Marathon Talk

In this week's episode, we're in the mood to celebrate. We're celebrating an incredible weekend of running in the Big Apple at the TCS New York City Marathon. We're celebrating the end of a historic marathon season, with the conclusion of the 2026 Abbott World Marathon Majors series. And finally, before we head off for our end-of-season break, we're celebrating 100 episodes of Marathon Talk. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 03:52 - TCS New York City Marathon Review 19:57 - ‍Season Review with Abbott World Marathon Majors COO, Danny Coyle. Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram  

In this week's episode, we have all the details from last weekend's Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Deena was on the ground, taking in the whole event, where we saw some incredible racing. And I spoke with the wonderful Emma Bates, who watched from a distance but was nonetheless enthralled by the highly competitive women's racing. Emma joins us to talk about Chicago, motherhood, and much more. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 07:40 - Bank of America Chicago Marathon Review 20:04 - Deena speaks with Emma Bates 42:30 - Live from the finish line in Grant Park, Deena catches up with Abbott World Marathon Majors COO, Danny Coyle Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Emma Bates | Instagram

In this week's episode, we look at what went down at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, as Tigst Assefa comes within seconds of an historic win, but has she sacrificed too much in pursuit of the record? And speaking of Berlin, our guest Sam Griffiths was in the German capital this weekend. The Brecon-based runner finished a very respectable 81st place on Sunday, but the story of how he got there is truly inspirational. We've also got a preview of next week's Bank of America Chicago Marathon. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 04:42 - We review the 2026 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 20:03 - We meet Sam Griffiths, who ran a 2:20:26 in Berlin at the weekend, but whose story is so much more.  58:13 - We preview the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors | Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Sam Griffiths | Instagram

With the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on the horizon, we met a man who is aiming to make it Seven-In-A-Row, the most dominant athlete in the world, a man with over 40 Abbott World Marathon Majors titles to his name, the Swiss Silver Bullet, Marcel Hug. And staying with wheelchair racing, we're joined by London Marathon's Head of Disability, Michelle Weltman, who has an update for us on how the season has gone as competition steps up with 3 races to go. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 05:35 - Marathon Talk meets Marcel Hug 35:30 - Michelle Weltman from London Marathon Events joins us to give us an update on the elite wheelchair season.  51:30 - Preview of the 2026 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Marcel Hug | Instagram  

This past weekend, the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS took place, and we have all the news from a big weekend of racing. There have also been some pretty seismic events in the world of long-distance running in the past fortnight, so we'll be taking a look at them too, plus we're joined by US TV personality Matt James, live from Sydney, to hear more about his marathon journey. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Martin and Deena talk about UTMB and more 05:52 - Yomif Kejelcha breaks the Half Marathon World Record in Buenos Aires 07:53 - Sabastian Sawe pulls out of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 10:35 - A review of TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS with David Macnamara from Abbott World Marathon Majors in Sydney 25:48 - Marathon Talk meets Matt James 54:06 - Wrapping up Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Matt James | Instagram  

As the 2026 Abbott World Marathon Majors season returns after its summer break, attention turns to the TCS Sydney Marathon. Joining us on this week's show, we welcome a legend of Australian marathon running. Lisa Weightman is an Olympian, representing Australia at the Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo Games and has also competed at multiple World Championships and Commonwealth Games. We've also got news from the European Championships in Birmingham, and Martin & Deena share stories from their recent trip to Boulder, Colorado. All this, and more, on the latest episode of Marathon Talk. On this week's show: 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Martin and Deena tell us about what they have been up to while we've been off 09:48 - European Championships 13:58 - A recap of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series so far 17:33 - TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS race preview 23:00 - Marathon Talk meets Lisa Weightman 57:34 - Wrapping up Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Lisa Weightman | Instagram

We're getting ready to take a short break for the summer, but as is now tradition, we're joined by David Macnamara from Abbott World Marathon Majors for our mid-season quiz. Have Martin and Deena been paying attention over the last 12 months, and can they answer David's moderately difficult questions?  Who will be this year's winner? Find out on the latest episode of Marathon Talk. 00:00 - Intro 08:48 - Round 1 | Tokyo 11:20 - Round 2 | Boston 15:31 - Round 3 | London 21:41 - Round 4 | Cape Town 24:33 - Round 5 | Sydney 29:34 - Round 6 | Berlin 34:25 - Round 7 | Chicago 40:05 - Round 8 | New York Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram  

On this week's episode of Marathon Talk, we're joined by comedian Paul Tomkinson, who is here to tell us all about this new book, Running Through Sand, an ageing runner's tale of running the Marathon Des Sables, frequently described as the toughest marathon on earth. We also have a quick roundup of everything happening in the marathon world, including big news from the TCS London Marathon. Order Running Through Sand here. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 07:51 - The 2027 TCS London Marathon confirmed as a two-day event 15:41 - Comrades Marathon 18:43 - Update from the Tokyo Marathon 21:55 - Interview with Paul Tonkinson‍ Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Paul Tonkinson | Instagram  

On this week's show, we're joined by Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. This week, Cape Town became the 8th Abbott World Marathon Major. Clark is here to give us the lowdown on the event that took place last month, the process of becoming a Major and to look back on the events of October last year, when Cape Town's dream hung in the balance. Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram

On this episode of Marathon Talk, Martin and Deena have an in-depth decision with Brett Clothier, Head of the Athletics Integrity Unit. Brett and his team lead the way in ensuring marathon running is a clean sport, and we wanted to invite him on to tell us more about the work his team does and the work organisations like Abbott World Marathon Majors and World Athletes support in this ongoing battle. ‍Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Athletics Integrity Unit | Instagram