandr Sorokin (Lithuania) and Miho Nakata (Japan), who are also the world record holders — returning, the 15th edition of the generally biennial world championships promises a strong field in both the men’s and women’s races. And as long as weather conditions are favorable, the world records will likely be challenged.
In this article, we take a quick look at the history of this world championships and a deeper look at who we expect to be at the front of the women’s and men’s races. A full entrants list is also available.
Japan’s Miho Nakata working hard during the final hour of her world-record-setting effort at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships, held in Taipei on December 1 and 2. Photo: International Association of Ultrarunners
IAU 24-Hour World Championships History
The inaugural IAU 24-Hour World Track Championships were first staged by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) in 2001. The fact that it was held on a track limited the entries to 54 competitors. Two years later, the first IAU 24-Hour World Championships on a road loop took place, and 141 athletes participated. It was held in conjunction with the IAU 24-Hour European Championships. This 2025 edition has a record 397 entries, with 222 men and 175 women on the start lists from 47 national federations. This is way up from the last edition in 2023, where 245 entrants raced, with 138 men and 107 women.
Although recent rankings always play a part in predicting leading contenders, the outcomes of these fixed-time world championships can be difficult to predict, as athletes may have run a qualifying distance as far back as 12 to 18 months, or more. So, although past performances and qualifications can be a guide, they do not always indicate an athlete’s current form.
As with all IAU events, there are both individual and team events. The team result is calculated by adding the cumulative distances of a nation’s top three runners, with the highest cumulative distance winning. In 2023, Lithuania won the men’s event, with Poland and Great Britain placing second and third. Poland won the 2023 women’s team event, followed by Japan and the Czech Republic.
Lithuania’s Aleksandr Sorokin on his way to winning the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships. Photo: International Association of Ultrarunners
2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships Women to Watch
Podium Potential Women
The women’s world record has been broken at the last three world championships. In 2017, Poland’s Patrycja Bereznowska set a then-world record of 259.991k (161.551 miles). Two years later, in 2019, Camille Herron improved the record to 270.116k (167.842 miles). At the last event in 2023, Japan’s Miho Nakata pushed the mark up just a tiny bit further, to 270.363k (167.996 miles).
All three of these athletes are entered and set to be on the start line, although it’s worth noting that Herron broke her wrist in a rollerblading accident in September, which could affect her ability to run. Nakata has also been working through health issues, but appears to be racing.
In 2024, Herron ran 263.004k (163.423 miles) at the Soochow Track Invitational in Taipei and remains the only female athlete to have won IAU world titles in the 50k, 100k, and 24-hour events. Bereznowska ran 263.178k (163.531 miles) at the 2024 ABM Jędraszek UltraPark Weekend and, since winning the world title in Belfast in 2017, has been one of the most consistent 24-hour performers. Nakata ran 249.198k (154.844 miles) at the 2024 Hirosaki 24-Hour Run, and then 249.303k (154.909 miles) at the 2025 Jingu Gaien 24-Hour Challenge.
All three, if running to previous standards, could end up on the podium, but there are plenty of others with the credentials to challenge them.
Camille Herron on her way to setting a world record at the 2019 IAU 24-Hour World Championships. Photo: U.S. National 24 Hour Running Team
Holly Ranson of Australia leads the 2025 rankings with 263.548k (163.761 miles) achieved at the Sri Chinmoy 24/48 Track Festival in her home country, in March. In doing so, she set an Australian 24-hour record, as well as an Australian 100-mile record.
Great Britain’s Sarah Webster, the bronze medalist at last year’s IAU 100k World Championships, an event in which Nakata finished fourth just behind her, will also be one to watch. She made the step up to 24 hours in April this year, recording 243.393k (151.237 miles) off a 14:05 100-mile split, to qualify for the this race.
Noora Honkala (Finland) has a best 24-hour distance of 246.496k (153.165 miles) from the 2022 Loutraki International Ultramarathon Festival, her last serious attempt at 24 hours. She ran close to Herron in the 2023 Spartathlon, placing second, and returned to win the race in 2024. She also placed eighth at the 2023 Comrades Marathon and 11th in 2025.
Japan’s Miho Nakata celebrates after setting a new women’s 24-hour world record at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships in Taipei on December 1 and 2. Photo: International Association of Ultrarunners
Other Women to Watch and Their 24-Hour Personal Bests
Hanna Bergwall (Sweden) – 241.269k at the 2025 VXO Ultrafest
Therese Fredriksson (Sweden) – 241.658k at the 2025 VXO Ultrafest
Stéphanie Gicquel (France) – 253.580k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
Corinne Gruffaz (France) – 245.549k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
Lauren Jones (U.S.) – 247.923k at the 2024 Desert Solstice Track Invitational
Aiko Kanematsu (Japan) – 247.070k at the 2023 Jingu Gaien 24-Hour Challenge
Marisa Lizak (U.S) – 244.756k at the 2024 Desert Solstice Track Invitational
Olena Shevchenko (Ukraine) – 254.463k at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships
Anne Stephan (Germany) – 250.572k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
Daniela Tarnutzer (Switzerland) – 252.822k at the 2024 24-Stundenlauf Aare-Insel Brugg
Jo Zakrzewski (Great Britain) – 247.984k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
The top four finishers from the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships are all on the start list.
Aleksandr Sorokin from Lithuania is the defending champion from 2023, when he ran 301.790k (187.523 miles). He is the current men’s world record holder with 319.614k (198.598 miles), set when winning the 2022 IAU European 24-Hour Championships. Over the last five years, he has been impressive at both 24-hour and 100k events, having world records in both disciplines. He ran in the recent Adidas “Chasing 100” at the end of August, recording 6:04:10 for 100k, slightly faster than his official world record of 6:05:35, in an aided marketing event by the brand. The event was not run under World Athletics rules, and the times run are not record-eligible.
Aleksandr Sorokin, after winning the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships, in a new world record. Image: Marius Antanaitis screen capture from race video
Fotis Zisimopoulos (Greece) was the 2023 silver medalist, running 292.254k (181.598 miles), his personal best. He is a four-time winner of Greece’s classic Spartathlon and the current course record holder. He has run a few shorter events in the last 12 months but skipped this year’s Spartathlon.
Andrii Tkachuk of Ukraine was third at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships with 284.540k (176.804 miles). He ran a personal best of 295.363k (183.530 miles) at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships. A string of strong results at shorter races in the past two years shows form.
Francisco Mariano Martinez of Spain was fourth in the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships with 282.061k (175.264 miles), which is his personal best to date.
Andrzej Piotrowski was sixth in the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships with 265.886k (165.213 miles). His personal best is 301.858k (187.565 miles), which he ran at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships when placing second behind Sorokin. He is one of only three men to have bettered 300k (186.411 miles). Sorokin and retired Greek ultra legend Yiannis Kouros are the other two.
Elov Olsson of Sweden ran 284.669k (176.885 miles) at the 2025 VXO Ultrafest, splitting 100 miles in 12:50:31. He ran a 6:30:14 at the 2022 IAU 100k World Championships, where he placed seventh, and he also won the 2023 Tunnel Hill 100 Mile with 11:26:19.
Other Men to Watch and Their 24-Hour Personal Bests
Robbie Britton (Great Britain) – 277.439k at the 2023 24 Hours of Torino
Matthew Field (Great Britain) – 281.303k at the 2024 Gloucester 24-Hour Track Race Invitational
Chris Kelly (Great Britain) – 273.375k at the 2024 24 Hours of Albi
Dan Lawson (Great Britain) – 273.003k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
Amar Singh Devanda (India) – 272.537k at the 2024 IAU 24-Hour Asia and Oceania Championships
Stijn Van Lokeren (Belgium) – 280.020k at the 2025 Belgian 24-Hour Championships
Luka Videtič (Slovenia) – 265.322k at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships
Marco Visintini (Italy) – 288.437k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
Robbie Britton running the 2021 Valencia Marathon. Photo: Zoe Salt
Call for Comments
The 24-hour event format is unique compared to many other styles of ultrarunning. There will always be emerging runners a little under the radar, waiting to make a breakthrough. Let us know if you think we have missed someone!
When it comes to the shoes that ruled the 2025 Chicago Marathon, the story was one of longevity versus novelty. On one end, the Nike Alphafly 3, now two years old, proved its staying power with Jacob Kiplimo’s commanding 2:02:23 victory and Conner Mantz’s new American record.
On the other, Puma’s Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, the most aggressively styled and innovative super-shoe on the market, broke through with personal bests and top-10 finishes across the women’s field.
Chicago became the meeting point of two design eras: the veteran still defining the standard, and the upstart rewriting the rules. The result wasn’t a passing of the torch, but a dead heat between the old guard and the new wave—a rare equilibrium in the super-shoe arms race.
Below, we break down the fastest shoes at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, and what this balance between legacy and innovation says about where the super shoe arms race stands today.
Jacob Kiplimo, Conner Mantz, and the Enduring Reign of the Alphafly 3
Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda won the Chicago Marathon in the Nike Alphafly 3. He was among five of the top 10 athletes in the men’s race to wear the shoes. (Photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris)
Heading into the 2025 Chicago Marathon, all eyes were on John Korir—the defending champion and reigning Boston Marathon winner—who had boldly announced plans to chase a sub-2:01 finish. But Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda, the 24-year-old half-marathon world-record holder (56:42), proved that his world-class talent extends well beyond the 13.1-mile distance.
Kiplimo took risks. While no runner plans to positive-split a marathon, his decision to press the pace early effectively disrupted Korir’s rhythm. He crossed the halfway mark in 1:00:16, putting him on pace for the late Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 world record set at Chicago in 2023. Near the 35km mark, Korir dropped out, and Kiplimo surged ahead uncontested, breaking the tape in 2:02:23, 91 seconds clear of Amos Kipruto (KEN, 2:03:54).
It wasn’t just a statement win for Kiplimo—it was another major victory for the Nike Alphafly 3, the same shoe that has dominated marathon podiums for more than two years and was worn by Kiptum during his aforementioned world record.
Kiplimo wasn’t the only Nike athlete making moves on the men’s leaderboard. Mantz, wearing the latest dev model of the Alphafly 3 (Nike Dev 16141), set a new American record that surpassed Khalid Khannouchi’s long-standing mark of 2:05:38, finishing in 2:04:43 and fourth overall. That matches his fourth-place finish in Boston earlier this year and underscores his dominance among Americans in the marathon distance.
Conner Mantz set a new American record at the Chicago marathon wearing Nike Alphafly 3. (Photo: Getty Images)
All told, five of the top-10 men crossed the Chicago finish line in Alphafly 3s—including Huseydin Mohamed Esa (ETH, 2:04:50), Seifu Tura (ETH, 2:05:17), and Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN, 2:05:31)—further proof that even two years after launch, Nike’s flagship marathon racer remains the benchmark for performance.
The Alphafly is no longer the lightest super-shoe on the market—that title now belongs to Asics’s new Metaspeed Ray—but its blend of propulsive foam, signature Zoom Air pods, and optimum stability often matter more than weighing a few less grams on the scale, and continues to make it one of the most trusted tools in elite racing (and favorite of many citizen marathoners too).
Hawi Feysa and the Growing Legacy of the Adios Pro Evo Series
Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia broke away after the halfway mark and never looked back, winning in the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 with a time of 2:14:56—delivering yet another major-marathon victory for Adidas’s Evo series, the ultra-minimal racer that also helped Tigst Assefa (ETH, 2:11:53) smash her own world record at this year’s London Marathon.
Feysa—who, like Kiplimo, is just 24—secured a win that further cements Adidas’s role as a first-place contender in the marathon shoe wars, continuing to innovate at “Lightstrike” speed. Weighing just 138 grams (4.9 ounces), with a stiff carbon platform and aggressive rocker geometry, the Evo 2 stands as the second-lightest elite marathon shoe currently on the market—roughly 10g heavier than the recently debuted Asics Metaspeed Ray (129 g/4.5 oz).
While Adidas claimed the crown, Nike, Asics, and Puma filled out the women’s leaderboard. Runner-up Megertu Alemu (ETH, 2:17:18) likely raced in Nike’s Vaporfly 3, while Loice Chemnung (KEN, 2:18:23) and Magdalena Shauri (TAN, 2:18:03) delivered podium-level performances for Asics, wearing the Metaspeed Ray and Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, respectively.
And just as in the men’s field, Nike’s Alphafly 3 continued to make its presence known—under the feet of Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN, 2:19:25), Florencia Borelli (ARG, 2:24:23), and Gabriella Rooker (USA, 2:26:32)—proving that two years after its launch, the shoe remains a defining force across both sides of the elite podium.
Puma’s Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 Makes An Even Bigger Splash
Following its heavily promoted—but somewhat underwhelming—debut at this year’s Boston Marathon, the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 made a strong statement in Chicago, emerging as the second-most-popular shoe among the women’s top 10.
Three athletes—Natosha Rogers (USA, 2:23:28) (top American finisher), Dakotah Popehn (USA, 2:24:21) (second American), and Melody Julien (FRA, 2:27:09)—all ran personal bests in the model, helping solidify Puma’s reemergence as a serious player in elite racing.
Dakotah Popehn ran a personal best wearing Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3. (Photo: Getty Images)
Puma’s lightweight, split-midsole design—with its ultra-soft-and-responsive A-TPU Nitro Elite foam and rigid carbon bridge—has officially moved beyond novelty status. With such a deep field choosing to lace up in it, the Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 cements Puma’s reputation as the comeback brand of the 2020s—a company once known for its sprinting heritage now carving out space in the marathon super-shoe conversation.
The Other Super-Shoes in the Top 10
With Nike’s Alphafly 3 and Adidas’s Adios Pro Evo 2 taking the wins and Puma taking up more space on the leaderboard, three other shoes made major statements in Chicago—each showcasing how diverse the marathon footwear landscape continues to become.
The Asics Metaspeed Trifecta: Ray, Sky Tokyo & Edge Tokyo
Apparently, one marathon super shoe wasn’t enough for Asics. Their current top-tier lineup has three different models. Loice Chemnung (KEN, 2:18:23) raced in the Metaspeed Ray, a featherweight design that now stands as the lightest in the field at 129 grams (4.5 ounces). And defending Chicago champ John Korir was aiming for an audacious sub-2:01 before he DNF’d, and chose to race in the Metaspeed Ray to help him get there.
Meanwhile, Magdalena Shauri (TAN, 2:18:03) impressed in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, while Bashir Abdi (BEL, 2:07:08) represented the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, both using Asics’s dual-foam system (FF Turbo + FF Leap) and full-length carbon plate to deliver a smooth, energetic ride.
All three Metaspeed models share a 39.5 mm heel/34.5 mm forefoot stack and a 5 mm drop, but they’re tuned for different stride mechanics: the Ray for maximal energy return for forefoot runners, the Edge for higher cadence, and the Sky for maximal stride length. Together, they signal that Asics is no longer chasing the leaders—it’s running stride-for-stride with them.
Hoka Cielo X1 3.0
In one of the day’s biggest surprises, Alex Masai (KEN, 2:04:37) placed third wearing an unreleased prototype of Hoka’s Cielo X1 3.0. It is rumored to be slightly lower-stacked and lighter than its predecessor, and to refine Hoka’s signature rocker geometry with a stiffer carbon plate and more aggressive toe spring. While not yet available to the public, the Cielo X1 3.0’s debut on the Chicago podium cements Hoka’s return to the front of the super-shoe conversation.
On Cloudboom Strike
Although it didn’t appear on the podium, the On Cloudboom Strike continues to draw attention from pros and testers alike. Weighing 210 grams (7.4 ounces) with a 39.5 mm stack and 4 mm drop, it pairs Helion HF PEBA-based foam with a full-length carbon Speedboard for a firm yet efficient ride.
The shoe’s Chicago appearance came courtesy of Ryan Ford (USA)—who had only just announced his new affiliation with On’s Boulder-based elite team on Saturday. His entry marked one of the first official marathon outings for On’s newest racer. Unlike the softer trend dominating other brands, the Cloudboom Strike favors responsiveness and ground feel, appealing to forefoot-striking athletes who value control and turnover over plushness.
Men’s Results and Fastest Shoes at the 2025 Chicago Marathon
There’s an often-quoted adage that says, “Be kind to everyone you meet, because you don’t know what they’re going through.” It asks us to acknowledge that life can be difficult for everyone, regardless of how happy or successful they seem on the surface.
This is the theme that will resound in your head as you view “Katharina,” a raw, deeply honest, and awe-inspiring film following Katharina Hartmuth over an 12-month period starting in 2024. While the highlights of the period include a win at the 2024 Tor des Géants and third-place finishes at the 2024 and 2025 Hardrock 100, there were also seemingly endless injuries, a knee surgery, and mental health struggles.
[Editor’s Note:Click here to watch the full film on YouTube.]
This film is edited and directed by Ethan Newberry, often known as The Ginger Runner. Newberry is arguably one of the most prolific and talented trail running filmmakers in our sport right now. Besides editing and cinematography, the elegantly placed music in his films — including this one — elevates the experience and gives you all the feels.
Katharina Hartmuth near the end of the 2024 Tor des Géants after overcoming a summer of injury. All photos are screenshots from the film “Katharina.”
The opening scene immediately immerses us in Hartmuth’s world. The purposeful shots follow Hartmuth to the 2024 Hardrock 100 start line in Silverton, Colorado. She describes the mountains as her “happy place” and says that running in them is “almost like visiting friends.”
Hartmuth, who is German but lives in Switzerland, is one of the most prolific runners on the global circuit. Her most recent accomplishment is a third-place finish at the 2025 UTMB, where this film made its world premiere. But for anyone who’s been following her career closely, it’s clear that her runs at UTMB and other events in the past two years have not come easily.
Katharina and others at the start of the 2025 Hardrock 100.
Early on in the film, Hartmuth candidly reveals her struggles with mental health and her series of unfortunate and frustrating injuries. Her string of bad luck started with a knee injury after being hit by a car while riding her bike in the spring of 2024. The second was a bad fall while running just 2.5 weeks before the 2024 Hardrock 100 during which she injured her back. The way she speaks about these challenges is honest and relatable. She never begs for sympathy in her tone. Hartmuth exudes dignity and grit, and it is utterly inspiring. She lines up for the 2024 race even with less-than-ideal preparation and finishes third, despite additionally suffering from loss of vision, a condition well-documented during ultrarunning events. The way Hartmuth ultimately navigates the course with no vision, never wavering, will give you chills.
Subsequently, we follow Hartmuth to her victorious finish at the 2024 Tor des Géants in September of that year. The scenery in the Italian Alps is spectacular and at times looks like a movie set. Despite the grueling nature of this 330-kilometer race, Hartmuth never stops smiling and never loses her patience. She struggles all the while with her lingering knee pain. Her success is achieved not without hardship, and her approach to mental health is both rational and mature.
Katharina in the Italian Alps during the 2024 Tor des Géants.
Knee surgery in November 2024 and the subsequent rehabilitation marks the winter months between race seasons, and the movie concludes with its final chapter at the 2025 Hardrock 100. During this time, Hartmuth reminisces on her 2024 race and describes one of the most relatable situations in ultrarunning when she says, “I had so many problems during the race, but my back was never a problem.” It highlights what is often true both in life and running: In the end, it’s never the issues we are most worried about that become the concern.
The film is an emotional roller coaster from the start to the final finish line of the film. Hartmuth is engaging and lovable, and you will become a fan if you weren’t already. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a reminder that many people are struggling, and it’s ok to reach out for help.
Overcome by emotion at the finish of the 2025 Hardrock 100.
Call for Comments
Have you had a chance to watch the film? What did you think?
Have you found yourself navigating mental health struggles while dealing with physical injuries as well?
When you open the AllTrails app and zoom in on Chicago, Illinois, running routes, you’ll see nearly 200 options across the city. Zoom in even further and you’ll find the beating heart of each neighborhood: solo runners hitting their coffee shop commute before work or running clubs going door to door to their favorite restaurants, like Cozy Noodles n’ Rice.
HOKA athlete Chef Tee is the chef-owner at Cozy Noodles n’ Rice in Wrigleyville. He started running casually just to stay in shape, but quickly got swept up into the running spirit that fuels the city.
In 2014, Chef Tee got a lottery spot in the Chicago Marathon and has raced almost every year since. In 2016 he skipped the race to watch the Cubs beat out the Indians in the World Series (understandable).
As his love for the running community grew alongside the finisher medals from the Chicago Marathon, Chef Tee decided to begin supporting the marathoners that he has spent hundreds of miles running with. During the Chicago Marathon, he offers a free carb-loading meal to all marathoners before and after the race at Cozy Noodles n’ Rice.
Check out Chef Tee’s video below, sponsored by HOKA. Then check out his favorite runs around the city.
Where to Run in Chicago
As someone who has run hundreds of miles in Chicago, Chef Tee knows his way around the running routes in the area. Below are some top route picks from HOKA and Chef Tee’s favorite runs.
Chef Tee Recommends: Lake Front Trail
Take bite-sized chunks out of this 18.2-mile lakefront trail in downtown Chicago. The trail is paved asphalt or concrete and has wonderful lakefront views along the distance.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating: 4.7 stars
Level: Easy
Length: 18.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 288 feet
Waterfall Glen Main Trail and Tear Thumb Loop
Southwest of the city, you’ll find this 4.2-mile loop, consisting of a wide gravel trail throughout. The trail is open year round and dogs are allowed off leash in some areas.
This trail is also a popular winter trail destination and is beautiful all year long.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating: 4.4 stars
Level: Easy
Length: 4.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 154 feet
Sag Valley Yellow Trail Loop
Heading southwest from the city center, you’ll find this 8.2-mile loop trail, that’s primarily forested with smaller rolling hills. You’ll encounter stairs and multiple creek crossings, along with ponds and lakes.
This is a great trail run to get immersed in nature and out of the city.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating: 4.7 stars
Level: Moderate
Length: 8.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 436 feet
Chef Tee Recommends: 312 Riverrun Path
Cruise the North Branch of the Chicago River up to Horner Park on this easy 2.8-mile run. The trail passes through multiple scenic areas and parks and crosses the Chicago River up toward Horner Park.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating: 4.5 stars
Level: Easy
Length: 2.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 26 feet
Glenview North Brand to Skokie River
North of the city is a 7.8-mile trail through dense oak and maple forests and along the Chicago River. This is also an immersive nature trail and gives runners a break from the city.
Trail Details
AllTrails Rating: 4.5 stars
Level: Easy
Length: 7.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 65 feet
Plug Into the Running Community in Chicago
The best way to get involved in the running scene in the Chicago area is to join a local running club or hit up the local running shops, like the HOKA Store at 746 N Michigan Ave. Then, after logging some miles, swing through Cozy Noodles n’ Rice and say hi to Chef Tee.
[Editor’s Note: This article is sponsored by HOKA. Thank you to HOKA for its sponsorship of iRunFar, which helps to make iRunFar happen and free for all to enjoy. Learn more about our sponsored articles.]
Ever since I started writing this column in October of 2011, I have taken some time each year to reflect back on the past 12 months and share a bit about what I’ve written here, in this very special place. I never thought when Bryon Powell suggested over beers in Virginia in September of 2011 that I turn my personal blog into a weekly column here on iRunFar that it would be a 14-year (and counting) journey. But, here we are!
Since last October, we have published 42 articles in this space. Three times a month, and sometimes four, I have had the chance to share my thoughts and reflections on the goings on in the trail running and ultrarunning world, and in my world. I am forever grateful to Bryon and Meghan for providing me with a space to find and maintain my voice.
Meghan, Bryon, and AJW (left to right) covering the 2012 Western States 100. Photo: John Mackey
As I have for the past several years, I’ve written a monthly sub-series here in the Taproom. This year my focus was on Legendary Aid Stations, as I profiled some of the best aid stations in the trail and ultra community. From a long list of reader recommendations, I compiled a list of 11 legendary aid stations, including Rucky Chucky at the Western States 100 and Kroger’s Canteen at the Hardrock 100.
AJW running a nighttime section of the 2024 Javelina 100 Mile. Photo: CTS Ultrarunning
In addition to my Legendary Aid Station series, I also continued my occasional series on running and aging. As an aging athlete myself, I think my personal experiences in the sport and some of the things I have learned along the way have been helpful to others. From this year’s running and aging series, I particularly enjoyed writing a tribute to my friend Henry Bickerstaffand a reflection on trying new things as a seasoned ultrarunner in An Old Dog Learns New Tricks.
In my own personal running journey, I completed two incredible events in the past year. First, in October, I returned to the Javelina 100 Mile, 17 years after I first ran it. I wrote about it in Who Says You Can’t Go Home: Running the 2024 Javelina 100 Mile. Then in May, I dove into the deep end and ran the Cocodona 250 Mile for my first 200-plus-mile event. I reflected on that life-changing experience in Once in a Lifetime.
From beers in Virginia in 2011 to the Cocodona 250 Mile in 2025 — Bryon Powell and AJW. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Finally, as I have done for the past several years, back in January, I released a set of predictions for 2025, some of which seem to have come to fruition and some of which have not. Such is the nature of these things.
Here’s to another year here in AJW’s Taproom. Thank you all for reading.
Celebrating the first anniversary of AJW’s Taproom at the place of its conception.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Alesong Brewing and Blending in Eugene, Oregon. Touch of Brett is a hoppy, farmhouse-style ale that straddles the line between sour and bitter. Brewed in the classic Saison style, Touch of Brett tips the scales at a healthy 6.4 ABV and carries a smooth finish. Perfect after a nice long day running on the nearby McKenzie River Trail.
Call for Comments
Do you have a favorite Taproom piece that resonated with you this year?
Tell us about a fun AJW experience or encounter you’ve had!
The Copperfield 5K Cold Run, set for October 11, 2025 in Louisville, KY, is adding extra excitement to this year’s event with a color-changing finisher medal designed and produced by X T-shirt.
Medal Tells the Story
The medal, shaped like a house to reflect the Copperfield neighborhood, transforms under sunlight:
Indoors it appears cool and neutral.
In sunlight it shifts to a warm red body with an icy blue “Cold Run” panel.
The color transition mirrors the race’s name and its support for Cold Capping therapy, highlighting both the energy of the runners and the cause behind the event.
“We wanted the medal to feel alive and meaningful,” said Ryan Zhu, founder of X T-shirt. “Its transformation under sunlight connects the race experience with the community’s spirit and the purpose it serves.”
Race Information
The Copperfield 5K Cold Run is a neighborhood race that supports Cold Capping, a treatment that helps chemotherapy patients preserve their hair.
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Location: Copperfield neighborhood, Louisville, KY
X T-shirt creates interactive race apparel and medals, including glow-in-the-dark, color-changing (UV reactive), and sweat-activated (hydrochromic) technologies. Our mission is to transform standard race merchandise into memorable experiences that enhance participation, sponsorship, and community engagement.
Every race is unique. We provide free design services, tailoring shirts and medals to match each event’s theme — from 5K to marathons — ensuring every piece of merchandise feels like part of the story.
Free Samples
We also provide free samples so race directors can see and feel the quality before making decisions. Learn more at MagicRaceShirts.com.
You’ve probably heard the old guidance that long runs should be run at one to two minutes per mile slower than your marathon pace. This guidance came from coaches and elite runners in the 1960s and 1970s—the first running boom in the U.S. And it worked at the time because the average marathon finish time was three and a half hours (over an hour faster than today).
But then the second boom in running occurred in the 1990s and 2000s, with the bulk of marathon finish times between 4:30:00 and 5:30:00. Marathon pace for a five-and-a-half-hour marathoner is 12:36 minutes per mile. Using the old 1-2 minutes slower per mile rule for long runs, the runner would never do any running (only walking), or if they did, it was uncomfortably slow.
The concept of endurance training related to marathon pace continues to cause great confusion. So how is an athlete to determine running pace if the 1-2 minutes slower than your marathon time rule no longer stands? It’s all based on training zones and your relative race pace at various times.
