
Better with Running
EP316: The Chicago Countdown with Run2PB Athlete Rory Flanagan & Coach Ben Stolz
This Week on the Better With Running podcast with Chris Armstrong and Zac Newman. With the Chicago Marathon just around the corner, the hosts are joined by returning fan-favorite guest Rory Flanagan (the Prince of Bendigo) and Run2PB coach Ben Stoltz to discuss massive training blocks, race-kit aesthetics, and major marathon tactics. On the running and NFL front, the San Francisco 49ers (unofficially adopted by the Run2PB community) are sitting strong at 3–0 after a tight 36–30 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Brock Purdy is playing at an MVP level, throwing 4 touchdowns, including an 80-yard score by Deebo Samuel that Chris has dubbed the "immaculate reception". Meanwhile, Chris clocked 66km for the week, highlighting a tough threshold session and a solid 20km long run while continuing his quest for an AMACX raspberry gel discount code. The core of the episode shifts to the Chicago Marathon buildup, featuring Rory and the Choccy Milk Run Club (CMRC) crew preparing to head stateside after a massive training block. Ben Stoltz notes that Rory has been exceptionally consistent, logging 100–105km of running weekly alongside 40–80km on the bike and structured gym work. By visiting Ben's new venture, The Movement Co , for baseline testing, Rory added targeted plyometrics and single-leg strength routines that boosted his strength metrics by 30% over three months and kept his long-standing Achilles issues at bay. Looking toward race day, Rory is dialing in his kit with the Puma Fast-R model and aiming for a smart, conservative start (targeting an 80-minute split for the first half depending on conditions) to finish strong by passing runners in the latter stages. To close out the episode, Rory tackles a rapid-fire session where he ditches Garmin Connect for its brutal "unproductive" notifications in favor of Strava and chooses the Mona Fartlek for elimination because he is "too vague" to track all the short rep beeps properly. He also reflects on his favorite athlete of all time: Andrew Lloyd and his legendary come-from-behind victory in the 5,000m at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s3cmw9IcDE -- Oat Running Socks is proud to partner with the Better With Running podcast and Run2PB, keeping our community moving in absolute comfort. Engineered for peak performance. Oat Running Socks | Official Partner of Better With Running & Run2PB

