Each week the running world delivers new records, epic races and gear innovations. This recap covers the highlights of late January and early February 2026: the season-opening Hong Kong Ultra, the brutal Arc of Attrition, a sensational youth mile record and the running shoes that will define 2026.
Last weekend’s Hong Kong Ultra opened the World Trail Majors season on a 93 km route along the Maclehose Trail, finishing with a fast descent from Tai Mo Shan. In the men’s race, Gui-Du Qin outran two-time champion Guang-Fu Meng to win in 8:52:36, with Meng and Guo-Min Deng rounding out the podium. The women’s race produced high drama: Vietnam’s Hậu Hà led for most of the day, but Slovakia’s Veronika Leng reeled her in on the final climb and the pair crossed the line together in 10:43:35, ahead of Ling-Jie Chi.
- 100 km results: Gui-Du Qin 8:52:36; Guang-Fu Meng 8:58:50; Guo-Min Deng 9:09:48.
- Women’s 100 km: Veronika Leng and Hậu Hà (tie) 10:43:35; Ling-Jie Chi 10:52:22.
- 50 km: Ru-Qin Wang topped the men in 3:56 and Xue-Mei Huang won the women’s race in 4:48.
The Hong Kong Ultra is more than a race; it sets the tone for the ultra season. On our blog we have analysed similar events like Transgrancanaria 2026: complete guide, which offers logistical and strategy insights for long-distance trail races.
Arc of Attrition: winter epic on England’s coast
Cornwall’s Arc of Attrition delivered winter drama over three distances. In the 100-mile main event, Britain’s Hugh Tibbs earned a narrow victory over Simon Withers, 19:10 versus 19:14, while Samuel Skinner came third in 20:14. Norway’s Anne-Sofie Pollestad dominated the women’s race in 22:28, with Charlotte Fisher and Hannah Rickman completing the podium.
- Arc 100: Tibbs 19:10; Withers 19:14; Skinner 20:14. Women: Pollestad 22:28; Fisher 23:49; Rickman 24:47.
- Arc 50: Kristian Jones won in 7:09 ahead of Keith Wigley (7:27) and Lewis Bowness (7:38); Gemma Hillier Moses dominated the women’s race in 8:12.
- Arc 25: Robbie Simpson edged Belgium’s Raoul Raus by 43 seconds to win in 2:45; Naomi Lang took the women’s race in 3:09.
Despite winter weather and rugged coastal trails, the event drew strong fields and showcased British ultrarunning depth.
Other races: ski mountaineering and trail running
Additional events rounded out the week:
- ISMF World Cup (Andorra): Swiss star Rémi Bonnet captured the Vertical race in 27:21 and France’s Axelle Mollaret won the women’s event in 31:44.
- UTMS La Primavera: Gabriel Boin (4:36) and Mexico’s María Guadalupe Fregoso Nieves (5:47) claimed the 51 km trail in Guadalajara.
- Golden Gate Spartan Trail Classic: Aidan Bohley and Mari Sullivan won the 50-mile race in 8:44 and 10:10, while Noah Seto and Julie Mooney took the 50 km titles.
UltraRunning Magazine also highlighted upcoming events like the Sean O’Brien Trail Runs in California, the Dark Anchor Ultra in Georgia, the Jed Smith 50K in Sacramento and the Singletrack Stampede in Arizona. These races offer a range of distances and are excellent goals for early-season training.
New youth mile record: Sam Ruthe astounds the world
On the indoor track, 16-year-old New Zealander Sam Ruthe stunned spectators at Boston University’s John Thomas Terrier Classic, running 3:48.88 to break his own under-18 world record and surpass John Walker’s 1982 national record. After a 50-hour journey and limited training due to New England snowstorms, Ruthe became the youngest athlete to run a sub-3:50 mile.
Ruthe’s steady progression—he ran 3:53 the week before in New Zealand—suggests that even faster times may be on the horizon. His poise and tactical maturity at such a young age have captivated the running community.
2026 shoe trends: what’s coming next
The Running Event trade show previewed several of the most intriguing running shoes scheduled for 2026. They highlight broader trends: higher stack heights, lighter foams and integrated technology.
- Altra Torin 9: retains the zero-drop philosophy but introduces a P35X dual-density foam and a Vibram XS Run AW outsole that is 20% grippier than its predecessor.
- Avelo Supertrainer 1: a start-up shoe with a TPEE foam midsole, a nylon plate and a slot for a chip that delivers real-time footstrike data. It uses AI-based algorithms to predict injuries and guide training.
- Brooks Glycerin Flex: uses Brooks’ DNA Tuned midsole with zonal densities; the foam is segmented for extreme flexibility, allowing the shoe to fold nearly in half.
- Brooks Ghost Amp: a lightweight trainer for uptempo runs that introduces DNA Hype foam with 25% PEBA and a “Springramp” design to propel each step.
- ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28: the newest edition of the classic cushioned trainer drops weight thanks to a new engineered knit upper and maintains a towering stack of 43.5/35.5 mm.
These shoes reflect where the industry is headed: taller midsoles, responsive foams and, in some cases, smart sensors. If you like to experiment with new gear, the SnapRace app can track your runs and help you compare performance across different shoes.
Training tips: easing back after the holidays
Coach Jay Johnson’s guide to starting 2026 right reminds us that most runners take it easy during the holidays. Rather than assuming they maintained high training volumes, he recommends meeting them where they are and focusing on four pillars of modern track training: proper warm-up, running workouts, strides and post-run strength. He stresses keeping the heart rate up by linking these elements back-to-back and differentiating hard days from easy days.
- Dynamic warm-up: move in all three planes to prepare muscles and joints.
- Build the aerobic engine: even middle-distance races are predominantly aerobic, so focus on sustained endurance and be honest about current fitness.
- Include strides: short accelerations during easy runs and at the end of long runs help maintain neuromuscular sharpness.
- Post-run strength: strengthen the chassis with drills and mobility work, as metabolic improvements outpace structural adaptations.
- Hard and easy days: group intense workouts together and make easy days truly easy to aid recovery and progress.
These principles are relevant to runners of all levels who are returning from a break. With SnapRace you can follow tailored training plans, log your mileage and share your progress with a supportive community.
From Hong Kong’s rugged trails to Boston’s indoor track, athletes continue to push limits. Stay inspired and plan your next adventures with the SnapRace app!