FORDY RUNS Podcast

The NYC Marathon is the biggest, loudest marathon on the planet, and we think it's the best race in the world. In this 2026 preview, we break down what makes New York so special, from the five boroughs and the bridges to the wall of noise on First Avenue. Whether you're running NYC this year, chasing a ballot spot, or just love big-city marathons, this one's for you.

In this episode:

• Why the NYC crowds are unlike any other marathon
• The course, borough by borough, and where it gets tough
• The bridges: Verrazzano, Queensboro and the quiet before First Avenue
• Pacing tips for a hilly, crowded course
• Race-week logistics: getting to Staten Island, the start villages and the wait
• Our predictions and who to watch in the 2026 race

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Bonus episode taken from our Youtube video! Sit back and relax and enjoy some real running shoe talk with two of the biggest UK shoe reviewers, FORDY and EDDBUD! They talk through their picks for the best running shoes of 2026.

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Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals. I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.

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In this weeks special video podcast we break it down into two parts. Firstly we review the Amsterdam Marathon as an event. Should you go run the Amsterdam Marathon or Half Marathon? We give it to you straight. Then in the second half we dive into the mental challenges of running a marathon. Especially from someone who is neurodivergent and the challenges that can bring.

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Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals. I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chasing the Marathon Majors isn't the only way to become a better runner. In this episode, we talk about why we're stepping away from the big-city majors and looking for fresh races and events in the UK and around the world to reignite our training and racing year. The six Marathon Majors are incredible, but ballots, costs, and repeating the same goals year after year can leave your running feeling stale.

We share how changing our mindset when booking races has opened up new challenges, from unique UK events to destination races abroad, and why stepping outside your comfort zone can make you a stronger, more motivated runner.

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Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals. I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter. Each episode covers topics like: Which running shoes are right for you Daily trainers vs. race shoes Carbon plate shoes — who actually needs them Cushioning, stability, fit & shoe rotation Shoes for beginners, marathon runners, and injured runners 🗓️ Live every Monday at 8:00 PM 🎥 Streamed live on Youtube, released after as video + audio podcast 💬 Ask your questions live in the chat — I answer them on air No jargon. No hype. Just straight answers from someone who actually knows shoes and running. 👉 Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss it live

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

FORDY RUNS Podcast is back with a big one: are AI chatbots quietly replacing running coaching apps?

We've noticed more and more of our own runners moving away from paid coaching apps like Runna, Coopah, and URNN — and instead building their own training plans using free AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. In this episode we dig into why that's happening, what people are gaining, and what they might be losing along the way.

We'll cover the pros of coach-built apps (Runna, Coopah, URNN) — personalisation, watch integration, and adaptive plans built on real coaching principles — versus the appeal of free, flexible AI chat tools that can build you a plan in seconds but don't actually see your training data unless you feed it to them yourself.

We're not here to tell you AI is the enemy or the saviour — this one's a genuinely open discussion about where the running app + AI space is heading, the risks of self-coaching with a chatbot, and whether the two worlds might actually end up merging.

In this episode:

Why runners are switching from Runna, Coopah, and URNN to free AI tools

Can ChatGPT or Claude actually build you a safe, effective training plan?

What coaching apps do that a chatbot can't (yet)

The injury and overtraining risk of self-coached AI plans

Our honest take as coaches on where this trend is heading

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Prompts mentioned in this episode:

Prompt 1 — Beginner Marathon (20-Week Plan)

I'm a beginner runner training for my first marathon, 20 weeks away. Create a detailed 20-week marathon training plan for me. Here's my context: [current weekly mileage, longest run so far, running experience, any injury history, how many days/week I can train, and race date]. Please structure the plan week by week with: easy runs, one long run per week (building gradually, with a taper in the final 2-3 weeks), rest/cross-training days, and a couple of quality sessions (tempo or intervals) once I'm past the base-building phase. Explain the purpose of each type of run, flag any weeks with a step-back/recovery mileage drop, and give me general pacing guidance based on effort level rather than exact paces, since I don't have a recent race time. Also include tips on fueling for long runs and signs of overtraining to watch for. Tip: Fill in the bracketed details with your actual mileage, race date, and experience level for a more tailored plan.

Prompt 2 — Half Marathon, Sub-1:30 Goal

I'm training for a half marathon and my goal is to break 1 hour 30 minutes (roughly 4:16/km or 6:52/mile pace). Here's my context: [weeks until race, current weekly mileage, recent race times or time trials, days/week available to train, current easy/tempo/interval paces if known]. Build me a training plan up to race day that's structured around this specific goal pace. Include: a weekly mileage progression, one long run per week with some marathon/half-marathon-pace segments built in as the plan progresses, dedicated threshold/tempo sessions, VO2max or interval workouts to build speed, easy recovery runs, and a taper in the final 1-2 weeks. Give me target paces for each workout type based on my sub-1:30 goal, and tell me how to adjust the plan if I'm falling behind or ahead of schedule based on how key workouts feel. Tip: The more specific your recent race times and current paces, the more accurate ChatGPT's target paces will be.

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Our Chicago Marathon 2026 preview is here, but first, what a week it's been in running! We break down the Berlin Marathon 2026, the durability issues people are reporting with the adidas Pro 5, our first thoughts on the new Nike Apex, the Vitality 10K, the new Boston Marathon qualifying times for 2027, and the London Marathon's rock, paper, scissors moment over whether the men's or women's elites go first in 2027.

Then we finish with our Chicago Marathon preview: who we think wins, what to watch for in the elite races, and our top tips if you're running it yourself. Running Chicago? Drop your goal time in the comments and we'll be cheering you on!

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Is running still fun, or has it turned into a numbers game? In this episode, we dig into the growing obsession with running times, pace, and PRs — and ask whether social media (Strava, Instagram, TikTok) is to blame for shifting the sport's culture away from enjoyment and toward performance metrics.

We talk about:

• Why so many runners are fixated on times over the experience of running itself
• Whether social media has created unhealthy comparison and pressure around pace
• If chasing a PR is actually a good thing — or if it's taking the joy out of running
• How the running community can find a better balance between performance and fun
•

Whether you're a casual jogger, a marathon runner, or someone training for your first 5K, this conversation explores a question a lot of runners are quietly asking themselves: are we running because we love it, or because we're chasing a number?

🎧 Listen and subscribe for more honest conversations about running, training, and the culture around the sport.

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This week a special Nike live Adidas Adizero Pro 5 and Alphafly 4 Review! With the Adidas Pro 5 launching this week and the Nike Alphafly 4 in for review, we answer your questions live!

Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals.

I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.

Each episode covers topics like:

Which running shoes are right for you

Daily trainers vs. race shoes

Carbon plate shoes — who actually needs them

Cushioning, stability, fit & shoe rotation

Shoes for beginners, marathon runners, and injured runners

🗓️ Live every Monday at 8:00 PM

🎥 Streamed live on Youtube, released after as video + audio podcast

💬 Ask your questions live in the chat — I answer them on air

No jargon. No hype. Just straight answers from someone who actually knows shoes and running.

👉 Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss it live.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

FORDY RUNS Podcast is back with a Berlin Marathon special.

We kick things off reacting to the Hyrox "poo-gate" scandal — Joanna Wietrzyk soiling herself mid-race and running on to win — and ask the real question: would we actually stop if that happened to us at Berlin?

Then it's all things Berlin Marathon: our full course rating, tips for race day, a chat through the expo experience, and what it's really like crossing that finish line through the Brandenburg Gate.

If you're running Berlin this weekend or just love a marathon debrief, this one's for you.

In this episode:

• The Hyrox Joanna Wietrzyk poo scandal — would we stop or push through?
• Berlin Marathon course rating and race day tips
• Expo chat — what to grab, what to skip
• The finish line experience through Brandenburg Gate
• Our predictions and goals for this weekend

Follow FORDY RUNS Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals.

I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.

Each episode covers topics like:

Which running shoes are right for you

Daily trainers vs. race shoes

Carbon plate shoes — who actually needs them

Cushioning, stability, fit & shoe rotation

Shoes for beginners, marathon runners, and injured runners

🗓️ Live every Monday at 8:00 PM

🎥 Streamed live on Youtube, released after as video + audio podcast

💬 Ask your questions live in the chat — I answer them on air

No jargon. No hype. Just straight answers from someone who actually knows shoes and running.

👉 Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss it live.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The half marathon might be the best thing to happen to running in years. It's long enough to be a real challenge, short enough that you don't need to rearrange your entire life to train for it — and it's exploding in popularity. In this episode, we dig into why the 13.1 has become the distance of choice for so many runners, using the Great North Run as our jumping-off point.

We cover:

• The Great North Run — what makes it one of the best half marathons in the world
• Why the Olympics still doesn't have a half marathon, and whether that needs to change
• The best half marathon shoes right now, and what actually makes a difference on race day
• The half marathon boom in America and how it compares to the UK scene
• The Shoreditch Half and the rise of stylish, city-based races
• What's driving so many runners to choose 13.1 over the full 26.2

Whether you're training for your first half or you're a serial racer chasing a new PB, this one's packed with race recommendations, gear talk, and a look at where the half marathon boom goes next.

🎧 Watch/listen to the full episode — and let us know in the comments, what's your favourite half marathon?

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals.

I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.

Each episode covers topics like:

Which running shoes are right for you

Daily trainers vs. race shoes

Carbon plate shoes — who actually needs them

Cushioning, stability, fit & shoe rotation

Shoes for beginners, marathon runners, and injured runners

🗓️ Live every Monday at 8:00 PM

🎥 Streamed live on Youtube, released after as video + audio podcast

💬 Ask your questions live in the chat — I answer them on air

No jargon. No hype. Just straight answers from someone who actually knows shoes and running.

👉 Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss it live.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sydney Marathon ballot is trending — but is Australia's World Marathon Major actually worth entering? We ran it in 2026 and this is our full, no-BS review.

From the expo to the event village, the course, and the spectators — we break down exactly what to expect before you commit to the ballot. No sponsored fluff, just what it's actually like to run Sydney Marathon as one of the World Marathon Majors.

In this episode:

✅ Sydney Marathon Expo — what to expect

✅ Event Village review

✅ Course rating — elevation, route, and race-day feel

✅ Crowd support and spectator experience

✅ Should you enter the Sydney Marathon ballot?

If you're considering entering the Sydney Marathon ballot for 2027, this honest review will help you decide before you commit.

🏃 Real runner review — not sponsored

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals.

I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.

Each episode covers topics like:

Which running shoes are right for you

Daily trainers vs. race shoes

Carbon plate shoes — who actually needs them

Cushioning, stability, fit & shoe rotation

Shoes for beginners, marathon runners, and injured runners

🗓️ Live every Monday at 8:00 PM [your time zone]

🎥 Streamed live on [platform], released after as video + audio podcast

💬 Ask your questions live in the chat — I answer them on air

No jargon. No hype. Just straight answers from someone who actually knows shoes and running.

👉 Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss it live.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are running influencers dead? Are running clubs now the biggest influence in the sport? That's the question we open with in this episode of the FORDY RUNS Podcast — and it sets the tone for everything else we get into.

Running is evolving at an incredible pace, but is it all for the better? We discuss the biggest changes happening in the running world today — from carbon-plated running shoes and AI-generated training plans to Hyrox, Zone 2 training, Garmin recovery scores and the explosion of run clubs — asking one simple question: what is actually making us better runners?

We also debate whether people should be paying to run a 5K, whether the UK needs more athletics tracks, and dig deeper into whether run clubs are now shaping the sport more than individual running influencers.

Then it's time for our biggest Underrated or Overrated segment yet, as we give our honest opinions on some of the hottest topics in running, including super shoes, maximal cushioning, stability shoes, marathon majors, Strava, Hyrox, ultra marathons, run streaks, walking trends, recovery technology, daily trainers, wearable tech and much more.

Whether you're training for your first 5K, chasing a marathon PB, preparing for your next half marathon, or simply love keeping up with the latest running news and trends, this episode is packed with opinions, laughs and plenty of topics you'll want to debate.

💬 Join the conversation in the comments and let us know:

Are running clubs the new influencers?

Which running trend is the most overrated? Which one deserves more recognition?

Would you ever pay to run a local 5K?

If you enjoy the podcast, please like the video, subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode of the FORDY RUNS Podcast. We release regular podcasts covering marathon training, running shoes, race reviews, running news, coaching, nutrition and everything happening in the world of running.

#Running #RunningPodcast #RunningNews

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overwhelmed by shoe choice? Confused by marketing hype? Welcome to the FORDY RUNS Shoe Talk Show 👟 — a weekly live podcast dedicated entirely to running shoes, where you get honest, practical advice on choosing the right shoe for your body, training, and goals.

I'm a qualified running coach, so when shoe choices overlap with training, injury prevention, or performance, I bring that coaching lens too — helping you run better and stay healthier, not just buy smarter.

Each episode covers topics like:

Which running shoes are right for you

Daily trainers vs. race shoes

Carbon plate shoes — who actually needs them

Cushioning, stability, fit & shoe rotation

Shoes for beginners, marathon runners, and injured runners

🗓️ Live every Monday at 8:00 PM [your time zone]

🎥 Streamed live on [platform], released after as video + audio podcast

💬 Ask your questions live in the chat — I answer them on air

No jargon. No hype. Just straight answers from someone who actually knows shoes and running.

👉 Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss it live.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parkruns are packed. Marathon ballots are more oversubscribed than ever. Strava is full of PBs. So why does track and field feel like it's on life support?

In this episode, we dig into the strange paradox at the heart of the sport: running has never been more popular, yet athletics participation keeps declining. We break down what the recent European Championships and Commonwealth Games revealed about the state of the sport — empty stands, shrinking grassroots numbers, and a growing gap between recreational running culture and competitive athletics.

We ask the hard questions:

• Is this a funding crisis, or something deeper?
• Why isn't the running boom translating into club membership or track participation?
• Have the sport's governing bodies lost touch with what's actually pulling people toward running?
• What needs to change before athletics gets left behind entirely?

If you love the sport but you're worried about where it's headed, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen/watch the full episode and let us know in the comments — what do you think is really killing athletics participation?

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.