Show Notes
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Kristian welcomes back Sydney Levenfeld for a check in on everything since her last appearance, including a scary assault while out on a run in New York City, a big move back to Chicago, and a new marathon PR at the Eugene Marathon.
Sydney opens up about being attacked by a stranger while running with friends in broad daylight, how she coped with the fear in the weeks after, and the wave of support (and shared stories) she received once she spoke about it publicly. She also shares a health scare two days before the Eugene Marathon, and how she still went on to run a huge PR of 2:46, stepping onto the iconic Hayward Field track to finish. The conversation wraps with her training block, high mileage, recovery habits, and her long-term sights on the Olympic Trials Qualifying standard.
In this episode: - Being attacked while running in New York City - Coping with fear and getting back out the door - The response after going public, and using it to raise runner safety awareness - Moving from New York back to Chicago - Training on Central Park hills vs Chicago's flat lakefront - A seizure two days before race day and getting cleared to race - Race recap: Eugene Marathon and a 2:46 PR - Training block breakdown: mileage, doubles, and workouts - Recovery habits: sleep, hydration, and avoiding alcohol - Thinking about the Olympic Trials Qualifying standard
Content note: this episode includes a discussion of a physical assault while running, and a brief mention of a seizure related to Sydney's epilepsy. Please take care while listening.
Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome back and the boxes in the background 01:14 A dramatic start: what happened on a run in NYC 03:20 Filing a police report and processing the shock 05:18 What the weeks after felt like 07:32 Going public and the response from the running community 09:04 Organizing a self defense class 10:15 Safety advice and what she does differently now 12:43 Getting back to good news: previous PR at Chicago Marathon 14:09 Going into the Eugene build with two best friends 15:52 Working with her coach and the goal of 2:44 19:50 What changed in this training block 22:43 Winter running in New York vs the treadmill 27:30 A normal training week during the build 33:04 Upping mileage and adding doubles 36:05 Recovery: sleep, alcohol, and consistency 39:34 Travel to Eugene and a seizure two days before the race 44:16 Race morning: a completely different vibe from the majors 45:33 Running the course and feeling alone in the field 48:34 Crossing the line at Hayward Field: a 2:46 PR 52:48 Thinking about the OTQ standard 54:51 What's next: CIM in December 58:13 Staying grounded and closing thoughts
Sydney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydney.b.fitness/
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More from The Marathon Podcast
The Marathon Podcast is now proudly sponsored by Saysky Copenhagen. Use code TMP15 for 15% off at saysky.com.
The Marathon Podcast is now proudly sponsored by Saysky Copenhagen. Use code TMP15 for 15% off at saysky.com. Get 20% off a Strava annual subscription with code KRISTIAN Save on FlexBeam using code WARWICKRUNS or this link: https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/55GAPb How does a winter Olympian become a 1:09 half marathoner in two years? Sofie Karoline Haugen skated for Norway at the 2022 Olympics, retired from speed skating in 2024, and has since run 10K in 31:57 and a 1:09 half marathon at the Copenhagen half, just a year after running 1:18 in the same city. Kristian and Sofie have known each other for around 17 years and both come from speed skating. In this conversation, Sofie looks back on her career: the years without progress, the decision to move to Stavanger and rebuild her training, the 2019 breakthrough that took her to ninth in the world, and the Olympic Games. She explains why she walked away when she was still skating well, and how a casual 3K on the track turned into a running career. Then the conversation turns to training. Sofie takes us through her week at 170 to 180 kilometers, including double threshold days, how she keeps her easy days easy, why consistency matters most, how she chooses shoes for different days as someone who works at the running store Löplabbet, and what she has learned about bicarbonate. She also reveals that her first marathon is coming up in November. In this episode: From speed skating to a 1:09 half marathon The years of hard work before the breakthrough Moving to Stavanger and rebuilding her training Qualifying for the Olympics Why she quit skating in 2024 Her first races as a runner Racing the Copenhagen half Shoes for different days, including the Alphafly 4 A full week at 170 to 180 kilometers Building strength without getting injured Her first marathon
Content note: This episode includes open discussion of drug addiction, homelessness, violence, mental health and suicidal thoughts (mainly between 05:00 and 12:00). Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use in the US, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available at 1-800-662-4357.
The Marathon Podcast is now proudly sponsored by Saysky Copenhagen. Use code TMP15 for 15% off at saysky.com.
The Marathon Podcast is now proudly sponsored by Saysky Copenhagen. Use code TMP15 for 15% off at saysky.com. Get 20% off a Strava annual subscription with code KRISTIAN Save on FlexBeam using code WARWICKRUNS or this link: https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/55GAPb Michael, better known as SupaDupa Slim, is a 2:15 marathoner from Austin, Texas, coached by Jeff Cunningham of Bat City Track Lab. His path to 2:15 has been anything but linear: from the slow kid on the team in a small Texas town, to a marathon that fell apart in the second half, to missing the Olympic Trials standard by seconds, and finally to running 2:15 at the McCurdy Pro Marathon and qualifying. In this conversation, Michael breaks down what actually moved the needle: small, steady jumps instead of big leaps, a smarter approach to mileage, learning to run marathon pace without fear, and why time alone should never define you as a runner. He walks through his training week for the marathon, the block behind the 2:15, and the race itself. He also explains where the SupaDupa Slim name comes from. Before the interview, Kristian shares his own training update on the road to a sub-2:30 attempt in Valencia, including a 3:21 per kilometer opener in a session he did not expect to hold. In this episode: Where the name SupaDupa Slim comes from From slow kid to 2:15 marathoner, 25 years of running Two first marathons and what they taught him Overtraining, injury and rebuilding with patience Why small jumps and consistency beat big leaps How to chase a faster pace without freezing up A full marathon training week and the block behind the 2:15 His mileage philosophy and advice for runners The McCurdy Pro Marathon, mile by mile Next up: the Houston Half Marathon and a Boston pro field hope Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Michael 01:44 Kristian’s training update 02:08 Saysky 14:45 Interview begins 14:52 The name SupaDupa Slim 16:52 What running means to Michael 20:03 Staying consistent for 25 years 22:32 Growing up with running siblings 26:40 His first marathons 32:43 Learning what it takes 39:01 Injury and rebuilding 41:00 Time goals and the ceilings we create 44:53 Learning to run faster paces 48:17 Commitment and decision making 51:07 Coach Jeff Cunningham 53:32 A marathon block for 2:15 1:00:12 Recovery and fueling 1:03:49 Small habits and mobility 1:06:23 Mileage advice 1:10:23 Doing less and feeling better 1:13:24 A week of marathon training 1:17:45 The McCurdy Pro Marathon 1:23:06 Qualifying, emotions and the finish 1:26:11 What’s next 1:27:34 Wrap up Michael on Instagram: @supadupaslim Start your free Musicbed trial: https://fm.pxf.io/kristianwarwick Full episodes + the Boston 2025 documentary: https://www.youtube.com/@Warwickruns Follow my training journey on Instagram: @warwick.runs Music from Musicbed: MB01XPYH8ZYENVAMB0133EV2TCQFZY