‘ellooo runner 👋 Today’s edition of RunLetters has it all: running hacks, road running, crazy ultras, and nutrition. Before we get started, a little poll:

There are so many shoe brands out there, and obviously, they’re not all in the list above. My personal favourite brand isn’t even in there! But… I am curious to see which camp is most represented from the ones on this list among RunLetters readers.

If your fav isn’t there but your second choice is, vote for that one!

And then.... Let’s get started ⤵️

You may know Russ Cook as "the guy who ran the length of Africa". Or maybe just as "the hardest geezer".

I've featured him before because… well, Russ is great. He's fun to watch, a great runner, and a kind human. In this video, he tries out a whole bunch of running hacks, from illegal shoes to bicarb and bionic legs.

Just a fun, light-hearted watch. Perfect for your Friday afternoon 🍿

Courtney Dauwalter is known as the GOAT in the ultra trail running scene. While many women are climbing the ranks now, and the competition for her has grown much stronger in the last few years, she’s still an absolutely remarkable athlete. And still so talented.

She’s a physical and mental powerhouse, and just this week got second place at the Cocodona 250 (a 250mi race in Arizona), finishing after Rachel Entrekin, who smashed the course record to pieces (and who will certainly get a feature in this spotlight sometime soon).

Courtney is known for wearing long inseams and devouring candy on the course. But she also holds a crazy number of trophies. She radiates positivity and a real love for ultra running. There’s just something so genuine and raw about her. Courtney is 100% Courtney, and that’s what I love.

Whether you like trail (and ultra) running or not, I think she’s worth following.

There are so many (half) marathons around the world, and for many of the big and popular ones, you need to secure your place through a ballot.

Yet, some cities still let you sign up without all this extra hassle. Rome is one of them.

The Rome City Marathon promises to take you along many of the city's major highlights. I've seen many other city races say the same, and oftentimes it's a false promise. But looking at the course map, Rome is actually living up to it. You literally start next to the Colosseum, and you literally finish in the Circus Maximus (one of the oldest stadiums in the world!).

The entry costs €99 (about $116 at the time of writing), and the race takes place on March 14, 2027. So plenty of time to plan your trip.

Rome itself is a city everyone should visit someday. There is so much to see and do. It’s also an incredible place to carb load before your big race. So… what are you waiting for?

After various requests from the RunLetters Run Club members, I’ve launched a simple merchandise store for RunLetters gear. There are only 3 items available for now, and they’re all print-on-demand. If you like this newsletter, getting an item from the shop is a great way to support the brand.

The fan-favourite so far seems to be the sweater (which I wear myself frequently):

There’s also a tumbler and a moisture-wicking tee. You can check it out here.

For all of us who are into optimizing our running fuel (especially during hard efforts), I think we can learn something from this video from PF&H about Rachel’s nutrition strategy during the Cocodona 250.

There’s a big chance you will never run 250 miles (I know I won’t), but that doesn’t mean that we can’t take a page out of Rachel’s book. Optimizing how we fuel our long runs and hard efforts is something we can all do. Let this video inspire you and take another look at your own strategy.

That’s it. Another edition DONE! This week, RunLetters gained +308 new subscribers. Welcome to each and every one of you 💙

If you want moaaaarrr RunLetters, then come join our free, online run club. You can join here. Inside, you will find fun running-related challenges, discount codes, and a supportive forum full of runners!

Here’s to a great weekend ahead ☀️

Caroline

P.S. Come and run in Spain with me during the first RunLetters Run Trip! October 15-18, 2026. More details will follow real soon.

P.P.S. If you are running the half marathon in Copenhagen, Cardiff or Valencia this year… I’ve got something for you. Check this out.