Hey there runner! 👋 Here is your weekly dose of fun running news! This week, we’ve got an incredible film to watch, two ballots (!!!), a new running shoe, and… my very first 100k!

Before we start… we have so many new subscribers here at RunLetters. And so I’m bringing back this poll. Let’s see how we’re divided!

Voted? You are a champ 🏆 Let’s get started ⤵️

The first 30 seconds of this gave me goose bumps all over.

Most well-produced videos on YouTube, be it about road or trail running, are about the elite. And if they are not about the elite, they are about content creators in the running field. People who have a big enough audience that it makes sense for brands to invest in them. Or sometimes, these creators make enough to invest in a crew themselves. Props to them. It’s a job on its own, and I fully respect that.

But… often, some of the most inspiring stories are in the back of the pack, and not on the elite start line. That’s what this short movie, shot at the Cocodona 250 (a 250-mile race in Arizona), shows. A beautiful race with rough conditions and terrain. About 70% of the 300 participants usually make it to the finish line.

Just watch it. I promise it’ll leave you inspired, and maybe a little emotional. A perfect watch for this weekend 🍿

I’ve featured Sage before when I talked about the Taco Bell 50K, but never did he get a full-fledged Social Spotlight… So it was about damn time!

Sage is an American mountain, ultra and trail runner, based in Boulder, Colorado. You may know him from Instagram or YouTube, but Sage is definitely not “just” a content creator. He’s actually a really good runner.

He qualified for the US Olympic Trials in 2008 and spent three years as a professional road marathoner (marathon PB of 2:16:52). In 2012, he switched to trail and ultra running, and here he really found his groove. He became a three-time US National Champion in mountain running (3 different distances) and won a whole bunch of ultramarathons. 

He went on to become a coach and started his YouTube channel, which covers training, gear reviews, and race recaps. It’s that wide variety combined with his down-to-earth personality that makes him worth following. YouTube if you prefer deep dives, Instagram if you prefer some fun.

This edition of RunLetters wouldn’t do running any justice if I didn’t point out the two ballots that just opened. One for a SuperHalf, and one for a World Major.

The Lisbon Half Marathon (a SuperHalf) takes place on March 07, 2027. The ballot registration is open from April 23 to May 19.

The London Marathon (a World Major) takes place on Sunday 25 April, 2027, although there are talks about the 2027 edition being two days, which would mean many more people get in. The fee for UK runners doing the London Marathon is £79.99, but if you opt to pay in advance to double your chances and you end up getting a place through the ballot, it drops to £49.99. If you don’t get in through the first ballot, you get automatically entered into a second one. And if you then still don’t get in, you get a hydration vest + part of your entry fee goes to

For international runners, the investment is quite a bit higher as you’ll have to pay a £225 international entry fee, which, according to the site, includes a carbon offset fee for international travel. The ballet for London is open from today, April 24, until May 01.

For both, as an international runner, you don’t have to provide credit card details or pay anything when you enter the ballot.

🇵🇹 Lisbon Half Marathon 2027: enter the ballot here

🇬🇧 London Marathon 2027: enter the ballot here

Tarkine’s just released a new shoe, the Bandicoot. I haven’t been able to try it yet, but it looks like it’s worth sharing already either way.

About Tarkine’s Sustainability: For those who don’t know Tarkine: this Australian shoe brand is the preferred choice of ultra runner Phil Gore. It’s also one of the (if not the) most sustainable running shoe brands I’ve come across. They donate 2% of every sale (split between the Tarkine Rainforest via the Bob Brown Foundation and 1% for the Planet), use recycled materials like plastic bottles and reclaimed rubber throughout their shoes, and run a take-back recycling program for your shoes once you’re done with them.

On top of that, for each order, they calculate the estimated shipping emissions. Based on those estimates, a portion of our revenue goes to carbon removal companies (and any extra funds go toward the further development of carbon removal technologies).

The cherry on top? Their re-run program. Via this program, they sell their demo and pre-loved shoes at a discount. These shoes have been run in no more than 5km, are inspected and cleaned, and then resold. You get a super good discount and it’s also more sustainable. This is how I personally bought my Tarkine AutoPilots and they looked brand new.

BUT, back to the Bandicoot! Their newest shoe, and their lightest shoe yet. A shoe made for fast (road) ultras and (not-too-technical) trail races. Basically, “one shoe to rule them all”. Fast enough for race day and cushioned enough for long runs.

Highly responsive and light super foam, and a versatile outsole that should keep you from slipping on gravel or skating over wet concrete.

I’m intrigued. One day, I’ll test these, and I’ll give you a full review. For now, you’ll have to believe the early reviews and Tarkine’s description of the shoe. But based on what I’ve seen from the brand so far, these won’t disappoint.

This upcoming Monday, I will be running stage 179 from Follow the Coast.

Follow the Coast is the longest relay run ever, covering all European shores. It’s a journey of co-creation that will be ran by teams covering ~100km each. Each 100km chunk is referred to as a “stage”.

Each team starts their 100k at 07.00 am and has 24 hours to finish it. At the end, the next team continues.

They are already 17.500km from the start line. The first stage was run on July 1, 2019. The original idea was to run non-stop, but logistics and finances didn’t allow for that. The crazy idea of having someone (or a team) run the entire European coastline continuously was simply unworkable, so the relay format — 100 km stages, one person or team per day — was born instead.

It’s not a race. It’s not about performance or setting a fast time. If anything, it’s about creating memories for a lifetime, togetherness, and community. That’s what really intrigued me about the concept. And what makes it even better is that I get to run this with 6 friends (introduced here).

If you’re keen to see how we do, then make sure to follow the Follow the Coast page. They post stories continuously throughout the day.

That’s it for edition #51 of RunLetters. Get ready for #52. A celebration of a year-long of RunLetters… 🤯

Expect “the best of 52 editions”, including the best discount codes and more!

Here’s to a great weekend ahead ☀️ and make sure to follow along during my 100k this Monday over here (you can also follow my personal page here).

Caroline

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