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Weekly Endurance Briefing: Chicago & Melbourne Records, 2026 NYC Medal + Tracksmith Eliot Ryder Review 🏃♂️
The Rundown
October 12th, 2026
🏃 Welcome to Your Weekly Endurance Briefing
Welcome to your weekly endurance briefing, courtesy of Marathon Journal. Each Monday, we bring you the latest news, stories, race reviews, and gear insights from the world of running and endurance sports.
📰 NEWS
The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon delivered a historic morning of racing across the Windy City. After 3rd and 2nd place finishes in previous years, Kenya's Amos Kipruto finally captured his first Chicago crown with a late surge at 35K to drop Jacob Kiplimo and finish in a blistering 2:01:09 personal best. In the women's field, Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa successfully defended her title in 2:13:33 following a grueling late-race battle with Sharon Lokedi (2:14:07). Domestic history was rewritten as Clayton Young led the U.S. men in 2:05:23, while Emma Grace Hurley shattered the all-time American women’s marathon debut record with a stunning 2:20:47. In the wheelchair division, Catherine Debrunner smashed her own world record in 1:33:16, while Marcel Hug claimed victory in an unofficial course-record time of 1:21:33—all alongside a record-shattering $50 million raised by 19,000 charity runners.
Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge made a triumphant Australian appearance by storming to victory at the Melbourne Marathon. Returning to action with his trademark composure and relentless pacing, the double Olympic champion controlled the elite field from the early stages, breaking away in the second half of the race to cross the finish line first in a commanding solo performance. His performance in Melbourne marks another iconic chapter in his storied career, drawing massive crowds to the streets and setting a benchmark for long-distance racing in the Southern Hemisphere.
The New York Road Runners have officially pulled back the curtain on the stunning 3.5-inch gold-plated finisher medal for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, celebrating 50 years of the iconic five-borough course. Meanwhile, anticipation for November 1 is reaching a fever pitch with the announcement of a star-studded professional field featuring defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto, the return of Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, American record holder Conner Mantz, and high-profile debuts from Weini Kelati and Andreas Almgren. Get the full breakdown of the hardware and the race-day showdown on Marathon Journal!
❤️🏃🏽♂️COMMUNITY
In this week’s inspiring Your Story, Your Why, Massimo Alpian, Head of Marketing & Communications at Tracksmith, reflects on how his multicultural background shaped his view of community and connection in running. From international non-profit work in Brazil to leading major community initiatives, Massimo shares how running transformed from an early escape into a powerful tool for inclusion, representation, and daily mindfulness.
💸 REVIEWS
When a shoe defines the category of nylon-plated speed trainers, every update is met with massive anticipation. The new Saucony Endorphin Speed 6 pairs an upgraded PWRRUN PBX PEBA superfoam midsole with a redesigned, flexible nylon plate and an 8mm drop (38mm/30mm stack). Tipping the scales at a featherlight 7.2 oz for a women's 8.5, this $175 workhorse delivers incredible energy return, smooth SPEEDROLL transitions, and a locked-in breathable mesh upper for your toughest workouts.
Can a 35-gram watch deliver professional-grade marathon tools without feeling like an outdoor computer on your wrist? In our latest Marathon Journal technical review, we put the new Suunto Run 2 to the test. Featuring a blazing 2,000-nit AMOLED display, dual-band L1+L5 GNSS, free downloadable worldwide offline maps, and an upgraded 12-channel wrist heart-rate sensor, Suunto has doubled down on what road and trail runners actually need on race day.
If you have dense, powerful lower legs that constantly feel like they are redlining after heavy mileage, you know how exhausting traditional foam rolling and handheld massage guns can be.
We spent a full twelve months testing the Chirp RPM Rolling Percussive Massager. By blending powerful percussive therapy with a rolling cylinder and a brilliant hands-free foot cradle, it targets stubborn calf knots and plantar fasciitis like nothing else on the market. It does the heavy lifting so your legs stay fresh through peak training blocks.
When a boutique brand known for heritage running fashion steps into the max cushion arena, the result is nothing short of stunning. The new Tracksmith Eliot Ryder pairs an eye-watering 45mm heel stack with a 25mm drop-in slab of supercritical ATPU foam encased in a stable carrier chassis. Weighing in at a nimble 8.5 oz with a 7.5mm drop, this $220 daily trainer delivers cloud-like impact protection for easy miles and recovery runs. We put it through serious road testing to see how its premium woven mesh, synthetic suede accents, and bouncy energy return handle heavy training blocks, while exploring why its high-fashion aesthetic makes it the ultimate travel and lifestyle crossover.
If you have young runners or hikers hitting rugged, wet mountain trails, you know standard sneakers just won't cut it when the weather turns.
We put the youth Salomon XA Pro V8 Mid Waterproof through rigorous real-world testing across Swiss singletracks and mud runs. With aggressive All-Terrain Contagrip traction, a waterproof Adv.DRY membrane, and heavy-duty toe protection, these mid-cut shoes keep young feet completely dry, secure, and blister-free.
Whether they are prepping for a cross-country route or just tackling wet weekend hikes, this is a total game-changer for young outdoor athletes.
Keep running. Keep exploring. Keep reading Marathon Journal.
Letty Lundquist,
"The only bad run is the one that didn't happen."