A Runner’s Life

Join us for a conversation with Ted Metellus, the race director of the New York City Marathon. In this episode, Ted shares his personal journey and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. We explore the unseen roles that contribute to the marathon’s success, the importance of diversity in participation, and his innovative sustainability initiatives. Ted also reflects on how emerging technologies are transforming the marathon experience for both runners and spectators. Phil and I discuss Ted's impact on our running journeys and explore what it takes to elevate marathon standards. Plus, we dive into his vision for the future of the NYC Marathon and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this episode offers a unique perspective on one of the world's most iconic races. Tune in for an engaging and informative discussion!

In this episode, I give a no-holds-barred account of my fifth Berlin Marathon experience. I came into the race with a specific goal in mind—didn’t hit it—but I managed to hit a B goal instead, my ninth sub 3 marathon. This is an honest look at this marathon journey, from the pre-race preparation, to the challenges faced on the course, and the tough moments offline in the buildup. You’ll hear about the funny parts, the tough grind, and the lessons learned when things don’t go as planned.This episode is for everyone out there chasing a goal and just missed it, I didn’t hit mine, but there’s something to be gained from every setback. Expect swearing and brutal honesty throughout. If you’re easily offended this is not the episode for you.Shoutout to Phil for guiding me through this conversation as I look back, laugh, learn and vent about what went down.Also, stay tuned for future episodes where I’ll do a deep dive into my Berlin build-up, including that crazy 100-mile week and my PRs in the 5K and half marathon. And don’t miss our chat with NYC Marathon race director Ted Metellus, coming out this weekend.

In this episode, Phil recaps his adventure at the Rio De Janeiro Marathon, sharing highlights of the culture, the race, and a mishap even his 'Black Jesus' powers couldn't prevent. We catch up on everyone's training: Marcus and Phil are gearing up for the Berlin Marathon, Rob is preparing for the Chicago Marathon, and CJ is back in the game training for the NYC Marathon. CJ is back. We give an update on our Jordan sneakers, discussing the hits and misses, with Phil calling out the guys for not showing up in their J's at the marathon expos. Rob gives a part two to the experience in the Boston medical tent thermometer check story. Recorded on Juneteenth, Marcus and Rob have a meaningful conversation about the diverse shades of blackness... Marcus talks about the origins and goals of the One Percent Running Club. We also chat about our long runs, with Phil detailing running 20-mile sessions on a 400m track… Why? This is like the barber shop chat for running podcasts, and whilst we give as good as we get, the respect is always there as we look to bring out the best in each other.

I've achieved eight sub-three-hour marathons, yet my personal best has stood for years. This series documents my journey to set a new record at the 2024 Berlin Marathon. In this episode, I talk to Sam Sutherland, who's progressed from 3:30 to a sub-2:50 marathon. He shares insights from our previous conversation offline, now recorded for the podcast. Achieving a sub-2:50 time is my next goal, and I'm excited to share the valuable insights from Sam's experience. Sam embarked on his marathon journey with the 2015 Bristol to Bath Marathon, clocking just over 3h30 alongside his brother. With a newfound focus on training, Sam tackled the London Marathon next, achieving an impressive sub-3-hour finish in 2h57. Through dedication and smart training, he has steadily improved his time to 2h37, crediting consistency and injury prevention for his progress. Looking forward, Sam aims to break the 2h30 barrier, but it's mainly to enjoy running all over the world and make friends whilst doing it!