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Deena Kastor & Martin Yelling

Marathon Talk has returned in 2022 as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors family. Hosted by Martin Yelling and the great Deena Kastor, every two weeks we'll bring you news, views and some amazing guest interviews from across the world of marathons and running.

Marathon Talk

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

EP97 | Catching Up With The Most Dominant Athlete in Sport - Marathon Talk Meets Marcel Hug

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

EP96 | What Went Down Down Under

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

EP95 | Getting Ready For Sydney

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

EP94 | It's Time To Get Quizical! - Martin and Deena take on our mid-season quiz.

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

EP93 | Running Through Sand - Marathon Talk meets Paul Tonkinson

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

EP92 | Cape Town Is A Major!

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

EP91 | Catching The Cheats - Marathon Talk meets Brett Clothier of the Athletics Integrity Unit

We were in attendance at the premiere of the new Paula Radcliffe film, Chasing Stars, and we were joined by the film's director Pat Odom, to hear more about its making.
 
We close the show with a Q&A that Paula gave with British running great Steve Cram.
 
Watch Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars now on YouTube.
 
On this episode of Marathon Talk:
 
 • 00:00 - Intro
 • 06:10 - Still reflecting on the 2026 TCS London Marathon
 • 25:26 - Deena speaks with director Pat Odom, the man behind the lens of Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars
 • 49:21 - Q&A from the premiere of Paula Radcliffe - Chasing Stars
 
Links & References:
 
Abbott World Marathon Majors
 
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
 
Marathon Talk
 
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
 
Martin Yelling | Instagram
 
Deena Kastor | Instagram
 
Pat Odom | Instagram

EP90 | Paula Radcliffe Chasing Stars - Behind the Scenes at the World Premiere

Only one place to start, on Sunday, Sebastian Sawe produced a performance that will be talked about until the end of time, becoming the first man to ever run a sub-2 hour Marathon in a competitive race.
 
We have reaction and analysis from an historic day in London.
 
On this episode of Marathon Talk:
 
 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - We discuss the historic performance from Sabastian Sawe at the 2026 TCS London Marathon 29:13- Danny Coyle, COO at Abbott World Marathon Majors joins us to give his sights into the day from the grandstand. 39:09 - Sean Ingle offers his thoughts on what Sawe's performance means for the wider sport of marathon running. 59:46 - We have a quick look back at the 2026 Boston Marathon 
Links & References:
 
Abbott World Marathon Majors
 
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
 
Marathon Talk
 
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
 
Martin Yelling | Instagram
 
Deena Kastor | Instagram
 
Sean Ingle | Instagram

EP89 | Sabastian Sawe Smashes The World Record in London

As attention turns to Monday's Boston Marathon, we have a full preview of the race, including a look at who we think could be wearing their golden laurels on Boylston St. this Patriots' Day. 
 
And as race weekend approaches, I had the privilege to catch up with a true Boston legend. Bill Rodgers joins us to share valuable insights into the course and discuss his highly decorated career in this sport.
 
And finally, for anyone in Boston this weekend, Elizabeth Pehota from Abbott World Marathon Majors will be joining us to share more about everything happening on race week in Beantown. All this, and more, on Marathon Talk.
 
On this episode of Marathon Talk:
 
 00:00 - Intro 01:57 - We preview the 2026 Boston Marathon 13:40- Deena meets a Boston legend, Bill Rodgers joins us on Marathon Talk 40:42 - We meet Elizabeth Pehota who will be fronting the Inside The Majors series in Boston 52:45 - Martin and Deena wrap up the show 
Links & References:
 
Abbott World Marathon Majors
 
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
 
Marathon Talk
 
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
 
Martin Yelling | Instagram
 
Deena Kastor | Instagram
 
Elizabeth Pehota | Instagram

EP88 | Meeting A Boston Marathon Legend | Marathon Talk Meets Bill Rodgers

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.

Episode 577 - Joan Benoit Samuelson

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