Marathon Handbook Podcast

Connor Mantz is the American marathon record holder, but his journey to the top hasn’t been straightforward.After a breakout 2025 season that included a record-breaking 2:04:43 at the Chicago Marathon, Mantz looked poised for even bigger things. But a sacrum stress fracture forced him off running for nearly three months.In this episode, Alex Cyr sits down with Mantz to talk about his recovery, his build toward the 2026 Boston Marathon, and what it takes to compete with the best marathoners in the world.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.comLagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. They discuss:Setting the American marathon record in ChicagoThe injuries that derailed his trainingHow elite runners approach recovery and cross-trainingWhether Americans are closing the gap on East African runnersSuper shoes and how they’ve changed racingDoping concerns in professional runningWhy Utah produces so many elite distance runnersHis long-term goal of winning an Olympic medal in 2028Plus a rapid-fire round covering shoe rotations, breaking two hours in the marathon, and who he trusts most to babysit his future child.00:00 Intro00:47 Meet American Marathon Record Holder Conner Mantz02:30 Injury After Chicago & The Road Back04:30 Running Through Injuries06:30 The Sacrum Stress Fracture Explained11:00 Cross Training While Injured14:30 Returning to Running After 12 Weeks Off17:40 Boston Marathon Build & Training Strategy22:00 Benchmark Workouts Before a Marathon24:00 Can Conner Mantz Win Boston?25:30 Choosing Marathons: Legacy vs Prize Money28:30 Olympic Gold vs Winning a Major31:00 The Sour Patch Kids Doping Scare36:00 Doping in Elite Running44:30 The Enhanced Games Debate49:00 Are Americans Catching East African Runners?54:00 The Super Shoe Effect57:00 Why Some Runners Improve So Fast58:30 What Makes Conner Mantz a Great Marathoner1:00:30 Why Utah Produces So Many Elite Runners1:04:00 Goals for 2026 & Olympic Dreams1:06:00 Rapid Fire Questions1:15:00 Where to Follow Conner Mantz

Show Notes

Connor Mantz is the American marathon record holder, but his journey to the top hasn’t been straightforward.
After a breakout 2025 season that included a record-breaking 2:04:43 at the Chicago Marathon, Mantz looked poised for even bigger things. But a sacrum stress fracture forced him off running for nearly three months.
In this episode, Alex Cyr sits down with Mantz to talk about his recovery, his build toward the 2026 Boston Marathon, and what it takes to compete with the best marathoners in the world.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:
Saysky makes incredible running gear that our team love. Use code MARATHON15 for 15% off your purchase at https://saysky.com
Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match. 
They discuss:
  • Setting the American marathon record in Chicago
  • The injuries that derailed his training
  • How elite runners approach recovery and cross-training
  • Whether Americans are closing the gap on East African runners
  • Super shoes and how they’ve changed racing
  • Doping concerns in professional running
  • Why Utah produces so many elite distance runners
  • His long-term goal of winning an Olympic medal in 2028
Plus a rapid-fire round covering shoe rotations, breaking two hours in the marathon, and who he trusts most to babysit his future child.

00:00 Intro
00:47 Meet American Marathon Record Holder Conner Mantz
02:30 Injury After Chicago & The Road Back
04:30 Running Through Injuries
06:30 The Sacrum Stress Fracture Explained
11:00 Cross Training While Injured
14:30 Returning to Running After 12 Weeks Off
17:40 Boston Marathon Build & Training Strategy
22:00 Benchmark Workouts Before a Marathon
24:00 Can Conner Mantz Win Boston?
25:30 Choosing Marathons: Legacy vs Prize Money
28:30 Olympic Gold vs Winning a Major
31:00 The Sour Patch Kids Doping Scare
36:00 Doping in Elite Running
44:30 The Enhanced Games Debate
49:00 Are Americans Catching East African Runners?
54:00 The Super Shoe Effect
57:00 Why Some Runners Improve So Fast
58:30 What Makes Conner Mantz a Great Marathoner
1:00:30 Why Utah Produces So Many Elite Runners
1:04:00 Goals for 2026 & Olympic Dreams
1:06:00 Rapid Fire Questions
1:15:00 Where to Follow Conner Mantz

What is Marathon Handbook Podcast?

Marathon Handbook's weekly podcast covers everything you need to know about running, from running your first 5K to qualifying for the Boston Marathon! Each week, our editors chat about what's going on in the running scene, as well as timely training tips, the best new gear, and what's happening at the world's biggest races. We'll cover everything from the Boston Marathon to the Barkley Marathons, often podding live from the most important moments in running! Watch our video podcast each week on YouTube, and listen to it wherever you get your podcasts! Inquiries: podcast@marathonhandbook.com