Marathon Handbook Podcast

Episode

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  Can Nike's Zero Drop Super Shoe Beat the Adidas Evo 3? 02.10.2026 55mnt

  Nike has announced three new race day shoes, and the headliner is the Nike Apex: a zero drop super shoe with 40mm of stack in both the heel and the forefoot, built to challenge the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3 at the front of the world's fastest marathons. Alex Cyr and Michael Doyle break down the Apex, the Alphafly 4 and the $145 Swooshfly.We sat in on Nike's briefing with the executives and designers behind these shoes and draw on conversations from this summer with Nike athletes and with Brett Schoolmeester, the VP who has helped lead Nike's super shoe program from the start. We cover the Apex's specs and $350 price, whether Nike's athletes will embrace a zero drop racer, how hard it may be to buy a pair, why the Swooshfly is aimed at beginners and at China's booming marathon scene, and whether Nike now has the best running shoe lineup in the sport.
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  Follow This Checklist For Your Marathon Debut 01.10.2026 1j 18mnt

  Running your first marathon this fall? Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci put together a complete race-week checklist, covering what to do and what to avoid before, during and after your marathon debut. They cover how to taper without losing your mind, carb loading and hydration, how to get through the expo, race-morning routines and logistics, pacing strategy (including why elite marathoners often run their slowest 10K first), fueling, and what to plan for after you cross the finish line.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathonMarathon Handbook listeners get 15% off their entire order when shopping CEP Running online through November 15! Shop CEP Running or enter code LRL-NYC-15 at checkout.Offer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.https://ceprunning.com/discount/LRL-NYC-15?utm_source=long_run_labs&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=lrl_nyc_marathon_2026&utm_content=podcast_show_notes_2026-9-24Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubCarb Loading Resource:https://marathonhandbook.com/carb-loading/Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  Nike's Super Shoe Architect on the Alphafly 4, Zero-Drop Prototypes & What's Next 30.09.2026 47mnt

  Nike's Bret Schoolmeester has worked on super shoes since the very first prototype. Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr sit down with him just after the launch of the Nike Alphafly 4 to talk about the past, present and future of the carbon-plated racing shoe.Bret goes back to 2015, when Nike set out to help a human break two hours in the marathon, and explains how a scoop-shaped carbon plate and an experimental PEBA foam got cobbled into a Streak 6 upper and became the shoe that changed the sport. He then gets into the details of the Alphafly 4: the new ZoomX LT foam, why Nike is sticking with Zoom Air pods and a full carbon plate, why the launch was moved up for Andreas Almgren and the World Road Running Championships, and why he calls it the biggest leap since the original Alphafly.Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSubscribe to our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  Our 2026 Berlin Marathon Instant Reactions, Live From Berlin! 27.09.2026 32mnt

  We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order.Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth, live from Berlin, react to a dramatic 2026 Berlin Marathon. Tigst Assefa was 10 seconds ahead of world record pace at 40K and on track to break Ruth Chepngetich's 2:09:56. Then an apparent right Achilles injury left her limping through the final 2K. She still finished in 2:11:04, a course record and the third-fastest women's marathon in history, and Haile Gebrselassie was the first to help her at the finish line.On the men's side, 35-year-old Guye Adola won his second Berlin title in 2:02:50, knocking almost a minute off a personal best that had stood since 2017. Michael and Jessy go through both podiums, Rosemary Wanjiru's fade, and Adidas sweeping the women's podium in the Adios Pro Evo 3 and a new speed suit with the bib built in. They also cover Sabastian Sawe missing the race, the warm conditions, and whether Berlin should move to an earlier start time.Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSubscribe to our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  Inside the 2027 Double London Marathon with CEO Hugh Brasher 27.09.2026 44mnt

  What happens when the world's most popular marathon runs on two days? London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher sits down with Jessy Carveth to talk about the 2027 Double London Marathon: 45,000 runners on Saturday, 55,000 on Sunday, and a one-time-only weekend that could be the biggest in the history of marathon running.Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSubscribe to our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  Brad Stulberg on Training Your Mind for Your Best Marathon 24.09.2026 1j 2mnt

  What does it take to believe you can run a sub-two-hour marathon? Bestselling author Brad Stulberg (The Way of Excellence, Master of Change, The Practice of Groundedness) joins Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci to talk about the running mindset.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Marathon Handbook listeners get 15% off their entire order when shopping CEP Running online through November 15! Shop CEP Running or enter code LRL-NYC-15 at checkout.Offer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.comBrad's work:https://www.bradstulberg.com/https://www.instagram.com/bradstulberg/Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  BONUS: Nike Is Betting Everything on the Alphafly 4 17.09.2026 57mnt

  The Nike Alphafly 4 is here, the first update to the franchise in two years and eight months, and we have had our hands on it since November. Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr go through the full spec sheet, every change from the Alphafly 3, and whether Nike has done enough to stay competitive at the top of the super shoe market.The Alphafly 4 retails for $275, which is $10 below what the Alphafly 3 launched at. Stack height is 39mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot, an 8mm drop, and it weighs 7.33 ounces in a men's size 10, with Nike rating it for roughly 300 miles. The carbon plate is wider, the Zoom Air units are 30 percent lighter, and the foam carries a new name, Zoom XLT.That weight is where the conversation gets interesting. The Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 3 weighs 4.3 ounces, and most of the current super shoe field sits under seven. We talk through whether the Alphafly 4 can be taken seriously at the front of a race, or whether Nike has built it for everyone else and is holding its real answer back for a shoe reported to be called the Apex.Along the way: every prototype sighting from Conner Mantz in Chicago to Jacob Kiplimo in London, a power ranking of the super shoe market as it stands, the cost per mile math that makes the Alphafly 4 look like a bargain, a round of over/unders on what the shoe does this fall, and whether either of us would actually race in it.CHAPTERS(00:00) It's Alphafly 4 Day(02:03) First Impressions Holding the Shoe(05:45) What Nike Changed Underfoot(07:55) The Spec Sheet: $275 and 39mm(10:10) Rated for 300 Miles(11:41) Zoom XLT and the Pebax Reveal(12:31) The Weight Problem(14:18) How It Stacks Up Against Its Rivals(15:37) Why the Alphafly 3 Was a Gold Mine(18:30) They Finally Fixed the Squeak(20:05) Where We Spotted the Prototypes(22:00) Every Podium It Has Already Won(23:04) The Sifan Hassan Mystery(23:57) The Zero Drop Prototype(25:51) Power Ranking the Elite Super Shoes(29:29) Where the Alphafly 4 Slots In(32:04) 92 Cents a Mile vs $6 a Mile(34:30) Hot Take: Best Seller in Six Months(36:22) The Apex, Nike's Real Answer(41:41) Over/Unders and Bold Predictions(46:57) Is Nike Done?(51:28) Would We Race In It?(55:40) Coming Next: Brett SchoolmeesterOur full review is coming once test pairs arrive. Next week we talk to Brett Schoolmeester, Nike's vice president of innovation.Watch this episode on YouTube: [CHANNEL LINK]Newsletter: [NEWSLETTER LINK]
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  The Mental Side of Marathon Training (How to Get Beyond Bad Runs) 17.09.2026 1j 36mnt

  This week Michael, Katelyn, and Alex tackle a stacked mailbag of listener questions covering the toughest parts of marathon training: the ones that aren't about splits and mileage. From surviving a brutal race-day side stitch to managing pre-race anxiety to figuring out whether to trust your heart rate or your gut, this episode digs into the mental side of the sport as much as the physical.RPE Chart:https://marathonhandbook.com/rate-of-perceived-exertion/Side Stitch Article:https://marathonhandbook.com/side-stitch-wont-go-away/SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: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.  Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathonJoin Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  The Formula for Predicting Your Perfect Marathon Pace 10.09.2026 1j 30mnt

  Predicting your marathon race day pace is one of the trickiest parts of training: go out too conservative and you leave time on the table, go out too aggressive and you blow up in the last 10K. This week, Michael, Alex, and Katelyn break down how to use your lactate threshold pace to dial in a Boston Qualifying goal, plus answer listener questions on half marathon pacing, shoe rotation, bouncing back from injury, and more. We also get into the NFL's first-ever regular season game in Sydney and what it teaches runners about traveling to destination majors.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.comOrion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathonJoin Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
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  How to Balance Easy Miles & Threshold Training 03.09.2026 1j 37mnt

  In this episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, hosts Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci dig into a stacked listener mailbag covering threshold training vs. easy miles, whether soccer is wrecking a marathon build, the run-walk method debate, how many races is too many, when it's time to hire a coach, and the best shoes for ultrarunning. Also, an exclusive first look at Ultra's brand new Ultra Vanish Carbon 3. Plus, stories from their trip to the Sydney Marathon, including a surprise run-in with Olympic gold medalist Vivian Cheruiyot.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: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.  Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathonJoin Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  What Happened at the Sydney Marathon? | Our Instant Reactions 30.08.2026 1j

  Is the Sydney Marathon a fast course, or one that eats you alive? Fresh off the 2026 race, we make both cases, work out how to actually run a PB here, and settle whether the trip across the world is worth it.Recorded within the hour, with Alex straight from the finish chute at the Opera House and Katelyn tracking her own athletes to two- and seven-minute PBs. Most of the episode is for anyone weighing this race: what those PBs say about how to run the course, why every major should copy the 6:45 a.m. start, the jet-lag protocol that worked, where Sydney lands in a power ranking of the majors for speed, and what race weekend in Sydney is actually like. And yes, the results: the men's course record fell by nearly a minute and a half with seven finishers inside the old mark, Peres Jepchirchir won again, and the shoe wars produced a surprise podium.Our UTMB instant reaction drops Sunday afternoon ET, then it's Berlin in September, followed by live events in Chicago and New York this fall. Newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter
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  Is Sydney the Toughest Marathon Major? Our On-the-Ground 2026 Preview 29.08.2026 54mnt

  Our complete 2026 Sydney Marathon preview, reported from the ground in Sydney, plus the full interview with race director Wayne Larden (38:37). The course and how to race it, start times and how to watch, and the deepest elite field Australia has ever hosted.Katelyn and Alex are in Sydney for race week, Michael joins from Toronto. They break down a men's race led by Sisay Lemma, world champion Alphonce Simbu, and defending champion Hailemaryam Kiros, with a debut from track star Hagos Gebrhiwet, and a women's race that looks like Peres Jepchirchir's to lose. Plus the Harbour Bridge climb, the drop bear conspiracy, and our winner predictions.Then race director Wayne Larden on Sydney's second year as a World Marathon Major: the interactive race-day map, how to run the course smart (mind the hill at 41K), where to travel after the race, and why to enter the 2027 ballot.We'll host a live watch-along on our YouTube channel during the race (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday) and drop an instant reaction episode after the finish. Newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter
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  How to Peak for a Marathon (Our EXACT Peak Weeks) 27.08.2026 1j 19mnt

  We're breaking down one of the most-asked-about topics in marathon training: the peak week. Michael and Alex pull back the curtain on what their own peak weeks actually look like (down to the kilometer) and share what they've learned from years of racing (and from picking the brains of elite runners like Eliud Kipchoge and Casey Klinger) about how to build a peak block that makes you stronger, not broken.Plus: the team splits up as Katelyn and Alex head to Sydney to cover the brand-new Sydney Marathon while UTMB unfolds in Chamonix, and a full fall racing calendar preview covering Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Valencia.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.comRight now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathonJoin Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  2026 NYC Marathon Elite Field Preview 24.08.2026 43mnt

  The 2026 New York City Marathon elite fields just dropped, and Michael and Alex are breaking down every contender... recorded fresh off a workout with Conner Mantz, Casey Klinger, and Clayton Young in Provo, Utah.On the men's side: defending champion Benson Kipruto, American record holder Zouhair Talbi, and a red-hot Conner Mantz headline a field where 10 athletes have run faster than the current course record. On the women's side: Sifan Hassan looks for redemption after a brutal fall stretch, defending champ Hellen Obiri returns, and a stacked American trio (Jess McLain, Annie Frisbie, Fiona O'Keefe) chases the country's first NYC women's champion since 2009. Plus: a can't-miss marathon debut, a deep dive into what shoes the elites will be wearing on November 1st, and some genuinely bold predictions.Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  More Miles or More Speed? How to Actually Get Faster as a Runner 20.08.2026 1j 50mnt

  Is it more volume or more speed that makes you a faster runner? This week Michael, Alex, and Katelyn dig into a listener's massive marathon breakthrough (2:47 → 2:30!) after he dropped threshold work and leaned into high weekly mileage instead — and unpack whether that trade-off actually holds up for the rest of us.Plus: how to keep your training on track while traveling, lifting heavy before race day, choosing between a safe Boston Qualifier and a sub-3 goal, how many miles you should really get out of a pair of running shoes, decoding the "super trainer" shoe category, and Michael finally opens up his own training log.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: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.  Custom insoles made with supershoe foam: visit kilarun.com and use code “marathon” to get $80 off your first order.Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathonJoin Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  Should You Switch Running Shoes Mid-Long Run? 13.08.2026 1j 39mnt

  This week on The Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci tackle a stacked list of listener questions starting with one every marathoner has wondered about: does switching into your super shoes mid-long run actually hurt you on race day? Plus, Alex and Katelyn share the news that they're heading to Australia to cover the Sydney Marathon (and race actual lifeguards on Bondi Beach), a 66-year-old listener's quest to run a fast 800 m, advice on training two marathons just 15 weeks apart, how to keep a young runner in love with the sport, and when it's time to step back up to the marathon distance.Chapters:0:00 Intro2:05 Sydney Marathon trip announcement10:07 Announcements: Runs Like Hell, Run Club, and The Green Room22:46 Sponsor: Kila custom insoles24:49 Back from break: your questions25:43 Q&A: Training for two marathons 15 weeks apart38:06 Sponsor: Orion Sleep39:23 Back from break39:31 Q&A: Chasing a fast 800m at 66 years old50:37 Q&A: Coaching a young runner (age 8) who loves the sport59:33 Q&A: When to return to marathon training1:10:10 Sponsor: Momentous creatine1:12:19 Back from break1:12:34 Q&A: Should you switch shoes mid-long run?1:34:26 Wrap-up & sign-offSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Custom insoles made with supershoe foam: visit kilarun.com and use code “marathon” to get $80 off your first order.Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system: get up to $400 off at orionsleep.com/marathonThis episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.comJoin Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/
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  Our Top 10 Running Shoes of 2026 (Mid-Year Rankings) 12.08.2026 1j 25mnt

  We're halfway through 2026, and it's time for our mid-year shoe power rankings. Michael and Alex each built their own Top 10 favorite running shoes of the year so far: super shoes, super trainers, daily trainers, and everything in between. Plus, a bonus trail shoe corner at the end.Chapters:0:00 Intro — how we're ranking shoes this year0:38 Alex #10 — Saucony Endorphin Pro 53:52 Michael #10 — On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper (Light Spray)6:40 Alex #9 — Saucony Endorphin Azura9:50 Michael #9 — Mizuno Wave Rider 3012:29 Alex #8 — Brooks Hyperion Elite 614:50 Michael #8 — Saucony Ride 1917:22 Alex #7 — On Cloudboom Strike 220:51 Michael #7 — Salomon Gravel Concept Shoe23:45 Alex #6 — Hoka Clifton Pro29:13 Michael #6 — Adidas EVO SL ATR32:09 Alex #5 — Adidas Hyperboost Edge36:44 Michael #5 — Mount to Coast C139:59 Alex #4 — Puma Deviate Nitro43:19 Michael #4 — Brooks Hyperion Elite 646:57 Alex #3 — Asics MetaSleek51:30 Michael #3 — Tracksmith Eliot Rider57:16 Alex #2 — Saucony Paramount Max1:01:40 Michael #2 — Mizuno Neo Vista 31:07:17 Alex #1 — Asics Superblast 31:12:37 Michael #1 — On Cloudboom Strike 2 LS1:19:05 Bonus: Trail Shoe Corner1:20:15 Trail #3 — Nike ACG UltraFly 21:21:06 Trail #2 — Asics Metaspeed Fuji Trail 21:22:07 Trail #1 — Adidas Gravic Speed Ultra 21:24:30 Wrap-up & what's coming at year-endJoin Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
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  Max Jolliffe on Winning Badwater 135, Heat Training & His Path to Running 09.08.2026 37mnt

  Max Jolliffe is one of the most followed ultrarunners on the internet, and in July 2026 he became the fastest man in the 49-year history of Badwater 135, finishing Death Valley's brutal 135-mile course (ending with a 12-mile climb up Mount Whitney Portal Road, in temperatures hitting 118°F) in 20 hours 53 minutes, on his very first attempt.In this episode, Michael talks to Max about his journey from Newport Beach surf-and-skate culture to ultrarunning champion, the science behind his heat training, his race-day battle for the lead at Badwater, how he balances content creation with elite racing, and why Cocodona has become his "white whale."Chapters:0:00 Intro3:25 Growing up in Newport Beach: surfing, skating, and sports6:16 Getting sober and finding running almost by accident8:14 His first marathon: OC Marathon, 201910:14 The meteoric rise from marathoner to ultrarunning champion10:37 Training through COVID and building real consistency12:13 Racing his way into Badwater (Sean O'Brien 100K to Angeles Crest 100)14:05 Course recon and race-specific prep for Death Valley14:58 The science of heat training: core temp, sweat tests, and data17:28 What it's actually like to run Badwater 13519:12 Race strategy and the back-and-forth battle21:41 The darkest night: fighting through stomach issues and self-doubt23:04 The explosion of content creators in ultrarunning24:16 Balancing brand partnerships with full-time training26:14 Running is the new skateboarding28:59 Project-based running vs chasing competitive results30:32 Cocodona 250: the race he's never finished, his white whale31:25 What's next: Kodiak 100, UTMB qualifying, and the Go and More Ultra32:11 Honeymoon plans in Spain (with a little training on the side)32:59 What his watch showed during the hottest miles of the race34:25 Do your feet really cook running on Death Valley asphalt?35:34 Bucket list races: Western States, Barkley, and Tor des GéantsFollow Max:https://www.instagram.com/woah_max/Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
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  Is Cross-Training a Substitute for Running? 06.08.2026 1j 58mnt

  This week, Michael, Alex, and Katelyn dig into that enduring debate before working through a full mailbag of listener questions: from whether it's worth traveling internationally for a bucket-list marathon, to pacing strategy on brutally hilly courses like Boston, to setting a realistic goal for your first-ever marathon.Chapters:0:00 Intro & Icebreakers4:59 Sponsor: Kila Custom Insoles7:01 Fall Marathon Training Kicks Off7:42 Training Updates: Katelyn, Alex & Michael24:51 Sponsor: Lagoon Sleep Pillows26:40 Q1: Should You Travel for a Marathon? (London Marathon Lottery)49:37 Sponsor: Marathon Handbook RunClub53:01 Q2: Is Cross-Training a Substitute or Compliment to Running?1:15:04 Q3: Setting a Realistic First Marathon Goal Pace1:21:07 Q4: Pacing Strategy for Hilly Marathons (Boston)1:42:15 Q5: Balancing Music and Marathon Training1:54:11 Wrap-Up & AnnouncementsSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Kila creates custom insoles made with supershoe foam. Visit kilarun.com and use code “marathon” to get $80 off your first order.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/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comElevation Calculator:https://30grados.com/en/perfil-de-elevacion-y-pendiente
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  How to Figure Out Your Marathon Pacing 30.07.2026 1j 50mnt

  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 season1:30 Katelyn's Vermont 100 recap & PR breakdown7:50 Crushing a two-hour Vermont 100 PR9:51 Being the happiest runner on the course11:36 Running Newfoundland's hilliest, weirdest towns17:30 Recognized by a fan mid-dinner21:39 Preview: pacing, super shoes & running ceiling25:29 Should you hire a running coach?38:00 What should marathon pace feel like?58:00 Training for a marathon with a demanding job1:20:24 To super shoe or not to super shoe1:35:29 What is your running ceiling?1:48:10 Wrap-up & listener shoutoutsSUPPORT 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/runclub#MarathonTraining #MarathonPace #RunningPodcast #Vermont100 #SuperShoes #RunningCoach #MarathonHandbook