We're breaking down one of the most-asked-about topics in marathon training: the peak week. Michael and Alex pull back the curtain on what their own peak weeks actually look like (down to the kilometer) and share what they've learned from years of racing (and from picking the brains of elite runners like Eliud Kipchoge and Casey Klinger) about how to build a peak block that makes you stronger, not broken.Plus: the team splits up as Katelyn and Alex head to Sydney to cover the brand-new Sydney Marathon while UTMB unfolds in Chamonix, and a full fall racing calendar preview covering Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Valencia.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.comRight now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathonJoin Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

The 2026 New York City Marathon elite fields just dropped, and Michael and Alex are breaking down every contender... recorded fresh off a workout with Conner Mantz, Casey Klinger, and Clayton Young in Provo, Utah.On the men's side: defending champion Benson Kipruto, American record holder Zouhair Talbi, and a red-hot Conner Mantz headline a field where 10 athletes have run faster than the current course record. On the women's side: Sifan Hassan looks for redemption after a brutal fall stretch, defending champ Hellen Obiri returns, and a stacked American trio (Jess McLain, Annie Frisbie, Fiona O'Keefe) chases the country's first NYC women's champion since 2009. Plus: a can't-miss marathon debut, a deep dive into what shoes the elites will be wearing on November 1st, and some genuinely bold predictions.Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Is it more volume or more speed that makes you a faster runner? This week Michael, Alex, and Katelyn dig into a listener's massive marathon breakthrough (2:47 → 2:30!) after he dropped threshold work and leaned into high weekly mileage instead — and unpack whether that trade-off actually holds up for the rest of us.Plus: how to keep your training on track while traveling, lifting heavy before race day, choosing between a safe Boston Qualifier and a sub-3 goal, how many miles you should really get out of a pair of running shoes, decoding the "super trainer" shoe category, and Michael finally opens up his own training log.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better.  Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match.  Custom insoles made with supershoe foam: visit kilarun.com and use code “marathon” to get $80 off your first order.Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathonJoin Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

This week on The Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci tackle a stacked list of listener questions starting with one every marathoner has wondered about: does switching into your super shoes mid-long run actually hurt you on race day? Plus, Alex and Katelyn share the news that they're heading to Australia to cover the Sydney Marathon (and race actual lifeguards on Bondi Beach), a 66-year-old listener's quest to run a fast 800 m, advice on training two marathons just 15 weeks apart, how to keep a young runner in love with the sport, and when it's time to step back up to the marathon distance.Chapters:0:00 Intro2:05 Sydney Marathon trip announcement10:07 Announcements: Runs Like Hell, Run Club, and The Green Room22:46 Sponsor: Kila custom insoles24:49 Back from break: your questions25:43 Q&A: Training for two marathons 15 weeks apart38:06 Sponsor: Orion Sleep39:23 Back from break39:31 Q&A: Chasing a fast 800m at 66 years old50:37 Q&A: Coaching a young runner (age 8) who loves the sport59:33 Q&A: When to return to marathon training1:10:10 Sponsor: Momentous creatine1:12:19 Back from break1:12:34 Q&A: Should you switch shoes mid-long run?1:34:26 Wrap-up & sign-offSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Custom insoles made with supershoe foam: visit kilarun.com and use code “marathon” to get $80 off your first order.Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system: get up to $400 off at orionsleep.com/marathonThis episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.comJoin Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comSend us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/Join our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

We're halfway through 2026, and it's time for our mid-year shoe power rankings. Michael and Alex each built their own Top 10 favorite running shoes of the year so far: super shoes, super trainers, daily trainers, and everything in between. Plus, a bonus trail shoe corner at the end.Chapters:0:00 Intro — how we're ranking shoes this year0:38 Alex #10 — Saucony Endorphin Pro 53:52 Michael #10 — On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper (Light Spray)6:40 Alex #9 — Saucony Endorphin Azura9:50 Michael #9 — Mizuno Wave Rider 3012:29 Alex #8 — Brooks Hyperion Elite 614:50 Michael #8 — Saucony Ride 1917:22 Alex #7 — On Cloudboom Strike 220:51 Michael #7 — Salomon Gravel Concept Shoe23:45 Alex #6 — Hoka Clifton Pro29:13 Michael #6 — Adidas EVO SL ATR32:09 Alex #5 — Adidas Hyperboost Edge36:44 Michael #5 — Mount to Coast C139:59 Alex #4 — Puma Deviate Nitro43:19 Michael #4 — Brooks Hyperion Elite 646:57 Alex #3 — Asics MetaSleek51:30 Michael #3 — Tracksmith Eliot Rider57:16 Alex #2 — Saucony Paramount Max1:01:40 Michael #2 — Mizuno Neo Vista 31:07:17 Alex #1 — Asics Superblast 31:12:37 Michael #1 — On Cloudboom Strike 2 LS1:19:05 Bonus: Trail Shoe Corner1:20:15 Trail #3 — Nike ACG UltraFly 21:21:06 Trail #2 — Asics Metaspeed Fuji Trail 21:22:07 Trail #1 — Adidas Gravic Speed Ultra 21:24:30 Wrap-up & what's coming at year-endJoin Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

Max Jolliffe is one of the most followed ultrarunners on the internet, and in July 2026 he became the fastest man in the 49-year history of Badwater 135, finishing Death Valley's brutal 135-mile course (ending with a 12-mile climb up Mount Whitney Portal Road, in temperatures hitting 118°F) in 20 hours 53 minutes, on his very first attempt.In this episode, Michael talks to Max about his journey from Newport Beach surf-and-skate culture to ultrarunning champion, the science behind his heat training, his race-day battle for the lead at Badwater, how he balances content creation with elite racing, and why Cocodona has become his "white whale."Chapters:0:00 Intro3:25 Growing up in Newport Beach: surfing, skating, and sports6:16 Getting sober and finding running almost by accident8:14 His first marathon: OC Marathon, 201910:14 The meteoric rise from marathoner to ultrarunning champion10:37 Training through COVID and building real consistency12:13 Racing his way into Badwater (Sean O'Brien 100K to Angeles Crest 100)14:05 Course recon and race-specific prep for Death Valley14:58 The science of heat training: core temp, sweat tests, and data17:28 What it's actually like to run Badwater 13519:12 Race strategy and the back-and-forth battle21:41 The darkest night: fighting through stomach issues and self-doubt23:04 The explosion of content creators in ultrarunning24:16 Balancing brand partnerships with full-time training26:14 Running is the new skateboarding28:59 Project-based running vs chasing competitive results30:32 Cocodona 250: the race he's never finished, his white whale31:25 What's next: Kodiak 100, UTMB qualifying, and the Go and More Ultra32:11 Honeymoon plans in Spain (with a little training on the side)32:59 What his watch showed during the hottest miles of the race34:25 Do your feet really cook running on Death Valley asphalt?35:34 Bucket list races: Western States, Barkley, and Tor des GéantsFollow Max:https://www.instagram.com/woah_max/Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

This week, Michael, Alex, and Katelyn dig into that enduring debate before working through a full mailbag of listener questions: from whether it's worth traveling internationally for a bucket-list marathon, to pacing strategy on brutally hilly courses like Boston, to setting a realistic goal for your first-ever marathon.Chapters:0:00 Intro & Icebreakers4:59 Sponsor: Kila Custom Insoles7:01 Fall Marathon Training Kicks Off7:42 Training Updates: Katelyn, Alex & Michael24:51 Sponsor: Lagoon Sleep Pillows26:40 Q1: Should You Travel for a Marathon? (London Marathon Lottery)49:37 Sponsor: Marathon Handbook RunClub53:01 Q2: Is Cross-Training a Substitute or Compliment to Running?1:15:04 Q3: Setting a Realistic First Marathon Goal Pace1:21:07 Q4: Pacing Strategy for Hilly Marathons (Boston)1:42:15 Q5: Balancing Music and Marathon Training1:54:11 Wrap-Up & AnnouncementsSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Kila creates custom insoles made with supershoe foam. Visit kilarun.com and use code “marathon” to get $80 off your first order.Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better.  Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match.  Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comElevation Calculator:https://30grados.com/en/perfil-de-elevacion-y-pendiente

What should marathon pace actually feel like? On this episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Katelyn Tocci, and Alex Cyr break down how to dial in your marathon pace using RPE and lactate threshold, whether you need a running coach, when to wear super shoes on race day, and how to figure out your true running ceiling. Plus, Katelyn recaps crushing a two-hour PR at the Vermont 100 and Michael shares his hilliest (and weirdest-named) run through rural Newfoundland.Chapters:0:00 Intro: doubling season1:30 Katelyn's Vermont 100 recap & PR breakdown7:50 Crushing a two-hour Vermont 100 PR9:51 Being the happiest runner on the course11:36 Running Newfoundland's hilliest, weirdest towns17:30 Recognized by a fan mid-dinner21:39 Preview: pacing, super shoes & running ceiling25:29 Should you hire a running coach?38:00 What should marathon pace feel like?58:00 Training for a marathon with a demanding job1:20:24 To super shoe or not to super shoe1:35:29 What is your running ceiling?1:48:10 Wrap-up & listener shoutoutsSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.comLagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better.  Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match.  Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub#MarathonTraining #MarathonPace #RunningPodcast #Vermont100 #SuperShoes #RunningCoach #MarathonHandbook

It's hot everywhere right now, so Michael, Alex, and Katelyn are breaking down 8 science-backed (and battle-tested) hacks for running in extreme heat and humidity. From heat acclimatization and dew point pacing to pre-cooling tricks, electrolyte hydration, and knowing the warning signs of heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke, this episode covers everything you need to train safely through a heat wave.Chapters:0:00 Intro1:52 Send Us Your Questions for Brad Stulberg4:44 Sponsor: Lagoon Pillow6:24 8 Hacks for Running in Heat: Overview15:53 Hack 1: Embrace the Heat (Acclimatization)24:05 Hack 2: Run by Feel (Dew Point)36:39 Sponsor: Marathon Handbook Run Club40:03 Hack 3: Pre-Cool Before Running45:28 Hack 4: Hydrate With Electrolytes53:57 Hack 5: Time It Right1:01:36 Hack 6: Dress for Physics1:07:24 Hack 7: Target Your Hotspots1:10:13 Hack 8: Recognize Heat Illness1:15:32 Bonus: Build Your Own Pace CalculatorSUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better.  Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match.  Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclubShop Marathon Handbook merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.comWhether you're training for a fall marathon, running ultras in tropical heat, or just trying to survive your daily run this summer, these tips will help you run smarter — not just tougher — in the heat.Got a question for our upcoming guest, author Brad Stulberg? Drop it in the comments or send it our way, details below!https://marathonhandbook.com/how-brad-stulbergs-books-on-excellence-inspired-kipchoges-and-sawes-marathon-world-records/#RunningTips #HeatTraining #MarathonTraining

Josh Kerr just ran 3:42.66 to break the men's mile world record, ending Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year hold on the mark.In this episode, Michael Doyle, Jessy Carveth, and Alex Cyr break down the race lap-by-lap and split-by-split, dig into Brooks' "Project 222" campaign behind the attempt, and debate what it means for the current golden era of middle-distance running.Then Jessy Carveth sits down with Josh Kerr himself for an exclusive interview on the race, his mindset down the final stretch, the Ingebrigtsen rivalry, and what might be next, including a possible run at the 1500m record.Splits from the race: 400m – 55.3, 800m – 1:51.1 (55.8), 1200m – 2:46.5 (55.4), Mile – 3:42.66 (54.9 final 400m).Chapters:0:00 Intro0:35 Instant reaction panel intro2:15 First reactions to the world record4:54 3:42.66 — the new world record, by the numbers5:54 What is Project 222?7:27 Lap 1 breakdown — the opening 55.39:52 Wavelight tech and Yared Nuguse as the spoiler11:15 Lap 2 — pacers step off, crowd erupts12:36 The bell lap — briefly a three-horse race13:45 Final lap — Kerr's fastest 400 of the race14:14 Race vs. time trial: comparing it to Breaking416:23 Inside Project 222 — Brooks' rollout and Easter eggs18:08 Why racing beats time trials — Nuguse's role20:16 The "contentification" of professional running20:45 The Kerr vs. Ingebrigtsen rivalry21:49 Full 400m splits, one more time23:25 The pre-race 1200m time trial video24:17 Hero or villain? Hot takes27:00 Interview with Josh Kerr begins27:30 Why it had to be a real race, not a time trial28:40 Racing Nuguse down the stretch30:02 Staying present through a 54.9 final lap31:19 Will there be a "mini Bannister effect"?32:19 Reaction from El Guerrouj, and time with Coe and Cram33:04 Is the 1500m record next?33:51 Why take this on with no Olympics on the table34:56 The training breakthrough that made 3:42 believable36:05 Making training public — the future of the sport37:32 Closing thanks