Marathon Handbook Podcast

Come to our LIVE SHOW in Boston! Join Alex, Katelyn and Michael and some very special guests, + giveaways and prizes!📅 Saturday, April 18, at 6:45 p.m📍 Trident Booksellers & Café, 338 Newbury Street 🎟️ It’s free to attend, but make sure to RSVP now, as space is limited: https://forms.gle/sFk28hfMYznrsNxMABoston Article:https://marathonhandbook.com/could-boston-marathons-qualifier-problem-be-solved-by-going-two-days/

Michael and Jessy are back with the top five running stories of the week — and there's a lot to unpack. Before they dive in, a quick celebration: Jessie ran her debut half marathon over the weekend, clocking a 1:34 after just six weeks of run training. Not bad for a professional cyclist.

Story 1: London Marathon Eyes 100,000-Runner, Two-Day EventThe Guardian has reported that the London Marathon could expand to a two-day, 100,000-runner event as early as 2027. The proposal would see the men's and women's elite races split across Saturday and Sunday, each with 50,000 mass participants. With 1.1 million ballot applicants this year and London's status as the world's largest single-day charity fundraiser, the upside is enormous — but the logistical hurdles are just as big. London Marathon Events has not confirmed or denied the report.
Story 2: Emma Bates Claims She Was Dropped by Sponsor for Being PregnantIn an Instagram video, American elite marathoner Emma Bates revealed that her nutrition sponsor UCAN ended their partnership after she told them she was pregnant. UCAN pushed back, saying the decision was made in September 2025 — before they knew about the pregnancy — as part of a broader strategic shift away from elite athlete sponsorships. With no clear evidence either way, it's a he said/she said story that has stirred significant debate in the running community.
Story 3: US Half Marathon Championship Controversy Gets More ComplicatedFollowing the Atlanta debacle where lead runners Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Edna Ker were sent off course during the US Half Marathon Championships, World Athletics has approved a one-time expanded entry of seven athletes (up from four) for the World Half Marathon Championships this fall. The catch: there will be an A team (four scoring runners) and a B team (three non-scoring runners wearing different kits). The big unresolved question — who earns the A team spots? Michael and Jessie weigh in.
🎙️ Listen out this weekend for Alex Cyr's exclusive one-on-one interview with Jess McClain — her first time speaking publicly about the Atlanta controversy.
Story 4: Modesto Marathon Winner Disqualified After Lead Bike ErrorBenjamin Enowitz crossed the finish line first at the Modesto Marathon in California — and was immediately handed a DNF. He'd been led short of the halfway turnaround point by the lead vehicle and didn't complete the full distance. It's not the first time the Modesto race has had a lead vehicle incident, and it's part of a wider pattern the team has noticed: course errors caused by lead vehicles are becoming a weekly story in 2026.
Story 5: Chaos at China's Shang Do World Heritage MarathonThree separate incidents at the same race in China generated headlines worldwide. First, a runner with the surname Wang stopped mid-race to do the splits and pose for photographers — earning a two-year race ban. Then, a runner named Zang was photographed carrying a clear drawstring bag stuffed with hundreds of free race gels — also disqualified and banned for two years. Finally, a third runner received a lifetime ban from the Chengdu race after a bib-swapping incident.
Breaking News (just before recording): Former New York City Marathon champion Albert Korir has reportedly tested positive for EPO or an EPO-derived substance. Full coverage next week.

In this episode, we’re joined by Des Linden — Boston Marathon champion, Olympian, and one of the most respected voices in distance running.

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At this stage of her career, Des is stepping away from elite road racing and embracing something completely different: ultrarunning.
She’s preparing for the Marathon des Sables, a multi-day race across the Sahara Desert — and somehow also planning to be at Boston… and London… right after.
We cover:
Why she’s taking on Marathon des Sables

How her training has changed (heat, weight, and nutrition)

Her transition from marathon to ultra distances

The mindset shift after “retirement” from elite racing

Boston Marathon strategy and advice

The current state of elite running

Doping, trust, and the future of the sport

Her podcast with Kara Goucher

What’s next for her career

This is a candid, insightful conversation about evolving as an athlete and what comes after you’ve already reached the top.
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This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth dive into one of the wildest weeks in running news.
We cover a major shake-up ahead of the London Marathon as Sifan Hassan withdraws due to injury — and what it means for the elite field.
Then, a controversial NCAA doping case explodes into the spotlight after athletes stage a dramatic podium walk-off in protest.
Plus:• A bizarre Strava upload that exposed the location of a French aircraft carrier• Clayton Young’s surprise move from ASICS to Brooks just weeks before Boston• A marathon in China where the winner was literally stopped meters before the finish• We also preview Boston, talk London contenders, and share details about upcoming live shows.

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
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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.