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Patrick Hayes

Patrick Hayes

St Albans, United Kingdom

Patrick Hayes is the founder and editor of Sub-3. He is a long-time competitive distance runner, a 10-time sub-3 marathoner (2:37 PB), and an England Masters athlete competing with St Albans Striders.

Sub-3 graphic for Fastest Winter Marathons featuring a -3 medal icon with icy blue motion bars over a pale winter background with light snowflakes.

Fastest Winter Marathons – 2026 edition now live

The Fastest Winter Marathons ranking highlights the races that produced the strongest sub-3 performances between December and February. Led by Valencia, CIM and Seville, the list shows where winter conditions create some of the fastest marathon fields of the year.

Injuries in sub-3 training - and how to stay ahead of them

Injuries in sub-3 training - and how to stay ahead of them

Learn how to spot niggles before they become injuries in sub-3 marathon training. Grade the warning signs, fix issues early, and protect your season.

Runners crowd a Paris Marathon riverside section along the Seine with a dense field and spectators, illustrating how congestion can disrupt pacing and access to water stations.

Paris Marathon’s cup ban is a step too far

Keeping waste down makes sense, but this should be the high-water mark, not a precedent for further changes that slow hydration, cost time and add risk late in the race.

Graphic for 'World’s Fastest Marathons 2026 – March Edition' featuring a stylised medal with a '-3' symbol and bold navy and yellow text blocks.

World’s Fastest Marathons – March 2026 edition released

The March 2026 edition is now live, presenting the full rankings for all included races. Data is drawn from publicly reported results and presented using Sub-3’s standard methodology.

Big city vs small race marathons: which is better for sub-3?

Big city vs small race marathons: which is better for sub-3?

Choosing between a big city and a smaller marathon can decide whether you run 2:59 or 3:01. Crowds bring energy, but space and control often make the difference.

Sub-3 graphic for Fastest Autumn Marathons showing a medal icon with “-3” and orange motion bars against a soft autumn background with faint falling leaves.

Fastest Autumn Marathons – 2026 edition now live

The Fastest Autumn Marathons ranking highlights the races that produced the strongest sub-3 performances between September and November. From Chicago and Berlin to high-density races such as Abingdon, the list shows where the autumn – or fall – marathon season delivers the deepest amateur fields.

Downhill workouts: boost or risk for sub-3 marathon runners?

Downhill workouts: boost or risk for sub-3 marathon runners?

Downhill workouts can quickly strengthen marathon legs through eccentric loading, but for sub-3 runners they’re best treated as an occasional, carefully controlled tool due to the high injury risk.