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.

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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.

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