Marathon Talk Deena Kastor & Martin Yelling

When you overcome the voice in your head telling you to tap out, that’s where a true champion is made.
Such wise words come from a man whose past does not define his future - double amputee Cedric King is achieving the double this weekend with some huge Boston and London finishes.
His story is pure distilled inspiration; listen this week to learn more, as Martin & Deena also recap the highlights from a blistering Boston race, break down London’s lineup, and bring some post-race focus to Training Talk.
In this episode of Marathon Talk:
0:00 - Martin & Deena touch base on their recent escapades, with some takeaways for those struggling to train through challenging weather
4:50 - In a huge roundup, we recap Boston’s biggest stories from a title defence in the women’s race to domination in the men’s and men’s wheelchair races, plus a look ahead to this weekend’s stacked lineup for the TCS London Marathon
27:00 - Training Talk this week touches on post-race reconciliation - what should you do with your body and your mind immediately after a marathon, and how do you thank your body for what it’s achieved?
31:45 - The remarkable Cedric King joins us to discuss his journey as a double amputee, the battle between talent vs will, and why living in the moment might be the key to distance running success
Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

All that running does for wellbeing is well-documented, but Helen Thorn’s marathon journey is an uplifting reminder to us all.
 
In the wake of a divorce, it became a central tenet to her mental health - now it’s central to her huge goal this year to run Boston and London back to back!
 
This week’s Marathon Talk shines a light on the mental wellness that so many find in running, we celebrate Jasmin Paris’ stellar Berkley Marathon performance, and Training Talk tackles the tailored tips to a flawless race in Boston.
 
In this episode of Marathon Talk:
0:00 - We kick off with a poignant recording period for Deena in preparation for Mental Health Awareness Month, and Martin hails the UK’s recent sunny spells
6:40 - Rounding off recent stories, we praise Jasmin Paris’ world-first performance in the infamous Barkley Marathon, cover the East African dominance at World Cross, and look ahead to Boston’s promising race
18:10 - Training Talk: Boston Edition! Deena shares her invaluable experience for those now entering their taper stage for the race on April 15th
22:35 - Helen Thorn joins us in a heartfelt discussion on the power that running has for mental wellbeing, her journey from beginner to marathon finisher, and how she’ll take on the huge feat of Boston and London back to back
Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

This week’s guest needs no introduction to Deena - he’s her coach, her husband, and now a Boston Marathon qualifier after an admirable performance in LA.
It’s a joy to catch up with Coach Kastor fresh from his 3 hour and 13 minute run as he shares the unique experience of coaching himself, his best recovery tips, and how to prepare your training cycle for a marathon far into the future.
Elsewhere in the show we spotlight a stacked field for the upcoming London Marathon, and in Training Talk we guide you through the do’s and don’ts of the final phase of your training.
In this episode of Marathon Talk:
0:45 - Deena and Martin catch up on the last two weeks, from the LA Marathon and speaking at UCLA, to Martin’s Purbeck Loop and a sweary sheep-herding story, plus coverage of a staggering new World Record
9:50 - We bring the latest on a London Marathon field that’s absolutely stacked with elite runners, and a men’s lineup which will bring us a first-time champion
20:00 - Training Talk this week focuses on the do’s and don’ts in the late stages of prep, why ‘less is best’ at this point, and the unexpected power of doing a ‘kit lay’
29:10 - Deena’s coach and husband, Andrew Kastor, takes us through his recent LA Marathon experience, how he coaches himself through races, his top recovery advice, and how to build a training schedule to target a marathon 12 months out
Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Marathons form very unique bonds within the running community, but when your life is in your guide’s hands it’s truly a bond like no other.
That’s where Six Star hopeful Mark Rogerson’s story sheds light on the joys of running - he joins us on this week’s Marathon Talk fresh from a PB-setting Tokyo race with guide runner Katie Garrity.
Join us this week as we round off all the other stories from the first Abbott World Marathon Major of the year, from surprising slow runs, to sprint-finish drama in the Women’s Wheelchair race.
In this episode of Marathon Talk:
0:00 - Martin and Deena kick things off with a retrospective on the Indoor Athletics World Championships, and Martin’s endeavours to dust off the road bike in spite of some savage weather conditions
8:55 - We round up the hottest news from the first Abbott World Marathon Major of the season, with shock slumps from Kipchoge and Hassan, the sprint finish in the Women’s Wheelchair race, and the 2,628 runners earning their sixth Star
22:20 - Training Talk this week tackles the vital final five weeks of race prep, and the emphasis on nailing that all-important final long run
29:10 - Mark Rogerson and Katie Garrity talk us through the complexities of training on opposite sides of the Atlantic, their emotional Tokyo experience, and how they’ll take on that all-important sixth Star

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

The 2024 Abbott World Marathon Majors season has arrived! It all starts this Sunday in Tokyo with Eliud Kipchoge AND Sifan Hassan both on the start line.
 
This episode we dive into the elite races, talk pre-race prep and preview a crop of Six Star hopefuls looking to get their hands on that medal. 
 
One of whom is Becs Gentry, who joins Martin and Deena this week, sharing her mental strategies for staying motivated during the race and offers valuable tips for maximising training time. 
 
In this episode of Marathon Talk:
8:57: We delve into the Men’s preview, including Benson Kipruto, who is no stranger to the Majors podiums, and Kipchoge revving up for his 12th win.
13:39: Next up it’s the Women’s preview, as Sifan Hassan goes for three wins from three different Majors in her first three marathons ever - never been done before.
20:02: The wheelchair races are going to be intriguing with no victory from Marcel Hug and no Catherine Debrunner who was so dominant in the back half of the season last year. 
22:32: On to the Six Star Finishers with more than 2600 due to collect their medal this year - the second biggest group ever. 
25:43: Becs Gentry share her hopes for Tokyo and her top tips
58:32: This week’s Training Talk covers marathon strategies for any weather conditions. 
 
Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/
 

In 2013, Kelvin Kiptum participated in his first half marathon. 10 years and three game-changing marathons later, his was a World Record to be reckoned with.
 
A light that shone so incredibly brightly and all too briefly, Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, sadly died on Sunday 11th of February in Kenya.
 
We’re taking this episode of Marathon Talk to explore the stellar highlights of his career, and share in his irreplaceable impact on the marathon community with Chicago’s Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski, and Author of Running With The Kenyans, Adharanand Finn.
 
In this episode of Marathon Talk:
0:00 - We take a moment of silence to remember Kelvin & Gervais, relive the moment that he stormed to the finish line at the London Marathon, and follow the journey he took to marathon glory
20:00 - Chicago’s Executive Race Director, Carey Pinkowski, joins us to relive the moment that he shattered the fastest time in human history, and discusses the impact that he made on Chicago and the marathon community as a whole
36:20 - Kelvin’s performances earned him praise from the community’s greatest, and we parse through some of the most glowing quotes shared in his wake
41:00 - Adharanand Finn, Author of Running With The Kenyans, shares his experiences of Gervais & Kelvin’s impact on the community in Kenya, diving into just how family-focused he and his community are
 
Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/
 
Abbott World Marathon Majors
https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/
https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/
Martin Yelling
https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/
Deena Kastor
https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/
Adharanand Finn
https://www.instagram.com/adharanand