This is it! The final episode before race day. In this episode, Paula Radcliffe and Chris Thompson reflect on the journey of the last 16 weeks and get you ready for marathon day. Paula also talks about her lead-up to running the Boston Marathon to earn her sixth Abbott World Marathon Major star, while British marathon star Emile Cairess joins us with expert tips on pacing, fuelling, mindset, and staying calm when it counts. Plus, we answer YOUR questions with practical tips on recovery, carb loading, race nerves, and gel timing.

Tell us about your marathon stories and ask any questions, by emailing us: [email protected], or you can leave a voice note on WhatsApp: 07418 627194 – we love hearing from you!

Episode Chapters

03:30 – Emotions, Thank Yous, and What’s Next for the Pod

07:25 – Paula on Running Boston & Chasing Her Sixth Star

13:40 – Emile Cairess on Race Day Calm & Smart Running

25:00 – Final Week Tapering, Fuelling, and Staying Fresh

33:00 – Listener Questions: Night Shifts, Gels, and Nerves

49:00 – What First-Timers Should Expect on Race Day

1:15:00 – A Message from Children With Cancer UK

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15. Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two weeks until the London Marathon… and who better to guide you through the final countdown than Paula Radcliffe, Chris Thompson — and special guest Chelsea Clinton. In this episode, we talk pre-race nerves, planning hacks, family moments that make it all worth it, and why Chelsea sometimes runs at 3am!?

Any questions, please email us: [email protected], or you can leave a voice note on WhatsApp: 07418 627194 – we love hearing from you!

Timecodes:

04:40 – The Taper Week Trap

08:00 – Planning Your Perfect Race Week

15:12 – Chelsea’s Marathon Routine

20:12 – Why Chelsea called her mom mid-marathon!

28:30 – Balancing Parenthood, Pressure & Performance

35:00 – Is The London Marathon Next for Chelsea?

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15. Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World record-breaking runner Paula Radcliffe and double Olympian Chris Thompson guide you through week fourteen of marathon training. For this episode, they're joined by Olympic and world triathlon champion Alex Yee, who is running his first marathon! With a career built on endurance, speed, and Olympic glory, Alex shares how he’s approaching the unknown of 26.2 miles; physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Any questions, please email us: [email protected], or you can leave a voice note on WhatsApp: 07418 627194 – we love hearing from you!

Timecodes:

05:00 – Welcoming Alex Yee: Why the Marathon, Why Now?

10:00 – Olympic Mindset: Learning From Paris

13:00 – How Alex Handles Fatigue and Mental Toughness

15:30 – Marathon Training Shifts: Volume, Load & Fuelling

18:50 – Lessons From Long Runs

24:10 – Dealing with Setbacks: Alex’s Philosophy on Failure

26:30 – Taper Time: His Approach to the Final 3 Weeks

30:00 – Fuelling and Carbo-Loading: What’s Changed for Marathon Prep

40:00 – Reflections on First Marathons: Tips from the Hosts

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15. Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World record-breaking runner Paula Radcliffe and double Olympian Chris Thompson guide you through week thirteen of marathon training. Paula and Chris explore tapering, trusting your training, and managing mindset in the final weeks of preparation. They’re joined by elite Kenyan runner Mary Ngugi-Cooper, who shares her inspiring journey, her Boston Marathon insights, and the powerful story behind her Nala Track Club – a safe space she created to empower young female athletes in Kenya.

Any questions, please email us: [email protected], or you can leave a voice note on WhatsApp: 07418 627194 – we love hearing from you!

Timecodes:

01:22 – Tapering begins: mindset shift & aches are normal

04:05 – Paula’s 10-minute rule for assessing niggles

05:34 – Chris on knowing when to stop a session

08:26 – Training is study, race day is the exam

10:30 – Practical taper prep: shoes, travel, kit

21:09 – Mary on founding Nala Track Club to protect & empower girls

27:03 – Recovering from injury & building back smarter

36:02 – Boston Marathon tips: respect the downhills, race smart

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15. Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World record-breaking runner Paula Radcliffe and double Olympian Chris Thompson guide you through week twelve of marathon training. In this episode, they're joined by Adele Roberts – broadcaster, DJ, cancer survivor, and Guinness World Record holder – to bring motivation during the hardest phase of marathon training. Adele opens up about how the marathon mindset helped her through cancer and how she's on a mission to complete all six marathon majors in one year… with a stoma. To find out more about Adele’s challenge, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/page/adeleandaudreyruntheworldforcruk

This episode is dedicated to Eddie O’Gorman, founder of Children with Cancer UK, who sadly passed away on 19th March 2025. Eddie’s compassion and tireless work helped change the lives of countless families. Our thoughts are with his loved ones, and we honour his legacy through every mile run and every story shared.

Timecodes:

4:41 – Adele’s metronomic pacing and Paula’s influence on her mindset

5:30 – Meeting Paula on the Tokyo course and spotting Harry Styles

7:48 – Struggles with hydration and the idea of running with a straw

10:07 – Adele’s peak training week structure and marathon pacing tips

17:00 – Using marathon mindset to get through cancer and chemotherapy

20:00 – Fueling challenges and managing hydration with an ileostomy

28:50 – Setting the first stoma marathon record and inspiring others

29:11 – Music as motivation and building city-specific running playlists

35:00 – Listener questions: hydration packs, strength training, socks & toenails

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15. Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World record-breaking runner Paula Radcliffe and double Olympian Chris Thompson guide you through week eleven of marathon training. With just six weeks to go until the London Marathon, who better to give you the inside scoop than Hugh Brasher, Event Director. In this episode, Hugh shares stories from the marathon’s origins, reveals what’s new for 2025, and gives expert advice on how to have your best race day experience.

You’ll learn:

✅ What not to do on race day (so many runners get this wrong!)

✅ The surprising reason London is less crowded despite record numbers

✅ How to plan your pre-race morning for zero stress

✅ The best places for spectators to cheer you on

Any questions, please email us: [email protected]

Timecodes:

09:30 – Hugh Brasher on the London Marathon’s origins & his family’s legacy

21:00 – Race day strategy: Hydration, pacing, and avoiding common mistakes

30:00 – What makes the London Marathon so special (crowds, charities, and atmosphere)

40:00 – Hugh’s running goal: Can he break a British record at 60?

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15. Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recovery is the key to supporting your best marathon performance, and in this episode, Paula Radcliffe and Christopher Thompson sit down with elite physiotherapist Gerard Hartman—a man whose legendary hands have kept 61 Olympic medalists in peak condition! Gerard shares expert insights on stretching, strength work, and why massage isn’t just for fixing problems—it’s a tool for longevity in running. Plus, Paula reflects on her Tokyo Marathon recovery and what she learned the hard way.

Any questions, please email us: [email protected]

Timecodes:

3:45 – Paula’s Tokyo Marathon recovery update – lessons learned

9:30 – Why massage is essential, even when you’re not injured

18:15 – How elite athletes recover: Stretching, strength & alignment

28:50 – The impact of carbon plate shoes on injury risk

35:00 – The one exercise every runner should be doing for strong feet

45:20 – Listening to your body: Why small niggles matter

52:10 – Heart rate concerns? What to check before race day

1:00:00 – Training during Ramadan – Special insight from Sifan Hassan

1:02:44 – Meet Isaac: A powerful story from Children with Cancer UK

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15.

Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World record-breaking runner Paula Radcliffe and double Olympian Chris Thompson guide you through week nine of marathon training. We start though, with Paula's return to marathon running with the highs and lows of her Tokyo Marathon journey, breaking down her sub-3 performance, the perils of going out too fast, and what she learned from the race. Sitting next to Paula is Nicola Carragher, who was running for Alder Hey Children's Charity. Plus, legendary runner, commentator and coach Steve Cram, talks about the importance of pacing, race-day tactics, and how to best prepare before the London Marathon on the day itself.

Any questions, please email us: [email protected]

Timecodes:

1:21 - Paula’s Tokyo Marathon Experience

5:48 - Mid-Race Struggles & Adjustments

13:05 - Biggest Takeaways from Tokyo

18:08 - The importance of pacing yourself early

23:19 - Time on feet vs. distance-based training

31:49 – The Power of Mental Strength in Marathons

46:36 – Preparing for the London Marathon Start Line

53:46 – Listener Questions & Recovery Tips

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15. Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World record-breaking runner Paula Radcliffe and double Olympian Chris Thompson guide you through week eight! In this episode, they're joined by renowned performance psychiatrist and author of 'The Chimp Paradox', Dr. Steve Peters to explore the mental strategies essential for marathon training. They talk about the importance of mindset, the psychological aspects of hitting 'the wall', techniques for pushing through fatigue, and strategies for managing anxiety and adrenaline on race day.

Any questions, please email us: [email protected]

Timecodes:

4:43 – Steady Pacing

10:59 – Introducing mental training and how a strong mindset is crucial.

11:52 – Pre-planning responses to fatigue.

17:30 – Mental rehearsal for unforeseen race events and having a clear plan.

19:14 – Tackling the Wall

29:27 – Facing Doubt: Using rational decision-making to counter inner fears.

31:07 – Fuel vs. Feelings

39:22 – Overcoming Late-Race Fatigue: Techniques like distraction and visualising

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15.

Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World record-breaking runner Paula Radcliffe and double Olympian Chris Thompson guide you through a crucial stage of marathon training—week seven! They discuss long-run strategies, fuelling for performance, and how to train your gut for marathon day. Paula also shares insights on overcoming illness while training and her fuelling experiments leading up to Tokyo. Plus, expert guest Wendy Rogers breaks down the science behind gels, hydration, and how to avoid the dreaded marathon wall. 

Any questions, please email us: [email protected]

Timecodes:

4:25 – How Paula's adjusted her running after illness.

10:00 – The science behind glycogen depletion.

12:06 – Expert Wendy Rogers on Gels & Hydration

25:00 – Why plain water isn’t enough.

35:18 – Should You Use Caffeine Gels?

39:40 – Should you wear your carbon racing shoes in training? (Q&A)

This podcast proudly supports Children with Cancer UK - Britain's leading childhood cancer charity supporting families and research since 1988. Sadly ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK and it is the biggest cause of death in young people under the age of 15.

Donate today: https://bit.ly/4h5SoXU to help the charity succeed in its mission to ensure every child and young person survives cancer.

To find out more about Children with Cancer UK and see how else you can get involved or get the support you need please visit https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/

Paula's Marathon Run Club is a Viral Tribe Entertainment Production.

Exec Produced by James Carpenter and Jon O'Donnell.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices