➡️ The essential weekly newsletter for marathon runners — featuring training tips, upcoming US races, last week’s results, and stories from the running world.
⭐️ Training Tip
Tapering Without Going Crazy: A 3-Week Guide to Peak Race Readiness
Tapering is the deliberate reduction of training volume and intensity in the weeks before a goal race. It’s not rest. It’s not detraining. It’s the final chapter of your preparation.
The science is unambiguous. A well-executed taper produces measurable gains: studies consistently show improvements in race performance of 2-3% — roughly 3-5 minutes for a 3:30 marathoner — compared to runners who maintain full training load into race week. The mechanisms are well documented:
▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks
This section is sponsored by:
⭐️ 9/19/2026 - Cytiva Top of Utah Marathon - Logan, UT
⭐️ 2/27/2027 - Wilmington Marathon - Wilmington, NC
🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers
Jun 28 - Missoula Marathon — Missoula, MT
Jul 4 - Foot Traffic Flat Marathon — Portland, OR
⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel
Jul 4 - The Limberlost Challenge Marathon — Huntsville, ON
Jul 5 - Hellz Bellz Marathon — Yacolt, WA
🇺🇸 INDEPENDENCE DAY RACES - Run your miles while the fireworks fly
Jul 4 - Liberty Station Half Marathon, Marathon Relay & 5K — San Diego, CA
Jul 5 - Hotter Than Hell Marathon for RaceMD — Metairie, LA
🏃🏻♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields
Jul 3 - Popsicle Marathon — Bothell, WA
Mad Marathon, Half, 5K, 10K & Relays
The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon. We have a course for every level of runner. Take it easy or take it tough! The Mad Marathon, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Vermont’s Green Mountains, is a race that embodies the spirit of challenge and reward. Known for its scenic beauty and unique small-town charm, this event offers a one-of-a-kind experience for runners seeking to conquer both hills and personal limits. From covered bridges to rolling farmland, the course is as picturesque as it is demanding.
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👉 Catch up on the past week's results
An exceptional weekend of marathon racing unfolded across North America on June 20–21, 2026 — headlined by one of the continent's most storied road races and complemented by a remarkable collection of trail, mountain, and road events from the Pacific Northwest to the Canadian prairies. Thirteen marathons reported results through MarathonGuide.com, drawing a combined total of more than 13,200 finishers. Here is a race-by-race breakdown of every event reported.
The Haunted Forest Marathon
Dare to run through mystery and legend at The Haunted Forest Marathon, held in the heart of Ohio. This uniquely themed event transforms the natural landscape into an eerie yet exhilarating course, where shadowy woodlands, quiet trails, and creatively decorated landmarks bring the spirit of Halloween to life. The predominantly flat, record‑friendly route features gentle natural undulations, offering strategic pacing opportunities for runners of all levels.
➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss
There are marathons, and then there is the Gold Coast. When 42,000 runners from 60 countries sell out every distance category within eight hours of entries opening, you stop describing an event and start describing a phenomenon. The 46th edition of the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon — set to unfold along Queensland’s glittering coastline on July 4–5, 2026 — is not just the largest race in the event’s history. It is, by almost any measure, the hottest marathon on the planet right now.
Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team
I do like the articles I get to read here. As someone who admittedly is not the most serious runner, and where the idea of seriously training is simply lost on me, I read these articles to find the bits that I might be able to incorporate into my life. I got a good laugh at the sleep part of this article. 8 hours is a floor, not a ceiling. lol. Even when I’m trying to get more sleep I’m congratulating myself on 7 full hours.
But these articles do remind me I have a lot to work on training wise. I’ll come back to this before my next half marathon is upon me