Shows / 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon
Hi, I'm John Hill. I host 12 Months to Marathon—the running podcast for people over 35 with marathon dreams. Whether you are looking for a personal best or want to run a marathon, my story and regular tips should help you get there.
I didn't run my first marathon until I was 36. I ran my first sub-3 marathon at the age of 45. If I can do it, so can you!
For even more daily tips, make sure to follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/12monthstomarathon/
Thanks for listening.
Episodes
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 59 - Ultra Runner & Influencer Michelle Schroff (Waddell Running Lady) Who Started Running at 44.
Send us Fan Mail In this very inspiring episode, you will find out how Michelle started running at age 44, has overcome massive obstacles, and is now a…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 58 - How to Improve Resting Heart Rate
Send us Fan Mail Let’s start with the basics: resting heart rate is how many times your heart beats per minute when you’re completely at rest, ideally, first…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 57 - Why Sleep Matters
Send us Fan Mail Why Sleep Matters Let’s start with the basics: sleep is when your body repairs, rebuilds, and recharges. It’s not just 'rest' it’s active…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 56 - The Danger of Data
Send us Fan Mail Let’s be honest, these devices are amazing. I love my Garmin. Heart rate zones, VO2 max estimates, sleep tracking, HRV, race predictions, it’s…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 55 - Why You Should be Focusing on Cadence
Send us Fan Mail What Is Cadence? Let’s start with the basics. Cadence, in running, simply means how many steps you take per minute, often referred to as SPM…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 54 - Why VO2 Max Matters
Send us Fan Mail Whether you're a runner trying to shave minutes off your marathon or just someone who wants to live longer and stay healthier, VO2 max matters…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 53 - Mark Maselli - Kidney Transplant Survivor to Marathoner within 12 Months
Send us Fan Mail Mark Maselli is living, breathing proof that a single, determined mindset can rewrite even the harshest prognosis. After watching kidney…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 52 - Rest & Recovery Tips
Send us Fan Mail Monitoring your rest and recovery is essential if you want to improve as a runner. In this episode, I give you some real-world examples of…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 51 - Dealing with Major Marathon Rejection
Send us Fan Mail Have you been rejected by a major marathon such as London? This episode is for you. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 50 - Lessons from 50 Episodes
Send us Fan Mail We celebrate 50 episodes this week! It's time to share some reflections and experiences from the last 50 episodes of this running podcast…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 49 - Nelly Oliha - Running Influencer
Send us Fan Mail On this episode, I interview running content creator Nelly Oliha. We talk about his amazing sense of humour and his now-famous running streak…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 48 - Introduction to Speed Work (Getting Faster)
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I discuss the key principles behind improving your pace as a runner. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 47 - Louise Butcher - The Topless Runner & Author of Going Topless
Send us Fan Mail I am very honoured to be interviewing Louise Butcher on this episode. Louise is a Guinness World Record Creator, Marathoner, Author, Advocate…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 46 - Peter & Stella Plisner - First time marathoners at 62 and 47 respectively.
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I interview married couple Peter and Stella who ran their first marathon together in 2025 at the ages of 62 and 47…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 45 - The Hot & Cold of Marathons
Send us Fan Mail If you suffered with the heat on marathon day or got marathon blues afterwards? This one is for you. Remember to follow me on Instagram for…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 44 - Interview with Paul Lowry - Massive Marathon PB at age 45
Send us Fan Mail Paul shaved over an hour off his marathon time at age 45. Listen to find out how he did it. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 43 - Interview with Recent 6 Star Finisher Kristina Coccoluto
Send us Fan Mail I am very honoured to be interviewing Kristina Coccoluto. Kristina is a mom of 3, a BRCA1 survivor, and the first woman globally to complete…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 42 - Interview With Lauren Redhead - First Time Marathoner at Age 39
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I chat with Lauren Redhead. Lauren has been working with me since January 2025 and recently ran her first marathon in…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 41 - Common Race Day Errors
Send us Fan Mail Here are some top tips for your marathon race day. If you are doing one of the big UK marathons this weekend, go well! Remember to follow me…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 40 - Some More Tapering Advice
Send us Fan Mail Tapering for a marathon can be tricky. Here is another episode with some more top tips Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 39 - Tapering
Send us Fan Mail It's time to talk about marathon tapering. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running content…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 38 - Peak Week Panic
Send us Fan Mail Are you hitting your peak weeks of marathon training? It's okay to be a little tired, overwhelmed, and hungry. In this episode, I explain the…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 37 - Marathon Debrief
Send us Fan Mail Here is my overview of my 15th marathon and 2nd sub 3 after the age of 45. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running content…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 36 - Interview with Gary Blackman
Send us Fan Mail Follow Gary at @gb_runner2021 on Instagram Follow me at @12monthstomarathon In this interview, Gary talks about his 20-plus-year running…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 35 - Interview with Amy Edwards
Send us Fan Mail Check out this amazing interview with Amy Edwards. Amy has an amazing story that features serious mental health challenges, suicide attempts…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 34 - Warming Up & Cooling Down
Send us Fan Mail Some key principles around warming up and cooling. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running content…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 33 - Injury Prevention
Send us Fan Mail An introduction to injury prevention for runners. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running content…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 32 - Introduction to Fuelling
Send us Fan Mail An introduction to fuelling for longer runs. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running content…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 31 - Dealing with Marathon Anxiety
Send us Fan Mail How to deal with marathon anxiety during your training cycle. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your running content…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 30 - Introduction to Strength Training
Send us Fan Mail An introduction to effective strength training for runners https://www.instagram.com/12monthstomarathon/ Thanks for listening JH Support the…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 29 - Introduction to Nutrition
Send us Fan Mail An introduction to effective nutrition for runners. https://www.instagram.com/12monthstomarathon/ Thanks for listening JH Support the show
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 28 - The Resentful Runner
Send us Fan Mail Are you training for a marathon and hate running a little bit? That's okay. In this episode, I explain why…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 27 - Starting Your Marathon Journey
Send us Fan Mail A lot of people are starting a marathon training cycle this week. Here are my thoughts on the first few weeks (a very important time)…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 26 - Random Musings - Part Two
Send us Fan Mail The second part of my random musings. I have been on another journey in 2024 that started in August. I wanted to share some of my progress and…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 25 - Random Musings - Part One
Send us Fan Mail This year I made a bold decision. I share the story behind it here. https://www.instagram.com/12monthstomarathon/ Thanks for listening JH…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 24 - Annual Review
Send us Fan Mail It's time to review 2024. Here is a guide to finishing the year in a positive frame of mind. https://www.instagram.com/12monthstomarathon/…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 23 - Marathon Training Plans
Send us Fan Mail This is your guide as to what to look for in a marathon training plan. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your daily running tips…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 22 - The Compound Effect
Send us Fan Mail All the runs matter when you are training for a marathon. In this episode I explain the importance of following the plan and hitting the…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 21 - Let's Talk Marathons
Send us Fan Mail I have started marathon training! I think it's appropriate to chat about marathons a bit this week. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 20 - The Myth of Motivation
Send us Fan Mail Is motivation a thing? In this episode, I give my thoughts. Remember to follow me on Instagram for all your daily running tips…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 19 - Straight Talking
Send us Fan Mail A few people have told me that I am straight-talking about running. Here is why I think that's important. Remember to follow me on Instagram…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 18 - The Curse of Should
Send us Fan Mail The word "should" isn't always that useful. In this week's episode, I explain why it can hold you back when running. Remember to follow me on…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 17 - Performance vs the Person
Send us Fan Mail This week I reflect on my experience doing my third Hyrox event and a lesson about not taking things personally…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 16 - The Worst Vice?
Send us Fan Mail The worst vice is advice. I heard that many years and it stuck with me. Check out this weeks episode where I explain why this is especially…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 15 - Fear
Send us Fan Mail Fear holds many people back when it comes to progressing with running. In this episode, I discuss the different types of fear and some methods…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 14 - Comparison REALLY is the Thief of Joy
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to episode 14 of the 12 months to marathon podcast. This episode is about comparison and why it can derail your running progress. Make…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 13 - Data over Drama
Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about data vs drama. As runners, we often collect a LOT of data. Is this a good or a bad thing? In this episode, I discuss…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 12 - Pay Attention
Send us Fan Mail If you want to pay attention, you need to pay. Today I talk about the importance of getting the right advice to help improve your running…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 11 - How to Handle Adversity
Send us Fan Mail I injured myself doing a 10km a few days before recording this. Here are some lessons I learned. Remember to follow me on Instagram to get…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 10 - Should I Follow a Training Plan
Send us Fan Mail I am surprised how many people don't follow structured training plans. In this episode, I give my thoughts on the importance of following a…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 9 - Is Zone 2 a Fad?
Send us Fan Mail Okay, it's time. In this episode, I discuss "zone 2" running and whether it's just a fad or something worth focusing on. I'll let you listen…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 8 - The Quickest Way to Hate Running
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to episode 8 of the 12 Months to Marathon podcast. This week I am talking about the quickest way to hate running (pun intended) For…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 7 - Get Confident (Stupid)
Send us Fan Mail This week, I am talking about the problem with "confidence". A lot of people blame confidence when that isn't really the issue. I give some…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 6 - Olympic Review
Send us Fan Mail I review my favourite running bits from the Olympics in this week's episode. I can only talk about running because I am useless at all other…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 5 - You ARE a Runner
Send us Fan Mail This week's episode is about the importance of language in our running journey. This is particularly true if you are new to running. You have…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 4 - Principles vs Tactics
Send us Fan Mail This week's episode is about principles vs tactics. We tend to forget the fundamentals as we are flooded with information in the modern world…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 3 - The A.W.A.R.E Process
Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, I talk about the AWARE process. This is a simple way to work through change and maintain any new habits or skills you…
- 12 Months to Marathon
12 Months to Marathon - Episode 2 - The Change Process
Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode I talk about the change process. Ever since I started my own journey back in 2005, it seems all I have ever done is…
12 Months to Marathon12 Months to Marathon Intro
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the 12 months to Marathon podcast with me, John Hill. This is the first one where I tell you a little bit about little old me. I…