Marathon Handbook Podcast

Jess McClain is one of the most compelling figures in American distance running right now and this conversation is a perfect example of why.
Alex Cyr sits down with the Brooks-sponsored pro for a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation that covers the full arc of Jess's career: the early promise, the painful burnout that led her to step away from the sport entirely, the unlikely comeback through a casual marathon in Arizona, and the extraordinary run of near-misses and controversies that have defined her return to elite competition.
Jess speaks publicly for the first time about being led off course during the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta — a moment that cost her a shot at the US World Championship team, prize money, rankings points, and potentially shoe contract bonuses. She walks us through exactly what happened on the course, how she handled the chaos in the moment, and what she thinks needs to change so athletes are never left in that position again.
She also revisits the Paris situation — being flown over as an Olympic alternate for the marathon, sitting on the bench all week, and being told the day before the race that she wouldn't be needed. And she talks with remarkable grace about finishing fourth at the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials, just 15 seconds outside the team.
With Boston 2026 on the horizon and a World Championship bid still in play, Jess is as motivated as ever — and as level-headed as you'll find at this level of the sport.
Topics covered:
Stepping away from pro running and losing the love for it
The Mesa Marathon comeback and rediscovering joy in the sport
4th place at the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials
Being flown to Paris as an alternate — and not racing
Signing with Brooks and taking ownership of her own career
The self-coaching period and eventually linking up with David Roche
Training structure: mileage, workouts, and effort-based running
The Atlanta USATF Half Marathon Championships — being led off course
The full financial and competitive cost of the incident
Skepticism around elite marathon times and racing with integrity
Boston 2026 goals and race strategy
The evolution of women's marathon longevity
Fast Money Round
Follow Jess McClain on Instagram: @jesstonn
Photo credit: Bryan Garcia Luna
Marathon Handbook: marathonhandbook.com

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/sFk28hfMYznrsNxMA
It's the final installment of Spring Mailbag Madness, and it's a big one. Michael Doyle and Katelyn Tocci answer 12 listener questions: from Boston Marathon pacing strategy (including why 72% of Boston runners go out too fast and pay for it later) to Achilles injury decisions, Norwegian Singles training, shoe rotation questions and training for a marathon while playing hurling all summer. Yes, hurling.
James Copeland’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Norwegian-Singles-Method-Subthreshold-Running/dp/B0G4D8438Z
Katelyn’s article about Norwegian Singles:
https://marathonhandbook.com/norwegian-singles-training/
Send us an audio question:
https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/
THIS EPISODE'S QUESTIONS:
Nell (17, Swiss Alps) asks: is there an ideal age to start running marathons?
Mark asks about the Norwegian Singles method — plus Michael teases a major upcoming announcement involving the man who actually invented it, Marius Bakken.
Cynthia (Seattle) sends a voice note with two questions: how does coaching change for experienced runners over 65? And what advice do you have for running safely as a woman in an unfamiliar city?
Jason wants to know if the ASICS MEGABLAST and SUPERBLAST 2 are different enough to justify owning both.
Chris (Australia) just ran three marathons in six months and now has a 10K on the calendar. Should his training look different?
A second Chris asks how to pace Boston with a 10-minute PR on the line — specifically how to survive (and exploit) that notorious opening downhill.
Zach shares his ambitious progression plan toward a Boston qualifier and asks if he's being too aggressive.
Pat (Ireland, now in Toronto) is moving back to Ireland for the summer and plans to play hurling while also training for the Valencia Marathon in December. Can he do both?
Taylor sends a follow-up from the winter mailbag — she's going for sub-3 at Boston and has two questions: should she run slightly faster than her planned pace, and how does she protect her toenails before her August wedding?
Deepak is running Vancouver and wants to know if he should push to a faster pace given his recent half marathon time.
Zach (a different Zach) has a marathon in less than two weeks and an ongoing Achilles injury. Should he race?
An anonymous listener has Achilles tendonitis, a stress reaction in the fibula, and a half marathon registered for April 5th. Same question.
Send us your voice notes via SpeakPipe — link at marathonhandbook.com — and email us at [email protected]. We read and answer everything, even if it takes us a little while.
Subscribe to our free newsletter at marathonhandbook.com/newsletter — 287,000 runners every morning at 5:05 AM Eastern.

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.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.com
This episode is presented by Momentous. Use promo code MARATHON for up to 35% off your first order: https://⁠livemomentous.com

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.
—
🎧 Listen to more Marathon Handbook Podcast episodes
🏃‍♂️ Training guides, gear reviews & more at Marathon Handbook
If you enjoyed the episode, leave a rating ⭐ and share it with a fellow runner!

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.