As I sit here carefully walking backwards down the stairs post–Marine Corps Marathon, I realized this is the first time in my almost 29 years of running that I’ve ever done two marathons in one calendar year. Major props to all of you who do that regularly, I’m in awe! I was amazed at how much stronger I felt this time around compared to my last one.

 

And just this man’s opinion, but the Marine Corps Marathon is an absolute must on your bucket-list races. The course is incredibly scenic for a city marathon, the D.C. crowd shows up big, and the Marines bring the energy all day long. I can’t recommend it enough.

 

Next up is one of our all-time favorite races, the New York City Marathon! 🗽🏃‍♂️ Check out the replay of our NYC Marathon webinar here for everything you need to know to have your best race day.

 

-Nick K

The New York City Marathon is one of my favorite races to watch as a journalist and a fan. Unlike Berlin and Chicago, the other World Marathon Majors in the fall, New York doesn't utilize pacers for the pro field in order to encourage a more unpredictable, tactical, head-to-head race. Olympic champions Eliud Kipchoge (2016, 2020) and Sifan Hassan (2024) headline the men's and women's fields in their NYC Marathon debuts. 

 

Hassan is looking for her second major win this year after capturing gold in Sydney just 62 days prior; she'll face the past three NYC champions in Sheila Chepkirui (2024), Hellen Obiri (2023) and Sharon Lokedi (2022). American record holder Emily Sisson is also making her NYC debut, and Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel will race her first marathon in two years after coming back from injury.

 

Former NYC champions Abdi Nageeye (2024), Evans Chebet (2022) and Albert Korir (2021) will challenge for the crown, as will recently crowned world champion Alphonce Simbu. Kipchoge's longtime rival, Kenenisa Bekele, was also a late addition to the field. 

 

Time: 8:00-11:30 AM ET (pre-race coverage begins at 7 AM on some platforms and continues until 1 PM ET)

NYC local broadcast: WABC-TV, Channel 7, ABC 7 New York app, ABC7NY.com

National U.S. broadcast: ESPN2, ESPN3 (Spanish)

 

— JoJo

Today I want to chat a little bit about juggling rest and cross training when dealing with an injury a term I sometimes call the Chaotic Cross Training Sandwich. Let's dive in.

 

You know how it goes: training’s rolling, everything feels good, and then boom… an injury. Instinctively, we spend hours on the bike, in the pool, or on the elliptical because the thought of losing fitness feels unbearable. Before long, we’re logging more hours than we ever did running and somehow wondering why the injury isn’t healing.

 

Here’s the truth: doing more doesn’t always mean doing better. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do for your fitness is… nothing.

 

I’m not saying all injuries mean total rest a good PT can help you figure that out. What I am saying is don’t let fear or identity push you into a chaotic cross training sandwich of “train harder to fix what training broke.”

 

 

Remember, injuries usually come from doing too much, so doubling down won’t fix it. You’re still a runner, even when you’re resting.

 

 

-Nick K

In this week's Tech Stride column, we are going to walk you through a lesser-known GPS Watch feature (for both Coros and Garmin Watches) called Activity Alerts, which notify you when to fuel during your run. 

 

As many runners know, one of the biggest factors separating a strong race day from one that ends in a bonk often comes down to fueling. One of the easiest and most effective ways to plan your fueling strategy is by time intervals rather than distance—since time is constant, while distance can vary based on pace. Below, we’ll walk you through how to set up these fueling alerts on your watch.

 

For Garmin:
Go to:
Settings → Activity & Apps → Run → Run Settings → Alerts → Add New → Custom → Drink or Eat → Choose your preferred interval.

⚠️ Note: You may run into issues if you record your race as a “workout” rather than a “run,” since the alerts might not trigger properly. For races, start your activity as a regular run instead.

 

For COROS:
Go to:
Run → Start Workout → Hit it Again → Activity Alert → Nutrition Alert → Set your duration.

 

This tip comes from Coach Amanda — check out her reel on Instagram here for a full walkthrough!

 

We hope this feature becomes a game changer for your next race and gives you peace of mind knowing your watch will remind you when it’s time for your next gel.

 

-Nick K

What question do you want the Running Explained team to answer in next week's newsletter mailbag? You tell us! Is there another question you'd like us to answer in a future issue? Send us a note!

 

— JoJo

We asked, you voted and this week's topic winner is “I only have time to run on treadmills most days of the week, is it impacting my fitness?" 

 

The treadmill gets way too much hate in the running world often dismissed as “cheating” or “not real running.” That’s nonsense. The treadmill is a training tool, and a great one.

 

Bad weather? Kids at home? Just prefer it? Whatever your reason, you’re still building fitness. Research shows VO₂ max gains are the same indoors or out, and for many runners, the mental grind of the treadmill actually makes it harder. Plus, some workouts like pace control or hill intervals are even better done on the treadmill.

 

That “1% incline” rule? Some research shows it can replicate the outdoor wind resistance, but honestly do what feels right.  When I was in peak shape, my treadmill workouts were often a little slower than my race paces, which meant the treadmill was perfectly simulating the effort I needed.

 

The bottom line: running is running. If the treadmill helps you stay consistent, that’s a win. Use it proudly, your fitness doesn’t care where the miles come from.

 

-Nick K

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