Marathon Handbook Podcast

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

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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.

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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

Michael Doyle and Jessy Carveth return with five of the most intriguing running stories of the week:
King Charles III makes a surprise appearance at a parkrun in Norfolk (0:56).
A billionaire pledges $100M to support U.S. Olympic athletes — with delayed payouts and major conditions (6:16).
Sha’Carri Richardson faces legal trouble after being clocked at 100 mph (12:00).
Triathlon star Kristian Blummenfelt records the highest VO₂ max ever measured (15:34).
16-year-old Sam Ruthe shocks the sport with a historic 3:48 mile in Boston (18:36)
Plus, Jessy shares his early picks for the London Marathon.
New episodes every Monday evening — subscribe and stay caught up on the running world.

Olympian and professional runner Sam Parsons joins Alex Cyr on the Marathon Handbook Podcast for a deep, honest conversation about elite running, creativity, and life beyond racing. Sam reflects on his early days with Tin Man Elite and becoming one of the first elite runners to document his career on YouTube (00:00), balancing wedding planning with professional sport (04:30), and his recent Achilles injury and recovery (06:00). He discusses the realities of moving from track to road racing (14:40), why elite runners need interests beyond performance (18:30), and breaks down FAVES, the athlete-focused tech platform he’s building (20:40). The conversation also covers Sam’s work with Tracksmith (42:10), the truth about super shoes and sponsorship leverage (47:40), his decision to move from Boulder to Los Angeles (56:00), and finishes with a fast-money round and reflections on fulfillment (01:03:10).
Follow Sam Parsons on IG: https://www.instagram.com/par_sam_sons/https://www.instagram.com/par_sam_sons/
Host: Alex Cyr
Guest: Sam Parsons
Editor/Producer: A. Smithee
Special thanks to Massimo Alpian at Tracksmith