Marathon Handbook Podcast

This week on The Running Story , Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the biggest stories in the running world. Cole Hocker runs 3:45.94 to set a new American indoor mile record — the second-fastest indoor mile ever. What does it mean for the global mile scene? Faith Kipyegon surprises everyone by racing her first-ever road 10K in Monaco. After dominating the 1,500m for years, is this the be...

The 2026 Barkley Marathons delivered one of the most brutal editions in race history — and for the second year in a row, no one finished. In this episode of The Running Story , Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack everything that happened at this year’s Barkley Marathons in Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park. They discuss: Why the February start made this year historic How cold rain, fog, and cr...

If you could run any race in the world next year… what would you choose? SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.com This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com In this episode, we host our second annual Marathon H...

This week on The Running Story , Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack one of the strangest controversies in recent running history. A men’s half marathon world record — the fastest ever run — has officially been disqualified nearly a year later. We break down why World Athletics made the call, how much advantage pacing vehicles really provide, and what it means for the sport moving forward. Plus...

Running is often called a “cheap” sport — but anyone training seriously knows that’s not the full story. In this episode, the Marathon Handbook team takes on a challenge inspired by listener feedback: build a full year of training, racing, shoes, gear, and nutrition for under $2,000. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code...

Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth return with five of the most intriguing running stories of the week: King Charles III makes a surprise appearance at a parkrun in Norfolk (0:56). A billionaire pledges $100M to support U.S. Olympic athletes — with delayed payouts and major conditions (6:16). Sha’Carri Richardson faces legal trouble after being clocked at 100 mph (12:00). Triathlon star Kristian Blum...

Olympian and professional runner Sam Parsons joins Alex Cyr on the Marathon Handbook Podcast for a deep, honest conversation about elite running, creativity, and life beyond racing. Sam reflects on his early days with Tin Man Elite and becoming one of the first elite runners to document his career on YouTube (00:00), balancing wedding planning with professional sport (04:30), and his recent Achill...

The half marathon might be the most popular race distance in the world — but is it actually the perfect running event? In this episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast , Michael Doyle is joined by coaches and athletes Katelyn Tocci and Alex Cyr for a complete deep dive into the half marathon. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off yo...

Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five most compelling stories in running this week — starting with one of the most bizarre marathon disqualifications ever, after a runner was spotted racing the Hong Kong Marathon with a baby strapped to his chest. From there, they dive into Des Linden’s jaw-dropping spring race schedule , which somehow includes the Marathon des Sables, Boston, and Lo...

In this Winter 2026 Mailbag , the Marathon Handbook crew answers listener questions on some of the toughest — and most misunderstood — topics in marathon running. From runners who missed sub-3 by seconds , to first-time marathoners chasing Boston, to athletes sidelined by injury, this episode dives deep into both the physical and mental side of training . SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:We love Wahoo’s KICKR...

The Running Story is Marathon Handbook’s weekly news recap show with Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth. This week we break down Des Linden’s big 2026 announcement—she’s heading to the Sahara for the Marathon des Sables (00:35), then celebrate Dot McMahan’s remarkable Houston Marathon performance as the 49-year-old hits the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying standard for a record sixth Trials appearance...

In this Marathon Handbook Podcast episode, Michael Doyle, Katelyn Tocci, and Alex Cyr unpack what actually defines a long run—and how long is “long” for different goals (00:07). After some pre-run chaos (Patriots/Boston accent talk) (01:14), Alex breaks down his Houston Half Marathon PR and the wild sub-elite start experience (07:03), including pacing strategy and the trio finish (21:17). Then the...

The Running Story returns with a jam-packed week in running. Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down a stunning Houston Half Marathon debut (00:45), major American and Canadian breakthroughs (02:55), and standout performances across both Houston marathons, including Sarah Hall’s incredible run at age 42 (04:10). The show then pivots to the rise of the grassroots Burrito League replacing the Chi...

Who will shape the future of running in 2026? In this episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Katelyn Tocci, and Alex Cyr rank the 26 most influential people in running for the year ahead — from global superstars like Sifan Hassan and Eliud Kipchoge to behind-the-scenes power players at Nike, Strava, World Athletics, and the World Marathon Majors. We debate celebrity runners like...

NOTE FOR SUBSCRIBERS: This is a bonus, inaugural episode of a new weekly podcast we’re piloting called The Running Story . For the next few weeks, you’ll receive this show in the Marathon Handbook feed on Mondays alongside our regular Thursday podcast. We’d love your feedback — email us at podcast@marathonhandbook.com . More new podcast projects are coming in 2026. Welcome to the first episode of...

Carbon-plated super shoes now dominate marathon racing — but which ones are actually the best right now? Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr break down the definitive 2026 super shoe power rankings, using elite marathon podium data, real-world shoe usage from the Chicago and New York City Marathons, and hands-on testing of every major racing shoe (00:00). They reveal which brands truly dominate the podium...

In this Mega Mailbag episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci answer a mountain of listener questions to close out 2025. The conversation covers running weight and fueling strategies (06:50), jump rope as cross-training (22:10), marathon confidence and mindset (27:40), returning from injury (45:40), breaking sub-3 and chasing Boston Qualifiers (55:20), i...

Ahmed Muhumed’s rise in American distance running almost didn’t happen. In this episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, host Alex Cyr talks with the HOKA NAZ Elite athlete about quitting his job, moving to Flagstaff with just $150, and betting everything on becoming a professional runner. Ahmed opens up about belief, recovery, elite mileage, finishing fourth in the 10,000m at U.S. Championships,...

The Marathon Handbook Podcast recaps the second half of the 2025 running season , unpacking the year’s biggest stories across track, road, and trail. We dive into the collapse of the Grand Slam Track League (01:45), Sydney’s controversial debut as a World Marathon Major (15:55), standout performances from the Tokyo World Championships (27:50), and unforgettable marathon moments from Berlin (48:20)...

In Part 1 of our 2025 Year in Review, the Marathon Handbook team breaks down the biggest storylines from January through July. We open with Conner Mantz’s American record in Houston (01:30), then move into February’s world-record spree — from Yared Nuguse’s indoor mile to Jacob Kiplimo’s 56:42 half marathon (10:10). We relive the March Tokyo Marathon (11:40), then the Boston–London doubleheader in...

In this episode, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth deliver an almost-instant reaction to the 2025 Valencia Marathon, starting with Jessy’s on-the-ground report of the city’s electric atmosphere and why this race has become the destination for fast times (00:09). They break down the course, weather, and astounding depth that led to more than 5,500 sub-3 finishes (08:46). The team dives into John Kori...

Today on the Marathon Handbook Podcast, we take you inside The Running Event for a deep dive into the future of running shoes . From the exploding gravel category to major durability upgrades, next-gen super trainers, and adidas’ secret prototypes, we break down which brands are innovating — and which ones might be falling behind. This is the most detailed look yet at the shoes shaping 2026 and be...

In this episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, the team reveals the Best Running Shoes of 2025 , breaking down every major category—from Best New Shoe (32:35) to Best Daily Trainer (42:55), Best Stability Shoe (48:40), Best Super Trainer (54:15), the hotly debated Super Shoe of the Year (1:12:25), Most Innovative Shoe (1:28:05), Best Lineup (1:32:05), and finally the official 2025 Shoe of the Y...

This episode is brought to you by the Wahoo’s KICKR RUN – go to ⁠https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get 25% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, plus a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order! In this episode, Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr tackle a big question: What is the best American marathon that isn’t a World Marathon Major? Using their Philadelphia Marathon Weekend...

This episode is brought to you by the Wahoo’s KICKR RUN – go to ⁠https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get 25% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, plus a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order! In this episode of The Marathon Handbook Podcast , Michael, Alex, and Katelyn recap the biggest moments of 2025 and reveal their Men’s, Women’s, and Overall Runners of the Year. A...