Winners and Losers

The narrative over the past week has been that we all can't wait to just flush 2020 down the metaphorical toilet and move on with our collective lives into 2021, which can't possibly be worse than what we just went through. This would suggest that in making a year-end wrap-up list of "winners and losers" that the latter category would be remarkably easy to assemble, while identifying those who "won 2020" a touch tricky.

Certainly, we all lost in a sense in 2020 (don't worry, we cover that). But a number of people (and companies) thrived in these uncertain times. We unpack how and why certain runners and brands somehow "won the Pandemic," while others struggled (and one in particular downright failed its people).

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Hosts John Lofranco and Michael Doyle unpack who came and won big at The Marathon Project, one of the most intriguing elite marathons, well, maybe ever. And of course, they each also select three big losers on the day — those who had something at stake and failed in some capacity.

They discuss, sponsored athletes vs. working-class stiffs, (future) Olympians, Hoka (yes, the shoe company), and Cam Levins.

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Hosts John Lofranco and Michael Doyle discuss who each feels "won" and "lost" at the 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships, which took place over the weekend in Gdynia, Poland.

John's winners: Women's champ (and world-record holder) Peres Jepchirchir, the concept of watching a race, and "the running media."

Michael's winners: Jepchirchir, World Athletics, the country of Uganda

John's losers: the very idea of safety, high stack height shoes, sport bureaucracy

Michael's losers: Poland, pre-race favourite Joshua Cheptegei, 2018 champ Netsanet Gudeta

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The 2020 London Marathon featured upsets, disappointments, sprint finishes, and even a shoe controversy (or two).

The XC's John Lofranco and Michael Doyle each pick three big winners and losers from the elite-only event in St. James' Park.

The XC's John Lofranco and Michael Doyle break down the winners and losers of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, which took place in Atlanta.

As the first marathon of significance, Houston is the informal kick off of a new season. Two Canadian records were set—the women’s marathon and half— along with another crazy performance by Rory Linkletter on the men’s side. This should trigger one hell of a spring, as multiple runners will be vying for an Olympic spot. John Lofranco and Michael Doyle break it all down in the pod.

Alex Cyr, John Lofranco and Michael Doyle break down who they think won big and who went home devastated at the 2019 Canadian Cross-Country Championships, which took place over the weekend in Abbotsford, B.C.

Apologies to our non-Canadian friends, this one is 100% CanCon.

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Michael Doyle and John Lofranco break down the finest performances, how the non-Nike carbon plate shoes fared, the less than amazing broadcast coverage, and who really won... and lost in the Big Apple.

The XC's Michael Doyle and John Lofranco break down who won and lost the most at this year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, including the Canadian Olympic Trials winners, Nike and more.

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