Marathon Handbook Podcast

How do you go from job-hunting after college to a 2:05:54 marathon, run in Toledo, in one year? Vinny Mauri did it, and now he’s one of the most talked-about American runners at the 2026 Chicago Marathon.

Alex Cyr caught up with Vinny at the Chicago Marathon athlete availability, two days before his first big-city marathon. Vinny explains the 45-mile day that capped his build: 2 x 50 minutes in the morning and 4 x 20 minutes in the afternoon, both on the treadmill. He also explains how he picks his workouts by asking friends and Instagram followers to “pick a number one to four.”

Chicago Marathon weekend is almost here! Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci preview the race, then answer your questions.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order.

This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com

Marathon Handbook listeners get 15% off their entire order when shopping CEP Running online through November 15! Shop CEP Running or enter code LRL-NYC-15 at checkout. 
 
https://ceprunning.com/discount/LRL-NYC-15?utm_source=long_run_labs&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=lrl_nyc_marathon_2026&utm_content=podcast_show_notes 

Offer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts. 

Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Carb Loading Resource:
https://marathonhandbook.com/carb-loading/

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

TORONTO MILE ZERO LIVE SHOW, 17th Oct:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-toronto-2026-tickets-2002512056467

Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

Send us a question:
https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/

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Nike has announced three new race day shoes, and the headliner is the Nike Apex: a zero drop super shoe with 40mm of stack in both the heel and the forefoot, built to challenge the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3 at the front of the world's fastest marathons. Alex Cyr and Michael Doyle break down the Apex, the Alphafly 4 and the $145 Swooshfly.

We sat in on Nike's briefing with the executives and designers behind these shoes and draw on conversations from this summer with Nike athletes and with Brett Schoolmeester, the VP who has helped lead Nike's super shoe program from the start. We cover the Apex's specs and $350 price, whether Nike's athletes will embrace a zero drop racer, how hard it may be to buy a pair, why the Swooshfly is aimed at beginners and at China's booming marathon scene, and whether Nike now has the best running shoe lineup in the sport.

Running your first marathon this fall? Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci put together a complete race-week checklist, covering what to do and what to avoid before, during and after your marathon debut. They cover how to taper without losing your mind, carb loading and hydration, how to get through the expo, race-morning routines and logistics, pacing strategy (including why elite marathoners often run their slowest 10K first), fueling, and what to plan for after you cross the finish line.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon

Marathon Handbook listeners get 15% off their entire order when shopping CEP Running online through November 15! Shop CEP Running or enter code LRL-NYC-15 at checkout.
Offer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

https://ceprunning.com/discount/LRL-NYC-15?utm_source=long_run_labs&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=lrl_nyc_marathon_2026&utm_content=podcast_show_notes_2026-9-24

Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Carb Loading Resource:
https://marathonhandbook.com/carb-loading/

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

Send us a question:
https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/

Join our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Nike's Bret Schoolmeester has worked on super shoes since the very first prototype. Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr sit down with him just after the launch of the Nike Alphafly 4 to talk about the past, present and future of the carbon-plated racing shoe.

Bret goes back to 2015, when Nike set out to help a human break two hours in the marathon, and explains how a scoop-shaped carbon plate and an experimental PEBA foam got cobbled into a Streak 6 upper and became the shoe that changed the sport. He then gets into the details of the Alphafly 4: the new ZoomX LT foam, why Nike is sticking with Zoom Air pods and a full carbon plate, why the launch was moved up for Andreas Almgren and the World Road Running Championships, and why he calls it the biggest leap since the original Alphafly.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order.

Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth, live from Berlin, react to a dramatic 2026 Berlin Marathon. Tigst Assefa was 10 seconds ahead of world record pace at 40K and on track to break Ruth Chepngetich's 2:09:56. Then an apparent right Achilles injury left her limping through the final 2K. She still finished in 2:11:04, a course record and the third-fastest women's marathon in history, and Haile Gebrselassie was the first to help her at the finish line.

On the men's side, 35-year-old Guye Adola won his second Berlin title in 2:02:50, knocking almost a minute off a personal best that had stood since 2017. Michael and Jessy go through both podiums, Rosemary Wanjiru's fade, and Adidas sweeping the women's podium in the Adios Pro Evo 3 and a new speed suit with the bib built in. They also cover Sabastian Sawe missing the race, the warm conditions, and whether Berlin should move to an earlier start time.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

What happens when the world's most popular marathon runs on two days? London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher sits down with Jessy Carveth to talk about the 2027 Double London Marathon: 45,000 runners on Saturday, 55,000 on Sunday, and a one-time-only weekend that could be the biggest in the history of marathon running.

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

What does it take to believe you can run a sub-two-hour marathon? Bestselling author Brad Stulberg (The Way of Excellence, Master of Change, The Practice of Groundedness) joins Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci to talk about the running mindset.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
Marathon Handbook listeners get 15% off their entire order when shopping CEP Running online through November 15! Shop CEP Running or enter code LRL-NYC-15 at checkout.
Offer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com

Brad's work:
https://www.bradstulberg.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bradstulberg/

Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420

Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976

Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

Send us a question:
https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/

Join our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

The Nike Alphafly 4 is here, the first update to the franchise in two years and eight months, and we have had our hands on it since November. Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr go through the full spec sheet, every change from the Alphafly 3, and whether Nike has done enough to stay competitive at the top of the super shoe market.

The Alphafly 4 retails for $275, which is $10 below what the Alphafly 3 launched at. Stack height is 39mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot, an 8mm drop, and it weighs 7.33 ounces in a men's size 10, with Nike rating it for roughly 300 miles. The carbon plate is wider, the Zoom Air units are 30 percent lighter, and the foam carries a new name, Zoom XLT.

That weight is where the conversation gets interesting. The Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 3 weighs 4.3 ounces, and most of the current super shoe field sits under seven. We talk through whether the Alphafly 4 can be taken seriously at the front of a race, or whether Nike has built it for everyone else and is holding its real answer back for a shoe reported to be called the Apex.

Along the way: every prototype sighting from Conner Mantz in Chicago to Jacob Kiplimo in London, a power ranking of the super shoe market as it stands, the cost per mile math that makes the Alphafly 4 look like a bargain, a round of over/unders on what the shoe does this fall, and whether either of us would actually race in it.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) It's Alphafly 4 Day
(02:03) First Impressions Holding the Shoe
(05:45) What Nike Changed Underfoot
(07:55) The Spec Sheet: $275 and 39mm
(10:10) Rated for 300 Miles
(11:41) Zoom XLT and the Pebax Reveal
(12:31) The Weight Problem
(14:18) How It Stacks Up Against Its Rivals
(15:37) Why the Alphafly 3 Was a Gold Mine
(18:30) They Finally Fixed the Squeak
(20:05) Where We Spotted the Prototypes
(22:00) Every Podium It Has Already Won
(23:04) The Sifan Hassan Mystery
(23:57) The Zero Drop Prototype
(25:51) Power Ranking the Elite Super Shoes
(29:29) Where the Alphafly 4 Slots In
(32:04) 92 Cents a Mile vs $6 a Mile
(34:30) Hot Take: Best Seller in Six Months
(36:22) The Apex, Nike's Real Answer
(41:41) Over/Unders and Bold Predictions
(46:57) Is Nike Done?
(51:28) Would We Race In It?
(55:40) Coming Next: Brett Schoolmeester

Our full review is coming once test pairs arrive. Next week we talk to Brett Schoolmeester, Nike's vice president of innovation.

Watch this episode on YouTube: [CHANNEL LINK]
Newsletter: [NEWSLETTER LINK]

This week Michael, Katelyn, and Alex tackle a stacked mailbag of listener questions covering the toughest parts of marathon training: the ones that aren't about splits and mileage. From surviving a brutal race-day side stitch to managing pre-race anxiety to figuring out whether to trust your heart rate or your gut, this episode digs into the mental side of the sport as much as the physical.

RPE Chart:
https://marathonhandbook.com/rate-of-perceived-exertion/

Side Stitch Article:
https://marathonhandbook.com/side-stitch-wont-go-away/

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.  

Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon

Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

Send us a question:
https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/

Join our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/