The running community experienced an intense week from April 20 to 26, 2026. The Boston Marathon once again made history with a spectacular record, while an ultra-endurance world best was set on a treadmill at the race expo. On the trails, several international events crowned new champions and showcased the high level of the spring calendar. This recap brings you the key results, highlights and practical insights, along with a preview of the London Marathon and major ultra races taking place this weekend. Let it inspire your own running journey.
Boston Marathon 2026: records and excitement
The 130th Boston Marathon took place on Monday, April 20, delivering one of the most remarkable editions in recent memory. With a tailwind and cool temperatures, Kenya’s John Korir successfully defended his title and shattered the course record with a time of 2:01:52, 70 seconds faster than Geoffrey Mutai’s long-standing 2011 mark. Alphonce Felix Simbu (Tanzania) and Benson Kipruto (Kenya) completed the podium in 2:02:47 and 2:02:54, respectively. In the women’s race, Sharon Lokedi retained her title with a strong 2:18:51, ahead of Loice Chemnung and Mary Ngugi-Cooper. In the wheelchair divisions, Marcel Hug secured his ninth victory, while Eden Rainbow-Cooper claimed her second consecutive win. The nonbinary division also continued to grow in prominence.
- Top 3 men: John Korir (Kenya) 2:01:52; Alphonce Felix Simbu (Tanzania) 2:02:47; Benson Kipruto (Kenya) 2:02:54.
- Top 3 women: Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) 2:18:51; Loice Chemnung (Kenya) 2:19:35; Mary Ngugi-Cooper (Kenya) 2:20:07.
- Wheelchair men: Marcel Hug (Switzerland) 1:16:06; Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 1:20:13; Jetze Plat (Netherlands) 1:21:36.
- Wheelchair women: Eden Rainbow-Cooper (UK) 1:30:51; Madison de Rozario (Australia) 1:31:39; Susannah Scaroni (USA) 1:34:18.
- Nonbinary podium: Cal Calamia (USA) 2:33:14; Melissa Regan 2:53:36; House of Empathy 2:58:01.
Korir’s performance raises the question of whether a sub-two-hour marathon could ever be achieved on Boston’s challenging course, known for its hills and turns. While the favourable wind played a role, his performance remains exceptional. American runner Zouhair Talbi finished fifth in 2:03:45, marking one of the strongest U.S. performances in recent years. On the women’s side, Lokedi confirmed her dominance and established herself as a major contender for upcoming World Marathon Majors. If you dream of running Boston, focus on rolling terrain and downhill efficiency—Heartbreak Hill isn’t conquered, it’s managed.
100-mile treadmill world record
While Boston’s streets were alive with marathon excitement, an extraordinary performance took place at the race expo. American ultrarunner Ashley Paulson completed 100 miles (160.9 km) in 12:47:10, setting a new women’s treadmill world record. Her average pace of 7:40 per mile (approximately 4:46 min/km) significantly improved upon the previous record set in 2004. Paulson had already set an outdoor world best earlier in the year, further cementing her dominance in ultra-endurance events.
Running an ultra on a treadmill requires both physical and mental resilience. If you plan to train this way, break the effort into manageable segments, carefully plan your fueling strategy and create a motivating environment. Don’t overlook ventilation and incline adjustments to better simulate real-world conditions.
Trail and ultra highlights
Penyagolosa Trails (Spain)
One of the key events in the mountain running calendar took place in Castellón. In the 106 km CSP race with 5,600 m of elevation gain, Romania’s Raul Butaci claimed victory in 10:41 after a close battle with Spain’s Julen Calvó. Ecuador’s Joaquín López finished third. In the women’s race, Gemma Arenas dominated in 13:43, ahead of Emily Dixon and Yasmina Castro Chacón.
In the 60 km MiM race, José Fernández won in 5:15, followed by Dakota Jones and Mario Olmedo. Norway’s Sara-Rebekka Færø Linde took the women’s title in 6:23.
São Brás Cross (Portugal)
The opening round of the Mountain Running World Cup took place in São Brás. Kenya’s Michael Selelo Saoli won in 42:22 with a decisive uphill move. In the women’s race, Ruth Gitonga secured victory in 49:12 after a strong downhill push.
Puerto Vallarta by UTMB (Mexico)
In Mexico, the UTMB circuit delivered strong performances, including victories by Juan Belman Ortiz and Mandie Currie in the 81 km race, highlighting the growth of trail running in Latin America.
Zane Grey 50 and other ultras
Across the United States, races such as Zane Grey 50, Hyner View Trail Challenge and Traprock 50k showcased the depth of the ultra scene, with standout wins from athletes like Michael Carilli and Deanna Doane.
A robot “beats” the human half-marathon record
A curious story emerged from Beijing: during the E-Town Half Marathon, a humanoid robot named Lightning completed the 21.097 km distance in 50:26—faster than the human world record. While not directly comparable, the achievement highlights advances in robotics and endurance engineering. The event featured both human and robotic participants running on separate courses.
Looking ahead: London and spring ultras
London Marathon 2026
The London Marathon promises another high-level showdown. In the men’s race, Sabastian Sawe looks to defend his title against rivals like Jacob Kiplimo and Tamirat Tola. In the women’s race, Tigst Assefa, Sifan Hassan and Peres Jepchirchir headline a world-class field.
Canyons Endurance Runs and Mt. Fuji 100 Mile
The ultra calendar continues with major events such as Canyons Endurance Runs and Mt. Fuji 100 Mile, both featuring elite international lineups.
Training takeaways
- Master hills: incorporate uphill and downhill workouts.
- Adapt to wind: train in different conditions.
- Build mental strength: endurance is as much mental as physical.
- Vary terrain: mix road, track and trail.
- Set clear goals: use tools like SnapRace to structure your training.
If you haven’t tried SnapRace yet, now is the perfect time. Track your runs, analyse performance and stay motivated with the running community.
Stay tuned for next week’s roundup. Keep training smart and enjoy every mile.