We're cracking open the voicemail bag this week and taking on your best marathon training questions.

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Timothy from St. Louis wonders why his cadence barely changes as he speeds up and whether his long loping stride is what gave him rectus femoris tendonitis. Paul from Minnesota asks the question every Adidas fan is thinking: will the carbon ring and proprietary foam from the world-record-setting Pro Evo 3 ever trickle down to the consumer-friendly Adios Pro 5? Kyron from Trinidad and Tobago floats a spicy idea — should marathons have weight categories like boxing? And Elena asks the question that quietly haunts every training plan: rest day after the long run, or easy run?

Before we get to your questions, Alex explains the four stitches on his face (it involves sushi, fainting, and a cautionary tale about being too fit for your own good), Katelyn previews her new YouTube guide for first-time marathoners, and all three of us are racing this weekend — Alex at the Canadian 10K Championships, Katelyn at a 50K in Costa Rica, and Michael at the Cabot Trail Relay in Nova Scotia.

Plus: a teaser for Alex's 2026 super trainer rankings video, a plug for the Jakob Ingebrigtsen interview, and a hot-take debate where Michael argues you don't really need rest days and Katelyn says give her a rest day or give her death.

Chapters:(00:00) Intro(02:18) Katelyn's new first marathon video(04:17) Alex's sushi restaurant fainting story(10:23) Triple race weekend(17:42) Super trainer roundup teaser(22:31) Followup on the relationships episode(25:53) Q: Cadence vs stride length — Timothy(38:44) Sponsor: Rhythm Health(41:19) Q: Will Adidas Pro Evo 3 tech trickle down? — Paul(52:24) Q: Should marathons have weight categories? — Kyron(1:07:56) Q: Rest day after the long run? — Elena(1:22:51) When do YOU take a rest day?

Got a question? Record a voice note at marathonhandbook.com/podcast and we'll answer it on a future episode.