The Marathon Podcast

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Kristian welcomes back "MEO the Machine" Martin Olesen, straight off representing Denmark at the European Championships marathon in Birmingham, for a catch up on altitude training, race day chaos, and what it might take for him to go full time as a runner.

Martin shares what an altitude camp with training partner Jimmy Whelan in Font Romeu actually looked like ahead of Birmingham, and how a security breach at the athlete hotel the night before the race left him running on just three hours of sleep. He breaks down the brutal, technical Birmingham course, finishing 34th as a full time employee alongside professional athletes, and reflects on the mix of gratitude and hunger for more that came with it. The conversation closes with an honest chat about balancing a demanding job with training at an international level, and whether going full time as a runner might be next.

In this episode:

- Racing the European Championships marathon in Birmingham

- Training alongside Jimmy Whelan at an altitude camp in Font Romeu

- A security breach at the athlete hotel the night before the race

- Racing on almost no sleep and still finishing 34th

- Breaking down a brutal, technical championship course

- Being a full time employee competing against full time professionals

- The mix of gratitude and hunger for more after the race

- Balancing a demanding job with training at an international level

- Whether going full time as a runner might be next

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome back, straight from the European Championships

02:11 Kristian's own rough week battling a fever

05:44 A nutrition update and finishing up work with his nutritionist

07:41 Introducing Martin and previewing the conversation

08:19 Training in Barcelona and altitude camp with Jimmy Whelan

11:24 A full breakdown of the Font Romeu altitude camp

18:59 What Jimmy Whelan taught him about training

29:44 Reflecting on his second European Championships selection

31:27 The marathon that first proved his potential

32:14 What it means to represent Denmark as a full time employee

36:48 His first real altitude camp experience

37:56 Long runs and track sessions alongside Jimmy

41:22 Whether the altitude or the lifestyle made the difference

49:03 How he felt physically after the altitude block

1:02:11 Race recap: finishing 34th at the European Championships

1:03:02 Comparing his grade adjusted time to his marathon PR

1:04:39 The security breach that cost him a night's sleep

1:07:01 The feeling of gratitude and hunger for more after the race

1:11:31 What his coach says about balancing work and elite training

1:13:48 Considering a future full time as a runner

1:14:46 Closing thoughts and what's coming up next

Martin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meothemachine/

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Kristian welcomes back Matt Smith, South Africa's Winter Olympic cross country skier known as the Snowbok, for round two of their conversation, this time diving into the messy reality of training through illness, breaking down the Oslo Marathon course, and flipping the format so Matt gets to ask Kristian questions too.

Matt shares how a chopped up training block full of sickness has tested him in a way his Olympic buildup never did, and the two compare notes on how to tell the difference between pushing through a tickle in your throat and actually needing to rest. Matt also picks Kristian's brain on hilly course strategy ahead of the Oslo Marathon, drawing on lessons from over 200 podcast episodes and Kristian's own marathon experience. If you haven't listened to their first conversation yet, this one builds directly on it and stands alone just as well.

In this episode:

- Training through a chopped up block full of sickness

- How to tell the difference between pushing through and needing rest

- Using resting heart rate as the one metric that matters

- Lessons in patience from athletes who've dealt with stress fractures

- Matt turns the tables and starts asking Kristian questions

- A full breakdown of the Oslo Marathon course, hill by hill

- Race day nutrition strategy for hilly courses

- Why negative splitting hilly marathons is so tricky

- Sending in listener questions for a future Q&A episode

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome back and what this episode covers

01:35 Kristian's biggest training week since his professional days

17:11 What actually makes being sick or injured so hard

19:36 Matt's sickness free Olympic buildup, then a rough patch since

20:32 The mindset shift: being really good at being sick

24:12 Learning patience from stress fracture recovery stories

26:49 The cross country skier stereotype around getting sick

29:43 When listening to your body stops giving clear answers

35:52 Comparing notes on staying healthy through a training block

38:57 Diving into the hilly Oslo Marathon course

40:29 Starting at Radhusplassen and heading into Vigeland Park

46:26 A full course tour: hills, forest, and the finish

47:12 Why the course offers such a unique city experience

1:00:52 Gear tips: half tights built for carrying race nutrition

1:02:47 The risk of relying on friends for on course nutrition

1:05:01 Closing thoughts and send in your questions

Matt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcsmith_/

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Kristian sits down with Ryan McLeod, a Puma Project 3 athlete with one of the most remarkable comeback stories the podcast has featured: a former sub elite British runner who trained alongside Mo Farah, quit running for nearly a decade after a serious heart condition, and came back to run a 2:19 marathon comeback race at London this year.

Ryan walks through his early running career, cut short by a heart condition that caused his heart rate to swing wildly out of rhythm, and the scary night before scheduled surgery when his insurer refused to pay, forcing a seven month wait through the NHS. He shares how running was quietly taken away from him for years, and how pushing a friend in his wheelchair at the Great North Run for charity was what pulled him back into training, eventually leading his team, Run With Drew, to a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon pushing a wheelchair. The conversation covers reconnecting with his old coach after a decade of silence, sneaking into a competitive London Marathon entry, joining Puma Project 3, and the recovery focused philosophy behind his rapid return to elite level running. He also shares Race Calendar, the website he built to help UK runners find their next race.

Content note: this episode includes a detailed discussion of a serious heart condition, surgery, and a difficult experience with health insurance. Please take care while listening.

In this episode:

- Training alongside Mo Farah and early half marathon titles

- Developing a serious heart condition mid-run

- A heart surgery cancelled the night before by his insurer

- A seven month wait through the NHS with a dangerous heart condition

- Quitting running for nearly ten years

- Pushing a friend in his wheelchair at the Great North Run for charity

- Chasing and breaking a Guinness World Record with Run With Drew

- Reconnecting with his old coach after a decade

- Sneaking into a competitive London Marathon entry

- Joining Puma Project 3 and running a 2:19 marathon comeback

- His recovery focused training philosophy

- Building Race Calendar, a website to help UK runners find races

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and introducing Ryan McLeod

02:39 Kristian's Ironman and Valencia training update

16:57 Introducing Ryan and his early running career

17:26 Training alongside Mo Farah

23:32 Racing against Galen Rupp and Mo Farah indoors

53:28 The scary run that led to his heart diagnosis

54:35 Developing atrial fibrillation as a young, fit athlete

56:04 Being told he needs surgery to fix it

58:24 Weighing his health against his running career

58:53 A heart surgery cancelled the night before by his insurer

59:41 A seven month wait through the NHS

1:00:59 Getting the surgery done and the road to recovery

1:07:48 Pushing a friend in his wheelchair at the Great North Run

1:09:01 An unexpectedly fast time that changed everything

1:09:25 The idea to chase a Guinness World Record

1:10:37 Setting a training plan and a new goal

1:25:57 Reconnecting with his old coach after ten years

1:26:37 Sneaking into a competitive London Marathon entry

1:27:03 Discovering and applying for Puma Project 3

1:28:02 Running a 2:19 marathon comeback at London

1:28:40 His recovery focused training philosophy

1:41:57 What his coaching relationship looks like now

1:43:38 Introducing Race Calendar, his website for UK runners

1:44:56 Closing thoughts and where to follow Ryan

Ryan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastforties/

Race Calendar: https://racecalendar.co.uk

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Kristian welcomes back James Constantine from the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS for a special, information packed episode covering everything you need to know for race week, whether you're running, spectating, or just curious about one of the world's newest majors.

James and Kristian break down the full 42.2k course from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Opera House, including the brand new course flyover video that lets you preview every kilometre. James shares the incredible elite field headlined by world marathon champions Alphonce Simbu and Peres Jepchirchir, wheelchair legends Tatyana McFadden and Manuela Schar, and details the Meet the Stars event, race week activations, smart transport tech for spectators, and exactly how to get from the airport to the finish line at Circular Quay. If you're running or spectating the TCS Sydney Marathon, this is the episode to listen to before race day.

In this episode:

- A full breakdown of the 42.2k Sydney Marathon course

- The new course flyover video and where to watch it

- This year's elite field: reigning world marathon champions and wheelchair legends

- The Meet the Stars event at the Sydney Opera House

- Race week activations, run clubs, and shakeout runs

- Smart transport tech to help spectators navigate road closures

- Start times for the elite, wheelchair, and mass fields

- What makes Circular Quay one of the most iconic finish lines in the world

- Tips for getting from your hotel to the start and reconnecting with family after

- Why the Sydney Marathon is building its own race day traditions

Timestamps

00:00 A preview: pacing yourself on the course's toughest section

00:39 Welcome and what this special episode covers

01:28 Kristian's Ironman and swim training update

04:03 Welcoming James back for a third time

06:01 Catching up: James's own running and family life

07:43 What's new for the TCS Sydney Marathon this year

11:21 Building Sydney's own race day traditions

15:39 Introducing James and his role at the marathon

19:55 The smart map and transport tech for spectators

24:02 Exploring Manly and the ferry to Circular Quay

34:25 The Meet the Stars event at the Opera House

39:07 What to do if you're not running but want to be there

43:36 A full course flyover: bridge to Opera House

48:04 Watching last year's race footage to study the course

50:02 Elite wheelchair and elite race start times

51:31 This year's incredible elite wheelchair field

57:41 What to do right after crossing the finish line

1:00:47 Closing thoughts and good luck to everyone running

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Kristian sits down with Jake Barraclough, known online as Ran to Japan, the British YouTuber and pro runner who moved to Tokyo to chase the marathon dream and has documented every mile of it since.

Jake shares the story behind his move from an MMA fighting career to running full time in Japan, and gives a rare, detailed breakdown of his actual training philosophy, the one his "train harder not smarter" content doesn't always show.

He explains why closing the gap with more naturally talented runners means going all in on volume, what a typical training week looks like, the brutal silent long runs he used to do on loops in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park, and the lessons he's taken from Japan's old school running culture.

The conversation also covers the reality of building a career on YouTube, why he still doesn't love social media, and how he balances extreme training with actually staying healthy.

In this episode:

- From an MMA fighting career to running full time in Japan

- Why he chose YouTube over short form content

- The Japanese running culture and training philosophy he's adopted

- A breakdown of his typical training week: speed, tempo, and long run

- The brutal, silent long runs on loops in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park

- Why closing the talent gap means going all in on training volume

- Building a YouTube career while still not loving social media

- Balancing an extreme training approach with staying healthy

- What's next for his running and his channel

Timestamps

00:00 A preview: showing the extreme stuff on YouTube

00:20 Welcome and introducing Jake

03:24 Kristian's Ironman training update

04:15 Finally sitting down with Jake ran to Japan

05:13 Running in the UK vs Japan

16:08 Jake's early running background and a career threatening injury

16:45 Discovering MMA during years away from running

18:19 Choosing between rapping, fighting, and running

18:35 The decision to move to Japan and start documenting it

28:46 What his training volume looked like before Japan

29:42 Going from getting injured at 60k a week to thriving at 200k

31:29 Why he shows the extreme stuff, not the easy miles

33:34 Learning from Japan's old school running culture

39:53 Diving into Japanese run clubs within weeks of arriving

48:08 Nearly taking his training too far the other direction

50:31 The pressure of building a YouTube channel around your training

53:23 Why simple, harder training beats overcomplicating things

54:13 A full breakdown of his typical training week

56:30 The brutal silent long runs on loops in Yoyogi Park

59:42 Believing he'll never reach his potential at low mileage

Jake on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RanToJapan

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Kristian sits down with Alana Levy, a 37 year old New York City product manager and 2:34 marathoner who qualified for the Olympic Trials and finished 16th American at Boston this year, all while working full time and training twice a day.

Alana shares her unlikely late bloomer story: a disappointing college career, years of running just for fun on the side, and then a decade long climb from a 3:10 marathon in 2018 to a 2:34 this year.

She breaks down how she fits 90 to 100 mile weeks and double days around a demanding job, the coaching relationship that's helped her train smarter, and why staying injury free now comes down to strength work, recovery, and a much healthier lifestyle than in her twenties.

The conversation also touches on the viral street interview clip that unexpectedly introduced her to a whole new audience, and closes with her approach to setting goals: focusing on getting a little better rather than chasing one specific number.

In this episode:

- A disappointing college running career and years away from competing seriously

- The decade long climb from a 3:10 to a 2:34 marathon

- Balancing a full time job with double run days

- Building up to 90 to 100 miles a week and staying injury free

- How her lifestyle has changed since her twenties: less drinking, more recovery

- The viral street interview clip that introduced her to a new audience

- Qualifying for the Olympic Trials and racing Boston in the elite field

- Why she sets process based goals instead of one specific outcome

- What's next: chasing another PR in Valencia

Timestamps

00:00 A preview: PRing in the marathon and the mile

00:20 Welcome and introducing Alana Levy

01:08 Kristian's Ironman training update

15:04 Introducing Alana: a disappointing college career

17:03 What running looked like between 2011 and 2018

20:35 Never expecting to reach an elite level

23:56 Pinching herself at the Boston starting line

26:53 Ramping training back up in 2018 and beyond

31:05 Starting to work with a coach in 2022

34:41 Staying injury free with strength work and recovery

40:53 Racing Boston in the elite field

46:47 The viral street interview clip, explained

51:34 Injury prevention and a healthier lifestyle in her thirties

52:22 A look at her weekly training structure

59:32 Balancing running with a full time career

1:04:23 How recovery has changed as she's gotten older

1:12:21 Bouncing back from Boston and racing shorter distances

1:14:07 Why she sets process goals instead of one outcome

1:15:25 Closing thoughts and see you in Valencia

Alana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yo_lans/

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Kristian sits down with JaQuavious "JQ" Harris, a professional runner for Saucony who ran a 2:13 in his marathon debut, for what became one of the most emotional and important conversations in the podcast's history.

JQ opens up about being an openly gay Black runner navigating BYU's religious community, a mental health crisis and suicide attempt in 2020, and the extraordinary support of his coach, Ed Eyestone, who tracked down his new phone number after JQ isolated himself and told him simply: I need you alive. JQ shares what it's actually like to live publicly after coming out, the criticism he still receives from strangers online, and how grace, faith, and his relationship with his coach carried him through. The conversation closes with his running story: junior college success, turning pro with Saucony, battling injuries, and the strategy behind his breakthrough 2:13 marathon debut in California.

In this episode:

- Being an openly gay Black professional runner

- Navigating a religious college environment while coming out

- A mental health crisis and suicide attempt in 2020

- The phone call from his coach that helped save his life

- What life actually looks like after coming out publicly

- Facing criticism and unsolicited opinions from strangers online

- Junior college success and turning pro with Saucony

- Battling injuries through his first two pro seasons

- Race recap: executing a 2:13 marathon debut in California

- What's next: chasing an Olympic Trials qualifying time

Content note: this episode includes an open, detailed discussion of a suicide attempt and mental health crisis, as well as experiences of religious and social discrimination. Please take care while listening. If you are struggling yourself, please know that support is available and you don't have to go through it alone.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and why this episode is different

02:10 Introducing JQ: professional runner, content creator, introvert

05:31 Being seen as an extrovert while feeling like an introvert

16:21 His start in running and a coach who almost turned him away

17:26 A qualifying race that changed everything

33:54 Introducing Coach Ed Eyestone and what he means to JQ

35:19 Being gay in a religious school and community

38:32 What actually happens after you come out

40:14 Facing criticism and unsolicited opinions from strangers

44:12 Losing his middle school coach and learning to forgive

1:29:44 Being welcomed into Coach Eyestone's family every Thanksgiving

1:30:44 Being gay at BYU and reaching an all time low

1:31:14 A suicide attempt in 2020 and the isolation of the pandemic

1:32:06 The phone call: "I need you alive"

1:52:18 Turning pro and setting national records in college

1:53:52 Two years, two six month injuries as a pro

1:56:00 Building toward his first marathon

2:28:59 Race strategy and executing his 2:13 marathon debut

2:32:20 Crossing the finish line and celebrating with friends

2:34:04 Closing thoughts and where to follow JQ

JQ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrisjaquavious/

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Kristian marks 200 episodes of the Marathon Podcast with a special solo retrospective, looking back at how a random, impulsive decision to hit record turned into one of the fastest growing running podcasts in the world.

Kristian shares the honest, unfiltered story behind the podcast, from four daily streams in the early days to thousands today, the guests and moments that changed everything, and the lessons he's learned along the way. He gets candid about the challenges of publishing three episodes a week, the pressure of building a public platform, and a stressful season that's left him feeling a bit burnt out.

The episode closes with a big personal announcement: Kristian is signing up for the Lake Placid Ironman with his brother in law.

In this episode:

- Why he started the podcast and the podcast that inspired him

- His nerve wracking first interview and first professional guest

- The slow, humbling early growth (from 4 streams a day to thousands)

- The guests and moments that changed the podcast's trajectory

- The challenge of getting more female runners on the show

- How the podcast has shaped his identity, for better and worse

- Being honest about burnout and a stressful season of life

- The Marathon Podcast Sponsorship and the Puma partnership

- Answering listener questions from 200 episodes

- The big announcement: signing up for Ironman Lake Placid

Content note: this episode includes an honest discussion of stress and burnout. Please take care while listening.

Timestamps

00:00 200 episodes and why this one is different

02:37 Looking back at spring 2025 and the podcasts that inspired him

06:19 The random, impulsive decision to start recording

09:16 Feeling embarrassed to share it at first

11:09 His first ever guest and first interview

13:38 The first professional runner on the podcast

16:04 How nerves and small numbers didn't stop him

17:49 Highlights: the guests and moments that meant the most

23:51 The Boston shakeout and building a real community

25:49 A turning point: the episode with Tracksmith's founder

29:12 Highlights continued: Jimmy, Felicia, and unexpected breakout episodes

32:04 How the podcast has changed his life and identity

38:32 Why it took 17 episodes to get a female runner on

41:37 Balancing the podcast with an unpredictable day job

44:01 The humbling early numbers, from 4 streams to thousands

49:19 What he's most proud of: platforming everyday runners

53:47 The Marathon Podcast Sponsorship and the Puma partnership

55:54 The downsides of building a public platform

1:00:49 Being honest about burnout and a hard season lately

1:10:48 Answering listener questions from 200 episodes

1:17:25 The big announcement: signing up for Ironman Lake Placid

1:22:05 Closing thoughts and thank you

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Kristian sits down with Zhenya Hutson, a Chicago based runner and the first Puma Project 3 athlete featured on the podcast, for a conversation about her running journey, the Chicago running community, and her breakthrough 3:03 marathon PR at Boston this year.

Zhenya shares how a "hobby intervention" from her husband during the pandemic turned into a full blown love of the marathon, including qualifying for and running Boston in a rare no cutoff year, and finding her running family through underground group runs during Chicago's strict lockdown restrictions. She walks through the Puma Project 3 application and selection process, what the twelve week support package actually includes, and the emotional final miles of her PR performance at this year's Boston Marathon. The conversation closes with why community, not just chasing times, has been the real driver behind her running.

In this episode:

- How a pandemic era "hobby intervention" led to her first run

- Squeezing in her first races just before COVID shut everything down

- Underground group runs during Chicago's lakefront trail lockdown

- Qualifying for and running Boston in a rare no cutoff year

- Applying and getting selected for Puma Project 3

- What the twelve week Project 3 support package includes

- Race recap: a 3:03 marathon PR and a $3,000 Puma bonus at Boston

- Chasing a training partner through the final miles despite cramping

- Why the Chicago running community means more to her than any PR

Content note: this episode briefly touches on the isolation and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please take care while listening.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and introducing Zhenya, the first Puma Project 3 guest

00:52 Kristian's training update

07:43 Introducing Zhenya and her running background

09:01 A pandemic era hobby intervention that started it all

10:19 Squeezing in races just before COVID shut things down

10:50 Underground group runs during Chicago's lockdown

36:34 Balancing PRs vs consistent performances as you age

37:44 Qualifying for Boston in a rare no cutoff year

40:35 Fast forward to her current 3:03 marathon PR

41:02 Applying and getting selected for Puma Project 3

42:14 What the twelve week Project 3 support package includes

52:03 The emotional final miles of her Boston PR

54:17 Winning the Puma Project 3 bonus

55:03 Why the Chicago running community matters more than PRs

59:51 Finding run clubs and staying connected in Chicago

1:00:54 Closing thoughts and where to follow Zhenya

Zhenya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingzhenya/

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Kristian sits down with Callam Smith, whose transformation from smoking, daily drinking, and recreational drugs to running a 2:55 marathon and placing fifth in a 50k beach ultra is nothing short of remarkable.

Callam opens up about the wake up call that changed everything: ordering a beer for breakfast in front of his mum, and realizing he'd slipped further than he wanted to admit. He shares how he channelled his all or nothing personality into running instead, working night shifts while training for the marathon majors, and the years long chase to finally break three hours. He also introduces Run For Your Mental, the running brand he and his partner started to connect mental health and running, and shares advice for anyone looking to turn their own life around.

In this episode:

- Life before running: smoking, drinking, and recreational drugs

- The wake up call that started everything

- Finding running (and later boxing) as an outlet

- Training around a rotating shift work schedule

- Chasing sub three: three attempts, three near misses, then a breakthrough

- Race recap: a 2:55 marathon and dialing in his pacing strategy

- Racing a 50k ultra along the Dutch coast

- Building Run For Your Mental, a brand connecting running and mental health

- His honest advice for anyone trying to change their lifestyle

Content note: this episode includes an open discussion of past substance use and mental health. Please take care while listening.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and a preview of Callam's story

00:52 Kristian's running update

03:14 Introducing Callam, straight off a night shift

04:15 Balancing shift work with serious training

06:31 How Callam first got into fitness

10:16 Getting serious about training

10:51 Life before running: smoking, drinking, and recreational drugs

13:01 The wake up call: a beer for breakfast with his mum

13:54 Going all in on running and fitness instead

16:14 His all or nothing personality

16:59 His first marathon and getting hooked on chasing sub three

19:52 Getting a coach and seeing real improvement

20:27 Missing sub three by six seconds

22:47 Switching coaches and building bigger long runs

22:55 Race recap: finally breaking sub three with a 2:55

25:31 How friends and family reacted to the transformation

27:53 His honest advice for anyone trying to change

29:14 Taking on a 50k beach ultra along the Dutch coast

34:41 Building Run For Your Mental, his running and mental health brand

37:19 Ambitions for the brand and future charity runs

52:07 Where he sees himself going next

53:05 Closing thoughts and where to follow Callam

Callam on Instagram: instagram.com/trainwithcallam

Run For Your Mental: https://www.instagram.com/runforyamental/

Start your free Musicbed trial: https://fm.pxf.io/kristianwarwick

Full episodes + the Boston 2025 documentary: https://www.youtube.com/@Warwickruns

Follow my training journey on Instagram: @warwick.runs

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