Sweat Elite Podcast

Sweat Elite

Interviews with Elite Athletes, Professional Coaches, Sport Scientists and Thought Leaders in the Sport of Running.

  1. 8h ago

    Diabolically Hard Run Workouts w/ Jack Kelly

    Jack Kelly from The Triathlon Hour returns to the Sweat Elite Podcast for a fun challenge - ranking six running workouts from manageable to completely diabolical. Along the way, we debate stop recoveries versus float recoveries, discuss whether marathon pace should be guided by effort or pace, explore the biggest differences between training for running and triathlon, and explain why some workouts are far harder mentally than physically. We also share how weather, fueling, terrain and fatigue should influence the execution of key marathon sessions. The episode finishes with the hardest workouts either of us has ever designed. Jack unveils a brutal 29.6 km session combining marathon pace with repeated half-marathon-pace intervals, while Matt shares a relentless 25 km progressive run that finishes faster than goal marathon pace. If you're looking for new training ideas or simply want to hear two coaches dissect what makes a great workout, this episode is packed with practical insights and plenty of debate. Jack Kelly / The Triathlon Hour Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackkellytri/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gjZJMzMev7LvylirVjIGD?si=b3f1e6f64841417d YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetriathlonhour Matt Fox / Sweat Elite Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite Timestamps 00:00 Welcome Back Banter 00:53 The Hat Story 02:48 Six Workout Challenge 06:02 Stop Rest Debate 07:57 Workout 1 - Most People Could Do 10:21 Workout 2 - Moderate 15:10 Workout 3 - Challenging 21:59 Workout 4 - Hard 29:36 Level 5 - Really really hard 36:56 Level 6 - Diabolicaly hard! 43:51 Fueling Weather Logistics 46:27 Wrap Up Next Rivalry Tease These workouts are discussed for educational and entertainment purposes. Adjust the volume, intensity and recovery to suit your experience, current fitness and training goals.

  2. 3d ago

    Is Lighter Always Faster? Weight Loss, RED-S, and Fueling Risks for Runners - Dr David Lipman

    Is getting lighter always the answer for runners chasing faster race times? Matt Fox is joined by Dr David Lipman for a short, sharp discussion about weight loss, performance, RED-S and the risks of taking leanness too far. Dr David Lipman Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidlipman/ Website: https://www.drdavidjlipman.com/ Listen to David's Podcast For more conversations exploring the science, psychology and hidden stories behind sport, check out 1% Better - Hidden Stories in Sport, co-hosted by Xylon van Eyck and Dr David Lipman. Matt Fox Links Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Email: matt@sweatelite.co Matt and David explore why being lighter does not automatically make an athlete faster. Although reducing excess body fat may improve running economy and performance, there is a lower limit where continued weight loss can begin to compromise health, recovery and long-term performance. Matt shares his own experience of becoming faster after losing weight, while David explains why the human body cannot be treated like a simple machine. Some body fat may provide an important energy buffer because the absorption and use of fuel can vary between athletes and from day to day. They examine Ryan Hall's experience as a cautionary example. Hall initially improved while becoming extremely lean, but his performance and health eventually declined after taking the process too far. This temporary improvement can create a dangerous "more is better" mindset, where athletes continue restricting food because the early results appear positive. The conversation also breaks down Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, commonly known as RED-S. Rather than viewing RED-S as the result of one isolated mistake, David describes it using a stress bucket model. Training load, inadequate fueling, poor sleep, work pressure and other life stressors can accumulate until the athlete's ability to recover is overwhelmed. Matt and David discuss carbohydrate periodization and carb cycling, including when lower-carbohydrate training may have a place within an endurance program. However, they stress that these strategies do not eliminate the risks of chronic under-fueling. Athletes still require adequate carbohydrates, protein and dietary fat to support performance, recovery and overall health. They also cover behaviours associated with disordered eating, the spectrum between structured nutrition and unhealthy restriction, whether runners should deliberately lose muscle mass, and the difficult tradeoffs that can exist between short-term performance and long-term health. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Is Lighter Always Faster? 00:43 Fat Buffer and Absorption 01:31 Ryan Hall Cautionary Tale 02:38 When Leanness Backfires 03:28 RED-S and the Stress Bucket 06:27 Carb Cycling and Risk 08:43 Macronutrients and Carb Periodization 10:29 The Disordered Eating Spectrum 12:13 Muscle Mass vs Running Goals 13:20 Health and Performance Tradeoffs 14:28 Wrap Up and Thanks This conversation is provided for general educational purposes and is not individual medical or nutritional advice. Athletes concerned about RED-S, disordered eating or persistent under-fueling should speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

  3. Jul 25

    The Secret Marathon Workouts YOU Need To Know w/ Jack Kelly

    Jack Kelly joins the Sweat Elite Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on massive weight loss, injury prevention, marathon training, running performance for triathletes, heat adaptation, recovery, and the small "one percenters" that can make a big difference. Follow Jack Kelly / The Triathlon Hour: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetriathlonhour/ Jack Kelly with Elliot Jenkins - Heat Training: Listen on Spotify Follow Matt / Sweat Elite: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3152859 Sweat Elite Supporters Club: https://www.sweatelite.co/supporters/ Jack is the host of The Triathlon Hour and a coach working with professional triathletes. In this episode, we discuss his transformation from around 125kg down toward 80kg, the unconventional approach he used to lose weight while staying injury-free, and why walking, varied movement and high-frequency training may be underrated tools for endurance athletes. We then go deep into marathon training, breaking down some of our favourite sessions including 25 x 600m, 1K on/1K float, progression long runs, 2K repetitions, long marathon-pace intervals and the classic 2 x 10K marathon dress rehearsal. We also discuss sleep consistency, post-workout carbohydrate intake, creatine, Nomio, sauna and heat adaptation, occasional "hero sessions," energy drinks, and the importance of considering heart health when using stimulants. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Jack Kelly Joins 00:27 Japan Detention Story 02:49 Weight Loss Turning Point 07:57 Andorra Reset Plan 12:18 Walking For Resilience 16:55 Secret Injury Proofing 25:25 Coaching Career Highlights 27:51 Ari Klau Progress 30:18 Triathletes Running Fast 35:49 Marathon Million Dollar Hypothetical 36:26 Fastest Triathlon Marathon 38:08 Kristian Marathon Potential 39:14 Gustav Motivation Question 39:50 The Secret Marathon Workouts You Need to Know 01:36:12 The Six 1%'ers You Can Focus On To Imrove 01:39:51 Japan Detention Sleep Reset 01:41:02 Irony of Gummies and Jail 01:42:23 Sleep Aids and Insomnia 01:43:35 Recovery Fuel After Training 01:46:15 Creatine Water Weight Explained 01:47:52 Nomio Supplement Deep Dive 01:54:17 Sauna and Heat Adaptation 01:57:37 Hero Sessions Superman Cape 02:01:12 Monster Energy Pre Race Ritual 02:03:25 Heart Health and Stimulants 02:05:00 Wrap Up and Where to Follow Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. Always consider your individual health circumstances and seek appropriate professional advice where necessary.

  4. Jul 22

    The Truth About Losing Weight to Run Faster

    Race Weight and Carb Cycling: Losing Weight to Get Faster Without Sacrificing Key Workouts Welcome back to another short, sharp sub 15-minute episode. Today, I discuss the relationship between race weight and endurance performance, using examples including Josh Kerr, the new mile world record holder, Comrades Marathon winner George Kusche, and Olympic triathlon champion Kristian Blummenfelt. I explain how losing weight has helped me improve my own marathon time from 2:35 to 2:18, while also addressing the risks of aggressive dieting and underfueling. This episode is not intended for anyone with a history of eating disorders, and I am sharing my personal experience rather than professional nutritional advice. I break down how I use a moderate calorie deficit on most days while carb cycling around important workouts. The goal is to fuel heavily with carbohydrates for approximately 12 hours before and three hours after key sessions, then return to lower-calorie, filling foods during easier periods. Matt's Links Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ Email: matt@sweatelite.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Episode Timestamps 00:00 Elite Weight Clues 02:05 Podcast Setup and Warning 03:55 My Race Weight Journey 06:04 Critics and Risk 08:14 Calorie Deficit Basics 10:21 Carb Cycling for Workouts 12:52 Foods That Keep You Full 14:11 Resources and Wrap Up

  5. Jul 15

    Allie May on Her 2:36:22 Gold Coast Marathon Debut, Even Splits, and Transition from Surf Lifesaving to Road Racing

    Eight days after her outstanding marathon debut at the Gold Coast Marathon, Allie May joins the Sweat Elite Podcast to break down her 2:36:22 performance, her journey from elite surf lifesaving to road racing, and the lessons she learned from her first marathon. Allie May Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allieeemay/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/52067205/ Matt Fox Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ Email: matt@sweatelite.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Allie shares how she executed an almost perfect even split of 1:18:11 for both halves, why she targeted a 2:35 debut, what surprised her most over 42.2km, and how she recovered in the days after the race. She also reflects on her background in the Ironwoman Series and the Coolangatta Gold, explains how those endurance events prepared her for the marathon, and discusses her transition to road racing after having children. The conversation also covers her training environment, nutrition and fueling strategy, overcoming previous struggles with disordered eating with the help of a dietitian, shoe choices, strength training, racing alongside Reenie Ringe, and what's next after an impressive marathon debut. Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Allie May 00:30 Even Split Breakdown 01:46 Recovery After Gold Coast 02:26 Surf Lifesaving Roots 03:52 What Is Surf Lifesaving 06:14 Early Running and Training Load 09:02 Switching to Road Racing 11:36 Marathon Fear and Respect 14:25 Chasing a 2:35 Debut 16:13 First Marathon Block Lessons 17:32 Team Training and Balance 20:20 Nutrition and Fueling Mindset 25:52 Fueling Matters Most 26:25 Race Day Nutrition Plan 28:54 Shoe Rotation Choices 30:49 Carbon Shoes Debate 32:07 Elite Start Experience 35:13 Doubts and Dark Patches 38:31 Next Goals and Races 41:21 Strength Training Add On 42:39 Wrap Up and Where to Follow

  6. Jul 9

    From Addiction Rehab to a 2:38 Marathon - Jack Ahern

    Jack Ahern joins the podcast just days after running a 2:38 PB at the Gold Coast Marathon. Matt and Jack talk through his build, racing while sick, marathon-specific training, hill sprints, fueling, Bali heat training, his Berlin Marathon goals, and Jack's powerful story of recovering from meth addiction and rebuilding his life through sport. Jack Ahern Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackahearn_/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/49569041 Matt Fox Links Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ Email: matt@sweatelite.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Show Notes Jack Ahern joins the Sweat Elite Podcast just days after running a 2:38 marathon PB at the Gold Coast Marathon. Despite being sick for weeks in the lead-up, dealing with flu-like symptoms, headaches, IV drips, and a WHOOP recovery score of just 3% on race morning, Jack still managed to hold things together and come away with a personal best. Jack breaks down his training block, including half marathon tune-ups around 1:14:30, a small PB in Perth, marathon-specific workouts, and the consistent use of short 10-20 second hill sprints. He explains how the build gave him confidence, how he approached Gold Coast, and what he learned from being dropped by the 2:35-2:36 group around 32-34km. The conversation also covers Jack's fueling, what he will adjust before Berlin, and why he believes training in the Bali heat gives him an edge. Jack also shares his background with rare honesty, speaking about teen methamphetamine use, crime, police raids, rehab in Bali, halfway house life, and how he eventually rebuilt himself through sport, COVID-era running challenges, ultras, coaching, and the marathon. Timestamps 00:00 Gold Coast PB Intro 02:34 Training Block Overview 03:55 Half Marathon Tune Ups 05:21 Marathon Mindset 09:47 Hill Sprints Explained 16:49 Sickness Before Race 21:59 Race Day Recap 26:36 Lessons and Berlin Goals 31:17 Addiction Story Begins 36:07 Police Raids Fallout 38:18 Choosing Rehab Abroad 40:35 Life Inside Bali Rehab 43:07 Halfway House Reset 44:46 Back to Sport and Fitness 46:16 COVID Runs and Ultras 48:47 Marathon Spark and Sub Three 50:53 Goals and Mindset 53:29 Fueling the 2:38 57:27 Bali Heat Training Edge 01:00:15 Coaching in Hot Conditions 01:03:27 Wrap Up and Where to Follow

  7. Jul 6

    Coach Kyle Weise Breaks 2:30 at Gold Coast Marathon: Race Recap, Fueling & Cramping

    Recorded 24 hours after the Gold Coast Marathon, Matt and Kyle recap Kyle's first sub-2:30 marathon, running 2:29:23 after coming in with a previous PB of 2:31. Kyle talks through an otherwise smooth and consistent race, including a brief hamstring cramp around 40K that he managed with a CrampFix shot. Kyle Weise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyle_weise/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3517976 Matt Fox Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ Email: matt@sweatelite.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Kyle explains joining the 2:30 pack paced by Scott Westcott, feeling strong through 30K when the pacer stepped off, then leading much of the final 10K before enjoying the final kilometer once the sub-2:30 buffer was clear. They also discuss his fueling strategy of around 90 grams of carbs per hour, missing a late gel, the impact of faster-than-goal-pace training, cadence changes, and the favorable low-humidity race conditions. The conversation also covers Haftu's Australian record of 2:06:20, crowd support, Gold Coast course logistics, and several athlete results including Marty's 2:42 PB and Ally's debut 2:36:22 with dead-even splits. Matt and Kyle also dive into the wider mystery of marathon cramping, possible causes, and practical strategies runners can consider. Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Timestamps 00:00 Sub 2:30 Breakthrough 00:43 Late Race Cramp Fix 04:12 Pack Strategy and Taper 07:32 Taking the Lead at 30K 10:11 Final 3K Math and Finish 12:55 Fueling and Training Keys 17:40 Conditions and Humidity 20:02 Pacing the Sub 2:40 Group 22:47 Crowd Support and Course Vibes 25:39 Course Design Debate 29:22 Australian Record Shock 32:01 Ethan Drops Out 33:12 Prize Money Debate 34:18 Women's Winner Recap 34:42 Marty's Marathon PB 36:57 40K Cheering Stories 39:11 Ally's Even Splits 41:52 More Team Highlights 44:04 Marathon Cramp Mystery 54:31 CrampFix And Strategies 57:03 What's Next Plans 59:46 Final Wrap Up

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Interviews with Elite Athletes, Professional Coaches, Sport Scientists and Thought Leaders in the Sport of Running.

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