Radar Stemma: Ana Marcela, Boston, Records, and the World of Running

A new feature is the Nike Shake Out Run, which sold out quickly. The SP City Marathon solidifies its market presence, with Nike acquiring the naming rights and 10 other brands sponsoring the event, including Nubank, Vivo, Aminovital, Dobro, Fotop, and Mom Bora. The race organizer, Paulo Carelli, was a guest on a recent Stemma episode, providing additional insights for those wanting to get even more into the race spirit.

New Balance 42K Porto Alegre: Looking Ahead to 2027

The New Balance 42K Porto Alegre is already planning its next edition, scheduled for August 21 and 22, 2027, featuring 5K, 10K, and 21K races on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday. The new format includes starts and finishes at the same location, a significant change after the challenges faced in this year's edition. In an interview with Estadão's Corrida para Todos column, Renato Elias, New Balance's marketing manager, revealed that official Expo store sales grew 236% compared to last year, boosted by Eliud Kipchoge's presence and increased participation. The finisher jacket once again led sales, and the brand is considering launching an official race shoe, a long-standing desire among runners.

The discussion about the previous edition's problems brought up the experience of guest Raissa, who, registered for the 42K, was mistakenly guided by staff and ended up completing a half marathon of 23K, frustrating her PB attempt. The situation raises a debate about the importance of proper signage and guidance in large-scale races.

Puma and Brooks: The Return of Major Brands to the Brazilian Scene

Two major sports brands are strengthening their presence in the Brazilian running calendar. Puma was announced as the official sports brand for the 28th Rio de Janeiro International Half Marathon on August 16, featuring an official shirt, Expo store, and activations. The traditional Run The Bridge in São Paulo will now be the Brooks Run The Bridge, keeping the Ponte Estaiada (Cable-Stayed Bridge) as its backdrop and offering 5K, 10K, 15K, and 30K courses.

This move raises questions about the reasons for these brands' renewed engagement with major Brazilian races. For Thiago Calamura, it's hard to pinpoint a single reason without knowing each company's internal strategy. He notes that both Brooks and Puma haven't shown much consistency in the Brazilian running segment in recent years. However, strategy shifts, new leadership, or even commercial opportunities (like a more accessible sponsorship) could drive these decisions. He cited the example of Joma, which sponsored the São Silvestre during a period when the organizer might not have secured another major sponsor, opening space for a brand with less prominence in Brazilian running. This dynamic shows how the market is constantly transforming, with brands seeking new ways to engage with the running community.

Boston Marathon: New Rules and Lottery Spots

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) announced significant changes for the 2027 Boston Marathon. In addition to traditional time-based qualification, the Boston Qualifier Selection will be implemented, an exclusive lottery for runners who met the qualifying standard but weren't fast enough to make the cut-off time. Approximately 1,000 spots will be distributed via lottery. Registration for 2027 opens from September 14 to 18 this year. This new development offers a second chance for athletes who achieve a BQ but are excluded by the rigorous cut. As highlighted by the hosts, 12,000 people missed out last year, so this is a welcome measure for such a coveted marathon.

Another significant change is the review of times obtained in marathons with substantial net elevation loss. Races with a net downhill greater than 447 meters will have their times adjusted before being considered for qualification. For elevation drops between 1,500 and 3,000 feet, a 5-minute penalty will apply, and above 3,000 feet, a 10-minute penalty. This measure aims to balance comparisons between courses deemed faster due to significant descents, ensuring fairer qualification.

Bruna Ianes is Fila's New Ambassador

Fila announced runner and influencer Bruna Ianes as its new running ambassador. With over 2 million followers, Bruna, who recently completed a 135 km ultramarathon in Canada, sees the partnership as a dream come true, having first encountered the brand in 2015. In addition to campaigns and events, Bruna will collaborate on new product development. Choosing an influencer of her caliber demonstrates Fila's commitment to solidifying its position in the running market. Thiago Calamura highlighted Bruna's impressive engagement on her social media and discussed the pros and cons of an influencer signing an exclusive deal with a brand, which limits partnerships with competitors but offers long-term security. He cited the example of Valery Mello, who, after leaving a Nike partnership, became an even more powerful and autonomous influencer.

Garmin Acquires Training Peaks and Train Heroic

Garmin expands its ecosystem by acquiring Training Peaks, widely used by runners, cyclists, and triathletes, and Train Heroic, focused on strength training. This acquisition reinforces Garmin's strategy to further integrate data from its wearable devices with training planning and analysis. While the values were not disclosed, the expectation is to enhance the experience for athletes and coaches. Radar Stemma commentators raised the question of whether Training Peaks could become exclusive to Garmin devices, comparing it to the Spotify app's exclusivity on Garmin watches for phone-free use. The prediction is that the integration aims to strengthen Garmin's paid services, such as Connect Plus, by offering more personalized workouts and data.

Josh Kerr: The Fastest Man in the Mile

Scottish runner Josh Kerr made history by breaking the world mile record, a mark that had stood for 27 years. At the London Diamond League meet, Kerr ran 1,609 meters in 3 minutes, 42 seconds, and 66 hundredths, surpassing the previous record of 3:43.13 set by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj in 1998. Interestingly, Kerr achieved this feat wearing shoes developed in partnership with Brooks, breaking the recent dominance of Nike and Adidas in world records. He revealed his 'Project 222,' which included intense training, prioritizing recovery (massage, sauna, contrast baths, sleep in an altitude-simulated environment), and multidisciplinary support. Although focused on the 1,500m and mile, Kerr admires the marathon and plans to run the distance in the future.

Carlos Gueiros detailed the science behind sleep in an altitude-simulated environment, explaining how low pressure stimulates the body to produce more red blood cells, improving oxygen transport capacity. He also shared data about the mile, highlighting that after Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute barrier in 1954, the 'psychological barrier' dissolved, and in just three years, 17 other people also achieved it. He further explained the origin of the 1,500 meters as an Olympic event, due to the track sizes in France during Baron de Coubertin's era.

Ana Marcela Cunha Crosses the English Channel in Record Time

Olympic champion Ana Marcela Cunha added another impressive feat to her career: swimming the English Channel. She completed the route between England and France in 8 hours, 25 minutes, and 29 seconds, setting a new South American record for both men and women and the world's best time since 2022. The 42.9 km crossing (despite the linear distance of 33 km, due to strong currents) was done without a wetsuit, as rules require, using only lanolin paste with thermal protection to face waters of about 19 degrees Celsius. Ana Marcela summarized the achievement as the realization of a childhood dream, with significance equivalent to an Olympic medal. Coach Igor de Souza, who previously appeared on Stemma explaining the challenges of this crossing, was again recognized for his work.

Adidas Honors Spanish National Team with Special Edition Shoes

Adidas created a special edition of the Hyper Boost Euforia to honor the Spanish women's national team, World Cup champions. The model, featuring Spain's colors, gold details, and players' names, was presented to the athletes during their victory parade. Adidas has not yet confirmed whether the commemorative shoes will be commercially available, but anticipation is high, as the company often releases special models for major achievements.

Sebastian Saué's Sub-2 Hour Marathon Officially Recognized as World Record

World Athletics officially recognized Sebastian Saué as the first athlete to run a marathon under 2 hours in a world record-eligible race. His time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, achieved at the London Marathon, surpasses Kelvin Kiptum's previous record (2h00min35s at Chicago 2023) by 66 seconds. This ratification is crucial because it differentiates Saué's achievement from Kipchoge's attempt in Vienna (2019), which, although under 2 hours, did not follow the rules for record ratification. World Athletics also confirmed the women's record by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa, who ran 2h15min41s. Delays in ratification are common, as they include procedures like anti-doping control.

Lactate Gel: New Trend at the Tour de France

Lactate is gaining prominence in sports nutrition, making its way to the Tour de France. The UAE Emirates team confirmed the use of a new Enervit gel, containing 90g of carbohydrates and 10g of sodium lactate, consumed diluted in water during the most demanding stages. The idea is to use lactate as an additional energy source, sparing glycogen for crucial moments of the race. However, researchers and nutritionists warn that science has not yet reached a definitive conclusion on its performance benefits, with modest results so far and a need for further studies. Lactic acid, once seen as a villain, is now understood as an energy-burning byproduct that can be repurposed as fuel, with lactate being the part the body utilizes.

Olympikus and Netshoes Celebrate Corre 5 Vanderlei

Olympikus and Netshoes hosted a special event in São Paulo to celebrate the story behind the Corre 5 Vanderlei, the edition honoring Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima. The gathering featured a chat between the marathoner himself and his coach, Ricardo D'Angelo, as well as a photo and autograph session. The shoes, priced at R$ 599.99, have been highly praised for their design and performance.

Harry Styles' Running Shoes

Brazilian runners' curiosity turned to pop star Harry Styles' feet. Specialized profiles identified the sneaker models the singer uses, including the New Balance 1080 V15, Nike Alphafly 3, Nike Vomero Plus, and Adidas Ultraboost 22. The fact that he wears shoes from different brands indicates he is not an exclusive ambassador for any of them, allowing him to choose what best suits his needs and preferences, without commercial ties.

World Athletics: Challenge to Meet Usain Bolt

World Athletics launched a global challenge for athletics fans: create creative content about the sport or answer quizzes for a chance to meet Usain Bolt and win an all-expenses-paid trip to Budapest for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. A golden opportunity for anyone who dreams of being close to the fastest man in history.

X-Ray of 'Bandit Runners': What Ticket Sports Research Reveals

Ticket Sports published unprecedented research on 'bandit runners,' participants who join races without registering. The survey, involving over 11,000 runners, revealed that 36% of respondents admitted to having 'bandited' a race. The main reasons cited were high registration costs, wanting to accompany friends, last-minute decisions, or lack of available spots. Interestingly, 93% of those who have 'bandited' a race have also officially registered for others, indicating they are part of the running ecosystem. The research encourages reflection on what leads someone to 'bandit' and how organizers can convert these runners into registered participants, rather than just focusing on judgment. It's a study that promotes understanding and the search for solutions, with a focus on integrating these athletes into the system.

Man vs. Horse: The Unusual Race in Wales

In Wales, the 'Man vs. Horse' race continues to surprise. Created in 1980 from a pub bet, the nearly 38 km event challenges runners and riders on an arduous course filled with climbs, trails, rivers, and mud. After five human victories in recent editions, horses returned to the top in 2026, with Raquel Lima riding Zanel to victory in 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 37 seconds, 8 minutes ahead of the best human runner. Although horses can reach nearly 90 km/h (compared to Usain Bolt's 45 km/h), over long and challenging courses, human endurance balances the scales. In the overall history, horses dominate with 40 wins in 45 editions. The race is a fascinating example of how different capabilities manifest in extreme environments, revealing the incredible endurance of both humans and equines under demanding conditions.

And so we conclude this Radar Stemma, filled with information and discussions to fuel your passion for sports. Until next time!