Coffee with Larry, Episode 952, October 20, 2026, More thoughts on Marathons

This is Coffee with Larry, our very frequent podcast. Today is October 20, 2026, and this is Episode 952.

This month, Coffee with Larry is sponsored by #LearningtoFly, a new documentary film about the culture of Ultrarunning, available on PRIME! This link also gives you 30 free days on PRIME! 

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! 

Our topics:

1. The Road to LA 2028 has begun for America’s marathoners

2. Application for the 2027 Bank of America Chicago race is open

3. Thoughts on Treadmills

4. Cross country is in full swing

5. Deep thoughts

6. NIKE in China? The problems. Here is what keen observers told me: Chinese brands are growing rapidly in China, and young Chinese consumers respect them; they can sell shoes without tariff costs.

7. NIKE in China, part 2: A keen observer noted: “NIKE stores look so 1990s. Chinese brands focus on looks consumers like.

8. NIKE in China, part 3: Bring some NIKE kid into China, who knows little about China, and let them whip out some Western coolness-no longer cool. Young Chinese still like adidas, ASICS is hot, and Li-Ning, after dancing in the US, is focused on China. Many Chinese brands know that they no longer need the US to succeed.

9. NIKE in China, part 4: With the US in free fall and the NIKE haters everywhere, NIKE is not resonating with consumers as it has in the past. After Dark Races are very hot, but what is it doing outside of 13,000 there? 900 marathons in India; how many in China?

10. Dubai Marathon is January 17, 2027; register at www.dubaimarathon.org.

11. Brooks XC Regionals are fast approaching; register at www.brooksrunning.com.

I am quite worried about the lack of promotions by sponsors of the Brooks XC series. The Golden Tickets will get some sign-ups. Brooks’ concern about controlling all media and registration is, in my mind, quite short-sighted and could lead to the series’ failure. It would be so sad for a 46-year-old series, in only its second year with Brooks, to fail. 578,000 XC runners in the US this year; golden tickets affect about 80 athletes. What about the rest of them? This is Brooks’ future, and it is sad, but no one seems to see it. Perhaps they are way too close.

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!