Born in Canada and educated mostly in the United States, Brett Larner has lived and run in Japan for the last 30 years. There, he began JapanRunningNews.blogspot.com to help the English speaking world understand more about the whys and hows of Japanese running.

There's a lot to learn. After the East African countries, Japan has long led the rest of the globe in marathon success.

For a time, Japanese running was mainly confined to a number of smallish, but super-elite annual marathons. However, the rapid growth of the Tokyo Marathon, now a World Marathon Major, has introduced mass participation running to a culture already attuned to elite competitions.

Larner explains a number of historical reasons for Japanese success, especially among male runners. These include the unique ekiden relay races so popular in Japan, especially one--the Hakone Ekiden, at the beginning of each New Year--that rivets the entire country much as the Super Bowl does in the U.S.

Also, Japan has a system of corporate running teams where the athletes are actual company employees and not just sponsored superstars. This system may encourage more everyday runners, and even non runners, to become supporters of the country's best distance elites.

You can learn more about Brett Larner at the above website, or from his JRNHeadlines account on X.com.

WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT"

Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport."

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"Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com.

Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels.

"Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

After two wins and a second-place finish at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN, Dakotah Popehn, then Lindwurm, burst onto the national scene with her third-place finish in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she finished first among USA runners with a strong 12th place.

Since Paris, Popehn has gotten married and improved her marathon PR to 2:24:20. She was hoping for much more, which she discusses in this podcast. In fact, she hopes to eventually break the American Record in the marathon.

Unlike many other elites, Popehn was not a high school and college star. Her first love as a youth athlete was hockey; she played the goalie position.

She improved dramatically in her mid-20s through years of consistent, dedicated training with Minnesota Distance Elite. She gives much credit to head coach Chris Lundstrom and her teammates like Annie Frisbie.

You can learn more about Dakotah Popehn by following her on Instagram.

WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT"

Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport."

With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links.

Apple
Spotify
Audible
Pandora
I Heart Radio
YouTube

"Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels.

"Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

Who won? In global marathons 2025, several of the biggest races ended in near photo finishes. Here Benson Kipruto edges out Alexander Mutiso in the NYC Marathon. Kipruto became the first male marathoner to have won Boston, Chicago, and New York in his career. (Ingrid Kristiansen has achieved the Triple for females.)

Other male marathon highlights: Sebastian Sawe won his second and third big marathons (London; Berlin) in three marathon starts, all with times in the low 2:02s. His 2:02:16 in Berlin, after extensive pre-race drug testing, was the fastest time of the year.

And American Conner Mantz took a big chunk off the American Record for the marathon when he ran 2:04:43 at Chicago.

On the women's side, Peres Jepchirchir won a thrilling World Championships Marathon in Tokyo, but then couldn't hold off Joyciline Jepkosgei in Valencia in December. Jepkosgei won there in 2:14:00, the fastest time of the year.

The World Championships produced a surprising result in the men's 5000 and 10,000 when seven of the top ten finishers (including both winners) were NOT from East Africa.

Cole Hocker picked up his second gold medal in two years, winning the 5000 in Tokyo after taking the 1500 in the Paris Olympics.In the women's springs, Melissa Jefferson Wooden was the standout of the year, winning almost everything she entered by a wide margin. For some reason we can't fathom, World Athletics didn't name her the top female speedster of the year, giving the nod to Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, who was sensational as always. But ...???

And those high schoolers, OMG! A 16 year old high school sophomore from Texas, Cooper Lutkenhaus, finished second in the USATF National Champs 800 with a time of 1:42.27. That approaches the unimaginable.

Jane Hedengren posted record performance after record performance in 2025, first as a high school runner in Utah, then as a first year student at BYU. Lutkenhaus and Hedengren are already being termed "generational talents" and they might hit that lofty peak in another year or two.

Possibly the biggest story of the year, and a depressing one, was the implosion of Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track league. It didn't draw big fan crowds, and turned out not to have sufficient funds to pay all creditors. Now in bankruptcy court but claiming it hopes to continue, GST will continue as a big story in 2026.

WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT"

Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport."

With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links.

Apple
Spotify
Audible
Pandora
I Heart Radio
YouTube"

Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels.

"Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.