Marathon Handbook Podcast

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/marathon 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 Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

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.com Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

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/marathon 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 Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

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

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

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.com Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon 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 Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

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/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

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/marathon 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 Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

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 Intro 2:05 Sydney Marathon trip announcement 10:07 Announcements: Runs Like Hell, Run Club, and The Green Room 22:46 Sponsor: Kila custom insoles 24:49 Back from break: your questions 25:43 Q&A: Training for two marathons 15 weeks apart 38:06 Sponsor: Orion Sleep 39:23 Back from break 39:31 Q&A: Chasing a fast 800m at 66 years old 50:37 Q&A: Coaching a young runner (age 8) who loves the sport 59:33 Q&A: When to return to marathon training 1:10:10 Sponsor: Momentous creatine 1:12:19 Back from break 1:12:34 Q&A: Should you switch shoes mid-long run? 1:34:26 Wrap-up & sign-off SUPPORT 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/marathon This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com 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 Send us a question: https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Join our newsletter: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

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 year 0:38 Alex #10 — Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 3:52 Michael #10 — On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper (Light Spray) 6:40 Alex #9 — Saucony Endorphin Azura 9:50 Michael #9 — Mizuno Wave Rider 30 12:29 Alex #8 — Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 14:50 Michael #8 — Saucony Ride 19 17:22 Alex #7 — On Cloudboom Strike 2 20:51 Michael #7 — Salomon Gravel Concept Shoe 23:45 Alex #6 — Hoka Clifton Pro 29:13 Michael #6 — Adidas EVO SL ATR 32:09 Alex #5 — Adidas Hyperboost Edge 36:44 Michael #5 — Mount to Coast C1 39:59 Alex #4 — Puma Deviate Nitro 43:19 Michael #4 — Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 46:57 Alex #3 — Asics MetaSleek 51:30 Michael #3 — Tracksmith Eliot Rider 57:16 Alex #2 — Saucony Paramount Max 1:01:40 Michael #2 — Mizuno Neo Vista 3 1:07:17 Alex #1 — Asics Superblast 3 1:12:37 Michael #1 — On Cloudboom Strike 2 LS 1:19:05 Bonus: Trail Shoe Corner 1:20:15 Trail #3 — Nike ACG UltraFly 2 1:21:06 Trail #2 — Asics Metaspeed Fuji Trail 2 1:22:07 Trail #1 — Adidas Gravic Speed Ultra 2 1:24:30 Wrap-up & what's coming at year-end 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

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 Intro 3:25 Growing up in Newport Beach: surfing, skating, and sports 6:16 Getting sober and finding running almost by accident 8:14 His first marathon: OC Marathon, 2019 10:14 The meteoric rise from marathoner to ultrarunning champion 10:37 Training through COVID and building real consistency 12:13 Racing his way into Badwater (Sean O'Brien 100K to Angeles Crest 100) 14:05 Course recon and race-specific prep for Death Valley 14:58 The science of heat training: core temp, sweat tests, and data 17:28 What it's actually like to run Badwater 135 19:12 Race strategy and the back-and-forth battle 21:41 The darkest night: fighting through stomach issues and self-doubt 23:04 The explosion of content creators in ultrarunning 24:16 Balancing brand partnerships with full-time training 26:14 Running is the new skateboarding 28:59 Project-based running vs chasing competitive results 30:32 Cocodona 250: the race he's never finished, his white whale 31:25 What's next: Kodiak 100, UTMB qualifying, and the Go and More Ultra 32:11 Honeymoon plans in Spain (with a little training on the side) 32:59 What his watch showed during the hottest miles of the race 34:25 Do your feet really cook running on Death Valley asphalt? 35:34 Bucket list races: Western States, Barkley, and Tor des Géants Follow 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/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

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 & Icebreakers 4:59 Sponsor: Kila Custom Insoles 7:01 Fall Marathon Training Kicks Off 7:42 Training Updates: Katelyn, Alex & Michael 24:51 Sponsor: Lagoon Sleep Pillows 26:40 Q1: Should You Travel for a Marathon? (London Marathon Lottery) 49:37 Sponsor: Marathon Handbook RunClub 53:01 Q2: Is Cross-Training a Substitute or Compliment to Running? 1:15:04 Q3: Setting a Realistic First Marathon Goal Pace 1:21:07 Q4: Pacing Strategy for Hilly Marathons (Boston) 1:42:15 Q5: Balancing Music and Marathon Training 1:54:11 Wrap-Up & Announcements SUPPORT 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/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Elevation Calculator: https://30grados.com/en/perfil-de-elevacion-y-pendiente

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