Marathon Handbook Podcast

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down the biggest stories in the running world.
Cole Hocker runs 3:45.94 to set a new American indoor mile record — the second-fastest indoor mile ever. What does it mean for the global mile scene?
Faith Kipyegon surprises everyone by racing her first-ever road 10K in Monaco. After dominating the 1500m for years, is this the beginning of a move toward the marathon?

Check out our Barkley Marathon episode!https://youtu.be/F0XU2NqKCxA

Super Shoe Rankings:https://youtu.be/Jbb1KIH-3qI

We also discuss:
Sam Ruth’s latest performance on US soil

On’s new super shoe prototype approved by World Athletics

The Super Bowl halftime performer who logged his show on Strava

Truett Hanes running 2:36 at the Austin Marathon — in full-length jeans

Whether the “Jeans Guy” can realistically qualify for the US Olympic Marathon Trials

New episodes of The Running Story drop weekly, covering the biggest stories in track, road racing, and marathoning.

00:00 – Intro: This Week in Running News
00:30 – Barkley Special Episode Mention
01:10 – Story 1: Cole Hocker Breaks Indoor Mile Record
02:30 – Sam Ruth’s Big Test Against Elite Milers
04:50 – What’s Next for Sam Ruth in 2026
05:45 – Story 2: Super Bowl Halftime Show Logged on Strava
06:30 – Viral Sugar Cane Costume Workout Explained
07:30 – How Strava Got Him a NYC Marathon Bib
08:45 – Story 3: On’s New Super Shoe Prototype Leak
09:30 – World Athletics Approval & Prototype Rules
10:15 – Helen Obiri’s London Marathon Opportunity
11:00 – New Midsole Tech and Cloudboom Updates
13:15 – Can On Compete With Nike & Adidas?
14:30 – Story 4: Faith Kipyegon’s Surprise Road 10K Debut
15:30 – Negative Split Win in Monaco
16:30 – Could Faith Kipyegon Run a Marathon One Day?
19:30 – Story 5: Truett Hanes “Jeans Guy” Austin Marathon
20:40 – Running 2:36 in Denim: How Serious Is He?
21:45 – Olympic Trials Standard: Still a Long Way to Go
22:45 – Tearaway Jeans vs Racing Shorts Debate
24:50 – Wrap-Up & Subscribe for Weekly Episodes

The 2026 Barkley Marathons delivered one of the most brutal editions in race history — and for the second year in a row, no one finished.
In this episode of The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack everything that happened at this year’s Barkley Marathons in Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park.
They discuss:
Why the February start made this year historic

How cold rain, fog, and creek crossings shaped the race

The shockingly low Loop 1 completion rate

The lone “fun run” finisher

The top women’s performances

The mysterious reporting style of the Barkley

Whether Lazarus Lake made the race too hard

What 2027 might look like

Is the Barkley Marathons supposed to be nearly impossible — or has the balance tipped too far?
If you love ultrarunning, trail running, and deep race analysis, this episode is for you.
Interview with Keith Dunn:
⁠⁠https://marathonhandbook.com/meet-keith-dunn-the-mad-tweeter-of-the-barkley-marathons/⁠⁠
New episodes of The Running Story drop weekly.

If you could run any race in the world next year… what would you choose?

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

In this episode, we host our second annual Marathon Handbook Fantasy Race Draft, building the ultimate 2026 race calendar.
Each of us must draft:
A Spring & Fall 5K

A Spring & Fall 10K

A Spring & Fall Half Marathon

A Spring & Fall Marathon

One true ultra (50K+ trail)

One wildcard race
And we can only pick one race per country.

From the London Marathon and NYC Marathon to UTMB, Valencia, Athens, Patagonia, Japan’s iconic relay culture, and some unexpected 5Ks — we debate speed vs experience, strategy vs bucket list, and which races are truly worth traveling for.
Who built the best year of racing?
Let us know what YOUR dream race calendar would look like.

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack one of the strangest controversies in recent running history.
A men’s half marathon world record — the fastest ever run — has officially been disqualified nearly a year later. We break down why World Athletics made the call, how much advantage pacing vehicles really provide, and what it means for the sport moving forward.
Plus:
Eliud Kipchoge shows up at the Winter Olympics in a surprising Nike activation

Brooks posts massive global growth and quietly becomes running’s most dominant brand

Femke Bol debuts at 800m and immediately makes history

Andre De Grasse swaps the track for the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

From elite performance to brand strategy and Olympic storylines, this episode covers everything runners need to know this week.

🎙️ New episodes every week from Marathon Handbook

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Running is often called a “cheap” sport — but anyone training seriously knows that’s not the full story.
In this episode, the Marathon Handbook team takes on a challenge inspired by listener feedback: build a full year of training, racing, shoes, gear, and nutrition for under $2,000.

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. Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.com

We cover:
Realistic race schedules and entry fees

How many shoes you actually need

Where to save (and where not to)

Budget alternatives to expensive nutrition

Smart strategies for buying last-year’s gear

Each host creates a completely different runner avatar — from beginner to experienced marathoner — and defends every dollar spent.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make running more affordable without cutting corners that matter, this episode is for you.

Chapters/Topics:3:07 The Rules8:22 Goal Races26:04 Shoes46:26 Apparel1:18:13 Tech1:28:40 Nutrition1:40:57 Grand Totals1:42:42 Biggest Splurges1:46:34 Largest Compromise?1:47:27 What Would You Cut?1:48:39 What Would You Upgrade?1:50:23 Budget Advice for New Runners