We Ranked All 7 World Marathon Majors | And Alexis Signs Up For a Race

Alex just landed back in Toronto after covering the Sydney Marathon, and Alexis has news of her own: she signed herself up for her very first race ever, without telling Alex first. They break down what actually makes a marathon a "major," the six-star (now seven-star) finisher medal, Boston's brutal qualifying standards, and then go head-to-head ranking every major from worst to best, with some surprising results. Plus: a stunt-eating segment with duty-free crocodile jerky, training updates (including a brand new 5K PB), and an audience Q&A on how many days a week you actually need to run.

Chapters:
0:00 Cold open: Alexis has news
0:30 Welcome to For Better or For Worse
1:14 Alex is jet-lagged fresh off the Sydney Marathon
3:24 Alexis's big announcement
4:50 She signed up for the Bloor Street Mile
9:57 Racing season begins (Yorkville 5K plans)
11:19 What actually makes a marathon a "major"?
13:17 The six (now seven) star medal, explained
14:03 Boston: the oldest major, founded in 1897
14:53 Boston's brutal qualifying times & the bib debate
17:07 THE MAIN EVENT: Power ranking all 7 majors
49:29 The collective verdict: London wins, Sydney ranks last
49:59 Stunt eating: crocodile jerky from Sydney duty-free
53:01 Training update: Alex's Sydney travel week
53:58 Training update: Alexis's flu week & new 5K PB
1:01:34 Audience Q&A: how many days a week should you run?
1:07:44 Outro: tell us your favorite major

Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: marathonhandbook.com/runclub

Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: store.marathonhandbook.com

Send us a question:
marathonhandbook.com/podcast

marathonhandbook.com/newsletter