We're live from New York! Our editor Michael Doyle talks with Alex Cyr live from the media center at the 2024 New York City Marathon in Central Park, just steps away from the finish line. They discuss the elite women's and men's races, how the top Americans did, and the overall vibe of the biggest marathon in the world.

The New York City Marathon is Nov. 3, and in this episode our editors Alex, Katelyn and Michael share with you everything you need to know about the New York City Marathon, whether you're running the race this year, or following along at home. First we get the necessary details out of the way: when the race starts, and how to live stream the race.

Then delve right into the significance and crazy history of the New York City Marathon, from it's beginnings with just 127 runners (and only 55 finishers), running loops in Central Park.

We discuss the evolution of the event since its inception in 1970, and the unique challenges of the marathon course. The conversation highlights the marathon's cultural impact, the growth of participation, and the conditions runners can expect on race day. We describe the intricacies of the New York City Marathon course, discussing its challenges and notable landmarks.

We also break down the men's and women's elite fields, and our picks for who will win the New York City Marathon.

Follow our live updates from New York here on race day:
https://marathonhandbook.com/live-updates-the-2024-new-york-city-marathon/

NYC Marathon Race Day Schedule:

Sunday, Nov. 3

• 8:00 a.m. Professional Wheelchair Division
• 8:22 a.m. Handcycle Category and Select Athletes with Disabilities
• 8:35 a.m. Professional Women’s Open Division
• 9:05 a.m. Professional Men’s Open Division
• 9:10 a.m. Wave 1
• 9:45 a.m. Wave 2
• 10:20 a.m. Wave 3
• 10:55 a.m. Wave 4
• 11:30 a.m. Wave 5

Hosts: Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci, Michael Doyle, Jessy Carveth

Thanks to our presenting partner, Wahoo. Check out our first look video of the Wahoo KICKR RUN:
https://youtu.be/-IrHrfjvzHU

Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Xit1_8JfECg

Show Notes:

Everything You Need To Know About The 2024 New York City Marathon:
https://marathonhandbook.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2024-new-york-city-marathon/

Here’s How To Get Into the 2025 NYC Marathon:
https://marathonhandbook.com/nyc-marathon-entry/

Jess McClain Is Out To Prove She’s More than An Alternate:
https://marathonhandbook.com/jess-mcclain-2024-nyc-marathon-interview/

Defending Champions Tamirat Tola And Hellen Obiri Headline Stacked Elite Fields For 2024 New York City Marathon:
https://marathonhandbook.com/2024-new-york-city-marathon-elite-field-list/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Over 160,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

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News editor Jessy Carveth and Michael Doyle break down the nominees for World Athletics Track Athlete of the Year. They also unpack Jessy's excellent data-driven analysis of the controversial new women's marathon world record, and why she thinks it could be legit.

Then, Alex, Katelyn, and Michael as they recap their recent races—the Chicago Marathon, Kodiak UTMB and the TCS Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon, discussing what went right, what didn’t, and their plans for improvement.

Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/UYNqDFLkKTY

Show Notes:

Here’s Why Ruth Chepngetich’s World Record Is Completely Plausible: A Data-Driven Analysis:
https://marathonhandbook.com/ruth-chepngetich-world-record-plausible/

World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations:
https://marathonhandbook.com/world-athletics-announces-2024-track-athlete-of-the-year-nominations/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Hosts: Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci, Michael Doyle, Jessy Carveth

Over 160,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tikok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

In this episode, Alex, Katelyn and Michael discuss the importance of having a comprehensive pre-race checklist, covering everything from taper madness to essential items for race day. They share personal experiences and tips on how to prepare mentally and physically for races, emphasizing the significance of logistics, planning, and having a routine. The conversation also touches on post-race essentials and the importance of knowing the course and aid stations. The aim of this pod is that it serves as a guide for runners to ensure they are well-prepared for their upcoming races.

Chapters:

00:00 Why You Need a Pre-Race Checklists
01:30 Taper Madness: The Psychological Struggle
07:20 Creating a Race Day Routine
12:26 Essential Items for Race Day
22:39 Post-Race Bag Essentials
32:05 Logistics and Planning for Race Day
50:53 Final Thoughts and Tips for Success

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Hosts: Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci, Michael Doyle

Over 160,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tikok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

In this special bonus episode, Marathon Handbook editor-at-large, Boston Marathon winner and respected author Amby Burfoot discusses his op-ed on the site about his skepticism of the world record performance by Ruth Chepngetich at the 2024 Chicago Marathon.

His main concern: that fans of the sport, including himself, have grown cynical of extreme outlier performances, and that this cynicism is going to irreparably damage running, especially women's participation in the marathon over time.

It should be made clear: Ruth Chepntegich has never failed a doping test, and the world record has not yet been ratified by World Athletics, the global governing body of the sport.

He highlights the lack of transparency in athletics, particularly in women's running, and the need for institutional reform to ensure the integrity of the sport. The hosts analyze the data behind Chepngetich's record-breaking run and compare it to world record performances in other athletics events in history. They call for increased accountability among stakeholders in the marathon running community, including shoe brands, World Athletics, the World Marathon Majors race organizers, and the agents and coaches working with elite marathoners today.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the World Record Controversy
01:44 Skepticism Surrounding Ruth Chepngetich's Performance
08:34 Comparative Analysis with Other Events
13:55 Examining the Data Behind the Record
20:21 The Need for Transparency in Athletics
26:45 Call for Institutional Reform in Marathon Running

This podcast originally appeared on our YouTube feed in video format. Watch it here:
https://youtu.be/Y9rf0D2pvJM

Show Notes:

Read Amby's op-ed:
https://marathonhandbook.com/opinion-why-its-hard-to-trust-ruth-chepngetichs-marathon-world-record/

Watch Chepngetich's world record finish in Chicago:
https://marathonhandbook.com/ruth-chepngetich-chicago-world-record/

WATCH: Ruth Chepngetich Sets World Record At Chicago Marathon And Becomes The First Woman To Break 2:10:
https://marathonhandbook.com/ruth-chepngetich-chicago-world-record/

More on the doping crisis in Kenyan athletics:
https://apnews.com/article/kenya-doping-track-field-worlds-2358ed10c5016bba7eadc6024034afde

The Kenyan government cuts funding to anti-doping controls in the country:
https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/athletics/why-adak-funding-cut-spells-doom-for-kenyan-athletes-4768630

Our Live Updates from the 2024 Chicago Marathon:
https://marathonhandbook.com/live-updates-2024-chicago-marathon/

Here’s What Nike’s Exclusive Chicago Marathon In-store Pop Up Looked Like:
https://marathonhandbook.com/nike-designed-by-you-chicago-marathon-pop-up/

The Best Gear of the 2024 Chicago Marathon Expo:
https://marathonhandbook.com/the-best-gear-of-the-2024-chicago-marathon-expo/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Hosts: Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci, Michael Doyle

Over 160,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
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Thumbnail photo: Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris/MH illustration

Alex Cyr jumps on the pod with Michael Doyle, who is in Chicago and just ran the marathon. They talk all about Ruth Chepngetich's wild and huge new women's marathon world record of 2:09:56, what that means for distance running, where it ranks in the pantheon of great sports moments, and exactly just how fast it is by the numbers. They also discuss the rest of the women's race, including how the top Americans did, as well as the men's race, which saw an impressive 2:02 winner in John Korir, along with a few solid American performances.

Michael also shares just what it's like to run the Chicago Marathon with 50,000 other runners, what makes this World Marathon Major so special, and all the details behind the scenes of what it was like on race weekend in the Windy City.

Our editors Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci and Michael Doyle breakdown everything you need to know about the 2024 Chicago Marathon, one of the biggest marathons in the world!

But first they discuss their early experiences using Strava's new "Athlete Intelligence" AI (1:02), which provides a training prompt after each run. Is it merely a low-fi chatbot gimmick or the future of coaching?

Then they get into the Chicago Marathon (11:05), unpacking the history of the race, the vibe in Chicago on race weekend, how to live stream the Chicago Marathon, and whether or not we'll see a marathon world record attempt (or perhaps an American women's marathon record). They unpack what to anticipate from the elite races, and what it's like to run the Chicago Marathon.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Chicago Marathon Preview
01:02 Strava's New Athlete Intelligence Feature
11:05 Transitioning to the Chicago Marathon
21:49 History and Trivia of the Chicago Marathon
28:51 Previewing the Elite Races
32:53 Marathon Rankings and Performances
42:39 Women's Race Preview and Predictions
49:19 Men's Race Predictions and Insights
56:05 Chicago vs. Berlin: The Fastest Marathon Debate
1:00:02 Power Rankings of Major Marathons
1:04:37 Deep Dish Pizza Debate and Closing Thoughts

Show Notes:

Everything You Need To Know About The 2024 Chicago Marathon, including how to live stream the race:
https://marathonhandbook.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2024-chicago-marathon/

Start Date
The 2024 Chicago Marathon is slated for Sunday, October 13, 2024.

Start Time
The professional men and women will go off at 7:30 a.m. CT

Have family or friends running the race? We have the full list of start times below:

Marathon Wheelchair Start (men): 7:20 a.m.
Marathon Wheelchair Start (women): 7:21 a.m.
Handcycle Start: 7:23 a.m.
Wave 1 Start (corrals A, B, C, D, and E): 7:30 a.m.
Wave 2 Start (corrals F, G, H, and J): 8:00 a.m.
Wave 3 Start (corrals K, L, M, and N): 8:35 a.m.

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Hosts: Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci, Michael Doyle

Over 160,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tikok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB

Editors Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci and Michael Doyle chat about Alex's trip to Memphis (and his morning runs in a parking lot) (00:48). Then they talk about Marathon Handbook's fancy new website! (06:14). Michael has been testing the Brooks Glycerin Max and shares his thoughts after a big run (09:33); and Katelyn shares her plan for the Kodiak UTMB ultra in California next week! (16:13).

Then, they get into the latest science on how to recover from a marathon, as well as shorter distances (5K, 10K, half-marathon) (19:54). They discuss optimal nutrition, whether or not stretching cooldowns and treatments such as massage or ice baths are effective. They also delve into the latest studies on post-race recovery.

Chapters:

00:00:48 - Alex's trip to Memphis
00:06:14 - Marathon Handbook's new website is live!
00:09:33 - Testing the new Brooks Glycerin Max
00:16:13 - Katelyn is running Kodiak UTMB!
00:19:54 - Post-race recovery tips

Show Notes:

Bounce Back Strong With My 13 Expert Tips for Your Post Marathon Recovery:
https://marathonhandbook.com/post-marathon-recovery/

Running Recovery: The Best Post-Run Routine:
https://marathonhandbook.com/running-recovery/

Half Marathon Recovery Guide: How To Recover From A Half Marathon:
https://marathonhandbook.com/half-marathon-recovery/

Our free marathon training plans:
https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/marathon-training-plans/

Hosts: Alex Cyr, Katelyn Tocci, Michael Doyle

Over 160,000 runners read our newsletter. Sign up here and get our free book The 26 Golden Rules Of Running: https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

Follow us on IG: https://instagram.com/marathon.handbook
Follow us on Tikok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathon.handbook
Like us on FB: https://facebook.com/marathonhandbook
Follow us on X: https://x.com/MarathonHB