🏃 RunLetters #22

Helloooo runner 👋 This week’s edition has a little bit for everyone. Have a scroll, click some links, check out the videos, and feel inspired to lace up.

Let’s get started ⤵️

📹 Watchlist: NOTHING TO LOSE by David Roche

You might remember David Roche, I’ve featured him before. He’s a coach, ultra runner, and Leadville 100 course-record holder. His (and his wife Megan’s, who is also a powerhouse) methodology? Some Work, All Play. And this new video on his YouTube is easily the best one they’ve produced yet.

We go back to Leadville 100 this year. Flashbacks to 2024 show how he managed to win Leadville and set a course record, and the journey from there to 2025. We’re taken along the entire race, with footage that makes you feel the altitude and the grit. We hear David shout “you’re awesome” and “I love you” numerous times, as he does, spreading the good vibes on the trail. Megan tells him again and again how good he looks and how proud she is (and she once again performs the fastest aid stations in existence). It all adds up to one heck of a good video.

The production is top notch (well done, Cody Bare). Music and sound land at just the right time. The story is clear and personal. It’s part documentary, part reflection, and completely worth your time.

I won’t say more. Just watch it. I promise it’ll either give you goosebumps, make you smile, or leave you feeling inspired (if not all three!).

📲 Social Spotlight: Let’s Go Bougie with Keltie

If you’re into fitness and running, and you watch YouTube videos about either, you’ve probably seen Keltie’s face before.

Keltie O’Connor is a former college basketball player who has turned into a YouTuber (and podcaster), who makes videos about running, fitness tech/gadgets, challenges, and bold statements. What makes Keltie stand out is her brutally honest approach, the research she puts into her videos, and… her humor. Yes, I promise she’ll make you smile at least once.

The video below has a bit of everything. Add it to your “play next” list after watching David’s incredible effort at Leadville. Quite the contrast, but a fun one!

🗓 Events & Races: Midnight Sun Marathon (Tromsø, Norway) 🌙

This one hit my radar at the Berlin Marathon expo. Then Madeleine Ringbom shouted it out inside the RunLetters Run Club. Two of our members are already signed up. And now… I’m seriously considering it too.

What is it? A city marathon in daylight at midnight. Yep, you read that correctly. Tromsø, where this event takes place, sits above the Arctic Circle, so the sun never sets in summer. The event offers five distances (Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K, Kids) with the 2026 edition set for Saturday, June 20. Expect fjords, the Tromsø Bridge, and a crowd that treats the finish like a festival.

Watch the video to get an idea of the event (and remember… this is at midnight! 🤯)

While it’s still a relatively small race, runners come from all over the world. No surprise with such a unique setting. This year, there were 9,000 runners from more than 88 nations. Pretty impressive.

Pricing depends on the distance you choose, but right now the half marathon is €65 / $75 / £56. To get there, you’ll need to fly into Tromsø (TOS), usually via Oslo (OSL). From the airport, the Airport Express or city buses get you downtown in about 15 minutes.

It might not be the easiest race to reach, but it’ll definitely be one you’ll never forget.

🎽 Gear & Gadgets: Daily Trainer With a Kick, the Asics Novablast 5

Daily trainers play an important role in a runner’s shoe rotation. Generally, they provide more cushioning than a race shoe, tempo shoe, or trail shoe, and they’re less aggressive. Perfect for days when you want to head out for an easy run or recovery jog.

Not too long ago, I was on the hunt for a new pair of daily trainers myself. I like to do a lot of research when it comes to shoes, and the ASICS Novablast 5 kept popping up. If you, like me, are looking for a nicely cushioned shoe that still lets you pick up the pace and do some tempo work, this might be a solid option.

✨ Wild Card: Mobility for Runners

One of the best YouTube channels for stretching and mobility for runners is Run and Stretch. The channel has been around for ages. With so many of us running races this week or month, I thought I’d leave you with a mobility routine for the weekend. See if you can squeeze this one in before EOD Sunday. Your body will thank you later.

🏁 The Finish Line

Thank you for reading another edition of RunLetters! Hope you have a great weekend ahead. I’ll be racing the Half Marathon in Cardiff, and many of our Run Club members are heading out to race too. If you have a race, GOOD LUCK!

Here’s to some good runs ☀️

Caroline