JYD - Phil Sesemann - "How I ran a 2:07 Marathon"

JYD - Phil Sesemann - "How I ran a 2:07 Marathon"

From Junkyard Dogs by Joe Skipper

December 31, 2025 · 1h 7m · Episode 19

About this episode

Phil Sesemann discusses his marathon experiences and training insights with Joe Skipper.

Joe sits down with British marathon star Phil Sesemann fresh off an unreal autumn double, running 2:07 in Amsterdam and backing it up with another 2:07 in Valencia just weeks later. Phil breaks down why Amsterdam felt like a dream day while Valencia became a grind, how small differences in weather and pacing can turn a marathon into a completely different race, and what it is really like in those final 10 kilometres when the legs start negotiating. The conversation goes right back to Phil’s origins, from swimming and early cross country success, to a year inside the Leeds triathlon setup, before committing fully to running after clocking 14:27 for 5K during that period. Phil explains why he was a 1500m runner for years, how COVID-era long runs helped unlock his marathon potential, and how his debut at London (2:12:58) set him on the path that eventually led to Olympic qualification. Phil also opens up about the obsession behind the progress: a “perfect week” of marathon training featuring double thresholds, marathon-specific sessions, big steady runs, and mileage that can hit around 150 miles per week . He talks honestly about mistakes he has made with session frequency, why the…

People in this episode

Host: Joe Skipper

Guest: Phil Sesemann

Topics covered

  • marathon running
  • training techniques
  • athlete recovery
  • performance analysis
  • personal journey

Keywords

  • marathon
  • training
  • Phil Sesemann
  • running
  • recovery
  • performance
  • COVID
  • 5K
  • Olympic qualification

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Amsterdam, Valencia

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