Cam Hanes Doping Controversy, Enhanced Games & Cape Town Marathon 2026 | The Running Story

Thomas Watson fills in for Michael Doyle this week as he and Jessy Carveth run through five stories dominating the running world right now — from a doping controversy that broke the internet to a heartwarming marathon moment featuring the sport's greatest athlete.

Cape Town Marathon emerged as one of the most significant races of the year, not just for the performances on the day but because it represents Cape Town's final year as a World Marathon Majors candidate. Muhammad Esa took the men's title in 2:04:55 — a new course record by nearly three and a half minutes — while Dara Deida won the women's race in 2:23:18. Eliud Kipchoge, competing in Africa for the first time, finished 16th in 2:13:29 as part of what's being called his world tour. The real highlight for Thomas and Jessy? Kipchoge's wife completing her first marathon, with Kipchoge waiting at the finish line.

The Cam Hanes vs. Sage Canaday controversy is the most talked-about story in running right now, and for good reason. Elite ultra runner Sage Canaday filed a tip with USADA against 58-year-old podcaster, bow hunter, and social media figure Cam Hanes, after Haynes ran a 2:39 at the Oregon USATF Marathon Championship — a PR by 13 minutes at age 58 — while having publicly acknowledged using BPC-157, a peptide banned under the WADA code. Thomas and Jessy explore the nuance: should the rules apply equally at age group level? Is enforcement even realistic? And what does a 2:39 at 58 tell us about the future of peptides in recreational sport?

The Enhanced Games took place in Las Vegas on the night of May 24th. Billed as the "Doping Olympics," the multi-sport competition promised record-breaking performances from athletes using banned substances under medical supervision — and backed by million-dollar prize money. The reality was less dramatic: self-proclaimed clean athletes won most events, just one world record was broken (in swimming), and 250,000 live stream viewers were left with more questions than answers about the event's future. Thomas and Jessy also note the organization's business model — an online supplement store selling the same substances the athletes use — and ask what that means for the enterprise.

A Charlotte high school sprinter was disqualified from the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay at the North Carolina State Track and Field Championships after raising his hand and holding up five fingers — ruled as unsportsmanlike conduct. The call wiped out 10 team points and cost his school the overall state title. The video spread to nearly 8 million views on X. Thomas and Jessy unpack the two separate conversations the internet is collapsing into one: was the rule fairly applied, and should the rule exist at all?

Emma Bates has signed with NeverSecond as a nutrition partner. This comes months after Bates very publicly fell out with her previous sponsor, alleging she was dropped because she was pregnant — a claim the sponsor disputed. With Bates currently around six to seven months pregnant and not racing this year, Never Second's decision to sign her is being read as both a statement of values and a smart strategic play as the brand looks to expand from trail/ultra/cycling into road running.

Chapters:0:00 – Intro & Jessy's Impromptu 10K (Third Place in Belgium!)3:36 – Story 1: Cape Town Marathon – Kipchoge, Course Records & World Marathon Majors9:02 – Story 2: Cam Hanes vs. Sage Canaday – Running's Biggest Doping Controversy18:06 – Story 3: Enhanced Games Las Vegas – Did the "Doping Olympics" Deliver?23:56 – Story 4: High School Sprinter Disqualified for Raising Hand at NC State Championships29:18 – Story 5: Emma Bates Signs with NeverSecond After Sponsor Controversy32:29 – Wrap-Up