Show Notes
What if the secret to becoming a better runner isn't running more? This week, Nicky sits down with coach John Ferry—Team Wilpers coach, Head Coach of New York City's Dashing Whippets Running Team, and lifelong student of the sport—to talk about why so many runners get stuck chasing the same results year after year. From marathon training and ultrarunning to track racing and 5Ks, John shares why the best athletes aren't always doing more—they're often doing something different. We discuss the dangers of living in a constant marathon cycle, the value of speed work, why the 5K might be the most underrated race in running, and how thoughtful season planning can unlock breakthroughs at any level. Along the way, we explore race-day mindset, finding your favorite kind of hard, the surprising power of relays and team competition, and why running should still be fun—even when you're taking it seriously. Whether you're training for your first race, chasing a PR, or wondering if it's time to shake things up, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about what progress really looks like. In this episode: Why more miles aren't always the answer The marathon trap many runners fall into How speed work can make you a better distance runner Why the 5K deserves more respect Marathon vs. ultra: which is actually harder? Mental strategies for pushing through tough races The role of community, relays, and fun in long-term success Because sometimes the fastest way forward is trying something new.
More from Maybe Running Will Help?
This podcast is presented by Charm City Run. Learn more and shop at www.charmcityrun.com! What does it take to help someone run 200 miles when you're not the one racing? Konrad Korth joins me to pull back the curtain on the often-overlooked role of an ultramarathon pacer. He's spent hundreds of miles pacing his brother, Killian Korth, including during his record-breaking performances at Moab 240, Bigfoot 200, and Tahoe 200. We get into why pacing requires training for nearly double the distance, the pressure of being responsible for someone else's race, and what happens when you're struggling but can't let your runner know. Konrad also shares stories from his time training Navy SEAL candidates, his family's wild outdoor adventures, and the unexpected challenges of navigating remote trails, managing aid stations, and surviving the middle of the night. It's a funny, fascinating look at the people who help ultrarunners reach the finish line and the kind of mindset it takes to keep moving when everything gets hard. Support our sponsors: Charm City Run is a local running store serving the Maryland and Delaware running community with shoes, apparel, and gear, and you can shop online from anywhere; use code NICKY10 for a discount on select purchases. Noogs Energy Chews make fueling more fun with soft, easy-to-chew sour flavors packed with quick-digesting carbs and essential electrolytes. Use code NICKY for 15% off your first order, plus get free shipping when you order two or more cartons in the lower 48.
This podcast is sponsored by Charm City Run. Learn more and shop at www.charmcityrun.com! Running coach, exercise scientist, and McMillan Running founder Greg McMillan joins Nicky to talk about one of the trickiest parts of marathon training: the taper. Drawing from his book Surviving the Marathon Freakout, Greg explains why he prefers to call it “peaking” and shares six guidelines for arriving at the starting line feeling rested, confident, and ready to race. They discuss how much to reduce mileage, why you should keep some intensity in your training, and how to manage the mental spiral that often comes before race day. Greg also shares his approach to pacing, fueling, and creating a race-day thinking strategy, along with how understanding your runner type can change the way you train. Plus, they get into aging as a runner, finding joy in the sport, practical race-weekend planning, and what to do after crossing the finish line. Learn more about Greg's coaching, training plans, and running calculator at McMillan Running. Support our sponsors: Charm City Run is a local running store serving the Maryland and Delaware running community with shoes, apparel, and gear, and you can shop online from anywhere; use code NICKY10 for a discount on select purchases.
This podcast is sponsored by Charm City Run. Learn more and shop at www.charmcityrun.com! NCAA champion, coach, and former elite sprinter Angelique Cunningham joins Nicky to talk about confidence, negative self-talk, trusting your training, and learning to get out of your own way. Angelique shares how she went from struggling through her freshman year at Baylor to becoming a national champion, why confidence is a decision, and what running can teach us about moving through the good days and the bad ones. Support our sponsors: Charm City Run is a local running store serving the Maryland and Delaware running community with shoes, apparel, and gear, and you can shop online from anywhere; use code NICKY10 for a discount on select purchases. Noogs Energy Chews make fueling more fun with soft, easy-to-chew sour flavors packed with quick-digesting carbs and essential electrolytes. Use code NICKY for 15% off your first order, plus get free shipping when you order two or more cartons in the lower 48.
This podcast is sponsored by Charm City Run. Learn more and shop at www.charmcityrun.com! Claire Forsyth didn’t grow up as a runner. In fact, she wasn’t particularly sporty at all. Now she’s running 100-mile ultramarathons, taking on back-to-back endurance challenges, and finding out just how much farther she can go. Claire joins Nicky to talk about her path from half marathons to the trails, what drew her to ultrarunning, and why she prefers the adventure of long distances over chasing faster times. She shares what her DNFs taught her, what it takes to keep moving when everything hurts, the surprising party atmosphere at the back of the pack, and why preparing for 100 miles involves a lot more than just running. They also talk about training solo, balancing running with work and family, finding confidence through doing hard things, and how running has pushed Claire to take on challenges outside the sport too. Support our sponsors: Charm City Run is a local running store serving the Maryland and Delaware running community with shoes, apparel, and gear, and you can shop online from anywhere; use code NICKY10 for a discount on select purchases.
Kilian Korth joins Nicky to talk about winning the Triple Crown of 200s, what separates a 50-miler from a 100 or 200, and the parts of ultrarunning you simply can’t prepare for in training. He gets into second-night hallucinations, dirt naps, learning to ride the highs and lows of an ultra, and why you might actually feel better at mile 90 than you did at mile 70. Kilian also opens up about the ankle injury and surgery that completely changed his plans for this year, finding purpose when running was taken away, meditation, cross-training, and trying to build an identity that isn’t entirely tied to running. Plus, he and Nicky talk about becoming a parent, healthy skepticism, changing your mind, and why some of life’s hardest lessons only make sense once you’ve lived them.