Marathon Handbook Podcast

Running your first marathon this fall? Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci put together a complete race-week checklist, covering what to do and what to avoid before, during and after your marathon debut. They cover how to taper without losing your mind, carb loading and hydration, how to get through the expo, race-morning routines and logistics, pacing strategy (including why elite marathoners often run their slowest 10K first), fueling, and what to plan for after you cross the finish line.
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Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon
Marathon Handbook listeners get 15% off their entire order when shopping CEP Running online through November 15! Shop CEP Running or enter code LRL-NYC-15 at checkout.
Offer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
https://ceprunning.com/discount/LRL-NYC-15?utm_source=long_run_labs&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=lrl_nyc_marathon_2026&utm_content=podcast_show_notes_2026-9-24
Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
Carb Loading Resource:
https://marathonhandbook.com/carb-loading/
Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420
Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976
Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
Send us a question:
https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/
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Nike's Bret Schoolmeester has worked on super shoes since the very first prototype. Michael Doyle and Alex Cyr sit down with him just after the launch of the Nike Alphafly 4 to talk about the past, present and future of the carbon-plated racing shoe.
Bret goes back to 2015, when Nike set out to help a human break two hours in the marathon, and explains how a scoop-shaped carbon plate and an experimental PEBA foam got cobbled into a Streak 6 upper and became the shoe that changed the sport. He then gets into the details of the Alphafly 4: the new ZoomX LT foam, why Nike is sticking with Zoom Air pods and a full carbon plate, why the launch was moved up for Andreas Almgren and the World Road Running Championships, and why he calls it the biggest leap since the original Alphafly.
Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420
Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976
Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

We love Wahoo’s KICKR RUN treadmill – go to https://⁠wahoofitness.com⁠ and use promo code MHRUN to get a free $319 KICKR Headwind Fan with your treadmill order.
Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth, live from Berlin, react to a dramatic 2026 Berlin Marathon. Tigst Assefa was 10 seconds ahead of world record pace at 40K and on track to break Ruth Chepngetich's 2:09:56. Then an apparent right Achilles injury left her limping through the final 2K. She still finished in 2:11:04, a course record and the third-fastest women's marathon in history, and Haile Gebrselassie was the first to help her at the finish line.
On the men's side, 35-year-old Guye Adola won his second Berlin title in 2:02:50, knocking almost a minute off a personal best that had stood since 2017. Michael and Jessy go through both podiums, Rosemary Wanjiru's fade, and Adidas sweeping the women's podium in the Adios Pro Evo 3 and a new speed suit with the bib built in. They also cover Sabastian Sawe missing the race, the warm conditions, and whether Berlin should move to an earlier start time.
Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420
Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976
Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

What happens when the world's most popular marathon runs on two days? London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher sits down with Jessy Carveth to talk about the 2027 Double London Marathon: 45,000 runners on Saturday, 55,000 on Sunday, and a one-time-only weekend that could be the biggest in the history of marathon running.
Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420
Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976
Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
Subscribe to our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

What does it take to believe you can run a sub-two-hour marathon? Bestselling author Brad Stulberg (The Way of Excellence, Master of Change, The Practice of Groundedness) joins Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr and Katelyn Tocci to talk about the running mindset.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
Marathon Handbook listeners get 15% off their entire order when shopping CEP Running online through November 15! Shop CEP Running or enter code LRL-NYC-15 at checkout.
Offer ends November 16, 2026, at 3:00AM EST. Limit one use per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com
Brad's work:
https://www.bradstulberg.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bradstulberg/
Join our Chicago Shakeout Run on 10th Oct: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002027257420
Tickets for our live show, MILE ZERO presented by Zappos: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marathon-handbook-live-mile-zero-presented-by-zappos-chicago-2026-tickets-2001880670976
Join Marathon Handbook's RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub
Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com
Send us a question:
https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/
Join our newsletter:
https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/