🏃 RunLetters #13

‘ellooooo runner, hope you’ve been having a solid training or rest week 🙌 With summer temperatures hitting high numbers in most countries, it’s a good time for some heat training (and early morning runs) 🥵

This week’s edition of RunLetters features a whole bunch of inspiration and motivation, along with an absolute gem of a wild card.

Ready? Let’s go ⤵️

📹 Watchlist: I Ran The Entire Length Of New Zealand

Can you imagine running the entire length of New Zealand in 73 days?

Probably not. But for Russ Cook, it wasn’t all that wild, especially after running the entire length of Africa.

If you’re a runner, chances are you’ve heard of Russ Cook. But just in case his name doesn’t ring a bell, here’s a quick intro. ⤵️

Alright, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about the video. This one shows the final few days of his 73-day adventure through New Zealand. If you're in the mood to binge something good, start with episode one 🍿

But if you just want to get a feel for who Russ is, this episode will definitely inspire you, and probably make you want to lace up your shoes and head out for a run.

📲 Social Spotlight: Callie Vinson, not your average runner

It was about time I mentioned Callie Vinson.

Ultra-runner. Body positivity advocate. Hilarious.

But Callie isn’t your typical “famous ultra-runner.” Sure, she’s completed various multi-day events, including the Moab 240 and the Cocodona 250. But instead of focusing on how crazy fast she is, she works to change the perception of who belongs in endurance sports, showing that it’s not just for “the lean” or “the strong.” She’s a strong advocate for inclusivity.

Callie’s content is fantastic—there’s a lot of gold there. Definitely give her a follow on Instagram, where her partner Scott also frequently makes an appearance.

Not into Instagram? Then check out their YouTube channel, Trailies. Only four videos so far, but they’re all equally fun!

🗓 Events & Races: This Race Sells Out for a Reason ⛰️

A race for your wish list: Transgrancanaria (4–8 March, 2026). You could call it a trail running festival. While it's famous for its ultra-distances (128K, 82K, and 47K), it also offers shorter but still challenging races like the Half (23K), Promo (12K), and Short (5K).

There’s even a “Family Trail” (5K), which is walkable and meant for the whole fam.

Basically: a fun event for everyone. Some race distances for 2026 are already sold out, so don’t wait too long if this one’s on your radar.

The video below gives a pretty good idea of the vibe, but…

The first time I heard about this race was through this video from Average Rob. It gives you a more personal perspective on the race and shows more of Gran Canaria and its atmosphere.

🎽 Gear & Gadgets: Saucony Endorphin Speed 4

I ran every single PB I currently have in the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4. This shoe, while not carbon-plated, is a speed booster. If you’ve never ran in a shoe with any type of plate before, you’ll feel it. The Endorphin Speed has a nylon plate, which is less stiff than a carbon-plate, yet still gives you that propulsive "snap" without feeling super rigid.

The midsole uses Saucony’s signature PWRRUN PB foam. What does that mean? Good question. It’s super soft. Plush. Like running on marshmallows 😛

In below’s video, I outline all my thoughts.

If you don’t feel like watching, the TL:DR is this 👉 Fast shoe. Very versatile. Made for the road (skip this one on trails, please). Dries quickly. Soft, good cushioning. Looks sleek. Good stability.

And yes, I know. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 are “outdated”, the number 5 is out!

But heck, that’s exactly why this is the gear feature this week. This is why they are on sale right now. I mean, look at this:

In some other countries, the discounted rate is even higher. So definitely have a look! And if you can’t find your size anymore, I recommend to go to secondhand market places, since you can find completely new, unworn pairs there for even lower rates.

✨ Wild Card: Hardest Adventures

Cheating a little bit here, as this Wild Card goes to a venture that has to do with the Hardest Geezer (who you read about right at the top of this RunLetters).

What’s Hardest Adventures? Well, as they explain it themselves…

Life changing adventures all around the world, for FREE. No catch.

They’re launching this September. And yes, I’ve signed up for the waitlist myself.

🏁 The Finish Line

Yuhhh, that was it for this week! Let’s finish it off with one very important question:

Recommendations? People I should feature? Videos I should watch? HIT REPLY and tell me!

Have a good weekend ☀️

Caroline

P.S. If you watch running content on YouTube, would you do me a favor and subscribe to the RunLetters channel? It will help signal to YouTube who the channel is for (runners like you!)