Who Is Runner of the Year? Our 2025 Awards, Debates & Biggest Running Moments

In this week’s episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, we reveal our official picks for the 2025 Runner of the Year Awards — and it might be the most heated debate we’ve ever had. Hosts Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci are joined by news editor Jessy Carveth to break down the most dominant, inspiring, surprising, and game-changing performances across marathon, track, trail, and ultra running this year. We analyze the biggest stars of 2025 — from Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Tigist Assefa, and Sifan Hassan on the women’s side to Connor Mantz, Jacob Kiplimo, Sebastian Sawe, and Eliud Kipchoge on the men’s side. This episode includes deep-dive conversations into world records, breakthrough American performances, major marathon wins, World Championship battles, and the athletes shaping the future of distance running. This episode is brought to you by the Wahoo’s KICKR RUN – go to ⁠https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get 25% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, plus a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order! We also look back on the most important moments of the running year: • world records and near-records • major marathon storylines from London, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, and New York • the rise of American distance running in 2025 • breakout trail and ultra performances • the next wave of super shoes and racing technology • what to expect at The Running Event and the 2026 shoe cycle • our personal race goals and training plans for 2026 If you follow elite running, marathons, super shoes, track and field, or the global distance-running scene, this is a must-watch deep dive into the athletes who defined 2025 — and the debates that matter going into an Olympic year and a new marathon cycle. 📩 Questions about training, race previews, or to send us your hot takes? Email us at podcast@marathonhandbook.com. 🎤 Leave us a voice memo for our mailbag episodes: marathonhandbook.com/podcast 📸 Instagram: @marathon.handbook 📘 Facebook: @marathonhandbook 📰 Join 265,000+ runners getting our daily newsletter: marathonhandbook.com/newsletter 👍 Like, subscribe, and drop your questions in the comments. 🎧 Audio version available wherever you get podcasts + watch the video version on Spotify. 📺 Subscribe on YouTube for weekly running deep dives. Timestamped Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Welcome 00:55 – Looking Back at an Incredible 2025 01:36 – Mailbag Questions & Bringing in Jessy Carveth 02:57 – Book Club, Listener Notes & Voice Messages 04:10 – The Running Event & 2026 Shoe Preview 05:36 – Our 2026 Goals & Race Plans 06:41 – Katelyn’s Year: Speedwork, Ultras & CIM Plans 08:37 – Alex’s Year: PR Hunt, Weddings & Marathon Temptation 12:11 – Philly Race Weekend Prep 13:37 – Michael’s Spring Marathon Motivation 16:22 – Nick Thompson Interview Takeaways 17:05 – Break — Time for Awards Debate 17:38 – Sponsor Segment: Wahoo Kickr Run 20:04 – Jessy Joins from Spain 21:57 – Men’s Runner of the Year Finalists 26:52 – The Debate Heats Up 34:06 – The Case for Jacob Kiplimo 35:14 – The Case for Conner Mantz 39:52 – Men’s Runner of the Year Announced 44:48 – Women’s Runner of the Year Finalists 53:25 – The Case for Chebet, Kipyegon & Assefa 58:55 – Faith Kipyegon’s Historic Season 01:04:18 – Ultra & Trail Standouts 01:07:15 – Overall Runner of the Year 01:08:26 – Wrap-Up & Audience Call-to-Action #running #marathon #trackandfield #runnersoftheyear #distancerunning #marathonhandbook #runningpodcast #supershoes #faithkipyegon #connermantz