The Stablemaster Speaks - The Art of the Marathon

Sarah Cox's remarkable journey from a 3:36 to a 3:11 marathon within four months is the highlight. The conversation delves into her struggles with ADHD, stress, and injury management. Creatine's role in her recovery is discussed, alongside a strategic approach to 'run by feel'. Insights from her training in Kenya reveal improvements in form. John shares about her race experiences in Berlin and New York, setting up an exciting Tokyo breakthrough. Plans for future speed training and long-term goals are also explored.

Explore the value of intuitive running and how it complements data-driven training. Discover tips to identify a good coach and why coaching is essential for perceptual development. Learn to refine your sensations and adjust workouts based on daily feedback. John highlights the significance of feel in marathon pacing and fueling strategies and shares practical exercises to enhance your perceptual wisdom. Unlock the art of racing by combining intuition with selective metrics for optimum performance.

In this episode, I read the intro and chapter 1 from 'The Art of the Marathon'.

In this insightful discussion, the journey of Boris Levin is showcased as he progresses from a 1:42 to a remarkable 1:19 half marathon. Key training strategies, including avoiding doubles to reduce injury, are emphasized. The importance of adjusting pacing for hot weather conditions is highlighted, along with innovative training methods like temporal flow and safe race scheduling. Insights into using races as fitness indicators and adjusting midweek training are particularly engaging. This detailed case study offers valuable guidance for both novice and experienced runners.

Dive into the world of hills as John shares his insights on training with incline! Discover why traditional hill reps are perfect for middle-distance athletes. Learn how to blend hill workouts with tempo runs for maximum results. John also discusses the importance of hill training for hilly marathons like Boston. With personal anecdotes and listener shoutouts, this session is packed with tips on progression, injury management, and building strength. Get ready to tackle those hills and enhance your running game!

Discover the secrets to transforming a new runner from a 4-hour marathoner to a 3-hour superstar within a year. Learn about the essential balance of nutrition and weight for beginners, and how to fix common running forms by activating the glutes. Get insights into effective hill-blasting techniques and aerobic strides that boost speed. Plus, explore a structured training plan that includes long runs and race-specific workouts, ensuring a solid foundation for marathon success.

This discussion challenges the common belief that talent is essential for marathon success. It highlights how structured training, not just innate ability, can lead to impressive results like sub-3 hour finishes. John shares insights on VO2 max and running economy, explaining their roles in performance. With lessons from recent races, he emphasizes pacing and strategy. Additionally, tips for injury prevention through midweek sessions make for a comprehensive guide for runners seeking marathon mastery.

Explore the intriguing debate on what truly constitutes talent in running. Discover how coaching can lead to significant improvements, as illustrated by Boris's remarkable half marathon journey. Delve into the surprising revelations of mitochondrial inheritance and its impact on athletic physiology. Contrast the visibility of talent in football with the subtler emergence in running. Learn how dedicated coaching has transformed non-talented elites into high performers, revealing that success often hinges more on effort and guidance than innate ability.

In this episode we look at Boris incredible improvement from 1:42 - 1:19 over the HM in 11 months. But it's much more than that: his story in incredible. There's murder, mayhem, and magic...

In this, the final episode of the Making an Olympian, we look at Aoife's Olympic build up, altitude and heat raining, the race, and what happened after...