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The Marine Corps Marathon Preview with Race Director Alex Hetherington

The Strength Running Podcast

Release Date: 10/05/2023

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More Episodes

Alex Hetherington is the race director for the Marine Corps Marathon - but he's not your typical race director. Alex is a retired Marine aviator and a member of the All-Marine running team for 14 years. His resume includes a win at the Armed Forces Marathon Championship in 1998 as well as an astounding 27 finishes at the MCM.

Our conversation focuses on what you can expect from this year’s race:

  • What makes the MCM so special, and why it is referred to as “The People’s Marathon”
  • Why there is no “typical” weather for MCM
  • The importance of planning pre-race logistics to get to the starting area
  • How the newest race sponsors help support its environmental ethic
  • Locations of hills on the course and how to tackle them
  • How the course layout helps runners runners approach it in segments
  • Fueling and hydration options and pace group support
  • Unique aspects of the race, including support from active duty Marines throughout

Links & Resources from the Show:

Maximize Your Recovery with a Lagoon Pillow

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Since you can add or remove fill to get your alignment right, it’s a great way to optimize the most important way you can become a better runner that isn’t training: sleep. We all know how important sleep is. It’s the best recovery tool that you have at your disposal - better than compression, ice, heat, massage, or anything else you can think of. Sleep is when the magic happens and your sleep quality matters.

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Optimize Hydration with DrinkLMNT

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

My favorite flavor is watermelon salt, but citrus salt is also a banger. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out DrinkLMNT to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack.