
Marathon Training Academy
The Marathon Training Academy Podcast will help you unlock your potential to conquer the marathon and change your life. Since 2010 Angie and Trevor have shared tips, inspiration, and interesting guests interviews to help listeners run smarter, avoid injury, and go the distance. What RUNNER’S WORLD says about the MTA Podcast: “If you’re training for 26.2, running coach Angie Spencer and her husband, Trevor, have everything you need to reach the finish line. The duo provides plenty of training tips, interviews, and reviews of marathons from around the world. (Angie has run one in every state!) While they don’t always bring on guests, runners like Sara Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, and even actor Sean Astin have all stopped by.”
Latest episodes

Nov 28, 2024 • 9min
Announcement: Our Next Big Running Adventure
Trevor and Angie here just popping into your podcast feed to make an important announcement! Next July we are running the Eiger Ultra Trail in Switzerland and are inviting any listener to the podcast who is interested in joining us there!
The Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB is so popular that is already sold out, but we have access to race bibs through our partner Run The Alps. The epic course has unrivaled mountain scenery on highly runnable trails. There’s a distance for every level for those who want to try a European trail race. The race offers a 16k, 35k, 51k, and 101k.
We are doing this race as part of a 9 day running retreat that starts on July 12th, 2025. Spots are limited so please email us if you are interested. See this page for all the details. Let’s run!

Nov 22, 2024 • 53min
A Grand Canyon Adventure with Coach Athena and Melanie
In this episode we speak with MTA Coach Athena and her client Melanie Toelcke who ran through the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim-to-rim. This is a challenging 48 mile point-to-point run, in 100 degree temps, through one of the greatest natural wonders of the world!
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
Run the Eiger Ultra Trail with Angie and Trevor in 2025! Visit this page to read how you can join us in a Switzerland next summer for an unforgettable running adventure.
UCAN Energy -Try their Edge gels for FREE! all you pay is the cost of shipping. You can also get 20% off anything in their store with the code MTA.
AG1 -get the Black Friday offer for all of November! Every week of November, AG1 will be running a special Black Friday offer for a free gift with your first subscription, in addition to the Welcome Kit with Vitamin D3+K2.
The Drury Hotels -they have free breakfast and free food and drinks in the evening -something they call the 5:30 kick back. They have more than 150 locations in 26 states. Use our link to save 10% on your stay.
AirDoctor the air purifier that filters out 99.99% of dangerous contaminants so your lungs don’t have to. This includes allergens, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold spores and even bacteria and viruses.
Promo code MTA and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers!

Nov 12, 2024 • 50min
Interview with Tara Dower
In this episode we speak with Tara Dower who set the fastest know time (FKT) on the Appalachian Trail by running an average of 54 miles per day for 40 days!
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Sports Tours International, a company that’s taken runners and spectators to the most popular races around the world for 50 years.
Joint Health Plus! -Protect your joint cartilage from breakdown during runs. Use code MTA for 15% off your first order.
AquaTru -receive 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier with code “MTA“ at checkout.
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
Tara Dower is an Altra Elite Athlete based in Virginia, who recently completed the 2,197.4 (3,535 kilometres) mile Appalachian Trail in a record setting 40 days, 18 hours, and 5 minutes. That’s 13 hours faster than the record set in 2018 by Belgian runner Karel Sabbe. Prior to Dower’s breakthrough, only 10 people had ever managed to traverse the AT in 50 days or less.
Find Tara on Youtube at Tara Treks.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail — commonly known as the Appalachian Trail or simply “the A.T.” — is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, that travels through fourteen states along the crests and valleys of the Appalachian Mountain Range.

Oct 31, 2024 • 47min
Marathon Success Story with Kofo Obasanjo-Blackshire
In this episode we speak with Academy member and coaching client, Kofo Obasanjo-Blackshire, about the ups and downs of training for a personal best in the marathon.
Kofo started running to lose baby weight after her second pregnancy. Through consistency and patience she has dropped her marathon time from 4:40 to 3:53.
Kofo Obasanjo-Blackshire was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and two sons. She holds a PhD from King’s College London. Her father Olusegun Obasanjo was the president of Nigeria from 1999-2007. She has completed 16 marathons and trains with MTA Coach Nicole.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
Run the Alps with Angie and Trevor in 2025! Visit this page to read how you can join us in a Switzerland next summer for an unforgettable running adventure.
AG1 -get the Black Friday offer for all of November! Every week of November, AG1 will be running a special Black Friday offer for a free gift with your first subscription, in addition to the Welcome Kit with Vitamin D3+K2.
MetPro Nutrition Coaching -speak with a Metabolic Expert about your goals and get actionable steps toward fueling for performance, losing weight, adding muscle, or changing your body composition. Get $500 off their concierge coaching.
Saysky High Performance Running Wear -Use code MTA15 to get 15% off running tights, shorts, tops, singlets, jackets, vests, sports bras and anything across their entire product line worldwide.

Oct 23, 2024 • 45min
Race Recap: The Oldest Marathon in Europe
In this episode we bring you to the Košice Marathon in Slovakia -Europe’s Oldest Marathon. Plus, Coach Angie shares tips on how to train to beat course cut-offs.
The Košice Marathon started in 1924 after Vojtech Bukovsky visited the Olympic Games in Paris. A few weeks later he organized the first Košice Marathon on October 28th 1924, one hundred years ago!
Sponsor Links
Joint Health Plus! -Protect your joint cartilage from breakdown during runs. Use code MTA for 15% off your first order.
UCAN Energy -Try their Edge gels for FREE! all you pay is the cost of shipping. You can also get 20% off anything in their store with the code MTA.
Saysky High Performance Running Wear -Use code MTA15 to get 15% off running tights, shorts, tops, singlets, jackets, vests, sports bras and anything across their entire product line worldwide.
The Richmond Marathon -Meet Trevor and be a part of America’s Friendliest Marathon November 16th!
Join our 3-mile shakeout run on Friday, November 15, at 11 a.m. in downtown Richmond highlighting the finish area for the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon and the T Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge
Come to the post-race meet-up at Hardwood Brewery, offering a chance for runners to connect and celebrate their accomplishments together. Be sure to email us!
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
with Andrej Aleksiev at the race expo

Oct 12, 2024 • 46min
Interview with Mikuláš Dzurinda -Marathoner and Prime Minister of Slovakia
In this episode we bring you to Slovakia! Trevor speaks with the former prime minister Mikuláš Dzurinda -a transformational leader and avid runner with 39 marathon finishes.
Sponsor Links
Sports Tours International USA -enter to win a FREE travel package to the 2025 TCS London Marathon! The package includes a race entry bib plus 4-night hotel accommodation right in the heart of London. You have until midnight on October 20th to enter.
AG1 -the ultimate daily all-in-one health drink with 75 proven vitamins, minerals and whole food-sourced ingredients. Get a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase.
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
AirDoctor the air purifier that filters out 99.99% of dangerous contaminants so your lungs don’t have to. This includes allergens, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold spores and even bacteria and viruses.
Promo code MTA and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers!
Mikuláš Dzurinda was Prime Minister of Slovakia from October 1998 to uly 2006. During his term Slovakia joined both the European Union and NATO. Today he is a university lecturer and is president of the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. He has run 39 marathons including NYC, London, Athens, and the Košice Marathon (31 times).
Trev in Bratislava
with Andrej Aleksiev

Oct 3, 2024 • 58min
The Largest Marathon in History
In this episode Trevor brings you to the Berlin Marathon (which celebrated its 50th anniversary). Meet fellow runners and fans of the MTA podcast and hear what it’s like to inline skate the Berlin Marathon.
Links Mentioned in this Episode
Sports Tours International USA -enter to win a FREE travel package to the 2025 TCS London Marathon! The package includes a race entry bib plus 4-night hotel accommodation right in the heart of London. You have until midnight on October 20th to enter.
UCAN Energy -Try their Edge gels for FREE! all you pay is the cost of shipping. You can also get 20% off anything in their store with the code MTA.
AquaTru -receive 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier with code “MTA“ at checkout.
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
Photos:
with Bill, Cara, and Sara
Skating the Berlin Marathon
MTA meet up

Sep 22, 2024 • 48min
The Six Laws of Running Form
In this episode we speak with physical therapy doctor, Matthew Silver, about the Six Laws of Running Form. Dr. Matt is author of the book ‘Built to Run -The Runner’s Guide to Fixing Common Injuries, Resolving Pain, and Optimizing Running Performance Now and for Life’.
Sponsor Links
Joint Health Plus! -Protect your joint cartilage from breakdown during runs. Use code MTA for 15% off your first order.
AG1 -the ultimate daily all-in-one health drink with 75 proven vitamins, minerals and whole food-sourced ingredients. Get a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase.
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
The Six Laws of Running Form
1. Do Not Overstride
2. Cadence is Key
3. Land on the Ball of Your Foot Then Heel Strike
4. Trust Gravity
5. The Heel Pull
6. Achieve True Midstance
Bio: Dr. Matt Silver is a sports physical therapist, running coach, and running form analyst. He founded Alpha Project Physic & Performance, where he shares his innovative approach to helping distance runners, marathoners, ultra runners, and athletes to run better with less pain and reach their running goals. He is the author of “Built to Run— The Runner’s Guide to Fixing Common Injuries, Resolving Pain, and Optimizing Running Performance Now and For Life.” He and his wife make their home in Frederick, Maryland.

Sep 10, 2024 • 39min
Interview with Dr. Michael Greger
In this episode we speak with Dr. Michael Greger author of the book ‘How Not to Age -The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older’.
Plus, Coach Angie shares tips on how to make your next marathon go smoothly!
Episode Sponsors
MetPro Nutrition Coaching -speak with a Metabolic Expert about your goals and get actionable steps toward fueling for performance, losing weight, adding muscle, or changing your body composition. Get $500 off their concierge coaching.
AG1 -the ultimate daily all-in-one health drink with 75 proven vitamins, minerals and whole food-sourced ingredients. Get a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase.
The Richmond Marathon -Meet Trevor and be a part of America’s Friendliest Marathon November 16th!
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
AirDoctor the air purifier that filters out 99.99% of dangerous contaminants so your lungs don’t have to. This includes allergens, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold spores and even bacteria and viruses.
Promo code MTA and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers!
Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM is a physician, best selling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. All proceeds from his speaking engagements and the sale of his books are donated to charity.
He’s the author of four NYT Bestsellers: How Not to Die, The How Not to Die Cookbook, How Not to Diet And his newest book How Not to Age.
Dr. Greger is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Agriculture and the Tufts University School of Medicine. His Instagram account NutritionFacts.org has 1.2 million followers.

Sep 1, 2024 • 48min
Interview with Laura Green
In this episode with speak with Laura Green, comedian and public speaker with a viral presence on social media helping runners laugh and enjoy the run.
This is a fun conversation about how Laura got into running marathons and what it’s like to make a living as a content creator in the running space.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Laura Green on Instagram @Lauramcgreen
The Drury Hotels -they have free breakfast and free food and drinks in the evening -something they call the 5:30 kick back. They have more than 150 locations in 26 states. Use our link to save 10% on your stay.
AG1 -the ultimate daily all-in-one health drink with 75 proven vitamins, minerals and whole food-sourced ingredients. Get a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase.
Speak with a Running Coach about one-on-one coaching or join the Academy and use a MTA training plan.
Bio: Laura Green is a comedic content creator who aims to get runners to have a good laugh at themselves. The ultimate goal is to make the viewer feel more connected to the running world by letting them all in on the inside jokes of being a runner. She’s followed by over 200,000 people online.
Laura a physical therapist and mother of three. In college she competed in the 800 meters at Northeastern University in Boston. After college she traveled the world and helped found the San Fransisco chapter of November Project in 2013.