Run Rabbit Run will pay $100,000 to each winner
A Colorado 100-miler just announced it will pay $100,000 to its men's and women's champions in 2027 and 2028, five times what it pays now. Ian Sharman says he would never have guessed a race outside UTMB or Comrades could afford it, and Zach Bitter says sponsors now have to bid higher to keep their athletes at their own events.
Read the whole week in one goNgetich's world record, Almgren ends Africa's streak
The week's biggest
Run Rabbit Run 100 jumps to $100,000 per winner for 2027 and 2028
iRunFar posted that in 2027 and 2028 the Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile will award $100,000 each to the women's and men's champions. Sage Canaday says the race has been offering $20,000 to winners and that the funding came from sponsor Insight Global, a recruiting company. The 2026 edition went off Friday in Steamboat Springs: Jeff Mogavero and Ryan Sullivan led at mile 17 in 2:34 elapsed, Hannah Allgood led the women in 3:05, and thunderstorms were rolling through the high country.
That’s insane! The sport is growing but I’d never guess a race outside UTMB or Comrades could afford this.
When a race outside of that offers a large potential payout, the price to incentivise athletes with appearance and performance bonuses goes up as well.
What do we think are the ramifications of this? What does 2nd place get then?
Races and results
Mantz returns from two stress fractures at World Road Champs Saturday
The World Athletics Road Running Championships start Saturday in Copenhagen. LetsRun reports Conner Mantz set the American record of 2:04:43 in Chicago last fall, then did a hard long run the day after the race and paced his wife in a marathon a month later, and two sacral stress fractures followed; he runs the half. Yared Nuguse told the press conference he is in the shape of his life ahead of the mile. Monti says Saturday's start lists have 48 women and 58 men in the mile and 42 women and 51 men in the 5K, with $10,000 to each winner.
I’m very ready to hammer a race out,” said Yared Nuguse at the #WRRC pre-event press conference.
After setting the American record of 2:04:43 in Chicago last fall, Conner Mantz felt so good he did something absolutely crazy - a hard long run the day after the race.
Shoes and fuel
Cloudsurfer 3 weighed at 324g for $160, Merrell's $290 racer called overbuilt
On the Believe in the Run podcast, the On Cloudsurfer 3 is listed at 11.45 ounces (324 grams) in a size 10 with a new super critical EVA midsole, $160, at retail October 1; Thomas found it too heavy and wide for his narrow foot while Megan liked the step-in comfort and plush upper after a break-in. Believe in the Run's Merrell MTL SpeedArc Peak review lists 10.7 oz, 30mm heel and 24mm forefoot (6mm drop), a PEBA/TPEE/EVA midsole with a carbon plate at $290, and scores it Design A, Performance B, Value C. The same outlet is split on the Craft Atmosfär: the video calls it the max cushion surprise of the year and notes the easy feel wears off over a 19 mile run, while on the podcast Robbie said it had too much bounce. The Run Testers' Tom rates the Kiprun Kipride Gravel a road-to-trail shoe that grips well and is good for the price.
Feels a little overbuilt
one of my favorite shoes for the trails that I've tested um for quite some time
Worth a glance
Kazimierska wins Athlos London mile, banks $275,000 in three races
Klaudia Kazimierska took the Athlos London mile in 4:19.43, and Jonathan Gault totted up her last three weeks: $60k at the Diamond League final, $150k at the Ultimates, $65k at Athlos, $275,000 in all. Sha'Carri Richardson (10.80), Gabby Thomas (22.13), Marileidy Paulino (48.73) and Keely Hodgkinson (1:56.40) also won, though Gault notes Athlos cancelled its planned New York meet this year.
Zach Bitter says the carnivore Ironman story leaves out the timeline
A post held up Pete Jacobs, the 2012 Ironman world champion, as proof you can race long on meat, fish, eggs, water and salt. Bitter, who says he has spoken with Jacobs, pushed back: Jacobs won Kona in 8:18:37 on carbs, and has not come within an hour of that time since he changed how he eats.
Runner says UTMB 50K finish flipped to a DNF over 67 seconds
One r/Ultramarathon poster says they finished a UTMB 50K last weekend, got a medal and saw their UTMB index update to finisher, then watched the result turn into a DNF. They reached the final aid station at 20:16:07 against a 20:15:00 cutoff, and say nobody told them or pulled them from the course.
Hodgkinson debuts a one-off Nike speed suit with 3D-printed vortex generators
CITIUS MAG reports Nike spent six months building Keely Hodgkinson a one-of-one 800m kit: full-length, hooded and open-backed, with 3D-printed aerodynamic vortex generators and openings for her sunglasses and ponytail. Steve Magness's take was that the 2000s are back and we have come full circle to the Cathy Freeman bodysuit.