Sweat Elite Podcast

I'm back with another fortnightly In My Opinion episode - sharing running observations, Q&A and personal updates, including my return from injury, training in Bangkok, travel disruptions, Globe Runners plans, and listener questions on performance, recovery and mindset.
Train with me:
https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/
Private Podcast Feed + Discord:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/
Contact:
[email protected]
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Strava Training Log:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359
I recorded this In My Opinion episode from Bangkok, where I ended up extending my stay to meet more people, coach athletes and attend Hyrox. Travel plans shifted a bit with flights becoming more expensive and disrupted, partly due to the ongoing situation involving Iran and rising oil prices, which made things a bit unpredictable.
I talk through my return to running after injury, following Kyle Wees's 18-day run-walk progression alongside cross training on the bike and stair climber. The focus is on staying patient and only going down the scan route if symptoms return. I've been running at Lumphini Park and catching up with athletes in person, including Chris Weeks, which has been a nice change from purely online coaching.
I share some observations from being in Thailand - the low cost of living, the culture, and the interesting contrast around cannabis being widely visible despite reports of legal tightening. I also reflect on solo travel, meeting new people, and some of the connections made at places like ice bath venues.
There's an update on Globe Runners, with thoughts around building future training camps in Thailand and applying lessons from past Sweat Elite trips, particularly around timing and structure. I also touch on how regional instability can impact travel and planning.
From there I move into listener Q&A, covering topics like training alone versus with a group, how to break through plateaus, and why slowing down easy runs can often be the lever athletes need. I also discuss mindset around mileage, managing ego with Strava, and building confidence in your own strengths.
Other topics include marathon mindset tools, sleep and supplements like magnesium, thoughts on cannabis use, when to change training, altitude race timing, and practical travel-to-race logistics. I also answer questions on weight loss during marathon prep and share some broader thoughts on skepticism around elite performances and doping.
I wrap up by highlighting Australian runner Jimmy Whelan, bringing back Workouts of the Week, and finishing with some final thoughts on fueling and consistency.
Topics
00:00 - No Edit Podcast Setup
00:25 - Bangkok Plans Shift
01:17 - Return to Running Plan
03:46 - Lumpini Park and Coaching Shoutouts
04:39 - Thailand Costs and Culture
07:17 - Hyrox Weekend and Flight Chaos
08:18 - Solo Travel and Ice Baths
10:42 - Globe Runners Training Camps
13:57 - War Talk and Travel Disruptions
18:35 - Q&A Training Solo vs Group
24:06 - Mileage Plateaus and Pulling Levers
26:45 - Easy Runs and Strava Ego
29:35 - Personal Mileage Beliefs
30:23 - Strengths and Potential
31:33 - Marathon Mindset Tools
32:29 - Sleep Supplements and Cannabis
35:29 - When to Change Training
36:49 - Altitude Race Timing
38:26 - Race Day Travel Tips
39:45 - Weight Loss While Training
40:36 - Doping and Enhanced Games
48:22 - Jimmy Whelan Spotlight
52:04 - Workouts of the Week
56:42 - Fueling and Final Wrap

In this Sweat Elite Training Talk episode, Matt interviews Gold Coast runner Marty Bordignon after his Osaka Marathon PB of 2:46:05, a roughly four-minute improvement, paced evenly with a 1:22 high / 1:23 low split. They discuss Marty's summer heat-based build, coached by Kyle Weise, with a strong focus on effort over numbers, plus reflections on wanting a faster result and lessons for future races like Gold Coast.
Marty's Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/18059049/
Marty's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mlawrence9/
Matt's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Matt's Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/
Supporters Club:
https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/
Coaching:
https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox
Marty outlines a conventional training week of intervals on Tuesday, threshold on Friday, and a long run on Sunday. He explains a 16-week marathon build that began with a six-week weight reduction phase at around 80 km per week, before increasing fueling and building toward peak mileage of around 150 km per week.
The conversation covers whether more speed work and strides could help marathoners, the role and risks of weight management, semaglutide appetite suppression, tall poppy syndrome in Australia, and the pros and cons of posting ambitious running goals publicly. They also touch on the running content and podcasts they enjoy, including How Bad Do You Want It.
Timestamps:
00:00 New Guest Intro
00:55 Osaka Marathon Recap
03:30 Why He Started Running
05:47 Inspiration And Mindset
07:53 Was He In 244 Shape
12:31 Osaka Training Structure
16:04 Speed Work For Marathoners
22:32 Weight Cut And Fueling
25:50 Ozempic Debate In Running
29:58 Tall Poppy Syndrome
34:02 Tall Poppy Talk
34:38 Gold Coast Build Plan
35:38 How Bad Do You Want It
36:19 Effort Over Numbers
37:58 Heart Rate Obsession
41:25 Finding Running Joy
43:18 Running Is Black And White
44:54 Wanting It Most
45:53 Scholarship Race Story
48:02 Favorite Run Creators
54:28 Ben Felton Marathon Debate
58:35 Podcasts And Wrap Up

Episode Summary

Irish runner and content creator Michael Fox joins Matt to discuss his unconventional path in the sport. After early success as a teenage 800m/1500m runner, Mick drifted away from athletics in his 20s - moving to Australia, gaining around 30 kg, dealing with injuries, and switching focus to cycling before eventually finding his way back to running.
He recounts his return to the sport and debut at the 2018 Dublin Marathon in 2:40, followed by several frustrating blow-ups while trying to improve. During COVID lockdown he leaned heavily into high mileage, including multiple 100-mile weeks, which helped unlock a new level of endurance and led to major progress - improving to 2:33 at Belfast and eventually running 2:19 for the marathon, though not without more setbacks along the way.
Mick discusses becoming somewhat mileage-obsessed, then later working with a coach to incorporate faster work and more half-marathon focused training to complement his endurance. He also shares how he balances training with running a full-time sports massage business, raising three kids, and operating on limited sleep, crediting his wife's support and occasional altitude camps as key pieces of the puzzle.
The conversation also touches on social media dynamics in running, outspoken opinions online, content creation, and dealing with backlash - including reactions to his gel-fueling videos. Mick explains his process for creating content, why he continues posting despite criticism, and his recent efforts to cut back caffeine and energy drink dependence. He closes by outlining his ambitions to push his marathon PB closer to 2:16.
Mick Fox Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/9571709
Mick Fox Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/runningfox26.2/
Be coached by Matt:
https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/coaching-2026
Join the Shareholders Club / Private Podcast Feed:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders
Matt Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Matt Training Log - Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/
Contact Matt:
[email protected]
Topics:
00:00 - Foxes On The Pod
01:04 - Early Track Years
02:15 - Drifting From Running
02:34 - Australia Weight Gain Reset
03:37 - Marathon Spark 2018
04:03 - 800m Times And Racing
05:34 - First Running Motivation
07:21 - Debut Marathon Two Forty
09:11 - Covid Mileage Breakthrough
11:58 - Training Lessons And Volume
15:46 - Speedwork And Half Focus
18:00 - Balancing Family And Training
21:37 - Outspoken Online Persona
23:03 - Favorite Creators And Takes
30:02 - Hugo Fry Transparency Debate
33:47 - Gel Video Backlash Story
40:03 - Growing Instagram Following
40:12 - How He Makes Content
40:36 - Why He Posts Anyway
42:29 - Caffeine Detox Story
46:55 - Marathon Goals And Limits
49:15 - Work Schedule Reality
52:26 - Altitude Camp Dreaming
54:13 - Kenya Training Fantasy
58:49 - Friendly Rivalry Talk
59:30 - Matt's Sub 215 Ambition
01:04:17 - Valencia Entry Tips
01:06:09 - Comeback From Injury
01:08:25 - Handling Online Backlash
01:13:14 - Wrap Up And Where To Follow

Ben and Mary Bridges (Messy Is Happy) recap Tokyo Marathon weekend, celebrating Mary's 3:00:01 PB and discussing her rapid progression from 3:13 (Chicago 2024) to 3:04 (Shanghai) to nearly breaking three hours. They attribute the improvement to consistent training, gradually building to ~100 km weeks, and focused mindset work.
Ben reflects on his emotional on-camera reaction at the finish and shares his own marathon journey, progressing from 2:50 at the 2019 London Marathon to 2:44 in Chicago, with a long-term goal of running in the 2:30s. He also recounts his Chicago trip where he raced well despite being jet-lagged and unwell.
They explain the niche they are building with This Messy Happy across YouTube and Instagram - combining coaching-focused content, relatable storytelling around their own running journeys, and light comedy reels. They also discuss how the value of traditional tutorial-style content is shifting as tools like ChatGPT become more widely used.
Looking ahead, they outline a "Six in 26" idea for 2026 - a travel-heavy year attempting six marathons while documenting the experience.
The conversation also touches on leaving teaching jobs in Thailand to pursue content creation and coaching full time, creators who inspire their work, and Thailand's rapidly growing running scene known for its celebratory atmosphere and safe places to run.
Links
Messy Is Happy Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thismessyhappy/
Messy Is Happy YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ThisMessyHappy
Be coached by Matt:
https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/coaching-2026
Join the Shareholders Club / Private Podcast Feed:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders
Matt Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Matt Training Log - Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359
Contact Matt:
[email protected]
Topics
00:00 Tokyo Weekend Recap
00:51 Three Hour Breakthrough
02:12 Training Behind Progress
03:34 Raw Finish Reaction
05:02 Channel Mission Explained
09:29 Future Content Direction
11:01 Ben Marathon Journey
12:26 Chicago Travel Chaos
15:13 Leaving Teaching Behind
17:24 Creators They Follow
20:46 Authentic Brand Deals
21:30 Merch Funds Independence
22:06 Staying Relevant on YouTube
22:41 Entertainment Beats Advice
23:52 Viral Running Comedy Reels
25:59 Wordless Humor vs Dialogue
27:01 Defining Content Goals
28:05 Photo Album Mindset
30:12 North Star Over Views
31:29 Upcoming Races and Targets
33:43 Running Culture in Thailand
36:43 Living Safe in Thailand
38:01 Where to Follow Next

I'm back with another fortnightly In My Opinion episode - sharing running observations, Q&A and personal updates.
Train with Matt:
https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/
Private Podcast Feed + Discord:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/
Contact:
[email protected]
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Strava Training Log:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359
I recorded this ramble episode from Phuket during a 10-day Thailand and Bali trip where I've been catching up with friends while doing some work. Part of the trip included visiting Thanyapura Sports Resort to see if it might work as a future Globe Runners Asia training camp location.
I talk about some of the longevity content from Brian Johnson and walk through his "eight steps" framework - doing hard things, building a bedtime routine, starting the day with purpose, future-proofing your body, treating food like medicine, killing distractions, removing isolation, and avoiding motivational garbage.
From there I discuss Ben Felton racing two half marathons on consecutive weekends and use it as a jumping off point to talk about training and racing more by feel rather than being overly dependent on rigid pacing data.
I also cover the Tokyo Marathon, including frustrations with the race tracking app and a breakdown of Jake Barraclough's Tokyo build - his high mileage approach, injury concerns, livestreams during the build up, race plan doubts, and the eventual DNF.
I mention other performances from the weekend including Nick Bester running 2:25 and highlight SECA member Merna finishing Tokyo while fasting during Ramadan.
Later in the episode I bring back Workouts of the Week with sessions for the 5K/10K, half marathon and marathon, read some hate mail, discuss emails about GLP-1 weight loss drugs and how they might affect fueling for endurance athletes, share Mark from Finland's perspective on the doping crisis in Kenya, and finish by answering a question about Luke's approach to the marathon.
Topics
00:00 - Welcome and Agenda
03:43 - Thailand Trip and Training Camp Idea
05:44 - Brian Johnson Longevity Lessons
07:56 - Eight Steps and Key Quotes
18:53 - Ben Felton and Racing by Feel
23:39 - Training Without Data Obsession
27:50 - Tokyo Marathon App Rant
28:40 - Jake Barraclough's Tokyo Build Up
30:54 - Taper Doubts and Volume Fear
33:17 - Race Plan and DNF Breakdown
34:14 - Rethinking Jake's Training
37:16 - Shout out Merna - SECA Member running Tokyo fasted
38:49 - Workouts of the Week Return
40:02 - 5K / 10K Ladder Session
41:04 - Half Marathon Track Alternations
42:30 - Marathon 30K Progression
44:21 - Hate Mail and Ozempic Debate
53:29 - Kenya Doping Context Email from Marc
56:40 - Luke's Osaka Marathon and Training Takeaways
01:00:43 - Wrap Up