➡️ This week in running — we break down marathon nutrition mile by mile so you never bonk again, recap a big weekend of racing across North America, and tell the story everyone's talking about: Grace Sugut crossing her first marathon finish line in Cape Town, with Eliud Kipchoge waiting to catch her.
Plus, upcoming races on the US calendar and a spotlight on the Casper Marathon — a Wyoming classic that starts with a cannon shot at dawn.
⭐️ Training Tip
Fueling the Long Run: A Race-Tested Nutrition Plan for Miles 1–26.2
Running a marathon is a 26.2-mile test of endurance, determination, and — often underestimated — nutrition strategy. No matter how well your legs are trained, bonking at mile 20 because you under-fueled is one of the most predictable (and preventable) ways a marathon can go wrong. The good news: with a well-rehearsed nutrition plan, you can cross the finish line strong and fueled from start to finish.
▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks
This section is sponsored by:
⭐️ 9/12/2026 - Essentia Health Dick Beardsley Races - Detroit Lakes, MN
⭐️ 10/10/2026 - Hernando Water Tower 10K and Half Marathon - Hernando, MS
🏞 FLAT & FAST COURSES - Best for PRs and Boston Qualifiers
May 31 - Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Diego — San Diego, CA
May 31 - Carmel Marathon — Carmel, IN
Jun 6 - Utah Valley Marathon — Provo, UT
Jun 7 - Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon — Deadwood, SD
⭐️ SCENIC & DESTINATION RACES - Worth the travel
May 31 - Newport Marathon — Newport, OR
Jun 4 - Bear Lake Marathon — Cokeville, WY
Jun 6 - God’s Country Marathon — Coudersport, PA
Jun 6–7 - North Olympic Discovery Marathon — Port Angeles, WA
Jun 7 - Steamboat Marathon — Pagosa Springs, CO
Jun 7 - Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon — North Bend, WA
Jun 13 - Hatfield McCoy Marathon — Williamson, WV
📢 BIG CITY & HIGH-ENERGY RACES - Crowds, atmosphere, and scale
Jun 7 - Cedar Rapids Marathon Weekend — Cedar Rapids, IA
Jun 21 - Manitoba Marathon — Winnipeg, MB
🏃🏻♀️ SMALLER & COMMUNITY RACES - Low-key, personal, often PR-friendly fields
May 31 - Red Island State Marathon — Warwick, RI
May 31 - Nutmeg State Marathon — Hartford, CT
May 31 - Course des pompiers de Laval Marathon — Laval, QC
Jun 6 - Sandhills Marathon — Valentine, NE
Jun 6 - Bear Paw Marathon — Havre, MT
Jun 7 - Casper Marathon — Casper, WY
Beckley Half Marathon & 5K
Starting and finishing at the iconic Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, this race blends local history with a course that highlights the best of Beckley. The Exhibition Coal Mine is a preserved historic coal camp and underground mine experience that tells the story of West Virginia’s coal heritage. With original buildings, period equipment, and guided tours through an actual mine, it offers a powerful glimpse into the region’s past, making it a truly unique backdrop for race day.
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👉 Catch up on the past week's results
Across North America on the weekend of May 23–24, 2026, more than 11,500 runners laced up their shoes for marathons ranging from elite-level showdowns on the flat streets of Ottawa to small-field mountain trail adventures in the Colorado Rockies. Eleven races in total — spread across the United States and Canada — delivered everything the sport has to offer: sub-2:10 elites, a sub-4:00 field average, first-time finishers, and trail runners chasing the horizon. Here is the full roundup.
Sunbury Marathon
The Sunbury Marathon offers small town charm, a beautiful out-and-back course, an excellent participant experience all at an affordable price. Come experience the hospitality of the Sunbury community and enjoy one of the flattest race courses you can find showcasing lovely mid-ohio scenery. Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K, and 1 Mile Races offered complete with chip-timing, live results, in the heart of a great and welcoming community.
🏃🏻♀️ Grace Sugut, Eliud Kipchoge’s Wife, Runs Her First Marathon
Grace Sugut crossed her first marathon finish line in Cape Town. Her husband, the greatest marathoner of all time, was there to meet her.
Grace Sugut completed her debut marathon at the Cape Town Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 4:29:59 — placing 2,353rd among nearly 7,000 women. Waiting at the finish line with open arms was her husband, Eliud Kipchoge.
It was a quiet reversal of a famous moment from 2019, when Sugut was the one embracing Kipchoge after his historic sub-two-hour run at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. This time, it was her milestone, and he was in the crowd for it.
“My heart is filled with pride, for my wife Grace completing her first marathon in Cape Town.” — Eliud Kipchoge, on Instagram
Kipchoge himself had a strong day at the same race, finishing 16th overall in 2:13:29 — checking Africa off his continent-by-continent marathon mission. The 41-year-old is working his way through all seven continents over the next three years.
Before the race, Kipchoge offered his wife some simple advice: line up, embrace the pain, and cross the finish line. "She will not be the same," he said. Next up for him is the Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil on July 12, followed by Melbourne in October.
➡️ Featured race you shouldn’t miss
You know a race has character when it starts with a cannon shot. At 6:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in June, the Casper Marathon announces itself with a thunderclap boom that echoes across the Wyoming high plains — and from that moment, runners are committed to 26.2 miles of one of the mountain West’s most distinctive marathon experiences.
Thanks for reading 🤍
MarathonGuide Team