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Weekly Endurance Briefing: NYC Marathon Recap, LA28 "Stars Align" + Hoka Clifton 11 & Diadora Corsa Reviews 🏃♂️
The Rundown
November 2nd, 2026
🏃 Welcome to Your Weekly Endurance Briefing
Welcome to your weekly endurance briefing, courtesy of the Marathon Journal. Each Monday, we deliver essential updates and expert insights to keep you informed on the latest in running and competitive sports.
PODCAST & TRAVEL
Did you miss out on the Sydney Marathon lottery? Don't panic!
With Sydney lottery results dropping right now, thousands of runners are looking for their next move. If your name wasn't drawn, you still have a guaranteed way to get to the start line. In our latest podcast episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about booking with our absolute top recommendation for race travel: Destiny2Sport. Tune in as we share our full review of their 5-star Marriott Sydney Harbour package, private expo transport, and why traveling with a runner-led tour operator changes everything.
NEWS
The 50th anniversary edition of the five-borough course delivered unforgettable racing across Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Central Park.
In a dramatic marathon debut, Sweden's Andreas Almgren broke away in the closing miles along Central Park South to capture the men's elite title in 2:06:01, edging out Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa by just 13 seconds. On the women's side, Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui reclaimed the New York crown in 2:24:36, holding off a historic performance from American Jessica McClain (2:24:42), who secured second place and ended an eight-year U.S. women's podium drought. Defending champion Hellen Obiri took third in 2:24:43.
In the wheelchair divisions, Switzerland swept both races, with Marcel Hug edging out American Daniel Romanchuk by a single second (1:28:14) and Catherine Debrunner dominating the women's field in 1:40:02.
The countdown to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games took a major step forward today as LA28 officially revealed its unifying slogan, "Stars Align," alongside a high-energy campaign video set to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ "Can’t Stop." For distance running and track fans, the announcement marks a pivotal milestone on the road to Southern California: track and field will take center stage during Week 1 at the historic L.A. Memorial Coliseum—the first stadium in history to host Olympic track across three separate Olympiads—before the spotlight shifts to Week 2 for an iconic Olympic Marathon route planned from the Venice Beach Boardwalk to the Griffith Observatory.
The TCS London Marathon could look drastically different for elite women in 2027. Organizers have revealed they are open to introducing male pacemakers into the women’s field to help athletes chase world-record times.
London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher confirmed to The Independent that "all things are on the table" as officials consult with top female distance runners ahead of an official field announcement in January.
With the 2027 event already expanding into the two-day "London Marathon Double"—featuring a men’s race on Saturday and a women’s showcase on Sunday—introducing male pacers would reignite the debate between "women-only" and "mixed-gender" records, echoing Paula Radcliffe’s historic 2:15:25 performance in 2003.
Looking to grab race-day speed before NYC? Nike and Adidas launched major global releases today for the Alphafly 4 ($280) and Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 ($500). Unlike earlier limited drops that vanished instantly into reseller hands, today’s rollout gives everyday runners a genuine shot at securing pairs—though sizes are moving rapidly.
We broke down the release timelines, specs, and retail dynamics behind both flagship shoes.
When you register for a major marathon, you are stepping into a massive, global economic engine. According to the newly released Brand Finance Marathons 50 report, the world's top 50 marathons generated an astounding $6 billion in economic impact and raised $434 million for charity in 2025 alone.
Leading the charge are TCS-partnered races—including New York City, London, and Sydney—which accounted for $3.2 billion (53%) of the total economic boost and $315 million (73%) of all charitable fundraising.
REVIEWS
Hoka's flagship daily trainer is back with key refinements. The new Hoka Clifton 11 keeps the trusted 8mm drop, 42mm stack height, and reliable CMEVA midsole while introducing an elevated engineered mesh upper and a plush open-cell sockliner. Weighing just 8.3 oz (234g) in our tested Women's US 8.5 sample (shaving off a full ounce of bulk) at a $155 retail price, the eleventh iteration smooths out the rough edges for a lighter, smoother ride from mile one.
When a running shoe is engineered to bridge the gap between easy daily mileage and intensive quality workouts, it becomes an instant rotation staple. The new Diadora Corsa pairs a generous 39mm heel stack with an advanced supercritical midsole foam and a flexible engineered air mesh upper. Weighing in at a nimble 6.7 oz (women's) with an 8mm drop, this $155 non-plated workhorse delivers lightweight impact protection, a stable platform, and smooth rockered transitions. We put it through rigorous testing to see how its versatile ride handles every pace you throw at it.
Keep running. Keep exploring. Keep reading Marathon Journal.
Letty Lundquist,
"The only bad run is the one that didn't happen."