A Runner Ran a Marathon Carrying... A Baby?!, Des Linden's Crazy Spring Plans, and Where Will Harry Styles Race Next?
The Running Story | Marathon Handbook NewsShow Notes
Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five most compelling stories in running this week — starting with one of the most bizarre marathon disqualifications ever, after a runner was spotted racing the Hong Kong Marathon with a baby strapped to his chest. From there, they dive into Des Linden's jaw-dropping spring race schedule, which somehow includes the Marathon des Sables, Boston, and London — all within weeks. The episode also features a standout moment from Boston's indoor Grand Prix, where a 60-year-old grandmother ran a mile world record, plus two more historic performances on the track. The conversation wraps with elite running politics, world record context, and a lighthearted but surprisingly thorough investigation into which marathon Harry Styles might target in 2026 — with Chicago, London, and New York all in play. Insightful, opinionated, and deeply nerdy in the best way — this is The Running Story. Planning Upcoming Tour Around Marathons? 📩 Questions about training, race previews, or to send us your hot takes? Email us at [email protected]. 🎤 Leave us a voice memo for our mailbag episodes: marathonhandbook.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: @marathon.handbook 📰 Join 265,000+ runners getting our daily newsletter: marathonhandbook.com/newsletter
More from The Running Story | Marathon Handbook News
Ultra legend Courtney Dauwalter is heading back to the roads. She’s racing the California International Marathon (CIM) in December to chase the 2:37 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials standard. On this week’s episode of The Running Story, Michael and Jessy go through the top running news of the week, recorded in person in Toronto following the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Marathon Budget Episode: https://youtu.be/iOX5QNbZXb8?si=BHmCFaOc-aFt3ubN NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574 Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
Recorded live and in person in Chicago, hours after the finish, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the 2026 Chicago Marathon and the week’s other top running stories. TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467 NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574 Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
The 2026 Chicago Marathon is almost here, and in this bonus episode of The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth cover everything you need to know before race day. We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to https://wahoofitness.com and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order. Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420 Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976 TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467 Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
It's Chicago Marathon week! Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth go through the week's top running news. Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420 Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976 TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467 Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
In this week's episode of The Running Story, who cover how Tigst Assefa was on world record pace at the 2026 Berlin Marathon until the final 2K. Assefa still won in a course record of 2:11:04, even though she appeared to suffer an Achilles injury around 40K. Early reports suggest a partial tear. Guye Adola won the men's race in 2:02:50, his first personal best in almost ten years. We also cover Josh Kerr's 1,000m time trial at altitude in Albuquerque, which came within 0.83 seconds of Emmanuel Wanyonyi's world record before the Ultimate Championship. Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420 Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976 Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Subscribe to our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/