‘ellooo runner and happy new year! I hope you had a great New Year’s Eve last Wednesday. Before we dive into this week’s edition, let’s see who has already run this year:

Let’s kick off 2026 ⤵️

This week’s watchlist spot goes to National Geographic’s Superskilled series with Eva zu Beck (yes, the same Eva I featured back in edition #25, a travel content creator turned adventure athlete), going to Iten in Kenya.

Iten is a small town often called the Home of Champions. Sitting at around 2,400 meters above sea level, Iten is home to an unreal number of world-class distance runners. Eva’s mission is simple: train and live like the locals, and see if she can improve her personal best marathon time.

But pretty quickly it becomes clear that Iten isn’t some magical shortcut. It’s hard work.

When it comes to the social spotlight, I like to feature all kinds of runners. Elite. Amateur. Ultra marathoners. 5k sprinters. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is their mindset and the content they share. Ultimately, I want your feed to be a better feed by following these people. More positive, more inspiring.

And that’s why Caden is featured in this first edition of 2026. His account is not solely about running, but it is the main topic. You’ll find him doing crazy running challenges, sometimes solo, sometimes with others (like his mom). He also shares running tips, motivation and takes us along on his own bigger runs like the NYC marathon.

And this one might be one of my favourites.

Imagine running a 66 km, 100 km, or even 160 km ultra and never having to run in the dark. No headlamps, no sunset, just endless Arctic daylight.

That’s what makes NUTS Ylläs Pallas so special. It takes place on July 17–18, 2026, inside Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park in Finnish Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle.

You can choose from 15 km, 37 km, 66 km, 100 km, or 160 km. The trails run through the calm, open wilderness, crossing fells, forests, and wooden boardwalks.

This is a true bucket list race (it’ll require quite a bit of traveling to get to the starting line). But from what I can tell, the midnight sun and the quiet beauty of Lapland make it an experience you’ll never forget.

Watch the video below to get a better sense of the event:

Date: July 17–18, 2026
Location: Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, Finnish Lapland
Website: nutsyllaspallas.com/en

Plush. Comfortable. Smooth. That’s the Saucony Hurricane 25. But don’t get fooled by the name; these shoes will make you feel more like running on marshmallow clouds than giving you stormy power ⛈️

The Hurricane 25 is a max-cushioning shoe with a soft layer of responsive PWRRUN PB superfoam (Saucony’s premium foam). It’s also a stability shoe; meaning its features are designed to help guide your stride and manage overpronation (when your foot rolls inward too much) during runs.

I’m yet to record a new review video (now that I’ve run about 200+km in these shoes), but my thoughts haven’t changed much since the very first run. These shoes are made for easy recovery runs. I lace them up whenever I don’t really feel like running 😂. Somehow, that soft foam motivates me to go for a jog!

If you’ve been looking for a stability shoe, or one specifically for easy days, then I’d say this one’s worth a try!

Start the year strong and (re)build the habit of running!

I’m hosting a 7-day running challenge in the RunLetters Run Club. Participation is free, fun, and you can even win a prize! 🎁

This is the perfect time to join our community. Over the next few months, you can expect more giveaways (for both races and gear), educational content, and interesting conversations. We will also be running races together.

Above all, though, the club has truly become a group of friends who are all passionate runners in their own way. We learn from each other and inspire each other. So come join!

That’s it for the first edition of RunLetters in 2026. In the next editions you can expect all the regular fun, running-related news, as well as more race-entry giveaways, challenges, and contests.

For now, I’ve got one favour to ask:

Here’s to a great weekend ahead ☀️

Caroline