Hard Work Pays Off -Interview with Cari Masek

Hard Work Pays Off -Interview with Cari Masek

[https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0597-768x1024.jpg] In this episode, we speak with longtime Academy member Cari Masek, who ran her first marathon after being inspired by an episode of this podcast. Running has changed her life — giving her the confidence to set goals, dream big, and inspire others.  LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Run Coaching [https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/coaching]. Work with an expert MTA Running Coach. June 3 is Global Running Day and UCAN [http://ucan.co/mta] is doing their biggest sale of the year! Get 40% OFF sitewide with code MTA40. Stock up on long-lasting, easy-on-the-gut fuel, including the NEW Strawberry Kiwi and Citrus Energy Gel + Electrolytes. Altra Running [http://altrarunning.com] -Altra shoes are designed with the Altra Fit, with room for your toes for comfort, balance, and strength. Use code MTA10 for 10% off. And Stay Out There with Altra. AG1 Next Gen [https://drinkAG1.com/mta] has new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2. Cari Masek [https://runcari.com] is an avid runner, race pacer, and coach.  She races every distance from 5k to 50k, with her favorite being the Half Marathon.  Having completed over 100 half marathons, she is currently working on a ONE STATE goal to run every half in Ohio.   She volunteers as a pacer at seven local half marathons, a race director at two local races, and as a coach for three different kids programs.  She has been the head coach of the Centerville Striders Elementary Cross Country team for fourteen years.   Knowing she is making a positive impact on the next generation of runners (k-6th grade) means more to her than any personal accomplishment. Cari ran her first marathon after being inspired by an episode of the Marathon Training Academy and would say running has absolutely changed her life too, teaching her to set goals and dream big.  The running community is the best and she is grateful to be a part of it.

Angie and Trevor’s Top 3 Picks

[https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/top3.png] In this episode we share our top three gear picks, running books, favorite marathons, runners we admire, interesting things we’ve found on a run, embarrassing running mishaps, daily healthy habits and more! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Run Coaching [https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/coaching]. Work with an expert MTA Running Coach. Previnex [http://www.previnex.com] -makers of Joint Health Plus and Muscle Health Plus -two products I take every day that help me maximize my recovery and performance as a long distance runner. Use code MTA for 15% off your first order. Altra Running [http://altrarunning.com] -Altra shoes are designed with the Altra Fit, with room for your toes for comfort, balance, and strength. Use code MTA10 for 10% off. And Stay Out There with Altra. IQBAR brain and body-boosting bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Their Ultimate Sampler Pack includes all three! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping. Just text “MTA” to 64000.

The People Who Made the Marathon Cool

[https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-09-at-11.13.51-PM-1024x730.png] In this episode we speak with bestselling author Martin Dugard about the inspiring people who made running mainstream. The first NYC Marathon only had 127 runners (only 1 woman). Now it draws over 50,000 runners (half of whom are women) and over 2 million spectators. Martin Dugard explains how we got here. Hear about Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, Bill Rogers, Jim Ryun, and others. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Run Coaching [https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/coaching]. Work with an expert MTA Running Coach. Altra Running [http://altrarunning.com] -Altra shoes are designed with the Altra Fit, with room for your toes for comfort, balance, and strength. Use code MTA10 for 10% off. And Stay Out There with Altra. AG1 Next Gen [https://drinkAG1.com/mta] has new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2. Lagoon Sleep [http://LagoonSleep.com/mta] -With Lagoon pillows, you’ll fall asleep faster because you’re matched with the pillow that will be most comfortable for your sleep position and body type. Use the code “MTA” for 15% off your first purchase. Martin Dugard is the author of a dozens #1 NYT bestsellers. He is a Fellow of Great Britain’s Royal Geographical Society, board member of USA Track and Field Foundation, and a high school distance running coach. His new book is called The Long Run: Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool [https://amzn.to/4df80I9].

The 2 Hour Marathon Barrier has Been Smashed

[https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-05-13-at-11.26.21-AM-1024x1021.png] In this episode Angie and Trevor discuss the watershed moment that just happened at the London Marathon when two runners smashed the 2 Hour Barrier in the marathon.  Sabastian Sawe of Kenya ran 1:59:30 and Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia finished 2nd in 1:59:41!  How did we get to this moment and what can we learn from it? LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Run Coaching [https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/coaching]. Work with an expert MTA Running Coach. MetPro.co [https://www.metpro.co/mta] -get a complimentary assessment and consultation with a metobolic coach. Altra Running [http://altrarunning.com] -Altra shoes are designed with the Altra Fit, with room for your toes for comfort, balance, and strength. Use code MTA10 for 10% off. And Stay Out There with Altra. IQBAR brain and body-boosting bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Their Ultimate Sampler Pack includes all three! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping. Just text “MTA” to 64000. AG1 Next Gen [https://drinkAG1.com/mta] has new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2.

Sara Hall -For the Love of the Grind!

[https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_0203.jpeg] In this episode we speak with Sara Hall about her new memoir ‘For The Love Of The Grind’! Sara won the Master’s Division at the 2026 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:31:55. Sara Hall has been competing for over twenty years and has been nationally ranked for almost three decades.  She is a previous American record holder in the Half Marathon when she ran 1:07:15 at the Houston Half in 2022. Sara and Ryan Hall live in Flagstaff, Arizona, and have four adopted daughters from Ethiopia. For the Love of the Grind [https://amzn.to/3OmPo0y] is a love letter to running, and the story of Sara’s growth as an athlete, wife, and mom. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Run Coaching [https://www.marathontrainingacademy.com/coaching]. Work with an expert MTA Running Coach. UCAN [http://ucan.co/mta] -Try the FREE UCAN Trial Sample Pack which includes bars, powders, gels, and hydration products — 6 total items. Just pay shipping. Save 25% on your entire order with code MTA. Altra Running [http://altrarunning.com] -Altra shoes are designed with the Altra Fit, with room for your toes for comfort, balance, and strength. Use code MTA10 for 10% off. And Stay Out There with Altra. IQBAR brain and body-boosting bars, hydration mixes, and mushroom coffees. Their Ultimate Sampler Pack includes all three! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping. Just text “MTA” to 64000. AG1 Next Gen [https://drinkAG1.com/mta] has new flavors: Citrus, Tropical, and Berry. Get a free Welcome Kit with your first order which includes AG1 Travel Packs, a shaker bottle, metal canister, and a bottle of AG Vitamin D3+K2.