In this week's episode of the Sweat Elite Podcast, Mick Fox (2:19 marathoner) and Matt Fox (2:18 marathoner) reveal that they have both been doping to sub 2:20 marathons. They also talk about Emma Bates' UCAN sponsorship drama, an inbound message from Hugo Fry, Ben Is Running's Berlin Half Marathon result, Cole Gibbons' stress fracture, and much more. The episode covers a mix of humour, controversy, racing updates, and behind-the-scenes insights into elite and sub-elite running.

Train with Matt Fox here:
https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Join the Supporters Club and private podcast feed here:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact Matt Fox here:
matt@sweatelite.co

Matt Fox Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Fox Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/

Mick Fox Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/runningfox26.2/

Mick Fox Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/9571709/

Mick Fox and Matt open the episode with an April Fools prank, jokingly "confessing" to doping before quickly revealing the joke and shifting into the main discussion. The light start transitions into a more serious check-in with Mick, who shares an update on a long-delayed hospital stress test following previous chest pain and concerns around heart health.

The conversation then turns to the Emma Bates and UCAN sponsorship situation. They break down Bates' claim that she was dropped due to pregnancy, contrast it with UCAN's statement that discussions had already been underway, and highlight how quickly social media can form one-sided narratives without full context. This leads into a broader discussion around online reactions, accountability, and the dangers of pile-on culture.

They also revisit commentary around running creators, with Mick acknowledging that Hugo Fry reached out privately to explain his financial situation and background. That added context shifts Mick's perspective, with Hugo planning to share more publicly in a future video.

On the racing side, Mick recaps a tough half marathon run in heavy wind and rain, finishing around 68:40 for second place while importantly coming through healthy with no hamstring issues. Luke and Matt also highlight Ben Felton's strong 1:04:50 PB in Berlin and discuss an unusual race moment where a pacemaker nearly crossed the line first, sparking conversation about race dynamics.

Matt shares updates from China, including exploring local running culture, testing Chinese super shoes, and the possibility of visiting factories to better understand production, distribution, and pricing. This opens into a broader reflection on journaling, maintaining real-world friendships, and staying grounded beyond social media.

The episode also touches on Cole Gibbons withdrawing from the London Marathon with a stress injury, and a wider discussion around criticism directed at influencers. They reference Mary McCarthy's comments on gendered criticism in running and examine how online negativity often escalates beyond reasonable discussion.

They close by encouraging listeners to join the Supporters Club and private podcast feed for deeper training conversations, additional episodes, and access to the Discord community.

Timestamps:

00:00 - The Sub 2:20 Doping Confession
02:18 - April Fools Reveal
03:16 - What Matt Is Doing in China and Mick's Stress Test
05:17 - Emma Bates UCAN Controversy
11:14 - Hugo Fry's Inbound Message
16:23 - Mick Half Marathon Recap
18:06 - Ben Felton Berlin Half PB
20:40 - Petros and Pacemaker Drama
21:59 - Training Update Check-In
22:43 - Gold Coast Marathon Plans
25:05 - China Trip Shoe Mission
28:44 - Testing Chinese Super Shoes
32:17 - Journaling and Real Friends
35:13 - Cole Gibbons Injury Talk
36:53 - Mary McCarthy Runner App Debate
39:39 - Online Hate and Influencer Pile-Ons
46:05 - Wrapping Up and Supporters Plug

In this week's episode of the Sweat Elite Podcast, Michael Fox and Matt launch a new weekly series - The Fastest Fox - with Mick Fox returning to the show. They discuss Mick's hamstring comeback, his first race back, training philosophy, marathon goals, content creators in running, and much more.

Train with Matt Fox here:
https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Join the Supporters Club and private podcast feed here:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact Matt Fox here:
matt@sweatelite.co

Matt Fox Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt Fox Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Michael Fox Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/runningfox26.2/

Michael Fox Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/9571709/

Mick and Matt open the first episode of the new weekly Fastest Fox series with Mick Fox, covering Mick's recovery from a hamstring injury and the emotion of getting back to proper running after recently being limited to 5K runs at around 8-minute pace. Mick shares how meaningful it felt to return to one-minute reps at sub-5 mile pace and previews his first post-injury half marathon, where the main goal is to race freely, avoid obsessing over splits, and come away healthy.

The conversation also explores how age-related decline is often less about age itself and more about life pressures like family, poor sleep, and limited training time, with Irish runner Gary O'Hanlon mentioned as an example of what is still possible later in a running career. Luke and Matt then discuss Steven Scullion's recent Spencer Matthews interview, including thoughts on keeping training simple, the role of lactate and zones, honesty around shoes, and the pros and cons of overcomplicating performance.

Later in the episode, they talk through how YouTube and content incentives can push runners toward racing too often, reference creators like Jake Barraclough and Hugo Fry, debate Ben Felton's shift away from the "Road to Rotterdam" idea, and reflect on how often they would race a marathon themselves. They finish by sharing marathon goal times, discussing the balance between high mileage and speed blocks, and teasing next week's deeper conversation on nutrition products, coaching, and the private feed.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Fastest Fox Returns
00:32 - Hamstring Comeback Joy
01:52 - Half Marathon Plans
03:16 - Race Day Mindset
04:45 - Back To Training Build
06:39 - Age Family And Sleep
09:24 - Steven Scullion Takeaways
15:08 - Marathon A Month Lessons
17:03 - Weather And Run Struggles
18:35 - Running Content Roundup
21:14 - Jake In Japan Strategy
23:48 - Racing for Content
25:13 - Monthly Racing Pros
27:42 - Ben Felton Debate
29:46 - Why Skip Rotterdam
31:30 - Trusting the Coach
36:26 - Marathon Time Goals
38:05 - Chasing Irish Masters
40:01 - Speed vs Mileage
44:49 - Nutrition and Session Timing
45:58 - Wrap and Private Feed

In this Sweat Elite Podcast Training Talk episode, Matt interviews Kyle Weise who is helping guide Matt's return to running and long-term goal of breaking his marathon PB over the next 12–18 months. Kyle shares his background, starting running in late 2012, racing ultras early including a 100K at age 19, studying exercise science, working as a physio, and transitioning into coaching while building a Gold Coast-based squad alongside remote athletes.

Kyle's Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/3517976/

Kyle's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kyle_weise/

Matt's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Matt's Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/

Supporters Club:
https://www.sweatelite.co/supporters-club/

Coaching:
https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox

The conversation explores common mistakes runners make, including chasing short-term results, copying elite sessions by distance rather than effort or time, over-relying on data, and failing to properly cycle training. Kyle explains his preference for time-based prescriptions, capping most marathon long runs around 2:45–3:00, and balancing speed development with aerobic base and threshold work.

Kyle outlines his own marathon journey, including a PB of 2:31:50, and reflects on why he fell short of sub-2:30, pointing to limitations in leg strength and cramping. They also discuss Matt's sacral stress fracture, why imaging often lags symptoms, and a cautious return-to-run process built around walk-run progressions. The episode finishes with thoughts on using a 5K-focused speed block before returning to the marathon, managing content consumption, highlighting athletes like Jimmy Whelan, and how patience and long-term consistency ultimately separate runners who reach their potential.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome
01:06 Kyle's running origin story
02:34 From physio to coaching
05:37 Patience and long term gains
09:30 Stop copying elite workouts
12:19 Time vs distance mindset
14:06 Marathon long run limits
16:51 Kyle's marathon journey
19:34 Why the sub 2:30 faded
21:46 Matt's comeback and marathon principles
25:45 Marathon Pace Myths
26:36 Rebuild Then Speed
28:17 Stress Fracture Scans
30:16 Symptoms vs Imaging
33:02 Return to Run Plan
34:38 Back to Consistent Training
37:11 Sydney Timing and 5K Goals
39:38 Benchmarks vs Race Execution
44:00 Testing Speed for Marathon
46:38 Time Goals and Mindset
49:07 Racing Without Splits
50:47 Race Not The Clock
52:29 Marathon Goals And Variables
54:15 Curating Running Content
57:58 Social Media Noise And Sponsors
01:01:12 Who To Follow From Zero
01:05:00 Tall Poppy And Jealousy
01:07:30 What Makes Runners Great
01:12:02 Where To Follow Kyle