Some very tired words from Beaver Stadium, where we were treated to one of the best Oregon games, well, ever. Are these Ducks good? The question has been answered. lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/ducks/...

On my bye week of editing Oregon football, I'm going to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. Merry Ducks of Windsor. I mean Merry Wives of Windsor.

Today's training plan was for 5 miles but when I got to the trail and it was raining hard for the first time in months, that quickly changed into 0 miles with 1 Egg McMuffin. Strava doesn't seem to have a setting for that.

Susanna Sullivan's gutsy fourth-place finish at Worlds in Tokyo yesterday made me dig out this story I wrote about her in 2023 when she was first coming on the marathon scene (before Worlds in Budapest, which did not go well for her). Amazing what she does. www.runnersworld.com/runners-stor...

This video makes me so happy, @tysonalger.bsky.social, @annieaguiar.bsky.social

Sage Hurta Klecker paced another Kipyegon WR.

Olympic gold medalist warming up at South Eugene HS track before the Pre Classic in a few hours. People are shuffling around the track at 12-minute pace and you wonder if they have any idea who that fast guy is …

What I've been up to lately: ‘Harm and death’: Unredacted report shows how Oregon State Hospital failed a Lane County patient lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #journalism #orleg

Really frightening moment Saturday night at Hayward Field, after the 400-meter hurdles. A volunteer suffered a cardiac arrest and went down in front of more than 9,000 horrified spectators, including his wife. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending.

10,000 in Eugene, according to police estimates. Cool photos in Lookout Eugene-Springfield.

My husband of 22 years just asked me if we are Instagram official 😂

Texted neighbor that we forgot to stop the papers while we were away overnight and my phone autocorrected papers to poets and imagine a world where you had to stop the mail and the poets when you went out of town.

Enjoyed this video from @nikkihiltz.bsky.social about re-signing with Lulu and their new coach, Juli Benson. It does imply that Nike moved the goalposts on the whole "grandfathering" in part—or that at least Smith and Hiltz didn't have all the information up front. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFk...

ASICS snaps up Biya Simbassa and Nathan Martin www.runnersworld.com/runners-stor...

Last thing: now on watch for athletes from other brands who work with Mike Smith or Diljeet Taylor: Luis Grijalva, Nico Young (he's probably fine for a while), Whittni Morgan, Courtney Wayment. Will they sign with Nike to stay with their coach? Possibly gives Nike an inside track on top talent.

Today @nikkihiltz.bsky.social announced on their instagram that they will be coached by Juli Benson. This is surely because Nike's SwooshTC has swooped up Mike Smith, who was coaching Nikki previously. I've done a lot of reporting on this topic—and it seems like (1/2)

World feels so uncertain, I'm back to the safety of aisle as an opening wordle word every morning.

Heard from Nike about the new coaching setup: Swoosh TC in 3 locations: Taylor in Provo, Smiths in Flag, Schumacher in Eugene. All Nike distance athletes have access. Non-Nike athletes can remain with Smith/Taylor only until current contracts end. www.runnersworld.com/news/a636929...

I so admire the people who work full-time, run at a high level—and keep it all in perspective. Impossible not to root for Emma Kertesz, and her water bottle trick is 💯 www.runnersworld.com/runners-stor...

Updated this story from an earlier version to include a comment from Houlihan: www.runnersworld.com/races-places...

I'm fascinated by the growing competition for charity bibs—and how small nonprofits feel extreme pressure to get it right. A lot of $$$ is at stake. www.runnersworld.com/races-places...

Brooks has carved a niche supporting successful runners in their 30s who don't want to be part of a formal training group. It's an interesting strategy and has paid off for them already (Erika Kemp, Susanna Sullivan, CJ Albertson, @deslinden.bsky.social, others) www.runnersworld.com/runners-stor...

Emily Infeld and Aliphine Tuliamuk have signed with Brooks. www.runnersworld.com/runners-stor...

Emily Sisson update: No spring marathon; focusing on shorter events. Was hoping to be racing this month, had a rough cold/flu season. She is looking at 1/2 marathons in March/April. Husband Shane Quinn has started his own psychotherapy practice in Waterford, Ireland. She is going back and forth.

Here's what no one tells you about the proverbial "empty nest." In September, it's fine. Luxurious, even! In January, it's a total bummer.

As the running community got excited for the elite field at the Boston Marathon this week, I took a quick look at the Boston Athletic Association's board of governors. There are still only 3 women of 13 positions. As many Williams as there are women. (1/2)

Good to see D'Amato in the Boston field. She told me she's been cross training like crazy and on the Alter G and yesterday she ran pain free. www.runnersworld.com/news/a633667...

Many contracts ended on Dec. 31, 2024, and some female athletes are being more open about how things stand, in a belief that transparency helps all. (Had never heard the term "brand slut" before, and I hope it's retired for good.) www.runnersworld.com/news/a633324...

Up to 9 hours of daylight tomorrow, woo hoo. We've got this, Eugene. (As I wring out my running shoes.)

Updated story to include new info I learned recently: Smith's athletes who rep other brands will be allowed to continue training with him only as long as those deals exist. Once the deals expire, it's either Smith and Nike, or different brand and no Smith (1/2) www.runnersworld.com/news/a616474...

A look back at Jimmy Carter the runner, from the always insightful Roger Robinson: www.runnersworld.com/news/a429715...

Dec. 24, 4:14 pm. Last stop!

I couldn't reach St. Pierre, but her coach said she is feeling really good, still running, not ruling out a return to racing this summer. (He's encouraging her to take her time and be healthy.) www.runnersworld.com/news/a632496...

2024: The year in cuteness and rascality

I've long been interested in the relationship between agents, athletes, and shoe companies. Then the Valby family came along and did their own thing. A couple of other veterans are representing themselves, too. Enjoyed working on this one (despite complaints). www.runnersworld.com/news/a631767...

Yet another entrepreneurial venture in track/road running, where people are putting up their own money to grow the sport and try to strengthen the connection between the elite runners and the masses.

The Marathon Project returns, a new/old venture from Ben Rosario after he left NAZ Elite: www.runnersworld.com/races-places...

Wish I had the same relentlessness as a reporter that Orangetheory does in following up to see if I want to join after 2 free classes.

Curt Clausen wins presidency of USATF with 57 percent of the vote.

USATF members pick a new president tomorrow--Curt Clausen or Mike Conley. Conley, who has been the chairman of the board and is seen as the incumbent, promises to work on athlete prize money, facilities access, numbers of officials... 1/2

Updated this story to include a quote from Mike McManus, who is the director of global sports marketing for Hoka. He mentions "new avenues of investing in the track community, including NIL partnerships." www.runnersworld.com/news/a630872...

Big changes at NAZ Elite. Rosario is leaving the group he founded for an entrepreneurial venture to be announced. Eight of the group's 20 athletes will not be re-signed in 2025. www.runnersworld.com/news/a630872...

Looks like USATF's 2023 Form 990, which provides crucial insights into the financial health of the nonprofit, is unlikely to be posted before the annual meeting begins on Dec. 5. In past years, it has been posted late November. Here's what we knew last year: www.runnersworld.com/news/a458989...

Sara Hall runs 2:23:45 at the Valencia Marathon, breaking her own American masters record by more than two minutes. It's her fastest time since the 2022 World Championships.

Did not expect to wake up to an American running a 2:06:53 marathon this morning. That's the magic of Valencia. Biya Simbassa becomes just the fourth American under 2:07, joining Khalid Khannouchi (2:05:38), Galen Rupp (2:06:07), and Ryan Hall (2:06:17). www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_r...

Ah, potty humor through the ages. The whoopee cushion of 1673.

And just last week, Emmaculate Anyango Achol's results from February 3 on were disqualified. She finished second at the Boston 5K in April. They're going all the way back to 1986, when prize money was first offered. That's a lot of reallocating. Kudos to them.

Couple of American college kids in Copenhagen. (Walking ahead so they can make fun of their parents in that sibling thing they do.)

FC Copenhagen

In early October, I asked @nikkihiltz.bsky.social what they think of Houlihan's impending return. Their comments were very thoughtful: www.runnersworld.com/news/a629311...