Marathon Training Academy

Angie and Trevor
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Oct 21, 2025 • 49min

Catching Up With Alexi Pappas

In this episode we speak with Alexi Pappas -Olympian, filmmaker, actor, and bestselling author. Listen as Trevor and Angie chat with Alexi about goal setting, navigating change, the importance of mentors, how she gets through the later miles of a race, and more! Bio: Alexi Pappas was an NCAA All American athlete at Dartmouth College and the University of Oregon. She is a dual citizen and represented Greece in the 2016 Olympics setting a 10,000 meter national record. She has served as a guide runner for a para-athlete named Lisa Thompson in marathons and triathlons and is still chasing her own running goals. Her first book is called, ‘Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and other Big Ideas’ and she is currently at work on her second book. She hosts the Mentor Buffet Podcast and makes her home in Los Angeles where she loves running trails. Links Mentioned in This Episode Run Coaching. Work with an expert MTA running Coach. Altra Running -Altra shoes are designed to fit the natural shape of feet with room for your toes, for comfort, balance, and strength. So you focus on what really matters:  Getting out there. AG1 Next Gen has new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes 5 AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2. IQBAR brain and body-boosting bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Their Ultimate Sampler Pack includes all three! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping. Just text “MTA” to 64000. Run the London Marathon in 2026 with Sports Tours International USA. They have guaranteed bibs for London, Berlin, Sydney, and Cape Town!
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Oct 11, 2025 • 1h 10min

Running Across Continents: Interview with Marie Leautey

In this episode we speak with Marie Leautey -a French runner who became the fastest woman to run around the world: 4 continents, 680 marathons, and 28,249 kilometers! Links Mentioned in This Episode Run Coaching. Work with an expert MTA running Coach. MetPro.co -For the first time ever, MetPro is offering MTA listeners a full 30-day experience for just $95 with absolutely no strings attached! See what it’s like working with your own metabolic coach. Limited to the first 30 people. AG1 Next Gen has new flavors: new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes 5 AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2. The Virginia Credit Union River City Half -March 7 in Richmond, Virginia. IQBAR brain and body-boosting bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Their Ultimate Sampler Pack includes all three! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping. Just text “MTA” to 64000. Athens Marathon Tour with MTA and Dean Karnazes Bio: Marie Leautey who goes by the nickname “Lootie” is a former international CFO turned record breaking runner. Always a nomad at heart, she finally embraced her true passion in 2022, becoming the second woman- and fastest ever- to run a complete circumnavigation of the globe. She is the author of the book Lootie’s World Run- The Extraordinary True Story of the Fastest Woman to Have Run Around the World and currently lives in Greece with her partner.
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Oct 2, 2025 • 55min

Interviews with Team Abbott Runners

In this episode we speak with three runners from Team Abbott — a community of runners who have faced serious health challenges but didn’t let those challenges define them! About Our Guests Elizabeth Pehota (Boston, MA): Three days out from running the 2022 Berlin Marathon, Elizabeth Pehota experienced a feeling of pins and needles in her hands, feet and thighs, and an unnatural resistance while running. Soon after, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. As someone who shares her daily life on social media, Elizabeth, @healthy_cheers on Instagram, only recently opened up about her diagnosis, but has already formed relationships with other MS patients around the world. Elizabeth is an Abbott World Marathon Major Six Star Finisher and received her seventh star in Sydney. Ed Barnes (Douglas, MA): Ed was born with a congenital heart condition and at age 15 he started to experience frequent dizziness – to the point of nearly passing out – leading him to undergo open heart surgery to receive an Abbott artificial aortic heart valve. This year, after completing the Boston Marathon, Ed became the first person with an artificial heart valve to finish all seven Abbott World Marathon Majors.   Mary Tawney Suarez (Fullerton, CA): Just before the pandemic, Mary started experiencing seizures and was diagnosed with Epilepsy and a brain cyst. One year later, she started experiencing back pain and numbness in her legs, which was revealed to be the degeneration of the cerebral and lower part of her spine. Despite these obstacles, Mary has continued running, and just finished the Berlin Marathon. Links Mentioned in This Episode Run Coaching. Work with an expert MTA running Coach. MetPro.co -For the first time ever, MetPro is offering MTA listeners a full 30-day experience for just $95 with absolutely no strings attached! See what it’s like working with your own metabolic coach. Limited to the first 30 people. AG1 Next Gen has new flavors: new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes 5 AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2. The Virginia Credit Union River City Half -March 7 in Richmond, Virginia. Drury Hotels -Get 10% off your stay with our link or use the code RN2025. Team Abbott -a community of runners, many of whom have overcome health challenges, who are committed to inspiring others through their running journeys. To submit your story for a chance to join Team Abbott, visit abbott.com/marathons.
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31 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 59min

Ask the Coach Q&A (Fall Edition)

Coach Erin Smith, an RRCA certified running coach and seasoned ultra runner, joins Coach Angie Spencer to tackle listener Q&A. They discuss tips for successfully running two marathons in the fall, including recovery strategies and goal-setting. The duo dives into effective training methods like Fartlek runs and hill simulations for flat areas. They also offer insights on preventing and recovering from common injuries such as hip pain and IT band issues. Plus, discover ways to reignite motivation after a marathon with innovative strategies!
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11 snips
Sep 12, 2025 • 39min

The Hero’s Journey of the Marathon

Discover how marathon training parallels the classic Hero's Journey, where overcoming obstacles leads to personal growth and transformation. Explore the emotional highs and lows runners face, highlighting the camaraderie that builds along the way. Learn the art of goal setting and the profound sense of achievement that comes from completing a marathon. Hear stories of mentorship and the life lessons that emerge from this rewarding yet challenging pursuit. It's an inspiring journey that turns each runner into a hero!
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Aug 31, 2025 • 54min

Keira D’Amato -Don’t Call It a Comeback!

Keira D’Amato, author of 'Don't Call It a Comeback' and American record holder in the 10-mile run, shares her inspiring journey from sidelined athlete to marathon champion at 37. She discusses rediscovering her love for running after motherhood, embracing the joy over chasing personal records, and the importance of strategic quitting for growth. Keira highlights the camaraderie among female runners and the emotional experience of writing her memoir, aiming to inspire others through her story of resilience and passion.
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Aug 21, 2025 • 47min

The Growth of the Running Industry

Christina Henderson, Director of The Running Event and recognized as one of the “25 Women to Watch” in the running industry, shares her insights on the booming running culture. She highlights key trends like localism, sustainability, and the rise of digital integration in retail. The discussion dives into the post-pandemic transformation of running, its impact on mental health, and the growing appeal of trail running. Christina also emphasizes the importance of community connection and proper running shoe fitting for newcomers.
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Aug 10, 2025 • 53min

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) with Renee McGregor

In this episode we speak with Renee McGregor -sports dietitian and author of the book, ‘Fuel for Thought: A Practical Guide to Fueling for Your Adventures’. Renee McGregor is a leading sports dietitian, specialising in Eating Disorders, REDs, The Female Athlete, Athlete Health and Performance. She’s worked with athletes across the globe, including supporting Olympic (London, 2012), Paralympic (Rio, 2016) and Commonwealth (Queensland, 2018) teams. We want to give listeners a head’s up that we will be talking about eating disorders and REDs during this episode. What is REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) The basis of REDs is low energy availability, or insufficient energy in the body to allow for the work that the individual wants to do. Low energy availability comes with a cost to our sport but also is costly to all the biological processes in our body, including the brain, heart, lungs, hormonal, and digestive systems. When low energy availability is combined with under recovery (training and general life stresses can all contribute to this) it throws the body into REDs. Some people can have unintentional or accidental REDs where the person doesn’t understand how much energy is required to maintain their biological functions and the training load. On the other hand, intentional REDs is a conscious decision to restrict intake or overtrain and usually involves some aspects of disordered eating and/or exercise dependency. Sponsor Links Run Coaching. Work with a MTA running Coach. Shokz– the industry leader and pioneer in open-ear headphone technology. Use code MTA for $10 off! MetPro.co -For the first time ever, MetPro is offering MTA listeners a full 30-day experience for just $95 with absolutely no strings attached! See what it’s like working with your own metabolic coach. Limited to the first 30 people. AG1 Next Gen has new flavors: new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes 5 AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2. Fuel for Thought -book by Renee McGregor
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Jul 31, 2025 • 46min

Interview with Kitty Robinson

In this episode we speak with Kitty Robinson, a listener to the podcast who shares what it’s like to keep running through pregnancy, raising a large family, and surviving both brain and heart surgery. Kitty exemplifies the saying, “You can do hard things”! She’s author of two books: ‘Sometimes Courage’ and ‘The Runaway Housewives of the Appalachian Trail’. Links Mentioned in This Episode Shokz– the industry leader and pioneer in open-ear headphone technology. Use code MTA for a discount! IQBAR brain and body-boosting bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Their Ultimate Sampler Pack includes all three! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping. Just text “MTA” to 64000.. AG1 Next Gen -get a FREE bottle of AG D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, AND 5 of the upgraded AG1 travel packs with your first order. Run the London Marathon in 2026 with Sports Tours International USA. They have guaranteed bibs!
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Jul 23, 2025 • 1h 34min

Race Recap: The Eiger Ultra Trail -Our Switzerland Running Adventure

In this episode we bring you to the Swiss Alps as we run from village to village with listeners to the MTA podcast. Plus we recap the legendary Eiger Ultra Trail race, which is part of the UTMB World Series. *Special thanks to James and Susie Jin, Brad Rudler, Marcia Salovitz, Ryan Shea, Bekah Shininger, Robin Walters, Liz Sur, Marcia Mathison, Candis Ubiles, Mindy McCune, Kate Mattern, Alistair Crompton, Marion Giro, and Run the Alps! Links Mentioned in This Episode Run Coaching. Work with a MTA running Coach. COROS Watches will help you train according to heart rate. Use code MTA and get an additional free watch band with your purchase! Just pick the band you want, add it to your cart, and use code MTA. Joint Health Plus by Previnex -prevention is the best medicine and you need to protect your joint cartilage from breakdown. Use code MTA for 15% off your first order! UCAN -get the Trial Sample Pack for free with our link, just pay shipping! The Richmond Marathon on November 15, 2024 -America’s Friendliest Marathon!

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