Marathon Handbook Podcast

Mailbag time! In this spring edition, we dig into your listener questions covering all things running—from training tweaks to shoe reviews, marathon pacing, gels, treadmill strategies, and a deep dive into that eternal mystery: what are speed goggles?

Plus, Michael shares coaching tips for kids’ running programs, Caitlin gives sunscreen recs for Honolulu, and Alex bravely admits to lazy calves. We’ve got something for every runner—whether you’re chasing a BQ or your first 5K finish.

📍 LIVE SHOW ALERT! Join us April 19 at 5:30 PM at Trident Booksellers, Boston – Get your last-minute tickets (few left!):
https://marathonhandbook.com/mile-zero/

If the invite RSVP link is closed, email [email protected] and we'll see if there are spaces that become available!

💬 Got a question for our next mailbag? Email us at: [email protected]

🕓 Chapters with Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro + Boston Live Show Preview
02:19 – Mailbag Begins: Marathon Training Plan Structure
11:28 – Zone 2 Confusion + Heart Rate Watch Accuracy
18:23 – Training Kids & Coaching Advice
27:09 – Heart Rate Spikes and Cardiac Drift
33:52 – Treadmill vs Outdoor Running
37:08 – Shuffling Feet Fixes
40:30 – Gels During Races: How, When, and Where
47:09 – Marathon Pacing Strategy
51:07 – Gear Section: Why No Puma Love?
57:09 – Is Brooks Hyperion Good for Slower Runners?
01:03:08 – Adidas Evo SL vs Pro Evo Explained
01:05:16 – Potpourri: Speed Goggles, Sunscreen, and Tattoos
01:13:10 – Fan Shoutouts + Next Week’s Boston Preview

Over 230,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

IMPORTANT NEWS:

🎉 We're hosting a LIVE PODCAST EVENT, happening Boston Marathon weekend, Saturday, April 19th, 2025, from 5:30PM to 7:30 PM.  at Trident Booksellers on Newbury Street. There will be free food, drinks and exclusive gear giveaways! Tickets are free, but very limited, so RSVP now with this link:

https://forms.gle/zSrSDAjbSP3Gqqir7

--------------------------

In this jam-packed episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, we’re here to make sense of the ever-evolving running shoe landscape. From your daily trainers to the high-stakes world of super shoes—and the weird, wonderful category in between (hello, super trainers)—we cover it all.

We kick things off with some personal updates: Katelyn is closing in on the Boston Marathon and taper madness is knocking on her door. Meanwhile, Alex shares the story of his sub-30 10K attempt in New York, the triumphs and misses, and what it’s taught him about racing, pacing, and self-talk.

Then we get into the good stuff:

👟 Everyday Trainers

• What defines a great daily trainer in 2025?

• The rise of supercritical foams in easy shoes

• Top picks: ASICS Nimbus 27, Brooks Glycerin 22, New Balance 1080, On Cloudsurfer 2, Nike Vomero 18

⚡ Super Shoes

• The evolution of the carbon-plated racer

• The lightweight race shoe renaissance (hello, Adidas Pro Evo)

• Trust, performance, and the psychology of picking your race-day weapon

• Top picks: Adidas Pro Evo, AlphaFly 3, Vaporfly 4, Metaspeed Paris, Adios Pro 4

🌀 Super Trainers

• What even is a super trainer?

• The blur between workout and long-run shoes

• The Pegasus Premium paradox, and why we kind of love it

• Top picks: ASICS Superblast, On Cloud Monster Hyper, New Balance Rebel v4, Pegasus Premium, SuperComp Trainer

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

• Tracksmith Eliot Runner review

#running #runningshoes #marathontraining #supertrainers #supershoes #bostonmarathon #tracksmith #nikealpha #asicsnimbus #adidasproevo #shoereview

On today's episode, Alex, Katelyn and Michael debate about what the single biggest milestone is in all of running.

First, Alex argues that it has to be the sub four minute mile, including the prospect that the barrier could conceivably be broken by a woman in the near future.

Then, Katelyn stumps for the Boston Marathon qualifier (or BQ) as the single most significant milestone in all of running, as it's the benchmark for thousands of recreational runners each year, and is effectively the "Olympics for the every-person."

Finally, Michael suggests that the sub two hour marathon on a legit marathon course is not only the greatest milestone in distance running, but it is the final frontier in marathoning.

Over 230,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

#marathontraining #bostonmarathon #eliudkipchoge #runningmotivation  #runningpodcast #running

Join us for an in-depth analysis of the 2025 Barkley Marathons, one of the most brutal and mysterious ultramarathons on the planet. In this episode, we break down exactly what happened in this year’s race — from the start line in Frozen Head State Park to the final taps of "Taps" for runners who didn’t finish.

🔥 What We'll Cover:

• Who toed the line in the 2025 Barkley Marathons
• How far each runner got — loop-by-loop breakdown
• Was this the toughest edition ever? We compare it to past years
• Detailed finish statistics: Did anyone even finish the "Fun Run"?
• Weather, course conditions, and any route changes
• Historical data deep dive: Finish rates, race trends, and how the 2025 field stacked up against Barkley legends

📊 We also explore the full history of the Barkley Marathons, including:

• First-time finishers and repeat attempts
• How rare are Barkley finishes, really?
• Data trends across decades: Has the race gotten harder?

💀 Was the 2025 Barkley Marathons unbeatable? We look at the numbers.

Further Reading:

Was 2025 the Hardest Barkley Marathons Ever? The Data Says Yes:
https://marathonhandbook.com/2025-barkley-marathons-data-analysis/

Read John Kelly's breakdown of his 2025 Barkley Marathons experience:
https://marathonhandbook.com/john-kelly-reflects-on-brutal-2025-barkley-fun-run-this-one-hurt-more-than-my-full-finishes/

Re-live the event with our live updates of the 2025 Barkley Marathons:
https://marathonhandbook.com/2024-barkley-marathons-results/

Read our story "No Finishers for 2025 Barkley Marathons as 36-Hour Cutoff Passes":
https://marathonhandbook.com/breaking-no-finishers-for-2025-barkley-marathons-as-36-hour-cutoff-passes/

Who is Lazarus Lake, the Barkley Marathons creator?
https://marathonhandbook.com/lazarus-lake/

Over 230,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free running training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

#ultramarathonrunner #ultramarathon #barkleymarathons #runningpodcast #running

Our editors Michael Doyle, Katelyn Tocci and Alex Cyr dig into everything you need to know about the Barkley Marathons, the most mysterious, alluring and difficult race in the world. They go into the history of this 100-mile running race, its long list of eccentricities, how to get into the Barkley, and what the heck happened this year on the course, with no finishers.

Follow our live updates of the 2025 Barkley Marathons:
https://marathonhandbook.com/2024-barkley-marathons-results/

Read our story "No Finishers for 2025 Barkley Marathons as 36-Hour Cutoff Passes":
https://marathonhandbook.com/breaking-no-finishers-for-2025-barkley-marathons-as-36-hour-cutoff-passes/

Who is Lazarus Lake, the Barkley Marathons creator?
https://marathonhandbook.com/lazarus-lake/

Over 230,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

#ultramarathonrunner #ultramarathon #barkleymarathons #runningpodcast #running

We dream of the perfect race day, but let’s be honest—things can (and often do) go wrong at retty much any running event distance, from the 5K to ultramarathon distances. On today's podcast, we'll delve into the top 10 hiccups that can wreck your race.

From blown-up pacing to blister meltdowns, weather surprises fueling nightmares, to the dreaded running side stitch, we’re getting into everything that could go wrong in a race and, more importantly, how to fix it in the moment. Plus, we will share personal horror stories from the road and trail.


For each issue, we'll break down the details and science behind why it happens, practical tips on how to handle it in the moment, and strategies to prevent it from happening again.

We Cover:

00:00 - Intro
01:56 - Hitting the Wall in a Marathon
11:22 - GI Issues
22:13 - Chafing, Blisters and Shoe Problems
29:36 - Side Stitch
38:30 - Leg Craps and Muscle Fatigue
41:41 - Dehydration
50:44 - Fueling Mistakes and Energy Crashes
54:40 - Bad Weather
1:02:50 - Mental Fatigue/Losing Focus
1:13:55 - Getting Lost/Sent Off Course

Over 230,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

Alex, Katelyn and Michael were live onstage at the Boston Run Show. They discuss the biggest running trends in 2025 and beyond: Are we really experiencing a running boom, and will it last? Are the World Marathon Majors making a mistake by expanding, and which events will be added next? Why is "running the new dating app"? And what do Nike's curious new set of running shoe patents suggest about the future of super shoes?

Over 230,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

Alex, Katelyn and Michael try something a little different in this week's podcast. They compete in a "race draft," similar to a sports fantasy draft, but with running events. They each have to build the perfect calendar year of running events, by picking one of the following: an ultra/trail event, a marathon, a half, a 10K, a 5K, a "wild card" race, and an event to they'd like to spectate as a fan. If a race is selected, it's off the board!

Follow along and tell us who has the best schedule of dream races for the year, along with your picks!

You can watch a video version of our podcasts on our YouTube channel, or on Spotify!

Over 240,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

Our editors Alex, Katelyn and Michael discuss the 2025 Tokyo Marathon moments after the elite races wrapped up. They break down all the action, including a surprising win on the men's side, and a risky move by defending champion Sutume Kebede in the women's race. Plus, the look at track great Joshua Cheptegei's race, which is his second shot at running a marathon. Was it a success?

And finally, where does Tokyo stand as a major marathon? Is it still one of the best races in the world?

Over 240,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

Our editors Alex, Katelyn and Michael go deep on this weekend's Tokyo Marathon, the first World Marathon Major of the year!

Topics Covered:

• The intriguing history of the race
• The course
• They power rank the World Marathon Majors
• They give Tokyo a score out of 100
• Compare the elevation and course profile
• How to get into Tokyo 2026
• Unpack the elite women's race
• Unpack the elite men's race

Come see our live podcast at the Boston Run Show! March 1-2. Get tickets here:

https://thebostonrunshow.seetickets.com/event/the-boston-run-show-the-boston-outdoor-expo/boston-hynes-convention-center/3110358

Over 239,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB