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

I'm back with another fortnightly In My Opinion episode - sharing running observations, Q&A and personal updates, including my return from injury, training in Bangkok, travel disruptions, Globe Runners plans, and listener questions on performance, recovery and mindset.

Train with me:
https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Private Podcast Feed + Discord:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact:
matt@sweatelite.co

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

Strava Training Log:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

I recorded this In My Opinion episode from Bangkok, where I ended up extending my stay to meet more people, coach athletes and attend Hyrox. Travel plans shifted a bit with flights becoming more expensive and disrupted, partly due to the ongoing situation involving Iran and rising oil prices, which made things a bit unpredictable.

I talk through my return to running after injury, following Kyle Wees's 18-day run-walk progression alongside cross training on the bike and stair climber. The focus is on staying patient and only going down the scan route if symptoms return. I've been running at Lumphini Park and catching up with athletes in person, including Chris Weeks, which has been a nice change from purely online coaching.

I share some observations from being in Thailand - the low cost of living, the culture, and the interesting contrast around cannabis being widely visible despite reports of legal tightening. I also reflect on solo travel, meeting new people, and some of the connections made at places like ice bath venues.

There's an update on Globe Runners, with thoughts around building future training camps in Thailand and applying lessons from past Sweat Elite trips, particularly around timing and structure. I also touch on how regional instability can impact travel and planning.

From there I move into listener Q&A, covering topics like training alone versus with a group, how to break through plateaus, and why slowing down easy runs can often be the lever athletes need. I also discuss mindset around mileage, managing ego with Strava, and building confidence in your own strengths.

Other topics include marathon mindset tools, sleep and supplements like magnesium, thoughts on cannabis use, when to change training, altitude race timing, and practical travel-to-race logistics. I also answer questions on weight loss during marathon prep and share some broader thoughts on skepticism around elite performances and doping.

I wrap up by highlighting Australian runner Jimmy Whelan, bringing back Workouts of the Week, and finishing with some final thoughts on fueling and consistency.

Topics
00:00 - No Edit Podcast Setup
00:25 - Bangkok Plans Shift
01:17 - Return to Running Plan
03:46 - Lumpini Park and Coaching Shoutouts
04:39 - Thailand Costs and Culture
07:17 - Hyrox Weekend and Flight Chaos
08:18 - Solo Travel and Ice Baths
10:42 - Globe Runners Training Camps
13:57 - War Talk and Travel Disruptions
18:35 - Q&A Training Solo vs Group
24:06 - Mileage Plateaus and Pulling Levers
26:45 - Easy Runs and Strava Ego
29:35 - Personal Mileage Beliefs
30:23 - Strengths and Potential
31:33 - Marathon Mindset Tools
32:29 - Sleep Supplements and Cannabis
35:29 - When to Change Training
36:49 - Altitude Race Timing
38:26 - Race Day Travel Tips
39:45 - Weight Loss While Training
40:36 - Doping and Enhanced Games
48:22 - Jimmy Whelan Spotlight
52:04 - Workouts of the Week
56:42 - Fueling and Final Wrap

In this Sweat Elite Training Talk episode, Matt interviews Gold Coast runner Marty Bordignon after his Osaka Marathon PB of 2:46:05, a roughly four-minute improvement, paced evenly with a 1:22 high / 1:23 low split. They discuss Marty's summer heat-based build, coached by Kyle Weise, with a strong focus on effort over numbers, plus reflections on wanting a faster result and lessons for future races like Gold Coast.

Marty's Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/18059049/

Marty's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mlawrence9/

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

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

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

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

Marty outlines a conventional training week of intervals on Tuesday, threshold on Friday, and a long run on Sunday. He explains a 16-week marathon build that began with a six-week weight reduction phase at around 80 km per week, before increasing fueling and building toward peak mileage of around 150 km per week.

The conversation covers whether more speed work and strides could help marathoners, the role and risks of weight management, semaglutide appetite suppression, tall poppy syndrome in Australia, and the pros and cons of posting ambitious running goals publicly. They also touch on the running content and podcasts they enjoy, including How Bad Do You Want It.

Timestamps:

00:00 New Guest Intro
00:55 Osaka Marathon Recap
03:30 Why He Started Running
05:47 Inspiration And Mindset
07:53 Was He In 244 Shape
12:31 Osaka Training Structure
16:04 Speed Work For Marathoners
22:32 Weight Cut And Fueling
25:50 Ozempic Debate In Running
29:58 Tall Poppy Syndrome
34:02 Tall Poppy Talk
34:38 Gold Coast Build Plan
35:38 How Bad Do You Want It
36:19 Effort Over Numbers
37:58 Heart Rate Obsession
41:25 Finding Running Joy
43:18 Running Is Black And White
44:54 Wanting It Most
45:53 Scholarship Race Story
48:02 Favorite Run Creators
54:28 Ben Felton Marathon Debate
58:35 Podcasts And Wrap Up

Episode Summary

Irish runner and content creator Michael Fox joins Matt to discuss his unconventional path in the sport. After early success as a teenage 800m/1500m runner, Mick drifted away from athletics in his 20s - moving to Australia, gaining around 30 kg, dealing with injuries, and switching focus to cycling before eventually finding his way back to running.

He recounts his return to the sport and debut at the 2018 Dublin Marathon in 2:40, followed by several frustrating blow-ups while trying to improve. During COVID lockdown he leaned heavily into high mileage, including multiple 100-mile weeks, which helped unlock a new level of endurance and led to major progress - improving to 2:33 at Belfast and eventually running 2:19 for the marathon, though not without more setbacks along the way.

Mick discusses becoming somewhat mileage-obsessed, then later working with a coach to incorporate faster work and more half-marathon focused training to complement his endurance. He also shares how he balances training with running a full-time sports massage business, raising three kids, and operating on limited sleep, crediting his wife's support and occasional altitude camps as key pieces of the puzzle.

The conversation also touches on social media dynamics in running, outspoken opinions online, content creation, and dealing with backlash - including reactions to his gel-fueling videos. Mick explains his process for creating content, why he continues posting despite criticism, and his recent efforts to cut back caffeine and energy drink dependence. He closes by outlining his ambitions to push his marathon PB closer to 2:16.

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

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

Be coached by Matt:
https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/coaching-2026

Join the Shareholders Club / Private Podcast Feed:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders

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

Matt Training Log - Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/

Contact Matt:
matt@sweatelite.co

Topics:

00:00 - Foxes On The Pod

01:04 - Early Track Years

02:15 - Drifting From Running

02:34 - Australia Weight Gain Reset

03:37 - Marathon Spark 2018

04:03 - 800m Times And Racing

05:34 - First Running Motivation

07:21 - Debut Marathon Two Forty

09:11 - Covid Mileage Breakthrough

11:58 - Training Lessons And Volume

15:46 - Speedwork And Half Focus

18:00 - Balancing Family And Training

21:37 - Outspoken Online Persona

23:03 - Favorite Creators And Takes

30:02 - Hugo Fry Transparency Debate

33:47 - Gel Video Backlash Story

40:03 - Growing Instagram Following

40:12 - How He Makes Content

40:36 - Why He Posts Anyway

42:29 - Caffeine Detox Story

46:55 - Marathon Goals And Limits

49:15 - Work Schedule Reality

52:26 - Altitude Camp Dreaming

54:13 - Kenya Training Fantasy

58:49 - Friendly Rivalry Talk

59:30 - Matt's Sub 215 Ambition

01:04:17 - Valencia Entry Tips

01:06:09 - Comeback From Injury

01:08:25 - Handling Online Backlash

01:13:14 - Wrap Up And Where To Follow

Ben and Mary Bridges (Messy Is Happy) recap Tokyo Marathon weekend, celebrating Mary's 3:00:01 PB and discussing her rapid progression from 3:13 (Chicago 2024) to 3:04 (Shanghai) to nearly breaking three hours. They attribute the improvement to consistent training, gradually building to ~100 km weeks, and focused mindset work.

Ben reflects on his emotional on-camera reaction at the finish and shares his own marathon journey, progressing from 2:50 at the 2019 London Marathon to 2:44 in Chicago, with a long-term goal of running in the 2:30s. He also recounts his Chicago trip where he raced well despite being jet-lagged and unwell.

They explain the niche they are building with This Messy Happy across YouTube and Instagram - combining coaching-focused content, relatable storytelling around their own running journeys, and light comedy reels. They also discuss how the value of traditional tutorial-style content is shifting as tools like ChatGPT become more widely used.

Looking ahead, they outline a "Six in 26" idea for 2026 - a travel-heavy year attempting six marathons while documenting the experience.

The conversation also touches on leaving teaching jobs in Thailand to pursue content creation and coaching full time, creators who inspire their work, and Thailand's rapidly growing running scene known for its celebratory atmosphere and safe places to run.

Links

Messy Is Happy Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thismessyhappy/

Messy Is Happy YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ThisMessyHappy

Be coached by Matt:
https://www.sweatelitecoaching.com/coaching-2026

Join the Shareholders Club / Private Podcast Feed:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders

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

Matt Training Log - Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Contact Matt:
matt@sweatelite.co

Topics

00:00 Tokyo Weekend Recap
00:51 Three Hour Breakthrough
02:12 Training Behind Progress
03:34 Raw Finish Reaction
05:02 Channel Mission Explained
09:29 Future Content Direction
11:01 Ben Marathon Journey
12:26 Chicago Travel Chaos
15:13 Leaving Teaching Behind
17:24 Creators They Follow
20:46 Authentic Brand Deals
21:30 Merch Funds Independence
22:06 Staying Relevant on YouTube
22:41 Entertainment Beats Advice
23:52 Viral Running Comedy Reels
25:59 Wordless Humor vs Dialogue
27:01 Defining Content Goals
28:05 Photo Album Mindset
30:12 North Star Over Views
31:29 Upcoming Races and Targets
33:43 Running Culture in Thailand
36:43 Living Safe in Thailand
38:01 Where to Follow Next

I'm back with another fortnightly In My Opinion episode - sharing running observations, Q&A and personal updates.

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

Private Podcast Feed + Discord:
https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Contact:
matt@sweatelite.co

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

Strava Training Log:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

I recorded this ramble episode from Phuket during a 10-day Thailand and Bali trip where I've been catching up with friends while doing some work. Part of the trip included visiting Thanyapura Sports Resort to see if it might work as a future Globe Runners Asia training camp location.

I talk about some of the longevity content from Brian Johnson and walk through his "eight steps" framework - doing hard things, building a bedtime routine, starting the day with purpose, future-proofing your body, treating food like medicine, killing distractions, removing isolation, and avoiding motivational garbage.

From there I discuss Ben Felton racing two half marathons on consecutive weekends and use it as a jumping off point to talk about training and racing more by feel rather than being overly dependent on rigid pacing data.

I also cover the Tokyo Marathon, including frustrations with the race tracking app and a breakdown of Jake Barraclough's Tokyo build - his high mileage approach, injury concerns, livestreams during the build up, race plan doubts, and the eventual DNF.

I mention other performances from the weekend including Nick Bester running 2:25 and highlight SECA member Merna finishing Tokyo while fasting during Ramadan.

Later in the episode I bring back Workouts of the Week with sessions for the 5K/10K, half marathon and marathon, read some hate mail, discuss emails about GLP-1 weight loss drugs and how they might affect fueling for endurance athletes, share Mark from Finland's perspective on the doping crisis in Kenya, and finish by answering a question about Luke's approach to the marathon.

• 00:00 - Welcome and Agenda
• 03:43 - Thailand Trip and Training Camp Idea
• 05:44 - Brian Johnson Longevity Lessons
• 07:56 - Eight Steps and Key Quotes
• 18:53 - Ben Felton and Racing by Feel
• 23:39 - Training Without Data Obsession
• 27:50 - Tokyo Marathon App Rant
• 28:40 - Jake Barraclough's Tokyo Build Up
• 30:54 - Taper Doubts and Volume Fear
• 33:17 - Race Plan and DNF Breakdown
• 34:14 - Rethinking Jake's Training
• 37:16 - Shout out Merna - SECA Member running Tokyo fasted
• 38:49 - Workouts of the Week Return
• 40:02 - 5K / 10K Ladder Session
• 41:04 - Half Marathon Track Alternations
• 42:30 - Marathon 30K Progression
• 44:21 - Hate Mail and Ozempic Debate
• 53:29 - Kenya Doping Context Email from Marc
• 56:40 - Luke's Osaka Marathon and Training Takeaways
• 01:00:43 - Wrap Up