Sweat Elite Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Better Running Technique for More Speed and Fewer Injuries - The Balanced Runner (Paul Mackinnon) Jun 13, 2026

Show notes

Paul McKinnon - also known as The Balanced Runner - discusses running technique, movement efficiency, injury prevention, and why changing form requires more than drills or strength work.

The Balanced Runner Links: The Balanced Runner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebalancedrunner/

Matt Fox Links: Matt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Matt Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Sweat Elite: https://www.sweatelite.co/ Supporters Club (Private Podcast Feed): https://www.sweatelite.co/supporters-club/

In this episode, Matt speaks with Paul McKinnon from The Balanced Runner about how runners can improve performance, reduce injury risk, and enjoy running more through better movement patterns. Matt begins with some skepticism around how difficult it can be for recreational runners to make meaningful form changes, while Paul explains why technique is a trainable skill when approached correctly.

Paul shares how he works with everyone from beginners to elite athletes, including Ben Robinson, Isaac Doyle, Sarah Billings, Cam Wurf, Ellie Salthouse, and AFL players. He explains how he uses pattern recognition and positional analysis by eye to identify where runners are leaking energy or placing excessive load on the body.

The conversation covers why drills and strength work alone are often not enough to change running technique, and why runners need to practice a specific cue every step until it becomes habit. Paul also discusses the role of physics in running, including the balance between vertical and horizontal force, and why super shoes tend to amplify the movement patterns a runner already has.

Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Paul McKinnon 02:32 Elites vs amateurs 04:50 How pros find him 05:56 Success stories and referrals 08:29 Technique analysis by eye 10:18 Why form changes fail 14:23 Fixing arm swing myths 18:25 Physics of running 80 20 23:03 Why most runners leak energy 25:49 Three levers plus shoes 26:08 Shoes and vertical force 26:49 Flexibility myths in running 29:50 Strength versus movement pattern 31:09 Economy versus efficiency 32:10 Rhythm and simple cues 34:36 Top down technique coaching 37:05 Building habits over weeks 38:15 Devices versus body awareness 41:59 Super shoes as amplifiers 47:40 Personal training and wrap up

Race Weight, Sodium Loading, and Chasing Sub 2:40 at Gold Coast Marathon - Marty Bordignon Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

Marty checks in 26 days out from the Gold Coast Marathon to discuss his peak marathon training, achilles niggle, biggest long run yet, fueling plan including sodium loading, race weight, sauna, strength work, and shoe choice.

Marty Bordignon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martybordignon/

Marty Bordignon Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/martybordignon/

Marty Bordignon Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/user/martyb-au?si=sgXyMAYERJGyKdGCYeXTUw

Train with Matt: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Private Podcast Feed + Discord: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact Matt: matt@sweatelite.co

Matt Fox Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Fox Strava Training Log: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/

With 26 days until the Gold Coast Marathon, Matt and Marty review Marty's peak marathon build, including a 36.36 km long run averaging 4:07/km with 22.57 km at 3:46/km, faster than his current 2:46 PB pace. Marty explains that the run felt hard partly due to early Achilles tightness, which flared after stopping, and he reflects on whether he could have extended the marathon-effort segment closer to 30 km.

The conversation covers Marty's confidence around breaking 2:40, his doubts about holding 3:45/km on race day, and his estimate of around a 30% chance if everything comes together. Matt and Marty also discuss his weekly mileage rising toward roughly 160 km, a strong 2 km "on" / 1 km float session, and the mental benefits and drawbacks of group training, Strava comparison, and chasing other runners' sessions.

They also talk through Marty's current race weight of around 66.5 kg, his plan to take 100 g of carbohydrates per hour, heavy sodium loading to reduce cramping risk, minimal fluids, and possible beetroot and bicarb trials. Marty shares that he has neglected sauna and strength work since moving but may add heat sessions back in, while Matt and Marty debate sauna protocols, strength training tradeoffs, and whether the Puma FastR is the right race-day shoe despite Achilles concerns.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Marathon Build Check In 01:06 - Big Long Run Breakdown 02:54 - Achilles Scare And Effort 05:45 - Confidence And Goal Pace Doubts 09:37 - Mileage Ramp And Consistency 11:01 - Float Session Fitness Boost 12:28 - Group Training And Strava Mind Games 15:25 - Sauna Plans And Heat Protocol 19:14 - Strength Training Debate 25:30 - Race Weight And Nutrition Update 27:00 - Elite Weight Targets Story 28:19 - George's Weight Cut 29:02 - Comrades Race Preview 29:46 - Chasing Race Weight 31:06 - Gold Coast Fuel Plan 33:42 - Hydration and Cramping 35:04 - Beetroot and Bicarb 38:26 - Shoe Choice Debate 41:42 - New Shoes and Kit 43:43 - Wrap Up and Next Episode

Should Runners Lift Weights? Many Elites Don't - Tom Nobbs (2:09 Marathoner) Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Tom Nobbs on Strides, Strength Training, and Building Toward Higher Marathon Mileage After Two 10Ks

Canadian 2:09 marathoner Tom Nobbs discusses recent takeaways from conversations with Rory Linkletter and Jimmy, with a focus on frequent strides, sprinting, strength training, racing, and building toward a bigger marathon block.

Tom Nobbs Links: Tom Nobbs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nobbs.not.knobs/ Tom Nobbs Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/28521910

Matt Fox Links: Train with Matt Fox: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Join the Supporters Club and private podcast feed: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/ Contact Matt: matt@sweatelite.co Matt Fox Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Matt Fox Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

They begin by talking about Rory's daily strides, how often runners should include strides or short sprints, and why intensity needs to be individualized. Matt and Tom discuss the value of polarizing training between controlled tempo work and true max-speed work, rather than turning every session into the same moderate effort.

The conversation then moves into strength training. They debate where gym work fits for distance runners, how it may help reduce cramping for some athletes, and why it can also become unnecessary or costly for high-mileage runners if it takes away from recovery or running volume. Tom explains his own strength gaps and the importance of tailoring gym work to the athlete rather than forcing one approach on everyone.

Tom also breaks down two recent 10K races: a 28:47 road 10K in windy conditions in Ottawa, and a delayed late-night track 10K in awkward conditions with limited access to the track beforehand. Matt and Tom discuss how racing time-of-day, warm-up routines, track access, spikes, and surface specificity can all affect performance. They also compare road and track racing, why both require adaptation, and how shorter races can sharpen the mental edge during a marathon build.

Later, they cover coaching athletes who over-race, how different personality types respond to racing, and the balance between racing for fun, social connection, and long-term development. The final part of the episode shifts into Tom's next marathon block, including higher "super mileage," the trade-offs of extreme volume, tapering challenges, days off versus seven-day running, and examples of older or later-career runners still making major marathon improvements.

Episode Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Back Tom 01:24 Rory's Daily Strides 02:56 How Many Strides 05:13 Weekly Structure Cycles 06:20 Strength Training Debate 07:12 Tom's Strength Gap 09:35 Cramping And Research 14:34 Ottawa 10K Recap 17:55 Track Access And Spikes 19:26 Night Racing Timing 24:21 Roads Versus Track 27:14 Why No 5K Racing 28:36 Chasing A 14:20 30:42 Finding Quality 5Ks 32:47 5K During Marathon Block 34:29 Short Races Mental Edge 36:24 VO2 Pain Gets Easier 37:31 Too Many Races Policy 40:52 Coaching Personality Types 43:27 Running For Social Fun 45:50 Meeting Partners Through Running 49:04 Kicking Off Marathon Block 51:14 Peak Mileage Targets 53:24 Days Off Debate 56:04 Jake Barraclough Volume Trap 58:54 Mileage As A Lever 01:03:26 Older Runners Still Improve 01:06:29 Wrap Up And Next Check In

Molly Seidel - How to Train to Win an Olympic Bronze Medal in the Marathon (Replay) Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

REPLAY EPISODE: This conversation with Molly Seidel was originally recorded in May 2024.

Olympic Marathon Bronze Medalist Molly Seidel on Injury Recovery, Training, Fueling, and Fixing Track & Field

Matt from Sweat Elite hosts Olympic marathon bronze medalist Molly Seidel in Flagstaff to discuss her recent Strava Camp experience, her return from a broken-knee injury, and how she is rebuilding by correcting movement patterns with gym-based mobility and muscle activation.

Molly explains why she skipped Canyons 50K to prioritize a fall road marathon, outlines her goals to win a major marathon, make World Championship teams, and target LA 2028 after missing Paris. She also breaks down her "unglamorous" marathon builds, including high aerobic volume, true double-threshold training, and a short specific block starting after a tune-up race.

Matt and Molly also cover cross-training through skiing, cycling and ElliptiGo, Ethiopia's training culture, diet and race fueling, Puma shoe rotation, critiques of World Athletics around rankings, watchability and doping, plus Molly's race-focused mindset.

Links

Matt's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Matt's Coaching: https://www.sweatelite.co/coaching/ Matt's Profile: https://www.sweatelite.co/matt-fox/ Matt's Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/7043356 Sweat Elite Website: https://www.sweatelite.co/ Sweat Elite Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweatelite/ Sweat Elite YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SweatElite/

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:28 Sponsors and Support 03:30 Meeting Molly in Flagstaff 03:46 Inside Strava Camp 06:15 Knee Injury and Comeback 09:19 Fall Plans and Big Goals 11:46 Marathon Training Blueprint 13:51 Gym Work and Activation 17:01 Podcasting and Listening Habits 20:24 Skiing and Cross Training 22:43 Injury Pool Culture 22:58 Best Training Bases 24:15 Why Ethiopia Matters 26:22 Ethiopian Training Mindset 31:23 Ethiopian Food Stories 33:27 Diet And Carbs 34:50 Race Fueling Strategy 35:52 Puma Shoe Rotation 36:58 Trail Running Strength 38:27 Fixing Track And Field 41:18 Winning Over Time Goals 44:26 Mental Race Preparation 46:13 Wrap Up And Goodbye

Rory Linkletter - Speed Development for the Marathon and Coaching Truett Hanes Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Rory Linkletter (2:06 marathoner) discusses fueling specifics, everything he has learned throughout his career, and the importance of staying flexible based on conditions. We also covered speed development, including workouts at 2:15/km pace and faster, whether the Boston Marathon can be quicker than Valencia when the wind is favourable, the relationship between Conner Mantz and Ed Eyestone, coaching Truett Hanes, and much more.

Rory Linkletter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rory_linkletter/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/9351341

Matt Fox

Coaching: https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/coaching-2026

Shareholders Club / Private Podcast Feed: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Contact: matt@sweatelite.co

The conversation shifts to speed and power output as a limiter for marathon performance, citing examples like Kejelcha, Sawe, and U.S. runners. Rory explains why he sprints and strides twice weekly, often using track in-and-outs or hill strides, and why he values maintaining top-end speed.

He also describes building confidence to go out fast using fitness data, including sub-60 half marathons, and gives his views on Boston's comparability to flat courses and Ryan Hall's windy 2:04. Rory also answers rapid-fire questions on training partners, running with his dog, possible Valencia plans tied to 2028 qualifying, double-threshold readiness, and his new coaching role with YouTuber Truett Hanes.

Topics

00:00 Welcome Back Rory 01:25 Fueling Hype Skepticism 03:20 Carbs Size And Power 04:58 Heat And GI Tradeoffs 07:07 Fueling By Course Demand 10:05 Why Speed Matters 11:13 Power Economy Ceiling 16:37 Confidence Going Out Fast 18:30 Breaking 60 In Houston 20:48 Twice Weekly Sprint Routine 23:58 How Fast Are Strides 28:48 Hill Sprints For Longevity 32:10 Does Boston Count 35:42 Ryan Hall Tailwind Day 36:38 Ryan's Peak Performances 37:19 Execution Versus Talent 38:36 Conner Mantz Half Marathon Power 39:40 Workouts and Speed Endurance 42:16 Fearless Racer Mindset 43:38 Strava and Training Secrecy 45:00 BYU Culture and Injury Risk 48:45 Rapid Fire Favorites 50:17 Running With the Dog 52:03 Choosing a Fall Marathon 54:07 Mental Approach to Hard Sessions 56:38 Double Threshold Timing 58:52 Coaching Truett Hanes 01:02:52 Odds of Sub 2:16 01:06:09 Wrapping Up and Farewell

IMO #35 - The #1 Chinese Super Shoe, Travel Stress, What Happened to the Fastest Fox Series, EastBound Running and more Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

I record from Hong Kong and provide an update on the future of the podcast, the relaunch of the Supporters Club private feed, and several new projects including Eastbound, the Run With Me app, and the Globe Runners Thailand experience in Phuket.

Links

Join Supporters Club and access advisory and second podcast feed: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/ My coaching: www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ My Instagram: www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ My Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 Join me in Phuket for a running experience of a lifetime: https://www.thegloberunners.com/phuket-running-experience

Recording from an Airbnb in Hong Kong, I explain some upcoming changes to the podcast and Supporters Club. The private feed will be returning with weekly 30-minute training and Q&A episodes alongside regular conversations focused on elite training, racing, coaching, and the professional side of the sport.

I also discuss why the Luke co-hosted podcast came to an end, why the Mick Fox series has been paused for now, and what listeners can expect from future episodes and guests. Along the way, I answer a wide range of listener questions covering Chinese running shoes, supplements, marathon versus 5K training, LT1 and LT2 workouts, Ozempic, doping conversations within the sport, and some of the best-value trainers currently coming out of China.

Later in the episode, I provide updates on several projects I am involved in. These include Eastbound, a new online retailer that will distribute Dynafish and other Chinese running brands, the Run With Me app being developed by Mia to help runners build accountability through paid group runs, and the Globe Runners Thailand experience taking place at Thanyapura in Phuket from September 4-7. I also share a brief update on my comeback training, current fitness, and marathon plans later this year.

Topics

00:00 - Hong Kong Setup 00:23 - Podcast Catch Up 00:57 - Jake Hacked Story 02:09 - Supporters Feed Plan 02:47 - Why Luke Left 04:22 - Mick Scheduling Issues 06:15 - New Guests Ahead 08:45 - Travel Stress Reality 11:54 - Supporters Club Value 12:52 - Shoe Questions Intro 13:15 - Eastbound Shoe Startup 16:07 - Run With Me App 19:09 - Thailand Camp Plug 21:40 - Thailand Training Camp Plans 21:55 - Runners You Miss Most 24:15 - Frank Schauer Kenya Memories 25:08 - Marathon vs 5K Debate 27:10 - Supplements and One Percenters 27:53 - Ozempic and Doping Talk 29:17 - LT1 LT2 Training Advice 30:02 - Nick Bester Controversy 30:58 - Best Budget Chinese Trainers 33:45 - Hong Kong Relocation Thoughts 35:28 - Projects and Training Update 39:11 - Supporters Club Wrap Up

Jimmy Whelan - Chasing Sub 60 Half Marathon, Marathon training, Altitude Training, Shoe Tech and Switching From Pro Cycling May 31, 2026

Show notes

Jimmy Whelan talks about leaving WorldTour cycling, becoming a Salomon-sponsored professional runner, training at altitude, chasing a sub-60 half marathon, and building toward the marathon long term.

Jimmy Whelan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmywhelann/

Jimmy Whelan Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/3356275

Train with Matt: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Private Podcast Feed + Discord: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact Matt: matt@sweatelite.co

Matt Fox Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Fox Strava Training Log: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/

Jimmy Whelan joins Matt to talk about his move from seven years as a professional cyclist, including WorldTour stints with EF and Q36.5, into professional road running with Salomon. Now training at altitude in Andorra and Font-Romeu, Jimmy is focused on chasing a sub-60 half marathon and building toward the marathon long term, with the LA Olympics as a major target.

Jimmy shares his early running background, including an 8:11 3K and a top-five finish at Zatopek U23, before an Achilles injury pushed him toward cycling and rapidly into the professional ranks. He discusses the crashes, pressure, and stress that contributed to him leaving cycling in 2024, briefly considering triathlon, and then committing fully to running after a 61:37 half marathon in Valencia.

Matt and Jimmy also cover high-mileage training, double-threshold work, altitude response, marathon potential, shoe development with Salomon, nutrition and carb tolerance from cycling, bicarb issues, sauna and heat protocols, anti-doping differences between cycling and running, selective cross-training, minimal strength and plyometrics, and why Jimmy is based in Barcelona.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Altitude Training Update 01:41 - From Cyclist to Runner 04:22 - High School Running Roots 06:50 - Injury and Cycling Breakthrough 08:52 - Leaving Pro Cycling 12:10 - Chasing Sub 60 16:23 - Marathon Engine and Altitude 20:17 - Mileage and Double Threshold 22:29 - Salomon Shoe Prototypes 28:35 - Kenya Talk and Doping Testing 34:35 - Cycling Cross Training Debate 39:50 - YouTube Content Drought 41:15 - Reels vs YouTube Value 42:43 - Fans After Bad Race 44:14 - YouTube Impact Stories 45:20 - Carbs and Gut Training 48:41 - Race Weight Balance 51:50 - Bicarb and Creatine 55:06 - Sauna and Heat Blocks

100kg to 2:26 Marathon in 3 years - Mihailo Vukojičić May 27, 2026

Show notes

Mihailo Vukojičić just ran 2:26 at the Copenhagen Marathon and he was 100kg and completely out of shape 3 years ago. Matt chats with Mihailo about weight loss, mindset, fueling, training, and chasing a national record.

Mihailo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mika42.2/

Mihailo Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/98499496

Train with Matt Fox here: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Join the Supporters Club and private podcast feed here: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact Matt Fox here: matt@sweatelite.co

Matt Fox Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Fox Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

In this episode, Matt speaks with Mihailo Vukojičić about his journey from being over 100kg with unhealthy habits to becoming a 2:26 marathoner. Mihailo shares how he started running in 2022, ran his first half marathon in around 1:41-1:42 at 93kg, and later missed the Athens Marathon because his passport was stuck at the US Embassy.

They discuss his simple weight loss approach, technique changes from heel striking to forefoot running, using a 130 BPM heart rate cap to build aerobic fitness, and his 2:47 first marathon in Berlin 2023. Mihailo also explains how his fueling evolved from minimal race intake to 110-120g of carbs per hour in Copenhagen, and how he handled an injury-disrupted buildup with variable weekly mileage while relying heavily on confidence, perceived effort, and belief over device metrics.

The conversation also covers nutrition structure, the HEXIS app, legal supplements, lactate testing, HRV, training flexibility, doping debates, the Enhanced Games, WADA, and Mihailo's long-term goal of potentially reaching 2:13 and chasing a national record.

Topics:

00:00 Post Marathon Check In 01:02 From 100kg To Running 02:50 First Half Marathon Lessons 04:36 Athens Marathon Passport Disaster 07:14 Simple Weight Loss Approach 09:00 Form Fixes And Heart Rate Training 11:01 First Marathon Breakthrough Berlin 13:33 Dieting Low Carb And Fasted Runs 15:35 Carb Fueling Revolution Copenhagen 17:21 Injury Disrupted Build And Weekly Mileage 21:16 Confidence Mindset On Race Day 23:24 Lactate Testing Pros And Cons 30:12 Devices HRV And Keeping It Simple 31:04 HRV Versus Feel 32:18 Plans And Flexibility 33:26 Confidence Training Loop 36:01 Fueling And Carbs 37:13 Legal Performance Boosters 41:35 Daily Nutrition Structure 46:18 Goals And National Record 48:14 Mindset And Belief 52:13 Injuries And Pushing Limits 53:46 Doping Debates Online 57:21 Enhanced Games And WADA 58:50 Wrap Up In Belgrade

Sauna & Nutrition Experiments, Weight Goals, Heart Rate Trends and Gold Coast Marathon - Marty Bordignon May 26, 2026

Show notes

Marty checks in six weeks out from the Gold Coast Marathon to discuss Marty's biggest training block yet, heart rate trends, weight goals, recovery signals, sauna experiments, supplements, and key long runs still to come.

Marty Bordignon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martybordignon/

Marty Bordignon Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/martybordignon/

Marty Bordignon Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/user/martyb-au?si=sgXyMAYERJGyKdGCYeXTUw

Train with Matt: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Private Podcast Feed + Discord: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact Matt: matt@sweatelite.co

Matt Fox Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Fox Strava Training Log: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/

With six weeks until the Gold Coast Marathon, Matt interviews Marty Bordignon about how his training is progressing, including his highest-ever volume week of 148 km and a recent 30K run on a humid, undulating course at 4:12/km pace. Marty explains how he has been using Apple Watch sleep heart-rate trends and easy-run heart rate averages to monitor fatigue, illness risk, and readiness to push training.

The conversation covers Marty's current weight goals, aiming for 64-66 kg while managing fluctuations, reducing protein slightly to lower muscle mass, and keeping strength through heavy, low-rep gym work. Matt and Marty also discuss performance versus longevity, marathon-running lifespan, the global running boom, online criticism, shoe wars, and Nike's position in the market.

They also dive into sauna protocols inspired by Bryan Johnson, the idea of reaching core-temperature thresholds, and Marty's supplement routine including vitamin D, methylated B vitamins, TMG, stopping creatine 12 weeks out, and experimenting with beetroot. The episode finishes with Marty outlining his next key long runs, including runs up to around 2 hours 45 minutes with marathon-effort segments.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Six Weeks Out Check In 01:45 - Heart Rate Tracking Basics 04:14 - 30K Pacing Race Breakdown 09:06 - Weight Goals And Fluctuations 18:11 - Lower Protein To Lose Muscle 24:44 - Strength Training While Cutting 25:49 - Handling Online Criticism 28:05 - Feedback Fuels Progress 29:14 - Marathon Times Getting Faster 29:52 - Running Boom Worldwide 31:07 - Will The Trend Last 33:15 - Nike Stock And Shoe Wars 37:00 - Sauna Protocol Deep Dive 42:20 - Supplements And Marginal Gains 47:42 - Sleep As The Secret Weapon 50:29 - Longest Runs And Key Sessions 52:28 - Wrap Up And Where To Listen

Jack Crago (Jog On Crago) on The Best Chinese Training & Racing Shoes in 2026 May 24, 2026

Show notes

Matt sits down with Jack Crago - Running Warehouse employee and one of the most in-depth reviewers of Chinese running shoes - to break down performance, shoe tech, and his rapid progression in the marathon.

Jack Crago Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jog.on.crago/

Jack Crago YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jogoncrago

Train with Matt Fox: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Join the Supporters Club & Private Podcast: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact Matt Fox: matt@sweatelite.co

Matt Fox Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Fox Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Matt opens the episode by introducing Jack Crago and his unique pathway into running after a brain injury ended his involvement in contact sports. Jack shares how he started running around five years ago and quickly became interested in performance, progression, and finding more affordable gear through secondhand markets and platforms like Taobao and AliExpress.

That curiosity evolved into detailed shoe reviews on Instagram and YouTube, with a strong focus on Chinese brands and how they compare to more established Western companies. Jack explains how this niche has grown rapidly, with innovation in foams, plates, and design now competing closely with the biggest brands in the sport.

The conversation then shifts to Jack's own progression, including improving his marathon from 2:56 to 2:43 in Perth and then sub-2:40 in Osaka, alongside a half marathon around 1:12 and a 5K near 15:40. Matt and Jack discuss the role of consistent training, proper fueling, and building speed to support marathon performance.

Jack breaks down his current shoe rotation, including the Dynafish Jiaoyan, Red A9 Ultra, Li-Ning Challenger, and Li-Ning Phaidon Elite 6, along with race options such as the Li-Ning Feiyeng Ultra 5/6 and Anta C10 Pro 2. He also shares insights into brands like Anta, 361, BMAI, Xtep, and Peak, highlighting where Chinese innovation is leading and where limitations still exist in global distribution.

They also discuss broader topics including whether Western brands still hold an advantage, pricing trends, the impact of super shoes, and what emerging brands are doing differently. The episode closes with discussion around watches - with Jack favoring the Coros Pace 4 - and supplements such as creatine, beta-alanine, and bicarb.

Timestamps: 00:00 - Meet Jack Crago 01:20 - Running origins 06:21 - Chasing performance 09:06 - Personal bests 11:32 - Fueling talk 12:03 - Rotation picks 17:35 - Anta and pricing 21:29 - 361 and BMAI deep dive 24:18 - Marathon shoe choice 25:27 - Old super shoe classics 26:48 - Do Western brands still win 27:09 - Fast Star race limits 27:43 - Why Chinese shoes are winning 29:17 - Small brands to watch 29:43 - Dowin hits and copies 31:17 - Berka and Xtep picks 33:53 - Kyodon favorites 35:17 - Peak and lab insights 37:55 - Will prices drop 41:52 - Nike retail reality 45:58 - Coros watch talk 48:32 - Supplements and margins 51:05 - Wrap up and where to follow

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