🏃 RunLetters #18

Hellooo runner 👋

Last week definitely felt like the kickoff of the Autumn running season. The timeline was packed with super shoes, crazy trails, and headlamps. UTMB owned the scroll. But while everyone was looking at Chamonix, the Stockholm Half and the Sydney Marathon quietly put on their own shows. Let’s dig in ⤵️

📹 Watchlist: More Than A Race

It wasn’t all trail this last week. Ben is Running dropped a great video about the Stockholm Half Marathon. Six weeks out from Chicago, he used it as a tune-up, but what you see is so much more.

He takes us on a trip down memory lane, back to his time living in Stockholm and everything that city means to him and his girlfriend. He ran a strong race, gives us an honest and genuine breakdown, and left me itching to be on a start line myself again.

If you have a race on the calendar, this video might be the perfect prep. Let’s have the same goal as Ben: to, above all, enjoy the race.

(And uh… let’s all have a cardamom bun as pre-race fuel, shall we?)

📲 Social Spotlight: The Man Who Won UTMB

This week belongs to Tom Evans, a former British Army captain who burst onto the ultra scene in 2017 by finishing third at the Marathon des Sables (despite only entering on a bet). Since then, he’s become one of the top ultrarunners in the world, with wins at Western States 100 and multiple other podiums.

But UTMB has haunted him. He was second in 2022, then had two straight years of DNFs. Stomach issues, cramping, and brutal conditions knocked him out.

But last weekend in Chamonix, it all came full circle. Through hours of rain, wind and even some snow, Tom ran smart, stayed patient, and finally became this year’s UTMB champion.

What makes this spotlight even better is how open he’s been about the journey. His YouTube series, No Stone Left Unturned, documents the ups, the lows, and the raw middle ground of being a pro. Season 2 follows his prep for UTMB. I can’t wait for the final episode, which hopefully is a proper recap of what went down last week!

In the meantime, we have UTMB’s overall recap to enjoy:

🗓 Events & Races: Cross Through Vineyards 🍷

Ever wanted to run through wine country? The Brunello Crossing is set for February 8, 2026, with all races starting and finishing in Piazza del Popolo, the heart of Montalcino, a hilltop town in southern Tuscany, about 40 km south of Siena. The easiest way in? Fly to Florence or Rome, then take a scenic train or drive into Tuscany.

You can choose between 45 km, 24 km, or 14 km trail runs (plus a 13 km walk), all rolling through UNESCO-listed vineyards and cypress-lined hills. Prices have historically ranged from €20 for the short events to about €55 for the ultra, so not too bad.

This race is as much about culture as kilometers. Pasta parties, wine tastings, and cobblestone start lines make this a race worth putting on your calendar. Combine it with a trip through Tuscany outside of the touristy season, and I think it makes for a great vacation.

The website makes it seems like sign-ups are already open but… they’re not (remember, this is Italy after all, so no rush). So just keep an eye out on the website!

🎽 Gear & Gadgets: Coros Pace 3

When it comes to running watches, we’re spoiled for choice. There are endless options depending on your budget.

One of the most budget-friendly is the Coros Pace 3. At $229/€249, it’s among the most affordable GPS watches you can buy. I’ve been testing it over the past month — curious what I think? Watch the review video below!

✨ Wild Card: Running Records Galore

Sydney came alive. On Sunday, Sifan Hassan smashed the women’s course record by more than three minutes, clocking 2:18:22 as Sydney debuted in the World Marathon Majors.

Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros took the men’s race in 2:06:06, also a course record. He’s an incredible runner that I’m sure we’re going to hear more of.

A huge race with various records. It must’ve been one heck of a vibe.

🏁 The Finish Line

That’s it for this week. Yep, you flew through this edition, you champ 🏅 Make sure to check out some of the videos, follow the mentioned runners, and… enjoy!

Here’s to another great weekend ☀️

Caroline

P.S. Looking for discount codes? My ultimate running gear guide has quite a few good ones. Check it out!