It's Boston Marathon week and we are absolutely fired up. In this mega preview episode, Michael Doyle, Katelyn Tocci, and Alex Cyr break down everything you need to know about the 130th Boston Marathon: from navigating race-day logistics and the expo, to pacing the notoriously tricky course, to our boldest hot takes and elite race storylines.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:

Lagoon pillows help us sleep better, so we run better. Want to try? You can save 15% with code MARATHON. Go to https://LagoonSleep.com/marathonhandbook and take the 2-minute sleep quiz to find your match.

Whether you're toeing the start line in Hopkinton, cheering from Wellesley, or watching from home, this is your complete guide to Marathon Monday.

🗓️ Marathon Handbook Boston Weekend Events

We have a packed weekend of events — here's what's happening and how to find us:

• Friday evening: Live podcast recording at the BAA Fan Fest at City Hall Plaza, 6:30 PM. Come watch us improvise live — no prep, pure chaos.
• Saturday morning: Alex races the B.A.A. 5K at 8:00 AM in a stacked elite field (yes, really — and yes, he'll be lapped).
• Saturday evening: Our Mile Zero live event at Trident Booksellers & Cafe on Newbury Street, doors at 5:00 PM. Now beyond sold out! Special guest: elite American runner CJ Albertson, plus prizes, giveaways, and a mystery second guest who is an absolute Boston Marathon legend.
• Sunday morning: Free community shakeout run at the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street, 10:00 AM. No sign-up required — just show up. Look for Katelyn in her blue 2003 Boston Marathon jacket.
• Monday: Our live Watch Along Show streams on YouTube and at marathonhandbook.com all morning. Join us from the Trident Booksellers venue or watch from home. We'll be doing live updates, real-time coverage, and our Instant Reaction podcast immediately after the race.

Patriots Day is almost here — and Michael and Jessy are in full Boston Marathon mode.

In this episode, they break down the five biggest stories heading into the 130th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20th, before laying out their bold picks for the men's and women's race winners and top American finishers.

Story 1 – Kipruto vs. Korir: The Headliner MatchupPast champion Benson Kipruto (Boston 2021, Chicago 2022, Tokyo 2024, New York 2024) returns to face defending champion John Korir in what shapes up as the defining men's storyline. Their personal bests are separated by just eight seconds, but as Michael and Jessy discuss, Boston is never won on speed alone — Newton Hills, race tactics, and championship experience are just as decisive.

Story 2 – Can Anyone Beat the Defending Women's Champion?The defending women's champion is the heavy favourite, but with her fiercest rival Helen Obiri absent from the field this year, the dynamic shifts. Does she need that neck-and-neck rivalry to bring out her best? Jessy breaks down the closest challengers on paper, including Irene Cheptai and Worknesh Edesa, and why Emily Sisson is the American name to watch.

Story 3 – Top American Men: Who Steps Up with Manz Out?American record holder Conner Mantz is a DNS due to injury — a big blow, but the American men's field still has plenty to get excited about. Michael and Jessy spotlight Zha Alby (2:05:45 at Houston this year and ascending fast), Clayton Young (crashing into Boston off an abbreviated build but motivated by a fresh move to Brooks), and breakout names Ryan Ford and CJ Albertson — who'll be joining the team at their live Saturday event on Newbury Street.

Story 4 – Emily Sisson, Fiona O'Keefe & a Stacked American Women's FieldIs this finally Emily Sisson's signature Boston moment? Or does Fiona O'Keefe — Michael's sleeper pick and someone who was genuinely in contention to win New York last fall — steal the spotlight? The pair also make the case for Susanna Sullivan (low-key, deadly), Jess McClain (due a big day after a brutal run of bad luck), and the ever-reliable Sarah Hall.

Story 5 – The Dark Horse: Nicholas Kipkorir's Marathon DebutJessy's personal favourite storyline. The 27-year-old Kenyan ran 58:08 at the Lisbon Half Marathon this year — second behind Jacob Kiplimo's world record — translating theoretically to a 2:01:12 marathon equivalent. He's never run a marathon. Boston is his debut. Will his track speed and raw talent carry him, or will the Newton Hills claim another rookie? Either way, this is the subplot to watch.

Come to our LIVE SHOW in Boston! Join Alex, Katelyn and Michael and some very special guests, + giveaways and prizes!📅 Saturday, April 18, at 6:45 p.m📍 Trident Booksellers & Café, 338 Newbury Street 🎟️ It’s free to attend, but make sure to RSVP now, as space is limited: https://forms.gle/sFk28hfMYznrsNxMA

Five big stories this week — strap in.

Des Linden | Marathon des SablesThe 2018 Boston Marathon champion finished 3rd overall at the 2026 Marathon des Sables, a six-day, 250+ km stage race through the Sahara. Her finishing time: 30 hours, 16 minutes, 32 seconds. Even wilder: this was only her second-ever trail ultramarathon, and one of the stages was 100K — more than double her previous longest run ever. Winner Mary-Line Nahon of France took her third MdS title in just under 26 hours. Des lands in Boston next week to pace her husband. No rest for the wicked.

Clarke Reynolds | Blind Runner Makes Marathon HistoryBritish runner Clark Reynolds, who has just 5% vision due to retinitis pigmentosa, became the first blind person to complete a marathon using Meta smart glasses and the Be My Eyes app. At the 2026 Brighton Marathon, he was guided by 400 trained volunteers who rotated every 30 minutes via the app, with a physical guide runner alongside as a safety net. A feel-good story of the year contender — and we're hoping to get Clark on the pod soon.

World Athletics Marathon World Championships | Our TakeWorld Athletics has announced a standalone World Athletics Marathon Championships launching in 2030, separate from the main World Athletics Championships. Athens is in the running to host, citing the marathon's birthplace. The official reason given? Climate change. Michael isn't buying it. We break down what this could — and should — look like, and why the Tour de France/F1 model is the blueprint they're ignoring.

Josh Kerr | Marathon CuriosityOne of the world's premier milers and 1500m runners has publicly expressed his desire to one day run — and win — a World Marathon Major. We dig into the history of track-to-marathon transitions (Kipchoge, Sifan Hassan, Kenenisa Bekele) and why this path is more plausible than it sounds. A marathon Kerr vs. Ingebrigtsen rivalry? We're manifesting it.

Gout Gout | 19.67 in the 200m at Age 18The Australian teenage sprinting phenomenon ran 19.67 in the 200m in Sydney — breaking the World U20 record and becoming the first Australian man to break 20 seconds under legal wind conditions. For context: Usain Bolt ran 19.93 at the same age. Gout Gout (G-O-U-T G-O-U-T) is now 16th on the all-time 200m list at 18 years old. Born December 29th, he's one to circle for the 2028 Olympics.