Marathon Handbook Podcast

Marathon Handbook
  • 4.9 (62)
  • RUNNING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

  1. 14H AGO

    Cole Hocker’s Record Mile, Faith Kipyegon’s Road Debut & The Jeans Marathon Phenomenon

    This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the biggest stories in the running world. Cole Hocker runs 3:45.94 to set a new American indoor mile record — the second-fastest indoor mile ever. What does it mean for the global mile scene? Faith Kipyegon surprises everyone by racing her first-ever road 10K in Monaco. After dominating the 1500m for years, is this the beginning of a move toward the marathon? Check out our Barkley Marathon episode!https://youtu.be/F0XU2NqKCxA Super Shoe Rankings:https://youtu.be/Jbb1KIH-3qI We also discuss: Sam Ruth’s latest performance on US soil On’s new super shoe prototype approved by World Athletics The Super Bowl halftime performer who logged his show on Strava Truett Hanes running 2:36 at the Austin Marathon — in full-length jeans Whether the “Jeans Guy” can realistically qualify for the US Olympic Marathon Trials New episodes of The Running Story drop weekly, covering the biggest stories in track, road racing, and marathoning. 00:00 – Intro: This Week in Running News00:30 – Barkley Special Episode Mention01:10 – Story 1: Cole Hocker Breaks Indoor Mile Record02:30 – Sam Ruth’s Big Test Against Elite Milers04:50 – What’s Next for Sam Ruth in 202605:45 – Story 2: Super Bowl Halftime Show Logged on Strava06:30 – Viral Sugar Cane Costume Workout Explained07:30 – How Strava Got Him a NYC Marathon Bib08:45 – Story 3: On’s New Super Shoe Prototype Leak09:30 – World Athletics Approval & Prototype Rules10:15 – Helen Obiri’s London Marathon Opportunity11:00 – New Midsole Tech and Cloudboom Updates13:15 – Can On Compete With Nike & Adidas?14:30 – Story 4: Faith Kipyegon’s Surprise Road 10K Debut15:30 – Negative Split Win in Monaco16:30 – Could Faith Kipyegon Run a Marathon One Day?19:30 – Story 5: Truett Hanes “Jeans Guy” Austin Marathon20:40 – Running 2:36 in Denim: How Serious Is He?21:45 – Olympic Trials Standard: Still a Long Way to Go22:45 – Tearaway Jeans vs Racing Shorts Debate24:50 – Wrap-Up & Subscribe for Weekly Episodes

    26 min

  2. 15H AGO

    Barkley Marathons 2026: Why No One Finished (Again)

    The 2026 Barkley Marathons delivered one of the most brutal editions in race history — and for the second year in a row, no one finished. In this episode of The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack everything that happened at this year’s Barkley Marathons in Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park. They discuss: Why the February start made this year historic How cold rain, fog, and creek crossings shaped the race The shockingly low Loop 1 completion rate The lone “fun run” finisher The top women’s performances The mysterious reporting style of the Barkley Whether Lazarus Lake made the race too hard What 2027 might look like Is the Barkley Marathons supposed to be nearly impossible — or has the balance tipped too far? If you love ultrarunning, trail running, and deep race analysis, this episode is for you. Interview with Keith Dunn: ⁠⁠https://marathonhandbook.com/meet-keith-dunn-the-mad-tweeter-of-the-barkley-marathons/⁠⁠ New episodes of The Running Story drop weekly.

    39 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Dream Race Draft 2026: London, NYC, UTMB & The Ultimate Running Calendar

    If you could run any race in the world next year… what would you choose? SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.com This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com In this episode, we host our second annual Marathon Handbook Fantasy Race Draft, building the ultimate 2026 race calendar. Each of us must draft: A Spring & Fall 5K A Spring & Fall 10K A Spring & Fall Half Marathon A Spring & Fall Marathon One true ultra (50K+ trail) One wildcard raceAnd we can only pick one race per country. From the London Marathon and NYC Marathon to UTMB, Valencia, Athens, Patagonia, Japan’s iconic relay culture, and some unexpected 5Ks — we debate speed vs experience, strategy vs bucket list, and which races are truly worth traveling for. Who built the best year of racing? Let us know what YOUR dream race calendar would look like.

    1h 59m

  4. FEB 10

    World Record Chaos, Kipchoge at the Olympics & the Rise of Brooks

    This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack one of the strangest controversies in recent running history. A men’s half marathon world record — the fastest ever run — has officially been disqualified nearly a year later. We break down why World Athletics made the call, how much advantage pacing vehicles really provide, and what it means for the sport moving forward. Plus: Eliud Kipchoge shows up at the Winter Olympics in a surprising Nike activation Brooks posts massive global growth and quietly becomes running’s most dominant brand Femke Bol debuts at 800m and immediately makes history Andre De Grasse swaps the track for the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game From elite performance to brand strategy and Olympic storylines, this episode covers everything runners need to know this week. 🎙️ New episodes every week from Marathon Handbook 📌 Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of the biggest stories in running, track & field, and endurance sports.📩 Questions about training, race previews, or to send us your hot takes? Email us at podcast@marathonhandbook.com.🎤 Leave us a voice memo for our mailbag episodes: marathonhandbook.com/podcast📸 Instagram: @marathon.handbook📰 Join 265,000+ runners getting our daily newsletter: marathonhandbook.com/newsletter

    21 min

  5. FEB 5

    Running on a Budget: Can You Train & Race for a Year on $2,000?

    Running is often called a “cheap” sport — but anyone training seriously knows that’s not the full story. In this episode, the Marathon Handbook team takes on a challenge inspired by listener feedback: build a full year of training, racing, shoes, gear, and nutrition for under $2,000. 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. Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.com We cover: Realistic race schedules and entry fees How many shoes you actually need Where to save (and where not to) Budget alternatives to expensive nutrition Smart strategies for buying last-year’s gear Each host creates a completely different runner avatar — from beginner to experienced marathoner — and defends every dollar spent. If you’ve ever wondered how to make running more affordable without cutting corners that matter, this episode is for you. Chapters/Topics:3:07 The Rules8:22 Goal Races26:04 Shoes46:26 Apparel1:18:13 Tech1:28:40 Nutrition1:40:57 Grand Totals1:42:42 Biggest Splurges1:46:34 Largest Compromise?1:47:27 What Would You Cut?1:48:39 What Would You Upgrade?1:50:23 Budget Advice for New Runners

    1h 56m
  6. King Charles at Parkrun, Olympians Get Paid, VO₂ Max History + A 16-Year-Old Runs 3:48

    FEB 2

    King Charles at Parkrun, Olympians Get Paid, VO₂ Max History + A 16-Year-Old Runs 3:48

    Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth return with five of the most intriguing running stories of the week: King Charles III makes a surprise appearance at a parkrun in Norfolk (0:56). A billionaire pledges $100M to support U.S. Olympic athletes — with delayed payouts and major conditions (6:16). Sha’Carri Richardson faces legal trouble after being clocked at 100 mph (12:00). Triathlon star Kristian Blummenfelt records the highest VO₂ max ever measured (15:34). 16-year-old Sam Ruthe shocks the sport with a historic 3:48 mile in Boston (18:36) Plus, Jessy shares his early picks for the London Marathon. New episodes every Monday evening — subscribe and stay caught up on the running world.

    28 min
  7. Sam Parsons: Olympian, Early Running YouTuber, and the Pro Runner Building What’s Next

    FEB 1

    Sam Parsons: Olympian, Early Running YouTuber, and the Pro Runner Building What’s Next

    Olympian and professional runner Sam Parsons joins Alex Cyr on the Marathon Handbook Podcast for a deep, honest conversation about elite running, creativity, and life beyond racing. Sam reflects on his early days with Tin Man Elite and becoming one of the first elite runners to document his career on YouTube (00:00), balancing wedding planning with professional sport (04:30), and his recent Achilles injury and recovery (06:00). He discusses the realities of moving from track to road racing (14:40), why elite runners need interests beyond performance (18:30), and breaks down FAVES, the athlete-focused tech platform he’s building (20:40). The conversation also covers Sam’s work with Tracksmith (42:10), the truth about super shoes and sponsorship leverage (47:40), his decision to move from Boulder to Los Angeles (56:00), and finishes with a fast-money round and reflections on fulfillment (01:03:10). Follow Sam Parsons on IG: https://www.instagram.com/par_sam_sons/https://www.instagram.com/par_sam_sons/ Host: Alex Cyr Guest: Sam Parsons Editor/Producer: A. Smithee Special thanks to Massimo Alpian at Tracksmith

    1h 10m

  8. JAN 29

    The Ultimate Half Marathon Guide: Training, Pacing, Fueling + Bucket List Races

    The half marathon might be the most popular race distance in the world — but is it actually the perfect running event? In this episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle is joined by coaches and athletes Katelyn Tocci and Alex Cyr for a complete deep dive into the half marathon. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: ⁠livemomentous.com Rocket Money saves you money by cancelling unwanted subscriptions, hassle-free: https://rocketmoney.com/gorun We discuss: • The surprising origins of the half marathon • Why it feels more like a 10K than a marathon • The key workouts that build half marathon fitness • Long run guidelines for beginners vs advanced runners • Race-week pacing strategy and the “15K wall” • Fueling rules (when gels actually matter) • Strength training mistakes runners make • Best bucket list half marathons: Valencia, Copenhagen, NYC, Super Halves • Should the half marathon be an Olympic event? • And… what should we rename the half marathon? Whether you're racing your first 13.1 or chasing a PR, this is your complete half marathon handbook. Half Marathon Training Plans: https://marathonhandbook.com• Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter Topics/Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:23 Half Marathon Overview 2:06 Origins of the Half Marathon 9:35 Popularity of the Half Marathon 19:11 What Kind of Race is It? (Comparing to 10K and Marathon) 28:21 Physiology of the Half 36:33 Why the Half is Hard 41:51 Why the Half is Misunderstood 44:51 Weekly Training Structure 48:00 Key Half Marathon Workouts 53:59 Common Training Mistakes 58:06 Long Runs 1:02:01 Fueling During the Race 1:04:44 Carb Loading for a Half 1:08:59 Post-Race Recovery 1:12:27 Are Hot Tubs Overrated? 1:15:39 Travel-Worthy Half Marathons 1:23:04 Half Marathon and Olympics 1:26:29 Rebranding the Half 1:33:07 Final Thoughts on the Half

    1h 35m
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4.9
out of 5
62 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Marathon Handbook
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    140
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marathon Handbook
  • Show Website
    Marathon Handbook Podcast

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