Alisa Vainio secured the European marathon title in Birmingham, completing her sixth marathon in 11 months. She set a championship record with a time of 2:22:26, winning by a margin of 4:55. Vainio's performance defies conventional marathon periodization, which typically allows two races per year.

Starting in Tokyo, Vainio raced in Vantaa, Valencia, Seville, Paris, and Birmingham. Her shortest gap between races was three weeks. Despite the intense schedule, four of her six marathons were under 2:23. Vainio's fastest time was 2:20:39 at Seville. Read more culture coverage.

Vainio's achievement highlights the evolving demands of elite marathon running. The sport's calendar has become denser, with major events like Tokyo, Birmingham, and the Los Angeles Olympics scheduled closely. The marathon will exit the World Athletics Championships after 2029. Related: Idaho Runner Sets Guinness Record with 125 Shirts in Marathon.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.