Ghost 16 review, Carioca for lateral hip mobility, Doping ban, Kipchoge running Sydney & more!
#WhatsUpThisWeek?
Shoe review of Brooks Ghost 16 #Geeksonfeet
Carioca drill enhances lateral mobility, hip flexibility, and coordination, know how to do it # WoW
Kipchoge is getting ready to race the Sydney Marathon and you can watch him race London too this year, #RunSHORTS
Happy Reading!
#GeeksPoll
What's your biggest challenge when it comes to pacing your quality runs or races? #geekspoll
The results of last week's poll on what made significant breakthroughs in training are here.
#WoW - Carioca
The carioca drill enhances lateral mobility, hip flexibility, and coordination, which helps runners improve their form, agility, and balance. It strengthens stabilizing muscles, activates the core, and reduces the risk of injuries, making it an effective drill for overall running performance and injury prevention.
How to do it?
Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, and your arms relaxed at your sides.
Begin by crossing your right leg in front of your left leg, then quickly step your left leg to the side to uncross. Now, your right leg is behind your left.
Continue alternating by crossing your left leg in front of your right leg and stepping your right leg to the side to uncross. Keep your movements fluid and fast, using your arms to help maintain balance and rhythm.
Move laterally across the floor, maintaining the cross-step pattern for the entire distance.
Include this as part of your dynamic warm-up before speed workout
@GeeksOnFeet: Brooks Ghost 16 Review
Brooks Ghost 16 continues the legacy of the classic daily trainer, delivering dependable comfort and stability for every run. This updated model features an upgraded midsole with DNA Loft v3 technology, enhancing its cushioning and responsiveness while keeping its durability intact. With a breathable dual-layer mesh upper and generous toe box, the shoe offers a secure yet comfortable fit. Lightweight and stable, cushioned ride make it a favorite for both long-distance runs and recovery workouts. Priced attractively, especially during discounts, the Ghost 16 proves to be a smart, value-for-money option for daily training. See detailed insights and performance benchmarks in the full review. Read further here.
RUN STRONG - Customized 10K Plan
Wait, 27 April? Ohh yeah. The legends won't be alone lacing up for the big race on the last Sunday of April. The streets of Bengaluru will join them on the course of TCS World 10K Bengaluru. Do you wanna ace the race? Join the GeeksOnFeet community and RunStrong. For more details, click here
#RunSHORTS
Indian runner Archana Jadhav gets four-year ban for failed dope test
India’s long-distance runner Archana Jadhav was on Tuesday banned for four years owing to a failed dope test in January, the findings of which she did not contest despite repeated reminders, prompting World Athletics to deem her actions as acceptance of guilt. According to World Athletics’ Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU), Jadhav’s sample, which was collected at the Pune Half-Marathon in December last year, contained the prohibited substance Oxandrolone. This synthetic anabolic steroid promotes protein production and muscle building in the body. As a result, “a period of ineligibility of four years” commences on January 7. In addition, her results on and since December 15, 2024, stand disqualified. She will have to forfeit all awards, medals, points, prizes and appearance money for the period. She had last competed in the Delhi half marathon in October 2024 in the elite Indian women’s race, finishing fourth with a time of 1:20.21 behind winner Lili Das, Kavita Yadav and Priti Lamba. Jadhav has a personal best of 35:44.26 in 10,000m, and 1:20:21 in the half marathon. In the 3,000m, she has a personal best of 10:28.82. Read more here
A record late start for the Barkley Marathon
The 2025 Barkley Marathons are underway at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. “After multiple failed attempts, the conch was blown at 10:37. The 2025 Barkley Marathons begins in one hour,” posted Keith Dunn on X and Bluesky on Tuesday 18 March to signal the start of this year’s race. He followed at 11:37 by saying: “After a brief memorial, laz lit the cigarette at 11:37. The 2025 Barkley Marathons has begun.” That was 15:37 in the UK and 16:37 in central Europe. It is the latest Barkley start on record, ‘beating’ the mark of 11:23 from 2015, and it means the first loop will finish in darkness for most as sunset is 19:49. Often called “the race that eats its young,” the Barkley Marathons is an infamous ultramarathon featuring five unmarked loops of brutal terrain, totaling around 100 miles, with a 60-hour time limit and a notoriously low finish rate. The list of participants for the Barkley Marathons is kept under tight wraps—at least until after the race has begun—and even then, details remain elusive. Read more here
Kipchoge to race Sydney Marathon
Two-time Olympic marathon gold medallist Eliud Kipchoge will head Down Under to compete at the TCS Sydney Marathon – a World Athletics Platinum Label road race – on Sunday 31 August. Kipchoge is relishing the prospect of racing the TCS Sydney Marathon, which will also mark the event’s debut as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. “I am so excited,” said the former world record-holder. Before racing in Sydney, Kipchoge will compete at the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 27 April. Read more here
Race Calendar
We have revamped our race calendar with everything you need to know about the race, route, experience, and much more. We have added information about major races, and we need the help of the community to make it further robust. Thus, we invite runners to share their experiences related to race routes and other information that will benefit other runners.
Next 6 Months:
Search and find races using our Race Finder at geeksonfeet.com/races.
#TipOfTheWeek
Avoid Premature Fatigue
Starting a race too fast can lead to premature fatigue. Pushing above your goal pace burns glycogen rapidly and causes lactate accumulation, undermining your later performance. Since your aerobic system takes 30-40 seconds to fully engage, you initially rely on anaerobic energy that produces fatigue-causing by-products. This early strain results in labored breathing and overworked legs, creating an “energy deficit” that’s hard to overcome. In marathons, this may even lead to “hitting the wall” as glycogen depletes dramatically.
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Contributors to this edition: Aditi Pandya, Karthik Nadar, and Aravind Yarra