Track Minute: Shelby Houlihan's Competition Ban Has Come to an End

Listen to the Track Minute Daily Report on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Shelby Houlihan’s competition ban has come to an end

Houlihan, who has been serving a four-year ban for anti-doping violations, is eligible to compete again as of January 13. She had tested positive for nandrolone in early 2021, which Houlihan claimed to have been from eating a burrito containing contaminated pork the night before. She is a 13-time USA Champion, with her last official major result being a win in both the 1500m and 3000m at the 2020 USATF Indoor Championships.

PUMA announces PROJECT3

PUMA has introduced PROJECT3, a global running program offering 100 participants in both the 2025 Boston and London marathons the chance to train like professional athletes. Participants will receive exclusive access to PUMA's latest running products, coaching from elite athletes, and guidance from innovation experts. Additionally, runners can earn cash prizes of $3,000 by improving their personal bests by three minutes or more, with top performers eligible for rewards up to $9,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to a PUMA-sponsored race in 2025. Applications and more information available on the PROJECT3 website.

Olympic Champions to contest the London Marathon

Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Tamirat Tola are set to compete in the TCS London Marathon on April 27. Hassan returns to London after her debut marathon victory in 2023 and subsequent Olympic marathon gold in 2024, aiming to continue her success in the distance. Tola, who secured the Olympic marathon title in Paris with a Games record, seeks his first London Marathon win, having previously finished third in 2023.

Records posted at the Valencia 10k

At the Valencia 10k, Andreas Almgren (Sweden) claimed victory in a new European record, running 26:53 on Sunday, bettering the prior record by 11 seconds. National records were also set by Eritrea’s Dawit Seare (27:21), Great Britain’s Rory Leonard (27:38), Spain’s Ilias Fifa (27:41), and Ireland’s Efrem Giday (27:43). The race also marked the first time 11 athletes had finished inside 27:30 in a single event.

BOLDERBoulder created $23 million economic impact

The 2024 BOLDERBoulder saw increased participation for the third consecutive year, with over 41,000 finishers, contributing significantly to the local economy. A Visit Boulder report estimated a $23 million economic impact, driven by over 87,000 visitors, with notable spending on lodging ($6.1 million), dining ($2.6 million), and retail ($2.9 million). The 2025 race is set for May 26.