In this episode Coach Angie shares what she’s learned about training as she’s gotten older. She ran her first marathon in 2008 and has since completed 72 marathons and ultras. What has she learned about recovery, nutrition, strength, and balancing running with life? Enjoy!

In this episode we speak with Mike Wardian -the 51 year old adventure runner who recently set the record for fastest 50k on Seven Continents in Seven Consecutive Days!  He’s also planning to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Michael Wardian short bio: Husband, Father, Ship Broker, Sponsored Elite Runner (sponsored by Teva), Speaker, Running Coach, Chess Player, Pickleballer, Beekeeper, Guinness World Record Holder, Race Director, Dog Runner. Wardian has set 25 Fastest Known Time running records in five countries and he races frequently at multiple distances. He has won national championships at 50k, 50 miles, and 100k. He has completed the 7 Continents Challenge three times, set a FKT on the AT, and has run across the US.

In this episode Angie shares the story of how she went from struggling to train for her first marathon to becoming a Marathon Maniac, 50 State Marathon finisher, ultra-runner, and coach. We hope her story will be an inspiration to you!

Links Mentioned in This Episode

In this episode we pay tribute to Jeff Galloway (1945-2026) who passed away on February 25th at the age of 80. Jeff was an Olympian, author of over 20 books, and the creator of the Galloway Run/Walk/Run method (also called “Jeffing”).

Hear an excerpt from our 2015 interview with Jeff; plus Coach Angie explains how to incorporate the Run/Walk/Run Method in your training.

In this episode we reach into the podcast vault and play a recording from when Trevor ran his first full marathon. This is an entertaining look at the joy and agony a first-timer feels, especially someone who once hated running.

After two years of hard work Trevor was able to transform himself from a desk potato to a successful marathon finisher. He ran the 2011 St. Louis Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon with a finishing time of 4:31:40. He’s since completed 25 marathons and two 50ks.

In this episode we are joined by Coach Henry Howard to talk about the myths and facts around ultramarathon training . . . and answer questions from podcast listeners.

Henry Howard was coached by Angie from 2014-2016 and was able to PR, BQ, and run his first ultra. Now he is a coach on our team helping clients reach their potential! He is a Certified Running Coach, 3:16 marathoner and has multiple Boston, NYC, and Chicago qualifiers. He has finished more than 45 marathons and ultras (50k to 100 miles) with some podium finishes. Most recently he finished the Dinosaur Valley 100k in 15:11!

In this episode Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes shares the 4 P’s for achieving big goals and how he pushes through the tough miles. Plus, you will learn the history of the world’s first marathon (held in 1896). And we share details about the epic 2026 Athens Marathon Tour which will be co-hosted by MTA and Dean Karnazes!

Dean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. Among his many accomplishments, he has run 50 marathons, in all 50 US states, in 50 consecutive days. He’s run across Death Valley in the middle of summer, and he’s run a marathon to the South Pole.

His list of competitive achievements include winning the World’s Toughest Footrace, the Badwater Ultramarathon, and winning the 4 Deserts Challenge, racing in the hottest, driest, windiest and coldest places on earth.

He’s the author of 5 books:

• Ultra Marathon Man -Confessions of an All Night Runner
• 50/50 -SECRETS I LEARNED RUNNING 50 MARATHONS IN 50 DAYS
• Run -26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss
• A Runner’s High -My Life in Motion
• The Road to Sparta -Reliving the Ancient Battle and Epic Run That Inspired the World’s Greatest Footrace

A NY Times bestselling author, he’s been featured on The Today Show, 60 Minutes, The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS News, CNN, ESPN, The Howard Stern Show, NPR’s Morning Edition, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the BBC, and many others. He has appeared on the cover of Runner’s World, Outside, and Wired magazine’s, and has been featured in TIME, Newsweek, People, GQ, The New York Times, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, Men’s Journal, Forbes, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal and the London Telegraph, to mention a few.

In this episode we bring you a marathon success story with Katie Low -who was able to transform her training and achieve the dream of running a BQ at the California International Marathon. In this conversation Katie shares how she went from being chronically fatigued and under-fueled to having more energy for training and running a marathon without hitting the wall!

Katie works as a character animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios and is co-host of the Animation Happy Hour Podcast.

This is our annual book episode! Angie and Trevor discuss the books they enjoyed in 2025– top picks for both fiction and nonfiction.

The Book Episode: Our Top Reads in 2025

Angie got through a total of 241 books in 2025. (95 fiction and 146 nonfiction)(audio = 144, hardcopy = 94, ebook = 3).

Authors We Interviewed on the Podcast

Here are the books we featured on the podcast this year. See links to the author interviews.

• Think Like a Runner by Jeff Horowitz
• How to Run the Perfect Race by Matt Fitzgerald
• The Norwegian Method by Brad Culp
• The Explorer’s Gene by Alex Hutchinson
• Ballistic by Henry Abbott
• Extreme Balance by Joe DeSena
• The Runaway Housewives of the Appalachian Trail by Kitty Robinson
• Fuel for Thought by Renee McGregor
• Don’t Call it a Comeback by Keira D’Amato
• Lootie’s World Run by Marie Leautey
• The Running Ground by Nicolas Thompson

Angie’s Top 10 Non-Fiction Reads:

The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
Memoir is one of my favorite genres and this book takes a peak behind the scenes on writing an engaging memoir. In fact, Mary Karr weaves in so many personal anecdotes that it doesn’t feel like a how-to book at all. Some of the core principles she talks about have to do with dealing with the truth as you remember it, turning vulnerability into art, and finding your unique story. Everyone from the casual reader to someone who wants to write a memoir will enjoy this book.

Awake by Jen Hatmaker
I’ve followed Jen Hatmaker on Instagram for a number of years and she has a very funny and relatable way of sharing her life. Her latest book is a memoir and talks about the dissolution of her 25 year marriage and how she had to come awake to many important areas in her life as a result.

Bad Therapy- Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up by Abigail Shrier
The author is an investigative journalist who argues that aspects of the mental health industry is harming American children by over-diagnosing and over-treating normal struggles. It’s important to get children the mental health help that they need but Shrier warns that normal developmental challenges and emotions are sometimes mislabeled as mental disorders which can lead children to adopt an “illness identity.”

It Didn’t Start With You -How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn
This book talks about how trauma and epigenetic are linked. Trauma can change how our genes work and influence stress responses, health, and mood and these alterations can be passed down to future generations, which can help explain intergenerational trauma. This was a very eye opening book and helpful for anyone processing struggles linked to family history.

The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs by Joel Salatin
Since reading Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, I’ve been working on getting the meat our family eats from ethically sustainable sources. Joel Salatin, owner and operator of Polyface Farms, makes the case for how farming and ranching practices need to change (for the good of the environment, the animals, the farmer, and society in general).

Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy
This is a book that was first published back in 2009 and was updated in 2020. It has been used by many professional athletes and high achievers to develop a stronger mental and emotional game. NFL player, A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles, was filmed reading this book on the sidelines of a January 2025 playoff game and the book started selling thousands of copies. Some of the principles in the book that resonated with me were detaching self-worth from outcomes so that your identity isn’t tied to results or achievements. Instead of asking, “How did I do?” Ask, “What did I learn?” Another important take-away was learning to gain control over my inner world. We don’t have to believe everything our mind tells us. Yes, we should recognize emotions and thoughts but then come back to our core values to develop self-mastery.

Estrogen Matters -Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women’s Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives- Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer (Revised and Updated) by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris
As a woman in perimenopause I’ve been educating myself on how to make this transition in life work for me. As a result I started using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) two years ago and it has improved my life physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thankfully the FDA removed the black box warning on HRT in 2025 after years of misinformation. This book is a must read for women in their mid-30’s and up, those who have experienced surgical menopause, or anyone who wants to understand the role of estrogen more completely.

From Strength to Strength– Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks
Brooks is a Harvard professor and happiness columnist for The Atlantic. He draws on philosophy, social science, biography, and spirituality to offer a helpful roadmap for aging well in the second half of life. In order to embrace, and not fight, the inevitable decline we need to redefine success (moving away from being primarily validated by money or job titles) and look to internal measures like a deeper sense of purpose, wisdom, strong relationships, and service to others.

Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobson
Annie Jacobson is one of those authors from which I will read anything she writes. In this rather bleak (but fascinating) book she lays out the history of nuclear programs throughout the world and presents a scenario in which nuclear weapons are used. Spoiler alert- there are no good outcomes.

Breath- The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
I’ve struggled with allergies since childhood, dealing with a lot of nasal congestion. As a result I was a mouth breather and this book challenged me to take a look at my breathing patterns and make some changes. Over the course of a year I trained myself to breathe through my nose during the day (but nighttime was a bigger challenge). A few months ago I started using mouth tape at night (and an airflow clip nasal dilator called Snore Less Now to open up my airway). I’ve experienced better mouth hygiene and deeper sleep as a result.

Angie’s Top 10 Fiction Reads:

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (#19 in the Armand Gamache series) and The Black Wolf (#20 in this series)
If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers this series is excellent. I’ve particularly enjoyed listening to them on audiobook since I’m not a French speaker and would probably mispronounce many names and places otherwise.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
I’ve enjoyed every book that author Matt Haig has written and this one was no exception. The Life Impossible follows a retired math teacher named Grace who is grieving the loss of her husband and son. She receives an unexpected inheritance which forces her outside of her comfort zone, helping her to deal with her past and find new purpose for the future.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
This book is a modern retelling of Charles Dicken’s David Coperfield. It follows a boy named Damon Fields who is born into poverty in modern rural Appalachia. He has a very tumultuous life particularly because of the weakness of the foster care system. The book deals with some very heavy subjects but it’s ultimately a story of resilience and the power of finding hope in community and through art.

The Burning White by Brent Weeks
This is the fifth and final book in the Lightbringer Series, a modern fantasy set in a world governed by light and the magic of Chromaturgy. In this world, some people called drafters have the ability to harness light to create a physical substance called “luxin.” Each color has unique powers and identity and the drafter is changed over time.

Red Rising Series by Pierce Brown
My teens had read this series a few years ago so I was a bit late to the game. But once I finished the first book, Red Rising, I devoured the other five in this fantasy/sci-fi series and am eagerly waiting for the final book to be released in the summer of 2026. The series centers on class warfare because of a rigid caste system and the main character gets involved in an attempted revolution. This fast paced series is full of action and violence and is set in space.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick
In this book everyone who reaches a specific age receives a box revealing their lifespan. The story follows eight people who wrestle with the decision whether to open their boxes or not and what to do with the information they get. Ultimately it’s an uplifting book that encourages us to live life to the fullest.

Twice by Mitch Albom
This is a magical realism novel about a boy named Alfie who discovers that he gets two chances at everything in his life. It has a very engaging storyline (which kept me guessing until the end). It really made me see even more value in imperfection and the growth that comes from learning.

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
This mystery follows freelance editor Susan Ryleland who finds herself unwillingly entangled in the death of an author whose book she is working on. I enjoy a mystery that keeps me guessing.

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
I enjoyed the audiobook version of this book which follows the story of Sonia and Sunny who are both Indian immigrants to the United States and who are navigating love, family, country, class, and race.

It’s time for our annual Year In Review where we take a look back at the top records, breakthroughs, and notable stories to come out of the running world in 2025. We bring you both the inspiring and the bizarre, it’s all in here!

In this episode Coach Athena joins the podcast to answer questions about optimizing running form. Athena ran her first marathon in 2002 and she learned some lessons the hard way! Listen as she answers questions about over-striding, heel striking, glute activation, core strength, proper form while running hills, and if it makes sense to tinker with your natural running form. Enjoy!

Coach Athena has a Masters degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and is an Exercise Physiologist. She is also a RRCA Level 2 Certified Running Coach, UESCA
Ultra Run Coach a Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Performance
Enhancement Specialist, and Certified Coach in Menopause for Athletes and Women Are Not Small Men courses and Menopause Fitness Specialist. She has completed 18+ marathons (5 Boston qualifiers), 11+ ultras, countless half marathons and numerous obstacle race 1st place finishes. She lives and trains in San Antonio, Texas.

In this episode we bring you an interview with Doug Mayer -writer, ultra runner, and founder of Run the Alps. Hear Doug’s thoughts on cultivating an endurance mindset, new trends in trail running, and what it’s like to run in the Italian Dolomites. Plus, Trevor shares key takeaways from his journey to North America’s largest trade show for runners.

Doug Mayer grew up skiing in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and in a past life he worked as a Producer for the NPR show Car Talk. Today he is the owner of Run the Alps and writes for a number of trail running media outlets, including Outside, Trail Runner, and Ultrasignup. His latest book is ‘The Last of the Giants’, a graphic novel about running Italy’s 330-km long Tor des Géants trail race. He also wrote ‘The Race that Changed Running: The Inside Story of UTMB‘.  He lives in Chamonix, France, with his partner and dog Izzy.

In this episode we speak with Nicolas Thompson -CEO of The Atlantic and author of the book, ‘The Running Ground -A Father, A Son, and the Simplest of Sports’. Hear his reflection on how running helped him amid personal crises; getting faster after 40; and how he finds time to fit running into his day.

Nicholas Thompson (born 1975) is an American technology journalist, author, and media executive. He has been the chief executive officer of the American magazine The Atlantic since February 2021. Thompson previously worked as editor-in-chief of Wired and The New Yorker’s website. He is the author of two non-fiction books, is a contributor for CBS News, and regularly appears on CBS This Morning and CBSN. Thompson competed in running as both a high school student and briefly on his college team at Stanford. In 2021, Thompson set the American 45-49 age-group record at the 50-kilometer distance after running 3:04:36 at the Brooks Row River 50K in Oregon. As of 2025, he had completed the New York City Marathon 12 times, running his fastest time of 2:29 at the age of 44.

In this episode we take you to Charm City Run in Frederick, Maryland, to speak with store owner Josh Levinson about running shoe tech and terminology. How are running shoes engineered these days and what is the insider terminology you should know? Learn about stack height, heel-to-toe drop, stability, energy return, carbon and nylon plates, midsole foam durometer, torsional rigidity, gusseted tongue, and more.

Josh and Kara Levinson opened their first specialty running store in 2002. Charm City Run now has 7 locations (six in Maryland and 1 in Delaware) and 200 employees!

Special thanks to Academy member Stefanie Smith for arranging this interview!

In this episode Coach Angie recaps the New York City Marathon and answers the question: does it live up to the hype? She shares her trepidation going into the race -especially after running a marathon the previous weekend. Hear tips on race-day logistics; and what’s it was like to run through the Five Boroughs.

The Dolomites are known for their unique jagged appearance and mix of Italian and Austrian culture and cuisine. We will trail run from village to village through this mountain paradise and finish at the famous resort town of Cortina‬ D’Ampezzo where the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held.

The tour starts on June 16th 2026. Please email us if you are interested in going!

SEE THIS PAGE FOR DETAILS: https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/running-retreat-in-the-dolomites

In this episode we bring you to the Dublin Marathon in Ireland for one of our “World Famous Race Recaps”! Hear voices of MTA Podcast listeners we met in Ireland, inspiring stories, and various shenanigans.

Special thanks to the listeners to the MTA podcast and spouses who met us in Dublin!

Jennifer and Ryan
David and Melissa
Sarah and Chris
Kevin and Lynn
Heidi
Cortney and Jon
Pat and Monica
Louise and Rachel
Kelsey and Clayton
Kathleen

Thanks also to Irish runners Niall, Djin, Kevin, Eoin from Sports Tours, Rose, Stephen, and Des!

In this episode we speak with Alexi Pappas -Olympian, filmmaker, actor, and bestselling author. Listen as Trevor and Angie chat with Alexi about goal setting, navigating change, the importance of mentors, how she gets through the later miles of a race, and more!

Bio: Alexi Pappas was an NCAA All American athlete at Dartmouth College and the University of Oregon. She is a dual citizen and represented Greece in the 2016 Olympics setting a 10,000 meter national record. She has served as a guide runner for a para-athlete named Lisa Thompson in marathons and triathlons and is still chasing her own running goals. Her first book is called, ‘Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and other Big Ideas’ and she is currently at work on her second book. She hosts the Mentor Buffet Podcast and makes her home in Los Angeles where she loves running trails.

In this episode we speak with Marie Leautey -a French runner who became the fastest woman to run around the world: 4 continents, 680 marathons, and 28,249 kilometers!

Bio: Marie Leautey who goes by the nickname “Lootie” is a former international CFO turned record breaking runner. Always a nomad at heart, she finally embraced her true passion in 2022, becoming the second woman- and fastest ever- to run a complete circumnavigation of the globe. She is the author of the book Lootie’s World Run- The Extraordinary True Story of the Fastest Woman to Have Run Around the World and currently lives in Greece with her partner.

In this episode we speak with three runners from Team Abbott — a community of runners who have faced serious health challenges but didn’t let those challenges define them!

About Our Guests

Elizabeth Pehota (Boston, MA): Three days out from running the 2022 Berlin Marathon, Elizabeth Pehota experienced a feeling of pins and needles in her hands, feet and thighs, and an unnatural resistance while running. Soon after, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. As someone who shares her daily life on social media, Elizabeth, @healthy_cheers on Instagram, only recently opened up about her diagnosis, but has already formed relationships with other MS patients around the world. Elizabeth is an Abbott World Marathon Major Six Star Finisher and received her seventh star in Sydney.

Ed Barnes (Douglas, MA): Ed was born with a congenital heart condition and at age 15 he started to experience frequent dizziness – to the point of nearly passing out – leading him to undergo open heart surgery to receive an Abbott artificial aortic heart valve. This year, after completing the Boston Marathon, Ed became the first person with an artificial heart valve to finish all seven Abbott World Marathon Majors.  

Mary Tawney Suarez (Fullerton, CA): Just before the pandemic, Mary started experiencing seizures and was diagnosed with Epilepsy and a brain cyst. One year later, she started experiencing back pain and numbness in her legs, which was revealed to be the degeneration of the cerebral and lower part of her spine. Despite these obstacles, Mary has continued running, and just finished the Berlin Marathon.

In this episode Coach Angie Spencer and Coach Erin Smith answer questions about running two marathons in the Fall, tune-up races, Fartlek runs, hill training when you live in a flat area, hip pain, IT band pain, sore legs, and more!

Coach Angie Spencer has run 70 marathons and ultras, including a marathon in every US state. She is a RRCA and USATF Certified Running Coach and Registered Nurse. Angie loves books and dark chocolate.

Coach Erin Smith has run everything from a 5ks to 100 milers as well as timed events and multi-day stage races. She is a RRCA Certified Running Coach and school teacher. Erin loves trail running, yoga, and helping runners with big goals.

In this episode we apply the famous Hero’s Journey framework to marathon training and talk about how you can overcome obstacles, transform into a stronger runner, and gain the wisdom to inspire others!

In this episode we chat with Keira D’Amato author of the new book, ‘Don’t Call it A Comeback -What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs and Started Chasing Happiness’. Keira ran competitively in college but was sidelined with an ankle injury and decided to step away from running. After having two children she started running again to get in shape and have time for herself. Fast-forward to 2022, she broke the American record in the marathon, at the age of 37, with a blazing-fast time of 2:19:12!

Christina Henderson is the director of The Running Event -North America’s premier run and outdoor specialty retail conference and trade show. She has been recognized as one of the “25 Women to Watch” in the running industry. Christina is a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Texas at Austin.

In this episode we speak with Renee McGregor -sports dietitian and author of the book, ‘Fuel for Thought: A Practical Guide to Fueling for Your Adventures’.

Renee McGregor is a leading sports dietitian, specialising in Eating Disorders, REDs, The Female Athlete, Athlete Health and Performance. She’s worked with athletes across the globe, including supporting Olympic (London, 2012), Paralympic (Rio, 2016) and Commonwealth (Queensland, 2018) teams.

We want to give listeners a head’s up that we will be talking about eating disorders and REDs during this episode.

What is REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport)
The basis of REDs is low energy availability, or insufficient energy in the body to allow for the work that the individual wants to do. Low energy availability comes with a cost to our sport but also is costly to all the biological processes in our body, including the brain, heart, lungs, hormonal, and digestive systems. When low energy availability is combined with under recovery (training and general life stresses can all contribute to this) it throws the body into REDs. Some people can have unintentional or accidental REDs where the person doesn’t understand how much energy is required to maintain their biological functions and the training load. On the other hand, intentional REDs is a conscious decision to restrict intake or overtrain and usually involves some aspects of disordered eating and/or exercise dependency.

In this episode we speak with Kitty Robinson, a listener to the podcast who shares what it’s like to keep running through pregnancy, raising a large family, and surviving both brain and heart surgery. Kitty exemplifies the saying, “You can do hard things”! She’s author of two books: ‘Sometimes Courage’ and ‘The Runaway Housewives of the Appalachian Trail’.

In this episode we bring you to the Swiss Alps as we run from village to village with listeners to the MTA podcast. Plus we recap the legendary Eiger Ultra Trail race, which is part of the UTMB World Series.

*Special thanks to James and Susie Jin, Brad Rudler, Marcia Salovitz, Ryan Shea, Bekah Shininger, Robin Walters, Liz Sur, Marcia Mathison, Candis Ubiles, Mindy McCune, Kate Mattern, Alistair Crompton, Marion Giro, and Run the Alps!

In this episode we speak with Joe De Sena an accomplished athlete, leader, and founder and CEO of Spartan. His goal is to get 100 million people off the couch. His new book is called, Extreme Balance: Paradoxical Principles That Make You a Champion. Life will throw many obstacles in your path, learn how an “unfixed mindset” can truly elevate your game.

We have another international running adventure planed this year and you are invited. We are going to Ireland to run the Dublin Marathon on October 26th 2025. Do you want to go?

We have 6 spots left. Please email us or sign up with this link. Enter code MTA at checkout.

Dates: Friday October 24th to Tuesday October 28th 2025 (3 night or 4 night options)

The Dublin Marathon is the fourth largest marathon in Europe and requires a lottery or charity entry. The lottery has ended but worry not, we have guaranteed race entries through our sponsor Sports Tours International.

The course is relatively flat course with a 7 hour cut-off. It passes through many of Dublin’s famous 18th century Georgian streets and the beautiful Phoenix Park, Europe’s largest urban park. The race crosses the city, north and south of the river Liffey.

The Jamison Extension

The next day, for those who want to stay an extra night, we are visiting the Jamison Distillery where the famous Jameson whiskey is made for a cask draw and tasting. We will have a guided tour of their warehouse and hear all about our ‘Grain to Glass’ process. Then we plan to visit a famous pub or two like the Temple Bar Pub.
 
Spots are limited, so please email us if you are interested or sign up on the Sports Tours website with this link: https://sportstoursinternational.com/event/irish-life-dublin-marathon/

Enter code MTA at checkout to get notified about special events and meetups with Trevor and Angie in Dublin!

Cheers!

In this episode we interview Henry Abbott -sports journalist and author of the book ‘Ballistic, The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance’. Plus, we run down our 7,000 mile road trip across the USA!

Henry Abbott is an award-winning journalist and founder of TrueHoop. He led ESPN’s 60-person NBA digital and print team, which published several groundbreaking articles and won a National Magazine Award. He lives in New Jersey. In the book, Ballistic, he blends cutting-edge science with gripping storytelling and argues that we are on the cusp of a new era in sports medicine, built around the science of ballistic movements―leaping and landing―and the unique fingerprint of your body’s physics.

In this episode we visit with Olympic runner and Boston Marathon champion Des Linden. Hear about how she has used the words of doubters to her advantage; her shift to ultra and trail running; her thoughts on super shoes and more!

About Des Linden

After being a two time all American at Arizona State University Des decided to give professional running a try. She went on to represent the United States in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics women’s marathon. In 2018, she became the first American woman in 33 years to win the Boston Marathon. She holds the women’s 50K world record of 2:59:54 set in 2021. The 2025 Boston Marathon was her final professional road race.

Des and her husband make their home in norther Michigan and operate a coffee company together. Des is sponsored by Coros, big thanks to Coros for arranging this interview! Don’t forget that you can use code MTA and get an additional free watch band with your purchase of a Coros watch.