‘ellooo runner from a hot, sunny Portugal ☀️ Today’s edition of RunLetters has got you covered with both running entertainment and education.

I’m also excited to share we’ve got almost 4000(!!!) readers. That’s mental. In the last 7 days, we welcomed 400+ new runners to RunLetters. If you’re one of them… welcome!

So, before we get started, let’s get a sense of where we are all located (and who else is melting right now 🥵):

Voted? Awesome. You are elite. Now, let’s get started ⤵️

Most of the time, the watchlist features a video that I think will inspire you and motivate you to lace up and go for a run.

And sometimes… It’s just pure entertainment.

Like today. Callum “Calfreezy” Leighton runs the famous Marathon du Médoc (Bordeaux, France) with two friends. They’ve got a few challenges to face: it’s their first marathon ever. There’s plenty of wine involved. Lots of people on the course. Oh, man…

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t start to crack up at about ~10 minutes into it.

A good reminder that we shouldn’t always take running so seriously. And no, that’s not me saying you should go and do what they did (but feel free to do so if you like, haha).

Steve Magness is absolutely not your fancy, fun creator. But he is a go-to source for research-backed coaching.

His YouTube channel is a goldmine of knowledge. Perfect for the coaches among us, but also for runners who like diving deep into the science of running.

His videos are unedited. Basically, it’s him doing a (PowerPoint) presentation. No studio, no special camera. Just Steve and his knowledge. It’s not the most engaging, but if you can sit through it, you’ll learn a tonne. His almost 67k subs are proof of that.

I’ve personally been following Steve for about a year now and have watched a lot of his videos. The educational value is just incredible.

On Instagram, Steve’s got 232K followers. He’s also the author of Do Hard Things and Win the Inside Game. Before the books, he ran a 4:01 mile in high school (the sixth-fastest in US history at the time) and then went on to coach at the Nike Oregon Project ahead of the 2012 London Olympics. Safe to say he’s a very experienced coach.

If there’s ONE 10k race I’d like to do one day, it’s this one.

I’m talking about BOLDERBoulder. It takes place on Memorial Day, and it’s a HUGE 10k. Bigger than most international half marathons out there. Last year, there were almost 54,000 participants and 80,000 spectators. Numbers I can barely wrap my head around!

It’s a 10k that often draws a pretty good international crowd. Expect to see some crazy fast 10k runners out there with you on the course.

But don’t let them intimidate you! This race is a Party with a capital P. Lots of entertainment and a really great atmosphere. All in what might be my favourite city in the US (Boulder is truly stunning!).

You can already register for 2027. I wouldn’t be surprised if the race sells out, so… don’t wait too long. Besides that, prices do go up.

(Here’s a pretty hilarious little behind-the-scenes/race perspective!)

Yes, I’ve talked about these shoes before. But I’m bringing them back as I have finally come around to recording a little review video about them. Also, there are so many new readers here who don’t know about the Tarkine AutoPilots yet, so it only made sense for me to highlight them again.

These are my absolute go-to shoes for any long runs and easy runs. Extremely durable and comfortable. Also, these shoes have a wide toe box, which I’d recommend for most runners. Tarkine itself is a wonderful brand, and one of the most sustainable choices out there.

The video below is 2 minutes and 30 seconds long, and it’ll put a smile on your face, I promise. A great lift-me-up. Forward it to another runner to make their day, too.

May the pace be with you

If you enjoyed this edition of RunLetters, share a screenshot of it on Instagram and tag @runletters. It means the world to me.

And if you have any suggestions for another edition, hit reply to this email and let me know!

Now, have an absolutely incredible weekend. If it’s as hot where you live as it is here in Portugal, make sure you go out for your run early! ☀️

Best,

Caroline