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PODCAST

12 Months to Marathon

Hi, I"m John Hill. I host 12 Months to Marathon—the running podcast for people over 35 with marathon dreams. Whether you are looking for a personal best or want to run a marathon, my story and regular tips should help you get there.I didn"t run my first marathon until I was 36. I ran my first sub-3 marathon at the age of 45. If I can do it, so can you!For even more daily tips, make sure to follow me on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/12monthstomarathon/Thanks for listening.

sports running

All Episodes

46:53

Episode 115- Why Madhu Ran a Marathon in Her Mum’s...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/10/01

Send us Fan Mail What can happen when you start running simply because you need something for yourself, and then keep going for nearly two decades? In this episode, I’m joined by Madhusmita Jena, aka The Small Runner (@thesmallrunner) whose running journey began as a new mum in Dubai and has since included more than 40 marathons, seven Boston qualifying times, a 3:27 marathon PB, ultramarathons and a remarkable Guinness World Record. Pasted text Madhu shares the story behind ...

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58:52

Episode 114- Are You Fuelling Your Running Properly?...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/09/24

Send us Fan Mail You can have the perfect training plan, hit every long run and do all the right sessions — but are you actually fuelling your body to cope with it? In this episode, I’m joined by Australian dietitian and marathon runner Bec Bennett, who specialises in nutrition and fuelling for female runners over 40. Bec also shares her own powerful experience of unintentionally under-fuelling during marathon training, eventually developing a tibial stress fracture and being diagnosed with R...

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46:43

Episode 113 - Why Running Isn’t a Second Job — With...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/09/17

Send us Fan Mail What happens when running stops being about getting faster and starts becoming about something much bigger? In this episode, I’m joined by James Thomas, better known on Instagram as @instafudgie — for a refreshingly honest conversation about running, mental health, body confidence, social media and learning to enjoy the sport without constantly chasing the next PB. James shares how a workplace bet first got him running, how he went from nearly 16 stone to becoming...

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53:49

Episode 112 — Running Your First Marathon at 48:...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/09/10

Send us Fan Mail At 48, Ryan Fenix thought his opportunity to run a marathon might have passed him by. He'd been a casual runner for years, juggling work, family life and three children in Manila. He'd even told himself that marathon running was a young man's game. Then he entered the 2026 Sydney Marathon. In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast, Ryan joins me to talk about going from wondering whether he was physically capable of running 26.2 miles to crossing the finish l...

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18:48

Episode 111 - What My Blood Tests Taught Me About...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/09/04

Send us Fan Mail As runners, we track everything: pace, heart rate, HRV, VO2 max, sleep, mileage, and recovery. But how often do we actually look at what's happening inside the body? In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast, I share the results of a comprehensive blood test I recently had in Poland and look at what they might tell us about running, performance, recovery and health as we get older. At 49, my results included a biological age estimate of 41.9, testosterone above the...

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14:00

Episode 110 — Running Performance vs Running Identity

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/08/28

Send us Fan Mail Are you actually a slow runner — or are you simply a runner who could improve your pace? There’s a big difference. In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast, I explore the difference between a running performance problem and a running identity problem — and why the language you use about yourself could be holding you back. We look at common statements such as: “I am a slow runner.” “I’m injury-prone.” “I’ll never be able to run tha...

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19:47

Episode 109 - Is the Running Boom Bad for Running?

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/08/21

Send us Fan Mail Is the Running Boom Actually Bad for Running? Running is booming. More people are joining running clubs, entering races, chasing marathon places and turning up to parkrun than ever before. Surely that's a good thing? Mostly, yes. But a recent situation at Weymouth parkrun, where events were temporarily suspended following concerns around overcrowding, overtaking and participants being barged or tripped, raises an interesting question: Is running becoming a victim of its own s...

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16:46

Episode 108 - Should Runners Take Supplements

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/08/14

Send us Fan Mail Should Runners Over 35 Take Supplements? Do runners actually need supplements, and do our needs change as we get older? In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast, I look at some of the most commonly discussed supplements for runners over 35, including the four I currently use myself: magnesium, zinc, omega-3 and turmeric. We cover their potential benefits for recovery, muscle function, general health and training, while also looking at where the evidence is strong ...

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13:34

Episode 107 – How to Deal With the Post-Race Lull

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/08/07

Send us Fan Mail You’ve spent weeks or months training for a race. You cross the finish line, get the medal, celebrate the achievement… and then suddenly think: now what? That post-race lull is real, and I’ve experienced it myself — even after finally breaking three hours for the marathon after years of chasing it. In this episode, I talk about what happens mentally after a big race and why the build-up can sometimes feel more powerful than the achievement itself. I cover: Why fee...

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13:31

Episode 106 – The Paradox of Choice for Runners

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/07/30

Send us Fan Mail Do you spend more time comparing training plans than actually running? In this episode, I explore the Paradox of Choice and why having unlimited information, AI, YouTube videos and endless marathon plans may actually be holding you back. I discuss why runners often fall into analysis paralysis, why chasing certainty can stop progress, and why the runners who improve the most are usually the ones who stop searching for the perfect plan and simply start putting one into practic...

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14:49

Episode 105 – Two-Day London Marathon, Marathon...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/07/24

Send us Fan Mail The London Marathon ballot is tougher than ever, with 1.3 million applicants chasing a place and only a small percentage getting in. But does missing out mean you should put your marathon dream on hold? In this episode, I share my thoughts on the future of the marathon majors, London's move to a two-day event, and why so many runners are becoming frustrated with the ballot system. More importantly, I explain why there has never been a better time to look beyond the majors. I ...

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59:38

Episode 104: Tom Campbell – Running, Mental Health &...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/07/16

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you discover running later in life? In this episode, I sit down with presenter, ring announcer and event host Tom Campbell to talk about his running journey, mental health, and why getting back into running in your late 30s and early 40s can be genuinely life-changing. We discuss: 🏃 Why Tom returned to running later in life 🧠 How running has helped his mental health and mindset 💪 Building confidence through challenging yourself 🏅 His experi...

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15:18

Episode 103: Is Running Actually Good for Weight Loss?

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/07/09

Send us Fan Mail Can running help you lose weight? The answer is yes... but probably not in the way most people think. In this episode, I draw on over 20 years of personal experience, my own 70lb weight loss journey, and 17 years of coaching people to lose weight and improve their fitness to explain where running fits into the bigger picture. You'll learn: Whether running is an effective tool for fat loss Why exercise alone rarely solves the problem The biggest min...

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45:07

Episode 102: How Running Can Help You See a City...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/07/02

Send us Fan Mail What if running could be about more than pace, PBs and race medals? In this episode, I sit down with Lucy Canham, founder of Run of a Kind Birmingham, a unique running community that combines running, local history, storytelling and exploration. Lucy shares how her love of running, travel and meeting people through her career as airline cabin crew led her to discover running tours around the world—and ultimately inspired her to create something similar in Birmingham. We discu...

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48:06

Episode 101: Lost 168lbs and Became a Runner - Mark...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/06/25

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you reach a point where enough is enough? In this episode, I’m joined by Mark Simpson, whose journey from 25 stone (350lbs / 159kg) to completing his first half-marathon is one of the most inspiring stories we've featured on the podcast. Mark opens up about decades of struggling with his weight, being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the emotional impact of obesity, and the moment he decided to take control of his life. We discuss: How Mark lost o...

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15:51

Episode 100: Mental Health, Running & The Biggest...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/06/18

Send us Fan Mail In this special 100th episode of the podcast, I reflect on the biggest lessons I've learned from interviewing runners, marathoners, weight-loss success stories, world record holders, and everyday people who have achieved extraordinary things. From first-time 5Ks to marathon finish lines, one theme keeps appearing: You are capable of more than you think. I also share some personal thoughts on mental health, self-identity, and the stories we attach to our running. In this episo...

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13:39

Episode 99 - Should you Get a Gait Analysis Done?

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/06/11

Send us Fan Mail Should You Get a Gait Analysis Done? If you've ever bought running shoes, you've probably been told you need a gait analysis. But how useful are they really? In this episode, I break down what a gait analysis is, what it can tell you, what it can't tell you, and why so many runners place far too much importance on a 30-second treadmill assessment. We cover: What pronation actually is (and why it's not necessarily a problem) The difference between neutral and ...

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46:04

Episode 98 – Dawn’s London Marathon Journey at 51:...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/06/04

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon podcast, I’m joined by Dawn Caddell to talk about her journey to completing the 2026 London Marathon at 51 years old. Dawn shares how she returned to running after a long break from raising a family, how running became a huge part of her mental wellbeing, and why she kept pushing herself further — from 10Ks to half marathons and eventually the marathon distance. But this wasn’t a smooth build-up. We talk openly about: Returni...

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41:08

Episode 97 – Andy Reid MBE: The First Triple Amputee...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/05/28

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon podcast, I’m joined by an extraordinary guest — Andy Reid. Andy lost both legs and his right arm in Afghanistan in 2009 after stepping on an IED while serving in the British Army. Since then, he’s rebuilt his life in a way that genuinely redefines resilience. We talk about: Andy’s journey into the military The day his life changed forever Recovery, resilience, and rebuilding identity Mental he...

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38:41

Episode 96 – Beth McArdle: London Marathon, Setbacks...

12 Months to Marathon ·

2026/05/21

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Beth McArdle, who recently completed the London Marathon 2026 after months of structured training. Beth shares her journey from losing three and a half stone, rebuilding her fitness through Women on the Move, taking on HYROX, and then stepping up to the challenge of the London Marathon. We talk about: Starting again in her late forties and early fifties Weight loss, confidence and fitness Training for a marathon aroun...

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122 results

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