Go Deeper: Hear the Runners’ Full Stories
The complete interviews featured in the episode.
Sathya’s Story: Finding the Right Pace and Gaining an Edge
An experienced, consistent runner who had worked with a coach before, Sathya discovered new lessons about running easy, building accountability, and understanding his own effort. Hear how coaching helped him sharpen his approach, earn a PR, and finish third in his age group—just seven seconds shy of second place!
Full interview ·
Ruston’s Story: First Marathon, New Lessons, and a Tough Race Day
Taking on his first marathon, Ruston turned to coaching for structure, confidence, and a plan to help him avoid injury and hitting the wall. From learning to manage fatigue and fuel properly to facing severe cramps late in the race, his story reveals both the value of preparation and the unpredictable challenges of marathon day.
Full interview:
Brandon’s Story: From Training Doubts to a Sub-4 Marathon
: From Training Doubts to a Sub-4 Marathon
With several half marathons behind him but his first full marathon ahead, Brandon wanted a clear plan and the accountability to follow through. Balancing training with family life, tackling tough hills, and learning what fueling worked best, he pushed through early doubts and crossed the finish line in 3:57—beating his sub-4-hour goal!
Full interview:
Season 3 Episode 9 of the Running for Beginners podcast from the 22resolutionists, hosted by me Mike Fleming.
What Is It REALLY Like Training for a Marathon With a Running Coach?
In this episode of Running for Beginners, we sit down with runners who trained for the Hogeye Marathon under Coach Drew Conner to talk honestly about the marathon coaching experience from the athlete perspective.
What does a marathon training plan actually feel like week after week? Does hiring a running coach improve performance, consistency, and confidence? And what happens when training doesn’t go perfectly?
Each runner in this episode shares their unique journey through structured marathon training — including the highs, setbacks, breakthroughs, injuries, accountability, race-day emotions, and lessons learned along the way.
Some runners hit their goals. Others faced unexpected challenges. But every conversation offers valuable insight for beginner and intermediate runners thinking about:
- Hiring a running coach
- Running their first marathon
- Following a structured marathon training plan
- Balancing marathon training with everyday life
- Handling setbacks and injuries during training
- Staying motivated through long-distance training
Whether you’re preparing for your first marathon, considering personalized coaching, or simply curious how real runners navigate the marathon process, this episode provides honest, relatable insight into what marathon coaching actually looks like in practice.
🎧 Topics Covered:
- Marathon training structure
- Benefits of running coaches
- Accountability in endurance training
- Marathon preparation tips
- Long runs and recovery
- Race-day expectations
- Mental challenges of marathon training
- Injury setbacks and adaptations
- Beginner marathon advice
If you enjoy the episode, please follow, share, and leave a review to help more beginner runners find the show.
Let’s Run Forward Together!
🎧 Listen now and discover how hiring a running coach can help transform your running.
Connect with Coach Drew Connor, Coach Laura Saponar, The Everyday Ultra Training Team
🔗 Website: RunwithDrew
📱 Instagram: @runwithcoachdrew
🔗 Website: OwnYourEndurance
📱 Instagram: @Laurasaponar05
📱 Instagram: @ownyourendurance
🔗 Website: Everyday Ultra Group Coaching Program
YouTube: Everyday Ultra
Enjoying the Running for Beginners Podcast?
If this episode helped you, please consider following the show, leaving a rating or review, and sharing it with another runner who could use a little extra motivation and encouragement on their journey.
#MarathonTraining #RunningCoach #MarathonRunner #FirstMarathon #RunningPodcast #BeginnerRunner #HogeyeMarathon #MarathonPrep #DistanceRunning #RunYourRace #RunningCommunity #EnduranceTraining #MarathonJourney #RunMotivation #HalfMarathon #RunLife #RunnersOfInstagram #TrainingPlan #RaceDay #RunningForBeginners
🎧 Subscribe for more educational running conversations: If you’re a beginner or intermediate runner looking to improve your training, have fun, avoid injury, and stay consistent, make sure to subscribe and follow along each month.
👍 If You Enjoyed This Episode
- Like the video
- Subscribe for more running tips
- Share with a friend training for their first race
Mike is also an Ambassador for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital where children get the best care available and the parents don’t have to worry about payment.
Whether you’re a runner struggling with anxiety, stress, or relationships—or simply curious about how movement affects mental health—I have multiple episodes that offer grounded, professional insight you can trust.
Resources & Links:
- St. Jude Children’s Hospital: http://heroes.stjude.org/RunningforBeginners
- Rone Supercharged Honey packs: https://www.ronenutrition.com/RUNWITHMIKE
- Ucan Energy Gels: https://ucan.co/RUNNINGFORBEGINNERS
🎧 Watch the full video interviews on the Running for Beginners YouTube channel and the No Ads version of the full video interviews episode of Running for Beginners on Patreon – featuring Coach Drew Connor, Coach Laura Saponar of OwnYourEndurance.com and coach for the Everyday Ultra Training Team. Learn what hiring a running coach can do for you to take your running to the next level!
The video interview was conducted using Riverside.fm a website/app for creators everywhere. Check them out here: https://riverside.sjv.io/2aoeLM
I also have a listener discount code for Rone Super Charged Honey Packets at ronenutrition.com with code RUNWITHMIKE as well as Caffeine Bullet at Caffeinebullet.com for 20% off your cart purchase with code RUNNING4BEGGINERS, and UCAN Energy Gels, Bars and more & get 30% off when you use my code https://ucan.co/RUNNINGFORBEGINNERS at the respective check outs. [disclaimer, i do receive a commission from any sales; even on Riverside]
Ad free versions of videos of my interviews will be posted on Patreon@Running4Beginners. Thanks for listening; I hope you can find value in the podcast. If you do enjoy, I hope you follow us on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify or your favorite podcast service, give us a rating and some comments and of course hit the subscribe button.
🏃 Keywords
marathon training, marathon coaching, running coach, first marathon, beginner marathon training, marathon preparation, marathon podcast, running podcast, hogeye marathon, coached marathon training, marathon training tips, running motivation, endurance training, marathon journey, marathon race prep, beginner runners, long distance running, marathon advice, marathon runner interview, running for beginners, running community, race day experience, running accountability, running improvement, structured marathon training
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