Marathon Handbook Podcast
Marathon Handbook's weekly podcast covers everything you need to know about running, from wrapping your head around running your first 5K to qualifying for the Boston Marathon!
Each week, our team of editors chat about what's going on in the running scene, as well as timely training tips, the hottest new gear and tech, 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!
For inquiries: hi@marathonhandbook.com
Marathon Handbook Podcast
What Makes a Super Shoe Super? The Science, the History, and Our Top Picks
Step into the fast lane with our deep dive into super shoes — the revolutionary footwear changing the face of distance running.
We break down what actually makes a shoe “super” (01:45), take you inside the never-before-told history of Nike’s prototype era (06:30), and trace how the Vaporfly flipped the script on competitive marathoning (18:50). From foam wars to carbon plates, from elite deception to banned shoes, this is the complete story of the super shoe — past, present, and what’s coming next.
We also get creative and build our dream super shoes using the best components on the market (38:30), and we power rank the top models you can buy in 2025 (50:20), including why Puma may have just launched the fastest shoe ever (53:00).
🏁 Highlights:
- What defines a true super shoe? (01:45)
- Nike’s early secrets & Kipchoge’s prototype (06:30)
- Breaking2 and the birth of the Vaporfly (18:50)
- Tech doping and World Athletics’ rules (30:50)
- Our fantasy shoe builds (38:30)
- 2025’s best shoes ranked (50:20)
- Is innovation peaking — or just beginning? (58:45)
💡 Have a question or shoe pick? Drop us a comment on Spotify or find us on Instagram @marathonhandbook.
🎧 Subscribe to the Marathon Handbook Podcast and check out our new sister show: Run Long Run Healthy — science-backed insights to help you run smarter and stay injury-free.
