Alright, Runners, pull up a chair and grab your foam rollers, because the World Marathon Majors just dropped a bombshell that has the entire running community doing some serious mental math. For years, we’ve been chasing that "Holy Grail", the Six Star Medal. You finish the "Original Six" (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, NYC), and you get that massive plate-sized medal that makes you look like a Greek god. But with Sydney officially becoming the 7th Major in 2025, everyone started asking: "When do I get my Seven Star medal?" The answer from Abbott: NEVER. Why there is no "7-Star" Medal The Majors have officially confirmed that they aren't making a Seven Star medal. Why? Because they aren’t done growing yet. They don't want to design a new medal every time a new city joins the club. Instead, they are keeping the Six Star Medal exactly as it is, exclusive to the original six cities. If you run Sydney, you get a "Star" on your digital profile and a cool collectible coin, but the big physical "Multi-Star" hardware is skipping a number. The Quest for Nine 🇨🇦🇨🇳 Here is where it gets wild. The Majors have announced that the next big "milestone medal" will be the Nine Star Medal. To get there, two more cities have to pass their final exams: 1. 🇿🇦 Cape Town (South Africa): They had a rough 2025 (canceled due to weather), but they are on track to be Africa’s first Major in 2026/2027. 2. 🇨🇳 Shanghai (China): They just passed "Stage One" of the assessment! If they nail their 2026 race, they join the family in 2027. If both of those pass, the "World Tour" officially expands to nine races across six continents. This is a game-changer. For those of us who just finished our 6th star (looking at you, Tokyo finishers!), the finish line just moved another 120 kilometers down the road. On one hand, it’s more travel, more entry lotteries, and more training blocks. On the other hand... it’s an excuse to run in Cape Town and Shanghai! The message is clear: The journey never actually ends. We aren't just "Six Star Finishers" anymore; we are now "Nine Star Hopefuls."

Forget beautiful trails. Forget cheering crowds. Forget sunlight. Last weekend, a small group of runners gathered at the Combe Down Tunnel in Bath for what is widely considered the most "boring" and mentally destructive race on Earth: The Tunnel Ultra. The Rules of the Madhouse The concept is so simple it’s scary. You have 55 hours to run 200 miles. But here's the catch: - You are running inside a 1-mile long tunnel. - You run 100 "out-and-backs." - From 11 PM to 5 AM, the lights go out. You are running in total, pitch-black darkness. - No headphones allowed. No music, no podcasts, just the sound of your own heavy breathing and the "drip, drip, drip" of the tunnel walls. Why It’s Actually Psychological Warfare I’ve done some tough runs, but I honestly think this would break me. In a normal ultra, you have the scenery to distract you. In the Tunnel, you have... nothing. - Sensory Deprivation: After about 50 miles, runners report "tunnel vision" (literally). Your brain starts hallucinating because it has no new visual data to process. - The "Classical" Torture: There’s a section in the middle of the tunnel where classical music loops on a 1-minute timer. Imagine hearing the same 60 seconds of a violin for 40+ hours. * The Loneliness: It’s a "low-key" event. No big aid stations, no fancy finish line. Just you, a plastic box with some snacks at the end of the tunnel, and your thoughts. The 2026 Result This year, as usual, the "DNF" rate was massive. Most people don't quit because their legs give out—they quit because their minds do. They simply can't bear the thought of entering that dark hole for the 150th time. The legend of this year? The handful of finishers who crossed the line looking less like athletes and more like ghosts who haven't seen the sun in a decade. The Tunnel reminds us that running is 90% mental. If you can convince your brain to keep moving back and forth in a dark tube for 200 miles, you can handle anything life throws at you.

Hey Ageless Runners! We are just 4 days away from crossing the finish line of our Foundation Challenge. You’ve built the Sturdy Central Link, your internal brace is stronger than ever. But as runners, we face one constant enemy: Gravity. Every mile we run puts thousands of pounds of compressive force through our intervertebral discs. To stay ageless, we have to fight back. The Next Phase: Decompression & Grip Strength Starting in 5 days, we are launching the 30-Day Deadhang Challenge. Why a hanging challenge for runners? • Spinal Hygiene: It’s like "traction" for your back. It creates space between the vertebrae that gets compressed during your runs. • Shoulder Health: It opens up the chest and corrects the "runner's slouch," allowing for better lung expansion. • The Longevity Marker: Grip strength is one of the #1 predictors of long-term health and independence as we age. What you’ll need: You don't need a gym. You just need a place to hang for a few seconds at a time: • A pull-up bar. • A sturdy tree branch in the park. • The top of a sturdy door frame. • A playground monkey bar. The Goal: We aren't doing pull-ups. We are simply relearning how to hang. We’ll start with just 10–15 seconds and build our way up to a "Bulletproof Minute." Who’s ready to decompress and keep their spine young? Drop a "HUNG OUT TO DRY" in the comments if you’re joining us for the next 30 days! 👇

Start here! New to Ageless Running? Tell us: 1. Where are you running today? 2. What's the biggest running goal you want to hit in the next 6 months (e.g., pain-free 10K, a new half-marathon time)?

Okay, ageless runners, I have to talk about Eliud Kipchoge. Just a few weeks ago, he was fighting those famous New York hills to grab his Seven Star medal, making history and completing his competitive Major Marathon circuit. Most of us would be on the couch for three months, eating chips and staring blankly at the wall. But what is the GOAT doing? He's hopping on a plane to Bangkok, Thailand, to run the Thailand Marathon this weekend. And here’s the kicker: he’s lining up for the 10K. Think about that for a second. This is the man who ran a 2:01:09 marathon. He’s a machine designed to run fast for four hours straight. His marathon pace is literally faster than most people’s 5K pace. Now, he’s running a 10k, and it’s not to crush a record. It’s part of his newly announced Eliud Kipchoge World Tour, a journey to run on all seven continents, supporting his foundation and, more importantly, running for the people. This is the biggest mindset change in elite running right now. It proves his point: "I don't need to run very fast; I want to sell a new story." I remember seeing Kipchoge run in person. (Yes, humble brag: I saw him run at the Tokyo Marathon! It was a there-and-back part with half the race in between and he was on his way back, but still… :-)). You watch him, the calm, the discipline, the sheer, relentless pace and it feels like you're watching a robot programmed for perfection. It’s inspirational, but it’s also on a completely different planet. But running the Bangkok 10K with 30,000 regular runners? That’s relatable. That’s him showing up to share the joy of the run, regardless of the distance or the time on the clock. It's about community, tourism, and using your platform for good. He's reminding us that running isn't just about the PR on your watch; it's about the purpose you find in your stride. What distance do you want to see Kipchoge run next on his World Tour ( Turkey trot, maybe?) Let me know! 👇