From mud runs and half marathons to 5Ks and festive costume competitions, there’s a race out there just begging you to cross its finish line. So whether you’re looking for something with a little more competitive spirit or just a chance for you and the gals to try something new, check out the coolest races in the world that have us lacing up our colorful running shoes and strapping on our race bibs.
Wether you like to trail run, hit the gym, or go for quick neighborhood walks, doing it all in a shoe that feels good, looks good, and does a good job at supporting your step is crucial. You want to ensure your shoes prioritize comfort and prevent injury, which is exactly what Hoka masters!
These 4 top-selling Hoka styles differ from each other in the slightest ways. I'm here to outline the intricacies and details so you can find your ultimate pair, no matter what kind of movement you're into! Scroll on for the best Hoka shoes for your lifestyle, based on your go-to activity.
The Chronic Marathoner: Clifton 9
If running is your life – not just a "for fun" hobby – the Clifton 9's are the shoe for you. There's a reason why they're heralded by runners everywhere!
This award-winning Hoka style (it's been granted the Seal of Approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association) is super lightweight at 7.3 oz, but it's still impressively stable and soft. It boasts a plush heel designed for running and walking, so it's destined to get you wherever you're going in the utmost comfort.
These shoes have a very breathable knit upper, while the outsole is crafted with rubber for durability. Stability was top of mind in making these, and you'll have smooth heel-to-toe transitions with every step.
The Hoka Clifton 9's come in 20 different colorways for $145.
The Hot Girl Walker: Bondi 8
If you can't go a day without getting your steps in, it's important that you go for your hot girl walks with the right shoe so you can avoid potential strain and injuries. Per Hoka, the Bondi 8's are one of the "hardest working" shoes in their lineup, and it's specifically designed for walking and running (hot girl style).
It's also earned the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association for its unmatched stability and all-around support. The Bondi 8's are fitted with a pillowed tongue and a memory foam ankle lining for comfort. They're certainly on the plusher side when it comes to Hoka shoes, but they're not so much so that you feel unsure about your steps. They weigh in at 8.9 oz, so they're noticeably heavier than the Clifton 9's.
The foam bottom extends beyond your natural heel for additional support, plus they're an easy on and off thanks to the pull tab at the back.
The Hoka Bondi 8's currently come in 16 different colors for $165.
The Gym Rat: Mach 6
Gym rats, rise up! The Hoka Mach 6's boast the perfect weight, height, and cushion for taking you from the weight rack to the track. They're more streamlined in their design – the most noticeable difference being less heel height than the Clifton or Bondi models. Your foot will definitely be closer to the ground, which is beneficial for movements that involve balance.
While the Cliftons and Bondis have super thick and cushy soles, the Mach 6 soles are crafted from a firmer material for support. Though tougher, they still clock in at 6.7 oz. They're complete with an exceptionally responsive foam midsole that allows for more bounce, plus the outsole has a rubber coating for durability – making your shoe purchase last longer and look new for longer. This gorgeous colorway is an added bonus!
The Mach 6's are currently shoppable in 7 colors for $140.
The Trail Runner: Challenger 7
These Hokas were made for the granola girls who love to venture to the mountains for a cheeky trail run or hike. They have tons of grip the textured sole, ideal for road and trail running. The sole is fashioned with more aggressive lugs around the perimeter to help manage uneven surfaces without risk of injury.
The Challenger 7's boast a decently thick height for plushness to catch your steps, plus they have protective cushioning around the ankle to stabilize your movement.
These weigh in at 7.7 oz, come in 10 different colors, and are shoppable for $145.
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Images via Hoka.
Hold Up, Did Rebecca Yarros' First 'Onxy Storm' Excerpt Just Tease Violet Sorrengail's True Identity?
Nov 19, 2024
Fans of Fourth Wing are on pins and needles because Rebecca Yarros just announced she's finished writing the third book in the Empyrean series! It's us, we're fans — along with over half of BookTok.
We can't believe we're getting closer to reading more about Violet Sorrengail's journey, but we know you have a ton of burning questions about the release date for Book No. 3.
We may not have all the answers, but we've done a little digging to share as much as we can because who doesn't want to know what Rebecca Yarros has been up to?
I'm new to the Empyrean series. Are "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" really worth reading?
Amazon
I'm not going to lie to you. The editorial team, including myself, are extremely biased about Fourth Wingand Iron Flame. From my perspective, I think these are great books for anyone who had the pleasure of growing up during the great Harry Potter era and moved on to watchingGame of Thrones and House of Dragons.
Did she announce the name of book no. 3?
YES! Book No. 3 is titled Oynx Storm.
Knowing what we do about the manifestation of Violet's powers, I think this could hint she's going to play an even larger role in the series. According to a fan theory shared on TikTok(via Empyrean Riders), it's believed that Violet and Xaden Riorson are actually gods. Stay with me here.
Empyrean Riders noted that Violet's last name means heavenly and that she's able to control time thanks to her connection to the young dragon Andarna (I love her so much!). That sounds pretty god-like to me.
And when asked which two Taylor Swift songs describe Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros chose "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from The Tortured Poets Department and "So It Goes..." from Reputation. "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is one of Taylor's most powerful songs and definitely translates the idea that Violet's powers are going to be stronger than ever, while "So It Goes..." is equal parts suspense and seduction, and is TOTALLY about "all the pieces fall right into place" to get together with the right person.
There's so much more to unpack so I suggest grabbing a yummy snack while you fall down the rabbit hole. All I'm sure of is that Onyx Storm is going to leave our emotions in shambles just like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame did.
When did Rebecca Yarros announce she's done writing book no. 3 in the series?
Rebecca Yarros/Instagram
On June 17, Rebecca Yarros shared this image of her laptop to indicate she'd finished the third book in the Empyrean series.
She wrote, "(Pic from one of the very many locations in which this book was written)," towards the end of the caption before adding a few relevant hashtags to it.
When will Onxy Storm be available for purchase?
Rebecca Yarros exclusively told Good Morning America that fans can expect the book to hit shelves January 21, 2025! That gives us a little over six months to prepare our emotions for what's sure to be a storm of a book.
She said, "There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons." There's no way she could forget the dragons because I'd willingly riot over them. They deserve to have their stories told forever.
As luck would have it, Cosmopolitan received an exciting first look at what's to come in Onyx Storm. The excerpt begins with Violet realizing the Venin have found their way into Basgiath War College and are wreaking havoc. Alongside Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc, she races to stop the Venin from releasing Jack Barlowe from his prison cell.
However, Violet's shocked when she discovered one of the "dark wielders" has a long silver braid that closely resembles her own. Before she can fully react, the woman disappears. According to Screen Rant, there are possible theories about why Violet saw her and what this means for her growing power.
Towards the end of the excerpt, Violet discovers the Venin want to capture her too. Also, Xaden makes his long-awaited appearance and it's clear their playful banter in the face of danger hasn't changed. That he hasn't fully changed into the Venin Violet's used to seeing.
I officially can't wait to read the rest of the book in January!
Has Rebecca Yarros revealed the cover for Onyx Storm?
Today/Bree Archer, Elizabeth Turner Stokes for Entangled Publishing
Onyx Storm
Yes!
TODAY received an exclusive look at the cover for Onyx Storm and it doesn't disappoint! Unlike its predecessors, it appears Rebecca Yarros is hinting that darker events will take place.
Fans of the Empyrean series aren't the only ones who are excited to see what fate has in store for our favorite characters though. In a statement to TODAY, Rebecca revealed how elated she is to be working on the series again. "It's amazing to be back with these characters again. She also said, ""I can't wait for readers to see what Violet, Xaden, and the rest of the quadrant have in store for them in Onyx Storm!"
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
A 10K is what many consider to be the first true long distance race. Measuring 6.2 miles, this isn't a marathon, but it's not your typical turkey trot either. No shade there, though — a classic turkey trot is one of my favorites to run! In all seriousness, truly mastering the 10K race takes a specific balance of speed and endurance. If you're looking to run your first or fastest 10K, here are some tips to help you excel! Let's lace up those running shoes and get ready to go!
Photo by KoolShooters/PEXELS
Just like with 5K training, the first and most important step is to pick a race and sign up for it. Having a race or goal on the schedule helps with motivation and a hard timeline helps with planning training. One place you can check for local races is findarace.com — just search by the type of race you want to run and where you want to run it!
How many days does it take to train for a 10K?
Photo by Nathan Cowley/PEXELS
Typical training for a 10K should take 8-10 weeks, however there may be other factors to consider as well.
- If you've recently completed 5K training and are feeling confident and ready to hop into the next goal, you may not need the full 8-10 weeks.
- If you're feeling fit and conditioned from a previous race, you probably only need 6-8 weeks to train for a 10K.
How do I pace myself for a 10K?
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto/PEXELS
If you've run a few 5Ks and are wondering what goal time to shoot for, there are few tips to figure out where to start. First, it's important to remember that a 10K is twice the distance of a 5K. Whatever your best or most recent 5K time is, you likely cannot hold it for another 3.1 miles. I would recommend doubling your total typical 5K time and adding 3-5 minutes to get your goal time. For example if you recently ran a 25 minute 5K, shoot for a 10K time of 53-55 minutes.
How do beginners train for a 10K run?
Photo by MART PRODUCTION/PEXELS
Your training plan should look similar to a 5K training plan with 4-5 days a week of running. This should include 1-2 speed workouts, a few easy jogs, and a weekly long run. Just like with 5K training, you never want to do 2 speed workouts back-to-back — it's best to have a rest day or 1-2 easy jog days between speed sessions to allow your muscles to recover and rebuild.
While long runs and easy jogs are relatively self-explanatory, speed workouts can seem ambiguous. Instead of leaving you in the dark, here are two examples of speed sessions you could implement into your training regiment.
Example 1:
- 1 mile jog warm up
- 6-8x 800m (2 laps of a traditional track or ½ of a mile) at a hard but sustainable 7-8/10 effort. Take 2 minutes between each
- 1 mile jog or walk cooldown
Example 2:
- 1 mile jog warm up
- 3 miles steady-hard (also known as tempo pace) at a 6-7/10 effort
- 1 mile walk or jog cooldown
Long runs are the most important part of any training block for races of 5K and up. Like the name suggests, long runs should be your longest run of the week. Depending on your skill and familiarity with distance running, your long runs will vary anywhere from 5 to 12 miles. I would recommend starting with 4-7 miles at the beginning of your training block, adding one half to a full mile every week. If you're running your first 10K, I would start with 4 miles with the end goal of your longest long run to be 8 miles. Yes, that means that your longest long run will be longer than your 10K race, but trust me — this will make the race distance seem doable and way less daunting. If you're a repeat racer (10Ks included), I would recommend starting with a 7-mile-long run and working your way up to 12 miles by the end of your training block.
How do I prep for race day?
Photo by RF._.studio/PEXELS
To wind down your training, make sure to taper your miles down for at least 10 days before your race. This is where you lower the distance of your longest run over time as you get closer to the actual race, allowing you to properly rest beforehand.
When it comes to race day, the number one thing to remember is: don't go out too fast. While it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of a race and rocket off at the starting line, it won't feel good at mile 4. To ensure that you finish within your goal time, try to go out 15-20 seconds slower than your goal pace.
For example, if you have a 55 min goal time, that translates to running an 8:52 mile. I would recommend starting off your first mile at around a 9:10 mile pace and progressing from there. This will help you to finish strong and feeling your best.
Most importantly? Enjoy race day and celebrate finishing your goal!
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Header image via Nataliya Vaitkevich/PEXELS
Kate Winslet is THE Hollywood actress to me. Not only has she starred in box office smashes like Titanic and Avatar: Way of Water, but she's proven her acting chops in breakout indie flicks and provided mothers and daughters everywhere with eternal Christmas movie nights thanks to The Holiday. But the actress' consistently viral kindness, her dedication to embracing her natural beauty, and her sophistication don't mean she always feels confident. Kate Winslet just spilled on the one movie from her career that had her "sh—ing" herself, and I just had to dive in.
Here's what Kate Winslet had to say about her scariest movie experience ever.
- Kate Winslet made a name for herself with Titanic, Sense & Sensibility, and The Holiday.
- However those movies aren't the film she wants fans to ask about!
- The actress spills on the movies she's proud of, and the one job that had her "sh—ing myself."
Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.
"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."
Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.
"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."
The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."
Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."
"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."
Let us know your favorite Kate Winslet movies in the comments, and since we've officially entered cozy season, check out Why The Holiday Movie Ending Is The Most Important Scene while you're at it!
Marvel movies are known for their heroes and their hopeful outlook on the world. But in 2025, we're getting a brand new team: the Thunderbolts. This team is made up of antiheroes and former villains, and it's sure to be the wackiest and strangest, as well as one of the most memorable, superhero movies we've seen in recent years.
Keep reading for the latest news on Thunderbolts* before it hits theaters in 2025.
Marvel Studios/YouTube
Thunderbolts* comes out this May, and the cast just showed off some brand new footage at the D23 convention — and thanks to the new 'Celebrating 85 Years' spot, we have the first look too!
We get a look at Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, John Walker, and Ghost. Plus, Yelena Belova, of course. This heartbreaking detail about Yelena's new look connects Florence Pugh's Yelena to Scarlett Johansson's Natashaand I'm WEEPING.
Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios
And at D23 Brazil, we got a brand new look at my new favorite team. "There’s something in this film, in terms of superpowers and superheroes, that shows that our superpowers lie in how ‘broken’ we are," David Harbour said at the event. "As if our superpowers came from our relationships.”
What is the plot of Thunderbolts?
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
Thunderbolts* Plot
Consider Thunderbolts* to be The Avengers' edgy younger sibling. The movie follows Yelena Belova (who we know off the bat is a "depressed assassin" thanks to a Marvel Studios press release). She's joined by Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, and John Walker. Based on a leak, it looks like we'll see this group of misfits team up against Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after she sends them on a deadly mission.
Thunderbolts* Release Date
Jesse Grant/Disney
Thunderbolts* Release Date
Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 2, 2025.
Who's on the Thunderbolts team?
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
Thunderbolts* Cast
Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.
This is a huge cast, and Viswanathan just revealed how crazy the first day of filming was. “My first day didn’t feel real," she tells Vanity Fair. "I felt this extra pressure of, ‘Know your lines, babe. You can’t really play around like you usually do.’"
Historically, sci-fi fans haven't been kind to actresses in their favorite projects (remember when Star Wars fans bullied Kelly Marie Tran off social media?). But Viswanathan is already thinking ahead. “If it’s overwhelming, I’ll log off. But I like discourse around pop culture,” she says. “[Thunderbolts*] felt a little bit edgier and fresher, more existential and dark.”
Jesse Grant/Disney
The rest of the cast also enjoyed working together. “Everyone is going to f—kin’ love me! It’s really, really, really fun to be with a group of actors that you have a good time with," Wyatt Russell says at Comic Con (via Variety), while David Harbour adds, “Florence Pugh [is] just electric to work with. There’s warmth and humor, but there’s also a lot of pathos.”
“This is why we can't stop laughing together, because we genuinely just had such a wonderful time with each other and we've loved working with one another," Pugh tells People. “I feel like this is something that we've never seen before from Marvel...it's a very open and honest and truthful idea. And I'm just really excited for people to watch it.”
Are you excited for this brand new chapter in the MCU? I really feel like Thunderbolts* will usher in a whole new generation of fans and I, for one, CANNOT WAIT! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.
Lead images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
This post has been updated.