‘ellooo runner, happy Friday!

Before you dive into this week’s awesome running content, please let me know:

It’s going to be a fun run today. Let’s get started ⤵️

Will’s good friend James moves to Brighton, messing up their long-standing tradition: Will would run to a coffee shop, and they’d meet up for a cold brew and a cappuccino before going to work.

So, Will decides he’ll run from London to Brighton.

What follows is an anything-but-gradual buildup of mileage. The physio and doctor advise against it. And to make it even more “fun”, Will also needs to complete a challenge every day.

While the thumbnail and the concept are a bit gimmicky, you’ve got to respect the dedication Will has to completing his goal. Running 85k+ is never easy.

I love how Will decides to break things up in 10k chunks. He’s definitely got some mental resilience, this guy.

Last week, I got a DM from a friend on Instagram. A friend who does not run.

And the DM was about… running. It was this reel right here from Jay:

At first, I thought it was going to be some comedy. A joke. Then I watched it, and I realized this DM was proof that Jay was achieving exactly what he had set out to do: turning non-runners into runners.

I mean, the comments are full of them. People who’ve been wanting to run but who were lacking motivation. People who do run, but who need this extra push.

Jay’s got the voice for it. This is basically Nike Run Club on steroids. Coach Bennett turned into an MC.

It’s not for me (I don’t really like listening to music while I run, haha), and I think it is best suited for treadmill runs, but… what an epic move.

Props to Jay. And just for these types of reels, he’s worth a follow.

A fast course and vineyards? Sounds like a dream come true.

Twenty-three miles down the Silverado Trail, vineyards rolling past on both sides, and only four turns in the whole race (all of them in the final four miles). That's the Napa Valley Marathon for you.

It's a point-to-point course, starting up in Calistoga and finishing in Napa, with a gradual net downhill the whole way. People say it’s one of the best Boston Qualifying races in the country, and it shows: roughly 13% of finishers punch their BQ here.

Prefer the half? It starts a little further down the trail at Conn Creek. You get the same fast, scenic route, so it’s no less spectacular.

The course’s speed isn’t the highlight here, though. It's the scenery. The reviews all talk about how incredible it is to watch the sun rise over the vineyards while fog settles into the valley below.

This race isn’t around the corner, but that’s a good thing. First of all, because you can still sign up, and secondly, because it gives you enough time to train.

The next edition is on Sunday, March 7, 2027 (marathon, half, or 5K!).

A perfect date because the weather is generally cool and kind. It’s also when the valley turns green before harvest season.

It’s also a small race with a cap of just 3,000 marathoners. If you’ve read many editions of RunLetters, you know I’m a fan of races like this. Age-group winners get bottles of local wine (which is remarkably similar to a lot of races in Portugal, haha). After you finish, there's a party at Clif Family Winery, wine tasting included, and a massage a few minutes away at Health Spa Napa Valley if your legs need it.

Last year, one of my fav shoes was the PUMA Deviate Nitro 3. I used it for my marathons and almost all my track workouts. So it’s no surprise that this new release from PUMA caught my eye.

PUMA's Deviate Pure Nitro dropped June 4, and it's the first shoe in the family without a plate. No carbon, no rigid propulsion, just a 100% PEBA midsole (38mm heel / 30mm forefoot, 8mm drop). Which I think is ideal for most runners.

I haven't run in it yet, so take this as an "on my radar" feature rather than a verdict. But early reviews are consistently good: comfortable, breathable upper, true to size, and a smooth, lively ride that testers describe as stable rather than mushy.

It's about 30g lighter than the plated Deviate Nitro 4, and reviewers keep circling back to one word: value. At $150/€150/£129.99-150, it undercuts rivals like the Asics Superblast 3 while it’s got the same foam PUMA uses for its race-day shoes.

People say that for the real fast intervals it’s less suited, but for most RunLetters readers I doubt this is the case. And many reviews do say the shoes are great for tempo runs, long steady miles, and easy runs (so great for half marathon training).

Sizing note: the toe box runs slightly long, so check before you buy. Ideally, try them out in a store first.

TL:DR ⬇️

Most runners completely skip strength and mobility work. They know it’s necessary, yet they don’t do it.

I’m here to help with that.

As part of my half marathon coaching program, I’ve been recording more workout videos. While in the program, you get access to two (live) sessions a week, I’m also actively building out a library full of workouts. Some of those go live on YouTube for everyone.

The account is still very new, but you can find it here. So far, I’ve uploaded most with and without music. What do you prefer? Please vote in the poll at the start of this newsletter.

That’s it for another edition of RunLetters!

Here’s to a great weekend ahead ☀️

Caroline

P.S. Half marathon on the calendar? Or know someone who does? Check this out ⬇️