Marathon Talk

At the start of every marathoner's journey is a spark, and Nora Nishi's shines so brightly that it gives life to those around. Nora has a wise head on young shoulders, learning from the best as she recounts the joys of her first marathon, and plans for many to come… Join us on Marathon Talk as we share her story, cover the changing Kenyan World Championship lineup, a new world-best Parkrun, and much more! In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Kicking off with Martin's heartwarming ride up Mount Ventoux & our genius idea to spice up Short Track events 9:00 - Rounding up the stunning Chicago lineup announcements, a new world-best Parkrun record, and a shoutout to fellow marathon podcaster and all around inspiration, Ali Feller 22:45 - Nora Nishi on taking advice from a phonebook of professional runners, her first marathon run in Houston, and her incredibly multi-talented aspirations Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Spectators of Gerda Steyn's Comrades run were treated to 5 hours, 44 minutes and 54 seconds of pure athletic prowess, and a brand new course record… This week on Marathon Talk, as we round up some of the standout stories and blistering times from the running world, we're fortunate to have a fascinating discussion with the South African! Tune into episode 19, as we also illustrate the art of the benchmark run, and learn why meeting your heroes isn't always all that it's cracked up to be. In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - We get things started with a look at the art of the benchmark session, and being a parent to an athletic child 11:20 - Rounding up the latest from the stellar Comrades Marathon, remarkable course records, world-beating times, technology revolutionising the Diamond League, and much more 30:45 - A fascinating interview with Gerda Steyn, an incredible athlete whose electric performance in South Africa set a new Comrades course record 1:03:30 - We close out with a story about Arnold Schwarznegger that backs up why you should never meet your heroes… Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

87.7km separate Wayne Spies from a showstopping 11th finish at the world's oldest and largest ultramarathon, Comrades. A 6 star finisher alongside his wife, Wayne is a shining beacon to those of us looking for the mental fortitude to conquer their running goals… He's our special guest in this week's Marathon Talk, where we dive into the stories of a particularly musical marathoner, the sad loss of running icon Rick Hoyt, a handcuffed marathon record attempt, and so much more! In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Opening with Deena & Martin's recent running escapades, and some strange fox stories ranging from the heart-warming to the horrible 7:15 - News from the running world, including an icon's sad passing, Indoor Athletics' new name, a remarkable barefoot run for charity, a musical marathoner, and handcuffed world records 25:00 - The incredible Wayne Spies joins Deena ahead of his 11th Comrades Marathon, the South African race's staggeringly unique challenges, and he shares the inspiring 6 star journey of he & his wife 55:20 - Closing the show on an emotional upcoming adventure, and a camp to introduce the next generation to the joys of running Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

The Running Charity's purpose is positive and powerful, and in nobody is it more prevalent than the wonderful Victor Macauley. Victor, their Partnership Lead, joins us on Marathon Talk this week alongside CEO Alex Eagle for a dive into their life-changing work for homeless, disadvantaged and marginalised young people. Elsewhere in the episode, we're tackling the Leeds Marathon, a new 100km World Record, and a disastrously drenched camping trip… In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Kicking off with an update on Martin & Deena's training, and a disastrously drenched camping trip 9:45 - Rounding up some heartwarming news from the Leeds Marathon, Aleksandr Sorokin's new 100km World Record, and the art of the ultra run 19:15 - The Running Charity's Victor Macauley and Alex Eagle on their first London Marathon, inspiring the next generation, and running's impact for marginalised communities Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

The TCS London Marathon had it all - world records, a new course record, a sprint finish, and a remarkable new 6 Star Finisher in Anthony Butler. The visually-impaired runner completed the race alongside Jessie Rix, his partner in both running and wedlock, a story which we hear more of as they join us for this week's Marathon Talk! Tune in to hear all about last week's guests' emotional race, Sifan Hassan's wacky route to winning one of the best ever women's fields, Marcel Hug's wheelchair domination, and much more… In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - An introduction where we catch up on the emotional London story of last week's guests, Sam & Chrissie 7:35 - Covering the immensely eventful London Marathon with a look at Sifan Hassan's bizarre winning performance, Kelvin Kiptum's course record and 45 World Records 35:00 - A heartwarming conversation of romance and racing with visually-impaired 6-Star Finisher Anthony Butler and his wife & guide, Jessie Rix Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

With a shocking Boston Marathon behind us and the formidable challenge of London just a few days out, it's all go in the marathon world… Among the jam-packed highlights and hopeful finishers are Eliud Kipchoge's surprise loss to Evans Chebet, and this week's guests Sam Perkins & Chrissie Wellington taking on a stunning assisted wheelchair race in London. Join us this week as we also feature Abbott World Marathon Majors' very own Danny Coyle LIVE from Boston to detail the aftermath of the races, including a masterclass from Susannah Scaroni in both racing, and on-track repairs… In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Kicking off with Martin & Deena's latest runs and recovery from Paris 5:30 - A huge roundup of Boston's standout stories, with Danny Coyle dialling in from the Boston Marathon press conference 29:00 - Sizable predictions for the London Marathon, weighing up debutants against running titans in the star-studded women's field 36:10 - Training Talk this week touches on how to react when races go wrong, and keeping your mindset steady 42:00 - Interviewing the incredible Sam Perkins and Chrissie Wellington about their team's run in London, Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis, and the inspiring example they're setting Sam's staggering journey to the finish of the TCS London Marathon is in aid of Stand Against MND, which you can find here (https://standagainstmnd.com/). You can directly support Sam's race and the incredible cause for which he's racing on JustGiving here (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/onemoremarathon). Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Running is truly for everyone, and there's no greater champion for that notion than the remarkable Haroon Mota. A 6 Star Finisher, Founding Director of Active Inclusion Network, and huge advocate for running within the Muslim community, Haroon joins us on Marathon Talk to share his experiences of training through Ramadan. We're also hot off the back of Paris, so we hear Deena's exciting experiences and the standout stories from the race, plus a segment of training talk with some quick top tips for race day success. In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - We kick off with Deena's exhilarating Paris Marathon experience, and some tips for those of you looking to do the same next year 16:00 - Rounding up the big stories from Paris, including a sprint finish, debutant winner, and looking ahead to Eilish McColgan's big London debut 30:00 - Training Talk this week covers 5 quick tips to see you through the big day if you've been training for a spring marathon 34:20 - An uplifting interview with Haroon Mota, who shares the intense discipline for runners during Ramadan, becoming a voice for underrepresented runners, and what makes London such a special race 1:16:40 - Wrapping up the show with a look ahead to London, Boston and Easter Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Everything that Regina Fleming does in running, she had lying within from the start. So ask yourself: What do you have inside of you that's yet to be discovered? Regina dubs herself an 'accidental runner' - an accident which very recently became a stunning 6 Star Finisher's medal… Deena chats to Regina in an inspiring interview this week on Marathon Talk, where we also talk about trusting the taper in Training Talk, final figures on the record-breaking Tokyo race, and much more! In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Opening up with Deena's successful 'panic training' for Paris, and inspiring stories from the LA marathon, where she commentated 11:25 - The biggest stories we've yet to hear from Tokyo, including the final tally of record-breaking 6 Star Finishers, plus a scintillatingly close NYC half marathon in the wheelchair division, and possibly the most bizarre race ever devised… 21:40 - Training Talk: The Taper, how to trust in the preparations you've made and taper successfully to recharge ahead of the Spring marathon season 29:45 - An uplifting interview with marathon royalty, recent 6 Star Finisher Regina Fleming, who shares some of her most remarkable stories, gruelling finishes, work for representation, and more 1:05:35 - Closing out with a look ahead to Deena's upcoming Paris marathon, plus her preparations and targets for the race Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

Tokyo was an exhilarating weekend of marathon racing, with a remarkable Guinness World Record to boot - never have more 6 Star Finishers been crowned in a single race! Being a part of that record is a privilege that Dr Steve Sigmund experienced, and we chat to him on Marathon Talk this week to understand his heartwarming journey to that finish line. Beyond the 3,000 new 6 Star Finishers, we cover the spectacular sprint finish, more preparation tips for your next spring marathon, national record-breaking runs, and so much more… In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Deena's preparation (or lack thereof) for Paris and Martin's parkrun gains 9:40 - Rounding up Tokyo's staggering runs and sprint finishes, plus a look at Eilish McColgan's chances in the TCS London Marathon next month 24:50 - Training Talk: we're guiding you towards a spring marathon, looking at speed sessions in your final 6 week runup 31:00 - Deena talks to the incredible Dr Stephen Sigmund, who balanced emergency work with training, and joined the world record breaking Tokyo race to achieve his 6 Star Finish Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

The final stretch of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships race in Bathurst was fraught with drama, and with the marathon route in Budapest revealed, it's a big week in the running world. We've got a ram-packed episode of Marathon Talk this week with a look at the all-important long run in your marathon training, and the single fall that cost the Bathurst race. On top of all the news and training talk, we have a fantastic interview with the incredible Alfred Scaletta who's set to finish his 72nd marathon in Tokyo as a 6 Star Finisher, 46 years after his first Chicago. In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Catching up on the previous fortnight, including a heartwarming bike ride for a friend with an unfortunate, recent diagnosis 10:20 - We bring all the news from Bathurst's dramatic World Cross Country Championships 28:45 - Training Talk: we look at the long run, and how you can experiment with it to improve your race day 37:10 - Alfred Scaletta shares his 72 marathons' experience, 46 year journey to a 6 Star medal, and lucky escape from the tragic events of Boston 2013 1:05:30 - Wrapping up with well-wishes for those noble Tokyo marathoners in March Marathon Talk is proudly powered by Abbott World Marathon Majors, who create, build and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. Learn more at https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/