Your Weekly Running Update
Training tips, race highlights, and upcoming events — all in one place.
➡️ Catch the highlights from the Rome Marathon, learn how to run longer without burning out, and discover upcoming events to add to your calendar.
⭐️ Training Tip
How to Run Longer Without Burning Out: 10 Training Tips
For many runners, the focus eventually shifts toward speed, race results, and performance. But underneath all of that lies something far more important: endurance. Without a solid aerobic base, even short runs can feel surprisingly difficult, and longer distances quickly become overwhelming, both physically and mentally.
▶️ Upcoming US marathons for the next two weeks
This section is sponsored by:
⭐️ 3/28/2026 - Capital City Classic 10K - Little Rock, AR
⭐️ 11/15/2026 - Battleship Half Marathon - Wilmington, NC
🗓 March 28
Savin Rock Marathon - West Haven, CT
🗓 March 29
Fort Smith Marathon - Fort Smith, AR
Trailbreaker Marathon - Waukesha, WI
B&A Trail Marathon - Severna Park, MD
Two Rivers Marathon Race Festival - Lackawaxen, PA
🗓 April 4
The Cheap Marathon - Derry, NH
Salisbury Marathon - Salisbury, MD
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Blue Ridge Marathon
The Blue Ridge Marathon course is not for the faint of heart. The course begins and ends in downtown Roanoke. In between, runners will enter the Blue Ridge Parkway, where they will make three significant climbs and descents. Then runners will encounter the most beautiful but challenging portion of the course – the climb up Roanoke Mountain.
🏛 Kenyan Dominance and Record Crowds Highlight 2026 Rome Marathon
The streets of the Italian capital came alive on Sunday as tens of thousands of runners took part in the 2026 edition of the Rome Marathon, one of Europe’s most iconic road races. Combining elite competition with mass participation, the event once again delivered both high-level performances and memorable personal stories.
This year’s race drew around 36,000 participants from 166 countries, marking one of the largest editions in the event’s history. Runners followed the traditional 42.195 km course through Rome’s historic center, passing landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Vatican, and Piazza Venezia, before finishing near the Circus Maximus.
The Rome Marathon is widely regarded as one of the most scenic races in the world, offering athletes a unique blend of sport and history along its cobbled streets and ancient monuments.
Elite Race: Kenya Sweeps the Titles
As in many major marathons, Kenyan athletes dominated the elite competition. In the men’s race, Asbel Rutto claimed victory in 2:06:32, narrowly missing his own course record set in 2024. Rutto’s performance reaffirmed his status as one of the strongest marathoners on this course, successfully defending his title in Rome.
The women’s race saw Pascaline Kibiwot deliver an outstanding run, winning in 2:22:44 — a personal best and new course record. Her performance was one of the highlights of the day, showcasing both tactical control and endurance over the historic route.
👉 Catch up on the past Tuesday Teaching post
Toronto Waterfront
Immerse yourself in the dynamic energy of Toronto with the tcs Toronto Waterfront Marathon. This iconic race follows a course along the shimmering shores of Lake Ontario, weaving through vibrant urban neighborhoods and lush parklands that capture the multicultural spirit of the city. The predominantly flat route is ideal for fast paces and personal record attempts, with gentle hills offering natural opportunities to manage your effort while taking in breathtaking waterfront views.
➡️ Featured marathon you shouldn’t miss
On April 26, 2026, runners will arrive in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for a race that blends endurance with one of the most historic landscapes in the United States. The Gettysburg Festival of Races is not just a marathon weekend. It is an experience where the past and present meet stride for stride across roads that have carried stories for generations.
Set in and around the Gettysburg National Military Park, this event offers a rare opportunity to run through preserved battlefield grounds, quiet country roads, and small town streets that feel unchanged by time.
Thanks for reading 🤍
Matt Fitzgerald & the MarathonGuide team