Marathon Handbook's weekly podcast covers everything you need to know about running, from running your first 5K to qualifying for the Boston Marathon! Each week, our editors chat about what's going on in the running scene, as well as timely training tips, the best new gear, and what's happening at the world's biggest races. We'll cover everything from the Boston Marathon to the Barkley Marathons, often podding live from the most important moments in running! Watch our video podcast each week on YouTube, and listen to it wherever you get your podcasts! Inquiries: podcast@marathonhandbook.com
What should marathon pace actually feel like? On this episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Katelyn Tocci, and Alex Cyr break down how to dial in your marathon pace using RPE and lactate threshold, whether you need a running coach, when to wear super shoes on race day, and how to figure out your true running ceiling. Plus, Katelyn recaps crushing a two-hour PR at the Vermont 100 and Michael shares his hilliest (and weirdest-named) run through rural Newfoundland. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: doubling season 1:30 Katelyn's Vermont 100 recap & PR breakdown 7:50 Crushing a two-hour Vermont 100 PR 9:51 Being the happiest runner on the course 11:36 Running Newfoundland's hilliest, weirdest towns 17:30 Recognized by a fan mid-dinner 21:39 Preview: pacing, super shoes & running ceiling 25:29 Should you hire a running coach? 38:00 What should marathon pace feel like? 58:00 Training for a marathon with a demanding job 1:20:24 To super shoe or not to super shoe 1:35:29 What is your running ceiling? 1:48:10 Wrap-up & listener shoutouts SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.com Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub #MarathonTraining #MarathonPace #RunningPodcast #Vermont100 #SuperShoes #RunningCoach #MarathonHandbook
It's hot everywhere right now, so Michael, Alex, and Katelyn are breaking down 8 science-backed (and battle-tested) hacks for running in extreme heat and humidity. From heat acclimatization and dew point pacing to pre-cooling tricks, electrolyte hydration, and knowing the warning signs of heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke, this episode covers everything you need to train safely through a heat wave. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:52 Send Us Your Questions for Brad Stulberg 4:44 Sponsor: Lagoon Pillow 6:24 8 Hacks for Running in Heat: Overview 15:53 Hack 1: Embrace the Heat (Acclimatization) 24:05 Hack 2: Run by Feel (Dew Point) 36:39 Sponsor: Marathon Handbook Run Club 40:03 Hack 3: Pre-Cool Before Running 45:28 Hack 4: Hydrate With Electrolytes 53:57 Hack 5: Time It Right 1:01:36 Hack 6: Dress for Physics 1:07:24 Hack 7: Target Your Hotspots 1:10:13 Hack 8: Recognize Heat Illness 1:15:32 Bonus: Build Your Own Pace Calculator SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Whether you're training for a fall marathon, running ultras in tropical heat, or just trying to survive your daily run this summer, these tips will help you run smarter — not just tougher — in the heat. Got a question for our upcoming guest, author Brad Stulberg? Drop it in the comments or send it our way, details below! https://marathonhandbook.com/how-brad-stulbergs-books-on-excellence-inspired-kipchoges-and-sawes-marathon-world-records/ #RunningTips #HeatTraining #MarathonTraining
Josh Kerr just ran 3:42.66 to break the men's mile world record, ending Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year hold on the mark.In this episode, Michael Doyle, Jessy Carveth, and Alex Cyr break down the race lap-by-lap and split-by-split, dig into Brooks' "Project 222" campaign behind the attempt, and debate what it means for the current golden era of middle-distance running.Then Jessy Carveth sits down with Josh Kerr himself for an exclusive interview on the race, his mindset down the final stretch, the Ingebrigtsen rivalry, and what might be next, including a possible run at the 1500m record.Splits from the race: 400m – 55.3, 800m – 1:51.1 (55.8), 1200m – 2:46.5 (55.4), Mile – 3:42.66 (54.9 final 400m).Chapters:0:00 Intro0:35 Instant reaction panel intro2:15 First reactions to the world record4:54 3:42.66 — the new world record, by the numbers5:54 What is Project 222?7:27 Lap 1 breakdown — the opening 55.39:52 Wavelight tech and Yared Nuguse as the spoiler11:15 Lap 2 — pacers step off, crowd erupts12:36 The bell lap — briefly a three-horse race13:45 Final lap — Kerr's fastest 400 of the race14:14 Race vs. time trial: comparing it to Breaking416:23 Inside Project 222 — Brooks' rollout and Easter eggs18:08 Why racing beats time trials — Nuguse's role20:16 The "contentification" of professional running20:45 The Kerr vs. Ingebrigtsen rivalry21:49 Full 400m splits, one more time23:25 The pre-race 1200m time trial video24:17 Hero or villain? Hot takes27:00 Interview with Josh Kerr begins27:30 Why it had to be a real race, not a time trial28:40 Racing Nuguse down the stretch30:02 Staying present through a 54.9 final lap31:19 Will there be a "mini Bannister effect"?32:19 Reaction from El Guerrouj, and time with Coe and Cram33:04 Is the 1500m record next?33:51 Why take this on with no Olympics on the table34:56 The training breakthrough that made 3:42 believable36:05 Making training public — the future of the sport37:32 Closing thanks
This week Michael, Alex, and Katelyn dig into the mailbag for some of the toughest questions runners face: how much you can realistically improve in six months before a goal marathon, whether it's insane to run two World Marathon Majors a month apart, finding a super shoe that won't aggravate a bad knee, and more. Plus, Michael gets called out (fairly) for some inaccurate comments about the Glass City Marathon.Chapters:0:00 Intro6:34 Momentous Sponsor8:42 Back from the break9:20 Mailbag: super shoes for a bad knee33:12 Lagoon Sponsor34:51 Back from the break35:24 Voice note: running two World Marathon Majors in a month52:48 Join Marathon Handbook RunClub56:12 Back from the break56:26 Mailbag: chasing a sub-3 marathon1:22:52 Mailbag: a comfier race day shoe1:30:46 Correcting our Glass City Marathon comments1:37:16 Mailbag: adding volume to a sub-20 5K plan1:43:17 Wrap upSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.comLagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubMarathon Handbook merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comGot a question for the show? Email podcast@marathonhandbook.com or leave us a voice note at speakpipe.com — we might play it on the pod.Brad Stulberg's book on excellence:https://marathonhandbook.com/how-brad-stulbergs-books-on-excellence-inspired-kipchoges-and-sawes-marathon-world-records/
This week on the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael, Katelyn, and Alex kick things off with a recap of Alex's busy wedding weekend on Prince Edward Island, complete with a surprise timed 5K. Then it's into a full Q&A covering some of our most-requested topics: how to fit marathon training into a packed schedule as a working parent, building a smart long-term plan toward a Boston Qualifier, what a "rocker profile" actually does in a super shoe, and whether a declining VO2 max means your marathon days are numbered as you age.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:36 Alex Cyr's Wedding Weekend Recap17:37 Sponsor: Lagoon Sleep Pillows19:18 Back From Break / How to Submit Questions20:26 Q&A: Marathon Training With Kids & No Time to Spare33:34 Q&A: Long-Term Planning Toward a Boston Qualifier43:42 Q&A: What Is a Rocker Profile in Running Shoes?51:33 Q&A: Is Your VO2 Max Declining With Age?1:03:14 Run Club, Community & Wrap-UpSUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubMarathon Handbook merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comGot a question for the show? Send a voice memo (90 seconds or less) with SpeakPipe at https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/, or email us at podcast@marathonhandbook.com.
This week on the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci tackle a stacked mailbag of running questions covering race-day super shoes, chronic blisters, heart rate confusion, and exactly how long your longest training run should be before marathon day. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.com We use RYTHM for easy, convenient blood tests. 15% OFF : https://RYTHM.HEALTH/MARATHON 00:00 Intro: Alex's wedding vs. Canada's World Cup game08:08 Send us your questions09:51 Momentous Creatine (sponsor)12:00 Should you train in your race-day super shoes?20:56 Best shoe to break 20 minutes in the 5K26:30 Should you pause your watch during interval recoveries?35:22 Rhythm Health blood testing (sponsor)37:48 Urgent Shoe Stress: fixing chronic blisters47:43 Chinese running shoe brands: Xtep, Li-Ning, Anta58:30 Is my marathon heart rate too high?1:07:00 Heart rate vs. RPE for easy runs1:16:19 How long should your longest long run be?1:26:11 Run Club, merch, and what's coming next week
Randi Zuckerberg is best known as the sister of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, but in the ultra running world, she's building a reputation entirely her own. After a 20-year running hiatus, Randi returned to the sport in 2023 and has since completed two Cocodona 250s, set the overall FKT on the Baja Sur Trail, and run a marathon PR at the Boston Marathon... all at age 44.In this episode, Jessy Carveth sits down with Randi to unpack her remarkable spring of racing, the mental and physical strategies behind her 10-hour Cocodona improvement, and how she balances life as an entrepreneur, mother of three, and elite ultra runner.Chapters:0:00 Teaser: Using AI and a donkey to solve a hydration crisis0:33 Intro — Who is Randi Zuckerberg?1:54 How the body is holding up after a jam-packed spring3:02 From Facebook Live pioneer to ultra runner4:14 Quick fire questions (coffee, road vs. trail, headphones)4:51 The 20-year running hiatus and comeback story8:38 Why an entrepreneur's mindset is perfect for ultra running11:31 The Double Boston: 5K with her son + marathon PR16:12 Cocodona 250 Year 2: How she cut 10+ hours off her time19:29 Sleep strategy: 40 hours awake, 125 miles before first rest23:23 The darkest moments of the race — and how she got through them27:30 Recovery, a torn hip labrum, and unorthodox Cocodona training30:34 The Baja Sur Trail FKT — and the donkey water station39:30 Balancing training with motherhood and entrepreneurship43:24 Fueling for 250-mile ultras (Coca-Cola as a health food)47:14 Shoes, Mount to Coast, and getting brother Mark Zuckerberg to try them53:31 What's next: Badwater pacing, the Bronx perimeter, NYC Marathon55:57 Advice for runners in their 40s
How do you plan a running goal that's 2, 3, or even 5 years away and stay motivated long enough to hit it? This week, Michael Doyle and Katelyn Tocci answer listener questions on long-term goal setting for distance runners: the right mindset, how to structure your training years, and when to make the jump from half marathons to the full.0:00 Intro — Alex's Wedding Month & What's Coming8:23 This Week's Topic: Long-Term Goal Setting9:22 Sponsor: Lagoon Sleep Pillows11:13 How to Submit Your Questions12:35 Q1: Eric's Sub-2:58:50 Marathon Goal (Stockholm)31:33 Q2: Connor's 5-Year Great South Run Plan (Portsmouth)47:42 Q3: Megan's 3:45 Marathon Training Plan (Florida)58:32 Q4: George's Path From Half to Full Marathon (Denver)1:07:18 Outro, YouTube & Run Club UpdatesLagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match.Email: podcast@marathonhandbook.comJoin RunClub, sign up for our Newsletter, or Send Us a Voice Note: marathonhandbook.com
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.comWe use RYTHM for easy, convenient blood tests. 15% OFF : https://RYTHM.HEALTH/MARATHON This week, Marathon Handbook news editor Jessy Carveth joins us to talk about everything you need to know to run your goal half marathon. Jessy is chasing a 1:27:30 at the Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon this October, and we used her season as the framework for a complete soup-to-nuts guide on how to run a goal half marathon. We cover everything: how to pick the right race, how to set A, B, and C goals based on where your fitness actually is, how long your training block should be, and what your weeks should look like. Alex reveals the threshold training hack he credits for his breakthrough half marathon in Houston. Katelyn puts her coach hat on and gives her honest assessment of Jessy's race-into-fitness approach. And... Jessy makes a surprisingly compelling case for doing things entirely her own way. Chapters: 0:00 — Intro & Channel Updates4:27 — Ranking Our Favorite Race Distances14:30 — Sponsored by Momentous15:53 — How to Pick Your Goal Race25:29 — Setting Your Half Marathon Goals31:25 — Adjusting Goals Through Training38:51 — How Long Should You Train?44:49 — Sponsored by RYTHM47:24 — Half Marathon Training Basics54:03 — Jesse's Unorthodox Training Plan1:04:58 — Long Runs & Training Evaluation1:17:37 — Gear: Shoes1:25:52 — Gear: Socks & Watch1:27:24 — Race Weekend Nutrition1:31:05 — Warmup & Start Line Strategy1:38:26 — Pacing & The Hard Part1:41:45 — Training in the Heat Email: podcast@marathonhandbook.comJoin Run Club and Send Us a Voice Note: marathonhandbook.com
Jimmy Whelan raced the Giro d'Italia, wore the EF Education First jersey in the World Tour, and beat Pogačar in a U23 race. Then he broke his pelvis, lost his contract, and messaged his boss from a hospital bed in Europe to say he was done.Less than a year later, he ran a 61-minute half marathon on his professional running debut at Valencia, 13th on the Australian all-time list. He's now signed with Salomon, based in Barcelona, coached by Andy Henderson (also coach to Phil Sesemann), and openly chasing the Australian Olympic marathon team for LA 2028.In this episode, Jessy Carveth sits down with Jimmy to talk about:• Why he walked away from pro cycling after 8 years• How cycling built an engine that's tailor-made for the marathon• Training doubles, 200km+ weeks, and learning to manage load as a new runner• The Berlin half marathon blow-up and what he learned from failing publicly• His marathon debut plans and his 2028 Olympic ambitionsWhether you're a competitive runner, a cycling fan, or just love a great comeback story, this one's for you.
Why does every marathon training plan include so much easy, slow running — even when your goal pace is well over a minute faster per mile? This week, a question from listener Seth (a former pro cyclist chasing a sub-3 marathon) opens up one of our most useful conversations yet. SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. Michael, Alex, and Katelyn break down the science behind easy running: zone 2, mitochondria, angiogenesis, the 80/20 rule, running economy, and why the world's best marathoners — including Eliud Kipchoge — run their easy days embarrassingly slow. They also share what easy running actually feels like in practice, how to gauge your effort without obsessing over pace, and why betraying the 80/20 rule is the fastest path to injury. Email: podcast@marathonhandbook.com Join Run Club and Send Us a Voice Note: marathonhandbook.com Chapters:0:00 – Intro, Banter & What We're Covering18:07 – Listener Voice Note: Martina on German Pronunciation & NYC Events21:34 – Ad: Lagoon Sleep Pillows23:47 – Why You Must Run Slow to Race Fast (Main Topic)52:37 – Pronunciation Tangent: Capillaries, Claude & Canadian Quirks54:49 – Should You Race Again After a DNF? The Revenge Race Question1:05:55 – Outro & How to Connect With Us
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.comWe use RYTHM for easy, convenient blood tests. 15% OFF : https://RYTHM.HEALTH/MARATHON Figuring out your marathon goal pace is one of the trickiest parts of training, especially if you've never run 26.2 before. This week, a listener named Phil sends in a voice note asking exactly that: with a 1:38 half marathon and an October race on the horizon, should he target 3:15, 3:30, or 3:45? Michael, Alex, and Katelyn dig into the VDOT calculator, the Riegel formula, rate of perceived exertion, and why your marathon pace should be a living, breathing number that evolves throughout your training block. Chapters:0:00 Intro2:24 Shoe Reviews: Asics Nova Blast 6 & Saucony Endorphin Elite 38:43 Big Things Are Coming: Mara App & Marathon Handbook Updates9:56 Shoutouts From the Community13:27 Sponsor: Momentus Fiber Plus14:49 Today's Big Question: How Do You Calculate Marathon Pace?15:14 Phil's Marathon Pace Dilemma (Listener Voice Note)36:01 Sponsor: RYTHM Health Test38:37 Super Shoes for Your Birthday?43:34 Finding Your Perfect Race Day Shoe55:45 Max Cushioning Meets Carbon Plate1:02:59 Is Running Full of Bro Science?1:21:47 Wrap-Up 📩 Send us your questions: podcast@marathonhandbook.com🎙️ Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe, link on marathonhandbook.com📰 Subscribe to the Marathon Handbook newsletter: marathonhandbook.com
It was a big race weekend for the Marathon Handbook crew, and one of them won their race outright, beating every single finisher. SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. Alex ran the Canadian 10K Road Championships in Ottawa, finishing 7th in 29:21. Then — on three hours of sleep after staying out for a friend's birthday party — he jumped in to pace Canadian women's marathon record holder Natasha Akhtar at the Ottawa Marathon, running 32 kilometres before a blister from his Fascia R3s forced him to drop. He came away with a renewed appreciation for the marathon start line vibe and a serious bug to go the full 42. Katelyn ran a 50K ultra in blazing 40°C heat in Costa Rica, running a patient, controlled race to take the overall win — first across the line ahead of every man in the field, a PR of 5:06. Her husband Victor came in third. Michael tackled the Cabot Trail Relay in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, one of Canada's most beloved and cult-like race weekends, running Leg 7 into a 50km/h headwind and returning, as always, inspired and windburned. Then it's into the listener mailbag, covering: Bridge Training — Patrick asks how to stay fit and motivated between race seasons without losing fitness or burning out before the fall block begins. Alex, Katelyn, and Michael share their personal approaches, including why doing 5K or 10K work in the "off-season" pays enormous dividends for your marathon. Speed Workouts for Sub-2:30 — Andrew from Saskatoon left a voice note. He ran 2:37 at Boston, follows a nine-day training rotation, and wants to know what speed sessions could help him crack the 2:30 barrier. The hosts recommend hill work, lactate threshold training, and exploring the Norwegian Method — specifically the work of Marius Bäcken. Marathon Recovery in Your Late 40s — Raul from Sydney is running his first marathon and targeting a triathlon three months later. He asks how recovery approaches change with age. Michael reflects on the value of mentorship from older runners, the non-negotiable importance of sleep, and why getting the "little things" right matters more than ever. Becoming a Student of Running — Daniel from Reno (one of Katelyn's athletes, currently training for Chicago) asks about books, habits, and resources for runners who want to go deep on the sport. The team recommend Advanced Marathoning, Lore of Running, Endure by Alex Hutchinson, Running with the Kenyans, The Inner Game of Tennis, and more. Choosing a Prep Race — Tyler in Australia is running Sydney Marathon and asks whether to race the half marathon or 30K option at a local tune-up race five weeks out. The debate gets lively — Katelyn and Michael lean half, Alex says race the race. Training for a Downhill Marathon — Sky from Boston is running a point-to-point race with 2,100 feet of descent and wants to know how to prepare for the pounding without access to serious hills. The team recommend running the Boston course in reverse (Heartbreak Hill backwards), eccentric quad work in the gym, and step-down exercises. Got a question for the team? Email podcast@marathonhandbook.com or send a voice message via SpeakPipe, link at marathonhandbook.com. We love hearing from you, and your message might be featured on a future episode. Subscribe to the Marathon Handbook newsletter for weekly training tips, race news, and more at marathonhandbook.com.
We're cracking open the voicemail bag this week and taking on your best marathon training questions. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.com We use RYTHM for easy, convenient blood tests. 15% OFF : https://rythmhealth.com/marathon Timothy from St. Louis wonders why his cadence barely changes as he speeds up and whether his long loping stride is what gave him rectus femoris tendonitis. Paul from Minnesota asks the question every Adidas fan is thinking: will the carbon ring and proprietary foam from the world-record-setting Pro Evo 3 ever trickle down to the consumer-friendly Adios Pro 5? Kyron from Trinidad and Tobago floats a spicy idea — should marathons have weight categories like boxing? And Elena asks the question that quietly haunts every training plan: rest day after the long run, or easy run? Before we get to your questions, Alex explains the four stitches on his face (it involves sushi, fainting, and a cautionary tale about being too fit for your own good), Katelyn previews her new YouTube guide for first-time marathoners, and all three of us are racing this weekend — Alex at the Canadian 10K Championships, Katelyn at a 50K in Costa Rica, and Michael at the Cabot Trail Relay in Nova Scotia. Plus: a teaser for Alex's 2026 super trainer rankings video, a plug for the Jakob Ingebrigtsen interview, and a hot-take debate where Michael argues you don't really need rest days and Katelyn says give her a rest day or give her death. Chapters:(00:00) Intro(02:18) Katelyn's new first marathon video(04:17) Alex's sushi restaurant fainting story(10:23) Triple race weekend(17:42) Super trainer roundup teaser(22:31) Followup on the relationships episode(25:53) Q: Cadence vs stride length — Timothy(38:44) Sponsor: Rhythm Health(41:19) Q: Will Adidas Pro Evo 3 tech trickle down? — Paul(52:24) Q: Should marathons have weight categories? — Kyron(1:07:56) Q: Rest day after the long run? — Elena(1:22:51) When do YOU take a rest day? Got a question? Record a voice note at marathonhandbook.com/podcast and we'll answer it on a future episode.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen is one of the most dominant runners on the planet: two Olympic golds, multiple world championship medals, and five world records by age 25. He's also coming back from February Achilles surgery and rebuilding toward a season that could include three more world record attempts. Jessy Carveth sits down with Jakob for a candid, gear-nerd-friendly conversation about how he's actually training right now, what he really thinks of the "Norwegian Method" label, and how he uses lactate testing and elliptical work to keep VO2 high when he can't run. Jakob also breaks down one of the biggest shoe rotations in the sport, his hands-on role developing the Nike Victory spike that helped him break world records, and the new Coros watch he co-designed as part of the Fearless campaign. And yes, we get into the Josh Kerr question. How real is the rivalry? Are they friends? Would they ever line up at a marathon together? Jakob answers all of it, plus opens up about why he sees himself debuting at 26.2 in his late 30s and what fearless actually means to him. In this episode: Inside the Copenhagen Marathon weekend (and his brother's 2:29 debut) Why Jakob wants to wait until his late 30s for the marathon What the "Norwegian Method" actually is — and isn't Lactate testing, intensity control & avoiding the most common training mistake How he used 14x3 minute elliptical intervals to maintain fitness post-surgery A full tour of his Nike shoe rotation: Pegasus, Vomero, Structure, Alphafly, Streakfly & Victory Working hands-on with Nike R&D on the spike that broke world records The truth behind the Josh Kerr rivalry Whether a Jakob vs. Kerr marathon showdown could ever happen The new Coros watch & the "Fearless" campaign What's next for Jakob the rest of 2026
It's the May Mailbag — and Michael, Alex and Katelyn are getting personal. With their spouses conveniently out of the house, the three of them dig into what it's actually like to be in a relationship with a runner: pace mismatches, "morning person" catfishes, who gets the long-run slot on Sunday, and what happens when your non-running partner slowly, accidentally becomes a runner. SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. Alex also previews his new podcast with his fiancée Alexis — tentatively called "For Better or For Worse" — which follows the two of them training for very different goals (Alex chasing a fast Valencia half; Alexis chasing her first-ever 10K) on the way to their wedding day. Katelyn shares her first non-running vacation in years (Hawaii — and yes, she still snuck in a three-hour long run), and Michael confesses to running shifts with Kelly. Then into the mailbag: — Tibo (36, started running in 2023) asks if there's any science on how much room a late-starter has to keep improving. Spoiler: a lot.— Adam is taking on Endure 24, a 24-hour trail race in the UK, and wants to know what to eat for an entire day of running. Katelyn breaks down her ultra fueling playbook (grilled cheese, quesadillas, Coke and broth all make appearances).— A listener pushes back on a previous comment about London Marathon qualifying times — the team clarifies what they actually meant and pitches a two-day London Marathon format.— Gavin wants a sub-2:50 marathon plan. The crew talks volume, threshold work, periodization and how to graduate from the sub-3 plan. Plus: a teaser of Jessy Carveth's new interview with Jakob Ingebrigtsen, dropping later this week. Got a question or comment? Email podcast@marathonhandbook.com — or send a voice memo for the upcoming summer voicemail mailbag. Timestamps (02:06) Katelyn's first non-running vacation in years(06:25) Buying super shoes from a Hawaiian beach(09:55) Alex's new podcast with Alexis: "For Better or For Worse"(13:15) Dating a runner vs. dating a non-runner(25:30) Life in a two-runner household(31:30) Whose running takes priority?(35:00) Type A vs Type B runners(40:00) The wedding 5K and the sub-15 curse(46:50) Mailbag: Late-start marathon progression(1:01:00) Mailbag: Fueling for a 24-hour race(1:14:30) Listener feedback on the London Marathon lottery debate(1:24:30) Mailbag: Building a sub-2:50 marathon plan(1:29:00) Jakob Ingebrigtsen interview teaser
SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.com Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr (Katelyn is on a well-earned vacation) reset the Marathon Handbook Super Shoe Power Rankings for Spring 2026. We cover the full overall Top 10, including prototypes, then run a second Top 10 of the most accessible super shoes — the ones you can actually buy. Previous Power Rankings — Winter 2025 (December)1. Adidas Adios Pro Evo 22. Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 33. ASICS Metaspeed Tokyo Sky / Edge4. Nike Alphafly 35. Saucony Endorphin Elite 26. Adidas Adios Pro 47. ASICS Metaspeed Ray8. On Cloudboom Strike LS9. Adidas Adios Pro Evo 110. New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite 52. Current Power Rankings — Spring 20261. Adidas Adios Pro Evo 32. Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 33. ASICS Development Shoe (ME5 Type One / Type P)4. Adidas Adios Pro Evo 25. ASICS Metaspeed Tokyo Sky / Edge6. Nike Alphafly 47. Adidas Adios Pro Evo 18. ASICS Metaspeed Ray9. On Cloudboom Dev 5 (LS)10. Brooks Hyperion Elite 63. Accessible Top 10 — Spring 2026 (shoes you can actually buy)1. Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 32. ASICS Metaspeed Sky / Edge3. Nike Alphafly 34. Adidas Adios Pro 45. Saucony Endorphin Elite 26. Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 47. Hoka Cielo X1 v3.08. New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite 59. Brooks Hyperion Elite 510. On Cloudboom Strike
SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. The two-hour marathon barrier is gone. At the 2026 London Marathon, Sebastian Sawe became the first person ever to run under two hours on a record-eligible course — and Yomif Kejelcha did it too, in his marathon debut. Outside columnist and Endure author Alex Hutchinson joins Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci to make sense of it. We get into: Why Hutchinson thinks the shoes (the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3) are still the biggest single factor — and why Nike has lost its grip on the super-shoe race Sawe's astonishing negative split: 60:29 out, 59:01 back, with a final 5K that put him on 1:52 marathon pace Whether the marathon is even the same race anymore — and whether "marathon pace" as a training concept is dying Norwegian-style threshold blocks vs. classic long marathon-pace work Resilience and durability — what they are and how (or whether) you train them Bicarb / sodium bicarbonate: the science of why it works, and whether marathoners should bother Why drafting "like a zombie" might be the most underrated tactic in distance running What's actually possible from here: 1:57? 1:56? Are we further from our potential than we think? The recreational-runner takeaways: shoes, fuel, sleep, and what to skip A wide-ranging, occasionally contrarian conversation about an inflection point that may reshape the sport for the next decade. 📚 Books by Alex Hutchinson: Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human PerformanceThe Explorer's Gene 📰 Sweat Science Substack: alexhutchinson.net
Sebastian Sawe just ran 1:59:30 on the streets of London — the first sub-two-hour marathon in history on a sanctioned course. And he wasn't alone. Yomif Kejelcha, in his marathon debut, ran 1:59:41 to make it two sub-2s in a single race. On the women's side, Tigst Assefa lowered her own women's-only world record, with Hellen Obiri running a huge PB just under 2:16 for second. Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci recorded this instant reaction from Knees Up on Hackney Road, with Jessy Carveth dialing in live from the finish line media center — including a quick word with Sawe himself before the press conference. In this episode: The moment the media center went silent — and then erupted — as Sawe came around the final bend How a 90-second negative split delivered the first official sub-2 Yomif Kejelcha's astonishing marathon debut and what it means for the next decade of the event Tigst Assefa, Hellen Obiri, and the women's race that almost got lost in the sauce The Adidas Pro Evo 3: why Adidas held it back from Boston, and what it does to the shoe wars Where John Korir's 2:01 in Boston now sits in the conversation Athlete vs. shoes vs. nutrition: the Maurten data on Sawe's pre-London block Whether the marathon has finally been "figured out" — and what that means for the rest of us Boston vs. London as a race weekend, the case for a two-day London in 2027, and why this one race may have just changed the sport
It's London week. Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci deliver the Marathon Handbook one-stop preview of the 2026 TCS London Marathon: course, elites, weather, the jacket design, shoes, ballot drama, and the looming question of whether London Marathon Events can pull off a two-day "Double London" in 2027. What's in this episode: A brief history of London from the 1981 inaugural race (6,255 finishers) through the 1.3 million applicants now fighting for roughly 60,000 spots. Why the ballot has made London the single hardest World Marathon Major for internationals to enter, and how the charity-bib and running-club routes actually work. A course walkthrough of one of running's great spectacles — the staggered southeast start, the 9:05 elite women's gun, Cutty Sark at mile six, Tower Bridge at the halfway inflection, Canary Wharf, Big Ben, and the jaw-dropping finish down The Mall past Buckingham Palace into St. James's Park. Weather check: a probable high-40s to low-60s°F day, sunnier than ideal but dry and low humidity. The crew think we're lined up for a Boston-style "no excuses" day and some serious times. The 2026 New Balance London kit, a.k.a. the "Cheetah Girl" jacket — the crew rate it, debate whether London should have a defined color system, and land on an official Marathon Handbook freshness score. The Adidas Pro Evo 3 is expected to formally launch in London, likely on the feet of Sebastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa. The shoe wars angle, why Adidas held it back from Boston, and what a "win on the shoe" does for the brand narrative. The Double London 2027 rumor: reporting out of the UK suggests London Marathon Events is exploring a two-race weekend. The crew debate every format — men/women split, elite/mass split, same weekend vs two seasons — and Michael lands on an elegant Boston-flavored solution: a qualifying race Saturday for performance runners, the iconic lottery mass race Sunday for everyone else. Predictions and hot takes: Will London break the 60,000-finisher barrier for the first time in history? Does Sebastian Sawe go sub-2 on the London course? Does Tigst Assefa finally take down Paula Radcliffe's 23-year-old course record of 2:15:25? Where does Hellen Obiri land on a flat course she has never run before? Which brand wins the day — Adidas, Nike, or a dark horse? Plus the updated Marathon Handbook World Marathon Majors Power Rankings as of April 22, 2026. Coverage plan for the weekend: The crew will be on the ground Thursday through race day. Shakeout run Saturday at 10 AM in Hyde Park (Serpentine loop) — all welcome. Live watch-along Sunday at Knees Up cafe in Hackney, streaming on the Marathon Handbook YouTube channel as a second-screen companion to the broadcast. Instant Reaction podcast drops the moment the race wraps.
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Observed July 30, 2026.
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