Marathon Handbook Podcast

• How We Ran the Best Races of Our Lives

  In this special episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, hosts Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci each share the greatest race of their lives—offering up deeply personal stories packed with insight, grit, and emotion. From Alex’s freezing sub-65 half marathon in Houston (04:15), to Katelyn’s comeback victory at a rugged Italian sky race after a terrifying Hep A diagnosis (39:27), to Michael’s flawlessly executed PB at the Chicago Marathon (01:06:36), each segment reveals the physical training, mental battles, and race-day turning points that shaped these career-defining moments. You’ll get a deep dive into Alex’s threshold-heavy training philosophy (09:57), relive the emotional rush of Katelyn breaking the tape in Italy (51:43), and hear how Michael was jolted back to life mid-race by a runner in toe shoes (01:25:29). We close it all out with the lessons we’d give our past selves, the weird tricks that worked (01:37:53), and a challenge to listeners to share their own greatest race story with us (01:46:41).💬 Send us your greatest race story at: hi@marathonhandbook.com — we might feature it in an upcoming mailbag episode!🔔 Subscribe to the Marathon Handbook Podcast wherever you listen and leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review to help other runners find the show.📱 Follow us on socials @marathonhandbook🌐 Visit us at www.marathonhandbook.com#RunningPodcast #MarathonTraining #TrailRunning #HalfMarathonTips #BestRaceEver #RunYourRace #Ultrarunning #RunningStories #MarathonMindset #MarathonHandbook #RaceDayTips #RunnerMotivation

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• What Makes a Super Shoe Super? The Science, the History, and Our Top Picks

  Step into the fast lane with our deep dive into super shoes — the revolutionary footwear changing the face of distance running.  We break down what actually makes a shoe “super” (01:45), take you inside the never-before-told history of Nike’s prototype era (06:30), and trace how the Vaporfly flipped the script on competitive marathoning (18:50). From foam wars to carbon plates, from elite deception to banned shoes, this is the complete story of the super shoe — past, present, and what’s coming next.  We also get creative and build our dream super shoes using the best components on the market (38:30), and we power rank the top models you can buy in 2025 (50:20), including why Puma may have just launched the fastest shoe ever (53:00). 🏁 Highlights: What defines a true super shoe? (01:45)Nike’s early secrets & Kipchoge’s prototype (06:30)Breaking2 and the birth of the Vaporfly (18:50)Tech doping and World Athletics’ rules (30:50)Our fantasy shoe builds (38:30)2025’s best shoes ranked (50:20)Is innovation peaking — or just beginning? (58:45)💡 Have a question or shoe pick? Drop us a comment on Spotify or find us on Instagram @marathonhandbook. 🎧 Subscribe to the Marathon Handbook Podcast and check out our new sister show: Run Long Run Healthy — science-backed insights to help you run smarter and stay injury-free.

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  1:26:29
• A Track League With $12 Million in Prize Money – Is It Enough?

  The Grand Slam Track League is here – but is it actually working?In this special episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, hosts Michael, Alex, and Caitlin break down everything you need to know about Michael Johnson’s ambitious new league. We dive into how it compares to the Diamond League, explore its bold innovations (like guaranteed prize money, racer vs. challenger formats, and athlete branding), and debate whether it’s doing enough to revolutionize track and field.We also ask:Is GST attracting enough viewers and athletes to stay alive?What’s holding it back from becoming a household name?How can it evolve to become the NBA or NFL of track?Should they adopt a team franchise model and bring in drafts, free agency, and a fantasy ecosystem?Plus, we play commissioner for a day and pitch wild (but serious!) ideas that could actually change the future of the sport.Whether you’re already hooked or just Grand Slam curious, this is your essential guide to the most disruptive experiment in modern track and field.(01:02) What is the Grand Slam Track League?(02:50) Format, events, and why it’s different from the Diamond League(05:10) Recapping Kingston & Miami — early hits and misses(07:12) Is GST living up to the hype so far?(09:45) The big vision: Can GST become track’s version of the NBA?(12:00) Growing pains and how athletes are reacting(14:20) Broadcast issues and missed opportunities(16:00) Athlete branding: How GST is helping runners become stars(20:30) The Racer vs. Challenger model explained(23:10) Athlete pay: Is this the end of underpaid pros?(24:45) What’s working: prize money, structure, presentation(26:30) The problem with empty stands(28:21) Should we worry about attendance?(29:41) Buy, Sell, or Hold: GST as a stock market metaphor(33:00) Is the hype fading already?(35:00) GST vs. Diamond League — real differences(38:50) Creating rivalries and new storylines(41:06) If we ran GST: Big changes from the pod team(44:08) Should GST scrap the 2-event format?(46:00) How to get fans in the stands(49:20) Fantasy teams, free agency, and a full pro ecosystem(53:15) Can GST make the Olympics irrelevant?(57:38) Could trail and ultra running adopt this model?(01:01:10) A fantasy draft for GST?(01:01:47) What’s next: Philadelphia and LA events(01:03:00) Final thoughts and what GST needs to thrive🎧 Subscribe to the Marathon Handbook Podcast for more insights, debates, and deep dives into the world of running.🌐 Visit us at https://marathonhandbook.com📱 Follow us on socials:Instagram: @marathonhandbookTwitter/X: @marathonhandbkFacebook: Marathon Handbook#GrandSlamTrackLeague #MichaelJohnson #TrackAndField #Athletics #DiamondLeague #TrackLeague #RunningPodcast #Sprint #MiddleDistance #LongDistanceRunning #MarathonHandbook #GSTLeague #USATF #TrackRivals #SportInnovation #Olympics2028 #TrailRunning #TrackEntertainment

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  1:02:54
• Can a Woman Run a Sub-4 Mile? Nike and Dr. Andy Jones Think So

  What does it take for a woman to break the 4-minute mile? In this exclusive and groundbreaking interview, Dr. Andy Jones—one of the world’s leading exercise physiologists and the mastermind behind Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour marathon—reveals the science, strategy, and secrets behind Nike’s latest audacious project: Breaking4.Dr. Jones has worked with legends like Paula Radcliffe and Eliud Kipchoge, and now, he’s applying decades of research and experience to help Faith Kipyegon achieve what was once thought impossible: the first sub-4-minute mile by a woman.In this interview:00:00 – Intro: Who is Dr. Andy Jones?01:00 – The Origins of Nike's Breaking4 Project03:00 – Faith Kipyegon: The Athlete at the Center05:15 – Physiology of the Female Mile Record09:00 – Can Faith Kipyegon Really Break 4 Minutes?11:30 – VO2 Max, Running Economy & Anaerobic Contribution15:15 – Pacing, Drafting, and Racing Strategy Insights17:00 – The Science of the Perfect Mile Race19:25 – The Role of Wavelight Technology & Aerodynamics21:00 – Breaking2 Lessons Applied to Breaking423:25 – Pacers, Coordination, and Logistics in Elite Events26:00 – Ideal Race Conditions for a Sub-4:00 Attempt29:00 – Warm-Ups, Priming, and Race Day Preparation33:00 – Training the Body to Hit VO2 Max Quickly36:00 – Bicarbonate, Nitrate, and Legal Performance Enhancers39:00 – Will There Be a New Nike Super Spike?41:15 – Apparel, Drag, and Thermoregulation Science42:50 – Will Wavelight Be Used for Breaking4?45:00 – What Does Success Look Like (Even If She Doesn’t Break 4)?47:00 – Why Scientists Won’t Collect Race-Day Data48:50 – Was Breaking2 Ever Almost Indoors? (Behind-the-Scenes!)50:50 – Why Breaking4 Must Feel Like a Real Race53:00 – Dr. Jones' Prediction for the Record Attempt54:20 – What Is Resilience in Endurance Running?57:10 – How Kipchoge and Radcliffe Excelled in Resilience58:45 – How Runners Can Train for More Resilience01:01:00 – Fasted Training, Long Runs, and East African Methods01:03:15 – Paula Radcliffe’s Steady Running Philosophy01:06:00 – Is Easy Running Overrated?01:08:00 – Will There Be Other Women in Breaking4?01:10:00 – The Pacers of the Future: Could Young Stars Join In?01:12:30 – Who Is Faith Kipyegon Beyond the Track?01:14:00 – Closing Thoughts on Risk, Innovation, and Belief

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  1:13:09
• Why “Tempo Run” Needs to Die: Redefining Running’s Most Misused Term

  Are you really doing a tempo run—or just running in the gray zone without purpose? In this episode, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Caitlin Tocci take a sledgehammer to one of running’s most overused and misunderstood terms: the “tempo run.” We explore the history of the term, why it’s misapplied in so many training plans, and what terms like lactate threshold, critical velocity, VO2 max, and steady state actually mean. Plus: our “Tempo Run Hall of Shame” and some spicy takes on running culture.Whether you’re training for a marathon, coaching, or just want smarter workouts—this episode will change the way you think about pace.⏱️ Chapters Below🗨️ Drop your worst tempo run story in the comments!📬 Send us questions for our upcoming Mailbag episode at hi@marathonhandbook.com00:00 - Intro + Boston Marathon Non-Super Shoe Division04:00 - Shoe Picks for “No Super Shoe” Marathon10:15 - The Problem With “Tempo Run”12:00 - Alex’s Tempo Rant: Blob Runs and Gray Zones13:45 - Origin of the Term: OBLA Study and Jack Daniels15:00 - Caitlin’s Coaching Definition of Tempo17:30 - Rebuilding the Glossary: Lactate Threshold Explained19:55 - What Is Critical Velocity (CV) Pace?21:20 - Marathon Pace vs Tempo Pace22:40 - What Is “Steady State” Running?24:00 - Identifying the Two Gray Zones in Training26:00 - Easy Runs: Why Most Runners Go Too Hard28:15 - What’s Your Real Easy Pace?32:00 - Emotionally Engaging With Easy Runs (And Why That’s Bad)34:10 - Mileage-Based vs Time-Based Recovery Runs35:30 - Recap: What Tempo *Should* Mean36:10 - Rebranding “Tempo”: Blob Runs and Grind Runs40:00 - Failure Runs and Misjudged Workouts44:30 - Tempo Run Hall of Shame: Trail Excuses + College Races48:50 - Final Thoughts: Clarity Over Terminology49:45 - What’s Next: Vlogs, Reviews, Interviews & Mailbag

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