12 Months to Marathon

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What happens when running stops being about getting faster and starts becoming about something much bigger?
In this episode, I’m joined by James Thomas,  better known on Instagram as @instafudgie — for a refreshingly honest conversation about running, mental health, body confidence, social media and learning to enjoy the sport without constantly chasing the next PB. 
James shares how a workplace bet first got him running, how he went from nearly 16 stone to becoming a sub-40 10K runner, and why eventually chasing faster times began to make his hobby feel like a second job.
We talk about the mental-health benefits of running, the pressure created by running social media, body confidence, the rising cost of the sport, marathon majors, why comparison can rob us of our achievements, and why James believes the running community needs more ordinary people sharing authentic experiences.
We also get into his eight marathons, his love of half marathons, running and raving, Guinness, and why, even if Instagram, medals, and PBs disappeared tomorrow, he’d still run.
A conversation about remembering why we started running in the first place.
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At 48, Ryan Fenix thought his opportunity to run a marathon might have passed him by.
He'd been a casual runner for years, juggling work, family life and three children in Manila. He'd even told himself that marathon running was a young man's game.
Then he entered the 2026 Sydney Marathon. 
In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast, Ryan joins me to talk about going from wondering whether he was physically capable of running 26.2 miles to crossing the finish line in 5:14, 16 minutes faster than his original target and with a negative split.
We talk about training through the heat, humidity and torrential rain of the Philippines, fitting marathon training around a busy family and working life, the 4am alarm clocks, learning to fuel properly and the doubts that come with preparing for your first marathon.
Ryan also explains why completing the training gave him genuine confidence on the start line, how he avoided the infamous marathon 'wall', and why he was actually getting stronger towards the end of the race while others around him were fading.
This is an episode for anybody in their 40s, 50s or beyond who's looked at a marathon and wondered:
“Have I left it too late?”
Ryan's answer is simple: it's more than possible, but you have to be prepared to do the work.
🎧 Listen now to Episode 112 of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast.
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As runners, we track everything: pace, heart rate, HRV, VO2 max, sleep, mileage, and recovery.
But how often do we actually look at what's happening inside the body?
In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast, I share the results of a comprehensive blood test I recently had in Poland and look at what they might tell us about running, performance, recovery and health as we get older.
At 49, my results included a biological age estimate of 41.9, testosterone above the laboratory's reference range, good vitamin D and blood sugar markers, alongside a few areas such as LDL cholesterol and thyroid markers that are worth keeping an eye on.
We discuss testosterone and the older runner, whether more testosterone actually means better performance, cholesterol and cardiovascular health, vitamin D and bone health, blood sugar and carbohydrates, thyroid function, supplements, recovery, and why being a fit runner doesn't automatically mean every health marker will be perfect.
Most importantly, this isn't about becoming obsessed with blood tests or chasing the perfect numbers.
It's about understanding the difference between fitness and health — and using data as information rather than allowing it to define you.
Because for runners over 35, the goal isn't simply to run faster now.
It's to build a body that can keep running for decades to come.
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Are you actually a slow runner — or are you simply a runner who could improve your pace?
There’s a big difference.
In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast, I explore the difference between a running performance problem and a running identity problem — and why the language you use about yourself could be holding you back. 
We look at common statements such as:
 “I am a slow runner.” 
 “I’m injury-prone.” 
 “I’ll never be able to run that pace.” 
 “I’m just not built for running.” 
The problem isn't necessarily where your running is right now. The problem comes when your current performance becomes part of who you believe you are.
Your pace is data.
 Your race time is data.
 An injury is information.
 A difficult training session is feedback.
None of those things define you.
I also discuss comparison, running snobbery, social media, limiting beliefs and why wanting to become faster doesn't mean you have to stop celebrating where you are now.
You can accept your current performance while still wanting to improve it.
So rather than saying “I am a slow runner,” perhaps the better question is:
“What would I need to do to improve my pace?”
Because performance can be trained. Don't turn something you can change into an identity you feel you have to live with.
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Is the Running Boom Actually Bad for Running?
Running is booming.
More people are joining running clubs, entering races, chasing marathon places and turning up to parkrun than ever before.
Surely that's a good thing?
Mostly, yes. But a recent situation at Weymouth parkrun, where events were temporarily suspended following concerns around overcrowding, overtaking and participants being barged or tripped, raises an interesting question:
Is running becoming a victim of its own success?
In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast, I look at the other side of the running boom.
We discuss:
What happened at Weymouth parkrun
Whether some events are simply becoming too busy
Faster runners versus slower runners — and why both have responsibilities
Why your PB doesn't give you priority over somebody else's safety
The importance of running and parkrun etiquette
Whether Strava, Garmin and social media have made recreational running too competitive
The forgotten role of volunteers
The increasing pressure on major races and marathon ballots
Why inclusivity doesn't mean abandoning common sense
How running can continue growing without losing the community that made it successful
The problem isn't that more people are running.
That's something we should celebrate.
The challenge is making sure the infrastructure, etiquette and culture of running grow with it.
There's room for the 15-minute 5K runner and the 50-minute 5K walker.
Neither has more right to be there than the other.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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