EP87 | Catching Up With Conner - Marathon Talk meets Conner Mantz

·56 min·5 clips

Conner Mantz shares his race-day mantra, derived from a study on reducing anxiety during tough events.

The episode opens with hosts Martin Yelling and Deena Kastor celebrating British gold medals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, specifically Georgia Hunter-Bell, Kee Hodgkinson, and Molly Caudry. Deena then discusses Emma Grace Hurley breaking her final American record at the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago, reflecting on record-holding and progress in sport. News coverage shifts to a Guardian report about the TCS London Marathon potentially becoming a two-day event in 2027 to allow 100,000 runners. The main interview features Conner Mantz, who set the American marathon record in Chicago with a 2:04:43. Mantz talks about his confidence heading into Chicago, differences in training for Boston versus Chicago, and an injury affecting his current Boston buildup. He shares his race mantra 'I can do this', based on a study about reducing anxiety, and discusses motivation with a child on the way. Mantz also mentions his coach Ed Eyestone and recovery through sleep. The second interview is with author Raz about his book 'This Is Running', which explores running culture, history, and community. Raz discusses his background as a magazine journalist, the book's coffee-table style, and topics like the 'capitalist mindset' of running and neurodiversity. He highlights run clubs as spaces that foster quick intimacy across socio-economic lines. The episode concludes with hosts sharing personal plans: Deena vacationing in Palm Springs and attending the Carlsbad 5000, and Martin preparing for the London Marathon.

As heard by us

A lively running roundup becomes a grounded conversation about risk, anxiety, and the words that keep a race together.

Marathon Talk turns a busy week in running into a broader conversation about what elite ambition feels like once a race starts to bite. The hosts move from three British gold medals in 30 minutes at the World Athletics Indoor Championships to Boston's approaching 130th running,…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play for Connor Mance on swinging for big goals, accepting the hurt when races go wrong, and repeating one simple mantra.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Marathon Talk