Kipchoge in Brazil, 70.3 Curitiba, and a Half Marathon WR

Sheila Chepkirui Defends Title at the Nagoya Women's Marathon

Recognized as the largest women-only marathon in the world, the Nagoya Women's Marathon in Japan drew roughly 17,000 athletes to the streets. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui captured back-to-back victories, crossing the finish line in an impressive 2:21:54.

The event highlights the global rise in female participation across road running. In Brazil, recent data shows that women already make up the majority of entries in shorter distances (5K, 10K, and half marathons) at major events like the Rio Marathon, while steadily growing in the full marathon distance.

Jacob Kiplimo Sets World Record at the Lisbon Half Marathon

Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo shattered the half marathon world record, completing the 21.097-kilometer Lisbon Half Marathon in a staggering 57:20. Kiplimo ran at a blistering average pace of 2:43 per kilometer, shaving ten seconds off the previous record.

With this performance, the Portuguese race cements its reputation as a premier stop in the SuperHalfs series—a circuit celebrated worldwide for its fast courses and elite depth, alongside Valencia, Copenhagen, Berlin, Prague, and Cardiff.

Eliud Kipchoge Confirms Entry at the Porto Alegre Marathon

Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge will race in Brazil at the New Balance 42K Porto Alegre this July. The appearance is part of his global "LUD Running World" initiative, in which the Kenyan legend aims to complete a marathon on all seven continents over the next two years, kicking off with the Cape Town Marathon in South Africa.

Kipchoge's announcement electrified the running community, prompting organizers to release an additional 5,000 bibs for the race and drawing widespread interest from amateur runners and elites chasing prize money in Porto Alegre.

Los Angeles Marathon Sparks Debate with Mile 18 Shortcut and Medals

Contested under intense heat with temperatures reaching 86°F (30°C), the Los Angeles Marathon implemented a controversial contingency measure. Organizers permitted runners to cut their race short at Mile 18 (km 29), taking a direct route to the finish line while still receiving an official finisher medal.

The decision, implemented for safety reasons to prevent medical emergencies following widespread hospitalizations in 2015, divided the running community. The elite field completed the full course: Prix Karone took the women's title in 2:25:00, while Nathan Martin won the men's race in 2:11:18.

Shanghai Marathon Advances in Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidacy

The Shanghai Marathon took another major step toward joining the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM). The race cleared its initial stage of technical evaluation and will undergo reassessment in December 2026, targeting full inclusion in the Majors calendar starting in 2027.

To achieve Major status, candidate races must meet 106 stringent criteria, ranging from traffic management and sustainability protocols to hospitality standards, expo operations, and emergency medical response.

Nine Star Medal: The New Holy Grail for Global Marathoners

With the ongoing expansion of the Abbott WMM circuit—which already includes Sydney and candidate races in Cape Town and Shanghai—the global series is projected to grow from six to nine events. Organizers are preparing to launch the Nine Star Medal as a new cumulative achievement tier, while maintaining the iconic Six Star Medal earned by more than 23,000 runners worldwide.

News Roundup: Product Launches, Circuit Updates, and Record Numbers in Brazil

Olympikus Opens Pace Lab and Readies SP Marathon Edition: In partnership with Centauro, Olympikus unveiled the interactive Pace Lab at Shopping Iguatemi in São Paulo, showcasing the engineering behind the Corre Pace—a 126g super shoe limited to 1,500 pairs. The brand is also readying the launch of the Corre Turbo in a special edition for the São Paulo Marathon.

Nike After Dark Tour: Nike announced the return of its global women-only night race series, featuring 10K and half marathon distances across cities including London, Los Angeles, Manila, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Sydney.

Praia Grande Marathon Seeks Boston Qualifying Status: Featuring a flat, straight coastal course at sea level, the Praia Grande Marathon received official certification from the CBAt, making its finishing times valid for Boston Marathon qualification.

Mizuno Athenas Honors Top Finishers: The Mizuno Athenas Run Faster series introduced an exclusive medal for the overall Top 200 finishers in the half marathon, recognizing the fastest times in the field.

Rio-Niterói Bridge Challenge Opens Registration: Scheduled for August 2, the iconic 21K race across the Rio-Niterói Bridge opened 8,000 spots, maintaining a qualifying time requirement to finalize registration.

Skechers Secures Naming Rights at Villa-Lobos: Skechers acquired the naming rights for running tracks in São Paulo's Villa-Lobos and Cândido Portinari parks, naming the circuits after its Aero Burst and Aero Razor performance lines.

Kenya Suspends 27 Athletes for Doping Violations: The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) issued provisional suspensions to 27 athletes for anti-doping violations. The list includes Rita Jeptoo, former champion of the Boston and Chicago marathons.

Brazil Projects 7.7 Million Runners: A study by Chronomax estimates that Brazil will reach 7.7 million road race finishers in 2026, based on an analysis of 12 million race records between 2023 and 2025.