🏃‍♂️ Marathon Mindset Weekly

Your guide to smarter training, upcoming races, and stories that keep you moving.

👉🏻 This week’s all about finding your calm before the start line, scoping out upcoming marathons across the US, and laughing at the stages of training we all know too well. We’ve also got a spotlight on running after 40 (spoiler: it’s never too late!) and a featured marathon you’ll definitely want on your bucket list.

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⭐️ Training Tip

Joe McConkey - Director of Coaching Programs at Runzy

Marathons aren’t just a test of legs and lungs – they’re a test of what’s happening between your ears! You can train for months, nail your nutrition, and lace up the world’s most aerodynamic shoes, but if you toe the line with your heart rate already spiking from nerves, you’re starting at a physiological disadvantage. Let’s discuss the importance of staying calm, its effects on your body, and how channeling your inner calm can help.

▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks

This section is sponsored by races:

⭐️ 12/7/2025 - South Texas International Marathon - Mercedes, TX

⭐️ 11/16/2025 - Battleship Half Marathon- Wilmington, NC

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🗓 October 5
Wineglass Marathon - Corning, NY
MO’ Cowbell Marathon/Half-Marathon/10K/5K - Saint Charles, MO
Catskill Dry Brook Ridge Marathon - Margaretville, NY

🗓 October 11
Escalante Canyons Marathon - Escalante, UT
The Long View Marathon - Fort Collins, CO
Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon 2025 - Bemidji, MN

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😄 And what stage are you at?

Source: TikTok

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St Luke D&L RaceFest

Sponsored content

Celebrate history and heritage with the St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest Marathon, a race that honors the storied legacy of the Delaware & Lehigh region. This event offers a predominantly flat, record‑friendly course that winds through historic industrial districts, scenic parklands, and along rejuvenated urban avenues. The course’s strategic undulations provide natural pacing opportunities, allowing runners to achieve competitive speeds while immersing themselves in the region’s rich cultural history.

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👟 Running After 40? Parkrun’s Age-Grading System Levels the Field

One of the most comforting truths about running is that it rewards late starters. Unlike gymnastics or pop stardom, where age limits opportunity, distance running remains welcoming well beyond 40. Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, two of the sport’s greats, continue to compete at the highest level despite being on the other side of that milestone. And on Saturday mornings at your local parkrun, you’ll see runners of every age, size, and background lining up side by side.

But while running can be a lifelong pursuit, age inevitably takes a toll on performance. That’s where parkrun’s age-grading system steps in — a clever way to allow fair comparisons across different age groups and genders.

How the system works

Age-grading uses a simple calculation:

(World record for your age & gender ÷ your time) × 100 = your age-grade percentage

The resulting percentage lets you see how your performance stacks up against the best in your age category:

• 100% – close to the world record

• 90% – world-class

• 80% – national-class

• 70% – regional-class

• 60% – local-class

In other words, a 55-year-old running 21 minutes for 5K might score similarly to a 25-year-old running 18 minutes.

Who is the “average” parkrunner?

A global parkrun study in 2018 found that the mean age of participants was around 40.5 years. That number shifts slightly by location - university towns, for instance, often skew younger - and the recent running boom among younger adults could lower the average if measured again today.

For many, the joy of running lies in self-improvement and community, not just raw speed. Age-grading offers a motivational benchmark that keeps runners engaged for decades. So whether you’re lacing up at 25 or 65, the system ensures that effort, not just youth, earns recognition.

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Virginia Credit Union River City Half & River City 5k

Sponsored content

Set for Saturday, March 7, 2026, this race shows off Richmond’s best river views and neighborhoods on a fast, scenic road course. Both distances start and finish on the University of Richmond campus before rolling past the James River, Pony Pasture, Windsor Farms, the Carillon, and over the Huguenot and Nickel bridges. Expect one memorable climb through Westover Hills that rewards you with the famed Million Dollar View before a smooth run back to campus.

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➡️ Featured marathon you shouldn’t miss

The Rogue Marathon will return this fall to showcase one of Oregon’s most scenic river valleys, offering a mix of speed, charm, and community spirit. Runners will gather in Grants Pass to tackle a course that highlights the wild and beautiful Rogue River corridor while providing a perfect setting for a fall marathon.

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📢 Introducing MarathonGuide+

In just a few weeks, we’ll be launching MarathonGuide+ — our brand-new premium subscription built to help you train smarter and race stronger.

With MG+, you’ll unlock:

• Training plans for every level — from first-time runners to seasoned marathoners.

• Unlimited access to expert tips — advice that keeps you on track and injury-free.

• Live online sessions with pro coaches — Q&As and deep-dive discussions.

• Exclusive subscriber-only content — insights, strategies, and more.

➡️ You can join MG+ for just $11/month or save 25% with the annual plan.

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Thanks for reading 🤍

Yara, Chuck "Marathon Junkie" Engle & the MarathonGuide team