Marathon Talk

In this week's episode, we look at what went down at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, as Tigst Assefa comes within seconds of an historic win, but has she sacrificed too much in pursuit of the record?

And speaking of Berlin, our guest Sam Griffiths was in the German capital this weekend. The Brecon-based runner finished a very respectable 81st place on Sunday, but the story of how he got there is truly inspirational.

We've also got a preview of next week's Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

On this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 04:42 - We review the 2026 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
• 20:03 - We meet Sam Griffiths, who ran a 2:20:26 in Berlin at the weekend, but whose story is so much more.
• 58:13 - We preview the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Links & References:

Abbott World Marathon Majors | Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Sam Griffiths | Instagram

With the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on the horizon, we met a man who is aiming to make it Seven-In-A-Row, the most dominant athlete in the world, a man with over 40 Abbott World Marathon Majors titles to his name, the Swiss Silver Bullet, Marcel Hug.

And staying with wheelchair racing, we're joined by London Marathon's Head of Disability, Michelle Weltman, who has an update for us on how the season has gone as competition steps up with 3 races to go.

On this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 05:35 - Marathon Talk meets Marcel Hug
• 35:30 - Michelle Weltman from London Marathon Events joins us to give us an update on the elite wheelchair season.
• 51:30 - Preview of the 2026 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON

Abbott World Marathon Majors

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Marathon Talk

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Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Marcel Hug | Instagram

This past weekend, the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS took place, and we have all the news from a big weekend of racing.

There have also been some pretty seismic events in the world of long-distance running in the past fortnight, so we'll be taking a look at them too, plus we're joined by US TV personality Matt James, live from Sydney, to hear more about his marathon journey.

On this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:51 - Martin and Deena talk about UTMB and more
• 05:52 - Yomif Kejelcha breaks the Half Marathon World Record in Buenos Aires
• 07:53 - Sabastian Sawe pulls out of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
• 10:35 - A review of TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS with David Macnamara from Abbott World Marathon Majors in Sydney
• 25:48 - Marathon Talk meets Matt James
• 54:06 - Wrapping up

Abbott World Marathon Majors

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Marathon Talk

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Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Matt James | Instagram

As the 2026 Abbott World Marathon Majors season returns after its summer break, attention turns to the TCS Sydney Marathon.

Joining us on this week's show, we welcome a legend of Australian marathon running. Lisa Weightman is an Olympian, representing Australia at the Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo Games and has also competed at multiple World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

We've also got news from the European Championships in Birmingham, and Martin & Deena share stories from their recent trip to Boulder, Colorado. All this, and more, on the latest episode of Marathon Talk.

On this week's show:

00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Martin and Deena tell us about what they have been up to while we've been off 09:48 - European Championships 13:58 - A recap of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series so far 17:33 - TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS race preview 23:00 - Marathon Talk meets Lisa Weightman 57:34 - Wrapping up

Links & References:

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Lisa Weightman | Instagram

We're getting ready to take a short break for the summer, but as is now tradition, we're joined by David Macnamara from Abbott World Marathon Majors for our mid-season quiz.

Have Martin and Deena been paying attention over the last 12 months, and can they answer David's moderately difficult questions?

Who will be this year's winner? Find out on the latest episode of Marathon Talk.

• 00:00 - Intro
• 08:48 - Round 1 | Tokyo
• 11:20 - Round 2 | Boston
• 15:31 - Round 3 | London
• 21:41 - Round 4 | Cape Town
• 24:33 - Round 5 | Sydney
• 29:34 - Round 6 | Berlin
• 34:25 - Round 7 | Chicago
• 40:05 - Round 8 | New York

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

On this week's episode of Marathon Talk, we're joined by comedian Paul Tomkinson, who is here to tell us all about this new book, Running Through Sand, an ageing runner's tale of running the Marathon Des Sables, frequently described as the toughest marathon on earth.

We also have a quick roundup of everything happening in the marathon world, including big news from the TCS London Marathon.

Order Running Through Sand here.

On this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 07:51 - The 2027 TCS London Marathon confirmed as a two-day event
• 15:41 - Comrades Marathon
• 18:43 - Update from the Tokyo Marathon
• 21:55 - Interview with Paul Tonkinson‍

Links & References:

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Paul Tonkinson | Instagram

On this week's show, we're joined by Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. This week, Cape Town became the 8th Abbott World Marathon Major. Clark is here to give us the lowdown on the event that took place last month, the process of becoming a Major and to look back on the events of October last year, when Cape Town's dream hung in the balance.

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

On this episode of Marathon Talk, Martin and Deena have an in-depth decision with Brett Clothier, Head of the Athletics Integrity Unit. Brett and his team lead the way in ensuring marathon running is a clean sport, and we wanted to invite him on to tell us more about the work his team does and the work organisations like Abbott World Marathon Majors and World Athletes support in this ongoing battle.

‍Links & References:

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Athletics Integrity Unit | Instagram

We were in attendance at the premiere of the new Paula Radcliffe film, Chasing Stars, and we were joined by the film's director Pat Odom, to hear more about its making.

We close the show with a Q&A that Paula gave with British running great Steve Cram.

Watch Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars now on YouTube.

On this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 06:10 - Still reflecting on the 2026 TCS London Marathon
• 25:26 - Deena speaks with director Pat Odom, the man behind the lens of Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars
• 49:21 - Q&A from the premiere of Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars

Links & References:

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Pat Odom | Instagram

Only one place to start, on Sunday, Sebastian Sawe produced a performance that will be talked about until the end of time, becoming the first man to ever run a sub-2 hour Marathon in a competitive race.

We have reaction and analysis from an historic day in London.

On this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:49 - We discuss the historic performance from Sabastian Sawe at the 2026 TCS London Marathon
• 29:13- Danny Coyle, COO at Abbott World Marathon Majors joins us to give his sights into the day from the grandstand.
• 39:09 - Sean Ingle offers his thoughts on what Sawe's performance means for the wider sport of marathon running.
• 59:46 - We have a quick look back at the 2026 Boston Marathon

Links & References:

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Sean Ingle | Instagram