It’s not every day that an athlete runs faster than legends like Mirinda Carfrae and Anne Haug down the Queen K to set a new marathon course record in Kona. Both Carfrae and Haug were defined by their run prowess, long regarded as the most feared closers in the sport and the last two holders of that record.
Kat Matthews arrived at that mark by a different path. For much of her career, she has been framed as an all-around athlete with particular strength on the bike. Increasingly, that perception is shifting. Kona confirmed what has been building quietly: Matthews is no longer just durable on the run. She is dangerous.
Her Instagram post this morning suggests that the breakthrough was not an endpoint, but a prompt: “Super excited to find another level in my run performance. Three Ironman marathon PBs this year, but I wasn’t able to secure my annual 70.3 half marathon PB streak. Making some changes in 2026 to make myself more resilient and faster. I’m very anchored to the idea that I want to run with less caution, not more.”
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The Evolution of Matthews’ Run
One of the first performances where Kat Matthews’ run truly reframed expectations came at the 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Taupo. Her 1:15:34 closing half marathon (3:35/km) was decisive. Matthews put nearly four minutes into race winner Taylor Knibb, and for stretches it appeared she might run her way to the win. This remains the 70.3 personal best she references in her Instagram post.
While Matthews didn’t lower her 70.3 personal best in 2025, she continued to redefine her Ironman run performances. At Ironman Texas, her 2:49:19 marathon was 11 minutes faster than her time on that same course in 2024, securing the fastest run split on both occasions. In Hamburg, she ran 2:40:58 – what would have been the fastest Ironman marathon ever recorded and just shy of the elusive 2:40 barrier – were it not for Laura Philipp, who produced a historic 2:38:27 on the same day.
Then came Kona. Matthews’ 2:47:23 marathon, the fastest ever on one of the sport’s most demanding courses, did more than deliver a silver medal just 35 seconds behind Solveig Lovseth. It crystallized a trend – one that explains why, when Matthews started the run only three and a half minutes down in Marbella, fans and commentators alike felt the genuine possibility of watching her run into contention for the top step.
What Fans Can Expect in 2026
When Matthews speaks about wanting to run with “less caution,” she is describing a continuation of the approach that shaped her build into Kona. Under the guidance of her run coach and husband, Mark Matthews, the focus has been on increasing volume. In past interviews, Matthews has joked about breakfast-table conversations where the question of “running more or less” was met with the same answer every time: run more.
She has also joked that if the approach backfired, it would be “Mark’s fault.” Its success, however, has been clear.
While higher mileage can increase injury risk, Matthews’ 2025 results speak for themselves. Her season-long consistency earned her the Ironman Pro Series title. Even the calf issue that ended her Marbella race did little to obscure the broader pattern. And rather than backing away from the run heading into 2026, Matthews appears intent on reinforcing it, so that caution no longer dictates how much of her run potential she is willing to use.
Closing the Distance to the Top Step
As a three-time runner-up at the Ironman World Championships and a two-time runner-up at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, Kat Matthews has spent enough time close to the top step to understand exactly what it demands. And with an all-around skill set already proven at the highest level and a run that continues to evolve into a weapon, Matthews is shaping a version of herself capable of running all the way there.
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