The 116th running of the Boston Marathon took place on Monday 18th April. The race reaped the reward of other marathon majors having shifted their dates (eg. London to autumn), resulting in a pretty stonking elite field. Boston was also the first major to offer equal prize money for men and women -  the first to finish that right on Boyleston, left on Hereford earning $150,000. It looked on paper like the race was going to be a battle between the joint reigning Abbot World Major champions, Peres Jepchirchir and Joyciline Jepkosgei.

​In the end though, it was a real duke-it-out-to-the-end race for the line between Jepchirchir and the underrated Ababel Yeshaneh (PB 2:20:51 from 2019), Yeshaneh has held the world record for the half marathon in the past but I’ll admit that at 7th in the PB rankings going into the race, I hadn’t clocked that her speed plus her 3rd place showing at New York marathon made her a real contender. The pair swapped the lead several times in the home straight, with Jepchirchir eventually winning just 4 seconds clear in 2:21:01

Kenya and Ethiopia dominated the top placings including a brilliant run from 42 year old Edna Kiplagat in fourth. I wish I was better informed about the rest of the top 8 but for now I’m going to skip to 9th, where we find Charlotte Purdue. Passed over by the GBR Olympic selectors, Purdue has had some real fire in her belly and she really harnessed it on Monday. 2:25:26 would be a brilliant time regardless (though well off her PB), but that placing is really quite impressive. Also impressive was Nell Rojas who was 10th and fastest American for the second year running. 

I’d love to write more as there is so much to paw over but sadly time is against me so I’l leave you with these links:
https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/peres-jepchirchir-wins-the-boston-marathon-in-22102/ 
https://www.letsrun.com/news/2022/04/peres-jepchirchir-wins-2022-boston-marathon-after-thrilling-final-mile-duel-with-ababel-yeshaneh/
https://athleticsweekly.com/event-reports/victories-in-boston-marathon-for-evans-chebet-and-peres-jepchirchir-1039955787/ 
Oh and also, there was a Boston Marathon in the UK on the same day, which was won by Natasha White in 2:59:07 and the Marathon du Lac D’annecy won by Cynthia-Chepchi  Kosgei in 2:28:03

It’s been a while …

After two years of a pandemic making participation in international trail racing complicated to say the least I was looking forward to resuming the trail side of the running roundup on the other side of Covid as we knew it. Little did I know that as soon as the world felt like a safer place to roam again an evil little man who should have spent less time plotting for greed and more of it learning how to be a good human from the international trail community decided against the will of the rest of the world to invade a country on the European mainland. 
So again I found myself in a moral maze trying to figure out if writing about competitive female sport is something one should be doing in a time like this. But you know what, sod it, we’ve been waiting for so long to have a competitive international field gather without causing a big health risk to others and I can’t think of anything more celebratory of freedom and peace than running through nature for fun. So with hopes that the brave people of Ukraine (and all Russians who did not want this war, or their leader) will have that human right back in their lives very soon lets go back to where it all ended in 2020.

TRANSGRANCANARIA, 125,9 km (how they felt the need to add this puny detail of a decimal I do not know, it could be an incredible extra 900 meters of dry river bed though so lets stick to the factual figures here…) 6919 m+, 6885 m-. 
The course of this race seem to go through slight changes every year, in 2022 there is a new finish line and some alterations in the mid section before the iconic Roque Nublo but all the characteristics that has come to attract a big line up of international runners over the last years remain. A relentless rollercoaster through a landscape containing everything from sandy pine forest descents and steep tropical ravines to narrow desert trail climbs and it all ends with an infamous stretch in a dry river bed. It’s a mixed party bag and judging by all returnees in the stacked ladies field it’s a dance worthy of a comeback. 

Kaytlyn Gerbin won this race when it last hosted an international elite in 2020 (and with that improved on her second place from 2019). After being out with a femur injury last year she looks to be back in old form and recently completed the Traverse La Vuelta al Hielo Continental, crossing and navigating 13 hours worth of glaciers, crevasses and ice fields in Patagonia together with Fernanda Maciel. We haven’t seen Kaytlyn in competition for a while but with her experience on the course combined with an assumed hunger to race she should be a top contender. 

Ragna Debats was one of the few non-Spanish elites at last years version of the race but had to withdraw in Garanon after 85 km of running. There is no doubt that she is set on completing the traverse this time around and with a great 2021(3rd at both WS and Ultra Pirineu) behind her she should be full of confidence and ready to run for a place at the top.

Abby Hall recently relocated to Arizona and with rocky desert running on the regular she should be well tuned for her return to TGC. Last time Abby faced this course was 2018, since then a lot has happened, like a 2nd place at Canyons and CCC last year for example and I can’t wait to see how the 2022 version of Abby Hall will fare. 

If Abby Hall has the desert part of the course in her pocket the tropical ravines should be dominated by Hong Kong resident Eszter Csillag. Last year we saw Eszter return to racing after having her second child with a fourth place at CCC. Having DNF’ed the last time she visited this island she should be in the same revenge game as Ragna and will very likely be hunting down a place on the podium. 

Other names known to land a top spot toeing the line tomorrow night are the experienced and always strong running; Kathrin Götz, Sophie Grant and Ildiko Wermescher. 
My wildcards are Norway’s (you know that country who couldn’t stop winning at the winter olympics) Margrethe Fjetland Løvold, Catalan runner Claudia Tremps who was second here last year (when very few internationals stood at the start line) and Lucie Jasmin from France who ran into the top 7 at UTMB last year.


Follow the race via the link below and I’ll do my best to keep you updated on our instagram stories!  

Go get it laaaaaaaayyyyydies! 

https://transgrancanaria.livetrail.net

This Sunday, the 20th December at 1000 Eastern Time in the US (1500 GMT) Marathon lovers get to unwrap an early Christmas present thanks to Ben Rosario, the coach of Hoka NAZ Elite and Josh Cox, an agent to many marathoners. In Chandler, Arizona an elite only race will be taking place and it's looking likes it is going to be a pretty tasty race.

A "​4.3 mile loop on some of the flattest, most pristine roads you could ever imagine" and predictable weather conditions (unlike London Marathon...oops) should mean that the organisers' goal of finishes under 2:10:00 (Men) and under 2:24 (Women) is actually rather realistic. Pacers will provided and pent up racing agression will be release. We've got ourselves a show. 

So, who is runnning? 53 men and 44 women will be taking part, plus 14 male pacers. The lineup is a little fluid, but here's the latest list from their insta:

Molly Huddle did a bit of racing at the " Forward Spine and Sport Labor Day Showdown" at the Newton North High School track in Massachusettes last week. Yes, it's not  exactly big-stadium racing but we'll take what we can get. She finished in 15:20.80 - a time she wasn't particularly excited by  (fair play - her PB is 14:42.64). The more exciting result though was a PB from  Elaina Tabb who was the person who organised the whole event. Tabb runs for B.A.A's high performance team and got second place om 15:27.46.

Hot news is that Ben Rosario of HOKA NAZ Elite is working on setting up an elite marathon event in the US this winter.  Rumour is that 50 men and 50 women might get a chance to give 26.2 a real bash. That would be fun. I wonder if  Sarah Hall or Molly Siedel would have a second bite at the cherry after London. 

The 124th Boston Marathon virtual experience  took place this weekend. As I write, Beth Marzigliano has the fastest time (02:45:54). She runs for Shore AC and managed to set a new PB despite running on her own.  

Normally the Great North Run would have taken place in the UK this weekend - a fast and much loved half marathon.  That also took place virtually this weekend and Caroline Leighton is up at the top at the moment with a 78:29

Lily Partridge took the chance to remind the London Marathon field that she has retained her form during lock down, winning theAntrim Coast Half Marathon in 71:36. -  an all-comer's record for Northern Ireland, close to her January time of 71:31 in Seville. That said, it's still a minute off her PB from 2015 and to get the Olympic selectors paying attention in the UK she'll probably need to run a 2:25 ish in London which would be a 4 minute PB over the marathon (even though it's not the official selection race this year).

The coverage waspreeeetty patchy. Frustrating, given that the organisers had nabbed Jo Pavey to be on the commentating team which normally means that we actually get some info about the women's race.  That said, it's not normally a big-ticket race so we suspect they were working on a tight budget and with little prior experience. So we'll not be too grumpy! talking of grumpy - Aly Dixon's glutes got in a right grump and she had to pull out after 8 miles. She's due to be on pacing duties at London so let's hope she can get it sorted - herinsta post was very stoic about the whole thing. 

Right behind Lily was Sam Harrison in 71:58 - again a way off her PB but she committed early on and really went for it. It was Welsh athlete Clara Evans who grabbed a PB and a storming race to take third in 72:21 and youngster Becky Briggs got a 72:54 PB. 

Steph Davis was planning to do London marathon but she's running the World Half Marathon champs are on the 17th of October. Perhaps that's why she decided to drop out when things were not going to plan relatively early in the race.  Holly Archer was on pacing duties. 

​

​Warm long summer days and no races to train for, what’s an ultra trail nerd to do for fun? Find an official local loop and run it as fast as you can seem to be the answer to that question. Over 1700 record breaking times have been uploaded to fastestknowntime.com this year, most of them will be first attempts at nettle infested back water trails but there has also been some stand out performances on major rounds giving us mortals some quality dot watching entertainment and inspiration to take on challenges of our own.  

BETH PASCALL - Bob Graham Round, Supported ~ 66 miles / 8200 m - New Record 14:34:26

The most legendary out of the holy British round trinity is this 66 mile loop across 42 peaks of the Lake District. Starting and finishing at Keswick Moot Hall it takes in 8200 m of elevation and a fair bit of rugged terrain along the way. The BGR is not a national trail or even a way marked path, the idea is that you choose your own ideal route up and down the 42 peaks and try to make it back in 24 hours to receive a free pint from the pub opposite the finish line stoop. In other words its not something you do on a whim. 
When the event cancellations stacked up back in early spring and it became clear that there would not be a summer of racing Beth Pascall decided to turn her focus in training from WS100 and UTMB to an FKT attempt on the Bob Graham round. The previous record (15:24) was set in 2016 by Jasmin Paris who in her turn shaved over 2 hours off Nicky Spinks time (18:06) from the previous year.  
On the 24th of July Beth set out in a record breaking pace that no one thought she’d be able to keep but with an incredible day and two performance hungry legs she went far beyond her goal of a 15:20-ish finish and broke the sub 15 hour barrier with a time of 14:34:26 (the 5th fastest time OA and just 100 minutes off Kilians record time!!). Insane performance from Beth Pascall! We know that Jasmin Paris followed up her 2016 BGR run with breaking the records on the other two rounds (Paddy Buckley- and Ramsey Round) and in a recent interview with irunfar Beth hints that she has more adventure plans up her sleeve, here’s to hoping that she will follow in Jasmins footsteps later in the summer! 

Read Byron Powells post record round interview with Beth here:

https://www.irunfar.com/2020/08/beth-pascall-post-bob-graham-round-fastest-known-time-interview.html

SARAH HANSEL - Nolan 14, Unsupported ~80 miles / 12200 m - New Record; 57 hrs 43 mins 34 sec

Just like BGR the “Nolan 14” in the rocky Colorado state has no set route, the aim here is to climb all 14 summits before the 60 hour mark. In difference to the English fells this adventure runs on high altitude with a bit of mountaineering thrown into the mix so for a sea level living bird from South Carolina to take this on is no mean feat. Sarah Hansel set off on the 6th of July in perfect conditions and on a diet of Pringles, Stroopwaffles and mild hallucinations she made it across the peaks to Fish Hatchery 57 hours and 43 minutes later. She was greeted at the finish line by previous record holder Meghan Hicks (59:36)! 

https://trailrunnermag.com/people/how-beast-coaster-sarah-hansel-set-a-new-nolans-14-fkt.html

AUDREY TANGUY, 14 2000 des Bauges, 90 km / 9500 m - First Female recorded completion; 23 hr, 43 min. 

You might have heard about Aurelien Dunand-Pallaz taking down Francois D’haene’s record on this route earlier this summer as it caused a bit of a stir. However, little has been mentioned about Audrey’s completion of the same route in the opposite direction, turning an already very technical challenge up to the extreme. Just a couple of weeks after Dunand-Pallaz’ record Tanguy set off to become the first female finisher of the loop around the summits of Bauges in an incredible sub 24. According to the interview in the link below Audrey has another FKT attempt up her sleeve for the end of the summer so keep your eyes peeled on those French Massifs! 

https://www.compressport.com/es/community/audrey-tanguy-broke-the-women-s-record-for-the-14-summits-of-the-massif-des-bauges-n291

SANDRINE BERANGER - GR 54, Tour de l'Oisans et des Ecrins, Unsupported, 118 miles / 12000 m - New Record; 1 day 16 hrs 40 min. 

I couldn’t find any in depth reports of Sandrines impressive record on the Tour de l’Oisans in the South French mountains but if unlike me you are fluent in French (all i could make out was talk of hard last 40 k’s and pitstops for magnum and sorbet ...) you can read her own report here! 

http://moncarnetdecourses.over-blog.com/2020/07/gr54-tour-de-l-oisans-et-des-ecrins-en-solo-et-en-autonomie.html

CANDICE BURT - Tahoe Rim Trail, Unsupported, 171 miles / 9448 m - New Record; 2 days 12:47:34.

In early July after receiving the news of Badwater’s cancellation Candice Burt decided to make lemonade out of lemons and set out to finish something she’d started three times before. The 171 mile long loop around Lake Tahoe on altitude between 1500-3500 m above sea level across the Sierra Nevada and Carson range. In the week before Candice was due to set off on her attempt Helen Pelster broke the previous Unsupported record with a time of 3 days, 03:44:13. That lasted for four days before Candice with a cracking run improved the female FKT to 2 days 12:47:34. Remains to be seen if anyone will have a go at Krissy Moehl’s supported record of 1 day 23:29 from 2015 before the end of the season!

https://ultrarunning.com/featured/candice-burts-unsupported-tahoe-rim-trail-fkt/

SABRINA VERJEE - Wainwrights Round, Supported ~ 320 miles / 36000 m - First Female completion; 6 days 17:51

Although the humble Sabrina herself is of the opinion that her Wainwrights round should not count as a record due to “getting too much assistance with an injured knee” (she did take every step herself but needed to lean on pacers when the pain forced her to descend backwards) I do think that it’s an incredible achievement that deserves to be recognised. In July Sabrina became the first ever female finisher of the 214 fell long round in the Lake District. She set out to break Paul Tierny’s record of 6 days 6hr and 4 min and for the first days before the onset of knee pain an overall FKT was well within reach. Sadly as Sabrinas pain increased the record started to slip away and this is when she started to take help from her pacers to descend safely. It sounds like Verjee will be back for another crack at Tierny’s time soon and we are very much looking forward to that! 

https://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2020/07/16/runner-sabrina-verjee-i-dont-consider-my-wainwrights-round-a-record 

COURTNEY DAUWALTER - Colorado Trail, 500 miles 

At the moment of typing Courtney Dauwalter is starting the second day of her 500 mile long Colorado Trail FKT attempt. Go CD!

Track Courtney’s progress herE:

https://share.garmin.com/CourtneyCT

It feels like every appropriate adjective to describe the events of this year has been overused to the point that my ears hit a mental mute button when someone starts to speak of unpreced..... so let’s skip the reasons why and just say its been a minute.
To celebrate this comeback and our first entry in the world of new normal we thought it’d be a good time to reinvent ourselves so starting from today the WRRU has it’s own space on the web, we hope that it will give us an opportunity to reach a bit further and create a bit bigger! So with no further ado, welcome to the Women’s Running Round up 2.0.