159: What’s Harder: Your First Marathon or Your Fastest Marathon?
The Running Channel Podcast
The Running Channel
4.8 • 591 Ratings
🗓️ 28 February 2026
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In Episode 159, Andy, Rick, and Sarah dive into a classic runner’s debate: is it harder to complete your first marathon or to chase your fastest one? Each comes with its own unique challenges, and you only really discover which you find harder after experiencing both.
Whether you’re deep into training or just starting to consider your first marathon, or a new personal best - this episode is full of practical tips, honest insights and relatable anecdotes. A must listen!
The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Lots of you are probably fundraising for marathons right now. |
| 0:02.5 | You might be finding it quite hard. Well, Give Star, the sponsor of today's episode, could make it a lot easier for you. And hopefully a complete no-brainer for you as listeners to this podcast. So when a marathon runner fundraises £200 on GiveStar, then they'll give you £100 to spend on yourself at ProDirect. So just create a fundraising page on GiveStar. Use the promo code Marathon 2026. and when you raise 200 pounds, |
| 0:23.5 | you'll then receive a 100 pound at ProDirect. So just create a fundraising page on GiveStar. Use the promo code Marathon 2026. |
| 0:22.2 | And when you raise 200 pounds, you'll then receive a £100 pro direct voucher to spend on |
| 0:26.2 | shoes, kit, tech is totally your choice. And if you already have a fundraising page elsewhere, |
| 0:31.2 | don't worry, GiveStar can add your existing donations to your new page. |
| 0:34.5 | GiveStar also allow you to fundraise for up to four charities at once. and you can take contactless donations on your phone with tap to donate, which is perfect for if you're at the pub. Yeah, Rick would be brilliant at this. To claim this offer from GiveStar, head to the link in the show notes. Make sure to use the code Marathon 26. Start fundraising, and once you've raised £200, you'll get £100 back. Simple. I am so excited that Scott are sponsoring this episode. |
| 0:57.5 | And they're Kinnabalu Trail Shoes. Yes, which I got to try in Chamonie last year and I have been wanting to scream and shout about these ever since. Yeah, loads of people don't even realise that Scott make bloody good running shoes. |
| 1:07.2 | So good. And these in particular are the perfect shoe for if you're a bit of a hybrid runner. |
| 1:12.1 | So you do a lot of running on the road, but equally you want to get out and explore the trails and you don't want something that is too much of a departure from the other shoes that you're wearing, still has great grip. Yeah, you said it's some of the best group you've ever run in on a trail ship. Yeah, it held up so well in the mountains and then equally for the majority |
| 1:27.7 | of running that I'm doing at home, muddy fields, gravel, country lanes. Perfect. Yeah, amazing. And |
| 1:32.4 | every line tells a story, Scott are encouraging you to write yours. So if you want to get a pair of |
| 1:36.5 | the Kinabalu Trail, then head to the Scott website or the link in the show notes and use |
| 1:39.8 | our code, TRC, Scott, S-C-O-T-T-T-2-0 to get 20% off. |
| 1:49.4 | Welcome to the Running Channel podcast with me, Sarah Hartley, six-time marathoner, and I'm currently |
| 1:54.3 | training for a PB in Rotterdam in April. |
| 1:56.6 | That was an unnecessary flex straight off, wasn't it? |
| 1:58.6 | It was, wasn't it? |
| 1:59.3 | It's also me, Andy Badley. |
| 2:00.5 | I've run two marathons. |
| 2:01.9 | The first one I was worried about whether I was going to finish. |
| 2:03.7 | The second one, I went for my fastest time and did manage to knock off four minutes. |
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