It’s with a heavy heart that we wave au revoir to Paris for the Olympics, but what a thrilling anthology of racing stories it’s written for us.

Not only do we debrief all the quintessential moments from the games on Marathon Talk this week, but off the back of THAT men’s 1500m, we speak with the agent for all three medal winners - Irish Mile Record Holder, Ray Flynn!

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - This episode’s opening ceremony features Deena’s incredible experiences at the games in Paris, and which stories stood out to her and Martin throughout the games

• 11:05 - It’s a packed news round up this week with the best from Hassan’s stellar sprint in the marathon, 1500m rivalries, a look ahead to the Paralympics, and what YOU could qualify for in LA 2028…

• 37:35 - The agent for ALL the men’s 1500m medal winners, Olympian, and Irish Mile Record Holder Ray Flynn is our fabulous guest on the show, sharing the secrets behind managing three of the world’s top athletes

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/

We are right in the thick of Olympic athletics action and on the eve of the Olympic Marathon in Paris. 

In this week’s episode of Marathon Talk,  Martin & Deena take a look at their favourite Olympic moments so far, including the swimming, cycling, triathlons and track races. 

They review the upcoming marathon’s key contenders and the heartbreaking withdrawal of Team Great Britain’s Charlotte Purdue before shining the spotlight on our own 2004 Athens Olympic Medalist…!

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 2:23 - Martin & Deena delve into the Olympic swimming, cycling and triathlon events so far including performances from GB’s Alex Yee and Beth Potter. 

• 6:38 - Next up, we’re onto the performance of the track and field events including the 10,000m race with Uganda’s first Gold Medal, and 100m races with Noah Lyles phenomenal achievement. 

• 22:50 - Then into the upcoming Olympic Marathon with our predictions and one’s to watch in both the men & women’s races. 

• 30:26 - Finally we interview our very own Olympic Marathon Medalist - Deena herself! Who shares what it takes to become a medalist and provides her top tips for preparing. 

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/

Abbott World Marathon Majors

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Martin Yelling

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Deena Kastor

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All that running does for wellbeing is well-documented, but Helen Thorn’s marathon journey is an uplifting reminder to us all.

In the wake of a divorce, it became a central tenet to her mental health - now it’s central to her huge goal this year to run Boston and London back to back!

This week’s Marathon Talk shines a light on the mental wellness that so many find in running, we celebrate Jasmin Paris’ stellar Berkley Marathon performance, and Training Talk tackles the tailored tips to a flawless race in Boston.

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - We kick off with a poignant recording period for Deena in preparation for Mental Health Awareness Month, and Martin hails the UK’s recent sunny spells

• 6:40 - Rounding off recent stories, we praise Jasmin Paris’ world-first performance in the infamous Barkley Marathon, cover the East African dominance at World Cross, and look ahead to Boston’s promising race

• 18:10 - Training Talk: Boston Edition! Deena shares her invaluable experience for those now entering their taper stage for the race on April 15th

• 22:35 - Helen Thorn joins us in a heartfelt discussion on the power that running has for mental wellbeing, her journey from beginner to marathon finisher, and how she’ll take on the huge feat of Boston and London back to back

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/

On this week’s show Holly speaks to new LEJOG WR holder Carla Molinaro who capped off a week of stunning FKTs, it’s a stacked elite field at the Podium 5k, there is a new Ironman WR, we launch our new Limited Edition dog bandana, you rate your runs and flash your kit around the world.

On this week’s show, London is still on hold, Garmin was down, Damian Hall goes super fast over the Pennine Way and Beth Pascal goes super super fast on the Bob Graham Round. Martin interviews The Evening Standards and BBC Blood Sport Matt Majendie, you rate your runs and share your Marathon Talk Kit around the world.

Tom’s back in the studio, Tony’s on a mission, Hamburg might not be happening, some marathons are off, some are in the balance, but in good news there’s a return to road racing in Northern Ireland. Plus, Martin speaks to Vybarr Cregan-Reid about how running makes us human.

On this week’s show Tony and Holly talk Cornwall, crab sandwiches and running sessions and massive vultures. Martin speaks to comedian and author Rob Deering about his new book, Running Tracks. The women’s Wainwrights Fastest Known Time is smashed, more big marathons are cancelled, plus you rate your runs and share your kit around the World. 

On this week’s show, Martin is joined by Anji. We talk injury recovery and acceptance. Wilson Kipsang is hit with a four year ban, there’s a record smashed on the John Muir Way and parkrun is back in New Zealand (whoop!). Holly interviews runner Pete Simpson about his heart stopping race and recovery. Plus you guys rate your run and share your kit around the World.  

On this week’s show Tony interviews Peak District FKT running Mike Jones, NYC is off but Hamburg Marathon is on (kinda), Mo Farah has his sights set on the one hour WR, the British Champs will go ahead behind closed doors. Get well soon Geoffrey Kamworow Plus, you guys Rate Your Runs and rock your Kit Around the House.

Martin speaks to Health and Performance Consultant, Dr Greg Potter, Tom’s got Tuesday legs from his nearly-downhill (not)parkrun, the London Marathon might still happen later this year, and Eilish McColgan looks forward to Tokyo.

On this week’s show Holly is feeling down and needs some Marathon Talk love. Holly speaks to Northern Irish marathon runner Stephen Scullion, the Great North Run is cancelled, Brendan Foster gives his views on London going ahead, UKA are looking for a new boss! You rate your runs and share your marathon talk kit around the corner from your house.

On this week’s show Martin and Tony host. Holly interviews world champion obstacle racer and endurance athlete Amelia Boone, eight treadmill world records are broken in a single day, you rate your runs and share your marathon talk kit around the corner from your house.

On this week’s show, Boston Marathon is cancelled, you can join Kipchoge in a virtual marathon, Tom interviews Chair of the Comrades Marathon Association (and 1982 Champion) Cheryl Winn. plus you guys Rate Your Runs and rock your Kit Around the House.

This week’s guest needs no introduction to Deena - he’s her coach, her husband, and now a Boston Marathon qualifier after an admirable performance in LA.

It’s a joy to catch up with Coach Kastor fresh from his 3 hour and 13 minute run as he shares the unique experience of coaching himself, his best recovery tips, and how to prepare your training cycle for a marathon far into the future.

Elsewhere in the show we spotlight a stacked field for the upcoming London Marathon, and in Training Talk we guide you through the do’s and don’ts of the final phase of your training.

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:45 - Deena and Martin catch up on the last two weeks, from the LA Marathon and speaking at UCLA, to Martin’s Purbeck Loop and a sweary sheep-herding story, plus coverage of a staggering new World Record

• 9:50 - We bring the latest on a London Marathon field that’s absolutely stacked with elite runners, and a men’s lineup which will bring us a first-time champion

• 20:00 - Training Talk this week focuses on the do’s and don’ts in the late stages of prep, why ‘less is best’ at this point, and the unexpected power of doing a ‘kit lay’

• 29:10 - Deena’s coach and husband, Andrew Kastor, takes us through his recent LA Marathon experience, how he coaches himself through races, his top recovery advice, and how to build a training schedule to target a marathon 12 months out

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/

Martin speaks to Eastenders, Broadchurch, and Pulling actress, and Dementia Revolution marathoner Tanya Franks, Tom’s back in the studio, the Ingebrigtsens are back in action, London’s touch and go, plus you guys Rate Your Runs and rock your Kit Around the House.

On this week’s show the Dublin Marathon is cancelled, Holly speaks to blogger and adventure runner Flora Beverley, Zach Bitter breaks the 100 mile WR on a TREADMILL!!! Tony is back with his Trials, we talk lockdown leaving killing sessions, you rate your runs and share your marathon talk kit around the house.

On this week’s show Tony and Anji are in the Marathon Talk house. Martin interviews sports psychologist and Brave Athlete author Dr Simon Marshall, there are changes to the lockdown exercise rules, you rate your runs and share your marathon talk kit around the house.

On this week’s show, Holly catches up with GB International marathoner Lily Partridge and 10000m elite Ben Connor about life in lockdown, there’s a further suspension of UK athletics competitions, there is a new 5k WR (kinda), Garmin sheds some light into how Europeans are exercising during the Civid-19, Tony's here with his trials, plus you guys Rate Your Runs and rock your Kit Around the House.

Martin speaks to the incredible Gaz Banford about performing under stress, there’s news from the 2.6 Challenge and London might go elites only. Tom’s back in his shed, Martin's also been relay-running with Liz, plus you guys Rate Your Runs and rock your Kit Around the House.

On this week’s show UK Athletics report the passing of Performance Director Neil Black at the weekend, it should have been Boston last weekend and London this weekend, instead you can do the 2.6 challenge. Martin speaks to former high profile armed robber who found redemption through the power of sport, John McAvoy, about running in lockdown, Tony is here with his trials, you rate your runs and you share your marathon talk kit around the house.

On this week’s show Anji and Tony host. Jaybird sponsor the show. Martin interviews author of ‘Losing eden’ Lucy Jones, there's a training talk reflecting on injury and running during the COVID-19 lockdown, you rate your runs and you share your marathon talk kit around the house.

On this week’s show; thanks Jaybird! Holly is in the kitchen and Martin is in his shed, Tom Williams interviews retired GB Paralympic swimmer Giles Long, we are joined once again by the wonderful Marathon Talk community live on the gram, we talk about the positives we can take from the current situation and you flash your kit around the house.

This week's show is sponsored by wireless running headphone specialists, Jaybird. From the beginning, Jaybird earphones have been designed with the needs of runners in mind.

Also, we’re both stuck in our sheds, the world is in lock-down, however we are joined by the wonderful Marathon Talk community live on the gram, Martin speaks to the incredible Knox Robinson, and Training Talk.

On this week’s show the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been postponed, the UK announce revised coronavirus lockdown measures, we talk tensions between running, social distancing and staying at home, you share some kit around the house pics, and Holly interviews marathon runner and GP Elsey Davis.

Marathons form very unique bonds within the running community, but when your life is in your guide’s hands it’s truly a bond like no other.

That’s where Six Star hopeful Mark Rogerson’s story sheds light on the joys of running - he joins us on this week’s Marathon Talk fresh from a PB-setting Tokyo race with guide runner Katie Garrity.

Join us this week as we round off all the other stories from the first Abbott World Marathon Major of the year, from surprising slow runs, to sprint-finish drama in the Women’s Wheelchair race.

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - Martin and Deena kick things off with a retrospective on the Indoor Athletics World Championships, and Martin’s endeavours to dust off the road bike in spite of some savage weather conditions

• 8:55 - We round up the hottest news from the first Abbott World Marathon Major of the season, with shock slumps from Kipchoge and Hassan, the sprint finish in the Women’s Wheelchair race, and the 2,628 runners earning their sixth Star

• 22:20 - Training Talk this week tackles the vital final five weeks of race prep, and the emphasis on nailing that all-important final long run

• 29:10 - Mark Rogerson and Katie Garrity talk us through the complexities of training on opposite sides of the Atlantic, their emotional Tokyo experience, and how they’ll take on that all-important sixth Star

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/

On this week’s show we talk about the impact of the coronavirus on the race calendar and running in general and offer some practical advice and positivity to help ride the storm, we talk to parkrun COO Tom Williams about his full on week, Tony’s got a few training ideas, you rate your runs and share your marathon talk kit around the world and your relentless positivity.   

On this week’s show Martin interviews long time athletics writer and journalist Pat Butcher, the World Half Teams are announced after the Big Half, lots of marathons are cancelled or postponed due to the Coronavirus, Japan confirm their Olympic marathon teams, Plus, you guys Rate Your Runs and share your kit around the world.

Tony's here with his Trials and speaks to previous Night of the 10,000m PBs Champion (and about-to-be-first-time-marathoner) Ross Millington, the London Marathon introduce tail walkers, and Aly Dixon focuses on the process in Tokyo.

What a weekend! On this week’s show we reflect on our 7th annual Marathon Talk Run Camp and hear some stories from camp, Mo Farah is on BBC Panorama, The Tokyo Marathon is cancelled, there are some super quick times in Seville, we speak to Sarah Dudgeon and Max Livingstone who set racey PB's, it was the National XC Champs at the weekend and we look forward to the USA Olympic Trial this Saturday in Atlanta and Tony brings us his Trials!

Martin speaks to This Girl Can Ambassador, Sam Mollaghan, there’s some blisteringly fast times in Armagh, and UKA lose their Chairman. Tom’s recovered his endurance mojo, sort of, and Holly's making a bid to become Marathon Talk’s next top model.

On this week’s Holly spends far too much time in the gym, RD Renee McGregor answers all your nutrition questions, Jemma Reekie smashes 3 British records in 8 days, Sir Mo is out of the Big Half, Nike reveal the new Air Zoom Alpha Fly Zoom Next %, Cactus the MDS wonder dog won’t be racing this year, you wear your kit around the world and rate your runs.

On this week’s show Martin and Tony are in the studio. Tom interviews director of the Public Health Collaboration UK Sam Feltham, them shoes got new rules, Reekie sets a new PB, Hawkins just misses out on sub 60 half marathon, Purdue and Arter are rapid, you rate your runs and share your Marathon Talk Kit around the world.

This week's show is sponsored by Let’s Do This, and we speak to Charlie Spedding about his incredible new book. Kenya try and select their Tokyo Olympic Marathon squad, Callum Hawkins is in the shed, yeah, right, you forgot your shoes, Dubai is crazy. Farah says yes to retest, there’s a new British record for Jake Wightman. You Rate Your Runs and share your Kit Around the World, and Thriva’s Training Talk looks at where you should be in a marathon build up at the end orJanuary.

This weeks show is sponsored by Let's Do This. The Marathon Talk presenters answer your 10 year questions, London marathon’s elite fields are announced with Bekele versus Kipchoge and the most competitive race in years, you rate your runs and share your marathon talk kit around the world and Thriva’s training talk looks at hill sessions.

This week's show is sponsored by Let's Do This, there's two new world 10km records in Valencia plus plenty of GB PBs, Wilson Kipsang is busted, Mo speaks out about Salazar, and Bournemouth Uni have a running-related terror scare! Plus Holly speaks to Fergus Crawley in part two of this great interview.

The 2024 Abbott World Marathon Majors season has arrived! It all starts this Sunday in Tokyo with Eliud Kipchoge AND Sifan Hassan both on the start line.

This episode we dive into the elite races, talk pre-race prep and preview a crop of Six Star hopefuls looking to get their hands on that medal. 

One of whom is Becs Gentry, who joins Martin and Deena this week, sharing her mental strategies for staying motivated during the race and offers valuable tips for maximising training time. 

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 8:57: We delve into the Men’s preview, including Benson Kipruto, who is no stranger to the Majors podiums, and Kipchoge revving up for his 12th win.

• 13:39: Next up it’s the Women’s preview, as Sifan Hassan goes for three wins from three different Majors in her first three marathons ever - never been done before.

• 20:02: The wheelchair races are going to be intriguing with no victory from Marcel Hug and no Catherine Debrunner who was so dominant in the back half of the season last year. 

• 22:32: On to the Six Star Finishers with more than 2600 due to collect their medal this year - the second biggest group ever. 

• 25:43: Becs Gentry share her hopes for Tokyo and her top tips

• 58:32: This week’s Training Talk covers marathon strategies for any weather conditions. 

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/

On this week’s show, hello 2020! Let's Do This sponsor the show, we’ve made some New Year’s running resolutions, Kenya are picking their Olympic Marathon team early, Steve’s 43 year sub 5min mile streak comes to an end, there were some snappy parkruns over Christmas and are marathon efforts being normalised? You rate your run, wear your kit around the world, Thriva bring you Training Talk, Holly speaks to Movember runner Fergus Crawely and Tony is here with his Trials

Happy New Year 2020! On this week's show we welcome in 2020 (briefly!) and Martin speaks to 2hr27min running British marathoner Steph Davies.

Happy Christmas! It's a show with a difference this week as Holly, Martin, Tom and Tony sit down together to talk, laugh review running, pull crackers, tell terrible jokes and draw to a close the Marathon Talk year! Thank you for listening in 2019!

On this week’s show Holly speaks to the newly crowned Vet 40 British Marathon record holder Andy Davies. Eliud Kipchoge sets his sights on London next year, Peter Snell dies at the age of 80, Plus you guys Rate Your Run but none of you rock your Kit Around the World.

Holly speaks to adventurer, speaker and mischief maker, Anna McNuff, there's protests at Nike HQ, a new V60 female world marathon record just one month since the last one, Russia’s banned from major sporting events for another four years, and tickets for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics are selling out fast! Plus, Tony’s here with his latest Trials.

On this weeks show, what the Valencia! It’s records galore! A new 10k men’s world record, crazy fast debuts and the fastest top 4 women ever! Mo Farah is back on the track for Tokyo 2020, Martin interview's Spine Ultra finisher Shelli Gordon and you wear your kit around the world and rate your runs.

SOAR sponsor this week’s show (presented by Tony and Holly) and Tom speaks to the newly crowned third-fastest British female marathon runner of all time, Jess Piasecki. Plus, you Rate Your Runs and share your Kit Around the World.

SOAR sponsor this week’s show, Martin speaks to mental health campaigner Hope Virgo, Kara Goucher pops her ultra cherry at the North Face 50, Anna McDuff runs 100 marathons barefoot in just 5 months, Jim Walmsley wins the World Mountain Champs and GB take home 4 medals in Argentina, Run Camp 2020 is about to sell out, plus you guys rock your Kit Around the World and Rate Your Runs.

SOAR sponsor this week’s show, Martin speaks to Tommy and Eoin Hughes, we speak to Noel Thatcher about the World Para Athletics Championships, and Mary Cain speaks out about her time at the Nike Oregon Project. Run Camp 2020 is about to sell out, plus you guys rock your Kit Around the World and Rate Your Runs.

On this week’s show you could come to Run Camp 2020! We’re joined by Tim Soar, founder of Soar Running, Holly interviews Strength Coach and Power lifter Pete Stables, we talk about the New York marathon, Charlotte Purdue makes a complaint and the Salazar investigation continues. Inov 8 athlete Nicky Spinks has a new film out, you rate your run & wear your kit around the world.

In 2013, Kelvin Kiptum participated in his first half marathon. 10 years and three game-changing marathons later, his was a World Record to be reckoned with.

A light that shone so incredibly brightly and all too briefly, Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, sadly died on Sunday 11th of February in Kenya.

We’re taking this episode of Marathon Talk to explore the stellar highlights of his career, and share in his irreplaceable impact on the marathon community with Chicago’s Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski, and Author of Running With The Kenyans, Adharanand Finn.

In this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 0:00 - We take a moment of silence to remember Kelvin & Gervais, relive the moment that he stormed to the finish line at the London Marathon, and follow the journey he took to marathon glory

• 20:00 - Chicago’s Executive Race Director, Carey Pinkowski, joins us to relive the moment that he shattered the fastest time in human history, and discusses the impact that he made on Chicago and the marathon community as a whole

• 36:20 - Kelvin’s performances earned him praise from the community’s greatest, and we parse through some of the most glowing quotes shared in his wake

• 41:00 - Adharanand Finn, Author of Running With The Kenyans, shares his experiences of Gervais & Kelvin’s impact on the community in Kenya, diving into just how family-focused he and his community are

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/

Abbott World Marathon Majors

https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/wmmajors/

Martin Yelling

https://www.instagram.com/martinyelling/

Deena Kastor

https://www.instagram.com/deena8050/

Adharanand Finn

https://www.instagram.com/adharanand

Tony and Holly look back on a big Autumn marathon weekend, with races in Frankfurt & Dublin, Camille Herron runs into the record books, and Martin interviews clinical psychologist Anne Marie O’Connor.

On this week’s show we speak to Belarus runner Jared Goldman who ran from Minsk to Kažan-Haradok, the marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games moves location, the shoe debate rumbles on, the Big Dog Backyard ultra is slightly bonkers, Shalane Flanaghan retires, Eilish McColgan takes her Mum’s record at the Great South Run, you rate your run, wear your MT kit, Tony’s got a trials, and you could win a chance to spend Christmas at a French Chateau.

What a weekend for running! On Saturday the world was captivated by the Ineos 159 challenge that saw Eliud Kipchoge become the first person to run a marathon distance in under 2hours, then, on Sunday in Chicago fellow Kenyan Brigid Kosgei obliterated Paula Radcliffe’s world record. We’re joined by Two Hours author and 1:59 commentator Ed Caesar to reflect. You can help get legendary Bruce Tulloh’s book 4 million footsteps back in print, Professor Andy Jones explains nitrates and endurance in Training Talk and Tony is here with his trials.