This Week In Running: May 11, 2026

"Blandine L'Hirondel (France) bettered Ruth Croft's 2024 record by 19 minutes, and men's winner David Sinclair(U.S.) took down Luis Alberto Hernando's 11-year-old men's record by 20 minutes. L'Hirondel was out front from the start and won in 7:43, but Lucy Bartholomew (Australia) was never far behind. Bartholomew was second in 7:49 and beat the old course record too. Emelie Forsberg (Sweden), a two-time winner here over a decade ago, was third in 8:14."

"The top five women were: Blandine L'Hirondel (France) - 7:43:47 Lucy Bartholomew (Australia) - 7:49:26 Emelie Forsberg (Sweden) - 8:14:40 Gemma Arenas (Spain) - 8:35:47 Beatriz Parrón (Spain) - 8:39:07"

"Marathon Spanish runners Ikram Rharsalla and Fran Anguita won the marathon in 4:12 and 3:39, respectively. Vertical Kilometer Both the Vertical Kilometer and the Half Marathon were part of the Mountain Running World Cup, and most top runners doubled between the two races."

"Half Marathon Racing a little longer and with more varied terrain, Gitonga flipped the women's podium two days later. She moved from third in the VK to first here in 2:22. Njeru was second in 2:25, and Dickson was a distant third in 2:33. Gitonga's time was a new course record. The men's race was close. Like Gitonga, Kiriago was now on more comfortable terrain, and he won in 2:07. It too was a new course record. Kiriago, though, was only four seconds in front of second-place Anthony Felber (France)."

Transvulcania featured a marquee 75-kilometer race where both course records fell. Blandine L'Hirondel won the women’s race in 7:43:47, improving Ruth Croft’s 2024 record by 19 minutes, while Lucy Bartholomew finished second in 7:49:26 and also beat the previous course record. Emelie Forsberg placed third in 8:14:40. David Sinclair won the men’s race in 6:32:24, lowering Luis Alberto Hernando’s 11-year-old record by 20 minutes. Spanish runners Ikram Rharsalla and Fran Anguita won the marathon in 4:12 and 3:39. In the Vertical Kilometer and Half Marathon, Gitonga moved from third to first in 2:22 with a new course record, and Kiriago won the men’s race in 2:07, also setting a new course record.

Read at iRunFar