Marathon Handbook Podcast

Connor Mantz is the American marathon record holder, but his journey to the top hasn’t been straightforward.
After a breakout 2025 season that included a record-breaking 2:04:43 at the Chicago Marathon, Mantz looked poised for even bigger things. But a sacrum stress fracture forced him off running for nearly three months.
In this episode, Alex Cyr sits down with Mantz to talk about his recovery, his build toward the 2026 Boston Marathon, and what it takes to compete with the best marathoners in the world.
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They discuss:
Setting the American marathon record in Chicago

The injuries that derailed his training

How elite runners approach recovery and cross-training

Whether Americans are closing the gap on East African runners

Super shoes and how they’ve changed racing

Doping concerns in professional running

Why Utah produces so many elite distance runners

His long-term goal of winning an Olympic medal in 2028

Plus a rapid-fire round covering shoe rotations, breaking two hours in the marathon, and who he trusts most to babysit his future child.

00:00 Intro
00:47 Meet American Marathon Record Holder Conner Mantz
02:30 Injury After Chicago & The Road Back
04:30 Running Through Injuries
06:30 The Sacrum Stress Fracture Explained
11:00 Cross Training While Injured
14:30 Returning to Running After 12 Weeks Off
17:40 Boston Marathon Build & Training Strategy
22:00 Benchmark Workouts Before a Marathon
24:00 Can Conner Mantz Win Boston?
25:30 Choosing Marathons: Legacy vs Prize Money
28:30 Olympic Gold vs Winning a Major
31:00 The Sour Patch Kids Doping Scare
36:00 Doping in Elite Running
44:30 The Enhanced Games Debate
49:00 Are Americans Catching East African Runners?
54:00 The Super Shoe Effect
57:00 Why Some Runners Improve So Fast
58:30 What Makes Conner Mantz a Great Marathoner
1:00:30 Why Utah Produces So Many Elite Runners
1:04:00 Goals for 2026 & Olympic Dreams
1:06:00 Rapid Fire Questions
1:15:00 Where to Follow Conner Mantz

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth unpack one of the most dramatic weeks in running so far this year.
We start in Tokyo, where the first World Marathon Major of 2026 delivered a blistering three-man sprint finish and a stunning women’s course record performance.
Then we dive into the chaos at the US Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, where a lead vehicle reportedly took a wrong turn — costing Jess McClain a national title and a potential automatic World Championships spot.
Plus:
Ironman bans on-course photography, phones, GoPros, and wearable camera glasses — is this about safety or squeezing athletes into buying official photos?

Olympic superstar Eileen Gu’s surprisingly strong running résumé

Honoring the legacy of Jeff Galloway, 1972 Olympian and pioneer of the run-walk method

It’s a packed episode covering controversy, brilliance, and legacy in the running world.
Follow the show for weekly deep dives into the biggest stories in running.
Read Amby Burfoot's interview with Jess McClain.
00:00 Intro2:00 Tokyo Marathon 2026 Recap5:06 Jeff Galloway Remembered (1945–2026)8:15 Eileen Gu: The Elite Runner That Never Was11:25 US Half Marathon Championships Controversy17:54 Ironman Bans On-Course Photography

Recorded moments after the elite races finished, we break down everything from the 2026 Tokyo Marathon. Brigid Kosgei stormed back into world-class form with a stunning 2:14:29 course record (14:25), while Tadesse Takele defended his title in a 2:03:37 thriller that came down to the final meters (23:51). We unpack the women’s race coverage issues and what we missed early (06:16), the bold front-running move that shaped the men’s race (17:58), the Japanese national record battle (26:40), standout performances and surprises (31:03), and what the shoe wars looked like on both podiums (40:00). Plus: our honest take on the broadcast, the app frustrations, and whether Tokyo just moved up — or stayed put — on our personal majors bucket lists (46:24).
#tokyomarathon #WMM #WorldMarathonMajors #marathon #running

In this episode of the Marathon Handbook Podcast, Michael Doyle, Alex Cyr, and Katelyn Tocci break down everything you need to know about the first World Marathon Major of 2026: the Tokyo Marathon.
We deliver a complete race preview — from course strategy and congestion to race-day weather, elite storylines, and bold predictions. If you’re racing Tokyo, chasing a marathon PR, or just love major marathon season, this is your full guide.
We cover race basics and how to watch live (04:37), including start times and logistics, plus just how hard it is to get into Tokyo’s infamous 2% lottery (09:00). Then we dive into a full course breakdown (12:30), race etiquette and on-course rules (17:30), and Tokyo’s unique aid stations and fueling setup (29:10). We analyze the race-day weather forecast and conditions (32:20), and explore Tokyo Marathon history and course records (35:57).
On the elite side, we break down the women’s field (41:52), including whether Sutume Kebede can three-peat (43:00), and what Sara Hall racing both Tokyo and Boston means (45:00). We debate why Tokyo still hasn’t produced a world record (48:50) before turning to the men’s field (51:52), the Japanese national record showdown (53:30), and dark horse breakout potential (56:00).
Finally, we make our official predictions for the winners (1:02:55) and close with our World Marathon Majors Power Rankings — PB edition (1:09:56), before final thoughts and how to follow the race live (1:18:30).
Topics include:
• Elite field predictions (men’s & women’s)
• Course record potential
• The Japanese national record battle
• Why Tokyo hasn’t produced a world record
• Course strategy & race-day tips
• Weather forecast analysis
• Is Tokyo secretly the fastest major?
• Could Cam Levins break the North American record?
If you’re running Tokyo, planning your next major, or gearing up for marathon season — this is your complete race preview.
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#tokyomarathon #WMM #WorldMarathonMajors #HarryStyles #marathon #running

This week on The Running Story, Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth break down five of the biggest headlines in distance running.
The NYC Half Marathon elite fields are officially set, and the matchups are electric. Grant Fisher makes his highly anticipated half marathon debut, while Sharon Lokedi and Hellen Obiri renew one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries.
On the track, Keely Hodgkinson takes down a long-standing 800m indoor world record in dominant fashion.
In ultrarunning, Ashley Paulson runs 12:19:34 to break the women’s 100-mile world record — but her past suspension raises questions that the sport can’t ignore.
Plus, a Florida man is federally indicted under the Rodchenko Anti-Doping Act in connection with an Olympic sprinter — a case that could have serious implications for elite sport.
And finally, the Boston Marathon unveils its 2026 finisher medal. Is it a classic… or a step backward? We debate.
Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of the biggest stories in the running world.
0:00 Intro1:15 NYC Half Marathon Preview5:36 Florida Doping Indictment8:05 100-Mile World Record10:51 800m Indoor World Record13:15 Boston Marathon 2026 Medal Debate
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