IMO #33 - How To Race Boston Marathon & London Marathon, Chinese Shoe Brand Updates, Palestine Marathon and more

Some final thoughts ahead of Boston and London Marathon weekend, including why I believe effort matters more than obsessing over numbers, how I would approach Boston tactically, and why fueling properly can make a huge difference on race day. I also talk about what I'm doing in Hong Kong, coaching while travelling, Chinese shoe brands, and a few workouts you can use in your own training.
Links
Matt coaching: www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Matt Instagram: www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/6248359
Recording this one from Hong Kong, I go through my last-minute thoughts for Boston and London Marathon runners and explain why I think most athletes race better when they stay locked into effort rather than rigid pace or heart rate targets. I talk through the Boston course, the likely weather, how I'd think about carb loading in the final days, and why arriving at the key hills under control matters so much more than chasing a split too early.
I also get into fueling in more detail, including the importance of drip feeding carbohydrates and caffeine throughout the race rather than waiting until you are already in trouble. From there, I talk a bit about what I'm doing in Hong Kong, the running-related app project I'm involved in, and some of the Chinese shoe brands and factories I've been looking into, including the balance between affordability, durability, and performance.
Elsewhere in the episode, I touch on London logistics, some thoughts on the pro scene, my own recent body composition results and return from injury, coaching while travelling, a possible Beating Bester rivalry idea, and a few practical workouts for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon runners.
Topics
00:00 - Hong Kong Coffee Intro
00:55 - Effort Over Numbers
03:02 - Boston Weather And Carbs
04:29 - Why I'm In Hong Kong
05:58 - Chinese Super Shoes Deep Dive
09:06 - Boston Course And Pacing
12:43 - Fueling Plan During Race
16:00 - Heartbreak Hill Execution
17:11 - London Marathon Notes
22:56 - Pro Field And Podcasts
24:44 - Palestine Trip Plans
26:45 - Shoe Prices And Durability
29:23 - Weight Loss And DEXA
31:50 - Body Scan Reality Check
32:49 - Calf Niggle And Shoe Testing
34:16 - Beating Bester Rivalry Idea
39:56 - Coaching While Traveling
45:49 - Rapid Fire Q And A
52:00 - Workouts Of The Week
57:42 - Coaching Versus AI Guidance
58:28 - Wrap Up And Boston Pep Talk