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 ..read more

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 e ..read more

Mary Ngugi is not only an accomplished marathoner, but a force of nature, a catalyst for change, and an inspiration both throughout her racing and beyond.   Having launched Nala Track Club, she’s creating opportunities for young girls in Kenya with the potential to achieve similar success.   We hear from Mary on the podcast this week, as we also take a look at the stellar elite field for London, Tokyo’s record-breaking run next month, and how much race pace you’re really sacrificing by missing out on training sessions.   In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Martin & De ..read more

For anyone needing inspiration to smash a PB this year, the story of the 2022 AWMM 40-44 Age Group World Champion is one to behold.   The race was only Gary Laybourne’s fourth marathon, and he came home in a stellar 2:21:07 - it’s a privilege to hear from him on this week’s Marathon Talk, as he shares his background in triathlon, and the training that helped him fulfil his potential.   Also in episode 9, it’s time to build patient progress in February if you’re lining up an April race, we cover some record breaking news from two incredible Aussies, and mull over a shocking start to t ..read more

It’s a new year, and Marathon Talk is starting strong with a record-holding star whose standout performance in Chicago set the US marathon record - Emily Sisson.   This episode is PERFECT for shaking off the post-Christmas dust, as we hear from Emily how she trains to achieve her stunning results, and Martin & Deena run through how to pick a running plan that works for you!   All this, and more on Sydney’s push to secure Kipchoge for their 2024 race, a beloved Boston canine spectator, and the close of the Age Group World Rankings.   In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 ..read more

You don’t need to have set personal best times this year to find a success story, and it’s those success stories that’ll help drive you to glory in 2023. The year’s end marks a wonderful time for Martin and Deena to look back over 2022, and help you use your highlights, achievements, struggles and ambitions to plan for a marvellous year ahead! In this episode of Marathon Talk: 7:30: How Deena reflected on her performances during her most successful seasons 10:45: The questions you should ask yourself to extract the most value from the past year 26:15: Projecting forward and setting your sight ..read more

Success isn’t earned by deep pockets, but by heart, determination and mindset. Such is the winning mentality of Commonwealth gold medallist, JohnBoy Smith. Recalling his call-up for Team GB in Tokyo and some of the greatest challenges he’s overcome, JohnBoy joins us for a fascinating discussion in the latest episode of Marathon Talk. We also take a look at the fastest ever 2nd half run in Valencia, the scintillating European Cross Country race in Turin, and how Boston is set to tee up a clash of the titans between Kipchoge and Chebet. In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Adverse weather r ..read more

Gina Little is a true inspiration, and a lesson in longevity, having achieved her 6 Star Finisher’s medal at 77 years young! She carries with her the true spirit of the sport, and stories of such a strong running community. We hear from Gina having completed her 602nd marathon, plus a roundup of stories including the life-saving marathoner, an intriguing sub-3:30 time set while chain smoking, and how to use cross country in your spring marathon build up. In this episode of Marathon Talk: 0:00 - Deena’s recent Mammoth Turkey Trot, and the World Cup rivalry across the pond 7:30 - A roundup of a ..read more

The TCS New York City Marathon is not an easy run at the best of times, but this year’s race gave us some outstanding performances amid the gruelling, humid conditions. One man who’ll attest to the difficulty is this week’s podcast guest, the fantastic Ben Wickham - Director of Creative Output at Sky Sports! We hear from him about his running journey, the holistic pleasures of marathoning, and how we can tell better stories within the sport. Elsewhere, we round up the best performances from that race, a cracking fundraising debut for Ashton Kutcher, and the curious cheating tale of a tram-trav ..read more

In any sport it’s ideal to learn from the very best, and as a two-time Marathon World Champion and three-time Abbott World Marathon Majors series winner, it’s hard to find better than Edna Kiplagat. Labelled the ‘Queen of Persistence’ by Outside Magazine, the strength of her mindset is equalled by her consistent success throughout the years. On Marathon Talk this week, we hear what drives Edna’s stunning performances, round up the recent Valencia Half Marathon and upcoming NYC Marathon, and share AWMM’s exciting initiative to support 2,000 runners on their 6 Star journey! In this episode of Ma ..read more