Jess has been a great addition to the team. Amazing runner but also relatable.

As much as I like Andy and his great run experience.I love to hear from people like Jess where not everything went according to plan. We can learn a lot from it.

Now I want at least 2 members of the running channel to run every marathon so we can get more videos like this!

Ran my 3rd Marathon in October and did the same thing after, combing over my stats - ran the race looking to finally break the 4hr barrier; I was able to stick with the pacer and a large group for 35k, but that wall hit like a hammer and had to stop and stretch for a lot longer than I’d have liked to, and had to walk 1k to really work through it. Ended at 4:10, still shaving 20 mins off my previous PR. Toronto 2024 will be it, I’m confident!

Jess is absolutely incredible. Hearing her talk about her race breaking down and still finishing inside of 3:30 is amazing. Love hearing you two talk about your experiences in the same race. Great concept! I feel like I could listen to you both talk about running forever.

From the outside looking in I bet most people don't consider the amount of thought and planning before and during a race. I certainly didn't think about it. Before I started running this year I would hear about people running marathons and think they just run as fast as they can for a long time. Thanks to this channel and videos like this I've been able to run further and more often than I ever have in my life. Thanks to everyone that works on this channel for all the tips and insights. You've made a big difference in my life.

I love videos like this. Not everyone out there will sit and look at the data but that is always my favorite part after the race. Being able to see the it tell the story of my race netter than I can remember it. Plus it helps allow you to be better prepared for the next one. ❤

My first and only marathon so far was great for the first half. But then my calf seized up and I walked the last 8 miles. There’s no way I was gonna miss out on the finishers shirt!

Really fascinating. Thank you both for your honest appraisal - really interesting and helpful.

"Got to try you don't want to be living with regret" quote from Jess is spot on and really hit a nerve for me. I ran my first marathon earlier this year a few months before 50th birthday and after 2 1/3 years of running. I had a fairly conservative plan which i think could have worked well and had trained well. I didn't stick even close to the plan(zone 2 first half then increase pace a bit,before seeing what i got late on) and went off far too fast, struggled to slow myself and then at some point still in first half making a concious decision that even though i knew there was no way i could hold this pace that is exactly what i would do and see what happens! Half within a few minutes of my Pb (done on a flatish course,this wasn't!) and around this point my knee started to hurt ,by a few miles later the hip joined in but despite a lot of pain it wasn't until 18th mile that the 1st mile dropped to a pace around the 4 hr marathon pace. In 20th mile the pain was so severe i had my first walking break up a hill and i did this regularly throught the rest, i basically quit and accepted that even doing this i would get sub 4 which was my best case scenario/dream and i suppose i am proud of my 3:54 in a way,but so full of regret. I was in so much pain at end but after a few minutes i looked round at the state of people finishing after me and whist i was in what i thought was a lot of pain i could see from the state of these people and the way they were moving or not,that they had given so much more than me.I can not shake that thought that i really bottled this mentally and just accepted that sub 4 and gave up trying!

Really enjoyed this found it so informative Andy’s experience and explanations were amazing,found it really enjoyable watching him do his first marathon more of the same please 👍

I've watched this video like 5 times. My geek side really likes looking at the metrics. Looking for how to plan my race strategy. Thanks Andy and Jess!

Wow Jess. Maybe a video on your recovery? Great addition to the team.

This was so fascinating to watch. So intersting to hear actual breakdown of all the different stats, tie them into the experience and the learings you took from them. I do this on a lot of my runs but not to this degree and was really interesting, especially the bit about cadence vs how you were feeling and the different ways you both dealt with it.

Really interesting to see the stats and compare the two. Well done both of you!

You are both amazing athletes. So interesting to look at all the running data after your marathons. I hope you do more videos where you show us the data afterwards. Love it! Jess is a fantastic addition to the team! Here's to the next marathon, Andy! :D Well done to the both of you.

I love this. I'm Jess (on this run) and my friend is Andy. He is amazing at a plan and keeping to it, I'm rubbish at it and really need to work on it.

Such a great video and so relatable - often suffer leg cramps towards the end of a marathon so definitely feel your pain 😬👏🏻

Very interesting breakdown of the information the tec provides. Somehow made the data more real. Thanks

Loved this video. I am a data junky with all of the information that my Garmin provides, and it’s great to compare the shape (not the actual values) of my graphs against those of two very good runners. It really nice to compare a race that goes according to to plan vs one that didn’t vs mine.

I haven't run a full marathon yet, but I ran my first half in November. I had run the distance on my own a number of times but this was my first race. My previous pb was 1:46 and I set a goal time of 1:30. I started out on pace for the first 5k but each subsequent 5k my pace dropped about 10 seconds or so. I ended up with an average pace of 4:34/km and a time of 1:36:01. Overall happy with the result but definitely going to change up my pacing strategy for next time.

Really good insights, I think there are many of us that can relate to both experiences (but probably a bit lower pace :-)). So the next video needs to be on "How to overcome your troubles in the last 10k"

Congrats to both, thanks for sharing your data. Sorry the race didn’t go quite as planned Jess. But you’re definitely capable of getting a new marathon PB in the future. I have hit the wall hard on a half, but have yet to try the full marathon distance. I plan to in about 3 yrs. 😂

Really interesting to have the stats explained in a concise and understandable manner. It was also good to have two sets of race results, with different charts, to compare.

Thanks guys. I love the stats. It gives me ways to work on to improve so I am not just stabbing in the dark. Running my first marathon next year in May so all the tips are good! Well done to you both.

I absolutely loved hearing to athletes compare their metrics. I would also like to see a couple of 4hr runners also compare

I really hope Jess can knock that 10 seconds off her time in 2024. Maybe Mo, Andy, and Freddie can pace her? We can call it MAF-ing. 😂

This was such a useful discussion! I loved Andy's insight into the major axes of differences between his and Jess's marathon.

Great video! I ran London and Valencia this year (lucky me:-) with very different experiences. London: slightly under-prepared (not much speed but good endurance) and tapering by running 50km on Exmoor trails the week before(!), leading to a negative split and a 16-minute PB. Valencia: well-prepared (both speed and endurance) and a perfect taper, but got severely sore quads by halfway. Race fell apart after that. Hobbled it in 9 minutes slower than London. No idea what happened.

I ran the same race. My heart rate according to the same heart rate monitor was 154-164 bpm I took off easily like Andy did. I absolutely loved it between 15 and 35km and then I started to crumble at the very end (the last 3km)🫣 Still managed to get my New PB of 3:26 so it was worth the pain 😂

Excellent video. It sounds like Jess basically went out at more of a 10k effort level, based on her heart rate, so did brilliantly to hang to finish in a time that would still qualify as a good for age for most of the marathon majors. My problem with the marathon isn’t so related to heart rate it is more a lack of conditioning in the last 10k. In my last marathon in October I ended up finishing with a real time stamina score of 26% indicating I had more to give. In the early stages I was thinking I could push on easily towards a sub 3.15 but ended up with 3.19. In the last 8k, as my legs started to fatigue, my pace started to drop. I think it is down to lack of harder efforts at marathon pace in my long runs and maybe I also need to do more strength and conditioning work in the gym.

Thanks for diving into the numbers and how it relates to the physical aspects of running. It’s makes more sense to me now.

Fascinating breakdown of the data and yes I think the HRM strap is fantastic for the left /right balance , I always monitor that and when it changes I make sure to check why

Got to love Jess’s ambition - not trained well but still started at PB pace then even with an injury to his right knee and still managed sub 3.30 marathon ❤️

At 00:12:23 Jess talks about making an analysis at 20-30K-there’s a point when either pain or just exhaustion makes one unable to make good decisions. I hit that only at the end and as a first-timer didn’t recognize where to go and what I should be looking for like my gear bag or picking up the medal from the First-Timer’s booth let alone considering changing my strategy. It’s a good thing my training team helped me decide in advance how I could know when to take my nutrition (every 5K Garmin would also beep).

I'd be curious to learn how Jess's knee is feeling now. I hope she's gotten some relief and is back running again! Sending you healing thoughts, sister!

I also did my debut Marathon at Valencia earlier this month, like Andy I'm 41. My heart rate was 160bpm from the gun and I went through halfway in 1:11, which seemed a bit quick. But I felt ok, but then it got really tough, but I managed to finish in 2:24 which was faster than my target going in which was to go sub 2:30. I'm not sure if I wanna do another, I can't see myself going sub 2:20 but it was kinda fun

Very interesting analysis. Thanks guys

Really interesting video. One of my favourite so far. I would *love* to see more videos where you show more graphs, from everyone from the running channel as it helps putting my own stats into perspective. Perhaps this would be more suitable for a blog post on your website, to have a more detailed analysis. You asked what our marathon experience was like. I ran only one marathon in Montreal, some 43 years ago, with relatively little training. I hit the wall, but managed to finish it in an official time of 3 hours and 47 minutes. I wrote a detailed post about that experience on Reddit 11 years ago or so ... but I know that posting links to reddit would make result in this comment being deleted. (If you're interested, I could send you a link to your podcast email address.) I do hope to run a second marathon within a year or so, with the ambitious goal of getting a PB. According to Runalyze optimistic prediction, with the proper training (for increasing my endurance as my "marathon shape" currently sits at 52%), I should be able to do this. Your videos always manage to increase my motivation - please keep up your good work. Finally, congrats to both Andy and Jess!

Great to listen to and hear your experiences. My only marathon (went to ultras after) was very different. Quite consistent throughout but the 20-30k was much harder both physically and mentally, got needless of life either way 10k to go cos I knew I could do it!!

Great analysis video! Training for my second marathon with a target of 3:30.

I did my first half marathon this year (it was a trail race so hiking featured heavily). After completely messing up my training strategy (newbie and very slow runner) I realised I had to set very realistic goals for myself and plan the race well. With the elevation a big factor I chunked the race into 3 parts. Part 1 was the most runnable, part 2 was the most hiking (most of the elevation gain was in part 2), and part 3 was hopefully mostly cruising to the finish. I was also going to be chasing the cut off. I managed to execute part 1 well, faffed around too long at the checkpoint and got overtaken by a bunch of people, overtook several people just out of the checkpoint because apparently hiking uphill is a strength of mine (!), got a knee niggle and was unable to run as much downhill, destroyed my legs on the last incredibly steep uphill (it's infamous in my city) and then had cramps during the start of the 3rd part so was unable to run as much as I'd hoped. Still managed my B goal and had an absolutely fantastic time. I also learned a lot, and have gone back to basics with building my running base. I was proud of my race strategy, my mental game and my endurance, just need to become a more consistent runner!

I only have a virtual half marathon, in a park run type loop. I hit a wall just after 12 k. No refueling was not a good idea.

Interesting! For my first marathon, next March, I'm not going to bother with stats, though, and just listen to my body and try and make it over the finish line in whatever time.

London 2023 - lateral knee pain at 30k, had to just slow down. So frustrating - had been so disciplined with pacing up to that point.

What a great video, you guys are awesome.

Really interesting and yes, have hit the wall a few times on marathons… that’s why I mainly only run parkruns these days. 😊

I finished my first ever marathon in 422 with multiple stitches from 20KM-35KM on and off so have to reduce my pace and even walk on and off, it would be great if TRC can explain on running stitches especially during races not daily running session. Didn't faced such issue during my LSD over 30KM even at faster pace and lesser energy gels intake. I'm suspecting it's the amount of gels or electrolyte intake (took 5 gels and 5 electrolyte pills) as I did warm up properly prior to race and didn't exceeded my targeted pace as well.

2 amazing runners and as always love the vibe of the conversation. I’ve only just got my garmin, watching this checked my stats from recently and found I’m running inefficiently😂. My last marathon I was held back to over 27 mins for the first 5K and finished the last two 5kms in 22:14 no garmin then but I wish I could see those stats! Well done both. Gemma has given me a new goal for next year, where did she used to train?

Great analysis, really interesting

Great video. Could we please have more videos like this?

Well done both of you same marathon different journeys onto the net for both of you 🎉

I've run two marathons so far. My first was similar to Jess' experience (although it wasn't injury, but hitting the wall which caused me to have to slow down after 28km). My second was similar to Andy's experience. I started at a decent pace, but was able to pick it up between 10 and 30km, then I tried to maintain as best as I could for the final 10km. My second marathon was definitely the better experience where I could enjoy the race way more while my first marathon was truly a struggle to reach the finish line. I learnt from my mistakes. 😅

As a 20-something I find Andy a very reasuring example of how I might age re running xD

Looking forward to this video, I love geeking out about stats. Here's an early question. Why do we talk about increasing pace when numerically we want to lower our pace and increase our speed? Is it just that we're too used to higher is better so it's more natural to talk about increasing pace? ETA: I wonder if Jess's injury was directly related to lack of marathon training and going out too fast for her current fitness level. If she had run a bit slower would the injury have been delayed or even possibly avoided? What would her time have been then? Or was it more random so that the injury wouldn't necessarily have happened even at the same pace on a different day or whatever?

Really enjoyed this video and I don’t even run marathons!

Brilliant video is so interesting.

I coach a basketball team and love you guys’ channel. What’s the best way to get my basketball players in shape?

Andy, I emailed a question to you for the podcast about heart rate during the race, but expressed in terms of HR zones. As someone 30 years older than you, I find zones provide a more meaningful comparison.

Really interesting 👌

She probably whooped your a$$, that’s what! 😂😂😂. Absolute rocket that one :) and great addition to your already amazing crew.

What is the Max power you guys van put out? In W/Kg

1st marathon back in May. Horrible cramp for the last 12 miles, could barely run more than a few hundred metres so lots and lots of walking! Snuck in in just under 5hrs but I know I am capable of something much quicker.

48 old, Vo2 60, resting heart rate 40, PB 3.30, when I was injury free that is. Maybe I can do 4.30 this summer. (It's 1,5h too slow!)

Andy's resting hearthrate is quite a bit higher than I would expect

Always boggles my mind when i see the heart rates of..lets say more experienced runners. Andy maxed out below 170 BPM while running faster than my 5k PR. Ran my first 13.1 this year much slower than I would run a 5k and *averaged* like 178 BPM.

60 v02max👀

so what is Andys HR when sleeping ?

Can I ask how long the battery should last on a HR Run strap? I struggle to get more than 4 or 5 runs?

Yeah, I think if Jess paced herself a bit better at first it would have been better for her over-all time and potentially could have avoided that knee strain. But great job by the both of you.

So this video brought something completely baffling to me. My resting heart rate hovers in the low 50s, for the last week it's been averaging right at 50, which is really surprises me if much better athletes like yourself have a slightly higher resting heart rate. I'm a 35 year old male, and only been running a year. Any thoughts on why this might be?

what did Andy drink to still experience muscle cramps?

If you wanted to run an identical marathon, you should have just run together 🤦‍♂️