Marathon Running Podcast by Marathon Journal

How do you approach your marathon fueling strategy? If you’re like a lot of distance runners, your routine might look something like this: log your long training miles on nothing but water and sheer willpower, and then just pray your race-day gels work. In this episode, Leticia and Ryan sit down with Tasha, an expert from Precision Fuel & Hydration , to break down why a "one-size-fits-all...

What happens when you trade addiction and "thirst traps" for 100-mile mountain races and intentional, community-driven content? In this episode, we sit down with Tommie Runz (formerly "Tommy Guns"), an ultra-marathoner, content creator, and founder of PR Project, who is gearing up for the legendary Western States 100 in June. Tommie opens up about his profound journey toward so...

In this episode, we tackle the essential strategies every runner needs to build an invisible armor of safety on the roads and trails. Whether you are running at dawn, hitting remote trails, or navigating busy city intersections, safety isn’t about training in fear—it’s about being proactive. We dive deep into the tactical adjustments that protect your space, from the "360-degree bio-motion ru...

In our latest Your Story, Your Why feature, D.C.-based runner Lauren Waldron shares how the sport became an unshakeable contract with herself while navigating high-stress public sector roles and tumultuous personal transitions. From buying her first pair of Hoka Gaviotas to setting fierce personal guardrails—culminating in telling an unsupportive partner, "You don't deserve to be at my st...

As marathon runners, we think we understand endurance, pacing, and the tech that drives our sport. But what happens when you take the legs out of the equation and replace them with Formula 1 engineering, 3D-printed hard gloves, and highway-speed descents? In this episode, I sit down with an absolute titan of endurance sports: Marcel Hug , the "Swiss Silver Bullet." He is a 12-time Paraly...

In this incredibly inspiring episode, we sit down with two-time world record holder and iFIT coach Ashley Paulson to talk about breaking boundaries, defying age limits, and crushing self-limiting beliefs. We dive deep into her remarkable journey from building her endurance as a young mom teaching fitness classes to earning a professional triathlon card in her 30s after her fourth child. Ashley tak...

Ever wondered why your best ideas strike mid-run, or why you feel calmerafter a tough workout? In this week’s episode, we are joined by psychotherapistand triathlon coach Nestor Rivera to bridge the gap between physical effort andmental health. We dive deep into the biology of the "runner’s high"—movingbeyond just endorphins to explore the calming power of endocannabinoids. Plus,we discuss why run...

What happens when a high-school vice president and mother of four decides to see how fast she can truly go? In this episode, we sit down with Maria Luevano, a powerhouse educator from Chicago who transformed from a casual runner into an athlete chasing the Olympic Marathon Trials. Maria opens up about her roots moving from Mexico to Chicago, how her fellow educators sparked her running journey in...

Summer isn’t just a season; it’s a high-stakes training block. In this episode, we break down the science of marathon heat training and why you should view these humid months as the "Poor Man’s Altitude." We move past the marketing hype to explore the physiological reality of thermal stress, plasma volume expansion, and why your watch data needs a serious reality check when the mercury r...

Cupless racing is gaining momentum, with Chicago now introducing refill stations at the Chicago 13.1 and Chicago Marathon to curb the millions of single-use cups discarded at major events. Don't worry, your disposable cups are still there, this is a test, but while the transition raises valid concerns regarding runner gear and congestion, industry experts suggest these are solvable design chal...

*This episode is NOT sponsored by Maurten* We at Marathon Journal are just very curious about new systems of administration and sciene. In this episode, we sit down with Josh Rowe to explore the science behind the Maurten Bicarb System and why sodium bicarbonate has become one of the most talked-about topics in endurance performance. We discuss: - how bicarbonate buffering works- why acidity contr...

In this episode, host Letty sits down with Angela M. Sterious, a dual-certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 30 years of medical experience, to tackle a crucial but often ignored aspect of women’s health: menopause and its hidden impact on bone density. Angela breaks down the biological changes that occur as women age, highlighting how the dramatic drop in estr...

In this episode, Letty sits down with Claire Boyce to explore the mental side of running that often gets overlooked. From imposter syndrome and comparison to consistency, burnout, and identity, this conversation goes beyond training plans and pace to uncover what it really means to become—and stay—a runner. They dive into how to handle setbacks, reframe slower seasons, use running as a tool for pr...

In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast , Letty and Ryan break down the historic sub-2 hour breakthrough in London and, more importantly, how you can apply those same elite strategies to your own training. We translate the performances of Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha into actionable "Middle-of-the-Pack" mechanics to help you become a faster, more efficient runner. We discuss the speci...

In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast, we dive deep into the vibrant world of the  Sanlam Cape Town Marathon . We are joined by expert ambassadors  Caitlyn Choi Hood  and  Jade Jacobs , who share their insider knowledge on the "Spirit of Resilience," the best local running crews, and where to find the city's most legendary post-race treats. Whether you are chasing a PB on t...

In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast, we sit down with veteran endurance specialist Coach Todd to tackle the "cram session" of marathon preparation. We ask the hard questions: When is it officially too late to start training? How do you pivot when a Wisconsin winter or a lingering injury sidelines your progress? We tease the specific "red flags" that mean you should...

Is every step you take a "withdrawal" from your joint bank account? In this high-stakes episode, Letty and Ryan tackle the 4 Most Googled Questions of 2026 and burn the old rulebook to the ground. We dive into the mind-blowing MRI research that proves running doesn't thin your cartilage—it can actually make it thicker and stronger . Ryan breaks down the "Thicker Cartilage Parado...

In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast , we dive into everything you need to know for the historic 130th running of the Boston Marathon in 2026. Host Letti Lundquist breaks down the evolution of the race from its 1897 roots to the modern-day "Mecca" of marathons. We explore the high-stakes qualifying standards, the unpredictable New England weather patterns, and the "victor...

We sit down with James McKirdy, founder of the coaching collective McKirdy Trained, to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to produce elite-level results without the "bogus" cookie-cutter methods saturably found on social media. We dive deep into the thrilling 2026 Los Angeles Marathon finish where McKirdy athlete Nathan Martin secured a victory by a razor-thin 0.01 seconds. James brea...

In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast, we dive into the role of AI in marathon nutrition . I sit down withregistered dietitian and endurance nutrition expert Alex Larson , founder of Alex Larson Nutrition (you can find her at https://alexlarsonnutrition.com/) to discusshow AI tools are shaping the way runners fuel their bodies—and where they canquietly sabotage performance. We cover real...

In this episode we are trying something different. We are taking a deep dive into the current state of the marathon. We talk about what is going on currently, including all the controversies. LA marathon's 18 mile marathon distance, the LA marathon finish and unfortunate events of their racers being led of course. We talk about Kipchoge running Cape Town, Shanghai being on schedule for becomin...

We are back from our trip to Kenya and happy to share with our about our trip. If you are looking for a visual, check out our Kenya Camp videos here https://www.youtube.com/@MarathonJournal Connect with Us: Our website: https://www.marathonjournal.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runningpodcast Follow us on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/30798607

In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast , updates and expert insights to keep you informed on the latest in running and competitive sports. We sit down with Arj Thiruchelvam , performance coach at Performance Physique , to dissecta groundbreaking new study from Loughborough University that is changing how we view the "marathon wall." We ask the tough questions: Why do we collapse...

In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast , updates and expert insights to keep you informed on the latest in running and competitive sports. We sit down with Arj Thiruchelvam , performance coach at Performance Physique , to discuss a brand-new study from Nature Scientific Reports that used machine learning to compare polarized and pyramidal training. We ask Arj why some runners thrive on th...

In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast , updates and expert insights to keepyou informed on the latest in running and competitive sports. We sit down with Arj Thiruchelvam , performance coach and founder of Performance Physique, todiscuss a groundbreaking study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine . We asked Arj to help us redefine "how much is too much" and why y...