Coffee with Larry, Episode 889, May 18, 2026, Shanghai DL opens Diamond League!

This is Coffee with Larry, our almost daily podcast from RunBlogRun.

The podcast was established in 2022, and the blog in 2006.

Recorded at the Hampton Garden Inn, on Huron Street (Chicago).

Our topics today:

1. The Shanghai Diamond League was spectacular. Results are here: https://www.runblogrun.com/2026/05/wanda-diamond-league-china-textile-city-sports-center-shaoxing-keqiao-chn-16-may-2026.html?swcfpc=1

2. Jessica Schilder, Faith Kipyegon, Masai Russell, Mondo Duplantis, Jamal Britt, all impressed! Here’s the story: https://www.runblogrun.com/2026/05/jessica-schilder-21-09-dlr-wl-seven-world-leads-in-shanghai-kequiao.html?swcfpc=1

3. The sad thing is, how few get to watch it globally. The Diamond League has to run itself like a business, so many countries offer DL on paid streaming or cable. Track fans will pay $9 for some damn coffee drink, but can’t watch a track meet for $9.99? Is it that track fans are just too cheap? Not sure.

4. Upcoming meets in 2026: (May-June)

The 2026 Diamond League Schedule (May 16-Sept 5, 2026)

2026 Diamond League Calendar

Date	Meeting	Location
May 16	Shanghai/Keqiao Diamond League	Shaoxing, China
May 23	Xiamen Diamond League	Xiamen, China
May 31	Meeting International Mohammed VI	Rabat, Morocco
June 4	Golden Gala Pietro Mennea	Rome, Italy
June 7	BAUHAUS-Galan	Stockholm, Sweden
June 10	Oslo Bislett Games	Oslo, Norway
June 19	Doha Meeting	Doha, Qatar
June 28	Meeting de Paris	Paris, France
July 4	Prefontaine Classic	Eugene, USA
July 10	Meeting International d’Athlétisme Herculis EBS	Monaco
July 18	London Athletics Meet	London, UK
August 21	Athletissima	Lausanne, Switzerland
August 23	Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial	Chorzów, Poland
August 27	Weltklasse Zürich	Zürich, Switzerland
September 4–5	Allianz Memorial van Damme (Final)	Brussels, Belgium

6. Please remember, DOHA DL, the historic start, for many years of the Diamond League, has moved from May 8 to June 19, due to the Iran War (don’t be an idiot, it is a war).

7. Sound Running’s LA TrackFest, sponsored by Skechers RUN, USATF Foundation, and Web MD, on May 23, 2026. Cooper Lutkenhaus will debut over 1500m distance as a NIKE pro athlete at LA TrackFest!

8. Under Armour is hosting the Under Armour Track & Field Nationals, May 29-31, 2026, https://www.imgacademy.com/events/uatracknationals

9. HOKA Festival of Miles on June 4, 2026, in St. Louis, MO, https://stlfestivalofmiles.com/

10. Brooks PR Invite is on June 7, 2026, https://brooksprinvitational.runnerspace.com/

11. Adrian Martinez Classic is June 7, 2026, https://www.martinezclassic.com/

12. Nike Outdoor Champs, June 18-21, 2026, https://nikeoutdoornationals.runnerspace.com/

13. New Balance Outdoor champs, June 18-20, 2026, https://nbnationalsout.com/

14. Did you check out The Book of EastBay? Learn more at bookofeastbay.com.

See you tomorrow on Coffee with Larry!

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