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