Marathon Handbook Podcast

We're breaking down one of the most-asked-about topics in marathon training: the peak week. Michael and Alex pull back the curtain on what their own peak weeks actually look like (down to the kilometer) and share what they've learned from years of racing (and from picking the brains of elite runners like Eliud Kipchoge and Casey Klinger) about how to build a peak block that makes you stronger, not broken.
Plus: the team splits up as Katelyn and Alex head to Sydney to cover the brand-new Sydney Marathon while UTMB unfolds in Chamonix, and a full fall racing calendar preview covering Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Valencia.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com
Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon
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
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The 2026 New York City Marathon elite fields just dropped, and Michael and Alex are breaking down every contender... recorded fresh off a workout with Conner Mantz, Casey Klinger, and Clayton Young in Provo, Utah.
On the men's side: defending champion Benson Kipruto, American record holder Zouhair Talbi, and a red-hot Conner Mantz headline a field where 10 athletes have run faster than the current course record. On the women's side: Sifan Hassan looks for redemption after a brutal fall stretch, defending champ Hellen Obiri returns, and a stacked American trio (Jess McLain, Annie Frisbie, Fiona O'Keefe) chases the country's first NYC women's champion since 2009. Plus: a can't-miss marathon debut, a deep dive into what shoes the elites will be wearing on November 1st, and some genuinely bold predictions.
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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Is it more volume or more speed that makes you a faster runner? This week Michael, Alex, and Katelyn dig into a listener's massive marathon breakthrough (2:47 → 2:30!) after he dropped threshold work and leaned into high weekly mileage instead — and unpack whether that trade-off actually holds up for the rest of us.
Plus: how to keep your training on track while traveling, lifting heavy before race day, choosing between a safe Boston Qualifier and a sub-3 goal, how many miles you should really get out of a pair of running shoes, decoding the "super trainer" shoe category, and Michael finally opens up his own training log.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
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.  
Custom insoles made with supershoe foam: visit kilarun.com and use code “marathon” to get $80 off your first order.
Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system. Right now, Orion is offering our listeners 15% off at orionsleep.com/marathon
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/

This week on The Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci tackle a stacked list of listener questions starting with one every marathoner has wondered about: does switching into your super shoes mid-long run actually hurt you on race day? Plus, Alex and Katelyn share the news that they're heading to Australia to cover the Sydney Marathon (and race actual lifeguards on Bondi Beach), a 66-year-old listener's quest to run a fast 800 m, advice on training two marathons just 15 weeks apart, how to keep a young runner in love with the sport, and when it's time to step back up to the marathon distance.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:05 Sydney Marathon trip announcement
10:07 Announcements: Runs Like Hell, Run Club, and The Green Room
22:46 Sponsor: Kila custom insoles
24:49 Back from break: your questions
25:43 Q&A: Training for two marathons 15 weeks apart
38:06 Sponsor: Orion Sleep
39:23 Back from break
39:31 Q&A: Chasing a fast 800m at 66 years old
50:37 Q&A: Coaching a young runner (age 8) who loves the sport
59:33 Q&A: When to return to marathon training
1:10:10 Sponsor: Momentous creatine
1:12:19 Back from break
1:12:34 Q&A: Should you switch shoes mid-long run?
1:34:26 Wrap-up & sign-off
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
Custom insoles made with supershoe foam: visit kilarun.com and use code “marathon” to get $80 off your first order.
Orion is a personlized cooling sleep system: get up to $400 off at orionsleep.com/marathon
This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com
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/

We're halfway through 2026, and it's time for our mid-year shoe power rankings. Michael and Alex each built their own Top 10 favorite running shoes of the year so far: super shoes, super trainers, daily trainers, and everything in between. Plus, a bonus trail shoe corner at the end.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro — how we're ranking shoes this year
0:38 Alex #10 — Saucony Endorphin Pro 5
3:52 Michael #10 — On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper (Light Spray)
6:40 Alex #9 — Saucony Endorphin Azura
9:50 Michael #9 — Mizuno Wave Rider 30
12:29 Alex #8 — Brooks Hyperion Elite 6
14:50 Michael #8 — Saucony Ride 19
17:22 Alex #7 — On Cloudboom Strike 2
20:51 Michael #7 — Salomon Gravel Concept Shoe
23:45 Alex #6 — Hoka Clifton Pro
29:13 Michael #6 — Adidas EVO SL ATR
32:09 Alex #5 — Adidas Hyperboost Edge
36:44 Michael #5 — Mount to Coast C1
39:59 Alex #4 — Puma Deviate Nitro
43:19 Michael #4 — Brooks Hyperion Elite 6
46:57 Alex #3 — Asics MetaSleek
51:30 Michael #3 — Tracksmith Eliot Rider
57:16 Alex #2 — Saucony Paramount Max
1:01:40 Michael #2 — Mizuno Neo Vista 3
1:07:17 Alex #1 — Asics Superblast 3
1:12:37 Michael #1 — On Cloudboom Strike 2 LS
1:19:05 Bonus: Trail Shoe Corner
1:20:15 Trail #3 — Nike ACG UltraFly 2
1:21:06 Trail #2 — Asics Metaspeed Fuji Trail 2
1:22:07 Trail #1 — Adidas Gravic Speed Ultra 2
1:24:30 Wrap-up & what's coming at year-end
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