I appreciate this. I used to run a race that started with the firing of a cannon, which is one way to get your adrenaline going. Article: A starter's pistol won't open the Philly Marathon. This West Philly native's company created an alternative. www.msn.com/en-us/sports...

I’ve been using Facebook more than usual recently, because it’s still one of the best places to spread the word to people we actually know. But if I’m going to post this on social media, I should share it one of the places Parker approved of more. fastwomen.substack.com/p/fast-women...

My USATF TV subscription has (temporarily, I think) lapsed, but it's possible to watch the coverage of the USATF 25K Championships, happening now, without a subscription. www.woodtv.com/sports/river...

Why I might not be posting much, or at all, for a while. Meant to share this yesterday, but the volume of messages coming in yesterday became overwhelming. I really appreciate the outpouring of support. fastwomen.substack.com/p/fast-women...

I think U.S. women's marathoning is due for a collective breakthrough. The depth of the fields is greater than its ever been, but the fastest times haven't really changed all that much. And they should, because technological advances have completely redefined what the times mean. The masses are...

The coverage of distance running is so U.S.-centric that many people are shocked when Americans accomplish things that people from other countries have been doing for quite some time.

London Marathon Results 1. Tigst Assefa 2:15:41 2. Hellen Obiri 2:15:53 3. Joyciline Jepkosgei 2:15:55 4. Degitu Azimeraw 2:19:13 5. Catherine Reline Amanang'ole 2:21:20 6. Eunice Chebichii Chumba 2:23:44 7. Eilish McColgan 2:24:51 8. Julia Paternain 2:25:47 9. Rose Harvey 2:26:14

The London Marathon came down to a three-way sprint finish, but no one could match Tigst Assefa's closing speed. She repeated as champion and took nine seconds off of her own women's only world record, running 2:15:41. Hellen Obiri was 2nd in a PR of 2:15:53 and Joyciline Jepkosgei was 3rd (2:15:55)

For anyone who's curious, here's what to expect as far as pace groups at tomorrow morning's London Marathon.

Makena Morley wins the Canyons 50K against a really solid field. Lauren Gregory takes second, and Molly Seidel is third.

This is very 2026. Received an email, likely written via AI, about how to help marathoners on GLP-1s fuel better during their races.

A little Nick Johnson update. He's the former Huntington University cross country and track & field coach. www.21alivenews.com/video/2026/0...

Here's my recap of Monday's Boston Marathon, which went out this morning. fastwomen.substack.com/p/fast-women...

I'm just now catching up on the Boston Marathon coverage and results (because I was out on the course earlier). I imagine people are going to underreact to just how good of a day this was for former Alabama star Mercy Chelangat, who went in with a PR of 2:23:33 and ran 2:20:30 for fourth.

Ethiopia's Tigist Gezahagn (2:20:06) and Haftamnesh Tesfaye (2:20:18) went 1-2 at this morning's Vienna City Marathon. And running her first marathon in 18 months after returning from a hamstring tear, Lindsay Flanagan finished seventh in 2:28:34. Results: vienna.r.mikatiming.de/2026/?pid=le...

It took me most of the week, but part two in this series, which focuses on pro runners' experiences training through pregnancy and returning to running, will be out first thing tomorrow. Here's part one: fastwomen.substack.com/p/fast-women...

Wow

Normally when I take on a story with many sources, I take my time conducting the interviews. But when I decided to write about pro runners and pregnancy, I gave myself a deadline (today) and crammed in as many conversations as I could before then. I still need to write part two of this article...

JP Trojan, an immigration attorney in Minneapolis, didn't have his best race at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile today, but it was for a very good reason. (From Minnesota Distance Elite's latest newsletter)

Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Results 1. Asayech Ayachew 50:37 2. Joy Cheptoyek 50:41 3. Emma Grace Hurley 50:42 4. Weini Kelati 50:46 5. Karissa Schweizer 50:55 6. Everlyn Kemboi 51:21 7. Molly Born 51:36 8. Kassie Parker 52:01 9. Norah Jeruto 52:02 10. Katie Izzo 52:09 11. Laura Galvan 52:18 More:

A huge win for Emma Grace Hurley at the USATF 10 Mile Championships, hosted by the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile. It looked like Weini Kelati had her, but Hurley's knowledge of the course paid off as she made a move on the final hill (bump) and won 50:42 to 50:46 over Kelati. Karissa Schweizer took 3rd.

I appreciate the Drake Relays hosting the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships and for everything they contribute to the sport. This is also the second year in a row that they've amused me by burying the lede with their field announcement. Eleven other women get a mention before Gracie Morris does.

Update: Here is the women's elite field for the 40th anniversary edition of the #Carlsbad5000 scheduled for Sunday, April 12. Pro road racing debut for Sydney Vaught. (cc: @fastwomen.bsky.social)

As a senior at Harvard in 2024, Maia Ramsden had a dream season. But in her first season of pro running, she hit a major roadbloack. She discussed the surgery she had last July, her decision to leave the On Athletics Club and move back to Boston, and more: fastwomen.substack.com/p/fast-women...

At the Stanford Invitational, Jane Hedengren (30:46.80) and Pamela Kosgei (30:49.99) both go under Parker Valby's collegiate 10,000m record of 30:50.43 from 2024. And lots of people run fast. More results here. BYU really showed up ready to run. live.recordtiming.com/meets/64852/...

More withdrawals from the Boston Marathon field. We already knew about some of these, but others are news to me.

Karissa Schweizer recently announced that after more than seven years under the same coach, she has moved to Portland, Oregon, and she's now being coached by Chris Miltenberg. In today's Fast Women newsletter, she discusses her decision and much more. fastwomen.substack.com/p/fast-women...

A big day for Trials qualifiers at the McKirdy Micro Marathon in New York. Eleven more women qualified, bringing the total to 123 so far. Dayna Pidhoresky, who is Canadian, won the race in 2:31:09. Behind her, Jessica Donohue (2:34:40), Annabel Stafford (2:35:07), Brooke Starn (2:35:22)...

Just looking at some old results from the NCAA Cross Country Championships, as one does, and the 150s were really competitive 10 years ago.

Cooper River Bridge Run Results (10K) 1. Everlyn Kemboi 31:15 2. Katie Izzo 31:27 3. Annie Frisbie 31:37 4. Sara Hall 32:04 5. Jessa Hanson 32:29 6. Steph Bruce 32:32 7. Cleo Boyd 32:54 8. Logan Jolly 33:13 9. Atsede Baysa 33:19 10. Makenna Thurston 33:25 results2.xacte.com#/e/2623/lead...

I kind of think every journalist should have to experience what it's like being an expert in demand around a news item for a day or two, just for empathy's sake. It's fucking overwhelming y'all!! I'm doing my best!!

Big news day. Not a done deal, but in the works. The women's and men's elite races would be on separate days. And this would be for 2027 only. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

Some resolution following the mess at the USATF Half Marathon Championships. What this doesn't say is who the non-scoring athletes will be. But this is about as good as anyone could have hoped for once things went wrong, IMO.

UCan denies dropping Emma Bates over her pregnancy, but her agent backs up her claim. frontofficesports.com/emma-bates-u...

All these stats sounded good, until I got to the last sentence: "In addition, 323 female athletes completed SRY gene screening tests as part of ongoing athlete support and eligibility processes." That doesn't really feel like an accomplishment in line with the others listed.

I usually try to make sure every newsletter I put out has information you couldn't get elsewhere, so even the people who follow things closely can learn something. I think I failed on that front this week. But in case you missed any of this: fastwomen.substack.com/p/fast-women...

Jonathan Gault asks Addy Wiley for clarification about her coaching situation, and I'm still not entirely sure who is coaching her. But here's what she said: youtu.be/HWNR-XDlKfo?...

One more post, because I took the time to figure this out... This is the first time ever that the U.S. has medaled in the 800m, 1500m, and 3,000m at a World Indoor championship on the women's side.

World Indoors 800m results (in the graphic). Hodgkinson dominates, and now I have too much work to do anymore posting on social media.

What a race. Birke Haylom tried to run away with the 1500m at World Indoors, going through 400m in 62.32 and 800m in 2:05.30, but she slowed in the the second half and this trio reeled her in. Georgia Hunter Bell gets her first global gold medal (3:58.53) and Jessica Hull manages to medal...

Emma Grace Hurley set a pending American 8K record of 24:29 at this morning's Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago. I'm told the conditions were "ridiculously windy and cold." The previous record belonged to Deena Kastor, who ran 24:36 at the same race, 21 years ago.

Replay of today's 3,000m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0OD...

Kudos to @vo2maximopt (on Instagram) for catching this moment during the at NYC Half broadcast where Hellen Obiri's hand or watch appeared to briefly get caught in Agnes Ngetich's hair. www.youtube.com/live/vS1nGAj...

U.S. 3,000m medals at World Indoors: Gold: Elle St. Pierre (2024) Silver: Emily Mackay (2026), Shelby Houlihan (2025), St. Pierre (2022), Lynn Jennings (1995) Bronze: Shannon Rowbury (2016), Shayne Culpepper (2004), Regina Jacobs (1999), Joan Nesbit (1995), Jennings (1993), PattiSue Plumer (1985)

Italy's Nadia Battocletti, an Olympic and World Championship silver medalist, wins the 3,000m at World Indoors, earning her first global title (in 8:57.64). And Emily Mackay (8:58.12) narrowly edged out Jessica Hull (8:58.18) for silver. Marta Garcia gets the DQ (TR17.1.2—jostling and obstruction)

Ugh. 3,000m final at World Indoors. Marta Garcia appeared to bump into Jessica Hull, who put a hand on Freweyni Hailu, who went down. Hailu is back in it now, but TBD if we see any protests.

I couldn't tell from this if Addy Wiley's mother is coaching her now and if she has parted ways with Lauren Johnson. It sounded like maybe there was an attempt at a follow up question, but someone else changed the subject and then she was escorted off. youtu.be/6YejDpp5JoQ?...

Was too busy to post this morning, but so many people looked good in the 800m semis at World Indoors. Keely Hodgkinson, Addy Wiley, Audrey Werro, Nigist Getachew, Hayley Kitching, and Clara Liberman are through to the final. After a fall in the first round at NCAAs, it's so nice to see...