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 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/12monthstomarathon/ Thanks for listening.

12 Months to Marathon is a sports podcast hosted by John, with 114 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

John hosts 12 Months to Marathon, a sports show with 114 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #115

  Episode 115- Why Madhu Ran a Marathon in Her Mum’s Saree - And Broke a World Record

  Oct 1, 202647 minS1

  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 running the Manchester Marathon in her mum’s sari and breaking the world record, why representing her South Asian heritage mattered, and the impact it has had on women around the world. We also talk about fitting serious training around motherhood and working as a SEND teacher, how her approach to running has changed in her 40s, strength training, nutrition and recovery, what went wrong at her first Boston Marathon, and why she still has unfinished business with both Boston and the ultra distances. From a woman who describes herself as the shy child who lacked confidence to a world-record-holding marathon runner, this is a brilliant example of just how much running can change you. And Madhu isn't finished yet — 50 marathons by 50 and a 100-mile race are still on the list. Support the show

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  Episode #114

  Episode 114- Are You Fuelling Your Running Properly? Interview with Dietitian Bec Bennett

  Sep 24, 202659 minS1

  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 Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) . We discuss why runners can easily underestimate how much food they need, carbohydrates and endurance performance, fuelling long runs, training your gut for race day, weight loss during marathon training, protein and recovery, nutrition for women over 40, supplements, blood testing, bone health and exactly how Bec approaches her marathon nutrition. We also tackle the idea of “race weight” and why getting lighter isn't necessarily the route to becoming a better runner. Whether you're preparing for your first marathon or trying to improve your next one, this episode is a practical look at something runners often overlook: You don't just have to train for the work. You have to fuel the work. Support the show

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  Episode #113

  Episode 113 - Why Running Isn’t a Second Job — With James “Fudgie” Thomas

  Sep 17, 202647 minS1

  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 a sub-40 10K runner, and why eventually chasing faster times began to make his hobby feel like a second job. We talk about the mental-health benefits of running, the pressure created by running social media, body confidence, the rising cost of the sport, marathon majors, why comparison can rob us of our achievements, and why James believes the running community needs more ordinary people sharing authentic experiences. We also get into his eight marathons, his love of half marathons, running and raving, Guinness, and why, even if Instagram, medals, and PBs disappeared tomorrow, he’d still run. A conversation about remembering why we started running in the first place. Support the show

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  Episode #112

  Episode 112 — Running Your First Marathon at 48: Ryan’s Sydney Story

  Sep 10, 202654 minS1

  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 line in 5:14, 16 minutes faster than his original target and with a negative split . We talk about training through the heat, humidity and torrential rain of the Philippines, fitting marathon training around a busy family and working life, the 4am alarm clocks, learning to fuel properly and the doubts that come with preparing for your first marathon. Ryan also explains why completing the training gave him genuine confidence on the start line, how he avoided the infamous marathon 'wall', and why he was actually getting stronger towards the end of the race while others around him were fading . This is an episode for anybody in their 40s, 50s or beyond who's looked at a marathon and wondered: “Have I left it too late?” Ryan's answer is simple: it's more than possible, but you have to be prepared to do the work. Listen now to Episode 112 of the 12 Months to Marathon Podcast . Support the show

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  Episode #111

  Episode 111 - What My Blood Tests Taught Me About Running After 35

  Sep 4, 202619 minS1

  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 laboratory's reference range, good vitamin D and blood sugar markers, alongside a few areas such as LDL cholesterol and thyroid markers that are worth keeping an eye on. We discuss testosterone and the older runner, whether more testosterone actually means better performance, cholesterol and cardiovascular health, vitamin D and bone health, blood sugar and carbohydrates, thyroid function, supplements, recovery, and why being a fit runner doesn't automatically mean every health marker will be perfect. Most importantly, this isn't about becoming obsessed with blood tests or chasing the perfect numbers. It's about understanding the difference between fitness and health — and using data as information rather than allowing it to define you. Because for runners over 35, the goal isn't simply to run faster now. It's to build a body that can keep running for decades to come. Support the show

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