This is Coffee with Larry, the nearly daily podcast for RunBlogRun. We talk athletics on a global scale and share behind-the-scenes stories, with reporting from some of our finest sports writers and keen observers.
This month, Coffee with Larry is sponsored by #LearningtoFly, a new documentary film on the culture of Ultrarunning, which you can see on PRIME! This link also gives you 30 free days on PRIME!
Our topics today for Episode 951:
1. Amsterdam this weekend; NYC fast approaching.
2. Cross-country season in October!
3. Now is the time to apply for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon; more to come! Special Registration LINK for the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, open NOW until 2 PM Central on October 29, 2026! The 2027 date is October 10, 2027!
4. The top four prospects for men for the LA28 US Marathon team? Connor Mantz, Charles Hicks, Clayton Young, and Vinny Mauri.
5. Vinny Mauri was a media focus at the Chicago Marathon presser, his firs time in the limelight. He handled it well.
October 9-11,2026
Chicago, Illinois, USA, photos by Bank of America/Kevin Morris
6. adidas won both of the elite races, but NIKE focused on the right things and won the streets of Chicago with great promos, strong support of retailers, and NIKE fun interactions.
7. For NIKE to really turn around? Speaking to ex-NIKE pros, the following is noted: Elliott Hill might consider copying the empowerment done by adidas (thanks, Bjorn). Decisions by committee never work, and until key management has the final say, NIKE will keep floundering. NIKE did the same thing in 2006; it took them years to get out of that mess.
8. Other brands are having challenges. Sales are down, and many are having issues with brick-and-mortar.
9. Cross country has 578,000 boys and girls in high school. Yet, the brands focus on a thousand athletes. Why don’t any brands reach the other 577,000 athletes?
10. Dubai Marathon is January 17, 2027; register at www.dubaimarathon.org.
11. Brooks XC Regionals are fast approaching; register at www.brooksrunning.com.
12. RAK Half Marathon is January 30, 2027; register at www.RAKHalfMarathon.com.
13. The NIKE Cross regionals are open for registration; register here: NIKE Cross Regionals!
See you tomorrow!