In this Winter 2026 Mailbag, the Marathon Handbook crew answers listener questions on some of the toughest — and most misunderstood — topics in marathon running.

From runners who missed sub-3 by seconds, to first-time marathoners chasing Boston, to athletes sidelined by injury, this episode dives deep into both the physical and mental side of training.

We cover:

• Whether to repeat a sub-3 training block or hire a coach

• How much marathon pace should actually hurt

• Long runs vs. overall volume — what matters more?

• Shoes for mid-pack marathoners: super shoes or not?

• Training in extreme heat for cold-weather marathons

• Injury, identity, and staying motivated when running is taken away

• Alcohol during marathon training: moderation vs. abstinence

• Fine-tuning pace by seconds per kilometer

This is a must-listen for anyone training for a marathon — whether you’re chasing Boston, your first finish, or a big personal breakthrough.

Interview with Pete Pfitzinger, co-author of Advanced Marathoning: https://youtu.be/pw9edKx9Mws?si=1bQ_KYd_dRLdUGUm

📩 Questions about training, race previews, or to send us your hot takes? Email us at podcast@marathonhandbook.com.🎤 Leave us a voice memo for our mailbag episodes: marathonhandbook.com/podcast📸 Instagram: @marathon.handbook📰 Join 265,000+ runners getting our daily newsletter: marathonhandbook.com/newsletter
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