Marathon Talk

Brighton puts on a marathon-and-a-bit, Vienna's let down by some slightly-too-big shoes, there's a new 5k road record, Scott and McColgan impress at the GNR, and we talk to parkrun COO, Tom Williams, about the return of parkrun around the world.

There's a new women's half marathon world record, the unbreakable 24 hour record is broken, there's incredible results at the UTMB ultra festival as well as a sad tragedy, and London Marathon implements some new changes. Holly catches up with Welsh marathoner Josh Griffiths to talk about his career and future plans, and this week's Training Talk is all about perfecting your race craft after a lay off.

Throughout August, the show is sponsored by Iffley Road, an independent British brand that champions the joy of running. This week, we look back at the endurance performances at the Olympics, the London Marathon reveal their elite field for 2021 and their new date for 2022. Holly catches up with Olympic marathoner Steph Davis, and this week's Training Talk is all about where you should be with just seven weeks to go until the London Marathon.

Thank you to the classic British running clothing company, Iffley Road, for supporting this week’s show. Their founder, Bill Byrne, joins us to talk about his love of running and the heritage of the brand. The Olympic Games are here, and we look back at some of the dramas, tears, performances, and stories from events that have excited, inspired, and intrigued. And Martin speaks to Jerry Lockspeiser, author of Running Stories, a book supporting the brilliant Running Charity, and filled with stories of people struggling with self-doubt who put one foot forward and never look back.

We talk all about the upcoming Tokyo Olympics Games, Andy Butchart receives a suspended ban after comments over faked covid tests, and Sir Mo Farah has broken his foot. Holly speaks to Sian Longthorpe about her gender reassignment, and how running has been her saviour. And this week's Training Talk is all about running in the heat.

Martin speaks to Matt Rogan, author of How Sport Can Reboot our Future. After the British trials 65 athletes are selected for Tokyo, Eilish McColgan breaks Paula Radcliffe's 5,000m British record, Beth Pascall wins the Western States 100 in tough conditions, and there's a new Wainwrights record. Plus, Training Talk is all about racing within marathon training.

Thanks to Runderwear for supporting this week's show. Anji speaks to English National Cross Country Champion (and triathlete), Calum Johnson. It’s the Team GB Tokyo Olympic trials at the weekend, including one more go for Mo, American 1,500m runner Shelby Houlihan gets four-year ban, and Training Talk looks at kick-starting your autumn marathon build-up.

Holly speaks to British athletics coach and former elite athlete, Jo Wilkinson, there's national track titles and Olympic qualifiers at the Muller Trials in Birmingham, and a new 10,000m women’s track world record. Sir Mo Farah suffers a shock defeat, Damian Hall sets a new Wainwright's C2C record, and for this week's Training Talk we discuss our techniques for to improve mental toughness when racing.

Thanks to TRIBE nutrition for supporting this week’s show. We remember legendary marathoner and running icon Dr Ron Hill, and revisit his 2011 interview with Tom. John Kelly recaptures his Pennine Way FKT, there's some crazy-fast 800m times at Ostrava, and a tragedy in China. As parkrun COO, Tom also shares his thoughts on parkrun's return. Plus Exhale coffee support Training Talk as we bring you three sessions to knock out before parkrun resumes.

Martin talks to Damian Hall about his new book, In it for the Long Run. Thank you to Tribe for supporting this week's show, we catch up with co-founder Tom Stancliffe. There's a new 12-year-old 5K world record, and Anna Rutherford breaks the Southern Upland Record ... fueled on stock cubes. Training Talk is supported by Exhale Coffee, and we speak to their founder, Alex Higham, and discuss our personal returns to running post COVID jab.

Holly speaks to long-term Marathon Talk super-fan, Chris Pratt, World and British records fall at the Centurion 100 miler, Eliud Kipchoge wins the NN Mission Marathon, Sonia O Sullivan takes on a new Nike coaching role in Portland, Oregon, we see some cracking times at the Cheshire Elite Marathon, and Training Talk is all about running a Thommo.

Martin speaks to Chris Thompson about his recent victory at the British Olympic marathon trials, and racing's back with Beth Potter running a 5k British record at the Podium 5k. Team GB select their Tokyo marathoners, there's a new half marathon women's world record, Des Linden's going for the 50K world record, plus there's a new V70 national record.

It's the Team GB Olympic Marathon Trials from Kew Gardens, which we hear all about from our roving reporter, Anji Andrews. Holly also speaks to the women’s winner Steph Davis, Fukuoka is no more, and there's an update on the UKA review of the cross country distances.

Martin speaks to Team GB Olympic Marathon trials Race Director, Tom Bedford, the Boston Marathon goes virtual, we catch up on the first of the outdoor track action in Wales, Mo's back on the roads, and after the female V60 marathon WR was broken last weekend in Japan, Training Talk is all about running as a veteran.

Martin speak to 1984 Olympic Marathon Champion and two-time Boston Marathon Champion, Joan Benoit Samuelson. British athletes clock super-fast times on the track in California, there are heated debates about whether runners should be wearing masks, forty-five athletes break 2:10 in Japan, and Training Talk is all about returning to racing post lockdown.

Holly speaks to England National Marathon Lead, Tom Craggs, about his coaching philosophy. Martin and Anji’s book, Running in the Midpack: How to be a Strong, Successful and Happy Runner, is out on now. Plus, there’s a new women's 5k WR on the road, a new women’s parkrun record, the London Marathon announce their ballot results, Laura Muir lowers the British 1,500m indoor record, and Training Talk is all about injuries.

Martin speaks to Scott Burrell about running with Type 1 Diabetes, Martin and Anji’s book, Running in the Midpack: How to be a Strong, Successful, and Happy Runner, is out on February the 4th, there’s a new u20 indoor World Record over 800m, Jim Walmsley just misses out, NOT10KMPBs is off, London goes big, and Richard Edmunds from Runderwear joins us to share news of their Easter virtual event.

Holly talks to runner and BBC News presenter Sophie Raworth about how running has been her saviour through lockdown. We also talk about XC running distances, running with a mask, and being a lockdown diva. Plus, Training Talk is back with strength training for runners.

On this week’s show Martin and Holly and catch up after the Christmas break. Martin speaks to British rower and three time Olympic Gold Medallist Pete Reed about life after his spinal stroke in 2019. We look back at ‘something on social’ and ‘the world of running’ and Training Talk is back with the benefits of going easy in lockdown.

On this weeks show we say farewell to Tom and Tony in a special end of an era show. Tom, Tony, Holly and Martin celebrate the last 11 years together. Tony brings us his his final Tony's Trials and we listen back to some of the all time time classics. Thank you Tom and Tony. We love yo both.