Marathon Training (for the rest of us)

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This is running for regular people. Johnny Mac is 52. Nine years ago he ran the NYC Marathon. To his surprise, he won the lottery and got in the 2022 race. With a torn meniscus, will his body hold up? Come for a run and find out.


    • Aug 18, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 3m AVG DURATION
    • 32 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Marathon Training (for the rest of us)

    Midweek Slog Run: crushed a 7 but lost a toenail

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 2:31


    The "slog run" as Johnny Mac calls the midweek run is starting to get long, but Johnny Mac is in a 4-7-4-14 week and the 7 went well...BUT John has lost a toenail.

    The Long Run: 9 mile "easy week"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 5:16


    Johnny Mac completes Hal Higdon's step-backw with an OK 9, where it took him a while to get loose

    More Gear Thoughts, and Race Day Tips!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2022 7:38


    Whatever you do, no untried gear and no untested diets on race day!!!! Test your stuff out on training runs or you will regret it! Also, digging these Hokas!

    The Long Run: A very strong 12.4 rebound!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2022 3:27


    After last week's BONK 11, Hal Higdon's plan has added a mile to the long run, but today Johnny Mac is feeling great!

    The Long Run: Dew Point of 70?! That's an 11 mile bonk!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2022 4:10


    After the recording Johnny Mac looked up the dew point on this one - it was 70!!!!! Well that explains everything, and everything went wrong for this 11 mile basically walk.

    Climbing up and running down Montreal's Mount Royal

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 7:59


    Johnny Mac was in Montreal so he climbed Mount Royal's staircases and then ran down the winding trail....it's a lot of heavy breathing as you're along for the run!

    Midweek Check-in: Cooler and Faster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2022 1:42


    68 degrees after two weeks of running in 80+? Johnny Mac shaves 5 minutes off his loop!

    The Long Run: negative split saves a HOT 7.6

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2022 3:56


    Well you don't have a time machine and you can't re-do the first half, but you can try to run the second half faster than the first!

    Midweek Check-in: Nathan Water Belt rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 3:08


    Johnny Mac field tests his new Nathan brand water belt.

    The Long Run: A nice easy 9

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 4:16


    Week 2 of Hal Higdon training went great for Johnny Mac who had a nice easy 9

    Gear Thoughts: which shoes, shorts, headphones I am considering for the NYC Marathon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 3:11


    Johnny Mac is on a runner's high and has some initial thoughts about his running gear. Hoka sneakers, in! Nike cap, in! Shorts...hmmm.

    The Long Run: the phone rings and 8.5 becomes a tired 7

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2022 3:54


    Johnny Mac had to flip his schedule around...and then it was hot...and then the phone rang and he couldn't skip the call. Let's call it a 7 even if the odometer said 8.5

    Marathon Training Plan Week 1: 3-5-3-8

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2022 2:59


    Johnny Mac kicked off Week 1 of Official Marathon Training feeling strong with a nice 3.8!

    The Long Run: Got Nothjng but they don't know that (8.5 miles)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 3:49


    Johnny Mac has nothing, but the long run must happen and part of the fun is figuring it out.

    Midweek Check-in: Shaking off the dizzy (5-3-5)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 3:51


    Johnny Mac ran three days in a row, shaking off some unexpected dizziness and then rebounding with a good 5.

    The Long Run: Leave your ego home and wait for those endorphins! (8.5 miles)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 6:09


    Johnny Mac finally finds the long run that he's been looking for! Endorphins and everything! But leave your ego at home because there is always someone faster and she just zipped passed you.

    Midweek Check-in: Back to Back 5s (5.0)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 3:14


    After four days off in a row, Johnny Mac finally gets back into the swing of things and tries to make up his milage with back to back 5s.

    The Long Run: Better run before it gets too hot! (8.5 miles)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 4:01


    Johnny Mac checks his weather app and sees its about to get very hot - so runs out the front door without too much hydration.

    Midweek Check-in: Can you please just wave back? Runner Etiquette

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 2:34


    Stop being rude. You can take a second to nod, or wave, or say good morning, or even move your hand just the slightest.

    The Long Run: Forgot my gels! (8.8 miles)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2022 4:46


    Johnny Mac's calves hurt again and he forgot his gels. Yep, it's another bonk.

    Midweek Check-In: Overtraining? Got no legs.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2022 1:34


    Coming off a stretch out and an off-weekend, Johnny Mac finds himself with surprisingly little in the tank.

    The Long Run: I hope these cars don't kill me (8.9 miles)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022 5:45


    Johnny Mac stretches out and has 7....but he doesn't have 9....and gets quite stressed about the idiot drivers coming too close.

    Midweek Check-in: rest leads to stretching out the Slog Run to 5!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2022 1:55


    4 days off for the holiday weekend, combined with some cooler weather and Johnny Mac was able to stretch the Wednesday run out to 5 miles with no problems!

    The Long Run: first Bonk of the season

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 3:37


    Johnny Mac had high hopes for a 7.6....but trying to run after playing volleyball, he's got nothing.

    Midweek Check-in: some knee pain, not feeling well...but a good run after all!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 2:08


    After back to back rest days, Johnny Mac is not feeling great and his knee was feeling thingy, but he knows he shouldn't take three days off in a row. But in the end, the run turns out ok...

    The Long Run: Anyone seen my shorts? (7.7 miles)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 5:13


    Johnny Mac's new $50 PATH running shorts disappeared in the wash, but the fitness is starting to come back.

    Midweek Check-in: The Pollen is killing me

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 1:46


    It was just a 3.3 but the pollen is killing Johnny Mac....and there's hot weather approaching, when to do the long-run?

    After the Long Run - Feeling Good in body and mind!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2022 2:17


    Johnny Mac is feeling goodie body and mind and decides to push it and NOT take a day pff after the Long Run.

    The Long Run: 7.6 miles run/walk

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2022 7:43


    Johnny Mac goes out for a long-run, struggles on the way out and has a better experience on the way back. This is teh debut of his new Hoka running shoes.

    It's Gotta Be The Shoes: switching from Asics to Hoka

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 2:31


    Johnny Mac begins to wonder if his Asics 28's aren't working for him, and tries running in a beat up old pair of Nikes while he waits for his Hokas to arrive

    The Road to the 2022 NYC Marathon begins with a surprise email

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 5:41


    Johnny Mac was not expecting a CONGRATULATIONS email, but he got one. Now he has to actually run the thing. This episode level sets John's experience (ran the same race in 2013) and current fitness (not so much).

    Introduction to Middle Aged Running

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 0:39


    Ten years later, can Johnny Mac find it in him to run a second marathon? John is a regular runner like you, come join him on long runs, short runs and all the ups and downs of trying to see if his body will hold up.

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