<p><strong>We sit down with James McKirdy, founder of the coaching collective McKirdy Trained, to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to produce elite-level results without the "bogus" cookie-cutter methods saturably found on social media.</strong></p><p><strong>We dive deep into the thrilling 2026 Los Angeles Marathon finish where McKirdy athlete Nathan Martin secured a victory by a razor-thin 0.01 seconds. James breaks down the tactical brilliance behind Nathan’s performance—specifically how he executed a masterful negative split (dropping from a 5:02/mile to a 5:00/mile close) despite the grueling Michigan winter and hilly LA course.</strong></p><p><strong>We also explore the viral story of Daniel Mesfun at the Dublin Marathon. James explains why Daniel’s decision to literally stop and run backward for a dropped hydration bottle wasn't a mistake, but a calculated execution of the McKirdy fueling philosophy. From "gut training" to the specific electrolyte needs of different athletes, this episode is a masterclass in the intersection of sports science and human psychology.</strong></p><p><strong>Updates and expert insights to keep you informed on the latest in running and competitive sports.</strong></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><ul><li><p><strong>The "Anti-AI" Approach: Discover why James believes human relationship and "pencil, not ink" adjustments beat automated training plans every time.</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Negative Splitting 101: Learn the physiological "tells" in training that indicate if you are actually ready to chase a specific marathon goal.</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>The Nutrition Audible: Get the hard rules on why McKirdy athletes "never skip fuel" and how to train your stomach to handle 100+ calories every 15–20 minutes.</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Coaching the "Underdog": James shares stories of athletes ranging from 5-hour marathoners to 69-year-olds running faster than they did 20 years ago.</strong></p></li></ul><p><strong>Our guest this episode: James McKirdy | </strong><a href="https://mckirdytrained.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>McKirdy Trained Website</strong></a><strong> 🔗</strong></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><ul><li><p><strong>Our website: </strong><a href="https://www.marathonjournal.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.marathonjournal.com</strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong>Instagram: </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/runningpodcast" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.instagram.com/runningpodcast</strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong>YouTube: </strong><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=https://youtube.com/%40marathonjournal" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://youtube.com/@marathonjournal</strong></a></p></li></ul><p><strong>Why You Should Listen:Connect with Us:Follow us on Strava: </strong><a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/30798607" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.strava.com/athletes/30798607</strong></a></p>