Bota pra Correr Chapada, Nike Exits S&P 100 & News Roundup
Olympikus sets records, a French wine marathon, course mishaps, and new shoe drops headline this week's running roundup.
This week's running roundup highlights a historic Bota pra Correr stage in Chapada dos Guimarães, industry business moves, course blunders, and quirky race prizes worldwide.
Bota pra Correr sets record in Chapada dos Guimarães
Olympikus hosted the largest edition in the history of the Bota pra Correr project at Chapada dos Guimarães National Park in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Around 1,500 runners took on 12 km and 21 km road distances as well as a 19 km trail race featuring rock formations and challenging climbs. For the first time on the circuit, women made up an absolute majority of registered participants.
As the circuit's sole stop in 2026, the event secured exclusive closure of the park's access road and delivered an environmental legacy by revitalizing the Véu da Noiva trail. The brand took advantage of the gathering—attended by special guests including Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima—to introduce a new apparel line and confirm its 2027 destinations: Urubici (Santa Catarina) over the September 7 holiday weekend, and Itamambuca Beach in Ubatuba (São Paulo) on November 15. On the footwear side, Olympikus unveiled the Supra LV, a daily trainer with a 100% PEBA midsole and no carbon plate, slated for a December release.
Marathon du Médoc celebrates 40 years with wine and gourmet dining
The 40th edition of France's iconic Marathon du Médoc drew 8,500 runners across 26.2 miles through châteaux and vineyards. Organizers set up roughly 20 tasting stations along the route, pouring a total of 4,500 liters of wine from 225-liter oak barrels—the equivalent of about 6,000 bottles.
Beyond wine, athletes enjoyed an on-course feast: 18,000 oysters served at kilometer 37, cheese at kilometer 41, alongside 440 pounds of meat, fruit, and ice cream, accompanied by 50 bands playing an '80s theme. Among the 7,849 finishers under the 6-hour-and-30-minute cutoff, Florian Laplanche took the men's victory in 2:26:45, while Celine Merel claimed the women's title in 2:54:38. In keeping with local tradition, both champions were awarded their body weight in wine bottles.
Nike removed from the S&P 100 index
Nike is set to exit the S&P 100, the index tracking 100 of the most established large-cap U.S. companies, ending a nearly 18-year run in the benchmark group. The removal forces passive index funds to divest shares in the brand, although the company remains part of the broader S&P 500.
The move comes amid an ongoing turnaround led by CEO Elliott Hill, who took the helm to rebuild bridges with wholesale brick-and-mortar retail and accelerate performance footwear innovation after losing market share to emerging competitors.
Skechers targets rapid expansion and hands-free tech in Brazil
Skechers aims to quintuple its revenue in Brazil over the next five years and cement a position among the country's top five footwear brands. The strategy combines direct operations, a proprietary e-commerce platform, and year-end targets of 10 company-owned stores, seven franchised locations, and distribution across more than 3,000 multi-brand retailers.
The brand's push spans running, basketball, soccer, and pickleball lines. A cornerstone of its growth in the region has been Hands Free Slip-ins technology, an effortless step-in system that now accounts for 56% of the brand's sales in Brazil.
Lead runner follows broadcast vehicle in Prague, awarded first-place prize
At the Birell 10k Night Race in Prague, Kenyan runner Victor Kiprono had built a solo lead when he inadvertently followed the official broadcast vehicle as it pulled off the course in the final meters. By the time he realized the error and rejoined the route, two competitors had passed him, leaving him to finish in third place.
Under World Athletics rules, runners bear the ultimate responsibility for knowing the course, preserving Rodrigue Kwizera's official win. Recognizing that the vehicle maneuver led the runner astray, organizer RunCzech issued a public apology and awarded Kiprono the full first-place prize money.
Detour measurement error lengthens Edmonton Marathon
The Edmonton Marathon in Canada reported a course measurement error that added 674.7 meters (about 0.42 miles) to the official 42.195 km distance. The discrepancy stemmed from calculation errors during a temporary detour necessitated by municipal roadwork.
The surplus distance directly impacted 13 runners who fell short of Boston Marathon qualifying standards due to the added time. Organizers took full responsibility for the technical oversight and published a formal apology to competitors.
Medellín Marathon activation swaps bananas for performance sunglasses
During the Medellín Marathon in Colombia, Adidas teamed up with eyewear brand Saju for an interactive aid-station activation. Upon reaching the booth, runners picked from banana-shaped mystery boxes containing either an actual banana or prizes like vouchers, discounts, and sports sunglasses.
Netshoes Move brings free Sunday workouts to Paulista Avenue
Netshoes launched its Netshoes Move initiative in São Paulo, offering free Sunday group fitness classes on Rua Padre João Manuel, right next to Galeria Magalu. The program features 12 dates through December, with 45-minute sessions covering HIIT, dance, cross-training, and yoga.
Sign-ups open weekly on Wednesdays through the Move app, granting participants access to gear check, hydration stations, an exclusive t-shirt, and promotional discount codes.
Wellhub enters road racing scene with the Running Hour circuit
Corporate wellness platform Wellhub announced its first-ever road racing series with the Wellhub Running Hour. The inaugural stage takes place on November 1 at Villa-Lobos Park in São Paulo, featuring 3 km, 5 km, and 10 km distances. The second stage will hit Rio de Janeiro on November 15 along Copacabana Beach, reframing group running as the new corporate happy hour.
Asics highlights the grit of trail running in new global campaign
Asics has expanded its 'Move Your Body, Move Your Mind' campaign to trail running. Set to the iconic track 'Good Vibrations,' the commercial showcases mud, steep climbs, and technical terrain as essential ingredients of the mental clarity achieved through outdoor sport.
Adidas develops laceless version of the Adizero Evo SL
Adidas is expanding its speed lineup with the Adizero Evo SL Laceless, a version of its popular tempo trainer without traditional laces. The upper features a sock-like elastic knit with lateral synthetic overlays for lockdown support, paired with a lightweight, high-energy-return midsole.
Philadelphia hosts Rocky Run with iconic museum stair climb
The famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art served as the backdrop for the Rocky Run, a themed road race honoring Sylvester Stallone's legendary film character. The event offered 5K, 10K, and 10-mile distances, complete with chip timing on the stair climb section and costume prizes for runners dressed in boxing gear.
Marathon winners in China awarded fresh fish on the podium
In Shenzhen, top finishers at a local marathon received whole, fresh yellow croakers during the awards ceremony. Handed out alongside trophies and cash prizes, the traditional fish honors the rich fishing heritage and coastal economy of the region.