Our first Marathon Talk Extra of the new season, and on this Tokyo Special, Martin and Deena are joined by David Macnamara from Abbott World Marathon Majors, and they look back on a great day of racing, which saw Tadese Takele, Brigid Kosgei, Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner claim victory in the Japanese capital.

David also gives some insight into what the race week has been like and makes a frankly embarassing attempt to speak Japanese. See if you can figure out who wrote this bit!

All this, and more, on Marathon Talk Extra!

As we look ahead to the first Marathon of the new season in Tokyo, we catch up with US long-distance great Sara Hall as she prepares to return to the Japanese capital for the 3rd time.

And we'll hear from Abbott World Marathon Majors' David Macnamara with a round-up of things happening during race week.

On this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:00 - Happy Birthday, Deena!
• 05:40 - Tokyo Marathon Preview
• 16:00 - Sara Hall joins us to talk about her prep for Tokyo, her career and more.
• 39:11 - David Macnamara is here to tell us all about what is happening in Tokyo on race week.

Links & References:

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Sara Hall | Instagram

Marathon Talk is back for 2026, and what an episode we have for you to start the new season! First up, we're joined by Spencer Matthews, as he prepares to head to Japan to take on the Tokyo Marathon.

Our second guests, whom you may have seen on your social media feeds over the last few weeks, Aubrey Mvula and Liz Newcomer, were judges for the recent Abbott World Marathon Majors Marathon Tours & Travel World Tour competition.

They talk us through the process they used to find their winner, Leodhais MacPhearson, and we also have the chance to speak to the man himself as he prepares to run every Abbott World Marathon Major over the next two years.

We're so excited be back!

On this episode of Marathon Talk:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:46 - Martin & Deena catch-up
• 03:37 - Marathon Talk meets Spence Matthews
• 35:24 - We meet Aubrey Mvula, Liz Newcomer and Leodhais MacPhearson to talk about the Abbott World Marathon Majors Marathon Tours & Travel World Tour competition.
• 1:06:01 - Wrap-Up

Links & References:

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Marathon Talk

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Martin Yelling | Instagram

Deena Kastor | Instagram

Spencer Matthews | Instagram | Untapped Podcast on Spotify

Aubrey Mvula | Instagram

Liz Newcomer | Instagram

Leodhais MacPhearson | Instagram