Marathon Talk

Running is for everyone, and there are few flying the flag higher for that than the incredible Marcus Brown. From 4:55 finishes to Co-Founding his own running club championing diverse backgrounds in the running community, his is a voice worth amplifying as he joins us on this week's episode of Marathon Talk! Also on the show, Martin recalls his recent triathlon triumphs, we highlight some blisteri...

The Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert is among the toughest feats any runner can achieve, and fresh from a Top 50 finish is the remarkable Chris Slater. It's a privilege and a pleasure to speak with him on this week's Marathon Talk - his recovery from addiction has led him on an endurance running journey from which we can't help but be inspired. Elsewhere in the show, we put the spotlight o...

The AbbottWMM MTT Age Group World Championships are nearly upon us - are you ready for the blazing fast field lining up in Sydney? This week's Marathon Talk is your chance to put that to the test, as Danny Coyle returns to the podcast as quizmaster, bringing us the stellar stats for those toeing the line in September. Elsewhere in the running world, we bring you the latest from a record-setting NC...

When LA saw the first ever Olympic women's marathon champion, it was none other than this week's Marathon Talk guest who crossed the line first - Joan Benoit Samuelson.   An icon in the sport and Deena's greatest mentor, she joins us on the podcast this week to share her remarkable relationship with the sport, and the power of storytelling within it.     Elsewhere in the show, the Diamond League g...

What better time to exhibit the extraordinary mental benefits of running than during Mental Health Awareness Week. That's been a huge focus for this week's Marathon Talk guest, Runner's World's Mallory Creveling, who's been working on a must-read piece of work on wellness - 'The Runner's World Guide to Mental Health'. Learn more on this week's podcast, where we also share the best path to recovery...

What a story Anya Culling written, from humble beginnings to the elite field in a matter of years. She plans to continue her upward trajectory as her tale was one of so many stunning performances from the recent TCS London Marathon! Anya joins us as we debrief a weekend that gave us a new women's-only WR, a moving success story for friend of the show Sam Perkins, and Training Talk tackles the thre...

When you overcome the voice in your head telling you to tap out, that's where a true champion is made. Such wise words come from a man whose past does not define his future - double amputee Cedric King is achieving the double this weekend with some huge Boston and London finishes. His story is pure distilled inspiration; listen this week to learn more, as Martin & Deena also recap the highlights f...

All that running does for wellbeing is well-documented, but Helen Thorn's marathon journey is an uplifting reminder to us all.   In the wake of a divorce, it became a central tenet to her mental health - now it's central to her huge goal this year to run Boston and London back to back!   This week's Marathon Talk shines a light on the mental wellness that so many find in running, we celebrate Jasm...

This week's guest needs no introduction to Deena - he's her coach, her husband, and now a Boston Marathon qualifier after an admirable performance in LA. It's a joy to catch up with Coach Kastor fresh from his 3 hour and 13 minute run as he shares the unique experience of coaching himself, his best recovery tips, and how to prepare your training cycle for a marathon far into the future. Elsewhere...

Marathons form very unique bonds within the running community, but when your life is in your guide's hands it's truly a bond like no other. That's where Six Star hopeful Mark Rogerson's story sheds light on the joys of running - he joins us on this week's Marathon Talk fresh from a PB-setting Tokyo race with guide runner Katie Garrity. Join us this week as we round off all the other stories from t...

The 2024 Abbott World Marathon Majors season has arrived! It all starts this Sunday in Tokyo with Eliud Kipchoge AND Sifan Hassan both on the start line.   This episode we dive into the elite races, talk pre-race prep and preview a crop of Six Star hopefuls looking to get their hands on that medal.    One of whom is Becs Gentry, who joins Martin and Deena this week, sharing her mental strategies f...

In 2013, Kelvin Kiptum participated in his first half marathon. 10 years and three game-changing marathons later, his was a World Record to be reckoned with.   A light that shone so incredibly brightly and all too briefly, Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, sadly died on Sunday 11th of February in Kenya.   We're taking this episode of Marathon Talk to explore the stellar highlights of his c...

Preparations for Paris 2024 are firmly in the final stages, and we finally have all the action from the US Olympic Trials from Deena Kastor herself! It's a jam-packed episode of Marathon Talk this week, where we tackle debutant winners, a heart-wrenching story from this week's guest & London Marathon hopeful Dan Sharp, and a Training Talk that touches on how to put a positive spin as you reflect o...

Olympic years bring the toughest tests for every nation's athletes, and the coaches who feed such elite talent - coaches like the indomitable Ed Eyestone.   He coaches the only two athletes going into the US Olympic Marathon Trials who've hit the Olympic standard of 2:08:10, and this week we discover out the coaching tips that make an Olympic marathon star.   Elsewhere we round up a record-breakin...

Welcome back to Marathon Talk! It's 2024, and what better way to inspire the year ahead than a fascinating episode featuring a four time world champion - Richard Whitehead MBE.   We learn more from him about his 10 year unbeaten streak in 200m track events, and the training plan that'll see him to his 6 Star finish in Tokyo.    Also in this jam-packed show, Training Talk returns to kick off your t...

As we run towards welcoming in the New Year, join us in this special podcast episode where hosts Martin & Deena reflect upon the Top 10 most exciting Marathon Moments of 2023.  Count down a remarkable list featuring multiple world records, major championship performances and standout wins.  This episode includes: Catherine Debrunner's late-season charge to the Series Title Ernst Van Dyk, a legend...

This week's guest on Marathon Talk is truly special; not only is she a Commonwealth Medalist, Olympian, and Team GB Manager, but Martin's own wonderful wife!   Liz's formidable marathon and cross country experience is matched only by her philanthropic commitments to the running community, all of which she shares with us on this week's episode.   Elsewhere, we cover the latest from a Valencia race...

Simone Carniglia is a remarkable runner whose records in the Abbott World Marathon Majors make him the world's fastest 6 Star Finisher with type 1 diabetes.   The Italian marathoner is our fantastic guest on this week's podcast, in which we also share how to rest up and hit your new year's training right, and cover this year's most scintillating 6 Star Stats…   In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:...

After a thrilling season we've crowned our Abbott World Marathon Majors Series champions, and in elite women's wheelchair racing, Catherine Debrunner reigns supreme.   Her series culminated in a stunning three wins on the bounce in arguably the best year of her career to date, and we're fortunate to have her join us on Marathon Talk this week!   Elsewhere on the show we debrief after a NYC thrille...

Imagine your first marathon almost breaking a national record - that's how you break onto the scene and make a statement. Barring Paula Radcliffe's time in London, Calli Thackery's 2:22:11 is the UK's best, and as she sets her sights on the Paris Olympic Games, she joins us to share the run that's been 15 years in the making. Elsewhere we're gearing up for New York, as Letesenbet Geday prepares fo...

We've just witnessed the fastest marathon ever run, the first under 2:01 - last week's Chicago Marathon will go down in history. The stars aligned, and the weather played ball for not only some earth-shattering runs from Kelvin Kiptum and Sifan Hassan, but also the Age Group World Championships. Taking part in that event was this week's guest on the show, Gene Dykes, and we spoke to him about his...

World records are toppling in the marathon world - stand up and take a bow Tigist Assefa and Keith Turner.   The new women's record fell in a truly stunning Berlin Marathon last week, and Keith Turner's half marathon time sets a benchmark for a visually impaired, untethered athlete.   Join us as we share a conversation with Keith and his guide, Jim Roberts, in this week's Marathon Talk, cover off...

The Wanda Age Group World Championships have never been hosted on a non-majors course before… Enter: The Sydney Marathon.   As the budding race hopes to become the 7th Major, we hear from the marvellous Wayne Larden on what it's like to be Race Director of a course with such potential.   Elsewhere, we touch on Berlin's stellar lineups, a mad Mexico City race with thousands of DQs, and why housewor...

The 6 Star Journey is for all of us, and nobody shouts that louder than an amazing woman who recently earned the 6 Star Finisher's medal for herself - Alexandria Williams.   She joins us in an inspirational episode of Marathon Talk, which sees the return of Martin in the co-hosting seat, a wild World Record set in high heels, and murmurings of Martin's next race…   In this episode of Marathon Talk...

Long-time Marathon Talk listeners will be treated to a familiar voice this week, in the majestic return of former Co-Host: the wonderful Tom Williams! Tom joins Deena to guest host an episode packed with news of Chicago's lineup announcements, the US Olympic Trials in Orlando, and some grand race plans of his own. He also stars in our interview section, where he joins forces once again with Martin...