🏃 Could You Win a Marathon by Cheating? ⚡

Helloooooo runner, how often have you laced up your shoes this week? Did you take any gels on your runs? Did you wear the right shoes? Did you cheat and smuggle some kilometers or miles off during one of your workouts?

Whatever your week’s been like so far, today’s newsletter is packed with inspiration, motivation, and information. Yep, a bit of all three. Ready?

Let’s go ⤵️

📹 Watchlist: Cheating at Marathons - that’s Chris Howett

Could you win a marathon if… you’re cheating?

Chris Howett is probably best known as “the guy who ran the fastest marathon in Crocs” (although his world record was broken pretty quickly—oops). But Chris didn’t stop at that video. He went on to run a marathon in Puma’s banned shoes and even tackled an ultra marathon in Crocs.

The great thing about Chris’ videos is that he doesn’t beat around the bush—he knows he’s basically cheating. (Although, the battery swaps required by his exoskeleton might actually be slowing him down, haha.)

It’s just a fun watch. Nothing groundbreaking, but definitely one you might end up forwarding to your run club friends.

Oh, and for what it’s worth… Chris is actually a pretty impressive runner. For proof, just check out the Crocs videos!

P.S. On top of using the Exoskeleton, Chris also decided to wear his banned shoes in the video above 😂

📲 Social Spotlight: Winning Ultras while Pregnant? Meet Amanda Kimiko

Amanda Kimiko is not just a runner—she’s a survivor. Let me quote her YouTube channel description:

I’ve been following Amanda for a while now. Besides the things mentioned above, she’s also a BPN athlete with two very cute dogs. My personal favorites are BPN’s video about Amanda as well as her race videos, like the one from Leadville 100 and the most recent one, linked below:

🗓 Events & Races: 5K, 10K, or Half Among the Pyramids

Can you imagine racing among the pyramids?

The heat. The landscape. The history.

That’s the Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon — which also includes 5K and 10K options. There are so many incredible races and events around the world worth traveling for, and some of them can be perfectly combined with a (family) trip. I’d say this is one of them.

All three races (5K, 10K, and half) take place within the Pyramids Complex. You’d fly into Cairo and, of course, pair the race with a visit to the pyramids themselves. After the race, I’d add a couple of days exploring Cairo’s bustling markets, the Egyptian Museum, and maybe even a Nile River cruise. It’s the perfect mix of racing, culture, and adventure — and a great way to turn a race weekend into an unforgettable vacation.

If you’re coming from far away, you could even make this part of a bigger trip — maybe heading into Europe, Asia, or deeper into Africa afterward. Big dreams, I know.

The race itself, thankfully, isn’t expensive compared to many others around the world (with the highest price point at just $60 USD). And since RunLetters readers are spread across the globe, I aim to highlight travel-worthy, bucket-list races. Maybe this could be one for your list!

🎽 Gear & Gadgets: SiS Isotonic Gels

Gels—many runners will eventually use them. Maybe you’re an experienced gel consumer, or maybe you’ve never opened one in your life. Whatever resonates with you, gels are to be tested. It’s unlikely you’ll find the one you love most or that works best for your gut right away.

The SiS isotonic energy gels are among the most popular gels you’ll come across. And for good reason, if you ask me. These gels contain less “crap” than many others out there, and as they’re isotonic gels, you don’t need to take any extra fluid for your stomach to be able to absorb them.

I’ve personally had a good experience with these gels and do recommend them. You can get a variety pack (of different flavors) to test out which you like the most. In the world of gels, they’re also quite affordable (no, I’m not saying gels are cheap—but among gels, these don’t score badly).

✨ Wild Card: Running Shoes Review Galore by Yowana

A video every day. Reviews of almost any running shoe you can think of. And not just your normal 5-minute reviews, nah. Yowana goes deep, often surpassing 45 minutes on a single video.

This guy’s genuineness is what made me think: I have to share this channel. I went back all the way to his first videos and you can just tell that he has a true, deep passion for running (shoes).

So if you’re looking for an in-depth, not-so-average review of a shoe you’re interested in, I’d check out Yowana. He may just have covered that pair you’ve been eyeing!

🏁 The Finish Line

WHOOO! Smile for the race pic! 📸 Did you stumble or sprint over the finish line today?

Either way, thank you so much for reading this edition of RunLetters. Please make sure to click into some of those videos, links, and vote in the polls!

Have a great weekend and (if on the schedule) awesome long run! 👋

Caroline