It's been a busy week in the world of running, so we got the band back together to record a new edition of the Top 5 Podcast. In this recording, Andrew Cruickshank, Alex Cyr and Michael Doyle discuss the hottest topics of last week. They are:

1. An unreasonably fast new half-marathon WR

Kibiwott Kandie of Kenya ran to a mind-bending time of 57:32 at the Valencia Half Marathon on Sunday, December 6. Averaging under 2:44 per kilometree, he chopped 29 seconds off Geoffrey Kamworor's previous world record of 58:01. Kandie wore the new Adidas Adizero Adios Pro (ranked second on our own inaugural shoe power rankings.) 

Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, and Kenyans Rhonex Kipruto and Alexander Mutiso also dipped under the 58 minute mark. 

2. One of the All-Time Greats debuts over 21.1k

Genzebe Dibaba, the world 1,500m record holder and 2016 Olympic silver medalist did not break a record in Valencia, but her 65:18 debut half-marathon delivered her to victory. Such a promising first appearance on the roads begs the question of whether or not Dibaba has better range than any runner in history (yeah, including Sifan Hassan.)

3. U.S. Olympic Trials champion Aliphine Tuliamuk is 31 weeks pregnant

The runner for Hoka One One and NAZ Elite said she and her partner are expecting a baby girl in early January. Their plan had been to wait until after the 2020 Olympics before starting a family, but the postponement of the games made the young couple change their plans. Tuliamuk still has full intention to race in Tokyo in August of 2021.

4. Canadian Ben Flanagan makes half-marathon debut

The 25-year-old professional runner for the Reebok Boston Track Club clocked a 63:19 and won the Mortgage Network Half Marathon in Hardeeville, S.C. Despite his venture onto the roads, Flanagan plans to return to the track and make a push for a spot on the 2021 Olympic team in the 5,000 or 10,000m. Flanagan is a former NCAA 10,000m champion who lowered his best mark to 28:06 in August.

5. Top Canadian Athlete Trophy co-awarded to soccer and football player, Moh Ahmed left out of conversation

Alphonso Davies, a left back for FC Bayern Munich, and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, a guard for the Superbowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs who is also a practicing physician, shared the 2020 Lou Marsh Trophy, which is given yearly to Canada's top athlete. The XC contributor John Lofranco wrote about why Canadian track and field athlete and 12:47 5,000m runner Moh Ahmed should have won the award, and we unpack the issue in detail.