[USA / Road] New York City Marathon at 50: 61,146 finishers set a world record, Almgren wins on debut, Chepkirui takes a second title
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1 also marked 50 years of the five-borough course. NYRR reported 61,529 starters and 61,146 finishers on Nov 2, a third straight world record for the largest marathon ever (28,942 women and 157 nonbinary finishers were also records; 15,745 international finishers came from 153 countries and territories). Sweden's Andreas Almgren won the men's race in 2:06:01 on his marathon debut, the first debut winner since 2010 and the first Swedish champion in race history; Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa (2:06:14) and Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo (2:06:26) completed the podium, while American Zouhair Talbi was sixth in 2:06:43, the fastest time by a US man here. Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race in 2:24:36, her second title in three years, with American Jess McClain second in 2:24:42 (the best US women's finish since Shalane Flanagan in 2018) and Hellen Obiri third in 2:24:43. In the wheelchair races, Switzerland's Marcel Hug took an eighth title in 1:28:14, beating Daniel Romanchuk by one second, and Catherine Debrunner won by 8:26 in 1:40:02. Ryan Montgomery set a nonbinary course record of 2:23:39. NYRR also passed its US$100 million charity fundraising goal. (Source: NYRR, Nov 1 and Nov 2)
[Australia / Road] Sydney Marathon 2027 ballot results out on Nov 3, with tour-operator and charity routes for those who missed out
The 2027 TCS Sydney Marathon (Aug 29) ballot ran from Sep 29 to Oct 19 and results were emailed on Nov 3. Successful applicants had their cards charged automatically (A$280 domestic / A$330 international); unsuccessful applicants were told the same day about guaranteed-entry packages through official tour operators (Marathon Tours & Travel has opened 2027 registrations) and charity places. The organiser asks anyone with no news after Nov 6 to get in touch, and to check spam folders first. For reference, the 2026 ballot drew more than 123,000 applications for 40,000-plus starting positions. (Source: TCS Sydney Marathon, runABC Nov 5)
[Hong Kong / Trail] Oxfam Trailwalker starts next Friday: 100km in four waves, plus a new 20km 50th-anniversary event
Oxfam Trailwalker 2026 runs Nov 20-22. The 100km event is for teams of four, starting at Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung and finishing at Harrow International School Hong Kong in Tuen Mun within 48 hours, with four start waves on Nov 20: 08:00 (elite teams 8001-8180), 09:30 (0001-0350), 11:00 (0351-0650) and 12:30 (0651-1060). The route crosses 23 hills with more than 4,000m of climbing. A new 20km Oxfam 50th-anniversary event runs on Nov 21 with starts every 15 minutes from 08:00 to 14:00, from Tai Mo Shan Rotary Park car park to the same Tuen Mun finish, with an 8-hour limit, teams of four, a HK$1,600 registration fee and a HK$6,000 minimum fundraising target (the 100km minimum is HK$8,000). Organisers note there are no paper cups or single-use utensils at the start or checkpoints, so runners must bring their own bottles and cutlery. (Source: Oxfam Trailwalker official event information and Nov event briefing)
[Hong Kong / Trail] TransLantau starts next Friday: TL100 still open on the official site, transfers close Nov 6
TransLantau by UTMB 2026 runs Nov 13-15, with every distance starting and finishing in Mui Wo. On Nov 5 the official site still showed TL100 (104km, +4,500m) open for registration, the only distance still available eight days before the race; TL50, TL25 and TL15 are marked Full. Runner transfers (HK$150 fee) and distance changes close on Nov 6. TL100 starts at 19:30 on Friday, with the other distances going off in waves on Saturday and Sunday. (Source: TransLantau official site)
[China / Trail] Tsaigu Trail 50km: Tove Alexandersson wins the women's race and places fourth overall, Chun-Long Yang takes the men's title
In the Tsaigu Trail 50km on Oct 31, Sweden's Tove Alexandersson dominated in 4:25 to win the women's race and place fourth overall, at least her sixth win of the year after Zegama and Marathon du Mont Blanc. Defending champion Varvara Shikanova was second in 5:01 and Courtney Dauwalter third in 5:07. Chinese runners led the men's race: Chun-Long Yang won in 4:10 from Xu-Tao Yu (4:15) and Spain's Antonio Martinez (4:16). Total prize money was 1.2 million RMB, with 130,000 RMB for each 105km winner and 70,000 RMB for each 50km winner. (Source: iRunFar Nov 2)