🏃 New Watch? New Race? New Routine?

One of the best things about the week(s) after a big marathon is all the great content that’s being released. I’ve been deeeeeep into the YouTube running rabbit hole. At the same time, we all seem to be searching for the next race, or how we can dive into a new training block better prepared than last time.

In this edition of RunLetters, a little bit of everything. And at the end, the giveaway winner. So let’s dive in ⤵️

📹 Watchlist: Mo Abdin

Have you heard of Mo Abdin? If you’re about to say “no”, then think twice. Does “The Running Channel” maybe ring a bell? Yeah? There we go. Mo is that happy, always smiling dude from their videos. A guy who always seems to bring the good energy.

The YouTube algorithm decided to throw Mo’s very first video ever onto my feed, and am I glad they did. The video is all you’d hope from him. High quality, honest, real. But without too much over-editing.

Whether you are training for a 5k, 10k, half, or full, I think many can relate to the quote below ⬇️

📲 Social Spotlight: Klabera Komini (@dailyrunnergirl)

Once a pro figure skater, now an inspiration to many runners: meet Klabera Komini. She’s a Certified Functional Strength Coach who began her journey on Instagram just about a year ago (her first post was on May 29, 2024—hello, one-year anniversary next week!), and it’s completely taken off like a rocket.

“Why?” Maybe it’s how relatable she is. Perhaps it’s because she shares solid mobility and strength content tailored for runners. Or maybe it’s because we’ve been able to join her on the journey—first to Boston, and now toward Chicago.

When I reached out to her on Instagram, she was kind enough to answer a few of my questions. When I asked what’s ahead and what she hopes to achieve, she said:

Enough chatting—go check out her page! You’ll find loads of great content. Here’s one of my personal favorites (which I bookmarked immediately) ⤵️

🗓 Events & Races: San Sebastián Marathon (and 10K + half!)

Have you ever heard of San Sebastián? That much-loved coastal town in the Basque Country? It’s tucked away in the far north of Spain and pretty easy to reach via Bilbao. The kind of place that might already be on your travel wish list. And what better excuse to go than a (half) marathon?

Boy, do I have good news for you! The San Sebastián Marathon and 10K—happening on November 23rd—still have spots available. Prefer a half marathon? You’ll need to plan your trip a little earlier for that one: October 5th.

It’s the kind of destination where you can blend culture, incredible food, and your favorite thing: running. All in one trip. Perfect for a family getaway, a couple’s escape, or a solo adventure. Or rally your run club and make it a group trip! I see plenty of reasons to go. 👀

🎽 Gear & Gadgets: Garmin Forerunner 570

I’ve been thinking about getting a new watch for ages. Right now, I use an Apple Watch SE—but we all know… the battery life sucks. Garmin, on the other hand, is known for it’s insane battery life.

And… Garmin is releasing two new watches in the Forerunner series: the 970, which replaces the 965, and a brand-new model, the 570.

From what I’ve read about the Forerunner 570, it offers almost all the features you could ask for. One that caught my eye is the “Auto Lap by Timing Gate” feature. It lets you import a race course with its official markers, so your laps snap to the actual mile or kilometer points, instead of relying on GPS. This keeps your pacing more accurate, even if you run a bit extra weaving through the crowd. Your watch time should line up much better with your official chip time.

That said, it doesn’t support map imports, which is a shame. And the price is still pretty steep at $550/€550/£459. I’m also not the biggest fan of the Garmin Connect app—but that might just be me. So for now, I think I’ll wait a bit longer and see what Coros is up to.

✨ Wild Card: Plyometrics for Runners

Last November, I felt the early signs of shin splints. We’ve all been there (or might end up there someday—ugh, sorry). I took 10 days off running, eased back in, and started doing plyometrics. Quick, jump-based movements that build strength and power—especially in your calves, shins, ankles, and knees.

Adding some light plyo work to my routine helped me get past those shin splint symptoms—and has kept them from coming back.

I’ll be the first to admit that sticking to a routine is hard. I skip it more often than I’d like. But there’s one video I always come back to, and it’s helped me a lot. It’s from Julia Reppel, and it’s the one linked below. She’s got other great videos on mobility and warm-ups, but this one’s my go-to—short, sweet, and effective.

👟 Giveaway Winner

To celebrate the launch of this newsletter, I hosted a giveaway on Instagram last week.

So, it’s time to announce the lucky winner: @woofmiles.

I’ll be in touch directly to arrange the prize.

“DAMN I didn’t win!”—if that’s you thinking this right now, then all I’ve got to say is… stay tuned! Many more giveaways to come 😄

🏁 The Finish Line

That’s it for the second edition of RunLetters—I hope you liked it! Let me know what you want more of in the poll down below. I take the votes very seriously 🙌