Sweat Elite Podcast

In this episode, I announce the next Globe Runners Portugal Running Experience in Monte Gordo, share the results of my latest DEXA scan after dropping from 86kg to around 70kg, and discuss what I learned about weight loss, bone health and nutrition along the way. I also share a remarkable 2:07 marathon performance off less than 100km per week and give my final update before racing the Melbourne Marathon this Sunday.

LINKS

Portugal Running Experience - January 9-17, 2027: https://www.thegloberunners.com/monte-gordo-running-experience-2027/

1:1 Running Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/personalized-1-1/

Running + Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/run-nutrition/

Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/nutrition/

Personalised Nutrition Meal Plan: https://sweatelite.co/nutrition-meal-plans/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Eastbound Running (Dynafish): https://www.eastboundrunning.com/

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

I start this episode with something I'm really excited about - the next Globe Runners Portugal Running Experience, taking place in Monte Gordo from January 9-17, 2027.

I explain why I've become increasingly interested in putting my energy into coaching, nutrition and creating running experiences rather than promoting products. A lot of that thinking developed during the months I spent detained in Japan, where I had a huge amount of time to read, write and think about what I actually wanted to work on.

The Portugal experience will bring a small group of runners together for eight nights in Monte Gordo in the Algarve. We'll train together, eat together and explore southern Portugal, with optional day trips around the Algarve and to Seville in Spain. The €1,250 price includes four-star accommodation, three meals per day, airport transfers from Faro and transport for the organised excursions. There are only 16 places available.

I then get into the results of my latest DEXA scan. In April I weighed 86kg at 22.5% body fat. Around five and a half months later, I'm approximately 70kg and my DEXA measured me at 8.5% body fat.

One of the most interesting findings was my bone density. Despite losing roughly 16kg while returning to high-volume marathon training, my measured bone density improved between the two scans. I discuss the things I focused on throughout the process, including calcium-rich foods, vitamin K, vitamin D, sunlight exposure and consistent heavy strength training.

I also talk more broadly about weight loss for runners, the genuine risks of low energy availability and RED-S, and why I think the conversation needs more nuance. Losing weight is not appropriate for every runner, but for athletes with excess body fat who want to reduce it, I believe it can be approached carefully while closely monitoring health, recovery and performance.

I share an example from one of my nutrition athletes whose weight began dropping faster than planned. When his training performance started declining, we increased his energy intake and quickly got things moving in the right direction again.

Then there's a shoutout to Adam Lipschitz, who just ran an incredible 2:07:20 marathon after averaging only around 96km per week over the previous 12 weeks. It's a fascinating example of just how individual marathon training can be and how more mileage isn't automatically better.

Finally, it's Melbourne Marathon race week. I talk about where I think my fitness is compared with when I ran 2:18:41, the potential advantage I'm getting from the Puma Fast-R, the weather forecast, and why I believe a significant PB is possible if everything comes together.

I also briefly discuss what comes next, including moving to Portugal, racing in Europe and potential starts at Alicante and Valencia later this year.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Welcome and Melbourne Marathon taper 00:29 - Reflections from my time in Japan 02:21 - Why I want to focus on running experiences 04:14 - Portugal Running Experience 2027 06:31 - Getting to Monte Gordo and travel logistics 07:18 - The community created through running camps 09:18 - Portugal pricing, accommodation and booking 12:26 - My new DEXA scan results 17:15 - Calcium, vitamin K, vitamin D and strength training 21:35 - Weight loss for runners, RED-S and managing risk 25:55 - Adam Lipschitz runs 2:07 off less than 100km/week 27:24 - Melbourne Marathon fitness and race goals 29:49 - Portugal move, Alicante, Valencia and what's next

Matt answers 15 listener questions about race weight, weight loss, carb cycling, recovery, fueling and running performance.

PERSONAL LINKS

1:1 Running Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/personalized-1-1/

Running + Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/run-nutrition/

Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/nutrition/

Personalised Nutrition Meal Plan: https://sweatelite.co/nutrition-meal-plans/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Eastbound Running (Dynafish): https://www.eastboundrunning.com/

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In this episode, Matt answers 15 questions submitted through YouTube about race weight, weight loss and running performance.

Topics include losing weight while maintaining training quality, carbohydrate cycling, calorie deficits during a marathon taper, post-workout fueling, finding your ideal race weight, losing fat versus muscle, GLP-1 medications and heart rate, creatine and water weight, and whether the same weight-loss approach can work for shorter-distance runners and triathletes.

Matt also shares his own experience dropping from around 86kg to 69kg, how body weight played a role in eventually breaking 2:20 for the marathon, and how he is approaching the final two weeks before the Melbourne Marathon.

Later in the episode, Matt gives an update on his Melbourne Marathon goal, testing the Puma Fast-R 3, the upcoming Dynafish launch in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and his move to Lisbon for six months.

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome and Scope 00:52 - Safety Disclaimer 01:56 - Why This Topic 05:00 - Sub-2:20 Breakthrough 09:49 - Post-Workout Carbs 11:34 - Calorie Deficit During a Marathon Taper 14:47 - Losing Muscle Mass 17:25 - GLP-1s and Heart Rate 20:46 - Weight Loss for Shorter-Distance Runners 27:23 - The Challenges for Triathletes 30:39 - Weekly Calorie Deficit Numbers 33:16 - Finding Your Ideal Race Weight 36:25 - Creatine and Water Weight 38:07 - Why Not Carb Load Every Day? 41:57 - Nutrition Coaching and Services 45:35 - Melbourne Marathon Update 47:11 - Dynafish Distribution Update 48:52 - Moving to Lisbon 49:24 - Final Wrap-Up

This episode discusses intentional weight loss and calorie restriction in the context of endurance performance. It is not intended for people with a history of eating disorders, RED-S or low energy availability, or anyone concerned they may be at risk of these conditions.

Matt breaks down how to safely lose 5kg+ during a marathon block — using calorie deficits on easy days and big carb windows around hard sessions — so you can train hard and run faster.

Matt Fox / Sweat Elite

Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/nutrition/

Run + Nutrition Coaching: https://sweatelite.co/coaching/run-nutrition/

Nutrition Meal Plans: https://sweatelite.co/nutrition-meal-plans/

Personalised Training Plan: https://sweatelite.co/personalised-training-plan/

Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite

Sweat Elite: https://www.sweatelite.co/

Matt talks about how to lose five kilograms or more in the ten weeks leading into a marathon — while still training hard and aiming to run faster. He pushes back on the old idea that you should finish all weight loss before the marathon-specific block, and shares how he's used this approach five times himself, including a recent stretch where he dropped nearly fifteen kilos.

Matt walks through the method in plain terms: stay in a calorie deficit most of the week, track burn with a watch or rough math, log food with AI photo counting, and then flip into big carbohydrate windows around your two hardest sessions so quality workouts don't suffer. He lands on roughly an eight-hundred-calorie deficit on easy days — enough, on paper, to lose about half a kilo a week and five kilos over ten weeks.

Matt is clear this is not for everyone. If you've dealt with an eating disorder, RED-S, or low energy availability — or you're already below a healthy weight — he says turn the episode off. For listeners who can safely lose the weight, he also covers strength work, bone-health basics, and where coaching or a meal plan fits if you want more accountability.

Timestamps

• 00:01 Content warning & who should skip
• 00:36 The goal
• 02:20 The only rule that matters
• 03:43 How to track burn
• 05:33 How to track intake
• 06:11 Weekly structure: deficit + carb windows
• 08:00 Hard-session fueling
• 11:03 Easy-day eating
• 13:19 GLP-1 note (personal, not recommended)
• 14:55 The math (why ~800/day)
• 16:16 Injury-risk buffers
• 17:45 Risk framing
• 19:10 Coaching / meal plans

Content warning & who should skip

Eating disorders, RED-S, LEA, and already-lean athletes should not follow this advice. Aimed at people who can safely lose ~5kg+ and want to run faster.

The goal

Lose 5kg+ in the ~10-week marathon-specific block; Matt's personal and coaching experience; pushback on "never diet in the marathon block."

The only rule that matters

Calorie deficit = burn more than you eat. Tracking makes it workable; perfection isn't required.

How to track burn

Garmin (or similar) preferred. Rough guide: ~2,000 kcal/day for many men (5–7k steps); ~1,700 for many women; easy running ~700 kcal/hour; hard running closer to ~1,100 kcal/hour.

How to track intake

Photo-log every meal/drink in ChatGPT (or similar AI); build one daily log; close enough beats exact.

Weekly structure: deficit + carb windows

Most of the week (~5.5 days): solid deficit (~800 kcal/day as a working target). Around 2 hard sessions (e.g. Wed + Sun): stop deficit counting ~12 hours before; load carbs heavily before, during, and a few hours after.

Hard-session fueling

Example carb load ~400g in the pre-session window; in-session carbs often 70–100g/hour for men (women slightly lower); prioritize white rice, potatoes, bread, pasta in those windows.

Easy-day eating

High-volume, low-calorie foods (fruit, veg, lean protein); flavored soda water as a hunger/dopamine hack; ask AI for satiating low-cal meal ideas.

The math (why ~800/day)

~7,700 kcal deficit ≈ 1kg fat; ~3,800/week ≈ 0.5kg/week ≈ 5kg in 10 weeks. Surpluses in carb windows are expected; the weekly total still lands if easy days stay consistent.

Injury-risk buffers

Start strength (esp. squats) ~1 month before dieting; Vitamin K2 + calcium; prefer food calcium (eggs, milk, cheese). Don't stack diet + big training jump + new gym all at once.

GLP-1 note (personal, not recommended)

Matt mentions microdosing; does not recommend listeners do the same; notes possible GI issues with late-run carbs and plans to stop near race day.

Risk framing

Acknowledges risk; argues high volume is often riskier than a controlled 5kg loss in a block, based on his experience and listener feedback.

Coaching / meal plans

Nutrition coaching (daily accountability) and one-off marathon meal plans available via the link in the episode description.

Key takeaways

• Deficit most days; carb-load hard sessions hard
• Track burn + intake closely enough to hit ~0.5kg/week
• Protect bones and quality sessions; don't copy medical shortcuts casually
• Skip this entirely if ED / RED-S / LEA history or already underweight

Matt recaps his 2:33 Sydney Marathon in jeans, then dives into recovery, weight loss, fueling, strength training, Melbourne Marathon goals and what comes next.

Matt Fox / Sweat Elite

Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite

Sweat Elite: https://www.sweatelite.co/

Sweat Elite Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweatelite/

Three days after the Sydney Marathon, Matt breaks down his 2:33:38 run in jeans and what he is currently calling the fastest known marathon in jeans. He talks through the pacing strategy, running with the 2:35 pacer through 30km, dealing with hamstring cramping late in the race, how much the jeans may have slowed him down and how Sydney compares with a flatter marathon course.

Matt also goes deep into marathon recovery, including the roughly 310g of carbohydrates and 50g of protein he consumed in the first 90 minutes after finishing. He discusses sleep, returning to training after a marathon, strength and mobility work, cramping, chafing, shoe choices and why he believes his recovery has been significantly better than after many previous marathons.

Weight loss remains a major topic as Matt explains how he has gone from around 86kg to roughly 73kg over the past four months while continuing to train at a high level. He discusses calorie deficits on easier days, carbohydrate cycling around workouts and long runs, strength training while losing weight, GLP-1 use, maintaining power while getting lighter and why he believes reaching approximately 69kg could put him back around PB shape for Melbourne.

Matt finishes by answering listener questions on Sydney's hills, marathon course conversions, how long runners can continue improving with age, shoe durability, recovering between Sydney and Melbourne, preventing marathon cramps and future costume marathon attempts. He also shares his plan to move to Lisbon later this year and spend more time racing and training in Europe.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Welcome back 01:02 Sydney Marathon Jeans Run 04:33 Pacing, Cramp and Gym 06:55 Recovery Carbs and Sleep 10:43 Guinness Record Confusion 14:18 Chafing and Gear Tips 15:15 Melbourne Goals and Weight Math 19:07 Comeback After Time Off 23:24 Strength Training While Cutting 26:49 Fat Loss Method and GLP-1 30:01 Calorie Tracking and Carb Loading 32:12 Carb Cycling and Weight Loss 33:45 Garmin Calorie Burn Debate 35:33 Healthy Leanness and Caveats 36:23 Weight Targets for Faster Marathons 37:48 Sydney Course Time Conversion 40:02 Crowds and PB Potential 40:44 Marathon PBs With Age 42:10 Running a Marathon in Jeans 43:18 Low-Calorie Days and GLP-1s 45:00 Shoe Rotation and Durability 46:02 Recovering for Melbourne Marathon 48:42 Costume Records and Charity 51:08 Collaborations, Cramps and Shoe Picks 54:09 Fueling Rules for Hard Days 56:21 Moving to Lisbon 58:51 More Diet Content and Wrap Up

Jordan Sullivan, The Fight Dietitian, joins Matt to break down performance-focused weight loss, RED-S, marathon fueling and how endurance athletes can get lighter without sacrificing training quality.

Jordan Sullivan / The Fight Dietitian

Website: https://thefightdietitian.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_fightdietitian/

Matt Fox / Sweat Elite

Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite

Sweat Elite: https://www.sweatelite.co/

Sweat Elite Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweatelite/

Contact: [email protected]

In this episode, Jordan and Matt dive into one of the most debated topics in endurance sport - losing weight while training hard. Jordan has spent more than a decade working with elite athletes across combat sports, endurance events and other high-performance environments, helping athletes manipulate body composition while maintaining performance.

They discuss RED-S, low energy availability and why the intensity and duration of a calorie deficit matter. Jordan explains why training status is an important part of the equation, how quickly athletes can realistically lose weight, and why Garmin, WHOOP and other wearable calorie estimates should not be treated as exact measurements.

They also explore what happens to muscle during a calorie deficit, the roles of protein and resistance training, and what changes when an already-lean athlete tries to become even lighter. Jordan and Matt discuss Matt's own progression from around 74 kg toward 69 kg, and the longer-term possibility of experimenting closer to 65 kg while trying to determine where further weight loss stops improving marathon performance.

A major part of the conversation focuses on fueling marathon training while losing weight. They discuss periodizing calorie and carbohydrate intake around important sessions, why harder running dramatically increases carbohydrate requirements, fueling long runs, post-workout glycogen restoration and why an athlete's fitness remains more important than simply consuming more fuel.

Jordan also explains why blanket recommendations such as 60-90 g or 120 g of carbohydrate per hour may not be optimal for everyone. Individual carbohydrate oxidation rates, gut tolerance and training history can all influence how much carbohydrate an athlete can actually use. They finish with bone health, practical carbohydrate choices including white rice, bread, fruit and honey, and why developing good whole-food habits remains important for long-term health.

Timestamps

00:00 Meet Jordan Sullivan 00:05 Weight Loss During Training 00:40 Why Calories In Out Fails 04:28 RED-S Risk And Nuance 06:12 Diagnosing RED-S Limits 07:13 Intensity Versus Duration 08:04 Fight Camp Case Study 12:53 Performance Versus Health 14:17 Setting A Marathon Cut 16:20 Power To Weight Explained 20:24 Fueling And Periodization 24:46 Estimating Calorie Burn 27:06 Safe Weekly Loss Targets 33:32 Muscle Loss In A Deficit 38:15 Going Leaner 69 To 65 43:22 When To Cut In Marathon Block 44:11 Race Prep Weight Loss 45:25 Training Status Matters 53:11 Fueling Long Runs 54:31 Carbs Versus Fitness 01:02:56 Intensity Drives Carb Use 01:08:10 Personal Carb Oxidation 01:14:24 Bone Health Basics 01:16:39 Best Carb Food Choices 01:20:15 Whole Foods For Longevity 01:23:35 Wrap Up And Contacts

Matt dives into the results of his recent super shoe testing at Griffith University, comparing 12 of the best Chinese racing shoes before putting the leading models up against some of the biggest Western brands. Using laboratory running economy testing at 17 km/h, the results produced some major surprises - including a sub-US$100 Chinese shoe outperforming several of the world's most established super shoes.

Matt Fox Links

Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Email: [email protected]

The Anta C202 G9 Edition 2 emerged as the best-performing Chinese shoe, ahead of the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite and Qiaodan Feiying Plaid 3.0. Matt breaks down the rankings, the impact price and expectations can have on perceived shoe performance, and just how much difference the right racing shoe could potentially make across a marathon.

Matt also looks ahead to the Sydney Marathon, where he plans to attempt the world record for the fastest marathon run in jeans. He discusses the Australian Championships uniform rules, the maths behind breaking the 2:34:45 record, Sydney's challenging course, and why the record may be considerably harder than he initially expected.

The episode finishes with Melbourne Marathon goals, the Fat Fox Method for managing body weight around marathon training, strength training, HYROX, longevity, an upcoming 5K attempt, and a preview of several upcoming podcast episodes.

Episode Chapters 00:00 Podcast cold open 00:35 Why test super shoes 02:52 Lab testing setup 04:14 Chinese shoe rankings 04:49 Dragonfly hype check 06:19 Price and placebo 08:22 Third place surprise 10:14 Western shoe clues 11:59 Anta wins overall 12:54 Name confusion explained 14:49 Who this applies to 16:40 How big the gains 19:04 Cost and who should test 21:33 My marathon shoe history 23:22 Next race Sydney plans 24:20 Jeans Champs rules 25:57 Record maths reality 27:55 Sydney trip logistics 30:12 Melbourne dreams and Kipchoge 31:09 Fat Fox Method 34:23 Getting leaner safely 36:22 Gym, HYROX and longevity 40:57 Early mornings and wrap-up 42:07 Jeans and 5K prediction 44:14 Next content teasers

Matt is joined by Dr David Lipman to discuss one of the newest and most talked-about supplements emerging in elite endurance sport: lactate gels.

Train with Matt Fox: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Sweat Elite Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/

Matt Fox on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Fox on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Contact Matt: [email protected]

Dr David Lipman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidlipman/

Dr David Lipman's Website: https://www.drdavidjlipman.com/

The conversation has gained attention around the Tour de France, with companies including From Lab to Field, Enervit and Santa Madre developing lactate-based products. Unlike glucose and fructose, which rely primarily on SGLT1 and GLUT5 transporters in the gut, lactate uses monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). This potentially provides athletes with another pathway to absorb and utilise energy alongside traditional carbohydrate fueling.

The concept isn't completely new, but delivering meaningful amounts of lactate without creating gastrointestinal or taste problems has historically been difficult. From Lab to Field is developing a patented hydrogel designed to improve lactate delivery and tolerance while producing a less acidic product. Early prototypes have reportedly combined around 5 g of lactate with 40 g of carbohydrate.

There are also interesting possibilities beyond simply providing additional energy. Lactate can be used as fuel by the muscles, heart and brain and also acts as a signalling molecule. Researchers are investigating whether supplementation could influence glycogen replenishment, recovery and metabolic responses during exercise.

There are already some impressive performance claims circulating, including improvements in power output and reductions in fatigue, but the evidence remains preliminary. Much of the exciting data appears to come from research connected to the companies developing the products and still needs independent replication.

One particularly interesting possibility is that lactate supplementation may have different effects below versus above the first lactate threshold. Elite athletes reportedly using lactate alongside very high carbohydrate intakes of around 90-120+ g/h have described positive experiences, but exactly how much additional benefit lactate provides remains uncertain.

The discussion also compares lactate with exogenous ketones, another alternative fuel that has generated significant interest in endurance sport. Ketones have produced mixed performance results, although emerging research suggests potential benefits in areas such as heat tolerance, recovery, altitude exposure, sleep and resilience to heavy training.

Both lactate and ketones may eventually have applications outside sport because of their roles as fuels and signalling molecules, particularly in the brain. Overall, lactate gels represent an exciting new area of endurance nutrition, but they're still at the beginning of the research cycle. The potential is significant, but athletes should distinguish promising early findings from benefits that have been independently and consistently demonstrated.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Lactate Gel Buzz 00:19 Who's Making Them 01:16 How Lactate Fuels 02:53 Hydrogel Delivery Breakthrough 03:58 Legality and Doping Questions 05:20 Performance Claims and Evidence 06:42 Real World Use and Cost 07:43 Beyond Sport Applications 08:56 Ketones Update and Research 11:25 Personal Ketone Use Cases 12:44 Conflicts and Wrap Up

Welcome back to another unstructured In My Opinion episode. Matt shares an update on losing weight to run faster, the explosion of Chinese super shoes and Dynafish, a potential marathon world record attempt in jeans, HYROX plans, coaching updates and why he has backed away from frequent sauna use.

Be coached by Matt: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/coaching-2026

Join the Shareholders Club / Private Podcast Feed: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders

Matt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Training Log - Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/

Contact Matt: [email protected]

Matt opens with updates on the Sweat Elite Podcast, including changes to the private feed, a new weekly subscriber hangout and a small number of coaching opportunities becoming available.

The main discussion centres around losing weight to run faster, prompted partly by Josh Kerr's visible change in body composition alongside his recent performances. Matt reflects on his own marathon career, including a period where gaining roughly 3.5 kg coincided with slower marathon performances before intentionally losing around 4 kg and returning to consistent sub-2:20 racing.

Matt explains the simple approach he has personally used - maintaining a modest calorie deficit on most days while prioritising high-volume, satiating foods, then aggressively increasing carbohydrate intake around important training. Rather than trying to remain perfectly fuelled every hour of every day, he discusses using roughly 12-hour windows before major sessions and races to maximise carbohydrate availability, followed by substantial refuelling afterwards.

He also discusses why he avoids obsessing over daily scale weight, instead looking at longer-term trends and carbohydrate cycles. Matt believes intentional weight-loss phases should generally be relatively short - around 6 to 12 weeks for most athletes and rarely beyond 20 weeks - rather than becoming a permanent part of training.

The conversation also tackles the stigma surrounding weight loss in endurance sport, RED-S, disordered eating and the potential danger of becoming obsessed with numbers. Matt stresses that this approach is only relevant to runners who genuinely have weight they can healthily lose and that improving performance should never come at the expense of long-term health.

Later in the episode, Matt shares updates from the Chinese running shoe world, including upcoming laboratory testing of several Chinese super shoes and the rapid growth surrounding Dynafish. He discusses distribution delays, demand in China and plans for bringing more shoes into international markets.

Matt also considers racing the Sydney Marathon in jeans and potentially attempting the marathon world record for running in jeans, before discussing his future racing ambitions, interest in trying HYROX and whether an Ironman is something he would ever consider.

Finally, Matt explains why he has stopped frequent sauna sessions after noticing increasing fatigue and deteriorating training quality, despite initially introducing sauna as part of his marathon preparation.

Topics:

00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:27 Topics and Context 02:46 Pro Podcast Changes 03:46 Subscriber Hangouts 06:05 Coaching Spots Open 07:12 Why Weight Matters 08:18 Josh Kerr Example 09:45 My Marathon Weight Shift 14:41 Stigma and Pushback 20:08 Simple Weight Loss Framework 24:34 Carb Timing for Workouts 28:59 Risks and Obsession Trap 30:38 Carb Cycles Not Scales 31:44 Avoid Number Obsession 32:47 Who Should Cut Weight 35:46 Coaching And Stigma 37:36 Chinese Shoe Lab Tests 39:39 Dynafish Distribution Plans 43:36 Sydney Jeans Marathon 45:40 Weight Loss And Future Goals 50:55 HYROX Versus Ironman 52:31 Sauna Fatigue Lesson 57:25 Wrap Up And Next Steps

Jack Kelly from The Triathlon Hour returns to the Sweat Elite Podcast for a fun challenge - ranking six running workouts from manageable to completely diabolical.

Along the way, we debate stop recoveries versus float recoveries, discuss whether marathon pace should be guided by effort or pace, explore the biggest differences between training for running and triathlon, and explain why some workouts are far harder mentally than physically. We also share how weather, fueling, terrain and fatigue should influence the execution of key marathon sessions.

The episode finishes with the hardest workouts either of us has ever designed. Jack unveils a brutal 29.6 km session combining marathon pace with repeated half-marathon-pace intervals, while Matt shares a relentless 25 km progressive run that finishes faster than goal marathon pace. If you're looking for new training ideas or simply want to hear two coaches dissect what makes a great workout, this episode is packed with practical insights and plenty of debate.

Jack Kelly / The Triathlon Hour

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackkellytri/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gjZJMzMev7LvylirVjIGD?si=b3f1e6f64841417d

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetriathlonhour

Matt Fox / Sweat Elite

Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome Back Banter 00:53 The Hat Story 02:48 Six Workout Challenge 06:02 Stop Rest Debate 07:57 Workout 1 - Most People Could Do 10:21 Workout 2 - Moderate 15:10 Workout 3 - Challenging 21:59 Workout 4 - Hard 29:36 Level 5 - Really really hard 36:56 Level 6 - Diabolicaly hard! 43:51 Fueling Weather Logistics 46:27 Wrap Up Next Rivalry Tease

These workouts are discussed for educational and entertainment purposes. Adjust the volume, intensity and recovery to suit your experience, current fitness and training goals.

Is getting lighter always the answer for runners chasing faster race times? Matt Fox is joined by Dr David Lipman for a short, sharp discussion about weight loss, performance, RED-S and the risks of taking leanness too far.

Dr David Lipman Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidlipman/

Website: https://www.drdavidjlipman.com/

Listen to David's Podcast

For more conversations exploring the science, psychology and hidden stories behind sport, check out 1% Better - Hidden Stories in Sport, co-hosted by Xylon van Eyck and Dr David Lipman.

Matt Fox Links

Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Email: [email protected]

Matt and David explore why being lighter does not automatically make an athlete faster. Although reducing excess body fat may improve running economy and performance, there is a lower limit where continued weight loss can begin to compromise health, recovery and long-term performance.

Matt shares his own experience of becoming faster after losing weight, while David explains why the human body cannot be treated like a simple machine. Some body fat may provide an important energy buffer because the absorption and use of fuel can vary between athletes and from day to day.

They examine Ryan Hall's experience as a cautionary example. Hall initially improved while becoming extremely lean, but his performance and health eventually declined after taking the process too far. This temporary improvement can create a dangerous "more is better" mindset, where athletes continue restricting food because the early results appear positive.

The conversation also breaks down Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, commonly known as RED-S. Rather than viewing RED-S as the result of one isolated mistake, David describes it using a stress bucket model. Training load, inadequate fueling, poor sleep, work pressure and other life stressors can accumulate until the athlete's ability to recover is overwhelmed.

Matt and David discuss carbohydrate periodization and carb cycling, including when lower-carbohydrate training may have a place within an endurance program. However, they stress that these strategies do not eliminate the risks of chronic under-fueling. Athletes still require adequate carbohydrates, protein and dietary fat to support performance, recovery and overall health.

They also cover behaviours associated with disordered eating, the spectrum between structured nutrition and unhealthy restriction, whether runners should deliberately lose muscle mass, and the difficult tradeoffs that can exist between short-term performance and long-term health.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Is Lighter Always Faster? 00:43 Fat Buffer and Absorption 01:31 Ryan Hall Cautionary Tale 02:38 When Leanness Backfires 03:28 RED-S and the Stress Bucket 06:27 Carb Cycling and Risk 08:43 Macronutrients and Carb Periodization 10:29 The Disordered Eating Spectrum 12:13 Muscle Mass vs Running Goals 13:20 Health and Performance Tradeoffs 14:28 Wrap Up and Thanks

This conversation is provided for general educational purposes and is not individual medical or nutritional advice. Athletes concerned about RED-S, disordered eating or persistent under-fueling should speak with a qualified healthcare professional.