Marathon Handbook Podcast
- Episodes
- 198
- Released
- several times a week
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
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: [email protected]
Episodes 198
How to Build and Recover Between Marathons
Are super shoes getting too much credit? In this mailbag episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci answer your running questions. They also debate whether anyone could …
Show notes
Are super shoes getting too much credit? In this mailbag episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci answer your running questions. They also debate whether anyone could break 2 hours in the marathon without super shoes.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:
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.
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:
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https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/Chapters (9)
Jess McClain on Her 2nd Place NYC Marathon Finish
Jess McClain finished second at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. In the last two miles she came back from no man’s land, ran every tangent through Central Park and passed Hellen Obiri in the final steps …
Show notes
Jess McClain finished second at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. In the last two miles she came back from no man’s land, ran every tangent through Central Park and passed Hellen Obiri in the final steps before the finish line.
Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr sit down with Jess to go through the race. She explains the moment she decided top five wasn’t good enough, why she’d “rather die than get fourth again,” and how she stayed calm when Obiri and Sheila Chepkirui pulled away at 36K. She also tells them about Tracy Morgan crying at the start line.
Michael's article:
https://marathonhandbook.com/jess-mcclain-hellen-obiri-nyc-marathon-tangents/Thanks to Brooks for helping set up this interview.
Chapters (10)
Mile Zero NYC 2026: Emma Grace Hurley & Clayton Young
At the New York City Marathon edition of Mile Zero, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci were joined by some surprise guests.Olympic marathon champion Frank Shorter and NYC Marathon co-founder George …
Show notes
At the New York City Marathon edition of Mile Zero, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci were joined by some surprise guests.
Olympic marathon champion Frank Shorter and NYC Marathon co-founder George Hirsch take us back to 1976, the year of the first five-borough course, and explain how a struggling city agreed to close its streets for a marathon. Next, Emma Grace Hurley talks through her record-setting Chicago Marathon debut: running 22 miles alone with her pacer, the 35/35 workout that got her ready, and why she trusts her coach more than herself. Clayton Young follows with his top-American, 2:05 finish in Chicago. He covers racing on a split hamstring tear, treating the pressure as practice for LA 2028, Vinny Mauri’s mid-race stretching breaks, and his prediction for Conner Mantz in New York. The show wraps up with a live audience Q&A on handling injuries, the pain cave, youth sports and post-race meals.
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 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.
Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
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/Chapters (15)
2026 New York City Marathon Instant Reactions
SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: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, Katelyn, and Alex …
Show notes
SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:
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, Katelyn, and Alex react to the 2026 NYC Marathon, covering the biggest stories and surprises of the day.
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/NYC Marathon 2026 Elite Men Interviews
We talked to the top men in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon field at Thursday’s media availability. Defending champion Benson Kipruto is here, along with top Americans Conner Mantz and Zouhair Talbi. So is …
Show notes
We talked to the top men in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon field at Thursday’s media availability. Defending champion Benson Kipruto is here, along with top Americans Conner Mantz and Zouhair Talbi. So is Sweden’s Andreas Almgren, whose marathon debut might be the most hyped in recent memory.
Almgren explains his plan to sit with the leaders and kick, and talks about the possibility of a 10,000m and marathon double at LA 2028. Talbi talks about his rivalry with Mantz, explains why he thinks he’s America’s best marathoner, and responds to people who doubt his Boston run. Kipruto, in his 10th year of marathon running, says he isn’t worried about who’s next to him at mile 25. Each athlete also does a lightning round: race shoes, carbs per hour, bicarb and Nomio, mantras, favourite runners, Harry Styles, toenails, trash talk, finishing time predictions, Kalshi odds, and lifetime bans for EPO.
Chapters (6)
NYC Marathon 2026 Elite Women Interviews
Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth talked to four of the top women in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon field at Thursday’s media availability. Hellen Obiri is the defending champion, Jess McClain was the top …
Show notes
Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth talked to four of the top women in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon field at Thursday’s media availability. Hellen Obiri is the defending champion, Jess McClain was the top American in Boston, Weini Kelati is making her debut, and Julia Paternain of Uruguay took bronze at the World Championships.
Jess McClain talks about her race plan, her training (mileage, doubles and workouts), and her reaction to the latest EPO news. Julia Paternain describes how her life has changed since the World Championships, what she learned in London, and what she thinks should be done about doping. Hellen Obiri, the “queen of New York,” gives her three tips for running NYC and explains why she races so well without pacers. Kelati talks about her move to the marathon, the eight-year American podium drought, and what Emma Grace Hurley’s debut means to her. Each athlete also does a lightning round: race shoes, carbs per hour, mantras, favourite runners, Harry Styles, toenails, trash talk, the Olympic qualifying window, finishing time predictions, and Kalshi odds.
Chapters (6)
NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer on World Marathon Majors Expansion and a Potential Two-Day NYC Marathon
It’s New York City Marathon week, and in this bonus episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, host Michael Doyle sits down with Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners (NYRR) and a board member of the …
Show notes
It’s New York City Marathon week, and in this bonus episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, host Michael Doyle sits down with Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners (NYRR) and a board member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Rob explains why NYC Marathon demand is so hard to meet. Close to a quarter million people applied for the lottery, and only about 1% got in through the drawing. He covers why NYRR capped the 9+1 program and how the race balances charity entries, international runners and its 100,000+ members. Rob also shares his view on how many World Marathon Majors there should be, with Shanghai on deck, open questions about South America and India, and how the majors plan to protect the Six Star medal. He gives a rare look at how the WMM board operates.
Michael also asks Rob directly whether New York could follow London and become a two-day, 100,000-runner event. They talk about how NYRR handles celebrity runners and security, and whether Harry Styles plans to run the TCS New York City Marathon the morning after his final Madison Square Garden show. Rob closes with what’s planned for the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, the best places to watch on race day, and his favorite moment on the course: the quiet climb over the Queensboro Bridge.
Come see us live! NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, Oct 31, Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574NYC Shakeout Run, Oct. 31 Tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wahoo-x-marathon-handbook-nyc-shakeout-run-tickets-2003193817633?aff=erelpanelorgJoin 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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Should You Change Your Running Form?
The Marathon Handbook team is heading to New York for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. Before they get there, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci answer a big batch of listener questions.SUPPORT OUR …
Show notes
The Marathon Handbook team is heading to New York for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. Before they get there, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci answer a big batch of listener questions.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
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.
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.
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_notesOffer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon
Chapters
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Mile Zero Toronto 2026: Alex Hutchinson and Natasha Wodak
Mile Zero goes to Toronto! Recorded live in front of an audience during Toronto Waterfront Marathon weekend, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci sit down with two of Canada’s biggest names in …
Show notes
Mile Zero goes to Toronto! Recorded live in front of an audience during Toronto Waterfront Marathon weekend, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci sit down with two of Canada’s biggest names in running.
First up is sports science journalist Alex Hutchinson, author of Endure and The Explorer’s Gene. He sorts the supplements that work from the hype: bicarb, caffeine, beet juice, creatine, Nomio, lactate gels and carbs per hour. He also gives his take on training in super shoes and recovery gadgets, and he previews his upcoming book, This Is Your Brain on Running. That includes the science of the runner’s high and “transient hypofrontality.” Then he gets through a rapid-fire round of Fad or Fact.
Next, Canadian former marathon record holder and two-time Olympian Natasha Wodak opens up her training. She covers how she structures a marathon build, her favourite 4x5K workout, why she trains in super shoes but skips most supplements, and the return of double threshold. She also talks about whether a peak marathon age exists, the story behind her record-setting run in Berlin, how she gets through a bad race, and her tips for racing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
The episode wraps with an audience Q&A covering topical bicarb, pickle juice for cramps, how to judge running products for yourself, whether training has actually improved, and how to use a sauna or hot tub for heat training.
NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574Join 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:
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Hot Takes & Half-Baked Ideas: Live from Second City Toronto
The Marathon Handbook Podcast heads to Second City in Toronto for a live show during Toronto Waterfront Marathon weekend. Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci and Jessy Carveth all have fall races coming up …
Show notes
The Marathon Handbook Podcast heads to Second City in Toronto for a live show during Toronto Waterfront Marathon weekend. Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci and Jessy Carveth all have fall races coming up: Jessy at the Toronto Waterfront Half, Alex at the Valencia Half, Michael at the Philadelphia Marathon and Katelyn at CIM.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.comMarathon 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.
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_notesOffer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
Send us a question:
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How to Travel for a Marathon: Packing, Expo Strategy & Pre-Race Food
Traveling for a race? On this week’s episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci are joined by Jessy Carveth live from Michael’s living room in Toronto. They’re there for …
Show notes
Traveling for a race? On this week’s episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci are joined by Jessy Carveth live from Michael’s living room in Toronto. They’re there for Toronto Waterfront Marathon weekend, and the crew breaks down everything you need to know about racing away from home.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
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.
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.
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_notesOffer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon
TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574Join 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:
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2026 Chicago Marathon Instant Reaction
Michael, Alex and Katelyn react to the 2026 Chicago Marathon after recording their live watchalong. They cover the biggest surprises and key takeaways from the race.We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to …
Show notes
Michael, Alex and Katelyn react to the 2026 Chicago Marathon after recording their live watchalong. They cover the biggest surprises and key takeaways from the race.
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.
TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467NYC MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 31st Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-nyc-2026-tickets-2002340913574Join 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/Vinny Mauri's Peak Week Training for Chicago is INSANE
How do you go from job-hunting after college to a 2:05:54 marathon, run in Toledo, in one year? Vinny Mauri did it, and now he’s one of the most talked-about American runners at the 2026 Chicago Marathon.Alex …
Show notes
How do you go from job-hunting after college to a 2:05:54 marathon, run in Toledo, in one year? Vinny Mauri did it, and now he’s one of the most talked-about American runners at the 2026 Chicago Marathon.
Alex Cyr caught up with Vinny at the Chicago Marathon athlete availability, two days before his first big-city marathon. Vinny explains the 45-mile day that capped his build: 2 x 50 minutes in the morning and 4 x 20 minutes in the afternoon, both on the treadmill. He also explains how he picks his workouts by asking friends and Instagram followers to “pick a number one to four.”
Chapters
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How to Adjust Your Pace for Changing Weather
Chicago Marathon weekend is almost here! Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci preview the race, then answer your questions.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to …
Show notes
Chicago Marathon weekend is almost here! Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci preview the race, then answer your questions.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
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.This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://livemomentous.com
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.
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_notesOffer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
Carb Loading Resource:
https://marathonhandbook.com/carb-loading/Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420
Tickets 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-2001880670976
TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
Send us a question:
https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/Chapters
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Can Nike's Zero Drop Super Shoe Beat the Adidas Evo 3?
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 …
Show notes
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.
Follow This Checklist For Your Marathon Debut
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 …
Show notes
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_2026-9-24
Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
Carb Loading Resource:
https://marathonhandbook.com/carb-loading/Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420
Tickets 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-2001880670976
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:
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Nike's Super Shoe Architect on the Alphafly 4, Zero-Drop Prototypes & What's Next
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 …
Show notes
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/2002027257420
Tickets 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-2001880670976
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
Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/Chapters
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Our 2026 Berlin Marathon Instant Reactions, Live From Berlin!
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 …
Show notes
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/2002027257420
Tickets 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-2001880670976
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
Subscribe to our newsletter:
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Inside the 2027 Double London Marathon with CEO Hugh Brasher
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 …
Show notes
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/2002027257420
Tickets 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-2001880670976
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
Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/Chapters
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Brad Stulberg on Training Your Mind for Your Best Marathon
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 …
Show notes
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.
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BONUS: Nike Is Betting Everything on the Alphafly 4
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 …
Show notes
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]The Mental Side of Marathon Training (How to Get Beyond Bad Runs)
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 …
Show notes
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
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The Formula for Predicting Your Perfect Marathon Pace
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 …
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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.
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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/marathon
Join 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
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 …
Show notes
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
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What Happened at the Sydney Marathon? | Our Instant Reactions
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 …
Show notes
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
Is Sydney the Toughest Marathon Major? Our On-the-Ground 2026 Preview
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 …
Show notes
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
How to Peak for a Marathon (Our EXACT Peak Weeks)
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 …
Show notes
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/marathon
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https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/2026 NYC Marathon Elite Field Preview
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 …
Show notes
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
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More Miles or More Speed? How to Actually Get Faster as a Runner
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 …
Show notes
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
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Should You Switch Running Shoes Mid-Long Run?
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 …
Show notes
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-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/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
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