12 Months to Marathon

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Episode 90 – Why Discipline Always Beats Motivation
If you’re waiting to feel motivated before you train, you’re already in trouble.
In this episode, I break down why discipline will always beat motivation when it comes to marathon training, and why relying on “feeling like it” is one of the biggest mistakes runners make.
As I record this, I’m just two days out from my 16th marathon, and this felt like the right time to talk about the difference between the runners who get it done… and the runners who keep waiting for the perfect mood, the perfect weather, or the perfect moment.
We cover:
 Why motivation is unreliable 
 Why discipline is what actually gets marathon training done 
 The difference between hype and reality 
 Why winter miles, dark mornings, and wet runs are where the real work happens 
 How to use the “reality lens” instead of the comparison lens 
 Why following your plan matters more than chasing shiny objects or last-minute advice 
If you’re tapering for a marathon right now, this is your reminder to stop second-guessing, stop looking for magic beans, and trust the work you’ve already done.
And if you’ve got a marathon later this year, this episode will help you understand one of the most important principles in endurance training:
Only doing the work makes you capable of doing the thing.
Follow me on Instagram @12monthstomarathon for daily running support, and if you’re over 35, you can join my free running community via the link in my bio.
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Here’s a Spotify description for Episode 89 – How to Build True Marathon Confidence:
Episode 89 – How to Build True Marathon Confidence
What if confidence isn’t actually the thing you need before a marathon?
In this episode, I break down the difference between confidence and competence — and why so many runners get this wrong in the final weeks before race day.
If you’ve got a spring marathon coming up and the doubts are creeping in, this one is for you.
We cover:
 Why confidence is a feeling — but competence comes from doing the work 
 How to stop second-guessing your marathon training in taper 
 Why comparing yourself to other runners ruins the experience 
 How to trust your training plan if you’ve followed it properly 
 What first-time marathoners need to remember in the final 2–3 weeks 
 How to protect your mindset so you actually enjoy race day 
This episode is especially useful if you’re doing Brighton, Manchester, London, Boston, or any spring marathon and you’re starting to wonder whether you’ve done enough.
The truth is simple:
 If you’ve followed your plan to the best of your ability, you are more ready than you think.
Stop chasing confidence.
 Build competence.
 Then let confidence follow.
Follow me on Instagram @12monthstomarathon for daily running support, and if you’re over 35, join my free running community via the link in my bio.
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Episode 88 – Coping with the Emotional Load of Marathon Training
Marathon training is never just physical.
In this episode, I talk about the emotional side of marathon training,  the doubts, the setbacks, the comparison, the frustration, and the mental spiral that can happen when things don’t go to plan.
As I record this, I’ve just finished my final long-ish run before Boston Lincolnshire, and with taper approaching, it felt like the right time to talk honestly about what happens when training gets hard emotionally, not just physically.
We cover:
 Why marathon training can feel emotionally heavy, especially over 35 
 The difference between a setback and a choice
 Why you must stop making poor runs or injuries mean something about you as a person
 How comparison and social media can make everything worse 
 Why sympathy is a cheap payoff — and solutions are what matter 
 How to handle disappointment, niggles, missed sessions, and fear without spiralling 
This episode is for anyone deep in marathon training, tapering soon, or dealing with the emotional pressure that comes with trying to do something hard.
Because the truth is:
 A bad run doesn’t mean you’re bad.
A setback doesn’t mean you’re broken.
And if things haven’t gone perfectly, that doesn’t mean you can’t go again.
Follow me on Instagram @12monthstomarathon for daily running support, and if you’re over 35, join my free running community via the link in my bio.
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12 Months to Marathon – Episode 87: Anthony Bryan – From Brain Tumour Survivor to Marathon Runner
In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Anthony Bryan, brain tumour survivor, stroke survivor, para athlete, personal trainer, motivational speaker, Guinness World Record holder, and London Marathon finisher.
Anthony shares his incredible story of being diagnosed with a brain tumour at just six years old, suffering a stroke during surgery, and being told by doctors that he would never run or be active again. What followed is one of the most inspiring journeys I’ve ever heard.
We talk about:
Surviving a childhood brain tumour
Recovering from a stroke
Learning to live with paralysis on one side of his body
Going from wheelchair user to world champion para athlete
Winning gold in the 800m and 1500m
Running the London Marathon
Breaking a Guinness World Record
Training for HYROX World Championships
Using fitness, resilience, and mindset to prove the doubters wrong
Anthony also opens up about growing up as the only disabled child in school sport, finding confidence through athletics, and how his disability became his superpower.
This episode is about overcoming adversity, mental strength, resilience, disability sport, para athletics, marathon motivation, and what’s possible when you refuse to accept other people’s limits.
If you need inspiration for your own running, fitness, or life journey, this is one to listen to.
Follow Anthony on Instagram: @thenolimitsathlete
You can also find his workouts on YouTube: Anthony Bryan Fitness
And if you enjoy the podcast, please follow, share, and leave a review on Spotify or Apple.
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Episode 86 – 18 Mile Marathons & Charity Places
Marathons have been dominating the running conversation this week, and not always for the right reasons.
In this episode, I talk about three topics that have been doing the rounds online: the LA Marathon offering runners the option to finish at 18 miles and still receive a medal, the debate around charity places vs qualification times in the major marathons, and the growing discussion about filming during races.
But underneath all of this is a bigger issue.
Have we started turning running into something it was never meant to be?
Running should be an escape from the noise of the world, not another place for arguments, politics, or division. Whether it’s debates about medals, charity runners, or race access, it’s easy to forget the most important thing: we’re all just trying to run our own race.
In this episode, I share my honest perspective on:
The safety conversation around hot marathons and shortened races
Why 18-mile finishes and medals shouldn’t bother you
The reality of charity places vs good-for-age qualification
Why chasing the major marathons can sometimes make runners bitter
And why the real message for the running community is simple: focus on your race and support each other
There are thousands of incredible marathons around the world — and you don’t need a major medal to call yourself a marathon runner.
If you’re training right now and the doubts are creeping in, you’re not alone. That’s part of the process.
Follow me on Instagram @12monthstomarathon for daily running advice, and if you’re over 35 you can join my free running community via the link in my bio.
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