Amsterdam course record, a fast Rome half, Toronto, ballot deadlines and Bekele in Valencia
Five things worth knowing from the running world this week, in two minutes.
Ethiopia's Buze Diriba won the Amsterdam Marathon on 18 October in 2:16:12, taking 40 seconds off the women's course record despite the rain. Lemi Berhanu won the men's race in 2:03:33, just three seconds outside the course record, and eight men finished under 2:05. Amsterdam doesn't use a ballot, so watch for 2027 entries opening around December.
Read the full story on Olympics.com
Kenya's Filex Kibet won the Rome Half Marathon on 18 October in 59:22, beating the old course record by 22 seconds. Ethiopia's Netsanet Desta won the women's race in 1:07:26. The 2026 race sold out, and the 2027 edition is expected in mid-October.
Read the full story on World TrackKenya's Leonard Langat won the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on 18 October in 2:06:51, the first man to win it twice in a row since 2017. Leah Jeruto took the women's race in 2:21:19, her first marathon win. Andrew Davies ran 2:08:48 to win the Canadian title, the fastest debut marathon ever run by a Canadian.
Read the full story on Canadian Running
The ballot for the 2027 Chicago Marathon (10 October 2027) closes on Thursday 29 October at 2pm Central Time, and results come out on 8 December. Berlin's ballot for 26 September 2027 stays open until 12 November, with the draw on 3 December. Sydney's ballot has just closed, and its results are due on 3 November.
Read the full story on Marathon Journal
The Valencia Half Marathon runs on Sunday 25 October, and Kenenisa Bekele is on the start list a month after an Achilles injury kept him out of Berlin. Rodrigue Kwizera, now running for Spain, is the fastest man entered with a 58:16 best, and Yalemzerf Yehualaw is back in the women's race. Valencia is one of the fastest half marathon courses in the world, and the start is at 8:25am.
Read the full story on Marathon Handbook