Marathon Handbook Podcast

Got running questions? We’ve got answers.
In this second March Mailbag Madness episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci tackle listener questions on super shoes, marathon fueling mistakes, hydration myths, and how to break through mental barriers like chasing a sub-3 marathon.
We cover:
• The BEST super shoes for your next marathon (and how to choose)
• Why you might be bonking at 30K (hint: it’s not always hydration)
• Carbon-plated shoes for heavier runners
• How to bounce back after a failed race
• Smart pacing strategies for a sub-3 marathon attempt
And a fun debate: what should we rename the half marathon?
Plus: Alan Turing’s marathon time vs modern runners, fueling strategies, and race-day mindset tips.Chapters:00:00 Intro – Mailbag Madness Returns00:30 Listener Questions Overview (Shoes, Hydration, Fun Topics)05:30 Best Super Shoes for Your First Marathon10:00 Carbon-Plated Shoes for Heavier Runners18:30 Break – Sponsors & Gear Talk21:00 Marathon Bonking: Hydration vs Fueling Explained27:30 Hydration Strategies (Vest vs Aid Stations)29:00 Carbs, Fueling & Avoiding the Wall37:30 Renaming the Half Marathon (Fun Debate)44:30 Alan Turing’s Marathon Time (How Fast Today?)50:00 Sub-3 Marathon Strategy & Mental Game55:00 Overcoming Self-Doubt After a Bad Race01:01:00 Pacing Strategy for Sub-3 Attempts01:02:00 Outro + How to Submit Questions
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.com
Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match.
📩 Email us your questions here:[email protected]
Send us an audio question here:marathonhandbook.com/podcast
👍 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop your questions in the comments!
#running #marathon #supershoes #marathontraining #runningtips #sub3marathon

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down one of the most chaotic weeks in running news this year.
A little-known Ethiopian runner stunned the world at the Barcelona Marathon, running 2:10:53 in her marathon debut — the fastest debut ever and the second-fastest women’s marathon in history. But with the current world record clouded by doping controversy, what does this performance really mean?
We also discuss Eliud Kipchoge’s 2026 race calendar, which includes marathons on three continents: Cape Town, Brazil, and Melbourne.
Plus:
NYC Half Marathon results

Helen Obiri’s dominant performance

Grant Fisher’s pro road debut

Randi Zuckerberg’s impressive 82-mile FKT

Nike’s new ultra runner residency program

If you enjoy running news, marathon analysis, and the biggest stories in endurance sports, tune in every week for The Running Story.

In this Mailbag Madness episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci answer listener questions about training, racing, injuries, and running gear.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.comThis episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com
Topics include building a long-term plan to qualify for the Boston Marathon, whether runners should race a half marathon before their goal marathon, and how hard workouts should feel during a training block.
We also discuss returning to running after Achilles and plantar fasciitis injuries, fueling strategies for long runs, and whether runners actually need a shoe rotation to improve performance and reduce injury risk.
Questions answered in this episode:
How should I structure a multi-year Boston qualifying plan?

Is racing a half marathon 8 weeks before a marathon a good idea?

How fatigued should you feel during training?

How do you safely rebuild mileage after injury?

Do runners really need multiple pairs of running shoes?

Plus: running stories, weird animal encounters on the run, and Alex’s now-infamous runner feet.
Have a question for the show?
Email [email protected]

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the five biggest stories shaping the running world.
First up: Jacob Kiplimo runs 57:20 at the Lisbon Half Marathon, potentially reclaiming the half marathon world record pending ratification after last year’s controversy over pacing vehicles.
Next, Eliud Kipchoge announces he’ll run the Cape Town Marathon, marking the first time the marathon legend will race on African soil in a marathon — and possibly positioning him to become the first eight-star finisher if Cape Town becomes a World Marathon Major.
We also dive into two major LA Marathon controversies:
A stunning 0.01-second finish after the race leader was misdirected off course near the finish

A heated debate after runners who took a heat-relief shortcut at mile 18 were still awarded finisher medals.

Finally, the NYC Marathon lottery results are out — and the odds are tougher than ever, with around 1% of applicants accepted.

Connor Mantz is the American marathon record holder, but his journey to the top hasn’t been straightforward.
After a breakout 2025 season that included a record-breaking 2:04:43 at the Chicago Marathon, Mantz looked poised for even bigger things. But a sacrum stress fracture forced him off running for nearly three months.
In this episode, Alex Cyr sits down with Mantz to talk about his recovery, his build toward the 2026 Boston Marathon, and what it takes to compete with the best marathoners in the world.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.com
Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match.
They discuss:
Setting the American marathon record in Chicago

The injuries that derailed his training

How elite runners approach recovery and cross-training

Whether Americans are closing the gap on East African runners

Super shoes and how they’ve changed racing

Doping concerns in professional running

Why Utah produces so many elite distance runners

His long-term goal of winning an Olympic medal in 2028

Plus a rapid-fire round covering shoe rotations, breaking two hours in the marathon, and who he trusts most to babysit his future child.

00:00 Intro
00:47 Meet American Marathon Record Holder Conner Mantz
02:30 Injury After Chicago & The Road Back
04:30 Running Through Injuries
06:30 The Sacrum Stress Fracture Explained
11:00 Cross Training While Injured
14:30 Returning to Running After 12 Weeks Off
17:40 Boston Marathon Build & Training Strategy
22:00 Benchmark Workouts Before a Marathon
24:00 Can Conner Mantz Win Boston?
25:30 Choosing Marathons: Legacy vs Prize Money
28:30 Olympic Gold vs Winning a Major
31:00 The Sour Patch Kids Doping Scare
36:00 Doping in Elite Running
44:30 The Enhanced Games Debate
49:00 Are Americans Catching East African Runners?
54:00 The Super Shoe Effect
57:00 Why Some Runners Improve So Fast
58:30 What Makes Conner Mantz a Great Marathoner
1:00:30 Why Utah Produces So Many Elite Runners
1:04:00 Goals for 2026 & Olympic Dreams
1:06:00 Rapid Fire Questions
1:15:00 Where to Follow Conner Mantz