All-time best lineups, exclusive news, and Paula Radcliffe herself on Marathon Talk? We couldn’t start 2025 any better, could we…

Paula Radcliffe MBE is our very first guest on the show, talking to us ahead of her majestic marathon return! She’s taking on Tokyo and Boston, the latter of which has a stacked elite field… or so we thought, til London unveiled their roster.

Get the jump on two of the most anticipated races in a generation, with one of the most iconic runners of a generation, on episode 61 of Marathon Talk.

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - We kick off the first show of the year checking in on Deena’s discipline, and set our goals for the year ahead

• 12:45 - Boston and London have released their incredibly competitive elite fields, so we sift through the contenders who might take victory in these stellar fields

• 33:50 - Marathon icon and former World Record Holder Paula Radcliffe MBE is our very special guest, sharing the first steps on her marathon return, Six Star ambitions, and what she’s looking forward to most about taking on Boston & Tokyo

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

It’s the last show of the year, so what better way to round off 2024 than with a look at 2024’s most memorable moments!

In celebration of Sydney’s 7th Star status, we’ve hand-picked 7 standout stories; from remarkable Six Star Finishers to blistering records, we’ve been treated to a stellar year for the sport.

Join Martin and Deena one last time, for the very best of 2024!

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - For the final time this year, we hear how Martin and Deena are rounding off 2024 and preparing for the Christmas period - training or otherwise…

• 15:30 - We run down the 7 biggest moments of the running year, from Ruth’s record-breaking race and Chris Nikic’s heroism, to Sydney’s finest hour and Sifan Hassan’s incredible gold medal

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Record-breaking debutants, speedy teens and iconic Six Star Finishers - we have it all in this week’s Marathon Talk!

Among all the world-best performances from the lilies of Sabastian Sawe and Gout Gout, we’re joined in this episode by the iconic Tommie Runz off the back of running all six Majors this year.

Tune in to catch his take on the Majors circuit and representing his community, while we also cover Valencia’s rapid performances, a thrilling cross country title, and much more…

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - We have a brief catchup with Deena and Martin on their discipline challenges, and an underwhelming USA vs England women’s match at Wembley

• 6:10 - We have a new fastest debutant, a new fastest teenager in the world, a new Female Athlete of the Year, and questions over Ingebritsen’s future

• 22:00 - Tommie Runz joins us to talk 6 Stars, which was his favourite, the hero that is Ted Metelles, his journey to sobriety, and representing so many communities

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Abbott World Marathon Majors

https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/

Martin Yelling

https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/

Deena Kastor

https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/

Tommie Runz

https://www.tommierunz.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tommie_runz/

Sydney, Shanghai, Cape Town: what do all these new and prospective Majors mean for marathon running’s greatest prize?

This week’s news roundup collides with the Q&A spotlight that we shine upon Abbott World Marathon Majors’ Danny Coyle!

Cape Town and Shanghai are taking strides in their journey to become Majors, and Danny shares what this means for all the Six Star Hopefuls, and for those of you hungry for more…

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - Deena’s taking on a new challenge with discipline at its core, and Martin’s been easing back into the rhythm of running amid a snowy spell in the UK

• 17:30 - The big news this week is around Cape Town’s latest step towards becoming a new Major, while Shanghai gets its first assessment on the board, and Valencia’s marathon hopes to unite its people now more than ever

• 24:45 - Abbott World Marathon Majors’ Danny Coyle answers all your burning questions on the future of the Six Star Medal, and unveils long-term plans for a thrilling Nine Star Medal…

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Abbott World Marathon Majors

https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/

Martin Yelling

https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/

Deena Kastor

https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/

One week on from the most incredible race in New York, it’s time to look back on our race in the five boroughs, and the top stories from the elite field.

In a packed show this week, we’ve also got all the numbers on this year’s Six Star Finishers, and following Sydney’s exciting news that it’ll join the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025, we catch up with the incredible Wayne Larden, Race Director for the newly minted Major!

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - Deena and Martin take another long look back at their magnificent experience in New York last week, sharing more of their favourite moments from the five boroughs

• 20:30 - A detailed look back on the elite results in New York, with a flying Dutchman’s first Major win, an upset in the women’s field, and our insider knowledge on Marcel Hug’s crash

• 28:20 - Wayne Larden, Sydney Marathon’s Event Director, joins us fresh from the news of Sydney’s newfound Major status, to share how the race has evolved and grown, and future plans for the 7th Star in the Series

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Abbott World Marathon Majors

https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/

Martin Yelling

https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/

Deena Kastor

https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/

Wayne Larden

https://www.instagram.com/waynelarden/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-larden/

It’s crunch time for Martin and Deena - they took on the 5 boroughs together, but how did they fare?

They bring you a very special episode of Marathon Talk from on the streets of New York City, bringing to life the stories of those around them, and an impressive roundup of the elite field results… literally as they happened!

Join us for 26.2 miles of the infectious New York atmosphere, plus a bonus update on Sydney’s strides to become the 7th Major…

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - Martin & Deena make their final preparations, and the early morning trek to the start line

• 7:30 - We hear from Achilles International guide Rosie from New Zealand as she guides fellow Kiwi Paul through his first international marathon, and the NYPD’s Russel as he lauds the way that the race brings us together

• 17:40 - At the 17th mile, we share the stories of some fabulous French volunteers, and an ambitious Brazilian 6 Star hopeful on their third punt at New York 

• 21:20 - From the huge 20 mile mark, we push through the pain, catch up with a remarkable pregnant lady running for two, and find Episode 38’s Mark Rogerson and Katie Garrity on 5th Avenue

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Abbott World Marathon Majors

https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/

Martin Yelling

https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/

Deena Kastor

https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/

New York is calling… The TCS New York City Marathon is this weekend, but are Martin, Deena, and the elite field ready?

One man who is, and our special guest on Marathon Talk this week, is NYC legend, 12x New York finisher and 3x Six Star Finisher, Ron Romano - he gives us the lowdown on how to nail New York!

Elsewhere, Martin & Deena cover yet another World Record, the shoe technology that might be behind the recent upsurge in women’s record-setters, and we look at how the elite field shapes up for the end of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series.

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - We catch up with Martin and Deena from their spooky Halloween seasons, and touch on Martin’s… unscheduled taper

• 11:25 - New York race week brings us big names and even bigger stories to be written, Yomif Kejelcha takes down the half marathon record, and we dive deeper into Ruth Chepng’etich and how she tore the women’s record to shreds

• 25:50 - Ron Romano’s 12 New York finishes make him an authority on the 5 boroughs, so he talks us through race day tips, how to conquer the course, and his love for the TCS New York City Marathon

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

The new Women’s World Record wasn’t just pipped by a few seconds in Chicago… it was utterly obliterated. Take a bow, Ruth Chepng'etich.

With front row seats to the first woman running sub-2:10, Chicago’s Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski is our special guest in a stacked show on this week’s Marathon Talk!

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - We kick off with tales of Deena’s Chicago experience, and a check in on Martin and Deena’s… questionable training progress

• 8:20 - The headlines belong to new record-holder Ruth Chepng'etich, but we cover all from the 12th fastest all-time race in the men’s field, and a dogfight in the wheelchair races

• 26:00 - Carey Pinkowski gives us the inside track on how Chicago put on its historic race, Kelvin Kiptum’s legacy, and how Chicago so often attracts greatness

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Carey Pinkowski

https://www.instagram.com/careyrunschi/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carey-pinkowski-615b2954/

Abbott World Marathon Majors

https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/

Martin Yelling

https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/

Deena Kastor

https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/

Every runner has a story, and Rob Simmelkjaer’s unique journey gives him an inspiring focus on telling those fascinating stories.

Rob is our special guest on this week’s Marathon Talk, as he runs us through his experience as a newly-minted Berlin finisher, and his insider tips for those running through the 5 boroughs of NYC next month!

Elsewhere in the show, Martin lets us in on his ‘rookie’ moment, we’ve an uplifting tale of a new 6 Star Finisher with COPD, and we wrap up the biggest stories from Berlin.

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - We catch up with Deena’s trail running and family’s cross-country escapades, and Martin confesses his rookie error…

• 13:00 - Berlin Marathon was a fast and fascinating field as ever - we round up the African dominance in the men’s and women’s fields, the Swiss double in wheelchair races, and an inspiring 6 Star Finisher with COPD

• 25:05 - Rob Simmelkjaer shares his experience in Berlin, weighs in on the power of storytelling in the marathon community, and shares his top tips for the upcoming New York race

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Abbott World Marathon Majors: https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/

Martin Yelling: https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/

Deena Kastor: https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/

Rob Simmelkjaer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-simmelkjaer/

https://www.instagram.com/rtsimmel/

Of all the prospects from Sydney Marathon’s ram-packed weekend, perhaps the most enticing might be its future status as a seventh Major…

We’ve a huge show this week, featuring a three-time 6 Star Finisher to give us the lowdown on Sydney’s course, whether it’s likely to become that seventh star, and if not then what it could improve.

Elsewhere, the Age Group World Championships gave us some admirable performances, Jacob Ingrbritsen gave us a wild show at the Copenhagen Half Marathon, and much more! 

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - Kicking off the show, we hear about Martin and Deena’s escapades, which include Deena’s fulfilling family time, and unfortunately we see Martin nursing a new injury

• 8:20 - It’s a huge news roundup off the back of Sydney, with their assessment to become a Major, the stunning performances in the Age Group World Championships, and Jacob Ingebritsen’s madcap Copenhagen half marathon attempt

• 27:50 - Kelly Willis joins us fresh from her front row ‘seat’ at the Sydney Marathon to share the experience, and her views on the race’s chances at becoming the coveted seventh star…

Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Abbott World Marathon Majors: https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/

Martin Yelling: https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/

Deena Kastor:https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/